The Express.
London, England, 1848-01-22 00:00:00

1

AIURUER BY A SOLDIER AT THE LEEDS CAVALRY
BARRACae.—A shocking murder, of a premeditated cha-
racter, was perpetrated at the Cavalry Barracks, Leeds, on
Thursday evening, about seven o'clock. The delinquent is
a private soldier, named Michael Stokes, 20 years of age, a
native of Dublin, who had been about two years with his
regiment, the 67th Foot. The unfortunate sufferer by the
awful deed was a woman about 28 years of age, the wife of
William Garrett, a private in the same company, to whom
she had been married only about three months. About the
time above mentioned Stokes, the deceased, and several
others of the company being in the b.arack-rood,
Stokes being apparently cleaning his firelock, he was ob-
served to raise the butt-end to the right side of his breast,
and to discharge its contents at the deceased, the ball passing
through the abdomen and body of the unfortunate woman
and coming out at the back. As soon as he had discharged
the weapon he laid it upon the floor of the room, and began
to pull off his undress jacket, when he was seized by Ser-
geant Keenan, of the same company, upon which the
prisoner said, " Don't be frightened, sergeant, I am
not going to hurt you." lie was immediately out under
arrest, and conveyed to the guard-house, where he admitted
to Sergeant Mustard that he had loaded the piece at five
o'clock in the evening, and added that he had premeditated
the deed for two months; but that he should not tell the
reason to any one but his priest. On examining his car-
touche-box a ball cartridge was found to be wanting, and
the remnant of a percussion cap was found on the nipple of
his firelock. No cause can be assigned for the commission
of the fatal act, which deprived the poor woman of life about
an hour and a half after its occurrence. Yesterday the of-
fender was surrendered into the custody of the civil autho-
rities, and he underwent a brief examination before the sit-
ting magistrates, by whom he was remanded. The coronet's
inquest Is to be held this (Saturday) morning.
SUPPOSED MURDER NEAR SHEFFIELD.—Great sen-
sation has prevailed in Sheffield during the former part of
this week, in consequence of the death of George Menden,
blacksmith, between 60 and 70 years of age, whose body was
found on Sunday morning last, at the bottom of a coal-pit,
called the Deep Pit, at the " Intake," about two miles from
Sheffield, belonging to the Sheffield Coal Company. He
was supposed to have been first robbed of his money and
watch, and afterwards thrown into the pit. He left the New
lon, Shales Moor, a little after one o'clock on Sunday morn-
ing this is said to be the last place at which be was seen alive.
On Sunday morning a man and boy went down the pit, tone
if all was right, as usual, and stumbled over the body. Hie
head was literally crushed to pieces, and indeed every part
of his body presented a moat frightful spectacle, which it
naturally would do, considering that the pit is 101 yards
deep. An inquest was conamenccd on Tuesday, and ad-
jousted. o
MIRA Alkf

T►►E COAL TRADE.—The iiiiintity of coals shipped
at Sunderland last year was greater than in any former
year, amounting to 611,7521 clash:irons. The increase
in the vend during the year 1847 exceeded the vend of 1946
by the large quantity of 90,5211 ebaldrons, The trade con-
tinues in a very active state, and most of the large collieries
are working to the extent of their capabilities.
SUNDERLAND DOCKS.—The progress made in the
excavation on the sea beach for the Sunderland Docks during
the winter is surprising, considering the magnitude of the
works. Every part of this great undertaking vet attempted
has proved successful, and the sea has been effectually backed
out of the intended tidal basin, the breast work of which has
stood proof against the violence of very heavy seas. It is the
intention of the directors that the foundation stone shall be
laid by Mr. Hudson, 1111'.., ,chairman of the Dock Company

WARiVICKSIIIRE.
CAUTION TO rNNKEEPERS. --At the pnblic-offiee, at
Birmingham, yesterday, a respectably attired young man,
who gave his name and address as John Henry Wilkins, of
22, Horsemonger-lane, London, was brought before the ma-
gi-tastes on the charge of stealing a quantity of plate from
Dee'e Royal Hotel, and from the White Hart Inn, Digbeth
upwards of 300/. in bank notes and checks—this last being
the property of a Mr. Higgs, a commercial traveller, from
Gloucester. From the evidence it appeared that the pri-
soner, on taking up his abode at these hotels, represented
himself to be " a commercial man." At " the Royal " he
seized and made oft with a quantity of silver spoons,
mustard pots, and other articles of plate and plated
goods. A short time after he had ensconced him-
self at the White Hart, he happened to see Mr.
Higgs receive a considerable sum of money from a tradesman
of the town, and availing himself of that gentleman's ab-
sence he walked off with the writing-desk in which the cash
had been deposited. He next took up his abode at the Three
Tuns in Snow-hill, doubtless with the view to carry on the
same nefarious game ; but here his carecv was cut short by
the police, who am...headed him on Thursday evening, the
whole of the stolen property
.being found in his possession.
He wu fully committed for trial for these offences, Wilkins
is supposed to have arrived from " Manchester direct," and
aix silver spoons marked " E. R.," found in his portmanteau,
are probably the result of a robbery in that town.
WORCESTERSHIRE.
HEALTH OP TOWNS IMPROVEMENT.—A public
meeting of the inhabitants of Worcester was held in the
Guildhall yesterday afternoon. Many of the clergy and me-
dical gentlemen of the city were among those present.
The object of the meeting was to support the introduction
of any measures of unitary reform which might be brought
before the legislature. Several resolutions to this effect were
passed.
wWWWWWIWITITItr

A NATIONAL RATE.—On Monday, pursuant to a
requisition, a public meeting was convened by the mayor of
Leicester, to consider the propriety of petitioning the legis-
lature in favour of a national rate for the relief of the poor.
The Leieuter Journal ear, " The object of the requisition-
ists was defeated, not upon any discussion on the merits of
the question, but upon a matter of a personal nature. It ap-
pears that a large manufacturing firm in the town have been
reducing the wages of their workmen in one particular
branch of the trade, and to resent this injury the operatives
determined upon moving an amendment to the first re-
solution that should be submitted to the meeting on
Monday night. That such an amendment would be carried