The Express.
London, England, 1860-04-13 00:00:00

SUPPOSED DOUBLE MURDER NEAR

MANCHESTER.

Early yesterday morning information reached
the police-station at Pendlebury, near Manchester, that an
old man, named Scholes, and his son, who lived at Irlams-
o'-th'.lleight, had been found dead in their cottage, under
circumstances leading to the belief that a fearful and
mysterious crime had been committed. Sergeant Lee,
of Pendlebury, arrived at the house at seven
o'clock, and Mr. Berke, Mr. Booth, and Mr. Ash-
burner, surgeons of the neighbourhood, were in attendance
about the same hour. It appeared that the elder deceased,
William Scholes, aged about 75, was a man living on email
independent income, in one of three cottages situate at the
function of the Swinton and Pendlebery roads. The other
victim, William Edward Scholes, was about 41 years of age.
Another eon, Joseph Scholar., workaat the printing-ofiice of
Messrs. Bradshaw and Blacklock, at Manchester. The two
Bons slept together in one bedroom, the father occupied
another, and a daughter, Sarah Eliza Scholes, had
a third. The only account of the discovery that
baa yet been obtained was given by Joseph Scholes to
Sergeant Lee. His statement is to the effect that on the
previous day he left home for his work after dining own-
, fortably with his family, about 1 o'clock in the afternoon.
On hie way back in the evening he wail seized with a fit
while pausing through Salford, and taken up by the police,
who supposed he was drunk. At the Salford police station
it became apparent he was suffering from an infirmity, and he
was liberated. On reaching home about 9 o'clock he found
no one down stairs, but heard his sister moving in her room
overhead, and making a noise, which was habitual with her.
The surgeons are informed that she is subject to fits, and is
considered deranged. Her bedroom door was locked.
Joseph Scholes went to bed, and during the night he says
he got up about half a dozen times. His sister was still
making a noise. About six o'clock yesterday morning be
went out for some water, and met a young woman named
Phoebe Hall. At his request she went with him to his
sister's room. They broke open the dour, and saw
his sister sitting on a chair, and hie father and brother lying
dead on the floor.
.

Judging from the position in which the bodies were
found, the father had fallen on the top of his son. The
father lay at right angles to the bed, near its head ; his feet
and part of the body were under the bed, and his head out.
side. The son was lying parallel with the bed ; hie head
was towards it. foot, and his feet were doubled up under the
body of his father. The father's face showed signs of
strangulation, but there was no appearance of wounds.
Blood was laming from the ears. The son's death was
more unaccountable ; there were not the same marks of
strangulation, but there were some slight cute in the neck,
which might have been made by a three-bladed pocket-
knife that was found on the mantelpiece. Another pocket-
knife was found in the father's hand, but it sem closed.
Both the men were completely dressed.
The police discovered that the pillow of the bed on
which Joseph &holes bad slept was marked with blood.
This, be says, was caused through hurting himself, by
falling down in a fit in Salford ; and there are tram of a
wound in hie head. He remains in the house in custody of
the police. His sister was removed in custody to the
Salford Workhouse. A coroner's inquest was opened
yesterday afternoon, and Joseph &holes gave his account
of the matter clearly and satiafactorily enough.
The inquest was then adjourned. The impression is that
the infirm sister committed the murder.