The Express.
London, England, 1858-08-03 00:00:00

MURDER OF A YOUNG LADY BY HER

LOVER, NEAR RIPLEY.

(From the Leak Mercury of this day.)

The quiet and secluded village of Parley, near
Ripley, on the line of the Leeds Northern Railway, wee
yesterday the scene of manual excitement, in consequence
of the discovery of the murder, by her lover, of a young
person named Mary Jane &sire, under circumatanove of

great barbarity and cruelty. The deceased, who was about
twenty-two years of age, was the daughter of Mr. Thomas
Beaky a respectable farmer, reeding at Barley, and her
murderer, James Atkinson, is the son of Mr. Thomas
Atkinsee, flax 'planer, a gentleman of some local positioe,
and possessing considerable property. The parents of
both reside within a short distance of each other, and
the deceased and the murderer bad been companions
from childhood, the affection of children extending
itself to that of love as they grew to manhood
and womanhood, and each learning is look upon
the other as a future partner through life. Unfor.
innately, the father of Atkinson and the mother of the
deceased did not approve of the match, and about a year
ago, after more, perhaps, than the natal creases in love, the
connexion was broken off, the deceased accepting the ad-
dresses of a ypong man named Gill. The new love, how-
ever, did not prove permanent, and after a few monthi,
Miss Setae broke off the courtship with Gill and permitted
the renewal of that with her old lover. The
attentions of the latter were continued as before
their Interruption twelve months previously, but on Tues-
day last, on the occasion of a gala at Bewerley Park, Atkin.
son saw Miss Semite In conversation with Gill, and this

circumstance appears to have excited a strong feeling of
jealousy, and a day or two after he met one of Mies Scalia's
brothers, to whom he complained of her conduct. Whether
his passion at that time suggested the fearful crime he
afterwards perpetrated is uncertain, but nothing occurred
to excite any suspicion, and the two met each other
se usual. On Sunday night they attended Herewith
chapel in company, and on returning they were seen
to go up Stump-lane, apparently on very good terms.
This was about nine o'clock. Shortly afterwards Atkinson -
returned home, and went to bed. The absence of the de-
ceased created no uneasiness at home, as she bad been in
the habit of staying with her uncle, Mr. Downes, fanner.
At daybreak next morning, Atkinson's brother who sIM
in the same room, noticed blood upon the shirt of the
former, and asked how it had come there, when be wee
horrified by being told by his brother that he had mur-
dered Mary Jane Suite the previous night. The father
was immediately called up, and the family roused. In the
meantime, however, a man known by the name of Potter
Dick, whilst going along Stump-lane, about Ave o'clock,
found tie deceased laid is the ditch, with her throat cut
and quits dead. He gave an alarm, and Mr.
Hinton, surgeon, and Policeman Clifford, were eoon?irrC
spot, but their services were of no avail. The d
when found, was laid on her back, and she preset:Rectal:4in
fearful spectacle. Her head was nearly severed from the
body, her dress and face were saturated with clotted blood,
her eyes protruded from the sockets with the most ghastly
expression, indicating the violence of her dying convulsions,
and the ground was covered with evidences of the
fearful struggle that had taken place. The parasol
of the deceased wu broken to pieces, and her
prayer-book was found by her side. The body was removed
to the New Inn, and Atkinson being the last person sett
in her company he was taken into custody, when he ad.
mined the murder, stating that he had cut her throat with •
knife, which he had secreted in Mr. Myers' wall, and de-
claring that it was his mother and her father who bad
caused it by opposing their marriage. The knife (an ordi-
nary clasp-knife) was afterwards found as stated, the
prisoner taking the polioe-offioer to the wall, and pointing out
whore he bad placed it.
At the spot where the murdered body was found is a
small embankment or are, consisting of the mud taken
from the adjoining ditch, and it is supposed that Atkinson
bad thrown his victim upon it, sad then rat her throat. Al
we have previously stated. the ground shows that a violent
struggle ensued, the deceased, though only a weakly perste,
being with difficulty overpowered.
The 'triuner was in the first Instance removed to Palming
Bridge,cit and afterwards to Ripon, where he was taken beam
Oxley, BK., charged wiih the wilful murder eft
Mary Jane Scoffs,
He is a good-looking young man, arid appeared to be out.
powered by his feelings. Previous to the charge being made
be gave utterance to several matters connected with this
melancholy aff.ir, amongst which, " I have been very happy
ever ince I left Pataly Bridge. I have committed a great
crime, but I am quite content. I as go freely to the gallows.
I can forgive the vilest of the vile. I ars guilty. I left her
about Wf-peet nine o'clock last night."
The prisoner was remolded until eleven o'clock on Wei-
feeday next, at Knareshro'.
On leaving the dock the prisoner, turning round, said
"Gentlemen, I hope to meet you all to heaven."
The hiqueet on the body will be opened to-day, before Mrs
Brown, the coroner for the district.
Inspector Wetherell. one of the Weal Riding detectives,
stationed at Wskafield went over to D.rley last night, to
get up the ease, end it is probable that the inquiry this sacra-
log will only be of a formal character, there not having been
sufficient time as yet to look after the necessary evidence.

We regret to learn that Mr. Stevenson, a Com
reisskessr of the Paden and Dertty-Rangar of Hyde-park,
died soddeady yesierday.
MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE.—About nine o'clock
on Saturday evening as accident of a very pia/el demur
mooned on the Penicnik-road, near BardialioneuasthEt
pen that two tidies, sisters of Mr. Meemewa.
Princee-street, were returningboine to Li
=
ponies, and had reached a portion of the P
the village of Bardlehouse, Mown as %MON 005.
they wend en onsitsas fall et
aunt the balite la Mathan. IsitaZferrelgiresendives
:tito=d ebe bow le sea doe ell the reel. taus SW
eigleaery until it care up. The odd*
h 4 bit' to the spot, wing the pony it On
et tirleBr, taking fright either et the nabs el the each er
et Ile elegise sad merriment of the easoneleakta morel
Wonsan with its rider, and getting entoel beetetzt the
tram and wheel homes of the omnibus, wee hies the
ground, end dragged for a short Mame the by
el of the vehicle. The unfortunate tide' wee at the
suss time thrown violently to the ground, and • be
have fallen upon her head. and to have been in all p
killed oe the spot. The deceased lady wu about thirty...a
years of age. We understand that the county police WSW.
rides are making strict inquiries into the circumstances mak.
nected with the distressing occarrenos.—Adielmrsh lapror.