The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-26 00:00:00

THE CASE OF MR CONVICT TOOMER.

Yesterday afternoon a deputation, consisting of
several friends of the family of Miss Partridge (for a rape
upon whom Neville Maskelyne Toomer, a widower.
of Reading, is undergoing 13 years' penal servitude)
waited upon the Right Hon. S. H. Walpole, the Home
Secretary, with reference to the use, and several gentle-
men from Reading were also. present. The right bon.
gentleman heard the representations made with great
patience and attention, and the interview was regarded by
the deputation as being highly satisfactory.

THE DREADFUL TRAGEDY AT BUCKH VAST

HILL.

LATEST PARTICULAR&-(THIS DAY.)

BIICKHUBST-HILL, FRIDAY.
The young woman, Matilda Grippe, was this
morning seen by Dr. Horne. He found her suffering
from the effects of her wounds, and also from acute in-
flammation of the lungs, which had been brought
on by the exposure to the cold while she was lying
in the grass during the rain on Tuesday night and
Wednesday morning. It is thought that the young
woman is a little better this morning than she was yester-
day, but hopes of her ultimate recovery cannot be given.
She improved greatly after the magistrates had taken her
depoeitions ; the narration of her story appeared to give
ease to her mind. She is at present in a state of the most
intense pain, and the doctor has ordered that no one is to
be allowed to speak to her. She is very anxious to speak
to her relatives, but the necessity for strict silence has been
imposed upon her.
She war to have been married to her lover F. A. Wat-
kins, and her wedding dress was actually bought and made
sic months ago, but she told the accused that she could
not think of leaving her mother and her home. The ac-
cused offered fear times to marry her, but on each occasion
she refused, it is stated, in consequence of hearing that a
relative of his had said, "If you marry her you shall never
darken our doors again." The young man was well able
to support her, and he told her so. He had been
brought up to the trade of a watchmaker and silversmith,
and even after the child was born he again offered to marry
her. He then made up his mind that if he could not
have her no one else should, and from circumstances that
have come to light it is now known that the tragic affair
had been planned at least two days
The field in which it occurred has been visited yester•
day and to-day by large crowds.
From a statement which the young woman made to her
friends, it appears that she fell upon her knees when her
lover attacked her and begged for mercy. She then re-
ceived a dagger wound in her breast, and she became un-
conscious She was brought beck to sensibility by feeling
the dagger enter her body several times. She then saw
her assailant leaning over her, listening in order to hear if
she breathed.

Watkins first became acquainted with the girl in cense.
quence of lodging near her father's house. His father
bought a piece of land for 4,000 f., and he sent him down
to superintend the work of some patent brick-
making machines. When his friends discovered his ►t-
tachment to the girl they disapproved of it.

THE TONIC SOL-FA CHORAL SOCIETY.