The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-21 00:00:00

SIIOCKI.VG MURDER NEAR STAFFORD.

A horrible murder was committed at Coppenhall,
near Stafford, yesterday. An old woman named Ellen Buckley
was found dead in her own house soon after 6 o'clock in
the evening, with her head nearly severed from her body.
Suspicion points to a man named John Cooper, who worked
for a neighbouring farmer, and who had been in the habit
of taking his dinner at the deceased's house. He was
arrested on the serious charge within an hour or two of the
discovery of the murder, and he is now in custody at the
police station, at Stafford.
Ellen Buckley, the murdered woman, was about 70
years of age, and lived in a small cottage at Coppenhall,
which is at some distance from any other house. Her hus-
band died about twelve months ago, and since then she had
been supported by her two sons, one of whom resides near
Liverpool, while the other lived with the deceased, and
worked for a farmer at Coppenhall. The accused, John
Cooper, is a labourer, living at Dunston, about two miles
from Coppenhall. He is married and has several chil-
dren, the eldest of whom is about fourteen. He has
been employed for some years as a labourer by Mr.
Ward, farmer, of Coppenhall, and the deceased had, as a
matter of kindness, allowed him to take his dinner at bee
house when he did not choose to go home for that purpose.
It appears that about 20 minutes pant 6 yesterday even-
ing, Mr. J. W. Moore, of the Toft Farm, between Dunstan
and Coppenhall, was passing Mrs. Buckley's house, when he
saw a land roller in the road, and thinking it might lead to
an accident, he called at the house with the intention of
asking the old woman to request her son to remove the
implement when he returned from work. On entering
Mr. Moore found the old woman lying on the floor, and
imagining at first that she might be in a fit, she having
been subject to such attacks, he went up to her. Observ-
ing come blood about he at first supposed that she had
broken a blood vessel, and called to a man named Salt,
a shepherd in the employ of Mr. R. M. Wright, farmer,
who was in a field about 150 yards off. Mr. Wright after-
wards came up, and he and Mr. Moore on examiog the old
women more closely found that there was a very large and
deep cut in the back of her neck, which had apparently
been inflicted with a billhook or some such instrument.
There was also a frightful gash on each cheek, which
might also have been inflicted by the point of the billhook.
There was a quantity of blood on the poor woman's clothes
and also near the fireplace, in which she lay with her head
against the fender. 'There was a table knife lying near,
the point of which had blood upon it, but it is
not supposed that this was used as a weapon by
the murderer. There was a loaf of bread on the table,
which may account for the knife being near. The
weapon with which the murder was committed is sup-
to be a formidable-looking billhook, which was
rand in the prisoner's house when he was arrested.
Mr. Moore having cursorily examined the body, rode
on horseback to Stafford and gave information to
the police. Inspector Adams and Sergeant Bradshaw
at once drove over to Coppenhall in a cab, and
ascertained that the man John Cooper had been
seen at deceased's house early that afternoon,
and that she had sent for some one to turn him
out. The officers proceeded to the prisoner's house at
Dunston and arrested him on the charge of wilful murder.
He made no reply, and has not said a word since he has
been in custody.
There was blood upon his clothing and also upon a
bill-
hook which was found in his house. The accused has
acted very strangely of late, and those, who knew him best
consider that he Is insane, and he has, it is said, threat-
ened to cut his own throat. He is now in custody at
the Stafford police-station, and will be brought before the
magistrates to-morrow.—Staffordskirc Advertiser.