The Express.
London, England, 1860-10-02 00:00:00

SHOCKING MURDER NEAR NEWCASTLE.

(From the Newcastle Chronicie.)

A murder of a frightful character has been com-
mitted at a cottage adjoining Urpeth Corn Mill, about seven
miles from Newcastle, a place very retfred, being about a
Quarter of a mile distant from any other dwelling, and a
thinly populated district.
The person who oommitted the murder is Milner Lockey,
a man about 60 years of age, and coarse featured, who, about
three months ago, was separated from his wife by order of
the Chester-le-Street bench of magistrates. Since that
time he has been working at Leasingthorne Colliery, near
Bishop Auckland. Mrs. Lockey, after the departure of her
husband, removed to the cottage adjoining the Urpeth Corn
Mill. Some shorttime ago, Thomas Harrison was appointed
bailiff over certain crops lately belo4ng to • Mr. Bell, now
bankrupt. Harrison lodged in Mrs. Lackey's house.
Lackey, It paid his wife a visit about a fortnight
ago ; and on Saturday evening between eight and nine
o'clock, he again returned to the home, and on entering
said to his wife, " How is thou?" His wife became afraid
at the manner in which the words were addressed to her,
when Lockey said, " Thou'll not be Ling here ;" and so
saying, be drew from his pocket a large sharp-pointed
lock-knife, opened it, and struck his wife a blow on the
chest. The bone in her stays, however, caused the knife
to glance off. He struck her again with the same effect ;
then, lowering his hand, he aimed a biow at her bowels ;
but the knife, very fortunately, entered the thigh, caus-
ing a wound an inch deep, and penetrating to the bone. Harri-
son, who was in bed during these murderous attempts, raised
himself upend begged Lockey not to kill his wife. Lockey,
thinking his last stroke had proved fatal to his wife, turned
upon Harrison, and, with an oath, plunged the same knife
into his left breast, inflicting a wound nx inches in depthi
and whilst the knife was in the wound he moved it in all
directions. Harrison fell back dead.

When Lockey entered the house his two children were
presoak and on seeing him attack their mother they tied to
the nearest neighbours, sod brought with them two
"kinds" (farmlaborers). These men reached the house
juat aa Mrs. Lockey was making her escape from the house,
having (although severely wounded) sand the knife from
her husband, fully expecting he would kill her when he
found that his fiat attempt bad failed. She palmed the
hinds, and Lockey pursued her, the two men standing by
and making no attempt to prevent him, although he was
now unarmed. Mra Lockey ran up • steep hill. and
reached • field of barley (snout), where her husband lost
her. Lackey then escaped.
A messenger was despatched for Sergeant Robinson, of
Chester-le-Street, who, Lakin with him an officer, pro-
ceeded with the utmost haste to the spot. The officers
searched the immediate neighbourhood without avail. The
sergeant then returned to Cheder-le-Street anddeepatched
an account of the murder and a description of Lockey to the
various superintendents of the county. Having done this,
he returned to the scene of the murder with police-con-
stable Mallaby, and began a minute search of the neigh-
bourhood ; and at dull-put nine o'clock on Sunday morn-
ing they apprehended Lockey in a pig-sty near Urpeth, and
bordering on • large wood.
During the whole of the night Lockey had lain
under a holly bush, although the rain fell in torrents,
and he hod just taken up hie quarters in the pigsty
when he was discovered. He was brought to Chester-
le-Street police station yesterday at 12 o'clock, where he
now remains. The murder has caused the greatest excite-
ment in the neighbourhood, and numbers of people congre-
gated round the place early on Sunday morning.
The unfortunate deceased was well known, and, in hie
sphere, highly respected in Newcastle. He was a married
man, his age being fortyeiz airaz; sod his residence was in
in Bleodfordetreet, thk Some years ego he
occupied the position of inspector in the borough police
force, having been stationed at the Onseburn. On his die-
miseal from that office he became rather dejected in spirits
and op to • recent period he had been in a delicate state of
health. Yesterday morning, knowing his poorly condition,
his son, • young man about eighteen years of age, left
Newcastle, with the view of proceeding to IJrpeth ; but
learning, when within two miles of that place, the melan-
choly news, he returned and conveyed the intelligence to
his mother and the other members of the family. The per-
petrator of the foal deed and his wife, who has so nar-
rowly escaped • fatal end, have both been twice married ;
and there are, we understand, children on both sides. About
four or five mouths ago, the prisoner was charged before
the magistrates at Chosterde-Street with violently aseault-
fag Mrs. Lockey ; and since then the two have been living
apart from each other. As yet, no satisfactory reason has
hems arraigned for the shocking alms. The inquest will be
held to-day, but only, we believe, to be formally adjourned
for the production of more contplete evidence.