Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-10-12 00:00:00

THE MURDER OF A WIFE IN LONDON.

The Coroner for the West Middlesex Riding, held an inquest on
Saturday, on the body of the poor woman,Marths Davis, whose throat
was cut by her husbtnd on Tuesday night last. 'llls inquiry was
held at the lioyal Willam publichouse, Ball's-pond-road, and the
room, as well as the place in front of the house, was crovde I with
peop'e. The evidence was similar to that given by the witnesses
before the police magistrate, with the addition of one or two unim-
portant facts. The jury almost immediately on the co sclusion of
the evidooce, retuene I a verdict of " wi11..1 murder " against Dais
the husband, and the usual warrant of the Co oner was made oat
f.r his committal to NewBatt. He is at present in that prison under
a magistrate's committal. The greatest sympathy was expressed f.,r
the narortunate victim of her husbtnd's jealous fury. The house
where they resided has teen, with a morbid taste by no means com-
mendable, visited by hundreds of persons desirous to_ soak upon the
scene of the murder.

ANOTHER GREENACRE TRAGEDY.

SHOCKING MURDER AND MUTILATION OF
THE BODY.

In Saturday's paps- we mentioned the circumstance of the finding
of ' a carpet bag on Watsrloh Bridge, London, containing the
mangled and mutilated body of a gentleman who bad apparently
been barbarously murdered. The discovery was made in the follow-
ing way ;—On Friday morning, at about half-past eight, two youths,
accompanied by aa elder brother, waite I upon Mr. Su,.erintendent
Durkin, of the F Div Mon, at the Bow-street station, and made a
statement to the effect that the two youths were in a boat rowing on
the river Thames that morning between five and six o'clock, and as
they were about to pass through one of the arches of Waterloo-
bridge, their attention was attracted by a bundle on one of the
buttresses.. They palled up as soon as passible, in order to se'ze
what they considered a prize. When abreast of the buttress, they
discovered that the bundle which they had noticed was a large
travelling or carpet bag. With the ass stance of their oars they
succe del in getting the bag into the boat. They then discovered
that it was tightly corded, and that in addition there was some ten
or twelve yards of string. This has led the polite to the belief that
the coreh.sd been used for the purpose of quietly dropping the bag
into the river without making any splash or sound. which wenld
at once have called the attentiea of the officers of the Thames police
station, which is moored off the spot, or of the numerous vvaterreen
who ply off the stars on either side of the bridge; bat instead of the
bag going into the water and floating with the tide to some other spot,
or from the circusestanee of the cord not being sufficiently long to
swing it into the drat -r,. it lodged up en Vie buttress, where it was
found. When the boys got the big into the bolt they found it wcs
excessively heavy, and as the tide was running very strong at the
time, all their energies were required to manage the boat. They
therefore decided to take the bag home before they opened it. Upon
arriving at thtir residence they communicated the fact of the finding
of the bag to their elder brother, who at once p.Oceelel to examine
the contents. On cutting the string and opening the bag, one of the
most horrible spectas es that it is possible to imagine presented itself
to their view—portions of a human body, bones from which the flesh
had been rudely torn off, and garments saturated with blood. lmme_
diately on finding this to bs the cal, the elder brother, accompanied
by the two youths, repaired to Bow-street station, taking with them
the bag. After stating the mysterious nature of the !Lading. and
what, as far as they had discovered, the bag containef, Mr. Supt. Dur-
k'n deemed it neesesery to seed for Mr. Painter (the divisional sur
geon), who at once cause to the station, and an examniticn of the
bag and its contents then took place-. The result of the examination,
which was most carefully and minutely made I y Mr. Painter, in the
presence of Mr. Durkin, showed the bog to contain a great number
of the diltsrent portions of a human body, of the male sex. The
parts found c msisted of the legs, arms, weedy the whole of the spinal
co'nmn, the buttock joints, and the shoulder joints. The whole of
she head, wit s several cervicles of the vertebrae, the h-in is and the
feet, were absent. With regard to the condition of the remains, it
was found that the greater portion of the flesh had been very roughly
removed. Thera were, however, some portions of the muscles re-
maining on the limbs. These ware impregn ited with a saliae matter'
as if the body had been placed in brine or ralted, and it is the opinion
of the surgeon and police that such a course bad been adopted in
order to prevent any smell which might arise from decomposition
before the diabolical arrangements had been completed for th 3 dis-
posal of the body. There were in all about twenty pieces, the large
braes of the legs and arms having been rudely s twa into pieces ;
the fo mer having been divided near the joints of the knees and
thigh, and one of the knees had been torts asunder, portions of

t e muscular flesh and tegunents remaining on the differ: nt
pieces of bone. It would appear that the brine or salt had
not penetrated through the entire body, the sockets of the
hip joints having on them some amount of flesh, which had
become decomposed. Th's one feet loads the surgeon to surmise
that the murder hal been perpetrated some days; but upon this
point no certainty prevails in consequence of the preparation used
having tended to preserre the other pections of the flesh remaining
on the bones. From the absence of the head, it is impossible to
guess eves at the age of the unfortunate man, but from the
appearance of the bones of the limb +, Mr. Painter is of opinion shot
the dsceesed was a fall-sized, fine, robust man. in the bog was also
found an overeolt, male of a bee en mixture, the sleeves lined with
red silk, the fiont fly-fazed with block silk, and the tails lin d with
black alpaca. It contained two pockets behind, and one breast
pocket. This coat, which was made of a vary .e material, such
as only a person in a geed p esition of life would be likely to wear,
was literally cat in two up the back, and contained several holes, in
front, abut the left breast and lower part, evidently made with some
sharp instrument, and was much bleal-stehael. There was also a
single-breasted black cloth frock coat, m ode of good material, lined
with black a'paca, and having a cloth batten loop attached. with a
breast poeaet outside. This coat was also in two pieces, cut up the
back, saturated with blood, and having holes in it corresponding
exactly in number and size wills those in the over oat. Th• re was
ale a double-breasted block cloth vest, with a buckle strap behind,
and like the two preceding garments, via up the back, and in two
pieces. The waistcoat also had holes in the front, by the le:t breast,
similar to those in the coats. A pair of t oussea was ads o fervid. The y
were mile of rough Oxford mixture, or tweed, with fly front, small
yellow waistband, and metal buttons. These also were cat up tho
back, saturated with blood, and had several holes about the abdomen.
Two shirts were a'so found in the bag, one of which was made of line
long cloth, with linen front, wristeands, and collar, the front being
plated in small plaits, stitched up, an 1 having two sery small wh to
bone buttons. The other was an under shirt, of merino, with
covered buttons. Both the •e articles were soake 1 with blood, and
had cor:eip.mling holes in front. They were likewise cut c .m-
-pletely up the back. Thera was also a pair of elastic lawn drawers
wth one metal and one bone button on tae waistband. These were
cut, and had holes in them the same as the trowsers, and were
saturated with blood. There was only one sock ie the bag, and that
was a thick white cots on one. The e are no initials, or name, or
mark of any description on any of the articles above enumerated that
teed to throw any light on the matter as to the identiicavion of the
deceus d. From the above description of the articles of Wear-
ing apparel discovered with the mangled remains in the bag,
it will be seen that every one of • them contains holes exactly
similar in size, position, and nu nb3r, and not the slightest
doubt is en•ertained th it they were caused by some pointed
instrument, such as a knife or dagger: consequently it seems certai
that the deceased mast hove bead murdered by being s'abeed with
such a weapon, and it is also c'e r that the deceased had bean stabbed
a great many times, as the e are no fewer than seven punctures in
the clothes in the immediate vicinity of the regi in of the heart,
while there are several others abort the able nen. oae extraord nary
feature in th's case is, that while tire various articles of clothes,
together with the portions of the mangled leady, ware quite wet with
water, lhe ban; containing them was perfectly dry. It would seem,
therefore, that the clothes and rem dna had been placed in the be; a
short time before it was deposited whore it was found, and a'so tt at
the bag must have boon placed on the but'ress; for had it fl mated
from any pert of the river, and then lodged on the buttress, the bag
must undoubtedly have been wet. k may be mentions 1 that the bag
iu which the rema'ns were found is a full sized travelling ca"pet bag
with two handles, and had evidently seen some wear. '1 here aro no
marks on it, but it has a patent lack, which was not fastened, for
when found it was secured by a piece of cord. In the inside
cf the frame there is a par ation, bat the lining has been

torn our, cons cineatif its contents had been indiscriminately thrust
in. From the fact that the clothing was cut up the back, it is
the opinion of those who are investigating the case that after life was
extinct the deseas2d had been 141.1 on his face, and his clothes deli.
herately ripped off his body by the assassins for the purpose of
cut ing off the flesh and dividing the limbs. The examination by the
surgeon having pr eves beyond a don'it that the remains were those
of a gsatlemaa who had been murdered, Mr. Super:ntendent
Darkia eelect d soms of his most active officers to investigate the
case, with a view, if possible, to unravel the mysterious and ex,ra-
ordinary circumstances by which it is sarrouada 1, but unf tunately
up to this time very lit:le has been aicerta7aed. We may mention,
however, that ens point appears to be satisfctorily established, viz ,
that the bag was deposited in the plate by a female, for It had been
ascertained that a rather elderly woman passel through th 3 foot
pags;ngers' toll-gate about twelve o'clock on ThuraJay night. The
money-taker on duty at that rims remembers t .at such a person
ams up with a large carpet-bag which appeared to be vary weighty
and owing to the narrowness of the turnstile she was unable to pas ;
throu4ll with it. The money-taker accordingly himself lift3.l it over
for her; and he a serted, on hearing of the discovery, that he took
particular notice of the bag, as it had a flower worked in.. the centre
of the material of which it was male. He has, we understand, been
shown t te bag, is which the remains were foand, ant expresses his
ahilityto swear that it is the one which he saw in, the woman's
hand, and which he lilted over the turastqs for her oa Thursday
night. At that time there was no cord attached to it ; so it would
appear, shoald this turn out to be the one, thatthe woman must have
fastened the cord to it as she passed along the bridge, and have
lowered it oa to the buttress from oae of tea receisas of the bridge.
The poise are using every exedion to diseurar the woman, and we

:rust that ere loag she will be in tae hanii of jastic-!.

At a late hour on Friday night the pollee authorities were put in
possession of a description of the fernada who p used over the bridge
with the bag c mtainiug the mutiVatedd, ieuntins of the mardered man
en Thursday night. She is do6cribei as being of short stature and
rather stout, about 50 or SC years of age, pale complexioned and grey
b. dr. She was dressed in a bl ..ek silk manie, and a drab silk or
s it n bonnet. When speken IA by Harrington, the money taker at
the bridge, she answered in a very gruff and masculine tons of vole,
evidently assum,cl to throw off tsuslition. In add tion to the above
description eO.llO now ftatnres of some importance have come to
light. The woman, whoever she is passed on t i the bridge from the
Middlesex side, and bas4le the carp it-bag she carried a brown pap .r
parcel of somewhat large dim msion. That parcel Is now rupposed
to have contained, the head and other parts of the body which
are missing, and it is• believed that the woman lowered that
parcel into the 'water, and that it floated away with the tide.
Should such be the case, it no doubt will be discovered, for a strict
watch will be ke/it on the river Thames. The police have had their
attention drAwn to the c'rcumstance that if the bag ant parcel had
ben brought from a disn.a ice they must ha, e teen conveyed ire a c:.b
or other ved cle to the neighbourhood of the bridge, as their weight
would render it imoosdble f a* an elderly wo min to have carried
them far herself. The authorities therefore have adopted measures
for ta,certaiaing, if possible, the different vesicles that were discharged
in the neighbourhood of the Strand or Waterloo-bridge on, the

hursday night. Another paint of some importance in elucidating
the mystery which surrounds this horrible affair is the fact that the
poles In the valous articles of clothing found in the big* were
turned insi•le out, and not a single ar ide was frond in any of thenr
The inference to be drawn from this is that the unfortunate man mast
have been robbed. . •

An application has been made to Sir George Grey, the principal
Secretary of State for the Home Department, to offer a government
reward for the apprehension of the murderer or murderers, and it is
expected that an announcement cf assent will be trade. Mr. Super-
inter dent Durkin and several active officers of the detective force are
indefatigable in their endeavoara to trace the women seen by the
tollnum to pass through the wick t at Waterloo-bridge, and search
has been mad- and is a ill being prosecuted for the head and other
missing portions of th - body. It is considered probable that had the
parcel, which is supposed to contain them, been thrown Inc' the river
at the time specified of the female passing—nearly dead low water—
it could not have floated to any great distance ; and the galleys of the
Thames Police, with efficient crews, and other boats, are' engaged in
endeavouring he effect a discovery. It is now placed beyond the p.m-
slbi ity of a doubt that th- assassination and robbery weeperpetrated
on the Surrey side of the river; be this as it may, the pierce have
' orders to rep .rt any suspicious circumstances that may aisle at houses
of ill-fame with which the Waterloo-road abounds, as wee as those in
. the vicinities ttf the theatres ore tee no th side of the river ; and
en deice are bring mica to ascertain if any person, whose eloth.ne
answers the description is- missing. The police, it is stated, are in
possession of a clue which may lead to a solution of the mystery.
They, how-ever, obserre the strictest silence.
The Observer of yesterday publishes the fo lowing additional 741'-
1 tientars :.—" Up to a late h tar on Satu:day night no satisfactory clue
had been obtained bit the polite celculatel to lead to the detection of
the guilty parties. The statement of Heury Fteerington is a most
important one. Ha is one of the toll collectors of the bridge, and wee"
on duty during the usual twenty-four hours, from ten o'c'ock on- ,
Thursday morning to tea o'closee the following morning. He states
that about half-past eleven a woman; apparently between 50 and GO
years of age, and whose description. is given in another account, was
pausing through the turnstile, but hs.vineea large brown paper parcel
in one hand, and a carpet bag in ths-o.her, which she dragged after
her, caused the-turnstile to turn throughtwo of its quarters instead of
one, thus registering two pessmgers on tha " tall tale" instead of one
by which he lost a hilfpeaey. He stites that he was annoyed at this,
and said to the woman, "What are yon blundering at there? If yon
can't carry the bag; why didn't you let me lift it over for you," or
something to that effect. He then took the bag from her hand, lifted
it over, and placcdlit on the top of the turnstile. The womal turned
full round to take the bag off, and the light from the lamp falling
upon her face, enabled Etherington distinctly to see her features. He
has since seen the carpet bag and identified it, and believes that he
could identify the woman who carried it on this occas'en.
Another person who came forward was a men who is known as
"Bill," a sort of hanger-on at the New Inn, opp mite Astley's
Theatre, ani he stated that on the rams night (Chars ley) he was
standing at the corner or the Beivilere-road after his labours of the
day were over, when a men and a women came up to the place where
he was standing, anti ha led a cab. The man, he says, had in his
ha,d a icetg and bulky carpet bag, bu': he does not remember that
the woman had a Rime. He perfectly retollects• that tee man was
fussy aed fidgetty about his bag, and that when ha attempted to take
it titan him in order to put it in the cab, theanen said—" I can do
very well without, your services, and prevented him from taking it."
Tno man then gave hi -1 a penny, and the wo nan went away alone in
the cab, LIU ,g 'with tier the bog, the man giving directions that the
wsto b 3 driven to Regent Circus. As soon as, the cab had lest the
man ware I down Belviiere•rotd, bet shorty afterwards returned,
and hailing another cab, drove off in another direction--that is,
toe ards the York-roil, where he was lost s,ght or, and it is supposed
from this that the woman pro Tedel he the Itliddlesex side of
Waterloo-bridge, while the man went on to the bridge at tee Surrey
eed. But " Bill " says farther that the woman had a veil over her
face and he could not see her features, and thinks she was about 25
years of age, and would not know the man again if he were to
sea him. Several other persons attended at the office, but their
statements have not added much to the information already
possessed on the sod jest. A body of the Thames police have been
constantly engaged dragging the river, in hopes of finding the brown
paper parcel or other portions of the body, but without success. Sus-
p don attaches to too females, of whom, for obvious reasons, it
would not be prudent at th- present stage of tee inquiry to say more
than that they are ca efully watched, under the direction of Mr.
Durkin. The whole of the machinery of the police force throughout
the countri has been already put in. action fur the detection of the
offenders. Few persons have any idea of the completeness and
rapidity with which this force can bs set in motion. Immediately
on the discovery of the bones, information giving a descripion of the
bag and its contents was sent to every division. In less than three
hours 'he printed " informations" of the police were in the hands of
the whole of the metro„olitan farce. The public are generally
acquainted with daily morning, and evening papers, but they are not
aware that there is a "journal" printed, and distributed every three
hours through every division of the tnetropolean police. The Police
Gazette, which is puteished on Friday morning,. was stopped as it was
going to press, in order to insert ail that wad keowa respecting the
supposed murder, and the discovery of the bones ; three hours after,
every policeman on duty in Londe n was engaged in making
inquiries rt the cab-stan Is, whether any cabman had set
down a fare between eleven and twelve o'e :tick at or near Waterloo-
bridge. The results of ell these inquiries were known early on
Saturday morning. Vast amid compl :0, however, as is the orgsnisa•
tion of the peace force, aided as it is by electric telegraphs, photo.
graphy, and the printing press. its inquiries are not unfrt quently
baffled by the precautions taken by criminals to evade capture.
Everythieg that can be done to-unravel the mystery connected with
this latest tragedy, end bring the guilty parties to j istice, if foul
eeeraer 8,13 130..tu t.,,,,r, ‘,..:tt-,,1, wt. t, ~.... ..... $-• .nfiriAnt. b 3 accompliseed
by the indefatigable exertions of Seperintendent Durkin. The inquest
on the rem sins of the body is fixe 1 to take place on Monday, at three
o'clock. The hence are now in a sealed pan at the station in Bowe
street, and are preserved in a solution of al ern and nitre. A more
minute inspection made on Saterdey night of the el tthes found in the
bag with trio Wises, shows th ,t f oar stabs were muds through the
co .t of the decease] upo 1 the left shmleer, and the blood from these,
wounds has stained the inside of the waistcoat.

THE BELFASr TEA FRAUDS.

FROM. OUR OWN C IRRESPaNDENT.

The persols in custody for the aboie fraud 3, we-e bro aght up
°dare the magistrates on S iturday, and were reminded till Wednes.
day. The prisoner 113nlay was admitted to bail in personal security
of X3O ), aid tw ) secarities of each. The oth,r primers were
re-cammittal. This result has crea'el considerable surprise.