The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-05-23 00:00:00

MURDER OF MISS BF.LI. SCARBRO'.

A most horrid and singularly atrocious murder
Was committed on Cayton Sand,, near Scarbro', in
the night between the i Idi and Itch instant, on the
body of Miss Bell, a fine young woman, about six-
teen years of age, eldest daughter of Mr. Bell,
confeEtioner, of Scarhro'. The following detail of
the circumstances we have been favoured with by a
person upon the spot, and who has had every op-
portunity of acquainting himself with the whole of
what is known respe&ing this melancholy event :

On the afternoon preceding the murder, Miss Bell
was accosted in the street by a private in the York
Volunteers (with whom she had some previous ac-
quaintance), who pressed her to take a walk with
him in the evening, and to this she unfortunately
assented ; about nine o'clock in the evening she left
her father's house, and, to avoid the notice of the
family, were out at a back door, through a neigh-
bour's house, who, when apprised of her intention,
attempted to dissuade her from it, by assuring her
that her pretended lover was a married man. She
discredited this information, and joined him in the
street, according to appointment ; she was soon
missed by the family, who enquired anxiously for
li-tr in the neighbourhood ; as the night 'advanced,
they extended their search through the town dining
the whole of the night, but without success.--
About eleven o'clock in the morning, informatio
was received that a female (which proved to be this
unfortunate young woman) was found dead on
Cayton Sands, about two miles and a halt from
Scarben', laying about two yards within the highs
water mark, her head towards the sea, and in a on-
. sition which left no doubt of the most brutal at.,
tempt h wing been made upon her chastity. Many
shncking bruises appeared on various parts of her
body, particularly on her left temple ; her nose was
greatly swelled, and her chin scratched apparently
with finger-nails ; her cloathes were much tom, and
upon the whole, exhibited every appearance of a
dreadful struggle having taken place.
A great number of feet marls; were discerned up-
on the sands near the body, but which did not extend
either way along the beach. Upon the opening of
the body, two surgeons, who attended the Coroner's
inquest, were decidedly otopinion that Miss Bell's
death was occasioned by strangulation, a large quan-
' tity of clotted blood being found in her throat. On
Saturday the Coroner's Inquest returned a verdict
of Wilful 3.lfteder against some persons unknown.
A private in the York Vo'Jinteers (whose name
we decline mentioning) was apprehended at ‘!:11-
ton, and examined by two of the county Magistrates
at Scarhro'. On the examination, Mies Bell, sister
to the deceased, deposed that the prisoner was the
same person that addressed her sister in the Street,
requesting her to walk with him. The brother to
the deceased also deposed to his having seen him on
the Monday preteding conversi g with his sister at
her father's door ; Mrs. Brown, the neighbotir be-
fore-mentioned, also swore that the prisoner was the
person who walked away with the deceased on the
preceding evening. To lessen the weight of this
last evidence, another woman, who was with her at
the time, allowed she could not, owing to the ad-
vanced hour of the evening. clearly distinguish his
person. The prisoner totally denied having any ac-
ntiaintance with, or ever being in company with the
deceased, except having once spoken to her on the
seauroay .iitior the arrival of the corps in Scarhro',—
An dial was also sat up and established to the rt-
tisfadion of the Magistrates; the prisoner was in
consequence discharged.
The person who was last seen wish her, was
dressed in a volunteer's uniform. There is also
a strong presumption that he was not a resident
of Scarhro', from the circumstance of his being ig-
norant of the height of the tide at high water, as
there was no doubt, but the murderer intended the
body to be washed away by the flowing of the tide,
and yet (as if by providential interposition) it was
so placed as to disappoint his intention of burying
this bloody deed in oblivion, the o- •er having
merely wetted her cloaths, The approach from
Scarhro' to the place where the batty was
found is very difficult, being over great and uneven
rocks, and the country round it is very desolate.
well fitted for the perpetration of deeds of blood. It
is supposed the unfortunate victim had been seduced
to walk thither with her murderer by a better and
snore circuitous route, and to return home by this
rugged road ; where her strong resistance to his
brutal designs ended in her murder, as the profes-
sional men who examined the body have certified that
no violation was t fieded. And here we think it right
to observe, that the condud of this hapless victim to
brutal rage hal always been free from censure; and,
except in the siegle instance which terminated in her
death, she was never known to have walked in the
night even with ps rsnns of her own sex—and her pa-
rents, on account of her womanly appearance at so
tender an age, were snlicitnusly anxious to prevtnt her
forming any conned lois which could endanger either
her virtue or peace of mini—the atrocious deed has
excited at Scarhro' among all ranks of people the ut-
most ho-ror and indignation, and we trust that no ex-
ertions will be spared to bring the perpetrator to speedy
justice—this is a duty of the fi: st obligation on the
corps of Volunteers before alluded to, and we trust
that every possible investigation will be made by Co-
' lonel Baines and every Officer and individual of the
corpi into the horrid transadion. This obligation
jet the more imperious, as we have the authority of
the innocent victim's father to say, that the two Vo-
lunteers, who were brought t., pmve the alibi, had
the inhumanity to wound the feelings of her parents,
by behaving in a very indecent manner at the fune-
ral ; and, as if this tragical event had been matter
of triumph, they even placed . ibis us in their hats be-
fore they left the town.

One day last week, as some men were employed
in felling a large oak, neat Roller, in the patish or
Horsham, the tree fell in a diration that was not
expeeted, and unfortunately ttpm one of the w'rk-
men, named Richard %Varsall, who seas in conse-
quence killed upon the spot.

COUNTRY HOUSE, FURNISHED, fee Nine Mouths, with
immediate Rseemeion.
To be LETT, by Mt 4.15. BURTON and VENNOR,

A Capital, commodious DWELLING HOUSE,
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To be siewed, with Tickets only, which, with further Pas,
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ROMAN COINS.
Ea LEIGH, SOTHEBY, and SON,

On THURSO N,Y,.the 31seinst..aa! follnwi;ig Day,
AGenuine and Seleft COLLECTION of RO-
MAN COINS and MEDALS, in copper, Silver, and
QM. u. :*thefn tare and in fine preiervatiosi. Alto a
7:yv • 'e.na.

• • ' AF.TIINALL-GREEN.
•
• -0 TON and VENNOR,
Oa TUESDAY,
1.
Tnelve oVlock, at (Amway's,
by .1.. Proprietor,
THE LEASE of 1..v0 BRICK DWELLING-
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• • Aare lest to
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To be viewed, and Particulars had time days • tb"
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