The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-27 00:00:00

Murder in Worcestershire.

Yesterday a man named John Butler, keeper of one of
the navigation locks on the River Severn at Holt Fleet,
about six miles from Worcester, was lodged in Worcester
county gaol on the coroner's warrant charged with the wil-
ful murder of Catherine Gulliver, his housekeeper. The
accused is 62 years of age, and the deceased was about 44.
The prisoner is the oldest servant of the Severn Improve-
ment Commissioners, and had charge of the locks at Holt.
Four years ago his wife died, and the deceased woman went
to live with him as his housekeeper, and there could be no
doubt that they lived together as man and wife. Some
jealousy arose between them. On one occasion the prisoner
threatened to drown the deceased, and she had consequently
appealed to the police, and the officer of the district had re-
monstrated with Butler, and cautioned him as to his con-
duct. On Saturday, the 13th inst., which was the last time
the deceased was seen alive, she went to a neighbour's at
half-past 11 at night, and said Butler had threatened to lock
her out. She then proceeded towards Butler's house, and
cries were heard proceeding thence at about 12 o'clock. The
deceased was heard to say, "You --old scamp, you
old villain." A lockman named Harris and his wife heard
this, and also a noise like the bleating of a sheep. The noise
at first appeared to proceed from between Butler's house and
the lock (about 30ft distant), and gradually grew fainter.
They did not interfere, thinking it was only an ordinary
quarrel between the two. Mrs Gulliver was never seen
afterwards alive, and when Butler was questioned about her
be answered in a sullen manner, and evasively. The Harrises
asked Butler on the Sunday if it was Mrs Gulliver that was
bleeding at midnight, and he with some hesitation replied
that it was. The neighbours do not appear to have had their
suspicion aroused until three days had elapsed, when ru-
mours got abroad that Mrs Gulliver had been foully dealt
with, The Rev. J. G. Rogers, the officiating clergyman
in the parish, visited Butler, and questioned him about
her, but he made no answer to his inquiries beyond
saying that he did not know where she was. This con-
firming the suspicion excited, Butler was on Wednes-
day taken into custody. When charged by the constable
with the murder of the woman he made no remark beyond
the words, "Oh dear 1 Oh 1" Oa the same day the body
of the deceased was found about 20 yards below the lock in
the Severn at Holt. Mr Butigny, surgeon, Ombersley, who
examined the body of the deceased, deposed to the condition
in which he found it. He believed death to have been
caused partly by a blow and partly by drowning. It was
proved that the lock was full of water late on Saturday
night, and that it appeared in' the same state on Sunday
morning. Oa Sunday the gates were raised so as to pass
water out of the lock into the river. A labouring man
Knight proved that he saw the prisoner standing by the
side of the lock at half-past 5 o'clock on the Sunday morn-
inr, He was looking anxiously into the lock, and on seeing
Knight he retired to his house, peeped from the door, and '
watched him go away. The bonnet of the deceased, which
had been torn from her head, was produced by the police,
and the coroner having addressed the jury, they returned
a verdict of wilful murder against John Butler, who was
accordingly committed fur trial.

VALUE OF LAND IN NORM WALES.—Measra.
Leifchild and Cheffins offered a further portion of the Mostyn
estates at the Town-hall, hhyl, on Tuesday, the 16th They
comprised several fine farms, valuable accommodation lands,
extensive woods and plantations, and nearly the entire an-
cient borough town of Caerwys, containing together about
2,200 acres. The estate was put up in one lot (though divided
into 128 lots in the particulars of sale) at £70,000, and,
after a spirited competition, was knocked down at £85,000,
including the timber, to Mr Hugh Jones, of Wood-street,
Cheapside, who received the hearty congratulations of a
very large company on his purchase. As a proof of the
inadequate rentals at present received, wo are authorised to
state that 45 years' purchase was realised at this sale.—
CaniNian Daily Leader.