The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-07 00:00:00

Tn SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY ItVENING, JANVAR►Y 7, 1868,

TEE MURDER NEAR WIGAN.

WIGAN, Tuesday Afternoon,

Information of the murder of the fireman Bar-
ton, at Haigh, on Friday night or Saturday morn-
r. D ffield, the
beendistrict yesterdayforwarded to
issuedM his
instruc-
tions for the summoning of a jury. The Packet
Horse Inn, at the village of New Springs, in Haigh,
dinigstri last,et coron havinge r,
was fixed upon as the house at which the inquiry
should be held, and at noon this day the jury met.
There were present, with the Coroner, the Assistant
Chief Constable, Mr. King, of Bootle ; Superinten-
dent Ellison, of Pemberton ; Superintendent Orton,
of Leigh ; Inspector Peters, of Hindley, and Mr.
G. Daglish, J.P., surgeon, of Wigan. The principal
portions of the articles discovered in the ash-pit
were laid before the Coroner, and several witnesses
were in attendance. Before any steps were taken,
however, to open the inquest the police officers con-
sulted privately with the Coroner, and made inqui-
ries from the family of the deceased. The result of
the conversation was that the Coroner informed the
jury that after a consultation with the police officers
and the family of the murdered man he had decided
not to open the inquiry at present. The inquest
would,therefore, be adjourned szne dze,but due notice
would be givenwhen it was thought advisable to make
the evidence public. The reasons of this step are, we
understand, that the police think it might be'prejudi-
cial to them in their search for the murderers if the
whole of the information they have obtained and the
suspicions they ho'd were circulated at the present
time ; and that if the inquest was opened the Coro-
ner would have to issue his order for the inter-
ment of the remains—a course not at present thought
advisable by the officers, who wish them to be left in
their hands a short time longer. The jury offering
no objection, the opening of the inquest was ad-
journed sine die, and the proceedings terminated.
The crowbar with blood upon it, and a portion of
the fragments found in the furnace, have been for-
warded to Mr. J. B. Edwards, analytical chymist,
and his report is daily expected. None now have
any hope that the result of his investigation will
throw any doubt on the facts we have published.
Yesterday evening a meeting of county magis-
trates was held at Wigan, when Superintendent
Ellison and Inspector Peters, with whom was As-
sistant-Chief Constable King, of Bootle, made a state-
ment of the facts of which they were in possession.
Mr, Daglish, surgeon, informed his brother magis-
trates tha there could be little if any doubt that the
fragments which he had inspected were human
bones. It was stated that the Earl of Crawford and
Balcarres has offered a reward of £2OO for the ap-
prehension and conviction of the offenders, and it
was decided to communicate with the Secretary of
State to learn if Government would take any steps
to assist the local authorities in the detection of the
criminals.

We have in our account of this dreadful affair
spoken of the murder as having been committed by
more than one person. Our opinion has just been
amply confirmed by a conversation with a fireman
at the pit. He considers it impossible for one per-
son to raise the body of a full-grown man to the level
of the furnace and thrust it into the fire in the face
of the fierce heat which is felt when the door is
opened. " Whoever did it," said our informant,
"has had his whiskers brunned" (burnt).
It may not be a fact without importance that a

lunatic, named Taylor, a native of Aspull (the town-
ship which adjoins Haigh), on Thursday night
escaped from the Wigan workhouse through a win-
dow, from which the Lunacy Commissioners ordered
the bars to be removed, and has not since been
heard of. Nothing is more likely than that he
should make to his former residence, and many
persons consider it far from improbable that he has
been the murderer The great difficulty of the police
is to find a motive for the commission of the crime.
Though they may have had their suspicions aroused
in one or two quarters, yet we believe we are cor-
rect in stating that at present they have no solid
ground to work upon, and their labour is especially
difficult from its being almost impossible to find a
reason for the murder.
A few additional facts connected with the dis-
covery of the body have transpired. We learn that
when the men employed at the pit arrived at their
work about half-past 3 o'clock, Watmough, the
pony .driver, was sent to the farnaces for a few
burning coals with which to light a fire on the pit-
bank. He opened the first furnace, and said it
would be impossible to get any there, as some one
had, he thought, been filling it with wood. This
was the fire in which the remains were afterwards
found. The fire-hole was not again ♦isited till the
arrival of the son of the murdered man to lower the
men into the pit. He proceeded to make up the
fire in the furnace where his father's remains
were afterwards found, and, as the blood was not
noticed upon the door-plate till four hours after-
wards, it is horrible to think that during the whole
of this time the young man would be assist-
ing to destroy all traces of his parent. When
steam had been " got up" none of the men went
down excepting young Barton and the pony. driver,
who descended to see if the old man had fallen down
the shaft.

'the remains of the ashpit were examined yester.
day, when more half-burnt bones were found, prin
cipally welded to cinders. It was also noticed that
the clinkers were in many cases stained with blood

Some of the buttons found have evidently been upon
the trousers of the deceased, while others have
formed part of his shirt, the latter being of the kind
usually covered with linen. We have mentioned
the fact that the last homicide was committed in
the district nearly a quarter of a century ago, and
that the victim, an underlooker named Coniton, was
employed at one of Earl Crawford's collieries. We
have been informed by one of Barton's relatives
that he (Barton) actually worked under Coulton,
who was employed at the colliery where this sad
crime has been committed.

STATE OP TRADE.

MANCHESTER, Jan. 6.—The yarn market was
quiet in the early part of the day in consequence of
the high prices demanded by spinners, but towards
the close a better feeling manifested itself, and more
business was effected at about the prices current last
Tuesday. We seem to be quite recovered from the
depression caused by the excess in the stock of cot-
ton at Liverpool. The market closes firm, with a
decided t'mdency to higher rates. In cloth there is
also an entire recovery from the check to business
and prices caused by the return of stock at Liver-
pool, and sellers are firm at old prices. If there is
a change it is towards higher prices, but buyers are
acting cautiously, and the amount of business tran.
sacted has been very small. Still, those who are com-
pelled to execute orders through pressing wants, have
been unable to get on sh 111 of very full rates. The
belief is thatwe shall see higher prices. Manufacturers
are very willing to take orders for cloth to make,
and some of them take them for almost the price of
the yarns from which they will have to be made;
but orders are difficult to obtain even at these prices.
In the little business that has offered printing-cloths
have been as much inquired for as anything. There
has also been some inquiry from shippers to Alex-
andria for long-cloths suitable to that market, but,
anxious as manufacturers are to start again, they
have been unable to get prices sufficient to offer an
inducement, except in some few cases. There is
very little inquiry for domestics, although the time
has arrived when more business in this class of
fabrics may be expected. India shirtings and other
eastern goods are still much neglected, and there is
nothing in the recent advices from Calcutta and
Bombay
to hold out
trade much hope of an early im-
provement.houses are low in stocks,
Home
would be possible in this quarter, but for the check
and an improved business, judging from the inquiry,
given by high prices. Messrs. John Slagg and Co.
report :—" The market has completely recovered
from the slight depression which took place on the
declaration of cotton in Liverpool, and manufac-
turers are again firm holders for the full prices of
Tuesday last. Buyers, however, continue to act
very cautiously, and, with the exception of certain
qualities of printing-cloths, for which there is still
a fair demand, there is very little business doing."
NEWPORT (Monmouthshire), sth.—The iron trade
continues tolerably active, and several large orders
have recently come to hand. The trade generally
is in a far better state than it was at the corre-
sponding period of last year. Prices remain about
the same, but the current quotations are firm. The
confidence evinced at the preliminary meeting of
the Staffordshire ironmasters has had a favourable
influence on this district. There 'is no material
change to report in the coal trade. A good demand
exists for house and gas coals. A large quantity of
coke is now being sent from this district to Stafford-
shire, and in consequence increased employment is
afforded at the collieries. Prices remain unal-
tered.

ROCHDALE,
6th---There has not been quite so
much business done in the markets to-day as was
the aver age of the markets in December. Yet, con-
sidering that this was what is termed the last of
the old markets, the business was quite as good as
usual, and the tone of the trade was healthy. A
moderate amount of plain and fancy flannels were
bought at late prices. Manufacturers, owing to the
high price of wools, are stiff in their demands, and
are not eager to accept orders for future delivery
except at the highest current rates. Linseys and
other Yorkshire goods keep in brisk demand, and
at even better prices than of late. Wools are firm
in price, but to-day's sales are not extensive.
LEEDS, 6th.—The cloth market this morning has
not been fully attended. The sales of coloured cloth
which too place were confined to meltons and such-
liket light and fancy fabrics. It was evident that
the long continued demand for such goods is quite
unabated. At present manufacturers are bringing
little else to market. They find that as fast as they
can produce them they are bought up, and as good
prices are easily obtained they care not to trouble
themselves much about novelties. These goods are
taken almost altogether for purposes of export.
An immense quantity of them in fancy colours
are being made into shirts, and the Aus-
tralian houses are ready to take almost
any quantity. For the European continent
meltons are in considerable request. The
portion bought by houses in the home trade is very
slight indeed, but as these light woollens are ex-
pected shortly to become fashionable for ladies'
dresses as a substitute for those fabrics which are
now very dear, through the scarcity of cotton and
the high price of wool, the probability is that when
the shipping houses are supplied the exertions of
the manufacturers will be taxed in the same line
al et n ms adroki en mart ai tn t thee pvir ea sym tf moment ni sf trhea
for some time to come. A remarkable feature of
thelit t little woollen
trade. legitimate spring

America and the Lancashire Distress.

The following letter has been received at Man
chester :

"New York, Dec. 15, 1862.
" Gentlemen,—At a meeting of the citizens of
New York, held in this month, a committee was
appointed and denominated the International
Relief Committee,' for the purpose of collecting
supplies of food and forwarding them to Liverpool,
to be used for the relief of the suffering operatives
of Lancashire and other parts of Great Britain.
Copies of the appeal of that committee to the Ame-
rican people are herewith submitted for your
perusal. In it you will find pointed out with
suffi-
cient clearness the objects of the movement, and the
spirit in which they are sought to be accomplished.
Both, we we ec trust,contributions
trutions ib thus to be obtained are to be will receive your ready approval.
shipped freight free to the consignment of Messrs.
Daniel James, of the firm of Phelps, James, and
Co.; Stephen B. Guion, of the firm of Guion and
Co. ; Benjamin F. Babcock, of the firm of Ben-
jamin F. Babcock and Co., Liverpool, These gen-
tlemen are constituted a committee to receive the
shipments ; to procure, if possible, exemption from
all the expenses of importation, and to deliver them
to a committee of distribution well acquainted with
the districts where the food is to be consumed, and
with the wants of the poor operatives, and be able
to direct the supplies to those accessible points
where they will accomplish the most good.
" We are advised by some of your numerous per-
sonal friends here that you not only possess those
qualifications, but also that we shall find in you
earnest advocates of the cause in which we are en-
gaged and willing co-operators therein. We there-
fore have chosen you as a committee of distribution,
and solicit your acceptance of the office and assump.
tion of its duties. You also have authority in your
discretion to add to your number.
" In the famine which desolated Ireland during
the year 1847 the people of the United States con-
tributed largely to the relief of the sufferers. On
that occasion the British Government bore all the
expense of introducing the contributions into the
country, and the food was given to the consumers
without pecuniary loss or diminution.
" The vessels also which were laden with these
supplies and carried them freight free were exempted
from port charges and expenses of every kind. We
are informed the total amount thus added to that
relief fund exceeded £40,000. This precedent, it is
to be hoped, her Majesty's Ministers will now deem
it expedient and just to follow.
" We solicit the exertion of your influence in aid
of the committee in Liverpool in their efforts to
secure exemption from import duties, dock and town
dues, railway freight, and ell other charges on ves-
sels and cargo. We have taken the liberty to assure
them that you would render them all the service in
your power with the Government, local authorities,
railway companies, and any other body or individual
having the control of inland transportation.
"The ship George Greswold is receiving cargo
here as fast as circumstances will permit, and will
sail as soon as she can be filled with contributions
to the Relief Fund. The ship Hope, partly freighted
with contributions by the committee of the Produce
Exchange of this city, is about sailing for Liverpool.
This committee acts in harmony and concert with
the International Relief Committee. The objecto of

the two are identical, and this wish is that the ship-
ments of both should flow in the same channel, and
accomplish the same benevolent end.—We are, gen-
tlemen, very respectfully, your most obedient ser-
vants, " JOHN C. GREEN, Chairman.
" J OHN TAYLOR JOHNSTON, Sec.
" To Messrs. Thos. Fielden, W. S. Steil, Manchester;
Mr. Frank Crossley, Halifax, England."