The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-20 00:00:00

ril"• & •
N ) \." )( ) ON I.) A , MAY 20.

MURDER IN CADOGAN-PLACE,
SLOANE-STREET, CHELSEA.

On Saturday morning a great sensation was created
throughout the neighbourhood of Sloane-street, Chelsea,
by the discovery of a most shocking and barbarous mur-
der, which had been committed on the previous even-
ing, at the residence of Harry Edgell, Esq., formerly
clerk of the arraigns for the county of Bucks, and now
a magistrate for the county of Middlesex, No. 21, Ca-
doga„.piaee, Sloane-street. From the inquiries instituted
on the spot by our reporter, the following facts relative
to the melancholy occurrence may be relied on :—The
victim of the murderer's violence is a young female named
Elizabeth Payuton, who filled the situation of under-
housemaid in Mr. Edgell's establishment, and the indivi-
dual suspected of having committed the horrid deed is
James Merchant, the under-footman. The unfortunate
woman, who had not long been in Mr. Edgell's service, was
a remarkably well-formed female, abo'ut 21 years of age,
and of considerably preposessing appearance, and Mar-
chant, between whom and his victim, it is said, an in-
timacy of a tender nature had sprung up since their resi-
dence under the same roof; is about 20 years of age, of
rather unprepossessing features, and has been in Mr.
Edgell's service about eight or nine months. On Friday
about two o'clock, Mr. Edgell, with his family, and ac-
companied by the housekeeper, coachman, and upper-
footman, proceeded with the carriage on a visit to Cray-
ford, in Kent, leaving the cook, the upper-housemaid,
and the deceased and Marchant, in the care of the
house until their return. About three o'clock, the cook
and upper-housemaid left the premises to transact some
private business, at which time no quarrel had, to their
knowledge, taken 'place between the deceased and
Marchant, both appearing on the best of terms
together.. The cook returned shortly after
six o'clock, but on ringing at the bell, could
not obtain admittance. She, however, entertained
no suspicion that anything was wrong, but after waiting
some time went away, conceiving that her fellow-ser-
vants were playing her some trick. Soon after eight
o'clock she again returned, but on ringing met with ao
better success, and while waiting, the coachman and
upper footman returned from Crayford with the car-
riage, to whom she immediately communicated the cir-
cumstance of her twice having been unable to obtain ad-
mittance. The coachman and footman accordingly
proceeded to the stables at the rear of the premises,
from whence they obtained access into the garden, and
knocked at the back door, which they found was fas-
tened on the inside. Receiving no answer, they forced

it open, and on entering the house found it all in dark-
ness. They immediately called both of the parties by
name, and groped their way in the dark into
several of the rooms without finding any trace
of them. On entering the front drawing-room, however,
they kicked against some substance on the floor, which
.on stooping dawn they discovered to be the body of their
unfortunate fellow-servant, Elizabeth Paynton, and saw
by the indistinct light through the windows, which were
not closed, a pool of blood on the floor. In much alarm
they instantly proceeded to the kitchen to procure lights,
with which, accompanied by the cook, they returned to
the drawing-room, when a most horrible spectacle pre-
seated: itself to their view. On entering the room the
'body was found to be extended at full length on the
'carpet, the head being towards the window, and the feet
towards the door. On the right side of the body was a
large pool of blood. Near the feet of deceased was one
of her shoes, which had apparently in a struggle been
cast off. Her cap was off, and was lying in the pool of
blood by her head, and her apron, which was like-
wise off, was lying by her side. The footman in-
tantly ran to the house of Mr. Jay, a surgeon, No.
42, Sloane-street, who immediately returned with
him, and on examining the body expressed an opinion,
from its coldness and rigidity, that life had been extinct
.three or four hours ; the blood was also coagulated.
On moving the head Mr. Jay discovered an extensive
wound on the left side, which had divided all the main
vessels, and from which the hestnorrhage had bean most
extensive. A razor, with which the fatal deed had been
committed wail also found within a short distance of the
body. Mr. Jay believing at the time that the deceased
female had committed the act herself, advised the ser-
vants to keep the occurrence secret until they could
hear from Mr. Edgell, to whom he immediately sent the
upper footman on horseback for the purpose of relating
the melancholy discovery, and also that Merchant, the
under footman, was nowhere to be found, application
having been made at the residence of his father, in the
neighbourhood, respecting him, but without success.
The discovery, however, by some means or other, got
wind among the servants of the adjoining residents, and
about 12 o'clock at night reached the ears of police
constable Kavenor, B 148, who instantly went to the
house for the purpose of ascertaining the truth of the state-
ment, and was in a few minutes followed by M'Kenzic, B
44, who had likewise heard of the dreadful occurrence.
On being admitted, and informed of the facts as above
stated, they proceeded to search the house, when on
going into the pantry they found a towel marked with
blood, which had evidently been used 'by the murderer
in wiping his hands after the committal of the dreadful
act, and which left no doubt that the unfortunate
woman lied not died by her own hand. The acting
inspector at the station-house in Elizabeth-street, Pinn•
lice, having been made acquainted with the horrid
transaction, went to the spot, and left a police constable
in charge of the house until the arrival of Mr. Edgell.
On Saturday morning, at an early hour, intelligence of
the murder having been communicated to Mr. W, B.
France and Captain Bague, R.N., two of the local Ma-
gistrates, the former of whom resides at. No. 63, Cado=
gan-place, and the latter at No. 1 17, Sloane-street, they
with the greatest promptitude proceeded to Mr. Edgell's
house to ascertain the particulars of the melancholy
event, and to render every assistance in their power in
furtherance of the ends of justice and the apprehension
of the supposed murderer. They were attended by In-
spector Moran and several sergeants of the B
but the result of the inquiry had not transpired when
our reporter left the neighbourhood.

there marked with blood, put on his great-coat and hat,
which are missing, and made his escape from justice by
means of the area-steps. locking the gate after him, the
key of which is nowhere to be found.
Neither the murdered woman nor her murderer are,
it appears, yet 20 years of age. She was a native of
Oxfordshire, of rather a morose disposition, possessed
great muscular strength, and has an aunt in the service
of Mr. Drake, No. 29, Belgrave- square. Mai:chant':
father has for )ears lived in the neighbourhood of
Chelsea, and now fills the situation of a porter at a li-
brary in Ellis-street. The son, previous to entering the
service of Mr. Edgell, lived as page with the family ofl,
Mr. Elwyn, No. 84, Cadogan-place, and is described as
naturally of a very wilful disposition. It has been con-
sidered probable that he may have committed suicide, and
the Serpentine and other places affording facilities for self.
destruction have been searched, but without any discovery
being made. In consequence of the extreme inconvenience
experienced by Mr. Edgell and his family from the body
remaining in the drawing-room in the same state as
when discovered, active endeavours were made for the
inquest to be held as last evening, for which purpose
Messrs. France and Bague proceeded to Hammersmith
where they understood Mr. Wakley, the Coroner, was
holding an inquest, but on their arrival they found they
were too late, the enquiry being over, and Mr. Wakley
had left and gone to another at Islington. On their
return to Cadogan-plaee, Mr. Gosling (Mr. Edgell's
brother-in-law) proceeded oa to Islington, but with
no better success, and after going to Mr. Wakley's
residence and office, he returned about six o'clock with
the information that that gentlemen had left town, and
that the investigation could not possibly take place until
Monday (this day).
We understand that Mr. J ►y, accompanied by other
medical gentlemen, attended about 12 o'clock, for the
purpose of closely examining the body, with the inten-
tion of ascertaining whether the surmises above stated
are well grounded, but they were not permitted to pro-
ceed, it being the opinion of Messrs. Edgell and France,
and Captain Bague, that the body ought not to be
further disturbed until after it had been viewed by the
Coroner and Jury.

(ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.)
The excitement occasioned by the dreadful occur-
rence in the neighbourhood of Chelsea, Pimlico, and
Knightsbridge, exceeds all belief. From an early hour
On Saturday morning, until long after dark last night, the
residence of Mr. Edgell was surrounded by hundreds of
persons anxiously discussing the points of the lamentable
circumstances. A party of police was in attendance- to
preserve order.
During the day active and intelligent officers of the
B division base been strenuously engaged in prosecuting
inquiries, if possible, to discover the rercat of Mar-
chant, but up to a late hour last night, we regret to
say, he had not been apprehended.
It is believed, however, that some clue, which may
likely lead to his ultimate discovery, has been at length
obtained. Inspector Moran, a most efficient officer of
the above division, in the course of yesterday afternoon
ascertained that it was probable Merchant had, when
he left Mr. Edgell's premises, no money in his posses-
sion, but that he had with him a very good silver
watch, with a silver guard- chain attached, on which it
was supposed he would attempt to raise some. Mr.
Moran accordingly made inquiries among the various
pawnbrokers at the West-end of the town, in the course
of which he ascertained that a watch and guard-chain
resembling that belonging to Merchant had been pawned
at an early hour in the morning, by a person answering,'
his description, for 2/. He then proceeded to the offices
of the Great Western and London and Birmingham
Railway, at the latter of which he was informed that
a person, whom there is every reason to believe was the
suspected murderer, entered the office about half-past
nine o'clock, apparently greatly agitated, and inquired
the fare in the open carriages to Birmingham. Being in-
formed a sovereign, he, seeming unconscious of
what be was doing, put down two on the
desk, and although repeatedly told the charge
was only one, he appeared so lost to what was passing
around bite, that it was some minutes before he could be
induced to take up the second sovereign, and he ulti-
mately started withthe ten o'clock train, Mr. Moran
immediately, on receiving the above information, pro-
ceeded to the office of the Commissioners of Police in
Scotland-yard, anti communicated it to them, who in-
structed them to acquaint Mr. Edgell of the particu-
lars, and with his concurrence to proceed to Birming-
ham in pursuit of the supposed murderer. Mr. Moran
did so with the utmost promptitude, and proceeded as
directed by one of the evening trains.
Merchant, whose Christian name it is found is not
James, as was supposed, but William John, is rather
above the middle stature, of sallow complexion, with
brown hair ; and the livery in which ho was dressed is
a brown coat, crimson waistcoat, and brown trousers.

(LATEST PARTICULARS.)
It was supposed on Saturday that a clue had been
ohtained to the retreat of Marcbattt, a person answering
tt:is description having that mornin4 departed to Bir-
mingham by the ten o'clock train. Inspector Moran,
Kavenor, 148, and MkKenzi,, 44, of the B division,
started in the afternoon in pursuit, but after proceeding
a portion of the distance they ascertained that the indi-
vidual in question was not Merchant but the servant of
' a clergyman, whom he was proceeding to meet. They
accordingly returoel to town yesterday morning, and up.
to a late hour last night were actively engaged in prose-
cuting their inquiries.
During yesterday large crowds of respectably-dresed
persons congregated in front of Mr. Edgell's residence,
many of whom applied for permission to see the body,
but the servants in denying them, pleaded the strict in-
junctions of Mr. &igen not to permit any person into
the room until after the ' inquest, as their excuse.
The inquest is appointed to be held this afternoon.