The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-24 00:00:00

Murder of a Young Lady by her Lover.

On Friday evening a shocking tragedy took place at the
seat of Capt. F. G. Goodwin, of Wigwell Hall, near Wirks-
worth, in the county of Derby. The victim was Miss Eliz-
beth Martha Goodwin, 22 years of age, daughter of Henry
Goodwin, Esq., of Chester, and granddaughter of Captain
Goodwin. The murderer is Mr. George Victor Townley, of
Manchester, who is about 25 years of age. He is connected
with a family of high standing and influence in that city.
For some time he had been paying his addresses to Miss
Goodwin, who had latterly manifested an attachment to-
wards another gentleman in the neighbourhood. About a
fortnight ago Miss Goodwin wrote a letter to Mr. Townley,
in which she informed him that she wished their engage-
ment to be broken off, as she had formed an acquaintance
with another gentleman. To this note Townley replied,
asking her for an interview, and stating to her his intention
of going abroad. On Friday morning he arrived at What-
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her a note requesting her to grant him one. He appears to
have done so, and later in the day he proceeded to Wigwell
Hall, Mies Goodwin told the housekeeper that if Mr.
Townley came he was to be admitted. About half-past five
o'clock the young man went to the hall, requested to see
Miss Goodwin, and entered the house. He afterwards ac-
companied her into the Hall grounds, and was in her society
for some time. During their walk it appears that town-
ley told the young lady unless she made up her mind to
accept his advances he would prevent her from encourag-
ing the attention of others. Previously to starting on
their walk Miss Goodwin told her servant to come into
the grounds and inform her when tea would be ready,
which she accordingly did. Miss Goodwin returned to the
Hall, and during the evening told the house-keeper the
substance of her conversation with Mr. Townley in the
grounds, remarking that he had requested her to meet him
again, and that she had consented to do so. Miss Goodwin
then went into her grandfather's room, read a newspaper to
him, and afterwards took tea, during which he manifested
no excitement. During the lapse of time which intervened
between their first interview, Townley walked about the
grounds, waiting for Miss Goodwin's arrival. The house-
keeper advised her not to see Townley after the threat he
had used. She went, however, and proceeded into the lane
adjoining the Hall grounds. After some time Reuben Con-
way, a farm labourer, beard a low moan. On going to the
spot he found Miss Goodwin bleeding from several severe
wounds. He asked her what was the matter, and she said,
" Do you see a gentleman standing in the lane ? he has done
it." Conway said that he did, and after remaining for
several minutes with Miss Goodwin, he told her to sit upon
the ground while he went to Townley, who was returning
towards them, and he admitted that he had done the deed.
Conway then left the murderer with the unfortunate victim,
and heard him, in bitter terms, exclaim, "Poor Bessie!"
He saw him stoop down and kiss her fervently on the cheek,
and attempted to stop the bleeding. Conway then went to
the Hall and obtained assistance, Townley himself helping
to bear the body of the unfortunate young lady into the
house. Dr. Mant, of Wirksworth, was immediately sent
for. He found an insised wound on the right side of the
neck, and a severe stab in the shoulder. Townley deliber-
ately gave himself into custody, and told the constable that
he "had done the murder," and admitted it to Captain
Goodwin. The prisoner, who exhibited the utmost com-
posure, while all others in the Hall were in a state of the
greatest excitement and trouble, was removed in custody
to Wirksworth. On the way he made no secret of the
offence with which he was charged, and delivered up,
among several other articles, a clasp-knife, with a blade
about four inches in length, which was stained with blood.
An inquest on the body was held at Wigwell Hall, on
Smut day afternoon, before Mr. Bennett, coroner for the dis-
trict. A large number of people from the immediate neigh-
bourhood aEsembled at the Hall during the inquiry.
Mr. Harris, schoolmaster, of Wirksworth, deposed that
Mr. Townley, of Hendham Villa, Queen's Park, Manches-
ter, came to him some time in the morning and asked if he
ttiought he might obtain an interview with Miss Elizabeth
Margaret Goodwin. He told him to write a note, and he
did not doubt but that he would obtain an interview. He
appeared to be in a perfectly sane state of mind at the time,
and spoke rationally.
Elizabeth Poyser, housekeeper to Captain Goodwin, said
her mistress told her that if Mr. Townley came to the Hall
she was to admit him. They appeared to have been on the
best of terms, and when he came she, of course, invited him
into the Hall. Miss Goodwin and Mr. Townley shortly
afterwards proceeded together in the gardens. Witness sent
word to her that tea was ready, as she had ordered her so
to do previously to leaving the Hall. She told her that
Townley had intimated that if she did not choose to encou-
rage his addresses he would prevent her from encouraging
the advances of others. After coming to the Hall, before
taking tea, Miss Goodwin read the newspaper to her grand-
father. After tea she went out for the purpose of meeting
Townley. She was out for perhaps an hour, when a mes-
senger came to the Hall for assistance to help to carry the
body to the Hall. Townley assisted in carrying the body to
the Hall.

Reuben Conway, farm labourer, in the employ of Mr.
Isaac Bowmer, said he heard a sort of low moan while on
his way to Wirksworth. He proceeded to the spot, and
found Miss Goodwin on the roadside in the lane near to
the Hall. He asked her what was the matter, and she
asked if he saw a man in the lane, and he replied he did.
She said that he was the man who had inflicted the in-
juries. He went to obtain assistance, leaving Mr. Townley
with Miss Goodwin. When he had got a few yards from
them he saw Townley stoop down and kiss her cheek, and
heard him say, " Poor Bessie," He appeared to be
staunching the wounds. Witness obtained assistance, and
returned to Miss Goodwin; and Townley eagerly assisted
in carrying what appeared to be the dead body of Miss
Goodwin to the Hall. Police constable Farnham was sent

for, and took Townley into custody. Townley appeared
perfectly cool and sane during these proceedings.
Mr. Newton Mant, surgeon, of Wirksworth, deposed—
Mr. Bowmer came for me about 9 o'clock on Friday even-
ing. He said that Miss Goodwin had been murdered by a
man in the road. He asked me to go immediately to Capt.
Goodwin's house. I went with him into the kitchen and
found the corpse of Miss Goodwin lying there. She was
dead, and had been so some 20 minutes. No blood was
issuing from any of the cuts. I examined her and found
several wounds, one on the left side of the neck about three
inches in length, and about one inch and a half in depth,
extending to the vertebraas, which were severely damaged.
The bone appeared, so far as I examined, to have been
broken, caused, no doubt, by some sharp instrument. I
found another wound on the left shoulder, of the appear-
ance of a stab or puncture. I pressed my finger through
the wound into the shoulder joint. The knife produced is
one likely to have caused the wounds in the neck and
shoulder. The carotid and jugular vein were separated.
She died from the loss of blood. I should think the blow
was from the side, and was quite sufficient to cause death.
Police-constable Farnham, of Wirksworth, said—l went
to Captain Goodwin's house, and there saw the prisoner.
He came to me and said he wished deliberately to give
himself up for murdering the young lady. These were
the words he used—" Please to remember that I gave
myself up." I cautioned him, and asked if he knew
the nature of the charge, or what he was giving himself
into custody for? He replied,'' Quite so, and I will go
quietly with you ; only let me see her first." He did so
e looked stedfastly at her for about a minute and a half,
but said nothing. I then took him to the lock-up. On the
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way he said, " I feel more happy now than I did before I
did it, and I hope she is so." Afterwards his remarks were
arrHiveal eft') theeer appeared
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lock-up,
and found on him a liquor flask, a silver watch, some
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deed. He then produced this knife which was covered with
blood, and gave it to me. He took it from his left-hand
pocket.
The coroner went through the evidence, and the jury
at once returned a verdict of " Wilful murder" against
George Victor Townley, who was committed on the co-
roner's warrant for trial at the next assizes at Derby. The
prisoner appeared perfectly calm and collected while under
arrest in the kitchen of the Hall during the inquiry. He
day (Monday) before the Wirke will
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sworth
made no remarks during Ada pr
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brought up this
bench of magistrates.

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