The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-17 00:00:00

PARRICIDE.

GLOSSOP, SATURDAY MORNING.—A sensation, which
it would be difficult to attempt to describe, prevails at
the present time throughout this usually quiet district,
in consequence of the discovery having been made of
a most appalling murder, which there is no doubt,
from what has recently transpired, was perpe-
trated by a young man named Thomas Doxey, a so■
of the unfortunate victim. The murder was committed as
far back as last December, and the body was found on New
Year's eve in the water near Victoria-bridge. The circum-
stances connected with the case were at the time considered
to be very mysterious, but no evidence could be procured
likely to implicate any person, although rumour was busy,
and pointed to members of the deceased's family, who
were known frequently to quarrel with and ill use the
old man. On Good Friday, however, a man named
John Clough made a most startlicg disclosure con-
nected with the affair, which coming to the ears of
Mr. Clayton, the chief officer of police, he at
' once went in search of the alleged murderers.
On Sunday last he succeeded in apprehending
Thomas Doxey, the deceased's own son, and William
Dawson, his son-in-law. The two were on Wednesday
last brought before Mr. Yates, one of the magistrates
of the district, when John Clough, upon being sworn,
stated, that on the 30th of December last, about 10
o'clock at night, he and his wife were crossing
Victoria-bridge, when he saw Thomas Doxey and
another man, whom he at first believed to be Wil-
liam Dawson, accost the deceased, who was also
crossing the bridge. The deceased was at that time
in front of witness. The prisoner Doxey then went
up to him, and said that he would strike him, when
he at once gave him a blow over the head, which
felled him to the ground like a bullock, and the other
man kicked him on the head. His son then cried
out, "We will murder the d- old b- now."
After that he kicked his father twice on the breast,
when witness went up and asked what they were doing
to the old man. The wife of witness was with him at
the time. The two persons who were murdering the
deceased cried out that if they did not go away they
would serve them the same. They being afraid of
losing their lives, made off, but as they were so
doing looked round and saw the two men throw the
deceased over the Victoria-bridge into the brook.
He (witness) heard the splash and saw the man fall.
He had known the prisoner Doxey for more than two
years, and was, therefore, quite certain he was one of the
men who committed the murder. The reason he did not
mention the matter till Good Friday was on account of
the prisoner Doxey telling him if he did he should surely
lose his own life. He was not certain that the prisoner
Dawson was the other person he saw with Doxey,
and he now considered that that person was
somewhat stouter. He had seen Doxey se-
veral times, who had cautioned him not to say
a word about his throwing his father over the
bridge. The witness having been severely cross-
examined. Mrs. Clough, his wife, was next called, and
after she had given her testimony, the prisoner Doxey
was fully committed for the wilful murder of his father,
but the prisoner Dawson was discharged, his friends
proving that he was in the house at the time the murder
was committed. The police have received orders to look
after the other man who was engaged with the prisoner
Doxey in murdering the poor old man. '