The Sun.
London, England, 1840-08-24 00:00:00

THE LATE ATTEMPTED ASSAS

SINATION AT LUDLOW.

The following is the account Mr. Ludlow gives of
the way in which he got acquainted with Misters,
and of the horrible scene at the Angel Inn :—He
states that he went to Shrewsbury fair on Tuesday
week, and there met Mr. Thomas Jobson, a cattle
dealer, at the Unicorn Inn, formerly kept by the fa-
ther of the latter person. While there, he frequently
observed the young man, Misters, looking at him at-
tentively, but his suspicions were in no degree aroused.
Mr. Ludlow dined with his friend Mr. Jobson, at his
private house in Shrewsbury, and did not return to the
Unicorn until the following morning. During his ab-
sence Alisters, in addressing the chambermaid, claimed
an acquaintance with Mr. Ludlow, and wished to know
in which room he slept. The girl's answer was, that in
all probability he would that night sleep at the house
of Mr. Jobson, but still Misters showed an extraor-
dinary anxiety for the return of Mr. Ludlow. Fortu-
nately he remained all night at the house of his
friend. The next morning Mr. Ludlow and Mr. Job-
son repaired to the Unicorn, and Misters again made
himself one of the company, and as Mr. Ludlow now
recollects, attentively listened to their conversation.
Upon parting Mr. Jobson appointed to meet Mr. Lud-
low at Ludlow fair, on Wednesday evening last, the
latter gentleman stating that he should travel from Bir-
mingham by the Red Rover coach. Misters was pre-
sent, and heard this appointment made. Accordingly
on Wednesday last Mr. Ludlow proceeded by the con-
veyance he had mentioned, and arrived at the Angel Inn,
Ludlow, a little before nine o'clock in the evening. It
is incorrectly stated that Misters got upon the coach
about four miles from Ludlow. The fist time Mr.
Ludlow saw him was upon his arrival at the Angel Inn,
when Misters followed him into the Commercial-room.
Mr. Ludlow ordered tea, when Misters immediately
offered to join him. Upon this Mr. Ludlow
te-
cognizing him, said, " Are you not the young
gentleman I met last week at Shrewsbury ?" Misters
replied he was, and stated himself to be the brother of
Mr. Misters, maltstcr of Birmingham, with whom Mr.
Ludlow was intimately acquainted ; and, no doubt, to
still further lull any suspicion as to his character, he in-
quired most particularly as to the health of Mr. Spiers,
an innkeeper of Birmingham, one of Mr. Ludlow's most
intimate friends, and at whose house there is no doubt
Misters first made himself acquainted with Mr. Lud-
low's movements. They afterwards parted company
for the evening, and Mr. Ludlow joined a party of
friends in another room. During the night, however,
he learned that the young man with whom he had drunk
tea had in the course of the day been most particular
in his inquiries as to the arrival of the Red Rover
coach, and had represented himself to the landlady
as well as to the servants, as his friend and acquaint-
ance. Mr. Ludlow retired to rest between twelve and
one o'clock, but did not sleep in the room he had occu-
pied on former occasions. He was aroused between
four and five o'clock in the morning by a cry of " Fire,'
and, as a matter of course, his first effort was to collect
his clothes and make his escape. Almost immediately
afterwards, however, some one called out that it was a
false alarm, and he dressed and washed before he left
his room. By this time the whole of the inmates of the
house were up, lights were obtained, and the first thing
that met his sight upon going upon the landing of
the stairs was the unfortunate Mr. Macreeth, bleeding
from the face and throat, and apparently totally
unable to utter a single word. His (Mr. Ludlow's)
first impression was, and that of others also, that
the gentleman had attempted suicide, and, as it would
appear, this impression prevailed for a considerable
time. Mr. Ludlow states, that it was not until near
eight o'clock that suspicion fell upon Misters. When
walking along the yard with Mr. Jobson, he ( Mr. Lud-
low) expressed his surprise to Mrs. Cook that the young
man, with whom he had drank tea the previous even-
ing, had never been seen during the morning, and that
he alone of all the company in the house was apparently
undisturbed by the commotion which had been going
forward. This observation at once led to inquiry,
when Mister's bed-room door was found fastened, and
he apparently fast asleep in bed. He was, however, al-
lowed to dress, and go down stairs unmolested and unex-
amined. More than this, he was seen to go down
the yard carrying something under his coat, and there is
every reason to suppose that the bundle so concealed
consisted of his stockings and the bed-room towel, both
of which are missing. Mr. Ludlow adds, that after this
Misters coolly entered the commercial room apparently
with the intention of breakfasting, but before he had
time to partake of it he found himself in the custody of
the police. Upon examination the only money he had
in his possession was a penny, a halfpenny, and a farthing.
When charged with the offence, be coolly denied it,
and said, " the landlady was as likely to commit murder
as he was." Such are the facts of this most atrocious
attempt.

Misters is of a most respectable family, residing in
Birmingham, but for some time past he has borne a
very indifferent character. He was tried at the last
March Hereford Assizes for entering a gentleman's
bed-room, and stealing three 5/. notes, but acquitted.
Since then, or just before, he acted as a waiter in two
gin palaces in Birmingham, and had been constantly
seen about the town until the present time. I have
seen a letter from the town-clerk of Ludlow this morn-
ing, dated Saturday, in which he states that but faint
hopes are entertained of Mr. Macreeth's recovery. The
authorities have sent for Mr. Superintendent Stephens,
of the Birmingham police, to assist in the investigation,
and he had gone over to Ludlow for that purpose.
Misters stands remanded for examination until Wed-
nesday next. It is said that Mr. Macreetb, if he re-
covers, can clearly identify him.