The Sun.
London, England, 1840-12-17 00:00:00

MURDER IN GLASGOW.

(From the Glasgow Chronicle of Friday.)
The Sheriff of the county left town this forenoon,
acco:npanied by a party of military, for Bishop-bridge,
to investigate into the circumstances attending one of
the most barbarous murders which ever occurred in this
neighbourhood. The murder was perpetrated yester-
day morning, and was marked by circumstances of the
most fiendish atrocity. The victim is Mr. John Green,
a ganger, or superintendent of labourers on the Edin-
burgh and Glasgow Railway. The deceased had charge
of the works at that portion of the line adjoining
Bishop-bridge, about three miles from Glasgow, and
was proceeding to his duties about seven in the morn-
ing, before it was yet light, when he was assaulted by
two labourers as he passed the wooden bridge at Cross-
hill, which is a temporary erection over a part of the
railway works, and so severely injured that he died
within an hour.

All the labourers on this portion of the line are Irish,
with the exception of two Englishmen, one of whom, in '
conjunction with Mr. Grancis Rooney, another superin-
tendent, witnessed the murder. The account they give
is, that previous to Green's coming up a large party of
Irishmen were assembled on the bridge or its vicinity,
but before his arrival the most 61 them departed in the
direction of the sn.ithy, as if about to commence work,
lea% ing two or three behind. Green crossed the bridge,
making a remark upon the weather as he passed, when
one of the labourers followed him, and, with a punch
or iron bar struck him a cruel blow on the head, which
forced off his hat and brought the victim to the ground.
Another labourer came up, and jump: :d upon the body,
while the first wretch continued to inflict repeated blows
on the head and face of the unfortunate man with the
heavy iron instrument. The bloody work was soon
done, and the two murderers run off in the direc-
tion of Auchinearn, and have not yet been taken ;
though we hope this will not long be the case, as the
speed and eye of the law are after them. Green
was only heard to exclaim, " Oh, God ! are you
going to murder me ?" He was picked up quite in-
sensible, and, as bas been stated, died within an hour
afterwards. . The Englishman who had witnessed the
commencement of the assault ran off, being afraid that
the onslaught was to be general. Mr. Rooney, how-
ever, saw the end of it from below the, bridge, but
was restrained from going forward ; and identification
of the murderers is difficult or impossible, from the
darkness which prevailed at the time, and the simi-
larity of dress worn by the labourers. That the
murder Was a combined and premeditated one admits
of little doubt. Green had only come to this super-
intendency two days before, but a report was spread
that he was strict and harsh in the former works
which he overlooked ; and the determination to rid
themselves thus cruelly of one whom they might con-
sider a sharp taskmaster, is the only reason which
can be given for this heartless action. Another
proof of it is, that the unfortunate deceased was at-
tacked by a shower of stones on the previous evening
Green, who was an active young man, thirty years
of age, has left a widow and small family in England,
and, so far as we have have heard, there is no cause
for accusing him of harshness, unless a necessary de-
gree of vigilance and attention to his duty can be
called such. Friday forenoon, Mr. Sheriff Bell, ac-
companied by a company of the 58th Foot, and a
party of police officers, were conveyed in a coach and
three omnibuses to Cross-hill, for the purpose of ap-
prehending the murderers by taking the labourers by
surprise. On nearing the workmen were engaged under
the level of the road, and were not app.ised of the
force until they were surrounded. No resistance was
offered, and on the names being called, each labourer
came forward and allowed himself to be secured.
About twenty-one were taken in this manner, and three
were subsequently discovered and secured in an adjoining
wood. They were all safely conveyed to Bridewell, to
await the investigation which is to be instituted by the
authorities.—Scotch Reformers' Gazette.