The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-12 00:00:00

JUNE 12, 1847.

the bridge witness found that the York mail had arrived,
and considering that some person ought to be sent to
the rear, to prevent approaching trains, he left one con-
stable at the bridge signal, and walked up the line.
About eighty yards in the rear of the train he found
Fossey. His signal lamp showed a white light
at this time. Witness said to him " Good God,
Fossey, what could have induced you to turn the
train into the siding ?" He did not reply for an
instant. Witness turned the light on his face, and he then
said," I don't know ;my watch deceived me." Witness
said, " What do you mean?" He replied, "She is twelve
minutes before the mail" (alluding to his watch, as wit-
ness believed). Witness said, " Where is your watch?"
He said, "In my pocket." Witness desired him to de-
liver it up to him, which he did. Witness then said,
" Now, Fossey, you must consider yourself in my cus-
tody." He said, " Very well," and added, " Are there
any lives lost?" Witness said, "I don't know, I hope
not." He said, " Well, if no lives are lost, you may
transport me as soon as you like ; send me out of the
country at once, for that is just what I want." Witness
said, " Whatever your feelings are, Fossey, keep them
to yourself." Witness asked him whether, after the
train had passed on to the siding, he had shown any
signal to the guard? He said, " No, it would have been
of no use." Witness then walked down the cutting with
him towards the station, and just after passing the scene
of the accident, he said, " I thought it was a goods train,
for the lights deceived me." Witness knew that could
not be the case, and said, " That is second thoughts."
Fossey made no reply. Witness then gave him into
custody of police-constable Millibar. Witness then
went to the station clock with which he compared
Fossey's watch, and found a variation of about four
minutes from the station time. It was then a quarter
past eleven o'clock by the station clock, and
eleven minutes past by the watch. Witness subse-
quently assisted to bring the mail train into the station
and render assistance to the injured parties. Fossey
had turned on the red signal before leaving his post
after the accident. Witness considered he well under-
stood his duty generally. On the Monday previous he
had committed a mistake while on duty at the same post
by turning a Liverpool excursion train into the siding.
The siding was then clear of waggons, and the mistake
having been observed by the man on duty at the second
points, he. turned the train out on the main line again.
It was then daylight. Mr. Bedford, one of our superin-
tendents, was in this train, and when it arrived at the
station, he desired witness to go back immediately, and
learn what excuse Fossey had to make for turning the
train into the siding. On reaching the signal post, wit-
ness asked him how he came to turn the train into the
siding, and he replied that he had forgotten the excur-
sion train. Witness asked him whether he had not got
his written instructions on the subject? Ile said he had,
but had forgotten them. He then went to his hut, and
handed them to witness who remarked to him, " the
chances are you will be reported." He said he was very
sorry. Witness then left him, and subsequently in-
formed Mr. Bedford of what he had stated. Witness
subsequently, by Mr. Bedford's direction, reported him
for the neglect, and on an investigation he was ordered
to be fined a shilling and severely cautioned. Notwith-
standing this occurrence witness still considered that
Fossey knew his duty. On the night of the accident no
luggage train was expected. Witness never knew a
luggage train to arrive within three-quarters of an hour
of the arrival of the mail train.

PRICE SD.

iron from Reid's father about six days before the mur-
der, and as to its being fetched from her husband's house
by Reid the night before the murder. She added that
her husband Ivid had the soldering iron for six weeks at
a time, and she positively identified it from having seen
it often, and also from having used it as a poker last
winter. Witness met the prisoner's wife at the threshold
of the door and asked her for the iron. She replied that
she did not know where it was, and seemed in trouble.
The prisoner was not there. About a week after the
murder witness heard from Mrs. Hirst that a soldering
iron had been found in a draw-well at Mirfield, and wit-
ness at once mentioned to Mrs. Hirst that which she had
now stated to the jury. Witness did not know the pri.
soner M'Cabe.

Mr. Howarth, constable of Mirfield, in answer to I
question from the Coroner, stated that he had no
other evidence.

The DEPUTY-CORONER having summed up very lu-
cidly and at great length, the room was cleared, and
the jury remained in consultation about ten minutes.
The DEPUTY-CORONER (addressing the jury) said—
Gentlemen of the jury, have you agreed upon your
verdict?

The Foreman (Mr. Wormald)—We have.
The DEPUTY-CORONER—How do you say by your
foreman that James Wraith came to his death ?

The Foreman—We return a verdict of " Wilful
Murder" against Patrick Reid and Michael bi‘Cabe, and
I think it right to state that we are unanimous.
The DEPUTY-CORONER—DO you return the same
verdict in the case of Ann Wraith and Caroline Ellis ?
The Foreman—Yes, as to all three.

The whole of the fifteen jurors then signed the three
inquisitions, and the witnesses were bound in recogni-
zances to appear to give evidence at the next Yorkshire
assizes. Tae Deputy-Coroner subsequently delivered to
Mr. Howarth, the constable, two warrants committing
the prisoners to York Castle, and stated that be should
also deliver a commitment to the keeper of the House of
Correction at Wakefield, with whom Mr. Howarth might
arrange as to the conveyance of the prisoners. The Jury
were then discharged.