The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-15 00:00:00

"ACCIDENT ON THE NORTII•WESTERN RAILWAY.-

The express train from Liverpool, which was due at Euton-
square at eleven o'clock on Thursday night, did not arrive
till five minutes past one yesterday morning. The delay
arose from the train running into a goods train, on a curve
in the line, a little below Wolverton, by which the guard's
break-waggon was broken to pieces. Happily no lives
were lost, but the guard and several of the passengers were
slightly injured. Whether the accident occurred through
the signals not having been properly attended to, or whether
the goods train carried no " tail-lights," we could not ascer-
tain in the confusion which prevailed on the arrival of the
train.
FRAMPTON'S PILL OF HEALTH—for bilious Or sick
headache, indigestion, and for the whole train of symptoms
arising from a weak stomach, or vitiated bilious secretion,
are pre-eminently successful. For costiveness, either habi-
, tual or temporary, they are admirable, and for elderly persons
will prove the most agreeable medicine that can. b_ee
itraskeezn.
They are used with the greatest advantage by eith n
an}'
and will therefore prove an excellent family_ pill;_
e ,fonre,ed
only
case where an aperient medicine is required, th
be tried to be universally adopted.
Sold by all
"medicine
vendors. Price Is. lid. per box. See the name of Thomas,
i
Prolt,B22G9,lTSNtrcanodT,TLooNnLonA,'s' oanlitheeoGn
conjecture
aents tstamp
ohe
nature of this immensely powerful agent has now been set at
rest publicity of the specification of the patent, any
ofacts with reference to its actual utility must prove of
ffi c
ibal• tl le
interest. A course of experiments to test its relative
strength with the very best Ordnance gunpowder, have just
taken place at the lloiyhead Mountain, Anglesea ; the Hol-
land Slate Quarries, in Merionethshire ; and at the lion.
Colonel Pennant's slate quarries, Penrhyn ; and the result
shows that the saving by the use of the gun cotton is at least
30 per cent.; added to which is the great advantage that the
miners, by its means, are enabled to obtain the most enor-
mous blocks, and aanpdptelafirss wi•niththleittillilinlngo
jwo
.iat rs waste.
1 of
fn
last a
.n officialsatu r -
appears that " a hugh mass of sixty tons weight was
rdezo.,ritt,
gently pushed from its firmly bound bed by the explosion of
only eight ounces of cotton,- and that no splintering of the
slate took place, which gratly astonished the workmen"
To obtain blocks of slate alone, of such immense size, will in
itself effect a vast amount oegood ; that material being in
great and increasing demand, even at its present price, for
articles of building, of furniture, and works of luxury and of
art. The Messrs. hall and Sons, of Lombard-street, the
well-known gunpowder manufacturers, have the working of
the patents in the United Kingdom and the colonies.
The man who cut his throat on Thursday morning
near the Bank of England is a German, and notatar enc"
man, as was supposed at first. It appears he
tem
street. The house-surgeon at St. Theraas'd i pted to
ves o of
murder a boy previous to cutting his owns.throa at
inhope the
his recovery.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF EXCHEQUER, May 14.
(Sittings at Nisi Prins, before the LORD CHIEF BARON and
a Special Jury.)
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL V. HITCHCOCK.
In this case the Attorney-General, the Solicitor-General,
Mr. Watson, and Mr. Wilde appeared for the Crown, and
Mr. Boville for the defendant.
It was an information at the instance of the Excise against
the defendant, who carries on the business of a brewer at
Rexford, in Suffolk, charging him with secretly and clan-
destinely manufacturing malt, in a room not entered for
that purpose, and thereby evading the payment of duty.
The case on behalf of the Crown was, that in the autumn
of 1845 the defendant erected a cistern at the back of his
kitchen fireplace, in a place previously occupied as a back
kitchen, and which communicated with his malt-house by
means of a secret trap-door, and in this way fraudulently
contrived to manufacture malt for the space of a whole year.
The cistern was discovered by an Excise officer in November
last, upon information given by a person named Spooner,
thedefendant'slN,henthetrap-door was discovered all
employment, but was sud-
the necessary implements for the manufacture of malt were
whodenl y h ad
dismissed. been
in
found, and a residuum of damp mud, which had been left
after an extensive and long-continued malting, was found at
the:bottom of the cistern.

The defence set up was that the cistern had not been
used for the purpose of malting as alleged by the Crown,ll
and in support of the case several labourers, who had been
in the defendant's service, were examined.
Their evidence, however, did not seem to be satisfactory,
for the jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict
fur the Crown, with penalties to the amount of 4,0001.

HORRIBLE MURDER OF THREE
PERSONS. .

An aged couple and their servant-girl were most inhumanly
murdered about mid-day on Wednesday last, in the house oc-
cupied by the former, which is situate within one hundred
yards of t he public high road, and not far distant from several
other habitations.
The particulars of the horrid affair were detailed as far as
they are at present ascertained before G. D. Barker, Esq., of
this town, Deputy-Coroner, who held an inquest upon the
bodies of the unfortunate victims, yesterday, at the King's-
Head public-house, Mirfield, before -a
highly respectable jury,
of whom Mr. Frank Wormald was the foreman.
The Deputy-Coroner reached Mirfield at an early hour
yesterday morning, and previously to taking his view o the
bodies in the presence of the jury, he accompanied
dical gentlemen who had been called in immediate]
the occurrence, to a minute inspection of the mutulated
corpses of the murdered persons, and after an examination of
the premises in order that every possible investigation might
be instituted which could lead to the detection of the per-
petrator or perpetrators of this dreadful crime. Mr. Green,
the superintendent of the Dewsbury police, and Mr. Howarth,
constable of Mirfield, were also present. Having completed
this inspection, the jury were sworn.
The coroner and jury then proceeded to the residence of
the deceased. The horrible appearance of the sufferers can
never be effaced from the memory of any one who saw them.
The skulls of each were beaten to pieces, the jaws were
driven in, the throats cut, the arms of the two females frac-
tured, and the fingers broken to pieces, as if the arms and
hands had in vain been used to protect the head from the
fearful blows of the inhuman murderer. The places where
the bodies were found were pools of blood, in which the teeth
and brains of the dead were intermixed.

The names of the sufferers are Mr. James Wraith, aged 77 ;
his wife, aged about 70; and their servant girl, Caroline
Ellis, aged '2l years.
Mr. Wraith was a very respectable man, and had formerly
been for many years a steward under Samuel Brook, Esq.,
by whom he was much and deservedly esteemed; but for
some years he has been living on a little property of his own,
and he occupied his time by cultivating about six acres of
land.

At about twelve o'clock on the day of the murder he was
seen alive, and at half-past one, or only an hour and a half
afterwards his mangled remains, along with those of his wife
and servant girl; were found weltering in their blood, and
presenting a sight too horrible to depict.
An Irishman of the name of M'Cabe, who had been taken
into custody by the police, was brought before the coroner.
and informed of the accusation against him. lle objected to
none of the jury, and appeared perfectly calm.
The first witness called was James Green, a boy thirteen
years of age, who stated that he went to the house of the
deceased, but could get no admittance, and afterwards saw
blood at the door. He told this to some persons in the
neighbourhood, and the house was entered.
The evidence of the surgeon will give the best description
of this horrible affair.

Henry John Watkinson said—l am a surgeon, residing
in Mirfield. I yesterday went to the house of the deceased,
at about ten minutes past two o'clock. I found the three
bodies exactly in the position and condition described by Mr.
M'Kinnell. I have since, along with Mr. Bradbury, made
a minute examination of the bodies. On examining that
of Caroline Ellis, I found the throat cut for about three inches
in length, from the left to the right. The arteries were not
divided, but the trachea was divided, and the cut in depth
reached the vertehrw. There was an incision on the chic,
skin deep; the ui per lip was cut through and the jaw un-
derneath was fractured, and three of the inside teeth driven
out. The injuries must, in my opinion, have been produced
by a blow. Two of the teeth were upon the floor sear the
head, and one in the mouth. On the left temporal bone
there is a wound extending to the bone. The bone opposite
the wound is very severely fractured; on the same side of
the parietal bone, which is driven in and comminated, and
caused a protrusion of the brain. On the back of the head
I found a rugged wound and a severe comminated fracture
of the oceiput. On the left arm there was a fracture a little
above the elbow joint. I should say the fracture was caused
by a blow. There was extravasation of blood on the part,
which convinces me the fracture must have been produced
by blows. The other fingers on the left hand were broken
to pieces and lacerated as if by a very severe blow. There
was a mark on the left side as if produced by a kick. On
the left shin bone I found three holes as if from a kick. The
skin was lacerated. The body was quite warm when I saw
it; but life would in my opinion have been extinct from half
to three quarters of an hour. I next examined Mrs. Mary
Wraith's body. I found the throat cut on the left side to
the extent of four inches in length. The arteries on the left
side were divided and the trachea back to the vertebra;.
, There was a large wound on the right side of the frontal
bone. The bone was fractured below, and the eye driven
out. The molar bone was also fractured and the orbit
entirely destroyed. On the left frontal bone I found a
wound two inches in length, with a fracture of the bone be-
neath. The upper jaw was fractured on the left side. On
examining the head I found both the right and left parietal
bones were fractured. On examining the back part of the
head I found a wound over the occipital bone, which
was also fractured comminutely. The right fore-arm was
severely fractured. There was a contused wound over the
fracture, which, in my opinion, had been produced from some
blunt instrument. Both bones were broken. On the left
hand two of the smaller fingers were broken and severely
contused. This injury was caused by a blow from come
blunt instrument. On examining the ring-finger there was
no ring on; the finger was bruised very much, but not frac-
tured. On examining the body I found a little discolour-
ation on the right side, as if from a kick. There was a round
wound, about a quarter of an inch in diameter, as if done by
the point of some blunt instrument. There was not a cor-
responding orifice in the clothes that I saw. Her body was
also quite warm. Life would, in my opinion, have been ex-
tinct about the same time as in the case of Caroline Ellis.
On examining the body of James Wraith I found the throat
dreadfully cut, the wound extending from ear to ear, and
also going entirely through the whole of the soft parts to
the vertebrae. On the chin I found a wound one inch
or an hitch and a quarter in length. On the lower
jaw, on the left side, I found it entirely fractured. There
was a corresponding brui,e en the face. The fractures were
comminuted ones. Three of the incisor teeth were dis-
placed as well. On examining still further I found a large
wound on the left side of the frontal bone about two inches
in length, with the bone fractured below. There was no
wound or fracture on the right side. The left parietal bone
was fractured as well. It was fractured comminutely.
There was a large contused wound on the occipital bone, and
a corresponding comminuted fracture below. On the right
shoulder, at the head of the:humerus, I found extravasation of
blood from a blow which had partially dislocated the shoulder.
On the left thigh, a little above the knee, there were four
holes, as from a blow ; they were about an inch deep, about
a quarter of an inch in diameter. I should say they had been
caused by a blunt instrument.
It appeared from other evidence that the prisoner was
seen in the neighbourhood at the time the murder was com-
mitted, and that on calling at a house he statedi his intention
of going to Wraith's. On being taken
.ntoaclsuo,.t
inrkdaybel;
stockings were found to be wet, and they were
with blood.
The inquiry Was adjourned to the 27th inst.—Abridged
from the Wake:field Journal of yesterday.

WAKEFIELD CORN MARKET, FRIDAT.—The asp.
plies of all grain continue limited. The high prices mated
for wheat checked the demand, and only a moderate busirpesa
was transacted, at an advance of Bs. per quarter on all 'de-
scriptions.. Barley also sold slowly, at about 2s. more money.
Beans easy sale, and 2s. to 3s. per quarter dearer. Oats 5, d.
per stone, and shilling 3s. to 4s. per load higher. Malt ;sold
at an improvement of 2s. per load.
BREAD RIOTS AT COLLUMPTON.—lnformation has
been received in Bristol this morning (Friday) of some
serious rioting having taken place at Collumpton, near
Exeter, arising out of the present high prices of corn 'lnd
other articles of food, and the consequent depression of es%ery
description of trade. As we learn, a gathering took place at
a village near the town of the woolcombers, operative
weavers, and labourers of the place, upon the present high
prices of every article of food. The meeting, havingd.
_en
of the people, separated. Immediatelywarebouses in whiich
addressed by several persons as to the
after
whicchon
mist ion
hundreds of the mob proceeded to.snern
eaadtt
attempted to set fire to them;
of several persona at
unsuccessful. The residences beineepntsho:rd,eree,d,h(t)iwnd.
ever,
bnoxious to e Peo
th ple in con it was said wheat and other grain
Collumpton, who wrre o
d to be largely engaged in
were then surrounded and attacked, :the
corn speculations,
of them many
broken, and at one
windows were
f f rniture were destroyed. The letters which bring
articles o u
intelligence state that the rioters had all of them escawed
quence of their being suppose
this
ttli
rbread riots occurred
Set in
been
without detection, although the magistrates took steps for
preventing further outrages. The rumour in Collumieton
market
morning
particulars.
som erwas,se
e,b ut
we
Lave had
not
ableth' ae rlot eowt this
a elerprna r
thes of

Epsom RAILWAY.—TiIe facilities of transit afferched
by
hDaol,.tvehnest
hndoeuwer.
tiltnye
gcopened a
tltirnaec
toi fn rga iml wa• anyy to
thousand Epsom will t
onr os
td:
tu
hb
et
the ensuing week, who, but for the accomrao-
dation thus afforded, would never hays left London. 'lChe
directors of the Brighton Railway, under whose management
the Epsom branch is conducted, have made arrangement: i to
run trains at such frequent intervals each day as will am ply
provide for all contingencies. Special trains, without step-
ping, will leave London-bridge for Epsom four times on
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, commencing; at
5 o'clock in the morning; in addition to which 13 ordirvary
trains will be dispatched during the forenoon. For ther re-
ttieih minutes.rnjourne trains are to be dispatched from Epsom every
t-General Sir Colin Can ip-
THE ARMY .—Liellterlllll . .
. This ofE. cer
Officer will be succeeded in the command of the
bGee,lodl , latel i o
pe,ison Governorh i
sa
returnand C
home,omni an,i ear. i:enr-, l
long
oof th e
absence. Capep.i,
hoof
gallant
tfLijhord- Gu
reinnegratlhe Smelt.A
UclS American war, and
TERatmariox 01' TII E TIIMENII AM POISONIING
troops at
~a_titthtile
meueclohndyishti
This inquiry was resumed at Tibbenham, at the
CA/E3—This
re)
-hound, on Thursday last, before Mr. Pilgrim, the corm ier,
received some severe wounds.
' and the jury. The names of the latter having been again
called over, the Coroner, in making a few remarks, said the
case was still enveloped in great mystery and suspicion,
which he feared nothing that would come before them I his
day would clear away. The evidence brought forward
added but little to the facts of the case, as detailed
previous inquiry. The jury, after hearing the evidence,_..... re-
turned a verdict "That Mary Ann Pearson and Elizabeth
' Everit died from the effects of arsenic wilfully adunintred
by tome person or persona tutknown."

RAILWAY COMMITTEES,

HOUSE OF COMMON S.-(YESTERDAY.)
GROUP VI.
WILTS, SOMERSZT, AND WEYMOUTH

ANIZNDMENT (NO. XI.)

The Committee announced at the commencement of the
proceedings that they regretted to have to state that they
had received a note from Mr. Deedes (the chairman of the
Committee), containing also the certificate of his medical
adviser, that he was completely incapacitated from attending
the Committee to-day, but hoped to be able to do so on
Monday next.
Mr. Round presided in the absence of the llonourable
Member.

The first witness called was Mr. Maitland, late surveyor of
the Shepton Mallet turnpike roads. llis evidence went to
show the importance of the town of Shepton Mallet, and the
advantages to be derived from a railway communicating with
that town.
Mr. Spencer, brewer, of Shepton Mallet, gave evidence of a
similar character as to the importance of the town of Shep-
ton Mallet.
Mr. Paul, farmer, near Sherborne, Mr. Saxen, farmer, of
Bruton, Mr. Clarke, chairman to the board of guardians at
Wincanton, gave evidence in favour of the line.
The Committee then adjourned till Monday next.

GROUP XV.
TU EASTERN COUNTIES (CAMBRIDGE,
ROYSTON, AND NV &C.)
(Continued from ~ur Afternoon Edition of ye6terday.)
Mr. Borthwick, C.E., was then examined in support of
the Bill.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock.