The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-03 00:00:00

DREADFUL MURDER.

One of those fearful deeds of blood, which are but too
cotnrnon where large bodies of labouring men are con-
gregated, occurred on the morning of Saturday last at
the works now in course of formation for the purpose of
crossing the Menai Straits near the Britannia Rock. It
appears that the extensive platforms on which are con-
structed the enormous iron tubes, with the massive ma-
chinery, materials, workmens' tools, &c., are watched and
guarded every night ; and one of the watchmen thus em-
ployed has been the victim of a most foul sad brutal
murder. His remains were discovered on the shore close
by the staging, whence they had been thrown ; the head
was disfigured by two fearful gashes, one extending over
the left side of the head, cutting through the temple,
and the other on the crown of the skull, and both these
fractures had evidently been inflicted by some heavy
blunt instrument, in all probability a piece of iron. The
deceased's brains were scattered about, showing with
what fearful effect the fatal blows must have been in-
flicted. No marks of blood were observed, nor was there
anything which could afford a clue as to who were the
perpettaters of the awful deed. One of the fellow-
watchers of the deceased was at first suspected, but as
no evidence could be brought forwent at the inquest to
show that he was at all connected with the crime, be was
discharged, and we regret to say that the during perpe-
traters of the revolting outrage are still at large. On
Monday last an inquest was held at the offices of the in-
spector of the works, at the Bridge, before E. G. Powell,
Esq., coroner, and a highly respectable jury.
The evidence adduced was to the effect that the de-
ceased's name was John Rowlands, a native of Anglesey,
and that he and John Pritchard, his fellow-watcher,
were on duty on Friday evening; that the latter, about
halt• past twelve o'clock en Saturday morning, came to
the house of Robert and William Lewis, stating that
two men had broken into a shop, or wooden house, at
the work:, where paint, hides, &c., were kept; that the
deceased had been attacked by them; and that he (Prit-
chard) had heard them express a determination to kill
Rowlands in consequence of deceased having said that
he recognised them. Pritchard said that he bad been
also attacked as he was proceeding to Rowland's assist-
ance, but that he had escaped by running into a small
house up a midden, and bad dropped himself through
and waded down to his neck in water, in order to pre-
vent the men detecting him, where he had remained for
half an hour; that he had heard the deceased cry out,
"but dared not again proceed to his assistance; that when
he came out of the water he ran to Lewis's house and
gave the alarm, and they, with others, went down to the
staging, and discovered the dead body of Rowlands lying
on the beach. It had been thrown from off the stage;
the head was much fractured, and the deceased's hat was
on the platform. Another witness deposed to having
been called up about half-past twelve o'clock by Prit-
chard, who stated that Rowlands had been murdered. He
went with the rest, and had the body removed into the
joiner's shop.
Evidence was brought to show that Pritchard was
perfectly wet when he gave the alarm, and that he ap-
peared much terrified. The paint-shop had been broken
open and articles disturbed, and placed ready for being
carried away.
Pritchard, on being questioned, said, that he could-not
recognise the men who had attacked him as he was going'
to the assistance of Rowlands, who he heard call out
" Spare my life!" He jumped into the midden, which
opens on to the water, to save his life. His lantern fell

from his band and rolled on the beach. where it was
found. He distinctly heard the deceased cry out while.
he was in the Hater.

Mr. Florence, surgeon on the works, deposed that the
skull of the deceased was fractured in three places, and
the scalp was much lacerated. There was a deep wound
on the upper lip, and a heavy blow had been inflictod
on the cheek bone. There were blood and brains ou the
upright post, but none on the platform. The wounds
had been cased by some heavy blunt instrument.
Evidence was brought to show that no quarrel existed
between the two watchmen.
The jury brought in a verdict of " Wilful murder
against some person or persons unknown."