The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-02 00:00:00

AWFUL TRAGEDY AT DUDLEY.

DUDLEY, MONDAY.
On Saturday night a shocking affair took place in this
town. It seems that for some Urn: past a young man
named John Dance, son of the landlord •f the Railway
Tavern, Portersfield, had been paying the attentions of
a lover to a first cousin of his own, daughter of Mr. T.
Barr, landlord of the Seven Stars Inn, Hall-street. She
is said to have been an amiable and much rtspecte.l
young woman, while he was of unsteady and irregular
habits. It was probably owing to this that her parents
discouraged his visits to their house, and that latterly
Miss Barr had also done so. On several occasions he had
been heard to threaten to take her life if she would not
consent to have him, but these threats were disregarded.
On Saturday night, about ten o'clock, he went to the
house. Being somewhat tipsy, both Miss Barr and her
parents ordered him to leave, and he did so, but not
without muttering something to the young lady t. 4 the
effect that "she would not order him out the next tine
he came." About 12 o'clock, the front door of the Saven
Stars being closed, Miss Barr and her mother were en-
gaged in their usual a.vocatims about the house, when
Dance entered by the back door, and walked up to the
young lady, who was then going along the passage lead-
ing from a back room to the bar. Pulling a pistol from
his pocket be fired it off. The charge took effect in her
neck and lower jaw, and she at once fell to the
ground. In another moment a second shot was
heard, and the unfortunate young man lay dead upon
the floor. He had placed the pistol close to his left ear,
the shot penetrated the brain, and death was in-
stantane ms. A pair of small pocket pistils were after-
wards picked up. Mr. Fisher, a surgeon, was at once
sent for, and in a very short time attended and dressed
the wounds inflicted upon Miss Barr. Though alive
this morning, there is scarcely a hope of her recovery.
She is wholly incapable of articulation, but is sensible,
and is able to converse with her father by means of a
pencil and slate. It is said that when under the influ•
ence either of passion or drink, Dance was subject to
mental aberration.

A very similar tragedy occurred in Dudley 12 months
ago ; but though the murderer also attempted suicide,
he was aftErwards hanged at Worcester.

ALLEGED MURDER IN NEWCIASTLE-ON-TYNE.—On
Friday, a female, named Ann Fleming, died at a house
in Back-row, Newcastle, under suspicions circumstances.
It appears that for some time past she had been subject-
ed to most inhuman and cruel treatment from her para-
mour, whose name is William Fleming. On Friday
afternoon a woman entered the house wheie the parties
lived, and found Ann Fleming lying on her chett with
her arms under her, dead. There were many marks of
violence upon her neck, and other evidences that death
had not been the result of natural causes, The deceased,
previous to her death, had, it appeared, made state-
ments to the effect that the whole of the injuries from
which for several days she endured so much suffering
were inflicted by Wm. Fleming; and what makes the
suspicion stronger against Fleming is the fact of his hay-
ing absconded. He is, however, well known to the
police, having been frequently before the magistrates
for felony and other offences. He is a native of Ireland.
Deceased was a native of Worcestershire, where it is
said her parents reside.
TER3fINATION OF THE COLLIERS' STRIKE AT BARNSLEY.
—This struggle, which has extended over a period of ten
weeks, was brought to a;sudden termination on Saturday
last in consequence of a number of the men having signed
articles to work for the proprietors. The result was that
several more were expected to follow, when the com-
mittee at once resolved to close the strike. They met at
the Baltic Inn on Saturday morning; Mr. Siddous in the
chair. The roll having been called, it was agreed that
those men Rio had been applying for work at the 055 ks
Colliery i.lll6uld not be admitted. On the motion of
Mr. C.egg, it was resolved :—" That after the funds at
present in hand had been divided on Monday next, the
struggle in which they ha .l been engaged should termi-
nate ; and that those men who thought fit to tie, ept
work should not in any way be interfered with by those
who declined to work under the present manager." The
men present declared their intention of seeking work
elsewhere, rather than run the risk of again working
under the present management. The strike has keen a
serious lobs to the proprietors, amounting to many thou-
sand pounds, exclusive of the probable loss of many good
customers, who have been compelled to get their supplies
from other quarters,—Motic4coter atfordian, 1