The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-28 00:00:00

MURDER IN STAFFORDSHIRE.

The county of Stafford has again been the scene of
a fearful and revolting tragedy, the horror of which is,
however, very much mitigated by the conviction that
the perpetrator of it was the subject of mental aberra-
tion at the time of the commission of the terrible act.
Alstonefield, where the frightful occurrence has taken
place, is an extensive parish in Staffordshire, on the
. con-
fines of Derbyshire, from which latter county it a sepa-
rated by the River Dove. The village is picturesque!),
situated on a western declivity above Dovedale, and is
ten miles from Leek, and six from Ashbourn, in Derby-

shire.
A cottage at Archford Moor, a secluded part of the
parish, lying between Alstonefield and Hulmeend, was
occupied by Thomas Berrisf ird, an old man, and two
relatives of his, named Ann Edge, aged 76, and Betsey
E.-1:4,e, 56 years of age the latter being familiarly called
Betty Edge," being a niece of the old woman. The
two women occupied one bed, and the old man slept in
an adjoining bed in the same room. On Wednesdayeven-
lag last, the oe upants of the cottage retired to rest as
usual, nothing out of the ordinary course having 'le-
ctured during the day. On Thursday morning, Betty
Edge, seized, it is supposed, by some unaccountable
frenzy, got up at 5 o'clock, and went down stairs, and
having procured a hatchet, she returned to the bed-
room and dealt her aged aunt, who was lying asleep.
several blows with it on the head. The noise a the blows
awakened the old man, who was lying in the adjoining
bed, and he instantly arose and seized the murderess as
she was in the act of striking her victim another violent
blow, but he was too late to save the old woman's life.
The poor old woman, whose head and face were shock•
ingly disfigured, was unconsciins, but not quite dead.
She was attended by Mr.' Cridge, surgeon, of Bank Tt.p,
near Sheen, but she died in about an nour.
Information of the terrible occurrence was imme-
diately given to Polce-constable Critchlow, and he forth"
with took Betty Edge into custody. No motive is &a-
scribed for the commission of the deed. The murderess
has been ill, and under medical attendance for some
time previously, and from all that we can learn there is
every reason to believe that at the time of the commis-
sion of the fatal deed she was not in a sound state of
mind.—Staffordshire Advertiser.
An inquest has been held, and a
c‘vehrodihcatsoefownislyfqulutmmutir•
der returned against Baby
been committed to Stafford gaol to take her bud. at the
summer assizes.

CRYSTAL PALAJDR.—FIVR SHILLING DAY, April 20.
—Admissions o a payment, 529 ; ditto by season
tickets, 4,593 ; total visitorP, 5,122.
THE MURDER Or MRS. KELLY.--DUBLIN, April 25.
—The magisterial investigation relativt+ to the murder of
Mrs. Sarah Kelly was resumed yesterday atlleat., the
proceedings, as pro iviously, being private. The BtOWlll4
of the deceased at d two other witnesses were examired,
but it is understood that nothing of importance was
elided. The crop in solicitor conducted the inquiry, and
professional men a, `.tended on the part of the representa-
tives of the deceas4 !d and of her nephew, Mr. Strevans,
elm continues in et, stodv. The magistrates decided on
mantling all the pi .i•ioners until WAnesday next, and
la further reward of ;OM has been offered for private in-
formation relative to the murder, making tlm amount of
reward alrealy offered 8001.