The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-21 00:00:00

THE 211URDEI? IN THE COUNTY OF

DURBAM.

NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, MONDAY EVENING.
The coroner :or North Durham, Mr. Favell, re-
sumed the inquest this morning at Winlaton with
regard to the murder of John Baty, on the road be-
tween that village !ma. Dlaydon, on Monday night,
VI,. sth Writ,. I rAuted in a communication from
here on Saturday night that it was imagined that
Thos. Smith, alias " Lanky," for it appears that he
was better known by the latter appellation than
by his proper name, had taken to the hills and had
gone west; but it has since been ascertained that
he crossed the county of Durham, working south,
and, having made his way into the North Riding of
Yorkshire, he got among the hills and moors of
Cleveland, and reached the seaport of Whitby. The
police had tracked him all the way, but had been
a good deal thrown out by the stupidity and
malic of people whom they had encountered. Smith
was captured by the East Riding constabulary at
Whitby yesterday, as he was attempting to get on
shipboard, and he is now custody at Gateshead.
We have before intimated that some other persona
are suspected of being concerned in the murder.
Evidence was produced to-day showing that two
men, William Winship and Douglas Swan, black-
smiths, were at the low part of Winlaton about 1
o'clock on Tuesday morning, shortly after the
murder was supposed to have been committed. It
seems that they came into the publichouse of Mr.
John Parker, the Black Boy, about 1 o'clock in the
morning, Winship having eight or nice shillings in
his hinds. They were drunk, and left the house
again about 2 o'clock, after quarrelling, Swan de-
manding his whack or share of the 9s. This ac-
count of their movements was wholly contradictory
of the evidence given by these men at the last in-
quiry. Parker, the landlord, said that by their talk
he thought the men had not got this money by fair
means. Winship, he said, showed that he had
handy fingers for picking pockets, and offered to
pick any man's pocket in the room, which induced

him (the landlord) to turn him oat. Winship did
not tell Parker that morning where he got the
money, but after the murder he stated he came to
his (Parker's) shop and said that he had bofrowed
14s. The jury questioned the witness as to whe
ther Winship had his coat torn when he came into
the publichouse on Tuesday morning, but he said
that he did not see that.
Mary Ann Foster, sister to Winship, was called,
and she swore that she lent him Bs. on the Monday
night. It was due to him from his mother for
work.
Thomas Billcleugh, chainmaker, Winlaton, was
examined. He said that he knew the max named
Thomas Smith, "Lanky." He came to his house
about 4 o'clock of the morning that Baty's body
was found. Witness and his wife were in bed
asleep, when a rap came at the door, and he got
up and opened it and saw Smith standing outside.
Smith said that he was very cold, and came into
the house. He talked about lying down. He came
to the fire and sat down and lit his pipe. He talked
to witness about mischief that he and Armstrong
had had with the police at Blaydon, and after-
wards told him to go to bed, and he would sleep
by the fire.. Witness went to bed. Smith wore
corded trousers and a velvet coat. Witness got
up again about 6 in the morning, and went out-
side. On returning to the house he told Smith
that Baty had been found murdered. He said
" That is a worse job than mine." He understood
he alluded to the row with the police at Blaydon.
Smith washed himself and put himself to rights.
About 7 o'clock. Edward Armstrong came, and he
and Smith had some talk. Smith left about a quarter
past 7. Had afterwards heard that Smith was sus-
pected of the murder, but did not give any informa
tion to the police until they came to him. Arm-
strong left witness's house with Smith, and about
9 o'clock he returned to Winlaton, and sent for him
to William Cowen's shop. He afterwards went
with witness to his house and washed himself, but
in the most emphatic manner Billcleugh deniedthat
Armstrong ever said a word to him about the murder
of Baty. He also denied that anything was burnt
in his house. Smith had his dog with him when he
left the house. He left the house almost immedi-
ately after he told him that Baty was murdered:
Mary Billcleugh, wife of the previous witness, was
also examined—She deposed to having been
knocked up by Thomas Smith at 4 o'clock on the
morning of the murder. When the door was opened
Smith looked all round him and asked to be allowed
to come in and warm himself, as he was cold with
lying in the lane. Witness kindled the fire and he
sat himself down. She left him there and went to
bed. Smith had a wound on his head. The subse-
quent part of her story did not vary much from that
of her husband; but it was suspected in the inquest
room that they know more of the circumstances of
the murder than they disclosed.
Edward Armstrong, keelman, living at Blaydon,
knew Thomas Smith,-and that Baty was murdered
on Tuesday morning, the 6th of November, and
would tell all about it. Smith, who was known as
" Lanky," said he had a bit of a difference with the
police in Blaydon on Monday night, and came up
to Winlaton. He (Armstrong) stayed with his
father-in-law until 7 o'clock on Tuesday morning.