The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-10 00:00:00

IRON-PLATED SHIPS.

THE .211URDER NEAR NEWCAS4

On Monday morning the inquiry into the circum-
stances of the death of Thomas Harrison was re-

sunaed by the coroner, J. M. Favell, Esq., in the
Ship Inn, kept by Mr. Thomas Kinnaird, at Pel-
ton. The court was entirely an open one, a number
of the surrounding villagers, consisting chiefly of
women, being present. Mr. Theodore Hoyle, Jura,
accompanied by Mr. Shipley, appeared to watch the
case on behalf of the widow and relatives of the
deceased; but the prisoner, Lockey, being in custody
under remand of the magistrates at Chester-le•
street, was not brought forward. Mr. Squire, su-
perintendent of police, was in attendance.
The coroner opened the proceedings by reading
the depositions previously taken.
Elizabeth Loekey having been sworn, deposed—
I am the wife of Milner Lockey, and lived at Ur-
peth Mill. He worked at the coal mines. On
Saturday night, the 29th of September, about half-
past six o'clock, I was in the kitchen, and Thomas
Harrison was in bed in the kitchen. Milner Lockey
came in and said, " Now, honey, how are you com-
ing on the night ?" I said, " What has brought
you down here the night ?" He said, " You ---,
you'll find it out before it's long." I said, " Don't
you come here to make any kick-up, or I'll be
forced to send for a policeman." Then he called
me a " flaming I said, " Lockey, can you
prove me a " He said, " No, I can't." I said,
" Where's your face, or where's your tongue, to call
me that name P" He sat down and put off his hat.
He then came to me and worked with a knife about
my breast and stomach. I knew afterwards it
was a knife. He then stabbed me through the
right thigh with a knife. It went in at the inside
above the bone, and came out at the outside. I
bled a great deal. My boy Samuel, who was in bed
upstairs, came down and said, " Oh, Lackey, don't
kill my mother, and I'll call you father," Mr. Har-
rison spoke and said, " Oh, Lockey, don't kill your
mistress." Mr. Harrison get up in the bed, and I
gave my boy a wink to go for help. Harrison jumped
up and put his arms round Lockey's waist and said,
" Oh, mistress, take that knife out of the man's
hand; he's run it through my heart." Harrison was
bleeding from his breast. I worked on till I got the
knife out of Lockey's hand, and popped it down
into my breast. I put it in open. I could not shut
it. I spoke to Mr. Harrison twice over, and he did
not speak. "Lockey," I said, " thou's murdered that
man ;" and he said in reply, "Ay, you --, I'll
murder ye before it's long." Harrison sat down on
the chair and never moved, Lockey took hold of
me, and brought me away from Harrison. He said,
" Now, we'll have a cup of tea together, and it'll be
the last cup of tea we'll get." Harrison was then
leaning on his hand. His elbow was on the bed.
' He never moved to my knowledge. He said, " I'll
gan' through the hale fleet this night, for I know
be hung for this job." He told me to put the
kettle on ; so I took to the door, thinking I would
make my escape, and he followed me for fear that
I should get out. He in the meantime asked me for
' the key to lock the door. I said, " Lockey, there's
' neither lock nor key on my door." He then took
. me and put me on the chair. I asked him to spare
my life on account of the fatherless bairns, and he
said a second time, " I'll gan' through the hale fleet
this night." I said, " Then let me go to the door for
a few coals, honey," and he never spoke. I went to
the door and saw Hart coming, and I flew to him'
' directly I saw him. Another man was with him,
but at a short distance from him. I told him as well
as I could what had happened. I think I told him
Lockey had murdered the man. When Lockey and
Hart were talking I made away up the bank as far
as ever I could. I could not run. When I got round
the turn in the bank I heard Lockey coming. He had
not a hat on his head. He shouted two or three times,
" You --, take time." I called out several times,
" I'll be a murdered woman this night." I shouted
" Murder !" three or four times. I flew into Mr.
Heslop's barley field, and the gate was open for
me. It is called the " Wheat-field," and is near the
mill. I then got away from him, and I saw him no
more. I think be went up the lane. Many a time I
tumbled down on my knees that night. I went
away to the colliery, and the first door I got to I
went in. I gave the knife to a policeman. [The
knife was here produced.] That's the knife Lockey
struck me and Harrison with. I tried to shut it,
but could not. Mr. Harrison was a decent and well
behaved man from the time he came into my house.
Lockey has ill-treated rime before. I brought him
before the magistrates at Chester for assaulting me;
and many a time I would have been a murdered
woman if it had not been for the neighbours. When
he called on me a fortnight before he threatened
what he would do. I never heard him use threats
to Harrison. He asked him how long he was to
" byde," but he said he could not tell, for he was
looking fora letter every day to take him away home.
By Mr. Hoyle—l could not see the knife moving
about in the wound ho inflicted on Harrison ; but
when he ran it into my thigh he gave it two or
three pushes. I believe Lockey had a little sup, but
not a great deal of drink in him. He appeared to be
sober. I was at that time living away from Lockey.
The magistrates told him he had not to " fash" me
any more. This is about 14 or 15 weeks ago.
John Wright, the next witness said—l am a farm
labourer with Mr. Heslop, and live at the Ridings.
It is about half a mile from Urpeth corn mill.
About half-past 7 o'clock on the evening of Sept.
29th Samuel Wilson came,* to the Ridings. He said
his mother had sent him, and I was to come down.
He said Lockey had coni'd and killed the " bum"
man, and was going to kill him and his poor
mother. We questioned him again, and he repeated
the same thing. I and Hart then went down to the
mill, and Mrs. Lockey came out. Lockey followed
her, but never came outside the doorstead. Mrs.
Lockey saw Hart, and made to him. Seeing Loekey
in the door at the same time, she said, " Oh, Ned,
go in and help Lockey to bed." Hart turned to
Lockey and said, "Do you want to go to bed,
Luckey ?" He said, " No ; it isn't my bed time yet."
Hart said, " Where's t'ot her man ?" Lockey said,
" Oh; I'm the man." He said that twice. Hart
turned away, and shouted on Mrs. Lockey to come
back, as she was going up the bank. He said,
" Betty, come here ;" and she shouted, " Yes." She
came back, and Hart went to meet her. They spoke
together, but I did not hear what they said. Hart
carne to me ; and Mrs. Lockey went up the bank.
I believe she was walking. Lockey was still at the
door. I went to Mrs. Heslop's, and sent Richardson
for a policeman. I left Hart with Lockey.
By the Jury—l did not go into the house; and
I never saw Harrison until they were laying him
oat. I was frightened of Lockey.
By the Coroner—We each had a stick.
Samuel Robinson, sergeant of police at Chester-
le-street, said—On Saturday evening, Sept. 29, I
received information that Lockey had murdered the
bailiff at Urpeth Mill, and had, Atabbed his wife.
In company with another officer, f proceeded to
Upton Mill. We searched a house or' two on the
road, and got there about ten o'clock. I founei
Harri-
son dead, and leaning on the bed. I found a large
wound, about an inch and a half in length, under
his left breast. His shirts were saturated with
blood ; and there was a great quantity of blood on
the floor and by the bedside. The shirts had holes
in them corresponding with the one in his body. I
got assistance and laid him down by the bedside.
After searching for Lockey, I went to Urpeth Col-
liery and saw Mrs. Lockey in bed. She gave me
the knife produced, which was bloody. Its point is
a little turned. I have measured the blade. It is
44 inches long, or a little over. The blade and haft
together are 91 inches long. It is a new knife,
and catches back with a spring. It was bought at
Mr. Forster's shop, in the Market-place, Durham.
I have seen Mr. Forster, and he has identified the
knife. The man, however, who sold it to Lockey is
ill. I believe his name is Forster, but I am not sure.

By a Juror—lt was sold on Saturday, the 29th,
about 11 o'clock in the forenoon.

By the Coroner—l continued searching for Lockey
during the night ; and on Sunday morning the 30th
I was present at his apprehension by police-constable
Mallaby, in a pigsty behind Urpeth Mill. I said,
" Lackey, I charge you with the wilful murder of
Thomas Harrison at this place last night, by stab-
bing him with a knife, and also with attempting to
murder your wife by stabbing her." He made no
reply. After searching and handcuffing him, we
brou
;_ht him to Chester-le-street lock-up. He is
now in custi-,?
dy there, under the remand of the ma-
gistrates. He is not present, because the magis-
trates thought he td :?!itter not be brought, in order
to keep down excitemen:. When we got to Chester-
le-street, and while his clod. es were being taken
off, Lackey said, " This would no: have happened if
my wife had not used me so badly." He made this
statement voluntarily.
David Mallaby—l am a police-officer, and 11:7'e
at Kibblesworth. On Sunday morning, the 30th of
September, I received information that a murder
had been cetilmitfed at Urpeth Mill. I proceeded
there, and saw Harrisch Iyine, dead on the floor. I
then came to Pelton and joined the !sergeant. We
returned and searched the mill. About half past 9
o'clock I apprehended Milner Locke), in a pigsty at
Urpeth Mill. I said, " Now, Lockey, you'll have to
go with me ;" and I took him to Sergeant Robinson,
by whom he was charged with the murder. I
searched his pockets, and found £1 Bs. 6d. in money,
a handkerchief, a watch, and a small clasp knife,
which I produce. He then asked for his hat, as his
head was cold, and I went into the kitchen for it,
and gave it to him, and he put it on. I produce
Lackey's shirt, which has blood on the left sleeve
and left breast. His trousers have blood on both
legs at the front, and on the left leg at the back ;
also on the left skirt of his coat, It was
liett saidw t
night, and Lockey was as wet US could. be.
he had stopped in a holly bush in the wood all night.
Bohn Mowbray Hudson said—l ara a surgeon, and

F'~...

live at Chester-le-street. On Sunday morning the
30th Sept., about 6 o'clock, I was requested by
Sergeant Robinson to goto Urpeth Mill, as a murder
had been committed there. I went, and saw the
body of a man lying en the floor in a cottage. 1
was told his name was Harrison. He was dead.
On the left breast about an inch below the nipple
was a punctured wound, penetrating the cavity of
the chest, and about an inch and a half in length.
I saw a great deal of blood upon the floor and on a
quilt. He had on a flannel and an upper shirt. I
made -a post-mortem examination of the deceased
on. Monday afternoon, Oct. I. I had the body
stripped, and on the left elbow was a recent incised
I wound right across the joint, about an inch long ;
also other two of the same description on the side
of the elbow. The wounl on the chest proceeded
through the muscles between the fourth and
fifth
rib. The heart was entire and its covering. -
The
left lung had a large wound in it corresponding
with the wound in the chest, commencing a little
beyond its margin, towards the centre of the lung.
A large quantity of coagulated blood was in the
cavity of the chest. I examined the heart, which
was quite empty in consequence of the loss of blood.
The large blood-vessels were also empty. The
pericardium contained its usual quantity of serous
fluid, which proved that it was uninjured. The
viscera was empty. A portion of half-digested food
was in the stomach. The rest of the organs were
perfectly healthy, I consider the cause of his death
was from hemorrhage from the wound in his left
lung. (Knife produced.) That knife is sufficient
to inflict such a wound.
Mrs. Lockey recalled—When Lockey came into
the house, he took off his hat and put it on the
table. (Hat produced.) I think that is his hat.
My boy Samuel will be 11 years of age come January.
Francis Oughton, miner, said—l live at Pity-me.
I saw Milner Lockey a week gone last Saturday
about a quarter or 20 minutes past nine o'clock in
the forenoon. I met him at the end of Framwell-
gate. He had some clothes carrying. He said he
was coming to work at Upworth. I carried his
clothes about a quarter of a mile. He said to me
"Things are not pleasant at • home," because there
was a man named Harrison stopping with his wife,
and if the one-eyed was there when he went
home, he would put an end to them both. He said
he would not be hanged for them, as he would
put an end to his own existence at the same
time. We walked together to Pity-me. I keep a
publichouse there. He was in my house about two
hours. He had one glass of whisky, but he was
quite sober. He left between 12 and one o'clock.
He went alone. the Newcastle-road.
This constituted the whole of the evidence offered.
The Coroner having summed up,
The jury retired to another room, and after an
absence of about five minutes, returned a verdict of
" Wilful Murder" against Milner Lockey.
In the neighbourhood the shocking affair con-
tinues to excite the most intense interest. On Sun-
day the lonely cottage, which was the scene of the
dreadful tragedy, was visited by a number of
curiously-disposed individuals ; Mrs. Lockey hav-
ing previously granted to the bailiff, now in posses-
sion of the mill, permission to sisow certain parties
through the interior of the ill-fated building. The
chair, on which Mr. Harrison leaned back after re-
ceiving the deadly blow, up to Monday- retained its
position at the bedside, and presented some marks
of blood; similar indications of personal violence
being observed upon some of the materials in the
bed. Mrs. Lockey, however, having resolved to
return no more to her old habitation, has taken
house at Urpeth Colliery for herself and children,
and thither the furniture is being gradually re-
moved. She has now, to a great extent, recovered
from the severe injuries inflicted by her cruel hus-
band, but still remains in a comparative state of
weakness. The reports in circulation concerning
the motives by which the prisoner was actuated in
the commission of the crime are numerous and.
varied. Somewhat singular it is, that up to a cer-
tain period, he seemed to have spoken of his wife
with great affection and respect. It appears that
about eleven weeks ago he went to lodge with a
woman named Jane Dowson, at a place called
Leasingthorne, near Bishop Auckland. When there
he is represented as having frequently talked of
Mrs. Lockey in a eulogistic strain, and on his
return from Urpeth, apout a fortnight previous to
the murder, he told his landlady how well sbe
had behaved towards him. He mentioned too
that Harrison was staying with her, but never
said that he suspected anything wrong be-
tween them. On leaving that he went to another
house., where he seems to have indulged in a
similar tone of conversation. There, however, he is
stated to have received a letter informing him that
his wife had been at Pelton with another man ; and
by this communication he appeared to be much put
about. The police have not ceased from prosecuting
their inquiries, with the view of rendering the
evidence in support of the capital charge complete ;
and at the investigation before the magistrates at
Chester-le-Street, which is expected to take place
this week, some fresh facts will probably be elicited.

_HEALTH" OF LONDON DURING T.IEF"
WEEK.

(E.on the Registrar-General's IVeckly Return.)

In the week that ended last Saturday 1,075 deathS
were registered iu London, This number shows
but a very trifling increase on that of the previous
week. If the deaths in the present return are com-
pared with the average mortality of the first week
of October as obtained from the previous 10 years
1850-59, it will be seen that the public health, as
tested by the mortality, is in a not unfavourable
condition.
Small-pox carried off six children, measles 52,
scarlatina also 52, diphtheria 12. There were five
deaths from scarlatina in Islington East. Two
widows died, one at the age of 99 years, the other at
102 years, the latter at 6, Castle-alley, Whitechapel.
A girl, aged three months, died of " erysipe-
las, a week after vaccination ; " a boy, aged six
weeks, of " gastric irritation from impure milk." A
sugar baker, aged 23 years, was suffocated in a
charcoal cistern. And a labourer, aged 60 years,
was destroyed by sulphuretted hydrogen gas when
at work in a gaspipe.
Last week the births of 982 boys and 834 girls in
all 1,816 children, were registered in London. In
the 10 corresponding weeks of the years 1850-59
the average number was 1,465.
_ _

At the 'Royal. Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 30.088 in.
The mean reading was above 30 in. on five days.
The highest point attained was 30.28 in. on Thurs-
day. The mean temperature of the air in the week
was 51.9 deg., which is 1.3 deg. below the average
of the same week in 43 years (as determined by Mr.
Glaisher). The mean temperature of the water of
the Thames was 54.2 deg. The mean degree of
humidity of the air was 85, complete saturation
being represented by 100. The wind blew from the
west and north-west ; on the last three days from
the south-west and west. No rain was measured in
the week.
In the 13 weeks that ended on Saturday, Sept.
29, 12,916 deaths were registered in London. That
this mortality is relatively very low will be mani-
fest when it is added that last quarter fewer per-
sons died by 1,150 than in the same period of 1856,
fewer by 1,343 than in 1857, fewer by 1,429 than
in 1858, and fewer by 3,094 than in 1859. It
will further be observed, that as the population
has increased, the smallest number of deaths
was obtained from the largest population.
In consequence of the coldness of the summer,
and the unusual quantity of rain, the diarrhoea
that carries off many hundreds of young children
at that season was comparatively idle. The mean
temperature of the air in the quarter was 56.8 deg.,
which is five degrees less than the average of four
corresponding quarters (1856-9), and six degrees
less than it was in the same period of last
.yedur- 1
concurrence with this decrease of heat the eathns
from diarrhoea and cholera, which were 2,920 t in
the same quarter of 1859, fell to 788
Certain other epidemics visibly declined; f
last
_eqruianr
tehre.
tivel 287
same periods smallpox numbered re
104 and
and 71; typhus, 502 and 311; dysentery,
and 99; scarlatina, 778 :and 471 ; d'spPhetheriaY 190
But several
28 ; and remittent fever, 33 and 13.
diseases in the same class (the zymotic) were more
fatal ; for comparing still the summer quarters of
1859-60 measles rose from 231 to 579 ; whooping-
cough
rheumatism and rheumatic
f
Instead of 172 infants who
cevuegrhfr te'rmoms2B4t3et7o6. 350
died in the summer of last year fr an
om wt of breast
milk, only 100 died last quarter ; and instead of 69
from thrush, only 30. The greater coldness of the
weather increased the mortality of pulmonary coin-
, which in four
corresponding quarters ranged from 474 to 562,
plaints ; the deaths from bronchitis
pneumonia, which ranged from 377 to
ware in the quarter that has just passed 667, and
606. Those from diseases of the heart
it3a hlssolos,erwof Iseve considerably, and were 610. From a re-
view
that
o s f a
rme
ttet above results of the quarter it will be
obvious a great portion, if not the whole, of
improvement in the public health, which is
imjffied in a reduction of the total mortality,
fallen to children, and these chiefl of has
ytender age.

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