The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-19 00:00:00

811OCK1NG MURDER IN BIRMINGHAM

At nine o'clock yesterday morning a- most brutal
murder was committed in cold blood by a young
man named Price, who took the life of his sweet-
heart, the servant at a small inn in Deritend, kept
by a Mr. Jackson. The Birmingham Post, in a
second edition, thus describes the catastrophe :--
" About twenty minutes before nine this (Wed-
nesday) morning one of the most deliberate and
cold-blooded murders which has ever stained the
annals of crime was committed by a young man, a
shoemaker, 24 years of age, named Francis Price.
It appears, from inquiries made on the spot, that a
young woman of some personal attractions, named
Sarah Pratt, also 24 years of age, had for some time
lived as general servant with Mr. and Mrs. Jack-
son, of the Swan Inn, Deritend. For three months
past the murderer has been paying his addresses to
her ; but it is clear that his attentions were not
acceptable to the girl. However, he persevered, and
at an early hour on Monday last he went to Mr.
Jackson's before the master and mistress were up,
and seeing Sarah Pratt cleaning in the bar he endea-
voured to lift her over the counter, no one else being
there at the time. However, she eluded his grasp,
and he left the house. Soon after eight o'clock this
morning he was met by police-constable Evans,
nearly opposite the place where the murder was
committed. • The officer had known the prisoner
for some months past, but although they conversed
together for a few minutes, neither in speech
nor behaviour did Price give any indication of the
dreadful act he evidently had in contemplation. A
few minutes after the murderer went to the house
of an old washerwoman named Holmes, who lives
in a court a short distance from the Swan Inn.
Telling her that he wculd give her 55., he sent her
to Mr. Jackson's to say that her sister wanted to
see Sarah Pratt. This had the effect of bringing
the unsuspecting victim to Mrs. Holmes'. Of
course what passed between the parties cannot at
present be known, but just as the mistress of the
house had reached her door she met the murderer
Price rushing out. Looking in, great was her
horror at seeing the young woman she had just
fetched lying literally in a pool of blood on the
floor. Calling out Murder,' Sergeant Millard,
who was not far distant at the time, came up, and
seeing the horrible spectacle, ran off to Alcester-
street station. Inspector Hobbs instantly sent
for Dr. Jordan, of Bradford-street, who immedi-
ately attended, but life was extinct. A young
baker (Mr. Thomas Powell), whose bakehouse is
near the court, hearing the cry of Murder,' ran
up to the spot, and saw the murderer rushing from
the scene of death. With praiseworthy alaerity Mr.
Powell at once pursued and overtook Price in Brad-
ford-street. and though naturally nervous lest the
murderer should have any weapon with him he took
him into custody, and conveyed him to the station.
Here, on being searched by the officers, a nearly
new and extremely sharp shoemaker's knife, smeared
with blood, was found upon him. The prisoner,
considering his age, possessed the greatest possible
amount of coolness and sell possession, voluntarily
admitting that it was jealousy which prompted him to
act as he had done. Deceased, he said, had that

morning positively refused his addresses. When
searched, he had about him photographs of himself
and of the deceased in morocco cases. Just before
leaving Alcester-street for Moor-street station, re-
ferring to the dreadful deed, he said, I did it, and
know I shall be hanged for it. I did not think of
it five minutes before.' The unfortunate young
woman's head was nearly severed from the body.'
Price was taken before the magistrates yesterday,
and remanded until Friday.