The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-13 00:00:00

MURDER AND ROBBERY AT ACTON.

A cruel murder has been perpetrated on the highway,
close on the outskirts of the metropolis, four miles on the
Acton-road, upon.the person of Mr. Edward John Gates, a
builder, residing for a number of years at No. 12, Great
James-street, Lisson-grove, Paddington. The first intima-
tion:of the occurrence was made by Sergeant Mansell, of the
.T division. It appears that about 10 minutes to 12 o'clock
on Monday night last he was going his usual nightly rounds,
when, between Acton and Shepherd's-bush, he meta man
named Henry George, groom to Mr. llolford, of Acton,
who called his attention to a man lying in the road, appa-
rently insensible or dead. The police sergeant proceeded to
the spot and found the deceased in the road about three
yards from the pathway; be was lying on his back ; his
face was frightfully disfigured and covered with blood. Ile
was quite dead. A quantity of blood was lying on the
road beside him. His clothes were in a disirdered state.
Mansell, the police-sergeant, with the assistance of George,
the groom, got him upon the path, and then proceeded to
the station at Acton to give information of the discovery he
had made, when a cart was obtained, and the body of the
unfortunate man removed to the dead-house at Acton. The
superintendent of the T division, being appised of the cir-
cumstance, sent for Mr. H. B. Lingham, a surgeon in the
town, upon whose arrival the body of the deceased was
stripped, when it was discovered that a foul murder had been
committed. The vest, shirt, and drawers were saturated
with blood, proceeding from two stab wounds on the right
side, close to the heart. The most material wound was iudi-
cated by a large puncture, from which quarts of blood had
flowed. The other wound, more in front, below the chest,
was not of such vital importance, although that bled copi-
ously. Mr. Lingbam, the surgeon, having received mar:,
rity from Mr. Wakley, the coroner, made a post too!
examination of the body, when be found that the stab in the
right side bad entered the body neatly seven inches, com-
pletely perforating the heart, and causing, as a matter of
course, instantaneous death. The other wound, below the
collar bone, and of a minor descr:otion, had not entered any
dejtth, and was in no way connected with death. The fea-
tures of the unfortunate deceased were frightfully muti-
lated, evidently by severe blows—indeed, to so great an ex-
tent that his eldest son could scarcely identify his unhappy
parent.
At the inquest, which was held yesterday afternoon at :3
o'clock, at the King's Head Inn, Acton, before Mr. Wakley,
coroner for West Middlesex, and a highly-respectable jury,
the superintendent of the 'l' division of police said the utmost
exertions had been used to bring to justice the perpetrators
of the murder, bueup to the present time no clue had been
obtained to them.
In answer to questions from the coroner Sergeant Man-
sell said that when the body of the deceased was removed to
the station his person was carefelly searched, but no watch,
and only three-halfpence were found upon him. The de-
ceased had been for years well known in Acton, Ealing, and
the surrounding districts. For some months past he had
been engaged in extensive works at Mr. Reeves's, horticul-
tural florist, of Acton Bottom. He bad a number of men
under him at Mr. Reeves's.

On the opening of the inquest a number of the deceased's
relatives were in attendance. Several of the county terleis-
trates and parochial authorities were present, and also a
number of the gentry residing in and about the village.
Mr. Edward Gates, the eldest son of deceased, said his
father left home at Paddington at 6 o'clock on Monday
morning last in his usual health. He (deceased) was pro-
ceeding to Mr. Reeves's, at Acton Bottom.
In answer to questions from the Coroner and jury, the
witness said his father had his watch and some pounds iu
money when he left home. He was of sober habits and
highly respected.
The Coroner said there was no doubt that the deceased
had come to his death by violence. He should adjourn the
inquiry, and at the seam time direct that every possible
exertion he used by the police is discover any persons who
might tie implicated in the matter.
In answer to questions from the jury, Mr. Lingliam, the
surgeon, said that the wound which bad perforated the heart
might have been done by a sword-stick ; the wounds on the
head and face were the result of blows from a stick, or some
other weapon. The nose was broken, and one of the eyes
nearly destroyed. The hands of the deceased were also much
injured, caused possibly by his resistance to the attack made
upon him.
The son of the deceased, who was deeply affected, said
he was quite sure his unfortunate father had been robbed
and murdered. He might have had a large sum about
him, which if seen by bad characters would cause the attack
upon him.
The Coroner directed the police to be active in obtaining
all the evidence they, could before the next meeting, which
was fixed for six o'clock next Tuesday, the 17th Inst.
the
The parochial authorities have already offered x. 50
o for
apprehension of the murderer or murderers.