The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-06 00:00:00

TIIE MURDERER'S CONFESSION

On Wednesday the prisoner in the above case, James
Atkinson, was taken before the county magistra'es, at
Kuaresborough, by Mr. Superintendent Martin, and, after
the examination of several witnesses, was committed for
trial.

Dr. Simpson presided, and the following other magic•
trates were also present : Mr. J. B. Favell, Mr. J. James
Harrison, Mr. T. C. Wilkinson, and the Hon. Egremont
Lased les.

The court was crowded, and the caze excited a good deal
of interest.

The prisoner was not defended. On being charged in the
usual way he made the following extraordinary confession
—The reason I murdered her was because she would net
have me. She told me her parents would not let her have
me. She said she theueht she could not be happy, as any
father was also against it. She said, " It's all my mother,
Jim, that's caused this disturbance." She said three times,
" Lord help me," and I hope the Lord will help her. I told
her I could not be happy without her ; I could not rest in
this world. She said it was all false ; that I cared nothing
about her, I had behaved so badly to her. It was all because
she was so queer with me that made me do it. I told her I
should murder her if she would not have me, because I
could not rest. I told her I had not been happy for three
weeks, or more than that. She told me she had not been ,
happy ; that she han been far from happy since her parents
were against me and „ere always calling" me. Her
mother was the worst, she said, and never let her alone, day
in and day out. Her father never said anything to her
about me—be never changed words with her on the subject.
I was in her house on Sunday, at tea time. Her sister end
her mother came in. Her sister and her were In the
"house," and I was In the kitchen. She came out from
her mother and said, " Come, come, go out before my mother
comes in." I did as she wanted me, and we both thought
her mother did not see me. I went to a house on
the contrary side of the road, belonging to my father, but
not where he lives. I perhaps stopped an hour there, wait'
ing of her sister and her coming out to go to chapel. Her
mother and her sister came out before her, and they soon
talking about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour. Then
she came out, and I went up to her. They went up the lane,
and her mother went home. I followed them up the lane,
and overtook them in a lane that takes into Stump-lane;
where I murdered her. She didn't talk to me much, but
her sister did. I went down to the bottom of Stump-101
with them. My sweetheart told me to go home en"
change my coat; to get my black coat on. I said that
had en would do for me, and we parted at the bottom 0
the lane. I thought to myself I would go to Furness, bee
sister's sweetheart, who was coming up. There were sortie
more people with Furness. I stopped a little bit, and
then walked forward. There were some more people
sitting and standing on some wood below. I went and
sat down and talked a little bit. Furness and come
others came up. I got up after a little bit, and scent
against Furness, and asked him if be was going t°
Hartwith. He said it was a long road to go, but we
set off down the lane together. We kept moving oa
slewly, until we got to the new line (railway), -and her
brother then came up to us, and we sat upon the wall and
talked a little bit. I pulled out ls. and a 6d., and Oke"
them if they could strike the sixpence from under' the
shilling and leave the shilling still on the finger. Were'
mained a bit, and then sot off to the chapel. The girls he:
gone before we set off. _When we got to the chapel gate Wi''
went forward to the public-house and each got a glass, ant&
a piece. After that we came down to the chapel and saw a',
the people come out. We followed after them. I went to 07
sweetheart, but she did not talk much to me never afterwerds,;
She raid she thought we should have to part, as they call,"
her so. She said they had been calling her after I left 1
house, and her mother had nearly gone crazed. We vfaliteo
on together, and left her sister and Furness. We walked%
until we got to Stump-lane bottom, and when we got slid t
way up she took her arm out of mine. I wanted her InPthle
it in again, and she would not, told her I could nor e
happy until I married her. She thought we could Pa be
happy; she was sure we could not be happy. She told Ind
I should behave badly to her. I said if she would matel
me. I would be content with her • I could not be contend
without- her. She said we had better part a little bit. t°,lla
her many times I could not part from her, unless I
something with her. I told her I thought there was sow"
one else she wanted, and I could not bide any one else to
have her. She said we could both' do without one another
a little bit. Then I took. hold of her as she was walking bld
the side of the road. She was all the while awkwsrer
with me, and would not go on quietly. I stopped, 12be
where she was, and told her I would murder her "d
did not go on quietly with me. She said " It's all Il;
you only want to make me believe to." Then I took her
by the throat and tried to choke her. She cried out wild
I took her by the throat, and I thought some one Willi I
hear. We then got up and walked on a little hit,• an t_
pulled out my knife, and showed it her. She cried ?tit'
" Let's go home, Jim—let's go home, Jim." Then I
her and cut her throat, and she cried out "It's all In,
mother, Jim—it's all my mother that's caused this (116;
turbance." She cried out, "The Lord help me' three 1in3%..
to the best of my recollection, and then she fainted anql•ti
and I left her. I went over, the wall, shut the knife, and
I put it in my waistcoat pocket. I went into the fields. 0/
wandered about, perhaps an hour or au hour and a Ina• ,„
laid me down and thougs.t I would go and till her paren;o"
but I could not go. I then thought I would go to her egn,„l
and I went back, but when I got a little way up the lane
vwer -
heart failed me and I couldn't go to her. Then I gel he
the ether wall into the field on the other side. I took tm.
knife out of my pocket again and opened it, and I put it 10.4
wall top, after which I took ecross the fields home to ailtLid
dam of my father's, to wash the blood off my hands au.
face. I then crossed another field home. When I got benne°.
my father and them were up. did not go into the W'o
I went into the shed where the carts were, and sat me dO to
until I thought they had all gone to bed. Then I went In I
the house. I could not eat any supper, and went to bed. od
could not rest all the night. I got up in the morning, to
told my brother, as be told you. I have nothing more
say.
The prisoner, when be had done, appeared as if be bsd
relieved his mind Oa great burthen, and signed his extra'
ordinary confession with as much coolness as if it bad beep
the ordinary deposition of a witness.
The Chairman—James Atkinson, as you have made this_
confession, there can be no doubt that you are the murderer.
of Mary Jane Scaife.
The Prisoner—yes, I am. for
The Chairman—lt is our ditty, therefore, to send yen
Wel at the next asszes at York.
The Pri-oner—Very well.
Mr. Superintendent Martin was then bound over to pro
secute, and the prisoner was removed.

OPENING OPTIIE OYSTER SEASON.-011 Wednaafi/.
the " opening of the oster seasnt " by efficial aittborillet
and in accordance with the civic regulatiens for Vie oltrre
of Billingsgatc-market, took place at four o'clock. 4`;;;0r
were from Rochester, Faversham, Whitstable, and' eil 0-0
p-r's, 19 vessels, a larger number than we bad to rrpoz'
the 4th of August in last year.'
ROYAL MATERNITY LYING-IN HOSPITAL. bE
halt-yearly mertirg of this institution was held at tb
(ffices in Knight Ryder-street yesterday. The report sth
that the number of women delivered during the six mon,o
was 1,182, being an increase on the corresponding 'et
months of last year of 73 cases, the average increase
annum since 1853 being 175 cases. The receipts for the 'l'l
months (without a legacy of £lOO from Mr. John lie
amounted to £Bl3 Bs. 7d., and the expenditure to £721 .11.
leaving a balance in hand of £92 7s. 7d.; to which i,
be added the half-year's dividends subsequently receive.;
amounting together to £290. 6s. sd. The report
adopted, and a series of complimentary votes passed.

Dego

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