The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-05 00:00:00

!NG, AUGUST 5, 18. 58.

MURDER of A YOUNG LADY by her .LOT7E,.?

Tl.e quiet and secluded village cf Darley, near Ripley, on

the line of the Leeds Northern Railway, was yesterday the
scene of unusual excitement in consrquence cf the discovery
of the murder, by her lover, of a young person named Mary
Jane Scaife, under circumstances of great barbarity and
cruelty. The deceased, who was about 22 years of age,
was the daughter of Mr. Thomas Scaife, a rcspec'able far-
mer, residing at Darley, and her murderer, James At-
kinson, is the son of Mr. Thomas Atkinson, flax spinner,
a gentleman of some local position, and possessing
considerable property. The parents of both reside with-
in a short distance of each other, and the deceased
and the murderer had been companions from child-
hood, the affection of children extending itself to that of
love as they grew to manhood and womanhood, and each
' learning to look upon the other as a future partner through
life. Unfortunately, the father of Atkinson and the mother
of the deceased did not approve of the mach, and about a
year ago, after more, perhaps, than the usual crosses in
love, the connection was broken off, the deceased accept-
ing the addresses of a young man named Gill. The new
love, however, did not prove permanent, and after a few
months Miss Scaife broke off the courtship with Gill, and
periniA, d the renewal of that with her old lover. The
attentions of the latter were continued as before their
interruption 12 months previously ; but on Tuesday last,
on the occasion of a gala at Bewerley-park, Atkinson
saw Miss Senile in conversation with Gill, and this cir-
cumstance appears to have excited a strong feeling of
jealousy, and a day or two after he met one of Miss
Scaife's brothers, to whom he complained of her conduct.
Whether his passion at that time suggested the fearful crime
he afterwards perpetrated is uncertain, but nothing occurred
to excite any suspicion, and the two met each other as
usual. On Sunday night they a' tended Hartwith Chapel
in company, and on returning they were seen to go up
Stump-lane, apparently on very good terms. This was
about nioe o'clock. Shortly afterwards Atkinson returned
home, and went to bed. The absence cf the deceased
created no uneasiress at home, as she had been in the habit
of staying with her uncle, Mr. Downes, farmer. At day-
break next morning Atkinson's brother, vvlio slept in the
same room, noticed blood upon the shirt of the former, and
asked how it had come there, when be was horrified by being
told by his brother that he had murdered Mary Jane Senile
the previous night. The father was immediately called up,
and the family roused. In the meantime, however, a man
knOwn by the name of Potter Dick,whilst going along Stump
lane, about five o'clock, found the deceased lying the ditch
with her throat cut, and quite dead. He gave an alarm,
and Mr. George Horton, surgeon, and policeman Clifford,
were soon on the spot, but their services were of no avail.
The deceased, when found, was lying on her back, and she
presented a most fearful spectacle. Her head was nearly
severed from the body, leer dress and face were saturated
with clotted blood, her eyes protruded from the sockets with
the most ghastly exprsssion, indicating the violence of her
dying convulsions, and the ground was covered with evi-
dences of the fearful struggle that had taken place. The
parasol of the deceased was broken to pieces, and her
prae et -honk was found by her side. The body was re-
moved to the New lon, and A•!,irinn being' the Inst.
person seen in her company, he was tidwa tutu c,,siociy,
when he admitted the murder, stating that he had cut
her throat with a knife, which he had secreted in Mr.
Myers' wall, and declaring that it was his father and her
soother who had caused it by opposing their marriage. The
knife (an ordinary clasp-knife) was afterwards found as
stated, the prisoner taking the police-officer to the wall, and
pointing out where he had placed it.
At the spat where the murdered body was found is a small
embankment or earn, consisting of the mud taken from the
adjoining ditch, and it is supposed that Atkinson bed thrown
his victim upon it, and then cut her throat. As we have
previonsly stated, the ground shows that a violent struggle
ensued, the deceased, though only a weakly person, being
with difficulty overpowered.
The prisoner was in the first instance removed to Pateley
Bridge, and afterwards to Ripon, where he was taken before
Mr. Charlesi Oxley, charged ,nth the wilful murder of Mary
Jane Scalfe. _ _ _

He is a good-looking young man, and appeared to be
overpowered by his feelings. Previous to the charge being
male be gave utterance to several matters connected with
this melancholy affair, amorgst which were, " I have been
very happy ever since I left Pateley Bridge. I have committ-
ed a great crime, but lam quite content. I can go freely to
the gallows. I can forgive the vilest of the vile. I am
guilty. I left her about half-past 9 o'clock last night."
The prisoner was remanded until 11 o'clock on Wednes-
day next, at Knaresborough.
On leaving the dock the prisoner, turning round, said—
" Gentlemen, I hope to meet you all in heaven."
The inquest on the body will be opened to-day, before
Mr. Brown, the coroner for the district.
Inspector Wetherall, one of the Wrest Riding detectives
stationed at Wakefield, went over to Darley last night to
get up the case, and it is probable that the inquiry this
morning will only be of a formal character, there not having
been sufficient time as yet to look after the necessary evi-
dence.—Leeds Mercury.

THE N.E'W TRANSATLANTIC PACKET
STATION.

~~_

DEPUTATION TO THE EARL OF DERBY.

Yesterday afternt.ln an influential deputation of members
cf Parliament, merchants:, ;shipowners, and others interested
in the transatlantic trade, and also in the prospezity of the
town and harbour of Galway, waited upon the First Lord cf
the Treasury at his official residence in Downing-street, for
the purpose of bringing under the notice of the Government
the national importance of farming a secure and crnvenient
harbour at Galway for large American steam-ship:, and with
that view to construct a breakwater and pier at a cost of
E 152,000.

The deputation consisted of Lord 3:intakellin, M.P., Mr.
W. Gregory, M.P., Mr. Vance, 3r..r., Mr. White, M.P.
(Plymouth), Mr. Bowyer, M.P., Mr. Calcutt, Mr.
Milner Gibson, M.P., Col. Bernard, M.P., Mr. Gregan,
M.P., the Hon. Mr. Ellice, M.P., Sir Thomas Redington,
K.C.8., Sir H. Fleetwood, Bart., the Rev. Peter Daly
(Chairman of the Town Commissioners, Galway), Mr. Thom as
Howard (Manchester), Mr. John Orrell Levee, of Man-
chester and Liverpool (owner of the Indian Empire), Mr.
G. P. Lascardi (London). Mr. Pierce Joyce (ILigh-Sheriff
of the County of Galway), Mr. John Wilson Lynch (High-
Sheriff of the county of the town of Galway), the O'Dono-
ghue, M.P., Mr. R. N. Somerville (Galway), Mr. Henry
Bake, Mr. T. M. Perm (Galway), Mr. E. C. Burke (Gal-
way), Lieut.-Cul. French, Mr. R. M. Lynch, Mr. J. S.
Adams, Mr. P. O'Brien, M.P., &c.

The Premier having received the deputation in the
council-room,

The Rev. P. DALY (who acted as spokesman) presented
his lordship with a memorial from the Harbour and Town
Commissioners to the following effect :

" To the Right Hon. the Earl of Derby, First Lord of her
Majesty's Treasury.

" day it phase your Lordship,—The respectful memorial
of the Town and Harbour Commissioners of Galway, and
other inhabitants, humbly showeth, that a direct steam
communicatien between these countries and America has
already commenced through the port of Gala ay, by the
energy and enterprise of an English mercantile gentleman of
great pecuniary resources, and important connections with
commercial men in Manchester, Liverpool, and London,
who has already despatched a large and powerful steam-
ship to New York, to touch at Halifax, and land her Ma-
jesty's mails there.
"That two cther vessels of more power and greater speed
are already advertised to sail on the same route, one on the
27th inst., and the other on the 24th of next month, thus
forming_a_line of vessels on this route of three _ocean
steamers, to ply fortnightly, carrying passengers and wsods,
and transmitting intelligence between these kingdoms and
the American Continent by a shorter route, with more cer-
tainty, safety, and despatch than has hitherto been afforded.
"That the port of Galway has been selected from its posi-
fo3 s and al...a!,,tar;e- for care:-"ng out thi,
groat pru now :cans to nave received the approval
of the mercantile community of these kingdoms, and to
have realised a universal wish, long cherished, of bringing
closer the ties of commerce and friendly intercourse between
the Western World and the British Empire.
"That such an enterprise, so vast in its object, and cal-
culated to be of such universal benefit, seems to your memo-
rialists to be worthy the special attention of her Majesty's
Ministers, and deserving of such aid and encouragement as
way insure its being successful.
" That being of imperial interest, it is considered that the
vast natural advantages of the port of Galway should be so
adapted to the wants of great steamers as that every conve-
nience and facility should be afforded for landing passen-
gers, mails, and goods as would ensure every comfort and
remove every possible impediment.
" That with a view to these objects in connection with
the subject of a western packet station, the port and harbour of
Galway have been frequently surveyed by scientific men of
great experience, who have recommended that a breakwater
and pier connecting Mutton Island with the land, and project-
ing 500 yards outwards, would enable the largest vessels afloat
to ride in perfect safety, and be moored to the pier, protected
from every wind, and secured in the firmest anchorage ;
and that the eminent contractor, Mr. Dargan, in the year
1852, proposed to execute all these works for the comparative
small sum of £152,000.
"That the port of Galway thus improved would afford to
shipping in distress on the western coast the surest and
safest harbour of refuge.
" That hoping your lordship is already impressed with the
imperial utility of having such a harbour, and the great
value of opening the new and direct route to trade and
commerce, we approach your lordship with confidence to
sulicit your powerful mediation with the Government to
make such grant of money as will eff..et the said improve-
ments in the harbour, the Lords of the Admiralty having
already given their sanction to the construction of these works,
in permitting the bill called the Galway Harbour Improve-
ment Bill to pass iota law in 1853.
"And your memorialists will ever pray."
- -

. _
The Earl of DERBY having examined the chart of the
harbour, said that he believed only one large steamer had
sailed for America, and inquired the cause of the delay in
not despatching the Prince Albert.

The Rev. Mr. DALY replied that the delay was to be at-
tributed to the want of those very works which the deputa-
tion were prepared to advocate. A tremendous storm in
the Channel had detained the vessel on her way from the
port of London. The rev. gentleman having explained to
his lordship the nature and extent of the proposed works,
and all the many natural advantages which the harbour of
Galway presented as a western packet station and place of
refuge for ships, proceeded to say that whatever diversity of
opinion might have previously existul in Ireland on the
subject of the best site for an American packet station, all
classes were now agreed as to the superior claims of Galway
to be the point of embarkation for the American continent.
The Earl of DERBY—I thought the commissioners had
reported in favour of Eiynes ?

The Rev. Mr. DALY—No, my lord; rather in favour of
Galway.

ri.e Earl of DERBY—Galway has now got tie start at all
c vents. What sort of passa2,-e did the Indian Empire make
out? _ _ _

The Rev. Mr. DALY said that the ship would have made
a splendid passage, but that she met an accident which re-
duced her steam power a fourth, if not a third.
The Earl of DERBY—Did she not run on the only rock in
the whole neighb named ? (Laughter.)
The Rev. Mr. DALY said that such was the fact, and that
the two pilots who had the vessel in charge at she titre were
committed to stand their trial for the offence, but 'hat one
of them had since died. ,Vsistance has been granted to
other harbours.

The Earl of DERBY—Yes, but these are chiefly works
carried out under Government loans.
The Rev. Mr. DALY—But there have been no loans to
Holyhead, to Portland, or to Alderney.
The Earl of DERBY—WeII, I am afraid there would be
no security for loans in those places. (Laughter.) But
surely with the prosperity of Galway by means of this new
steam packet company which is making so much money,
there would be no difficulty in giving security.
The Rev. Mr. DALY—If the Government will accept my
own personal security, there will not be the least ebfficuloy
in giving it. (Laughter, in which Lord Derby heartily
joined.)
The Earl of DERBY—But seriously, gentlemen, this is a
laree sum of money which you a-k, and—
The Rev. Mr. DALY—It is only £152,000 against the
many millions which have been pawed for similar works in
England.
The Earl of DERBY—WeII, I cannot, of curse, give you
a reply without consulting with the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer and my other colleagues. It is, however, a prin
ciple of the Government to help those who help themselves,
and -I am bound to say that you have done something in
that way. I will only now say that it is not improbable
that the Government may be disposed to ca-operate with
the town of Galway to some extent; but to what extent I
cannot say until I speak to the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
and until we see how the project of a western packet station
is likely to succeed.
The Rev. Mr. DALY—That is as much as we can expect,
though I should have been glad to hear your lordship say
that you would give us the money. (Laughter.)
The Earl of DERBY—I dare say you would—(langhter)
—but you know this steam company is to pay 10 per cent.
You will not, of course, ke content with less. (Laughter.)
The Rev. Mr. DALY said that, personally, it was imma-
terial to him whether the speculation paid five per cent. or
10 per cent., as he had not a shilling invested in it ; but
that he and the other members of the deputation had inter-
ested themselves in the matter with the view of promoting
s
the prosperity of Galway and of the empire generally.b well
for Mr. Lever, lie believed that gentleman would be
t,
al!
satisfied if Iris expenses were paid by the first trip,. trod
.h _
e)arp‘i•t'anit.
the second yielded him a profit of 5 per cent. on his
There were, however, great obstacles in the way ati present
in consequence of the absence of a pier and breakwater.T The
in consequence of goods had to be taken out in lighters,
be-
ing brought by railway, to the ship's side, and this,sg his lord-
ship must know, was a tedious and costly process.
The snare of
f wtnlri!
drTawhebacEks,rhinetfthDatEaßllilhice saidcou lie
could then say
ject was an important one, and should receive the best at-
tention cf the Government.
The Rev. Mr. DALY—e Wear m
e uch indebted to your
lordship for going so fully in the matter.
The Earl of DERBY—WeII, if you do not get the money
it will not be the fault of the Eatl of Eglinton, for I assure
you be has written very strong letters to me on the subject.
The Rev. Mr. DALY—We should be glad if yourlerrdsyhoiup
would act upon the recommendation of the Earl of Eglinton.
The Earl of DERBY—(laughing)—Especially since
have heard how he has written to me on the subject
(Laughter.) Lord Eglinton indeed takes very great interest
in the welfare of Galway and the success of this enterprise.
The Rev. Mr. DALY—We believe he does, my lorol ; and
in the general welfare of Ireland. I think we are much in-
debted to him for what lie has already done; and here, in
sot minanlyrelanngdlisthhaatndhilsrilsolii.dgsebniptleiniaiesna,lrlena•dilyl
st ba3e, ptiri ea steint cei
is
done much for us. (Ilear, hear.) We know all a Prime
Minister has to think of, and will not detain your lordship
further.
The Earl of DERBY—Indeed you don't know all I have
to think of or the half of it. (hear, hear.) But be assured
that this matter shall receive our bcst consideration, and
that when we are in a position to communicate with you
you shall hear from us. Perhaps orrr communication had
better be made through the Earl of Eglinton.
The deputation said it would effort] theta great pleasure
to receive a communication from his Excellency, and, hav-
ing thanked the noble earl for his kind reception, retired.

RAIL TVA I INTELLIGENCE.

--o-----

BOABAY AND DARODA.

Art extraordinary general meeliog of this company was
held at the London Tavern yesterday, to elect five directors
in the place of a like number retiring—Col. French in the
hair.

Dr. ATKINS wished to know wlierwr the notice eallina
the tweeting had been drawn up in co,formity with the pro-
visions of the deed of sAtlentent, and Mather be had given
a legal notice of his intention to stand as a candidate ?_

The SOLICITOR replied in the affirmative, and after a
41,)rt contersation,
D-. —; !rev,' lit: n:vn nrl,l Trnvcri tlg(

%Vt.lcZi UnallituOlisiy.

The Hon. l‘hjor Vtreker, 111 r. Hartridge, Mr. Mitchell,
and Mr. James Landon, welt theu respectively put and
elected, a compromise having been entered into to avoid a
contest hetWeen the tin' partite connected with the ling.