The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-02 00:00:00

ML RDELZ AND SUICIDE AT STAFFORD.

A dreadful affair took place in Peel-terrace,
Stafford, ou Wednesday night, when a young man
named John Cooper was murdered by his com-
panion and fellow bigger. H, err Meneey :dad, who
almest itrone eiterwards killed himself by
eead,g iris throat with a razor. Th- murderer and
his victen, both y ung awe, were coidwAiners by
trade. Henry Murray Hall cccupted a small house,
in which he lived with a female by whom lie had
three children ; and the murdered man lived with
them. They were both accustomed to take an inte-
rest in politica, and they had lately been very busy
on behalf of the contested right of the burgesses of
Stiff ird to fishier the waters of the River Sow. un-
der the provi-ions of Kiug John's Charter, in spite
of the Rid of Sh,ewsbury and other landowners on
the banks of the river. Public meetings hail been
held in the town upon the rpte.tion, of which Hall
was chairman, and it had been resolved to open a
subscription to try the question. Notices were
served on Hall and others not to angle in the water,
but he and other burgesses persisted in tire pracice.
Writs were then served on him and others, on
which he became greatly excited, and threatened
to do some' hiog. Oa Wednesday night be
and Cooper retired to bed as usual, in one room,
his children and their mother occupying the other.
Shortly afterwards his manner became so excited
that Cooper, fearing some mischief, dressed hiin-
self to go and call his brother, to calm his
excitement. On reArrning with his brother,
Cooper went into the house, when Hall, who was a
tall, powerful, man, shouted out, that he " would
make the Aristocracy remember it," and rushing
down stairs, caught up a sharp shoemaker's knife
from the workb nch, and thrusting Cooper against
the wall struok him in the alytomen. The woman,
who followed Half down the stairs, immediately
stopped his arm, when Coop, r ran out of the house
into the garden, followed by HAI, who, except au
old tattered shirt, was quite naktd. Cooper was
almost instantly overtaken by his pursuer, who in-
flicted several severe stabs on his chest and heart,
and the unfortunate man fell at his feyt a
lifeless corpse. As soon as this deed was per-
petrated Hall walked back to his house and said to
the mother of his children, " I have doge for him,"
adding that he would have served her the same
if she had attempted to stn: him. He then went
up stairs• and kissed his children, amid again de-
scending into the kitchen, having possessed himself
of a razor he inflicted a severe gash on the right
side of hi 4 neck, completely severing tire c rrotid
artery. The unhappy man fell backwards ou the
floor, the [flood spirting over the furniture and
flowing in a pool around his body. Several per-
sons, who wen) ,roused by the cry of " murder,"
saw the deceased mtn in the gar den from their
bedroom windows, but they were unable to inter-
fere until too late. The dead.body of Coopier was
conveyed into the house and placed on the floor
near that of his murderer. The coroner's inquest
was to tali, place last (Thursday) evening.

SERIOVS INT WAY ACCIDI NT ON THE
SOUTII-EATER'v LINE.

OBILHAM, THURSDAY MonamcG,
One of the most alarmine accidents that has occurred on
the Ramegato and Margate branch of the South-Eastern
Railway, happened last evening, a few minutes before six
o'clock, to the 3.30 p.m. down train, when within a few
yards of the Chithane station, which is situate about mid-
way between Ashford and Canterbury. Although many
of the passengers were seriously injured, we are happy to
say that np fatal results have ensiled at present.
The train (a first, second, and third cheap fast train) left
the London-bridge station about its usual time, and con-
sisted of an engine and nine carriages, an equal proportion
of each class. It arrived all right at Ashford within a few
minutes of the time it was due, and then proceeded at the
ordinary rate, according to the statement of the officials,
though some of the passengers assert that there was an
unueualoscill Alen just prior to the accident,aed which they
attribute to the speed at which the train was travelling. On
approaching Chill:eau there is a sharp curve. Here the.crank
axle of the engine suddenly broke, and the rails were torn
up for some little distance, when the engine and the three
first carriages parted from the remainder of the train, end
reit into the station, without, however, doing much injury.
But the other portion of the train was thrown with tremend-
ous force off the line on to the siding, and so great was the
crash that a first-class carriage was completely broken up,
and several others more or loss smashed, one (a third-class
carriage) had its side carried away, while the carriage itself
was thrown on to the top of auother carriage. The debris
of the broken carriages was scattered all over the line,
while the metals were bent and twisted about like so much
wire. Mr. Wood, the station-master, and such persona as
happened to be near the station at the time, immediately
ran to the spot. The passengers were extricated as
speedily as possible, amidst great excitement, as it was
feared, from the manner in which the carriages were
strewn about that their occupants must Lave sustained
fatal rijnries. Telegraphic me
over to the scene
al train broughtssages wore despatched to
Canterbury, and a epeci
of the accident Mf. Thomas Andrews, Mr. G. Rigden, Mr.
Reid, and other surgeons. In the meantime the sufferers
had been removed to the station, und the Alma public-
house close by, under the care of Air. Wildieh, surgeon,
of Chilbatn. Mr. Coxhead, of Ramsgate, and Mr. Feowles,
of the Canterbury Station were soon on the spot, and also
rendered essential service. Some of the worst cases were
taken by special train to,the Canterbury Station, and fiorn
thence conveyed in flys to the Kent end Canterbury Hos-
pital, where they are going on as well as can be expected.
The following is a list of the persons injured, so far as
could be learnt, but many of the passengers, with slight
contusions, went on by the next train, or left with their
friends in private vehicles.
At Chilhani. Channon, of Gravesend, compound
fracture of both leg,, and concussion of the body. —Wood,
a b,y, belonging to a bathing establishment at Margate,
frightfully injured. Beth his thighs are fractured, a com-
pound fracture of the arm, and lingers smashed, wrist
twisted, amt the chest injured. Not expected to live.
At the Kent and Canterbury Hospital.— Mr. Thomas
Wood, of Davenport (son of Mr. Wood, shoemaker, Bur-
gate-street, Canterbury, to whom lie was wing on a visit),
compound fracture of the leg, which has sines been ampu-
tated. Henry Darnell, 13 years of age (son of the Rev.
Mr. Darnell, of Welton vicarage), a large scalp wound.,
Benjamin Harris, coastguardsman. of St. Nicholas, Isle of
Thanet, dislocation of the left claviole, fractured rib, and
other injuries about the chest. Richard A. Harris, 13
years of age (son of the preceding), lacerated wound iu
the leg.
At the Saracen's Head Inn, Canterbury.—The Rev. D.
Darnell, vicar of Welton, near Daventry, Northampton-
shire, arm badly fractured. Mrs. Darnell (wife), con-
tused arm. Master Darnell, contusions. The nurse, with
four other children of the same fathily, providentially es-
caped unhurt, beyond the shock to the system,
At their own homes and elsewhere.—Miss Emma Fried-
land, of Grove House, Clapham-common, tibia broken and
concussion. Mrs. George Wood, of High-street, Canter-
bury, contusions and lsg injured. Mrs. Parry, St. Peter's-
place, Canterbury, legenuch contused and eyes injured—
sight, it is believed, will be lest. Mrs. Kiug, of Deal
much contused •and injured, but no bones broken. Mr
Golden, of Castle-street; Canterbury. much contused.
Major Dowbiggen, concussion. Miss Rossea, of 6, York-
road, Lambeth, much contused about the face, head, and
arms. Miss H. Rossea (sister), contused about the face
and head, but not so severely.
A number of labourers were soon brought down the lire
and the broken carriages removed, so that the traffic was
not impeded for any length of time.