The Sun.
London, England, 1832-12-24 00:00:00

HORRIBLE MURDER at ENFIELD-CHASE.

On Saturday information was given at the various po-
lice-offices of a horrible murder committed in the course
of the week near the pleasant little village of Enfield,
situated about ten miles from town. It appears that on
Thursday morning a little boy, named Ellis, was coming
from Enfield-chase towards Enfield town, down Holt
White's•lane, when he observed something in the ditch,
which appeared to him a human body. He called out to
a tnan named Wheeler, who was going to his work at a
farm occupied by Mr. Poiser, who went with him to the
edge of the ditch, in which they found the body of a man.
The face was in the ditch, but on turning the body face
upwards a most awful and hcrrible sight presented itself.
The face was cut and slashed in a most dreadful manner;
the flesh was scored out, as it were, in five places, and the
right wisher cut away, and in the throat of the murdered
man there was a deep stab right through, as a butcher
would kill a sheep, and as if the knife had been turned
round in the throat. The body was instantly recognized as
that of a young man named I3enjatnin Danby, about 24
years of age. This young man, it appears, was the son of the
late Mr. Datiby, the well-known forensic wig-maker, of the
Temple. When very young he adopted the seafaring pro-
fession, and he only a few weeks since returned from a
long voyage. On landing he started off at once to Mr.
Addington, a master baker, of Enfield, who was a near
relation. He of course, met with a very kind reception,
and his joyous spirits and free sailor-like manner at-
tracted the notice of the inhabitants. lie appeared to en-
joy himself, and spent his money, with which be seemed
to be well provided, with great freedom. On Wednesday
evening last, about four o'clock, he left Mr. Addington's
hou,e, promising to return at ten at night, but he did not
make his appearance at the time specified. This, how-
ever, did not create any alarm, as it was imagined he bad
fallen in with some agreeable companions, or had taken a
longer stroll than usual. The next morning the family
received intelligence of the situation in which the unfor-
tunate man had been discovered. Speedy inquiries were,
of course, set on foot, and it soon transpired that the de-
ceased had been seen drinking at a small public-house
called the Three Horseshoes, situate by the side of the
New River, and near the Chase side. The following per-
sons, who bear no very fair character, were then in com-
pany with him, drinking and playing at dominoes. it
also appeared that they left the house with him, under-
taking to see him home, as he was evidently the worse for
liquor. The Enfield constables went in search of these
men, and after some little trouble, succeeded i❑ appre-
hending them, and taking them before Mr. Cresswell, a
Magistrate in the neighbourhood. They then gave their
names, Richard Wagstaff, a baker ; Samuel Cooper, the
son of a poor moan in the town ; Samuel Sleath, or Fare,
and NV. Johnson, the son of a gardener of that name, in
Enfield,
After a long private examination they were remanded ;
and on Thursday night an inquest was held on the body
of the deceased.— Observer. _

The inquisition was taken at the sign of the Sergeant,
Parsonage-lane, Enfield, before Mr. Sawyer, Coroner for
the duchy of Lancaster, in the jurisdiction of which the
parish of Enfield is situate.
Joseph Perry is landlord of the Crown and Horseshoe,
Enfield-chase side. On Wednesday evening the deceased
entered his house and went into the tap-room, and called
for a glass of gin. Shortly afterwards the prisoner John-
son and a young man named Jackson also entered the tap-
room, when the latter proposed a game of dominoes, and
the deceased said he had no objection to join in the game
to pass the time away. They then had a game. At
eight o'clock witness went into the tap-room and found
Fare and Johnson lying apparently asleep on the benches,
the deceased being engaged at the time in the game of
dominoes with Wagstaff, Taylor, and Jackson. He dis-
turbed Fare and Johnson, and went out of the room, but
hearing both of them express dissatisfaction at being dis
turbed, he went into the tap-room and asked what they
were grumbling about. Fare threatened to knock him
down if he served him so again. Witness told him that
he did not wish for his custom, and forbade him coming
to the house. He then replied that the house was a pub-
lic one, and that he should come in when he l,ked.
ness told him that if he persisted in coining there he
would take him before a Magistrate. That was about
nine o'clock, and nothing further took place before
ten o'clock, when he asked where the dominoes
were. The pat-boy replied that he bad taken thew
to the bar. The deceased and Fare theta tossed 144

'.vopotirokbeer, which the former lost, and took out s
r,.urse to pay•\for. They subsequently tossed for two mote,
which Fare lost.- They then tossed for half a pint of gin,
which they had. It being 11 o'clock now, witness went
,ip stairs, and desired Mrs. Perry not to draw any more.
He then heard Fare call for a pot of beer, which was
re-
fused. Jackson previously to this bad left the house, and
Cooper came in. They (Fare, Cooper, Johnson, Wag.
4taff, and the deceased) requested to have half-a-pint of
gin, saying that if they got it they would at once go
away. They then bad the gin and left the house toge-
ther. As they were going out Mrs. Perry desired the
pat-boy to accompany the deceased over the bridge that
crosses the new river, close to the house, lest, being a
stranger, he should mistake his way and fall into the
water. This the pot-boy did, and having seen the de -
ceased over the bridge, he requested the prisoners Cooper
and Fare to see him home.

Joseph Matthews, the pot boy at Mr. Perry's, corrobc-
rated the evidence of his master in all its particulars.
The further inquiry into the circumstances attending
the murder, was postponed until the following evening
(Friday), and at six o'clock, when the Jury met, the
Foreman being taken suddenly ill, it was adjourned over
to Saturday.
After the apprehension of Johnson, he betrayed great
uneasiness of mind, and it was found necessary to le ive a
person with him both night and day while locked up at
the watch-house, from Thursday morning until Saturday
morning, when it was considered prudent to remove hint
and the prisoner Fare to the New Prison, Clerkenwed,
until the event of the inquest was known. Fare, on the
contrary, did not appear in the slightest degree affected.
Cooper, who still 'ermine at the watch-house in Enfield,
appears not to stiffer much, and alleges that his mind has
been much relieved since be made a voluntary confession.
This, however, will avail him nothing, as there is enfli •
cient evidence, without his statement, to implicate him as
well as the others in the murder and robbery, and it is the
intention of the Coroner to commit him and the others
for trial. It has been stated that the deceased was
vain of exhibiting his purse in company, and that
to this might be attributed his melancholy end.
Cooper is corroborated in that part of his confession
wherein he stated that Johnson had thrown a handker-
chief belonging to the deceased into the New River, as it
was picked up on Thursday morning, about 200 yards
from where it was said to be thrown. Johnson has for
some time past led a very dissipated life ; about four year,
ago he got married to the daughter of an industrious in
habitant of the town, with whom be got a portion of
1001. ; this sum he soon dissipated, and treated his un.
fortunate wife with the greatest cruelty. Fare, who is a
single man, is about 25 years of age, and a labourer, but
being latterly out of employ, was in the habit of recriying
parochial relief. Cooper, who is about 20 years of age,
is employed in a brewery in Enfield, and up to the pre-
sent transaction has never been in custody. The deceased
was only eight days at Enfield, and it is somewhat singu-
lar, that on the Sunday night preceding his inhuman
murder he told Mr. Perry, on calling at the Crown and
Horseshoes, that he had left London and come to Enfield
for a short time to avoid bad company. Some peculiarity
in his dress attracted the attention of the townspeople, hot
his manners were those of a free-hearted young man.