The Sun.
London, England, 1832-06-08 00:00:00

MURDER OF MR. PAAS.

LEICESTER, JUNE 6.
The suspicion which existed of a guilty knowledge of
the murder by the family of Cook, is, upon further in-
quiry, fast diminishing. As the evidence now stands, it
amounts merely to a supposition that the old man, at the
time of permitting his son's escape, had a belief that he
had been guilty of something dreadful ; but it does not
appear that either he, or any of the family, received any
portion of the plunder. Admitting the old man did be-
lieve his son had committed some great crime, still his
not stretching forth his hand to seize and deliver his son
over to the hangman, will be thought by most an excusa-
ble act. It was, however, against the brother Michael
that suspicion most strongly pointed. Evidence was given
of two men having been seen moving a hair trunk about
two o'clock in the morning of the night after the murder
from the direction of Cook's shop. It was conjectured
that this box contained the upper part of the body, but
the Magistrates are now convinced that this was not so.
Michael most satisfactorily accounts for his time during
the whole of Wednesday ; and, as respects the
night of that day, a servant girl, who lives in the
hou►e with him, his wife, and his aged mother-in-law,
was examined here yesterday, and gave so sim-
ple and so natural an account of the reasons she had for
knowing he must have been at home all night, as made
a great impression on the Magistrates. Against the
other brother Job, there does not appear to be any case ;
indeed, there is one fact strong in his favour, and that is,
that immediately on his hearing of his brother having ab-
sconded, he went to one of the town Magistrates, and
asked him if he could have a warrant out against him,
as he owed him a considerable sum of borrowed money.
Against the sister there appears to be no ground of suspi-
cion, except that of her coming to the spot at the time of
the discovery of the fire. The Magistrates, indeed, are
so well convinced, in the present state of the evidence,
that there is nothing to justify a lengthened detention of
them, that they intend liberating them to-morrow, unless
a confession implicating them should be made by Couk in
the interim.

Aft.r the examination before the Magistrates at Liver-
pool Was over, Cook was conveyed to the Bridcwell, when
he rtquested to go to bed. His wishes were complied
with, and he fell into a sound slumber, which lasted until
the morning. About eight o'clock the Red Rover drew
up to the prison, when Cook was placed on the roof, ac-
companied by five constables. Daring the whole of the
route the prisoner exhibited the utmost levity—laughing
and joking with the constables. As the coach passed
through the various towns and villages, the inhabitants
came out from their residences to obtain a glimpse of
him. On seeing them, he laughed and Faid, " What
fools they are to come out merely to see me!"
On the coach arriving at Sandback, which in forty-
two miles from Liverpool, they stopped to dine, when
Cook made the heartiest meal of any of the party, and
appeared to he from his conversation the most careless
person present. At the different houses where the coach
stopped, he invariably asked for something to drink and
cigars, which were granted, and he continued smoking
until the coach arrived at Ashby, about eighteen miles
from Leicester. It was here deemed advisable to put
Cook into a post-chaise, and while the vehicle was getting
ready he ordered some brandy and water, and walked
about the room with a firm step. Although the coach did
not arrive in Leicester until near ten o'clock, the streets
were crowded by nearly the whole population, anxious to
catch a glimpse at him. The post-chaise taking a diffe-
rent routes it reached the gaol unnoticed, and when Cook
was taken in only a dozen persons were present.

Cook, the wretched murderer of Mr. Paas, was sent
from Liverpool, on Wednesday morning, to Leicester. He
was heavily ironed, and escorted by five officers. After
his committal, on Tuesday, he was very communicative to
the officer who sat up to watch him. He confessed that
he perpetrated the murder, which be committed with the
iron pin used by bookbinders in their business. He stated,
that the head of the unfortunate man, as well as the uppe,
part of his body, were not consumed by fire; but he de.
dared, that he never would give any information as to the
place where the remains of the body were secreted. The
officer warned him against committing himself further, and
the conversation dropped. We believe that the police were
indebted to Mr. Parry, the boatman, for the information
of the prisoner's intended escape. From the circumstance
.if a stranger wanting a boat before daylight, he suspected
that he was fleeing from justice. Accotdingly, the boatmen,
instead of making the best of their way to the outward-bound
ships that were lying at the Rock ready to start with the
norning's tide, were directed to delay their progress, that
the officers, to whom he had sent information, might over-
take the boat in which Cook had embarked. This cir-
cumstance will account for the ease with which he was
captured. It is worthy of remark, that Cook pretended to
deposit i❑ the hands of the man with whom he had taken
ail his lodgings at Liverpool, a purse of money, and at the
same time borrowed from him a silver watch. The purse,
instead of containing money, was found, when examined
tfterwards, to contain pebbles; and the poor man's watch seas
found on the prisoner's person when arrested by the police

The second battalion of Grenadier Guards
trrived in Bristol on Weduesday from Dublin, and
'OW on their route to take up their (porters in Pot tin
crest barracks. It is conizetured, that for the futur,
of the Foot Guards will be gent to Ireland.