The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-18 00:00:00

THE STRAND 111URDE.R.

After the removal of Richard Reeves from the
13ow-stteet police court back to the station on Sa-
turday to await the arrival of the police van, it is
stated that the father of the wretched youth was
permitted to see him in the police cell in the pre-
sence of a constable, and that although he did not
hesitate to confess that he had strangled his sister,
the only motive he would assign for the commission
of so diabolical an act was that she had aggravated
him to do it. On being left, however, the callous
demeanour he had previously exhibited gave way
to a strong paroxysm of grief, and he cried for
some time very piteously.
It appears, from inquiry!in the neighbourhood,
that both the parents were dissipated people,
and frequently got intoxicated, when they fought
terribly; and that they were, in fact, in that
condition when the discovery was made.
The accused worked at his father's business of a
basket maker, and was said to be exceedingly in-
dustrious, indeed, so much so, that the business
mainly depended upon him. He frequently quar•
relied with the deceased, who was his half sister,
of whom he was exceedingly jealous, as whilst he
was cuffed and pushed about, particularly by his
step•mother, she was a great favourite, and was
permitted to ridicule and annoy him with impunity.
These are the only motives that can be assigned for
the commital of the act.

It was generally anticipated that the coroner
for Westminster, Mr. Bedford, would have opened
his inquest on Saturday afternoon or today, but
it appears that it is not to take place
u
until Tuesday afternooon, at two o'clock, when
it is to be held at the Vestry Hall of St. Mary-le-
Strand, in New Church-court. During Saturday
afternoon Mr. Alfree, of King's College Hospital,
the medical gentleman called in to see the deceased,
after the discovery, received the coroner's warrant
to make a post-mortem examination of the body
of the deceased, and shortly after, accompanied by
another surgeon of the institution, he proceeded to
No. 10, Drury-court, for that purpose. A great
crowd was collected, and it required several police-
men to keep the narrow avenue clear. The result
of their examination left no doubt that the deceased
had died of suffocation by strangulation. The mise-
rable youth was at the close of the day's proceed-
ings at the police court conveyed to Newgate, until
he shall take his trial, and had recovered his uncon-
cerned appearance prior to his arrival at that prison.

SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A MIDWIFE.—On
Thursday an inquest was held at the Leeds Town Hall,
touching the death of Eliza Dixon, a single woman, which
had taken place during child-birth. A post-mortem exa-
mination of the body showed that the cause of death was
hemorrhage, arising from the placenta not having been
removed. It was evident that the midwife had been cul-
pably negligent, and the jury therefore returned a verdict
of manslaughter against her, and she was at once taken into
custody, and stands committed for trial at the next winter
gaol delivery at York, under the coroner's warrant.
It is stated that several steamers have been in-
sured in London for the run from England to New Orleans
and back for 20 guineas per cent.