The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-22 00:00:00

FRIGHTFUL MURDER.

On Friday afternoon, between one and two
o'clock, a frightful and evidently premeditated
murder was committed at New Barns, a hamlet
within the parish of Town Mailing, Kent. From
inquiries made upon the spot we are enabled to give
the particulars of the sad occurrence. About 17
years since a farm labourer named John Atkins
married at Brenchley, in this county, a very respect-
able young woman, the daughter of a sawyer named
Walker, living with her parents at Mile Oak. The
husband shortly after the marriage behaved very
strangely, and was exceedingly jealous of his wife,
but, so far as we can learn, without the slightest
cause. They moved about from place to place solely
in consequence of the jealousy of the husband; and
some three or four months since they came to reside
in one of three cottages on the estate of Mr. James
Graham, New Barns, Atkins being employed on the
estate of that gentleman. Here the husband ap-
pears to have behaved most brutally, from time to
time, to his unfortunate wife. His fellow-workmen,
knowing his foible, were constantly in the habit of
what is familiarly termed " chaffing" Atkins, who
woad go home and beat his wife and turn her out
of doors. Mrs. Atkins was the mother of 13 chil-
dren, of whom only three are surviving. She was
confined with her last child about nine or ten weeks
since, hut fortunately the infant did not live. Three
weeks ago the man had been plagued by the other
workmen, and he went home and ill-used his wife,
tearing successively no fewer than three dresses
from her person, and at length turned her out of
doors and threw a quantity of water over her. As
usual, she sought refuge with her neighbours. On
Friday afternoon Atkins was in his cottage con-
versing with his wife and a neighbour. He seemed
in a jocular mood, and playfully pinched his wife's
cheek, with the observation, " You know you have !
You are a bad woman." The neighbour went into
her own house and upstairs to dress ; at the same
time the only inmate of Atkins's cottage (ex-
cepting himself and wife), their youngest child,a
girl, was upstairs putting on her shoes. Near-
ing her mother scream out, the child.
wiferan
down, when she saw her father holding
by one hand, and in the other brandishihnge
b aueshuse
knife. The girl at once ran to the neigot
get tithe
his
scket-
and called for assistance, but could
ante
woman was
door being fastened. The unfortutn
next seen to rush from her house
she
o t Uwe
adoor
eodf
itnhge
a woman
neighbour, to which she cltu.ng;
he
r brutal husband
profusely from the throaher
from the door. In the
followed her and dragged
neighbour,_ .
the
of age, being
meantime Mrs. Smith,
nearly 70 yearsg with the evident intention
came out of her cottag, . ,
Atkins' assistance, but the hus-
band going to
brandishedMrs.the knife in her face, thr
band ; the same way if she interfered
eatening
to serve her in
a short interfered.
Mrs. Atkins
managedstaggered to scramble distance down the
lane, and into a field o • throu a ain
the heu,ge husband.
opposite the cottages,closely
'
pursued by the Here the parties were
see little boy struggling together, and hero
the fearful crime
was consummated. Atkins then,
ipaving the unfortunate woman in the field, not
quite dead, returned to his t
co ta—e,
6 took his wife's
cap, and went to the door of Mrs.'
R. lld ey a cottage,
where he endeavoured to wi •
pe up the blood. He
then went indoors, locking the door after him. The
414r111, h
-WOW, had been given and the house was ‘

closely watched by two men named Willett and
Perch, After a short time Willett left Perch in
charge to watch in the lane and prevent further
violence, and went to Mailing for the police and a
medical man. Dr. Pope was speedily at the place!
and on knocking at the door it was at once opened
by
.the murderer, who had in the interim been
busily engaged in wiping the blood from the floor
and furniture. The body of Mrs. Atkins, who was
then quite dead, was removed from the field to the.
house by Willett and Perch, and it was found that
she
.had been stabbed in the neck, and also severely.
cut in the left side of the throat. The cause of
death was the stab, which had penetrated as
far as the interior jugular vein. Atkins was tiet
oncei taken into custody, and was removed to
Town th
own Mailing police station. He was subsequent!,
taken before Mr. Savage at that gentleman s
private residence, St. Leonard's-park, whe:
formal evidence having been adduced, he sca,
remanded until Wednesday, and was remove':
to the Maidstone county prison. On the same afteir .
noon an inquest was held, and the jury returnel;
verdict of " Wilful murder" again.st Atkins, t
will be tried next week at the Kent Assizes at
Maidstone.

Ir
ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A LADY-

HER DAUGHTE,R.

On Thursday evening a shocking atterePt ;:f
murder took place at the usually quiet villa need
Paignton. A lady named Hooper, of the advaehis
age of 81 years, has for some time resided ill
beautiful district with her daughter, Miss Eels
Hooper, whose age is understood to be abeut 0..
years. Their income places them in an indeP,eo
dent position. A little after six o'clock on t 5
evening mentioned the neighbouring inhabittler,
were alarmed by hearing ;frequent calls of llea
der." Upon hastening to the scene, it appeared
that Miss Hooper had made an attack upon the °goy
lady. She had armed herself with a large ite° at
stick. With this formidable weapon she rusheu
the unfortunate and helpless, object of her sails,
passion, and aimed a heavy blow at her head. 111
gt
Hooper, though dreadfully frightened and alunt,
paralysed by such an unexpected and brutal assallii
defended herself as best she could, though her ,e7p;
feebled strength prevented her from disarming ton
blow and more active assailant. She caught '"„0
blow upon her arm, receiving severe injury. uP"ot
subsequent medical examination it was found 010
it was badly lacerated, the wound extending freir
the elbow to the wrist. The entrance of the noir
bours prevented !Miss Hooper from completing
purpose. She was immediately secured, and 00,1,,
cal assistance sent for. Dr. Goodridge was prom Pis;
in attendance. He found Mrs. Hooper in an. eff
ceedingly prostrated state from fright and inJeili
The lacerations on the arm were sewed up, bt;ro
was several hours before the patient recovered.. .‘,O,
daughter, who was in a highly excited condit,l:be
was at once removed, and information given 01;0..
attack to Mr. John Belfield, chairman of the ?snit
ton bench of magistrates. He had her brotiga,
before him, when the above particulars aPP,e,artehe
The hearing lasted a considerable time. Ab(d:th
conclusion she was committed for trial. It was nvner
difficulty the police who had charge of the pr'syled
prevented her from being rather roughly nart7tio
by the exasperated crowd who blocked uP to
entrance to the house. It was found necessalle,o
remove her by a back way. As the family is 110
known in Paignton great regret is felt 11J ,s,
lamentable occurrence.— Western Morning fie"