The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-03 00:00:00

THE FRIMLEY MURDER.

Up to eight o'clock last evening no furtber intelli-
gence relative to.this dreadful tragedy had been re-
ceived by the police authorities at the chief office in
Great Scotland-yard. The officers engaged in the
case have been,instructed not to relax in their exer-
tions to discover anything which may lead to the de-
tection of the murderers, or tend to increase the sus-
picion against the men at present in custody. There
are some circumstances in conliexion with these men
which, not transpiring publicly on Tuesday, have
hitherto escaped notice. It appears that they have
long been known to the local police of Guildford and
Godalming asi very daring and expert thieves, and the
fact that they generally pursued their nefarious opera-
tions together, seems to have led to their apprehen-
sion. When the circumstances of the attack upon
Mr. Hollest's house and person became known, the
local police, with that acuteness which belongs to the
craft, at once suspected that the parties in custody
might have been engaged in the affair. A close watch
was accordingly set upon the usual haunts of these
men, and after the lapse of a few hours, during
which they had been severally followed, the three met
on Sunday evening at the Rose and Crown beershop,
in Guildford, where their apprehension was effected
as already stated. On being taken into custody
they expressed their willingness to accompany
the officers wherever they chose, declaring at
the same time their entire ignorance of the
crime with which they were charged. On being
questioned as to how they had passed the previous 48
hours, they denied having been in each other's com-
pany. The man who calls himself Hiram Smith, but
whose real name is Richard Trower, said that he was
at Kingston-on-Thames on Friday night, and went to
the theatre at that place. He added that he got a
lift from Guildford to Kingston in a fish cart, and re-
turned on Saturday by the railway. Levi Harwood
declared that he was on London-bridge at eight o'clock
on Saturday morning, looking for work, but finding
none, he came down to -Guildford by the same night s
train, on the South-Eastern Railway. Jones accounted
for his time in a similar manner, and nothing was
gleaned to fix guilt upon one or other of them. liar-
wood was the only one upon whom any money was
found. He had two.sovereigna in one of his pockets,
which he stated he had had by him for some months.
Only a few halfpence were found upon the others. It
is deeply to be regretted that in consequence of the
want of a proper lock-up-house at Guildford the pri-
soners were allowed to be together during Sunday
night. If implicated in the matter they had thus an
opportunity of arranging their defence so as to avoid
contradicting each other. The magistrates felt this
evil so strongly that on remanding the prisoners on
Tuesday they directed that they should be conveyed
one to Guildford, another to Farnham, and a third to
Godairnieg.
It was only after the arrival of the prisoners at
Frimley, on Tuesday morning, that anything ap-
proaching evidence of a criminatory character was
obtained against them. Oa the village constable
(Macey) sreing them, however, he instantly recog-
nized Hiram Smith as a man he had spoken to in the
village on the Tuesday previous to the murder. Smith
was then selling crockery ware, and he had only left
the parsonage- house a few moments before he spoke
to Macey. The latter states that, upon coming up to
his cottage-door, Smith alluded to the deceased, and
said he had just parted with him about threepence in
the price of two dishes. He added that he had tried
hard to get some "chuck" (bread and meat) out of
him, but had failed. Smith dues not deny this state-
ment, which, at least, shows a degree of familiarity
with the deceased's residence. The other two pri-
soners are stated to have been recognized as men who
have been frequently seen in the village of Frimley.
Macey, the village constable, was the first person to
reach the parsonage-house after the alarm bad been
given. He went up into Mr. Hollest's bedroam, and
found him lying down, with a cloth bound round his
abdomen to stop the flow of blood. Macey inquired if
he thought he was much hurt. The unfortunate gen-
tleman said he thought not, and at one proceeded to re-
late the circumstances of the attack. Mr. Hol-
iest told Macey that he never heard or saw anything
until he observed two figures standing at the foot of
his bed. After the pistol was fired Mr. Holiest said
he continued to wrestle with his assailant, and was
rapidly getting the better of him when the other man,
who had been engaged with Mrs. Holleet left her,
and, corning to hishcomrade's assistance, enabled him
to escape out of the. apartment. Mr. Holiest added
that he did not know he was shot until he saw the
blood trickling down leis legs after he had fired his
gun across the lawn.
The frequency of robberies of late in this part of
the country
has caused great alarm among the resi-
dents in the neighbourhood. It will scarcely be
credited that within a very
few months burglaries
have taken
near Farnham ; Mr. Lindsay, of Hemp-
ton-lodge ;
place at the residences of Major Birch, of
Clare Park,
Mr. Stovold, of Runfold, near Farnham ;
Lady Wyndham, of Sutton, near Guildford ; and Mr.
Tickin, of Frimley-grove, all of which are within a
circle of 10 miles.

of which the following is a copy,
- -
moTrnheiodgreaadpfulalccairrdeunitances of the present case have
aroused the attention of Government, and yesterday
was extensively circplaie4.:—
" BURGLARY AND MURDER.--1501. REWARD.
`•The dwelling house of the Rev. George Edward
Holiest, at Frimley-grove, Surrey, having been bur-
glariously entered by several men on the night of the
27th September, 1850, .
when one of them shot and
wounded Mr. Holiest, of which wound be died on the
29th, a reward. of 100/. will be paid by her Majesty's
Government, and a further reword of 501. on behalt of
the disconsolate widow to . any p(rson who shall give
such information and evidence as shall lead to the dis-
covery and conviction of -the
burglars. And her Ma-
jesty's gracious pardon will be granted to any accom-
plice (not being the person who actually fired the abut)
who shall give such information and evidence as shall
lead to the same result."
There is great reason toll°l3e'
in the event of the
parties in custody being. ,guilty, that one of them
may impeach his companions' While at Frimley
yesterday Harwood is stated to have asked one of the
officers whether any, and what reward, had been
offered for the discovery of the offenders.
The following
engine-turned huntiF
the thieves :--A gold. watch, N°' 1,899 (maker's
name James Murray, Cot/Mill), with a short chain,
key and seal, united, and p
g watch (out of repair); a small
lain bloodstone; a silver
is a list of the articles carried off by
old-fashioned gold watch ,with white dial ; a cone-
shaped plated sugar basin ; a silver antique snuffbox
(figures) with a device
on it, gilt inside, and small
holes ; a small silver box
with hinge lid ; a silver
pencilcase by Mordan ~ M"; a gold ring with blood
stone (engraved in old English “Forget Me Not") ;
an engine-turned silver pencilcase
(with plain blood-
:tone); two lads' rough blue cloth overcoats (with
name marked en tape inside); cup and paten (pocket
communion), and silver top to bottle; a short canslet
cloak (dark brown, lined with serge);
a black case
of silver instruments, with silver to lid, edges
en-
graved "Colin Donaldson," containing a six-inch
rule, a small
handle, toothpick, and compasses ; an old-fashioned
pair of scissors, knife with plain silver
(King's pattern) knife, pick, and
silver tablespoon (much.worn in the bowl) ; German
the point; a gold pin with cut top • the
plate
two cruetbottles; and about 51. in gold and case ; a silver pencilcasewith
yellow stone, broken at
moneys.silver tops of
silver

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
.11ANNION-H 0 US E.
Henry Denham, a rouvi—lookieg 3 (meg man, well-
known to the metropolitan and city police as a thief,
was brought before Alderman Gibbs, in the custody
of Michael Haydon, the officer, charged with having
been concerned in the attack upon and robbery of
Mr. Cureton, of Alderegate-street, on the '2oth of
September. Mr. Hodgson, superintendent of the
City police, was present during the investigation.
M. Haydon said—From private information which
I had received I went this morning with Brett and
another officer to the Red Lion public house, Pearl-
row, Blackfriars. I there saw the prisoner and told
him that he must consider himself in my custody,
and that I charged him, on Suspicion, with being con-
cerned, with two others, in the attempt to murder, and
with the robbery of Mr. Cureton, in Aldersgate-
street. He asked me the name of the day, and the
date of the month. I told him Friday, the 20th of the
month. He said he was perfectly innccent of the
charge. I took him to the Bow- lane station, and he
was placed with two other persons about his own
height and age, and was seen by two witnesses who
are now present.
Mrs. Sarah Wilson, wife of Mr. Charles Wilson,
of No. 81, Aldersgate-street, the house in which the
outrage was cornier ted, said—Mr. Cureton resides in
our house, and occupies the second floor. On the
20th of September, about four o'clock in the after-
noon, I opened the door to three gentlemen, as I sup-
posed them to be. One of them asked for Mr. Cure-
ton. I told them the second flooor. One of them
then said, "The second floor ?" I said, "Yes."
Alderman GIBBS—Look round, and tell me whether
you see any of them ? Witness—l cannot swear to
the prisoner, but I believe that he was the last of the
tbree who came into the house. They all three went
up stairs, and about half-past four I heard the foot-
steps of these persons going out. At about half-past
five I went up stairs, and found that Mr. Cureton's
door was shut, and the keys, which were kept on the
outside, had been taken down and were inside
the door, one being in the lock. I knocked
at the door. No one answered me, and I
opened it, and saw Mr. Cureton in the act of
raising himself from the floor, and leaning against
some drawers. I supported him to a chair, and called
my husband, and he fetched a surgeon. No person
had been into the house but the three men I have
referred to. A gentleman was upstairs when the
three men went up; but I saw him leave the house
the moment they went up.
Alderman GIBBS —Prisoner, do you wish to ask the
witness any question ? The prisoner—I have to say,
your Lordship, that the lady is quite mistaken. I
have only just come out of the hospital.
Mrs. Susan Edwards—l live on the first floor of
Mr. Wilson's house. My room is under Mr. Cure-
ton's. I was at home on the 20th of September. I
had been out, and on my return I heard a very
unusual noise in Mr. Cureton's room, for that gentle-
man is in the habit of moving about so quietly as
scarcely to be heard. The noise was that of persons
walking about very much, and something seemed to
fall upon the floor. It was as if children were throw-
ing their playthings about. I thought it very unusual,
and I went down to the kitchen to speak to Mrs.
Wilson. I saw the clock in the shop, as I was going
down, and it was twenty minutes to five. Mrs.
Wilson was not in the kitchen, and I returned up
stairs. Shortly afterwards my mother-in-law called
to take out my little girl. I let her in, and she went
away directly; and when she was gone I went down
stairs to get a dish, and on returning up stairs I met
three gentlemen coming down stairs, but as Mr.
Cureton was in the habit of being called upon by
gentlemen, I did not notice them. I can form no
opinion as to whether the prisoner is one of them.
J. Brett (13, City police)—l was in company with
Haydon this morning in Pearl-row, and I went into
the Lion public-house, and saw the prisoner in com-
pany with a number of other thieves. I came out,
and he followed me out.
Alderman Ginns—Had you spoken to him ?
Witness—No, but knowing me he followed me out,
and said to me, "Do you want any assistance. Can
I serve you ?" Haydon then came up, and I assisted
him in taking the prisoner into custody. He asked
us what he was charged with, and what we wanted
him for ? Haydon told him for robbing Mr. Cureton,
in Aldersgate-street, about four o'clock on Friday
afternoon. He said, "So help me God, I never heard
of it. I can't read, and nobody has ever told me
anything about it." He said, " Curley can read, but
he keeps it all to himself." He meant by Curley a
man who was in our company, and a thief. At the
station-house I searched the prisoner, and found six-
pence halfpenny in copper about him. He gave me
his address as No. 50, Pearl-row, where I have been
with other constables, and I find that it was false. I
have found out the house in which he does live.
Alderman GIBES—Do you believe that if I remand
the prisoner you will be able to obtain more evidence
to connect him with this robbery ? do.
I believe I shall be able to produce conclusive evidence
that he was one of the parties.
The prisoner—I know nothing about it. The lady
is quite mistaken in charging me, fur I was in the
hospital.
Alderman GIBBS—I have not forgotten that you
said so when she gave her evidence.
The prisoner—l thank you, sir.
Alderman Glans—What hospital were yen in ?
The prisoner—St. Thomas's. The officer who just
gave evidence says he has found out where I live.
Now, if he has been there, and looked about, he must
have found my hospital letter, which will prove the
truth of what I say.
Alderman Canns—Aye. You were an out-patient,
were you not ? The prisoner—l was. I had a fever
in my limbs at the time he speaks of, and my letter
was in my room.
Henry Barry (sergeant 455 M, attached)—ln con-
sequence of private information which I received that
the prisoner was concerned in the robbery and at-
tack upon Mr. Cureton, I communicated with Hay-
don upon the subject, and the prisoner was appre-
hended. I have since, together with Brett, searched
his lodgings, knowing where he has lodged for some
time. They are No. '26, Martin's-street, Friar-street,
Blackfriars-road. I have known him these two
felony.years,
ckwonnov
icttehdatthhieef
liveshas been
inthecosnavinicetehdousoef
with him.
Alderman GIBBS—Were you a witness against him
when he was convicted? Witness—No • but I was
present when he was summarily convicted before the
magistrate at the Southwark Police-court.
The prisoner—That was only for an assault.
Witness—lt was for robbing your lodgings. I
know the prisoner by the name of Miller.
The prisoner—That gentleman (Barry) who has
just spoken of me, knows well I am innocent of this
charge.
Alderman GIBBS—His evidence is to a very dif-
ferent effect.
Sergeant Barry—A party who knows him well has
informed me that he is one of the persons who were
engaged in the robbery, and to the best of my belief
he is. •
Alderman GIBBS—I shall remand the prisoner for
a week, in order to give the police time for looking
into this very serious case with proper care.
Remanded accordingly.
MARYLEBONE.
Upon two occasions within the last week or ten
days we have given insertion to the particulars of in-
vestigations gone into at this court, before Mr.
Broughton, relative to a serious charge against Mr.
Shivers, jun., a linendraper at Cheltenbeun viz., that
of having thrown a glass bottle from the window of
a carriage in which he was travelling, by an excur-
sion train from the above-named town to London,
and thereby inflicted- injury of an alarming nature
upon James Wise, one of the Great Western Rail-
way Company's guards, who at the time was standing
within a short distance of the Farringdon-road sta-
tion. It will be remembered that the defendant, upon
the arrival of the train at Paddington, admitted, after
some hesitation, to Mr. Collard, the company's police
superintendent, that he flung away the bottle alluded
to, but at the period of his doing so he had not the
slightest idea of doing harm to anybody. The train
was going at the rate of forty miles an hour, and
he saw no one when the bottle was delivered from his
hand.

To-day, pursuant to the recognisances entered into,
he again appeared ; and it had been understood, from
a communication which had been made to the magis-
trates, that some additional evidence of an important
nature would be forthcoming, showing that the oc-
currence by which -Wise had so much suffered was
not, as alleged, the result of accident.
Air. Saunders, secretary to the Great Western
Railway Company, was in attendance.
Mr. Clarkson, the barrister, appeared for the de-
fendant, who was accompanied to the court by bis
bail, and many other highly-respectable gentlemen,
his friends.
After the case was called on,
Mr. Saunders addressed the magistrate to the effect
that the directors had felt it their duty to send the
case for inquiry before the Court, and that since the
defendant was remanded upon the charge all possible
pains had been taken by them to arrive at a proper
conclusion, and they were of opinion that there was
an entire absence of any intention to do injury ; under
these circumstances there was no wish to press the
charge further. Happily the guard had nearly reco-
vered, but if it could have been shown that he was
purposely injured, or that any one of the public had
suffered through the wilfully throwing a bottle or
any other missile upon the railway, it would be the
desire of t company that the party so offending
should be pinished to the fullest extent which thelaw
allowed.
Mr. BROUGHTON observed that he was glad to see
Mr. Saunders present. His (the magistrate's) opinion
was at one time that if no additional evidence was
brought forward, it was a case for compensation to be
given, but he had been informed since that the throw-

ing of the bottle at the man would be shown to be a
premeditated act.
_ _

Mr. Saunders said that something had been stated
to that effsct, but upon inquiry the company felt sa-
tisfied that there were no good grounds for believing►
that the injury was intentionally caused. There had
been no comprornibe whatever on the part of the com-
pany with respect to their own expenses in the atlair,
or as to any compensation to the guard.
Mr. BROUGHTON said that if, as he had been given
to understand would be the case, a person had been
examined and had shown that he distinctly saw the
bottle deliberately aimed, he should have felt it his
duty most certainly to have sent the defendant before
a jury for trial. In this case he must look upon Mr.
Saunders as acting for the company in the same light
as the Attorney-General, who, acting on the part of
the Queen, says, in addressing the judge, " My Lord,
I have no evidence to offer ;" and should, therefore,
discharge the defendant, hoping that what he had al-
ready undergone would operate as a caution to him for
the future. He (the magistrate) suggested to him
that he ought to give the guard 51. at least.
Mr. Clot kson remarked that his client, who was a
strictly honourable man and of good tinnily and con-
nexions, would not quit the court without adequately
recompensing the unfortunate victim of his indiscre-
tion.