The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-02 00:00:00

TWO TRAGEDIES.

MURDER OF A SOLDIER.—A murder has been committed
at Hortiekl Barracks, near Bristol, by a sergeant of the
2nd Battalion 3rd Buffs, who killed one of his comrades
by inflicting two bayonet wounds upon his head and side,
and then shooting him through the body. The prisoner,
Sergeant John Maxwell, was a sober, steady, well-con-
ducted man, but would appear to have been possessed of
an uncontrollable temper, which at times led him into acts
of violence. We purposely preface our account of the
tragic occurrence with this description of the accused,
because it will be observed that the prisoner acted
in such a manner that the only reasonable and at
the same time charitable construction to put upon
his actions is, that be was suddenly seized with
a fit of temporary insanity. There is, however, no
evidence to sustain this view, for beyond the fact that
shortly before he committed the act LC had a quarrel
with his wife, and in a sudden paroxysm of rage broke
some of the f srniture of their room, the testimony is that
he was throughout the day sober, steady, and orderly.
Between eight and nine o'clock in the evening the occu-
pants of the barracks were suddenly alarmed by hearing
five distinct repoLts of the discharge of a rifle, following
each other in rflid succession. Officers and non-com-
missioned officers ran from their quarters, and went in
the direction of the sergeant's mess, whence the report
had proceeded. Colonel Pearson, Colour-Sergeant
Howarth, and Sergeant Jenner was first upon the spot,
and they found Private Robert Synon lying upon the steps
at the entrance to the mess-room. Colonel Pearson and
Howarth lifted him up, and observed that he was dead.
Colonel Pearson held the body up, and despatched a man
for the surgeon, while Sergeants Howarth and Jenner,
went into the mess-room in search of the person who had
fired the shots and to call assistance. Behind the door they
found Sergeant John Maxwell, rifle in hand, and having his
sword bayonet fixed. They seized him, and Jenner took the
rifle from him, while Howarth retained his hold of the pri-
soner, who struggled with him, trying to escape from custody,
and they both fell to the ground. Assistance was speedily at
hand, and he was then removed to the lock-up. Upon the
surgeon's arrival he examined the body of Synon ; he was
quite dead, and there was a bayonet wound upon the
forehead and in the side, and a bullet wound in the back.
No one saw the prisoner fire, but it is believed that the
deceased, like his comrades, was alarmed at hearing the
discharge of a rifle, and that he went to seize the prisoner
to prevent him firing, when he attacked 'him with the
bayonet and afterwards shot him. Deceased was an
exceedingly well-educated man, and had not an enemy in
the regiment, and so far from there being any motive for
the outrage, there was not, as far as could be ascertained,
the slightest feeling of animosity existing between. the
accused and any of his comrades.

MURDER OF A WOMAN. —A most brutal assault, com-
mitted at St. Helens a few days ago, has terminated
fatally. For many years past there have lived together,
in the poorest part of the town, a man and woman named
Anthony Fillingham and Phillis Hayes. Both were
addicted to drink, and when under its influence they fre-
quently quarrelled. In this state they fought on the 20th
ult., and, becoming infuriated, Fillingham, after throwing
the woman down, with a poker forced out one of her eyes,
broke her breastbone, fractured her skull, and finally
flung her down a flight of stairs. The wretched woman
lay in this butchered condition several days without
medical aid, and on Thursday she died. Fillingham is in
custody.

The Aberdeen Journal reports that in the flock
of a Rev. Mr. Wood, of Grendon Bishop, near Bromyard,
a lamb has been born with the letter Win black wool on
its side.

THE MINISTRY.—The Cabinet Ministers arrived
at the Royal Clarence Victualling Yard, Gosport, by
special train from London, on Friday afternoon, about five
o'clock. They embarked on board the Admiralty yacht
Enchantress, and crossed over to Osborne to have an
audience of her Majesty.

There will be no opposition to the return of
Viscount Ingestre for Stamford. His lordship has
addressed the electors, and has been well received.
Captain Cbolmeley will probably stand again as a
Liberal candidate for Grantham, in conjunction with Mr.
Tollemache. Mr. Chaplin, of Blankney, will be a Con-
servative candidate for Mid-Lincolnshire, and his brother,
Captain T. Chaplin, is expected to contest Lincoln in the
Conservative interest. Mr. J. Banks Stanhope is expected
to retire from the representation of North Lincolnshire.

THE R HYMN EY RAIL WAY. —S 01110 further par-
ticulars have transpired respecting the frightful ac-
cident on this line, which caused the loss of seven
lives. Messrs. Logan and Hemingway are constructing
a new line for the company, on which there is a
tunnel one mile and two chains in length. Three shafts
have been sunk in order to construct the tunnel, and the
men go up and down through these shafts to their work.
The accident occurred at No. 3 shaft, and the seven men
were on the skip or cage, when the drum got out of gear,
and the whole of the men were hurled to the bottom, a
distance of over 100 yards. It is supposed the pin which
keeps the winding-drum in gear was left out, but this will
be more fully explained at the inquest, which is fixed for
next Tuesday. The rope in use bad been tested to lift ten
i tons. The bodies of the poor fellows were mutilated be-
iyoud deocriptiou, end prl§9ol4 §49cliipg sinqad!,