The Sun.
London, England, 1828-12-03 00:00:00

MURDER AND SUICIDE.

(Extract of a private letter from Birmingham, Dec. I.)
A shocking catastrophe took place here yesterday,
of which the following are the particulars :—Edw.
Roach was a whip-maker, residing in Ellis-street,
and until lately had borne a good character. A short
time since, however, he formed an imprudent con-
nexion, which soured his temper, embittered his
prospects, and destroyed his domestic happiness for
ever. On the evening of the day in question he re-
turned home, and was naturally enough reproached
by his wife for his irregularities; a violent recrimi-
nation ensued, during which a thrilling scream of
" murder" was heard, accompanied soon after by
the discharge of a pistol. The neighbours heard
the report, but being unable themselves to get into
the house, in consequence of the door being fast
locked, they sent for an officer, who instantly pro-
ceeded to break open the fastenings. On going up
stairs, after he had unsuccessfully examined the
lower rooms, a most sickening spectacle presented
itself. Alone, on the floor, and close beside the
staircase, lay the body of Roach's wife ; her face
hacked and stabbed in various places, her neck
pierced through and through, and her arm nearly
severed from her body, which was done no doubt
while she was in the act of lifting the latch of the
door. -Round the corpse was a dark pool of blood.
In another part of the house Roach himself was
discovered stretched dead upon a bed, with his
brains scattered thickly over his shoulders. On his
left arm lay a poor little infant (his youngest child)
awake, and near him the pistol with which he had
effected his destruction. His two other children
were fast asleep in bed. The circumstances of this
tragedy have occasioned a great sensation in the
neighbourhood.

APPREHENSION OF A HORSE-STEALER

(From the Essex Herald.)

On the night of Sunday, the 16th ult., Mr.
Thomas Coltman, a respectable farmer and grazier,
at East Farndon, in Northamptonshire, lost two
mares out of his field. In the morning he traced
them ten miles to a turnpike, where he lost all clue.
On the following Tuesday he was still persevering,
when he mounted a coach; and, after travelling
some distance on the road towards London, scarcely
knowing where to bend his course, he related his
loss to a gentleman, who advised him to make the
best of his way to Romford, in Essex, it being a
considerable cattle market. Mr. Coltman arrived
early on Wednesday morning, and having passed
through the stands unsuccessfully, he went into a
hairdresser's shop, from which place, to his asto-
nishment, he observed his two mares in the posses-
sion of a lad. He instantly followed and saw them

tied to a rail, to denote they were for sale. Mr.Colt-
man desired to know to whom the horses belonged,
when Ingram came up at the instant ; Mr. Coltman
inquired what he was going to do with them, as they
were his property, when Ingram, with an oath, said
they belonged to him, and desired to know how
and where he (Mr. Coltman) had any claim to
them, as he had bought them; but on Mr. Coltman
mentioning the place whence they were stolen, In-
gram took a sack from the back of one of the mares,
and matched off, leaving Mr. Coltman, in possession
of his property. So gratified was he in having been
so fortunate, that in all probability, had it not been
for the activity of the Romford police, the thief had
escaped. The pursuit, however, was so immediate,
that Ingram was overtaken at the White Horse,
Norton-heath, and was lodged in the cage at Ongar
for that night,—a fate which the prisoner protested
against as highly degrading to his former " respec-
tability." He was therefore removed to Chelms-
ford, for greater security, and on the 21st ultimo,
he was again conveyed to Ongar, by Mr. Neale, the
Governor of the New Goal, where a bench of ma-
gistrates had assembled, before whom Ingram and
Mr. Coltman appeared, when the latter stated that
he had known the prisoner for 14 years. The pri-
soner, casting a stern look at Mr. Coltman, ob-
served, " Aye, and I know you too: you would not
mind hanging any man : your father once bloomed
young man's brains out for cursing your sister."
The depositions were read, charging the prisoner
with stealing two horses. At this part the prisoner
interfered, and denied that he stole two horses—they
were two mares. He also proceeded to make some
further observations upon the sexes, which afforded
no small amusement to those present. On the
prosecutor being bound over by recognizances in the
sum of 501., the prisoner appeared quite elated at
the idea that the prosecutor would incur an expeuse
in the prosecution, and exclaimed, " That's right;
he has plenty of money ; I hope you will not spare
him; we'll give him a good sweating." He was
fully committed for trial. The prisoner is 50 years
of age, has been known by many persons in this
county as a jobber for 25 years, formerly pos-
sessed considerable property, and is not at this time,
he says, totally dependent upon his labour.

PROGRESS OF LIBERALITY.—Amongst the
signatures to the Protestant Declaration in favour of Ca-
tholic Emancipation, appears that of Lieutenant-Colonel
Liniacke, near Youghal, in this county—this gentleman is
nephew to John Claudius Beresford.—TVaterford Cliron

A union of the Tewkesbury Road Trust with
that of the Alytbe Bridge and Roads, is in agitation ; but
the proposal appears to have excited a strong sensation
among those trustees of the old trust, who are opposed to
the union.—Birmingham Journal.

a few weeks ago, an
As we stated exclusive!)
investigation is now going on relative to some alleged frauds
at the head-quarters of regiments. It has been discovered
that commanding officers have been in the habit of grant-
ing discharges to men, stating them to have served much
longer than they really have done.—Macclesfield Courier.

We hear that there can be no longer any
doubt about the appointment of three additional Judges, a
gentleman at the bar, having, as we are informed on good
authority, received instructions to prepare the necessary
,Act of Parliament for the purpose. Such is the anony-
mous information which we have just received, and which
we give as we have received it.

SPORTING INTELLIG 1:N( E.

FIGHT BETWEEN NED NEAL and ROCHE, for

ONE HUNDRED POUNDS ASIDE.

THE KNIGHTS OF THE CROSS DEFEATED.

Yesterday was appointed for the decision of the
match between Nil Neal and Roche, the Devon-
shireman, for one hundred pounds a-side. The

affair has been long on the tapir, and was regarded
with a good deal of interest, as rumours were in-
dustriously circulated that Roche %vas " something
out of the common wey," and would humble the
pride of the London ring, by not only licking Ned
Neal, but Tern Ward, and every other man who
had the slightest pretensions to milling consequence.

As a wrestler he had n'otvined some little fame, and

at the wrestl:ng match at Leeds won the second
-prize; but, as a boxer, he was utterly unknown,
never having entered the or fought with
any man of acknowledged talent. Upon the chal-
lenge being first given by this hero to Neal, it was
readily accepted, and on his rppearance in the Tennis
Court, from his bulk, being little less than fifteen
Stone in weight, and tall in proportion, he was re-
garded as a customer of no ordinary stamp. " If," said
the judges, " he can but handle his fists Fs well as
his pins, -the Streatham Youth ca-mot have a
chance." But this little word " if made all the
difference in the calculations of Neal's real friends ;

and rs there was no " it' about his courage and
general good qualities, they freely came out to back
aim at'two to one. At this rate several bets to

a large amount were laid; but it was remarked that
the takers were limited to a very narrow circle—not
more than three or four persons being in the market,
and those by no means recognised as sporting cha-
racters. The general specelvtors on such events
were observed to hold aloof, and a sort of whisper

that something wrong was intended on the part of
Neal gradually obtained circulation. These whispers,
however, had no influence on those who had placed
their confidence in Neal. They continued to back
their judgment without reserve, and to advise their
friends to follow their example. By some strange
perversity this advice was not taken; and so wedded

were many to the opinion that a cross was intended,
that the takers of the odds gradually increased. IThe

necessary consequence folio—wed—from two to one

the betting fell to seven to four, thence to six to
four; and at Tattersall's on the Monday, and at se-
veral sporting houses on the same night, five to four
were currently taken. Inquiry was naturally made
as to the cause of this singular state of things ; but
no satisfactory reason could be obtained. It was
admitted, that if opinion as to merit was to be re-
garded, Neal ought to remain a decided favourite
against an unknown and an untried man; but it
seems there was another cause which operated on the
minds of the honourable gentlemen who were dis-
posed to sport their cash on the event. In plain
terms, it was gently whispered, that Neal had been
" bought over," and was most conscientiously in-
duced, first, to persuade his friends to back him,
and then in the kindest manner to " put them in the
hole ;" or, in plain terms, to lose the fight, and, of
course, to rob them of their money. This was in-
deed a temptation not to be withstood, and, as a
matter of course, all the initiated, among whom were
not a few of those who occasionally sport their mugs
in the higher betting circles, were seen as busy as so
many rats in a granary, nibbling at the supposed
flats who were occasionally presented to their notice,
and taking all the odds which their mistaken con&
deuce in the honour of Neal inclined them to lay.—
It was glorious to see with what a leer each new
customer was booked, and with what avidity the
actions of particular men were watched, as a sort of
telegraphic signal of what it would be wise to do,
without the slightest reflection on the probable qua-
lities of the men. Many who had already betted
their money on Neal took the alarm, and were seen
scudding about from house to house to get it on the
other way, and, if possible, to have a slice of the
roguery which had been so ingeniously concocted.—
Poor devils! we think we see their elongated
mazzards upon reading our paper this evening, and
finding, for once, that " honesty would have been
their better policy."
The toss for the place of fighting having been
won by Neal, he chose the neighbourhood of the
scene of his late conquest over Jack Nicholls, and
named Northchapel, in Sussex, on the Fetworth
road, and about five-and-forty miles from London,
as the place of rendezvous. He had trained at Mil-
ford, near to Godalming ; and it was remarked by
those who felt an interest in his success, that he was
more than usually careful in taking his exercise.
Roche, who keeps a public-house at Exeter, and
who had been brought up from his " crib and his
customers" as the tool of his honest Devonshire
friendsorrived in London 10 days back, and was sent
down to the Bell, at Edmonton, to finish his train-
ing. From the time of the match being made,
about two months since, he had considerably re-
duced his weight, and upon going to scale on Mon-
day was found to be a trifle less than 14 stone—
while Neal weighed but 12st. 4lbs. This disparity
in size was of course seized as a strong argument in
favour of his pretensions over Neal; but by those who
were behind the curtain—and there were such—his
size was placed at nought, for it was discovered
that he was a mere yokel in science, and knew as little
of the manoeuvres of the London ring as a donkey
knows of the ingenious tricks of Mr. Ducrow's
stud. This was sufficient to confirm their confi-
dence, and to induce them to stand steadily to their
bets—but there was another little point which had
a still more powerful effect, and that was:a know-
ledge of the grand secret which had led les cheva-
liers d'industrie to go forth with such avidity " seek-
ing whom they might devour." In fact, Neal had
honestly told them that the tempters had been at
work, and had generously promised him seven hun-
dred pounds to lose the tight ; u promise which he
took in good part, and while he appeared to accede
to it, honourably resolved to save his friends, and
punish those who had plotted their destruction. It
is not necessary to say that such conduct was highly
commendable, and that it entitles I‘cal to that libe-
ral support which we have no doubt the honour-
able part of the sporting world will step forward to
afford him.
So secret did Neal keep his intentions, that they
were known but to very few, and were ultimately di•
vulged rather to allay the fears which had been ex-
cited by the prevailing reports that were abroad,
than from any desire ostentatiously to make a parade
of his honesty.
This quiet state of things completely lulled the
suspicions of the conspirators, and they continued
their operations with unabated activity to the last
moment--staking every farthing they could " rap
and run" on the event, and laying out their last
guinea after the men had actually entered the ling.
It was impossible not to read in their happy counte•
fiances the anticipation of the glorious harvest which
a short five and forty minutes was to bring within
their grasp; for be it known that that was the pre-
cise time at which it had been stipulated the "good
natured Ned" was to yield up the palm of victory to
the Goliall of Devonshire. Short, indeed, were
these delightful yearnings. On the Sunday Roche
reached the Red Lion, at Godalming, where he took
up his quarters, accompanied by some of his amiable
patrons. Neal was but two miles distant, and on
the Monday afternoon he set off to a retired house at
Compton, a village about four miles from Milford,
where he kept himself completely secluded from ob-
servation. The:mystery now became more ominous,
and the layers of the odds, who were ignorant of
the true state of the game, became still more anxious.
The eventful morning at last broke, and soon after
ten o'c ock Ned returned to his old quarters, as
blithe as a lark, and as fine as a star, and in fact in
tip-top condition. We never saw him look better
or more cheerful, and the hearty reception which he
met seemed still more to gladden his spirits. It was
now " all right." Every man had an assurance that
Neel " meant winning, and nothing else," and with
this assurance most were content ; but there were
still those who were so habitually accustomed to do
wrong themselves, that they could not be persuaded

it was possible for another to do right; and we
were happy to see them subsequently involved in
the same vortex with those whose example they fol-
lowed.

The ring was formed on a common behind the
village of North Chapel, ih good order, but, con-
sidering the importance of the event, the muster of
" the London Particulars" was but thin; in truth,
they were so satisfied of the result that they did not
wish to witness their own triumph.
At eleven o'clock Roche quitted Godahning in a
post-chariot, his two principal backers on the box,
and a third by his side. He looked in good health
and tolerable spirits. Just at the moment he arrived
at Milford, Neal came forth surrounded by his
friends, sporting their bird's-eye blue fogies in good
style, while two key-bugles struck up the favourite
air of " All the Blue Bonnets." A carriage, with
four horses, was in readiness, upon the box of
which he mounted, supported on his left by the Ports-
mouth Dragsman, one of his staunchest supporters.
Tom Spring, and his other friends, then mounted,
and off set the cavalcade, Roche taking the lead.
The four prods, however, soon gave him the "go
by," and Neal first reached the Swan at North
Chapel, where he corn tnenced preparations for
action. The weather, though extremely cold, was
fine, and the sun shone forth with unusual bright-
ness. Roche remained in the chaise. Shortly
before one o'clock, Neal entered the ring, at-
tended by Tom Spring and Harry Holt,—he
was received with loud cheers. 'Roche soon
after came forth, under the guidance of Ben
Burn and Young Dutch Sam, followed by his backers.
His colours were light blue. The toss for choice
of position was won by Harry Holt for Neal, and
Loth men proceeded to strip. On comparison of
their persons, it was impossible not to observe that
Roche had the advantage both in weight and
length ; but then in age and freshness it was quite
the reverse.
,His flesh seemed soft and puffy, while
the fat of his grubber) hung in folds over his drawers.
He looked, as we before said, well in health, but to
our eye he could not be less than six-and-thirty years
of age. Neal was all life and fire—not a superfluous
ounce on his bones, and as fine as a greyhound. As
he shook hands with his gigantic opponent, there
was a cunning expression in his eye, which those in
the secret well understood. Roche looked per-
fectly satisfied with himself, and as he knew lie was
to win, he made up his mind to a few light thumps,
which he was to follow up with some heavy falls.
and then all was to be over. The umpire's and re-
feree having been chosen, the backers of Roche took
up a position near the ropes, so as to give_ signals
and watch the fulfilment of their scheme. At this
moment 7 to 4 and 2 to 1 were greedily taken. And
next comes