The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-19 00:00:00

DISCOVERY OF A LONG CON•

CEALED MURDERER.

CHESTER, SATURDAY.—A considerable sensation
was produced here this morning by the arrival of two
police officers, one from Parnell, in IVarwickshite•
and the other from Alcester, who severally rep".
sented to Mr. Hill, the superintendent of the Chester
police, that they were in search of a man named Jones
Crowley, of Parnell, charged with the wilful murder
of William Tilsley, also of that place, as far back es
the 25th of December, 1842. In consequence of in:,
formation supplied by the officers in pursuit, Mr.llw
sent some of his men to the Black Dog public-bouset
where the party in question had been staying for some
time. 'He had, however, removed to a lodging on the,
Eaton-road, leading to the seat of the Marquis
Westminster; but it was ascertained that his trunks
and other moveables had recently been taken
to the Castle and Falcon, a small public house
in Watergate-street, kept by a person named
Mary Jones, at which place he occasionalli
called for refreshments, and, on incluirY‘'
Mr. Hill was given to understand that he (CrowleY,/
was expected there at about noon to-day. Accord'
ingly two officers from Parnell and Alcester, accon'
panied by two of the Chester police, repaired to the
house at the time specified, and there found Crock,'
seated with a glass of ale before him. It was known
that he was always provided with pistols, and there'
fore due precaution was used in apprehending
He was seized by each arm before he was at'
aware of the presence of the officers, who than Ifj
formed him of the nature of the heavy charge alleged
against him. _

I admit it I" he at once exclaimed; and, subsr
quently, as they were placing the handcuffs UP°
him, he added, "I am a dead man."
He was forthwith taken before the mayor an
d
magistrates; and on being searched, thirty-six sole'
reigns were found upon him, together with a double'
barrelled pistol. The weapon was not loaded;
paper, containing a number of balls, and a es' "
powder, were found in one of his pockets.
It appeared by the statement made before the It
gistrates, that the prisoner had formerly resided 1"
his parents at Parnell ; but, in consequence of 1111
violent conduct, his father had forbidden him tit
house, at the same time providing for him a o°4
cottage in the neighbourhood, and allowing hilD:fte
per week and a horse to ride on. Notwitbstandl
this arrangement, however, the father having Stairt
reason to dread some fatal act of violence on the P
of his son, had one of his farm-servants, nolo
William Tilsley, sworn in as a special constable
his (the tether's) protection ; and on Christmes•tJi
1842, the family and a party of friends having.l%
taken their seats at the dinner table, the prison
mother suddenly started up, and said to her husbl'e;
"For God's sake, go up stairs ; there's 30.„,
coming across the field with his gun to shoot 50.7,8
of us." The old man accordingly hurried from
apartment, and the prisoner, who had been seen ti 4
his mother through the window advancing in, the
way she described, went round to the back of,lea
house, and thrust the muzzle of his double-barrelo
gun through a pane of glass. In the mealitine
Tilsley went out to expostulate with the pris.,°"rii.,
who, on seeing him, retreated a few paces, orc,_"
i"
ing, "It's you, is it ?" and at the same instant tube
the unfortunate man, mid shot him dead upon, to
spot. He then shouldered the gun, and was heard
for
say as he walked away, "I've another charge ge
somebody else." No one ventured to stop him• and
went home, saddled his horse, rode to Tring, at
there left his horse at an inn, took the 0144., of
stopped at the first station, where he bought Islip°
spectacles to disguise his person, and was hes ben
more until a few days since. He has, it appear 3, .jed
in the United States in the interim, but has reslitt
ever since March last in Chester. A woman *lo3t
whom he has recently cohabited in a fit of jolt)
betrayed him.
The prisoner, after having been duly caution,
signed the following declaration:—
have to say I am guilty of what I shou
again to-morrow. I did shoot the man in open 'l7l
I think I did my duty." be
He was ordered to be taken to Warwick, wile'"
will undergo further examination.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
CO.r
PORTSMOUTH, TUESDAT.—A court-martial, -vt
prising Rear-Admiral Hyde Parker, C. 8., Preside r.
Captain Mowbray, of the Victory; Captain tot;
Rowley, of the St. Vincent, Flag Captain of the der
Commander Willcox, of 'the Excellent ; Cellontlef
Smith, of the Syren ;and Mr. George L. Greets
Deputy-Judge-Advocate of the fleet, assembled
morning by signal gun, on board the Victory', lie
Capt. Mowbray, to try Mr. George Bellis, mate of
Excellent, at the instance of Captain Sir T. Hastll24
of that ship, on a charge of having left the deck du!Se
his watch (the dog watch), on the evening of
7th instant. Captain Sir Thomas Hastings, C° ;
',
01,
mender Lowe, Lieutenant Moorman, Lieut. ffnais
Mr. Gough, mate, and two private arines, all e'cel
Excellent, appeared for the prosecution, and addjecaic
evidence to 'prove that the prisoner left the
during his watch on the evening above-mentioned;ip
went to smoke in the galley, which was the
substance of the charge I
De
xe•e-
Mr. Archibald Low, of Portsea, and de-
reux, of Portsmouth, attorneys, conducted
at „owe
fence. The case for the prosecution closed 11' rs 0
o'clock, when the prisoner requested three botthaipg
prepare his defence. This was demurred to as flO
too long, when the prisoner, by the advice of
counsel, 'reduced his required time to two Nth'
(The prisoner was only informed on Saturday thee
he would be brought to trial.) The court W 5 pot
cleared, and re-opened at two o'clock, when s•
excellent defence was entered into by the le4-61,150.
tlemen above-named, which went to prove tns'iteb
Bellis, the prisoner, was not in charge of the i.w"jt
at the time he was declared absent from the (16.'0
has generally been supposed that the Excellent hip,
the beau ideal of a well-disciplined line-of-battles dr
where the striAest order and regularity in everf the
partment were observed and enforced; but, frliota
nature of a portion of the evidence, we are iac bet
to believe the Excellent does not so well deserliter
name as is generally supposed. The court, 01
hearing the whole of the evidence on both sides'a po
what the prisoner had to allege in defence (be 112/0111
witnesses), was of opinion that the charge l'ilsaisF
proved, and adjudged him, the said Mr. George list
to be severely reprimanded, and to remain on ttevipto
of mates two years longer than the usual terra
promotion. iete,
The royal yacht Victoria and Albert is conttted
all but her ventilating apparatus, which is being l'er
under the superintendence of Dr. Reid. It is bet
ber
petted she will leave the dock and make trial °f
speed after her alterations in a few days. bef
The St. Vincent, 120, progresses rapidly it
refit in dock. It is expected she will be $
leave in about two months. hw
A
The Dwarf, steam-tender to the royal .7 - he
alongside the Dryad hulk, having a new fiere the
fitted ; she lost her former one by running 1112;:niert
George, Isle of Wight and Southampton sw"
lying at the Victoria-pier, last Wednesday: eted
The Siren, 16, Commander Smith (b), rer„-
to be paid off on Friday. p
The works of the new steam-basin are rarfilsP
greasing. The foundation-stone is expected to
in about a month.

tea 0,,
The Harlequin and Pelican are hourly Weed val
Spithead with treasures from Singapore, an
from Liverpool, as has been erroneously staff

-
BIRTHS. - r cA r
On the 3d inst., at Halifax, Nova Scotia, the lacif °
SO
tain Mellish, Rifle Brigade, of a son.
On the 14th inst., at Amherst Lodge,
Edward Dolhuan, of a daughter. 0010
On the 16th inst., the wife of Lieutenant Robert r
R.N., of a son. 40 es
the "
On the 16th inst., at Takely Vicarage, Essex, of
the Rev. Charles Clarke, of a son. the isalia
On the 17th inst., at Lewis-crescent, Brighton,
te'
Hammersnlith'
.0f
Captain Vernon, Coldstream Guards, of a daughter._,(o,
On the 17th inst., at Lynchfield House, near Taunted
gts
lady of S. Blyth,Esq., of a son. ch
On the 18th inst., at Epping, the lady of the Rev' ill se
Sale, of a son. the
On the 18th inst., at Duke-street, Westminster,
of J. P. Kay Shuttleworth, Esq., of a son.
______,.../.1