The Sun.
London, England, 1829-03-12 00:00:00

APPREHENSION OF THE SUPPOSED MURDERER 0, MR.

LANGTILEY AND ITIS TIOUSEICEEPEI.

Powrsaroulor, MAUCH 10.—After the funeral of the
unfortunate sufferers, which took place yesterday, Mr.
Hunt acquired such information as induced him to pro-
ceed with all despatch to the neighbouring village of Por-
chester, about seven miles from hence, in order to appre-
hend John Stacey, under the following strong presump-
tive evidence :—Some time after the funeral, Stacey, who
is an out-door apprentice to Mr. Weeks, a constable, and
a barber by trade, residing in Warblington-street, was
observed to proceed into the country in an open chaise,
with two girls of the town. The knowledge that his pay
of 2s. 6d. per week would not allow of this proceeding,
aroused suspicion, and upon application to his master, he
stated that on account of Stacey's having a swelling of
the hand, he was not enabled to work for the last two or
three days,:but for the expense of having a chaise he could
not at all account.
Mr. Hunt then, accompanied by Box and Weeks, set
off in search of and apprehended Stacey with the two girls,
Anu Hawkins and Sarah Harris, at a house in Perches-
ter, and brought them to the gaol about half-past five last
evening, where an immediate investigation took piece before
Edward Carter, Esq. the Mayor, continuing until a very
late hour ; the respective constables, in the mean time,
were hurrying to different haunts and places• in search of
corroborative proofs. The following has been learnt:—
Not the least suspicion was even attached to Staeey,
though he was the apprentice of the constable who first
entered Langtrey's premises after the murder. The know-
ledge that Stacey was in the habit of shaving the de-
ceased twice a, week was totally overlooked, as was also
the circumstance of his shaving him the Stiturday morn-
ing previous to the 'louder. It is stated that Stacey went
on the Sunday of the murder, with a fellow shop-boy (John
Conneymore), to Stacey's father's, in Charlotte-row, to
spend the day. Stacey abseuted himself about five o'clock
in the afternoon, returning about eight.—(lt is here to be
observed, that presumptive evidence given before the coro-
neer jury, affirms that the murder was committed about
six o'clock.)—Stacey and Conneymore slept together that
night, and scent to 'suk next morning, continuing to do
so until Thursday, when he complained of his hand being
swollen, and that he could not shave. Iu the interim he
had shaved many persons, and on one oeca.ion, when
shaving a man, it was observed that a clue was found of
the murderer ; he was now observed to he agitated, and
cut the person's chin, who rebuked him for it ; but still
there was no suspicion of him.
About Friday he was observed to make free with his
money, and on Monday was observed with two girls of the
town, among the crowd who were witnessing the funeral.
This led to his apprehension, when he instantly exclaimed,
" I'm done," and went to hide himself in an out-house.
A man of the name of Thomas Knight, a waterman, was
in company with the girls. When searching Stacey's
apparel, many pat is were found apparently bloody, and the
inside of his shoes had the marks of blood. His arms
betrayed that blows had been inflicted, and his knuckles
appeared to have sustained injury. By the evidence before
the coroner, it appears that a strong struggle had evidently
been made by the housekeeper, Stacey is a large, heavy,
looking boy, will he ?i years old neat June. A large clasp
knife was found on the Monday after the murder under the
Lion-gate, Foot-bridge, Portact. It was very bloody, and
had some hair attached to it. The boy Councynrore asserts
it wall Stacey's knife.
The girl who before tire Jury stated that a man jumped
over Langtrey'l pales, Was taken into a MOM where Stacey
stood, surrotiuded with many others, and immediately
I:eirr.etelvt.sctaktse,-0 i,,,oce„„, it now becomes a du,loutylsvp.ittemoioyeunisrui
pointed out Stacey as the peregroiabotalf,fy,ttiliehompuorsdietitv.,ellyvia:esserststarbeiys
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returned to his father, at eight o'clock, he hurried through
the house up stairs, his father following him, where they
were in earliest conversation for sonic time, till Mrs. Stacey
observed she wondered what they were about. Soon after
this Stacey came down nearly naked, with a great coat
thrown around hito, and sitting by the fire, the boy (Mis.
Stacey being absent) heard a great slowshing of water, as
if a great body of clothes was being tumbled about, added
to which, the mother was teen washing his shirt. It is