Star.
London, England, 1830-04-14 00:00:00

MURDER AT CHARD.

A murder, of a similar nature to that for which Russell beta
been tried, was perpetralsdnue Chard six years since, inconsequence
of which and the poverty title Mends of the unfortunate victlm,Josn
Turner, a number of nusletnates sod ondssen met after the disco.
very of her murder, and lensed themselves into a committee for the
purpose of Instituting an inquiry into the different facie, with a
view that the perpetrator might be brought to justice. After
several examinations Russell was apprehended, and taken be-
fore the magistrates, and committed for trial. After the con-
demnation of Russell steps were taken by his counsel, and a respite
was obtained ; the committee, therefore, again met for the purpose
of further investigation. As the ease has become of great interest, we
thought it right to visit Chard, toobtain every possible informatics on
the subject. We accordingly proceeded to the house of Russell ; the
prisoner having stated that Mrs. Clarke's servants were mistaken in
some of the facts they spoke to, and said h was impossible they could
have heard the pump or seen the light in his house, we were very
minute in our exaniination of the premises. The prisoner's kitchen
window, in which tl.c servants said they saw the light, is
distinctly to he stet from their bed-room window, so that any light
in his kitchen might easily have been seen by them,i but his window
could not be seen by any of the neighbours. The noise of the pump
can be plainly titan' in the servants' bedroom, and in the dead of
night would be very likely to attract their observation. Prom these
premises we repaired to the field where the murder was committed.—
The spot where the body lay is now, from so many people having been
there without gram., :slid strikes the observer almost immediately upon
entering the field. It is within two yards of the footpath, and
within twenty yards of the lane called Avishay-Isne ; the patters
of the unfortunate girl were found on the outside of the gate
leading into the field, so that a person would be it d to suppose she
had got over the gate in (taste, with an intention of going aloes this
footpath to a house to -which it led. In the ad.ioining Sold were
found the two spots of blood, which would lead to the idea that the
murderer having committed the dreadful act, had gone:to the be-
ton-mentioned gate to 'sink into the lane, and had then gone in a
straight direction across the adjoining field to a gap in the hedge,
and had stopped twice .o wipe off some of the blood, and had
then gone through the gap into Stephens's-lane, which would
agree with the evider.c: of a rerscv having been heard to jump
into the lane: this tti mild be th• only direction towards water.
We returned to the town. and. ,trol (meting the committee-room,
we were addressed by the chairman. who stated it to be the wish of
the committee that every .et of theirs should be made public; that
they met foe the sole purpose of endeavouring to further the ends of
justice, and with die hope of hrinring the actual murderer to punish.
ment, and that any initoirstmr they c old give, thty lad no wish
in any way to withhold. The committee had lar.dersmed that Mr.
Ede, the counsel for the prisoner, had brew at Chard, making
cluiries and examining v. 11111.PKIt worn Mr. Whitcherd heard this,
be wrote a note to the hairnet gen:len-en, offering him accommo.
dation at his house, at.d also to accompany hir, or render him any
assistance in furtherir„.- . i 4 mom. it being more his wish to prove
the prisoner innocent than guilty. The committee ore prosecuting
their exertions with the greatest ardour, in the hope that they may
be able to cluciti.i.e tic trash.

The late Sir Stamford Raffles, on his last retian to
England, was able to make the extraordinary remark ti::4t be hail
never seen a horse.ract or beard tired a gun.
Three vesre!s helm left Lctth Harbour hies week for
America. with shore 2011 errip:Ats, and full ci.rgoes of goods, vie.
the Tru..ty fur Wax. and the 14..ptune and the George fur Quebec..
Coo tour It Ye E TlOl4 .-- MA58.8 ifisfery
of Hasiquyt. ill. Tr is itl.:.re ount girt nof an unfinished tipestrys
seriptiee t!.(.. 1111.1.14.:1 1;t...:14.1%Thdi by XV•Pise q the entqutreti in
which it ,•,i.s j;,e ift'ik was interrupted " I y the dew" or
other jerthii m.rt ;Idol! .ct the LffipreNS Matilda." _ .