Star.
London, England, 1826-01-17 00:00:00

HORRID MURDER.

!ROM THE NEWCASTLE CHRONICLE.

Saturday morning, a poor inoffensive old man, was
found murdered in a lone cottage, in which he resided,
at Warden, near Chollerfcrd, about twenty miles west
from this place. The name of this unfortunate indivi-
dual was Joseph Hedley, but throughout the county he
was universally known as "Joe the Quilter." He was
one of the most harmless and inoffensive men that ever
lived, and always a welcome guest in every'family in
which he was employed. For the last few years he fol-
lowed his employment chiefly at home. On the evening
of the Sd lust, he received his pitcher of milk as usual,
from Mrs. Colbeck, of Walwick Grange, who gave
him besides a sheep's head and pluck.---. The three suc-
ceeding days, his cottage appeared shut up, but this
occasioned no surprise, as he sometimes left home for a
few days. On the Saturday, however, some of the
neighbours became alarmed, and breaking into the
house, found him the victim of one of the foulest mur-
ders on record. Though about seventy,five; his strut,
ale with his murderer must have been long and hor-
rible. Forty-four wounds were found on various parts
of his body, many dreadful ones on his head, and his
throat cut from ear to ear. At one period of the strug-
gle, he must hive succeeded in making his escape from
the house, as his clogs were fund soon after the mur-
der was discovered, in an adjoining field. All this,
probably took place soon after his return from Wal-
e ick Grange, as his f itcher of milk, the sheep's head,
kc. and a pound of sugar which he had purchased,
w,re found on a table just as he had brought them into
the house. The object of the murderer was, we have
not the least doubt, money, of which a very unfounded
report accused him of possessing a little hoard, for no
other article of any kind seemed -missing, though the
whole of his boxes and drawers had been ransacked.
He was buried last night in Warden Choi ch-yard, after
the verdict of a Coroner's Jury of " Wilful Murder, by
some person or persons unknown." Notwithstanding
the most active and unremitting search, no clue has
been obtained likely t lead to the discovery of the per-
petrator of this horrid deed, though a subscription of
1501. has been raised for the purpose of offering a re-
ward, &c.

SILK TRADE.
~.-_.

The extreme distress which the Sp7talfields weavers,
and those employed in the manufacture of silk goods,
ate at this moment labouring under, in consequence of
the total stop put to all manufactories, is beyond prece-
dent. At no period during the last thirty years has the
want of employ ever been so general, or poverty so
universally apparent, as it is on the present occasion.
The accnunt of the number of looms standing idle,
and weavers, &c. out of employ, in Spitalfields and its
environs, WAS forwarded to the Trade Committee last
Saturday. The ret-o t was as follows :—Looms, 15,000.;
weavers, &c. 18,000: adding wives and children to this
number, it may be fairly calculated that there are
30,000 persons at this inclement season suffering the
most painful privations.
In Bethnal-green patis'i the distress is felt most se-
verely,- particularly among the tradespeople, who, as
they find the pour-tate increase, their means to pay
them imini/b.

The folloWing is a cotrect abstract from the work-
house bot ks of the above parish alone, up to Friday
last, viz.—Paupers in the house, 800; di to receiving
relief out of the house, 1,000. Received into the house
on Saturday (in addition to the above number) twenty-
four families, some of whom having from one to six
children each. The 1.0,5 e is now so full they are
obliged to sleep three and four in a bed.

Naweottr. JAN. 14.—The person who has been exhi-
biting himself with a mask. Bcc. at Southampton and
Lymington, has reached the Island, and is making his
terrc appearance, almost nightly on the Mall, near
this town, which has caused great consternation, and
been the means of frightening into fits several persons,
who arc, in consequence, lying dangerously ill. He has
also been playing off his pranks at other little villages
near. He has been shot at by two or three individuals,
but is found to be invulnerable, being enveloped, it is
said, in steel armour, and a pair of spring boots ; the
latter of which are so constructed,. as to•allow him with
a little exertion, to vault over a ten feet wall.

The late MONK Lewis, during many years of his
life, and until its close, was the kind and munificent
patron of the venerable O'Kaa,a, whose dramas have
enjoyed more popularity and applause than those of
ant .other: modern play-writer ; they were the founda-,
tide of EDWIN'S fame, and Jemmy Amps was peal:towed ,
by' the veteran MUNDIN on the first night of his ap-
pearance in London. OlEsera enjoyed a pension from
Mr. Lewis, of 401. per annum ; we had hoped it was
for lite.