The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-10-02 00:00:00

MURDER At WHITLEY, CHESHIRE

The small village of Whitley, in Cheshire,•situate in the
immediate neighbourhood of the Grand Junction Railroad,
on its entering Cheshire from Lancashire, was on Thursday
night the scene of a murder, which, while it affords an awful
instance of the effects of giving way to passion, for determi-
nation and cold-blooded revenge, has seldom been equalled
by an offence of the same kind in the North of England.
The man accused of the murder is named Thomas Barlow.
He moved in a respectable sphere of life, renting some ex-
tensive premises at Appleton, belonging to Thomas Lyon,
Esq., one of the county magistrates, and carrvingon a con-
siderable business as a wheelwright. His chief bane through
life appeared to be a too partial love for field sports. He
regularly took out a license to kill and destroy game, and
his trespasses on the manors of his wealthy neiglybours, at
times, was the cause of his being brought before the magis-
trates'at the Daresberry Petty Sessions. However, at the

toot uaarcu ra.151-LC,Si
was selected as the foreman of the petty jury at Chester. He
usually, on his sporting excursions, carried a double-barrelled
gun, and was rather a terror to his companions, from his
frequent appeals to it as the settler of his disputes. On very
slight provocation, he has been known to threaten his oppo-
nent by saying " I'll shoot you," and at last he has fatally
put that threat into execution. The victim of his passion is
Luke Speed. a labouring man, working for Mr. Whitlow, a
farmer at Whitley. He has left a wife and four children,
the eldest eight years, and the youngest nine weeks old. The
facts of the case against the prisoner will be best collected
from the evidence taken at the Chetwode Arms, Lower Whit-
ley, before William Caldwell, Esq., coroner for the manor
of Hutton, and a very respectable jury.
Mr. Thomas Whitlow deposed, that he was a farmer, re-
siding at Whitley, iu Cheshire. He, together with Luke
Speed, (the deceased) John Haddock, and Thomas Picker-
ing, had been reaping some corn, in a field attached to his
farm at Whitley, on Thursday. When they had finished the
labour of the day, they went to a beer shop to get some ale.
The prisoner, Thomas Barlow, sat in the beer house, with
his gun by his side, and he had a dog with him. Ballow was
drinking porter by himself. Witness and his men drank ale.
Witness paid for Shree quarts, and the men had two quarts
given them by the other customers in the house. This was
about ten o'clock. They went out about that hour. After
walking nine or ten yards, at a place called the Kiln Hole,
they overtook Barlers. He was lying down. Speed and
Haddock approaching him, observed that he should not lay
in that manner, took hold of him, one on each side, andJifted
him from the ground. He was in a state of intoxication.
Speed and Haddock walked with him sonic distance, when
he turned suddenly round, rushed from them, and said he
would shoot any man who touched him. On this Haddock
offeied to go round by Nortou Brook, and to see Barlow
home. Barlow did not accept the offer; but, instead of doing
so, presented hiS gun at Speed. On seeing this, witness got
into the Mill Field, over a style. A man named Hyde fol-
lowed, and witness called out to Speed also to do so, fearing
that some accident would happen, or that Barlow would shoot
Speed. He -asked Ilyde to assist him in . getting possession
of the gun. Hyde agreed to the proposition, and OW Barlow's
coming into the field, they took the gun from him. It had
double barrels. Witness immediately turned on one.. side,
and fired both barrels off. He returned the' gun to. Barlow.
Speed, on ascertaining that no danger could happen froM the
gun, and apparently being much irritated by having a loaded
gun presented at him, struck Barlow, and knocked him down
several times. ,Barlow did not strike again. Witness got
the men away, and they left Barlow behind. In about ten
minutes they reached his house, and witness told the men he
would give them half-a-pint of beer a-piece before they left.
They stood in the yard while he went in-doors to draw the
ale. While he was doing so, he thought he heard another
person join them, and in an instant after he heard Barlow
say, "Is this Luke Speed?" Luke Speed replied, " Yes, it
is." And on which Barlow presented the gun, and shot him
dead upon the spot. Witness had gone out on hearing Bar-
low come into the yard. Haddock and Taylor rushed into
the house, fearing that Barlow might shoot them with the
other barrel. They remained in the house two or three mi-
nutes, and in the interval Luke Speed laid in the yard. Wit-
ness heard him groan once or twice. He got a candle, and
finding that his bowels were protruding, and that be had
been shot in the stomach, procured the assistance of some of
the neighbours, and deceased was carried home to his own
house. He lived close by.
John Haddock, one of the reapers, spoke to the truth of
this statement. He ymiso said, that no angry words had passed
between Barlow and the deceased at the beer shop. The
deceased had not threatened to cut off his dog's tail. • Bar-
low, in coming across the field after the deceased, had gime
out of his way of borne. It was iu a quite contrary direction.
Barlow had not been struck until after both barrels of the gun
had been let off. All that could have offended Barlow was
the offer to see him home.

William Taylor, a miller, living at Greenali's Common,
was returning home on the night in questimi. On getting
near to Whitlow's house, he heard some one say, "Mind, or
Barlow will shoot you;" and immediately after he heard
Barlow say, "Is Lnke Speed here ?" Speed said, " Yes,"
and Barlow instantly presented his gun, and shot him.
[They were not two yards apart.l Speed said. " Oh! dear,
dear, dear, Lam shot." Barlow did nut appear to be drunk.
He walked quite steady.
Mrs. Whitlow depoied to the finding of the ramrod of the
gnn about seven o'clock on Friday morning, in the fold near
where Speed was shot. It was broken in two pieces. Read,
tha constable, took possession of it.
Thomas Billington, the keeper of a beer shop near Grims-
ditch Mill, deposed to the fact of all the parties spoken to
being at his house on the night in question. No dispute took
place. As Barlow went out, Speed said, " Your dog's tail is
not cut off?" Barlow did not make any reply. Barlow had
come into witness's house at half-past tyro o'clock in the after-
noon, and left about half-past nine. 71-le walked very well
past all the company, and his step was steady. - The rest of
the company left in about twenty minutes after Barlow. Ile
had his gun with him Witness took it up, and was about'
taking off the caps from the locks, fearing an accident, when
Barlow said, " Leave my gun alone." Witness did so. Bar-
low
drank eight gills of porter.
Mr. John Jetts, surgeon, of Shelton, deposed, that he was
called upon to see Luke Speed on Friday rooming. He was
dead. On the examination of the body, witness found a lace-
rated wound, about the size of half-a-crown, from which,pari
of the stomach and small intestines protruded. Witness had
since opened the body. The wound was on the left side.. Ile,
found a quantity of shot in the small intestines, anti, in the
bladder, some gun wadding, shot, and a piece of velveteen,
which corresponded with the waistcoat worn by the deceased.
The immediate cause of death was a gun-shot wound.
William Read, special constable, apprehended the prisoner
at Appleton. He was in bed, and said he knew nothing
about the affair. Witness searched for the gun and appa-
ratus, but did not find it. The prisoner denied all knowledge
of it. Ile received the ramrod and clothes :produced from
rs. Whitlow and'Mary Speed. •
• The prisoner, on, hearing the depositions read over, and
being asked if he wished to put any questions to the witnesses,
said, " I know nothing about it."
The jury foam! a verdict of wilful murder against him,
and he was committed for trial at the next Chester Assizes.

WARRINGTON.

(From the Manchester Courier.)

INCIORTANT‘TO Tttfi WORKING CLASSES.—Last week, at
the county court, holden at Preston, before Mr. H 91ton, (the
bariisler,) assessor, Messrs. Clare and Brown, of the War,
riegton crown glass works, appeared as defendants in an action
brought against them, by John M'Call, a glass blower in tbeir
employ, who claimed the sum of twenty-seven shillings, the
amount of a week's wages. 'floe plaintiffs' case was as follows:
1n the year 1836, on the retirement of one c,f the firm, the
.defendants were anxious to secure the future services of their
men, and calling them together offered a bonus of £1 to those
who would hire thems4lves for three years, and bonus for
five years, at the wages of twenty-seven shillings per week,
with free house and fuel. The plaintiff and the other work-
men continued to work on these terms until the latter end of
May last. In the mean time, the wakes bad been increased
and decreased according to the state of trade, by consent of
both parties; but, under protest that it should not effect the
original contract. On thel9th of May, the defendants closed
one of their glass-houses, and it was proposed by, them- that
the two sets of men should work alternate weeks, at the one
house still kept open, and to receive. thirty-shillings fer the
w
working week, and fifteen shillings when doing nothing. The'
men declined acceding to theSe terms, and claimed their con-.
tract. The plaintiff worked one week,Jthd then tendered his
services every morning on the next, (the Ist week in June.)
He.was not called upon to work, and on Saturday eight; fifteen'
shillings were tenderetL He refused to receive it and brought
the present action. Mr. Walinsley, the defendants' counsel;•
produced the contract. It contained a provision that the men,
"should work in the usual manner as they had done up tome
day on which areas made, and at the same rate of wages and
over work as they had heretofore received." -Under this con-
tract, the learned counsel contended, that the defendants bad
fulfilled their parts, and that they %sere at liberty to act ac-
cording to the custom of the trade.—A number of witnesses
were called on both sides, those for the plaintiff swearing the
custom to he, that they should receive full wagegwork or play;
and those for the defendants, that the cu;toni was half wages
when trade was dull. The trial occupied six hi ut s,-the JUry
finding for the defendants.
A CHILD KILLED.—On Monday a coroner's inqueit was
held at the Bridewell, Warrintzton, on view of the body of
Joseph Savory. a child of three years of age. The deceased
was at play in Irlam-street just at the :line that a care, be-
longing to Mr. May, the coat-agent, was passing. He did not
see the cart, and suddenly springing into the road, was knocked
down by the horse's feet, and the wheel passed over his body.
Ile died in ten minutes•afterwards. The jury found a verdict
of " Accidental death," with adeodand of one shilling on the
horse and cart.

COAL PIT ACCIDIiNT.—Last week, as two men were de-
scending into Mr. Fletcher's coul7pit, at Sutton, they*ere
knocked out of the tub by the falling of a brick from the'side
of the shaft. One held on to the chain, and eicapeir with
some serious injuries ; the other, Henry Battersbv, was
killed on the spot. The jury found a verdict of "Accidental
death." .

- - •
FOOT RACE.—On Saturday evening a foot-race tiAikl,Place
over 160 yards of the turnpike road between Sankey-bridge
and Warrington, for £lO, bebl een Wilkinson, a weaver, and
Glover, a shoemaker, both of Warrington. 'Wilkinson won
by above three yards. Theta was sortie heavy betting on the
race, and 25 to 29 was I,kid against the winnvr.

CAUTION TO CARTERS.—In consequence of the frequent
accidents that have occurred in Warrington, by the negligence
of carters, the provisions of the police-act have been brought
into operation. By that enactment carters, either with or
without reins, not leading their horses through the town, are
liable to a penalty.
WARRINGTON MARKET.—There were several very fine
samples of new wheat offered for sale in our market on Wed-
nesday. Sales were effected at from nine to ten shillings
per bushel.
CONSECRATION.—On Wednesday ,Padgate Church was
consecrated by the Bishop of Chester. After the ceremony,
the Rev. Chancellor liaikes preached an appropriate dis-
course from the 2d chap. of Haggai, verse 9—" The glory of
the latter house shall be greater than the former, saith the
Lord of Hosts ; and in this place will I give peace, saith the
Lord of Hosts." A liberal collection was made towards de-
fraying the necessary expences attending the consecration.

•"
WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY."—On
Monday three moulders, working at the Bridge Foundry,
Warrington, apotied for permission from the magistrates to
pay over a drunken fine, in which they had been. mulcted, to
the subscription raising on behalf of the widows and children
of the sufferers at the Viaduct Foundry. They were informed
that this could not he done, as the money went to the parish,
therefore they must either pay or be placed in the public
stocks. On Thursday afternoon they underwent this punish-
ment. They were men who, under other circumstances, in
all probability, would have been ashamed of their situation;
as it was, by the aid of sundry bottles of " pop" (all intoxi-
cating drink being forbidden), a merry song, and innumerable
pipes of tobacco, the time passed merrily, and the scene
proved a fund of amusement to a numerous auditory.

FATAL GUN ACCIDENT.—on Tuesday, Mr. Chas. Taylor,
the landlord of the lied Lion, at Hatton, near Warrington,
on returning home from shooting small birds, placed his guts
behind some iron in a blacksmith's forge, adjoining his house,
while he went into doors to take tea.' 4 few minutes after-
wards his nephew, and niece, the latter a girl of eleven years
of age, named Mary Long, went out to play. The boy found
the gun, and presenting it at his cousin, pulled the trigger,
and sending the charge through her bead, shot her dead on
the spot. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death."

SUNDERLAND SHIPPING.—On a single day, Tuesday last,
six larce ships were launched into the Wear, on the banks
of which 105 sail are now building. Besides large importa-
tions of plank, &e.' ready for ship building purposes, the ser-
vices of 200 pairs of sawyers.are found .necessary to supply
the demand for building materials..--Si4ndeti!and Herald.