The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-08-28 00:00:00

THE LATE ATTEMPTED MURDER AT LUDLOW

(Prom the Salopian Journal of Wednesday.)

We subjoin the following letter, written yesterday, from a
valued Correspondent :
LUDLOW, TUESDAY MORNING.—The excitement caused
by the attempt to murder Mr. Mackreth is unabated, and the
subject may be said to supply exclusive matter for conversa-
tion. Misters continues in custody, and will be brought up
to the Guildhall to-morrow, when additional evidence will be
brought forward. It is curious that Mr. Ludlow, Mr. Thos.
Jobson, and Mr. Lakin have not yet been examined, though
it is clear that their testimony is calculated to throw addi-
tional light upon this mysterious and horrible affair.
. The medical gentlemen report that Mr. Mackreth, the
sufferer, is doing as well as can be expected. The wounds on
his cheeks are in a way to heal soon, but the wound in his
throat is dangerous.
A superintendent of the Birmingham police came by the
mail yesterday morning, and is making some judicious in-
quiries. He proceeds to Worcester to ascertain the truth or
falsehood of the prisoner's statement with regard to sleeping
with a woman there, and also from whence the razor was
obtained. The superintendent thinks the villagers and ped-
lars in the neighbourhood of Shrewsbury ought to be exa-
mined, as the razor evidently appears to be one of the kind
they sell.

A discovery of some importance was made on Saturday
morning, by ascertaining that the water in the prisoner's
chamber utensil. contained a strong solution of alum, and is
supposed to have been used in washing his shirt sleeve and
pocket handkerchief, which he dried again by wrapping it
round .his body when in bed, and which was not quite dry
when he was searched. It is said that the solution of alum
is capable of destroying the colouring matter in blood, without
staining the water. The soap used in it curdled and swam at
the top and would not mix with it. You will see by the evi-
dence that a lump of alum was found in his pocket.

The following particulars, relative to Misters, we have re-
ceived from a correspondent :
BIRMINGHAM, TUESDAY.—Misters is most respectably
connected here. One brother is a maltster, doing a most
extensive trade. Another brother kept the Crown, in Lich-
field-street, hero, with whom the prisoner lived for some
time a gentleman's life, previous to which he was in the em-
ployment of Mr. Gooden, of the Nelson Hotel, Bull Ring,
as shopman to the liquor shop belonging to that house. He
has been a trouble to his brothers, and at one time the malt-
ster provided him with means to leave the country, which he
squandered away.
-

The Birntingham Journal communicates some facts, bear-
ing on this case, which we here append :

It is said that the name of the maker on the razor found at
Ludlow is " Eslin," with the words " cast steel," and that
Josiah Misters, the man in custody, is respectably connected
and well known in Birmingham. There had been found in
his lodgings here, by Mr. Sergeant Smith, a portmanteau,
containing duplicates for the following articles, pledged in
Birmingham :—trousers, trousers apd waistcoat, coat, suit
of clothes, two pair of drawers, two waistcoats, trousers, two
brooches, and other articles; also several letters, addressed
to him in Leominster; together with a copy of depositions
against him in the case of Thomas Wooding, above referred
to, and which clearly proves that he is the same person whom
the officers of Ludlow supposed him to be. He was charged
on .that occasion with having stolen three five-pound notes
and three sovereigns, and was committed, at Leominster,. by
Thomas F. Watling, Esq., mayor, and Francis Woodhouse,
Esq. None of the officers here knew whether he was con-
victed on the charge. The woman with whom he lodged in
Canal-street, states that he came to reside with her about
Easter, and remained with her until last Saturday week, when
he left, without giving her any notice. She expected him
home as usual every night, and kept his lodging for him, but
had not heard auy thing of him until the officers went to
search the_ place. Tavern bills to a large amount were found
amongst Misters' papers : one is for twenty-six pound eight
shillings and fivepence halfpenny, together with bills for car-
riage and horse hire. Several articles of wearing apparel,
&c., amongst which was a white linen apron and some books,
were found in his portmanteau.

MISTERS IN SHREWSBURY

On August 9th, the Sunday before Shrewsbury Fair,
(which took place on this day fortnight), the person who has
been so much and so suspiciously mixed up in this lament-
able affair came to the Unicorn Inn, in this town. This was
about four in the afternoon. He had no luggage, but brought
with him a small brown paper 'parcel, tied round with red
tape, which has since been ascertained to contain only a few
papers and a light summer jacket, minus a few of its princi-
pal buttons and rather the worse for the wear,
Having entered the Unicorn, he very speedily inquired of
of the waiter whether Mr. Ludlow used that house? She
said that he did. Misters then asked if he was in the habit
of attending Shrewsbury fairs ? On being told that he was,
Misters said " I know him very well and shall see him
here."

Mr. Ludlow arrived at the Unicorn on the next day, Mon-
day. Misters asked if he slept in a double-bedded room, and
was informed by the chambermaid that he did. In point of
fact, he did not, but a friend had tea with him on that even-
ing, and it was supposed that friend would occupy the second
bed. _ _ _ . .

After Mr. Ludlow, his friend, and another gentleman had
tea, on the Monday evening, Misters (who had been in the
room with them) asked if he, could have tea. Mr. Ludlow
and the others left the room, and Misters then made particu-
lar inquiries from the waiter as to the number of the bed-
room occupied by Mr. Ludlow, but was not informed.
On Tuesday night, Mr. Goodwin, of the Unicorn, (suspi-
cious from the appearance of Misters and his want of luggage,
that he was running up a bill he had no means of paying,)
took occasion to ask Mr. Ludlow if he knew him, and that
gentleman denied all knowledge of him.
On Wednesday, Misters dined at the farmers' ordinary at
the Unicorn. In order ta ascertain if he had any money, Mr.
Goodwin desired the waiter to collect the cash after dinner.
Misters told her to " put it down in the bill and fetch in a
pint of sherry." She said it was customary to pay cash at
the ordinary. He said he had no small change, and asked her
if she had change for a £5 note, and on her answering in the
affirmative, left the room, and enquired for his brown paper
parcel. He enquired at the bar what Shrewsbury bank did
business with the London and Westminster bank, and said
that he had a £5O bill which he wanted to get cashed. It
turned out, however, that he had only a £lO acceptance, and
when Mr. Goodwin's nephew accompanied him to various
banks, none of them would ca4h it. On his return from his
unsuccessful mission, he was accused by the landlord of hav-
ing come to his house without means of payment, and again
he went out, accompanied as before, in quest of some Bir-
mingham person who knew him. He went to the Bell in
the Abbey Foregate, but did not there meet with an acquaint-
ance. At the Angel he was more fortunate, for there he saw
some one who knew his brother, (a very respectable man) who
keeps the George and Crown, John-street, Birmingham. To
this brother Misters wrote, during the few minutes he was at
the Angel, stating that he was " hard up," and entreating
him to remit £5. He then returned to the Unicorn, where
Mr. Goodwin sent him back to the room in which he had
dined, and where the company were by this time pretty well
acquainted with the purseless condition of this new Jeremy
Diddler. It may readily be supposed, under such circum-
stances, and without any thing to drink, Misters' situation
during the three or four hours he continued in that company
was not very pleasant.
In the evening, Mr. Goodwin threatened to deprive him
of his coat, stock, and breast-pin, but, at the instance of
Mrs. Goodwin, permitted him to retain them, and bade him
leave the house. Here again he was indebted to womanly
kindness, for at the solicitation of Mrs. G. he was allowed
to remain that night. The next morning (Thursday) Mr.
Goodwin charitably gave him breakfast, and Mrs. Goodwin
let him have dinner. He loitered about the Unicorn yard
until four o'clock, when he quietly went away, leaving his
summer jacket behind him. His destination, as far as could
be ascertained from what he said, was Leominster, and he
said that at Ludlow he should put up at the Feathers Inn,
with the landlord of whom he professed to be very intimate.
He was respectably dressed in Shrewsbury, but had no
change of linen. He wore a black stock, the ends of which
covered his shirt in front.