The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-08-25 00:00:00

WALFOURD V. TALE

The parties in this case carry on business hi Manchester,
and the action was brought to recover £216 12s, for goods
sold and delivered. Verdict for the plaintiff.
The court adjourned about seven o'clock.

CAUSE LIST

NEST DERBY HUNDRED

Plaintiff.-Nos. 1,2, 3,6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 16, 17, 18,
20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36,
37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, '45, 46, 47, 51, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58,
59, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70,41, 79, 80, 83.
Defendant.-61. •
Withdrawn.-4, 5, 35, 48, 49,52, 63, 75, 76, 77, 78, 81, 82.
Referred.-40, 62.
Guilty.-12.
Postponed.-19, 74.
Struck out.-54, 60, 67.
SALFORD HUNDRED.

Plaintiff.—Nos. 6,9, 23, 41, 13, 27
Withdrawn.-8, 21, 34, 71, 72.

HORRID, BARBAROUS, AND MYSTERIOUS AT-
TEMPT ON THE LIFE OF A COMMERCIAL
GENTLEMAN, AT LUDLOW.

(From the Ludlow Standard of Saturday)
On Wednesday morning last, this town and neighbourhood
was thrown into the .greatest state of excitement, first by a
report that a comm&-cial gentleman had committed suicide,
at the Angel Inn, by cutting his throat, and subsequently by
its proving too, true that a most barbarous and mysterious
murder had been attempted on the life of Mr. William Miller
Mackreth, Traveller for the firm of Christopher'George and
Co., Patent Shot Manufacturers, Bristol, at the above Inn,
by cutting his throat, extending over seven inches in length.
also by a frightful horizontal wound extending across the
mouth literally "from ear to ear." The whole circumstances,
as detailed in the following report of the judicial proceedings
of the local authorities and examination of witnesses, to '
unravel and discover the perpetrator of this almost unparal-
leled deed of blood, will be read with the deepest interest, as
partaking in a very extraordinary degree of the character of
the frightful murder of Lord William Russell. The person
now under suspicion of the deed is a young man of very
youthful appearance, of the name of Josiah Mister, who till
lately lived in the neighbouring town of Leominster, and we
believe he has a brother living near Birmingham in a very'
respectable line of business as malster. We are in posses-'
sion of many interesting facts relative to the accused, which
in the present state of the inquiry we forbear publishing.
He is about five feet seven inches high, dark hair, sallow
complexion, dark eyes, animated with a lurking expression
of cunning and penetration' slim figure, and well dressed,
might pass for a person who had seen tolerably good society.
His present appearance is somewhat below the " Shabby
Genteel." At times, during the examination of witnesses,
his expression is that of a care worn person, at other times
he shows a confidence somewhat bordering on discretion foe
a person in so serious a situation, and he has more than once
shown a little flippancy of manner in his mode of questioning
the witnesses. As one gentleman observed in court, he
seems " to be watching the extent of the case against him."
At an early hour in the morning, the Mayor, John Smith,
Esq., Humphrey Smith, Esq., John Hutchings, 4sq., the
Rev. Charles Walcot, of Bitterly, and other county and bo-
rough magistrates, were at the Angel taking deep interest in
tracing out the perpetrators of the crime. And here we must
pause to say, that the anxiety of the medical gentlemen con-
sulted; Dr. Lloyd, Mr. Henry Hodges, Mr. Baines, Mr.
Crawford of Shrewsbury. &c., to render the wounded man
prompt aid, to console him in this terrible visitation, and
through whom an early suspicion of the fact that a foul mur;
der had been attempted, originated, entitle them to the
thanks of society ; nor must we withhold a meed of praise
from the mayor and his judicial coadjutors, and Mr. William
Downes, , town clerk, for the untiring zeal with which they
have acted up to the present time. We witnessed it and feel
it our duty to record our unqualified approbation of the
course pursued. Being on the spot at an early hour in the
morning, we can truly say, that the scene of blood was the
most frightful' we ever witnessed; and the unhappy object of
the assassin's knife presented a most appalling spectacle; the
room where he lay, passage, stairs, walls, &c., were literally
smeared and deluged in blood' to an extent scarcely credited.
The medical gentlemen called in being unable to say the
wounded gentleman could long be expected to survive, the
mayor and borough magistrates, in whose hands the manage-
ment of the case necessarily rested, determined On taking the
deposition of Mr. Mackreth, as he lay on his bed. They ac-
cordingly proceeded to his room, and, partly in whispers, for
the almost dying mart spoke with great difficulty, and was
obliged to be propped up with pillows, took the following

DEPOSITION

William Mackreth—Thatsi; my name ; sometime this
morning, while I was in bed, I was awoke by feeling some-
thing at my throat; I put my hand to my throat and felt a
hole ; I felt no pain ; I felt blood running, and in a moment
I felt hands there ; I instantly pushed them away and jumped
out of bed ; it was dark, and I could see no one ; I jumped
out on the side next the window ; I called for assistance, and
broke the window to make an alarm ; I found the blood
running fast; I went to the window again and broke another
pane of glass; no one answered me. I groped round the
room to find the,door ; I could not find the door; at last I
found, the door and got into the passage; I turned to the left
and went down stairs, calling out as loud as I could till I
found myself getting weaker, and I could scarcely speak at
all. When I got to my bedroom door it was a little open ; I
am quite certain it was not shut, although when I went to
bed last night I locked the door ; I remember well the lock
went hard, and I turned the key both ways before I could
lock it ; I had only two razors about me ; they are in 'sepa-
rate cases, with white handles ; one was in my small box,
with the razor strop, combs, brushes, &c., and the other
was in the large box. • Mr. Cooke, the landlord, was the
first person, I believe, that came to me when I was calling
out going down the stairs ; I retired to bed last night about
11, or very soon after: I took my boots off in the travellers'
room, and had a pair of slippers to come up to bed ; I left
my slippers when I got into bed on the right hand side of my
bed, where I undressed myself ;, my large box was open when
I went to "bed; it was on the chair by the window; I kept
my smaller box inside' the larger one, and I had taken the
small • one out and plaeed it, on the dressing table befpre,l
went to lied; t reniember when I was disturbed this morning
and when I jumped out of bed that I opened the large box,
lifted up the lid, and put a small parcel and a bottle into the

box. I was not aware I was cut so bad then ; this was after
I had broken the window 'and cried out; thought I heard
some one answer at once. My driving box was also in my
bed-room, where I keep my money and pocket-book. I can-
not swear whether the driving box was locked last night or
not. I had about £BO or £9O about me.

I am quite certain the individual who injured me stood on
the left hand side of the bed. I was half awake when I felt
the hole in my throat. I did not feel the cut that had done
it at all; but in a moment when I put my hand to my throat,
I felt some man's hand upon mine ; and then I jumped out
of bed, dragging the clothes with me. I felt the blood and I
was much alarmed, and cried out as loud as I could.
When he saw the landlord he could not speak, and made
signs for something to write on ; when he saw he did not speak,
he said, " what have you been about," supposing he had done
it himself. In the travellers' room there were three highly
respectable persons with him; one thin and two stout ; there
came in two or three more ; they were come to the fair;
more that he was acquainted with came from Bridgnorth last ;
arrived here at five o'clock last night ; dined at Munslow,
the hundred house ; slept at Wenlock the night before at the
White Hart ; drove in a horse and gig atm*, and dined alone
at Munslow ; he had his driving box open when the three
last gentlemen came into the room (thinks it was an intention
to rob some one, not against him) ; immediately the three
last persons came in, he had finished writing, and lashed his
box. He carried up the driving box and put it on the draw-
ers ; the chambermaid carried the candle ; had no suspicion
till roused in the manner described ; I put up my right hand,
felt a hole, was alarmed, and then felt hands over me (a razor
with a black handle was here produced by the policeman, and
to a question if that were his razor, he replied, " It is not ");
had no Lucifer matches about him, never carried any; re-
collects distinctly on turning the lock twice, he did lock the
door, and believes it was locked ; it was closed. (Here the
lock was tried, and found to fasten.)
Heard a person at the time he awoke, and cried out ; was
lying (on his back) just as I am now. (The wounded man
was asked " If there was any knowledge who the razor with
the black handle belonged to.") He left no one in the com-
mercial room when he came up ; the chambermaid had come
up with him, and she shut the door.
He here asked, "If the razor was bloody ?" Mr. Downes
said " Yes," and told him to keep himself easy, they should
soon make some discovery thereto.
During reading the deposition, he said his night shirt was
detained (held by some one) when he jumped out of bed, and
torn. The shirt, which was round the body of the poor gen-
tleman, was examined, and found torn from the -left shoulder
downwards. •
He perfectly recollects being held ; did not look under the
bed ; but believes there was some person concealed in his
room, or came down the chimney, or got in some way. The
statement is true, and has not the least objection to swear
it.
He has everything to make him happy, and was going to
be married in five weeks.
Some of his linen is marked " M," or " W. M. M."
He said he had five pair of stockings, and on examination
they will, no doubt, be discovered.
Five pair of stockings were here produced and identified by
the wounded man, to whom the deposition as in substance
above was read by the Town Clerk.
The wounded gentleman having been sworn to the above
statement, he signed it with a firm hand.
" WILLIAM MACKRETH."
In answer to a question by one of the magistrates, he
stated that he was baptized William Miller Mackreth.

The magistrates and town-clerk then retired to the room
where the prisoner, Misters, was in custody. In answer to
the magistrates and town-clerk, he made the following

VOLUNTARY STATEMENT,

My name is Josiah Misters ; I live in Birmingham ; I
have no luggage ; I came four miles this side of Ludlow
yesterday. I slept in Worcester the night before last ; I did
not sleep at any inn; I slept with a woman; I don't know
her address or her name ; it was close down by the river
Severn. I was going to Leominster. I have no business in
Ludlow. I had a sovereign and twopence in money with me
when I arrived here ; I had a pair of gloves. _ _ _

[His pockets were here searched, and contained a pair of
gloves, a silver pencil-case, twopence, a farthing, two keys,
an empty purse, and an old silk handkerchief, which appeared
wet, as if recently washed.]
He continued—The stockings I have on are not the stock-
ings I had on last night. I could not find my stockings this
morning. They were white cotton stockings worked with
an M, I think ; Mrs. Cook provided me with the stockings
I have on. I don't know what has become of the sovereign
I had when I came here last night; it was in my breeches-
pocket. The last time I shaved, I shaved at Birmingham,
at my lodgings, with my own razor ' • I brought no razor to
Ludlow with me. The one I used at Birmingham is a black-
handled one, rather small ; there is a mark on it, where it
has lain in the wet, rather rusty. I have but one, and that
is at home ; I brought none-away with me. .

There was no one in the travellers' room with me this
morning that I knew, or was personally acquainted with. I
don't know the individual that paid for his breakfast. He
was asking why there were so many people outside, and I
told him. The waiter was in and out. I walked from Wor-
cester yesterday morning. It was about four o'clock in the
afternoon when I came to Woofferton. I don't know what
is become of my sovereign. I had it last night, but I have
not seen it this morning. I came into Ludlow by the coach
from Woofferton. I had been at Ludlow, and seen parties
fishing, and returned to Woofferton, intending to go to Leo-
minster, when I got on the coach close to Woofferton, and
came back to Ludlow. I was not at the public-house at
Woofferton at all. I walked from Worcester to Ludlow, and
back to Woofferton, before I took the coach. My lodgings
are No. 50, New Canal-street, near the railway station, Bir-
mingham. The only person I knew in the travellers' room
last night, was Mr. Ludlow, of Birmingham.
By Mr. Downes.—Where are your razors now ?

Piisoner.—l have but one, and that's at home : brought
none away with me. There was no one in the travellers'
room this morning that I knew ; not an acquaintance. Don't
know the individual that paid for his breakfast. He was ask-
ing why there were so .many people, and I told him. The
waiter was in and out.

•
By the Mayor.—Have you-been in the habit of sleeping at
this house before ?

Prisoner.—Once or twice. But my lodgings are at No.
50, New Canal-street, near the railway station, Birmingham.
John Knill, of Tibberton, near Hereford said, I came
to Ludlow by the Hereford coach this morning ; I break-
fasted in the travellers' room ; the person now in custody
was there also and sat in the room. I asked him what the
row was about, be'replied, " a man has cut his throat last
night in the house, and that he had ran, out into the pas Sage
crying, some villain has done it, but there is no doubt he has
done it himself."

Mr. Knill was willing to come forward 'at any time when
required. The magistrates thanked him for making the
above statement, as there was some suspicion the person
who breakfasted with the prisoner was some person of his
own class, and perhaps an accomplice in the deed.
After the prisoner had made his statement, the magistrates
retired to another room to consult upon what means should
be pursued. In the interval, the Rev. C. Walcot, of Bit-
terly, a, county magistrate, visited the prigoner, upon con-
sulting with the mayor and borough magistrates, and in-
quired if he would not, like, to write to some of his friends,
explaining the painful situation in which he was placed, in-
timating that what he wrote would be read by the mayor.
He said he would write to his brother, and pen, ink, and
paper being supplied, he wrote a letter accordingly, in a good
hand, and addressed it to his brother at Aston Manor, near
Birmingham, in which, as we understand, he explained the
situation he was in, and complained that no other person in
the inn but himself had been searched. In the meantime
the magistrates dispatched a police officer to Birmingham,
" express," to search the lodgings of the prisoner, to see if
he had a razor there, and get other informatiOn. The mayor,
and magistrates then adjourned to three in the afternoon.
At that hour they again met, in the same room at the
Angel Inn, which was very crowded. Several witnesses were'
examined, whose evidence tended to implicate the prisoner:
The examination was continued on Friday, and afterwards
adiourned till Wednesday (totiii)rirow).

FURTHER PARTICULARS.
(Front the Morning Herald of Yesterday.)

BIRMINGHAM, SUNDAY.—I transmitted you On Friday
evening last a hastily-written account of the attempted mur-
der of Mr. Millar Mackreth, a gentleman holding a very
responsible situation in a commercial firm of some magni-
tude in Bristol. lam happy to communicate that the intel-
ligence received in Birmingham of the death of that unfortu-
nate gentleman, as stated in the Herald of Saturday, is in-
correct. He is, however, in great and imminent danger ; and
the medical gentleman in attendance upon him can give no
opinion upon his case at its present crisis.
It is now fully shown that the attempt to assassinate Mr.
Mackreth resulted in a mistake. The intended victim was
Mr. Ludlow, an extensive butcher and cattle dealer of Bir-
mingham ; and there is a startling impressiveness in the pro-
vidential circumstances which were auxiliary to his escape,
that cannot fail to strike us with awe. The prisoner
Misters, who is most respectably connected both in Bir-
mingham and Leominster, has resided for a considerable
time in Canal-street, in this town. •By some means
or other he ascertained that Mr. Ludlow intended to take a
journey into Shropshire for the purpose of attending a sale
of cattle. A person answering the prisoner's description
is proved to have called at the Unicorn Inn, in Shrews-
bury (the house at which Mr. Ludlow usually stopped in
that town), and inquired if Mr. Ludlow was within. The
latter individual being well known to the landlord, the pri-
soner was informed that Mr. Ludlow was not there, and that
it was believed he had gone to the Earl of Powis's sale of
sheep, &c. The prisoner accordingly left the house, and it
would appear that a few miles distance from Ludlow he gave
a signal to the driver of the Red Rover coach that he wished
a seat. The coach accordingly stopped, and the prisoner
went inside, when, remarkable to say, the only passenger
therein was Mr. Ludlow himself. A conversation was natu-
rally commenced, and on the arrival of the coach at the Red
Rover Inn, both parties entered the room, and partook of
supper. Subsequently Mr. Ludlow inquired of the chamber-
maid, in the presence of the prisoner, whether he could have
the room he usually slept in (No. 9, I believe), when he was
answered in the affirmative. The prisoner shortly afterwards
called for a light and went to bed, leaving Mr. Ludlow in the
travellers' room. The circumstance which followed, in all
human probability, saved Mr. Ludlow's life. The prisoner
had not long retired to bed, when the chambermaid again
ent
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ever, the whole house was suddenly alarmed by loud cries of
" Murder !" and " Fire !" and a Mr. Jobson, of Shrewsbury,
who slept in an adjoining apartment, bearing the cries, ac-
companied by a loud smashing of the window-glass, as if a
person was endeavouring to break the panes, rushed from his
room, and encountered in the lobby other parties whom the
noise had brought tothe spot. The first object which struck
their attention was the • unfortunate Mr. Mackreth, lying
prostrate on the ground, near to his bed-room door, with his
throat dreadfully gashed, and his cheeks mangled in the most
horrible manner. The first impression that struck the be-
holders was, that the wounded man had committed suicide,
and he was immediately carried into his bed-room, and *placed
on the bed. He could not utter a word, but making signs
for pen and ink, he wrote, " I have been murdered by a
villain !" The parties in the house were now in the utmost
state of excitement. Medical assistance was promptly sent
for ; and the inn was searched for the perpetrators of the
deed. Notwithstanding the accumulating noise. on the
stairs, the prisoner Misters never made his appearance ;
and the suspicion of the parties being once aroused they
went to his bed-room, but found it locked. After knock-
ing for some time they gained admittance ; but he denied
all knowledge of the dreadful crime; and said that Mr. Lud-
low knew him well. The entrance of Mr. Ludlow, however,
into his bed-room, who declared he knew nothing of the man
beyond the slight acquaintance contracted in the coach, con-
firmed the suspicions already entertained. He was immedi-
ately secured ; and, after a minute search, they traced marks
of blood from the chamber of Mr. Mackreth to that of the
prisoner—marks as if the prisoner's stockings had been sa-
turated with blood. Spots of blood were also discovered on
the curtains of the prisoner's bed. The next object was to
examine the apparel of the prisoner, but nothing to excite
suspicion was found thereon. His stockings, however, were
not to be found, nor have they since been. I have alreddy
stated to you the discovery of a razor in an entry opposite the
prisoner's bed-room, and upon which were spots of blood,
not then dry. It was also ascertained that the prisoner, on
retiring to bed, had a whole candle, but in the morning it was
found burnudlown to the socket of the candlestick. There
are other circumstances of a collateral nature all tending to
criminate the prisoner, who, however, preserves a dogged
demeanour, and insists upon his innocence.

THEATRE-ROYAL, LIVERPOOL.

The Last Five Nights of
MR. W. FARREN AND MRS. STIRLING

There will be a performance at the Theatre every Eveniug
this week.

THIS present TUESDAY, the 25th instant, will be per-
formed a Comedy, written by Mr. Poole, called

MARRIED AND SINGLE.
Beau Shatterly
As originally performed by him in London.
Mr. Melford _ Mr. W. Howard

- - - Mr. Bickerton.... Mr. Chaplin.
Mr. Ferret Mr. Baker.
Mrs. Bickerton.. Miss Cleaver.--Miss Fanny.. Mrs. Tellet
After which, for the third time here, a new Drama, called

ANGELINE LE LIS,

Which has been received with the most rapturous applause.
Angeline le Lis Mrs. Stirling,

With the ORIGINAL EPILOGUE ADDRESS, as originally per-
formed by her in London.
Maurice Middleton, Esq.... Mr. W. Howard.
Simon Simkins.... Mr Slaiter.
Nanguette de Vrood Mrs. Tellet.

To conclude with, for the second time here, a new Drama, as
produced last season at the Theatre-Royal, Haymarket, called
THE VILLAGE DOCTOR,
Which was received on Friday evening with the most
distinguished approbation.
Pierre Boncceur (the Village Doctor) Mr. W. Farren,
As originally performed by him at the Haymarket Theatre.
Baron De La Fadaise Mr. Chaplin.
Ferdinand Mr. W. H. Bland.
Coco Mr. Slaiter.
Marchioness De Viellecour Mrs. Clarke.
Baroness De La Fadaise.. Miss Cleaver.
Louise Mrs. Stirling.

TO-MORROW (Wednesday), for the BENEFIT of
Mrs. STIRLING, will be produced, a new Drama, never
acted here, called GWYNNETH VAUGHAN. Gwynneth
Vaughan, Mrs. Stirling, as originally performed by her in
London ; Owen Williams, Mr. W. Howard ; Evan Prit-
chard, Mr. W. H. Bland ; Hugh Morgan, Mr. Baker ;
Morgan Morgan, Mr. G. Horneastle.—After which, the fa-
vourite new Farce of ASK NO QUESTIONS; on., THE
OLD INVALID. Mathias, Mr. W. Farren, as originally
performed by him in London ; Gimblet, Mr. Baker ; Ma-
damelGimblet, Mrs. Tellet ; The Baroness, Mrs. Clarke.—
To be followed by a new Farce, never acted here, called
LOVE AND CHARITY. Julia, Mrs. Stirling.—To con-
clude with the Farce of JOHN JONES. - Guy Goodluck,
Esq., (his original character,) Farren.
On THURSDAY, popular Pieces, in which Mr. W. Far-
ren and Mrs. Stirling will perform.
On FRIDAY, Mr. W. FARREN' s BENEFIT ; and

On SATURDAY, favourite Entertainments, in which
Mr. •W. Farren and Mrs. Stirling will sustain principal cha-
racters,—the Last Night of their Engagement.

THEATRE-ROYAL, LIVERPOOL

ITALIAN OPERAS FOR THREE NIGHTS ONLY.
TUESDAY, Sept. 1, THURSDAY, Sept. 3, and FRI-
DAY, Sept. 4,

SEMIRAMIDE,
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA,
OTELLO, AND
LA SONNAMBULA,

Will be produced under the immediate direction of the
celebrated Pianist, Monsieur BENEDICT.

PRINCIPAL PERFORMERS:
MADAME GRISI,
SIGNORA ERNESTA. GRISI,
SIGNOR BRIZZI, AND
SIGNOR TAMBURINI.
Mons. BENEDICT will preside at the Piano forte,

In consequence of the great expense attending the engage-
ment of the above eminent Performers, the Prices of Admis-
sion, on the Nights of the Italian Operas, will be—to the
Lower Boxes, 6s. ; Upper Boxes, 4s ; Pit, 3s. ; and Gallery,
ls. 6d.

The Box-office for these nights will be opened on SATUR-
DAY NEXT. August 29th, and will continue open daily, from
Ten until Four, when Places for any of the nights may be
taken.

EXHIBITION.
WILL SHORTLY CLOSE.

CAPTAIN SIBORN'S MODEL OF THE BATTLE
OF WATERLOO.
THE celebrated MODEL OF THE BATTLE OF
WATERLOO is NOW OPEN for EXHIBITION
at the GALLERY OF THE UNION ROOMS, Slater-
street, Bold-street.
Open from Ten in the Morning till Ten at Night. Ad-
mission, One Shilling each.

MOVING PANORAMA.
VI ALL OPEN, TO-MORROW, (Wednesday,) the 26th
V instant, in the large New Brick Building, erected on
purpose, Newington Bridge, near Bold-street, and next door
to the Clarendon Hotel, Liverpool. LAIDLOW'S cele-
brated PANORAMA of a Sail up the Bay and a Visit round
the City of NEW YORK ; also a View of the Ship HUD-
DERSFIELD saving the Crew of the HUSKISSON
STEAMER ; and the late Fire at YORK MINSTER.
Day Exhibition punctually at One o'Clock ; in the Even-
ing at Seven, and again at half-past Eight o'Clock. Boxes
ls. 6d., Pit ls., Gallery 6d.