The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-03-06 00:00:00

MURDER AND .111 SON.

We bare this day the melancholy task of detailing
account of a murder. which has never Leen e‘rerded
in point of atroeity. The persons murdered were Mr.
'lhomas Parker, a venerable old gentleman, upwards of

;t1 years of age, and Sarah Brown, his loovoleeper.

Mr. Parker, we understand, had for7rlv been a gold.
smith, residing in London, Rini ha' retired to
1t ol-
wtch to spend the evening of his days in coniforohle re-

•
tiretoent. He bad amassed a competent property, and
lived in a neat house, situate in Milgrim-place, the
front of which looks into Rid Lion-street ; and at the
back there is a small garden, terminated by a high
paling, which divides it from a narrow lane. It is si-
tuate at a short distance from the Artillery Barracks.-
1 e was so Inoffensive gentlemanly man, eery much re-
spel7ted by the whole neighhonrhood. His only servant
was Sarah Brown, a steady woman, of about -10 years of
age, who, previous to the terrific event which we are
*boot to describe, had lived with him three years. She
a.. 0 was well known by the neighbours, and was gene-
*ally respected. On Friday evening nothing particular
was observed about the premises. 31r. Parker was tte.
ca -;unally seen at the bow window of the parlour in
which he usually sat, and his servant was seen engaged
is her usual avocation. The day dosed without any
miorioo being excited, and the hour of one in the
warning arrived before the slumbers of the surrounding
iriihsbitants were interrupted. At that hour the centinel
un my at the north arch of the Artillery Barracks °h-
t.-nett • dense smoke arising from Mr. Parker's house.
Kr nstantly gave an alarm, and several of the artillery-
toes. rushed forth to give assistance. On their sr-
that, the flames were bursting from the parlour window.
The men rapped at the door with great viol( ace ti
awaken the inmates, who, it was supposed, were able. p,
and inseasibll of their danger. To their humane efforts
do answer was returned; a death-like silence prevailed
militia. The cry of " fire" soon spread, and two en-
gines arrived on the spot, and commenced playing into
the window. Corporal Anderson and Corporal Portia,
who nett present with their men, now resolved to force
tie street door, and, if proisible, to rescue Mr. Parker
awl his servant from their impending fate. The reso-
lution was no sooner formed than carried into effec*,
awl these brave men, followed by others, rushed into
4e passage. From thence they_ went up stairs into the
front room on the first floor. Here the ravages of bre
were perceptible. The farnitnre of the bed, which was
ot maroon (a woollen manufacture), bad been partly
consumed, and the embers still smoked. In the bed it-
self there was no vestige of a human beiug. The men
tiro into the bed-room on the second flour, which was
found in flames ; but the tlevnaring element was soon
extinguished. The search, which was made for Mr.
Parker here was also fruitless, as it was also in a bark
ppoin on the first floor ; neither be nor his servant could
found. Rvery exertion was now turned towards
sappressing the flames in the parlour, which were gra-
dually extending, by means of the window frame. to the
rpm above. A hole was cut in the floor of the bed-
chamber, through which water was poured ; and by this
Arran, added to the incessant playing of the engines
without, the danger was subdued. In a abort time the
parlour door was thrown open, and Lyons, a man of co-
1011f, belonging to the artillery band, entered. He looked
eagerly round in search of the hapless tenants ; perceiving
a heap of something lying behind the door. he approach-
ed •ail attempted to lift it up, when, dreadful to slate,
the upper part of a human body came away in his
hands. The roan was horror-struck, and called to his
companiosis, who now joined him ; and a second body,
which proved to be that of a female, was found stretched
in the same place, although not so much burst. The
bodies were left in this situation for some time, no doubt
being entertained that they were those of the unfortu-
nate Mr. Parker and his servant. A further investiga-
tion of the premises now took place, when it was per-
ceived that blankets bad been nailed op against every
window, as if to conceal from those without the ap-
pearance of the dames within. This naturally led to a
more minute examination, and it was ascertained that
tine had boon communicated in three different and die-