The New York herald., 1870-06-14
The Stepncy Murder-HOw william Redhead
Killed His StepmOther.

AS we have already announced, briefly, In the
street, Stepney, England, by William Redhead, aged
eighteen, member Of the Seventh Tower iamcts
rs SS Mr. r. npes
divis0ni directly after The murder was committed,
that the marriage o. the prisoners father to second
wife, and they lived on very bad terms. The prs-
Oner was engaged In drill practice With his volunteer
he loaIed MS rife and deliberately shot his step.
mother, who almost instantly expired. He then fied
from the house ana was pursued 10y some neighbors.
who did not Overakc him, but on reaching Alfred
street. White Horse lane, Stepney. aOouta mile from
Sidney street. he met police constable, to whom he
admltted he had committed murder, and gave up the
Ilne he was carrying. He was taken into
the station house, and the & charge was was
read % oyer to Nun By M wres css lie said ID
him AMI his sister, and he had no further statement
or explanation. He is a quiet looking lad, without
meanor. He has for some time been IN the service of
wine merchant IN the city asa bottle or cellar.
man: HIS father Is the ofcer Of ship, and Is now
on his way home from China.
on Monday evening after the business Of the day
the prisoner was brought before Mr. Lushngton at
the Thames Police Court charged With The wilful
murder OF Mrs. Sarah Redheid, his stepmotner.
The court and us avenues were crowded TO excess,
committed having caused very large number OF
people to assemble in and near the court.
William Smith, police constable, No. 800 K, said
he was duty In Alfred street, Stepney, that AFTER
noon when the prisoner ran up to hum with rite In
his hand ana said. 81 have done it r' He said to
Nave sot my lie asked n
where he had committed the deed. Thc
gs0nsr ga M ,ss 80 sa9Ssr sidney street
fire to the house, and now 1 give myself up
to Justice" The prisoner then delivered 70 him a
oner to the station nouse ana searched him. He
found upon him five ball cartridges. knife and two
purses. The witness then produced rifle, and Mr..
Worels said the constable had made mistake in
using the word revolver" It was rife which he
received from the prisoner.
Mr. I'm pdvfnn Va ha
tridges; do they fit tine rinep
Mr.. Wiiiomctt, the second usher Of the court, re-
piled TO this question by showing that they did.
Edward Dillon, police sergeant No. 10 K, said that
o few minutes previously, when the prisoner was
brought into the station house, he told him ne was
charged with the wilful murder Of his mOther-inaw
by shooting her with rife; the prisoner said Yes,n
he had done SO; the rife smelt strongly OF gunpow.
der; there was an exploded cap on the nipple and
six other percussion caps in box In the prisoners
pocket; he called the prisoners attention to the rife
and caps, and the prisoner said "Yes, they are
mine; the prisoner was quite sober.
EXCITING CAUSES OF THE CRIME.
From the Liverpool Post. June IL
The prisoner Redhead had for some time led very
unhappy life, owing to the tyranny OF the woman
whose life he has taken In Wild spirit OF revenge.
1t appears that he deeply mourned the loss of kind
and atfectonate mother ana that he and The sister
were very comfortable and happy until his father in
trodnced q new guardian for his children; all was
then changed. The lad and his sister: who is four
years his senior, were made the victims OF an un-
governabe temper and the sister, to escape It, went
- service The prisoner often declared to ls friends
that his stepmother rendered him SO miserable that
be was afraid he should somo day or other drown
himself. His sepmother pawned all Ills clothes ex-
cept those he was wearing at the time he shot her,
and spent the money to satisfy her propensity for
strong drinks. Once she raised money Oh his rifle
uniform. and put him to considerable inconvenience
On Saturday he at drill vita his rife corps, and
1t was arranged that his wages should be taken home
by q boy. BY some accident this arrangement was
not carried out, and the deceased woman bullied
MIN aud refused to supply MIN with any food on Sat
urday night, Sunday and Monday morning.
While smarting under load OF tyranny and vexa-
ton, the wretched youth came to the rash and wick
ed resolution Of taking away the life of his step
mother. His own rife afforded him q too ready
means Of accomplishing his dread resolve and he
shot her she was ascending the stairs Of her dwell
ling. Her death was instantaneous. The sister OF
the prisoner William Redhead, who was In q sltua-
tiOn with respectable family in Plccady, was In
formed ofthe sad anar on Monday night, and Is in a
state bordering on distraction. Her brother was a
mild and inofensye lad, and a great favorite with
all the children In the neghborhood for his Kindness
to them. In addition 10 the evidence given on Mon.
day, which leaves no legal or moral doubt that the
prisoner wilfully murdered his stepmOtner Mr. Wor-
els the superintendent OF the division, has, in or
der to complete the case against the prisoner, OBJ
tanned other evidence against him, and 1t will be
given before the coroner 10 day, and also before Mr.
Lushtlgton the magistrate at the Thames Police
court, on the next examination. The prisoner COM
peted his eighteenth year on Sunday.