The Fatal Mysteries Of Kn...
The Times, 1824-02-10T00:00:00

(From the Leeds AMercury.) NiltESnBOROG if, Thursday, Feb. 5-Nothing yet has been heard of lary Gill and her child * search continues to be made for the bodiesRvwithout success. Another case, which is at present involved in great mysterv, andI has excired v6rt' general interest here, is the sudden disappearance of A.r. James Prige, a respectable young man, i gardener and nur-_ .ceryman i. this town. It anpears that on Sunday, the 25th of January, MIr. Prigg left hoire for Deighton, a village between Knareshoroughl and Wetherby, in conipany with two young men. for the purpose of receiving a idnm di' iffieY; *vhieb he hed ledt to one John Richardson, a aerVant sit oe place, in the neighbourhood of Leeds. Wheh they arrived at Deighton, Prigrc left his com- panmoh: in the public-house a few minutes, and on his return said he nad mistaken the day, as his friend would not be there until to-vrior- row; accordingly, the party returned to Knaresborough, and onisMon- day, January 26. James Prigg started again forDeighton nhe caledon his road, at the public-house at jbstdne, aSid (Itank a glds of sile he hact then tvn miles to *:alk to Deighton * in the course of a short time he Yeturseji, and inforned the landlady that hihad received his olqney', but had been alarmed by two men who saw him receive it, and Wvho had cro.csed him frequently on the*oadin a way that excited his suspicion. He added, that there was a young man who had goue on to Ribstone hall, and who was going to lnafeghdrodph4 aifd he would wait until he arrived, ais he had promised to call for him. After waiting thtee hours, during which time he dranktwo half-pints Of ale, he set out alone, about eight o'clock in the evening, the voung Iara net having arrived. Ribstone is three miles from Knarewbiough, two miles of' which is nearly all wood, running parallel with the river Nidd, and in thin distance of two miles there is not a house within the hearing of' the human voice. Pngg has never been seen or heard of' since his bidding good night to the landlady at Ribstone, and it is strongly suspected he has been way-laid, murdered, and throwu into the river. His friends here are in the utinost distress about him. *He is described as an amiahle young man, in pood circumstances, and without any possible inducemnent to absent himself. It is proper to observe, that a letter lias bten found in Prigg's house since he disappeared, signed' Jobn Richardson, requesting him (Prigg) to meet him at Deighton1 on the 26th of Jannary, " at the same place tpey m t before at," and he would pay him his monev. On MWednesday, the 28tlh of January, as one of 4ord Harewood's wood men was passing tbrough the wood he found, a few yards fronm the road, at a place called Ribstone-spring, a pocket-book, emptied of its contents, and lying open. This pocket-book proves to be James Prigg's, and contained, araongst others, the following me- morandum, written in pencil *- " 25th January, 1824, received of John Richardsoo 251s. being tqoney I lent him last November, signed J. Prigg." On the road,. was fouRd his pocket-gardening knife, and im the wood, not rtr Nrom the river, a spotted handker- chief which he wore about his neck, with his name on it. On Tuesday, W. L,. F. Scott, Esq., the Magistrate, met the offi- cers from Knaresborough at Ribstone, and "in the most laudsble snanier assisted iri the search in the river. Through the activity of the Mlagistrate and oflicers. great hopes are entertained that this mys- terious affair ill be brought to light. A-clue has: alreary been 4is. covcred; but ini-the present stage of the busines,%it wos1i1 be highly improper to say raore. Up to this veriod, four o'clock, 'no tidings of thebodyhave-reached thisplace. Thesearchb itherivercontd- nues witb the utmost activity. e ;A report'prevailed yesterday, that the body of MrlPrigi had been fonnd,mocb bruised, in-asield'neiKnaresborough,onw Thurs- day evening-buth bvoar aeouns received lat night fzom that Place, 'wefind tXhat the dSriou? vas unf'oqsn5ded;~ andjwe~rce eot al. together withOiit hope thsas'o nsirderhasbeeiRwhpittedtr. TIHE FATAL Ml STERIPS OF KNARESBOROUCTI.