Barbarous Murders.
The Times, 1824-12-31T00:00:00

(From the lVolverharnpton Clrenide, Da&29.j A cottage called the Gorse House, in the parisb of Bustburv, eitu. atedi on the turnpike.road leading tu) Cannock, and between; three and four miles only froni this town, became on Wednesday last, the scene of a most diabolical nmurder, perpetrated in the broad lbrht of day, upon Ann Spencer, a poor and aged woman, the wife of Eav.ard Spcncer, alabourer, the circuntstanceq of whicb nre asrfollow - About thrce e'clock on the day mentioned, one of Colonel Vernton Graham's servants called at the cottage with a peck of nalt, as a Christtas present for Spencer and his wrtc; the door being open, he went iu, and upon tbe ki twhen floor perceived norme blood, which ex- cited his alarm; and receiving no answer to his caU for the inmates, he proceeded Up stairs, where the dre-Adful spectacle prcsexted itsel' of the murdtred body of the poor old creature, still warm, lying on the chamber floor, hier long hair being tarned over her face so as to cover it; her head was dreadfullv mangled, rnd there was a violent wound under her right ear, and a severe bruise upon the back of her hand, which she must have received in endteavouring to ward off the blows of her inhuman mnurderer, which are sup- posed to have been iaflicted with a hammert, or some heavy inetru- ment. There is little doubt bat the horrid deed vas committed in the kitchen (a considerable quantity of bloed being smeared about the floor), and the bodv atterwards dragged into the chamberabove; and the stairs being steep and narrow, it is thought that mere than one muEst have been concerned, from the great strength it would requife to convey the corpse up them. The unfortunate victima had been at a neighbour's house at a short distance for some time, and which the left about halF an hour enly before the discovery; it is, therefore, certaiR that her own dwelling had been entered during her absence. and on her return the murderous attack wirs eade. bhe door had beea forced open witht a potato-fork, the marks of the prongs being still visible; and that the plundering of this honrt and industrious couple was the villainous object in this atroeue case is evident, be- cause the house had been stripped of several artiles of csaring ap- parel. A reward of Cr01. was inimediately offered for the discovery of the perpetrators; and on Thursdaymorning, Mr. Richard Diggory, an active as6istant.constablc of this town, found that at ,Mr. Mloore's, pawnbroker, in Darlington-street, Feveral articlesisjz. a black coat and waistcoat, a pair of corduroy EmaIldotheb a shirt, two shifts, two shawls, and a handkerchedf, liad been p7AlUgd on the preceding niight, and they have nU been identified as those which vwere taken from the cottace: and the sarne nigbt he succeeded in apprebending Thomas Powell, the perect who had peawrzed them in lis own name, but wha then denied the circumstance, though Mirs. Moore was quite positive as to his identitv. The DtXt morn- ing, however, he acknowledged bavhg pledgeed the artic2es, and said they vere given to hin by Wm. Edw.7 dt, bettcr knVown bv the nanme of ' Cnosall Will," who has sinice been apprebended, but he denies the transaction altogetber. A coroner's jury was summnoned by Henry Smith, Esq., on E'de , to th olitre, at Es- sintotll, and ihe gentlemen composing it tooE a view of thc bottv, which w-as abaAinspected by a surg;an, but no exwninaiion of wt-' nesses was emtered iusto,.and the inquiry-was adjourned till Eriday next. On Sundav the intertment took place at Bushburv ahfd after the ceremnony, the Rev. ). Clase addressed thel spectaters on the prtbjcci of tbe rnelancholy scene thev had assemnbled to witness, by which they were deeply aftcted. 'Che deceased lwas upwards of scyeray years of age, and was the mother ot several children, wrhs are all in creditablesituations. The cottage has a garden in front, anti though on tbie turnpikemroad, is in a lonely place, on the edge of Hilton-paik, there being-no otler house very near,and ithad be tore been robbed twice within the present year. Powell and Ed. wards are botlt kept in saae etusitody in this toVsn. The foreseris about 30 years of age, rather shork apd stoutlyWmade, very frcsh criloured, anDa has -resnarkably strai;hl black hair; he 0unes fionm the neighhourhood o? Stsfibrd, aud oil Mondav underwent an exa. minalionat our police-oflce, and was coLtnritted on a charge cof breaking into the house of Charles Maralafl. near Penkridge, on the 13th instast, and stealing some atticics ef weadring..pparel and a gold ring. V"esreday sc'nnight sU inquisition was held at Tipton. before H tWRY Sre1iuH. E&q., coroner, and by adjournmnent on Mordav, last, ittotn the body of Williram Bowater, when a verdict of zqiiZjg in!Srder was returnied against Janex Hunt, under the fnllowing sir_ cumtstances, as detailed in the evidence:-On Saturday, the 18th instanit, a pit's company, consisting of 3t men, who workeri in the Moat.collivry, assembled in the hovel, at&is o'clock in tbeeven- ing, to drink, and several of themii, anmong wkhom were Bowater andr Hunt. remained till 12 o'clock at niglht, when thev aU left, and rn quarrelling bad been liwurd between txem. Hutnt and Rowater pro_ ceeded t%wards their homes at Coseley, and vihen Otn the, rod were lheaxd wrangling. and Hunt used these expressitinst if you don't be quiet, cursing and blackguardiug nloe, I'll e you " and " 1ii., I am not able to standAeli "t you.,, Shtrtl after, Bowater was fotind Iying upon Ahe ground,. the b1 flowing copiously from his left thigi; end being ased vhaet (w the matter. replied, " Oh1 ! good Lord! he hat;t thobnd me." Hunt was standing by crying and tearing his hair. A chair was proCtured and the wounded man taken to a house which was near, but il .o exhausted a state froml the loss of blood, that the only answer lie made to questions put to bim vas " Lae te lie down ;" and ins about 20 ininutes a'ter he expired betbre rurgical assiance *was obtained. H?unt appeared in a stateDf gat asatety and dist.s and repeatedly called to Bowater, " [ia, lod blnu YOU. BiUv speak to me;" but he was co faint that b oe Luld tOt n eoul-.' I ' sr the examination of thehotl byva sureoo, zt.- Ikat the wosn ot the thigh is about two inches nld ahialflog,aedthise inches deep, which sents to have, been inDicted by a knifc or somee very stnarp itistrunment, and tnere is also a smalf wound in the enstde of the left asn. Hunt has absconded, and has not sines been head o atid an advertiseinent desczilman Fis peron, e-ld uffichrig a r.v. 2 of 20 guineas for iisappreihension, has leett publiabha BARBAROUS MURDR.nS.