The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1849-03-14 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

HORRIBLE MURDER.  A murder of a very shocking kind committed upon the person of an aged maiden lady named Jefferies, ?as just been discovered at Bristol, and has naturally occasioned an unualial amount of excitement and consternation in that city. The particulars, as communicated to the reporters by the police authorities, are these:—The neighbours of the deceased (who lived upon her property, in one of her own houses, in Trenshard Street) having observed that herplace was closed on Monday and Tuesday, and not hearing any thing of her, made a communication of the circumstance to her brother, a retired surgeon, residing in Somerset Street, Kings-down. Mr. Jefferies, upon receipt of the intelligence, immediately repaired to his sister's house, and finding it closed and fastened as stated, he applied to the magistrates, and subsequently at the police central station. Mr. Bell, inspector, immediately sent Sergt. Curfe to make inquiries, and having ascertained that Miss Jefferies' servant had been seen to leave the house at a late hour at night, with a quantity of boxes, he suspected that all was not right, and determined upon getting into the premises. Having obtained access to a back yard, he found a door open, by which he at once entered the house. In the parlours below stairs all appeared right, but upon going up stairs into a front bedroom, be saw the body of the deceased lady dead on the bed. He did not examine her much at the time, but returned to the station house, after which he proceeded. aceomp tided by Inspector Bell and Dr. Bernard, surgeon to the police forces, to the room. They found the body lying on its right side covered with coagulated blood which had flown from some large wounds on the head. There was blood on a chair by the bedside and on the floor, and close to the door of the chamber was a large pool, and en examining the closets it was found that the boxes, &c. had been ransacked, and their contents strewed about the floor. It was also soon apparent that murder had been committed for the purpose of plunder, and that the property had been carried off from the premises. The police immediately commenced inquiries, with a view to discover the probable perpetrators of the deed, and the servant having absconded, suspicion immedietely fell on her With some trouble the keeper of the Intelligence office from which Miss Jefferies was usually supplied with domestics was traced out, and it was discovered through his means, that on the 30th of January Miss Jefferies had applied to him for a servant, and that on the 6th of the following month a young woman named Sarah Thomas who had been previously living with Mr. Lowe, a hatter, at Pensfercl, Somerset, had gone to live with her. It was afterwards found that the girl had lately called upon a person in Park Row to whom she stated that she was going home to liar friends at Harfield ; and according three of the detective force proceeded, at ten o'clock at night, to Harfie/d, where they traced out the cot • tage at which the girl's mother resided. They knocked, and asked for the daughter, when the mother abused them for disturbing her at that time of night, and said her daughter was at Pensford, and that she had not seen her for a long time. The police not being satisfied, threatened to break open the door, upon which they beard a noise as of paper rustling; they then got in, and in a coal-hole found the girl secreted. Among the coal they found a silver gravy spoon, and five silver table-spoons, all marked with the initials E. J. There were also several boxes in the house, in one of which they found a lady's gold watch and chain. In the girl's pocket were 27 sovereigns, four half-sovereigns, and 15 shillings in silver; and on her being afterwards searched at the station-house, five silver tea-spoons marked E. J. were found concealed in her stockings. The prisoner was taken before the magistrate, and has been remanded to await the result of the coroner's inquest. It is understood that the police have received important information, which will tend very much to throw light on the affair, but which will not be divulged till the inquest. .