The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1849-05-09 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

SUSPECTED MURDER.  About the middle of the month of October, 1847, immediately after Mid Calder fair, the body of a woman, between forty and fifty years of age, was found in the Union Canal, at Causewayhead, near Falkirk, when, from the existence of various cuts or wounds upon the head and face, and other parts of the person, and, in particular, a deep gash in the throat, suspicion was excited that the unfortunate woman had been murdered. The body was brought to Edinburgh, where she resided, and was identified as that of Euphemia Bourhill, an itinerant vender of gingerbread, who had been at Mid Calder fair; and from the circumstances in which it was found, especially as the clothes had been nearly torn off her body, a reward of Z.. 50 was offered by the authorities for the discovery and apprehension of the parties implicated. From the investigation then made, it was found that the unfortunate woman had been last seen at Hermiston, in the parish of Currie, about 5 miles west of Edinburgh, in company with a man who exercised the same calling, both of them being under the influence of liquor, and at the time engaged in a violent quarrel. This man was, in consequence, apprehended and lodged in jail, and as his features also presented marks of violence, the suspicions entertained of his guilt were somewhat strong. After he had been kept in custody, however, for some time, no turther evidence of his participation in the suspected murder could be discovered, and he was set at liberty. The occurrence has till now remained enveloped in mystery.  A lad about eighteen years of age engaged in driving the horses required in towing the boats on the Union Canal, now, however states, that on the evening of the murder, the deceased was taken on board the boat he was connected with, by the crew, James Gray, Munge Duff, and James Turnbull; When passing Hermiston on their way west, although the destination of the unfortunate woman lay in the opposite direction. The distance of the horses from the boat prevented him from being a witness of the subsequent events; but upon going on board some time during the night, he observed the body of the wretched woman lying in the boat in the mutilated condition in which it was found, with blood issuing from the different wounds. She appeared at that time to be quite dead, and upon reference to the subject, his summary fate was foretold in the event of any information being given by him relative to the awful deed. It is added, also that he was promised a shilling as an additional inducement to secrecy, which he was to receive out of the sum stolen from the pocket of their unhappy victim, amounting to about sixteen shillings. This miserable bribe seems never to have been paid, which, it is probable may have formed one of the motives which led to the revelation of the murder. The body was thrown overboard into the Canal during the night, and was found in the morning, as already described. The clothes appear to have been torn from the body for the purpose of removing all trace of the blood from the boat. This statement led to the apprehension of the men above named, which was effected on Friday last. We believe that James Gray, who is known among his , acquaintance by the soubriquet of "Earl Gray," was in prison at the time of the apprehension of his companions, undergoing a term of imprisonment for the crime of theft. Turnbull and Duff were apprehended respectively at Linlithgow and Ratho ; and the whole party have been under ; repeated investigation by the authorities.