Runcorn and Widnes Examiner. — 1870-11-26 (Runcorn, Cheshire, England)

THE MYSTERIOUS MUEDER AT SANKEY. APPREHENSION OF TWO PERSONS, THE  SUPPOSED MURDERERS.  On Thursday evening, the 3rd inst., Mr. John Forrest met with his death-blow near Buttermilk Bridge, Sankey, about half a mile from his own dwelling. As the particulars of the sad event have already appeared in the Examiner, it is only necessary to refresh our readers memories of the fact that Mr. Forrest left his home on the day in question to transact business in Warrington. He was a man like Csar's wife, above suspicion, so far as inebriety was concerned; he was regular arid steady in his habits, and when he took his departure from Warrington to his destruction he was quite sober. His exit from the town commenced soon after six o'clock in the evening, and ho had with him at the time a tin can filled with oil, wrapped up in a newspaper. It would appear that when near Buttermilk Bridge he was accosted and molested by some person or persons, who abstracted the money from his person—although astounding as it may seem leaving his watch in his pocket—and no doubt leaving him as he or they thought for dead. However, having recovered consciousness, he managed to find his way to his home without hat or oil can. His daughter, Miss Forrest, and her brother-in-law, happened to be in at the time, and noticing that her father had received serious injuries called in the aid of a physician. Although lucid betimes, he was never able to give an account of how he received the injuries. Through the vigilance of the police, two men have I been arrested on suspicion, namely, a man named Holleron, who is a young man of -disreputable character, and who was noticed to have an unusual supply of money after the murder, had suddenly disappeared from the town. The police traced him to Rochdale, where on Monday he wss apprehended. On being taken into custody he said to the police officer, "I know v, hat you want me for. It is for that suspicious murder at Warrington." The officer replied that he did not say so, whereupon prisoner said, "I know you did not." The other prisoner is named Patrick McGrath, who is a sworn companion of Holleron, and who has often figured before the Warrington bench of magistrates. He was apprehended in Warrington on Wednesday, by one of the county police. Both prisoners were brought up before B. Pierpoint, Esq., at the police court on Thursday last, and sufficient oral evidence being taken for a remand, it was granted. The prisoners will be again brought up on Thursday next. What transpired at the inquiry we cannot say, but we think we have a sight to complain of the stupid reticence of "somebody." It appears, from what we can learn, and from what we in this case have not been able to learn officially, that what are called "county cases" are heard at solicitors' offices, where a magistrate is requested to attend, a prima facie case is made out, and there is an end of the matter. No reporters are acquainted with what is coming on ; and the upshot is that the public are kept in the dark, and, we have no hesitation in saying that the interests of justice are, by such a system, too often frustrated. What information we have been able to glean concerning this murder, we have got at a great deal of unnecessary trouble and annoyance; and we hope that in future there will be no repetition of the system we have been reluctantly compelled to expose and condemn.