Glasgow Courier. — 1860-04-17 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

MYSTERIOUS MURDER OF TWO MEN.  A horrible double murder, the circumstances of which are involved in considerable mystery, was discovered on Thursday morning, at the village of Irlams-o'-thl-Ileight, about 4 miles from Manchester. The victims are an old man named Wm. Soholes, 75 years of age, and him son, a man of 40. The only other inmates of the house where the crime was committed were a second son, Joseph, and a daughter of the old man, who is said to be hoplessly deranged. About six o'clock on Thursday morning, the second son—who statesthat he had heard strange noises mid his sister's screams in the night, and had attempted unsuccessfully to enter the room where she slept—went out of the house for some purpose, and met Mrs Hall, a neighbour, who asked him what had been the matter during the night. Joseph Scholes replied that " his sister was locked up, and his father and brother had locked her up." The door of the room was then burst open, and the dead bodies of the unfortunate men were found lying one on the top of the other, whilst the girl lay dressed and in bed with her boots on. She was in a state of great excitement. An inquest on the bodies was , opened hursday ; and, according to the statement lot Joseph Scholes, he had been absent from home on thepreceding night till between nine and ten o'clock. On reaching home he looked through the whole house in search of his father and brother, but not finding them, supposed them to be out, and went 11 himself to bed. At present it is quite premature to 1 form any judgment as to the criminality in this tragic occurrence. The inquest was adjourned till Tuesday next. About three o'clock on Thursday afternoon, whilst Sarah Eliza Scholes was sitting in the Salford Workhouse, in charge of Police 'Constable Dixon, she made a voluntary statement to him that she had killed her father and brother. The result of the post moden examination by the surgeons, we are informed, was that the father had died from strangulation, and the brother from a stab in the eye by some instrument which had penetrated the brain. On Friday morning the woman was brought up at the New Bailey, before Mr Trafford, and charged with the wilful murder of her father, Wrd. Scholes, and her brother, William Edward Scholes. She appeared conscious of what was passing when the policemen gave their evidence in a loud voice by her side, and nodded assent to their statements; but on being asked if she had any questions to put to them, she invariably answered, "I don't remember anything at all about it." Her bloodshot eyes betokened that she had not completely recovered her attack of insanity. Sergeant Lees stated that he went to Mr Scholes's house on Thursday morning, and found the prisoner lying on her bed, and being held down by three men. He then described the scene which presented itself in the room; and spoke to the finding of a common walking stick under the pillow, and a pocket knife, with the large blade open, on the mantelpiece, and a similar knife, closed, and clenched in the father's band. By the direction of the doctors she was sent to the Salford Workhouse in charge of Police Constable Dixon. She was very much excited. • Police Constable Dixon said—About nine o'clock on Thursday morning, I went with the prisoner to the Salford Workhouse, and remained with her till ten o'clock the same night. About three o'clock in the afternoon a minister came in, and then she became rather calm. About an hour after that, the prisoner began to say that on the previouirnight her brother came in and began to make a disturbance.— Mr lrafford: Before she made a statement, did you speak to her? Dixon: No. —Mr Trafford: Did anybody say it would be better or worse for her? Dixon: No, sin—hlr Trafford: Was what she said perfectly voluntary? Dixon: Yes; I was sitting by the tire, and she was on a crib on the other side. She said etie went up stairs into her own room, when her father and her brother came up and got on her bed to beat her; she got up, and stood in her own defence and took the stick and struck her brother with it; and then she throttled him, and afterwards her father, who fell on the top of her brother. The prisoner was asked if she would ask the witness any questions, but she replied, "I don't remember anything at all." Mr Trafford said he would reenand the prisoner till Wednesday.  home I