The Sun. — 1868-03-09 (London, England)

THE 70DMORDEN TRAGEDY.  On Friday afternoon, Miles Wetherall, aged 22, was charged on remand, at the Court House, Todmorden, with the wilful murder of Jane Smith, aged 21, one of the domestics of the Rev. A. J. Plow, at the Parsonage, Todmorden, near Rochdale, on Monday night last. The court and its precincts were so densely crowded that access to the justice-room could scarcely be obtained. The witnesses had to be pushed through the mob, and one of the sitting magistrates was compelled to enter the court by means of a window opening upon the roofs of the adjoinLug houses. The examination lasted fully six hours, and ended in the committal of the prisoner for trial at the ensuing assizes at Manchester, which will commence early this week.  The Rev. A. J. Plow was sufficiently recovered to be able to appear in court. He deposed to the circumstances of the crime, and his testimony bore out the statements which have previously appeared. He said he had interdicted the visits of the prisoner to his house for the. purpose of paying his addresses to Sarah Bell for two reasons : first, she was too young ; and secondly, he had a great objection to a long courtship going on in his house. The girl promised him that she would neither see itor speak to the prisoner, but she broke her word, and he then discharged her for breach of trust. Within the past few weeks several of his house window-panes had been broken with stones, and he bad heard pistols fired. On ono occasion the back door was covered with shot. Sarah Elizabeth Bell was examined as a witness. She testilied to the fact of her having been discharged from the services of Mr. Plow because the prisoner had paid his addresses to her against the rev. gentleman's order. The deceased, Jane Smith, had told tales, and Whetherall declared he would be revenged. On his using this expression she asked him what he meant by it, but he made no reply. She saw him last Sunday at York, and from his conduct then she concluded that he intended to break off the engagement. A series of letters between the two parties was read, and throughout the correspondence the witness endeavoured to console the prisoner for her enforced absence, and to dissuade him from his threats of ♦engeance.  At the conclusion of the evidence the prisoner was charged with the offence, and asked if he had anything to say. The prisoner said he had committed the crime through Mr. Plow opposing him in his desire to see the witness Bell. He said he went and honourably asked Mr. Plow to see Bell, and that leave ought to have been granted. He was determined to see her, although Mr. Plow would not give his privilege, and he saw her at the house until the deceased, Jane Smith, told about them. Since then he had gone to ruin, and now he would die the death of a dog. He was glad Mr. and Mrs. Plow were not dead. He intended to murder them or he would not have gone near them. They knew perfectly well that Sarah Bell and he loved each other, but Mr. Plow opposed their being engaged because they were poor. He would not call any witnesses.  The body of Jane Smith was interred at the parish church on Friday morning, and was followed to the grave by the scholars of the Sunday schools connected with the church. An immense concourse of spectators assembled in the vicinity of the church, and the service was conducted with great solemnity. The prisoner Weatherall has somewhat relented that stolid indifference he at first manifested. After the examination of the prisoner at the magistrates' office, on Tuesday, seeing and hearing the strong expressions of feeling expressed by the populace on his way back to prison, Weatherall's courage seemed to fail him, and he was afraid the prison would be attacked and summary vengeance executed upon him.  During the Easter holidays, we hear, the Print of Wales will go for ten days to Ireland. His Roya  will share the m leviltlhbee tphue kgteieostf ofcLamorbdriAdgbeercorn, and at the siainigiehnetiss hospitality of the Earl of Mayo. There are, of course, to be reviews and grand entertainments. Punchestown races, we believe, are fixed for the 16th and 17th of April but unquestionably the most impressive attraction will he found in the gladness of our impulsive and warm-hearted countrymen to see their Prince once more among them.— Telegraph.  MR.