The Telegram. — 1896-06-16 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY. AN AGED WOMAN MURDERED IN HER BEDROOM.  THE APPRENTICE'S STORY.  , A shockib,, murder, tbe development of which ! promises to be of a sensational character, was committed at Accrington on Tuesday. The story first given So the police appears simple enough, but subsequent investigate-ins show that the crone was of an extraordinary character. The victim was Mrs. Sarah Coates, aged sixty-three, the wife oi Mr. John Coates, cabinet maker, 3, Warner Street, lan old and respected tradesman. The first account of the crime was that she had been murdered by a stranger, who was attempting to rob the premises, and that the murderer had—despite the heroic attempts of an appi entice to save his mistress, and afterwards secure her assassin—made good his escape. Such was the story given by the apprentice,•lad named Christopher Hindle, fifteen yearn of age, who was on the premises at the time the murder was committed, and whose bleeding arni, as be repeated, was the outcome of wounds he had received whilst trying to protect Mrs. Coates. The stranger, he said, wore a blue-serge coat and low vest, and after committing the tragedy, made his escape by the back of the premises. The lad followed him for 120 yards, but, losing sight of him, gave up the chase. Acting on this nifortr.ation the police dispatched descriptions of the man to the surrounding policestations, and kept a close watch all over the district.  Subsequent investigations, however, led to the discovery of many discrepancies in the boy's statement. Blood stains were found in a different direction altogether to that by which, according to the lad's story, the murderer had made his escape. Labourers who were working in the back street neither taw nor heard anything to attract their attention • and there were other circumstances tending to throw doubt upon many of the details given. The result was that the apprentice was detained in custody, pending inquiries. It was found that he had eighteen scratches on fsei trio, but only two of them can be described at wounds. The pocket-knife with which the deed appears to have been conunitte,l, and which was found lying by the aide of the murdered woman, is of peculiar construction •, and those unaccustomed to it would find souse difficulty in opening the blade.  When interviewed immediately after the tragedy the husband of the deceased woman highly praised Hindle for what he believed to be his courageous conduct, and expressed the opinion that the murderer knew all about time premises, and was conversant with the habits of the family. Mrs. Coates was alive when disc,overeil in the bedroom partly strangled, and with a deep cut on the right side of the neck, but she was unable to give any clue as to the assassin, and died in a few minutes.  Over 22,000 horses ivere exported from England to Belgium last year for the purpose of wear extracts.  . BCBSIN6 A PRIf3ONSE TO Dram.—Th. inquiry intu the charge brought by M. Tureklachied against M. Lulmhoff, the former Prefect of Police at Sofia, of haviug hurried the accuser's brother to death while he was detained in prison, has resulted in M. Lulninoff sod the notice Commissary Toteff, bit fellow accused, being tentenced to six years' imprisonment, while the ex.gendarroe &duel, who also figured in the charge, was sentenced to one yea.'s imprisonment.  A CARD ti WN ag Rev. joseph Holmes' Mexican Prescription, is the only original guaranteed Remedy for all those oho toff er from oeremis weakness, exhausted vindlty, kidoey or bladder &seam Mull. Profit•t., aplwl weakneta, beam fag and kindred complaints. It has stood the liii for twenty years. Send • ssitaddrsieed stamped envelope to Jos. Holmes' Remedy On. Bloomsbury Mansions, Bloonsebury Sqease, London, and get full part, cubes of this geestSporthe tracer charge. Mention whether tartestatsleatitls. itatersof Isausluitat initmars. Cligg-0116.  t ~••  I