The Sun. — 1870-05-31 (London, England)

LATEST PA RTI C ULA R S -(TH IS DAY.  The unfortunate lad, William Redhead, who murdered his stepmother on Monday afternoon by shooting her with his rifle, had for some time led a very unhappy life, owing to the tyranny of the woman whose life ho has taken in the wild spirit of revenge. It appears that he deeply mourned the loss of a kind and affectionate mother, and that he and his sister were very comfortable and happy until his father introduced a new guardian for his children. All was then changed. The lad and his sister, who is four years his senior, were made the victims of an ungovernable temper, and the sister, to escape it, went to service. The prisoner often declared to his friends that his stepmother rendered him so miserable that he was afraid he should some day or other drown himself. His stepmother pawned all his clothes except those he was wearing at the time he shot her, and spent the money to satisfy her propensity for strong drinks. Once she raised money on his rifle unitortn, and put him to considerable irconvenience. On Saturday e was at drill with his rifle corps, and it was arranged tbzt his wages should be brought home by a boy. By some accident this arrangement was not carried out, and the deceased woman bullied him and refused to supply him with any food on Saturday night, Sunday, and Monday morning. While smarting under a load of tyranny and vexation the wretched youth came to the rash and wicked resolution of taking away the life of his stepmother. His own rifle afforded him a too ready means of accomplishing his dread resolve, and he shot her as she was ascending the stairs of her dwelling. Per death was instantaneous The sister of the prisoner, William Redheail, who was in a situation with a respectable family in Piccadilly, was informed of the affair last night, and is in a state bordering on destruction. Her brother was a mild and inoffensive lad, and a great favourite with all the children in the neighbourhood for his kindness to then,. In addition to the evidence given yesterday, which leaves no legal or moral doubt, that the prisoner wAfully murdered his stepmother, Mr Worell, the superintendent of the K division, has, in order to complete the case against the prisoner, obtained other evidence against him, and it will be givenbefore the Coroner to morrow, and also before Mr. Lushington, the Magistt ate, at the Thames Police Court, at the next examination. The prisoner completed his 18th year on Sunday. It is to be regretted that he did not long since remove from the dwelling of his stepmother, and avoid her cruelty and tyranny, and the position in which he is now placed. It is understood that it was only in obedience with the wish of his father that ho remained in the same house. The father of the prisoner is the steward of a ship, and now on his way to London. It was reported this morning that he had arrived on Sunday night, but if this had been so he would have certainly repaired to his home immediately, and the awful tragedy would have been prevented. A great many persons applied this morning for permission to view the interior of the house in which the murder was committed, but Mr. Worels has very judiciously given directions to his men stationed there to prevent all strangers having access to the building.