The Sun. — 1851-12-31 (London, England)

WEDNESDAY  THE BELPER MURDER. APPREHENSION OF THE CULPRIT.  BELPER, TUESDAY MORNlNG.—lmmediately after our report left Belper last evening, the murderer, Turner, was captured near to his own house. The following are the particulars :—A young man named George Jackson, who lives in Belper-lane, about a quarter of a mile from Turner's house, met the latter as he was coming in the direction of Wirkswortb, about half-past seven in the evening. He felt confident it was Turner, and he walked briskly up to him. Upon seeing him do so, Turner got on the shady side of the road, so: as to be out of the reflection of the moon, which was shining very bright at the time. Jackson wished Turner "good night," as he suspected he was the man. Turner made no reply, but went on as fast as he could, and on arriving at the end of the lane, he jumped over a high wall, and ran across the fields. Jackson then hastened to a public-house near at hand, called " The Owl Inn," which is kept by a man named Winson, and told the inmates that he bad seen Turner. Jackson then hastened on to Belper, and called at the lock-up; but Superintendent Wragg was not at home. He then went on to the town office, where he arrived about five minutes past eight. From there he went to Mr. Sims, Tiger-inn, Belper, where he found the Belper constables. He told them what he had seen, and the pursuit was planned. Wragg and S. Taylor, two of them, went up Belper-lane towards Turner's house. When they arrived near to Turner's house in Lane-end they met a young man named Watson, who told them that Turner had taken refuge in his mother's house close by, and they were afraid of harbouring him. The two constables went into the house together, and on seeing them Turner retreated up stairs, and made an attempt on his life by cutting his throat with a common table knife, but the wound was a very slight one, a constable having struck him a blow on the arm before he had time to do himself much injury. He was immediately secured, and Mr. Pym, magistrates' clerk, just then coining up in a light cart, he was put into it and conveyed to Belper lock-up, %here he arrived at ten o'clock, an immense mob being there to witness his arrival. The populace yelled and shouted until he had reached the interior of the building. Two of the Belper constables remained with him about two hours, and a third one stopped with him all night. He was very talkative. Our reporter learnt that since the murder was committed, Turner has said be is not sorry for what he did, only he thinks it will be such a shock and disgrace to his wife and adopted child for him to be publicly executed. He would not have done it if Mrs. Barnes had not given him the discharge from collecting the rents, on Saturday last. On being conveyed to the lock-up on. Monday night, he met a man who has succeeded him as collector of rents, and he is stated to have said to him, "If I had met you, I should have murdered you. I am an honester man than you, though a murderer." We understand he expressed himself pleased that he did not kill Mr. Bannister. He was very tired when captured, and had evidently walked a number of miles ; he was perfectly calm and collected after his arrest.