Widnes Examiner. — 1892-10-22 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

CRIME AT OLDHAM.  ANOTHER DEEMING. A dreadful discovery was made at Oldham on Wed' nesday. At ten o'clock in the morning Mr. Jobs Walker, who owns some property in Hollins-road, had occasion to visit it. He found the house, 412, Hollins road, tenanted by a man named Joseph Mellor, a twiner minder at Melrose Mill, Butler-green, locked. Mellor, who is about 40 years old, had lived there with his wife. On looking through the window Mr. Walker's suspicions were aroused by seeing that the flagged flooring had been disturbed, and at once went to the Police-constable Anbrook, who lives near, and informed him of what he had seen. Anbrook went with Mr. Walker and a waterman named Booth to the house, and by forcine'oPen the window of the kitchen, obtained an entrance. 'The first thing that drew their attention was a large hole dug.in the centre of the back kitchen floor. The flags with I which the place was covered had been taken up and a hole dug about the length and breadth of an ordinary grave and about three feet deep. The flags had heel; placed at the side and covered with the soil brought Oa' of the trench. On looking round Anbrook found a woman's corset covered with blood and penetrated' in several places as though with a knife. 131°°d was found in several parts of the kitchen, and under the stairs the party came across a woman's body. Tirl throat was cut and there were four stabs on the le" , breast. Anbrook immediately placed a guard over the house and went for Joseph Mellor, whom he found working as though nothing unusual had occurred, and eOll- veyed him to the Central Police-station. In the meantime the chief-constable and other officers arrived (in the scene, which is about a couple of miles from the centre) of the town. They found the place as described, and the smell being unbearable disinfectants were seat for. By this time the startling discovery • ecame noised about, and attracted large crowds of people. On Mr. Peacock, the Chief-Constable, making an examination of the house he came across a large carving knife covered with blood. A medical examination of the body revealed that the head had almost been cut off. There w rre alae • found four wounds in the left breast about the region of the heart. The woman was half-dressed, and the b0(1.7 was covered over with carpet. The doctor gave opinion that the crime must have been committed several weeks ago. The neighbours state that the lAA time the woman was seen was on September 2nd. There was also found en the premises a barrel of quicklime. I A Correspondent says i—Mellor's acquaintances ila're during the past few days repeatedly inquired of him ea to the whereabouts of his wife, and his invariable MAY has been that she was at home in Cheshire nursing her mother, who has had a stroke of paralysis. On VVedner h day morning, in reply to the question from one of 1 fellow workers, Mellor said that he had just received letter from his wife stating that her mother was rather better and that she was coming home shortly. gelll did not appear to be at all surprised when called out 0 the room at Melrose Mill, where he was employed O' being informed that he was "wanted" on suspicion 0_ having murdered his wife, he at once expressed a desire that he should be taken to the Police Station in a cal's' A conveyance was obtained and he was driven to till Town Hall. When he was placed in the detectives' roola he seemed to be quite indifferent to the charge that v18"9 “ hanging over his head, and when later in the day !!!, was placed in the cells he did not seem to realise tt7. gravity of his position. He is watched in the cells by police constable.