The Sun. — 1850-04-10 (London, England)

MURDER AND HIGHWAY ROBBERY. Last night (Sunday), between eight and nine o'clock, in consequence of information which had been received at the Cheltenham police-station, Superintendent George Seys, and Sergeant John Sliekleton proceeded to one of the common lodging-houses in Milsorn• street, and there arrested two men on a charge of murder. Their names are Maurice Murphy, aged 21, a native of Blarney, county Cork, and Patrick Sullivan, aged 22, of Minchinstown, county Cork. In their possession the officers found a quantity of wearing apparel covered with blood—a pocket-book, razor, pieces of corm', and other trifling articles. The circumstances which led to the apprehension of these parties we will now endeavour to detail. It appears that on Friday afternoon information was received at the police-station, Newport, Monmouthihire, that the body of a woman, named Jane Lewis, aged about 65, was fouod in a brake, near Nancotch-wood, and adjacent to the Bassalleg-read, lying on her back, with an awful wound inflicted on the right eye, as if with a :stone or nstrurnent, severe bruises on the left eye, scratches on the cheek, a quantity of blood at the back of the head, and the front part of her dress torn open, as if with violence; while the back part of the dress was covered with mud, as though the body had been dragged over the ground. It was found that deceased had lived at Pontymaswn, about two miles from Bassalleg ; and that on Wednesday morning she had come to Newport for the purchase of some peas and other trifling articles ; and was last seen passing the Hand Post a little after five o'clock, walking by herself towards Bassalleg, where she was to receive her weekly p2rochial allowance. About six o'clock the same evening a young lad, named Henry Phillips, son of Mr. William Phillips, of Nantoch Farm, observed a quantity of peas scattered on the road, almost close to the gate, within a few yards of which the body of the poor old woman was discovered on Friday, by her son, at two o'clock in the afternoon. It appears that the deceased, not having returned to her house on Wednesday, her husband, who is a cripple, sent information of her absence to their son, John Lewis, night watchman under Sir Charles Morgan, at Bassalleg, who accordingly came towards Newport on Thursday, and on passing the gate where the peas had been observed on the previous night felt a presentiment :that his mother was in a shed, situated at the top of the brake. He stated that on going there he happened to turn his head around, and then saw some dark object lying near the road hedge, and this he speedily found to be the body of his mother. An inquest was commenced on Saturday, but adjourned, The prisoners, who seem very determined characters, left Cheltenham, in custody of the police, at three o'clock this morning, for Newport, where they will be examined before the magistrates. Information has since been received that the same men have been concerned in an almost equally appalling transaction in this county. Mr. Benjamin Meredith, aged 72, of Aylhurton, was stopped between six and seven o'clock on Friday night, on the high road, at Purby, in the parish of Lydney, by the two ruffians, and there severely beaten, the crown of his head being kicked in, and the poor man left for dead. The raz:cals decamped with a sil ter watch, pocket-book, umbrella, receipt stamp, and other articles which they found on his person. Mr. Meredith was afterwards found by some passers-by, and conveyed to the nearest house. Medical assistance was speedily rendered, but the unfortunate man has been unable to speak since, and lies in a most precarious state.— Cheltenham Journal.