The Sun. — 1802-11-11 (London, England)

ROBEERY AND MURDER.  • MR. ST E ELF, Proprietor of the Lavender Water 'Warehouse, Catherine-street, in the Strand, was yesterday morning found murdered on Hounslow Heath. The deceased went on -Friday last to Bedfont, where he had a plantation of lavender, for the• purpose of giving some instructions to the people whom he there employed, nacaning to return borne on the following day. Not having returned at the appointed time, his family-concluded that he had been unexpeßedly de, tained by business ; and this consideration prevented any alarm for his safety, till Monday morning, when they sent a messenger- to Bedfont, to inquire the cause of his delay. The information there received was, that he had set out at seven o'clock on Saturday evening, and being unable to procure any kind of carriage, had resolved to proceed to town on foot. Since that time, the people at Bedfont had-heard no intelligence whatever of him. This eircurnSeance naturally led his relations to conclude that some fatal accident had. befallen him, and his brother-in-' law, with some other friends, determined in consequence to set out in search of him. For several hours they continued in vain exploring different parts of the Heath. At length they discovered at a short distance from the road a piece of blue cloth. On-lay, ing hold of this, they toured it to be the skirt of a great-coat buried in the turf, and which, on examination, proved to be the same that Mr. STEELE had taken with him from home. • Proceeding a little farther, they saw near a hush a soldier's hat, and examining the bush with care, they perceived a quantity of blood ; this appearance led them reasonably to conclude that murder had been committed near the spot, and on examining the bushes minutely, they found their suspicions unhappily realized. They beheld beneath, the shocking spenacle of their murdered relative, nearly covered with the turf, and for several minutes were lost in the horror of the scene. Upon insneftion, they discovered that the deceased had received several wounds in the top and on the back of the head, and that a part of his forehead had been entirely cut away. Round his neck they found tied a strong piece of belt, by which it is sup_ posed he had beene,trangled. The wounds on the head appeared to them as if inflicted with a bayonet, and this circumstance, as well as that of a military hat having been found near the spot, naturally excite a suspicion that the horrid deed has been perpetrated by two soldiers who were seen walking across the Heath the same evening. The pockets of the deceased were entirely cut away, and his boots and hat had also been carried off. , The most diligent search is now, making for the abominable murderers, and there is reason to hope they will not escape the punishment so justly due to their crimes. Mr. STEELE was a young man of very amiable chargter, and his fate is sincerely lamented by a very numerous acquaintance. The body has been conveyed to the Ship, at Hounslow, where the Coroner's Inquest was to be held upon it this day.  On Monday se'nniglit a young Gentleman, on a shooting party .at Wakehurst Park, Sussex, the seat of Admiral PEYTON, was shot through one of his arms, owing to his gun acc..lentally going off; whilst the gamekeeper, by whom he was attended, was rapping his flint. On the arival of a surgeon, amputation of the limb was deemed necessary, and accordingly took place on the same evening. The young Gentleman, (who, we understand, is ne, phew to Admiral PEYTON, and had lately returned from abroad) is as. well as can be expeted after SO severe an opergion.