The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1868-12-24 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

ATROCIOUS MURDER.  A revolting murder has been committed near Ackhurst-hall, three miles from Wigan. Mr. William Houghton (the farm bailiff) and his wife, who lived about 200 yards from the hall, had left their own house, in which there were five children, for about an hour. On their return home, at a distance of 30 or 40 yards from the door, they saw a white object, which was at first mistaken for a duck, but which on closer inspection was found to be the dead body of their eldest child, a girl of 12. She was covered with blood and dreadfully injured. The parents rushed forward to the house calling for the second daughter, Catherine, aged nice, but for a short time she could not be found. She was at last heard calling timidly from behind a hedge "Is that you, mother ?" The child was at once taken to the house. She said that a short time after her father and mother had gone out a man, rather taller than her father, and apparently a collier, appeared at the door and asked if William Houghton dyed there. Her eldest sister said that he did, but he was then down at the hall; and no sooner had she replied than, raising a heavy hammer, he struck her a violent blow on the forehead. She ran round the kitchen, and he pursued her, striking her with the hammer, which cut her dreadfully. She ran out by the open door, and tried to escape to the hall, but the man went after her and her screams ceased, she, no doubt, being killed by another blow from the hammer. The man then returned to the house, where the younger sister had remained in great terror. He struck her on the back of the heed v, ith tho hannuei, and then dealt her several blows on the shoulders, but he did not stun her. He then took her by the throat, and after squeezing it tightly threw her over into the pasture-Held, where she lay, bruised and terrified, not daring to move until she heard her mother's voice. An infant lay unharmed in a cradle in the kitchen, and upstairs two children (boys) were in bed, but had heard nothing of what occurred. An examination of the house showed that the murderer, after thus disposing of the children, had put his hammer on the dresser, on which its form was marked with blood, and had then passed into the parlour, where he had, ransacked the drawers- The only article of value he obtained was a silver watch which had been left in a small casket, and from which he had detached the ribbon that served as a guard. The hammer was found in a wheat field about 100 yards from the house. A number of long hairs were sticking to the iron and when the weapon was shown to the surviving girl she at once said it was that with which she and her Mater were struck. Mr. Parkinson, the nnderlooker of a colliery close by, recognised the hammer as one he left at the smithy on the night of the murder. A reward of £BO has been offered for the apprehension of the offender.  DUNN Bud Coo INDELIBLE PENCIL for MANNING LINZIN &c., patented March 23, 1869, will hut out six bottles oa marking Mk, end is NS easy to write with as the ordinary lead pencil. Sold by stationers and chemist', or sent free by post on receipt of 13 stamps, by Duna and Co., Whole. sale Stationer', 20, Devareumoofut, Strand, W.C. and 19, Rued. 13an4,Paria,