The Sun. — 1861-05-04 (London, England)

THE ILKESTON MURDE.R.  In our yesterday's impression we gave a brief account of the murder of a man named. Joseph Smith, of Ilkeston, Derbyshire, by his son, George Smith, who blew his father's brains out with a pistol. We now give some further particulars. It appears that the murderer purchased a pistol, with which the murder was perpetrated, at Mr. Daniel Webster's, general dealer and pawnbroker, Clumberstreet, Nottingham. On Wednesday afternoon, about one o'clock, Smith went to Mr. Webster's shop and asked for a pistol, stating that he wished to purchase one. Smith being a stranger Mr. Webster asked him what he wanted it for, to which Smith replied that he wanted it "to fly pigeons with when they were racing." Mr. Webster was satisfied with Smith's answer, and accordingly supplied him with a pistol, for which he paid 4s. Smith then asked him if he could furnish him with powder and caps, to which Mr. Webster replied in the negative, adding that his neighbour, Mr. Carr, on the other side of the street, could supply him with all he required. Accordingly, Smith went there and asked for a halfpenny worth of caps, which were supplied to him by Mrs. Carr. He put one of the caps on the pistol, and was in the act of letting it off, when she told him she was afraid of firearms, and if he wanted to let it off he must go into the street. He then went outside the shop and fired the cap off, after which he returned to Mrs. Carr, and asked for a halfpenny worth of powder, She told him that she did not make that quantity, but he could have a pennyworth if he thought proper. He replied, " Well, give me enough for one charging ; I want to try the pistol." She accordingly put a small quantity in a piece of paper, and he threw down a penny for it and went away. He then went home, and, it is said, called his father up and deliberately shot him. Mr. Smith immediately fell dead, and his son was soon afterwards taken into custody. While he was being apprehended he asked for a carving-knife, stating that he would have revenge on the body of his father, adding that, when he was hanged, if his limbs trembled, his name was not George Smith. We stated yesterday that the murderer wrote a note in lead pencil to his sweetheart, at Belton, on Wednesday, in which he said he was afraid his father would make away with himself. This turns out to be correct, for on Thursday evening Detective Davis went to Belton, had an interview with the girl, Ellen Cox, who at first denied having received a letter, but afterwards produced the following, written in lead pencil, which she said she had received from the murderer that (Thursday) morning : " My dear * *,—l told my father this morning, and he is like a madman, and I am sure he will make away with himself ; but, Ellen, never mind ; you will soon become my wife, and then all this bother will be over. Please send me word when you are at your grandmother's, and you must come and meet me at the station on Sunday morning, be there at 8 o'clock. So good-bye, sweetheart. I have given the banns in at Ilkeston." (The letter is not dated from any place, nor bears any signature.) Mr. Whiston opened the inquest on Thursday afternoon, at the Queen's Head, Ilkeston, and the 1 proceedings were adjourned until this day.