The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1856-02-19 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

MYSTERIOUS MURDER NEAR BATS.—An inquest has just been concluded on the body of Mr. Thomas Spiller, of Bath, whose body was found last week near the mill-head of the Swinford Copper Works, bearing upon it marks of considerable violence. The deceased, who was extensively known and much respected, occupied the office of librarian to the Bath Athenaeum, and he was also engaged at the Sun Fire-office in that city. He was last seen alive on the 7th of January, at which time he was known to have about him a large amount in gold and silver, and various papers, &c. When the body was found in the river it had nothing upon it but an old handkerchief and some keys, while the head exhibited marks of great violence. Some shirt studs had also evidently been roughly torn from his shirt front. The jury returned a verdict of " Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown." THE WRECK OP THE JOSEPHINE WiLms.—The inquiry before the Folkestone coroner respecting the death of the three sufferers in the wreck of the Josephine Willis terminated on Tuesday, when the jury gave the following verdict : " We come to a unanimous conclusion that George Summers and others came by their deaths hi consequence of a collision between the ship Josephine Willis and the steamer Mangerton, owing to an error in judgment on the part of the chief officer of the ship, mistaking the light of the steamer for Dungeness Light, and starboarding the helm. We also agree that if a proper look-out had been kept on board of the steamer the collision might have been avoided. We feel it our duty also to state that there appears to have been a great want of humanity on the part of the crew of both ships in not sending assistance to the passengers of the ship whilst they had it in their power to do so ; and we believe that if proper efforts had been made many more lives would have been saved."  MYSTERIOUS MunnEu.—On Tuesday, an inquest was held at Swan Village, near West Bromwich, South Staffordshire, on the body of a young man named Robert Grubbit, which was found in the canal on Saturday afternoon last. The throat was cut, and two large stones were in the pocket of the jacket. A young woman, named Harper, stated that the deceased had been her fellow-servant at Mr. Beddard's, who resides at Dixon's-green, near Dudley. On Thursday, the 17th January last, a friend of the deceased called upon him about noon. The deceased went out ; and it was proved that he was at a public-house in the company of his friend. On his returning to Mr. Beddard's, his fellow-servant said something to him about his remaining out so long. He appeared offended, went out, and never returned. A woman states that a few nights before the body was found she heard a great noise about the spot where it was discovered, and on looking out she saw three or four men standing near the canal, and she heard what she fancied was the report of a pistol, and one shouted " Shall I shoot the —?" Mr. Kite, surgeon, of West Bromwich, had made a post mortem examination of the body. He found a wound on the throat, five inches long, which had evidently been inflicted with a sharp instrument, and one on the forehead, half an inch long, of a similar character. He also discovered several external bruises on the skull. He was of opinion that the deceased was first stunned, and thrown into the water after his throat had been cut. He did not think the deceased could have himself inflicted the wounds on the throat. The inquest was adjourned for further inquiries.