The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1833-12-31 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

HORRID BRUTALITY.  We regret to have to record, this week, an instance of the most wanton barbarity which it has ever been our task to notice. The circumstances of this outrage appear to have been the following :—About eight o'clock, on the evening of Tuesday week, a boatman, named William Kelsay, who was a little in •liquor, met with a woman of disorderly character, named Sarah Davis, who was also in a state of intoxication, and they went together to the cellar of another woman, named Jane Butterworth, in .Gregson-street. Here they had some gin, end, on a sudden, Kelsey snatched up a lighted candle and thrust it into the mouth of Davis. Butterworth interfered and took the candle from him. He then endeavoured to induce her fo lea've the cellar, by requesting that she won'i fetch them a quart of ale. She at first refused. feari ',lit he ni4airt to do further injury to Davis; but at lei went, leaving Kelsav sitting on one tide five fire u Davis on the other. In her way back 4),:, was rrcet. bZ a nek7hboar, who told tr:•.r that, her cellar was on fire. She ran and met Kelsey leaving it, and, as she supposed that he had done some IniSchief, she 'eized and held him till he was given into the custody of watchman. On several persons entering the cellar, they found Davis lying on the bed, and her apparel and the lied-clothes in flames. With great difficulty these were extinguished; but not before the unfortunate creature was dreadfully burned all over the'body up to the neck and race: As she was removed in order to be conveyed to the Infirinary, she exclaimed that Kelsay had burned her to death, and begged that she might be allowed to die where she was. She was taken, however, tb the infirinary,and Davies, the superintendent of the watch, being apprehensiie ,that she would not survive, mentioned the matter, on. Wednesday, to Mr. Foster, at the New Bailey. The. prisoner was brought up from the lock-np, and immediately taken to the Infirmary, and, in the presence of Mr. Foster and Mr. Milne, the woman's deposition was taken. At this time she had ceased to feel any pain, and, therefore, supposed that she was not likely Co die ; and the effect of her deposition was that ▪ a... .aced `L'nat she .1:2.1.4 not reinembe'r anything, . and di know how her cloths bee.a..ae fire. Atsix et the same evening she -expire•a.— vu yesterclay weekan inquestwP3 held on the• body betel-% Mr. gutter, at the Princess Tavern, Tashi-street, anti it was adjourned to :Monday evening last. The principal witness was a woman who was passing Bufterwor&s cellar, srel.whe, hearing a sort of suppressed scream inside, was prompted by curiosity to look within, through a chink in the door, when she perceived Davis lying on the bed, on which Kelsay was holding her down with one hand, while with the other he held a lighted candle to her garments. She gave the alarm to Butterworth, and they both heard Davis say afterwards that Kelsey had burnt her to death.—After some deliberation !be jury returned a verdict of " Wilful murder" against Kelsey, and he was committed, on the coroner's warrant, to Lancaster Castle, whither he was sent on Tuesday, for trial at the nett assizes on the capital charge.—Jlanchute?. Guardian..