The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1880-01-16 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SHOCKING MURDER AT MANCHESTER. . . .  Of; Wednesday nights servant girl i;;;;;Tiia-r;l; —Jane R !herts, at the house of Mr. Richard Greenwood, of Westbourne-grove, Ilarpurhey, Manchester, was found murdered. Mr. Greenwood's house is semi-detached, and in a lonely thoroughfare. The other house under the same roof is occupied by Mr. Gelman, a Unitarian minister. On Wednesday afternoon Mr. Greenwood received a letter in which he was requested to meet the writer at a certain hour in the evening, at a public-house, in order to arrange for the purchase of some land, a which he is the owner. Mr. Greenwood left his house to keep the appointment, but in the public-house he found no person whom he recognised, or who made himself known to him as the writer of the letter. After staying some time in the house Mr. Greenwood returned home. In the meantime Mrs. Greenwood, who was confined to her room by illness, was startled by a loud scream from the kitchen. Terror gave her strength, and she ran to the top of the stairs, and called "Jane," but got no answer. Mrs. Greenwood then ran downstairs to the front and shrieked "Murder !" she was under the impression that the ssrvant was in a fit, or that her clothes were on fire. Mrs. Cadman heard Mrs. Greenwood's cries, and went into the house. Going into the kitchen, Mrs. Cadman was horrified to see the girl Roberts tying on the floor bleeding from two wounds on the head and dying. In two or three seconds she expired without being able to utter a word. A terrible wound over the risdit eye, and another on the back of the head, had cauself her death. Mr. Pinder, surgeon, was ealled in, but life was then extinct. The news of the dreadful crime spread rapidly, and the police officer in charge of the county station, Inspector Bourke, went to the house. Mr. Supt. Bent was on the spot in a short time, and directed the efforts of his men to discover the assassin. One theory of the affair is that the poor girl was murdered by some person with whom she had formed an acquaintance, and who had reasons for putting her to -ilence. Another is that the letter seat to Mr. Greenwood was merely intended to decoy him from home, and that the writer or his accomplices intended to rob the house in his absence. In the next room to that in which the murder was committed a considerable sum of money had been left by Mr. Greenwood. Nothing, however, had been removed from the premises, and theca was no appe trance of anything having been disturbed. The occurrence was officially reported to the magistrates at the County Police Court, Strangeways, on Friday. The stipendiary tSir J. Mantel!) suggested the immediate calling of a meeting of magistrate., in order that a reward may be offered for the apprehension of the murderer. It is said that some minutes elapsed between the opening of the door to admit the supposed murderer and the actual commission of the crime, so that the girl had ample time t) raise an alarm. Information obtained later makes it appear mere unlikely that a robbery was attempted. Mrs. Greenwood says that no scream was heard till between live and ten minutes after the admittance of someone at the front door, whose footsteps she heard following those of the servant's. The girl must, therefore, have had the opportunity of raising an alarm earlier. Her age is said to be 19. She was rather et tut, well built, and attractive in appearance. The police have so far failed to find any weapon in or near the house. The kitchen, in which the murder took place, was found orderly and undisturbed by any sign of a struggle. The girl bore an excellent character. She was of a retiring disposition, and had lately seemed unwilling to go out. She is described as having been very fond of her employers. She had beer. with them ten months. She has two brothers, workmen in Manchester. Her parents live in Wales. It appears that the letter which induced Mr. Greenwood to leave the house on Wednesday evening did not arrive by post, but was found on the lobby by a visitor, as though pushed under the door. The inn at which Mr. Greenwood had been requested to call is the Three Tans, and the letter was subscribed, "S. Williams. Queen'sroad." The signature does not 418801 to have afforded as yet any clue to the mystery.