Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1871-08-25 (Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, England)

SHOCKING MURDER AT KILDALE-INCLEVELAND. A FARMER KILLED BY A MADMAN. A shoeking murder was committed on Wednes. day last at Kildale, about six miles from Stokesley, by a man named Samuel Edmunds, a navvie, and a native of Enville, in Staffordshire. The victim was Mr Francis Wilkinson, aged 46 years, who was residing at New Row, Kildale. It appears that on the morning of the murder the prisoner, who was i a stranger n the distrist, went to Mr Matthew Ackroyd's farm at West House, Kildale, in search of employment, and was engaged by Mr Ackroyd to work on the farm. After ho was done work in the evening he washed himself, awl took his supper. He then sat talking in the kitchen um til near nine o'clock,.when Mr Ackroyd went with him to &barn, a short distance from the house, for some straw to make a bed for him, there being no accommodation for him in the house. Some straw was taken to a granary above the stable near the house, and prisoner made his bed, and replied it would do very well. Mr Ackroyd bade him good night, and left him about half-past nine ; Edmunds was then undressing, and appeared to he all right. About half an hour after Mr Ackroyd went to his garden, about fifty yards from the house, to look at eome bee-hives, when he heard some one shouting. He went into the house and fastened the door, awl told his wife that the Mall in the granary was shouting and appeared to be in the horrors; he called up his servant, John Wilkinson, and In a few minutes Ehmunds came to the front door quite naked, and said he would be in and kill the master. He had a heavy breaking bridle in his hand, and commenced smashing the windows and door. John Wilkinson went out of the haat door, and proceeded to the New Row, about a mile distant, for assistance ; he called upon the deceased and a man named Williamson. Another man, named Jno. Milburn, hearing the noise, got up and dressed himself. The deceased and Milburn being the first ready, set off, in the direction of West House, along the railway. When they got to a bridge near to the above farm, they heard Edmunds upon the bridge shouting. They went up the embankment, and the prisoner was standing with a large oak stick about five feet long and three inches thick in his hand. He said he would kill the first man that came near him, aud said, "Will yams take a man upon the highway?" Milburn said to the deceased that they lint better not go to him themselves, when the deceased replied that something must be done, and at the same time attempted to get over the rails on to the road. The prisoner made a run at him, and struck him a violcut blow across the head with the stick ; the deceased fell backwards insensible. Edmunds said to Milburn, " I will not kill you." He then went to the deceased awl looked at him, and then ran towards Mr Ackroyd's farm, saying he would come back directs,. At that time Williamson and John Wilkinson came up to the bridge, and Williamson, seeing what had happened, went off for more assistance. Edmunds was eventually secured, after a very severe struggle, at Kihlale about two miles from the scene of the murder, and brought in a cart to the lock-up at Stokesley, where he had to be strapped down. The deceased was rem teed to a cottage close by shortly after being injured, and Dr Alexander was sent for and dressed the wounds. The deceased remained insensible up to the time of his death at about four o'clock the next day. The prisoner has worked at the ironstone mines for the last four months, at Guisliro', and had been drinking for about a week previous to going to Mr Ackroyd's ; he is a charged soldier, and is branded with the letters 1) and 11 C.