The Northern News. — 1898-06-04 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AT LONGTOWN WORKHOUSE.  On Tuesday about midnight, a shocking murder was committed in the Hallburn Workhouse, Longtown. Among the occupants of the Hospital Ward were two men, James Nichol, 78 years of age, and Michael E. Carr. Nichol who once held a respectable position as a draper, became an inmate some years ago, but left on coming into a legacy of £3OO from a son. About three months ago, his means being exhausted, he returned to liallburn, very feeble and almost blind. The other man Carr hAs also had a chequered career. He is a cripple, having one leg shorter than the other, and prior to the passing of the Education Act, he taught a school. Since that time he made a livelihood as a stonebreaker till about a fortnight ago, when he was admitted to the Hallburn Workhouse. He was accustomed to walk with two sticks, both of which were heavily shod with iron, The facts of the tragedy may be briefly told. There were eight inmates in the hospital at the time, one man reputed to be 106 years old. At a quarter to eleven, Mr Dawes, the muter, passed through to see that all was right. He spoke to Can and asked him how he felt. Carr replied: "I am all right ; I can do with a good sleep." All went to bed, but about midnight Carr got up and went out Into the lobby. On his return, instead of returning to his own bed, he went between that occupied by Nichol and that of another inmate named George Graham. He commenced pulling Nichol, shouting, "Come out of my bed." Alexander Bell, the wardsman, told Can he was mistaken, and showed him his own bed. Can, however, refused to be pacified, and Bell went for the Master. On his return, he saw Carr was beating Nichol with his stick, and he ran back to hasten the master. On the le.tter's entrance, Can was found sitting on the commode beside Nichol's bed, while the latter lay quite dead, his head so battered that his features were unrecognisable; one arm was broken and there were marks of other injuries on the body As soon as Can saw the Master he struck out at him. fhe men closed and there was a struggle, during which the Master received a blow on the forehead. Graham, the occupant of the adjoining bed, was also struck, but retaliated with a blow on the top of the head, which partially stunned Carr, who was then secured and put in a straight waistcoat. Later, he was given in charge of the police. He seemed at that time quite rational, but he was at one time in a lunatic asylum, and there is insanity in his family. The inquest was held on Thursday before Mr A. Lee, Deputy-Coroner for East Cumberland. It appeared that Can had been rather noisy after getting to bed, and the matron called th 3 master's attention t him. In reply to the master's question, he said he was all right, and wanted to get to sleep. Graham, who occupied the bed adjoining Nichol's said he had noticed for two days that Can was depressed and strange in his manner. When Can was struggling with the Master, he thought he was going to murder them all, and so he gave him a tap on the head with his stick Carr looked at him first when he came in, but seeing he was awake turned his attention to Nichol The jury found Can guilty of wilful murder, and strongly commended the conduct of Graham,  AS FULL OF FEAOHANCE AS THE MONTH OF MAY CEJI truly be said of " Horniman's Pure Tea.' Horniman's Tea can be purchased in every City, Town, and Village Sold in this locality by—Haltwhistle, James Askew, grocer and general merchant ; Allendale, Co-Operative Society ; Haydon Bridge, Armstrong, confectioner, &o.; Herham, Hope, grocer, and Richardson and Co., chemists; Gilsland, Bell and Son, grocers; Carlisle, Gill, Botchergate ; Finlay, Blackwell Road; Murray, Scotch Street: and County Trading (Jo.; Houghton, Crake, confectioner Longtown, Co-operative Society; Wigton, Pearson and Fell. King Street; Dalaton, Boyd and Co., grocers.  Mr W. H. Crwin, ga.s works manager, Haydon Bridge, whilst fishing in a stream a little below the bridge which spans the river South Tyne at the above village, on Wednesday night, landed a very fine specimen of yellow trout, weighing Bill's., and 22 inches in length.