The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1876-04-21 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THE BLACKBURN • 3117RDER. EXTRAORDINARY DISC 0V E RIES. ARREST OF A BARBER, WHO CONFESSES HIS GUILT. Great excitement prevailed in Blackburn on Sunday when it became known that the police had taken into custody William Fish, barber, of Moss street, on the charge of murdering Emily Holland on March 28, and had found portions of the skull andhair of a child. Suspicion had always attached to the barber, who keeps a lock-up shop, and resides at 13, Moss street, with his wife and two children. The discovery of the skull was made in a most extraordinary manner. Chief-constable Potts had arranged with a man named Preston, of 72, Nelson street, Preston, to bring over two of his doge, one half bloodhound and spaniel, and the other a Clumber spaniel. Policedetect ices Holden and Livesey were sent out with the digs to the place where the trunk of the body was found at Bastwell, but nothing was scented. The dogs were taken close to where, in Royshaw Wood, a man had been seen to go backwards and forwards to Lower Cunliff, Rishton, where the legs of the child were found, but without any result. They returned to Blackburn, and Mr. Potts then decided to have the dogs taken to Fish's shop and the shop of a barber named Denis Whitehead, whe had also been suspected. Bet wren nine and ten o'clock the two detectives, along with Superintendent Enstwood, entered thepremises of the two barbers simultaneously, Holden remaining at Fuchs ship, while the other establishment was examined. From the movements of the dogs the police had no reason to suppose that an) thing was concealed there, and Superintendent Eastwood, Detective Livesey, Taylor, and his dogs proceeded to Fish's shop. The bloodhound at once scented up the chimney of a front room upstairs, and the owner of the dog on putting his hand up the eldinney pulled down from the recess of the draught hole the skull and other portions of a child, wrapped in a papercovered with blood, From a medseil exemination ntade by Dr. Patchett it was evident that the head had recently been burnt. It will he recollected that the trunk .of the body and the legs were found wrapped is copies of the threeof them being of recent date—one of Nov.lB, 18Th. Fish's shop was tw.ce previously searched, and copies of the Herald were found in his possession, the date of the pap vs in which the dismembered body was found being missing. There is no heading to thenewspaper in which the skull was found, but in one portion there is printed in italics, "To the Editor of the Manchester Courice,' and the primmer Fish takes in the Manchester Courier. Fish was eTesent wit::: his wife when the discovery was made,- but he said nothing. Mr. Potts was at mice sent for, and it was with difficulty that Fish could be taken to the lock-up. Ile was in danger of being lynched, and, if the ',ohs* had not been prontpt in meting him away, violence would have hero resorted to. After the charge had been entered the prisoner was removed to a cell, and two constables remained with him all the night. His wife went to see him at the pelice-office, and sail she did not think her husband capitate of committing a crime. There wis a strong iee:i lie, against toe pmeoner in the district, and it was only the other oay that he went to the poiseMD.. to aels for protection lie is 21i yeers of age, s Wend Mt. 2in. in height, and wears neither beard nor moustache. On Sunnay night he appeared to feel his position keenly, and looked eery rile. His chop is only about forty yards distrait from-the guessers shop where Emily Holland purchased hoe. ot tobacco tor a man. Every day on her way home the little go I would have pees the b irbeeis shop, and he must therefore have known her well. • THE PRISONER BE FoRE