Star. — 1824-08-23 (London, England)

MURDER AT LANGLEY PARK.—Since the late diabo.  lical attack that was made upon Mr. Goodhart's gardener, at Langley Park, on Monday last, every means have been used to bring the offenders to justice. On Tuesday, the day after the murder was committed, strong suspicions were raised against an Irishman named O'Finn ; Taunton, the officer, was dispatched in pursuit of him, and apprehended him on Wednesday morning, in Deptford Dock-yard. O'Finn had formerly been in Mr. Goodhart's service as under-gardener. Mr. goodhart discharged him ; but O'Finn, it is said, imputed his dismissal to Mr. Lines, the head-gardener, and threatened to revenge himself on some future occasion. Some few months since Mr. Goodhart's pinery was entered, and apparently by some person who was acquainted with the building. They first went to the tool-house, and, taking the key from a particular place where it was deposited, opened the pinery-door, and carried off the fruit. It was evident their motives were malicious as well as criminal; for they not only carried away those pines that were ripe, but cut up those that were green. Inquiry was made into the affair, and O'Finn was suspected of the robbery; and being made acquainted with such suspicions, he called immediately on Mr. Goodhart, for the purpose of clearing his character from the imputation. Mr. Goodhart said he had no charge against him, and O'Finn retired highly displeased that he should have been suspected, and it was said, vowed revenge against Lines for bringing his name in question; and he is reported to have said, " that he would shake hands with Lines some night or the other." On the murder being committed, this person was suspected, not only frem the threat he bad made use of, but also because he was seen in the immediate neighbourhood of Wickham on the day the murder was committed. Taunton immediately repaired with Lines to the Dock-yard at Deptford, where O'Finn was employed as a labourer; and having taken him into custody, conveyed him before Mr. Minshull, at Bowstreet. A private examination there took place, but Mr. Minshull was of opinion that the evidence was not sufficiently strong against him, and he was discharged, upon his promise that he would appear if called upon. Although O'Finn made use of this threat, there is every reason to suppose that he is not guilty of the murder. Mr. Lines considered that the attack was intended to have been made upon him for the reasons before•stated, and that in a mistake Morgan was shot. The villages of Wickham and Beckenham were much alarmed by the circumstance. One person said that he accidentally met a man in Wickham on Monday ; he had a small box hung before him, and said he sold chimney ornaments. He was very desiroas to be informed who occupied the seats thereabouts ; and in the course of his conversation it appeared that he knew more of the country than the person whom he was addressing. Inquiry has been made whether any person offered chimney ornaments fur sale ? all answered in the negative, and the inference drawn from it is, that the stranger wai anxious to know the inhabitants, and that the box was to carry off the pines or other fruit without injury. Taunton, the Bow-street officer, has been kept on the alert by these reports, but hitherto his suspicions against many individuals have proved groundless. Tne deceased was buried in Wickham Church-yard on Friday last, amidst a concourse of spectators.  SPOR PING IivrELLIGENcE.