Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1864-12-30 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

DREADFUL MURDER AT DERBY.  -.-... -.01..-.- A dreadful murder was committed at Derby, on Friday morning. The details of the tragedy will be gathered from the following statement of Sergeant Thorpe, of the borough police force :—I was on duty on the London road at a quarter to one o'clock on Friday morning, when James Potter, a bailiff, aged 55, and who resides in Traffic-street, London-road, met me. I mid to him, " Potter, are you not going home ?" and he replied, "Nit unless you go along with me." I said, "I will go along with you if you like," and we went back to his house together. Potter said, "I cannor ;:et into the house, as my wife has locked me out," vlli I afterwards found was a correct statement. I "the sinitters are open, get through the window." No, I will not, unless you go along with no.' I said, •‘ Vcry well; go in, that's a good fellow." ito %.a through, titel I said, Is there any one inside ?" anl he replied, " No, there is not, but you come in with me." rotte.• then struck a light, and I got through I;ie wi.ol.we to him. When he lifted the window up I  ~„ n.oiet tl..tt, let trembled very much. I ran to the trui,Ps A roe, close by, got some matches, and returned to Potter's heu.e. Potter said, "Go up stairs with , me," and I replied, " You go first, you know the road." Potter then took me to a front bed room door co the second ttrey, and he said, "There is no one here." I said, "Is there any one above ?" and Potter replied, '• Come into the attic with me." I accompanied him into the attic, but found no one there. We then returned to the bed-room on the second floor at the back of the Imise, a lodger being fast asleep in the front bed-room. I said to Potter, "Go into this bed-room." He would not, and I went in. On the bed lay Potter's wife, quite dead, with one leg out of bed, her head towards the window, and one arm stretched out, whilst blood was trickling from the bedclothes. Potter was about to leave the room, when I seized hold of him and said, " What does this blood mean ? What is this? come here." _. . . _.  .... Ile replied, "Oh dear! oh dear us she dead?" I said " She is, what does it all mean ?" He made no reply, and I went down stairs and called two women Who were passing down the street. They got through the window, went and looked at the body, saw that the woman was dead, but would not remain in the house, as they were frightened. A little girl was passing, and I sent to the Druid's Arms, and soon afterwards Mr . . „  Faut and Mr Borman, surgeons, arrived. On examining the body a snort wound was found under the high breast, which, on being probed, was found to be of great depth. I remained with the body until seven o'clock this morning. On searching the bedroom where the body was fouttd, Sergeant Walker found by the s:tie of a pair of chests of drawers a spear, which had been unsheathed from a walking stick, and with which the deed was perpetrated. Mrs Potter was 50 years of age, and had lid a large family, but they were all grown up, and none resided at home. Potter was brought up before the magistrates on Friday morning last, and remanded.