The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1890-03-29 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

THE CREWE CASE—ORO Of the most extraordinary murder trials of the century— terminated in the conviction of the accused George and Richard Davies. One of the youths is eighteen and the other sixteen years of age. These boys have been sentenced to death, and it is questionable whether even their youth will save them from the gallows. Every newspaper reader is familiar with the history of this teriible crime, the premeditated murder of a father. Here was no case of sudden and uncontrollable passion, but a we 11 thought-out plot. The boys had both pistols and revolvers, and they doomed their parent to die. But there was danger in the employment of firearms and these young criminals had no wish to be found out. They elaborated a scheme which would resemble a highway robbery. They attacked their victim in a lonely place with a hatchet, and used that terrible instrument with frightful ferocity. There were a dozen or more wounds, several of which would have alone been fatal. Then they concocted the story of having been waylaid. Their father was found weltering THE RETIREMENT of Mr. J. S. Ainsworth I in his blood, and the sons made fatal vanas the Liberal candid tte for Barrow has ations in their story. Like other clever been followed by the selection of Mr. James criminals they convicted themselves, and w A. Duncan, son of a former member for the when they found out their danger they didl Borough. Much as the Liberals would what most accomplices in crime can almost have liked to retain the services of Mr. invariably be counted on to do—they tried Ainsworth, they could not rause to allow to lay the blame of the actual deed on the him to take the course indicated in his other. As a matter of fact, neither in law letter. As a matter of fact, Mr. Ainsworth or moral guilt was there any difference never distinctly pledged himself to contest between them. The position of these youths the borough. When the choice of the has evoked a certain amount of public Liberal Association fell upon him, he laid sympathy by reason of the notoriously bad down as a condition of acceptance that he would fight the battle if the circumstances of the time permitted, and no more suitable candidate offered. That was a generous position to assume, and considering the manner in which Mr. Ainsworth came forward in 1886, it will be admitted that the Liberal party in Barrow owe him a debt of gratitude. The fidelity of the Ainsworths to Liberal principles has be 'ome proverbial, and nowhere is their conduct appreciated better than amongst their Cumberland neighbours. Fortunately the interregnum between the retirement of Mr. Ainsworth and the selection of his successor has been very brief. Mr. Duncan is the son of a gentleman who was greatly esteemed by the people of Barrow. The late Mr. Duncan served the Liberal party very faithfully, and his death was greatly lamented. But it is not the only recommendation of Mr. James Duncan that he is the son of his father. He is a sound Liberal, and particularly outspoken on the Irish Question. He has privately addressed a gathering of Barrow Liberals this week, and when he makes his appearance on a public platform we have no doubt that his political principles will be found in complete accord with those of the Liberal party in the borough. Possibly the change of candidate, unexpected though it may have been to some, will give an impetus to Liberalism in the town. If there is a fault to be found with our local party-managers during the last twelve months, it has been a sl:ght lack of energy —a failure to make the most of passing political events. For instance, there has not been a single political meeting during the winter. The Liberal cause is no doubt making progress in the constituency, but a little enthusiasm would be valuable. We hope we are now to see fresh evidence cf vitality.