The Miner and Workman's Advocate. — 1865-03-11 (London, England)

THE HORRIBLE MITRDER IN DURHAM.  At the Durham assizes, on Saturday, Matthew Atkinson, pitman, was charged with the wilful murder of his wife, Ellen Atkinson, at Spen, near Winlaton, on the 17th of December. The facts of this. dreadful case must be fresh in the recollection of our readers. Atkinson had frequentky threatened and ill-treated his wife. On the night of the 17th of December, the prisoner came home from a shooting match, and became exceedingly angry because there was no supper and no fire. A boy and a man named Leybourne were in the house. Mrs. Atkinson said, "Sit down, Mat ;" but the prisoner, instead of doing so, made an attack upon his wife. The woman ran away, but the prisoner pursued and overtook her. He then struck her with considerable violence, and the boy and Leyburn beingfrightenedwent away from the house. They returned with a ssistance,when they fouled the prisoner beating his wife -with the tongs. Atkinson shut the door and threatened if any of them came near him he would shoot them. After this, a man namedßenjamin Hunter, who lived next door, heard the prisoner beating the poor woman in a most brutal manner. Subsequently other persons heard the prisontr beating his wife withthe fire • shovel, which was afterwards found to be broken. Afterwards the prisoner left the house and remained out about twenty minutes, when he returned and resumed his attack on the woman. .At length Hunter and ethers succeeded in getting into the house, when they found her covered with blood. They lifted her up and placed her on the bed, when abe gave one gasp and immediately died. On the floor was a bowl of water tinged with blood. Afterwards the prisoner and another man sat down by the murdered woman and coolly smoked their pipes. Apoliceman afterwards apprehended the prisoner, who did not attempt to deny the crime. A number.of witnesses having been examined, the jury retired, and after an absence of about three-quarters of an hour, they retured a verdict of wilful murder. The prisoner, on being asked whether he had anything tosay whysentence of death should not be pronouneed,.eaid :—From the life that woman led me I have been tired of my life these seven or eight years. At two o'clock on that morning I bad to fetch her into the house from another man. She had been seven times away stopping-with other men, and I have always fetched her home again when I heard of her being in want. I didn't intend to do what I have done; but when I fetethed her into the house from another man it put me into -such a way I did net know what I was doing. I knew no more than you, any lord, what I had 'done until the neighbours told me.—The Judge: Anything more you wish to say ?—The pri-soner : I have nothing more to say except that I have been tired of my life these seven or eight years.—The. Judge: Matthew Atkinson, you have been convicted upon evidence which could not leave any doubt upon the. minds:of the Jury that you have been guilty of the wilful murder of your wife. You say you are tired of life. Alas ! you took upon yourself to beat her and ill-treat. her in asavage and brutal manner. You showed her no mercy, and when she endeavoured to escape from your violence you pursued her and brought her back. You have been convicted on evidence of the most clear description, and it is rare indeed " that a case is ever se. clearly proved. You must be prepared to die. Few maybe the days left for you, and I beseech you with all diligence to repair to the Throne of Grace from which no repentant sinner was ever driven away. His lordship then pronounced sentence of death.—The prisoner (in a. remarkably firm tone) : Thank you, any Lord, I am quite prepared to die at any moment.