The Sun. — 1831-10-25 (London, England)

THE FETCHAM MURDERS.  The horror that was created in the neighbourhood of Leatherhead, in October, 1826, in consequence of the barbarous murders of an old cottager named John Akehurst, and of his housekeeper, Elizabeth Haines, has within the last few days in a great degree revived under circumstances which it is hoped will lead to the development of that most mysterious and inhuman piece of butchery. It was announced in a Brighton Paper a few days ago, that the party had been discovered who had committed the murders. Upon making inquiries upon the spot we find that no person is at present in custody charged with the murders ; but the strongest suspicion exists agaiast certain parties who were taken into custody on suspicion of committing the murders soon after their perpetration. The murders were committed on the night of the 12th of October, 1826, and were discovered by a young man, the son of one Bennett, who lived in a cottage about 150 yards from Akehurst's, about half-past six o'clock next morning. It was supposed that old Mr. Akehurst had a considerable sum of money in his possession at the time, he having stated several years before to the Bennetts that he had 100 guineas in the house, and that he had made his will, leaving his property to his grand-daughter Mary Ayres. At the time of the murder a man named Musk, a nephew of Bennett's, lived in Bennett's cottage, and though the murder was not discovered till halfpast six o'clock in the morning at Fetcham, this individual, Musk (who with Bennett had risen early that morning and gone out from home), actually gave information of the murder having been committed, at a village called Westbookham, several miles from Fetcham, before the hour of six o'clock. Shortly after the murders were committed, Grossrnith, an officer of Union•ball, who always suspected Bennett and his nephew Musk had committed the deed, took Bennett into custody, and used every means in his power to apprehend Musk, but to this hour the police have not been able to trace where Musk has secluded himself. Bennett was discharged, after being detained a short time, for want of evidence. Shortly before the 12th of October last, Bennett and his wife were taken ill of fever, and whilst labouring under strong nervous in itation and delirium, it was reported that one of them had used some expressions which revived in the minds of the neighbours those suspicions which they had entertained against the family of Bennett immediately after the murder.— Dr. Baker, of Leatherhead, attended the Bennetts, and found that they were labouring under great mental as well as bodily disease. The Rev. Mr. Bolland (the brother of Mr. Baron Bolland), the Rector of Fetcham, visited the Bennetts, and being a Magistrate he interrogated the parties. As the matter has been taken up by other Magistrates, and as the Union-hall officers are exerting themselves to obtain further evidence, it would be improper to say trit,re at present, especially as there is so strong a feeling existing to the prejudice of the suspected parties in the minds of the inhabitants of Leatherhead, Feltham, and the vicinity. It will be recollected that Mary Ayres, the granddaughter of old Akehurst (who had cohabited with a man called " Cobbler \Vili"), was in custody in Horemonger-lane gaol for some time on suspicion of being a participator in the murders, but there was no evidence of her guilt, and the unfortunate woman having been incarcerated in a damp dungeon, she caught a severe cold, which put a period to her existence soon after her liberation from prison,