The Herald of Wales. — 1889-07-27 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

REVOLTING TRAGEDY ME CRISIS IN EGYPT. NEAR BIRMINGRA.M. TER ENEMY CONCENTRATING FOR BATTLE.  About six o'clock on Thursday evening, a . murder of a peculiarly brutal and revolting ' character was discovered to have been committed,. in Guildford-street, Hockley, near Birmingham, the victim being an old woman almost 80 years of age. For some years past No. 27, Guildfordstreet—which runs from Farm-street to Lozells ; —bail been tenanted by Henry and Eliza Phillips, the former a ilnplate-worker in the service of Miners. Butler and Sons, Aston Road. The house is a small dwelling with four or five rooms, and the inmates have of late consisted of the Phillipaea and their children—two boys and two girla--Winifred Phillips, and a lodger named Charles Lester Higginbotham, who has been employed by the Corporation for over fifteen years as a scavenger. It was shortly after six o'clock that Mrs. Fisher, of Bright's Terme, called in at 27 Guildford street. She eutered'by the back door, from the court in the rear, and upon looking round the room saw Phillips leaning on the couch, with blood pouring h.l a wound in the head, and foaming at the mouth. Before she could recover from this terrible surprise Mrs. Fisher heard the lodger come downstairs. She was about to call his attention to the unfortunate woman, when be flourished a knife and threatened to do for her. She called in the next-door, neighbowt, firs. Lawton, and between them they appear to have wrenched the weapon away from the man, and to have gone to the assistance of the victim. The latter was quite cold, and the bleeding did not abate. P.C. Clarke was quickly on the scene, and promptly removed the sufferer in a cab to the General Hospital. Police-constable Stanley searched the house. In the back room there was a large hammer, covered with blood and hair, while the conch was soaked with blood. Stanley thenwent upstairs ami diseoveredliigginbotham lying on his bed, in one of the front roams, with his throat cut from ear to ear. By his side was a large carving knife wet with blood, and on the dressing table, in front of the mirror, was a razor, lying in a pool of blood. As to the motive for the crime, the only one assigned seems almost too trivial to be true. Last Saturday night the prisoner had a quarrel with the old lady, and made use of some bad language to her. Subsequently she informed her eon, and he was very angry, and told his lodger he would have to leave at the end of the week. Higginbotham said nothing, and laid in bed all day on Sunday. On Tuesday be was told he would have to go at once, and he then asked to be allowed to stay on till he was paid his wages —on the Friday following. This request was aoieded to, and the subject dropped. Whether or not the matter was revived on Thursday, when he and the old lady were alone no one knows. There was no sign of any disturbance, and nothing was hmrd by the neighbours leading them to believe there was a quarrel. It is quite possible, judging by circumstances, that they had a few words, and she refused to get his dinner ready, and that -then, in a moment of madness, be struck the blow. The prisoner, who is fifty-eight years of age, has borne a good character, and was respected by those who knew him.  General GrenfeTs difticultiea increase, and a serious engagement is imminent. It has been ascertained that Wad-el-Njurni has recently been joined by 1,600 men from Firket, 600 from Hair, and 1,000 from Dougola. Wad-el-Njumi's reply to General Grenfell's proclamation, in whioh he informed the 13irclar that he would conquer the whole world, and that it was now impossible to stop, was brought I by the guide who conducted Njunii's force from Dongola. The Dervish leaderhassent GeneralGrenfell's messenger to Dorigola, whence be is to proceed with the proclamation to the Khalifs at Khartoum, by whom Njtuni esysibmurkbaaaswered.,