The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1860-01-03 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

LATE MURDEROUS OUTRAGE IN LEEDS.—The Leeds magistrates were occupied for several hours on Saturday afternoon week in the investigation of the circuinstanees attending the reoent assault and robbery of Mr. James Trafford, silk manufacturer, Leek, Staffordshire, which took place on Tuesday evening in • notorious thoroughfare, called Nelson-street, in Leeds. Three persons were in custody up to Friday night week, on suspicion of being concerned in the outrage, their names being G. Harrison, of ITnion-street, Joseph Matthews, of Nelson-street, and the woman of loose charazior generally called " Polka Ann," who lodged in Harrison's house. Some other information, however, came to the knowleige of the police late on Friday night week, which led to the apprehension of three other parties for the crime. These were "Sam " Matthews, Teresa Watson, and Martha Bates, all of whom resided at a disreputable house in Nelson-street, Watson being under the protection of the male prisoner. No evidence was taken against George Harrison, Joseph Matthews, and Mary Pollard, and these persons were accordiugly discharged. The prosecutor, Mr. Trafford, was able to attend the examinations, but he was very pale, and appeared to be very languid. He detailed the circumstances attending the assault and robbery, but qualified some portion of his former statement. It now appears the robbery took place in Nelson-street, and the prosecutor's ignorance of the locality had led him to comfound the two streets which run parallel from Vicar-lane to Mill. forth-street. Mr. Traffonl said he intended to visit a customer in George's street, but that he turned down Nelson-street by mistake, and was there attacked and robbed. The evidence against Matthewman, Bates, and Watson was certainly sufficient to warrant the magistrates in sending the care for trial. Mary Connor, wife of John Connor, pavior, bottom of Nelson-street, and • female who lodged with her, called Georgian& Ward, both distinctly swore that they were alarmed by cried of " Murder " as they were sittiug in their own house; that they therefore ran to the door; and they saw Matthewinan strike the prosecutor on the head ; that Watson afterwards rifled the pockets of the fallen man; that Batt,- was standing by; and that the three prisoners afterwards ran into their own house, which was close by. Mrs. Connor says she called out to the prisoners not to hurt the poor man, but that she dared not further interfere. After the prisoners bad run away, Mr. Traffunl rose from the ground, and staggered down the street, but fell twice before lie reached the bottom. The witnesses affirmed there could be no doubt about the prisoners, as they saw the whole assault and rubbery. and had previously known Mattliewman, Bates, and Watson. Mrs. Martha Booth, wife of Samuel Booth, 42. Nelson-street, also stated that on the morning after the assault she saw a maroon-coloured woman's sleeve lying in the channel of the street. Teresa Watson came down Nelson-street at that time, picked up the sleeve, and went with it into Mrs. Booth's house, saying, "Ilia is my sleeve ; I lost it last night; let it lie here until I come back." This sleeve, which was covered with mud and much rumpled, was afterwards claimed by Watson, and taken away. There were other suspicious circumstances, as, for instance, the prisoner's preparation for a flight to Bradford as soon as they knew they were suspected; but the evidence was not completed, and to allow time for this being done, the ease was remanded until the following Wednesday.