Northern Times. — 1857-11-06 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

THE ESSEX MURDER.  COWIE ENQAINE, Wednesday.e-The inquest upon the body of the unfortunate man, Mr. Isaac Butcher, of this piece, was held yesterdiy, before Mr. W. Wood, County Coroner. Henry Hubhard, labourer, said he met deceased about 30 rods from where the body was found when he was walking quickly, and wished witness good night. About a rod and a ha:f behind him wis another man, who al- o bade witness good night. and who appeared to be a tall man, an 1 hie dress of a light colour. A little way behind him was a second man, rather shorter. dressed in something dark, which appeared to fit close. and a wide-a-wake hat. Tee last man was not more iliau T ut 0 tuab beLii.Q ,1u Cir,v.a,sl. and b,th strangers to witness. Mr. T. Teylor, farmer, of Earl's Collie, said he overtook deceased (whom he knew to be a perfectly steady sober min), and kept with him till he turned into the C the- ale:tine R gad. Thomas Butler, under gardner to Mr. R Hill, said—ol Saturday last, soon after six o'clock, I was within fily or sixty yards of the lodge gate, when 1 heard a scuffling noise in the road, and some one called oat, " Oh ! dear l" which was followed by several groans and then a noise of some one choking. I ran on towards the spot, pulling th 3 gate rather sharply behind tne. and then stopped to listen, when I heard footstees in the direction from me. L ran in that direction, and on turning a corner I found a hat. and a piece of cheese lying on the road, an .I a yard or two further the deceased, who was lying on his back with his clothes disordered. I ran on a little further ; but thinking it was hardly prudent to go alone, returned and found deceased's brother with him, and Mr. Mayhew. Mr. M iyhew said he was driving along the roal with his mother and Thomas Butche r,brother of the deceased, when his horse shied at the body, and on getting out they, with difficulty, tecoznised deceased, whose face was smeared with blood and dirt. Mr. J,tin Taylor, surgeon, said he had made a post mortem examination of the deceased After describing the external and internal appearances of the body he said that he felt perfectly satisfied that violence had b, e ► used, and that the men died from asphyxia (suffocation) ; and as far as be could form an opinion, asphyxia was caused either by a hand placed upon the mouth and holding the nose, or by pressure upon the neck by means of the neckerchief, which, being of woollen, would not necessarily leave a mark ; it cool I not have arisen from natural causes. Tee evidenee having been completed, the jury returned a verdict of "Wilful Nluriler against some person or perseni unknown."—Just before the conclusion of the inq'iirv, Superintendent Andrews, of E ist H N,rfolk, arrived to consult with the E4sex police respecting a highway robbery near thet place upon a Mr Palmer, a farmer, while on his way home on the evening of the 24th ult., which there is strong reason to suspect was committed by the same parties, of whom the following description is given in the Police Gazette :—Oae about 25 or 26 years of age, 5 feet 6 inches, dark complexion, small whiskers and earring, dressed in a blue guernsey, cord trousers, black cloth cap with peak, and strong navvy boots. The other, 28 or 29 years of age, 5 feet 9 inches high, much pock pitted, light complexion, little or no whiskers, dressed in a velvet sleeved vest, light fustain trousers, low crowned hat—both apparently railway labourers.  Tas Swtss Eurc ions.—Tne Bond of B. me states (hat the eonrervative party hive gained a few as ire v'tes in the electi ins of the new NatLinil Assembly, but that they still rand in an immense minority, siz , 30 Conservativ,s to 90 Liber.ls. In the last assembly the respective strength of the parties was 95 Liberals to 25 C A