Denton Examiner, Audenshaw, Hooley Hill and Dukinfield Advertiser. — 1876-04-29 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THE BOLTON MURDER.  CONFESSIONS OF THE PRISONERS  - - The magisterial inquiry into the circumstances connected with the murder of James Thompsonjn Slater's.lane,Bolton, on the IStla bast was resumed on Wednesday, at the Bolton Borough Police Court, before Major Hesketh, Mr Fell, and Alderman Green, The prisoners were: Edward Birch, labourer, 13, Cable-street, Bolton ; Edwin Ashcroft, 30, beetler. 22, Devonshireatreet: James Atkin,33, shopkeeper, of 112, Deansgate ; John Barnes, 25, packer, of 30, Hill-streett ; Thomas Ainsworth,2s, beetler, of 5, Moss-stree, and Thomas Haslam, IC, calenderman, of 104, Bury Old Road. The deceased was a fire-beater in the employment of Messrs Slater and Co., bleachers. Little Bolts 1, whose service five of the prisoners, along with other trade-unionists, had left in consequence of a dispute with r ference to the stamping of cloth. The places of the turnouts were filled to a large extent by workmen from other parts of the country, against whom it is stated the prisoners felt aggrieved, and in attempting to obtain revenge inflicted mortal injuries on the deceased. Mr Hall, borough prosecutor, conducted the prosecution; 51r Richardson, solicitor, appeared for Atkin, and Mr Fielding defended all the other prisoners, except Birch, who was undefended. In addition to the charge of wilful murder, there was one against the prisoners of having inflicted grievous bodily harm upon James M'Curley, one of the • knobsticks.' The case for the prosecution was , opened on Saturday last. Previously the prisoner had been before the court , several times. On one of these occasions some discussion took place as to the right of the police , in preventing the defending solicitors from consulting their clients in their cells. As a consequence an application was made by Mr Fielding to the Home Secretary, and Mr Cross telegraphed back instructions to the effeot that every facility was to be given to the gentlemen engaged in conducting the defence. On Wednesday the interest which the outrage has excited in the town was not at all decreased. Long before the time fixed for recommencing the hearing, the doom of the court were besieged by a large crowd, eager to obtain places inside, and when the first witness was called every available seat was occupied. The del.ositions having been read over and duly signed, Mr Richardson addresaing the magistrates, said he expected nothing he could say, after the evidence which had been given would prevent the committal of the three prisoners now in the dock, but he hoped the public would suspend their judgment as far as Atkin was concerned, especially w he, it was remembered that two of the persons who ought to know best asserted that he was an innocent person. Mr Fielding agreed in what his friend had said, and the prisoners were committed to the Manchester assizes on the capital charge,their defence being reserved. The court had sat for nine hours.  At the inquest,held at the Town Hall, before Mr J. Taylor, borough coroner, the evidence adduced was precisely similar to that given before the magistrates. After an hour's consultation, the jury returned a verdict of ' Wilful murder against the whole of the six men—Atkin,Birch,Ainsworth, Ashcroft, Barnes. and Haslam.  Two men were killed and three seriously injured at Portsmouth on Wednesday, by the falling of a portion of seine new offices which were being erected by the gas company. William Isaac Robinson. wood and coal dealer, was on Wednesday committed for trial by the Deveuport magistrates for the murder of his , daughter Gertrude, three years of age. Thirty thousand colliers are now on strike in Derbyshire and North Notts against the proposed reduction in their wages. It was resolved at a mass meeting on Saturday to r.fer the question of wages to arbitration the men to continue working as usual. The Dover Board of Guardians were summoned at Dover on Monday for nonpayment of £ll Os ad, their portion of the church rate made by the churchwardens of Buckland by the authoriry of the ve,try for the repayment of an old debt secured on the church rates of the borough. iffr Fox for the 'guardians contended that the summonses were not good, as it was forrnore than Rdd. The magistrates concurring in this view dismissed the case. The council for the plaintiffs intimated that they ehould proceed in the Eculesiastical Courts.