The Sun. — 1858-05-07 (London, England)

SHOCKING MURDER IN A NEWSPAPER OFFICE AT HALIFAX.  (Front the Leeds Mercury.) A dreadful murder occurred at the Halifax Guardian newspaper-office, yesterday, and threw the whole town into the utmost consternation, the deceased being extensively known in the town. From what could be gathered soon after the fearful affair, it appears that the compositors at the office of the Halifax Guardian newspaper had but just returned from dinner yesterday afternoon, a little after two o'clock. A number of them were in the first composing room upstairs (the room next to George-street), and two others, one of them the unfortunate deceased, Mr. James Jacobs, and the other his murderer, a youth about twenty years of age, named Dawson (who is an aroprentice), were in a further room, looking o George-street-yard. The two latter were at work, and just before the melancholy affair Dawson had gone to one of the other men for a l inch of snuff for deceased, with which he had returned to the other room. No quarrel in words was heard between the two, but it seems the murderer shut the door and fastened it, and without a moment's warning commenced an attack a Jacobs with iron "dumb-bells." After this, and apparently becoming still more furious, he seized an iron press-stang, about two-and-a-half yards long, and beat the deceased about the head with that. Still further, lie seized a hatchet, and with it cut away at the face and head of his victim. Meanwhile the other workmen were alarmed with the noise going on, and, if we are rightly informed, all ran into the street. There was a woolsorter named Bates passing up the street, however, to whom they communicated that there was some. thing wrong, and he, a strong, courageous man, determined to ascertain what was really the matter. He and the printers entered the office, and, breaking open the door, found to their utter dismay that poor Jacobs was dead. The sight that presented itself was fearful. V • dead body of the man who but a few moments before was vigorous with life and all the strength of manhood, was laid on its back in the room. There was a large pool of blood, tin brains being mingled iu it. The w•unda were of the most dreadful character, and all upon the front part of the head. The forehead was laid open, and the face gashed, apparently with the hatchet. The ill-fated man had taken off his coat, and had commenced his work, for his composing-stick lay near him, and the matter he was setting up was in melancholy . The murderer was immediately arrested and removed to the Town-hall in the custody of the police. He is a youth still serving his time with Mr. Walker, the pr. prietor and publisher of the lialifax Guardian, and is considered, so far .as ll we can ascertain, a you' of remarkably quiet disposition. Ho and his victim were believed to be very friendly, end we are told frequently worked side by side with each other. Not one word of disagreement that we can hear of had occurred between the two.  Dawson had been engaged up to the time on some "rule work," which he bad executed very neatly, and altogether had conducted himself with the utmost propriety up to the very instant of his commencing the fatal attack on Jacobs. The man's trousers were bespattered with, blood and brains when removed to the Town-hall. He did notseem much excited, only had a peculiar wildness about the eyes. He quietly told Sergeant Thompson all th tt had happened. The only explicable statement is, that Dawson must have suddenly lost his reason, and under tee influence of momentary madness done this dreadful deed.  Jacobs, the deceased, as we have said, was very well known in the town. He resided at Hall-end, where his wife carried on the business of a miliner on a large scale. He was in the vigour of bis days, a strong active man. He bad been at the Guardian office for a dozen years at least. The inquiry b fore the coroner and jury resulted in a verdict of wilful murder against the the prisoner the prisoner. While the surgeon was giving his evidence sc earned violently, and attempted to approach bim, but was held back by several of the parties present. A scene of great excitement ensue d, and ultimately ithe surgical evidence was taken in private.  •