Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1890-02-01 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

SHOCHING HIGHWAY MURDER. Early on Sunday morning a shocking rnurdes was committed on the highway between Crewe and the village known as the Hough, some three miles distant, the victim being Richard Davies, aged 54 The deceased, who was the proprietor of ai extensive tailor and draper's estahlishment its Victoria-street, and was possessed of considerable property in Crewe, lived with his family at Hough, and invariably drove home on Saturday evenings. The murdered man and his son George, aged 16, who is employed in his father's shop, left Crewe soon after 11 o'clock on Satur'day in their pony trap. After passing through Gresby the roads may be described as winding country lanes. Just before entering the village, while they were passing a very lonely place in the road, two men jumped out from the hedge, one on either side. The night was so dark that their figures could not be seen. They laid hold of the pony's head and stopped it. The boy George tried to urge the animal forward by striking it with a stick, but being unsuccessful he got out of the trap. No sooner had he done this than one of the men rushed at Mr. Davies and struck him a terrible blow on the bead, and dragged him out of the trap into the road. Seeing the attack upon his father, the boy, pursued for a distance by the second man, made his escape to his home, where he got an elder brother and several villagers to go back with him. They found Mr. Davies lying dead at the side of the road,his head being battered out of all recognition. From the state of the road it was evident that there had been a very severe struggle In addition to the wounds on the head the muniered man had his right thumb cut off, and two fingers on the same hand broken. His body was found several yards from the 'Spot where the first attack was made, while the pony was discovered grazing about 50 yards nearer the village. The attack was of a most daring character, for there are houses within 200 yards, while the murdered man's house is not more than 600 yards away. It was ascertained that two market gardeners from Crewe drove by the same spot-10 minutes pre; iously, and they saw no one in the road ; while the people living in the nearest houses state that they did not hear any cries for help. The escape of the boy was remarkable, there being little doubt that if he had been caught he would have shared the same fate as his father. The motive for the crime was apparently robbery. The deceased had about £lO on him when he left Crewe. When found only sixpence remained. His pocket knife was found lying unopened in it. The murderers did not take his watch and chain, although the watch had been taken out of his pocket. Sonic of the villagers ascribe the deed to revenge. The deceased, however, was a quiet man, and it is not known that he had a quarrel with anyone. It is a .singular circumstance that about three years ago Mr. Davies and another son when returning along the same road were attacked as nearly as possible at the same spot. They, however, managed to beat off their assailants with a milk stool. The police discovered near the place a heavy pail, which was covered with hair and blood. This had evidently been used to batter in the deceased's skull.  The Dublin Express Ennis correspondent reports two moonlight outrages. In one case a farmer named Cullinan was dragged out of his house and forced to swear he would give up a farm for which he had paid 20 years' purchase. In the other case shots were fired iato the house of a berdsman,whose predecessor had been evicted. A solitary sailor has been discovered on a desolate island near Santa Cruz, nearly dead from exposure. He gives the name of Robriguez, and claims to have lived eight years on the island. He has been sent to Ifis home in Spain. In the City of London Court on Tuesday, before Mr. Commissioner Kerr, the case of Gatehouse v. Honrichs was heard. The plaintiff, Mr. Lewis Gatehouse, of Hougham, Dover, sought to recover the sum of £5O, Which was offered by the defilelent, Mr. Alexander honrichs, of 30a, Threadaeedle-street, 8.C., as a reward for the discovery af the whereabouts of Seigmund Meyer, who had mysteriously disappeared.—Judgnieme was given for the alaintifi for SW with,costa , ,  It tilxlia Notiass.  BRIGHOUBE & RASTRIOK TEMPERANUS SOCIETY k