The Poole Telegram. — 1881-11-11 (Poole, Dorset, England)

THE TERRIBLE MURDER OF A SWEETHEART AT PRESTON. Aspinal Simpson, a young man, was sentenced to death at Manchester Assize, on Monday, for the reurder of his mweetheart, Miss Ann Radcliffe, 16 yearn of age, the daughter of an innkeeper, at Preston. The evidence adduted at the trial was to the following effect :—The primner, since the death of his father, had lived with his widowed mother at Pre,ton, where they are very well known. The deceased was the daughter of Mr. Alfred Radcliffe, keeper of the Bell. Some 12 or 18 months ago the prisoner and deoeased became acquainted, but the girl's father was very much opposed to the intimacy, and he several times forbade the prisoner coming to the house. In opp etitinn to the father's wish they continued to see each other, and selected a secluded passage as their meeting plane. Notwithstanding • change in the girl's condition, the courtship appeared to continue. Some months before the murder the prisoner met • girl, named Richardson, with whom he previously kept company. She asked him why he did not get married, as he had kept company with the deceased long enough, and he replied—" gettiog married. I'm only after the cash hags there." About six weeks before the thy of the murder a conversation was overheard between them in the passage, in which the prisoner asked the deceased if she had g it him any more money, to which she answered, "I cannot be always robbing my father for you." The girl was only 16 ye trs of aTe. About six weeks before her death the girl presented to her father a form of consent to the marriage, which she asked him to sign. The father refused to sign it, but she was importunate, and preeented it to him swain a month later, and then he signed it. On the 29th July the prim nor went to is barber's shop, and after he had left it was loon I that a razor had dimppe tred. The n arriam wa fixed to take pace on theist August, hot the prisoner postponel it. On Ancust 3rd the deceased and the pri oner were out together early in the morning. They went together to the t-ir Walter Bcott public-house, and the prisoner ordered two bottles of lemonade, which weresupple Ito them in aro mi which they occupied alone. They were so quiet that the landlady's daughter peeped into the room, thinking they had gone, but found them sitting together near the window. A few minutes afterwards the girl heard something fall, and w mt again to the room to see what it was. She met the murdered yid running out of the door, her throat fearfully cut. The girl shouted out in terror and ran away, and the demised turned back into the roo ^, fell down on the hearthrug, and died in • tow mitiotai. Au open team., correst onding with the one takea from the barber's shop, was lying on the sib* Tb• deter of decomed, PllO wee TM =tett  distressed, maid her sister was very fond of the prisoner, and the following letter to the prisoner was in her sieter's handwriting :—" Dear Jack,—l think you had better CAPS down either to night or in the morning and ask him whet he has against you and I speaking together. If I have to speak to you no more I hove made up my mind to make sway with myself, as I eanout live withont seviug or speaking to you. I am nearly heart-broken. Good Aye for the present, cud a milhou kisses from your darling wife, A. Samos. Itlxonee bad writing and spelling— written in haste. Tell him that you really love we, and if he will only have you you will wait a few yearn for me." William Bradshaw, who went to the house where the girl was murdered immediately after the murder, when he saw the body lying on the floor, asked the prisoner who had done it, and he replied " It'e me." The prisoner WM found guilty; and on being raked if he had anything to say, replied, " No, sir; I am quite satisfied. "after being sentenced ho walked from the dock without evincing any emotion.