The Sun. — 1862-01-22 (London, England)

BRUTAL MURDER.—A murder of a very revolting character has just been perpetrated in the house of an Irshman in Mary. street, Aberdare. The name of the murderer is Thomas Carroll, and the victim is a young man 24 or 25 years of age, named Patrick Bansfield. B Jth are natives of Ireland. The circumstances are as follows is the habit among the disorderly classes in the mining dis• tricts for men to club together to purchase beer before the closing of the publichouses on Saturday nights, and then to take it to one of their houses, where the carousal is prolonged far into the Sunday morning. Liquor having been obtained in this way on Saturday night and stored at the house in Mary-street before mentioned, the deceased and Carroll sat drinking, and some quarrel arose between them. Words were followed by blows, and the two men at last fought. After some blows had been exchanged they closed, when Carroll was observed by a woman who lodged in the house to take out a knife,with which he stabbed his antagonist several times in the left breast. Bansfield staggered forward, groaned heavily, and threw up his hand, and it was then observed that blood was gushing out from the wounds so rapidly that in a short time the floor WAS covered with it. The persons present at once lent assistance, and the wounded man was carried off to bed. Medical aid was procured and the police were called in. Police-sergeant James, of the Glamorganshire constabulary, was speedily on the spot, and, finding what had oocirred and the dangerous condition of Bansfield, he at once took Carroll into custody. Mr. Rees Mills, surgeon, did all he could for the unfortunate sufferer, but his wounds were mortal, and he died in about 10 minutes after Mr. Mills arrived. A post mortem examination was subsequently made, from which it appeared that Bansfield had received six stabs, three in the face and three on the left side, one of which had penetrated the heart. On Monday the prisoner was brought before Mr. E. C. Fowler, the stipendiary magistrate for Merthyr. Mary Brien, wife of Patrick Brien, depos'ed that the prisoner, the deceased, and some others who lodged at her house in Mary-street, Aberdare, came in about 12 o'clock on Saturday night. While the deceased was having his supper, he asked the prisoner to consent to a marriage with his daughter. The prisoner replied that he would not, and the matter dropped. Some time afterwards beer was sent for. While it was being drunk the deceased and prisoner began disputing, and after a time they commenced fighting. Ellen Driscoll a' ated that, hearing the scuffle, she got out of bed and same down stairs, when she saw the prisoner draw his knife and strike the deceased with it on the left side of the breast. Her husband was trying to part them, but the prisoner made a rush past him and stabbed the deceased. She saw the knife in his hand, and had seen him with it before. It was a sort of dagger-knife, and had a guard and spring back to it. The deceased groaned and then staggered into the bedroom, where he died in a few minutes. The prisoner went out shortly afterwards. Witness followed, and saw him with the knife still in his hand. Ho said, " If any one comes within reach of my arm, I'll rip him open." He subsequently returned into the kitchen, and was feeling in his pockets'as if to find his knife, when Driscoll and the others seized him. P.S. Matthews said the prisoner was brought to the policestation on Sunday morning and charged with the murder. He was much the worse for liquor. He said, Oh, sergeant, this is a bad job ; I'm sorry for what I've done. Mr. Rees Mills, surgeon, stated that there were six w?unds, one of which had penetrated the heart. The priso.ner, who declined to say anything in defence, was committed . for trial for wilful murder.