Widnes Examiner. — 1896-08-15 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

WILKINSON'S CRIME.  Mrs. Kaye, who was murdered by Wilkinson, was a Warrington woman,and resided with her daughter, Mrs. Morrall, in Bewsey-road. Her son formerly carried on business in Markey-street as a hairdresser and elsewhere in the town. Immediately on the receipt of the news Mrs. Morrall proceeded to Nottingham General Hospital. The surprise of the relatives may be imagined when they received information of the terrible maltreatment the old lady had received. In October last she went to Nottingham to stay with a married son, who is an engineer on the Great Northern Railway, intending to return to Warrington in March. During her stay in Nottingham, however, Mrs. Kaye accepted an invitation to spend a few days at the house of Mr. Samuel Powley, a market gardener, living at Arnold. Mr. Powley, who lives in Gedling-lane, was one of the eight zandidates seeking election on the Arnold Urban District Council, and on Friday night, February 14th. was busily engaged canvassing in the district,and in the course of his busineas happened to go in the Ram Inn. During his stay there a stranger entered, and seeing Mr. Powley, asked a man sitting near who he was. His neighbour answered that it was Mr. Powley, a market gardener. Shortly afterwards Mr. Powley left the house, being followed by the stranger, who eventually found his way to Mr. Powley's house. Mrs. Powley and the children, together with Mrs. Kaye, were in the house when a knock came to the door. Before they could get there the stranger,who was described as a thin, dark man, rather tall, and attired in a hard felt hat and black suit entered. After asking if Mr. Powley lived there, and being answered in the affirmative, the stranger volunteered the information that Mr. Powley had met with a very serious accident by being run over by a bicycle, and was lying badly hurt at the Ram Inn, where he wished to see his wile and children. Mrs. Fawley was naturally greatly alarmed, and went out with the stranger, one of her sons going ahead, leaving Mrs. Kaye in the house. The stranger, after accompanying Mrs. Powley some distance into the town, left her after wishing " Good-night," and she proceeded on to the Ram Inn by herself. She had not gone far when she was met by her son, who informed her that his father was all right. Suspecting that there was something wrong, she told the lad to go for a policeman and proceeded home. On arrival at Mr. Powley's house, which is quite isolated, being at least three hundiad yards from any other dwelling house, a dreadful discovery met their eyes. Mrs. Kaye was found lying in the back kitchen in a pool of blood. Her head had been terribly battered with a kitchen poker, which was found afterwards ben!, and indented. The unfortunate woman lay on her back, moaning slightly. The ceiling and three of the walls were covered with blood, being evidence of the brave resistance made by the old laly to the miscreant's attack. About the room were traces of a struggle having taken place, and from what can be gathered it would appear that the old lady was suddenly surprised by the thief, but with coolness and presence of mind remarkable in a woman of such advanoed years, seized him and endeavolared to eject him. The man, made an attempt to escape, but bars. Kaye held on to him and endeavoured to atttact assistance by screaming. Possibly had it not been for this brave attempt to detain the man Mrs. Kaye would not have been injured. The thief evidently apprehending that outside attention would soon be attracted became violent with the woman, dragged her into the room, and as could be seen from what was found there afterwards, made the most brutal and murderous attack upon her, using the p ker with such force as to cause her death. He then carried out his object of robbing the house.