The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1858-05-04 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

STEAK.—On Sunday morning week, upon the arrival in York of the down mail from Normanton, great oonstenuition was caused by the appearance of the engine, the front part of which was nearly covered with blood and pieces of flesh and hair. Inquiry was immediately made by the officials at the station, and they learned that the accident occurred under the following circumstances :—The train in question left Nornianton at 2.49 a.m., bringing the mail from the south, and on arriving somewhere between Ulleskelf and Church Fenton the engine driver and fireman perceived two dark objects at some distance in front of them. The driver immediately shut off the steam and slackened the speed of the train; but his precautions were of no avail, as the next instant the buffers of the engine struck two horses which had strayed on the line by some means or other, knocking one of them into a ditch some distance from the rails; the other horsi was literally pounded to pieces. The force of the concussion was such that it threw Reynolds, the guard, who was in his van at the end of the train, quite off his feet. The train at this time was running at the rate of 40 miles an hour. The guard immediately put his break on for the purpose of stopping the train, which was soon accomplished. The extent of the accident and the narrow escape of the passengers were now apparent. The two carriages immediately next to the engine, which were fortunately empty, lied been thrown off the rails, and dragged a distance of 300 yards. Had the couplings of these carriages given way the consequences might have been fearful, as the whole train would probably have been thrown off the line. Measures were immediately adopted for the removal of the carriages and the proceeding of the train, which was effected after a delay of about 40 minutes.  BROOKING hIURDRIL—At • lone farmhouse with a cottage adjoining, about half a mile from the gates of Lyme Park, Cheshire, • frightful murder was committed on Thursday night. Henry Bloomfield, about 35 years of age, occupied a small farm in Lyme Handley. His conduct had frequently exhibited symptom; of insanity; but his wife, who is of • respectable family, and ie highly spoken of, had always been opposed to any scheme for placing him under restraint, confident of her own ability to manage him. On Thursday evening they retired to rest, when a married sister of Bloomfield and her little boy, who were in the house that night, went to bed in an adjoining room. The sister was awake, when, about half-past 10 o'clock, she heard her brother get up and go down stairs. She got out of bed, but not before Bloomfield had returned with a cleaver, had dragged his wife out of bed, and was inflicting blows on her head with all his strength with this tremendous weapon. When several men entered they found Bloomfield quietly lying on a sofa down stairs. On being asked what he had been doing, he answered composedly, "I've killed the Devil." On going upstairs they found the poor woman lying on the floor, amid streams of blood flowing from nine several wounds, but still, it is said, alive ; she is stated even to have lived far two hours after. Bloomfield has since said that he had a "mission," and that the Lord told him he was going to kill his wife; when he replied, "Nay, Lord, I'll kill her myself ; " and he went immediately and fetched the cleaver. Bloomfield is now in the Macclesfield county look-up, where he continues singing and praying, after his fashion, at intervals. An inquest has been held on the body, and a verdict of "Wilful Murder" returned against Bloomfield.