The Sun. — 1868-01-23 (London, England)

BURGLARY AND MURDER. —A crime, rem-trkable alike for the boldness of its perpetrators and for the rapidity. of its accomplishment, was committed in Birmingham on Tuesday evening. For some time a maiden lady, named Melbourne, has resided alone in a house in Heneage-street, and was known to be possessed of considerable property. It was also well known that about this time she receives large amounts of money, as interest upon funds invested in various ways. Formerly a brother resided in the house with Miss Melbourne, but he died, and since then she lived alone. About six o'clock a woman, who chanced to be in a shed adjoining Miss Melbourne's residence, saw three men cross a wall and enter the house. The woman, hearing some noise inside the house, hastened to tell her husband of what she had seen, and he communicated directly with the police. A constable went at once to the house, and was startled, on entering, to find Miss Melbourne lying dead on the floor. Her body was still warm. From the marks which were seen about her throat, it was evident that she had been strangled. The furniture was found to have been tossed about, and boxes were broken open, as if money had been the object of search. Three men, who are known to reside in the neighbourhood, are suspected. They answer to the description of the men who were seen crossing the wall. It is not at present possible to say whether any money, or how much, was taken by the murderers.  SCENE AT A PARISH CHURCH• On Sunday an  extraordinary, and happily very uncommon scene was enacted at the parish church of St. Nicholas. William Burrage, carpenter, and Esther Smith, spinster, both of Brighton, having been duly " asked in church" on three consecutive Sundays, repaired, accompanied by the " best man" and a bridesmaid, in a cab to the sacred edifice at eight o'clock on the morning named, to be " joined together in holymatrimony," several other "happy couples" having previously been " made one." Unfortunately— or, rather, fortunately for the would-be bridegroom—the Rev. J. D. Trigge, the officiating curate on the occasion, had been previously put in possession of some curious particulars, and on William and Esther presenting them. selves, the rev. gentleman was induced to ask the former if he was not already a married man. A negative reply being given, William was at once introduced to a female, he mother of four children, and asked if that was not his wife. The factbeing still denied, certain " marriag line" were produced, proving beyond all possibility of doubt, that the mother of four children alluded to was none other thanindulgeMrs, n aWfaiillniatiningl3fiurragt, bute.thelcThe eitnet er nnadte4li onber if dteh edeied pnroe sent, not in the secret, may be imagined. Of course the marriage was prohibited, and the parties left the church ; and Mrs. Burrage having swooned on reaching the open air, her devoted husband, who was said to have resided with her until a very recent period, immediately procured a glass of water with which he proceeded to bathe the face of his " bette; half." In the meanwhile, Miss Esther Smith had regained the cab, and sat admiring the attentions paid by William to his wife from the window of the vehicle. Mrs. Burrage shortly revived, awl left in the company of some f • rienGs, while Mr. Burrage made the best of his way out of the churchyard, amid the hootings of a considerable crowd who had assemble I, and who followed him for some distance.--Brighton Examiner.