Glasgow Courier. — 1846-08-11 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

DISCLOSURE OF TWO MURDERS AT BA.RNARD CASTLE.  ---- In the early part of August, 1845, a young man named Yates, a tailor, and a girl with whom he was acquainted, of the name of Raine, were missed, and no tidings could be heard of either of them until nearly a fortnight after, when the body of Yates was found at the brink of the river Tees, a few miles below Barnard Castle. There were, we believe, some marks of violence about his head, and his pockets were empty of money, but at the inquest no criminating evidence could be obtained; and a few days after the Inquest the body of the young woman was found in the river also, but several miles further down; and it appears that on the night when they came to their unhappy death the river was much flooded, and when so its course is rapid. Some few weeks ago there were some rumours afloat charging upon three young men the murders of these persons, but those soon subsided, until Monday morning last, when a young female, 21 or 22 years of age, named Humphrey, went to a constable to ease her mind, and she subsequently has made such statements to the rural police officer as to lay a charge of murder upon three young men named Breacon, Rains, and Barker. Two of them, Breacon and Barker, are now in prison, the former on another charge. It is publicly stated that Yates had altered a coat for Barker, and while doing so he had found the name of the owner therein, " Captain Bainbridge," of Cotherston, at whose house, in the absence of Captain Bainbrilge, a seizure had been made, which led , to a trial at York, about a year ago, and at that seizure Barker had acted as under-bailiff, when this coat was missed from the premises. This statement seems to point out at least one cause leading to the crimes against Yates and his sweetheart, and we believe the following to be the substance of the girl Humphrey's confession on Monday last. That on the night of the 9th of Aug. the man Yates and the young woman Rains were together, near the passage where Humphrey lived in Bridgegate, and she was conversing with them, when they saw Breacon, Barker, and Rattle, standing together, who drew near, and ultimately they all went for a walk as far as the bridge. It was then very dark and wet. The rapid flow of the Tees caused more than usual noise, and the time was after midnight. The whole party left the bridge, proceeding dwelt the Yorkshire side of the river to the end of the tram-road, about 130 yards from any dwelling on that side of the water. Some of the party questioned Yates about his money, and Barker asked Yates if he was going to appear against him at York on account of the coat before spoken of, and he answered in the affirmative. Barker then struck him several times—where, the girl Humphrey does not know, as it was dark; but she heard him say, "Don't knock my eyes out," or something to that effect, and after that the three young men all beat Yates and took his money from him; they then lifted him off his feet and threw him over the low tram wall into the deep pool below. Humphrey was horrified, but the young woman Raine began to shout, and said she would tell the police. She made her way towards the bridge in company with the party, still declaring that she would tell, and when they came to the recess on the bridge they seized both the girls, threatening to throw them over if they told. Raine still declared that she would tell the police, when in a few seconds they threw her into the foaming stream below, and then made Humphrey swear that she would not tell what had passed, telling her now that she had sworn, if she told, God would strike her dead. She was then allowed to go. Since that time such has been her misery that she could no longer bear it, and on Monday last she made her disclosure. Yates was a young man of low stature, and slender, while the accused young men are tall and strong. Breacon and Barker, as we have said, are in custody, but Raine, one of those charged with having committed the crime, has not yet been secured.—Sunderland Herald.