The Sun. — 1858-08-14 (London, England)

ALLEGED MURDER IN SUFFOLK.—The parish of Weybrearl, a retired village on the borders of Suffolk and Norfolk has been the scene of a shocking murder committed, there is every reason to believe, by a landowner in that village. The facts of the case ace these :—The victim is a labouring man, named Pattrick, aged 30, who was alto parish clerk, residing on an offhand farm, the property of his murderer, Thomas Drane, who is the owner of two farms in the parish, both of which he occupies, is a single man, and for several years has been subject to recurring fits of dangerous mania. His only relative being an invalid uncle, who resides at a distance, his house has been kept by James and Lydia Bridges, the former working on the realfldeturtietbrfr)ae.:aNn, veraadatmnitriousdn, awt rani niknoa edbny lived the latter officiating as housekeeper. On Saturday, James Pattrick, the deceased man, had been as usual at work on the farm. On that night Drane retired to rest about half-past 10, but between 12 and 1 he got up and awoke Bridges and his wife. They dressed and went down stairs when they found their master, l it eaittfdit thereforeoihu, the!co,n: u.ituso)ialehr,oiaeutntidwhsemoeehi fa. meadow, ,eryNganvldaflli aswisen qus, conductsbthwa3ri einutei quitted mreffkeda,hedaNtixleths,icaaei ialdntewhnegonoddi oftentimes eshnr house, sfißetmareansererdhss Bridges,piohbapere: crt, teolyntyn_: swrepeterhltrei auaoodnn e returned Shortlyee' dt,i nheaoaaft called after ri tl e ddshtiisiewdiefceeaalsseodg joatlpsapndatltarriacnke, iwwo went at away.lostrs,sheep.tteeaenunSep it, arnnthßl tidYs: y Anr proceeded Drape. rr aa nni een sBo companyflrint aa nb yd fawt ahsrl imionol,rhtaci leftdat him, and Pattrick, with Barnaby's dog, went in search of Drane. In a few minutes Barnaby's attention was attracted by a conversation between Drane and Pattrick ; he heard a scuffle and Drane say—" Come on, my boy, can wait on you or 20 like you, if you come one at a time." Barnaby, however, heard no blows, but Mrs. Bridges did. Atter a few words she heard a blow struck and some one fall. It was then very dark, and Drane was heard making off for the Harleston-road. Barnahy at once went in the direction whence the sound of a scuffle came, and he found Pattrick lying on a bank in Stubb's-lane, the blood " running furiously" from his head. The poor fellow was picked up and conveyed to a barn close by, and subsequently to his home. He had received a fearful blow from an axe which belonged to Bridges, and which was kept concealed in the coalhonse. Flow Drane became possessed of it is not exactly known, nor was he seen to have it when he left the house. On discovering what had happened an alarm was given, and Drane was soon captured by the parish constable who took him to his own (Drane e) house, where he was strapped down during Sunday, and on Monday was removed to a lunatic asylum at Norwich, where he still remains. Mr. Candler and )Ir. Crisp, surgeons, of Harleston, were sent for, and on examining Pattrick found that the principal injury inflicted was a wound on the scalp over the parietal bone, which was fractured. The case was beyond medical aid, and the unfortunate man died abaut 2 o'clock on Tuesday morning. An inquest was opsncd at the Crown Inn, Weybread, on Wednesday, before Mr. B. L. Gross, when, In addition to the above facts, it was proved by the surgeons above named that Mr. Drane was insane, Mr. Candler stating that he was in a state of dangerous lunacy from Friday until Saturday last. The inquest was adjourned till yesterday (Friday). [