Widnes Examiner. — 1895-10-05 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

SANAGE MURDER NEAR WIGAN.  A RAILWAY DETECTIVE KILLED.  On Sunday night the inhabitantS of Wigan were startled by the report of the murder of a railway detective and a savage assault on another by a gang of thieves. It appears that, owing to extensive robberies from railway waggons on the London and Nrarth Western system in the district, Sergeant Detective Kidd, of the Manchester Railway Police. and Detective Osborne, of the local railway force, were on Sunday night stationed at Kay's Rouses siding, about half a mile from Wigan Station, at a spot not much frequented. Here laden waggons are left, and it was whilst watching these that the detectives noticed a gang of eight or nine men approach and commence to cut the tarpaulin sheets covering the merchandise. The detectives rushed 'on the men in the hope of capturing some of ' them, but the thieves turned upon them, slashed away with their knivos, and stabbed Detective Kidd frightfully in the face and neck. o,borne was also set updn, and was badly ill-treated. The thieves managed to escape, leaving the two detectives on the ground. Osborne was able to make his way to the signal box not far distant, and an engine which was at hand, was requisitioned. Returning -to the spot, Kidd was found quite dead, and Osborne fainted on being placed on the locomotive. Kidd, who is a married man and wellknown in railway circles, had been most savagely attacked, the wounds about the face numbering from eight to a deem. Medical aid was aiimmoneo, and on Dr. Graham's advice Osborne, who was too ill ta make a statement, was taken to the Wigan Infirmary. Kidd's body was removed to the Wigan passenger station. Information was at once given to the police, and Superintendent Brassington, of the Wigan county division, was quickly on the spot with a number of constables, whilst the news of the murder was at once communicated throughout the district. Interviewed at the Infirmary, Osborne made a statement to the effect, that he had been srationed at Wigan for about eight months. In conaequence of repeated robberies from railway waggons asaistanne was sent from Manchester for the purpose of investigation. Kidd arrived at Wigan about eight o'clock on Saturday night, and shortly after that hour he and Kidd wont iota the railway goods' yard. On getting there they noticed a man creeping behind some waggons and a number of other men moving about in other directions. He and Kidd without hesitation challenged the intruders, and closed with several. During the struggle one of the men tried to stab Osborne wi,h a formidable-baking knife, but the officer drew his staff, and knocked it out of the miscreant's hand. Thev struggled together for some time, and whilst Osborne wal on the ground he was kicked most unmercifully all over the body. He lost consciousness for a time, and on recovering found that his assailants had disappeared. He crawled to where Kidd was lying,and found him in a dying condition. The latter asked for a glass ef water, which Osborne was unable to procure, owing to his weak state. He tried to move the dying man to a neighbouring signal-box, but fa Red, and then crawled himself to the hex, where he got assistance. Kidd was found lying dead, and near to him were two blood-stained clinkers,w:dch had evidently been used as weapons. In addition to four caps, a seuf also stained with blood, was found.