Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1882-02-04 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE DOUBLE MURDER BY A  BOY. SENTENCE OF DEATH. eie the Nettingham Assizes on Wednesday merning, before Mr Justice Hawkins, Henry Westby, 18 years of age, described as an effiee clerk, was indicted on two separate charges of wilful murder. The names of the deceased persons are Henry Smith Westby, father of the prisoner, and William Owen Onions, a boy wbo was his fellow clerk. Mr Buzzard, Q.C., prosecuted, and by the direction of his lordship the prisoner was defended by Mr Denman. The prieeuer, upon the charge of murdering his father being read out, pleaded guilty.—The Judge: Are you aware what you have DOW done in plead. lug guilty? Do you know what the natute of the case against you is?—Yes, my lord.—The Judge : I den't want to put any questions to you exoept with the view of asoertaining that you thoroughly understand what you are charged with. You are charged on the present occasion with having wilfully and designedly murdered your own father. Da yin understand that thoroughly ?—Prisonar : Yes.—His lordship : I have instructed a learned counsel to defend you. Would you to speak with him on the eubject?— Prisoner : No, my lord. (Sensation in Court.) —Prisoner afterwards withdrew his plea, and Mr Buzzard proceeded to state the facts of the cale to the jury, which, he said, carried a painful ruimpathy. Up to the 19th Nevember the prisoner had been in the employ of Mr Frazer, solicitor, and he attain:lei at the office, leaving it in the evening. The prisoner lived with his parents on Peas Hill-road, and on his way home that night be purchased a revolver and some oartridges. He went home to his family, and the evening seemed to have paesed ietly, and in the ordinary way. Prisoner r -,tired to bed at the usual time, leaving his father and brother up to lock up the house. At about two o'clock in the morning Mr Weetby was dieturbed by the barking of a little dog, and the father left the room for the purpose of shutting Clothe dog. He had only just left the room when a report of firearms was heard by the mother, who was awake. In a very short time Mr Westby staggered into the room sajing he had been shot, and in a few minutes be died. Shortly afterwards someone was seen La Lave the house, aud this was supposed to be the priee-ter. A surgeon was called in, and the body of tile deceased was found to have been pierced by three bullete. The prisoner waa subsequently arrested in a fowl-house in the neighbourhood, and on the way to the police station he was told that his father was dead, to which he replied " It's time lie was." Some cartridges were die I Levered in the prisoner's desk similar to thosei iu the revolver which was found upon the , prisoner. The learned counsel concluded ly saying there could be no doubt that the p ieoner was the persoe who murdered Mr Westby.—The jury, after a short consultatiou found the priecner guilty, and he was sentenced to death.  Her Majesty will hold a Council on Monday next at one o'clock, at which Earl Spencer, Earl Granville, and Mr Gladatone are expeoted to be present. At two o'clock on Thursday morning the mutile.ted corpse of John Proctor, undertaker, of Darwen, was found on the Lancashire and Torkshir% Railway at Bolton Seation. He is supposed to have been killed by a passing train.