Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1897-11-26 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

MURDER IN LANCASHIRE.  DISCOVERY IN A LONELY corrAGE.  A shocking discovery was made at Culcheth on Monday night, an old man, named George Timperley, a farm labourer, and formerly a gamekeeper, being found ttttt rdered in his cottage in Risley Lane. Deceased, who was 70 years of age, lived by himself, and was not !HUM after 10 minutes past nine on Sunday night. About a quarter to seven on Monday night a friend who called to see him discovered the body. 'there was it gunshot wound in the chest. Timperfey had apparently been dead some time. On information being given to the police Dr. Sepliton was sent for, and lie examined the body, giving his opinion that Titnperley died from a gunshot wound which was not self-inflicted. The neighbourhood is a very lonely one. Risley is a small hamlet several miles from Leigh, and deceased was an old resident in the neighbourhood, where the news Oi the tragedy has created considerable sensation.  From inquiries made on the spot on Tuesday morning it appears that the crime is of a most mysterious character. When last seen, about ten minutes past nine on Sunday night, by Thomas Lee, coachman to Dr. Sephton, Culcheth, fimperley was standing at the gate of his garden in front of the house. He then appeared in his usual health and spirits, and responded "Good night" to the greeting of Lee, who knew him. He did not go to his work as a labourer on Messrs. H. and R. Ainscough's Risley Estate on Monday morning, and abour a quarter to seven on Monday night William Monks, the son of a neighbouring farmer, who was in the habit in the avening of going to sit and chat with Timperley, went to the house as usual, but noticed that there was no light. On going to the door he found it unlocked but latched. He lifted the latch, and finding he could only partially open the door, struck a match and looked inside the house. A terrible sight met his gaze. There, lying on his back in a large pool of blood, with his feet against the door, was Timperley, with a gunshot wound right in the antra of his breast. Monks at onoe procured assistance. The deceased's gun, which was unloaded, was in its usual place, and a peculiar feature of the case is that nothing about the house was disturbed. The motive of the crime could certainly not have been robbery, for Tiniperley's watch was lying on the table when the body was found. The house is 300 yards from the nearest farm buildings, and no noise was beard in the night, although deceased had a dog, which on Tuesday morning was barking vigorously when a correspondent entered the garden. Blood was freely bespattered about the floor and on the step, and it is conjectured that deceased was shot down as he stood at the door etap, his body being afterwards pushed inside the house. Early on Tuesday morning Superintendent Higginbotham was on the scene of the tragedy, and arrangenwiate are being made for the intjuest to beheld at the Noggin Inn. The spot is is wild and lonesome one, about equi-distant froze Leigh aud Warrington.  It is now definitely announced that a marriage hae been arranged Ala will take place shortly be. tween Prince Victor Dtdeep Singh and Lady ALMS Coventry. Five drowning cane are reported from the neigh. bourhood of Dudley and Walsall through people walking into the canal in the fog. 'The Chilien Government is reported to have made a hostile declaration towards Bolivia, which may bad to comPlicatione and serious conflict in Sontb America. _ . _  ----The Royal Commission on the Liquor Laws sat at Westminster on Tuesday, the evidence being again entirely Scotch. The Chief-Constable el Aberdeen awl the Chief-Constable of Dumbarton* shire were witnesses. Mr. Nunia Zabbaii, a music-teaelier, sued ft :New. ensile solicitor, mimed Lamb, in the Queen's Bench Division for alleged slander and assault. 'rhe plain. tiff bad given lessons to defendant's wife, who 00f11. plained that he had knead her, and otherwise insulted her. lii ousisowieno, of this Mr. Lamb assaulted the plaintiff, and wag. it we said, the cause of his having to leave Ilia appointinintat the Newcastle College of Music. The jury found a verdict for the deism. dent in the slander easw, Sind for the plainti* with a farthing damagee, in the olkini for the assault. As the defendant had paid a shilling bite court in leaped of the latter, judgment was entered for him, 1.4