The Sun. — 1845-11-24 (London, England)

FEMALE, AND ATTEMPT AT ARSON, IN THE UNITED STATES.  Our city was thrown into a great state of excitement this morning by a report that a most appalling murder had been committed at the West-end, in a disreputable house in Cedarlane, which act was stated in our second edition, but without any other particulars. A Coroner's jury was empanelled this forenoon, and, under the direction of Colonel Pratt, preccefed to examine the body, and the premises in which the deed was perpetrated— a preliminary step to the inquest, which will take place at the Court-house to-morrow. The scene of the murder is a small two-story brick house, in Cedar-lane, between Cedar and Charles-streets, occupied by Mr. Joel Lawrence and wife, who have lived there something like 2.5 3-ears. For some years past, as we understand, the premises have been used as a house of assignation—rooms being kept for the accommodation of those in the habit of visiting it. The body, that of a young and beautiful female of 23 or 24, was lying on the floor, covered all but the breast, head, and feet, with a bloody sheet, which had been thrown over it.. She lay on her back close to the grate, with the head turned over on the right side. The head was thrown back, exposing a ghastly and terrible cut from ear to ear. The jugular vein and windpipe were entirely severed, the razor which the murderer used having entered to the bone. Her hair was partly consumed, and her face charred and blackened by the action of the fire. The room, which was a small-sized bed-room, in the rear of the house, in the second story, contained fragments of burnt clothing strewed about, and the walls were spattered with blood—probably done when she was dragged from the bed and thrown upon the floor. A chair standing near the head of the bed contained a pool of blood. Wegathered from a conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence,. and a girl in the house, that they were awakened about five o'clock this morning, by a shriek up stairs, and a heavy fail, which apparently jarred the house; immediately after, and before they were hardly awake, a person came down stairs, slipped in his haste and fell, but recovered, and rushed out of the front door. The family then smelt fire, and going up into the room, found it filled with flame and smoke. The fire was set in three different places—the bed which the murdered woman had occupied—the closet containing her dresies, and a bed in an adjoining bed-room, which was unoccupied, were all more or less burnt Against the door of the front bed-room, occupied by a girl who lives there, a pile of bed-clothes had been placed and then set on fire—it seems to have been the intention of the murderer to bury all evidence of his fiendish deed, in the conflagration of the house, and the death of its occupants.' The name of the murdered woman was Maria A. Bickford. She was of slight, graceful figure, and very beautiful. She has been married, but has not lived with her husband for some time past. He is a shoemaker by trade, and was lately in the employ of Mr. Smith, in Cambridge-street. He is now in Bangor, where this ill-fated woman formerly belonged. The wash-bowl in the room contained a quantity of bloody water, from which it is evident that the murderer washed his hands after his bloody work. A letter was found in the room addressed A. J. T. to M. A. B. ; also a pair of men's drawers, cane, and stocking, and a bunch of keys. Dr. Moriarty, who was present at the examination, said it was impossible for her to move after she received the death wound, and he must have dragged her from the bed. In the straw bed under which she slept, a bunch of matches were found nearly burnt up. Suspicion, amounting almost to certainty, is fixed upon Albert J. Tirrell as the murderer, though he has not yet been arrested. Tirrell was arrested some time since, at New Bedford, on a charge of adultery, and was lately discharged, having compromised the matter. He is said to be a native of Weymouth, in this State.—Boston Mail, Oct. 27.