The Herald of Wales. — 1887-07-23 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

LETTER FROM CHATHAM PRISON. One Saturday night, nearly two years ago, Swansea was startled to its centre by the report that a young grocer's assistant named Walter Jenkins had murdered his master, and afterwards shot himself. This provad only too true, and when on the Monday morning the representatives of the press made a full investigation. into the circumstances of the affair the body of the murdered man Smith lay in the back Kitchen of a shop in Llangyfelaoh-atreet, while the murderer sat in a choir iu the adjoining room, rocking himself gently breathing meanwhile partly through his neetrils and partly thrmigh a self -inflicted bullet vround in his chest. The circumstances leading up to the orime, as disclosed at the inquest, were as follows —On the Thursday previous to the murder, Jenkins bought a cheap revolver and a box of cartridges in the shop of Mr Berton, ironmonger. It is supposed he purposed going down to Llamilly where a young girl named Julia Clarke, held a confectionary stall for Mr Smith in the market of that town. Jenkins in addition to being a grocer's assistant, was a local preacher with the Cengregatioualists and one of the most zealous members of the Carmarthen road Congregational Chapel. He had always been regarded as a most devout young man, and was studying for admission into the Bristol College, from whence he hoped to take a position as missionary in Africa. The young girl Julia was said to be on excellent terms with him and they were, usually regarded as sweethearts. Julia in addition to standing in the Llauelly and Swansea Markets, also assisted Mrs Smith in domestic work, was servant in fact and had been in the employ of the Smith's some little tiniv before Jenkins came there asmanaging asaint ant. Jenkins was a hard working young fellow and was greatly respected both by his employer and his mistress. With assiduous care he had nursed Mrs Smith's little boy thrmigh a dangerous illness, and his conduct in the business had been most exemplary. He missed the train for Llanelly on the Thursday, and matters went on in much the same way as usual until Saturday, but it was observed that Jenkins was in a depressed mood, and spoke but little. On the Saturday afternoon he went down to the Swamies, market, and told the young girl. Clarke, to be home aLbout eight o'clock, the time that Mrs. Smith usually returned from her marketing; but for some unaccountable reason neither Mrs. Smith nor Julia reached the house until nearly nine o'clock. When they reached the shop it was getting dusk, and finding no one there, they went into the parlour behind, when Jenkins was found on the floor, weltering in his own gore, groaning heavily. He was questioned as to what was the matter, and asked concerning his employer. Ascording to one account, he replied that Mr. Smith was in the buck kitchen, dead, and that he had shot him. This proved only too true. Smith was found stretched out on the floor behind the back kitchen door, stiff and stark. The police were called in, a doctor was sent for, and Jenkins, believing that his end was near, a belief shared by the doctor, again acknowledged that Smith had fallen by his hand. Jenkins was carefully guarded on the Sunday and Monday by policemen, and on the latter day he was removed to the home of his brother, in Bellevuestreet, where he was also guarded night and day by a constable. An inquest was held at the Eligh-atreet police station on the body of the ; murdered man, who was afterwards interred in ' the Mumbles cemetery. The scenes at the inquest were of the most painful description. During the inquiry, letters which were found on Jenkins were read. The first was addressed to the deceased man, and ran as follows: "Aug. 15. "Dear Sir,—l have thus taken away my life because you have, with your bad conduct, filled I Julia's heart with sorrow for ever. I pray God I have mYrcy on you.—l am, sir, your faithful servant,  "