The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1881-11-01 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

THE MURDER ON THE BRIGHTON RAILWAY.  On Friday morning Percy Lsfroy, charged with the Brighton Railway murder, RSI rem iced from Lewes Gaol to Maidetono, where the assizes for Kent and Sussex will open to-day (Monday). The prisoner, who was in charged of two warders, WM well dressed in a pair of dark trousers. block coat, huh hat, and new shoes. He looked per, but in remarkably good health. it t. now stated that the trial of Lefroy for the murder of Mr. Gold upon the Brighton Railway will begin before Mr. Juice Denman, at the Maidotone assise, on Thursday. The police have been enable to trace ci,ber the watch of the murdered man or the revolver with which tho murder was committed.'  No further evidence has been obtained by the Scotland. yard authorities, who have been unable ti trace the wstch taken from the murdered man, or the revolver with whirb the murder was committed. A pocket-book found some time since with the name of Lefroy written within it is not supposed to have belonged to the man now in custody. Several knives have been bond in the vicinity of tbe line, but in the majority of cases they appear to be worn out articles of table cutlery, which have been rejected as useless, and with which it could have been impossible to seriously wound any person. The Treasury, however, regard the case as complete, and do not think that further evidence is necessary. The requisite reminders were served upon the witnesses for the Crown on Ssturday. Mr. F. ficuiamore, the under-sheriff for the county, hee made all the necessary arrangements for the aeoommo, dation of the jury, who will not be allowed to &musts alter the prisoner has been given iwo their charge until they have delivered their verdict Owing to the public interest cunnewed with the trial of Lefroy, the London, Cnatham, and Dover Railway Company have arranged to run specie' trains for the conveyance of council, witnesses, and others to Maidstone. As to the probable duration of the trial, various esti.. mates have been formed, end in some quarters it has been snticipated that it may be concluded within the space of three days. It must be -remembered, however. that the inquest occupied no less than five days, the Court sitting from in early hour in the morning until late in the evening, its time being, with the exception of the coroner's summing up, occupied' entirely with the receptien of evidence. As there is no announcement of • diminution in the number of witnesses, sad es in addition to the evidence there will be the opening of the Attorney. General, the speeches of conned for the defence, the reply of the Attorney-General, and the summing up of the Judge, it is difficult to see how the proceedinvi can be compressed within the space of three days.  The project of funeral reform should indeed receive an impetus if the Duke of Westminster has determined to lend it his petronage In so practical • degree u to place Grosvenor House at the disposal of the Church of England Funeral and Mourning &dorm Aseocietion for the purpose of holding one of its meetius. Sitarists of the stamp of Thackerey, Dickens. and Iluoi have done their best to discountenance the vulgar mummery of lb. mu Awn funeral which of ten makes the stroke of the fell Destroyer doubly grievous from the expense that his unwelcome visit entail.. But the brilliancy of their humour has not yet shamed the professional undertaker out of count.nanee, and it le evident that until the fashion of simplicity in burials is set by those who are the leader of fashion in most things clue, we shall find that very little improvement his been enected. Hitherto the advances in economy have been very tritlah In the ditectitia of the chew and nut/.