Widnes Examiner. — 1885-05-16 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

EXTRAORDINARY " TRAGEDY " AT WARGRAVB.—A " tragedy " of an extraordinary character, and one resulting in the loss of over a dozen lives has this week been perpetrated at a spot within one hundred miles from Wargrave Church. The "shocking occurrence" haa naturally excited a great deal of talk and comment in the neighbourhood, and one of the parties concerned has since been looked upon as quite a " heroirie." On Monday morning the discovery was made that a certaia "dwelling" had been entered by same stealthy "robber," and evidently regardless of either age or sex the intruder had slaughtered all the inmates, to the number of about a dozen. On the sad discovery being made there were many vows of vengeance, and the life of the reckless rascal was eagerly sought. An alarm was given, and the news of the affair quickly spread. After some hesitation a young lady residing in the district ventured to enter the dwelling in which the tragedy had been committed, ant, if poseible, secure the " desperado " before he could escape. To the astonishment of the bystanders she carried out her designs, and after a short scuffle she made her appearance, grasping by the neck the "murderer," of whose guilt there were many evidences. The "slayer of the innocents" did not long survive his " victims," for he shortly afterwards met his death in attempting to swim with a brick tied to his neck. The moral of the story of the "catastrophe" is "Do not have pigeon-cotes where cats, and especially those of the Thomas persuasion, can enter without observation and in the easiest poasible manner."  THE ADVENTIIILEB OF A Goax.—Before Messrs. Geo. McCorquodale, It. Houghton, T. J. Gillespie C. Pilkington, and W F. Gooch, at the Newton Town Hal; on Saturday, Patrick Mahoney, of Market-street, Earlestown' was summoned for allowing his goat to stray on the highway on the let inst.—The defendant's son appeared for his father.13. C. Hunt stated that at six o'clock on the night of Friday, the date named, he was on duty in Market street when he saw the defendant's goat coming out of Dr. Handyside's garden. He drove it home, and told the defendant he would be reported for allowing h's goat to stray. The police had had frequent complaints about the goat destroyiag the plants and flowers in the garden.—The defendant's son : Why does Dr. Handyside get you to do his dirty work ? The Clerk said the defendant must not ask such questions. —The defendant's son stated that they had had the goat about 18 months, and when it had been tied to a post on a vacant piece of land lads cut the rope and the goat ran away. The lads had taken the rope several times.—The Bench expressed the opinion that the case had better be adjourned so that the defendant himself could attend.—The defendant's son: My father cannot speak on it as wal as I can, for he is not at home. I have taken the goat out many a time, and it has come home with the rope cut.—The Chairman: If you had a chain the boys could not cut it. —The defendant'a son : No, air, but they might loosen the chain.—The Chairman (after consultation with the other magistrates) : The Bench are quite willing to let your father off on the payment of cost...—The defendant'a son : How much is it a—Superintendent Jackson pointed out that the defendant was fined Is and costs on the 13th February last for a similar offence; and .the Chairman remarked, amid some amusement : You must pay a fine of 23 GI and costs.