The Warwickshire Herald. — 1888-08-23 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

CONFESSING TO A NORTORIOUS MURDER.  Thomas Wright, 36, chair-maker, of Holloway, is under remand at the Worship-street police-court, charged on his own confession with having, about 16 years ago, murdered Sarah Squires and her daughter Christiana, at Hoxton, by beating them with a crowbar. On the 10th July, 1872, at a newspaper shop in Hyde-road, Huston, the two bodies were discovered by a boy named Eyre. The shop was open at the time, and the boy, calling to make a purchase, discovered the body of the woman behind the counter. He ran out to tell a police-constable, who entered and found the body of the woman in the shop and that of tile daughter at the top of the kitchen stairs. The crinie had been committed with the object of robbery, as boxes and drawers belonging to the women had been forced open. No trace of the murderer or murderers was discovered.—lt was now stated in evidence that the previous evening Wright confessed to a cabman that he had been hunted for 16 years for the Hoxton murder, and asked where the police-station was. The cabman I.:;.ing then on the rank in Seven Sisters-road, Holloway, pointed it out to him, but spoke to aim inspector who followed the man. On being questioned by the inspector, Wright admitted having made theconfession, and added, "1 went into the shop to buy a penny paper and the old woman would not give me any change. I gave her 6d. She ought to have returned me 5d." Then he stopped and said, "1 shall say no more." The inspector told him he would have to go to the station, and the prisoner said, " You must let me go home first," and tried to get away ; but when told that he conid not be allowed he said he would go quietly, and did so, At the station he was cautioned. The ealmian's statement was written down and read to him. There he repeated his statement about going to the shop to buy a paper, and not getting his change, and he added that it happened about half-least it O'clock in the tnorning, and that the woman was dead at 12. He went on to 'say that the old woman was killed behind the counter and the daughter on the stairs. Wright, said the, inspector, was quite aolwr and not at all excited. He afterwards said that he had not told thee cabman he killed the woman, hit had only spoken to him about it, having had an argument with a is-mm in a public-house about hew long it was ago. The- magistrate said the pris -r would be remantli.d for a week : and he asked if he could call leis father. He was told not at this stage, and he was then removed to the cell. Afterwards he had au interview with his father, to whom he said he was in drink when he made the confession,  The ReV. arrimm, rector of Wyton. Hunting donshire village, has had rather an undignified perience. The sheriff's officer visited the rectory, removing the furniture, and the unfortunate pastor was obliged to utilise the chairs in the church and schoolroom for his family to sit upon. A parishionei lent him beds.  Mr. C. Piazzi Smyth, Astronomer Royal for Sciit• land, and Professor of Practical Astronomy In Edinnurgli liniversity,has resigned these otlices after holding them for 43 years. His reason for retiring is, he states, not only advancing years, hut " despaii of ever being able to do anything good or emlipett with other observatories when the Government con tinue to refuse to do what their own Comniission recnnimended.