The Sun. — 1855-01-13 (London, England)

ALLEGED MURDER AT OTLEY, NEAR  LEEDS.  A charge of murdering a man more than eighty years of age was investigated at the White Horse Inn, Otley, near Leeds, en Wednesday last, by Mr. Thos. Brown, of Skipton, coroner. The man who is alleged to have been murdered was named Francis Blessin, and lived in the house of his nephew, Brian Blessin, in Gaylane, Otley. Early on Monday morning a great sensation was created in that town on its becoming known that the old man had met with his death under circumstances which excited the suspicion that foul play had been used. It appeared from the statement of a next door neighbour that noises were heard in Blessin's house a little before six o'clock on Monday morning, similar to the sound of a piece of iron falling upon the boarded floor of the chamber. About two hours afterwards Mary Blessin, the wife of Brian Blessin, the nephew of the deceased, informed some of the neighbours that the old man had fallen down stairs, and she believed that he was dead. Some people immediately entered the house, and the deceased was found at the bottom of the stairs, with his back to the wall. His head was covered with wounds, and his shirt was bloody, but there were no marks of blood upon the floor. In reply to a question, Mrs. Blessin stated that the wounds had been caused by the deceased falling upon a fender, which was laid beside him. On going into the chamber blood was found upon the floor and upon the walls of the room ; in a corner of the room also the bed upon which the deceased had lain was rolled up, and blood was oozing from it. A short time afterwards it was observed that the bed had been removed and hidden, but after a search it was found. A constable was sent for, and a more minute search. was made, and some of the clothes of the deceased were found to have blood upon them, and in his nightcap were a number of holes corresponding with the wounds on his  head. A hammer was also found, with specks of blood upon it, and a few white hairs. Two medical gentle. men were sent for, and the unfortunate man was found to be quite dead. He had eight wounds on the head, nearly all of which penetrated to the bone, besides three contused wounds upon his face, and the fifth rib on the left side was fractured. According to the medical testimony the wounds presented ne external appearance from which a fatal result might have been anticipated. It was the effusion of blood which had caused death. Before the coroner, Mary Blessin repeated a statement she had made to John Smith, superintendent constable, after she had been taken into; custody. She said .that the deceased had always been a great trouble to her ; and on Monday morning she went up stairs to call her younger children, when the deceased accused her of an intention to break open his box. This she denied, and then he threw a shoemaker's last at her, upon, which she took a hammer from the window and struck him four or five times with it. A scuffle took place between them, and he fell back with his head against the wall. She afterwards took him down stairs and wiped the blood of his head. She also acknowledged having hid the bed. After the coroner had summed up, the jury returned a verdict of " Wilful murder" against her, and she was committed for trial at the next Yorkshire assizes.