The Sun. — 1829-10-13 (London, England)

HORRID MURDER.  On Tuesday morning last a respectable aged widow, named Mary Cavenaugh, who resided in a detached house at Penmaen, Gower, in this county, was discovered barbarously murdered in the garden in front of her dwelling, and the premises robbed. On Wednesday an inquest was held on the body before CHARLES COLLINS, Esq. Coroner, and a highly respectable jury, when it appeared in evidence that the last time the deceased was seen alive was on Saturday evening, about five o'clock, near her house, and that :on Sunday it was observed by the neighbours that the window curtains were drawn, and they remained in the same state on Monday, but this did not excite any alarm, as it was considered that the deceased was gone from home, as she sometimes did. On Tuesday morning the window curtains were observed to be still closed, and two female neighbours, fearing that the deceased might have died suddenly, proceeded to the premises, where they found the garden gate fastened, and on getting over it, they discovered the unfortunate woman lying dead in the garden, near the front door of the house. They alarmed the neighbours, and the Reverend John James, the rector of the parish, and several others, immediately repaired to the spot, where the body was found lying as before stated, the face downward, and the head towards the door, and the hands under _the body. The head was very bloody, and there was a collection of congealed blood under the face, and some of the blood, from a frightful wound on the back part of the head, had flowed nearly three yards from the body, and had formed another collection. On the examination of the head, and taking off the cap, a considerable portion of the brain was found lodged in it, together with a quantity of congealed blood ; there were also two severe contused wounds on the left side of the back part of the head, which appeared to have been inflicted with some blunt instrument, and part of the bone beaten into the brain. On proceeding into the house, the front door was found closed on the latch only, with the key in the lock on the inside; and on going into the room where the deceased usually lived, they found the larger drawers of a chest of drawers partly open, and the contents appeared to have been ransacked; fhe two smaller drawers of the same chest of drawers were on the floor, and appeared also to have been searched. There was a small round table near the fire-place, upon which a Testament was lying open and a pair of spectacles on it. On a chest near the drawers there was a candlestick (the candle in which was half burnt, and from the state of the wick appeared to have been blown out), and also the iron handle of a fire-shovel, by which the lock of one of the drawers appeared to have been forced; the other drawers were unlocked by a key which was found on the chest. On a further search of the room, in the presence of the Coroner and Jury, there was found in a large oak chest (which was locked, and did not appear to have been searched) seven sovereigns, a Bank of England note for 201., and securities for several sums of money, amounting in the whole to 1261., with some plate; and it is conjectured that the wretch who committed the horrid deed has not obtained any thing of much value, with the exception of two watches, which it is stated the deceased possessed, and which were generally hung over the mantel• piece, and which could not be found. At present the perpetrator of this horrid murder is unknown ; but it is hoped that evidence will be produced before the adjourned inquest, to be holden this day (Friday), that may lead to his conviction. For the ends of justice, we abstain from noticing the various rumours in circulation relative to this foul deed, but have confined our report strictly to the evidence adduced at the inquest. Much praise is due to L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. for his indefatigable endeavours to obtain some clue that may lead to the discovery of the murderer.—Cambrian.