The Darlington & Stockton Telegraph, Richmond Herald, South Durham and North York Review. — 1870-12-17 (Darlington, Durham, England)

WILFUL MURDER 131 A FOREIGN I SAILOR AT HARTLEPOOL. _  A fearful murder has been committed at Hartlepool, apparently without premeditation and with very little provocation. The deceased, Charles Brown, was a seaman on board the Albert Frederick, of Stralsund, and a native of Mendel, Norway, and the man charged with murdering him, Theodor Thorstensen, belonged to the vessel Louisa Maria, of Norway, and is a native of Bre-vig. It appears that on Sunday night they had been,drinking together with others in the Golden Lion Tavern, High-street, and that about 11 o'clock they left the house. When outside prisoner called out "I'm off on board." Deceased said he did not intend at that time to go to his vessel, but would "Stop a little." Thorstensen then put up his hands in a fighting attitude and knocked deceased down. Deceased got up, struck Thorstensen, and knocked him down. The latter immediately on rising drew a knife from the sheath at his side and stabbed deceased in the breast, severing one of the main arteries, and causing the blood at once to rush out. Thorstensen made off towards the ferry, and for a time escaped. Deceased staggered as far as the Dock Hotel, a distance of a few yards, and fell exhausted, owing to loss of blood. By this time a number of men from the Golden Lion and others had been attracted to the spot, and they conveyed him to the police station with the assistance of Police-constable Sweeting who catne up as the others were about to remove him, and Mr. Superintendent Shiels, by whom they were afterwards met. On deceased being taken to the police station, Mr. Superintendent Shiels noticing his dangerous position, endeavoured without delay to obtain medical assistance, and secured the prompt attendance of Dr. Rawlings ; but he was then past hope of recovery, and a• few minutes afterwards expired. Mr. Shiels, accompanied by Sergt. Joyce, at once went in search of the murderer. Having traced him across the ferry, they proceeded through Middleton. Meeting a foreign seaman, they interrogated him, and found he was one of the men who had been with deceased at the Golden Lion, and owing to the information they received, they were enabled to trace the murderer to the Louisa Maria, which was lying in the coaling dock, West Hartlepool. The man, at the time, was lying on a bed in the bunk, and at the request of Mr. Supt. Shiels he dressed himself, and went upon the deck where he was searched, but nothing material was found upon him. Sergt. Joyce was then instructed to search the deckhouse, and after sometime a sheathed knife, stained with blood, was found. Mr. Supt. Shiels then charged Thorstensen with killing a man at Hartlepool, upon which he said in broken English, "I did strike, but no knife." When the knife was produced he said, "Ah ! dat's my knife." He was then removed to the police-station at Hartlepool. On Monday, at the Hartlepool Police Court, Thorstensen was taken before the sitting magistrates (Mr. C. Nielsen, Mayor, and Mr. Alderman Groves), and Mr. Supt. Shiels stated that he had apprehended. him on a charge of wilful murder and applied for a remand until Wednesday. The magistrates granted the application, and the prisoner was removed in custody. Prisoner, who appeared. to be about 26 years of age, did not utter a word while in the Court. Dr. Moore was then requested to make a post-mortem examination of deceased's body, pending the coroner's inquest. The knife found by Sergeant Joyce is a most formidable weapon, being of dagger shape, with double edges and sharp point, and although wiped, traces of blood are very plainly perceptible on its blade. It is encased in leather, and heavily bound in brass. Since his confinement in the lock-up, prisoner has maintained a ' stolid indifference, and apparently contemplates his position with perfect calmness.