The Sun. — 1841-12-31 (London, England)

THE CHIRK MURDER. APPREHENSION AND EXAMINATION OF THE MURDERERS AT SHREWSBUY. SHREWSBURY, DEC. 29.—The murderers were taken at Coventry on Christmas-day, and were brought into Shrewsbury yesterday evening, in a post-ehaise, and lodged in the gaol. The greatest praise is slue to the county police-force, under the direction of the Deputy Chief Constable M.Michael, for their exertions in tracing out the suspected villains. The Viscount Dungannon has been unceasing in urging a rigid investigation into all the circumstances connected with this inhuman and bloody deed. The Magistrates of the county offered a reward of 20/. for the apprehension of the perpetrators of this atrocious murder, and, through Lord Dungannon's intercession, a further reward of 1001. was immediately offered by the Secretary of State, and strong hoees were entertained of their being soon taken, especially as they were such well known characters. Their names, as has already been stated, are Williams and Slawson. The general opinion, both :rem report and a close and vigilant look out on the part of the police, led the authorities into a belief that the fellows lay concealed either in the town or immediate neighbourhood of Wrexham, and the efforts of the constables were directed aecordiugly, but without avail. Up to Mondey no doubt was entertained as to their being still ha-boured about their native place, on which day a letter was received at the Chief Constable's Office, in Shrewsbury, with information that two men answering the description giren of the suspected murderers were taken by the Coventry police, in which city it appears that they had offered for sale at a silversmith's 11 silver spoon j, marked E. E., and he, having heard of the murder end robbery at 13ronygarth, Bare information to the police. Mr. NleMiehael left Shrewsbury on Monday in order to convey them here. The prisoners came to 'Wolverhampton by railway, and from thence to Atcham by the Salopian coach. At nine o'clock yesterday evening they arrived in this town, a chaise haying heels previously sent to meet them at the village of Ateleam, three miles distant. John Williams is a stout young man, aged 22 years, a native of Cornwall, but has resided at Wrexham from his infancy. He had been in custody three years ago, at Rathio, under the Vagrant Act, and was in the same prison a year ago for an assault, where he underwent nine months' confinement. The other prisoner, Slawson, is about 21 years of age, has rather a boyish look, and far from a ferocious appearance. When at Cot entry, Williams assumed the name of Jones, and Slawscn that of Halley. They reached Coventry on Wednesday evening, on their way from the scene of the murder. Slawson, who is a tailor; worked at his trade in that city, and earned from Wednesday to the Friday Bs. 4d. The examination took place this day in the Guildhall, before the Hon. Thos. Kenyon (Chairman of the Quarter Sessions), the Hon. and Rev. R. H. Hill, T. C. Eyton, Esq., Sir B. Leighton, Bart., H. Justice, Esq., E. Jeffreys, Esq., Major Bayle/, and other Magistrates. The witnesses examined were T. S. M`Michael, Superintendent of the Shropshire Rural Police ; Thomas Henry Prosser, chief constable of Coventry ; and Mr. Moss Fridland, watchmaker and silversmith, of Fleet-street, in the same city, to whom the spoons were offered for sale by the prisoner Williams. Mr. Prosser, on searching Williams, discovered in his inner pocket in his waistcoat a half sheet of paper, with the following directions written upon it by some companion in crime " You must make the best of your way through South Wales to the Bristol Channel, and cross over to Cornwall, and inquire at Tregonna for some of the Beards, if you are lucky enough to get there." The Court was crowded to excess, and the examination created the most intense interest ; but the late hour at which it concluded renders it impossible for us to send any part of it by poet. Both prisoners were remanded till Friday next, when they will be committed.  "►I C