The Sun. — 1853-08-02 (London, England)

THE MURDER AT BARNET.  Yesterday, Patrick Farley, Michael Cunningham, and Robert Magennis, the three men charged on suspicion of being concerned in the brutal outrage and murder of poor old woman, Elizabeth Brogeden, Underhill,tlie Chipping Barnet, on the night of Sunday, the at Barnet, on lOtharuulett., were again brought up before the magistrates on remand from St. Albans gaol, for further examination. Prior to the bench entering on the case, Mr. Inspector Billes, of the S division, announced that he had received a letter from the police authorities at Winchester, stating that a man had been apprehended, and was now lodged in Winchester gaol, fully answering the description of the man described as " the Sailor,l or "Yorkie," as he was called, who has absconded, and who is supposed to be the ringleader in the horrible transaction. The following additional evidence was adduced : Mrs. Hales, a lodging-house keeper at Underhill, deposed to the deceased woman coming to her house about half-past ten o'clock on the night in question and asking for a lodging, and that she had Is man with her with a dark coat on. She could not, however, swear that either of the prisoners was that man. Mary Coombes, a married woman, living at Barnet, deposed that on the morning after the occurrence she was haymaking in Mr. Smith's field, and overheard the prisoner Magennis and some other men talking about some woman and laughing, and she asked him what it was about, and he told her that an old woman had been used in Mr. Bryant's shed by sixteen of " our men"— meaning Irishmen—and that he had gone down to the shed that morning to see her, poor old girl, and that he gave her a penny ; and he said she was so used she was like a piece of tripe. He had on then a velvet jacket like that produced. Magennis protested that he never made such a state! went. After some consideration, Mr. Phillimore, the chairman of the bench, announced to the prisoner Patrick Farley, that the magistrates bad determined to discharge him from custody, feeling that there was not sufficient evidence to justify his longer detention. The bench hoped, however, that if he knew anything about the ' horrible occurrence, he would aid the ends of justice by at once disclosing it. Patrick Farley was then sworn. He said—Between ' ten and eleven o'clock on the night of Sunday, the 10th  Mr. S. Stone, town-clerk of Leicester, deposed, that he had known the deceased for some years. He resided at Leicester, was by trade a cotton-winder, and in extensive business for himself. On Tuesday morning last, about 10 o'clock, one of his brothers came rushing to witness's office in a state of great agitation, with a letter in his hand. He was unable to speak and handed witness the letter. [The witness here produced three letters, which were identified by Mr. J. Hunter, of Leicester, as being in the handwriting of the deceased.] After reading it he immediately dispatched two of the detectives of the police force by special train to Rugby. No trace was found of him there, and they proceeded thence to Liverpool, Birmingham, &c. The letter was dated "Rugby, Monday," and the following is an extract :—" I now feel that I have offended every friend and also my God. What is to become of ntie ? For a year and a half I have thought of nothing but death. Oh, dear brother, there is no hope of me. I cannot face my creditors ; I am mad, and have been for a long time." . . . "I will write again and tell you where you may find me. Your lost brother, William." On Wednesday morning deceased's brother received another letter, bearing the Swansea postmark, in these words—"My dear brother, I shall be found in Carmarthen, South Wales. Farewell." The difficulties of deceased were not serious, only pecuniary liabilities, nothing criminal. They would have been instantly settled by his family had they known them. He was a man of character and a member of the town-council. He was 38 years of age. Mr. James Rowlands, surgeon, deposed to having made a post mortem examination of the deceased, and described the appearances presented by the body. He had analysed the contents of the stomach, and detected prussic acid in considerable quantities. The result of his examination proved that he died from the effects of prussic acid. The bottle would contain enough to kill two or three persons. The coroner having summed up, the jury returned as their verdict, " That the deceased died from the effects of prussic acid, taken while in a state of temporary insanity."