Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1869-04-09 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE NORWICH MURDER.  It has been already st:ted that the clerk to the Norwich magistrates has received a letter from Brigtou, with reference to the extraordinary charge of murder against the convict William Sheward. The letter bears the Brighton post•mark, under date "March 31," and is in the following terms:—  Near Brighton, March 31. have been kept iti a very painful state of excitement waiting for the decision of the jury as to the innocence or guilt of William Sheward, although partly resting satisfied of their finding him not guilty of murder, as the supposed murdered woman is now dictating this to her sole companion and attendant for the last 16 years. I now wish to tell you word for word as I dictate, being too weak and ill to do it myself. While living very unhappily as the wife of the accused, frill the fact of not caring about him, and being so different from the dear soul who kept me previous, and knowing him for years, he would nave been married had he been able traido so, and gave me a handsome amount on my marriage to William Sheward. It wag after my marriage that I heard of my only love being ill on a bed of sickness, and he wrote to me, begging me to come and attend to him in this very neighbourhood which I urn now living in, and have never left, or will ever leave, again alive. He died here, leaving me sufficient invested for my life, with the promise I would not return or make myself known to my husband and friends. You may believe the above or not, as I shall not make myself known, net even if the law should do its worst. Scarcely hoping this strange communication can take effect without stronger proof, as I feel sure the least excitement in my present state of health would be certain death, I feel m)self justified in retaining my privacy under any circumstances, as it is my husband's madness is hastening him to the grave. Written for Mrs Sheirard at her express desire.—A. T. It most be admitted that this is, as the writer observes, • "strange communication," but in spite of its ungrammatical sentences the meaning is throughout tolerably clear. It was posted at Brighton on March 31, the day on which the London morning papers containing a full report of the trial of Sheward would reach Brighton. The letter appears to have been written by a female, and the caligraphy is moderately good. It is difficult to say at present whether any value can be attached to the singular document, and the Norwich magistrates are not disposed to initiate any action in the matter, although the convict's solicitor (Mr Stanley) is pursuing inquiries on the subject. The friends of Sheward affirm that the person referred to in the letter is one IVorseltine, and although at the trial Worseltine appeared only to have a mythical existence, it is affirmed that there really was such a person, and that Mrs Sheward lived with him before her marriage to the convict now under sentence of death. Inquiries hive been made as to the history of Worseltine, but the explanation sought to be given for the meagre account afforded of him is, that the pecuniary resources at the disposal of Sheward and his family were insufficient to thoroughly collect and exhaust the evidence which might, under more favourable circumstances, have been adduced on his behalf.  THE EXTRAORDINARY CAREER OF MR