Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1862-12-12 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

EXTRAORDINARY REVELATION OF MURDER.  No little excitement has been caused in Newtownards by the fact that a lad in the workhouse, "overtaken by a feeling of remorse," has divulged the particulars of a murder that took place in that town about two years since. He states that, at the time referred to, he was employed by a sailor to carry a box from the train to a lodging-house; that later in the evening he saw him drinking with two men of notorious character; and that soon after, in the streets, they demanded his money from him. The unfortunate man pulled out some money, and, offering it to his assailants, alleged it was all he had. Declaring their disbelief in the assertion as to the state of his funds, they pounced upon their victim, and with brutal violence felled him to the ground, and whilst lying there kicked him unmercifully with their shoes. Their object was now partly attained, for one of the assailing party rifled the poor man's pockets, and secured some money and a few rings. The individual, who was lying on tits street in a senseless condition, was further to be disposed of, and the robbers, getting one on each side of him, dragged him away towards the railway works, taking in their route several streets on which subsequently blood was discovered. It will be recollected that, between two and three years ago navvies were employed at Newtownards in levelling the line so as to connect it with the extension to Donaghadee, and to this place it was alleged the man was dragged. Here, on recovering consciousness, his property was again demanded, and he still offered to give all so that his life might be spared. His appeals, the lad states, fell on dull ears, for the finishing touch was put to the scene by one of the men drawing a knife and stabbing the doomed sailor in the breast. A hole having been excavated in the embankment, the body was thrown in and covered up with the earth. Such was the condition of the place, that if any re. fiance is to be placed on the story, none better could have been chosen for the spot, and any blood that might have been spilled would soon be blotted out on the following morning by the earth carried to the place by the workmen whilst levelling the railway line. The boy, it would seem, was a witness to the bloody deed, but, lie says, was afraid to confess it, he himself having been threatened with insfint death did he divulge the crime However, he did allude to the matter a day or two afterwards whilst speaking to the landlady of one of the murderers, and she, foreseeing the consequences, warned him not to say a word about it to any other person. Such is the story of the lad, and, strange as it may seem, it is in some measure corroborated. A good many of the inhabitants of Newtownards remember perfectly the evening referred to by the boy. On the same night, about twelve o'clock, cries of " Murder !" were heard in the Square and Francis. street, and one gentleman living in the latter place, opposite the Market house, saw two or three people wrestling together near that time. Another person residing in the same neighbourhood alleges that, after hearing the noise in the street, he looked out of his bed-room window and observed two men, whose faces he could not distinguish, carrying a third man in their arms, in the same direction as that indicated by the boy. There is still further confirmation of this extraordinary affair, numbers of people having on the morning immediately after the alleged outrage observed a great quantity of blood about the Square and Francisstreet—in one or two places in particular large pools being collected; and, coupled with the fact of the cry of " Murder " being heard the night before, quite a sensation was created in Newtownards, which lasted for several weeks, owing to various causes—one being the disappearance of the sailor. About the sanie period, or very shortly after, the excitement got to a greater pitch, some parties from Douaghadee and Bangor coming into Newtownards anxiously inquiring for a friend, a sailor, whom they expected to return from a foreign voyage. A diligent search was made for some time, but it was at length given up, and the relatives of the sailor returned home fully believing that some ill had befallen him.—Birmiliyhititi Daily