The Dewsbury Chronicle, and West Riding Advertiser. — 1872-03-23 (Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England)

THE ALLEGED MURDER NEAR  BILSTON TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO. On Saturday, at the Staffordshire Lent Assizes, before Mr. Baron Cleasley, Richard Pdrter, 54, of Castle Eden, Durhamshire, was indicted- for the wilful murder of a miner, named Williatd: Hughes, by throwing 'him down an ironstone pit, about twentyfive years ago. On the 21st of September, 1846, the dead body of William Hughes was found in a pii at Bunker's Hill, near Bilston, but a coroner's jilt/ beina unable to ascertain in what manner he-had fallen into °the pit, returned an open verdict. VI the beginning of February this year, a miner named Janie° Teece, residing at Bilston, volunteered information which led to the arrest of Porter upon a _charge ef murdering Hughes. The evidence of Teece Was to the effect that on the Sunday evening, the day before the body was found, he was at the Bird in Hand, Porto' bello, and there .witnessed a dispute between Porter, another miner unknown, and Hughes, respecting 14 sovereign. A fight afterwards ensued in the-adjoinia yard, but Hughes refused to give up the money. On, his way _home to Bilston, which led through sever,' fields, Hughes was followed by two men, witneo keeping a short distance-in the rear. - When Hugh° had approached near to the pit, witness alleged Porte and the other man ran up to him, 'and carryiog him between them, threw hini into the shaft, closingd the mouth with the waggon. They then .threaten,, to serve witness in the same way if he divulged, whici' had induced him to- keep the secret. The prisoner' affirming his innocence, denied being at 'Portobello .the night in question, and stated that the deceas left him at a public-house in the Cat-yard, Wollerei himpton, during the afternoon. He was disabl, from fighting by an accident to his arm. A witnero testified to Porter and Hughes being together in evening at the Bird-in-Hand, Portobello. At tin; stage the jury stopped the proceedings; and the prison was acquitted.  THE WILL OF AN ECCENTRIC LAO' It length it has become known what are provisions of the will of the "Old Lady of Stainfor"o street,", whose death in a dilapidated house in 0.14 street created some attention when it was ascertai, that she had been possessed of considerable weslil, She was the owner of other property in Loill,o besides that in Stamford-street, but it liow apile that certain other property, which for many years ' allowed to run to waste in Snow-hill, Stoke Neor1.!10 ton, and other places, and which was also supposed tit belong to her, did not do so. She died worth £lOO,OOO in the funds, had many freehold and 1001 hold house, and there was quite an olla podrid4o curiosities found in her, house when 'search was 10 for some other will. Amongst other things there s(,e a room fall of caps and.: bonnets, some of the Ist') nearly half a yard long (pokes of a former generatioill and in a canvass-bag was . found £5OO in sixpeolll" fourpenny, and threepenny pieces. She had quarrels many years ago with all her relations, and her willsc,4 as follows:—" I, Cordelia Angelina Read, of Staraf°j, street, in the county of Surrey, spinster, do lief give and bequeath to the treasurer for the time be of the Hospital for the Cure of Consumption at Brolllo, • ton, in the county of Middlesex, for the use of the institution, all my household furniture, pictures, g9,6:,0 chattels, trinkets, jewellery,' and effectd; which maY ol my dwelling-house in which I may reside at the tilllety my decease, and also all my ready, money at „,3i bankers and money in the public securities or fu;4l in Great Britain, and also all other of -my perso:tz estate and effects which I can leave or bequestiv such an institution." The will was.executed oos, 10th Of December, 1858. By thiti will the £lOO,OOO, or thereabouts, goes to the`Bromptott pital, and the rest of the property is now in Oil it of litigation,- there !being considerable, difficaltY ascertainin,g who are entitled.' Tho" %barest 103° relatives are Mr. Albert William' BeetherT barrister, and the recorder of Dartmouth, .ana two sisters. It is understood that Mr. Robert W. JO son, solicitor, of 48; Beiford-row, who acts for the P of kin, has given the names of all parties known relatives of the deceased, and an application viil'„c made to Lord Penzance to order the 'parties ab" named to attend and give -viva voce evidence a history and family 'of deceased as far, as knoWl/ them.  , , .