Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1869-09-24 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE CHARGE OF WIFE MURDER AT WHIT-I(lllK.—Sunter. the innkeeper at Whitkirk, was on Tuesday brought before the West Riding magistrates at the Leeds Town Hall.—Supt. Pollard said that the charge against the prisoner was that of the wilful murder of his wife. On the 6th inst. he had beaten his wife in his own house, and she left him and went to live with a relative, at whose residence she died. It would not be known what the facts of the case were until the inquest had been held, and he asked for a remand until Tuesday next.—Mr Ferns, who appeared for the prisoner, denied the beating.—Sergeant Midgley was called, and he stated that when he apprehended the prisoner on the charge of the wilful murder of his wife, by assaulting her on the 6th inst., he asked, " Is she dead ?" and witness replied " Yes." Sunter then remarked, "Oh, dear, its a bad job."--Mr Ferns maintained that there was no charge against the prisoner. The only ground on which the prisoner was detained was the mere fact that the woman was dead, and in reference to that it could be shown that she was in a delicate state of health. He denied altogether that the woman had succumbed to the prisoner's violence. It was true there Iliad been some unpleasantness on the night of the 6th iust., but no violence had been used. —Mr Darnton Lupton—with whom on the bench was Mr W. E. Gott—held that the justices would he warranted in granting a remand.—The prisoner was then remanded until Tuesday next. OUTRAGEOUS CONDUCT OF A ROMISII PRIEST, —Fort Augustus was thrown into a state of excitement on Taesday morning last, on account of the conduct of the Roman Catholic priest, the Rea'. John Macdonald, who, accompanied by two men (Maclellan, pensioner, and Macpherson, gamekeeper), effected a forcible entrance into the house of Captain Ross, for the purpose, it is understood, of endeavouring to administer one of the rites of the Church to the old captain, who is upon his death bed. The old Waterloo veteran, who has been for some years past imbecile, expressed a desire to see the prima, with whom he had been on the most intimate terms, both of them being Lochaber men. The priest, it was believed, had endeavoured to pervert the captain and make capital out of his family visit, and noon this being known he was told not to repeat his visit. Nothing d:ruuted, however, he obtaimd the assistance of the above-mentioned men, and effected a forcible entrance into the captain's house at a late hour on Monday night. The gamekeeper held Mrs Ross's hands behind her back, and the pensioner gave his attention to a male attendant, and held him down in a most brutal manner, while the priest prepared to administer Extreme unction, or something of the sort, to the dying captain. The screams of Mrs Roes brought assistance, and the priest and his minions were ejected from the house. A vigilant watch was kept throughout the night, as it was expected another attempt would be made to obtain admittance The authorities, we learn, are investigating into the circumstances of this extraordinary and scanI daloua wase.—lneertiess Advertiser.  _