The Sun. — 1849-04-17 (London, England)

PARRICIDE.  GLOSSOP, SATURDAY MORNING.—A sensation, which it would be difficult to attempt to describe, prevails at the present time throughout this usually quiet district, in consequence of the discovery having been made of a most appalling murder, which there is no doubt, from what has recently transpired, was perpetrated by a young man named Thomas Doxey, a so■ of the unfortunate victim. The murder was committed as far back as last December, and the body was found on New Year's eve in the water near Victoria-bridge. The circumstances connected with the case were at the time considered to be very mysterious, but no evidence could be procured likely to implicate any person, although rumour was busy, and pointed to members of the deceased's family, who were known frequently to quarrel with and ill use the old man. On Good Friday, however, a man named John Clough made a most startlicg disclosure connected with the affair, which coming to the ears of Mr. Clayton, the chief officer of police, he at ' once went in search of the alleged murderers. On Sunday last he succeeded in apprehending Thomas Doxey, the deceased's own son, and William Dawson, his son-in-law. The two were on Wednesday last brought before Mr. Yates, one of the magistrates of the district, when John Clough, upon being sworn, stated, that on the 30th of December last, about 10 o'clock at night, he and his wife were crossing Victoria-bridge, when he saw Thomas Doxey and another man, whom he at first believed to be William Dawson, accost the deceased, who was also crossing the bridge. The deceased was at that time in front of witness. The prisoner Doxey then went up to him, and said that he would strike him, when he at once gave him a blow over the head, which felled him to the ground like a bullock, and the other man kicked him on the head. His son then cried out, "We will murder the d- old b- now." After that he kicked his father twice on the breast, when witness went up and asked what they were doing to the old man. The wife of witness was with him at the time. The two persons who were murdering the deceased cried out that if they did not go away they would serve them the same. They being afraid of losing their lives, made off, but as they were so doing looked round and saw the two men throw the deceased over the Victoria-bridge into the brook. He (witness) heard the splash and saw the man fall. He had known the prisoner Doxey for more than two years, and was, therefore, quite certain he was one of the men who committed the murder. The reason he did not mention the matter till Good Friday was on account of the prisoner Doxey telling him if he did he should surely lose his own life. He was not certain that the prisoner Dawson was the other person he saw with Doxey, and he now considered that that person was somewhat stouter. He had seen Doxey several times, who had cautioned him not to say a word about his throwing his father over the bridge. The witness having been severely crossexamined. Mrs. Clough, his wife, was next called, and after she had given her testimony, the prisoner Doxey was fully committed for the wilful murder of his father, but the prisoner Dawson was discharged, his friends proving that he was in the house at the time the murder was committed. The police have received orders to look after the other man who was engaged with the prisoner Doxey in murdering the poor old man. '