The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1880-10-30 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.  A horrible murder has been committed at Aston, asar,London. She victim was a girl between 10 and ii veers of age, the eldest daughter of a master painter and decorator, named Shepherd, of Herbertvilla, Cowper-road, and who has resided in the neigh. bourhood for some years. Mr. Shepherd had on Thunie day. the 2 ist irrst„ eotnpleted the enle of tome house property, reeAving the amount partly in gold and partly in norm The former he immediately placed in a hunk, ' but retained the latter in the hours. On Friday teeming belied occasion to go to London, taking his wife end youngest child with him. Of his tour other children three were pent to school, and the eldeet, by name Ada, was left in the house, a labourer named , George Pliny, who was employed on the premises, and had been in Mr. Shepherd's service some six months, being requested by his matter not to leave until bit return in the evening. The elder child ear instructed to give her brother and sisters their dinner and take them beck to school, whim, she did, and returned to the house. When the children came home from school in the afternoon they were unable to get into the house, and they were eken mire of by neishbours. Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd returned about seven in the evening and found the hours in darkness. Upon entering the kitchen Mr. Shepherd stumbled against the body of hie child, which was lying in a pool of blood, her face covered with a handkerchief. He at once sent for the police and Dr. Murrell, and on the latter examining the child he stated that she had been outraged and murdered. She bad been deed about three hours. A closer exam nation showed that the poor child had been stabbed through the throat from side to side, and an ordinary table knife covered with blood was discovered lying upon the dresser. Upon investigating the premises Impostors Smith and Savage observed that a bed room door had been forced open and a box ransacked, but though the room was in some disorder, nothing appeared to have been taken away. Mr. Shep,iard had taken the precaution to put the notes referred to above in his pocket end take them with him. Inquiry in the neighbourhood soon elicited the fact that the workmen George Paver was seen to leave the house shortly after three o'clock in the afternoon, and a person who had milled just before that time for the purpose of borrowing a ladder was unable to obtain any answer. Both of the doors giving somas to the kitchen were found to be fastened. From the circumstance that in one ef the child's hands was found a thimble, a farthing, and two or three nuts, it is conjectured that she was attacked immediately upon her return to the house from conducting her sisters to school. She was the child of Mr. Shepherd by a former wife, and has missed much of her time with a grandmother. The man Pavey did not return to his home, as his whereabouts oould not be ascertained, although every means were taken by the police to effect his capture. He is described as being between 25 and 30 years of age, sft. sm. in height, of a sallow complexion, with short dark hair, inclined to be curly, and clean-shaved face, with a thick, dark vein running across the forehead. Owing to a partial paralysis of the left side he rests one hand upon his back while walking, and slightly drags the left foot along the ground. He wore a dark velveteen coat, with black jet buttons, corduroy trousers that had been recently washed, round felt hat, and a blue necktie with white spots. He is married, and formerly lived at Acton, but has revided latterly at Notting - hill. Without placing any great maiden(*) in him, Mr. Shepherd had considered Pettey to be a steady, reliable man, and had kept him in oonvtant work, partly on account of the physical disability under which be labours. His more intimate companions, however, allege that he was often seen in company with loose characters, and his entecedents are not very favourably described by the police.