The Sun. — 1863-09-26 (London, England)

MURDER IN NORFOLK.  DonlvreH, Friday Evening.  The details have come to hand of a shocking murder at Elsing, near East Dereham, Norfolk. The occurrence has excited the more interest from the fact that the victim was an infirm old woman, partially blind, lame, and deaf, while the perpetrator of the crime was her husband, an ablebodied man in the full vigour of life. It appears that the murdered woman's name is Charlotte Naylor, her husband being James Naylor, an agricultural labourer, in full employment. There was a difference of about 30 years in their ages, the murdered woman being 81 and her husband 51 years of age. The cottage ix which Naylor and his wife lived is situated in a row, and the adjacent dwellings on each side are occupied by two hrothers named Isbell. During Sunday evening and Mcraday morning Naylor was heard by these brothers making a great noise, such ejaculations as " Oh, my Heavenly Father," "My blessed Father," "blessed Jesus," &e., being distinguished. He continued to conduct himself in a very. excited manner, but on being remonstrated with by Mr. Matthews, a farmer in the parish, he desisted. During the remainder of Monday afternoon, he continued quiet; but when Charles Isbell and his wife retired to rest they heard Mrs. Naylor speaking to her husband, and asking him if he was going to bed, and shortly afterwards a light was seen in ther bedroom, and all seemed quiet for the night. After the lapse of about an hour, however, Isbell and his wife were awoke by strange noises proceeding from Naylor's bedroom, and immediately afterwards they heard Mrs. Naylor cry out, "Oh, James, don't hurt me." Then followed a loud shriek, succeeded by a heavy rumbling noise, as if something were being rolled or dragged downstairs ; then came another shriek and then a dead silence. Isbell and his wife continued to listen, and in a short time they heard the tread of heavy footsteps in the room underneath the chamber, and Naylor talking to himself and uttering wild ejaculations, which he repeated during the entire night. The suspicions of the neighbours being excited, some of them forced an entrance into the house in the morning, when a horrid spectacle presented itself. At the foot of the stairs lay the poor old woman in her night-dress, marks of fearful violence being apparent. Her nightdress was in disorder. The bcdy itself was partially doubled up, and the head and arms bore marks of the most cruel savagery; while one leg was broken just above the ankle. Marks of blood were evident on the person of the deceased, and there was a small pool of blood where the body lay. Upon further examination it was discovered that across the bedroom and down the stairs there was a blood track, clearly exhibiting the course in which the husband had dragged his victim. On a post mortem examination being made by Mr. G. Taylor, surgeon, of Mattishall, more extensive injuries were discovered. Two ribs were broken on one side and six on the other, injuring the pleura; while severe contused wounds were apparent on the head and temple. How these wounds were inflicted and whether any weapon was used still remains a mystery. With regard to the motive for the crime, it appears that the old woman had secreted a small sum of money (£2 17s Gd), with which she intended to pay her rent, and that she had a dispute and struggle with her husband about it. When the prisoner was apprehended, he ascribed the dreadful deed to a desire to " obey his heavenly Father," and it is considered by some that he is suffering from religious monomania. The facts have been investigated this week before a coroner's jury, and Naylor has been committed for trial on a charge of wilful murder at the ensuing Norwich assizes.