Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1861-12-24 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

WYNDYARD-HALL.—Darlington, Dec. 19.—(8y Eleatic and International Telegraph.)— Wynyard-hall, near Stockton, the seat of the Marchioness of Londonderry, is in flames' which can be seen at an immense distance. The hall has been burnt down twice before. ANOTHER DREADFUL CRIME Was committed on the evening of the 12th inst. The victim was a gardener, named Hinchliffe, living at Trecton, near Sheffield. On the day named Hinchliffe sold a pig for £lO Ss. to Mr. Watts, grocer, of Attercliffe, one of the suburbs of Sh flield. An old schoolfellow of his named Fawley, and who is a butcher, assisted in killing the pig, and Ilinchliffe, having received the price, went with Fawley to a neighbouring beer-house, where they remained drinking until about half-past five o'clock, when they left in company. Hincliffe was "fresh," but apparently able to walk home. Shirland lane, a dark, narrow road leads from Attercliffe to the village of Darnall and was Hincbliffe's nearest way home. The two friends parted at the end of this lane, Fawley declining the ie.fitation of Hinchliffe tc go into an adjoining publichouse and have a final glass of "something short," and advising him to go straight home. A few minutes afterwards Hinchliffe was seen a short distance up the lane, with his clothes in a disordered state, by a young mau named Wood. He had not been attacked, but Wood heard the sound of approaching footsteps when he had passed Hinchliffe only a short distance, and also heard a conversation between two men who had gone up and Hinchliffe. He, however, proceeded forward to Darnall, not supposing that anything was wrong. Between seven and eight o'clock two miners named Simpson found Hinchliffe lying helpless on the footpath in a dark part of Shirland lane, about 200 yards from the main street of Attercliffe. They supposed the man was intoxicated and reported the circumstance in Attercliffe. Some of the residents went to the place, and found that the man was dead, and it was discovered that one of the deeeaaed's trousers pockets had been cut out and the other torn open ; was his money all gone and nothing left except a pocket-book. There were no marks of violence on the body except tat the face appeared to be swollen. The deceased's eyes were filled with mud, which had evidently been done by his assailants, probably to prevent him from recognising them. Fawley has been apprehended on suspicion of being concerned in the robbery and murder, but no money was found upon him. A SINGULAR CRIME has been attempted near Warrington. On Saturday night a fire was discovered at a haystack, at Howley, a village near, which, it was evident, had been caused by an incendiary. After the flames were subdued, some men heard a groan proceeding from behind a beep of earth about a hundred yards from the stack. There the owner of the stock—a small farmer, named Bowers—was discovered, with his arms fastened behind him by means of a hedge stake, and his legs bound together, to prevent his escape. Bowers stated that as he was going home on Saturday night he was met by two men, who seized him and threw him down; a third tied his legs and fastened his arms in the manner described, and on his attempting to make a noise they knocked 64 head against the ground, His purse, containing two sovereigns and 7s. 6d. in silver, was taken from his pocket, and he, in all probability, dragged while insensible to the place where he was discovered. A purse has been found on the spot, but no money. The haystack was insured: whose was the attempted crime remains to be seen.