Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1859-06-04 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

DREADFUL MURDER AT WALWORTH.—On Friday morning, considerable sensation was created at Walworth, London, by a report of a cold-blooded murder. It appears that the deceased, Mrs Sophia Moore, aged 25 years, lodged at the house of Mrs Hart, No. 23, in Trafalgar Street, Walworth, nearly opposite the Lord Nelson Tavern. Her husband, William Moore, aged 30 years, who had been only married to the deceased about five months, was a hawker of laces. About a fortnight ago they had a family party, and the deceased's sister's sweetheart kissed the deceased in the presence of the husband. This roused his choler, and some words ensued, when he told her to prepare for her death, as he meant to murder her. This she regarded as an idle threat but on Tuesday morning, shortly before eight, he took a sharp-pointed knife and plunged it in her left side up to the handle. Ile then drew it out, and the deceased ran d iwn stairs and crossed over to a neighbour's, and faintly cried 'Murder !' Some neighbours seeing the blood streaming from her side, took her into their house, and sent for Mr Howett, the surgeon. The murderer made iapidly off through the Lord Nelson Tavern into the Kent Road. The wounded woman was conveyed to Petersham Ward, Guy's Hospital. Every assistance which medical skill could suggest was rendered, but she gradually became weaker and weaker, and on Friday morning death terminated her sufferings. The murderer is described to be 51t. Gin. high, pale complexion, scar over the left eye, small white plaid trousers, black coat, and old slippers. Up to the present time he has remained concealed. AN HOTRL ROBBER EXTRAORDINARY FREQUENTINfi YOKlt.—James Clark, a well-dressed and rather gentlemanly looking man, described as a eoachbuilder, was charged at the Mansion House Police Court, London, on Friday, with having, on the 29th ult., stolen a purse containing a banker's draft for £lO, about £6O in Bank of England notes, and £25 in gold, from the Old George Hotel, in the city of York.—Mr Snow said—l keep a temperance hotel at York ; I know the prisoner, who slept at my house one night in the middle of January last. I did not on that occasion miss anything ; but he came to lodge at my house again towards the end of February, on a Friday night. In the middle of the night I was aroused by hearing one of the bedroom bells clashing, and going out of my room to see what ass the matter, I found a gentleman standing at the door of his room, who said some one had been to his bedside and robbed him of three sovereigns. He said he saw some one walk out of his room with a light, as he woke up, but he could not see who it was. I at once sent for a policeman, and alien he arrived he went into the room of the prisoner on the same floor, but he seemed to be fast asleep, notwithstanding all the noise that had been made, and gave such a satisfactory account of himself, that I declined to give h:rn into custody. Next day, however, I missed a shirt front a drawer in his room, and I then did give him into custody. The shirt was found on him, and he was sentenced to three weeks' imprisonment, and at the same time he was sentenced to three weeks' further imprisonment for having stolen a meerschaum pipe from another hotel two days before. Ile came out of prison about the middle of April, and on the night of the 29th a robbery was committed by a man supposed to be him, at the Old George Ilotel, York, when a purse was stolen from the bedroom of a commercial traveller. I have not seen the prisoner from the time he went to prison until Tuesday night, when I met him in Cheapside, and knowing him to be suspected of the robbery at the Old George, I gave him into custody, and at the same time telegraphed to York the fact of his apprehension. The officer who apprehended the prisoner deposed that he found .£5 10s. upon him ; lie had been staying at Anderton'a Hotel, Fleet Street. In addition to the present charge, the prisoner was also suspected of having committed other hotel robberies since lie left York.—Mr Chalk, chief constable of York, produced a warrant by two magistrate's of that city, and the prisoner was consequently delivered into his custody to be conveyed within their jurisdiction,