The Northern Daily Times. — 1856-11-28 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

ANOTHER DREADFUL TRAGEDY.  Another of those fearful atrocities, which, unfortunately, have been too prevalent of late, has occurred near Croydon, and has occasioned the most intense excitement. A day or two since. a retired part of the suburbs of Croydon, called White Horse Road, which leads to Croydon Corn. mon, was the scene of one of the most diabolical attempts at murder, and which will, in all human probability, prove fatal. The place indicated is a very lonely spot, there being but three houses there, and no others within fifty yards. Both in front and back of the premises there are nothing but fields, and by the side a small brook crosses the road. The first intimation the police had of the dreadful affair was that a female, residing in one of the three cottages, had been murdered by a man named Bright, alias Edward Staines, who has for some time past been engaged as a labourer on the highway. Sergeant Hearne, 13 P, a very active officer, who is stationed at Croydon, immediately proceeded to the spot, and from enquiries which he then made, the following details have been collected :—On Thursday last, at the County Court here, a plaint was heard of Pitcher v. Antler, for alleged false imprisonment and breach of contract, in which Bright was to some extent interested, in consequence of which he stayed in the town until between ten and eleven o'clock, some two hours after the case was concluded. He then returned to the house of the injured woman, Mrs. Belton, who, it appears, let lodgings, and Bright had apartments in her house. When he reached home, she was in bed. He knocked at the door, and the unfortunate woman came down for the purpose of letting him in .s What transpired on the occasion is at present unknown, as the unhappy woman has never spoken coherently since the night of the transaction. It appears quite clear, however, that the neighbours heard terrific shrieks in the house soon after his arrival. After a short lapse of time, Bright came to the door, where several neighbours were standing, and in reply to what was the matter, said, " Come in here and see what's done. She's dead ! She's dead ! She will never rise more." At the same time pointing to the body of MRs. Belton, who was lying on the floor in a large pool of blood, which was flowing profusely from her head. She was quite insensible, and was only attired in her night clothes. One of the neighbours immediately started to Croydon for a surgeon, but both partners of the firm called upon, refused to go and see the woman. He then met Sergeant Herne, who accompanied him back to the house, in order, if possible, to secure the assassin, but by the time they arrived at the cottage Bright had escaped, notwithstanding several persons were present at the time. Finding Bright had, decamped, and the woman lying insensible in a large pool of blood, he went for Mr. Cooper, the divisional surgeon, who immediately came. Upon making an examination he found that her skull on one side had been quite battered in, and from what subsequently transpired it is certain the deed was done by a wood-chopping axe, such a weapon being discovered on the floor covered with blood and matted hair. It was a roost formidable weapon, the iron part of it alone weighing upwards of 4 lbS. Immediate pursuit was made after Bright, but up to this time he has not been apprehended. He is a married man, but has been for some time separated from his wife. The unfortunate victim of his brutality is described by the police as being a most respectable person. She is 42 years of age. At tho time of the assault her husband was at Canterbury, and her son in London, both of whom were telegraphed to by the police authorities, and apprised of the shocking catastrophe. They both immediately returned home, when, from the sight of the condition of Mrs. Belton, their feelings can be more readily imagined than described. There is not the slightest chance, we regret to say, of the unfortunate woman ever recovering; but what the object of the assassin could have been in committing so Iprbarous an outrage cannot at present be ascertained. The police, under the direction of Mr. superintendent Lund, are most active in their endeavours to apprehend the a:,saf;sia. hey have sucoeccieci in tracing him to a particular spot, but froni prudential reasons we cannot at present indicate it.