The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1881-07-16 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

THE TIMES, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 1881.  whom he hourly expected, it required an amount of heroism to violently cast away the last faint chance of oc!ading justice, which Lefroy did not possess. Half-starved, ill, alone, and with no occupation but to brood night and day over the horrible events which occurred in the carriage on the Brighton railway—horrible whether he were a victim or a perpetrator—it is no marvel that Lefroy should welcome a change of any character whatever. One cannot help a feeling of satisfaction, that a limn, who is charged with so horrible an outrage, should be arrested, but it is little to the credit of the police that the hunt for him should have been necessary. It almost passes comprehension that experienced officers should accept a story so improbable as that which Lefroy told. Suspicion at least should have been aroused when a watch and chain are seen sticking out of the shoe of a man who arrives in a carriage, alone, and covered with blood. The delay in the capture has further complicated and rendered the proof or disproof of Lefroy's guilt the more difficult. It is impossible to hide the grave circumstances pointing to the guilt of Lefroy, nor is it necessary to refrain from mentioning them. We do not take it for granted that Lefroy is guilty, he, like many others, may be the victim of circumstantial evidence, and it must be remembered that a chain of circumstantial exidence is only of the strength of the weakest link in it. At the present moment, not only are some of the links in the chain very weak indeed, but there are some absolutely missing. The theory of the prosecution is that Lefroy shot Mr. (told as the train was entering the first tunnel. But no weapon has been found, though diligent and never-ceasing search has been made for one, nor has any weapon been traced to the possession of Lefroy. Here is a "missing link " in the chain which weakens it greatly. Before the trial it is possible that a weapon may be found, for the search is still being continued, but if not, it is a manifest weakness in the case. The most suspicious circumstances telling against Lefroy are the possession of a watch and chain of the same character anti by the same maker as the one worn by deceased, and his conduct in leaving home and biding himself. Whethei these facts are consistent with innocence remains to be shown at the trial, and, of course, if it be conclusively proved that Lefroy and 61old rode ;done in the compartment from London to Brighton the case is materially strengthened against Lefroy. But it is not necessary at the present time to discuss these matters pro and eon. Lefroy, as we have stated, is entitled to receive a fair trial. If he be convicted he will pay the penalty of one of the most !forcible and hideous crimes of late years- —a coil-blooded, premeditated and cruel murder : if the case be not fully proved lie will receive the benefit of any doubt which may exist in the minds of the jury.  street, Nuneaton, on the Bth inst. and was fined 6s. and costs. -- Emma Wilson (an old offender) was snmmoned, but did not appear, for being drunk at Atherstone, on the let mat. The cage was proved in her absence by Policeconstable Tee,. and she was fined 2s. 6d., and 13s. fid. costs; in default, 14 days.—Willitun Barnsley and Stephen Ross, miners, Atherstone, were charged with trespassing in search of game, on land at Merevale, in the occupation of Isaac Smith•—Mr. Pogmore (Atherstone) appeared *behalf of the defendant Ross.—The Bench ddaded to convict, and Sept. Walker gave Barnsley au extremely bad character. ROSS was ordered to pay the costs, 14s. ; Barnsley was hued £2, and costs £1 00. Juno Gliitter was summoned by Mary Ann Davis for wanking her child by cutting open its bend with a stone.—On the application of the complainant the ease was withdrawn, it being stated that the child had quite recovered from the effects of the assault, and that the defendant's husband had paid the doctor's bill .-.101 in Greatrix, qoarryman, Chapel End, was charged with !dolling, at Chapel End, on the 11th inst., an iron bar, of the value of 4s. Id., the propeay of James Extall.—Tho Bench decided that the Cll4O Ohs one which should have been taken to the County Court, end the prisoner was discharged. Mr. G. J.