The Cotton Factory Times. — 1888-05-18 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

THE STORY OP THE CRIME.  At the house No. 6, St. Mary's-road, Moston, there lived at the time of the tragedy Mrs. Mary Miller (42), her daughter, Isabella Miller (21), a female lodger, and the prisoner. So far as can be judged the crime which led to the culprit's doom was due to disappointment and jealousy at the root of sudden chagrin and passion. The woman had separated from her husband, and had allowed Gell to remain in the house as a lodger, and there are his words, as well as his maudlin conduct, to snow that be had in his way entertained a kind of regard for her, and appeared to consider it an injustice or a hardship that the quarrel which took place between them should lead to his being expelled from the house. The statement that he "loved Mr. Miller and meant to have her, and that if he could not have her no one else should, for he would finish her," showed that he was becoming desperate, and was nursing a feeling of revenge; though it was nevertheless contended at the trial on his behalf that there was an absence of motive for the crime. That defence, however, was iwompty disposed of by the Judge with the remark that a man is generally supposed to mean the consequences of his own act, and the case was one in which motive went for nothing. A statement published as Gell's own var.  sion of the crime, subsequent to his sentence, was almost a confirmation of the theory of the prosecution at the trial, that violent injuries were first inflicted on the daughter, Isabella Miller, she having, shown herself determined that Gell should not remain in the house, and that on Mrs. Miller rushing forward to give assistance to her girl, she was struck down by the fatal axe in the murderer's band. The chain of circurnstaneet, which led to the prisoner's conviction left no doubt as to his guilt. There was the unmade-up quarrel between him and Mrs. Miller on the night of the 20th February; his presence in the house that night and until seven next morning, when Mrs. Makr in effect drove him out of the house by speaking her mind, and his sullen departure vowing he would not return. He was next seen emerging from the house by the bark door, and he was evidently flying red-handed from the sight of his victim or victims, for both Mrs. Miller and her daughter were found in the yard and in the house, struck down and bleeding from fearful wounds. Mrs. Miller died soon afterwards; the daughter fortunately recovered. A constable followed after the flying murderer, who turned and confronted his pursuer and held out his hands for the handcuffs. The identity was beyond dispute, and there could be little question from all the evidence adduced that the prisoner had returned stealthily to the house, that the quarrel had been renewed, and that he had used an axe, which was found blood-stained in the yard, upon the heads of both women, the younger woman being fortunately able to call the neighbours. though not in time to arrest her mother's fate. No efforts were made to obtain a reprieve of the culprit's doom, as it was generally felt that the law had justly taken its course. Prisoner was, moreover, solemnly warned by the judge not to expect that in this world mercy could be extended to him.