Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1861-06-21 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

NOBLE DEED. —.On the afternoon of Saturday last several gentlemen started ia a boat from Stockton for Thornaby Wood for an evening's amusement. On passing the railway bridge they canto upon a number of lads bathing in the Tee, several of them were on the hank shouting and making -signs that one of their companions was drowning. On the boat nearing the spot the boy was drowning, he was seen to rise and sink again ; the party Pulled to the spot, when Mr Thos. Whitwell threw off his coat and waistcoat, jumped into the stream, and brought the lad to the surface. He waa just in tinie to save him before life was ' extinct. On placing him on the bank he was laid in a position for the water to run out of him, and in a I short time he revived. It appears that he had got out of his depth, and finding that he was sinking screamed out, which 'alarmed his companions, who hastened to get out of the water. It was most fortunate -that this boat happened to be passing at the time, or there would have been a subject for the Coroner. Mr Whitwell-returned to Stockton in his wet clothes. We trust this brave act will be rewarded with a Society's medal.  The records of murder have lately increased to a very alarming degree. Scarcely a day passes but the papers in some part or other of the country give an account of some dreadful occurrence. A few days since one of those Irish assassinati which so frequently disgrace that country - was perpetrated upon a farmer because he refused his consent to the marriage of the murderer with his daughter. The farmer was shot down in his field in day light. The murderer was seen by a boy, who knew the man and gave intiirmation to the police. The villain has for the present escaped.—On Friday, John Holdsworth, a tell.bar-keeper, in anger, shot his wife dead when she was attempting to escape from his violence. Ile was taken before the magistrates at Keighley, and committed for trial. The brother of the nufortunate woman was also injured by the discharge of the gun, as he was assisting her to escape.—A man at Bristol shot at his wife do Saturday morning with soptol. Her .life was probably saved by the son laying hold of the father's arm, which averted the ball from her. Ile made another attempt which was prevented in the same manner. Ile was then taken into custody and revetted lhat he had not killed her.—On Monday night a Mrs Halliday was killed by strangling, at Kingswood, Surrey. She was left in charge of the house of the Rev. Mr Taylor, incumbent, daring their absence. The villains, for there were two of them, broke into the house through her bedroom window, and to prevent her from giving alarm, gagged up her mouth and tied up her hands and feet. When she was discovered death had taken place, and blood was flowing from her nose. It is supposed the murderers were disturbed, as nothing of importance is missed from the house. No clue haa been ascertained of the murderers.—A few days since a dreadful murder was committed in a church at Illankeney, in the Forest of Dean. The parish clerk, named Steel, bad gone to a neighbouring public house with a cup to get some ale for his supper, and not returning his wife became alarmed and went in search of him not finding him at the public house, she thought lie might have gone to the church; she went there, and to her dismay found hint lying on the floor dead, with a handkerchief tied tight round his neck. A false key was found in the door, and there were marks Of a severe struggle. It is supposed he had seen the door open and went to see the cause, when he was murdered to prevent 'discovery. It is strange that nothing was missed from the church, but it is supposed the communion plate was the object of the Nurderers, who, being disturbed, got oft' without being discovered.