The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1859-11-15 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

DONHEAD ST. ANDREW. BRUTAL MURDER.  The greatest consternation prevails in this village owing to the appalling murder of a woman, the wife of a game-keeper. From what we can at present learn the woman was discovered with her throat severed, as if by a razor, which was found in parte, on the premises; but the murderer used also a saw, as if the razor had been broken in the struggle, which, from the quantity of blood in the dwellinghouse, appears to have taken place where the fatal event occurred. The villain took away some clothing from the house, leaving his victim on the floor quite dead. The murder was committed on Thursday afternoon week. The husband of the murdered woman was in the employ of T. Fraser Grove, Esq., of Ferne House, and the place where the murder was committed is Ashcouthe Wood. An inquest was held before Wilson, Esq., county coroner, on the body of the woman, Aim Trowbridge. There was no evidence given except as to the finding of the body by the husband, (Merge Trowbridge, (who works on the estate of T. Groves, Fay., a county magistrate for M'ilts and Dorset,' and the mangled appearance of the body. A verdict was returned of " Wilful Murder against some person unknown." Every exertion is being made by the police to trace the perpetrator of this horrible dec.', the village of Tolima' being in the greatest excitement. Lord Rivers has been making every inquiry at the scene of the murder. Sunday morning, at an early hour, Superintentleut llayuton wasonleied by Supt. Harris to ',niece,' to the place of the murder with his bloodhound, in order, if possible, to trace the bloody clothe' of the delinquent, who must be covered with blood, and it is supposed he may have bidden them in the wood that surrounds the desolate valley, and put cn those of the husband. Many hours were spent in search without avail. People from all quarters visited the scene on Sunday. Suspicion at one time attached to the husband, but there appears no ground for it, as he was even at his work, halts mile off, all the morning, and he immediately gave the alarm on his return to dinner. The person suspected of the murder bears the following description :--He is a tramp, calls himself a Spaniard, about 30 years of age, has an impediment in his speech; sonietinies appears to be dumb ; always begs at houses in lonely places; is about rift. Sin. high; dresses in a sort of brown dirty clothes. He had been begging at the cottage on the Monday previoua, and was relieved by the inunlerel woman with bread and potatoes. He has a limping walk. A man of this description was seen by the shepherd boy going along the bottom, with a bundle, in the direction from the cottage on the morning of the murder, and was seen by a fanner to cut across a clover field to avoid, apparently. the village. The deceased was a stout lusty woman, and very clean in her habits. Her husband was supposed to possess money, anal it was supposed by some to be in the house, but no money was taken ; and it has since transpired that there was money in the clock not touched. One of the coats taken is remarkable, it having been presented about two years since to the husband, George l'rowbridge, for long service. It is made jacket fashion, and has gilt buttons, with plough, two sheep, and wheat sheaf, with the words "Our country's dependance," which must lead to detection. It is a large coat. Trowbridge is a tall man, being six feet high.