The Express. — 1866-04-21 (London, England)

SIIOCKI.VG MURDER NEAR STAFFORD.  A horrible murder was committed at Coppenhall, near Stafford, yesterday. An old woman named Ellen Buckley was found dead in her own house soon after 6 o'clock in the evening, with her head nearly severed from her body. Suspicion points to a man named John Cooper, who worked for a neighbouring farmer, and who had been in the habit of taking his dinner at the deceased's house. He was arrested on the serious charge within an hour or two of the discovery of the murder, and he is now in custody at the police station, at Stafford. Ellen Buckley, the murdered woman, was about 70 years of age, and lived in a small cottage at Coppenhall, which is at some distance from any other house. Her husband died about twelve months ago, and since then she had been supported by her two sons, one of whom resides near Liverpool, while the other lived with the deceased, and worked for a farmer at Coppenhall. The accused, John Cooper, is a labourer, living at Dunston, about two miles from Coppenhall. He is married and has several children, the eldest of whom is about fourteen. He has been employed for some years as a labourer by Mr. Ward, farmer, of Coppenhall, and the deceased had, as a matter of kindness, allowed him to take his dinner at bee house when he did not choose to go home for that purpose. It appears that about 20 minutes pant 6 yesterday evening, Mr. J. W. Moore, of the Toft Farm, between Dunstan and Coppenhall, was passing Mrs. Buckley's house, when he saw a land roller in the road, and thinking it might lead to an accident, he called at the house with the intention of asking the old woman to request her son to remove the implement when he returned from work. On entering Mr. Moore found the old woman lying on the floor, and imagining at first that she might be in a fit, she having been subject to such attacks, he went up to her. Observing come blood about he at first supposed that she had broken a blood vessel, and called to a man named Salt, a shepherd in the employ of Mr. R. M. Wright, farmer, who was in a field about 150 yards off. Mr. Wright afterwards came up, and he and Mr. Moore on examiog the old women more closely found that there was a very large and deep cut in the back of her neck, which had apparently been inflicted with a billhook or some such instrument. There was also a frightful gash on each cheek, which might also have been inflicted by the point of the billhook. There was a quantity of blood on the poor woman's clothes and also near the fireplace, in which she lay with her head against the fender. 'There was a table knife lying near, the point of which had blood upon it, but it is not supposed that this was used as a weapon by the murderer. There was a loaf of bread on the table, which may account for the knife being near. The weapon with which the murder was committed is supto be a formidable-looking billhook, which was rand in the prisoner's house when he was arrested. Mr. Moore having cursorily examined the body, rode on horseback to Stafford and gave information to the police. Inspector Adams and Sergeant Bradshaw at once drove over to Coppenhall in a cab, and ascertained that the man John Cooper had been seen at deceased's house early that afternoon, and that she had sent for some one to turn him out. The officers proceeded to the prisoner's house at Dunston and arrested him on the charge of wilful murder. He made no reply, and has not said a word since he has been in custody. There was blood upon his clothing and also upon a billhook which was found in his house. The accused has acted very strangely of late, and those, who knew him best consider that he Is insane, and he has, it is said, threatened to cut his own throat. He is now in custody at the Stafford police-station, and will be brought before the magistrates to-morrow.—Staffordskirc Advertiser.