The Sun. — 1858-12-27 (London, England)

SHOCKING MURDER IN DERBY.  A most atrocious murder was committedin Derby on Christmas eve, which has caused considerable excitement throughout the town, owing to the savage manner in which it was perpetrated. It took place in a public-house, the sign of the bishop Blaze, situated in the Morledge, a somewhat low neighbourhood. The name of the murderer is Arthur Bland, and that of the victim Edwards, whose death was caused through' a stab in the throat with a pocket-knife. It appears that when the militia was first embodied Bland entered it, but he had left the regiment some time. He has, it Is said, once been convicted of stealing, and has since been leading a somewhat dissolute life at a house of ill-fame in the town. He has often accompanied others in various poaching expeditions. Edwards has for some time been living with Bland's sister, and the two men have been on anything but comfortable terms with one another. They have, on several occasions, quarrelled, and about a fortnight back, fought. They happened to meet on Friday afternoon at the Bishop Blaze, and drank together, when some old grievance was raked up, and they went into the yard to fight. Mr. Pool, the landlord of the house, prevented the fight from taking place, and Bland and Edwards returned to the tap-room. They had some more drink, and shook hands ; but soon afterwards Bland made a sudden plunge with a knife at the throat of Ed. wards, inflicting a frightful wound just beneath the chin. Blood rushed out coveringthe floor. The landlord was informed of what took place, and the murderer was immediately secured and delivered into the custody of the police. A surgeon was instantly sent for, and on his arrival, in about five minutes afterwards, he found Edwards dead. The poor fellow exclaimed, when the wound was inflicted., "Oh ! lam stabbed." An inquest on the body will be held to-day before the borough coroner.  The witness was examined at great length. The court adjourned till yesterday,' when Sullivan was again called and cross-examined. Examination resumed—Accompanied by another man on the road leading to Grimoleague, he saw a great number of men drilling with pikes. He took the two oaths at Bantry. He could not say whether he intended to keep them. He had intended to do so. He went to confess. The priest refused to give absolution till he would break through, the oaths. It was at the suggestion of a police officer that he first went to Skibbereen. The examination of the approver then ended. , , Adjourned again to this morning. This day seven or eight witnesses were produced who were not examined fully. The examinations were merely read over to them, and they were then cross-examined. One of the constables contradicted the evidence of the 'informer as to. the privacy of the room called the Phoenix.-room, in Morty Downing's house. He stated that it was always open to the public, and even the constabulary had taken refreshment there. The form of oaths to be taken was not produced, but the informer stated it verbally in his evidence. Three of the prisoners—M‘Carthy. Driscoll, and Stack—had not been examined. They were identified by the informer. The examination terminated at 5 o'clock.  M'Carthy, Stack, and Driscoll were discharged on their own recognisances of £lOO to come up for trial when: called upon. Duffin, Dennis, Downing, Patrick Downing, Timothy M'Carthy, O'Shea, and Obson were admitted to bail, themselves in £lOO each, and two securities of £5O each, to appear at the assizes. Daniel M'Carthy, E. Sullivan, Donaghan, M. Monaghan, W. O'Shea, and Morty Downing, were committed for trial without bail. The solicitors for the prisoners returned thanks to the magistrate and the Crown solicitors for the manner in which the proceedings had been conducted.