The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1874-01-23 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

CLERGYMAN AND HIS SEXTON.  On Saturday an old man named William Steele. aged 60, a parish sexton and clerk, was charged before the magistrate, at Colchester, with stealing three pieces of firewood, valued at one penny, the property of the Rev. Donald M. Owen, rector of Marks Tey. Prisoner, who had borne an irreproachable character, had acted in the above capacities for the last five years under the p osecutor, who also employed him as a gardener. It appeared that on the 6th inst., as he was going home with three pieces of wood under his arm, he met a policeman, who asked him what he had got. He replied that it was only a piece or two of wood, to light his fire. He had been making a drain, and had them to spare. The old man was taken to the rectory, and two pieces of wood were found in the outhouse which corresponded with those in the prisoner's possession. Mr. Goody, who appeared for the defence, sought to show that it was the custom for men to take away from work a few spare pieces of wood, but the Bench decided upon committing prisoner for trial. His son-in-law Taylor, who had recently obtained his discharge from the 20th Hussars, offered himself as bail, but not being a householder, was at first refused. Mr, H. Goody, the defending attorney, said he felt so much interest in the case that he would be surety to the extent of .£lO. The magistrates, however, declined to take less than a .620 surety. Ultimately the difficulty was got over by the son-in-law depositing with the clerk his Post-office Savings Bank book showing about .630 in hand.  SUSPECTED MURDER IN LIVERPOOL The body of a woman, named Ann Makinson, was found on Saturday evening in a house, 18, John street, off Netherfield road, Liverpool, under circumstances which point to foul play on the part of a man, named David James, with whom deceased cohabited, and who is now in custody, charged on suspicion with causing the death of the woman. Both the deceased and the accused had been drinking freely during the evening. and quarrelled more than once, James having accused his paramour of having been too intimate with other men. A boy named William Foster, who lives with his parents in the same house, saw them quarrel; but whilst he was present they became friends again, and were apparently on good terms with each other. The woman sent him out on a message, and when he returned, five minutes afterwards, he found the door of the house locked. Whilst he was waiting for admission, the boy's stepfather, James Mills, who had been out, came up, and he also knocked at the door. After a short interval the door was opened, and on going inside Mille saw James, and on the floor was lying the dead body of the woman Makinson. James remarked, "Is not this a sight?" upon which Mills asked if deceased and he had been falling out. The boy Foster. seeing how matters stood, went for a pol cetuan, and meeting Police-constable 603, he took him to the house, where James was taken into custody by that officer. on a charge of causing Miikinson's death. Dr. Costine, and his assistant, Dr. Tilston, shortly after arrived at the house, and examined the body, and found a slight wound and diacolouration over the left eye, and other marks of vi lence en the body and face; but no reliable opinion as to the cause of death can be pronounced until a postmortem examination has taken place. When taken into custody, James was uncli-r the influence of drink, and in reply to the charg.l told the officer that he knew nothing but that the deceased had died suddenly. .  On Saturday night a heavy fall of snow took place near Charleville. Snow fell on Sunday on the High Peak of Derbyshire. MR. E. A.