The Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester Telegram. — 1862-11-20 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

BASNANOUS MURDER IN WALNI.—CiIttIIIISNNICIMS have come to light which prove that an atrocious and cold-blooded murder has been committed in one of the mining districts in the Rhendda Valley. On Sundey, the 2nd inst., • young woman named Jane Lewis, aged 22, a servant at Tyntily, parish of Veteadyfodwg, left her master's homes about six o'clock in the evening for the purpote of going to chapel. As she had not returned at • late hour the inmates of the house became uneasy, and proceeded to make a search for her. They had not proceeded far from the house when they were horror-struck at ending the body of the young woman lying woes the footpath in an adjoining wood, with her throat cut from ear to ear. A razor covered with blood was found near the body, and it was at Stet conjectured that the unfortunate woman had committed suicide. It was subsequently, however. ascertained that the razor was the property of • fellow servant, named Thomas FAmouds, and he was appre hended on the charge of murder. A coroner's inquest was opened on the 4th inst., at the Star Inn. Tintily. and after • preliminary inquiry was adjourned till Wednesday. The interest of the public had not abated, but, on the contrary, apparently increased, the jury room being inconveniently crowded during the day. After the examination of • number of witnesses, whose evidence did not throw any light upon the mystery that surrounds this diabolical murders Thomas Williams, collier, the reputed sweetheart of the deceased, was examined. He said7te had been courting the deceased for the last eighteen months, and that they had been engaged for some tune. The last time he walked with her will on the Priday before the murder, when they arranged to meet after evening terries an the following Sunday. They Intended to have been married in • fortnight or three weeks, and deceased had arranged to leave her service on Saturday. She had expressed her satisfaction at the primped of being so soon in her own house, although she said she felt coinfortable in her service. Deceased had templaised frrimently of the importunities of the prisoner, who was in the habit of making advances to her, which she invarisely repelled. He saw her on the fatal morning as she was going into chapel, and asked how she was was. She replied pleasantly, and appeared to be in her natal health and spirits. He went to chapel in the evening, bet, ending that deceased was not there, be concluded that she had been kept at home, partieularly as her muter was in chapel, and Meanie she had been out in the morning. He, therefore, went up to the house and knocked at the window, as described by the master and mistress in their evident's. Deasseed never told him that the prisoner bad used threats, but that he often wished her to accept of him as her suitor. Prisoner otiose interfered with Mm (witness) while welkin with deceased, and, referring to having seen them together in the cowhouse on one occasion, threatened to expose them. He never heard deceased say that she was afraid of anyone. Richard Wile, the -police-constable who first saw the body, was examined at great length. He raid tin body was lying acme the footpath about 22 yards from the stile at the top of the wood. At the request of the jury, Mr. Davis, *upon, in answer to the foreman, said that even on the supposition that the lest wound inflicted was the one whisk separated the arteries, it was inipessible that the tints could have been made by the dammed. He wee beard of • similar case where the wounds bad been selfinflicted, even in the case of • manaio committing suicide. The Coroner asked the jury if they were anxious to be satisfied upon any point. Several of them said they were desirous to bave further medical evidenne to satisfy their minds whether it was poseible that the young woman had committed suicide. The Coroner said he was quite agreeable to adjourn the inquiry for that purpose, and would summon Dr. *Awards, of Cardiff, who had assisted at the post mortem examination, to give his opinion of the ease. He had no doubt, however in his own mind as to the fact, from the positive evidenee of Mr. Davies. The inquest was then adjourned fte a week.