Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1886-06-19 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

JUNE 19, ISSC  MURDER IN A LONDON POST OFFICE. A te. .pie crime was committed the other afternoon in the vicinity of Junction-road, Kentish-town. About half-past four o'clock a youth named Finch, aged , about 18, entered a chemist's shop at the corner of a street out of Brecknock-road, where the unties of a district Post Office are also carried on, and he leaned over the counter to seize the till. The chemist's assistant, a young man 23 years of age, rushed forward to prevent him, whereupon Finch drew a revolver from his pocket and discharged two shots, one of which took effect in the middle of the forehead, and the other in the left temple. 'the latter bullet, glancing oft the assistant, cut ths face of a young lady who was officiating in the Post Office, and who, on hearing the first shot, rushed forward to ascertain the cause. The young man who was shot died in a few minutes, and the murderer, who immediately made off, was pursued by Detective-serjeant Miller, of the Y Division, who captured him in Ospringe.road, where he made a futile attempt to commit suicide. The prisoner w as conveyed to the Kentish-town Police Us.  station. Another account my, The post office where the murder was committed is No. 165, Breckneock-road, and inn large chemist's and druggist's shop in the occupation of Mr. Hardy. A young man named Alfred Paden, living at it, Brecknock-road, was near the post office when he heard the report of firearms, and on looking whence the sound came, Ile saw a young man, just within the shop door, fire a pistol at a young woman who was coming towards him, and then rush out of the shop. Partell ran after him, but could not catch him. He returned and then having heard that Mr. Hardy's assistant, Mr. John William Bowes, had been previously shot by the man, he again rushed after him, and saw him enter a house in the Ospringeroad, and gave information to the police. The house into which the young man had gone was his mother's residence. Chief Inspector Millward and Detective' rergeaotlSliller proceeded to the residence of Mrs. Finch, whilst Mr. Superintendent Huntley went to the chemist's and ascertained that the assistant was killed, having been shot through the head. On entering the house, 15, Ospringe-road, it was found that the murderer had endeavoured to conceal himself, but finding the police were on his track, he climbed on to the top of the cistern above the water-closet, and kept the police for some time at bay with his six-barrelled revolver, one of the large bull-dog pattern. The police, however, succeeded in arresting him. Dr. Downs, divisional police surgeon, of 55, Kentish Town-road, had been sent for to the post-office, and on his arrival at the scene of the outrage, he examined the body of Mr. Bowes. His death had been caused by a bullet wound on the left side of the head, directly in front of the ear, and in a line with the rye; but as it had not passed through it was believed that the bullet had lodged in the brain, and that death must have been almost instantaneous. The other circumstances which then transpired were these —Miss Frances Hardy, who acted as the post-office clerk, had left the shop foes minute or two when, hearing the report of firearms, she ran into the shop, and seeing that the assistant was shot she screamed, and raised an alarm ; Finch, who was making his way out,turned round and fired at her, lout the shot missed her, and he then ran away. It was then discovered that a robbery had been perpetrated, as the cash-box which she had left on her desk, containing £7 10s., the property of the Postmaster General, was missing. This box was subsequently found in the garden adjoining that of the house in which Finch was caught, and the money was intact. It is supposed that the deceased, hearing the rattling of the money in the box, or seeing what the manwas about, rushed to capture him, when the miscreant shot him dead. On being taken into custody and conveyed to the Kentish Town Police-station, the prisoner gave his name as George Vincent Heneage Finch, aged 19, and described himself as an artist, of 25, Ospringe-road. The remaining chambers of the revolver were loaded, but no bullets or cartridges were found. The police took possession of his apartments at 15, Ospringe-road, where he resided with his widowed mother.