The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1864-07-16 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

EVENING. The public interest in this horrible affair seems rather to Increase than abate. Yesterday afternoon just before 'Change time a very circnnatantial rumour reached the city that the murderer hail been apprehended. It went as far as to describe him as a fellow.clerk of the murdered man, who had some years ago been convicted of forgery through his evidence. The story was repeated on 'Change in all its de•ails, and created immense excitement among the marchants, many of whom have known the deceased personally. The exertions made by the pollee were partially rewarded yesterday by the discovery of a rather Important clue. The chain Ivelouzing to the late Mr. Briggs was traced to a silversmall's in the city, where it had been exchanged for one the day before by a man haviog the appearance of a foreigner. It will be remembered that the hat found i the railway carriage was of f, reign shape, although made try an Enelish trianufacturer. These two facts taken together seem to ii.dicate that the murderer was not an Eoglishman The police have an accorate description of the exchaeged chain, and are enueavouring to trace it or at any rate, stop its sale. Inspector Kerressey and the other detectives employed in the case have bee, inithdated with letters from all parts of the country, making suggestions for tracing the murderer. 006 gentleman sum sts that by way of discovering the number of persons implicated in the affair the number of thist-ociass tickets issued for the train in which the murder was committed should he ascertained, and that every one who travelled by it should send in their names. At the station at Bow there is a large collection of hats of all shapes and sizes found all over Liaidon since the murder, and the police have received the names of a number of douhtless most innocent individuals who returned home hatless or with I lack eyes in the night in question. These mattersiare only important as showing the amount of inI terest t -ken in the affair out of doors. A very lengthy report from the officers in charge of the Me was sent to to Sir Richard Mayne twit tight, contaioing some very important information. Toe post otortiii, examination of the body was made yesterday by Messrs. Tomlinson, Brereton, and Caper, assisted by two other medical gentlemen, friends of the family. From the size and shape of the wounds on the head they appear to have been inflicted by a life-preserver, ad the deep incised wound over the ear was, no doubt, caused hy the two edged dagger with which many of these misnamed instruments are provided. The blow on the ear was a moat severe one, dividing the lobe and crushing it fearfully. The stab above the ear must have entered the base of the bride at least three inches. The other wounds were als., most severe, arid the medical men in at. tendance have expressed their surprise that the deceased lived so long after the iolliction of such iiijoiries. Many peorde have supposed that the muderer intended throwing the body into the canal, and that in his hurry he opened the wrong door. It seems more probable that his intention was to throw him elite the up line, when the next train would have passed over him and so have gee!. rise to the notion that accident or suicide was the cane of death. Bills were posted all over town anji weary yesterday o'er leg a reward of 11011, for the discovery of the murde-er on the part of the teoverriment, and a further reward of loot from the deceased gentleman's late employers, Messrs. Roberts, LubhOck, and Co The railway company have not as yet moved la the matter.