The Sun. — 1863-03-16 (London, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE.  On Friday evening last the locality of Winshill and Newton Mount, near Burton-on-Trent, was thrown into excitement by the report that a murder had been committed, and that the murderer had committed suicide, under the most painful circumstances. On inquiry, it was discovered that a young woman named Mary Tomlinson. a domestic servant at J. Drevvry's, Esq., solicitor, Newton Mount, had been the object of an attempted assassination by a young man named Joseph Simpson, with whom she had been on terms of the closest intimacy for some time. It appears that she had been wounded on the right side of the head, directly below the ear, and, although very severely injured, she still survives. It seem that directly after aiming the deadly shot at his sweetheart, and hearing her screams, Simpson ran across two fields, and discharged the contents of the remaining barrel into his own head. As far back as last Whitsuntide they were engaged to be married, and consequently they went in company to the festivities of Lichfield Bower, and there, during their stay, he purchased a wedding ring. On Tuesday last—on the occasion of the rejoicings at the Prince of Walee's marriage—they went to Burton, and there entered into the enjoyments provided. At the conclusion of the day's festivities she left the company of Simpson and joined another young man, which had the effect of irritating his temper. He went on Thursday to Mr. Barrett's, at Burton, and purchased a doublebarrelled rifle pistol, with a quantity of powder and shot, and on Friday morning Simpson went to the residence of Mr. Drewry, where he asked a boy, named Rice, to tell the young woman that he wished to see her. The boy told her, and she went to see him, when they bad a short interview in what is called " the boot-house." During their conversation there it appears that she gave back to him the ring he had purchased for their wedding. This interview was the last they held together, at about half-past tour o'clock in the evening. The report of firearms was heard at this time, and on inquiry being made into the cause, she was found. lying on the coal-heap in a state of insensibility. She was picked up, when it was found that she had been shot. Simpson was then loitering about the premises of Mr. Drewry during the greater part of Friday, but from his manner no suspicion was aroused as to the object he had in view. After shooting the girl he ran some distance, and shot himself through the mouth. Several went in pursuit of Simpson, but were unable to find him. He was, however, ultimately discovered by a man, named Orme, lying on his belly in a ditch, with blood streaming from the wound he had inflicted by the pistol shot. He was not dead when found, but life was extinct before medical aid could be procured. By his side, close to his right hand, was found a double-barrelled pistol, which had the appearance of having been recently discharged, each nipple bearing an exploded cap. The body of the young man was conveyed to Mr. Cooper's, the Traveller's Rest, Winshill, at which house Mr. Sale, coroner for the district, held an inquest on Saturday, when evidence corroborative of the above facts was given, and a verdict in accordance returned.  The Alleged Robbery by an Officer's Wife at Preston.  On Friday Mrs. Jessie Black, wife of Capt. Black, and daughter of a Leicester physician of high standing, was brought up at the House of Correction, Preston, on the charge of stealing a quantity of jewellery from Fulwood Barracks, the property of Capt. Bluett and Mrs. Crofton, widow of the late Col. Crofton, who was murdered with another officer in the barrack-yard in September, 1861. After the case had been opened for the prosecution, Capt. Bluett, of the 10th regiment, was examined —He gave evidence to the effect, that in July last he missed four valuable gold rings from his quarters at Fulwood Barracks. Mrs. Black had occasionally visited his quarters, and was there about the time when the rings were missing. Or the 2d inst. he accompanied ono of the police superintendents of Preston to Leicester, where Mrs. Black was residing with her family, and after making several inquiries, the rings were found at the office of Mr. Huxley, solicitor, of that place. Some of them had been altered, the stones having been reset. Margaret Toughey said that she had been a servant to Capt. Bluett, and that she saw Mrs. Black and Mrs. Bluett two or three times together in one of the bedrooms, where the rings were kept. Thomas Blyth, jeweller, Leicester, deposed that he altered a serpent ring for Mrs. Black in December last. _ _  This ring was identified by Capt. Bluett. Mr. Jones, jeweller, Leicester, proved that he had altered one of the rings for Mrs. Black, and that afterwards she had offered at his shop a diamond ring for sale. She refused the price he offered her. Mr. Hurley, solicitor, of Leicester, here made a statement to the effect that the prisoner and her husband had lived unhappily, and separated ; that some time ago arrangements were made with the view of reconciling them; that she had pawned her husband's plate and a quantity of jewellery in London ; that, at her earnest solicitation, he agreed to redeem the articles for het, and to receive back the money out of the sum to be realised by the sale of her husband's commission ; that Property was so redeemed, and that he had charge a it Capt. Bluett and the police officer went to Leicester make inquiries respecting the missing property, and that the rings were amongst the articles redeemed. Mrs. Crofton, widow of Coi. Crofton, said that she lost a 'valuable diamond ring in September, 1861 ; that the ring produced, and iound at the office of Mr. HaxleV, was her property ; and that the prisoner had been a frequent visitor of hers. Mr. W. Stephens, pawnbroker, of Brewer-street, Golden square, London, said that the prisoner had pawned the diamond ring named three times at his shop, having sent it by letter; and that she pawned the other articles in a similar manner.  She was fully committed to the forthcoming Liverpool assizes for trial. The prisoner, who is a rather handsome, well dressed lady, was remarkably cool during the whole examination. The defence was reserved.