The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1862-11-18 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

MURDER IN WALES. Circtimstances 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 Sunday, the 2nd inst., • young women nanied_Llane Lewis, aged 23, a servant at 'rigidly, palish of Ystradyfodwg, left her master'e heatsli ibout six o'clock in the evening for the MirlOse of going to chapel. As she had not retUrned at • late hour the inmates of the hedge hecanie uneasy, and proceeded to Make A search for her. They had tot proceeded far front the heti* when they *ere horror-strtiek at fieding the body of the young womap lying &eras the footpath in an adjoining wood, With her throat cut from ear to ear. A railer covered with blood was found near the body, and it was at first conjectured that the unfortunate woman had committed suicide. It was subsequently, however, ascertained that the razor was the property of • fellows ' servant, named Thomas Sdnionds, and lie was appre bonded on the eharge of murder. A coroner's inquest I was opened on the 4th inst., at the Star Inn, Tyntily. Cad after a 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 a number of witnesses, whose evidence did not throw any light upon the mystery that surrounds the diabolical murder, Thomas Williams, collier, the reputed sweetheart of the deceased, was examined. He saidthe had been courting the deceased for the last eighteen months, and that they had been engaged for some time. The last time he walked with her was on the Friday before the murder, when they arranged to meet after evening service on the following Sunday. They intended to have been married in a fortnight or three weeks and deceased had arranged to leave her service on Saturday. She had expressed her satisfaction at the prospect of being so moon in her own house, although she said she felt coin' fortable in her service. Deceased had complained frequently of the importunities of the prisoner, who was in the habit of making advances to her, which she invarishly 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 usual health and spirits. He went to chapel in the evening, but, finding that deceased was not there, he concluded that she had been kept at home, particularly as her master was in chapel, and because 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 evidence. Deceased never told him that the prisoner had used threats, but that he often wished her to accept of him as her suitor. Prisoner once interfered with him (witness) while walking with deceased, and, referring to having seen them together in the cowhoune on one occasion, threatened to expose them. He never heard deceased say that she was afraid of anyone. Richard Wise, the police-constable who first saw the body, was examined at great length. Ile said th 3 body was lying across the footpath about 22 yards from the stile at the top of the wood. At the request of the jury, Mr. Davis, surgeon, in answer to the foreman, said that even on the supposition that the last wound inflicted was the one which !separated the arteries, it was impossible that the cuts could have been made by the deceased. He never heard of • similar case where the wounds had 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 have further medical evidence to satisfy their minds whether it was possible 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. F.dwards, of Cardiff, who had assisted at the post mortem examination, to give his opinion of the cage. He had no doubt, however in his own mind as to the fact, from the positive evidence of Mr. Davies, The *lest was thee adjourned for a week.