The Sun. — 1862-11-13 (London, England)

BARBAROUS MURDER IN WALES.  CARDIFF, TUESDAY.  Circumstances have come to light which show that an atrocious and cold-blooded murder has been committed in one of the mining districts in the Rhondda Valley, intersected by the Taff Vale Railway. On Sunday, the 2d inst., a young woman, named Jane Lewis, aged 23, a servant at .Tyntily, parish of Ystradyfodwy, left her master's house about six o'clock in the evening, for the purpose of going to chapel. As she had not retuned at a late hour the inmates of the house became uneasy, and proceeded to make a search for the missing woman. They had not proceeded far from the house when they were horror-stricken by seeing the body of the young woman lying across a pathway 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 first conjectured that the unfortunate woman had committed suicide. It was subsequently, however, ascertained that the razor was the property of a fellow-servant, named Thos. Edmonds, and he was apprehended on the charge of murder. 'A coroner's inquest was opened on the 4th inst., at the Star Inn, Tyntily, and, after a preliminary in,quiry, was adjourned till this morning. As might naturally be expected, the event gave rise to all manner of reports, and on the meeting of the jury this morning the utmost anxiety was manifested by the mining population in the proceedings. It appeared from the evidence of Mr. Thomas Williams and his wife (the master and mistress of deceased) that she left the house about half-past five in the evening of the fatal day with the inteniiei, of going to chapel, and that the prisoner left the house about the same time for a similar purpose. The master of the house bad been out during the afternoon, and on his return about eight o'clocx o'clock hi told hie wife that he had been to chapel but had not seen the deceased present. Soon after eight the prisoner returned home, and about ten o'clock the family went to bed. Before this, however, a young man named Thomas Williams, the reputed sweetheart of deceased, called at the house and'asked for her. He was told that she had gone to chapel and had not then returned. He remarked that he had been to' chapel, but had not seen her there, and in a jocular manner said, as he left the house, that he supposed she had gone away with another sweetheart. About 11 o'clock, the mistress finding the servant had not returned, called up her husband, and asked him to go out and look for her. He rose, and called the prisoner to accompany him. They procured a lantern, and first proceeded to search the outhouses, and then went down a road leading through a wood in the direction of the chapel. Just as they entered the wood they discovered the body of the unfortunate woman lying across the road, with her throat cut in the most fearful manner, and her clothes saturated with blood. At a little distance from the body they found a razor covered with blood, her bonnet, and the brooch of her shawl. She was then quite dead and cold. The master proved that the razor and case• were similar to that which belonged to the prisoner, and it was subsequently ascertained that prisoner's razor was not in the house. The police constable who was first on the spot examined the prisoner's hands and clothes, but there were no marks of blood. There were, however, some scratches or wounds on his face, which he accounted for by saying that he had ' been cut by the horn of one of the calves while tying it up that afternoon.  Mr. Henry Norton Davies, surgeon, said he had examined the deceased soon after she was found, and had subsequently made a post-mortem examination, assisted by other medical gentlemen. He stated that there were four distinct outs in the throat, the windpipe being completely cut through. From the fearful nature of these wounds, and also from their appearance generally, he was positive that they could not have been committed by the deceased. Her hands were also cut, and these cuts seemed to indicate that she had resisted. The strings of her bonnet and her collar were also found to have been cut by a sharp instrument. On opening the body it was found that the deceased was about six weeks gone in pregnancy. He also stated that there was no evidence of any violation having been attempted. Mr. Evan Evans, ft surgeon, was also examined, and gave corroborative evidence as to the nature of the wounds. He was also clearly of opinion that deceased had been foully murdered, and thought that the position of the murderer must have been behind the deceased, from the appearance and direction of the wounds.  At this state the inquiry was adjourned till Wednesday morning, as there were a number of witnesses to be examined. The accused is a young man about 25 years old, and throughout the whole inquiry seemed totally indifferent to the evidence or to his position.  The Vigie of Cherbourg states that several cases of fever having appeared among the crew of the steam corvette Forfait, which recently au rived at that port from Mexic ), she has been orderel to perform quarantine at the Taitbou Islands, for which she left two days ago in tow of the Phoque.