The Express. — 1859-01-08 (London, England)

THB BIZOOS MURDER.  EINCITTION OF WILLIAM BURGNBS. TAUNTON, FRIDAY.  The last sentence of the law was this morning earned out upon William Bargees, who wee convicted before Mr. Justice Bytes, at the Somerset Winter Andre, for the wilful murder of hie daughter, at Exmoor, In July last. It will be remembered that Burgess was a widower, working in one of the mines in Exmoor Forest, and in the month of July lest he lodged at Marley's cottage, near the Rad Deer, or Gallon House Inn as the mom. The little girl, Hannah Maria, his youngest daughter, who was about six years old, lodged with him, the patent paying the oottager's wife 2a. ed. per week for her support. This weekly charge, however, trifling as it was, Burgess did not pay very cheerfully—at any tate, on one wooden he asked Mrs. Marley to take a less sum. Oa Saturday, the 24th of July, he gave Mrs. Marley orders to have the child cleaned, and her little wardrobe packed up, blending, as he said, to remove her to his sister's, at Porlock, about seven miles from the cottage. Hie regime was complied with, and about half-past three on the Sunday morning Burgess set out with the little girl, and she was never again seen alive. He reached the house of his sister, when he breakfasted between seven and eight o'clock, hut then was no child with him, and he returned to Malay's elms the same afternoon. A fortnight elapsed, during which no tidings were heard of the child, and at this time there were no suspicions that she had met with foul play. Sons. neatly It was ascertained that a fire had been kindled does to a hedge in • field near the cortege, and among the ashes were found moms hooks and eyes, and the remnants of some of the wearing apparel which was placed in the bundle =by Mn. Marley, and carried away by Burgess when ha cottage, on the 26th July. The prisoner was found by the police working at the new dock, at 8 and when charged with the murder be said " he did it, must die for It;" and if the superintendent had not come after him he should have saved film all farther trouble by making away with himself; and a day or two afterwards the unhappy man attempted to commit suicide by cutting his throat with • pair of scissors at the police station at Delver. tan. The body of the murdered child wee, after great exertion., extending over two month., found at the bottom of the shaft of an old copper mine in the vicinity of the forest. This search was accomplished at a cost of nearly 4001., and the remains of the little girt clearly showed that she bad bees murdered, while her body was wrapped in an old mackintosh belonging to the prisoner. The culprit was • most ignorant DAD, and for 18 days, notwithstanding the prayerful entreaties of the chaplain (Mr. Hone), the Rev. W. R. Clerk, of Taunton, sad Mr. Thornton, a clergyman, belonging to Oxford, where Burgess lived, no impression was made on him. On this ground the rev. chaplain thought proper to deny him the celebration of the holy communion. He made • full aid explicit confession to Mr. Thornton. from which it appears that Borgne interved the body of the child in a grave on the moor, and that he dug the grave on the morning of the murder (July 26), while the poor child's corpse remained clads by ; and two or three days afterwards he threw it into the shaft of the Wheal Ellen mine. Although the wretched culprit confessed his crime, and said he committed the act • through drink," the ordinary of the prima declined to administer the saoreantert to him. He peeped a restless night, and was around by the warders a little before six o'clock this morning. He seemed much dejected at has approaching fate. At eight o'clock he attended divine service in the chapel, and on has leaving the chapel he err pinioned by Calcraft, the executioner. The proceance then moved towards the drop, the chaplain reading the burial service ; and on the way the unhappy man was so overpowered that he was obliged to be supported to the scaffold. The usual preliminaries having been gone through, Caloraft placed the fatal noose round the neck of the culprit; at a given signal the bolt was withdrawn, and the wretched man was launched into eternity. The body, after banging en hour, was placed la a shell, and intend within the precincts of the gaol.