The Sun. — 1866-12-06 (London, England)

WATER-BORNE GOODS ON THE RlVER.—Alfred and George Hall, brothers, were brought before Mr. Partridge, charged with stealing 60 pieces of red cambric, and 80 pieces of cotton print, valued at £2OO, the property of the East and West India Dock Company. For some time past the robberies of water-borne goods and the substitution of tarpaulins, old sail cloth, and rubbish in the packages and bales plundered, has been repeatedly complained of, and ov,ing to representations of merchants and exporters, Mr. J. C. Evans, superintendent of the Thames Police, and Mr. T. H. Sheppy, superintendent of the West India Dock Company's police, were engaged to discover the thieves, and stop a system of plunder which has been detrimental to many. Yesterday \roiling alp two officers disceyerod tin prioncro ou Ward  a barge, called the Mariner, in the Collier Dock at Poplar which is not under the control of the Dock Company, but in their waters. On searching the cabin the two superintendents discovered the property, consisting of 140 pieces of red cambric and cotton twist. The barge had been removed from alongside the ship Eleanor in the West India Export Dock after the delivery of 100 hogsheads of beer. The prisoners had endeavoured to corrupt a respectable and honest lighterman named Edward Vincent, in the service of Messrs. Holt, to their base purposes. He refused a largo bribo offered to him, and gave information to Mr. Evans. Mr. Sheppy asked for a remand.  Mr. Partridge—Certainly ; the prisoners are remanded until Thursday next.  Dreldful Murder and Suicide near Newbury,  Berks.   Early yesterday morning Woodspeen, Speenbamland, and the town of Newbury were thrown into great excitement and alarm by a report that a most deliberate and dreadful murder had been perpetrated in the village of Wcodspeen, which is situated close to Newbury, Berks. About 9 o'clock yesterday morning Superintendent Harfield, of the Berks Constabulary, received information that a woman had been murdered in Deller's-buildings, Woodspeen. He immediately informed Dr. Palmer and Mr. J. Probyn, jun., of the circumstance, and then repaired to the spot as quickly as possible. In a small cottage,' upstairs in bed, he found a woman, named Eliza Shaw, a prostitute, murdered, and a man named Edward Priest almost murdered, lying on the floor by the side of the bed, undressed. Dr. Palmer and Mr. J. Probyn, jun., surgeon soon afterwards arrived, and upon examination discovered that the woman had been dead for several hours. Her skull was fractured, and the wound is supposed to have caused her death. There was no other wounds upon her except on her hands, which it is conjectured must have been knocked about while she was trying to protect her head. Upon examining the man, whose name is Edward Priest, they found that he was not quite dead but most dreadfully injured. His skull was fractured, and there were ten other wounds upon his head and face. The medical men dressed his wounds, and removed several pieces of bone from his skull ; but we understand that there is scarcely any chance of his recovery. Superintendent Harfield then made further inquiries and searched the house. He there found an old-fashioned butcher's iron hook or cramp, with which it is supposed the murderer committed the awful deed, and also an old small table-knife covered with blood, and it is thought that the wounds on Priest's face and head were done with it. It required very little trouble to discover who the murderer was. It appeared that a man named Henry Martin, a jobbing butcher, had been cohabiting with Eliza Shaw for some time past. At last Newbury Michaelmas Fair he knocked a man about, for which offence he was committed to Reading Gaol for one month. During that time Shaw got acquainted with Priest, and when Martin came back from gaol he did not approve their conduct, and he had been heard to say that he would murder both of them, and concluded with 'saying that he should not be hung for it. Priest, who came from London a short time since, had been residing at the Eagle publichouse, Bartholomew, street, Newbury, where all three of the parties had been drinking together late on the previous night. Afterwards Priest and Shaw went to the latter's house to spend the night together, and sometime after Martin also went to the house. He got in somehow, for about 5 o'clock yesterday mornin g the next door neighbours heard a woman say "Oh, God, oh, God !" and as if some fighting were going on. They did not take much notice of it, as they had so frequently heard similar noises. Martin left the house about 6 o'clock that morning, but it is believed that he returned and left again about 8 o'clock. Superintendent Harfield immediately went in search of Martin, and traced him to his mother's house, in the Rose and Thistle-yard, Newbury, where he had left but a short time. He there learnt that Martin had kissed his mother, and after wishing her good-bye he told her that he would never see her any more. Superintendent Harfield then traced him to the Crown publichouse, West-mills, where Martin had half a pint of beer. He then heard that a man was in the canal. He hastened to the spot, and near the locks, in the parish of Enbourne, he found a pair of shoes on the towingpath and a man in the water. Drags were procured, and when the body was taken out of the water it was discovered to be that of Martin. Martin was a good swimmer, and so determined was he to drown himself that he tied his legs together with his handkerchief. The body was then taken to Mr. Nias's, stable, Enbourne, where it awaits a coroner's inquest. Shaw and Martin were both natives of Newbury, and their characters have been of the worst description. Shaw was a well-known character in the neighbourhood. She had been committe I to gaol several times for robberies. It is said that the butcher's cramp with which the murder is supposed to have been committed had been in Martin's family for nearly a century.