The Northern Daily Times. — 1856-09-17 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

VAGE ASSAULT.—A gentleman of property, M. de la C—, who resides at Moulins, had in his service a valet de chambre and a housemaid, with both of whom he was perfectly satisfied. They, however, were on bad terms, owing to each being jealous of any marks of kindness which their master displayed to the other. The man at length became so irritated against the young woman, that he declared that it was impossible for both of them to remain in the house ; and as she showed no disposition to leave, he, after a while, determined on murdering her. Four nights ago he knocked at her chamber door, and said that her master had called her, but as she had heard no bell ring she refused to get up. The man thereupon secreted himself, armed with a double-barrelled gun, in a passage, end when the young woman left her room in the morning, he deliberately took aim at her, and pulled both triggers, but the gun did not go off. He thereupon rushed on her, and beat her in the most savage way with the butt end of the weapon, until he broke it in two. He then took to flight. The girl's cries awoke the people in the house, and medical assistance was procured ; she was found to las s 3i iously but not mortally injured. In the man's bedroom were two letters, one addressed to his master, the other to his mother, and in both he announced his intention of murdering the girl, and then of committing suicide. He was sought for, and it turned out that, instead of laying violent hands on himself, he had fled for refuge to one of the islands in the Allier. CORONER'S INQUESTS,—The borough coroner held the following inquests yesterday :—On the body of Hugh Thomas, 58 years of age, who resided at Bright-street, Everton. He had been ailing for a long time under disease of the heart, and on Monday he fell dead at Walton-road. Verdict, died by the visitation of God.—On the body of John Bennett, aged 30, an able seaman on board the ship William Jackson. The deceased fell by accident from sonic of the rigging, and was killed. Verdict, accidental death. —On the body of a child, named Watt, 8 weeks old, that was smothered in bed in consequence of a drunken fit of its mother. 'Verdict accordingly.—On the body of Sarah Williamson, the wife of a ship steward. The deceased, with her two sisters, was passing Old Hall-street Bridge, when she was crossing the street a lorry by accident knocked her down, and the wheel passing over her body killed her on the spot. There was no blame attached to any one. Verdict, accidental death.— On the body of William Herrod, a boy who died on board the ship John Bright, under what was considered suspicious circumstance;. It did appear that the captain of the ship gave the deceased some blows of a rope's end, but nothing to cause death. The deceased was found under the small main hatch by the kelson, and died shortly after. The second mate of the ship said the deceased told him he hcd fallen through the hatch. Sir. Hill, a surgeon, said he made a post mortein examination of the body, and found that death was the result of effusion of blood on the brain from violence. A fall would be most likely to produce it. Found no injuries from blows on the body. A fall would be more likely to produce effusion of the brain, such as was found, rather than blows. Verdict, accidental death.—On the body of a child, named Mary Cain, 16 months old. The mother of the child stated as ' follows : That she rented a room from a man, named John Dunne, at 48, Freeman's-row. That on Monday, the Ist inst., Dunne flung her into the street, with her child, as she could not pay the rent, and when she came to herself she was in ' the infirmary, and found a wound on the temple of the child, and it died on Saturday last. The inquest was adjourned to this day, in order to have a medical examination of the body made.