The Sun. — 1846-07-13 (London, England)

THE MURDER AT SUNDERLAND. SVNDERLAND, THURSDAY NIGHT. Since any last communication was written, the police have made the strictest investigations into this distressing affair, and the result of those inquiries leaves not the slighte st doubt on their minds that the unhappy young woman Hindmarch had been brutally murdered. The circumstances are, however, still undiscovered. The deceased was in good health and spirits when she left her father's house, and was expected to return from the errand on which she was sent in a few minutes. She contemplated visiting South Shields, in company with a young man, on the following morning (Sunday) by the Brandling Junction Railway, and had laid out her linen and other clothes for that day, previous to going out. It is rather remarkable that, up to this period, it has not been ascertained that any person saw her in the street or on the road to the Rector's Gill, near which she was fuund, although, being Saturday night, there must have been several persons moving about at the time. A variety of rumours are afloat which it would be improper to publish. The circumstance of the bonnet which she wore, and the plate with which she went out of her father's house with money upon it, being found laid on the edge of the bank, quite precludes the supposition that she may have fallen over ; besides, what could she be doing on this lonely spot, at so late an hour, and so far from the shop to which she had gone for articles, which the family required for immediate use ? It is highly improbable that she should have committed suicide by throwing herself over this embankment, when the river was so near ; and if we conclude that she might have done so, the circumstance of the bonnet and plate being found on the edge again presents an insuperable difficulty. There are also marks of violence on her person, and especially the wrist, as if she had bad a long and severe struggle. This may well have been, tor she was a very strong young woman, and weighed about 11 stone.  It will be distinctly proved, too, at the inquest tomorrow, that a man and girl (the latter answering the description of the deceased) were seen together on the Rector's Gill, very near the spot where the body was found. The man was pulling the girl about, but as it was supposed they were " sweethearts," no particular notice was taken of it, and, of course, no interference occurred on the part of the woman who observed it. Two or three witnesses will also be called, who speak to having heard the shrieks of a woman proceeding from the direction of the Gill ; and one young man, named Scott, states positively that, about half-past twelve, or a little later, he heard cries of murder three times, as if uttered by a woman, as he was going home. He could not ascertain whence these proceeded; but they might have been from the Rector's Gill. He was alone, and so much frightened that he did not dare to go the place. Other evidence of a like description will also be given, and a Mrs. Spedding is prepared to swear that about two o'clock on Sunday morning, she saw three men running very quick, either from the Gill or Ayre's• quay. Suspicion attaches to a young man who is not in custody, and whose name it would be premature to men • Lion ; but the landlady with whom he lodges states that he came home between nine and ten o'clock on Saturday night, and that he was never again out of the house. She says that she knows this because she locked him in his room for a particular reason, which will be mentioned to the jury. He will, however, be examined to-morrow, and his examination, it is said, will be very satisfactory, as exculpating himself from the horrible crime which many impute to him. The bank over which the unfortunate girl was thrown is of very great height. and there is a ledging between the top and bottom. This, like all the ground near, is grown 01 er with grass, and a small quantity of grass was found near the body of the deceased, which she had torn away in her descent—probably at this ledging, which must have broken her fall, otherwise she would have been dashed to pieces. Not the slightest impropriety of moral conduct has ever been attributed to this girl, so that how it happens she should have been enticed away at so late an hour, and to suck a •lonely place, is as mysterious as every other part of the transaction. Her parents are in a state of the deepest distress, and as may be supposed the event has occasioned a very strange and painful sensation in the town. Some years ago a murder, under somewhat similar circumstances, was committed here ; a widow, who cohabited with a married man, having been thrown over the cliff on the sea shore. The latter was tried at Durham assizes for the alleged offence, but acquitted.