The Sun. — 1850-12-26 (London, England)

DISCOVERY OF THE BODY OF  AN ATTEMPTED MURDERER.  BARNSTAPLE.—About tea months since an attempt was made to murder the coachman of William Arundell Yeo, Esq., high sheriff of the county, at Fremington, about three miles from this town, at which time a reward of 50/. was offered for the apprehension of the suspected person ; but from the fact that no tidings whatever had been gained of him, it was supposed he had committed suicide by drowning, which supposition was strengthened by the finding of a pair of pistols at the mouth of Fremington Pill, and within a. short distance from the scene of the outrage. From what we can remember of the circumstances at the time of the occurrence, it appeared that John Lillycrap, who had been in Dr. Yeo's service as coachman, for about ten years, had been discharged therefrom on the 2d of January last, from which time the situation had been filled by William Symons, a young man about 25 years of age, who had been for several years in Dr. Yeo's service. From the time of his discharge, Lillycrap appears to have entertained the determination to be revenged on his successor, (who he believed had been the means of procuring his discharge) and had been heard to declare that he should never drive the high sheriff. On Tuesday, the 19th of February, he was at the George Inn at Barnstaple, which place he left in the evening, saying he was going to Ilfracombe; he had previously dispatched his boxes to Exeter. On the same evening Dr. Yeo had been dining with Captain Davie, at Newport, and had ordered the carriage to be waiting at 10 o'clock, soon after which time the carriage left Captain Davie's for Fremington, driven by William Symons, and arrived shortly before 11. The coachman had just driven the carriage into the coach-house, and was in the act of fastening the doors, when he was fired at by some person, who at  the time must have been concealed in the shrubbery, close by. The shot took effect in the neck, and but for the timely assistance of Dr. Yeo, there is but little doubt that the wound would have proved fatal ; he was shortly afterwards removed to the North Devon Infirmary, where he soon recovered, and was enabled to perform the duties pertaining to his situation. Nothing, however, has been heard of Lillycrap, and it has generally been supposed that it being high water about the time he would have reached the river, he had committed suicide by drowning, and the body had been carried out to sea ; but on Wednesday last, G. H. Marsack, Esq., and his son, Capt. Marsack, were shooting on Yelland Marsh, in the parish of Fremington, where they discovered the body, without head or arms. They immediately gave information to James Dobb, hind to Dr. Yeo, and some men having found it, at once removed it to the New Inn, at Fremington, where an inquest was held on the same day, before Richard Brembridge, Esq., M.P., and a verdict of " Found drowned." The coroner ordered the money and watch to be kept under seal until the arrival of deceased's relatives. It is understood that he has a sum of 2001. in the savings bank at Barnstaple, which could not he recovered until the death of the depositor could be proved. There was found in his boxes, which he had forwarded to Exeter, the sum of 701., besides other property. Deceased was 42 years of age, and was about to be married shortly after the time at which he destroyed himself. It is somewhat singular that the body must have been in the position in which it was found for nearly three weeks, as the tide had not since that time been sufficiently high to have left it there.— Devonport Independent.