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TRAGEDY AT WESTBURY.
TRAGEDY AT WESTBURY. A BARMAID MURDERED. A terrible mnrdei was committed at Westbury, a Village midway between W elail pool and Shrewsbury on Saturday morning. The victim was Eliza Bowen, employed as barmaid at the Lion Hotel, Westbury, and the murderer a man named Richard Wigley. The latter was formerly in business as a butcher at Shrewsbury, but of late years he had been in poorer circumstances, and had gained a livelihood as a jobbing butcher and slamghterman. He was a married man, but lived apart from his wife, and it appears that he had formed an attachment for Miss Bowen, to whom he represented himself as a single man. On Saturday morning Wigley left his lodg- ings at Hill's Lane, Shrewsbury, between fire and six o'clock, after shaking hands with a fellow- lodger, and telling him that probably be would not see him again. He then walked to Westbury, and proceeded to the Lion Hotel, and after some con- versation with Miss Bowen caught hold of her and cut her throat with his knife. She died almost immediately. He then sat down, and quietly awaited the arrival of Supt Elcock, by whom he was taken into custody The same after- noon Wigley was brought up before Mr Heighway Jones at the Pontesbury Petty Sessional Court and charged with the murder. He maintained a calm demeanour and admitted committing the murder. He added, "I did it for love, and I know I shall swing for it." He was remanded until Friday. INQUEST AND VERDICT. Mr R E Clarke, coroner, held the inquest at the Lion Inn, Westbury, on Monday afternoon. Kate Bowen said deceased was her sister, and was 28 years of age. Her sister had been in Mr Vaughan's employ as barmaid at the Lion Inn for four months. Before going there she was in the employ of Mr Allen at the Manor Farm, Berrington. Witness last saw her sister alive on Friday nighc, when she was quite well and cheerful.—The Coro- ner: Did you know that she was a friend of this man, Richard Wigley?—No; but about two months ago his sister asked her to come to Lion on Westbury auction day, saying that Dick—that man, Dick the butcher-would be there. Witness had heard his name before; and her sister wished her to meet him and order him away, beoause he was in the habit of insulting her. Witness, how- ever, did not go to meet him.-The Coroner: Have you seen anything of Wigley here ?—Yes. Wigley was hired by my sister to drive her from Berrington to Westbury. On another Occasion Wigley drove my sister from West- bury, and she paid him 8s for the hire of the trap. -The Coroner (handing witness a letter wiitten by Eliza Bowen to Wigley) Do you know that handwriting ?-Witness said it was her sister's.— Did she say anything about him coming here again ? -She only mentioned Wigley once tal me-at the Hermitage, about two months ago.—The Foreman Did you ever hear of him threatening her, or demanding money ?-I have never heard anything about threats; but what I think is that he must have been having money from her.—The Coroner Did she say she was afraid of Wigley ?—Only that once, when she asked me to come to the Lion. My sister had some money when she came" here, but now I cannot find any.—The Coroner: Where are you a native of ?-Of Llanfair, Welshpool. Mv abator livod st the Lino Tnn vvihh about two years ago since then she had been bar- maid at the Fox at Shipley. Ellen Richards, a servant at the Lion Inn, said at 9.30 a.m., on Saturday, she and Eliza Bowen were breakfasting together in the kitchen. Wit. ness saw a man coming towards the house from the direction of Yockleton, but she did not know it was Wigley until afterwards. She said to Miss Bowen, "Here is that man coming."—The Coroner: What do you know about "that man" that you should draw Miss Bowen's attention to him ?— Because the time he was at the Lion before Miss Bowen could not get rid of him. He followed her into the back kitchen and into the yard.-The Coroner: What took place when you told her the man was coming ?—I told her to get out of sight, and I would go; but she said, "No, I must go." The man came in and went into the bar, and Miss Bowen went after him to serve him. He had two or three glasses of something to drink, for which he paid. She then heard the man say, Edie, I can tell you something." Miss Bowen said she would rather not hear it, and the man replied, I think you are spiteful." When witness turned round she saw that Wigley had hold of Miss Bowen he had his arm round her, holding her in a corner near the bar. Miss Bowen said to him, Man, what do you mean ?" Wigley made no reply, and Miss Bowen said toher"Ellen,you shall fetch a policeman." -The Coroner: Was there any struggling ?-Mis3 Bowen succeeded in getting away from the man and went behind the bar. Witness did not go for a policeman. Wigley was drinking beer and he said to Miss Bowen afterwards, Will you let me ha.ve some drink on trust?" Miss Bowen said, "No, |I do not trait anyone; you are drunk." Wigley was sober. After this Miss Bowen got the key of the wine cupboard that was in the passage leading to the clubroom, and took down a jug with which she went there. Wigley went after her and met her in the passage; he got hold of her and said something to her which witness did not hear. She thought Miss Bowen said, Loose me." Witness was close by and Miss Bowen said to her, Ellen, take the jug." Wigley was then holding her but witness did not get the jug. The next thing she saw was Wigley taking a pocket knife out of his left hand trouser pocket. He had his left arm tight around Miss Bowen's neck, and witness saw him open the knife by bringing together his two hands, at the same time holding Miss Bowen. — Dr Howie Do you think Miss Bowen could see Wigley open the knife? Yes; he did it right in front of her. Witness, continuing, said as soon as she saw the man take the knife out she ran through the kitchen and into the road screaming. As she ran out she heard Miss Bowen screaming. Running to the blacksmith's shop close by witness told Mr Rogers to go down to the Lion, that there was a man killing Miss Bowen. Wigley was the only man in the house at the time.—A large clasp knife was here produced, and identified by the wit- ness as the one she saw in Wigley's hand.—The Coroner Did you hear Wigley ask Miss Bowen for any money ? No. Robert Rogers, blacksmith, Westbury, said at five minutes to ten, hearing shouting on the road, he went towards the Lion. He passed Ellen Richards, and the first thing he saw was Miss Bowen in a kneeling position outside the front door of the inn. Blood was flowing from her throat; she was clinging to the wall, and was in a reeling condition. This all happened in a few seconds, at the end of which Miss Bowen staggered into the passage. Witness did not follow her. At the same time a man came through the kitchen door on the other side of the house, and said, I have done it, lads; I have done it for love; she is dead enough." Witness did not go into the house until the policeman came. Wigley, who was a big man, did not attempt to go away. P.C. Teece said on Saturday, at 10 a.m., from what he heard, he sent for Dr Howie, and started off himself to the inn close bv. In front of him he saw a man surrounded by several people. Witness said Halloa, what is the matter ? Wigley said I have killed that little woman it is all for love I loved her, and nobody else shall have her. Witness handcuffed the man, and searched him. In his right-hand trousers pocket he found the knife prodsced. Wigley was taken into the kitchen, and witness then went into the passage, and there saw Eliza Bowen. She was lying on her back in a pool of blood in the passage; her throat was cut, and she was apparently dead. Returning to the kitchen, Wigley said, I have written a letter; have you got it ? I left it in the bar." Witness after- wards found the scribbled note produced, which was written on the back of a letter from Miss Bowen to Wigley. Wigley said, I am all right, I told her I would. I am in your hands." Witness, continuing, said Wigley went on, "I have put it in the letter; I said I would." Ten minutes after- wards Wigley said, Have you laid her out ? I loved her, and nobody can say I did not." Wigley was kept in the kitchen until the arrival of Supt Elcock. Dr Howie, Westbury, said he was caIIedMo the Lion Inn just before 10 a.m. He saw Mr Vaughan standing outside, and with him he went into the house and found the body of Miss Bowen. She was lying in the passage on her back. Her dress was drawn up almost to her knees and she was quite dead. It was rather dark in the passage, and witness had a light brought to examine the woman. She bad a large wound in the throat which had severed the windpipe and the blood vessels.—The Coroner: Was it possible for a knife of that sort to ha.ve made such a wound ? — Dr Howie said it was possible, but from what he had heard afterwards, that there was no blood on Wigley or on the knife, he was surprised that the wound should have been made with the knife; he should not have thought that the man could have inflicted such a frightful wound and keep the blood off him, because the blood would spout out on the knife and arm—it was such a huge wound, big and deep.—The Coroner: You must remember, Dr Howie, that you have to deal with a butcher.-Dr Howie said yes, and Wigley was a powerful man -The Coroner Was there any blood on Wigley ? Supt Elcock said (there was just aspot on his collar. —Dr Howie, in reply to further questions, said he thought the knife was drawn across from left to right. With a small knife like that produced, the knife and hand, he thought, would be buried in the wound.-The Coroner You think the gash you saw would cause immediate death ?-I should say cer- tainly within a minute of the time the woaud was it) flicted. 1 he quantity of blood lost was enormous. ,—i,n,uu i,,j ins roau oucsiue. j.o was strange that she should have walked as far as she did. When he arrived the woman might have been dead some four or five minutes.-Supt Elcock said he went to the Lion, and found Wigley in the kitchen. He said to the man, Your name is ^uS 7u1SD Vfc He said> Ye3> Richard Wigley, Shrewsbury.' Witness said, You are a butcher » and the man said, Yes." Witness charged the man with the wilful murder of Eliza Bowen in that house that morning. He cautioned Wigley, and the man replied, I killed her and I shall swing for it The Foreman said they would like to hear the letters produced read. The Coroner then read the following letter from Miss Bowen to Wigley, dated September, and sent from the Hermitage, Westbury My dear] Dick. I dare say you are surprised having not heard from me and not seen me, but will write you again. I will be in town one of these first days, hoping you are well. I am better. I have not been well at all this last week. I have no news to tell you because it is very quiet here. Hoping to see you this next week, I close with love to you, I remain truly, E Bowen. Be sure and do not come here again.On the fly leaf of this letter was written by Wigley, Dear Kate, I have killed your sister; I loved her and will die for her." The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder. The remains of the girl were interred in West- bury churchyard on Wednesday. The parents of the murdered woman, were res- pectably connected, and natives of Llanfair district where they spent their whole life, and were large farmers residing at Penybryn, where deceased was born. The father died some years ago, having beeu predeceased by his wife, and deceased was left early in life without parental care.
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NEWS IN BRIEF.
NEWS IN BRIEF. The Guardians of Stroud, Gloucestershire, on Friday, discussed the question of giving beer to the inmates of the workhouse at Christmas. The teetotallers opposed the motion. Mr Stanton maintained that beer was wholesome, and that over-eating caused more suffering than drinking. Mr Avers said the teetotal argument was fitter for a children's tea party than grown men. Sir William Marling asked whether someone would suggest wine instead of beer. The motion was carried by twenty-one votes to six. In the libel case brought by the Rev J J Nesbitt, vioar of Rodmersham, Kent, against a former churchwarden and the proprietor of the East Kent Gazette, a London jury on Friday found for the plaintiff, and assessed the damages at £ 1,100. Judgment was given for that amount. The Princess of Wales has become a vice-patron of the British Empire League. At Willis's Rooms, London, Gainsborough's por- trait of Queen Charlotte was sold on Thursday for £ 630. Miss E Bourke, the best-known woman rider with the Mayo (Galway) and Roscommon hounds, was killed while hunting with the Rosoommon staghounds at Caribane on Friday. Speakicg at Swansea on Friday evening on "Car- diganshire Worthies," Dr Emrys.Jones suggested that in respect of two at least memorials should be established. In the case of Dafydd ab Gwilym he proposed that an appeal s-h uld be made to Mr Gwenogfryn Evans to edit a complete edition of his works, and in the case of Edward Llhuyd he sug- gested that a memorial tablet should be placed in St Michael's Church, Oxford. An elderly man employed at the Penrhyn quarry was unable to proceed to his work on Friday morn- ing on account of injuries received by him in Beth- esda on the previous night, when he is alleged to have been attacked by seven persons. William Oliver, a labourer, was on Friday, indicted at Shropshire Assizes, for the murder of his wife, ag-ed 70, by smashing i. her- hoad with a poker. It was proved that the prisoner was insane, and he was ordered to be detained during His Majesty's pleasure. On Thursday evening an Englishman named John Brown, 43 years of age, arrived at Marseilles in a small boat twenty-three feet long. Mr Brown, as the result of a wager, left London alone for Marseilles, crossing France by means of canals. Upon his arrival, and just as he was entering the harbour, he fainted in the boat, and had to be taken to the H6tel Dieu in a serious condition. A marble tablet has been set up in Christ Church, which is attached to the Embassy at Vienna, in memory of the late Queen Victoria. The tablet encloses a life-size bust in relief of the late Queen, with wreaths on either side and emblems of England, Scotland aad Ireland. The following inscription is engraved below:—"Erected by the British residents in Vienna in grateful memory of their beloved Sovereign Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and Empress of India, 1837- 1901." The Earl of Dartmouth, President of the National Union of Conservative and Constitutional Associ- ations, has as a result of last week's Conservative Conference at Wolverhampton. lowing letter from Lord Salisbury "I am much obliged to you for forwarding to me a copy of the Resolution unanimously passed on Tuesday by the National Union of Conservative Associations. It is very satisfactory for his Majesty's Government to receive so hearty and complete an expression of confidence from so important a political body." A firm of Chemists of Camberwell-road London, were, on Saturday, at the Clerkenwell Police Court, fined twenty pounds with ten guineas costs for selling liniment of soap containing methylated alcohol, which had been substituted for the alcohol of the Pharmacopoeia. The Birmingham Cattle Show was opened at Bingley Hall on Saturday. The King, who is patron of the Exhibition in succession to the late Queen, had several animals competing, and his Majesty was awarded two first prizes. The Welsh exhibits were an excellent collection. Mr R M Greaves, of Portmadoc, was first, and Colonel H Platt, of Llanfairfechan, second for three-year-old Welsh steers, and likewise in the two-year-old class and for cows or heifers. The Petit Parisien learns from M Goubet, inventor of the submarine boat which bears his name, that there is some question of constructing a submarine vessel which, deriving its motive power from a cable extending across the Straits of Dover, would be able to take 200 passengers from France to England in less than half an hour. George Lohmsan, the famous Surrey cricketer has died of consumption at Matjesfontein, in Cape Colony in his 37th year. The trial of the Englishman Gilmour for the attack on Mile Kolb was concluded at the Seine Assizes on Saturday. Counsel for the Prisoner said if the instigator of the crime was not beside him in the dock it was the fault of Mile Kolb, who though she knew his name, would not reveal ili. The Jury found the Prisoner Guilty, and he was sentenced to penal servitude for life. We have received a copy of the new catalogue issued by the Welsbach Incandescent Gas Light Company, of York Street, Westminster, London, whieh shows a great variety of specialities, some of them very ingenious. The new Kern Burner referred to only costs the same as an ordinary burner, from 2s 6d each. But while the ordinary burner consumes 5 cubic feet of gas, giving a light of 16 candles per hour, the Kern Burner (No 2 size) requires only 2! cubic feel to give a light equal to 50 candles. In a year the difference in the cost works out at 12s 4t,d per burner, and what is quite as important as the saving is the enormous increase in the light, which if it had to be obtained from an ordinary burner would cost over £ 3. The Kern Burner has also the further advantage that, owing to the complete combustion, there is no vitiation of the atmosphere, making the lit-ht the most healthy for domestic purposes. Welsbach Mantles must be used in connection with the Kern Burners. The cost is 7§d each. It is essential that only the genuine article is obtained, cheap and fraudulent imitations being offered for sale which it is risky to use, as many decisions of the Law Courts have been obtained against those who sell and use infringements. The new Kern Burner and Welsbach Mantles can be obtained from any Gasfitter or Ironmonger, It is authoritatively stated that Sir Augustus Webster, of Hitdon House, Stockbridge, Hants, has purchased Battle Abbey. tl' p The students of Lampeter College have passed a resolution a copy of which has been sent to each of the Welsh bishops, complaining that preference is given to ex-Nonconformist ministsrs who desire to enter the Church oyer Churchmen who propose to take orders in the usual way. The King, on the recommendation of the Home Secretary, has appointed Mr Rupert E C Kettle to be a magistrate of the Metropolitan Police Courts, in the place of Sir Franklin Lushington, deceased. The new magistrate is a son of the late Sir Rupert Kettle, a County Court Judge of Staffordshire. He r™°rmiQ 1854, was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in 1879, and joined the Oxford Circuit. Mr Kettle, who is a magistrate for Merionethsmre, was appointed Recorder of Lich. field in October, 1899. Her Majesty Queen Alexandra has signed a portrait of herself for presentation to MrJ S Wood who originated and organised the county sale as a Response to the Princess of Wales's appeal" on behalf of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families' Asso. ciation which has resulted in £20,463 being col. lected for those left behind." An official return relating to the Penrhyn quarry states that during the past three months 103 work- men have been admitted, and that the product of slates continues to be very satisfactory. It is esti- mated that this month will show an output at the rate of 35,090 tons per annum. A change of policy has taken place in regard to the succession to the Chinese Throne. An Edict was issued on Sunday intimating that Prince Tuan's son was no longer heir-apparent. He is to be created a duke as compensation. It is officially announced at Berlin that Germany will temporarily maintain small garrisons in Shanghai and Chi-li for the protection of foreigners. Amy, Lady Tate, has given a donation of £1,000 in memory of her late husband, Sir Henry Tate, to the Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute for Nurses to, be added to the donation given by Sir Ilenry, for th^ b^Gt of th» g,laen.„ nnrJl themselves in times of sickness. The aeath occurred on Monday morning at Crox. o al',near Ll>erP°°'. of Charles William Hylton Molyneux, fifth Earl of Sefton. The late Earl was born in 1867 aud succeeded his father in 18)7. He was seriously injured while riding in a steeplechase at Aintree in 1894, and never recovered from the effects of the accident. He is succeeded by his brother the Hon Osbert Cecil Molyneux. I
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