Mr. John Richardson, steward to Mr. John Perkins of 131etchingley,
Story, was murdered on Wednesday evening, when going home in his gig from Epsom market, on the road between Epsom and Banstead, in a very lonely spot, at the top of a steep bill leading out of a hollow called Purcell's Gap : be was shot in the lungs, amid must have died instantly. The following particulars are taken from the account in the Times.
" It is supposed that one of the two awn (for that thew were two is proved beyond doubt) seized the horse's head, while the other calm up to the side of the gig and demanded the deceased's money. The deceased always travelled with loades1 pistols; and it is believed be replied to the demand by firing at one or other of the villains, but missed his aim, and that the ruffian by the side of the chaise instantly fired his pistol, which unhappily took a fatal effect. That the pistol was fired by the villain who stood on the near side of the chaise, is evident f, onl the direction the ball took."
A carrier, named West, was approaching the spot at the time, and distinctly heard the discharge of two pistols, and an exclamation from the murdered man. He also sass two Men who ut first were approach. ing him ; but as soon as they saw him, ran off in a different direction. Ile carried the body in his cart to a neighbouring inn ; and a meeting of the Magistrates was immediately convened, and a reward of 100/, since increased to -200/. by Air. Perkins, was offered fur the discovery of the murderers. A number of witnesses were examined ; and their evidence points at two suspected persons.
" It is a most extraordinary cirrumstance connected with the present case, that the deceased himself saw, in passing over Walton heath, on the morning of the day, on his way to the market, the very two men who ate sti tingly suspected to he the murderer s. The taller of the two had a smock-frock on, awl the wind Wowing strongly at the time, prr ,ed the frock so closely against the body of the awn, that the deceased, tello had a suspicion of their characters, saw, or fowled he saw, the clear outline of a horse-pistol. Ile mentioned the elleUlli■ stance to the toll-taker at the Tadworth-gate, awl ;Ids ised him to keep a sharp look-out after the felloas, ss he thought they were after no good. the toll- gate keeper has been examined before the Magistrate-, and states that he. did so notice the men that he should be able to idortify them the instant lie sate- them.
1 1 is description of the own tallies us ith that given by West the carrier. The de- tet•ed, the evidence taken bet■we tire Magistrate., likewise men- the en cum.:max at Ep,,m, to Mr. Butcher, a builder and auctioneer, and also to his brother ; and made use, in the hearing of both, of' the remarkable expression—" If ■ on hear of my being lobbed or ilium detect, you will know who did it." of the tit 0 pistol. w•n1rh t he deceased had in his possession when he left Epsom, one is mi-ing, and is supposed to have been cal tied off by the mur- derers; the other was found loaded in his coat pocket.
Mr. Richardson was a fine-looking man of forty-five. Ile has left a widow and six ehilldren. At the 1.,autibeth Office yesterday, a man was examined on just grounds of suspicion of being one of the murderers. He was detained till the cattier and toll-keeper should arrive to look at him.
Last Monday, three coal-carriers were committed to Fisherton gaol, for picking up and concealing in one of their sacks four letter-bags, which had been lost from the Bristol mail on its road to Salisbury, on the previous Friday. l'he guard had observed the men on the road, and as soon as he discos-ere(' his loss, went in ptosuit of them. The bags were not opened ; and it is probable that the men detained them in the hope of a na ward.
Seventh deaths occurred on Tuesday night, last week, in consequence of the lion Wallace, anal a large tigress, escaping from Wombwell's menagerie at W'orksworth, on the way to Newhaven fair. The drivers were putting tla• vans into the yard of the White Lion Inn, when a carriage, laden with timber, Caine ill contact with the one in which the celebrated lion Wallace, who contended with and defeated the dogs at Warwick, and a very large tigress, were kept, and staved in the whole side of the vehicle. Pains were taken to prevent the beasts obtaining their liberty, by repairing the van as well as cirrumstances would permit, and by closing the gates of the yard; but in the course of the night, the beasts succeeded in making their escape by the back yard into the fields, where the tigress attacked a number of sheep, and killed three. 'f he lion falling in with some cows, killed one, and seat-rely wounded two others. The bleating of the sheep, the lowing of the cows, and the roaring of the lion, aroused the keepers and several of the inhabitants, when instant pursuit was made by the whole body in order to kill, or, if possible, to retake them. They first discovered the lion about three or four fields distant, feediug on the cow. Several shots were fired, though contrary to the enders of the keeper, by which the lion was severely. wounded. 1 he infuliated animal suddenly rushed upon it man who Will; at some distance from him, and killed him. He then dashed into a cow-shed, where, by the well-known yoke of the keepers, and their able management, he was secured, and lodged in a place of safety without fuother mischief. The party then went in pursuit of the tigress, which had taken another direction, and had fallen in with some persons going to work at the brickfields. The animal attacked a wonnan with a child in her arms, and a boy about eleven years of age, all of whom were killed. Every exertion was made to secure the animal, but it was not before she was so dangerously wound- ed as nut to be expected to recover, that that object could be effected. On the following day an inquest was held, when, after a patient inves tigation, a verdict of Accidental Death was teturned ; deodand 101. on the beasts. Too much praise cannot be given to Mr, Wombwell for the promptness he displayed on hearing the melancholy accident. Re ordered the funerals of the sufferers to take place at his expense, and promised to make good all damages arising from the melancholy event.—Northampton Herald.
A fire broke out in Sunderland yesterday week, very early in the
inorniog, by which several shops, a Jewish synagogue, and considerable property were destroyed. A woman, in attempting to make her esrape from a window in one of the burning houses, broke both her legs. This house was once occupied by Colonel Lilburn, and Oliver Crom- well slept there when he visited Sunderland. The Sandestand Herahl attributes much of the damage done to the disgraceful filet that the water-pipes are not available in the night-titan.
Incendiary tires have occsrred during the last ten days, at Sutton Seotney, in Berkshire ; at Bridge Hall paper-mills, pear Bury; and at Kessingland, on the premises of the Reverend Mr. Norris, in the same neighbourhood.
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