MURDER IN A NEWSPAPER OFFICE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume VII, Issue 320, 18 September 1858, Page 1 (Supplement)

MURDER IN A NEWSPAPER OFFICE.

A dreadful murder occurred at the Halifax Guardian newspaper-office, yesterday, and threw the whole town into consternation, the deceased being extensively known in the town. From what could be gathered soon after the fearful affair, it appears that the compositors at the office of the Halifax Guardian newspaper had but just returned from dinner yesterday afternoon, a little after two o'clock. A number of them were in the first compositors' room upstairs (the room next toGeorgestreet); and two others, one of them the unfortunate deceased, Mr James Jacobs, and the other his murderer, a youth about twenty years of age, named Dawson (who is an apprentice) were in a further room, looking into George-street yard. The two latter were at work, and just before the melancholy affair, Dawson had gone to one of the other men for a pinch of snuff for deceased, with which he had returned to the other room. No quarrel in words was heard between the two, but it seems the murderer shut the door and fastened it, and without a moment's warning commenced an attack on Jacobs with iron " dumb-bells." After this, and apparently becoming still more furious, lie seized an iron press-stang, about two and a half yards long, and beat the deceased about the head with that. Still further, he seized a hatchet, and with it cut away at the face and head of his victim. Meanwhile the other workmen were alarmed with the noise going on, and, if we are rightly informed, all ran into the street. There was a woollsorter named Bates passing up the street, however, to whom they communicated that there was something wrong, and he, a strong' courageous man, determined to ascertaiu what wa's really the matter. He and the printers entered the office, and, breaking open the door, found to their utter dismay that poor Jacob* was dead. The sight that presented itself was fearful. The dead body of the man who but a few moments before was vigorous with life and all the strength of manhood, was laid on its hack in the room. There was a large pool of blood, the brains being mingled in it. The wounds were of the most dreadful character, and all on the front part of the head. The forehead was laid open, and the face gashed apparently withthe hatchet. The ill-fated man had taken off his coat, and had commenced his work, for his compo-sing-stick lay near him, and the matter he was setting up was in melancholy "pye." The murderer was immediately arrested and removed to the townhall in the custody of the police. He is a youth still serving his time with Mr Walker, the proprietor and publisher of the Halifax Guardian, and is considered, so far as wa can ascertain, a youth of remarkably quiet disposition. He and his victim were believed to be very friendly, and we are told frequently worked side by side with each other. An inquest was held this day before G Dyson, Fsq., coroner, and a respectable jury. After hearing the evidence the jury retired, and after an absence of five minutes returned with a verdict of " Wilful Murder " against the prisoner Dawson,