INCREDIBLE INHUMANITY.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 23, 29 January 1881, Page 2

INCREDIBLE INHUMANITY.

A case of inhumanity, alinoab incredible in its grossnegs, was heard at the Bristol Assizes recently. Thoma3 Ame*, 23, laborer, was indicted for the murder of Albert Edward Miles, at Bath, in August last. Deceased, a boy nine years old, met his death in a lock on the Kennctt and Avon canal. He clambered down tho lock gates, and began fishing. On returning tip the gates his foot slipped, and he fell into the water. The fmsoner was standing on tho side of the ock, and saw the deceased struggling in the water about seven feet deep. Some one shouted to him to jump in, and he replied, " Let the little get out tho best way he can." His cries, however, reached two boya, named Vewles and Hillier, who, pulling off their jackets as they ran to the look, immediately jamped in, caught the deceased, and held his head above water by taking an arm each, and swam towards the gates, intending to hold on by them, or swim into the river. On their way they called to prisoner to throw them some poles which were on the bask. He did not reply, but began to clos» the lock gates upon the three boya. Although their progress to the river was thus stopped, they still hoped to save the deceased by clinging to the bottom of the lock gates, but to their horror they saw the prisoner take a winch and begin to raise the hatchways. A woman shouted, "For God's sake don't; you'll drown all three. ' Prisoner only laughed, and went on raising the hatchways. The sudden rush of water washed the deceased out of the hands of 'his rescuers, and they with difficulty saved themselves. The body was found sucked under close to the hatchway. — Prisoner was foutid " Guilty of manslaughter," and sentence was deferred. — The Judge, High Sheriff, and Bar raised a subscription to show their appreciation of Vowles and Hillier'B bravery, and the Bum of three pounds wa3 handed to each of them. (For further nexia &cc page 4.