THE DOUBLE ASSASSINATION. MURDER OF THE RECORDER OF NORWICH AND HIS SON, AND ATTEMPTED MURDER OF HIS WIFE AND SERVANT. (From Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper, Dec, 3.)

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 303, 25 April 1849, Page 3

THE DOUBLE ASSASSINATION. MURDER OF THE RECORDER OF NORWICH AND HIS SON, AND ATTEMPTED MURDER OF HIS WIFE AND SERVANT. (From Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper, Dec, 3.)

On Tuesday evening, soon after eight o'clock, tin? town of Wymondhain was thrown into a state of consternation by the intelligence that Mr. Recoulci Jcimy and his son had buon shot Jo<ul. A telegraphic message to that effect was sent to Norwich police-station, with a request thar a Mr. Ru-h should be apprehended. In consequence, Supe inlendent Yvrmgton went by the next train in quest of Ku&h, and a party of police proceeded at once to Stanuckl-hall . '1 hey at rived there about one o'clock in the morning and found the inmates in a state of great alatni and grief. Constable I'ont, , of the rural force, was there. Th«»y saw the bodies of Mr. Jenny and his son, and ascertained that Mrs. Jenny and net maid, liliz ibeth Chcatneyi had been shot at and severely wounded. Before going fuuhev it. will be well to mention snma particulars relative <o the plan of Stanfu-ld-hall. It \t a loni; building m t'»e Norman style, wil.li a moat befoic it »nd an extensive paik round it. "Of late year* a wing has been added, comprisidtr the servants' apartments. In fiont of the main building ihere i* a porcb entrance, leading into a spacious hall, from which there ii a pas&uge ro the diniug*room3 on the left, To tins nsjlit ol the j»orch therrt is an entiance and pnssigc for the servants, leading into their part of the building. The pcipe'rntor of tliCße murders was well acquiinied with t'»u piemises, as will apptar from what lollowi. Mr. Jenny, Mr. Jenny, jun , and Mrs Jenny, dined together on Tuesday evening ; thegbutler, two female servants, and a man servant, were on the premises; two ftuiidle servants had gone to Wymondlum, and had icturned to the park, but were not in the hall before eight o'clock. About half past ctghr o'clock Mr. Jernay, sen , left the dining-ioom, and wtlked ihiough the hull to the front of the building. On returning* just as he entered the porch, a man, wrapped up m a cloak, and wearing a mask, fiied a pistol at him, and the ehot lodged in the upper part of life left breast, close to ihe shou'der. He fell down and expired ; but I owing to what followed, was not removed for neaily an , hour. The assassin went to the servants' entrance to the right) passed through ihe passage across the building and met the bufler. With a pistol in each hand, be beckoned the butler to go back. Being gicatly alarmed at the apparition of a man in a mask, presenting two pistols, the butler retired into lug pantry. The assassin proceeded onwa ds to the turn of the passage, where there was a daik recess and a door opening into another passage leading to the back of the preuu'aoi. lie appears to have an ived in the recess just as Mr. Jenny, jun., alarmed by the report of the pistol, left the dining-room. The young gentlemau went to the door opening into the back passage, and there tha maa fired at him, and shot him ttuough the right breast. He instantly fell down dead. Mrs. Jenny, hearing a noise went to the same place, and while standing over the lifeless body of her husband, the assassin fired a pistol at her. The shot shivered one of her arms uud wounded her in the breast. Her maid, more courageous thaa the other servants, went to the same spot to see what was tlie matter, and, while clasping her mistress, the murderer again discharged a putol und seriously wounded her in the thigh. The other female 6eivants, thinking they would be all murdered, hid themselves. The man-servant, who was then in the stables, luaring the shots, and supposing that the house wao attacked by a nuinuer of rufli-ins, swain across the moat, and set off to Wymoudham, where he gave the alarm which caused the lelagraph message to bo sent to Norwich police-station, Thij murdeier had theref )ro no difficulty in making his escape. The women savants who had gone to Wyiuoudlum, leturned with two young men, and while, they stood outsido the moat talking, they heard the report of a pistol, aad saw the flash. Taey thought Mr. Jenny, Jun. was trying to frighten them, and they went to the lodge. Constable Pont and the city police remained in the hall for some time, and found the ramrod of a pistol. About two o'clock in the morning the police went to watch the house of Mr. lluih, at HetheJ. They remained all night near the premises. About five o'clock they saw Mr. l-ÜBb. strike a light, and heard him ring (or his servant. They then entered the premises and took Rush into custody. The house was searched, and a euat quite damp was found upon his bed. The polio took the cloak, and also a pair of Rmli 1 ". boots, which wore r,uite wet. The police also took charge of u couple of loaded fow'ting-pieccs and two powdcr-flißks. Mr. flujh, who is a farmer and auctioneer, wis Drought betore Mr. Cane, the magistrate, examined, and lemauded toWymoudUam Bridewell. On Wednesday great excitement prevailed among i the residents in the neighbourhood of the ball. Kum% bers of gentlemen arrived there to make enquiries, and to be sure that such horrible murders had been committed. Many viewed the bodies, which presented a s>id spectack 1 . The expression of the countenances shewed tlicit the unfoituiiate gentlemen had died-in great agony. There was a long trail of blood from the porch to the rooms where they were lying. In the aftf rnooo the lion, and Rev. R. Wilson, Mr. Cine, Mr. Faiker, and other inngistrateb, held a private investigation, and examined Ai tlw servants of deceased. Mr. Rush's housekeeper was sent for and examined, aud the statements of the wounded females weie taken. Mr. Nichols, a surgeon of Norwich, attended them. Mr. Jenny, besides being a county | magistrate aud Recorder of the city of Noiwieu, was chairman and director of tha Norwich TJuiou Ifire aud Life Office. His son was a county magistrate. A.t present 'suspicion rests only on the party now in custody, in consequence of Mr. Jenny and Mr. Rush having had legal contents, I Late on Wednesday night a telegraphic despatch I was received by Mr. D. \V. Harvey, the commissioner ! of the City police torce, aud also by the commissioners. ! of the metropolitan police, which stated that a person named J. B. liush had made his escape trom Wymondliam, susoei-ted of having couniniped the murdor at Slanfield Hall, the residence of the late J. Jsnuy, Emi, The despatch staled that the su>pacted paity WO3 travelling on tUe Eastern Counties Railway, and steps were to be taken to apprehend him immedi.i'ely. Ha is described as bem* of " dark complex on, rather riout made, five hcl seven niches high, and b>o ;ps whoa walking." The moment the news arrived m town the commibsinnoii issued copies of tha despatch, which were sent to every police stilum-house ittllu: iuctiO|>o« as, and Irom thruuj to the country police depots. Tlia sar.ie were lead over to the men befo.e they v/eut on ('uly on Thursday monun^, with instructions lo the cm-tablet tint ihey iy<;ie to keep a good look-ont foe i lie suspected murdeier. These precautions were, as it now appears* uuneces.. mrv, llu-h having been apprehendel at his ownhouse. Svantield Hall, tl-et 1- e scene of the murdei, U said to lisve bten the birth-place of Amy Robanrtj tbc.itoi'Oitic ul Sir Walter Scab's "lU'iuKvoith.''