MYSTERIOUS MURDER IN GLASGOW

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1772, 27 September 1862, Page 5

MYSTERIOUS MURDER IN GLASGOW

(From the North British Daily Mail) Between the morning of Saturday, July sth, and Monday, the 7th, a murder of almost unexampled ferocity was perpetrated in the west end of the oity. The victim is a woman ; but the facts, so far as have been ascertained, do not point to any motive which could have urged to the committal of such an atrocious deed. The name of the woman is j essie Macpherson ; she was between thirty aud forty years of age, unmarried; and employed as a domestic servant by Mr. John Fleming, accountant, Sandyford-place. The occu pants of the house are, besides the other members of the family, Mr. John Fleming, with his son, Mr. Fleming, with his father, Mr. James Fleming. The family have a house atDunoou, and it was the custom for Mr. John Fleming, with his son, to go to the coast on Friday afternoons, remaining geuerally till Monday, On Friday week they proceeded thither as usual, leaving in the House Mr. James Fleming, who his 87 years of age, and the deceased. About half-past nine in the evening Mr. Fleming went to. bed, at which time the servant was in the scullery and about four o'clock on the following morning — as he learned b/. a casual reference to his watch — the old man states that he was aroused by hearing

two or three screams, which seemed to proceed from the lower part of the house, in which the kitchen and the bedroom of the deceased are situated. He paid no attention to the circumstance however, thiuking she had perhaps brought a female friend to sleep with her, as there I were so few people in the house, and tbat the noise might have been occasioned in some trivial way. This opinion he still held when on the following morning he arose about ten o'clock and found her bed-room door shut, the idoa then occurr? Ed to him that she might have gone out with her friend, as the front door was only on the check. At all events, he did not seek to investigate the matter further, but, after making and partaking of breakfast, quitted the house ; and in the evening he again retired to rest, her apparent absence from home still unaccounted for. On Sunday he went .twice to church — the day and night passed, but stfll there were no tidings of the missiug woman. His son and grandson came home about four o'olock on Monday afternoon to dinner, and to them her disappearance was made known. They went down-stairs to the sunk flat, but found the bedroom door locked, and the key missing. The key of the pantry, however, secured ingress, and on entering the room the body of the murdered woman was found lying on the floor, face downwards, and in a state of almost absolute nudity, with three fearful wounds in the head, which had seemingly been inflicted with a heavy and sharp instrument — one above the right ear, and so large as almost to admit of the finger being inserted, another across the forehead, and the third over the bridge of the nose, while one of the jaws was smashed in several places. The clothes of the murdered woman were strewn about the room covered with blood and the bed sheet, also red-stained, was found wrapped up and placed behind the door. Leading from his room to the Kitchen streaks of blood were also described, aud on close examination the conclusion was come to that here the murder had been committed. After the deed was consummated, the body had apparently been dragged through, undressed, and afterwards left on the floor in the position in which it was subsequently found. The kitchen appeared to have been partially washed after the murder was committed. On Saturday morning the door opening on the back part of the house was foud locked, and the front door, the only way in which egrees could have been obtained was found on the check. Suspicion pointing to Mr. James Fleming, he was arrested and kept in custody. Meanwhile, circumstances occured which led to the apprehension of a woman M'Lachlau, and acquaintance of the deceased, who has been fully committed for trial. The circumstance that first led to her being suspected was her having taken, to a pawnbroker's some plate which had been missing from Mr. Flemiug's house since the night of the murder. She was formerly a servaut in the same family. Mr. Fleming has been released.

Since her committal, a bundle of bloody clothes, belonging to Mrs.M'Lachlan, has been found, and which she is known to have worn on the night of the murder. The identification is complete, nay superabundant, for several persons can speak positively to the fact of their being her garments.

Destruction of a Steamer by Fire. — The steamer ludian Empire, 1,800 tons, belonging to Messrs. Pearson, was destroyed by fire at Deptford yesterday morning. She had been undergoing repairs, and; with the exception of a few stores, was entirely empty. Nothing authentic is known as to the origin of the fire. The ship appears to be insured in the Commercial Union Fire Offices for £10,000.

A Deserter cruelly punished.' — At Woolwich, Provost-Sergeant Ashton, of the Artillery, has been suspended and confined to quarters for punishing a deserter by having him rubbed with sand until most of his skin came off. He suffers severely in the hospital. The reduction in the rate of Discount.—The reduction iv the Bauk rate will excite criticism, and perhaps some apprehension ; but if the bank, in dealing with the marketable commodity, money, are to act npon the principles which govern every other trading transaction, they had no choice but to adopt it* Tom Sayer's 200 Men and Horses Farewelt, for a time to his true British soil* — Tom Sayer's company and horses are engaged, together with the veteran agent, to visit Australia. The great English boxer and his troupe, consisting of 160 men, 60 horses, and 2 elephants, go to Australia. The ship Alexandria. 1,500 tons burthen, will convey the mighty hero and suite to the land of novelty, September 6, 1862, at the termination of the Exhibition. Mr. Sayers is engaged at the sum of £So,ooo for twelve months, exclusive of the voyage each way in the ship Alexandria. Therefore, under these circumstances, he will for a time bid farewell to the land he loves, wishiuw to return with the laurels of a far distaut soil emblazoned on his breast, which will add to the comfort of his declining years, surrounded by the! affluence he so richly deserves, as* one who as upheld to the letter the honour and bravery of his dear native land. Route:— This day, Saturday, July 19, Brynmnaw ; Monday July 21, Pontypool ; Tuesday, July 22, Usk ; Wednesday/July 23, Monmouth ; Thursday, July 24, Hereford ; Friday, July 25, Welsh Harv/ Saturday, July 26, Brecon ; Monday, July 28, Merthyr.