of their recovery could be entertained.

To render the extent of the catastrophe intelligible, a description of the works is necessary. The buildings are placed at some distance from each other, and those in which the more dangerous processes of the manufacture are carried on are carefully secluded from the rest by thick belts of fir wood, by mounds of earth, or by such other means as the position in which they are situated suggests. Nearly all the works are constructed of the lightest materials, so that if an explosion should happen, the least possible resist ance may be offered to the shock which it occasions. Through the grounds, which occupy a considerable extent, runs the river Colne, a tributary of the Thames, the waters of which are applied to set the machinery of some of the composition and corning houses in motion. The situation of the works generally appears to be unexceptionable.

such a

such wide-spread destruction. Not a single stone of the building remained, the whole fabric having been blown away and the scathed and blackened foundations alone remaining. The trees for many yards on the western side were either torn up by the roots or cut right through, or had their branches or bark stripped off. Nor did the turnip-field on the eastern side of the building escape uninjured, for the unmistakable action of fire could be distinctly observed over a considerable portion of it. This is the more remarkable, as the wind was at the time blowing from the east-a circumstance to which some consequence appears to be attributed, as it is said that accidents of the kind are generally observed to take place with an easterly wind and a high barometer. From the dusting-house the ex plosion extended to the "treble," or sporting-powder corning-house, which stood about 100 yards westward, embedded in the plantation of wood. Whether the second explosion was caused by burning embers from the first falling upon the premises, or by a large body of flame carried through the trees by the wind, it is impossible to say, but the result was equally disastrous, and the destruction caused quite as complete. Here again the terrific power of gunpowder displayed itself in the most astonishing manner, though the whole amount in the building at

The catastrophe commenced in the "Treble Dusting-house," i. e. the house for "dusting" or clean sing sporting powder, which was situate on the eastern margin of a fir plantation, with a field of turnips on the one side of it and the wood on the other. In this small building no machinery of any kind was kept which could at all lead to catastrophe. Two small spindles and a sieve of copper wire were the only implements employed; but as the two men who were employed here were both killed, the cause of ignition can never be ascertained. The quantity of powder stated to have been in the dusting-house when the accident happened is 2 cwt.—a small quantity certainly to have caused

VOL. XCII.

the time is stated not to have exceeded 14 cwt. One of the men employed here was killed, the other dreadfully injured. The building in which the third and loudest explosion occurred was the "presshouse," and was much more sub tantially constructed than the est. In it, according to custom,

D

reside there from Brighouse, was a smith, and was principally employed in sharpening the delvers tools. He had paid his addresses to the girl for some twelve or eighteen months, and about three months ago they were married. Jessop had not a cottage furnished to take his wife to, and they took up their residence along with the wife's mother and sister. The husband, who had been given to intoxication at times. had given great promises of more steady and industrious habits at that time. For some months before their marriage he had carried out of his earnings 58. per week to his intended wife, and for five or six weeks after marriage the young pair seemed to be comfortable enough. Some stormy weather which succeeded, however, rendered it impossible that the quarrymen could pursue their employ ment, and Jessop was thrown out of work. Almost immediately afterwards quarrels with his wife and her friends led to his being turned out of the mother's house, and to a consequent separation. He had attempted a reconciliation in vain and persuasion failing. he seems to have sought an interview on Saturday evening last, with a view of putting a period to all future strife and heartburnings about the matter by murdering his wife, and afterwards destroying himself. He accordingly went to his wife's residence, and having in vain attempted to draw her aside from her family, took from one of his coat pockets a pistol, and hastily advancing towards her, discharged it with the muzzle almost close to her person. The ball took effect in the left breast. Before any attempt at interference could be made, he then drew a

second pistol, and placing the muzzle under his right ear, discharged the contents through his head.

17. DREADFTI MURDER IN IRFLAND.-At the Queen's County Assizes, Catherine Moore and Bridget Thompson were placed at the bar, charged with the wilful murder of Patrick Moore, at Turrow, on the 26th of August. There were three counts in the indictment: the first, stated the crime to be committed by Catherine Moore by making a cut with a knife on the right side of his throat, and charged Bridget Thompson with aiding and abetting: the second count charged Bridget Thompson with being accessary after the fact; and the third count laid the deed to have been committed by strangulation.

Evidence having been given identifying the body of the mur dered man.

Owen Moore, a young boy, was examined.—Is brother to the pri soner Catherine Moore. On the 26th of August his sister did not go to bed until 1 o'clock at night; she went out about 10 o'clock. She did not sleep with his mother. She got up about 5 o'clock in the morning. She called his mother up, and said she wanted her for a certain business. They both went out of the place then. He went to school at 9 o'clock in the morning. Came home about 4 o'clock. When he came into the yard ho missed the ass's car. His sister Catherine was not then at home.

She returned about 6 o'clock, and

brought the ass's car with her. Witness met her, and, in consequence of what he had heard from his sister Betty, called her a murderer. She answered, "It was great harm, indeed," and if he said anything

she would get his mother to beat him. Catherine Moore then told her mother where she put her husband; said she put him in a bog-hole, near Clogrenan. His mother said, if it was known she killed her husband they would be all taken. Catherine said, she brought the car to the bog-hole, got into the car, cut the cord she had tied her husband with, and rolled him over into the bog-hole; then covered him over with sods. In two days after heard his sister Catherine say to her mother, "Thank God, I got rid of him ready," and that she would be well enough if the body was not found until she got off. Two knives were here given to the witness, who identified them as belonging to his mother. Heard his sister tell her mother that she gave her husband whiskey, and that he laid dead then, and she cut his neck. In three days after wanted the reins of the ass. Missed a small portion of the reins. Asked Betty where it was; Betty said, Catherine tied up her husband with it to make him short."

Elizabeth Moore, sister to Catherine Moore, corroborated the evidence given by her brother. On Monday morning, when Catherine had gone out, about 5 o'clock, her mother called witness and said, it "was a woe night they had let out Catherine by herself, for she had killed her husband." Witness asked where he was. Her mother then took her out and showed her the body of Patrick Moore at the summer-house in the garden, covered with rushes. The clothes were all on the body except the hat. There was a cut on his neck, and blood along his breast. When they came in witness asked Catherine "what made

she do that?" Catherine said, "it was neck or nothing with her,” for that Pat thought to stab her, until she got to turn the knife to his own throat. Witness said, "You murderer, I'll get you took and hung." Catherine then began to cry.

Constable Maurice Ryan deposed that, after arresting the prisoner Catherine on the 29th of September, she acknowledged having murdered her husband, and said her mother and the rest of her family were innocent. She said her husband was drunk and endeavoured to stab her first.

Dr. Edge deposed that he had made a post mortem examination of the body of Patrick Moore, and believed that the wounds inflicted by the knife were not sufficient to cause death, but that death was caused by strangulation. He had a conversation with the prisoner when she was arrested, and cautioned her to say nothing to criminate herself. Notwithstanding. she was much agitated, and said she was the guilty party, and that she only should suffer, and also that her husband desired her to meet him with a bottle of whiskey. At the place of meeting a struggle took place between her husband and herself, and she succeeded in wresting a knife from him, and stabbed him with it, covering his face with her hands until she had suffocated him.

Mr. Cruise, in defence, endeavoured to show that this was not a premeditated murder, but resulted merely from a quarrel between the husband and wife while the former was under the influence of liquor. nor did her conduct either before or after her husband's death prove that she entertained the idea of murder; therefore the jury ought

The learned Judge sentenced the prisoner Moore to be hanged, and Thompson to be transported for life.

Throughout the proceedings Catherine Moore was in a state of fearful excitement, but her mother exhibited a sullen indifference.

FRIGHTFUL MURDER NEAR EDINBURGH.-Great consternation was excited in the quiet village of Juniper Green, about five miles south-west of Edinburgh, by the murder of two persons in the house of Dr. Wilson, a resident medical practitioner. The county police, upon entering the house, found Dr. Wilson in the kitchen, lying upon his back, quite dead, with his head beaten almost to a jelly. The next object which presented itself was the lifeless body of the aged mother of Dr. Wilson, which was found lying in the passage, apparently on the spot where the unfortunate woman had been struck down and killed. The instruments employed in these murders, appeared to have been the kitchen poker and tongs. Mr. Sheriff Gordon, the ProcuratorFiscal, and Mr. List, superintendent of the county police, proceeded to the scene of the murder, in order to make the investigation as prescribed by the Scotch laws. It appears that at a late hour of the night a man of the name of Pearson, who is said to have been in confinement in a lunatic asylum,

for medicine or medical advice. The doctor accordingly prescribed a simple dose, of which one-half was to be taken that night and the remainder next morning. Dr. Wilson having just returned from visiting his country patients, left the man at the door, while he himself and the maid-servant went to the stable to put up his horse. Upon his return to the house Dr. Wilson found the outer door locked, and, upon knocking, was immediately admitted. This appears to have been observed by the maid-servant, who then went to her mother's house in the neighbourhood, where she usually slept. The precise circumstances that followed within Dr. Wilson's house can only be matter of conjecture. The man Pearson, who had called at the house the previous night, was arrested upon suspicion of the murder. The wretched maniac had passed the night in the house, sleeping in Mrs. Wilson's bed, having first, it is supposed, burned his clothes. He was found naked in bed and sound asleep. Dr. Wilson was about 50 years of age. His mother had attained the great age of 90.

ΤΟΝ.

20. FATAL ACCIDENT AT CLIFAnother accident, of the same nature and at the same spot as those which are recorded in the ANNUAL REGISTER for 1847,

p. 130, and 1849, p. 91, occurred at St. Vincent's Rocks, Clifton. A young lady, Miss Mary Craven, daughter of an eminent solicitor, 17 years of age, was called about 7 o'clock by her maid-servant, soon after which she went out, as was her usual custom, and proceeded over Clifton Down towards St.

Vincent's Rocks. The Down is on an elevation of upwards of 300

feet, on the summit of the well