15 DECEMBER 1838, Page 5

The Newcastle Journal has been sent to us, with a

long account, illustrated by wood-cuts, of a murder committed in the Newcastle The Newcastle Journal has been sent to us, with a long account, illustrated by wood-cuts, of a murder committed in the Newcastle Savings Bank, under very strange circumstances. Between one and two o'clock on Friday morning, a servant-girl, who slept in the higher story of the Bank, perceived that the building was on fire, gave the alarm, and roused a Mr. Robson and his family, who had a lace shop next to the Bank, and occupied the upper part of the latter as a dwell-

ing-house. They all escaped through a window along a ledge to the next building. A policeman about the eame time discovered the fire ; and speedily the fire-engines was brought to play upon the buildings. The fire was soon got under; and Mr. .Toseph Armstrong, Cashier of

the Bank, with Bell, an Inspector of Police, entered the room, in the dark. Mr. Armstrong struck with his foot the corpse of a man, lying

near the fire-place. On procuring a light, he found that the dead body

was that of John Millie, a clerk in the Bank. He was, as it were, "laid out" in the middle of the hearth-rug. Twenty wounds, inflicted

by a sharp instrument, were counted on his head and face. One side of the bead was smashed with a dreadful blow from a poker, which lay near him. His pockets were stuffed with coal, pieces of wood, and paper, as if to insure that his body should be burnt. There were traces of blood on the desks, wainscoating, and doors. The end of the poker, which was bent a good deal, was stained with blood, and some hair was sticking to it. 011 the opposite side of the room, lying in a corner, Mr. Archibald Bolam, Actuary of the Bank, was found. He was apparently insensible, and blood flowed from a wound in his throat. The cflice penknife lay on the table near Bolam ; and the . tongs on the floor in the middle of the room. The furniture was not . displaced ; the books and papers were in their usual order. Bolum's , keys were on his desk ; the door of the stone safe was open, but the inner iron safe was locked. Millie's hat hung on its accustomed peg. The candles were burning in their sockets. Millie had been a hard- wareman in North Shields. He was a widower about fifty-four years old, with four young children.

An inquest was held on Friday; at which Bohan, after being cau- tioned by the Magistrates, gave the principal evidence. The substance of it is comprised in the following statement— I have lately had two or three au ny moss letters, threatening to du me bairn ; and one arts put under the door of the Savings Batik ou Thersday evening after dark, saying that 130111ettlin4 %mad happen to me at twine. In emeterptte.se of this, though generelly get one tea at the Bank, I went home; the other ekrk. Millie, having previously gone to his tea. I returned alemt half past seveu tecluek in the evening; and finding the doer licked as I had left it, I open it, arid put the key in my pocket. V. lien I gut into the Bank, I saw Millie lyiug on ihe rug, anti I thought he had fallen asleep. He also had a key. and sometimes licked himself in. I then went towArds my desk, intending immediately to go and is; eak to Millie; but while I mos in the act of 'prelim; my desk, I thoteed I licerd seine otte coming behitel ; and ass in the act of turning iound when I received a blow on my right temple, from ut man in disguise, with Ids face blackened. I itnmedireely started up. and yen shouting toe arils the whitlow intending to give an alarm; on %%Well the man lidlewed ine, tied sahi, if I stirred or made the least noise. lie aould serve me as he haat served the other man. Ile struck tee egain, when I was ile:11 the window and alien I was dean. I felt a kuile at my throut. shortly after this, I became instet lisle for a a:iite ; but aliens erds any recollec- t het seemed to ret:ire, mid I beard sent:a:a.; in :lie other ellice, an 1 s,,pposed, going about awl making a mese. I dared not make tin, least eutcry. 1 burnt the threateuing tellers %Welt I hall previously received. The tint. altiell I found last night undo the vv./Wm.:400m dour, I left upon my dc-,k• I curio a II Ilesmil e tam, exceplitig that I think he was under the middle size, nod sport.. ranglily, led opparently in a feigned voice. I lind it few shilliugs is my pocket, awl I this. k 41. 1C.i in my desk, which was left by Mr. Ailey to &Twit on Sal1irday. In the inner aae I had a Anther s.11:1 of eel et illy own, %%Wish I kept to meet 4:erten! expenses."

Bolaues wound in the neck was fuund on examination to be very slight ; and there were no other marks of violence oil his bay, ex• cept just above his left rib, and that wits nothing more than a scratch. He was Lot known to have hud any quarrel ith Millie, hut was appa- rently on good terms with hins. The inquest wits adjourned till Wednesday ; and Bolan was sent to ;nison. Of course there are strong suspicions, which prulaiec restrains the expression of.

On Wednesday, the inquiry was resumed; at-A two women, one a servant of Bolan), and the other formerly in his service, were examined at great length as to Bolam's habits, and his motions on the evening of the murder. Their evidence seems to have confirmed his statement, and not to have increased any suspicion against him that might have existed. He bad frequently been very kind to Millie.

Joseph Newberry and Joseph Taylor are in custody, on charge of committing the burglary and attempt to murder, on the premises of old Mr. Wood, at Whittington, near Lichfield. Some of the stolen pro- perty was found upon them, and the servant-girl swore positively to their persons.

Four poachers wounded two gamekeepers in a conflict, on the night of Thursday week, in the preserves of Mr. Hervey Combe, between Cobham and Walton, in burry. One of the keepers was severely hurt. The poachers have not been taken.