23 FEBRUARY 1856, Page 10

. A portion of the central stone staircase of the

Shire Hall at Chelmaford, crowded yesterday with persons anxious to hear a trial for murder, fell, killed one lad, and seriously injured several persons.

The murderer of the Duchess Caument Laforee was her groom, Baumann, a German. The Duchess was eccentric and choleric ; she with difficulty got servants to live with her ; at length she determined to keep only one ,e • Bau- mann was engaged three weeks ago. The Duchess scolded him daily, un- til he could bear it no longer ; and in a frenzy he rushed upon and killed her with one blow of his fist.