MURDER OF A GIRL IN FINSBURY.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 658, 7 April 1870, Page 4

MURDER OF A GIRL IN FINSBURY.

A crime,, recalling the murder of the : | woman Thanbih by Giovanni Lani, twelve years ago,, but far more brutal in its details,.has been committed in Finsbury,. The proprietor of an hotel in Christopher street employed as night-porter a native Qf Switzerland, named Jacob Spiniz, 23 yevrs of age,-; On January 14 this r. man was absent without leave, and at half-past one. the .following morning he was let in by a fellow^ servant. About four hours afterwards.the body of a loose woman was discovered in the kitchen, the head and ' face having been battered in such a manner as to render, the features, scarcely distinguishable. -Empty winj&-bottles: and a heavy metal candlestick were the instruments with which the murderer had completed his fearful work. Spinaz, who gave an incoherent' account of the/ occurrence, was at once arrested, and in the course of the day was brought before the sitting magistrate at Worship street. On January 17 > the deceased young woman* was identified as Cecilia Aldridge, It appears thiittwo years ago a respectably-dressed 'woman applied at 55 Flower' and Dean street, Spitalfields, and asked if she could be acopmmodfited with a lodgingfortlie night. She did riot give her name, and she did not state where sho cameifrom,' but it was supposed that she had' been a needle* woman. . While in the house she always conducted herself very quietly; and at seven o'clock of an evening she would go out, as she. stated, td s6e her friends, and return to her lodgings at two o'clock next morning. About a month ago she met a young man who slept in the lodging-hou3e, and shp told him. that her name was •Cecilia Abridge, but she did not tell him where she had come from. Amongst the other lodgers she was always' known by the naije of "Sissy." In the house she. bore the character of being *a quiet, inof^ tensive, sober woman. She hardly ever spoke tp any one, §iy> fcoW owe person

that she ,vas thirty-two years of age. JThe friends of Spinaz are making arrangements and ai'e collecting evidence for his defence, On January 21 the corner held the final inquiry into tlie matter, The constable who took the prisoner into custody stated that he found the prisoner with his clothes covered with blood, and this handkerchief completely saturated. When told he was 'charged with murder lie replied that he thought there was a thijf in the house, , and he battled with her till the lights came, when he found she was dead. The jury returned a verdict of wilful rriurder against the prisoner, and he was again examined at Worship street on January 22. The prosecution has been taken up by the Government, and Mr Poland, the barrister, conducted the case. A considerable, amount of li filling up" was* obtained, hut the broad outlines of the frightful picture remain very much as they came out at first, Some new wittnesses were interrogated, and the case was again adjourned. '