Saturday 12 Apr 1845 (p. 2, col. 7) HORRID MURDER IN WESTMORLAND. ----- The quiet and peaceful county of Westmoreland, so characterised for its morality, has lately, we are sorry to have to record, been the scene of a most unnatural and brutal murder; and seldom indeed does one of a more revolting description, and at which human nature so much shrinks, occur. Richard SIMPSON, the perpetrator of the horrid crime we are about to lay before our readers, is the son of Mrs. Elizabeth SIMPSON, his unfortunate victim, a widow lady, aged 61 years, who resided on her own estate at Middleshaw, in the parish of Old Hutton, near Kendal, and who was in very affluent circumstances. It appears that since the death of his wife in August last, SIMPSON had gone to live with his mother, and had undertaken the management of her farming business, which he continued to conduct up to the time of his apprehension. He, however, paid but little attention to the farming duties, being, from his frequent attendance at the public house, almost in a constant state of inebriation; in fact, he had of late years become an habitual drunkard; and to this cause may be attributed the melancholy occurrence. On Saturday evening, the 29th of March last, he rudely entered his mother's apartment, and in a violent abusive manner demanded money of her to enable him to return to his drunken haunts; and on her refusing, threatened to shoot her if she did not immediately comply with his request. The old lady still however denied him, and gently rebuked him for his improper conduct, when he seized a poker which was standing near and struck her several times over the head and across the face, and actually, by the force of the blows, broke the weapon, he also kicked her while lying on the floor, on several parts of her body; nor was the unfortunate woman's maid, who was present for some time, able to persuade him to desist. His fury having partially abated, he went out of the room leaving his parent weltering in a large pool of blood, and apparently lifeless. The servant having conveyed the old lady to bed wished to call in assistance, but was prevented doing so by the unfeeling man, and never till her mistress' death, in consequence of the prisoner's threats did she dare to divulge what had taken place. Mrs. SIMPSON survived until last Sunday, but during the most part of the intervening time was insensible. On Monday, an inquest was held on the body, before Richard WILSON, Esq., coroner, and a respectable jury, and several witnesses were examined, whose evidence went to confirm the above facts; and the inquiry was adjourned to the following day for a post mortem examination. The prisoner, who had on that day been apprehended by Mr. GROSSMITH, the superintendant of the county police, was in the meantime committed to the Kendal House of Correction. On Tuesday morning, the coroner and jury having re-assembled, the evidence of Messrs. NOBLE and LONGMIRE, of Kendal, surgeons, who had made a careful examination of the body, was taken. They agreed in opinion that two large wounds appeared on deceased's head, and such as the sharp edge of a poker would have inflicted, were the cause of death. They had also found other wounds upon her body, which would ultimately have proved fatal. Her arms, legs, and the other parts of her body were one entire bruise. Deceased's inside was perfectly healthy and she might have lived some years. The Coroner carefully summed up the whole evidence, and the jury after consulting for a short time, unanimously returned a verdict of Wilful Murder against Richard SIMPSON. After the verdict had been delivered, the prisoner was brought into the room, in the custody of Mr. GROSSMITH, and informed of the result. He is 35 years of age, a good looking, stout, thick-made person, stands 5 feet 7 inches high, of fair complexion, but his face presents a florid appearance. He was dressed in a good suit of black, and wore a white hat with crape around. On being asked if he wished to make any statement, but cautioned against saying any thing that might commit himself, he said he should reserve what he had to say till his trial. He was then committed to Appleby gaol, under the coroner's warrant, to take his trial at the next Westmoreland assizes. Prior to the perpetration of the horrid deed, the prisoner on several occasions when labouring under the effects of liquor, beat his mother most unmercifully. His conduct of late had been more outrageous towards her than usual, in consequence it is supposed of her having made a will, in favour of his younger child. When Mr. GROSSMITH apprehended him he exhibited a desire to injure him also and would have done so had Mr. G. had no assistance. Since his committal he has been very sullen and reserved, and during his being conveyed to prison, a distance of 24 miles, never once alluded to the situation in which he has placed himself, but maintained almost total silence during the whole way. Shortly after his arrival at the gaol, about nine o'clock on Tuesday night, he retired to his sleeping cell, his clothes and other articles being removed therefrom, and every necessary precaution used to prevent his laying violent hands on himself. He passed a restless night, and at intervals, apparently dreaming, gave utterance to incoherent sentences. On Wednesday morning he partook but of little breakfast. From the respectability of the prisoner's family, and their large influential connections, the event has caused considerable excitement, and cast a gloom throughout the neighbourhood of Kendal, which will take some time to efface. Since the above was written, we have learned that the prisoner has always resided with his parents at Middleshaw, and married Miss WILSON, of Scales, in the parish of Orton, by whom he had two children, both boys, the one ten and the other eight years of age. His treatment of his wife was cruel in the extreme, and he was frequently in the habit of striking her.