An early newspaper chronicling a murder and mutilation which scandalised Brighton 175 years ago has fetched more than £2,000 at auction.

The "broadside" - an early form of street literature - outlined the life, trial, confession and execution of Brighton Chain Pier labourer John William Hollaway for the "horrible murder, almost unparalleled in atrocity" of his wife Celia at Rottingdean in the summer of 1831.

The account, together with those of other horrific crimes of the time, was bought by a private collector at Bonhams in London for £2,160 - four times more than expected.

The body, or at least part of it, was discovered on August 31, 1831, after two farm labourers named Maskell and Gillam noticed earth had been disturbed at a nook called Hole-in-the-Wall at Rottingdean.

Prodding with a stick, they uncovered a piece of red-printed cotton.

They informed a local officer called Elphick who found a bundle containing torso and legs clad in stays, chemise, petticoat and red gown, just 18in below the surface.

The scandal sheet tells how "crowds of persons thronged to the spot and amongst them was a Mrs Bishop, the wife of a labourer at Brighton, who declared that the body was that of her sister".

An investigation revealed that during six years of marriage, Hollaway had scarcely lived with his wife for two consecutive months. Hollaway, who quit his job in the "preventive service" in 1829 to work on the Chain Pier, had taken a woman named Ann Kennard to live with him as his wife.

Wanting to be rid of Celia, he hatched a diabolical plan, calling on her at 4 Cavendish Place, Brighton, and pretending they should try to live together again. Celia, who had always been fond of her husband, readily agreed that he should collect her and take her to new lodgings.

On July 14 she left wearing the red dress and was never seen alive again. After the discovery of the torso, police questioned Ann Kennard and Hollaway gave himself up.

A coroner's jury returned a verdict of wilful murder and Hollaway was sent to Horsham jail to await execution. Meanwhile, a further search of Rottingdean resulted in the discovery of Celia's missing head and legs.

At his trial at Lewes on December 14, 1831, Hollaway was described as "remarkable for the brutality of his demeanour".

After the guilty verdict the judge sentenced the prisoner to be executed on the following Friday and directed that his body be given up to be anatomised.