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Jaw. 26, 1851.] «&« lit alter. 77
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THE MURDERS OF THE WEEK. The number of m...
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A MYSTERIOUS CASE. A good deal of excite...
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SUICIDES AND SUDDEN DEATHS. Richard Rand...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Manslaughter At Ti1k Peck Ham Lunatic As...
casualty to the medical attendant , he did not say a word about them till four days afterward . By the coroner ' s direction , however , no keeper could be held resDonsible for any act , no matter of how brutal a nature , provided that act had been inflicted on a lunatic , and none but lunatics were present when it w £ perpetrated . The result was that , although the coroner ' s jury could not have the slightest doubt that Hill had caused the death of Bams , they simply returned a verdict ^ of •« Manslaughter against some person unknown . " From the evidence given on Saturday by Richard Donnollv , an inmate of the asvlum , it appeared that Deiore unnstmas
on the Monday night xmm » , wnu was rather sulky and easily irritated , refused to go to bed and Hill was brought to him . Hill is described as having " behave d a little more harshly than usual . He took hold of Barns with both his hands by the tipper part of his arms , and threw him down suddenly on the ground . " The fall was a hard one , and a few minutes after Hill went away Barns complained of being hurt . There was no doubt but the injury he then received was the cause of his death . Hill was fully committed to take his trial at the ensuing sessions for manslaughter .
Jaw. 26, 1851.] «&« Lit Alter. 77
Jaw . 26 , 1851 . ] «&« lit alter . 77
The Murders Of The Week. The Number Of M...
THE MURDERS OF THE WEEK . The number of murders and murderous assaults this week is greater than usual . The most remarkable case was one committed at a lonely farmhouse in Cheshire . Mis . Mary Kinder , an old lady , aged seventy-eight , lived with two unmarried daughters in a farmhouse , near the top of a hill named Werneth Lowe , on the road from Stockport to Mottram . On Thursday week the two Misses Kinder had gone from home , on a visit to a married sister , living a few miles distant . In the evening , about a quarter past six o ' clock , the servant girl , who had been sitting in the house with Mrs . Kinder , went to assist her brother in milking the cows , leaving her
mistress sitting before the fire . In little more than twenty minutes she returned , and was surprised to find the house in darkness . On entering the inner parlour she found the old woman etretched on the floor . JHer first impression was that her mistress had fallen into a fit , but on raising her up she found her quite dead , and a large pool of blood where the body was lying . She ran to tell her brother , who immediately went and brought some of the neighbours . On examining the house it was found that a chest of drawers in one of the bedrooms had been broken open , and also a box in the man-servant ' s bedroom , but no property of much value had been taken away . About £ 13 in cash was secreted behind the pillows at the head of Mrs . Kinder ' s bed , which the
villains missed , as they also did the silver spoons in the parlour cupboard . It is supposed , however , that the murderers were scared before they had rifled the house . The murder appears to have been committed with a large hammer , such as is commonly used by stone-breakers . A single blow of such a weapon would easily inflict . a wouuci like that which caused Mrs . Kinder ' s death . An inquest was held on the body on Tuesday , and many people expected that disclosures would be made ¦ which would implicate Josiah Fox , the servant man , but the evidence appears to free him from all suspicion . None of the witnesses having thrown any light on the mysterious affair , the jury returned a verdict of " Wilful Murder , against some person or persons unknown . "
Maria Uolfe , aged fifteen years , in the service of a Mr . Cook , of Marigold-street , liermondsey , left her master ' s house to visit her parents , on Saturday night week . On her way home she unfortunately called upon some female friends , with whom she wont to several public-houses , and drank so mueh spirit * that the became quite intoxicated . On the way home she insisted on going by Bermondsey-wall . When her companions reached Salisburystreet they found that * he vras missing . They searched everywhere , but were probably not in a fit state to find her .
Her parents went to the police atation , and every exertion was made to discover h « er whereabouts , hut nothing could be- heard of her until Monday , when a waterman named Xrimbell , discov «» ed h * r body lying in the mud off Fountain-stairs , Bmnondaey . It was removed to her father ' s houae , wa « hed and searched , but no marks of injury were to be aeon upon her person , although it was fully believed that the unfortunate girl had been subjected to violence . At the iuqueat , which was brought to * close on Saturday , the jury returned the following verdict : — » That the deceased was found drowned in the
r , without murks of violence on the person ; but hov » * h « came into the water , or by what means she met her death , they ha , l no evidence to ahow . " WiUiarn Shirley Brook , musician , composer , and teacher of languages , vraa brought up at Lambeth on 1 uesday , on a warrant charging him with threatening and Attempting to strangle his wife . Mrs . Brook aaid for the last two years out of the seven » ho had been married to the defeudant , her life had been rendered moat miserable and wretched by the conduct of nor huuband , in drinking to exoes « , making uee of the most violent threats , and ill
-using h « r . For the last two months , be had given vny to his passion for drink and violence to « ui : h an extent that he beoame almost intolerable ; and on Sunwy morning last , ho attempted to put his threat of ¦ trang lmg her into execution , by twinting her bed-gown bout her tin out while in bed ; that » he actually felt hereeli being Biitfocutcd , but by some effort hum drew hcraolf away from him » o aa to enable her to ulurin tlio servants m the house , and bring them to her asaiuUiicp . All uhv wished , the magistrates to do was to biud him to keep tue peace , so that she should be left to attend to her noujio Ju peace . The oousUblw who had gone tu serve " » o warrant oaid the neighbours wore in daily fear that
murder would be committed . Mr . Brook , who is described as " looking as if he had just recovered from a debauch and whose appearance was rather ferocious , his face being nearly covered with long black hair , " when asked what he had to say to the charge , replied that he was labouring under an affection for which he was obliged to drink , and he would admit that , while under the influence of spirits , his temper was not the best , and he might have committed himself . With respect to the charge urged by his wife of attempting to strangle her , he should submit it to his worship's own judgment whether he thought it likely that if he had used the violence spoken to by Mrs . Brook she could have cried out for assistance ? The magistrate ' s " own judgment " was that Mr . Brook must find two sureties in £ 20 to keep the peace , and be of good behaviour towards his wife for two months .
Considerable excitement prevailed in the neighbourhood of Orchard-street , "Westminster , on Tuesday , in consequence of a rumour that one of the Grenadier Guards had been found on the pavement facing the house of a person named Rogers , in a state of insensibility , having received very severe injuries on the head . It appeared that he had been in the habit of visiting a female named Church , who resided on . the first floor , and there is strong reason to believe that a quarrel ensued , and that the injured man was thrown out of the window , a height of twenty feet . He was conveyed to "Westminster Hospital , when it was discovered that his head was fractured , and he was otherwise severely injured .
George Carnt , a farm labourer at Lawshall , near Bury St . Edmund ' s , has been committed to prison on the charge of having murdered Elizabeth Bainbridge , a dressmaker in the same village . She was a married woman , but had for the last seven or eight years been separated from her husband , who is now a soldier . On the afternoon of Monday last Carnt and the young woman were together in the village public-house called the Harrow , which is kept by her brother . For the last few months an intimacy had sprung up between the two ; at any rate , if his addresses were not reciprocated , it is said that he was very anxious to ingratiate himself in her favour . About half-past three or four o ' clock on Monday afternoon she left the Harrow by the front door ,
and almost immediately after he went out by the back door , and they were seen in a few minutes crossing a field in company . This is the last time she is known to have been seen alive . She said she was going home to her father ' s , a distance of a mile and a half . At seven o ' clock Carnt returned to the Harrow , his clothes literally covered with dirt and saturated with wet , and without his hat and neckerchief . Mr . Payne , the landlord of the Harrow , asked him where his hat and neckerchief were . Carnt repied , " They are in the pond : the halter will be my neckerchief ; the devil has got me ; pray , don ' t touch me ! " Payne despatched a man to his father ' ascertain whether his sister had arrived , who returned with the answer that she had not . Upon learning this ,
police constable Keable was sent for , and , on his arrival , he asked Carnt , who had been changing his clothes , " "Where Betsy was ? " to which he made no answer . Keable went for her father , and commenced a search along the the route she must have gone to her father ' s house . For nearly a mile they traced the footmarks of a man and woman , when they suddenly stopped near a pond . On inspecting the pond with the lanterns , Keable perceived something dark , and on jumping in found it was the body of the deceased . A large bruise , as if from a blow with the fist , was discovered on the right cheek , and several severe scratches on her face , neck , and hands . The bushes near the pond bore evidence that a fearful struggle had taken place
between the deceased and another party , and that she had been violently dragged along the hedge from the spot where the footprints ceased to the pond . In the pond , and close by the body , were found a hat and neckerchief , which cun be identified as belonging to Carnt . Hound the ., neck of the woman was also found a silver watch , which belonged to him . Her dresa exhibited other evidence of the violence of the struggle , being torn from the top to the bottom ; her victorine , which lay on the edge of the pond , h ^ d also bee n torn through the fur , and thus forced off her neck . Keable proceeded at once to the Harrow , where Carnt still remained , and told him that the body had been found , and that he should take him into custody on a charge of
murder . He made no reply , nor showed any emotion . On searching him they found in his breeches pocket a wedding-ring , corresponding with one which she invariably wore , and which was missing from her finger . Since his apprehension Carnt does not allude to the event iu the remotest degree . The only allusion made was in the course of Monday night , when one of those who sat tip with him said , on drinking some brandy-andwater , that he was afraid it vras the lawt they should ever drink together ; Carnt , throwing himself back on his pillow , with considerable emotion exclaimed , " I am afraid so . " If he were the murderer of the deceased the only motive conjectured for it is au alleged jealous feeladdresses of another
ing as to her receiving the . Eliiis Billot , an old man , uged sixty-five , a shipkeeper in the harbour of St . Heller , iu the island of Jersey , left his house on the night of Saturday week to go to sleep on board the Intrepid . Next morning he was found lying dead at a short distance from that vessel , with marks of violence au his body . It appeared in evidence that part of two sheet * of copper were cut off" the bow « of the Pallus , a vessel lying near the Intrepid , on the uight of Saturday to Sunday , and it in supposed that Billot hud detected the thieves in the act of stealing the copper , und in order to escape puuitilnnent they committed thci honid deed .
JoUu Walker , aged ftB , a commission agent and collector of rents iu Liverpool , died on New Yeur ' n Eve , after a few days' illness . No suspicion wan entertained that ho had come- to his end ? by foul meuiiH , till aeveral dayt * after liin death . It appears that Walker
had had a sum of money ( about £ 52 ) left him a few weeks before his death , and , having no box in which to deposit his cash , he went about with it in a bag . Shortly after he fell ill . A surgeon attended him , who considered that he was labouring under delirium tremens , and prescribe d accordingly . In a day afterwards he called again , when the parties keeping the house told him that he need not call again , aa they would get a surgeon from the dispensary , who would attend for nothing . A few days afterward Walker died . As this along with other circumstances had excited some suspicion that there had been foul play , the body was exhumed on Saturday , and the stomach and intestines have been submitted to examination .
A Mysterious Case. A Good Deal Of Excite...
A MYSTERIOUS CASE . A good deal of excitement was caused in the neighbourhood of Fitzroy-square , in the early part of the week , by a rumour that the sudden death of a young woman , in a house in Fitzroy-street , inhabited by a number of unmarried " ladies , " had been caused by poison . An inquest was held upon the body on Thursday , when the following facts were stated : —Sophia Dudley , who described herself as a -widow , and had occupied the house in question , for the last ten years , first saw Julia Cooper , alias Jane Lochlaw , at Brighton , three weeks ago , and brought her from there " to make nightgowns and shifts , and to be a kind of companion . " This girl , nineteen years of age , had no acquaintance in London , nor did any one visit her during those three weeks . For the last two weeks . she had been suffering from a severe cold , and complained of pains in her
side and stomach . On Saturday night she was very ill , and on Sunday morning she died , after a fewhours severe illness . One of the " ladies , " fashionably dressed , and with a great display of jewellery , stated that Julia Cooper seldom left her room . James Wilcock , a Chelsea pensioner , stated that Jane Lochlaw was the daughter of very respectable parents at Dundee . When a mere child she left her home and he had adopted her . He saw her last about seven weeks ago , when she visited him at Chelsea College , and then returned to Brighton . He had no idea that she was in London . The old man , -who was much affected , said he had £ 120 belonging to this child , but he would not keep it as she had a father . From the evidence of Mr . Jones , surgeon , who had made a post mortem examination , it appeared that she died of disease of the heart . The jury returned a verdict of " Natural Death . '»
Suicides And Sudden Deaths. Richard Rand...
SUICIDES AND SUDDEN DEATHS . Richard Randall , aged 50 , residing in Norton-street , Portland-place , committed suicide in Kensall-green . Cemetery , on Friday afternoon , by cutting his throat . Before leaving home he had bid his servant good bye , saying she would not see him again alive . He had been in a desponding way for some time on account of disappointments in business . Hannah Barber , a married woman , aged forty , having quarrelled with her husband , on Sunday morning , and feeling tired of life threw herself" into the canal , at Western Villas , ltegent ' s-park . No sooner had she done so than she repented , and called on the constable in attendance there for assistance . At the risk of his own . life the constable saved the poor woman , and took her to the station where she was properly attended to .
Henrietta Smelt was brought up at Guildhall , on Monday , charged with attempting suicide , by throwing herself from the parapet of Blackfriars-bridge , on Sunday morning . She had been caug ht by some persons who were passing just as she was about to leap into the river . On her way to the station-house she said she wanted to destroy herself because she had lost hrr wedding ring . When examined by the magistrate she said she could not tell what had induced her to contemplate suicide . S ^ e was not living with her husband , as lie was in a situation where he was supposed to be single , but allowed her a proper maintenance , and called every week to see her . On promising that she would never again be guilty of a similar attempt , she , was discharged .
A baker at Norwich destroyed himself on Tuesday with a dose of oil of almond * , to be revenged on his wife , with whom he had quarrelled about the disposal of a large twelfth cake . The landlord of a beer-shop iu Poole went into such a violent rage last week , at seeing one of his customers strike a woman , that he was attacked by apoplectic hysteria and died in two hours . As Mr . Juices , minister of the John Bunyan meetinghouse , IJedford , was going to chapel last Sunday , with his wife , just before they reached the chapel , Mrs . Jukes fell dead upon the Bpot .
Mr . Morrison , stoneware merchant , High-street , Perth , died very suddenly on Thursday week . He was sitting in hia armchair waiting his breakfast , when his daughter came with it she found him with hiH cheek resting upon his hand lifeless . He was eighty-one , and had seldom had a day ' s illness all Inn life . Much alarm was excited in the neighbourhood of Cowick-terrace , Kxeter , on Wednesday , on account of the myHteriouH death of Miss Curtis , a maiden lady , re-Hiding in one of the houses . Tlu ; charwoman , who visited the house at certain periodo , was there ; on Saturday , and left Miks Curtis , who resides ulone , in her usual
health . On Sunday morning the outer window shutters were not opened , which attracted but . little notice , and they remained no until Wednesday , when , on the charwoman going as usual , she could not gain adntit . it iu : o . After some little difficulty an entrance was effected , when Miss Curtis was found iu the parlour , . seated iu a chair near tin- firr-place , and quite dead . The window-Hash was raised and the bolt of the shutter lifted ; it in therefore ttupposed that ( die had commenced to open the tiuutters on Monday morning , but that on finding herself Huddenly ill nlie had tuken a Heat where she wiih found , ao that « he must hav © been dead three day « t before thebody was diM « oyered .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 25, 1851, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_25011851/page/5/
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