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Northern Star (1837-1852), 6th November 1852, Edition 2 of 2, Page 4

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  • Departments (2)
    • CRIMES £ND OFFENCES.
    • SUICIDES AHD INQUESTS.
  • Text (6)
  • Transcript

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      196 The Star Of Eueedoi. [November 6.

      196 THE STAR OF EUEEDOI . [ November 6 .

      Crimes £Nd Offences.

      CRIMES £ ND OFFENCES .

      Cokviction Of A Notorious Btjrgiak.— At ...

      Cokviction of A Notorious Btjrgiak . — At the Somersetshire Sessions last week , William Maggs , a notorious burglar , the head of a gang which has long infested the neig hbourhood of Frome , was iound | mlty of stealing a quantity of silk , and sentenced to fifteen years transportation . Post- Opfice Robberies . — Owing to its having been notorious for a considerable time past that a systematic plundering of letters passing through the Wells post-office , Somersetshire , had been carried on , an authoritiesthe

      repeated complaints having been made to the proper , Postmaster-General despatched Mr . Inspector Ramsay and an assistant to concert measures to entrap the guilty person . He commenced his plans last week , and it is satisfactory to learn that they have been hig hly successful . The scheme was to pass two letters through the Wells post-office , each containing an Irish £ 1 note and a shilling . There are two letter deliverers at the office , John Alien and Charles Brewer , and the letters severally bore the addresses of persons assumed to be living in different parts of the town , one in Allen ' s delivery and the other in Brewer ' s , but in reality there were no such persons living in Wells . It is the duty of the postman to return to the office all

      letters for which he is unable to trace out the owners , and they are then forwarded to London , and all letters not so returned are presumed to have been properly delivered . In this case John Allen did not return his letter , making it appear that he succeeded in fishing out , the owner . Brewer returned his letter , but not so early as he ought to have done . The postmaster was careful to see the two letters in the hands of the postmen . Allen being unable to give any satisfaetory accountthe inspector obtained a warrant , and with the aid of the

      , police , made a strict search at the houses of Brewer and Allen , without discovering the missing letter - , but in the search they came across two bank notes , which were lost in the month of June last , with some gold coin , in a letter directed to Mr . William Yorke , of Compton Martin . Allen was thereupon taken into custody , and Brewer was discharged from the Post-office service . Allen has since been brought before the magistrates , and after a lengthened investigation committed to take his trial at the next assizes .

      Spiritual Espousal . —Bristol , Saturday , Oct . 30 . —The magistrates were engaged for a considerable period at our police court yesterday afternoon in investigating a charge preferred by a Mrs . Shove-Ian against the Rev . Mr . Cullen , a Roman Catholic priest , who , she said , had kicked her while on her knees at her devotions in his chapel . The rev . gentleman did not deny the fact , but alleged that he had kicked her by way of contempt , and not with any view of inflicting on her any bodily injury . He begged leave to explain the matter , and to do . so it was necessary to go back a year and four months ago , when the complainant was placed in an asylum on account of a monomania

      of an extraordinary character which she was labouring under , and ¦ which bad caused him considerable annoyance . She did so , constantly for a fortnight , and to such an extent that he was obliged to send for the police and have her taken into custody . The ambiguous expressions she applied to him were most distressing . About a month or six weeks since she came to a new church to which he was appointed , and went into the most secluded part of the chapel—a place appropriated for penitents . When he came down he took her and thrust her out of the church . She could not have wanted to come there for worship , because in coming she passed no less than three Catholic places of

      worship . On the previous day she came again to the chapel , and , having a suspicion of what she would do , he turned her out . In reply to the magistrates , Mr . Cullen said she did not behave in an improper manner—she had not time—but he apprehended she would . On other occasions she had made observations of a very ambiguous nature , calculated to raise a suspicion in the minds of people against him . She said , " Oh , he knows what it is all about ; he is not excited at all ; it is all pretence on his part ; I hav ' nt come to excite the gentleman . " She was no penitent of his , and he turned her out . She was inspired with the idea that he was the chosen guide to lead her to salvation .

      At the time he seized her she was at prayer on her knees . He would not disguise a single particle . He took her and shoved her along before him , and pushed her out of the church . He kicked her , but with the view of showing his contempt , and not of injuring her . The magistrates said , they were unanimously of opinion that Mr . Cullen had greatly exceeded his duty , and acted with much indecency . If he was annoyed he might have complained , and then , no doubt , he would have had protection ; but when the complainant went to perform her private devotions in the church , neither he nor any other person had a right to remove her . As long as she was not creating a disturbance and

      annoying other people she had a perfect right to be there . Catholic chapels , as well as other places of worship in this country , were open to all . In law it was an assault , but , under the circumstances , the magistrates would not inflict a penalty . The woman must not annoy Mr . Cullen , and they must caution him against engaging in such violent conduct in future . It appears that the poor woman " who is perfectly sane on other points , labours under a delusion that Mr . Cullen is the Holy Ghost , that she is quickened in spirit by him , and will bring forth a spiritual Saviour . She wished the magistrates to ask Mr . Cullen whether their spirits were not espoused , but they of course refused to enter into any inquiries of the sort .

      Darixg Robbery dj Monmouthshire . —On Wednesday evening , the 27 th ult ., between six and seven o ' clock , the dwelling house of Mr ' George Window , of Lansabbeth Farm , in the parish of Hanover which adjoins the seat of Sir Benjamin Hall , M . P ., and is three miles from the town of Abergavenny , in the county of Monmouth , was entered by six men , five of whom were armed with bludgeons , and the sixth with a large pistol . Four of them had handkerchiefs tied over their faces and the others used no feuise . A niece of Mr . Window had charge of the house , Mr . and Mrs . Window bein g absent on business ; and this young lady on encountering the ruffians hi a of the house

      passage , succeeded in escaping , and ran to the dwelling of the Rev J Evans ' m the immediate neighbourhood The rev . gentleman , on learning from her that thieves had entered her uncles ' s house , uroeeeded thither and found that the male and female servants had iS K and were placed in a corner or the kitchen , with their faces to the wall The robbers immediately pounced on the reverend gentleman when he made his appearance m the house , and having deprived him of his money , amounting to about £ 2 £ , placed hinfalso in the corner with S * ^^ J ^ 0 ner ? ' ^^ P <* son captured was a M ? Prince the village millerwho

      , , observing that ^ S ^^ Z ws gomg forward on the premises , looked in for the purpose of satisfying his curiosity , when he was instantly collared and forced to jointnf others in the corner . In the meantime the cry of " Thieves" had hem raised m the viUag ^ j and three men , a farm servant , an under gardener of Sir B . Hall , and the village harper , proceeded to thebSS house , but they were instantly secured , and compelled also to stfnd in the corner with their laces to the wall . Three of the robbers were lmpWin ^ ardu ? g th f- T erous Fkrow * while the other three lausaked the house m a leisurely and effectual manner , carrying off a considerable quantity of property of a miscellaneous description . TW remained in the house about half an hour . The fellows are believed to be Irishmen and navigators .

      M ? iXE ST * *! V " ° T ^ eves entered the toning house of Su ^ S Ciayt ( m > near Bedford , on F ^ tTrM , S r ^ S ht last > aild cabled away upwards of £ 4 worth of w ™ LWSI ^ hg & their apprehension has been discovered ^ 0 WM M \ ^ r ^^^ % \/ \ r ^/ i . * - ^/\ :. \ y . yA -.- /•!» kofsssitJ ? - / ^ Alf V- ^^ c \ £ &

      S ^ V __ ' ¦• " >' < i : t / V / sjJ 4 *^ p——T \^ * - < ,, * V / ' /__ T , £ = ~ li §[ 'i'v- 'Si A-v / /

      Cokviction Of A Notorious Btjrgiak.— At ...

      Daring Attempt at Highway Robbery . —On Thursday evening , at the early hour of 7 o ' clock , as Mr . James Cox , of Whitchurch , was ruturning home from Bristol , and had reached as far as Knowle-hill , he was attacked by five men , one of , whom knocked him off his horse by a dreadful blow on the head , it is supposed with a life-preserver . They had unfastened his clothes , and were endeavouring to take from him his watch , when the villains heard some one approaching , and made off . Dr . Collings , of Chew Magna , and other persons then came up , and rendered the unfortunate man every assistance . It is with regret we state that the ruffians have not yet been detected . One of them was dressed as a stableman .

      The Murder near Stafford . —Since the commission of this abominable crime , the magistrates , chief constable , and other authorities in the district have been most diligent in making inquiries into the circumstances connected with this barbarous affair , and their efforts have resulted in the apprehension of four men , against whom suspicion is entertained , but more particularly against two of them sons of the deceased . The inquest was resumed on Monday , when a further adjournment took place .

      Diabolical Mischief . —On Monday night last , some fiend or fiends in human shape , cut the rope at the Harp-bottom pit , near Halifax . The engine driver accidentally went into the shed in which the drum on which the rope is turned , is situated , when he discovered to his horror , that the rope was cut nearly in two , a few turns from the end of the drum . None of the colliers had arrived , or in all probability he would have proceeded to tow them into the pit , before the discovery was made , when the poor fellows would have been precipitated a distance of nearly 300 , pards , and would consequently have been dashed to pieces . It is to be hoped that the villians will be discovered and brought to justice . Desperate Garrotte Robbery at Leeds . —Another murderous

      attack was made last Saturday night within a mile of Leeds . On that night Mr . G-. W . England , upholsterer , was proceeding to his home , at Chapeltown , at about half-past eleven o ' clock , having been detained up to that hour by business . On arriving a little above Cowper-street , which is the least populated part of the road between Leeds and Chapeltovsrn , he was attacked by three men and a boy with ruthless violence , and , with a suddenness and surprise that entirely disarmed him of all chance of resistance or escape . One of the party ( a stout muscular villain ) seized him by the throat with a firmness of grip which nearly strangled him , while the others belaboured him most

      mercilessly with bludgeons until he was rendered insensible , and while in that helpless state for a short time they plundered him of a valuable gold watch and a purse containing £ 3 or £ 4 in cash . Having obtained all the spoil they could they made off across the fields , and we regret to say have not yet been detected . Fortunately a gentleman residing in the same neighbourhood came up to Mr . England in a few minutes , and by his assistance he was enabled to proceed to his home . He was shockingly bruised and disfigured , and we are sorry to add , is likely for some time to confined to his home owing to the injuries he sustained .

      Suspected Murder by Poison in Essex . —A report having been for some time prevalent at North Ockendon , a village about six miles from Brentwood , on the river side , that a woman of the name of Sarah Lister , who died about two years and a half since , had come to her death by unfair means , and that her husband had been accused by her daughter ( by a former husband ) , and with whom he cohabited , with being the cause of her death by poison , the clergyman of the parish , the Rev . Mr . Fielden , by desire of several of the inhabitants , forwarded a requisition to the coroner , C . C . Lewis , Esq ., that he would give orders to have the body exhumed , and hold an inquest thereon . This was acceded to , and on Friday last the body was

      disinterred . A highly respectable jury was sworn in , and they proceeded to view the body . Oh Superintendent Coulson removing the lid of the coffin , the body , which was nearly black , was found to be partially decomposed . Mr . Jordison , surgeon , of South Ockendon , opened the body , and took out the stomach and intestines , which were placed in bladders sealed , and delivered to Superintendent Coulson to take to Professor Taylor , of Guy ' s Hospital , for analysation . The body was then re-interred . Lister stood close by , apparently an unconcerned observer . The coroner and jury then returned to the White Horse , when evidence was given chiefly to prove the identity of the body . The inquest was then adjourned for a few days , until Professor Taylor makes his report .

      Dreadful Murder . —Plymouth , Nov . 1 st . —A most barbarous and shocking murder was committed at the village of Milton , in the parish of Buckland Monachorum , on Friday night or Saturday morning last . This hamlet is situated about four miles south-west of Tavistock , and about ten miles from Plymouth , and the person murdered is a Mrs . Mary White , a widow , about 60 years of age , who carried on a small huckster ' s business—selling tea , coffee , candles , & c . The old lady bore an excellent character for frugality and honesty . She was last seen alive on Friday night , about 11 o ' clock , at which hour she was waiting up for a man named William Glanville , who had gone to Tavistock , and from whom she expected to

      receive some lees . In the course of the evening she had called upon several of her nei ghbours to have a gossip , andTabout half-past 10 she returned to her house . Shortly afterwards Glanville brought her the lees , and after she had received them he saw her no more . She lived in the house alone , using the lower room of a somewhat miserable cottage as her shop , and the upstairs room as her sleeping apartment . In this room she had a largo box , about three feet long , and in this she kept her money , which was believed by all her nei ghbours to be considerable , thouglyio person has as yet been able to state the amount . Nearly opposite the house there lives her brother-in-law

      an old man , named John White , a permanent invalid , who carries on the business of a miller . With him resides a son of the deceased Mrs . White , a young man aged 31 years , who is married . Mrs . White , the murdered woman , lived with her brother-in-law till about two years ago , when she left and took the cottage , in which she continued to reside to the time of her death . The change of residence was consequent upon her repeated quarrels with her son , chiefly about drink , to which he was somewhat addicted , and since then he had never spoken to her but once , and on one occasion , aboutfive or six months ago , when the son was out , she went over to her brother-in-law ' s ( his uncle ' s ) and was there while he was altering his will . Her son

      returning home , and finding her there , immediately ordered her out of the house , telling her that if she did not leave , he would either turn her out or kick her out . Since then there had been no further communication between them , and , perhaps , no notice would have been taken of these unhappy quarrels but for the sad end of the unfortunate woman . Mrs . White , the deceased , was a smart , active woman , and , although sixty years of age , she was accustomed to milk one of her neighbour ' s cows both night and morning . On Saturday morning , therefore , as she did not appear , about 8 o ' clock one of her

      neighbours began to speak of its being odd that Mary White had not come down ; and shortly after 9 one or two of them tried the door It was found that the door was locked , and that the key was not inside whereupon , one of them got a ladder , and ascended to a window ' over the shop , about twelve feet high , and , having cut the fastening , opened it , and crept into the chamber . He saw some one lying in the bed , the bed-clothes apparently undisturbed , and the person being , to all appearance , in a calm sleep ; but , on co ming close , and slightly moving the clothes , he found that there was an immense gash in the throat , aM that the person had either committed suicide or been murdered . He immediately returned to the window , and descended into the street .

      Cokviction Of A Notorious Btjrgiak.— At ...

      bnt , so horror-stricken was he with what he saw that he thought was a man , and not Mrs . White , whom he had known when hvj but the face was so pale and so disfigured by the blcH that was about her face that he was unable to recognise her T ] person , immediately he had come down , ran over to Mr . White ' s in there stated what he had seen . Young White went over , and a shoe maker , named Westlake , went along with White , and one or two otho ~ men , and Westlake , broke open the door . The party found all below undisturbed . They immediately proceeded up-stairs , and one of tZ men went forward and pulled down the bed-clothes , and then a *

      mos awful sight presented itself . The poor woman was l ying hi a pool ' blood ; her head had literally been almost severed from her bock-Young White , on seeing her , said that it was his mother . The curtain at the bed ' s head was dashed with blood , as if the blood from the woman had spurted up , and there was a little blood on the floor which had evidently dripped from the curtain . Everything in t \ l bed-room was to all appearance undisturbed , but the pocket of the deceased was found turned partly inside out , and quite empty , at the ton

      of the stairs , on the left-hand side ot tne bed . there was also a brown coloured bag afterwards found hanging over the box where the money was [ kept ; and this bag , in which the deceased kept her money when she went to market , was also empty . The deceased was Woon her left side , with her face towards the window , and her hands upon her chest ; and it would seem that the murderer , whoever he was , came on the left-hand side of the bed , and , while she was asleep almost chopped off her head . Whatever was the instrument used it

      must have been of a powerful character , and very sharp ; for , with the two cuts that were made , the instrument cut through the tva carotid arteries , the jugulars , and even severed the vertebra between . the fourth and fifth bones , dividing the spinal marrow . The guillotine , said the doctor , could not more effectually or more instantaneously have destroyed life . So effectual was it , indeed , that her eyes and mouth , and all her features , were as placid to-day , and on the morning of her discovery , as if she were in the most tranquil state of

      repose . When Westlake , White , and others , had seen the body , they went down stairs , and on looking about , the key of the street door could not be found ; but White , the son , found the key of the box in a bag of salt , by the side of the fireplace . On taking it it up , he was told to replace it where he found it . The parties then left the house " and sent for a constable , and also for a medical man . After leaving the house , young White went and got a staple and a chain , and fastened the door . About 12 o ' clock Mr . John Pearse , a medical gentleman of Tavistock , arrived , and having had the door opened , went upstairs . He then examined the body , and found it in the state

      we have described . He was at once convinced that a most foul murder had been perpetrated . Mr . Pearse sent to Tavistock for an active policeman , Mr . Merritt ; and in the afternoon , about 4 o ' clock , ln > and Mr . Merritt went over the premises again . The box was examined , and it was found that all the money of the deceased had been taken , and there were not above seven four-penny pieces and a few pence left in the house . One coming down stairs . a towel was found with marks of diluted blood upon it ; but

      there were no marks of blood upon the window , the door , the box , the pocket , the money-bag , or anywhere else . There was a little blood on the outside of the counterpane , but after the murder had been committed the clothes had been most carefully adjusted , so that the poor woman appeared to be in a calm sleep . Search was made for an instrument , but nothing whatever was found with which the wounds could have been inflicted . It is supposed that the murderer secreted himself in the bed-room , behind the truckle bed .

      and that he had obtained admission into the cottage in the course ot " the evening , while the deceased was out . Information was immediately sent to the coroner , Mr . A . B . Bone , and at II o ' clock this morning a respectable jury was impannelled , and evidence taken , of which , in the above , we have stated the principal facts that were elicited . The son of the deceased , a stolid person , seemed to regard , the death of his mother , under the circumstances , with , to say the least , great calmness . Mr . Bone questioned him very closely as t & the quarrels that had occurred between himself and his mother . It is a singular fact that the son went to Tavistock on Saturday for Merritt , and asked him to come over to Milton , as a woman had been murdered , and it was some time before Merritt learnt that thin

      " woman" was White ' s own mother . In the course of the day a mam named Corber was taken into custody on suspicion , but was liberated ,, there being no evidence to warrant his being detained . The investigation was continued till 7 o ' clock in the evening , when , there being im » further evidence , the inquiry was adjourned till the 13 th inst .

      Suicides Ahd Inquests.

      SUICIDES AHD INQUESTS .

      Suicide Or George Anderson, The Clown.—T...

      Suicide or George Anderson , the Clown . —This ecceartric-individual committed suicide on Sunday afternoon , by throwing himself ! from a second-floor window , JS o . 2 , Upper Greystoke-plaee , Fetterlane . So determined was the unfortunate man upon self-destruction ^ , that , previous to his leaping from the window , he called to a femaldc who was underneath to move away as speedily as possible ; he then felll ! headforemost upon the pavement . Upon being taken up it was foundc that he had sustained a considerable fracture of the skull and othem

      extensive injuries , and he was in a state of insensibility . He waas immediately taken to St . Bartholomew ' s Hospital , and it was disscovered that he was dead . The poor man had for a long time beeer afflicted with consumption , and was much embarrassed . Discovery of a Dead Body . —On the 30 th September , 1842 , 11 foreign lady and two porters called at Messrs . Brownlow , Pearsonn and Co . ' s wharf , High-street , Hull , and left there a large chest , whiclcl was directed to be kept until called for . It has remained there evere since-until Friday last , when the Messrs . Brownlow , being about titi remove from the premises , the chest in question was openedand i i

      , wooden coffin found in it , with the following inscription , " Ensebsb Walter Sourin , died 8 th June , 1836 , aged nine months and twenty ; y five days . " In this coffin was deposited a leaden coffin , and withiniii this was a shell , containing the body of a male child in a state o a decomposition . Information was given to the police , and also to thth coroner , by whom an inquest was held at the Nag ' s Head Inn , Highjh . street , when a verdict of « Found dead" was returned . The body wava ordered to be interred by the authorities of the parish in which it wava . found . We believe some clue has been obtained to the parents of thth deceased .

      The Fatal Sewer Accident in Clerkenwell — On Wednesdayay a jury sat at the Workhouse , Clerkenwell ,. under the presidency < y c Mr . Wekley , to investi gate the circumstance attending the deat . at . of two men while making a sewer in Cbmpton-street , on Mononi day . The jury , after receiving evidence of the facts already reporteitei returned a verdict of "Accidental death , ; ' the foreman dissenting thinking that the blame must lie somewhere . A similar verdict wawai returned by the jury who sat at St . Bartholomew ' s Hospital , on tlitlii body of Thompson , the third victim , who was taken from the drairai . alive , but died on Tuesday evening .

      Railway Logic—One Of The Directors Of Th...

      Railway Logic—One of the directors of that admirably managed railwajwaj the Grout Western , being asked if he could defend the constant want of punctucti . ality for which that line is famous , replied , very readily , that as punctuality wr \ va but the soul of business , it might , he thought , be fairly reasoned that punetualitalitt was not material . An Austrian Heaven . —An Austrian , upon being asked for a definition on <¦ Paradise , said , " I believe it to be a kingdom where you can travel backwarivan and forwards without a passport . "—PuncJi .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 6, 1852, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_06111852/page/4/