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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.
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NORTHERN CIRCUIT . CiBiistE , AncrsT 7 . —The recommendation of the council of the woman Jane Crosby , acquitted of the chai ^ e of murdering her child by roasting it to death before afire , to the gaoler , to remove her with secresy from the gael , was not , it would appear , unnecessary , for after the announcement of her acquittal a dense crowd ttos collected ronnd tlie gaol , of men and women , determined to take summary vengeance upon her for her supposed offence . They continued together shouting , hooting , and imprecating till past midnight in expectation of catching their expected victim .
Tde Alleged JIcbdebs at Gsimsdale . —This morning was ushered in with all the excitement renewed in consequence of the trial of John Graham , aged 4 i a most respectable yeoman , for the murder of both his wife and Ms father by means of arsenic . TIlC town Was crowded , and the throng around the gaol was SO imposin " that the police were obliged toshut the outer doors to euable tlRin to resist the efforts of the crowd to force an entrance . The prisoner appeared in deep mourning , and had the appearauce of a respectable though deeply afflicted being . Mr . Temple said that he had a very simple , tuough a very paiuful duty to perform . His task uas to place facts before the jury , and facts only ; from which they would have to decide upon the guilt or innocence of the prisoner at the bar . It appeared that for
some time he aud Ids wife had lived upon uncomfortable terms , particularl y for the last few months . It was observed that the prisoner had become too intimate with a sei vant-maid , named Margaret Hickerb y , and it became but too well known that lie used to meet this serrantmaid at a bouse not very distant from his farm-house . It would appear that on the 24 th of November last Mrs . Graham was in her usual health , and that upon that night she took her supper of bread and milk , which her husband was in the habit of ofteu preparing for her . In ¦ the morning die was very unwell and affected with violent pains and sickness of the stomach . A surgeon was called in , who treated her disease as a mere internal affection of an ordinary character , ana by mtansof the medicines adiniuistered she becau . c better . It would appear that she
took a fancy to have some panado , which the prisoner gave to her . The next morning she was alarmingly ill , and to her usual attendant , Mr . Sewell , was added 3 > r- Oliver- These gentlemen still had no suspicion Of her being poisoned , but prescribed Tory , active medicines , ana also that some one should sit up with her to give constantly medicine of a restorative and invigorating quality . This latter injunction was evaded by the prisoner , who would allow no one but himself to sit up , alleging that he was better adapted for doing this duty than any one else ; and he continued that night to give ler what lie pleased . The next morning the wife was found to be dying fast , in spite of the tfibrts of the medical men ; and she died upon the second day after . It was 3 iot until the month of June following , that from circum
stances which had occurred , suspicion arose that his wife had not fairly come by her death , and the body was exhumed . Upon dissection , the stomach was found to contain a large portion of the white oxide of arsenic . Upon learning that the authorities had resolved to exhume the T ) ouy , the prisoner became extremely anxious ; and upon being apprehended he manifested great curiosity to learn if any person had been at Xewcastle , where there was reason to suspect he had got the poison , and the jury would hear that the prisoner had talked in gaol of admiaisterins a powder to his wife , also that he had time enough to Lava gone to America if he had been aware of lis danger ; and they would finally learn that arsenic had been found in very minute portions in the waistcoat pocket of the prisoner . It would be for the jury to determine
, then , whither the prisoner had administered the poison , which certainly had occasioned her death . T . Bind , the brother of the deceased , said he remembered the burial of his sister iu Kirkandrews churchyard , and the subsequent disintermeut ; also had observed that the coffin taken up was the same as that iu which his sister had been interred . —Thomas Elliot , surgeon , had assisted in dissecting thebod y aud examining the contents of the stomach . The brain and the chest were , considering the length of time the body had been entombed , healthy in appearance . Thegulletwasinflamed . Tnestomachnearthe gullet was much inflamed , and of a red colour . The lining membrane was covered with a viscid brownish mucus . At the further extremity of the stomach was observable a yellow spot about the size of a split pea , and a great
quanaty of small gritty particles in the mucus , some jdloiv , others transparent . There were marks of inflammatiou along the whole couree of the bowels , and a very great number of these small gritty particles , the greater number yellow in colour , some transparent , like glass pounded , and these were in Ihe greater number over the extremity of the small intestines , where also were discoverable the most decided marks of great inflammation . The fcodjv generally was in high preservation , the brain alone exhibiting the ordinary symptoms of putrefaction . There were four medical men present at the examination and at the subsequent analysis . They analysed the liquid taken from the stomach ; it was brown ; * in it were no traces of the poison . "Kext they examined the mucus of the stomach ; and separated the gritty particles from it
t > y washing it in distilled water , in which liquid the particles sank to the bottom . The deposit was dried . A portion was heated in a small glass tube ; when it attained a low red heat a metallic ring rose in the tube , fcright andsburing externally , gradually growing browner internally . The stomach was cut into pieces and boiled in distilled water and muriatic acid . Five small bundles of dean fine copper wire were put ' in theliquor produced , and boiled with the pieces of the stomach . The wire ¦ was found coated with a metallic coating of au iron-grey Cfilour . The wires were dried with care , and one of them cut iu pieces was placed iu a small glass tube and slowly heated , and a white cloud rose and settled down in the form of a ring of small transparent crystals 5 these crystals examined by a microscope
appeared to be octahedron , vith equi-ateral triangular sides . The nest experiments were on the bowels ; a portion of them underwent the same process as the pieces of the stomach had before undergone , and the same results were observable—namely , the formation of . the same sort of metallic ring within the glass tube , a numl > ar of octohedron pistils or particles sublimed appeared to he formed in one of the tubes . A . little distilled water was taken and boiled , and one-third being dissolved by the addition of a chemical preparation a beautiful yellow precipitate was fouud to result ; in a second , a green precipitate ; in a third , a yellow precipitate . The small yellow spot ia the stomach was now removed , and we applied a few drops of strong ammonia to it , which were inanediately dissolved ; adding muriatic acid to it a
yellow precipitate appeared . These were the whole of the experiments on these parts of the body except that he had not stated the quantity of arsenic detected iu the hody . —To a question from the learned Judge : The appearances of the body generally were those of a person dvins of poison by arsenic . AH the experiments were attended with such results as to leave no doubt that the substance found in the stomach was arsenic . That is white arsenic , for yellow arsenic cannot be converted in the stomach to white arsenic by the action of sulphuretted hydrogen . The whole of this arsenic was precipitated and filtered , then dissolved in ammonia , again the precipitate was filtered . This last precipitate was dried , ana it weighed fifty-two grains , which is , I consider , equal to ifcirty-one grains of white arsenic or arseuious acid , much
more , in fact , than would cause death , indeed four grains and a half would kill most persons . —Cross-examined by ^ r . Willdns : Arseni c is not very soluble . Arsenic might be pnt in water or tea , and the liquor drunk without any material injury . A parcel about the size of a quarter of a pound of coffee , containing a large quantity of arsenic , ¦ would , if thrown into the fire , create a strong smell as of garlic , provided the heat was very great . A great number of witnesses were examined in behalf of the prosecution , whose evidence fully bore out the statements made by the learned counsel . Mr . Wilkins defended the prisoner in a most able and effective address , and the jury , after retiring for an hour , returned a verdict of "Not CuUty . The prisoner , who is extremely deaf , appeared not to hear the xerdict . He inquired what it was , and ieing informed , remained unmoved .
Acgcst S . — The prisoner , who was yesterday acqaiited on the charge of poisoning his wife , was to-day 3 'laced again at the bar , charged with having murdered "his father by administering poison to him . The exciteaient in the city of Carlisle was to-day as great as ever to gain admission to the court , or to get a momentary look at the prisoner , who is well known to most people ia Carlisle . The extreme dtjectiou which characterised the conduct of the prisoner duriug the trial yesterday was not so observable to-day . He did not cover his face -trith . his hands and handkerchief , aud he seemed a little more assured by the acquittal of yesterday . It was , however , expected that the prosecutor had a stronger case against the prisoner to-day than that of yesterday , and the consequence was that there was an immense crowd
inside the court and a very boisterous mob outside of persons who could not gain admittance through money or interest . 3 lr . Temple stated the case , and called the mother of the prisoner to prove that upon the occasion of her preparing Uiedou-h for some ycasted cakes , on Thursday , the Isith of last May , the prisoner had called at his father ' s Ijjuse , at Grinsdalc , to ask her to go with him toXewcasfie , which she refused . He continued about the hou ? j : and yard whilst the dough was fermenting , and had for ' an inslantl > eeri lost to her sght whilst he was in fheUtchen , where the dough stood , and then he might Lave had an opportunity of putting the arsenic into the dough , which was afterwards found in some of the cakes upon being put to the test by chemical analysis . Thus Jar only could she bring the case , and it only amounted to suspicion , and required strong corroboration . The poor old lady admitted that the father and the prisoner , who
was his eldest son , lived on tlie very best twins together ; that the latter never asked anything of his father that he did not immediately obtain it ; that at the moment of the deceased ' s illness the prisoner was in the house , and appeared very solicitous about him ; and that his father trished him above all things to keep on the farm which he Tented of his father at Jurkacdrews , bat he nevertheless « Iedineait , ana gave it up after the death of his wife . The medical men established the fact of the elder Graham's death by arsenic , which was found in his stomach , ana also in part of the cake eaten by him in his supper of ^ , Oa Thnrsaay ni Snt-Th * only new feature mtreaueed perhaps , into the case was . ffistinct proof that G ^ am , the pmoner . haa been in embarrassed circum-• Jw s . rtwt' *» toe , ana pressed for money . The whole case could only be considered as one of strong jury , asnushthaTcbeen anticipated , were only fifteen
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minutes in agreeing to a verdict of acquittal . The trial , however , lasted ten hours . Theresult is , thnt the people of Carlisle talkjeetingly of a reference to the arbitrament of a Cumberland jury . There can be no doubt that his , risnectabilhy , an < Hns being ^ caerally acquainted for years in business in this neighbourhood , had procured ; him a strong sympathy in his fearful situation . ; There was no disposition manifested upon his acquittal to dispute the propriety of the verdicts , or to execute a wild justice upon an implied delinquent , as in the ease of the preceding day , that of Jane Crosby , acquitted of the charge of burning her child to death ; but there were evidences of deep distrust in the verdict , and muttered sentences of fear upon the announcement of his acquittal ; and it may not therefore be matter of surprise that , with tlie dawn of day , the unhappy man was on his road to a seaport in the west .
Applebt , Aoofst 9 . —Charge of Mubdeb . —Richard Simpson , charged with the murder of his own mother , was tried to-day . The prisoner , it may be remembered , had been committed in consequence of the death of his mother , she having died from the cfleets of dreadful blows inflicted by the prisoner . He had been a fanner , and used to attend the market at- Kendal . 'Was almost constantly in a state of drunkenness , so much so , that delirium tranens , it was said , had affected his mind to a degree which rendered him perfectly mad . His mother and he resided in tke same house ; and upon his returning home from the market one night he beat her so shockingly while she lay in bed as to cause her to keep her bed until
the next market day , when , on coming home again , the infuriated man beat her a second time . The son aud mother were not aloue , for there was a man-servant as well as another woman in the house , and , strange as it appeared , both the man and tlie woman had permitted the prisoner thus to treat the old woman without adopting any means to guard her against his violence , which was of the most savage kind , he having taken apoker and fractured his mother ' s skull , besides doing her other violence . There appeared to be reason , for supposing that the prisoner had , for a long time previous to the act , been in a State of unsound mind , and tlie jury , after hearing the defence upon that ground , returned a verdict to that effect ¦ ¦'¦'¦
Lancaster , Acgcst 11 . —Shootin g at 1 Magistbate with Iktent to Mcbdeb Him . —Richard . Bennett , a dejected , squalid , spare , tall man , aged thirty , was charged with having , upon the 2 nd of August last , fired a pistol at the Her . IticliarJ Moore , a magistrate of this , county , at Preston , with intent to murder him ; also en another count . with intent to , do him some grievous bedily harm . The Rev . llichard Moore deposed that he . was a clergyman of tlie Established Church , at Lund , seventeen miles distant from Preston . His residence was at Kirkhain , and he had been many years , a magistrate for , the county of Lancaster . The prisoner also resided at Kirkham , and was a shoemaker . He liad been brought before tlie rev . prosecutor upon some charge , but the witness could not say that he had been hound over to keep the peace on
that occasion . The witness on the 2 nd of August was going through Fisher Gate , in Preston , to the Town Hall , when he heard a report of a gun or pistol , very near him , and found himself enveloped in smoke . •„ ¦ He did not feel he was wounded , but in two seconds afterwards he found that lie was Struck violently by something heavy upon the right breast . Richard Bennett , the prisoner , was at that moment standing four yards from him , near to , a passage by which the prosecutor was to pass , near to Bailey ' s printing-office . The witness seized him , and said he had beenstruck . A man who came up said , " But that man , sir , shot at you and then threw the pistol at you . " This man produced the pistol ; it was tlie first time the witness had seen it . The prisoner said nothing in his defence when secured . On his cross-examination the witness said there
were many persons in the street at the time . . The prisoner , when first seen , appeared to . be staggering from the prosecutor . He seemed in great confusion at missing his aim . He did not offer to escape , nor indeed could he , as tlie witness and others immediately seized him . — John Harrison , an inmate of Ribchester . workhouse , said he was close to Mr . Moore's right shoulder when the pistol was fired . Saw the prisoner puil out the pistol fron his breast , which he cocked and fired straight at Mr . Moore . A great smoke rose . The prisoner : flung the pistol then at Mr . Sfoore , staggering forward and approaching nearer to that gentleman . If loaded , it must have hit him . He had seen many a hundred pistols fired in his time . He had been a soldier on foreign sprvicefor ten years , no gave the pistol up to Williams , the constable . It had a
screw barrel and a detonating lock . —Vftlttams corroborated this statement . He had . diligently searched all about to find a bullet , bat could not find any . There was a thatched house opposite , and the ball might have lodged in the thatch , or have gone a great distance down the street . —Mr . Brandt defended the prisoner . It had , he remarked , been admitted by a competent judge of firearms and their use , that had the pistol been loaded it must , from the position in which it was held , have hit its object . \ No bullet could be found , notwithstanding-a diligent search had been instituted . The inference , then , ought to be drawn , that as there was no circumstantial evidence that the prisoner sought the death of Mr . Moore—such , for instance , as the purchase or making of bullets—he only intended to alarm _\ Mr . - Moore , and that having fired the pistol , he , threw it at him . That the man laboured under excitement
approaching to insanity , he should now . adduce proofs of ., Mr . Shaw , surgeon , said he knew tko prisoner for seven years past . His temperament was reserved , and he would sometimes not speak to any one for two or even three weeks together . He would remain in a state of despondency and low spirits , looking vacantly about him for hours together . In June last he was evidently insane , sleepless , ' and rambling about the house all night for . a whole week together . Saw him a fortnight . before this act of violence , and could perceive tlie man was insaue , though about the house and at liberty . In this statement he was corroborated by other witnesses . Mr . Ashcroft , solicitor , at Preston , stated that , acting for the prisoner's father as his solicitor , he knew the younger Benm ; tl , the prisoner , who used to write him anonymous letters . In one of which-were theselines of wild doggrel : —
" I am going to put a ball through my thick head , . For something once I said ; I wish to know Have you any commands to the shades below . " Another , written about some speculation of possible profit , without giving it a name , the letter concludes thus : —" The polka must remain incomplete , and that ' s poz . ( Signed ) "BabaAvis . "Othello in 3 parts . —A friend in need . " ¦ - ¦ " Fbane Bbown . " The Jury after deliberating a few minutes , returned a verdict of Not Guilty on the counts , in consequence of its being their opinion that he was of unsound mind . He will , of course , be kept iu confinement till her Majesty ' s pleasure is known with respect to his future safe custody .
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THE ACCIDENT ON TIIE EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY . IXQUEST UPON' TIIE GUARD . Cambridge , MoxDi \ - Xight . —The inquest on the body of John CauIdweJl , tlie company ' s guard , who died iu Addenbrooke ' s Hospital , In this town , on Friday night , from the effect of the injuries he received on the Monday previous , by the overturning of the carriages on the line in tlie neighbourhood of Littlebury , took place in the Town Hall to-day , before C . 11 . Cooper , Esq ., and a jury summoned for the occasiou . The first witness examined was William Thomas Wiggins , of Chelsea-walk , London , carpenter , a relative of the deceased , who deposed that the latter was thirty-six years of age when he died . This
witness identified the body , aud said that deceased had been employed by the Eastern Counties Railway Company . Mr . Fcniihovigli , the superintendent of the locomotive department on the Colchester as well as the Cambridge line , deposed that on the occasion of the journey down on Monday he had very little communication with the driver . He had no occasion to speak to him , as he perceived him doing his duty well . Everything went on safely and well to Wendon . The engine was more susceptible to sonic parts of the road than others . He knew perfectly well when this was the case , lie saw the driver making the usual preparation for the inclination . In the case of one in 150 feet the custom was not to cut off the steam , but to increase the expansion , for which purpose there
was a handle . They were travelling at what he considered the usual rate down the incline—namely , about thirty miles an hour . lie saw and felt the engine getting off the rail and on to the ballast . lie was on the left hand back corner of the engine , and he did not feel it jump , lie held fast by a handle of a cock on the left side of tlie boiler . ' Witness described the going off the rail as in his examinations at Littlebury , with the addition that the tender went over two or three times , and a part of it was afterwards fouml on the top of the horse-box . He saw deceased disabled shortly after ; Jie escaped himself ; and he said he should have a medical man immediately , lie could not tell if the sleeper gave way near the spot where the accident occurred . Young
was a good and careful driver , not too bold nor too backward ; perhaps , of the two , inclined to the latter . There were more curves from the Hertford junction than on any other part of the line . Therowcre a great many from Sawbridge , beyond Stortford , on the London side of Cambridge ; in fact they were all curves . With respect to the jumping of the engine , he never knew one jump more than a yery few inches . JJo one could see the height to which the engine jumped , unless close by . When a driver went on the line for the first time , he was always cautioned about the inclinations , all of which were pointed out to him .
With respect to the speed , he was . quite certain it was not more than thirty miles an hour , and it was slower than the pace at which they , came before they arrived at Wendon . lie could not positively say what was the original cause of the accident . It was all conjecture . It might , for instance , be imagined that the great weight of the engine caused a deflection of the rail , which caused the fore wheel of the engine to rear up , which coming down again with corresponding force effected the damage in the rail , which threw it on to the ballast . He was certain they were not going at thirty-five miles an hour . Air . Joseph Jackson , the superintendent of the line from ^ Brandoni to Cambridge ; deposed to haying , been in the coupe of one of the nrstolass carriages on
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Monday , and could see about him better than if he hadb . 'en in any other ' situation . ¦ ' lie could not speak positively as to the time thcy-left Shoreditch . As to the speed a » which-they were going , he thought it the usual rate , and felt no shaking or jumping shortly before the accident occurred . The first tiling he felt was a 'Change in the beating otV-the engine ; he looked out and saw : the gravel flying about ; the engine driving across the line , ¦ •' ' arid the rails torn up . lie . then felt the shook , and afterwards got out . lie saw ; Cauldwell about five minutes after the shock tookplace ; he . was lying between two of the carriages , with some pieces of wood upon his legs , lie . thought that holiad ¦ fallen from his box or seat . lie helped to extricate him , , and gave him in charge to
one of the labourers and a passenger , who ; stated himself to be a medical man . lie then proceeded to assist the passengers . Witness then described the appearance of the rails , and of the particular one from-which tlie engine had gone off , as in his former evidence . The deceased was not the mail , but the train guard , in the employment of the company . The first cause of the accident might possibly arise from an imperceptible flaw in the rail , near the end where the engine jumped . As to the reason for the jumping , if such did take place , he could not account lor it . Mr . rhepps , engineer of the line , deposed that he had examined the scene of the accident . He thought the immediate cause of the accident was the damage to the rail by theblow oriumc of the wheel .
and witness described the mode as in ins former evidence . He thought that a slight curve was safer than a straight line ,-as it kept the engine to its work and prevented oscillation . Mr . II . Mitchell , house surgeon to Adderbrooke ' s Hospital , deposed that John Cauldwell had been brought to the hospital on Monday ^ evening last . He died on Friday night . There was a post mortemExamination by the surgeons of the hospital , at which witness attended . They found ¦ ¦ that the vessels of the brain were generally very much congested . There was an appearance as if'the blood escaped from the vessels and got into the substance of the brain . The broken leg was set , but was not going on favourably . It must have been amputated . But for the injury to the brain , the
deceased , m all probability , had recovered . The injury might have been , and , in all probability , was produced by a fall . . The inquest was then adjourned until five o ' clock . At five o ' clock the Coroner and Jury re-assembled , and , during their absence , the damaged rail had been fetched from the scene of the accident and placed in the lirge room of the ; Town Hall ,. where the jury went and examined it . During the , ; examination , Mr . Anthony , . one of the jurymen , had two of his fingers- badly crushed , through those persons who heldiOne end dropping the rail ; unexpectedly . The jury , were , therefore , detained nearly half an hour , while Mr . Anthony went to a surgeon to have his wound dressed . .
John Young , the driver of the engine , deposed that he lived at Stratford , and was a driver for seven years . He was five years on the Leeds and Manchester , before that on the North Midland , and before that on the Southampton line . ' He was about ten weeks in the employ of the Eastern Counties Railway Company . They were a few minutes behind time when they started from Shoreditch . Were intimeat Wendon . ¦ Did not ; know the deceased . The train was going at fronv twenty-eight to thirty mi' . es an hour . They were going with the third notch in the explosion gear . He observed nothing uneasy or unusual in the motion till the engine was thrown on to the ballast . He was bruised in the chest . Could not say she jumped before she got on to the - ballast . The reiison for her getting off the rail , he thought , was that the road wss not good in that part . :
The jury then retired , and , after about a quarter of an hour ' s deliberation , returned a verdict of accidental death , with a deodand of one shilling on the engine and one shilling on the carriage . They also added a recommendation to the company to have direction posts at all inclines on the line .
IHE ADJOURNED INQUEST OX THE STOKER . LiTTtEuuRY , August 13 . —The adjourned inquest on the remains of Richard Peak was held here to-day jit the Falcon . The proceedings opened at twelve o ' clock precisely , when , after the usual preliminaries , Major General Pasley , the Government inspector of railways , was sworn , lie deposed as ibJlows : —I heard of this accident the day sifter it took place . . I came down to visit the spot on Wednesday , the Oth , and to inspect the line . I proceeded first to Chesterford , and after a few moments' delay there , I was conveyed by a locomotive engine to the scene of the accident in company with Messrs . Phipps , Hanson , Jackson , Randall , Ferni ' nough , and one or tvyo other gentlemen whose names I did not hear . L saw there two second-class carriages , a tender , and a horse-box on different sides of- the line . ^ They were near the
spot where the accident occurred , but had been removed to their then respective positions for thes ? ke of convenience . They were all more or less shattered and smashed . The engine was' lower down , below Chesterford . The injured rails had been replaced ; and nothing was wrong with the line when I saw it on Wednesday . The spot where the accident took place was about one mile and a half from the summit of the incline . I asked a number of questions of the persons present , especially of Mr . Jackson , Mr . Randall , and Mr . Phipps , the engineer of the line . I hail also conversation with Mr . Lawford , the engineer of that particular portion of the line where the accident occurred . Neither this gentleman nor Mr . Phipps had been present at it . From all I heard and observed 'I have * formed * my opinion decidedly as to the cause of the accident , " Th , e Coroner . —What is that opinion ?
Major General Paslcy . —That it must have occurred and arisen lrom excessive speed on a new railroad , not yet thoroughly consolidated , whilst descending a gradient of 1 in 150 feet ; and along a cum of two miles' radius . I think also that it is possible that the outer rail of the curve might not have been raised quite so high as is usual and proper on curves in proportion to the radius . The question was agltated ^ amongst the persons present on the day of the investigation whether the wedge might not have been removed so as to leave a bad joint , and that thus the end of the rail was thrown up . I did not think so , " and I still do not , because the splinter on the rail was from a downward blow . I think the jumping of the eneinewas of such an excessive nature
asto cause the injury , and this jumping was such as might have been caused by excessive speed . In lines newly opened the railroa d may subside a little , the level of the sleepers giving way . Had the train been going at moderate speed , the accident , I am of opinion , would not have happened . I know several instances that prove this position , and know them from my own experience . I think the proper speed for the incline where the accident occurred might be from eighteen to twenty miles an hour , so as to ensure perfect safety to the train . A much greater rate of speed than that might be safe , provided the line had been perfectly consolidated . As the line is at present , the steam ought to be shut off going
down that incline . I consider thirty niiles an hour dangerous on that incline at present . I am most distinctly of opinion that had the train been going at a moderate speed when the engine had got off the rail , the accident would not have taken place . In such ease the engine , instead of running on the bank , would have stopped before it quitted ihe permanent way . I once witnessed an instance of the kind , when the engine stopped the instant almost of , getting off the rail , and solely because we were going at a slow rate . I think in this case it is probable the curve might have contributed to the accident . The Coroner . —Do . you know Mr . Phipps ' s ( the engineer ' s ) opinion on that point ? Major General Pasley . —I do not .
Evidence continued . —I was told by Mr . Lawford , the local engineer , who joined us on the day of the investigation , some time after I had begun it , that he had quitted the train at Wendon . and that previously to that they had been going at a very quick rate , and that he thought the speed was excessive . I do not think I asked Mr . Phipps or Mr . Lawford their opinion as to the cause of the accident . My object was not to get opinions from other people , but facts whereon to form my own . Mr . Lawford , during the course of conversation , certainly said that he thought they had been going at an excessive rate of speed before he left the train . I reported this line myself before it was opened , aud declared it to be in excellent order , and in all respects safe . Mr . Rush , of Elsenham Hall , asked whether the end of the rail might not have been sticking up ? Major General Pasley . —I think not . 'fhe iiiiury to the rail proves the contrary .
uV nT i- d y ° u th , 5 it necessary to examine all tlie rails betovc you declared the road in excellent order , and safe in all respects ? Major General Pasley . —It would take me two or three months to go through such an inspection . Do you not take an accurate measurement of the curves and inclines before giving your reports ?—As to the curves and inclines I can only judge of them by niy eye . To-take tho radius and level of each would occupy a very long time indeed . You said in evidence that you thought the outer rail was not high enough for the curve . Did you think so when you made your survey ?—It did not then occurto me .
Have you not subordinates to look after such minor details ?—I have an assistant , but-if you mean to inter that every rail ought to bo subject to my inspection on a survey of the kind , I say that the thing is impossible , and what is more , it is unnecessary . 1 . examined bridges and viaducts carefully and in one instance I reported a viaduct not strong enough , and the line was net opened in consequence for a tortnight longer than the intended day . In answer to the Coroner . —I do not think the wedge was in its place . I said I thought it was not on . the day of my investigation . Tho engine man ( the driver ) said : it was . But I do not think the wedge being off its place would cause the eroovo made , which was in consequence of a downward
_ Ihe damaged rail , was here introduced through the window and examined by the jury . ' ; Major-General ; Pasleyin continuation . -I have always found a solttUontfor whatever accident I have
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been appointed to investigate , however mysterious it may have appeal ed at first . ' ¦ - ¦ Tlie Coroner here-asked Mr . Lawford it nc remembered saying . to General-P . asley that they had been going nt-an excessive , speed ^ as . he hiul given a different opinion in his evidence on Thursday last ? Mr . Lawlbrd .-I . have . not the sli g htest recollection of having made an observation of the kind . . .-,. Major-Geucral Pasley . —If-, youdid-not : app ly ; the word excessive to ; the . sueed , f you said it was alarm-10 A Juror . —Do you not think that there , ought to be people to sec that tlie rails arc sound ? ' to
Major General Pasley . —The plate layers see Evidence continued . —I am quite of . opinion that tho curve and the incline together ouglit ; . t <> be taken into account , and the speed consequently much slackened ., l . know two instances where accidents happened under the same . circumstances— one on tlie Great Western , where the train going at an excessive speed was thrown on to a . bank after it had gotten oft tl ; e rail ; and the other- on , the Glasgow and Liliiibtirgh , where the same thing . occurred' to an express train , and the engine man was killed . Had I . bcen , in the case now before the jury , , on tho engine 1 should not have quarreiled . witli the driver lor tlie speedat which lie went , although I . subsequently was of opinion that hewent too fast , a : id iu all probability . I should . have shared his fate .
Several other ,-witnesses . were examined , after which the Coroner proceeded to . sum up . The question for tlie jury to decide , was .. whether , the driver had / gone at such an -improper , speed as to cause the accident , or whether it occurred from a casualty over which he had no control . . The Coroner then went through the facts . of ; the ease . as detailed in evidence . If they believed Gerieral . Pasley ' s evidence they could not help attaching blame to the driver ; and if that of Mr . Jackson , who said he discovered , a flaw in the rail , they would attribute- to this cause the accident . It , should : bc remembered : that- General Pasley had examined the line at first ,, and that he then did not think it necessary to caution the company , to tell their drivers to . go at . the moderate rate of eighteen to twenty . miles an hour down the incline in question . : No ; doubt he saw reason since . ibr changing his opinion . . . . .. , .: \ ¦ . " . ¦ , ' .- ¦ . v ; —
Ihe jury , after two hours' deliberation ( from two to . four o ' clock ) , returned : the following verdict : — " Accidental death , and a deodandof £ 150 on the engine . " The jury , with . their verdict , expressod a hope that no swift train will be allowed to run upon any part . of the line :. below Stortford until it has become much more consolidated . ' . They also hope that no train would be allowed to run without at least two trucks between , tho tender and the passengers' carriages , and that . posts may be put up to mark where the incline bcgins . and ends .
Afprkhension for a Highway Robbery Commuted Four Years ago . —On Saturday last an Irishman of tlie name of llenvy Mocmey was appvekendeu in Liverpool , on a charge of having , in company with another man named John Getty , stopped a mercantile traveller on the evening of the 27 tli May , 1841 , on the road near to Greenhead , and robbed him of a large sum of money . A portion of the money consisted of notes of various joint-stock banks in Cumberland and Northumberland . Getty was shortly after apprehended , convicted , and sentenced to transportation . Muoney has ever since succeeded in eluding the vigilance of the police , until , on Saturday last , he was arrested by one who ' formerly belonged ' to the Carlislo constabulary force . He was immediately lodged in the main bridewell , whence he will' be conveyed to the gaol of Carlisle to-day . — Liverpool Albion oi Monday . .
• Suddkn Death . —On the 12 th instant , as some of the musicians belonging to Mr . Ilughes ' s equestrian establishment were walking together in the Highstreet ; Chatham , one of them , named John Yeury , suddenly fell dead on the pavement . An inquest was held tlie same day on the body . Tlie surgeon , Mr . Robertson , deposed that thcldeceased died from disease of the heart ,, and the jury returned a verdict accordingly .
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BANKRUPTS . ( From Friday ' s Gazelle , Avgttsl 8 th , 1845 J Thomas Reeve , Ann ' s-iSlace , Hackney-road , and Castle .. street , Lons-aci'e , victualler—Constantino Wood , Hyde , Isle of Wight , hotel-keeper—John Winter , iratton-gurilcn lilatcgluss-factor — Thomas Taylor , Nieholl ' s-squarc ' Hiickncy-road , wine-merchant-John Marland , jun ., Suit vale ¦ . Holler--Works , " Todmordea , Lancashire , rollermaker-John Law and Eli Hudson , Todmorden Lancashire , cotton-spinners-Jesse Banning , Liverpool , stationer —John Giles , Headless-cross , Worcestershire , victualler—Jaincs Bennett , New Mills , Herefordshire , cattle-dealev-John Acton , liehfield , farmer—William Heed Watts Batli , chemist .
BAKKIlTJrTS . ( Prom ihe Gazette of Tuesday , August 12 . ) Charles Allen , * Tndlcy , Hampshire , m : iltstei ' -Edimr . \ d Knyvctt . Gfreat Stanmore . nnisic-seller—JohnWalto , Silverstune . Northamptonshirc . timbDr-mercliant—James Young . Bury St . Edmuud ' s , tobacconist-Edward Mallan , Broolcstreet and -Oxford-street , - dentist — Matthew Murphy , Shrewsbury ,. haberdasher—George Charles Crofts , Liverpool , corn-merchant .. DECIi&BiTlONS 05-DIVIDENDS . J . Brown , Manchester , cnrpcUlcaler , flrst dividend of < js od in the . pound , any Wednesday after October 5 , at the office of Mr . I ' utt , Manchester . " J . " Brown and A . Urquhart , Manchester , carpet-dealers , first dividend of 7 s Cd in tlio pound , Wednesday , August 13 , or any Wednesday after October a , at the office of Mr , Pott , Manchester . W . Anntield , Korthampton , draper , final dividend of Is 2-Jd in the pound , August 12 , 13 , 14 , or 15 , at the office ot -Mr . Belcher , King ' s Arms-yard . Coleman-street .
G . J . Carter , Honisey-road , builder , first dividend oC-. 3 s Cd in the pound , August 12 , 13 , 14 , and 15 , at the offieaof Mr . Ueieher , King ' s Anns-yard , Coleiiiiin-strcet . 0 . Lewis , Bath , innkeeper , rfrst dividend of Is 9 d in ths pound , TJinrsday , August 14 , or any Monday after October 4 , at tha oflice of Mr . Miller , Bristol . J . Hill , Stroud , Gloucestershire , lintte ' r , first dividend of SsCdiu the pound , Thursday , August 1-1 , or any Monduy after October 4 , at tho ofllco of . Mr . Miller , Bristol . ' J . Willis and J . Swainson , Liverpool , merchants , a fourth dividend of Is 3 d in the i > omul vradcv the joint estate , and a second diviuend . of as Ud in the pound under the separate estate of J . Willis , Wednesday , Aurusvid . or any Wednesday after October 4 , at the office of Mr lollett , Liverpool . . . : A A . Dobbs , Liverpool , wine-merchant , dividend of 20 s . in the pound , Wednesday , August 13 , and any Wedii-sdav at 'fc ' " « } ™ ™ " * ' * ° m Liverpool . " ltowliindsPwlheli
D .. .- , Carnarvonsliire , dealer in wine , second d . v ! dend of 4 d in the ponnd , any Tlmrsdav , o \ cept L ™ w ^ JS UUUl ° 4 > " * ° ™ of Mr toouove , G . "Mottram andH . Harcrenves , Liverpool , wool-brokers , second dividend of 10 M m tlie pound , any Thursday , except Liver cX UllUl Octl ^ ' At tlle offi ( ili of Ml > - <» i lt Shepherd , Liverpool , bootmaker , second divideudof unffl ( W nffi a "i ^ , y > ««> Pt from August 18 until Oct . i at the office of Mr . Cazenove , Livernool . i .. l . aiT , Liverpool , plumber , second dividend' of 2 d in n £ r \ :. an £ . niuI ' S ( lay ' ex « cPt-fronv August . ' 18 until Oct . 4 , at the office of Mr . Ca / . enove , Liverpool . B . Bcrrill ,. Liverpool .. merchant , final dividend of Cd in the pound , any Thursday , except from August IS until Oct . 4 , at the office of Mr . Cazenove , Liverpool . J . Edwards , Much . Woolton , Lancashire ,, grocer , first dividend of 2 d ill the pound , any Thursday , except from . August 13 until Oct . 4 , ut the office of " Mi . Cazenove , Liverpool . .
T . \\ ood , Little Queen-strect , Ilolborn , wine-inorchant , hrstdiviaend of 4 s Odin the pound , Satuvstoy next , ami three last Saturdays in October , at the office of Mr . Groom , AbchurchJane , City . „ \ " . - EmmetVOld Kent-road , dairymen , third and final dividend of 2 s 6 d in the pound , Satiirday next , and Abchurch 1 ^ c a g < ln 0 ctober . »^^^ t- Mr . Gvoo » n , ,, 3 WiUianis / Goudhurst , Kent , wbeelwright , first divU dend of 4 s Od in tho pound , Saturday next , and three lasU SSerCir ^ "* " ^«* ¦ « ' •*!»» . ^ 1 . Stevens , Ulioacswell-wharf , ¦ Milc-enQ , Avlmrfincai , ? lW i l » d 1 0 i' J l j » « ' « Po ^ d , Saturday . n «^ Sd ^ u " hS : Iy m OctObei ' ^ l » e officeofilr . feon , A . Laurier and J . Lock , Wooisteeet , City , import » rs of foreign goods , second and final dividend * of S ? d in the pound , A \ ednesday , August 18 ,. and tlu-ee last Wednesdays m October , at the office of . Mr ... Tvu-quaud , Old iwk
Certificates to be granted ,. Uuless cause be shown to the „ ' „_ contrary on ths . day of meeting , w i r ? t . iIacl < a l '> Llver « ool , TOaatev maviser-Scpt . ? , w . Lloyd , Liverpool , naiq . merchant ^ -Se pt .-2 , E . West- , move , West Derby , Lancashire joiner-SepS , 5 , . 1 . Lewis , Birmingham , card-mwiufactarer—Sept . 5 , W . II . Bates , Birmingham , factor-Sept . 2 , 11 . Greenwood , Bradford , Yorkshire , bookbintlftv—Sent . 2 , T . Ilgrris , Kewtown , Montgomeryshire , currier-Sept . 2 , J . Brown and A . Jrqtuhart , Manchester , carpct-warchpuscmcn—Sopt . 2 , li . T . Jones and H . M . Crosslull , Boehdale , Lancashire , booksellers .
-EABTNERSHIPS DISSOiVED . ,.-S . II . and S . iucas-AV . P . Shavx and S . TV . Bradnack , Bath , schooljsasters—M ., J ., aud L . Cruse . Littie Britain ^ City , newsvenders—J . and B . Smith , ManchestwJ merchants—M . A . Young and E . Ksnt , Birmingham , milliners —R . Grooaanu J . to'iwsrnhb , Salforfl , Lancashire , com , mon brewers—H , Lebenheim and J . Mullar , Kegent-street dealers in wool mosaic tapestry—VI , C . Evans andF . W . V . Cleyerton , rijmouth , solicitors—T . W . ' llids'dnie and M . B , Cooper , Davlingtoa , Durbaw , mercers—J ,-and E . Thompson , Manchester , hosiers—T ; Gaden ; W : L ; C . and C . A . Adey , Poole , coal-merchants—B . Turner and W . ICinvood , Old Cavenflisli-street , twloss—V . Braabury E . M . and S . Sugden , Haslingdcn , Lancashire , drapers ; as tar as regards S . Sugden-J . M . . KroHheim , \ V . Shepherd , and F . W . ^ Sutton , Earl , street , Blackfriars , City , patent steveptype-fowulers _ ; as far as regards J . M . Kronheun-S . Gibbon , J . Muddunan , and J . HenneU , Coventvy , ribbon-manufacturers ; as far as regards J .. Hennell-B Apooner and F . Srnith , Gloucester . street ,-B ; iyhaTn-street , Camden Town , pianoforte ^ maUers-. J . ^ rf oxA w « FCox , Wpoa-atreot , City ; aealerain ; plait , * ^; _ . „
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SUPPOSED . MURDER AT READING . i RliADlXG , Satukdat . —Throughout to-day this town has bsenin a state of great , excitement , in consequence of a report gaining ground thnt on the previous evening a " woman , named Elizabeth Spicer , residing at No . 10 , Howard-street , had been found in a lifeless statein the cellar of the house , under circumstances which led to the condusion that she had come to an untimely end by the hands of . her husband , William Spicer , a journeyman basket-maker , and who has bcciv taken into custody on the charge oihaving-caused the death of his wife . Considerablo sensation prevails . throughout the town ; the more soas happily so dreadful a . crime has not . been perpetrated in this ; borough within . the , remembrance of the oldest inhabitant . The inquest was held , this evening at
the public , office , before Mr ., < J . Morton , deputy . coroner for the borough , and a respectable jury , when the following witnesses worn - examined : —Martha Aubry , deposed —I am on a visit to my sister , Mrs . Tomkins , of No . 15 , Hmyai'd-stveet , next d « or to Mr . Spicer ' s . I knew the deceased by her coming in and out of my sister ' s house ; saw her aboub eleven o ' clock yesterday , when she was in her . usual good . health .,. She came to . borrow a clothes-prop of * my . sister .: . Wo , dined . 'between twelve and one o'clock ,.. Whilst at dinner we , lieai'd . a . noise in the adjoining house , occupied byi Mr . \ and Mr .-. Spicer , like something heavy , . falling downstairs . My j sister ., said , "O !; - \ vliat = can -that ; be % \ surely that is never , Mrs . Spicer , fallen down ? " I said , " Stop , don't you go , I'll run , "'and instantly ran out of thedoor
into the front garden , and looked through Mr . Spicer ' s ivindow . I therc . saw . Mr . Spicer looking down the cellar stairs , and : I . concluded that nothing - serious hnd happened . .. I distinctly ; saw Mr . Spicer standing looking down the stairs . I went back into my sister's house . and said , " Oil , there is nothing the matter , Mr . Spicer is at home . " At the time I saw Mrs . Spicer in the morning she appeared perfectly sober .. . 1 heard , nothing- disagreeable pass betwoGu them befoKo I heard the noise , —HenvyT . om . kins : I live at No . 15 , Howavd-strcet , and am by trade a shoemaker . I live next door to Mr . Spicer . I have known Mrs . Spicer about two years . Last November they were married . I saw Mm . Spicer about eleven o ' clock yesterday . She came into my house to borrow a clothes-prop . About lin . lf . past twelve o'ebok wo were at dinner , when
we heard a tremendous crash in tlie next house , occupied by Mr . and Mrs . Spicer . We wore all alarmed , having heard that Mrs . Spicer had a : fit some time before . Wo said , " There is poor Mrs , Spicer fallen down stairs . " I did not see Mrs , Spicer any time between hearing that noise and eight o ' clock in tho evening . About eight o'clock in the evening Mr . Spicer came out of his front door , aud I went out . He said , " Mr . Tomkins , have you seen anything of my wife ? " I said , "No ; is she not at home ? " He said , " I came home to my tea and did not find her . I cannot make out where she is got to . " I said , " 0 dear ,, it is not ' she that ha ? fallen down the cellar . " He said , " 0 dear , I do not know , " and went immediately towards the cellar door . I was in my own garden at the time . In ahout . a minute he cainc out again and said , "Oil dear me , my . wife is dead . " It was near
eight o clock , and he had no candle . Spieer then immediately got a light , and Mr . House , who had been in my house , went in to Spicer ' s , and took tho candle , and both of us went down the cellar . Whilst we were in the cellar , llv . Spicer was sitting down in a , chair in his front room . We found the body of Mrs . Spicer at the bottom of the stairs , aud her face against the wall . She was lying on her right side , with a great wound in her temple . The head was dreadfully cut and bruised , and there was a preat deal of . blood on her-head . Her cap was off her bead , and her clothes smooth upon her body . Her legs were in an upward position , restinj on the steps . I immediately went to inform Mr . Iloulton , the superin-. tendent of police of this borough . —After the examination of another . witness , the inquest was adjourned till Monday .
Reabikg , Mosdav Eveni . no . —The inquest on the body of Elizabeth Spicer was resumed this afternoon , at one o ' clock . The following additional witnesses were examined : —Charlotte TonVUins , wife of nenry Tomkins , examined on Saturday , confirmed the evidence given by the witnesses that day ; the following are some of the additional points contained in her evidence - . —Mrs . Spicer has frequently complained to me of ill-treatmeut from her husband . She , said , "Mr . Spicer has acted very 'iudifforent towards me , " and complained of his coming home tipsy aud late of night . The week before this she complained to me of having missed some money from a little box in a Inrge coffer up stairs . She said no one could take it but her husband , and she . never knew him take any before without letting her know . I said to her .
" Mrs . Spicer , why don't you tell him of it now ? " She replied , " I must wait till § a favourable opportunity , because of his ' glum' ways , " She said she went to London with her husband soon after the marriage , and he got her to sign her name , so that he could touch her money with her consent , but not unless she signed her hand to it ; and she has frequently told me that he had often upset her about her money , wishing to draw it to go into business ; and the answer she made was , "When , Mr . Spicer , I see a favourable opportunity of doing better , then I will give my consent , and not before . " She has told me , that after her death her husband could claim tho property . I have heard her talk of £ 1000 , but could never understand if this was between her sister and herself . Seven weeks ago , on a Monday morning , I saw her in the back garden with her head tied up with a handkerchief . AU down the right side of her face was quite black , I said , " How did you come with such a dreadful face *"
She replied , " 1 hardly know how it was . AH that I can tell you is , that Spicer was down in the cellar , and I was up in the kitchen , and that he called to me and said ' Betsey , I want y ^ u a moment . ' I said I was coming ' and went down , and Mr . Spicer had something of a shelf in . lus Hand . lie said , ' Why v ( as not thismtup when tho alterations were made V I fancy I must then have been taken giddy , for I fell . 'W hen I came , to my self I found Mr . Spicer had hold of my neck or throat with both his hands . lie had got me as far as , the bottom of the stairs when he let me . fall again . I suppose 1 must have struck my head against tlie post at the bottom of thestairs . I do not know , how I- got up , but when there Spicer said , 'There , sit yourself down in a chair in the other room' ( the kitchen ) . Just-then there was a kuoek at tho door , and a vio ^ m came to ask-for a book which her son had lent to- my husband . This person in . auiredhow I was , and > he replied , >' Poorly , . She -has
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THE- ANDOVER UNION—HORRIBLI&DISCLOSURES , : ' fFrom the Timn . J . Akdovek , August 12 . —The shocking and disgraceful occurrences which have taken ' placehi connection with the management of this union have , as far as they have been disclosed , caused great disgust and indignation amongst the inhabitants of the town and its vicinity . It appeal's , that , notwithstanding Sir J . Graham's modest doubts of the accuracy of the statements made by Mr . Walclejvand his opinion that they were too horrible to be true , they turn out to be peifectly true and . horrible too . . " ¦ ' * * .
Kor some time past rumours had got afloat that the paupers who ' were employed in the disagreeable and unwhblesomc process of bo ' nc-erushiiig wsro in the habit of giuuving them like dogs to appease , their- - hunger j and wlicn it was recollected that those hones were the bones of horses , as well as ot . otlicv animals , not exccp . tinjj some from churchyards occasionally , the story did ' certainly seem to be too revolting to be believed , and on thatground the incredulity of the Home Secretary , whether assumed ovical , might be exsused . But as he ordered an immi ' - diate investigation to be instituted / and as Mr .
Assistant-Commissiones Parker came down hero on Monday , the 4 th inst ., examined witnesses , and returned'with his report on the next day , the evidence taken by him being fully confirmatory of the rumours abroad , Sir . J , ' Graham ' must havu had sufiicient time between that day and the prorogation of Parliament , on Saturday afternoon , to have given a . full and satisfactory answer to < the question put to him by the lion , member for Finsbury , and to have proved the sincerity of the sentiments lie expressed upon that occasion . But " a still tongue makes advise head , " Buys the proverb ...
The poor , and the friends of the poor , and I-may . add the lovers cf truth and justice , are indebted to the manly spirit oC Mr . Hugh Muuday , one of the guardians and a borough magistrate , residing near Andover , for the public notice Which was taken of this matter in the House of GommottS ,. ai \ d for Hie important consequences ' . which Ua , ve resulted , and must result , from that proceeding . Mr . Munday having received information upon which he thought he could place full reliance corrohoratiie of the rumours above alluded to , went to the union-house
which is about a mile from tho town , taking with him Mr . Payne , who is a surgeon . lie then desired Macdougal , the master of the house , to accompany him and Mr . Payne iuto the yard , and to call out ten of the male paupers indiscriminatel y . That being done , Mr . Munday , addressing them , said he was about to ask them some questions respecting statements which had got abroad , and which , if true , would bring great discredit upon the union . lie desired them to speak the truth , and they would be protected ; but should they state anything that was false they would be dealt with as they deserved .
"Are you in the habit of crushing , bones in this houses"' The answer was , — "We are . ' . ' " Can you tell anything , " they were then asked , " concerning the report which is going about the town , that tlie paupers engaged in bone-crushing have been in the habit of eating what portions of flesh or gristle and marrow that might he found on or in them ?» " Oh , yes , " was the general reply ; eight out of the ten men admitted that they had frequently partaken of the nauseous substances , because their , hunger was so keen that they could not keep from doing so . The two other men denied having done so , but said they had seen their companions * eating * what they had deecribed , and that their statements were quite true . " Are you anxious to get these bones ? " was the next question . "We ave ready to fight over them , " they replied . " Did you ever fight over them' "
"Xo , we never did , exactly ; we manage ill another sort Of a way . As soon as one sees a good bone -which is unobserved b y the rest , he contrives to steal it away and hide it till he gets an opportunity to eat it . " Being asked if thoy had any bones hidden then , some of tlie men answered in the affirmative , and went to . the ashy , " a place in which ashes are deposited , whence they took two bones , which Mr . . Munday examined and . found that they stank dreadlully , directing the attmtion of the master to the fact . : ^ At the next meeting , of the board of guardians Mr . Alunday gave notice . of a motion on the subject for the following meeting , ' when , he proposed a resolution to the cflect that the Poor Law Commissioners should , be made acquainted with these circumstances , and that their advice should he solicited as to ~ what steps ought to be takeu by the guardians . This resolution , however , was ncg a tived on a division of the members o £ the board of guardians . : hen
^ . Munday fouud his purpose ,, straightforward and honourable as it was , thus foiled , he and his friends who thought and acted with him got uo a petition to the House of Commons stating the facts , and nraviutr Mip attention of the house to ti . e case . The petition was fov wded to Mjr . Etwall , M . P . for the borough o £ Andover " and copwB . also to Mr . Wakley and Mr . Dausombe the " members , for Ij'insbury , with a request that they would support its prayev . As the railway business at that time so much interfered with the attendance of hen . members at tlu- hour appropriated to the presentation of petitions it was thought advisable not M > present this onf until -1 toouvabk opportunity of gaining general attention to it ^ lould amve . The session rapidly Grew to a close--and ^ refere Mr Wakley , taking what he thought the ' best moue under the circumstances of bringing the matter belore the Government atyl the pubiic , asked Sir J . Graham if he ^ now anything about it . \ Yhat took place upon that discussion in th « house has oeen already before the
_ The result was , that Mr . Assistant-Commissioner LinouS . ? ? ? ' mentloned ™™ . toinstitu ^ " 1 , 7 " ! to the . facts - The course which he ' tooki , admirably ^ tt ativo of the pteseutPoor Law system He collected part of his evidence , by abruptly visS 8 enUem « a .. tu ^ LIrtVnte . ^ denci / S ; KSS ' from -pauperBAvho were examined under testxainUriti Sri Tisisr " ^^^^ - ^ Deirue . It is a . fact , however , that Mr . Parker after takwg up his garters at the . Star . Hot ^ pr ^ eSn a 8 > 51 , theresidcuw ^ Mr . Munday , ^^ iSu to
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question , writing down his statements respec ting tll bone-crushing business ; -Having dqne . this , he deman ( iea who were theinformants of Mr . 'Munday . It so hnppenej that one of them , a man who had been in the union . lious for some time , was then at work upon Mr " . Sunday ' s f Wm < Ho was sent for , and in answer-to questions put by the itssistaut-commissioner , confirmftd the wliole story , \ ntll regard to the examinations which tookplace in tie union , house , I am Informed that they were conducted in a very ivregnlav way , the master being present , and several of the paupers being brought in together , he suggesting both questions and answers . Had : they been examined separately , as in a fair investigation they . would hare been , in the absence of the master , it is thought that evi . dence of a very extraordinary nature would have been elicited . As it was , there was adduced more than sufiu ____
cient proofof the truth of the reports in circulation ; and the men declared , their declaration being uncontradictcd , that the irreguments ftttached . to the bonea and the marrow were , green , stinking , and . rotten ; but that they did not mind that so that they could get something to eat The disgusting disclosures upon this subject have ' led o an inquiry into the truth or falsehood of anotherreport tor a long time , rife in the . ncighbourhood-that the in . mates ot the union-House have been cheated Of their pro . o ? Fr : f ^ , " ' Tbe hoard of guardhns on Inday and Saturday investigated this charge against ? u a" > I '' e . « J « . stant . commissioner , they condUa heir
proceedings , n secret , the evidence given before them has been of so serious n nature , that they hav » thought proper to make a special report to the Poor Law Commissioners at Somerset-house , and suggest that tlie master is a purson in whom they can no longer place con . fidence . What "the three kings" may do is difficult to " . divine , but . it is supposed that Mr . Assistant-Commissioner Parker must speedily take another trip to this place , and institute another inquiry , but some of the guardians a-nd the inhabitants are determined , if possibl e that it shall not be conducted in secret . The guardians ' for the purgation of their own character , ought to insist upon a public investigation .
I am not m a condition to furnish full and minute par . ticulars , but I hove good authority for stating , that on Saturday last ,-between twenty and thirty charges against the master weregone into , and that they wsre of a . very serious nature . For instance , ii is . alleged some of the able-bodied paupers have been-mulcted of their rations whlio ' utcuuse , the full charge bring made in the accounts . Women , ' m their confinement , for whom the medical man ( Dr . Westlake ) had ordered meat , porter , tea , arrowroot , &c , as the case might be , are said to have received none , although all were , charged in the master ' s accounts . In one case , a poor creature in extreme exhaustion showed the medical officer a pioee of what was called " bread and
butter , " but which proved , on examination , to bo-nothing but bread and coarse dripping , which , in her delicate state , she could not take . This circumstance led the doctor to ask whether she had received the allowance of meat and porter which ,, during the month of her convalescence , he liad ordered for her . Surprised at the question , the poor creature stated that she had not once tasted meat or beer ; but that one day a piece of bacon was sent up to her , which-was so . musty that she could not touch it . On anothsr day , some stale gruel was brought to her ; she refused it , but was told that she should have it to-morrow ; . aud on the morrow , sure enough , it was sent to her , with a notice that she must talte- that or none .
In-another case a . woman ,. with ' a dropsical complaint , was-orderud a certain quantity of gin per week . Nofc ' a drop ,, it it said , did she get , but it was put down in the bill : Di \ Westlake frequently heard the sick inmates ask for beer- and meat after he had ordered it for them ; and when hereplied that hehad done so , the master would inter , fere with an ofKJiand— " O , yesj it is all right , sir ! " And Although the doctor heard various rumours from time to time , lie did not suspect the master of cheating the poor , more especially the sick , out of their proper allowances , but supposed that they originated in a discontented spirit . •" . ' .
To the aged a small quantity of beer is allowed : but it is stated that one man got his allowance only two monthsout often ; yet it was charged in the accounts as if served to-him . There were too . many similar cases to enumerate . There nve various- other accusations , such as cutting-the fat from" the meat to feed the pigs , keeping back potatoes for the same purpose , having shoes made and washing done at the expense of the rate-payers , intercepting tea , butter , milk , and other indulgences to the infirm and aged , a full note of : which has been taken by Mr . Lamb ,, the clerk to the guardians , whose whole report was forwarded to the commissioners last night .
The inhabitants feel that both themselves and the poor have been shamefully robbed , and if the Poor Law Commissioners-and the guardians do not act justly in this business they are determined to call a public meeting , and at that meeting to adopt such decisive measures as the case may require .
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had n sort of a fall and Mie has gone to bed . ' But I was not ; I was sitting in ' the kltehen . He stayed for an hour and a half after thi > =, and heshen said to me , ' I nm tired Of being here , I shall go out . '" Witness continued—I never heard that Mrs . Spicer had lmd a fit at any time ; Mrs . Spiuer said to me it was very unkind of her husband , for he went out all the afternoon of that day , and was not at homo until late in the evening , and that was on the Sunday . She told me her husband was absent all the nextduy , and on the Tuesday he was out till very late she not knowing where he was gone . I asked Mrs . Spicer if her husband stiuckhcr , and she . said "No . I am afraid to go out for fear people should say such things . " But she said this very hesitatingly . When Spicer was sitting in his own room , it struck mo how ,
unconcerned he appeared about : his wife ' s death . I did not see him cryinv ; . His habits -wove not those "' -of a . steady , sober man , they were irregular .. habits . Jlrs . Spicer was a very peaceable , quiet ineighbour , I saw her with a black eye nbout seven weeks ago . — Another witness , a relative of the deceased's , confirmed Mrs . Tomkins ' sstatements as to the ill way in which Spicer used his wife . In relation to the blow given to the deceased in the cellar she had said to the witness— " I-don ' t like to say anything against my husbaud . but I was going to return upstairs out of the cellar , with my back to him , and all of a . moment I thought I fel t a blow as I thought on the side of my head , as if from a billet-stick , and I became insensible . " I siid to her , " Do you suppose it was Spicer that did it 1 " She said , " I don ' t know . " I asked her , " Who was in the cellar at that time ? " And she
said , " Spicer . " " When I came to myself , " she said , ' < I found a pressure on my head and neck ; and said ( speaking to Spiuer ) , Tray don't hurt ( or rub ) my head . ' —Henry Iloulton , superintendent of the Heading police About twenty minutes before nine o ' clock on Friday evening last I received information from Henry Tomkins that a woman was found dead in u cellar at No . 16 , - Howardstreet , and I went there immediately , I saw MivSpicer sitting in a chair in the front room . Several other persons were in the room . I requested 3 person in the room to give me a lighted candle to go down stairs . I went down into the cellar and there I saw tho body , of the woman lying . on her back , with her arms bent upwards towards her head ; her hands were clenched . 0 « the- fingers was a quantity of blood , and a small portion- of . hair was between them . I examined and saw little or no blood
on the palms of her hands . The face- was- bloody , and I observed a wound on each temple . I took thehead up , and from appeavatice I thought the neck was broken . I expressed my suspicion to Mr . Kingston , a neighbour , who was present , and requested him to take chnrgeof the house while Invent ' to fetch- Mr . Hooper , a surgeon-. I should state that I saw a cap and some false hair ; also- a considerable quantity of blood , a fork , a piece of bread , and a slipper , about the cellar . On the first step ft om the- cellav was a slice of bread , and on the second another slipper , I afterwards discovered some spots of blood on tho collar stairs and side walls . I returned with Mr . Hooper . After he had examined the body I made a-further search , and found two spots of blood on the stairs ; there were suvev&l on the left-hand sWq -wall going down , as if
something ; had rubbed against it . I then searched tho lower part of the house to ascertain if I could find any instrr . ment likely to have inflicted the wounds , * 1 , and nlso if 1 could find any bread or victuals that had been used that day . All that I could find was a small piece of beefsteak and two potatoes , but no 'bread ' . There was only the loaf in-the-front room and the slice on the stairs before mentioned , Everything-in tha lower part of the house appeared in good order . I them proceeded up stairs and found things in the same state . Next morning I found a small quantity of blood on the door-post on the left-hand side going down the cellar , just below the pitch . There was a red mark on the top of the stairs ns if blood had been wiped up , and also on tho- fourth stair . I left
James Gutteridge , a policeman , in charge of the house ; and this morning I received from him a stone with a small quantity of blood on it . ( Th ' e stone was here produced by the policeman Gutteridge ; it resembled a pebblestone somewhat of the siv . e of an-egg , but flat , and a stainofbloodwasquitepcrceptibleonit . ) After examining the house I told the prisoner ,. who was there , after cautioning him as to what he said , that it would be my duty to take him into custody on the charge of wilful murder of his wife . He said he knew nothing of it . The proceedings were then adjourned , at tlie late hour of eleven o'clock , until Friday at two o ' clock , when other evidence will be brought forward . Considerable excitement still prevails in the town , and theinn . uest room was filled tliroughout the day .
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6 . T , HE ., N . O , RT . HERN STA = R _ . ^ .. P ^ '"' - ' i * & -
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 16, 1845, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1328/page/6/
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