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SUICIDES AND IN Q UESTS
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CEIMES AND OFFENCES. n—^
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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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—1 / Conviction of a No torious Burglar . —At the Somersetshire Sessions last week , William Maggs , a notorious burglar , the head of a saner which has long infested the neig hbourhood of Frome , was found guilty of stealing a quantity of silk , and sentenced to fifteen years transporta tion . for
Post- Opmcb Robberies . —Owing to its having been notorious a cons iderable time past that a systematic plundering of letters passing through the Wells post-office , Somersetshire , had been carried on , an repeated complaints having been made to the proper authorities , the 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 highly 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 Allen 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 Teality 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 satisfactory account , the 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 lorke , 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 had 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 Taise 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 ri ght 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 .
Daring Robbery in Monmouthshire . —On Wednesday evening , the 27 th _ nlt ., between six and seven o ' clock , the dwelling house of Mr . deorge Window , of Lansabbeth Farm , intheparishof Llanover , 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 disguise . A niece of Mr . Window had charge
of the house , Mr . and Mrs . Window being absent on business ; and this young lady on encountering the ruffians in a passage of the house , succeeded in escaping , and ran to the dwelling of the Rev . J . Evans frn ™ tST ^ v neig v ? rllood - Therev ' gentleman , on learning SS ^^^ T * ^ entered h er uncles ' shouse , proceeded thither , S Zl iJ ^ maIe and female servants had beenmadeprisoners , Sp Si * ! 5 . * ? rner Of the kitchen ' ™ their faces to the wall , lne robbers immediatel y pounced on the reverend eenthmM whpn i , «
SStvkb waat ! s . 'js going forward on the premises , looked in for the purpose of sSsfylng his curiosity , when he was instantly collared and forced to join th others in the corner . In the meantime the cry of « Thieves" had been ofll B MmR A * £ " r ' afaM ™*> anundergardener f ™ ? ' ? + f' d ^ * 8 B har P ' P roceeded to the beliaguered iiouse , but they were instantly secured , and compelled also to stlnd in the corner with their faces to the wall . Three of the robbers were SZf £ T $ f ? nlimer ( ms P risoners > vhfle tne other three r ^ t ? 6 h 0 USe m a Ieisurely and effectual manner , carrying off a SS ¦ 6 TO * * ° ° perfcy of a miscellaneous descri pJn ^ They xemamed m the house about half an hour . The fellows are believed to be Irishmen and navigators . ueuevea eWS
MfSh ^^ T ' ^ " eut 6 red the teUi * g kmse of Sul ;^ S ^ fI > f b 0 tt 0 Inj <***» * ^ ar Bedford , on itetL ^^^ of bacon .
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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 Chapeltown , 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 . On 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 Glauville , 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 neighbours to have a gossip , and about 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 large box , about three feet long , and m this she kept her money , which was believed by . all her neighbours to be considerable , thoughjno 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 lie 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 neighbours 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 , m a calm sleep ; but , on coming close , and slightly moving ^/ w ^ ^^^^? Was an immense gasl > in the throat , andthat the person had either committed suicide or been murdered ! He immediately returned to the window , and descended into the street
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ut , so horror-stricken was he with what he saw thanTS ^ * was a man , and not Mrs . White , whom he had known V . ^ but the face was so pale and so disfi gured bv + f livin g that was about her face that he was unable to recormL l bl ° t person , immediately he had come down , ran over to Mr \ VV ' Tllis there stated what he had seen . Young White went over ' a a ail ( l maker , named Westlake , went along with White , and onp t a slloe " men , and Westlake , broke open the do or . The partv found i ? ° tller undisturbed . They immediately proceeded up-stairs and ov men went forward and pulled 'down the bed-clothes and th ^ ° tlle awful sight presented itself . The poor woman was ' lvhw i a Inos fc blood ; her head had literally been almost severed from | . °° ' Young White , on seeing her , said that it was his mother Tb ?' at the bed ' s head was dashed with blood , as if thp hi ™ ?? cUrtail 1 at me ueus netiu was uasueu wun D 1 OOQ , as if the blooJf
woman had spurted up , and there was a little blood on tlfl tlle which had evidently dripped from the curtain . Evervthi ' bed-room was to all appearance undisturbed , but the noc ^ f * f ^ deceased was found turned partly inside out , and quite emntv * + ? tlle of the stairs , on the left-hand side of the bed . There was als ? etoP coloured bag afterwards found hanging over the box where tl u was [ kept ; and this bag , in which the deceased kept her " 1011 ^ when she went to market , was also empty . The deceased wa T * - on her left side , with her face towards the window , and lie / 1 ^ upon her chest ; and it would seem that the murderer , \ rl 10 y was , came on the left-hand side of the bed , and , while she wasTi almost chopped off her head . Whatever was the instrument ut l ^ must have been of a powerful character , and very sharp f li the two cuts that were made , the instrument cut throudli th T ^ carotid arteries , the jugulars , and even severed the vertebra bet the fourth and fifth bones , dividing the spinal marrow . The o -vi * tine , said the doctor , could not more effectually or more instant ously have destroyed life . So effectual was it , indeed , that her ^ teatures
and moutn , ana an ner , were as placid to-day , and on S morning of her discovery , as if she were in the most tranquil stit t repose . When Westlake , White , and others , had seen the body tl . went down stairs , and on looking about , the key of the street d ^' could not be found ; but White , the son , found the key of the box i ° bag of salt , by the side of the fireplace . On taking it it \ ip , he *!/ told to replace it where he found it . The parties then left the horn ? and sent for a constable , and also for a medical man . After inn . aiiu seiiu xua a ^ uxiotciuic , ouu cwou iui cl llieUHJtti mail . Alter IPIv '
the house , young White went and got a staple and a chain a ! n 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 C and Mr . Merritt went over the premises again . The box was ' ex
amined , 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 of the evening , while the deceased was out . Information was
immediately sent to the coroner , Mr . A . B . Bone , and at 11 o ' clock this morning a respectable jury was impahnelled , 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 to the quarrels that had occurred between himself and his mother . It is a singular fact that the son went to Tavistock on Saturday tor Merritt , and asked him to come over to Milton , as a woman had been
murdered , and it was some time before Merritt learnt that this " woman" was White ' s own mother . In the course of the day a man 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 further evidence , the inquiry was adjourned till the 13 th hist .
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^ Suicide of George Anderson , the Clown . —This eccentric individual committed suicide on Sunday afternoon , by throwing himself from a second-floor window , No . 2 , Upper Greystoke-place , Fetterlane . So determined was the unfortunate man upon self-destruction , that , previous to his leaping from the window , he called to a female who was underneath to move away as speedily as possible ; he then fell headforemost upon the pavement . Upon being taken up it was found that he had sustained a considerable fracture of the skull and other extensive injuries , and he was in a state of insensibility . He was immediately taken to St . Bartholomew ' s Hospital , and it was discovered that he was dead . The poor man had for a long time been afflicted with consumption , and was much embarrassed .
Discovery of a Dead Body . —On the 30 th September , 1842 , a foreign lady and two porters called at Messrs . Brownlow , Pearson , and Co . ' s wharf , Hi gh-street , Hull , and left there a large chest , which was directed to be kept until called for . It lias remained there ever since until Friday last , when the Messrs . Brownlow , being about to remove from the premises , the chest in question was opened , and a wooden coffin found in it , with the following inscription , " Ensebe Walter Sourin , died 8 th June , 1836 , aged nine months and twentyfive days . " In this coffin was deposited a leaden coffin , and within this was a shell , containing the body of a male child in a state of decomposition . Information was given to the police , and also to the coroner , by whom an inquest was held at the Nag ' s Head Inn , Highstreet , when a verdict of " Found dead" was returned . The body was
ordered to be interred by the authorities of the parish in which it was found . We believe some clue has been obtained to the parents of the deceased . The Fatal Sewer Accident in Clerkenweli .. —On Wednesday , a jury sat at the Workhouse , Clerkenweli , under the presidency of Mr . Wekley , to investigate the circumstance attending the death of two men while making a sewer in Compton-street , on Monday . The jury , after receiving evidence of the facts already reported , returned a verdict of " Accidental death , " the foreman dissenting , thinking that the blame must lie somewhere . A similar verdict was returned by the jury who sat at St . Bartholomew ' s Hospital , on the body of Thompson , the third victim , who was taken from the dram alive , but died on Tuesday evening .
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RAILWAY Logic . —One of the directors of that admirably managed railway , the Great Western , being asked if he could defend the constant want of punctuality for which that line is famous , replied , very readily , that as punctua lity was but the soul of business , it might , he thought , be fairly reasoned that punctualitywas not material . An Austrian Heaven . —An Austrian , upon being asked for a definition of Paradise , said , " I believe it to be a kingdom where you can travel backwards and forwards without a passport . "—Punch *
Suicides And In Q Uests
SUICIDES AND IN Q UESTS
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196 THE STAI 01 FREEDOM . [ NovEMBfiR 6 .
Ceimes And Offences. N—^
CEIMES AND OFFENCES . n—^
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 6, 1852, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1703/page/4/
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