Old Bailey. - J. Harwood was indicted for marrying Rachael Parsons, his lawful wife being alive at the time of his second marriage. The Jury found the prisoner guilty; the common sergeant instantly sentenced him to transportation for 14 years.
On hearing the sentence, the prosecutrix burst into tears, and requested him to apply in her name to the government for a mitigation of the prisoner's punishment.
The common sergeant refused the application.
Thursday 10 November 2016
The fatal damp
A melancholy event took place at Klinhurst, near Rotherham, on Thursday morning, at the pottery of Joseph Hill and sons, John Depledge and Samuel Bradshaw had been employed in sinking a well, which, being finished, one of them descended to ascertain the depth of water; as he did not return, his companion went down after him; he, likewise, did not return; and unfortunately, Joseph Hill, the proprietor, with his four sons, went down the ladder in succession; but it required some precautionary preparations before others could be prevailed on to go down into the well, which they at length did, and brought up the bodies of the seven men, all dead. There were, it seems, some old coal-pits close by the spot, which had not been worked for some time, and it is conjectured an aperture had been made, in digging the well, which admitted the fatal damp.
Mr. Hill, the father, was a widower, and his four sons were unmarried; but Depledge and Bradshaw have left large families
Mr. Hill, the father, was a widower, and his four sons were unmarried; but Depledge and Bradshaw have left large families
Wednesday 12 October 2016
Extorting money under an infamous threat
Old Bailey - Extorting money under an infamous threat. William Arnold (a soldier, aged 20) was capitally indicted for assaulting Thomas Allison, on the 3rd of April, and taking from his person by violence and threats a 1/. note.
The prosecutor deposed that he resided in the service of Surteis, esq. in Montague-square. On Sunday, the 2nd inst., he was returning home from Halkin-street, through Hyde-park, about 8 o'clock in the evening, when he was overtaken by the prisoner at Grosvenor-gate, who suddenly turned round and said, "How do you do? I think I know you, Sir; you live, I believe, in Baker-street, or somewhere thereabouts." Witness replied that he was mistaken, for he resided at No. 31, Montague-square. To this the prisoner rejoined, "Oh yes, 31; why you are the very man I want." Witness answered, with surprise, "Want me! what can you want with me?" The prisoner said, it was concerning that letter he had sent him. Witness asked, what letter? and the prisoner said, it was the letter he had sent him, inviting him to come and spend an evening with him. Witness denied all knowledge of such a document; but the prisoner told him it would not do, and said to him, "I'll tell you what, if you don't come down, I'll croup you'' (have him imprisoned). Witness said, "I suppose 'tis money you want," and gave him a shilling. The prisoner exclaimed, "D n your shilling," and kept following him on, using the most shameful threats, until he reached his master's house. Witness then said to him, "There is the house in which I live; I am not ashamed to show it you." The prisoner upon this said, "I'll be satisfied that you do live there, and I'll see you go in too." Witness was just going in, when he said to him, "Now, I'll tell you what it is; if you give me a one-pound note, I'll never accuse you of such a thing again." Witness said, he had not got a note about him: but the prisoner told him to go and borrow it of his fellow-servants; but he told him he could not do this, but would meet him the next day at half-past 12 o'clock. He agreed to this, and went away. Witness was so alarmed and agitated at the moment, as well as when he got into the house, that he was utterly unable to speak.
His reason for fixing half-past 12, as the hour of meeting him on the following day, was, because the family were going to the country an hour sooner, and he thought in the interim he should have time to acquaint the police-officers. The family, however, delayed some time, and while the carriage was at the door he saw the prisoner at a short distance waiting for him. Witness felt excessive fear and agitation; and, in the hope of getting rid of the prisoner for ever, he went to him and said, "Now, if I give you a 1/. note, will you ever come nigh me again?" The prisoner replied, "Certainly never," took the note, and went away.
Witness thought he had lost sight of him for ever; but on the Thursday evening following, a dirty-looking boy came to his master's house with a letter, directed to " John, the footman." Witness told him John was out with the carriage, but desired him to come again in an hour. When that time had expired the prisoner himself came, and said to him rather angrily, "I sent you a letter an hour since, but you would not read it - there, take it now; go in and read it, and then come out to me.''
Witness went in and read the letter, which ran thus:- "Sir, - The money I received from you I have made rather free with, in drinking, and have stayed too long from my regiment. I fear I cannot join it again, but must go into the country, and something therefore must be done." After a short time witness went out to speak to the prisoner, when he was accosted by two other men, habited in soldiers' great coats. He asked what they all meant by coming there, to charge him with so foul a crime? None of them made any particular answer to this; but one of them observed, he (meaning the prisoner) must leave his regiment, and go into the country; he must therefore have other clothes, and four or five pounds to keep him until he got employment. Another said, "Something must be done, for now we've got you (meaning witness), and you must come down." Witness then promised, that, if the prisoner would meet him the next evening, he would have ready for him a suit of clothes, and he should also look up what money he could. He then gave them a shilling to drink, but they d d his shilling, and he gave them three. They then all went away. Witness could not swear positively to the two other men he saw on this occasion, but he saw the name of one of them in the papers of Wednesday. His name was Thomas Dwyer.
Witness next morning informed Pyall and other officers, together with his fellow-servants, of the transaction, and means were taken to secure the prisoner at night.
The latter came at the appointed hour, accompanied, however, by three other persons. The officers were in waiting at a public-house, and, as soon as the prisoner made his appearance, witness desired one of the servants to give the officers the signal, while he himself desired the prisoner to go to the public-house, where he would give him a nice suit of clothes. He did so, and Pyall coming up at the moment, witness charged him with having extorted from him a 1/. note, and he was secured. The other three men fled upon the instant, and escaped.
Pyall and others confirmed the testimony of the prosecutor. After the prisoner was taken in charge, he never denied the accusation made against him, but continually said it was another that had led him into it.
The jury, without hesitation, found the prisoner Guilty - Death.
The prosecutor deposed that he resided in the service of Surteis, esq. in Montague-square. On Sunday, the 2nd inst., he was returning home from Halkin-street, through Hyde-park, about 8 o'clock in the evening, when he was overtaken by the prisoner at Grosvenor-gate, who suddenly turned round and said, "How do you do? I think I know you, Sir; you live, I believe, in Baker-street, or somewhere thereabouts." Witness replied that he was mistaken, for he resided at No. 31, Montague-square. To this the prisoner rejoined, "Oh yes, 31; why you are the very man I want." Witness answered, with surprise, "Want me! what can you want with me?" The prisoner said, it was concerning that letter he had sent him. Witness asked, what letter? and the prisoner said, it was the letter he had sent him, inviting him to come and spend an evening with him. Witness denied all knowledge of such a document; but the prisoner told him it would not do, and said to him, "I'll tell you what, if you don't come down, I'll croup you'' (have him imprisoned). Witness said, "I suppose 'tis money you want," and gave him a shilling. The prisoner exclaimed, "D n your shilling," and kept following him on, using the most shameful threats, until he reached his master's house. Witness then said to him, "There is the house in which I live; I am not ashamed to show it you." The prisoner upon this said, "I'll be satisfied that you do live there, and I'll see you go in too." Witness was just going in, when he said to him, "Now, I'll tell you what it is; if you give me a one-pound note, I'll never accuse you of such a thing again." Witness said, he had not got a note about him: but the prisoner told him to go and borrow it of his fellow-servants; but he told him he could not do this, but would meet him the next day at half-past 12 o'clock. He agreed to this, and went away. Witness was so alarmed and agitated at the moment, as well as when he got into the house, that he was utterly unable to speak.
His reason for fixing half-past 12, as the hour of meeting him on the following day, was, because the family were going to the country an hour sooner, and he thought in the interim he should have time to acquaint the police-officers. The family, however, delayed some time, and while the carriage was at the door he saw the prisoner at a short distance waiting for him. Witness felt excessive fear and agitation; and, in the hope of getting rid of the prisoner for ever, he went to him and said, "Now, if I give you a 1/. note, will you ever come nigh me again?" The prisoner replied, "Certainly never," took the note, and went away.
Witness thought he had lost sight of him for ever; but on the Thursday evening following, a dirty-looking boy came to his master's house with a letter, directed to " John, the footman." Witness told him John was out with the carriage, but desired him to come again in an hour. When that time had expired the prisoner himself came, and said to him rather angrily, "I sent you a letter an hour since, but you would not read it - there, take it now; go in and read it, and then come out to me.''
Witness went in and read the letter, which ran thus:- "Sir, - The money I received from you I have made rather free with, in drinking, and have stayed too long from my regiment. I fear I cannot join it again, but must go into the country, and something therefore must be done." After a short time witness went out to speak to the prisoner, when he was accosted by two other men, habited in soldiers' great coats. He asked what they all meant by coming there, to charge him with so foul a crime? None of them made any particular answer to this; but one of them observed, he (meaning the prisoner) must leave his regiment, and go into the country; he must therefore have other clothes, and four or five pounds to keep him until he got employment. Another said, "Something must be done, for now we've got you (meaning witness), and you must come down." Witness then promised, that, if the prisoner would meet him the next evening, he would have ready for him a suit of clothes, and he should also look up what money he could. He then gave them a shilling to drink, but they d d his shilling, and he gave them three. They then all went away. Witness could not swear positively to the two other men he saw on this occasion, but he saw the name of one of them in the papers of Wednesday. His name was Thomas Dwyer.
Witness next morning informed Pyall and other officers, together with his fellow-servants, of the transaction, and means were taken to secure the prisoner at night.
The latter came at the appointed hour, accompanied, however, by three other persons. The officers were in waiting at a public-house, and, as soon as the prisoner made his appearance, witness desired one of the servants to give the officers the signal, while he himself desired the prisoner to go to the public-house, where he would give him a nice suit of clothes. He did so, and Pyall coming up at the moment, witness charged him with having extorted from him a 1/. note, and he was secured. The other three men fled upon the instant, and escaped.
Pyall and others confirmed the testimony of the prosecutor. After the prisoner was taken in charge, he never denied the accusation made against him, but continually said it was another that had led him into it.
The jury, without hesitation, found the prisoner Guilty - Death.
Monday 10 October 2016
The maniac died a few days afterwards
At Leeds, a strange discovery has lately been made of a human being, who has been incarcerated in chains in the house of his parents, for upwards of 15 years.
The mother of this unfortunate young man, whose name is Benjamin Surr, applied to the committee of the Leeds Workhouse, stating that she was in want of relief for her son, who was not of sound mind. The committee, on investigating the case, found that the family belonged to another township, Seacroft, we believe, and referred her to the overseers of that place. On the following day, the old woman haa fatal accident: while walking in the streets, she came upon piece of ice, and, falling backward, fractured her skull so dreadfully, that after languishing till Friday she expired.
One of the neighbours, moved by her situation, went into the house, and after rendering the last offices to her remains, walked into the cellar to wash her hands. She there heard a moan as from a human voice, and on examination she found that it proceeded from an object, so neglected and destitute, that it was difficult to say whether it was of the human or the brute species.
This discovery was communicated to the neighbours, and a considerable number of persons assembled round the house; but John Surr, the father of the family, had locked the door, and refused to admit any of them. The overseers and constable were then sent for. The old man, probably from an apprehension of the fury of the populace, refusing still to open the door, they were obliged to force their way into the house. On obtaining admission, they proceeded into the cellar, and here they found an unfortunate man squatted under the cellar steps, chained by a leg to the wall, and in so loathsome a state, that it was evident he had not been washed for years. "Sharp misery had worn him to the bone;" a few sacks and a little straw served him for a bed; his appearance was that of a spectre; and his bones had in several places penetrated through his skin, which was much excoriated.
As a first step, the parish officers ordered him to be taken to the workhouse; and on viewing a comfortable bed which had been prepared for him, he exclaimed - "What! is this for me? God bless you! you will go to heaven for this!" and other expressions of a similar import. Sometimes he conversed freely, but frequently incoherently. There was, moreover, a vacuity in his look, which showed a want of mind. He appeared, however, to be perfectly inoffensive and tractable, and it was evident that he knew and felt the difference between his present and his late situation.
When the young man, who seemed to be about thirty years of age, was taken to the workhouse, his father was taken to the prison, and underwent a private examination before the magistrates at the Court-house. The reason, we understand, that was assigned by the old man for keeping his unfortunate son in the situation in which he was found, was, that he was deranged in his intellect, and required restraint. It also appeared that the prisoner had always maintained a good character; and though it is impossible to justify his conduct towards his son, the nature of his offence was not judged to be cognizable by the law; it was therefore determined that he should be discharged.
The maniac died a few days afterwards, in consequence of the change in his treatment.
The mother of this unfortunate young man, whose name is Benjamin Surr, applied to the committee of the Leeds Workhouse, stating that she was in want of relief for her son, who was not of sound mind. The committee, on investigating the case, found that the family belonged to another township, Seacroft, we believe, and referred her to the overseers of that place. On the following day, the old woman haa fatal accident: while walking in the streets, she came upon piece of ice, and, falling backward, fractured her skull so dreadfully, that after languishing till Friday she expired.
One of the neighbours, moved by her situation, went into the house, and after rendering the last offices to her remains, walked into the cellar to wash her hands. She there heard a moan as from a human voice, and on examination she found that it proceeded from an object, so neglected and destitute, that it was difficult to say whether it was of the human or the brute species.
This discovery was communicated to the neighbours, and a considerable number of persons assembled round the house; but John Surr, the father of the family, had locked the door, and refused to admit any of them. The overseers and constable were then sent for. The old man, probably from an apprehension of the fury of the populace, refusing still to open the door, they were obliged to force their way into the house. On obtaining admission, they proceeded into the cellar, and here they found an unfortunate man squatted under the cellar steps, chained by a leg to the wall, and in so loathsome a state, that it was evident he had not been washed for years. "Sharp misery had worn him to the bone;" a few sacks and a little straw served him for a bed; his appearance was that of a spectre; and his bones had in several places penetrated through his skin, which was much excoriated.
As a first step, the parish officers ordered him to be taken to the workhouse; and on viewing a comfortable bed which had been prepared for him, he exclaimed - "What! is this for me? God bless you! you will go to heaven for this!" and other expressions of a similar import. Sometimes he conversed freely, but frequently incoherently. There was, moreover, a vacuity in his look, which showed a want of mind. He appeared, however, to be perfectly inoffensive and tractable, and it was evident that he knew and felt the difference between his present and his late situation.
When the young man, who seemed to be about thirty years of age, was taken to the workhouse, his father was taken to the prison, and underwent a private examination before the magistrates at the Court-house. The reason, we understand, that was assigned by the old man for keeping his unfortunate son in the situation in which he was found, was, that he was deranged in his intellect, and required restraint. It also appeared that the prisoner had always maintained a good character; and though it is impossible to justify his conduct towards his son, the nature of his offence was not judged to be cognizable by the law; it was therefore determined that he should be discharged.
The maniac died a few days afterwards, in consequence of the change in his treatment.
Monday 3 October 2016
She fell from a height of more than 400 feet
Paris, July 8 The extraordinary fete, which was some time announced, at Tivoli, took place on Monday night, and has been signalized by a frightful catastrophe. Among the numerous entertainments which had been promised to the public was, the ascent of Madame Blanchard in a luminous balloon, ornamented with artificial fire-works. Accordingly, at half past ten o'clock, this intrepid aeronaut, dressed in white, having also a white hat with feathers, entered the boat. The signal being given, the balloon rose gently, but by throwing out ballast, Madame Blanchard caused it to ascend more rapidly.
The Bengal fire-pots illuminated this brilliant ascent. The aeronaut waved her flag; and the air resounded with acclamations. Suddenly the balloon entered a light cloud, which completely extinguished the fire-pots. Madame Blanchard then ignited the artificial fire-works, which produced the effect expected, when some of the flying fusees were seen to direct themselves perpendicularly towards the balloon, and the fire communicated with its base. A frightful brilliancy instantly struck terror into all the spectators, leaving no doubt of the deplorable fate of the aeronaut.
It is impossible to paint what passed at this moment at Tivoli. Cries of agony burst forth in every direction; a great number of females suffered violent nervous attacks; and consternation was painted upon the countenance of every one.
The gendarmes instantly galloped towards the place where it was presumed she would fall, and the lifeless body of Madame Blanchard was, in a quarter of an hour, conveyed to Tivoli. She fell from a height of more than 400 feet, in the rue de Provence; the body was still in the boat, being caught in the cords by which it was attached to the balloon.
We need hardly add, that at the general command all the amusements ceased, and that no more fire-works were played off. A collection was instantly opened in favour of Madame Blanchard's family. The unfortunate woman was about 45 years of age.
The Bengal fire-pots illuminated this brilliant ascent. The aeronaut waved her flag; and the air resounded with acclamations. Suddenly the balloon entered a light cloud, which completely extinguished the fire-pots. Madame Blanchard then ignited the artificial fire-works, which produced the effect expected, when some of the flying fusees were seen to direct themselves perpendicularly towards the balloon, and the fire communicated with its base. A frightful brilliancy instantly struck terror into all the spectators, leaving no doubt of the deplorable fate of the aeronaut.
It is impossible to paint what passed at this moment at Tivoli. Cries of agony burst forth in every direction; a great number of females suffered violent nervous attacks; and consternation was painted upon the countenance of every one.
The gendarmes instantly galloped towards the place where it was presumed she would fall, and the lifeless body of Madame Blanchard was, in a quarter of an hour, conveyed to Tivoli. She fell from a height of more than 400 feet, in the rue de Provence; the body was still in the boat, being caught in the cords by which it was attached to the balloon.
We need hardly add, that at the general command all the amusements ceased, and that no more fire-works were played off. A collection was instantly opened in favour of Madame Blanchard's family. The unfortunate woman was about 45 years of age.
Wednesday 28 September 2016
Unnatural offences
At the Lancaster assizes, which closed this day, 13 prisoners received sentence of death: John Barlow, for stealing six pieces of calico; Luke Lockard and Peter Higgins, for forgery; James Sidebottom, for stealing a waistcoat, &c. Ralph Bolton, for a burglary; Charles Johnson and Robert Thomas, for forgery; James Yates, for wounding and ravishing Mary Hoyle, of Spolland; Isaac Hitchen, aged 62, for an assault, with intent to commit an unnatural crime on John Knight (he was one of the most affluent men in Warrington; his wealth is said to exceed 60,000l.) James Stockton, Thomas Fox, and Joseph Holland, for a similar offence on Thomas Taylor; and John Powell, for an unnatural crime with John Knight.
The judge (baron Graham,) in the most impressive manner, advised the eight last mentioned malefactors to prepare to meet the fate which the laws of their country had affixed to their heinous offences. Hopes of mercy were held, out to the other five.
It appeared on the trials of Hitchen, Stockton, Fox, Holland, and Powell, that they regularly assembled at the house of Hitchen, on Monday and Friday evenings; and that they called one another brother. The judge very properly ordered that no notes should be taken on these trials, nor any young persons be allowed to be present at them, five of the persons charged with unnatural offences were admitted as evidences for the crown.
Stockton, Powell, Holland, Lockard, Higgins, and Yates were executed on the 13th, on the new drop, erected at the back of the castle.
Stockton first ascended the scaffold; he appeared much agitated, indeed his limbs seemed almost inadequate to their task. Powell seemed much affected, though he did not display such dejection as the former. Holland appeared in a state of the greatest agitation; the contrition of his countenance truly indicated the penitence of his mind; on the scaffold 'his feeling appeared the most acute; he seemed impressed with all the horrors consequent to a situation so awful; and to implore the pardon of Almighty God with the greatest fervency. He was a man advanced in years, of a gentlemanly appearance, and possessed of a handsome property. Yates (a young man) ran up the scaffold steps, and seemed little affected; Lockard and Higgins (young men) appeared greatly dejected, Hitchen and Fox are respited.
The judge (baron Graham,) in the most impressive manner, advised the eight last mentioned malefactors to prepare to meet the fate which the laws of their country had affixed to their heinous offences. Hopes of mercy were held, out to the other five.
It appeared on the trials of Hitchen, Stockton, Fox, Holland, and Powell, that they regularly assembled at the house of Hitchen, on Monday and Friday evenings; and that they called one another brother. The judge very properly ordered that no notes should be taken on these trials, nor any young persons be allowed to be present at them, five of the persons charged with unnatural offences were admitted as evidences for the crown.
Stockton, Powell, Holland, Lockard, Higgins, and Yates were executed on the 13th, on the new drop, erected at the back of the castle.
Stockton first ascended the scaffold; he appeared much agitated, indeed his limbs seemed almost inadequate to their task. Powell seemed much affected, though he did not display such dejection as the former. Holland appeared in a state of the greatest agitation; the contrition of his countenance truly indicated the penitence of his mind; on the scaffold 'his feeling appeared the most acute; he seemed impressed with all the horrors consequent to a situation so awful; and to implore the pardon of Almighty God with the greatest fervency. He was a man advanced in years, of a gentlemanly appearance, and possessed of a handsome property. Yates (a young man) ran up the scaffold steps, and seemed little affected; Lockard and Higgins (young men) appeared greatly dejected, Hitchen and Fox are respited.
Precipitated into eternity
Nottingham. - A dreadful accident occurred yesterday at the Canal Company's wharf, by the explosion of gunpowder in a boat. The vessel was lying in the basin under the arch of the Company's warehouse, and some men were employed in landing the cargo, when in an instant an explosion took place which threw the whole town into consternation, and spread the most extensive devastation throughout the neighbourhood. The report was so tremendous as to be heard at a distance of many miles, and every house in the town was shaken as if by an earthquake.
The Company's warehouse, with all its contents, was completely blown into the air, and not a vestige of the building remains. The fragments were scattered over the meadows to a considerable distance, and the boat was in part shivered to pieces, and the rest sunk. Several roofs were carried off from the adjoining buildings, lead and tiles torn off, window-frames blown out, and hundreds of windows demolished.
But the most dreadful part of the calamity is the extensive destruction of human life, no less than eleven persons, already ascertained, having been precipitated into eternity, besides two taken to the hospital, who are not expected to survive.
The mangled remains of eight men and a boy had been collected last night, and two more were known to be buried amongst the ruins. The bodies presented a shocking spectacle; two men were found lying on the edge of the boat, with their heads completely taken off; two others lay near the gateway of the yard, with their skulls dashed to pieces, and otherwise disfigured; two other bodies were found in the meadows, having been blown across the canal, one to a distance of about one hundred yards, and the other more than three hundred yards, and the limbs and flesh scattered about in different directions; another was taken out of the ruins a complete trunk, with both legs and arms blown off; and the remaining two mangled in a manner equally shocking. Most of them were married-men, and had families.
The accident (as related by a boatman belonging to another vessel lying near, and who happily escaped with a few light bruises) originated by a youth of the name of Cross, the son of a boat-owner, imprudently fetching a hot cinder from another boat, and applying it to some loose powder which lay scattered about, with a view of having a "flash,'' as he termed it. The consequence was, that the fire communicated instantly by a sort of train to the cask from whence it had dropped out, which ignited, and setting fire to five other barrels, the whole exploded with a most tremendous noise.
The damage is estimated at many thousand pounds - some calculations go as high as 30,000/., but certainly it is very great.
Mr. Wilkes, the Agent of the Company, was fortunately from home on a journey, and the bookkeeper had only left the premises about some business not more than ten minutes before the accident happened. The explosion took place about 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
Amongst the property destroyed was a large quantity of corn in the warehouse in sacks and loose. The papers and books were fortunately deposited in a counting-house at some distance from the warehouse, which escaped destruction. A waggon belonging to Mr. Hooton was standing in the yard, and the waggoner, who was near the shaft horse at the time lost his life; the waggon was utterly destroyed, and two of the horses in the team killed on the spot.
The boy that was killed was a son of Mr Howell; he was going on board with the intent of gathering some of the loose powder when the explosion took place; his two companions (boys), who were waiting for him at a short distance, happily escaped without other injury than being slightly struck in the face. The other sufferers were principally boatmen and labourers about the wharf.
Mr. Wilkes's house, which stands near the gateway, sustained comparatively little injury; the windows and the furniture in the house were for the most part demolished; Mrs. Wilkes was thrown with great violence from a table to the other side of the house, but escaped without other injury than what arose from the suddenness of the shock and the fright.
One person crawled out of the ruins unhurt, owing to several beams falling crossways over him, which fortunately preserved his life.
The ground-floor of the warehouse was of stone, and such was the power of the explosion, that a large portion of the pavement was driven six or seven feet into the solid earth.
The bodies of the sufferers now lie at the Navigation inn for the Coroner's inquest.
The Company's warehouse, with all its contents, was completely blown into the air, and not a vestige of the building remains. The fragments were scattered over the meadows to a considerable distance, and the boat was in part shivered to pieces, and the rest sunk. Several roofs were carried off from the adjoining buildings, lead and tiles torn off, window-frames blown out, and hundreds of windows demolished.
But the most dreadful part of the calamity is the extensive destruction of human life, no less than eleven persons, already ascertained, having been precipitated into eternity, besides two taken to the hospital, who are not expected to survive.
The mangled remains of eight men and a boy had been collected last night, and two more were known to be buried amongst the ruins. The bodies presented a shocking spectacle; two men were found lying on the edge of the boat, with their heads completely taken off; two others lay near the gateway of the yard, with their skulls dashed to pieces, and otherwise disfigured; two other bodies were found in the meadows, having been blown across the canal, one to a distance of about one hundred yards, and the other more than three hundred yards, and the limbs and flesh scattered about in different directions; another was taken out of the ruins a complete trunk, with both legs and arms blown off; and the remaining two mangled in a manner equally shocking. Most of them were married-men, and had families.
The accident (as related by a boatman belonging to another vessel lying near, and who happily escaped with a few light bruises) originated by a youth of the name of Cross, the son of a boat-owner, imprudently fetching a hot cinder from another boat, and applying it to some loose powder which lay scattered about, with a view of having a "flash,'' as he termed it. The consequence was, that the fire communicated instantly by a sort of train to the cask from whence it had dropped out, which ignited, and setting fire to five other barrels, the whole exploded with a most tremendous noise.
The damage is estimated at many thousand pounds - some calculations go as high as 30,000/., but certainly it is very great.
Mr. Wilkes, the Agent of the Company, was fortunately from home on a journey, and the bookkeeper had only left the premises about some business not more than ten minutes before the accident happened. The explosion took place about 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
Amongst the property destroyed was a large quantity of corn in the warehouse in sacks and loose. The papers and books were fortunately deposited in a counting-house at some distance from the warehouse, which escaped destruction. A waggon belonging to Mr. Hooton was standing in the yard, and the waggoner, who was near the shaft horse at the time lost his life; the waggon was utterly destroyed, and two of the horses in the team killed on the spot.
The boy that was killed was a son of Mr Howell; he was going on board with the intent of gathering some of the loose powder when the explosion took place; his two companions (boys), who were waiting for him at a short distance, happily escaped without other injury than being slightly struck in the face. The other sufferers were principally boatmen and labourers about the wharf.
Mr. Wilkes's house, which stands near the gateway, sustained comparatively little injury; the windows and the furniture in the house were for the most part demolished; Mrs. Wilkes was thrown with great violence from a table to the other side of the house, but escaped without other injury than what arose from the suddenness of the shock and the fright.
One person crawled out of the ruins unhurt, owing to several beams falling crossways over him, which fortunately preserved his life.
The ground-floor of the warehouse was of stone, and such was the power of the explosion, that a large portion of the pavement was driven six or seven feet into the solid earth.
The bodies of the sufferers now lie at the Navigation inn for the Coroner's inquest.
Spring guns
Spring Guns. - Yesterday morning died, Charles Grant, Esq., an eminent Russian broker, of Globe-road, Mile-end. On Sunday se'nnight, about 10 at night, he took his usual walk round his ground, previous to retiring to rest. Not being aware his servants had set the spring-gun which had recently been placed there, in consequence of the numerous depredations committed, he trod upon the wire, and received 5 slugs in the back part of his thigh.
Sir W. Blizard extracted the slugs, and faint hopes were entertained of his recovery until Saturday night, the fifth, when a mortification ensued and terminated his existence. He has left a wife and two children.
Sir W. Blizard extracted the slugs, and faint hopes were entertained of his recovery until Saturday night, the fifth, when a mortification ensued and terminated his existence. He has left a wife and two children.
Sunday 25 September 2016
Most fondly attached
About five o'clock in the afternoon, a dreadful occurrence took place in Portman-square. The Lady of Dr. Charles Dalston Nevinson, after taking her usual walk in the enclosure of the square, had just closed the gate, and was crossing the footway upon her return home, when a horse drawing a gig took fright, and running with great fury, brought the shaft of the vehicle in contact with her head, and literally dashed it to pieces. The blood flowed profusely, and she died in a few minutes after.
The lady was the mother of three children. She was about thirty-three years of age, and extremely interesting.
Her remains were conveyed to her residence, and the scene of affliction which they caused there to a husband and to children who were most fondly attached to her, cannot be described.
The lady was the mother of three children. She was about thirty-three years of age, and extremely interesting.
Her remains were conveyed to her residence, and the scene of affliction which they caused there to a husband and to children who were most fondly attached to her, cannot be described.
Found tied to a boat
On Thursday, the 2d inst. the body of a woman was found tied to a boat near the landing-place of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich, on which an inquest was held on the following Saturday, before Joseph Carttar, Esq. one of the coroners for Kent. The evidence being very vague, the coroner said he should not then close the inquest, but adjourn till the Tuesday following, in order that every exertion might be made to procure better information, as there was much suspicion in the case, and it was but seldom that a woman was found dead without somebody being able to give an account of her death. He also directed, that the body should be examined by a surgeon, that his opinion might be given on certain external marks which appeared on it.
The jury accordingly met again on Tuesday, when several persons came forward to identify the deceased, and among the rest an old man, who swore that the deceased was his daughter, and that she was the wife of Israel Friday, an out-pensioner of Greenwich College. He then went into a long account of a quarrel which took place between Friday and his wife, on Wednesday the 1st of January, and of their fighting in his house with a knife and a hatchet, which fight he with difficulty suppressed; and that soon afterwards both parties left his house, and he had not been able to hear of either of them since, except that he now believed the deceased to be his daughter, and that she had been murdered by somebody, and laid on the spot where the body was found. Other witnesses also swore to the deceased being the daughter of the old man.
The surgeons proved that there were marks of violence on the head, &c. of the deceased, but not sufficient to be deemed mortal. This evidence, however, induced the coroner to adjourn a second time; and he directed the constables to make diligent search after Friday, the husband, and bring him before the jury on the 10th instant, to account for his wife's death, if possible.
The jury accordingly met again on the 10th. instant, when the constables reported that they had not been able to find Friday, but that they had found his wife alive and hearty; whereupon the father was sent for, and the other witnesses, all of whom were greatly but agreeably surprised at the sight of the woman, and acknowledged their error in having sworn to the deceased.
The coroner reprimanded the witnesses severely for their want of discrimination; but every one allowed, that the great likeness there was between the living woman and the deceased might have deceived better judges than the witnesses seemed to be, particularly as both the women had similar private marks on each arm.
Under these circumstances further proclamation was made for evidence to identify the deceased, and discover how she came by her death; but none appearing, the jury returned a verdict of "Found dead, under suspicious circumstances, and with strong marks of violence on her person; but whether inflicted by accident or by design, they could not ascertain."
The jury accordingly met again on Tuesday, when several persons came forward to identify the deceased, and among the rest an old man, who swore that the deceased was his daughter, and that she was the wife of Israel Friday, an out-pensioner of Greenwich College. He then went into a long account of a quarrel which took place between Friday and his wife, on Wednesday the 1st of January, and of their fighting in his house with a knife and a hatchet, which fight he with difficulty suppressed; and that soon afterwards both parties left his house, and he had not been able to hear of either of them since, except that he now believed the deceased to be his daughter, and that she had been murdered by somebody, and laid on the spot where the body was found. Other witnesses also swore to the deceased being the daughter of the old man.
The surgeons proved that there were marks of violence on the head, &c. of the deceased, but not sufficient to be deemed mortal. This evidence, however, induced the coroner to adjourn a second time; and he directed the constables to make diligent search after Friday, the husband, and bring him before the jury on the 10th instant, to account for his wife's death, if possible.
The jury accordingly met again on the 10th. instant, when the constables reported that they had not been able to find Friday, but that they had found his wife alive and hearty; whereupon the father was sent for, and the other witnesses, all of whom were greatly but agreeably surprised at the sight of the woman, and acknowledged their error in having sworn to the deceased.
The coroner reprimanded the witnesses severely for their want of discrimination; but every one allowed, that the great likeness there was between the living woman and the deceased might have deceived better judges than the witnesses seemed to be, particularly as both the women had similar private marks on each arm.
Under these circumstances further proclamation was made for evidence to identify the deceased, and discover how she came by her death; but none appearing, the jury returned a verdict of "Found dead, under suspicious circumstances, and with strong marks of violence on her person; but whether inflicted by accident or by design, they could not ascertain."
Mauled by a leopard
At the fair of Falkirk, an exhibition of wild beasts was made in a caravan, in the market-place, when a girl of about 3 years of age, in the charge of her sister, who is about 17 years of age, while witnessing it, was seized by a leopard, which (though every means that the circumstances of the case afforded were used to save the child) lacerated the right arm to that degree that amputation from the shoulder was found necessary. It is expected, however, that the child will live. As the animal was properly secured by close iron grating, it appears that the accident happened wholly from what may be considered an inattention on the part of the girl, for the purpose of gratifying the curiosity of her little sister, by suffering her to put her hand forth unobserved.
Mistaken for a bear
On Saturday, the 23d inst. as Mr. Peter Smith, of Greenfield township, in this county, was kindling a lire near where he intended to hew sled runners, five miles distant from any house, in the Alleghany-mountain, he was mortally wounded with two bullets, fired at him by George Dively and John Lingenfelter, they mistaking him for a bear. One of the said bullets penetrated his body a little above the hip on the left side, and went out at his right shoulder; the other entered his back, and lodged in his body.
On the following day an inquest was held, which, after examining witnesses, &c gave it as their opinion, "that said persons had no intention whatever of injuring or killing said deceased." - New York Paper.
On the following day an inquest was held, which, after examining witnesses, &c gave it as their opinion, "that said persons had no intention whatever of injuring or killing said deceased." - New York Paper.
Without the necessary precaution
A young man named Pocock, apprentice to Mr. Gundry, grocer, of Devizes, going in the evening into a wareroom above the shop, with a candle in his hand, without the necessary precaution of putting it into a lantern, a spark communicated to two tubs of gunpowder deposited there, weighing about l5lbs.each, and the explosion was tremendous: it carried away the front of the upper part of the house, and nearly the whole of the roof.
The poor youth was precipitated down two pair of stairs into the shop, his face and the upper part of his body scorched to a cinder. He died on the following Thursday.
The poor youth was precipitated down two pair of stairs into the shop, his face and the upper part of his body scorched to a cinder. He died on the following Thursday.
Casually poisoned
An inquisition was held before Mr. Hill, Coroner for Worcestershire, at the Talbot, Kempsey, on the body of Cassia Mace, spinster, when it appeared from the evidence of Sarah Hoare, a servant to the deceased's mother, that on Monday evening, the deceased proposed to take some salts, and desired her to reach them from a cupboard, where they were in blue paper, which she did, and the mother measured three teaspoons full, which were dissolved in water, and when cold, deceased swallowed them. After swallowing them, she stamped about the house in the greatest agony, exclaiming, "Good God, mother, what have I taken! I have been taking poison - the boot-top stuff instead of the salts;" and so it turned out, for the salts were in the cupboard in a similar paper, and of equal quantity; she had taken oxalic acid. The unfortunate young woman languished in the greatest agony till the following day. Verdict - Casually poisoned.
Monday 19 September 2016
Complicated sufferings of want and wretchedness.
On Sunday, the 22d, as some young men were nutting in the woods near the Old Tipper Blue Bell, on the old road to Maidstone, they observed a female lying under a tree, apparently asleep, and passed on without disturbing her. On the succeeding Friday the young men again went nutting to the same place, when, to their extreme surprise, they saw the female lying in the precise place and attitude in which they had seen her before; one of them went to her, and took her by the hand; she was alive, but in such a situation, as excited the most shuddering sensations of horror and disgust, mixed with surprise, that a human being could retain any portion of animation under such complicated sufferings of want and wretchedness.
She was almost in a state of putrefaction, large maggots were feeding on every part of her frame exposed to the attack of flies; her nostrils, and even her mouth, were infested by them; behind her ears, between her fingers, and between her toes, they were crawling in sickening quantities; and her clothes were literally rotten from long exposure to the varying and humid atmosphere.
With a laudable alacrity they applied for assistance to the Blue Bell, and with the assistance of two men the unfortunate sufferer was placed upon a hurdle, and conveyed to an outhouse, where such necessaries and comforts as could be procured were immediately prepared for her. Mr. Browne, surgeon of Rochester, was sent for, and immediately came to visit her, and through his humane, kind, and constant attention, this unfortunate woman has been rescued from the jaws of death, and is now in a fair way of recovery.
The account she gives of herself is, that her name is Ann Martin; she came from Lewes some time back with an artillery soldier to Chatham barracks, but that she had left him, and had determined on returning home to Lewes; that being destitute of money, and oppressed by fatigue, she, in a fit of despair, laid herself down to die; that she had lain where she was discovered ever since the Sunday preceding that, on which she was first seen, and consequently had been eleven days and nights without any kind of food. - Kentish Gazette.
She was almost in a state of putrefaction, large maggots were feeding on every part of her frame exposed to the attack of flies; her nostrils, and even her mouth, were infested by them; behind her ears, between her fingers, and between her toes, they were crawling in sickening quantities; and her clothes were literally rotten from long exposure to the varying and humid atmosphere.
With a laudable alacrity they applied for assistance to the Blue Bell, and with the assistance of two men the unfortunate sufferer was placed upon a hurdle, and conveyed to an outhouse, where such necessaries and comforts as could be procured were immediately prepared for her. Mr. Browne, surgeon of Rochester, was sent for, and immediately came to visit her, and through his humane, kind, and constant attention, this unfortunate woman has been rescued from the jaws of death, and is now in a fair way of recovery.
The account she gives of herself is, that her name is Ann Martin; she came from Lewes some time back with an artillery soldier to Chatham barracks, but that she had left him, and had determined on returning home to Lewes; that being destitute of money, and oppressed by fatigue, she, in a fit of despair, laid herself down to die; that she had lain where she was discovered ever since the Sunday preceding that, on which she was first seen, and consequently had been eleven days and nights without any kind of food. - Kentish Gazette.
A dreadful accident
The following dreadful accident happened at Inverary:- A shopkeeper, after selling a girl some gunpowder, had just put it into a flask, while he most imprudently smoked a pipe of tobacco, when a spark from it communicated with the powder, which instantly exploded, carrying up two of the joists from the floor above, where a barrel of powder was placed, which also blew up, carrying off the roof of the house.
The poor man and the girl are both so much injured, that they are not expected to recover.
The poor man and the girl are both so much injured, that they are not expected to recover.
Occasioned by his own act
An inquisition was held at a public-house in Bull-court, Bricklane, Whitechapel, before Mr. Unwin, one of the coroners, on view of the body of John Hadley, a journeyman gunsmith, whose death was occasioned by his own act in blowing his brains out.
It appeared, on examination, that the deceased was a widower, left with three small children, in obscure lodgings in that court, and since peace his trade fell off, and for the maintenance of his family he took to selling oysters in the streets and neighbouring public-houses; that on the preceding evening he was prevented from following this business by the street-keeper, who threatened to throw his oysters about the street, and take him to the watch-house.
The unfortunate man, who had previously shown several symptoms of mental derangement, went home in a fit of desperation, and taking his oyster tub, dashed it and its contents up against the ceiling; then taking an old rusty gun-barrel, he loaded it, and placing the muzzle of it to his head, he put the breech end into the fire, on which it exploded and blew his head to atoms. The report brought the inmates to the room, who found him a corpse.
Verdict - Lunacy.
It appeared, on examination, that the deceased was a widower, left with three small children, in obscure lodgings in that court, and since peace his trade fell off, and for the maintenance of his family he took to selling oysters in the streets and neighbouring public-houses; that on the preceding evening he was prevented from following this business by the street-keeper, who threatened to throw his oysters about the street, and take him to the watch-house.
The unfortunate man, who had previously shown several symptoms of mental derangement, went home in a fit of desperation, and taking his oyster tub, dashed it and its contents up against the ceiling; then taking an old rusty gun-barrel, he loaded it, and placing the muzzle of it to his head, he put the breech end into the fire, on which it exploded and blew his head to atoms. The report brought the inmates to the room, who found him a corpse.
Verdict - Lunacy.
Tuesday 13 September 2016
A most dreadful crime
A most dreadful crime was recently committed in the commune of Biron, in France.
On the 30th of June, in the afternoon, three young girls, two of whom were sisters, one aged 10 and the other 16, walked into the forest of Biron to gather strawberries. Suddenly an individual presented himself, who, without uttering a word, commanded them by signs to fall upon their knees and pray to God, which they did in their fright; he then drew a cutlass from under his coat, and plunged it into the breast of the youngest of the sisters.
The third girl then ran off, but she was pursued by the assassin, who gave her three stabs with the cutlass, and thinking her dead, returned to the two sisters.
The younger was then struggling in the agonies of death in the arms of her sister; the monster then stabbed the latter, and disappeared. The young girl above-mentioned, who was so desperately wounded, succeeded in getting home, and raised the hue and cry.
The police flew to the spot where the two dead bodies lay, and from thence to the residence of a deaf and dumb man named Monteil, a most villainous character; they did not find him, but his father said, with a sorrowful air, that he had not seen his son since ten o'clock in the morning. Their suspicions are almost confirmed by the circumstance of the wretch not having been seen at home since.
On the 30th of June, in the afternoon, three young girls, two of whom were sisters, one aged 10 and the other 16, walked into the forest of Biron to gather strawberries. Suddenly an individual presented himself, who, without uttering a word, commanded them by signs to fall upon their knees and pray to God, which they did in their fright; he then drew a cutlass from under his coat, and plunged it into the breast of the youngest of the sisters.
The third girl then ran off, but she was pursued by the assassin, who gave her three stabs with the cutlass, and thinking her dead, returned to the two sisters.
The younger was then struggling in the agonies of death in the arms of her sister; the monster then stabbed the latter, and disappeared. The young girl above-mentioned, who was so desperately wounded, succeeded in getting home, and raised the hue and cry.
The police flew to the spot where the two dead bodies lay, and from thence to the residence of a deaf and dumb man named Monteil, a most villainous character; they did not find him, but his father said, with a sorrowful air, that he had not seen his son since ten o'clock in the morning. Their suspicions are almost confirmed by the circumstance of the wretch not having been seen at home since.
A caution to those who use poison
The following lamentable event occurred lately at Knelston, near Swansea, and ought to operate as a caution to those who are in the habit of using poison to destroy rats or other vermin.
Two youths, brothers, of the name of Hoskins, the one 17, the other 19 years of age, being in a progressive state of recovery from a fever, requested their mother to give them, instead of a medicine prepared for them, some brimstone and treacle.
A basin, containing a preparation of arsenic for destroying rats, being placed on a shelf, and the unfortunate youths supposing it to be brimstone and treacle prepared for them by their mother, took each a portion of this deadly poison, and shortly after expired in the most excruciating torture.
On being opened, the cause, of this calamity was instantly discovered. Verdict of the coroner's jury - Accidental Death.
Two youths, brothers, of the name of Hoskins, the one 17, the other 19 years of age, being in a progressive state of recovery from a fever, requested their mother to give them, instead of a medicine prepared for them, some brimstone and treacle.
A basin, containing a preparation of arsenic for destroying rats, being placed on a shelf, and the unfortunate youths supposing it to be brimstone and treacle prepared for them by their mother, took each a portion of this deadly poison, and shortly after expired in the most excruciating torture.
On being opened, the cause, of this calamity was instantly discovered. Verdict of the coroner's jury - Accidental Death.
Shooting the rapids
On Sunday evening a boat, with 10 persons in it, 6 men and 4 women, which had been out all day on an excursion of pleasure, attempted to shoot London-bridge; the women were alarmed, and at their own urgent request were landed; the men, however, persisted in their attempt; the consequence was, that the boat was upset; four persons were drowned, and the remaining two were with great difficulty brought to shore alive.
A most distressing accident
Edinburgh. - About 5 o'clock on Friday afternoon, a most distressing accident occurred within a quarter of a mile of Bathgate, on the road leading to Linlithgow, and nearly opposite Balbairdie-house, the seat of Mr. Majoribanks. Robert Meikle, a servant of Mr. George Simpson, farmer, Easton, and a tacksman of extensive lime and coal works in the neighbourhood, had been directed by his master to carry with a horse and cart a considerable number of barrels of gunpowder, for the use of his lime-quarries, to the place which he occupies as a depot for that article.
Meikle, at the place above described, was sitting on one of the shafts of the cart. From causes yet unknown, the gunpowder took fire, and shocking to relate, exploded with a tremendous noise, so much so that some of the people in Bathgate declare it shook their houses.
The unfortunate man who drove the cart was thrown into a clump of planting in Mr. Marjoribank's lawn; the body of the cart was driven from the wheels, and the horse ran furiously to Bathgate with the body of the cart, where it soon alarmed the inhabitants, who ran to the spot, and discovered Meikle literally burnt to a cinder, scarcely a vestige of his clothes having escaped from the fire.
When found, he was alive, but insensible, and was immediately carried to Mr. White's, Glenmavis, an adjoining farmhouse. Medical assistance from Bathgate was soon procured, but, notwithstanding every effort, the poor man died in about an hour and a half after the accident, leaving a wife to lament his loss.
The horse was also much scorched.
It is understood there were about nine barrels of gunpowder on the cart at the time of the explosion.
Meikle, at the place above described, was sitting on one of the shafts of the cart. From causes yet unknown, the gunpowder took fire, and shocking to relate, exploded with a tremendous noise, so much so that some of the people in Bathgate declare it shook their houses.
The unfortunate man who drove the cart was thrown into a clump of planting in Mr. Marjoribank's lawn; the body of the cart was driven from the wheels, and the horse ran furiously to Bathgate with the body of the cart, where it soon alarmed the inhabitants, who ran to the spot, and discovered Meikle literally burnt to a cinder, scarcely a vestige of his clothes having escaped from the fire.
When found, he was alive, but insensible, and was immediately carried to Mr. White's, Glenmavis, an adjoining farmhouse. Medical assistance from Bathgate was soon procured, but, notwithstanding every effort, the poor man died in about an hour and a half after the accident, leaving a wife to lament his loss.
The horse was also much scorched.
It is understood there were about nine barrels of gunpowder on the cart at the time of the explosion.
She survived but a few hours
Miss Smith, daughter of Mr. George Smith, of Toppesfield, Essex, about 19 years of age, being on a visit to Mr. Thompson, of Fryerning, a gun having attracted her attention, she took it up, and presented it at the maid servant, not supposing it to be loaded, but on pulling the trigger, it did not go off. In a short time after, the maid servant got possession of the gun, and in her turn pointed the gun at Miss Smith, when the contents, a full charge, entered her side, and she survived but a few hours.
Monday 12 September 2016
Petty Treason & child murder
Lancaster Assizes, September - Susannah Holroyd was put to the bar, charged with three murders; with the wilful murder of her husband, at Ashton-under-Line, by administering poison to him on the 15th day of April, of which he died on the 18th; as also with the murder of her own son, a boy of eight years of age, by the same means; and of Ann Newton, an infant of about 15 weeks old, by the same means, and on the same occasion.
Mr. Cross, Counsel for the prosecution, stated the law applicable to this case to the jury, and gave an outline of the evidence by which the charge was supported. The deceased, Matthew Holroyd, followed the trade of a weaver, and had the misfortune not to live on good terms with his wife, the prisoner at the bar, by whom he had three children, the last of whom was mentioned in the present indictment.
The prisoner was in the habit of nursing nursing illegitimate children, one of whom likewise she was now charged with murdering. About a month before she exercised this unrelenting cruelty, she had a very extraordinary conversation with the mother of this infant, who resided in the house with her. She told Mary Newton that she had had her fortune read, and that in the course of one week, and within six weeks from the period on which she was speaking, three funerals would go from her door. One of the destined victims was her husband, another her son, and the third the child of the person to whom she was addressing herself.
She did not delay her purpose, however, till the six weeks of the fortune-teller had expired; for in about a month afterwards she went to a chymist's shop and purchased an ounce and a half of arsenic, to fulfill the prophecy. This happened on Saturday, the 13th of April, or Easter-eve.
Next morning her husband had some coffee for his breakfast, and soon after became ill. To restore him, she prepared him some water gruel, and in it she mixed the poison. The wretched man immediately felt that the gruel had an uncommon taste, and refused at first to drink it; but she urged him so strongly, by telling him that "it was the last gruel she ever would prepare him," that he complied with her entreaties, not knowing the enigma hid under these expressions. As he grew worse, she called In medical assistance, the better to allay suspicion, and was entrusted by the medical man with remedies to be administered; but she refused to administer them, saying, it was of no use, for "her husband would die." After the death of the deceased, the prisoner was taken into custody, and before the Coroner made a full confession of the murder, which, as it as signed by her, would be given in evidence. There were two counts in the indictment respecting Matthew Holroyd: the first charged the prisoner with petty treason, in making an attempt on the life of her husband; the second with administering poison, of which he died. It was necessary to have these two, as on one occasion, where the latter was omitted, and the former could not be proved, the Judge felt himself obliged to direct the party to be acquitted, though there was no doubt that the deceased died by poison.
John Taylor, a chymist at Ash-ton-under-Line, proved, that he sold an ounce and a half of arsenic (or mercury, as the common people call it) to the prisoner, for destroying rats and mice; that he refused at first to sell any, unless the prisoner would bring a neighbour along with her, to vouch for the purpose for which it was to be applied; and that, upon such attestation, he sold the quantity in question.
Mary Newton had lodged with the prisoner for ten or eleven weeks previous to the murders, and had her child, Ann Newton, about fifteen weeks old, in the house with her. She remembered Matthew Holroyd becoming ill on the 14th of April, and he complained of a fire or burning pain, in his stomach. His son sickened about the same time. When his wife gave him the gruel, the witness heard him say, "Susy, you have put pepper in this gruel;" which she denied, and he persisted in declaring. She threatened him with cooking no more for him while he lived, if he did not drink it. He died on the Friday morning at six o'clock, after a week of severe agony; and his son survived him only six hours. The child of the witness, which was under the care of the prisoner when witness went out to work, died on the Tuesday at six o'clock in the evening, with violent retchings, convulsions, and vomiting, like the husband and son of the prisoner. This witness recounted the story of the fortune-telling, as stated above. There were no rats or mice in the house to justify the purchase of arsenic.
John Swindels, who practises medicine at Ashton-under-Line, deposed, that he was sent for by the prisoner to her husband; that he complained of violent pains in the stomach; that he gave him an emetic, which relieved him a little; but that he gave over his visits when the prisoner refused to administer his prescriptions.
Jonathan Hague, clerk to Mr. Gibbon, an attorney at Ashton-under-Line, stated a confession that the prisoner made to him when in custody after her apprehension for the murders.
Samuel Newton, a constable, presented to the Court the confession of the prisoner before the Coroner, stating, that no threat, promise, or allurement was held out to her to induce her to make it; but that, on the contrary, she was warned not to criminate herself, and told that every thing she said might be given in evidence against her on her trial. The confession was read, and acknowledged the murder in the most unreserved manner.
Thomas Ogden, a surgeon at Ashton, was called at the inquisition taken on the body. He examined the stomach, which was inflamed nearly over its whole extent, and in one place the inflammation had amounted to gangrene. There was a quantity of fluid on the stomach, which he analyzed, and in the analysis detected arsenic. He had no doubt that inflammation was the cause of the death, and the arsenic the cause of the inflammation.
The Judge summed up this evidence, which seemed very clear, and the Jury returned a verdict of — Guilty.
The Judge immediately pronounced the awful sentence of the law, that Susannah Holroyd, being convicted of so atrocious a crime, should be hanged on Monday and her body given for dissection. The prisoner, who had continued during the whole of her trial apparently insensible to her awful situation, and had even heard the word guilty without betraying any symptoms of emotion, seemed impressed with the solemn formalities and moving address that accompanied the delivery of her sentence. The sympathy of the numerous crowd that attended this trial was powerfully turned against the prisoner, not only from the natural horror felt at the crime for which she was doomed to suffer, but from a very general belief that, in her occupation of nursing illegitimate children (who are of course frequently neglected by their natural guardians), she had murdered at different times several infants, in the same manner as she had lately done her husband and the two other victims of her unprovoked malice.
Mr. Cross, Counsel for the prosecution, stated the law applicable to this case to the jury, and gave an outline of the evidence by which the charge was supported. The deceased, Matthew Holroyd, followed the trade of a weaver, and had the misfortune not to live on good terms with his wife, the prisoner at the bar, by whom he had three children, the last of whom was mentioned in the present indictment.
The prisoner was in the habit of nursing nursing illegitimate children, one of whom likewise she was now charged with murdering. About a month before she exercised this unrelenting cruelty, she had a very extraordinary conversation with the mother of this infant, who resided in the house with her. She told Mary Newton that she had had her fortune read, and that in the course of one week, and within six weeks from the period on which she was speaking, three funerals would go from her door. One of the destined victims was her husband, another her son, and the third the child of the person to whom she was addressing herself.
She did not delay her purpose, however, till the six weeks of the fortune-teller had expired; for in about a month afterwards she went to a chymist's shop and purchased an ounce and a half of arsenic, to fulfill the prophecy. This happened on Saturday, the 13th of April, or Easter-eve.
Next morning her husband had some coffee for his breakfast, and soon after became ill. To restore him, she prepared him some water gruel, and in it she mixed the poison. The wretched man immediately felt that the gruel had an uncommon taste, and refused at first to drink it; but she urged him so strongly, by telling him that "it was the last gruel she ever would prepare him," that he complied with her entreaties, not knowing the enigma hid under these expressions. As he grew worse, she called In medical assistance, the better to allay suspicion, and was entrusted by the medical man with remedies to be administered; but she refused to administer them, saying, it was of no use, for "her husband would die." After the death of the deceased, the prisoner was taken into custody, and before the Coroner made a full confession of the murder, which, as it as signed by her, would be given in evidence. There were two counts in the indictment respecting Matthew Holroyd: the first charged the prisoner with petty treason, in making an attempt on the life of her husband; the second with administering poison, of which he died. It was necessary to have these two, as on one occasion, where the latter was omitted, and the former could not be proved, the Judge felt himself obliged to direct the party to be acquitted, though there was no doubt that the deceased died by poison.
John Taylor, a chymist at Ash-ton-under-Line, proved, that he sold an ounce and a half of arsenic (or mercury, as the common people call it) to the prisoner, for destroying rats and mice; that he refused at first to sell any, unless the prisoner would bring a neighbour along with her, to vouch for the purpose for which it was to be applied; and that, upon such attestation, he sold the quantity in question.
Mary Newton had lodged with the prisoner for ten or eleven weeks previous to the murders, and had her child, Ann Newton, about fifteen weeks old, in the house with her. She remembered Matthew Holroyd becoming ill on the 14th of April, and he complained of a fire or burning pain, in his stomach. His son sickened about the same time. When his wife gave him the gruel, the witness heard him say, "Susy, you have put pepper in this gruel;" which she denied, and he persisted in declaring. She threatened him with cooking no more for him while he lived, if he did not drink it. He died on the Friday morning at six o'clock, after a week of severe agony; and his son survived him only six hours. The child of the witness, which was under the care of the prisoner when witness went out to work, died on the Tuesday at six o'clock in the evening, with violent retchings, convulsions, and vomiting, like the husband and son of the prisoner. This witness recounted the story of the fortune-telling, as stated above. There were no rats or mice in the house to justify the purchase of arsenic.
John Swindels, who practises medicine at Ashton-under-Line, deposed, that he was sent for by the prisoner to her husband; that he complained of violent pains in the stomach; that he gave him an emetic, which relieved him a little; but that he gave over his visits when the prisoner refused to administer his prescriptions.
Jonathan Hague, clerk to Mr. Gibbon, an attorney at Ashton-under-Line, stated a confession that the prisoner made to him when in custody after her apprehension for the murders.
Samuel Newton, a constable, presented to the Court the confession of the prisoner before the Coroner, stating, that no threat, promise, or allurement was held out to her to induce her to make it; but that, on the contrary, she was warned not to criminate herself, and told that every thing she said might be given in evidence against her on her trial. The confession was read, and acknowledged the murder in the most unreserved manner.
Thomas Ogden, a surgeon at Ashton, was called at the inquisition taken on the body. He examined the stomach, which was inflamed nearly over its whole extent, and in one place the inflammation had amounted to gangrene. There was a quantity of fluid on the stomach, which he analyzed, and in the analysis detected arsenic. He had no doubt that inflammation was the cause of the death, and the arsenic the cause of the inflammation.
The Judge summed up this evidence, which seemed very clear, and the Jury returned a verdict of — Guilty.
The Judge immediately pronounced the awful sentence of the law, that Susannah Holroyd, being convicted of so atrocious a crime, should be hanged on Monday and her body given for dissection. The prisoner, who had continued during the whole of her trial apparently insensible to her awful situation, and had even heard the word guilty without betraying any symptoms of emotion, seemed impressed with the solemn formalities and moving address that accompanied the delivery of her sentence. The sympathy of the numerous crowd that attended this trial was powerfully turned against the prisoner, not only from the natural horror felt at the crime for which she was doomed to suffer, but from a very general belief that, in her occupation of nursing illegitimate children (who are of course frequently neglected by their natural guardians), she had murdered at different times several infants, in the same manner as she had lately done her husband and the two other victims of her unprovoked malice.
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