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.
Wednesday 28 September 2016
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)