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Leader (1850-1860), 12th October 1850, Edition Country of 1, Page 675, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      dren on leaving Fordham for her present location , and the woman who is employed to bring up foundlings for the Almshouse states that she brought up 150 to the establishment from the governors of the Almshouse alone , within the last ten months . Besides these , infants were received " from all parts of the country , " in the words of Miss Short well herself , and there are now only nine left . Suspicion was recently aroused in the neighbourhood from , various causes , among others from seeing

      so many children go into the establishment and so few forthcoming . Every alternate day there" was one brought from the Almshouse , and . sometimes two , and even three . It is also stated that one of the nurses went to an Irish dance a short time ago , and being rather late , was asked why she did not come sooner . She replied that she had two cross children in charge that she could not put asleep , but that at length she gave them drops , which made them quiet . They went asleep fast enough , and never awakened . Next morning they were dead .

      Mr . Farrington , a mason , who was present , proceeded to probe the ground , and found coffins two or three inches below the surface . This threw the whole neighbourhood into a state of excitement , for nobody had dreamed that there were any bodies interred in the place , the ground being quite smooth . The people proceeded further in their investigations , and discovered six coffins , containing eight bodies of infants , in an advanced state of decomposition .

      An inquest having been held on the bodies found , MissShortwell admitted that she had given the orders to bury them . She produced three certificates signed by a Dr . Freeman , stating that three of the children died of various diseases , and four others with his signature , but which , on her cross-examination , turned out to have been written by herself . The answers of Miss Shortwell are said to have been very unsatisfactory . After consultation , the jury returned a verdict that seven of the infants came by their deaths from disease , and that the eighth died from some cause to them unknown .

      Untitled Article

      A FRIGHTFUL , TRAGEDY . A melancholy affair took place a short time ago on the borders of Prussian Poland . On the 1 st of October ten Circassians delivered themselves up to the district commissary in Krussnitz , stating that they had deserted from the Russian garrison at Lowicz , because they were not permitted to return to their own country after having voluntarily served in the recent campaign in Hungary . They were all well armed and mounted , and ihe district commissary , not knowing what to do with them , forwarded them to his superior officer , the landrath in

      Inowraclaw , together with a written reclamation of the fugitives from the commander of the Caucasian troop in Lowicz . The landrath enquired of them what they wanted , and why they fled ? The unhappy men all declared that they wished to take service in Prussia , being disgusted with the brutal ill-treatment they had met with from the Russian officers . They requested to be allowed to proceed to Berlin , but the landrath said that was impossible , and that they must deliver up their arms and allow themselves to be reconveyed across the frontier , in obedience ^ to the treaty between Russia and Prussia , which

      requires the immediate delivery to either of every deserter . They were then conducted to the barrack , which they refused to enter , saying they could accept none but free quarters . It was the intention of Landrath Fernow to have had them , disarmed the moment they entered . They declared themselves willing to return into Poland , but refused to give up their arms on any account . The civil authorities then called in the aid of the military , and thirty dragoons were ordered up to take their arms by force . Seeing the dragoons approaching , the Circassians spurred their horses round and fled , pursued by the dragoons . During their flight several shots were fired b y both parties . A corporal of dragoons was shot dead , and several others wounded . Two

      wounded and one unwounded Circassians were also taken prisoners , and the bodies of two dead were brought into Inowraclaw in the afternoon ^ The remainder fled into two houses on the road-side , about 2000 yards from Mowraclaw . Here they barricaded themselves in , and were formally surrounded . One house was set on fire , but the daring men fled into the other . Infantry was then ordered up from another neighbouring village . Forty men arrived and opened a fire on the second house with rockets . It soon caught . Four of its courageous tenants rushed out of the door , firing their rifles , but were received with a shower of balls , which put an end to one , and wounded the other three ; the fifth was burned to death in the house . A soldier fell a victim to their

      rifles during the time they occupied the second house . In this incredible affair three Circassians were killed , and five dangerously wounded ; three of the latter cannot survive their wounds , so that only four will be delivered up to Russia . Two of the soldiers wore killed , and four wounded . And all this blood was shed to deliver up ton innocent men to the tyranny of Russia , from which they had fled . The event has created a great ; sensation in Prussia .

      Untitled Article

      A BAVARIAN ROMANCE . Most of our readers will remember the famous breach of promise case , in which the celebrated Miss Smith , of Derbyshire , endeavoured to recover damages from Earl Ferrers for not fulfilling his matrimonial engagement . The success which attended that talented young lady ' s efforts in palming a brilliant romance upon her credulous grandfather and friends , has met with a perfect parallel in Bavaria . The annals of the police court in Munich , where the heroine resided , furnish the history of this case . The heroine ' s name is Maria Hoar , the daughter of a carpenter in poor circumstances , but possessed of great personal beauty , and not without some education . Three years ago she communicated to several of her relations , under the promise of secrecy , that she was the most fortunate of her sex . A Spanish count , flying from the arms of the law in consequence of his participation in the Spanish revolution , had escaped into the Tyrol in disguise , from whence he had found his way into the palace of the King of Bavaria at Hohenschwangau . The name of the count she declared to be Don Alonzo Baldona . The king , she said , had given him the post of the

      Inspector of the Palace . On a visit in Munich , the count had made her acquaintance , and , being smitten with her attractions , had promised to marry her . Letters were not wanting to confirm the truth of this statement : one was produced which stated that the bridegroom was possessed of enormous wealth , and that he in reality was Prince of Navarre and Duke of Montemolin . The relations , overwhelmed with joy at the good fortune of the young lady , made no objection to assisting her from time to time with large sums of money , expecting on her marriage to have them returned with interest . The young lady ,

      too , was prolific in promises of appointments and situations ; and by these means carried on the deception for three years . The relations at last , impatient , demanded to see the bridegroom — the Spanish Prince—and , receiving nothing but evasions , at last discovered that they had been deceived . They quickly handed the Spanish Prince ' s bride over to the tender mercies of the Bavarian police , and , with the assistance of the magistrates , she has been sentenced to a lengthened term of imprisonment , as a salutary example to all romance-reading sempstresses who seek to realize their golden dreams at the expence of their neighbours' pockets .

      Untitled Article

      THE PLATE ROBBERIES . In our town edition of last Saturday we gave an account of the seizure of a large quantity of stolen silver plate on the premises of a Mr . Sirrell , a silversmith in the Barbican , and of his apprehension . On Tuesday he was brought up for examination at Liverpool , along with William M'Auley and Martin M'Guire , the latter on a charge of having stolen a quantity of silver and sacramental plate from the house of the Reverend James Taylor , of Great Crosby , near Liverpool , and Mr . Sirrell with having received it , knowing it to be stolen . M'Auley is well known to the Liverpool officers , and has been in custody several times . He was tried at the last assizes on a

      charge of being concerned in a robbery , but the prosecutor failed to make out a case for conviction . He is the son of a man of some property , who died a shorttime since , but left him nothing , in consequence , it is said , of his dissipated habits . He is a very good-looking man , and dresses in remarkably good style . M'Guire is also well known to the police in Liverpool , but he has hitherto been fortunate enough to elude justice , never having been in custody before . He is also a very well-looking man , and , until lately , has kept a public-house in Liverpool . He is reported to be worth at least £ 3000 . The piece of paper , with the name and address of this prisoner enclosed in one of the parcels , has been identified as his own handwriting .

      As the chain of evidence was not quite complete , a short examination only took place . The cases were then remanded to Tuesday next , and the prisoners removed . The result of the search made upon Mr . Sirreli ' s premises in the Barbican leaves nn doubt of the fact that he dealt very largely in suspicious property . The quantity of spoons , forks , and other articles of plate , bearing crests and initials of all descriptions , which have been discovered , is said to be enormous . A great deal of this plate is nearly new ,

      notwithstanding which it is bent , broken , and mutilated in every possible manner , apparently in order to avoid identification , and render it more suitable for the crucible . Upon a file in Sirreli ' s counting-house a large number of letters from M'Auley , all relative to property transmitted , were discovered . Several owners of purloined articles have identified their property among the stock of Mr . Sirrell . Mr . Argent , of the Rainbow Tavern , Fleet-street , in a very short time recognized plate belonging to himself from which the mark had been almost

      obliterated . Mr . Lovegrove , of the London Coffee ' house , has also claimed some spoons and forks ; and the proprietor of Dolly ' s Chop-house , in Paternosterrow , has been communicated with on the subject of some articles supposed to have been stolen from his coffee-room .

      Untitled Article

      WRECK OF THE MARY FLORENCE—CRUELTIES OF THE ARABS . A detailed account of the loss of the Ship Mary Florence , on the Arabian coast on the 3 rd of June , has been received . The vessel left England for Aden on the 16 th of February . The master of it , Captain Short , was accompanied by his wife , and the crew consisted of first and second officers , carpenter , steward , and twelve seamen . On the 3 rd of June , they came in sight , as the captain supposed , of Cape

      Guardafai , a headland , some hundred miles southeast of Aden , but from what has since transpired , he appears to have taken the summit of high mountains inland for the headland . This mistake proved fatal , for in the course of the night the ship ran ashore . An unsuccessful attempt was made next day to get the ship off with the assistance of the natives , who affected to be friendly , and it was determined to land the ship ' s stores and other valuable property on the beach : —

      " The next day , the same friendly spirit being evinced , the master continued to send his stores ashore , and in the afternoon it was determined to effect a safe passage along the hawser for Mrs . Short , as the weather was becoming boisterous . By means of slings attached to the hawser she was conveyed to the shore in safety . Captain Short was about to follow , when the unfortunate lady , notwithstanding the protection of the first officer and seamen , was at once seized by the Arabs , and , apparently to those in the ship , was carried away , the natives at the same time attacking the crew with spears , and driving them into the sea . The chief officer got hold of the hawser that communicated with the ship , and was

      making attempt to gain it , when the natives rushed forward and cut the rope . He was consequently precipitated into the sea , and must have perished had not one of the seamen swam to his assistance , and brought him into shallow water . Captain Short had the pinnace instantly launched , and was in the act of jumping into it with one or two of his men , to go to his wife ' s assistance , when a sea struck the boat , and broke her away , and she was carried ashore . The mornent the boat touched the shore it was seized by the natives , who got into it , and endeavoured to push off , as it was supposed , to board the vessel , but , owing to a very heavy ground swell , as soon as they got off , the boat was carried back again further up on the beach . Already had the plunder commenced .

      The stores and goods that had been lauded were scattered in all directions , and a general scuffle took place among the natives in their endeavours to possess themselves of the property , amidst yells and cries of exultation . Captain Short was most anxious to afford assistance to his unfortunate wife , but it was impossible , with the few hands he had with him , to mako any endeavour to rescue her , all the firearms and ammunition having been sent ashore . The captain and the men who remained on board were on deck the whole night in the hope of meeting with an opportunity to gain the beach in the longboat , but they were deterred from making the attempt in consequence of the hostile altitude assumed by the natives .

      " In the course of the night shrieks wore heard from the shore , which were supposed to proceed from Mrs . Short and the men belonging to the ship . Next morning the chief and his followers were seen strutting about ia

      Untitled Article

      THE FRIMLEY MURDER . The authorities have been busily employed during the week in their efforts to discover the parties engaged in this affair . On Tuesday afternoon the jury impannelled for the purpose of enquiring into the circumstances connected with the murder of Mr . Holiest , reassembled at the White Hart Inn , Frimley . From the evidence of Mr . Biddlecombe , superintendent of the Godalming police , it appears that in front of Mr . Hollest ' s house the marks of two right

      feet , without shoes or stockings , were found , and that on measuring the feet of Harwood and Trower , alias Smith , now in custody , they were found to correspond with the marks in the gravel . Harwood ' s right foot was much cut , as if it had come in contact with a stone . This might very naturally happen if he were running barefoot in the dark . Several other witnesses were examined , but nothing remarkable was elicited from them . The coroner then intimated that the proceedings were adjourned to the 22 nd instant .

      It is said that , in the chain of evidence accumulating against the parties in custody for this atrocious crime , not the least important will be the incident that a token , which might be mistaken for a penny , has been found on one of them , and can be identified by Mrs . Holiest as having been given to her the day before by the village schoolmistress . Some important facts transpired at the brief examination of the prisoners at ; Guildford on Friday . One of the prisoners , Smith , in attempting to account for the way in which he was engaged on the night of

      the murder , stated that he had gone to the Surrey Theatre at half-price , and spent three hours there . The question was put to the prisoner , when he represented himself as having gone to the theatre at halfprice , what he paid as half-price . His answer was 41 Threepence . " Neither at the Surrey nor any of the other London theatres is there any such halfprice as 3 d . ; consequently he must have stated what was untrue . When asked what piece was played when he was in the theatre , he was unable to tell . It has since been ascertained that the Surrey Theatre was not open on the night of the murder .

      Untitled Article

      « Oct . 12 , 1850 . ] ©!> £ & £ « & **? 675

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 12, 1850, page 675, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1856/page/3/