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Northern Star (1837-1852), 13th November 1852, Edition 2 of 2, Page 6, Highland Emigration.—Her Majesty's ship ...

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  • Departments (3)
    • ~ SUICIDES AND INQUESTS. ~~
    • LAW COURTS.
    • POLICE COTJETS
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      214 The Star Of Freedom. [November 13i

      214 THE STAR OF FREEDOM . [ NovEMBER 13 i

      ~ Suicides And Inquests. ~~

      ~ SUICIDES AND INQUESTS . ~~

      Suspected Murder.—The Body Of A Young Ma...

      Suspected Murder . —The body of a young man , named Stephen Hook , was on Monday , the 25 th ult ., taken out of the river Thames , near Sutton Courtney , Berks , after having been in the water for a space of three weeks . The deceased had been missing since Abingdon Michaelmas fair night , when he was last seen in company with some women of questionable character , aud in a condition rather the worse for the merry-making of the day . A day or so subsequently his hat was found in the water , near Culhambridge , and fears were entertained , which the recovery of his body have realized , that the

      poor fellow had come to his fate in some untimely manner . An inquest was accordingly summoned to inquire into his death , before Mr . Edward Cowcher , a coroner for Berks , but it was adjourned until the following day for further evidence to be produced , and for 2 ^ post mortem examination of the body to be made , when the jury again met , and evidence was given by Mr . Hamilton , a surgeon , who stated that on the examination of the deceased ' s head he had discovered a quantity of blood on the brain , but there was no external marks of violence to account for it . A man named Dore , who lives on the Abingdon-bridge , deposed that he was aroused on the night of the fair at a very late hour by an altercation between a man and two women , but he was not able to

      state that it was the deceased ; but as the statement threw a doubt about the circumstances which it was desirable to have removed , the inquest was further adjourned for a week , in order that additional evidence might , if possible , be . obtained . At the inquiry , just concluded , at the Swan Inn , Sutton Courtney , Mr . Iremonger , superintendent of the Abingdon police , brought up in custody Mary Ann Fisher and Mary Turner , the two girls who it was stated were with the deceased on the bridge at Adingdon at a late hour on the night on which the deceased was supposed to have met with his death . There was , however , no proof to connect them with the suspicious death of the deceased . Under these circumstances , and as the medical

      testimony went to show that the effusion of blood on the brain of the deceased had resulted from violence , the jury , after a most patient investigation , returned a verdict of " Wilful murder against some person or persons to the jury unknown . Child Murder in Lambeth . —On Monday , Mr . Carter , the coroner for East Surrey , held an inquest at the Duke of Sussex , Gibson-street , Lambeth , on the body of George William Lapham , aged seven weeks , for whose attempted murder , by pouring vitriol , or some other burning acid , down his throat , his father ' s servant , Johannah Connor , aged 20 , was on the 22 d ult . examined before the

      magistrate at the Lambeth police-office , and remanded till it should be ascertained whether the case would terminate fatally . On the jury having assembled , the Coroner asked Mr , Sewell , surgeon of the New Cut , whether it would be requisite for the ends of justice to have a 2 > ost mortem examination of the body ? Mr . Sewell replied he should not consider himself justified in giving an opinion till that had been done . At first it was his impression that none of the acid had entered the stomach , as the child appeared to be getting rapidly well , but as it afterwards suddenly sank and died , a post mortem examination was positively necessary before he could determine the cause of death . — The Coroner remarked that , it would then be necessary to adjourn for the autopsy to be made . He forthwith gave Mr . Sewell an order

      to make the jjost mortem oxamination . —Mrs . Jane Lapham , wife of Mr .. George Lapham , baker , of 57 , Lower-marsh , Lambeth , was then examined , and her evidence was to the effect that , on the evening of October 20 , about 7 o ' clock , the servant ( Johannah Connor ) came to her in the shop and said the child , who had been left in her charge upstairs , was crying . Witness immediately went upstairs to the bedroom where the child was , and on lifting him the bed found he was foaming at the mouth and crying very violently . She wiped his mouth , and on looking inside it discovered it to be quite white , and there was a mark outside , as if from a burn , extending down the neck . Tht white linen pocket-handkerchief with which she wiped the childs mouth she afterwards discovered to be burnt . Johannah

      Connor having followed her upstairs , witness said to her that she must have burnt the child with the candle , but she denied it . She afterwards told her she must have put the candle in his mouth , but she denied that also . After some time , however , she said it was an accident , and that she had let the candle fall out of the candlestick on bim . Mr . Sewell , surgeon , was sent for , and he came , as well as his assistant . He said that it was impossible for it to have been an accident ; something must have been put into the mouth . After the injury the child had been fed with the breast , but had great difficulty in taking it , from the bad state of the mouth . The servant girl was afterwards given into custody by Mr . Lapham . She was found in the

      back-yard apparantly in a fit , but which seemed to have been a pretence . The child died on Friday morning last . Miss Emma Rolls , sister of the lastVitness , stated that she had since found two bottles in the watercloset . She had given one of them to Mr . Sewell , and on his applying the liquid which it contained to a piece of rag , it burnt it like the white handkerchief with which the child ' s mouth had . been wiped . A juror suggested that the contents of the bottles should be examined by some qualified person . The Coroner replied that Mr . Sewell , who was about to make the post mortem examination of the body , could do so , and ordered them to be sealed up and forwarded to him for that purpose . The inquest was then adjourned .

      Fatal Accident at the Earl of Ripon ' s . —On Tuesday afternoon , Mr . Bedford , coroner for Westminster , held an inquest at Charing-Cross Hospital , on the body of Robert Goodman , aged 54 . The deceased , who was a painter , was on Tuesday last engaged in painting the exterior of the residence of the Earl of Ripon , No . 1 Carlton-Gardens , and for the work he was about was standing on a ladder placed upon a stage thirty feet from the ground . Unfortunately , he overreached himself , and thus overbalanced the ladder , which immediately fell , and precipitated him on his head into the area

      underneath . He was forthwith taken to the above hospital , where he was promptly attended to by the house surgeon , but expired on Sunday in consequence of the injuries . The medical gentleman stated that death was the result of laceration of the brain ; but the skull was not fractured , which was accounted for by the fall having been broken by his coming in contact with a gas-pipe across the area . The jury regretted that the numerous scaffold accidents which had lately occurred had not impressed on masters as well as workmen the necessity for adopting precautionary measures , and more care . Verdict , " accidental death . "

      Determined Suicide in the Middle Temple Hall . —Mr . Bayliss ironmonger and inventor of the fire-escape , residing at 273 , Strand , had for years contracted with the Middle Temple for keeping in repair and lighting the gas-lamps of the dining-hall . That duty was latterly performed by his son Josiah , aged 25 . The hall not having been lighted up at five o ' clock , the usual hour , on Friday evening , the steward ordered inquiries to be made after Mr . Bayliss , who was seen a short time previously engaged in the hall preparing lamps . The servants accordingly examined the hall , and its surrounding apartments , when , upon entering the lumber-room over the hall , they discovered Mr . Josiah Bayliss suspended by a rope from a nail i n the wall , and quite dead . Mr . Baker , the summoning officer , had the body removed to his parents' residence in the Strand , to await a

      coroner s inquest . Fraticide by a Boy . —On Wednesday , a coroner ' s jury , which sat at the Bauk of England Tavern , Praed-street , Paddington , returned a verdict of " Manslaughter" against the lad William Baker , aged 11 years , who had killed his brother , 2 years older , under the circumstances stated in our police report . 7 ^ h vmx m

      Suspected Murder.—The Body Of A Young Ma...

      "" Determined Suicide of a Married Woman . —On Tuesday Mr . Saker held an inquest at the Northampton Arms , Northamptonstreet , Bethnal-green , relative to the death of Lydia Jones , aged 52 , the wife of a carman , who committed the following determined act of suicide at No . 20 , Northampton-street , where she was residing with her husband . She had been in a distressed state of mind for some time , but no cause could be assigned for ber unhappiness . Last Saturday morning , after her husband had left at six o ' clock , she hung herself by a handkerchief to the bed-post , where she was found by her husband on his return to breakfast . She had previously placed the apparel which she wished to have put on after her death in the bedclothes . Yerdict— " Temporary insanity . "

      Alleged Fatal Family Squabble . —On Tuesday Mr . Brent , edputy coroner , held an inquest at the Wellington , University-street , St . Pancras , on ] Mrs . Mary Chapman , aged 67 , widow of Mr . Chapman , the extensive ladies boot and shoemaker , late of London-street , Tottenham-court-road , who is alleged to have died from maltreatment . After hearing the evidence , the jury returned the following verdict : — " Deceased died from a natural disease , and not neglect or otherwise , as suspected and charged . "

      Suicide of a Lunatic—Mr . G . S . Brent , the Deputy Coroner for West Middlesex , concluded , on Monday evening , at the Cleveland Arms , Charles-street West , Westbourne-terrace , Paddington , a lengthened inquiry touching the death of George Williamson , aged 25 , a carpenter , residing at 24 , Upper Brook-mews , in the same locality , who committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor , in his room , on the Wednesday evening previous , whilst in a state of undoubted lunacy . The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the evidence .

      Suicide in the Hackney Road . —On Tuesday , Mr . Baker ( the coroner ) received information of a suicide of a gentleman of the name of Brett , who was formerly in affluent circumstances , and who resided with his wife , at No . 10 , NichoU ' s-square , Hackney-road . For some years he was engaged in large speculations , in which he was frequently unfortunate . Rather more' than three years ago he was an extensive loser , the effect of which was very perceptible in his future habits , as he became much depressed in spirit aud was frequently extremely melancholy . His mind eventually became very much disordered , and as there were fears that he might commit self-destruction , it was thought necessary that he should be removed to a lunatic

      asylum , and on Friday last a certificate was signed by Dr . Jefs , of Finsbury-square , and Mr . West , another medical gentleman , to the effect that he was of an unsound state of mind , and that his removal to the Kent Lunatic Asylum was necessary . On Monday last , it is stated , he obtained a knowledge of his intended removal , when he became much distressed . In the afternoon he was unfortunately left alone for a short time by Mrs . Brett . On her return , she found him suspended by a silk handkercheif to a bed-post , She called the assistance of some persons in the house , upon which he was instantly cnt down . Mr . Wallace , surgeon , Trafalgar-place , Hackney-road , who was sent to , instantly attended , and used every means to restore animation , but without effect . ,

      Suspected Child Murder- —On Wednesday , a lengthened inquiry took place at St . George ' s Tavern , Belgrave-road , before Mr . Bedford , touching the birth and death of a child at the mansion of Captain Codrington , 82 , Eccleston-square , under suspicious circumstances . After much deliberation upon the evidence adduced , the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against the mother of the child , Harriett Earwaker , an unmarried woman cook in the establishment of Capt . Codrington . Remarkable Discovery in the Waterloo-road . —On

      Wednesday an unpleasant excitement was created in the neighbourhood of the Waterloo railway terminus , by the discovery of a dead body , under circumstanees standing greatly in deed of explanation . A female , who for some considerable time had resided in the house 86 , Granbystreet , had not been seen for several days by her fellow inmates , and on Wednesday morning one of them had the curiosity to push the door of her room , which was ajar , wide open , when the body of the

      female was disclosed sitting in a chair , the head reclined on a pillow , which was resting on a table . Life wae extinct . A police officer and a surgeon were at once sent for . It was the opiniou of the latter , after a survey of . the body , that the death had occurred several days previously . The pocket worn by the deceased contained a number , of silver coins , and on the table on which the body was restin g was a candlestick , the candle of which had burnt out .

      The Late Fatal Accident at Butleigh . —Last week we gave an account of a very distressing and fatal aaccident which occurred the previous Saturday in the Dean of Windsor ' s woods at Butleigh , Somersetshire , and which it will be remembered , resulted in the death of Mr . Hungerford Colston , of Lydford , owing to the accidental discharge of the gun of Mr . Tudway , M . P . for Wells , the contents of which were lodged in Mr . Colston ' s knee . An inquest has since been held on the body , and the jury has returned a verdict of " Accidental Death . "

      The Alleged Poisoning at North Ockendon . —This case of supposed murder , which has created so much sensation throughout Essex , has been brought to a close . The person alleged to have been poisoned was a female , named Sarah Lister , whose death took place between two and three years since , and the person against whom suspicion rested was her husband , an ostler at the White House Inn , at Ockendon . The man cohabited with the daughter of the woman ( by a former husband ) , who accused him of poisoning her mother .

      The accusation coming to the ears of the clergyman of the village , and the woman persisting in the charge , the body was disinterred ; and at the inquest held on the remains by Mr . C . C . Lewis , the coroner an order was given for an analysis of the stomach and its contents , the proceedings being adjourned to enable the » examination being made . Professor Taylor , the Lecturer of Guy ' s Hospital , has communicated the result of the analysation to the coroner , from which it appeared that the deceased had not died from the effects of poison . The man has since been liberated .

      Fxbes. Fire At Wapping.—On Saturday Nigh...

      FXBES . Fire at Wapping . —On Saturday night , shortly before eleven o ' clock , a fire of a most destructive character broke out on the extensive premises of Messrs . Paton and Charles , soap boilers , High-street , Wapping , which resulted in an immense sacrifice of property . The frontage of the manufactory was situated within fifty yards of the Thames Tunnel . The flames were first discovered by a policeman from the windows in the

      issuing rear of the boiling-house . An immediate alarm was given , but by the time the first engines were got to work , the whole of the boiling-room and the warehouses adjoining were in flames . Mr . Braidwood shortly afterwards arrived with several powerful engines , and a good supply of water being at hand , the firemen were able to protect the houses on the western side but all hopes of saving any portion of Messrs . Paton and Charles ' s premises were vain . The cause of the calamity is not at present known . The firm is insured .

      Fire at the Hull Railway Goods Station . —On Saturday evening a fire broke out in the goods warehouse of the York and North Midland Railway Company at Hull , which , before it was extinguished totally destroyed the building , together with several thousand pounds worth of goods .

      Highland Emigration.—Her Majesty's Ship ...

      Highland Emigration . —Her Majesty ' s ship Hercules is appointed to he stationed at this port for some days , for the purpose of receiving on board and conveying to Australia , nearly 800 intending emigrants from Stye and Um ^ Campbelton Journal ,

      Law Courts.

      LAW COURTS .

      Court Of Queen's Bench. The Baroness Von...

      COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH . The Baroness Von Beck ' s Case . —Constant Derra de MER ( - v . George Dawson and others . —It will be recollected that tp action was tried at the last assizes at Warwick , before Mr . J }< i ^ Alderson , and that a non-suit was entered , under the direction ot' f ? judge , the learned Baron being of opinion that the evidence against tl defendants was insufficient . Mr . Serjeant Miller now applied to t / ° court for a rule to show cause why the nonsuit should not bo set as il ° and a new trial had . Rule nisi granted . l a e COURT OF COMMON PLEAS .

      The Norwood Convent Case . —Griffiths v . L'Eshnasse and another . —The plaintiff in this case is a girl named Griffi thVr years of age , and by her next friend die sued the defendants as superiors of the Convent of our lady at Norwood , to recover danmV cs in consequence of the loss of her eye , and also for general iiijurios \ her health , alleged to have been occasioned by the ill-treatment , carelessness , and neglect of the defendants , to whose care she had beeii be remembered

      entrusted . The trial , it will , took place at the last Surrey assizes , when the jury found a verdict for the defendants . Mr Montagu Chambers , Q . C ., now appeared on the part of the plaintiff to move for a rule , calling upon the defendants to show cause why thk verdict should not beset aside , and a new trial had upon the grouuds-1 first , that Chief Justice Jervis , who presided at the trial , had misdirected the jury ; and secondly , that the verdict was not warranted hy the evidence . Rule refused .

      MIDDLESEX SESSIONS . Roberry by Carmen . —Thomas Brown and William Bimn wore indicted for stealing 166 lbs . of sugar , the property of Thomas Whitwell , the master of the prisoner Bimn . Bunn was sent by his master on the 10 th of November , with two hogsheads of sugar , to Stratford . The prisoner having been suspected , his master followed the cart , and stopped it in the Bow-road . On searching the cart , the prisoner Brown was found concealed'under the tarpaulin , with a bag of sugar which he had extracted from the hogsheads : A cooper ' s adze wis

      found in the cart , and when the hogsheads were wei ghed they were found deficient of the exact amount of sugar found in the bag . The jury found them guilty . Brown was sentenced to ten years' transportation , and Bunn to twelve months' hard labour .

      Police Cotjets

      POLICE COTJETS

      Mansion-House. A Quick-Sighted Officer.—...

      mansion-house . A Quick-Sighted Officer . —Alfred Masters was brought before the Lord Mayor , charged with having worked at a private still . Elmy , an Excise officer , said , —Between 11 and 12 o ' clock this day , I went to the warehouse No . 6 , Little Bush-lane , Upper Thamesstreet , in consequence of information . The entrance door was locked , aud , having placed other officers round the premises , which are very extensive , I went to another part of the house , forced a trap-door open , and found in two of the rooms stills in full play . I found a large quantity of molasses and spirits , and the apparatus for carrying

      on the business of distillation upon a large scale . Immediately afterwards the prisoner , who had been apprehended in endeavouring to escape from another part of the premises , was brought in . He took a coat from the stillroom and put it on , and he told me he had been working there for £ 1 a-week . The officer who apprehended the prisoner said , the prisoner had , with another man , broken through the window of another house in the desperate endeavour to escape from the officers who had broken through the trapdoor in pursuit . The premises were , it was proved , unentered in the Excise books . The

      companion of the prisoner had escaped . The Lord Mayor . —Do you wish to say anything , defendant ? Defendant . —No , I don t see there ' s any use . I'd like to ask the witness whether he saw me through the trapdoor ? Witness . —Yes , I certainly did . Defendant . —Well , I ' m bless'd but you must have had good eyes , old fellow , for I didn ' t see you—( Laughter ) . The Lord Mayor . —The sentence of the Court upon you is , defendant , that you pay the penalty of £ 30 , or go to prison for three calendar months * The prisoner was committed ,

      Forgery . —Josiah Harris , who has been several times under examination upon the charge of having obtained a quantity of guano , in payment of which he uttered a forged acceptance for £ M 6 s ., was brought up for final examination . The prisoner , upon being asked whether he wished to say anything upon the subject of the accusuation against him , said—I have a good defence , and that I shall reserve , my lord . Committed for trial .

      BOW STREET . Allegd Attemp t to Poison a Husband by his Wife . —Caroline Wheaton Read , the wife of Mr . James Read , tobacconist , of 2 , Great Russell-street , Covent-garden , was charged before Mr . Henry with having attempted to poison her husband . Susan Horsell , a servant maid in the house , and a young man named Frederick Wright , in the same employ , deposed to having heard repeated quarrels between their master and mistress , who lived together very unhappily . They stated that the prisoner had often said in their presence , that she wished she could " slow poison him : " that "he must be as hard

      as iron , or he would have been dead long ago ; " and that " she would give a good sum of money to see his corpse brought into the house . " On Tuesday last their master sent to Mr . Hooper ' s , opposite , for a black draught . The prisoner poured out about two teaspoonfuls of it and then dropped some laudanum into it , out of a pennyworth , which had been recently procured . She told Susan that she was doing it to make master sleep better at night ; but the servant communicated the circumstance to Wright , who went and purchased another draught , and then took an opportunity of substituting it for the one which

      was intended for Mr . Read . He sealedd up the latter , and kept it in his possession . On Thursday evening Mr . Read ordered some broth , which the prisoner prepared for him : but he complained that he could not drink it , for it was hitter and unpalatable . The prisoner threw the broth into the dusthole , but the servants mentioned their suspicions to Mr . Read , who then gave his wife into custody . The witness Wri ght , on being cross-examined by Mr . Wontner ( who attended for the wife ) , made some additional statements . He said , that on Thursday the prisoner told him that if she could get rid of Mr . Read she should not be a widow more than six months . Mr .

      Cooper would take care of that . Mr . Cooper was a lawyer ' s clerk , he believed , who visited at the house . He was a friend of Mr . Reed ' s , but he had been often there in the husband's absence Mr . Read had lately forbidden him the house . The . p risoner told witness this on Thursday morning , and at the same time said , " I love Mr . Cooper , and have good reason to love him . " Witness was cleaning the windows at the time with oxalic acid , ana she asked him to give her some , but he refused to do it ' Mr . Read , the presecutor , deposed to the bitterness of the broth , which he could not drink , and said he had been ill for several weeks , in consequence of sleeping in damp beds . Susan , the servant , had caught the prisoner in the act of wetting the sheets with a sponge . Shft 'was nlsn mven tn rlv ^ lr ^ -i ™ n ^ Un . ^ .. iV / vnm . TDiMw + ndlv nvntfiSted "wj * 4 iXlVXlV XllC 1 & UUttUOUi

      ~ w v . mvs gAlVAl' Uy VLX . J . . UXXOUAA ^ X T j ^* . v against the truth of these statements . She did say , " that he must be as hard as iron , or he would not be living now , " but that related to his drinking habits . It was a false and wicked charge . —In crossex ^ minatioA the husbaud admitted that he ha 4 ota requested Mr-

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 13, 1852, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_13111852/page/6/