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The Windsor and Eton Express.
Bucks Chronicle and Reading Journal

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Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express



23rd April 1842



On Thursday a company of the 15th Regiment of Foot, now stationed at Windsor, left their barracks under the command of Captain Pindar and Lieutenants Wilkinson and Hatton, for Claremont, to do there duty during the residence of her Majesty and Prince Albert, who yesterday with the royal suite proceeded from Buckingham Palace to Claremont, where they intend remaining for a few days.

Petition Against the Poor Law Bill

We have just been informed that on Thursday week, Ralph Neville, Esq., one of the members for this borough, presented a petition to the House of Commons, "from all classes at Windsor in favour of a revision of the Poor-law." The intimation is the first we have had of the existence of any such petition in this borough, and by whom and in what manner it has been got up and signed we are wholly ignorant, and we find upon enquiry of several of our neighbours, that they are also equally in the dark.

Literary and Scientific Institution

On Wednesday evening the Rev.J.Stoughton delivered a lecture at the Town Hall, on the "Feudal System," which was well attended and which proved of a highly interesting nature. The lecture afforded the highest satisfaction to the rev gentleman's auditors.

Hurdle Jumping

On Monday afternoon several of the officers of the 15th Regiment of Foot assembled upon the bowling-green of the Adelaide Hotel, Windsor, for the purpose of deciding some pending wagers, which had been made the evening before. The hurdles, which were nearly four feet high, were placed 10 yards apart. Lieut.Astle, who first essayed to clear 50 hurdles in seven minutes, performing the feat, in beautiful style, in exactly half the time. Capt.Smith then commenced the task of jumping over 100 hurdles in 10 minutes, the whole of which he skilfully cleared in nine minutes and a half. Several other trials of skill afterwards took place.




An Accurate But Lengthy Address

Some time since the landlord of the Hope Inn, Frogmore, received a letter from a party in London, ordering a dinner at his house, which letter was directed in the following curious manner:- "To the Landlord of Lady of the Public House, situate about 400 yards before the Market Place, Windsor, Berkshire, on the left hand side of the road from London by Datchet, and nearly opposite the foot-path leading from Datchet Bridge, through the Park to Windsor." Although Mr.Byles did not know the writer, he provided for the party, who duly kept their appointment, and, as he observes, spent "a jolly Sunday."

Alarm of Fire

At an early hour on Wednesday morning, a fire was discovered to have broken out in the Timber-yard of Mr.Thomas Adams, in the New-road, but by timely discovery it was fortunately extinguished without material damage being done. The fire originated in the saw-pit, and it is believed to have been caused by some workmen the preceding night not carefully extinguishing their fire.

Narrow Escape

Yesterday afternoon a little boy, about five years of age, ran under the horses heads of a gentleman's carriage while passing the New Inn, and although the child was knocked down by the horses legs before the coachman could pull them up, it fortunately escaped with a blow on the face, which was not of a serious nature.

The Cardinal and Tom Tug

At the Garrison Hurdle Races at Farningham, on Tuesday last, Lord Drumianrig's Cardinal, which won the Windsor Steeple Chase last week, and Tom Tug, the winner of the Hereford Steeple Chase this season, the property of Mr.Capel, of the 15th Regiment of Foot, now quartered in Windsor, were the only two horses entered for one race, the distance for which was about two miles and a half. The Cardinal was ridden by Scott, and Tom Tug by Captain Willan. The race was a splendid one, and the former won by a length. Tom Tug was much out of condition, or it is thought the result would have been different. We should like to see the two brought together over a good country when both are in racing order.




Windsor Police - Monday
[Before John Clode, Esq. (Mayor), and Wm.Legh, Esq.]

John Mooney was charged with being drunk and disorderly on Saturday night.

The prisoner, who wore a shade over his eyes, wished to make the magistrates believe that what might appear disorderly on his part arose from his being nearly blind.

Dobson, the police-serjeant, said the prisoner was knocking people off the pavement.

Mr.Legh - Perhaps that was the consequence of his sight being bad.

Dobson - Oh no, your worship, for he only knocked females about, and took good care not to touch a man [a laugh].

The prisoner, to questions put to him said he had served in the late auxilary legion in Spain, and produced a certificate to prove it. It was while there that he got nearly blind.

After a suitable admonition , and his promise to leave Windsor, he was discharged.

John Barrett was also charged with being drunk and disorderly. He received a reprimand and was discharged.

John Skinner, a boy who stated that he was about eleven years old, and was nearly naked, was charged with having been found secreted in Mrs.Wheeler's bed room, in George-street.

It was stated that the prisoner was before the magistrates only about four or five weeks ago. In answer to questions the poor boy said, he then left Windsor for London, where he had endeavoured to obtain some employment, but had not succeeded; that he had no home, and had lost both his parents. In fact he was entirely destitute, not having a friend to resort to, and when apprehended he had not a farthing in his pocket.

The magistrates commiserated the forlorn condition of the poor fellow, and ordered that he should be taken care of at the union workhouse until his case was laid up before the board of guardians for their examination and decision.

John Jenkins was charged with being drunk and disorderly. After a reprimand he was allowed to go at large.

John Walker was charged with committing a robbery at the Swan Tap, kept by Mr.Watkins.

Mr.Gillman said the prisoner had been given into custody by Mr.Watkins. It appeared that on Friday afternoon, during the bustle at the Swan Inn, occasioned by the assemblage of persons interested in the steeple chase (the meeting being fixed at that house), the prisoner took the opportunity of going up stairs in the tap unperceived, and steal several articles from the servant girl's bed-room.. On his return, however, he was discovered and the property taken from him, still the servant did not wish to prosecute, and Mr.Watkins did not wish her to attend.

The magistrates thought this was a serious case, and they determined that it should be investigated. They therefore dispatched a policeman to bring the servant girl before them, in a short time she attended, and after some hesitation was sworn.

She stated her name to be Caroline Cox. About three o'clock on Friday afternoon she saw the prisoner, whom she had not previously known, drinking some beer in the tap. She afterwards met him as he was coming out of the passage, and she perceived a piece of apron, which she recognised as her property, hanging out of his jacket pocket. She took it out, and looking in his other pocket she saw a small bundle of other things which she recognised as hers. Altogether there were two aprons, three coloured neck-handkerchiefs, and one white muslin handkerchief, all of which she had not long before seen safe in her bed-room. Mr.Watkins, her master, then called William Silver, a policeman, and gave him into custody.

Silver said, when he took the prisoner into custody the latter said he committed the robbery in order to be sent to gaol, as he was starving. When he was searched he had fourteen pence in his pockets.

The prisoner now said it was the liquor that he had taken that caused him to commit the robbery.

He was fully committed for trial.




Eton Police - Tuesday
[Before the Rev.T.Carter and the Rev.W.G.Cookesley]

Robert Dawson was charged with assaulting Margaret Creek, a woman who obtained a livelihood by selling baskets in various parts of the country.

It appeared that the poor woman who is a foreigner, came to Slough by the train at a late hour on the night of the 5th inst., and went to the Rein Deer Inn, in Slough road, to obtain a lodging, where she was much illused by some person there, who she swore was the defendant. After hearing several witnesses the magistrates, in order that farther evidence might be produced, adjourned the case until Wednesday, the 27th instant.

Joseph Harrington was convicted of vagrancy, in being found drunk in a pig-stye belonging to William Spong, and committed to one month's hard labour in Aylesbury gaol.

John Spring, and John Fellowes, were fully committed to take their trial at the sessions, for having , so long back as the 15th of August, stolen a quantity of lead the property of Benjamin Way, Esq., of Denham. The prisoners absconded immediately after the robbery, and were not apprehended until Monday last.

[Before C.Tower, Esq.]

Wm.Gibbon was charged by Mr.Towle, of Iver, with damaging his fence. He was convicted in the penalty of 20s and costs, besides the amount of damage done. In default of payment he was committed to prison for six weeks.

Wednesday
[Before Granville John Penn, Esq.]

Thomas Beasley was charged with stealing a quantity of old iron the property of Mary Abbey, of Slough, in whose service he was. The prisoner was met with the iron in his possession by a constable, to whose enquiries he at first said his mistress had given it him, but subsequently he said he found it.

He was committed for trial.




Staines, Saturday, April 23.

On Saturday last before the bench of petty sessions, consisting of Sir John Gibbons, (chairman), Charles Devon, Esq., and D.T.Carpenter, Esq., a lad named James Cripps, aged 16, was fully committed to Newgate for trial, for stealing some pieces of iron and some horse hair from his master, Mr.James Adams, of this town. It appeared that the prisoner had been in the habit for some time of pilfering articles belonging to his master, and the police had been on the watch for him for some time. He was detected by policeman Butler on Thursday evening, offering the articles for sale at the marine store dealers in this town. Mr.Adams was anxious that the magistrates should dispose of the case summarily, but the bench were of opinion that it was a gross case of felony, and they had come to a determination to send all cases for trial when servants were detected robbing their employers.

Edward Sedgewick, aged 20, and John Wooden, aged 20, who have both been frequently summarily convicted of different offences by the magistrates, were also fully committed for trial in Newgate, for stealing a copper pipe from the premises of the Staines Old Workhouse; the pipe had been fixed to a sink, and on Thursday evening week it was discovered to have been broken off, and taken away. No person resided on the premises, but the police had charge of the keys, &c. The pipe was discovered at the shop of Mr.Spencer, marine store dealer of this town, when it appeared it had been sold by a sister of the prisoner Sedgewick on the same day. The prisoners upon being taken into custody denied all knowledge of it, but it appeared that the sister (who was admitted as a witness), had received the pipe from the prisoner to sell for them, which she did, and they gave her one penny for her trouble; she paid half the money she received to her brother and the other to Wooden. The prisoners in their defence said that the statement of the girl Sedgewick was true, but that they had found the pipe in a ditch. The pipe, it appeared, had been compared with the remaining piece, and corresponded.

George Thomas Emmett, aged 42, was also fully committed for trial at Newgate, for stealing a quantity of lead from an empty house in Staines (the property of a Mrs.Mary Hughes), in which he was placed as a confidential servant, at a salary of 18s per week, to take care of. The prisoner, it appeared, had been placed in this house by a Mr.Hammond, an auctioneer in London, and who had received instructions to dispose of the property. For about a fortnight the prisoner had been in the habit of taking small quantities of lead to a shop of Mr.Spencer, and disposing of it; upon the police going to Mr.Spencer's shop on Thursday evening week, and discovering that small quantities of lead had been disposed off by a man who gave the name of Edward Williams, they were induced to suspect the prisoner, when he was taken into custody by Serjeant Burton, and who upon comparing some of the lead found sold by him, with some pieces where some lead was found missing they fitted the places exactly. The prisoner did not deny his guilt, but pleaded distress. The chairman informed him that in his opinion his plea of distress could not be entertained, when his master proved his having received 18s per week regularly.