Newspaper Transcripts
Some Selected Reports from the Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette
Thursday, November 7th, 1833
(Some Reports I'd missed first time round !)
CRIMES OF LONDON IN THE 19th CENTURY.
The following account of the class of thieves called "Sneaks," is taken from a small publication containing some information on the subject of crime and criminals in the metropolis, which is painfully interesting. It may act as a caution to the unsuspicious and inexperienced, who otherwise may suffer from the knaves and rogues which abound in the great city:- "Nothing will more astonish the novices in the ways of London than the number of young sneaks who live by thieving in it. In the neighbourhoods of St.Giles, Whitechapel, Moorfields, and in Westminster, there are numerous houses where sneaks are accommodated with lodgings at twopence per night. In these places as many as two hundred will assemble at one time, there being sometimes fifty in a room. The whole number of sneaks in London and its environs cannot be calculated at less than five thousand, the whole of whom start every morning in various directions, to prowl the town for plunder. As they all live, in their language, upon the cross, each has his own peculiar game, or mode of proceeding. They generally begin by sneaking in markets, drawing from the stalls and carts, &c., vegetables and fruit, some of which they sell to the old women who keep stalls, some they carry home to pay their lodgings, and some they eat. Little urchins not six years of age, who belong to bad and I careless parents, will in this way start In the world on their own account, and never after pursue any other calling than a thief. Their next step is to attack the cheesemongers, butchers, and bakers' shops, hanging about for an opportunity to snatch and run; in this stage they are called sawney hunters and grubbers. The old women in the street are still their fences, that is buy the stolen things of them. Probably they may now be ten years of age, and have had several whippings and imprisonments; they are therefore more hardened, and their wants are increased, being older; they then turn lob sneaks (watching shops for an opportunity to creep round the counter on their hands and knees to plunder the till); some boys have made a swag from �20 to �30 a-day in this way. Others render themselves famous for stealing from linen-drapers' shop-doors, and in all places where goods are exposed for sale; and they will even carry off large rolls of carpet from the steps, where they are placed in view for public purchase, chairs, tables, or any other furniture from broker's shops, barrels from coopers, &c. Nothing escapes their over watchful eye. By their habit of prowling over the town, and communication, they become acquainted with all the best places for their purpose, and they have certain places to go to every day, where there is but little likelihood of being piped (watched); that is to say, where persons are careless of their goods and premises, every one of which is known throughout London to the young sneak of experience. Those who escape transportation, and turn out clever, in time become pickpockets; and if not in this stage of their probation carried off by the law, they go all to become swell cranksmen, the post of honour they have in prospect throughout their days of apprenticeship in crime. From this statement, which is drawn from facts, it will be seen that nearly all the delinquents in London come from the body of young sneaks, and that this large body come from poor parents, who have no feeling belonging to them beyond their own enjoyments, and who leave their children as soon as they can run to the mercy of the streets and the pollution of those who are already criminals. Many boys on board the Euryalus convict ship at Chatham, under the age of twelve, have been in London and Surrey prisons fifteen and sixteen times before they were sent for transportation. The sufferings of this class of young rogues throughout their lives are incredible to those who have seen but little of them. When they commence their career they are cruelly used by the boys who are older and stronger than themselves, being made to steal for others, often in a state of starvation (however much may be obtained) through the improvidence of their elder companions, who spend in a few hours among females of their own class their ill-gotten plunder. Full one-half of their time is spent in prison on hard fare under severe punishment, yet the pleasures of a predatory life when they are released cannot be resisted; they return to their old companions and those scenes of early enjoyment, which has already at fourteen years of age destroyed both their morals and their constitution. In every part of this metropolis there are what is called cock and hen hops, where girls and boys meet, of similar ages, and thus in riot and obscurity corrupt each other. All that can be further said of this body of juvenile offenders is that, although they are one of the greatest nuisances that ever annoyed any society, and are in themselves very disgusting members of it, yet they claim the commiseration and consideration of all good men. They are, it is true, abandoned and desperate, but then they are so not by their own choice. The neglect of their parents, and consequent force of circumstances, have made them what they are, and it is to be lamented that the country cannot make a provision for these unfortunates of society.*
* This class of delinquents are divided into shop sneaks, lob-sneaks, hall-sneaks, sawney-sneaks, market-snoozers, and area-sneaks. The latter must have been an old offender, as many years since, we are told the story of a Member of Parliament who proposed to make it a capital offence for a Jew to look down an area; which was gravely approved, with an amendment, by the introduction of the words, "or any other person" after the word "Jew." Had the bill passed, it would have been "death for any Jew or other person to look down au area." This was said in ridicule of the laws, which are made more to punish than prevent the depredations committed by juvenile offenders.
BRIDGES.- Two of the principal bridges over the Thames will be undergoing repairs at the same time, but that which will materially interfere with the local trade of the city of London is the closing of Blackfriars-bridge. To obviate this inconvenience, it said the corporation intend to treat with the proprietors of Waterloo-bridge for privileges, during the time the passage over Blackfriars-bridge is closed, respecting the conveyance of goods in those carts and other vehicles exempted from city toll. It is estimated that the expense of repairing the latter will amount to �90,000, and this sum will be entirely expended in repairs under water, in consequence of the stone work being in a very decayed condition. Since the building of New London bridge, the water, when the tide is out, is so very low, that in many parts even of the centre of the river nothing larger than a wherry could float. This was not the case while the back water at old London-bridge remained, which kept a sufficient quantity of water above bridge for the purposes of navigation. The first stone of Blackfriars-bridge was laid in 1760, the first year of the reign of King George the Ill.; it was passable in 1766, finished in 1770,and cost more than .�150,840. Westminster bridge has been more than three years under repair, the stone work having been much decayed, from being of a soft texture, and ill calculated for durability, This bridge was begun in September 1738, the last arch finished August 1746, pier sunk and repaired in 1747, opened to passengers 1750, and cost �426,650.
The Cholera has unequivocally manifested itself in Canterbury during the last four or five days; but, as in all other places, its attacks have been confined to persons residing in close situation, and who, from their necessitous condition, were unable to procure a sufficiency of wholesome and nutritious food.
A Deputation from the British Reformation Society have been visiting Southampton and Portsea, for the purpose of combating, by sermons and public discussions, the leading doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. The Rev. E. Tottenham is one of the Deputation.
In Tuesday's Gazette it is announced that a ball will henceforth he dropped from the top of a pole on the eastern turret of the Royal Observatory at Greenwhich at the moment of 1 o'clock P.M. mean solar time; by observing which, all vessels in the adjacent reaches of the River, as well as in most of the docks, will have an opportunity of regulating and rating their chronometers. The ball will be hoisted half-way up the pole at 5 min. before 1, as a preparatory signal, and close up at 2 min. before 1.
In Friday's Gazette a further reward of �100, and an offer of pardon to all but the actual culprit, are announced on the discovery and conviction of the ruffians who, on the 15th ult., broke open and attempted to set fire to the house of Mr. Scott, the bailiff of Lord Montague, situate within the Moat, at Ditton Park, Bucks.
Mrs. Barnard, widow, who kept the post-office at North Curry, near Taunton, is in custody, charged with having defrauded Government by an extra charge of letters from Crewkerne, for the amount of which she did not account. Mrs. B. alleges that she followed the same practice as her husband, who died only a few weeks ago. It seems that a difference is made in postage of letters to North Curry from Crewkerne, whether they go up or down the country, and Mrs.B. charged the highest postage, conceiving the letters were wrongly taxed.
John Brown, a butcher, and pugilistic champion of Hull, was killed on Wednesday in a fight with Wm. Hackney, a fish-man, of Aldborough in Holderness, Yorkshire. They fought 69 rounds in an hour and 38 minutes. In the last Hackney rushed in, caught him on the side of the head, and fell on him : on being picked up, Brown was quite insensible; and though every medical and other assistance was afforded, he died the same night. It is said Hackney and his seconds have fled to Holland, but they will come back when the time for the trial approaches.
IRISH CASE OF BIGAMY.- At the Commission Court in Dublin came on to be tried on the 30th ult, the case of the King at the prosecution of Maurice O'Connell, esq., v. Mary Jane Galway, alias Cockburne, alias Macneile, alias Scott, for bigamy. It will be recollected that the first mention of the case made some noise in the papers not long since. The prisoner was charged that she being the wife of Anthony Galway, married in March last with John Scott, esq., of the County of Clare. A witness named King, a clerk to a couple-beggar, was called to prove the marriage in the year 1821, at the Haymarket, in Dublin. His identification of the prisoner was, however, very slight. It was submitted by the Counsel for the prisoner that some years had elapsed since Galway had been in the country, or was known to his wife to be alive, but whether this was the case or not, did not clearly appear from the evidence. Mr. Maurice O'Connell, who some short time ago married a sister of Mr. Scott, was a witness to prove certain conversations with the prisoner, when he endeavoured to induce her to sign a paper relative to this transaction, which she refused to sign. It caused some amusement in Court when it was elicited on cross-examination, that this gentleman, the Clerk to the couple-begger, Mr. Walsh and Mr. Galway travelled from Dublin town to Clare in the same post-chaise and four to confront the prisoner with Galway. The Court considered the evidence against her as slight, and the Jury not being able to agree in their verdict, a Juror was by consent withdrawn. The prisoner was then bound over in sureties to appear and stand her trial again when called upon.
EXTENSIVE ROBBERY. Monday night, between 11 and 12, it was discovered that the house of Mr. Oliveira, No.4, Cumberland-street, Hyde-park, had been entered by thieves, who gained access to the bed-room, where they contrived to pick the lock of an iron chest, and decamped unobserved with the contents, consisting of between �1,600 and �1,700 in Bank of England notes- an immense sum in gold coin, both English and foreign - two wills concerning extensive properties and bonds - securities and acceptances; in the whole to a very considerable amount. The robbery was discovered by some of the domestics, who, on going up stairs, found the furniture of the room all in confusion, and the chest, which had been drawn out from a secret recess, lying open on the floor. It has evidently been done by some one well acquainted with the premises, who knew where the treasure was deposited. There is no trace in what manner the house was entered or quitted. The chest and its contents were safe at seven in the evening.
The Council of the Birmingham Political Union held a meeting on Tuesday, at which it was mentioned that the mechanics of Birmingham were collecting funds to give effect to their endeavours to procure a repeal of the assessed taxes. The masons and carpenters had collected �1,100 in one week. Mr. Boultbee said, in reference to a proposed union with the association in London, that the Council could not legally do more than approve of the conduct of the inhabitants of London on the subject of the assessed taxes; and Mr. T. Attwood was certain that the people of Birmingham would assist them by "every legal means in their power," - Country Paper.
Railway between Limerick and Waterford.-About six years ago the project of a railway between Limerick and Waterford was much spoken of: but no decisive measure was adopted beyond the obtaining of a bill. We find by the following announcement the Liverpool Times of Tuesday, that this important work is again in contemplation:- The South Wales line is expected to join the Bristol line at Swindon, and we understand, that in consequence or the projected Bristol line, the plan for forming a railway between Limerick and Waterford, and in that manner connecting the opposite shores of Ireland, for which a bill has already been obtained, has been resumed. The government grant of �100,000 for the improvement of the river Shannon, will render this latter undertaking doubly important.
The friends of Parliamentary Reform dined together last evening, at Radley's Hotel, Bridge street, Blackfriars, to celebrate the thirty-ninth anniversary of the acquittal of Thomas Hardy, John Horne Tooke, and John Thelwall, from a charge of constructive high treason. About 100 of the Radical school sat down to dinner. Among the gentlemen present were Mr. Thelwall, Mr Nicholson, Major Revell, Mr Murphy, &c.- Mr. Galloway was voted into the chair. Among the toasts proposed, and drank with great enthusiasm, were- "The purity of trail by Jury;" "The Three Juries who, in 1791, acquitted of charge of High Treason, Hardy, Tooke, and Thelwall ;" "The memory of the London Corresponding Society." Mr. Thelwall returned thanks on his health being proposed: and Mr. Murphy, the late candidate for Marylebone, entertained the company with a song.
From a table, published in the Report of the select Parliamentary Committee on the subject of vaccination, it appears that the proportionate mortality from small pox, which before 1800, when vaccination began, was about one in every two deaths, is now reduced to about three in every 100 deaths, and is therefore only between 1-3d an one-fourth of what it was prior to the introduction of vaccination. The return of the National Establishment states also that during the last seven years. out of 83,647 vaccinations by the stationary vacinators, two cases only came under their notice in which small pox afterwards occurred, attended with a fatal result; and in one of the two cases it was doubtful whether the disease was actually small pox. Were it assumed, as a basis on which to calculate, that out of ever 100 persons vaccinated one is attacked by small pox, and that out of every 100 such cases five were fatal, it would follow that out of every 10,000 persons vaccinated, five only, or out of every 2000 persons vaccinated, one only would die of the small pox; but the real proportion is probably much less.
The importation of a species of timber, called Green Heart from the West Indies to this country, is likely to prove a source of profit to the West Indians. This timber is used for planking ships, and has been found to he more durable and better for this purpose than the far famed teak of the East Indies. Although this kind of wood was tried twelve or fifteen years ago by some shipbuilders in Greenock, yet from the high price of it, and other things, it is not generally used. A vessel, with a considerable part other cargo green heart planking, arrived at Greenock a short time ago, and not a doubt now exists but that the importations of this kind of timber will form a part of West Indian importations in a very few years- Caledonian Mercury.
An Inquest was held before H. Hemsted, esq. coroner, at the Blue Ball, Greenham, on the body of a child, about eight years old, belonging to a labourer named Brown, of Greenham, which was terribly scalded by its throwing down a kettle of scalding water over its neck and breast; the little sufferer lingered a week and then expired. A respectable jury was summoned; and after a strict investigation, the inquest was adjourned to gain further information. On Thursday the jury re-assembled, and a verdict was returned of "Accidental Death by scalding," and that the death was occasioned in a great measure by the neglect of the mother, who being intoxicated, had left the child alone.
The following is a copy of a letter, dated in 1769, the original of which is now in the possession of a gentleman residing within a few miles of Devizes. Our readers will perceive that it alludes to the Cotton trade. Few persons living at that period could have contemplated the mighty increase that has taken place in this brand of business, within a period of 60 years. London then was the grand emporium, to which place all the importations were directed. Nearly every vessel laden with cotton now arrives at Liverpool. We are assured that one single house at Preston now consumes more than the whole annual importation of England in the year 1769 :
Our last was of the 19th current, to which we refer you. Some Ash holders being inclined to sell for this week or 10 days past, an opinion prevails that they are liklier to decline than advance. As such have been rather afraid of overstanding the market with your 30 Baysls, have therefore left no stone unturned to get them off; we have broke with every Chap but one at 37s., and him we got 38s. to be delivered as the real tares, this was yesterday, which we refused, hoping to stretch 1s. farther; and to-day he hath sent us the same offer again, and despairing of doing better, and finding him immovable, have very unwillingly let them go at 38s. Our Broker says he is very certain nobody here will give more for them, they being an out of the way article, we wish this may meet with your approbation, for we can honestly say our best endeavours has not been omitted. We dare not meddle with Cotton yet, for we apprehend it will be lower, a good deal is arrived here lately. One vessel just arrived with 300 Bags and another daily expected with about 400. We shall keep an eye on it, and advise you how it goes on. When you have got Mr. Naylor's sales, you'll send us account sales of the remainder of the Cotton. Believe we forgot to tell you that we received 14s. 6d. of Mrs. Shoolbred, for the damage in cotton, 7s. 3d. of which is your credit. You will charge such proportions of postage in the sales of Cotton as you think proper, as we have made no distinction on that account, but put all your letters to your debt in your postage account. Hope you'll have seen our Mr. T.S. before this. If he be with you when this comes, please let him know that all his friends are well.
We are respectfully, Gentlemen, your most humble servants,
THOS. SMALLWOOD & CO., Merchants, Liverpool.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT BY THE EXPLOSION OF FIREWORKS.
On Saturday night, while a lad, in the employment of Mr. Barling, a firework manufacturer, at 24, John-street, Cannon-street Road, was making some serpents, he upset the table, on which was placed a candle. Mrs. Barling rushed forward to secure the candle, but she was too late; the fireworks exploded with a terrific shock, and Mrs. Barling's apparel was set on fire. Before the flames could be extinguished she was burned so dreadfully, that only slight hopes of her recovery are entertained. The boy who had upset the table in rising from his seat escaped uninjured. About �12 worth of fireworks were destroyed.
On Sunday last, whilst a young woman was under examination at the Belfast Quarter Sessions, in an action brought by her against a married man who resides at Moira, for a sum of money to support an illegitimate child which she swore she had to him, the following most appalling disclosure took place. The defendants' attorney, in his cross examination, asked whether she had not, before, made a charge against the defendant, of a much more serious nature than that of seduction ? She said she had. On being asked what it was, she replied "Murder!" The disclosure created a very strong sensation in Court; and the young woman was desired by the bench to state the particulars. She said, that about ten years ago (being then nine years of age), she was a servant with the defendant; and one night she saw him and his wife murder a man. After the commission of the deed, he washed the blood off his hands, and with his wife's assistance, buried the body near a quarry. The body, the witness said, was afterwards found, and reburied by two men, who she named. The murderer swore the girl to secrecy; and she said she would never have revealed the crime but for the seduction, and refusal to support the child. After the details of this most mysterious affair, the man and his wife (both being in court) were put under arrest together with the witness; and the Police were despatched to Moria to make inquiries at Moira regarding the men who were said to have discovered the body. The three persons are now confined in the House of Correction, waiting the result of the inquiry at Moira. The girl still persists in the particulars of her very extraordinary charge.- Belfast Northern Whig.
A dreadful murder was committed on Sunday, at Heage, Derbyshire, by William Willot, a man of considerable property; who cut the throat of Susannah Gratian, his female servant. A boy who was in an outbuilding heard the screams of the woman, and ran into the house; where he beheld her standing, holding her apron to her throat to catch the blood, and her waster was behind the door, wiping tho razor with which he had committed the deed on a cloth. The boy instantly gave an alarm; and Willot's brother and a man in his employ entered the house, and found the girl lying on the floor, and Willot in the parlour in the act of cutting his own throat. They prevented him doing more than a slight injury on himself; and, after a struggle, succeeded in wrenching the razor from his hand. It appears that Willot had lately been very low spirited, in consequence of having lost a valuable horse and one of his sheep, and he suspected the deceased had something to do with his losses. The Coroner's Jury returned a verdict of Wilful Murder against him, and he was committed.
MURDERS.- One of the most cold-blooded and atrocious murders of the many that have disgraced the Queen's County was committed at Anghaboe on Tuesday evening. The unfortunate victim was James Lalor. He was returning home from the fair at Aughaboe, when he was waylaid by a party of men, at the bridge, situate about 80 yards at the Borris-in-Ossory side of the Abbey; they broke his skull nearly in two, and left his blood and brains strewed upon the road and upon the battlement of the bridge, over which the cowardly wretches threw his mangled remains. It is supposed the savages commenced their work with skull-cracker's, and ended with large stones, as such were found upon the road with the brains upon them. Lalor was a man of good character; but he formerly held a situation as subconstable of police, and in that capacity had to perform a duty in the protection of a process-server, who had been employed to serve tithe latitats. This is the only cause that can be assigned for the assassination. The unfortunate man has left a wife and three helpless orphans. Leinster Express, - Saturday evening, two fishermen, John Higgins and George Estwood, were sitting together in a public-house at Ringsend, when Higgins, in the course of conversation, alluded in very disrespectful terms to the moral character of a female relative of Estwood. Infuriated by the observation, and his passions being roused by the liquor he had drunk, Estwood immediately stabbed Higgins in the left breast with a knife that was laying on the table. Higgins was immediately removed to Jervis-street Hospital, where he died in a few minutes afterwards. Estwood was immediately arrested, and is now in custody.- Dublin Register.
A BLACK BUSINESS.-.MARLBOROUGH-STREET.- William White, a journeyman chimneysweep, well known in the purlieus of Duck-lane, was brought before Mr. CONANT, charged with having stolen the working tools of John Scraggs, a brother artiste, on Sunday last,
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John Scraggs, who appeared before the Bench in his professional toggery, "as black as soot could make him," described his loss with much warmth and feeling. He deposed that he placed his bag and brush in the cellar of his mistress; who was the mother of the prisoner on Saturday night last, ready for a job which he had to undertake on Monday morning; but when Monday morning came he was struck quite comical on diskivering that the whole kit had wanished in sitch a mysterious way that nobody had seen nothing on 'em except Jim Crackein, who was ready to a hoth on it.
A bandy-legged lad here stepped forward, and was about to give evidence, when the prisoner bawled out, "His name isn't Crackein, - that ere name is vot ve nickname him, because he's sitch a howdacious thief.
Mr. CONANT - What is your real name, witness ?
Witness- My name is Crackein.
Prisoner - It's wery false; your name is Jim Gardner.
Witness- My name is Crackein. My missus, as lives in St.James's-place, gimme the name of Gardner for shortness - (a laugh).
Mr. CONANT- That is an odd way of shortening a name. Well, go on.
Crackein - On Monday morning, your Vership, Jack Scraggs tells me as how somebody had prigged his kit, and accordinglye, as I was going along Shoreditch, I meets that ere prisoner at the bar, who was holding out for a job. "Hollo, Bill," sis I, "how do you get on ? Have you got ever a berth yet?" And accordinglye, "No," sis he " I don't want no birth now, 'cause I jest sot up in business for my-self." Now, your Vership, I knowed that ere warn't no sitch thing.
Prisoner- How did you know it, I ax you ?
Crackein- Cause you borrowed a ha'penny on me to get a baked tato with for your dinner on Saturday. Vell, your Vership accordinglye I looks at his bag, and I knowed in a hinstant moment as it was Jack Scraggses, so I cotched hold on him and giv'd him into a hofficer's custody, and it aint the first time as he's bin in sitch a sitivation.
"No, I nose that to my sorrow," said a red faced dame in widow's weeds, coming forward. "I'm his mother, and since his poor dead father's decease, he's robbed me six times. Three times he stole my new bags, twice a whole lot of stuff, and the last time a new vite hat, which I walued particular, on account of it being the last momentum which I had of my poor dead husband's death.
Mr. CONANT asked the prisoner what he had to say to the charge.
Prisoner- It's an werry false, and I've got a witness to prove it. - "Here," said he to a boy in the office, "Vont you swear as you didn't see me take ere tools?" "Yes; I can," said the boy. "There, your Vership," said the prisoner confidently; "my witness swears e never seed me take 'em, and, according to the law of the land, you can't convict a man in sitch a case."
Mr. CONANT differed from the prisoner's law and logic, and directed a committal to be made out.
Prisoner- I hopes your Vership will grant me the grace of hearing my 'salt varrant, as I've got agin my mother.
Mr. CONANT ordered the parties to come forward. The prisoner's story was, while imbibing a pint of beer in a public-house, his mother came in quite "tossicated," and after "jawing" him, slapped his face, at the same time calling him a transported thief.
Mother- And so you have been transported.
Mr. CONANT - Is that the fact ?
Prisoner- Vy, the truth on it is, some spoons and forks got into my sack, vich I knowed nothen on; and I vos taken and convicted quite hinnocent; but that eres no reason vy this ere homan should alway, wen she sees me, chuck sitch a haggawating anti-goat into my teeth, she says as I'm a bastard.
Mr. CONANT - Why she knows best as to that, I should think.
Mother- And so you are, you nasty warmint. Your Worship (said she wiping her eyes and curtseying), I had the misfortune to be put to bed with him afore I could get married.
The magistrate finding the assault to be of a trivial character, dismissed the warrant.