Newspaper Transcripts
Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
Saturday, April 16, 1831.
Windsor and Eton.
William Manley, was committed to Reading Gaol on Monday by E. Foster, Esq for ill-treatment and brutal conduct towards his wife and child. Manley was only discharged from prison on the preceeding Thursday, having been confined a month for a similar offence.
On Tuesday night, several accidents happened on the road between Uxbridge and London, in consequence of the violence of the storm : the mail coach having ran against a post by the side of the road going down White Hill, beyond Beaconsfield, the sudden concussion threw the guard from his seat, which caused a dislocation of his collar-bone; two ladies, inside passengers, were very much bruised, the coachman and another passenger escaped unhurt. No blame whatsoever attaches to the driver.
BIRTHS.
On Thursday, the 14th inst., at the Vicarage Croydon the lady of the Rev. Henry Lindsay, of a son.
MARRIED.
On Thursday, the 14th of April, at St. John's Hackney, by the Rev. Richard Harvey, Rector of Hornsey, James C. Somerville, M.D. to Albenia, fourth daughter of Thomas Hankey, Esq of Dalston.
April 14th, at Hayes, by the Rev. C. Currie, N.S. Heathcote, Esq of Coleman Street, to Ann, youngest daughter of Mark Currie, Esq of Hayes.
DIED.
April 13th, at Iver, Mary, the wife of J. Copeland, Esq, at the age of 81 years.
On the 14th inst., at his residence, 48, Cloudesley-terrace, Islington, Mr. Thomas Gosden
On the 14th inst. Emily Jane, infant daughter of Mr. Mawe, of New Bridge-street.
On the 11th of April, Colonel Robert Murray Macgregor, late of the Hon. East India Company's Service.
On the 12th instant, in the Clapham-road, Frances, the beloved wife of Mr. Richard Symonds, of Ingram-court, Fenchurch-street, aged 51.
IN the following prayer, said to have been composed, and distributed in Windsor and its vicinity, by the Hon. Miss TOWNSHEND, every pious soul will fervently join :-
"O God, in thy tender mercy, subdue, by a timely reform the revolutionary spirit abroad, and insubordination to the power, that be, which have long threatened destruction to this once favoured and peaceful land. We are a sinful nation ! but let each individual do his part, and reform himself, as well as the corruption of the State; and then may God Almighty, who sees all hearts, in his infinite mercy, turn his wrath from our devoted country, and save us from the ruin that would otherwise await us." - (Times of to-day, Saturday).
On Tuesday last, an inquest was held at the Crown and Anchor before John Banister, Esq Mayor and Coroner for this Borough, on the body of a man which was discovered floating down the river the preceding evening. The body, which was in a shockingly decomposed state, is supposed to be that of the poor fellow who was lost at Surley-hall about three weeks ago. The jury returned a verdict of "Found Drowned." A silver buckle was in the shirt, with the initials J.C.
DREADFUL STORM - One of the most alarming thunder storms ever remembered in this neighbourhood, occurred on Tuesday last, the 12th instant.- The day was very sultry; at about half-past three o'clock in the afternoon, the thunder was heard at some distance, and the clouds seemed gathering over us; from four to five o'clock it was truly terrific; about which time much damage was done. Mr. Millar, the nurseryman, of Sheen, had nearly the whole of his glasses broken by the hail stones - many of them were the size of a marble - after the storm had abated they were seen in heaps. A hail stone was picked up on Newbury Wash of the size of a pigeon's egg.
At the adjourned Easter Quarter Sessions for Reading, held on Monday, before the Recorder; J.J. Blandy, Esq Mayor; T.G. Curties, Esq; Robert Harris, Esq; William Stephens, Esq; Thomas Garrard, Esq; and Henry Simonds, Esq.- John Tebbott was indicted for stealing from a stable at the Broad Face Inn, a fustian frock, and pleaded guilty - one month's hard labour - Two gentlemen, who did not answer their names on the Grand Jury, were fined 40s, each.
The next concert of the Reading Amateur Musical Society will take place on Wednesday the 27th instant.
The third Blackwater Ball took place on the 7th instant, at the Assembly Rooms, which was more numerously attended than on any former occasion, by all the beauty and fashion of the neighbourhood. Dancing commenced at ten o'clock, and continued without intermission until a late hour in the morning, to Litolff and Adams's excellent band, which was in attendance, with their new and beautiful music. The refreshments were of the first order.
On Monday last, a fallow deer was observed in the woods of Lord Kirkwall, at Taplow, Bucks, by a man named Williams, a carpenter; his Lordship, accompanied by several horsemen, went in immediate pursuit, with a brace of greyhounds and a bloodhound, they soon got upon the scent, when he broke cover and afforded a capital hunt; and was taken at Lively Hall, in the water, by two bargemen in their punt. The deer was severely bitten by the bloodhound previously to his being taken, and in consequence his Lordship ordered it to be killed.
MAIDENHEAD.
TOWN SESSIONS, FRIDAY, APRIL 8.
Before C. Sawyer, Esq in the absence of Wm. Payn, Esq. Recorder.
There was only one prisoner for trial, viz. Edward Flarty, for an assault on Thomas Barton, tithingman.
Thomas Barton being sworn, stated that about eleven o'clock in the evening of the 19th of March last, he was called upon by Mr. Thomas Beezley, baker, of Maidenhead, to go to his house and take his staff to maintain peace. He went, as requested, and followed Mr. Beazley into a bed room, where there was a man very ill. While looking at the man, he was struck on the head with a candlestick and knocked down, his head broke, and his eyelid cut open. He took out his staff, and the light was knocked out. There were two men, one of whom followed him out. When knocked down his staff was taken away. Could not say by whom. Got away as well as he could, it being dark. Prisoner struck him at the door. The two men ran away with his staff and hat. The next morning set out for Colnbrook in pursuit of the men, but overtook them a short distance from Maidenhead. Took the prisoner and another man into custody, who struck him again. They had a struggle. The other prisoner had on witness's hat. Brought both prisoners into Maidenhead.
The witness's statement was corroborated, and the prisoner in his defence said that he was travelling upwards for work, and having a few shillings had been keeping St.Patrick's Day with his friends, till he did not exactly know what he was about. The next morning the witness, before he handcuffed him, offered to fight him for a sovereign. He was sorry for the offence.- Guilty; two months hard labour.
ABINGDON.- On Tuesday evening last, this town and neighbourhood were visited by a thunder storm. The flashes of lightning were extremely vivid. At Hendred, near Wantage, the electric fluid struck a barn, the property of Mr. Broad, where some men were winnowing oats, and we are sorry to say, consumed it, and about 25 quarters of corn. We did not hear that either of the men were injured. Another fell in a field belonging to Mr. Tanner of Welford, but fortunately did no other damage then forcing up the hurdles which formed a sheep pen.
A grand ploughing match took place on Easter Monday, in the parish of Barkham, Berks, between twenty-two of the best ploughmen, when, to the astonishment of the natives, the prize was carried off by a cockney, who had not had a plough in his hand for the last forty years.
BUCKS.- At the Magistrates Chamber, Aylesbury, on Saturday, upon the application of the parish officers of Bledlow (and of other parishes) for the Magistrates signatures to the appointment of an assistant overseer, Dr. Scobell wished parishes generally to understand that, to enable assistant overseers to act legally, their appointment must be stamped, without which they could not justify an act as overseer. The expense, he believed, was about �3, and it might be stamped at any time within 21 days - Upon a complaint being made by the wife of a labourer relative to the rate of wage paid by the parish. Dr.Scobell observed, they had no right to say what wages should be paid - the labourer was worthy of his hire. If a person worked for the overseer he must work the same as for another man; he must not slight his work, and must stop the same number of hours as other labourers : but if they neglected to do so, and were brought before the Magistrates, they would be punished. If they could get an independent place they were at liberty. Some wished to lead an easy life : if they could better themselves instead of working for the parish, let them go. If attention was paid to these particulars they would not want overseers of parishes as they do - James Frost, a labourer, employed at Cuddington parish, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment for neglecting his family.
Eight or nine young fowls, the property of George Rowland Minshull, Esq were lately stolen from a barn on his premises at Aston Clinton, Bucks.
The following deception has been lately practised at Wavendon, Bucks :- A female, genteelly dressed, called at the house of labourer named Garrett, who lives by the side of the turnpike road, about half a mile from the village, when she entered into conversation with him and his wife, to whom she stated that she was a native of France, and was come over to this country for the benefit of her health. Upon her representations they suffered her to remain with them a fortnight, during which time they provided her with wine and every delicacy they could procure. She advised them to take a small farm, and offered to lend them money to commence business, to reside with them afterwards, and to pay them two guineas a week for her board. The poor man, in consequence, gave notice to quit his cottage, took a farm of 40 acres at North Crawley, and agreed for the purchase of articles. The lady told them she had no other money but checques, and gave them one for upwards of �300 on a gentleman of Newport Pagnell, but observed that as it was Good Friday it could not be paid that day. On the following day her dupes went to Newport, and presented the draft - the gentleman advised them to hasten home immediately, as in all probability their house would be robbed. They followed this advice, and upon reaching home they found that their guest had sent a little boy, whom they had left with her, in search of birds nests, and during his absence had taken away a considerable quantity of the poor woman's wearing apparel, with which she made off, and has not since been heard of, leaving the poor couple, in addition to the loss of their apparel, indebted to their neighbours as much as �5 which they had incurred for her accommodation.
BEDS.- DEATH OF MR. BUDD, CORONER FOR BEDS.- On Saturday last an inquisition was taken at the Falcon Inn, Bletsoe, about five miles from Bedford; before the Rev. J. Leete and the Rev. J.W. Davis, Justices for the Peace, assisted by Mr. Hankin, solicitor, on the body of Mr. Budd, the Coroner for the county, who had been taken out of the river Ouse on the same morning. The evidence was taken at great length. It appeared that the deceased had been on the preceding evening to Bletsoe to take inquisitions on the bodies of two persons, workmen, employed in taking down an old building; a stack of chimneys fell down on them, and they were taken out of the rubbish corpses. Mr. Budd had left the Falcon Inn on horseback the preceding evening, in company with his clerk and a person of the name of Walton. They proceeded along the high road together for about three miles, and on a sudden his companions missed him. They proceeded as far as Clapham Toll-bar, and inquired if the deceased had been through; and finding that he had not, they returned to look after him, without success. The next morning his horse was found in a field near the river Ouse, the saddle dirty, and the great coat buckled to it. Near the river footmarks of the horse were discovered, and also traces of footmarks, supposed to be those of the deceased, near the spot where he was taken out of the river. The place near the river is very swampy - Captain St.Leger was examined to prove that the deceased was not intoxicated, or under any excitement when he left the Falcon Inn, as also two other witnesses. No account could be elicited how the deceased returned to Bletsoe parish again, or missed his way. A surgeon was examined, who proved that there were no marks of violence on the body. The Jury, under the direction of the Justices and their legal advisers, returned a verdict - "Found drowned in the river Ouse; but how the deceased got in the river no evidence appeared." The Jury immediately presented to the Magistrates that the road near the river was very dangerous, and if the Commissioners did not place posts and rails they were requested to indict it, which they promised to do. The deceased has left a widow and four children. Several persons have been drowned in or near the same spot.
MAIL COACH ACCIDENT - The Worcester mail met with a [..] accident in coming from London on Tuesday night last. At Loudwater, between Wycombe and Beaconsfield, the was [met ?] by several waggons loaded with lambs for the London market, the mail horses took fright, and instantly galloped off, and [the] coach was soon after upset. An inside passenger (Mr. D.. Gresley) had his arm broken; an outside passenger (Mr J.. clerk to Mr. Hughes, solicitor, of Worcester) received several bruises, and the coachman and guard were much hurt, but [had] no bones broken.
DEATH BY STARVATION.- On Tuesday afternoon a man, who gave his name as Hans Hope, and travelling from Bristol, was discovered lying at the door of a house, at Turnham-green, in a most wretched state, and apparently dying. He stated that [for] the last five days he had subsisted on bread alone, and was [quite] exhausted. He was conveyed to Chiswick workhouse, where every assistance was afforded him; but he died the same evening.