Newspaper Transcripts
Local Newpaper Extracts
Some Selected Reports from the Salisbury and Winchester Journal
Monday, March 15th, 1813
List of Subscriptions in aid of the Russians, as received at the Warminster Banks.
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| �. | s. | d. |
| Amount already advertised (Received at the Old Bank) | 165 | 7 | 0 |
| Thomas Davis, Esq. Horningsham | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Mr. H.A.Fussell, Corsley | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Southampton.
Notice is hereby given, - That all Debts now due owing to the late Copartnership Concern carried on under the Names or Firm of Amor and Nichols, and are to be paid into the hands of William Amor, the surviving Partner :- And all persons having claims on the said Copartnership Concern are requested to send the particulars thereof forthwith to the office of the said William Amor, in the town of Southampton, in order to their being discharged.
Dated the 25th day of February, 1813.
William Amor.
Any Person or Persons having any claim on the Estate of the Rev.Francis Gibbs, late of Maddington, Wilts, deceased, are requested, by his Executors, to send the same immediately to Messrs.Phelps and Thring, Warminster.
March 11, 1813.
All Persons having any Claim or Demand on the Estate and Effects of Mr.Richard H.Randell, of Gussage St.Michael, Dorset, are requested to apply to Mr.John Olive, of the above place; if by letter, post-paid.
Shapwick, Dorset.
All Persons having any Claim or Demand on Mr.Richard Budden, of Shapwick, are desired to send account thereof to Mr.W.D.Budden, of Shapwick, immediately.
To Millers.
Wanted, - A sober steady Man, as Grinder : one that understands dressing of stones, is well acquainted with the milling business, and can bring a good character from his last employer.
Enquire of Mr.Robert Bound, Sopley Mill, near Christchurch, Hants.
To Journeymen Bisket-Bakers.
Wanted, - A Gang of good Workmen, to whom the best London wages, and every other suitable encouragement, will be given. The wages will be at the rate of fifteen-pence per shute, which shute consists of 74lb of bisket, from the oven.
Apply to Tollervey[?] and Hyde, Portsmouth.
Winchester,
Saturday, March 13.
Birth. At Winchester, on the 3d instant, the Countess of Northesk of a son.
On Tuesday last was married, Captain Henry James Lyford, Commander of the Erebus, to Miss Benfield.
On Friday the 26th ult.died, in her 23d year, Harriet, the wife of Mr.Daniel Sharp, Solicitor, Romsey.
On Tuesday last died, at Newport, in the 23d year of his age, Mr.Joseph Rayner, a truly amiable young man, son of Mr.Wm.Rayner, an old and respectable inhabitant of that town.
On Thursday last died, at his lodgings, in Bruton-street, London, the very Rev.J.Garnett, D.D. Dean of Exeter, aged 65. Few men possessed a more undaunted mind, a more sound and discriminating judgement, or a purer heart, and his loss will be long and severely felt by a wide circle of friends, who knew how to estimate his many and superior virtues.
Friday morning died, Mr.Gale Miller, Confectioner, of this city.
The notorious Swindler, (a native of France,) passing under the several assumed names of Colonel Johnson, Count de Crillon, Count Myers, Mr.Henry Soubiron, &c. was apprehended on Wednesday last, at Lymington, by Mr.West, Banker, just as he was going to embark; he was immediately committed by Charles St.Barbe, Esq. to Winchester Gaol. A few hours after he was taken, a special Messenger arrived with a warrant from Lord Sidmouth to take him to London. It is said, this is the same Mr.Henry, who made himself so conspicuous in America.
Salisbury,
Monday, March 15, 1813.
We have given in to-day's, paper, a very detailed account of the trial of Ruddock and Carpenter, for the murder of Mr.Webb. - A murder more extraordinary in all its circumstances, was never perpetrated.
We must here pay the just tribute of praise to Mr.Hodding (of this city), for the unparalleled activity displayed by him in collecting the necessary evidence, and for the skill he evinced in drawing from the culprits their separate confessions, The public are highly indebted to this gentleman for his praiseworthy exertions.
On Sunday the 7th inst.died, Mr.J.Wood, of Redcliff-street, Bristol, only son of Mr.E.Wood, late of this city; his loss is most sincerely and deservedly lamented by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.
On Tuesday last died Mrs.Rebbeck, wife of Mr.Henry Rebbeck, of Ebbesborne.
On Thursday last died, at Amesbury, aged 41 years, Mr.William Cove, many years carrier to this city.
The business of the Assizes for the county of Wilts commenced on Monday last, which (owing to the unusual number of criminal causes) did not conclude till Friday evening.
G.Carpenter and G.Ruddock were tried for the murder of Mr.Wm.Webb, at Roddenbury, in the evening of the 28th of Dec. last, and being convicted of that offence, they were not arraigned for the murder of Mary Gibbons, his servant.
Mr.Burrough addressed the jury, stating the extraordinary nature of that circumstantial evidence which of itself went far to fix the imputation of guilt upon the prisoners, but which, aided by the ample confession made by each of them, left no possibility of doubt of their having committed the atrocious crime by which their lives were forfeited.
The first witness called was William White : he saw Mr.Webb for the last time on the 28th of December, about three in the afternoon, at the witness's house, which is rather more than a quarter of a mile from the house of the deceased.
Thomas Tudgey lives at Corsley, about a mile from Mr.Webb's house; he proved that on Saturday the 26th of December, Ruddock left a gun at the witness's house about one in the afternoon, and about nine that evening both the prisoners were at the house; the gun remained there till the 28th, when they came for it, and Ruddock took it away between five and six in the evening, and they both left the house together.
John Dredge and his wife proved they lived about a quarter of a mile from Mr.Webb's house, and in full view of it; they were at home with their family all the evening of the 28th of December, and between seven and eight that evening, while sitting by their fire, they heard Mr.Webb's dog bark and rave exceedingly for a long time. About half an hour after the dog began barking, they heard a gun fired in the direction of Mr.Webb's house; at going to bed, the wife observed for a few minutes a light in Mr.Webb's chamber windows. They ascertained the time by hearing the eight o'clock bell ring at Frome.
Susannah Gibbons was sister of the murdered servant; she went to Mr.Webb's house about two o'clock in the afternoon of the 30th of December, and knocked at the door, but no one answered; she looked through the kitchen window, and then opened the door and went in, and saw a man lying on his face dead : she ran out, and gave an alarm, and two women and some gentlemen whom she did not know went back with her; a man turned the body over; she did not know the body then; she saw blood on the floor; she looked about the house for her sister, but could not find her above stairs, or below; she saw papers scattered about in a chamber, and the bureau and chest were open; the bureau was in one room, and the chest in another.
George Mattock's evidence was nearly to the same effect as that of the last witness.
Mr.Miller, a surgeon at Frome, knew Mr.Webb very well; he went to his house on the 30th of December to inspect the body, which, on entering the kitchen, he found lying on the left side, with the arms folded, and the left side of the face much flattened by the pressure in consequence of its having lain so many hours in the same posture. On examining the head, he found an extensive fracture over the right eye, and a division of the muscles over the fracture about two inches and a quarter in length. It appeared to him that there must have been a blunt instrument used, as a portion of the skull was driven in upon the brain; a similar fracture was on the back part of the head, and seemed to have been made with the same instrument; either of these blows might have caused death; the whole right side of the cheek was dreadfully shattered; the nose was also fractured. On the following morning he examined the body again, and discovered that the deceased had been shot; he conceived the hands to have been folded, as the right arm, below the elbow, has received a great portion of the charge, which has dreadfully fractured it; there were shots in great numbers over the chest and abdomen, many of which had penetrated the cavity of the body; there were no shot found higher up than the chest : he examined the wounds occasioned by the shots, and believes that, independently of the fractures, they might have ultimately have killed the deceased, though he might have lived some days. The witness was of opinion that the blows on the head might have been given with the butt end of a gun; he took a small nail from the arm.
John Battle, of Norton Bavant, said, that the prisoners worked for him about the time of the murder; they were at work in his barn, and he was talking to them at the barn door, when his wife came out and informed him of it; they stopped their threshing while he talked about it; he went to Mr.Webb's house to see the body, and they continued at their work; he had known Carpenter about ten or eleven years, and had never heard him go by the name of Haynes; he had paid him two one-pound notes and some silver three weeks or a month before; the prisoners parted that sum between them, and they had no more money than what they worked for.
Grace Chrees said, that George Carpenter was in her husband's service a few days before the 21st of January; he used to come to the house for his beer, and she talked to him about the murder, and she hoped the right ones would be discovered, upon which she saw his countenance change; she talked to him upon the heinousness of the crime, but he scarcely made any other reply than yes or no; he never came in for his beer after that conversation, although he continued to work in her husband's barn till he was taken up.
Mr.Simpkins, a draper at Frome, proved, that the prisoner (Carpenter) came to his shop on the 11th of January for a carter's frock, the price of 11s. and offered a �1 country note, but as the signature was worn off, the witness did not take it; the prisoner then offered a �5 note, the signature of which was also a good deal worn, and it was cut round the edges; the witness observed to the prisoner that it was a �5 note, and he answered that it was; at length the witness desired the prisoner to leave the notes, and he might wear the frock till Saturday, when they could settle for it, to which the prisoner consented, and said his name was William Haynes; the prisoner came again on the evening of the 19th, and purchased other things; he also came on the evening of the 23d, when the witness gave him his change; the witness took particular notice of the prisoner, as he had suspicion of him, from the circumstance of his being in possession of so much money. The witness saw him before the Magistrate, and he then wore the same frock which he had so lately purchased.
Mr.Tilbrook proved that he saw Ruddock in custody of the constable; that there was no promise or threat to induce him to confess; that Ruddock told him that he had shot Mr.Webb, and that he went in and beat the deceased about the head with the butt end of the gun, after he had shot him. The witness went to Ragland Wood, according to the prisoner's direction, and found the gun buried near the middle of the wood. Carpenter's father was present at the finding it; the witness produced the gun, which he had in his possession ever since; the gun was dirty, and the barrel bent at the end, and there was hair upon it as described by the witness.
Ruddock here observed that he did not use the barrel as had been stated.
Mr.Hodding (the solicitor) stated, that he found a flail in a rivulet, which was about half burnt; it was taken to the house of the deceased, but was not preserved, as at that time there was no idea that it had been used in the murder. The witness proved the prisoner's confessions; that there was no promise nor threat; but, on the contrary, they were told that they were not bound to answer any questions; but if they did answer, it was hoped they would answer truly; upon which Carpenter said he wished to tell the truth, and then their examinations were taken separately, and were again read over to them with the same caution as before. After their commitment to prison, the prisoners made further discoveries as to their having thrown some silver spoons in a well, in which they were found; the prisoners also acknowledged that they had left some bad half-pence and two handkerchiefs in a plantation, where they were also found according to the prisoners description.
Susannah Abbott, Mr.Webb's sister, identified the tea-spoons and the handkerchiefs to be the property of her deceased brother.
Ruddock's confession stated, that on Monday the 28th of December, he and Carpenter went to Tudgey's house, received the gun, and agreed to go to Webb's house and shoot him. Ruddock charged the gun, and Carpenter assisted in tearing the paper; Carpenter went in first, and he remained at the door, Mr.Webb was near the fire, and the maid went to get some cyder; upon a signal given, Ruddock fired, and then Mr.Webb fell, and Ruddock went in and beat him with the muzzle of the gun, and Carpenter beat him with the flail. They went out of the house; and when they returned they found Webb dead; they locked the door, lighted a candle, and put the flail onto the fire; they took the deceased's keys, and opened the drawers; Carpenter took the flail out of the fire, and the remaining part of it was thrown into the river; they had hidden the gun in another person's garden, from whence they took it, and buried it in Ragland Wood; they afterwards went to work at Farmer Battle's.
Carpenter's confession stated, that the gun was left at Tudgey's about twelve o'clock the day after Christmas-day. Ruddock said he would shoot Farmer Webb. Carpenter begged he would not. The latter went into Farmer Webb's house, and found him seated by the fire, opposite the door. Ruddock remained without. Carpenter asked Mr.Webb when he would have his fences done ? Mr.Webb desired his servant to draw some cyder, asked who it was without the door, and desired him to come in. Carpenter said it was Ruddock, and that he wanted to go and have his supper, for he was very lear. Ruddock instantly fired the gun, and then ran in and struck Mr.Webb with it; and when Webb was on the ground Carpenter struck him with the flail, which he afterwards threw into the river. Carpenter held the candle while Ruddock took a pocket-book and some keys out of Mr.Webb's pocket. Carpenter says that Ruddock gave him a �5 and a �1 note, saying he had got the same for himself.
The prisoners confession agreed in the main facts, but differed in the accounts of each other. The prisoners said nothing in their defence. They called two witnesses, who gave them good characters previous to the commission of this horrid crime.
Mr.Justice Chambre, in summing up, remarked upon the coincidences in the evidence and confessions, and upon Carpenter having notes to such an amount in his possession, which he could not have got in an honest way, and also upon the circumstances of the spoons and handkerchiefs having been identified.
The Prisoners were both found Guilty. Mr.Justice Chambre, in addressing them said, "I have hardly ever heard of this, the greatest of all crimes, having been committed without some provocation; when you went to Webb, he received you with kindness, and offered you refreshment - instead of being thankful, you executed the bloody purpose in your minds. You are now deprived of all human mercy - you have but a few hours to live, For he that sheddeth man's blood, by man must his blood be shed. You must ask mercy where infinite mercy may be bestowed, but you can only receive it by contrition, and by proper conduct during the short time you have left to live. You have now only to look to that consolation which you may certainly derive from those whose duty it is to administer spiritual comfort, as long as you shall be permitted to remain in this world."
The learned Judge then passed the awful sentence of the law, which was, that the prisoners should be executed on Monday, and their bodies be delivered to the surgeons for dissection.
They are therefore to be removed this morning, under the escort of the Sheriff, to Warminster Down, which is fixed to be the scene of their execution.
Besides the above - Solomon Roach, J.Jotcham, James Brown, otherwise Hobbs for burglary; John Wilmott, John Dallimore, for house-breaking; Jas.Gardener, for sheep-stealing; John Price, and John Matthews, for cattle-stealing; and William Lewis alias Cox, for horse-stealing, were all capitally convicted and received sentence of death, but have since been reprieved.
Wm.Jones, for stealing silver coins from Thomas Portch, at Bradford, to be transported for 7 years.
The following prisoners were convicted of grand larceny, fined 1s. each, and ordered to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour, viz. Elizabeth Furnell, James Topp, Thomas Plank, and Giffard Russ, for two years; - Elizabeth Bond, one year; - Charles Sheppard, Charles Giles, Thos.Bigwood, for nine months; - Thomas Elkins, Wm.Gardener, John Higgins, Henry Little, Thomas Mace, and Elizabeth Furnell, for six months; Maria Bond, for three months; and Amy Bond, for one week; - John Silverthorn, to be privately whipped and discharged. John Jonson, for petit larceny, to be imprisoned two months; - Edw.Morris, for manslaughter, fined 1s. and imprisoned six months; - Jane Bryant, for an assault, pleaded guilty, fined 1s. and prosecution withdrawn; - James Butler, Wm.Scott Provis, and Henry Weeks, discharged; - Tho.Hart and John Rodman, admitted witnesses to the Crown; - Elizabeth Waters, for the murder of her child, was acquitted of murder, but sentenced to one year's imprisonment for concealing the birth; - Thomas Provis and James Udell, no prosecution; nine were acquitted, and nine continued pursuant to their former sentence.
At the Nisi Prius Bar there were seventeen causes entered for trial, - The following were the most important:
On Monday an action was tried in which the Proprietors of the Bath and Bristol Canal and the Bristol Water Works were Plaintiffs, and Mr.Waters, a subscriber to that concern, the defendant, and it was brought to recover from Mr.W. the amount of the several payments ordered by the Committee of Management to be paid by the several subscribers. The only important question which arose, was whether the book of the entries of the company, in which the Defendant's name appeared as a proprietor, could subject him to the call of the committee. The book was kept by the committee, the agents of the Plaintiffs, in the hand writing of the clerk to the concern; the Defendant or any other person connected with the company having no control over it; so that if the Defendant could be charged as a subscriber on account of that book in which the Plaintiffs might make what entries they pleased, every man in England might be deemed a subscriber, and liable to pay the immense expenses of the Bristol Water Works. The learned Judge agreed with the force of the objection, but stated, that the Act of Parliament had provided every one whose name appeared in that book should be deemed and taken to be a proprietor to all intents and purposes. He had therefore nothing to determine, and the Plaintiffs recovered the full amount of their demand.
In an ejectment, at the suit of Budden, and others (administrators of Budden), against Tiller, the material question was, whether a notice to quit, signed by all the administrators, and duly served, was rendered void by an agreement for a new term, signed by one of the administrators. The learned Judge rather thought that however it might be with the executors, one administrator had no power of himself to bind others, but that, at all events, in this case the agreement was of no force in law, till executed by a lease, and to that lease all the administrators must be parties.
In Thatcher v.Still, an action brought against the acceptor for the amount of a bill of exchange, it appeared that the acceptance was specially to pay at a place expressed on the face of the bill. The Plaintiff was not prepared to prove that payment had ever been demanded at that place, which the court held indispensably necessary wherever the acceptance was not general, and the Plaintiff was non-suited.
There were three Special Jury Causes, two of which were tried. - Maundrel v. Poole, was an action in which the Plaintiff claimed a large compensation in damages for the management of a farm out of the usual course of the four field husbandry, to which he maintained that the tenant was bound. It appeared that all matters in dispute between the parties had been regularly referred to arbitration and to umpirage; and that umpire had awarded a sum of money to be paid by the Plaintiff to the Defendant. It was now contended that the award was final, and precluded the Plaintiff from giving any evidence of any injury which he might otherwise complain of. The Plaintiff's Counsel replied, that the umpire had exceeded his power in taking into consideration a supposed right of the Defendant to a prolongation of his interest in the farm for four years, which was not a matter in dispute between the parties, and was not referred to his umpirage; that a compensation having been given for that supposed right, the award itself was a nullity. The Judge admitted the umpire to prove the fact, and laid it down, that if the facts should turn out as stated by the Plaintiff's Counsel, then the award would not preclude him from making the most of his case, but would be absolutely void, however minute the compensation might be which was given for a matter not included in the reference.
Jefferies v.Taylor, was an action to try a right to common over a very small piece of land claimed by the Defendant, as his soil and property, subject to a right of way over it, admitted to belong to the Plaintiff. A great number of witnesses were called for each party, who, respectively, contradicted each other, as is too frequently the case in such controversies. On the whole, the Jury were of opinion, that the right of common was not established, and gave their verdict for the Defendant.
Jane Cove's respects to the Friends of her late Husband, and thanks them for their past favors, and informs them it is her intention to continue the Business of Carrier and Higgler, and hopes for a continuance of their support.
Amesbury, March 12, 1813.
Notice to Debtors and Creditors.
All Persons who are indebted to the Estate of the late Mr.Charles Silverthorne, of Netherhavon, deceased, are desired to pay the same to Mrs.Sarah Silverthorne, widow, and the Administratrix of the said deceased, on or before the 9th day of April next.- And all persons who have any claim on the Estate and Effects of the deceased, are requested to send the amount to Mrs.Silverthorne aforesaid, in order that the same may be settled.
Andover.
Notice to Creditors of William Arthur, deceased.
The Administratrix requests all Persons who have Claims or Demands on the Estate of the Deceased, to send the same to Messrs.Todd and Footner, solicitors, Andover, previous to the 26th day of March instant, when the Administratrix will attend at the Masons Arms, in Andover, at three o'clock in the afternoon, to make a Dividend of the Intestate's Effects.
All those Creditors who shall neglect or refuse to deliver their accounts on or before such day, will be excluded the benefit of such dividend; and all persons indebted to the estate will be proceeded against, unless their respective debts be paid on or before the said day.
March 12, 1813.