Newspaper Transcripts
Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
10th December 1842
Mr. Pole's Harriers
Mr. Pole has commenced hunting deer with three hounds, and from the first day's trial, which was on Thursday, some excellent sport may be safely looked for with this neat pack. The meet on Thursday was at White Waltham Windmill, and from whence the deer afforded a good sporting run of nearly two hours, finishing at Bisham, where he was run into and safely taken.
Accident to Captain Lawley
We regret to state that the Hon. Mr.Lawley, of the 2nd life guards, sustained a serious accident, by his horse falling with him at a gate whilst hunting with the officer's harriers, on Tuesday last, in the vicinity of Thorpe. After the accident Mr. L was removed in a chaise, which was accidentally passing , to the residence of A.J.Goldney, Esq., where he received prompt medical attendance; and we are glad to hear that he is rapidly recovering, without any unfavourable symptoms.
The guard of honour, consisting of three companies of the grenadier guards, under the command of Colonel Bagot, who had been on duty at Walmer, during the visit of the Queen to the Kentish coast, arrived at the Infantry Barracks on Wednesday night, having marched from Deal to Margate, proceeding from thence by a steamer to London-bridge, and from Paddington by the Great Western Railway to Slough.
On Thursday and Friday evenings two lectures were delivered in the theatre of the Mechanics Institute, Short-street, by Mr.Wiglesworth, on Astronomy. The lecturer detailed the progress of the sciences from the earliest period of knowledge of it by the ancients down to the discoveries of Galiho, Kepler, Sir Isaac Newton, and Herschel, until now it can fairly be considered one of the most perfect of the sciences. The lectures were made as intelligible as possible by means of transparent diagrams &c. The lectures were not numerously attended on either evening.
Sudden Death
On Tuesday an inquest was held at the Crown and Cushion, Eton, before John Charsley, Esq., coroner for Bucks, on the body of James Glazier, a labouring man, aged 58 years. It appeared in evidence that the deceased was found on Monday morning by a man named Robert Streets, who went to his residence in Cook's Court, on business, lying on the floor of his room, with his head towards the fire place, as if he were dead.
He informed a tenant in the same court named Flowers, and they proceeded thither and discovered that he was dead and cold. There were no marks of violence on his person, and the jury returned a verdict of "Found Dead."
Pigeon Shooting
The second meeting of the Windsor Royal Albert Club took place on Monday; the club matches were between sides chosen by Messrs. Parkin and Ducket, the latter winning two out of three. In a sweepstake (11 entries) at three birds each, Messrs. Parkin, Smith, Newel, and Bacon tied killing all, but on shooting off at one bird more each, Mr.Parkin one, the other three scarcely touching a feather.
The Rumoured Attack on Mr. Stacey
To the Editor of the Windsor and Eton Express
Sir, In consequence of the denial in your last weeks journal of the truth of Mr. Stacey's statement respecting the attack made upon him at Old Windsor, I feel myself called upon, from being partly the cause of that statement, to show that if it were an "incorrect version," it did not arise from any wilful misrepresentation on his part. Mr.Stacey called at my surgery, on his way home, directly after the accident,
when I found that he had received a frightful blow over the eye, which had entirely closed it; there was also a wound under the eye, and a clean cut through the upper part of the nose. On explaining the cause, he told me that on coming through Old Windsor, in his cart, a sudden gust of wind blew his hat off, and while going to recover it, the horse and cart went on; that in running after them - the night being extremely dark - he supposed he ran against his cart, for he was struck
with great violence, and stunned. I remarked that he must have ran against some iron to have occasioned such wounds. Nothing further passed till next morning when, being desirous of examining the cart, I went with Mr.Cartland to see it, and finding nothing about it calculated to produce such an injury, I expressed my doubts thereof to Mr.Stacey. He immediately said he had since thought so himself, for that he had seen a man in the road at the time, and now
believed that he had been struck down by some heavy weapon. Such is a plain statement of facts in the matter, and I must leave it to those who are curious in its investigation to further unravel the mystery. I am, Sir, your obedient servant
- William Moss - Dec. 6 . 1842
Windsor Police - Thursday
[Before Mr. R.Tebbott, Esq., (Mayor), and Mr. J.Clode, Esq.]
The only business transacted today was the transfer of the licence of the Stag and Hounds, Spital, from Mr.Carpenter to Mr.Knowles, who kept the Standard, in the market-place. The transfer was no sooner effected than Mr.Knowles applied to have the transfer indorsed to another tenant, Mr.Thomas Angel, late butler to T.R.Ward, Esq. The indorsement was made, and the licence at the next licensing day will be regularly transferred to Mr.Angel.
Eton Police - Wednesday
(Before C.Clowes, Esq., the Rev. Thomas Carter, C.Tower, Esq., M.Swabey, Esq., And the Rev W.G.Cookesley).
Charles Staples [?] , a baker, was charged with assaulting Anne Johnson. It appeared from the evidence of the complainant and her two witnesses, that as she was passing by the George public-house at Colnbrook, the defendant, to whom she was unknown, and who could have had no provocation for his conduct, pushed her down the two steps, into the passage of that house; she then returned to him and seized hold of his collar, stating she would give him into the custody of a policeman, on which he struck her on the face, kicked her, and spat twice upon her, which latter compliment she admitted she returned.
The witnesses were cross examined by Mr.Williams, who attended as the defendant's counsel, but they adhered to their evidence in chief. They admitted that there were several other persons near the complainant, who, it was sworn, was not in liquor.
Mr.Williams then addressed the bench on the improbability of the defendant who was a perfect stranger to the complainant, and without even so much as having spoken a word to her, pushing her down the steps and into the George; for that infact was the substance of the charge, all that afterwards occurred having been caused by her seizing the defendant by the collar. He (Mr.W) was instructed that the pushing down the steps was a mistake of the complainant, as he should prove by the evidence of the landlord of the public house.
The defendant said the landlord had promised to attend, but he was obliged to go elsewhere, and therefore he was not in attendance. He declared that he did not touch the complainant, who, if she were pushed, it must have been by some one else, for he was standing by his cart on the opposite side of the way when she rushed over and collared him.
The Bench were for some time divided in opinion how to decide the case, but at last they dismissed the summons on the defendant's paying the costs, which amounted to 19s 6d, and which was done.
A chimney-sweep, whose name did not transpire as the case was not regularly gone into, was brought up in the custody of a constable.
Mr.Swabey, who appeared to have learnt some particulars of the case, told the constable that the charge should have been taken before the Beaconsfield division of magistrates, for it was out of this district. He then enquired why the sweep was taken into custody.
The constable said he was given into custody the previous day by a Mrs.James (who was present), for defrauding her of a shilling. She had employed his to sweep her chimney, and paid him a shilling for it, but it was afterwards found that he had only swept the soot from the lower part of the chimney and had not cleaned any of the upper part.
Mr.Swabey - And pray where was he last night ?
Constable - Locked up in the cage, sir.
Mr.Swabey - Upon my word you are a very unfit person to be a constable, to take a man into custody, and lock him up like a felon, when he has committed no crime, but merely broken his contract.
Constable - I did not know I could do otherwise when Mrs.James gave him into my custody. I thought I was bound to take him.
Mr.Swabey - All I know is, that if this man were rich enough to bring an action against you for false imprisonment, you would find yourself in a very awkward situation.
Mrs.James then stated her complaint, but the magistrates declined to entertain it. She should have employed a sweep whom she could confide in for doing his duty, and she should have seen that it was done before she paid for it. The case was dismissed.
The constable then applied for his expenses, on which the bench threw off the gravity of justice, and laughed heartily at his application, after illegally taking the man into custody.
The sweep then asked who was to pay him for being locked up all night ?
The Bench - You have your remedy against the constable if you choose to avail yourself of it.
All parties then retired dissatisfied.
John Pusey, of Iver, appeared on an information, charging him with refusing to pay to Mr. Samuel Piggott, farmer, the price of his horse's keep while being impounded by the latter for a trespass on his ground, by which he had become liable to pay double the price, viz - 16s.
Mr.Piggott stated that the defendant's horse was found trespassing in his orchard on the 17th of November, having strayed there. Witness did not know to whom it belonged, and therefore impounded it. He made every enquiry as to the owner, but could not find him until the Monday following, when the defendant came and said the horse was his. It had been five days impounded, and witness charged 4s for the feed, but the defendant refused to pay it. The defendant lived two miles from witness's farm.
William Piggott, the son of the complainant, said on the 29th of November he went to the defendant and told him if he did not pay 8s for the keep to that time, and take the horse away, he should have a summons from Mr.Tower, the magistrate; to which he replied, "Let Mr.Tower grant a summons." The summons was then taken out. The horse was at Mr.Piggott's still, and had now been there twenty days, the charge for which was 8d per day.
The defendant in his defence said that, when he missed the horse he made every enquiry after it, and on meeting two of Mr.Piggott's men they told him they knew nothing of it. He did not then enquire of Mr.Piggott himself, but on the Monday when he went there he was charged 4s, which he thought was too much. He was not aware he was liable to pay double the price of the food.
Mr.Towers said, Mr.Piggott could, after keeping the horse seven days, and by giving three days notice, sell the horse in the nearest market town, but he had acted in the most lenient way towards the defendant.
The bench ordered the defendant to pay 13s 4d, for the keep and 14s costs, and allowed him a week to pay it; in default, to be committed for 14 days hard labour in Aylesbury gaol. They also advised him to take his horse from Mr.Piggott's premises or he would be liable to be summoned again.
James Strange, shopman to Mr.Adams, grocer, of High Street, Windsor, appeared to an information charging him with having ridden a horse in a furious manner in Eton, and injured one of the Eton scholars, named Augustus Plunkett Burton, by which he was liable, according to the act, to any penalty not exceeding �5.
John Martin stated that, on Saturday week he saw the defendant galloping very fast across Barnspool-bridge, by the side of the pavement, there were an omnibus and some carts going along in an opposite direction. The defendant was perfectly sober, and the horse did not appear to have taken fright and ran away. A young gentleman belonging to the College just then came out of Mrs.Horsford's gateway rather quickly, as if to cross the road, when he was knocked down by the defendant's horse, and was rolled over on the ground several times. Witness ran to pick him up, but he jumped up himself, and ran into Mrs. Horsford's . The defendant was not able to stop his horse for about ten yards after the occurrence, when he
dismounted to ascertain if the young gentleman was much hurt. Witness told him he should not ride so fast, as he was endangering people's lives. Defendant had called to the boy to get out of the way, but he could not pull up until he had ridden over him.
Cross-examined by Mr.Voules, who attended for the defendant - Witness was close to Mrs. Horsford's gate; the boy was running fast out of the gateway, and the horse was close to the footpath. Witness told them both they were going too fast.
By Mr.Cookesley - Although the boy jumped up and ran into the house, he was very much hurt.
Thomas Bott gave a similar testimony, and added that the
defendant appeared exceedingly sorry for what had happened.
Mr.Voules then addressed the bench for the defence. He said this was no doubt a very proper case for enquiry, but he would be able to show, by a servant of the Rev.Mr.Luxmore's, who was in no way connected or acquainted with the defendant, that it was a pure accident, that the horse shied by the noise of the omnibus and carts, and that the defendant was not at all to blame. He could also, if necessary, prove that the defendant was a very responsible and steady young man. The young gentleman was running rapidly from the gateway across the street when the horse started, and the defendant could not possibly pull up in time to prevent the accident. He (Mr.Voules) remembered, when he was at
Eton College, that Lord Craven was run over by the Provost's carriage under somewhat similar circumstances, but no one at that time thought of bringing the Provost's coachman before the magistrates.
Mr.Cookesley - In that case it was proved that it was the boy's own fault; besides the circumstances were widely different, for the Provost's horses would not go above five miles an hour [a laugh], and here the defendant was going at the rate of fifteen.
Mr.Voules - Well, sir, I will show that this is entirely an accident; that the defendant is very steady man; and that he had called repeatedly since to make enquiry after the young gentleman's health.
Mr.Cookesley - But can you show that he is not in the habit of riding furiously ?
Mr. Voules submitted that that could not be enquired into in the present case.
Mr. Cookesley - I think that might have some weight with the bench. I am now not sitting as regards this case in the character of a magistrate; but the fact is, the father of the boy has left the case entirely in my hands, for the boy is under my care. The father could if he pleased have brought an action against the defendant for the injuries done to his son, but he has been induced to adopt the present milder course, and has left the affair in my hands. Still, I have no desire to press the case if the magistrates conceive that enough has been done; but it is well known that there are always a great many of the Eton boys about the immediate neighbourhood, and it is absolutely necessary to protect them against accidents by persons riding furiously through the streets.
Mr.Swabey and Mr.Towers conceived that they had nothing to do with the boy or his father. It was a matter in which the public at large were concerned.
Mr.Voules then called
Mary Mulholland, who stated that she was a servant to the Rev.Mr.Luxmore, and saw the occurrence. The defendant was riding quick, but only at a quick trot, when the omnibus came up, and then his horse appeared to be frightened. The defendant pulled his bridle, and the young gentleman running out at the moment, he was knocked down before the horse could be pulled up.
The magistrates inflicted a fine upon the defendant of 20s and 12s costs, which he paid.
Mr.Cookesley then stated that the boy had been very much injured, and if his father pleased he could have proceeded more severely against the defendant.
George Smith was charged with assaulting Henry Holdway, but as the parties were desirous of privately compromising the affair, they were allowed to do so; the case was consequently not gone into.
John Perryman, of Dorney, was charged with wilfully driving his cart against the cart of Charles Cannon, of High Wycombe, chairmaker, and damaging it, and also with causing severe injuries to the said Charles Cannon.
The complainant, an aged and infirm old man, stated that on the afternoon of the 19th of November, as he was driving his pony and cart (in which there were 17 chairs) along the road leading from Slough to Salthill, he saw at some little distance the defendant driving his cart in the opposite direction. Witness drew to his own side, close to the grass, leaving, as he said (for he had since measured the width of the road) full 14 feet of road for the defendant to pass him. The defendant, however, crossed the road, and drove against his cart, breaking one of the shafts off, and pitching him into the road on his head, his pony going on, one of the wheels passed over his leg, and he was dragged along for some yards until he let go his hold of the reins. His head and leg were much bruised by the occurrence.
The defendant, who was a perfect stranger to him, drove off without rendering him the least assistance. Witness returned to Eton directly, and went to the Rev.Mr.Cookesley.
Mr.Cookesley said when the complainant came to him he was certainly in a very bad state from his injuries, and he was covered with mud.
The witness added, that the same evening, being unable to go home from the injuries to himself and the damage to his cart, he went to Mr.Harding's of Eton, where he saw the defendant, and told him he must recompense him, but he refused to pay anything. Witness had ever since, until yesterday, been confined to his bed. The damage done to his cart was about �1, but he did not know what amount his doctor's bill would be.
Mr.Nathaniel Bacon, of Eton, said he was going along the same road and met the defendant in his cart, directly after which he saw the complainant and his cart, damaged as described. Complainant asked the witness to take notice of his wheel tracks, which he did, and he found that there was plenty of room, for the defendant to have driven by, for the complainant's cart wheels tracks were within five or six inches of the grass on his proper side.
The defendant, in his defence, said the complainant was driving in a zigzag direction from one side of the road to the other, and that it was he who caused the collision. The complainant appeared, from his manner of driving, to be drunk, and his (defendant's) nephew, who was in the cart with him, noticed that before the carts met each other.
Mr.Cookesley said, the complainant came to him directly after the occurrence , and he was perfectly sober.
The defendant called his nephew, Alfred Perryman, who swore to the best of his belief that Mr.Cannon was drunk; he inferred so from his driving from one side of the road to the other, and he remarked it to his uncle at a distance of twenty or thirty yards.
Mr.Cookesley said the conduct of the defendant was most brutal in leaving the complainant in such a state without offering him the slightest assistance.
The magistrates inflicted a fine of �4 5s and 15s costs making �5.
Defendant - I can't pay it, and I won't pay it.
Mr.Tower - Then you will have six weeks hard labour in the House of Correction at Aylesbury.
Defendant - Very well, then I will go to prison.
He was then ordered to be committed, on which he asked if he might not be allowed some time to pay the money.
Mr.Tower - No, you said you would go to prison.
Defendant - I thought, sir, you ment you would give me six weeks to pay the money [a laugh]
Mr.Tower [laughing] - Oh ! No , after what you said, you must go to gaol.
He was then taken away in custody.
William Ball and Thomas Coxdell, two old offenders, although young men, were charged with setting snares in a preserve belonging to Benjamin Way, Esq., of Denham, for the purpose of taking game.
Charles Pendry, a gamekeeper in the service of Mr.Way, stated that on the 16th of November, he saw the defendants in Mr.Way's preserve, called the Seer's Spring, beating about with sticks, and they afterwards went and took up several snares, which he now produced. The defendants had been convicted before.
The defendants, who had no defence to the charge, were convicted in the penalty of �2 each, besides �1 6s costs, and in default of payment were committed to hard labour for two months.
William Barnes was charged with assaulting Wm.Sergeant, and giving him a black eye at Upton.
It appeared that the complainant had brought the dispute on himself in the first instance by giving currency to a rumour that the defendant had been seen in an improper situation with him (complainant's) wife's sister, and the magistrates entertaining that opinion, and that both parties were equally in fault, dismissed the case, each paying his own expenses.
Staines
Literary Institution
The excellent lecture delivered on the 1st ult, by the Rev.Dr.Jones, at the opening of the ninth season of this institution on "The Human Mind," has just been published. As we gave an outline of the lecture in our paper of the 5th ult, we need not do more now than recommend its perusal to the public generally as an able and talented treatise, which should be in the hands of all persons who really desire the acquisition of sound knowledge on that great element in the human composition the "mind."
On Wednesday week the annual meeting of the Proprietors of the Gas Works was held at the Works, when a most satisfactory report on the proceedings during the past year was read, and a dividend of four and a half per cent was declared on the shares, exclusive of the Income Tax.
Great Marlow
Peggy Thompson, who accompanied a pugilistic exhibition at Marlow fair, was brought hither from Bristol on Wednesday last, charged with picking the pocket of Mr.Jordan, a horse dealer of Thame, of �350, and committed to Aylesbury gaol for trial.
Sir W.R.Clayton's annual donation to the poor of this town was this week, distributed by the worthy baronet in person. It consisted of nearly three hundred articles of flannel, linen, hosiery, and other requisites for this season of the year.