Newspaper Transcripts
Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
10th March 1827
Astronomical Lectures
At the Town Hall Windsor
By permission of the Worshipful the Mayor
Mr.Bird begs to announce that his Course of Three Lectures, with his Grand Orrery, and other New Splendid Apparatus, will be given on Tuesday, March 13th, 14th, and 15th - each Evening at Seven o'clock. And on the above Days, at Twelve o'clock , to Teach the Use of the Globes, &c., &c.
Tickets to be had of the Booksellers in Windsor and Eton,
Good Fires in the Hall.
Borough of New Windsor
At a Meeting of the Commissioners of the Pavement, held at the Town Hall, on Monday last, the 5th instant, the report of the Committee appointed to introduce Gas as a substitute for Oil in the public lamps of the town, and the resolutions of the general meeting convened by the worshipful the Mayor, for the purpose of taking this projected improvement into consideration, having been read, -
It was Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Pavement are at all times anxious to meet the wishes of the inhabitants, and to improve the town, so far as their funds will admit.
That they readily accede to the recommendation of the general meeting, to substitute Gas for Oil lights in the public lamps of the town, but as the amount of the rates they are empowered to levy, is not more than sufficient to defray the current expenses, they are not able to incur any additional expense in carrying this object into effect; but, it having been intimated to the Commissioners, that the formation of a local company, for effecting this object, is in contemplation, they will postpone the consideration of the subject till their next meeting, to be held at the Town Hall, on the 2d day of April.
By order of the Commissioners,
W.J.Voules, Clerk.
Windsor and Eton
We rejoice to hear that many of the most respectable inhabitants of Windsor have come forward in the most liberal manner to encourage the improvement of the town by the introduction of Gas. There is now no doubt that a local company, with adequate funds, will be established; - indeed without any public exertions the individuals who have spontaneously come forward will be able to insure this most desirable object.
The concluding meeting for this season, of the Windsor Pigeon Shooting Club, took place on Thursday, the meeting was attended by the majority of the club, the shooting was excellent, though an exceedingly high wind threw a number of birds into the hands of the sportsmen. After the match had concluded, the company had an excellent dinner provided for them at the Castle Inn, where they spent the evening with the greatest conviviality.
A short time since a meeting of gardeners and gentlemen of this neighbourhood was held at the Hope Inn, for the purpose of establishing a society, to be called "The Windsor Horticultural Society;" several resolutions were proposed and carried, and the meeting adjourned to Wednesday last being the Annual Cucumber Show, when the resolutions agreed to at the previous meeting were read by the chairman to the company. Some amendments were proposed and agreed to. The society was formed, thirty-five gentlemen declared themselves members, and signed the resolutions. A committee and a secretary were appointed. Several dishes of fine fruit were shown, and the four prizes awarded as follows:- Mr.Gould, Mr.Patrick, Mr.Ingram, and Mr.Lovegrove.
It will be seen by an advertisement above that Mr.Bird intends giving his interesting Lectures in the Town-hall, his splendid apparatus and delightful method of conveying instruction in this sublime science to young persons is well known in this town and neighbourhood; and his intention of attending at the Townhall at twelve o'clock on his Lecture days, to explain the use of globes &c., will , no doubt , accommodate many families.
An accident, long anticipated by many, and which, for the mercies of God, might have been attended with most serious consequences, occurred in the parish church of Staines; in the progress of divine service, on the evening of Sunday last. The weather being unfavourable and rainy, the congregation were not very numerous, consisting of probably between 200 and 300 persons. The service was nearly at a conclusion, and the sermon, delivering by the vicar , the Rev.Mr.Govett, half gone through, when one of the loud tempestuous gusts of wind, which at intervals swept round the old and crazy edifice, forced in the window of the north transept, with at least 16 feet of the walls. The mass of materials fell with a tremendous crash, overwhelming monuments and all beneath it. One monument erected against the wall, the weight of which was supposed to be upwards of a ton, fell with such an overpowering force, as to break through the pavement, disclosing in the opening a large vault, containing 14 coffins and a quantity of silver plate, which had been unmolested for at least 70 years. The appalling noise of the catastrophe was succeeded by a thick cloud of dust, which, for a time, quite hid the scene of disorder from the eyes of all, and left it very doubtful what might be its extent, or whether the gallery adjoining , and the roof itself , were not giving way. The greatest panic and alarm, as naturally might be anticipated, pervaded the whole congregation, and, with the exception of a few individuals, whose presence of mind and judgement stayed the influence of terror, one simultaneous rush was made to the single and narrow doorway. Shriekings and struggling followed, and many individuals were thrown down and trodden over. Amid this almost universal scene of confusion, the worthy vicar and the curate preserved their stations, and observing that the noise of falling rubbish had ceased, endeavoured, but vainly, to calm the alarm. The edifice was soon vacated, and cries and clamour had a pause as each relative and friend recognised the other, and although many severe bruises were given and received, all found that Providence had mercifully protected the assembly from any fatal occurrence. The individual who suffered the greatest injury was the parish clerk, who, on the first alarm, promptly ran to open the doors; but such being the crowd about him, he was forced off his feet, trodden upon, and severely bruised. The event may, however, teach a useful and very valuable lesson, if it serves to admonish those whose bounden duty is to ascertain the convenience and comfort , as well as safety, of places of divine worship. That decorum towards the Deity therein worshipped, as well as considerations for the feelings of our fellow christians, should forbid the dangerous tenacity of continuing them as places of prayer after they indicate the slightest approximation to accident; for, as in the present case, it is not solely the physical damage which the disruption of its walls may inflict, but the terror and alarm which such sudden events are too often the means of producing, and thereby ending fatally to some of the hundreds of individuals assembled together.
On Wednesday the body of David Jeremy, was discovered near the chalk pit, at Russells Water, Oxon. The deceased, who was very aged, was returning from that village to his residence at Maidensgrove, and is supposed to have fallen down and expired in an apoplectic fit.
The following is an account of the sentences, &c., of the prisoners who were for trial at the Reading Assizes:-
William Baker, 14, Thomas Dickenson, 14, and William Overy, alias Gower, charged with having broken open and entered the dwelling house of Ann Tile, at White Waltham, and stolen three gowns and other articles of wearing apparel. - Death.
William Giles, a baker, residing at Heston, near Hounslow, was charged with uttering a forged five pound Bank of England note to William Newton; and in another count, with disposing of , and putting away the same note, without stating to whom. Mr.Jervis stated the case; and it appeared, chiefly from the evidence of an accomplice named Burr, that he, being the servant of the prisoner, on the 20th of December, accompanied the prisoner to Windsor and Eton. When at Eton, the prisoner gave him a five pound note and directed him to a grocer's shop to buy tea with it, which he did, giving the tea and the change to his master. The prisoner then gave him another five pound note, and directed him to buy a leg of pork at Mr.Morton's, at Windsor. The note was suspected, and he took it to other shops without success; but at length he succeeded in getting it changed at the shop of Mr.Newton, of Windsor; but one of the other parties to whom it had been tendered coming in, Burr was detained, and in consequence of information he gave, the prisoner, who was waiting at a distance in the street, was apprehended. When taken before the magistrates at Windsor, he made a full confession of his guilt; and from this document, which was signed by himself, it appeared that he had been long engaged in the uttering of forged �5 notes and of counterfeit sovereigns; and he stated that for the former, which were called "softs," he gave 35s each; and for the latter, which were called "yellows," he gave 7s each.
Mr.Curwood for the prisoner, objected that he was not guilty of uttering the note of a principal, but that he was only guilty as an accessary to the uttering by Burr; and that, as to the count for disposing of it, that was bad, as it did not say to whom he disposed of it.
Mr.Baron Vaughan left two points to the jury - 1st. Whether the prisoner knew the note was forged; and 2d. Whether Burr also had guilty knowledge.
The jury found that the prisoner knew the note to be forged, and that Burr had no guilty knowledge.
Mr.Baron Vaughan, who appeared very much affected by the solemn duty he had to perform, sentenced the prisoner to be executed, and gave him no hope of mercy, but directed that the sentence should not be carried into effect till the opinion of the twelve judges was taken on the points raised by the prisoner's counsel.
William Allen, aged 18, was charged with entering the dwelling house of William Elstone, of Cookham, and stealing a velveteen jacket, a waistcoat, and a pair of corded breeches - Death.
Richard John Beckingham, 40, and Thomas Moss, 13, charged with having broken open the dwelling house of Joseph Humphrey, of Blewbury, and stealing wine, a �1 note, and some silver - Moss, admitted Evidence, Beckingham, Death.
Benson Bowler, 19, charged with stealing a quantity of bread, bacon, butter, and sugar, the property of Israel Banbury, of Yattendon - Three months imprisonment.
William Clarke, 24, and Thomas East, 25, charged with stealing from the house of Sarah Pizzey, at Lawrence Waltham, various articles of clothes, a sovereign, &c. - Death.
James Frith, 10, Robert Frith, 18, George Lane 19, and Samuel Todd, 23, charged with breaking open the house of Wm.Coventry, and stealing a quantity of apples. - Richard Frith, admitted Evidence; James Frith, Lane, and Todd, to be imprisoned six months.
Thomas Herbert, 18, charged with breaking open the house of John Day, at East Garston, and stealing a number of waistcoats and other articles. - Death.
John Chapman, alias Dibley, alias Cudd, 22, charged with robbing the house of John Day, in company with Herbert. - Death.
Thomas Marritt, 21, and Thomas Stroud, 24, charged with attacking and beating James Tizzard, and others, gamekeepers to Mortimer Thoyts, Esq. - Transported for seven years.
Benjamin Moss, 26, and Wm.Phillips, 39, charged with stealing a wether sheep, at the parish of Wantage, the property of John Caldwell - Death.
William Oadham, 17, charged with stealing sixty pieces of copper money, the property of Robert Sainsbury, of Newbury, - Six months imprisonment.
John Reed, 25, charged with stealing a quantity of coals, the property of Mrs.Williams, of Sonning., - Transported seven years.
Francis Underhill, 14, and James Roberts, 18, charged with stealing several horn and ivory combs, tooth brushes, and other articles, the property of Thomas Edwards, of Wokingham - To be imprisoned Six months.
Joseph Kale, 46, and Robert Boseley, 34, for being found in the night time, armed with guns, in a certain inclosed ground, at Wytham, with intent to kill game. - Imprisoned twelve months.
John Rowe, 31, charged with assaulting Maria Cooper, at Crookham, and stealing half a sovereign. - Death.
William Slaughter, 19, and Abraham Spratley, 20, charged with killing and stealing two sheep, the property of Henry Cave, of Sandhurst. - Death.
James Sutton, 15, charged with stealing a silver watch, the property of Charles Jackman, of Winkfield, - Death.
John Taylor, 31, charged with stealing three black and white spotted pigs, at Binfield - To be imprisoned six months.
Thomas Webb, charged with breaking open the shop of Rachael Wise, at Wargrave, and stealing four sides of bacon, and other articles - Death.
Henry Wylde, 27, charged with stealing a mare, the property of Wm.Attee, at Sonning. - Death.
Judgement of Death was recorded against all the capital convicts except Giles, for uttering a forged note.
Aylesbury
As Mr.Benjamin Todd, a farmer, of Sedrup, near Aylesbury, was foddering his cattle on Friday se'nnight, he was attacked by his bull, which butted him several times and severely bruised him. The preservation of his life indeed is providential. The bull was tied by a halter to the place where it is usually fed, and Mr.Todd was before its head in a corner formed by some paling, which prevented him from retreating. The savage animal attacked him by going back as far as the halter would admit, and then striking him on the thigh with its horns, which it did several times, bruising him severely at every blow. In this predicament, Mr.Todd had the presence of mind to endeavour to force a stick he had in his hand into the bull's eye, and was fortunate enough to succeed. The bull, for a minute baffled by the pain, stood still; and in the interval, Mr.Todd exerted his strength, and got over the pails out of its reach. Had the halter broken, or become untied, his fate must have been inevitable. It is almost needless to say Mr.Todd has caused the animal to be killed.
On Friday se'nnight, Mr.Wm.Fleet, a farmer, of Stoke, put a period to his existence by hanging himself. The deceased was about 60 years of age, and in good circumstances; no cause appears for the rash act except temporary mental derangement.
On Saturday last, as the groom of Lord Charles Fitzroy was returning from cover with his Lordship's horse, the poor man missed the bridge at Wicken, the river being much swollen in consequence of heavy rains, and the horse sinking into the deep part of the stream, and plunging violently, his rider lost his seat and was drowned. The horse was saved.
An application was lately made to Lord Maryborough, by several gentlemen residing at and near Princes Risborough, to afford them a similar gratification to that which they had enjoyed last year, when a stag was hunted in their neighbourhood. His Lordship excused himself from sending His Majesty's hounds, on account of his engagements, but very politely graced the refusal by the present of a fine stag. It was then resolved that the stag should be hunted by the Risborough harriers, and Monday last was the day fixed for that purpose. Little Kimble toll-gate was the appointed place of meeting, whither resorted a pretty considerable number of sportsmen; but in consequence of a severe frost the preceding night, the time of turning out the stag was delayed from ten to twelve o'clock. The stag was let loose at Marsh Slad, and after giving him ten minutes law, the hounds were laid on, and went off at the top of their speed, with the scent breast high; they made along the bottom to Marsh, then took to the left to Marsh Hill, skirted Moreton, and went in a straight line for Bishopstone, making along the bottom to Stone, where the stag was headed; the stag then took off to the right through Sedrup, and made off in a straight line for the Stonebridge toll-gate, crossing Haydon Mills stream, by which some of the best horses were pounded; still keeping to the right, he skirted close to Aylesbury, on the north-west, and from thence made for Bierton with the hounds close at his haunches; he was there ran into and taken. The stag was then put into a cart sent by Mr.Thos.Dell for the purpose and conveyed to the Crown stables, Aylesbury, where means taken to preserve his life, but he was so much exhausted that it was at length thought expedient to kill him. - Of the character of this hunt it may be observed, that owing to the wet and heavy state of the ground, and the speed at which the hounds went off, it was what may be well called a most distressing day for both horses and riders; but these are "trifles light as air" to the lovers of the chace, and the huntsmen thought themselves well compensated for their fatigue by the animation of the scene and their excellent sport. Very few of the number who started could keep up with the hounds, and not one half of them were in when the stag was taken, as the hounds had cleaned nearly nine miles in 35 minutes. The pack of minute animals that accomplished this feat have fully proved by it their own breed and mettle and the excellence of their training. It deserves to be mentioned that the manager of the hounds, with a confidence in their goodness which the event fully justified, disdained to have recourse to artificial means to improve the scent.
Bucks Lent Assizes, Wednesday
Butler v.Grimsdale - Verdict for the plaintiff �[..] 4s with costs
Cole v. Filbey
Mr.Taylor opened the pleadings, and was followed by Mr.Bligh. The learned gentleman stated that the plaintiff was a respectable schoolmaster in the town of Aylesbury, who had been obliged to bring the present action to recover �31 8s 2d; for the board and education of the defendant's son. They had received notice of a set-off; the defendant had sent in a bill for a gig he made for the plaintiff, the price of which ought to have been �22, but when he was threatened with an action he cunningly increased the price to �30. The question for the Jury to try was, which of these sums was right. He should show that the gig was not worth more than �22, and even if it was worth more, he should prove that the defendant contracted to make it at that price.
George Cole, sworn - I am the son of the plaintiff; my father keeps a school at Aylesbury. The defendant's son came to school in 1824 and 1825. My father's terms are from 20 guineas to 26 guineas a year; he instructs boys of the age of the defendant's son at 26 guineas a year. He furnished him with books whilst he was at school. The account remains unpaid.
Miss Ann Cole. - I am the daughter of Mr.Cole. - I remember a conversation at the dinner table when Mr.Filbey brought his son to school; my father told Mr.Filbey he should charge him only 24 guineas for his son's board and education, because he was so little above 10 years of age. I don't recollect any thing said about washing; our usual terms for washing are half a guinea a quarter. I was present when my father ordered a gig from Mr.Filbey. If made like one my father had seen at Uxbridge, it was to be �18; but that not being exactly what my father wished, he was to make one with an apron and lining at the back for �22.
Cross-examined by Mr.Flanaghan - The conversation respecting the gig took place in the parlour. I remember it well, for I have naturally a retentive memory. I am not always present at agreements made for my father's pupils.
George Cole re-called - The entries in my father's books were not made in my presence. I know that books and pocket money were furnished to Mr.Filbey's son as they are to other scholars, I don't know to what amount.
The defendant's bill for making the gig was put in, the charge for which was �30, and there was another item for 15s for standing room for an old gig on the defendant's premises.
Miss Mary Coles - I don't know any thing of books supplied to the defendant's son. I packed up his son's box when he went home, and there were a Goldsmith's Geography, a Dictionary, Murray's Grammar, and some copy and ciphering books. I think he had threepence a week pocket money. I don't know the amount of the bills, for they were packed and sealed.
Question by the Judge - I packed up as many as seven books.
James Austin - I am a coachmaker of Aylesbury; I have seen Mr.Cole's gig; it is worth about �23; I would make such a one for �22.
Samuel King, coachbuilder of Aylesbury. - I would make such a gig as Mr.Cole's for 20 guineas.
Mr.Storks, for the defendant, expressed regret that this cause had occupied so much time, and that it had been brought into Court at all, for he thought it would have been best for the interests of the parties to have settled it in another way. The question for the consideration of the Jury was not as to the value of the gig, or of the instruction of the defendant's son, but as to the contract made. To make out the case for the plaintiff, two young ladies, his daughters, had been called, and one of them had said she could recollect what passed when the agreement was made, for she had a tenacious memory; he thought that with the vanity perculiar to her sex, she had paid herself too high a compliment; he thought he should be able to convince the Jury that her memory was not tenacious, for he had her father's account before him, which was sent to Mr.Filbey, and there was no charge in it for the books that had been spoken of, neither was there any charge for washing. What was he then to infer - not that these young ladies had come into Court to commit wilful and deliberate perjury, but he must at least infer they were mistaken. His client had paid into Court the balance of 13s 2d, which was all that was due to the plaintiff on the face of the two accounts, and there was an end of the case. For the gig he should prove that it was one of the most reasonable articles at the price of �30 that was ever built. He should put in Mr.Cole's own written account, which would prove that these young ladies had been mistaken in the terms of the contract, and it was very probable, therefore, that they were so respecting the other.
The account of Mr.Cole was put in; the terms charged for board and tuition were 26 guineas, washing nothing; the other items, including books, pocket money, &c., made a total of �31 8s.
To prove the value of the gig the learned gentleman called
Charles Selby, a coachmaker at Amersham, who said he had seen a plan of the carriage, according to which it was worth 30 guineas - On cross-examination, he admitted he could judge of the materials by a plan.
Joseph Lovell, coachmaker, at Uxbridge, had also seen the plan, and thought the gig worth 30 guineas - He could not by a plan judge of the size, workmanship, or materials.
Mr.Bligh, in his reply, reprobated the attempt made by his learned friend to cast an imputation of perjury on the young ladies, and observed that Mr.Cole was moderate in his charge beyond example. The sum for tuition was �27 6s; and the whole of the amount of the bill was only �31 8s, so that for pocket money, books, copy and ciphering books, slate and pencil, there was but a charge of but �4 for a twelvemonth.
Mr.Justice Gazelee was under some regret at first that there was no proof of the plaintiff's demand; but this had been done away with by the account put in by Mr.Storks to invalidate the testimony of the plaintiff's witnesses. That gentleman had shown a want of gallantry in imputing something like perjury to the young ladies who had given evidence in their father's behalf; but on looking at the account put in by Mr.Storks, and of which the plaintiff had a right to avail himself to supply the deficiency in his own evidence, he did not observe any material differences between the account and their statements. The Jury had been told that one of these young ladies, with a vanity perculiar to her sex, had complimented herself upon having a retentive memory; now he had yet to learn that vanity was confined to the female sex, and he must be allowed to doubt the truth of the remark, for in the course of his experience he had met with some very vain men. The bills produced for the tuition of the defendant's son were the most moderate he had ever seen; there were two; the charge in each case was thirteen guineas for the half year; and instead of loading his pupil with a number of books from which he would of course get a profit, the plaintiff had made a charge in each bill for the use of books 2s 6d - a mode highly creditable to him. It was impossible that every one could keep servants to manage their affairs, and when, as in the present case, a person had employed the members of his own family, they were not on that account liable to the imputation of perjury for coming forward to give evidence for their father. Witnesses had been called for the plaintiff to prove the value of the gig, and that it was worth no more than �22. It had been said that the defendant's witnesses were refused an inspection of the gig, but of that there was no proof. If it were true they had been denied, they might have applied to the Court and got an order. The Jury would consider whether the contract for the gig was for �22 or �30 and return their verdict accordingly. Verdict for the plaintiff - Damages �8 and costs.
Winkfield v. Walker, Collins, and others
Mr.Storks and Mr.Bligh were the counsel for the plaintiff in this case, and Mr.Robinson was for the defendant. The facts were as follows - The plaintiff occupied until lately a house at Aylesbury, the property of Walker, one of the defendants. Her husband died in September, and was buried on the 17th of that month; on the day succeeding his funeral (the 18th) bricklayers were sent by the landlord, without any notice given to the tenant, to repair the house; the men thus employed went to work at six o'clock in the morning, and during the day pulled down and rebuilt two panes of wall, and the present action was brought to recover pecuniary compensation for the trespass, as well as for the anxiety and distress of mind Mrs.Winkfield was said to have experienced in consequence of these proceedings. - For the defendants, it was proved that the house was out of repair, so much so that the bricks were loose, and that when a notice was sent to them in the evening of the 18th, by the attorney for the plaintiff, to desist from work, they did so immediately, and that there was not the slightest intention on their part to wound the feelings of the plaintiff. The remainder and most material part of the defence is comprised of evidence given by Mr.Hatten, an attorney of Aylesbury, who was employed by the defendants, and is as follows :-
On the 18th of September, the defendants in this action came to my house about seven o'clock in the evening. They brought me a notice they had received that if they continued to repair the plaintiffs house they would be considered as wilful trespassers. I immediately went to the plaintiff and said to her , three persons (meaning the defendants) have received a notice that they will be proceeded against for trespass, they have done wrong in not giving you notice, and I am come to make any apology you may think necessary. She said something about her husband's having been buried the night before, and added, the people will say the old woman wants to get her house smartened to get another husband. I asked if the repairs of the house should be completed. She replied she had nothing to do with it, I must go to her attorney; and I went there directly and told him nearly the same as I told the plaintiff. I asked him what compensation her required; he replied, he had no instructions from his client. Either on that day or the next I said, you certainly don't mean to bring an action ? He replied he had instructions so to do. I then said what id your action for ? If you bring an action you will bring it to recover damages, what are your damages ? He replied, in a jocose way, my damages are those stated in the declaration and what they will be I don't know yet. On the 19th I again saw the plaintiff and her attorney, and repeated my offer to make a compensation or apology, adding, the defendants are sorry for what they have done; they did not mean to hurt your feelings. On the second day I enquired of them whether the scaffolding should be taken down; they refused to give any directions, and I directed it to be taken down with as little injury to the house as possible. I tendered half a sovereign to the plaintiff as a compensation. On the 20th the plaintiff's attorney called on me with a writ of quo minus against the defendants; the writ was returnable on the first day of term. In consequence of information I received from Walker I called upon the plaintiff's attorney on the 22d to inquire if it was true he had told Walker he would compromise for 10 guineas damaged and seven guineas costs. His answer was, no exactly so; I said seventeen guineas in the whole. My bill on my client is seven guineas; but you and I as between party and party and not between attorney and client. He produced his bill on his client, and among the items were several for attendance on the plaintiff, and on Mr.Dawney, and one for a retaining fee for Mr.Storks. - Cross examined by Mr.Stocks. - The plaintiffs attorney offered to compromise - he offered to take pounds instead of guineas; he said the widows feelings were hurt very much, and added that the plaintiff's claim for damages had been considerably lowered at his suggestion. He said he had had great difficulty ....
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