Newspaper Transcripts
Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
17th February 1827
On the night of Tuesday the 6th inst., an affray took place on the premises of G.Crutchley, Esq., of Sunninghill, between a party of poachers, and Mr.Crutchley's gamekeeper, and some persons whom he had engaged to assist him. It seems that the game, not only on Mr.Crutchley's estate, but on the property of several gentlemen in that neighbourhood, has been nightly destroyed; and so impudently have the poachers conducted themselves, that they have actually written letters to the landed proprietors of Sunninghill, declaring their determination, at all events, to obtain game. Partridges, hares, and pheasants in great abundance have been killed and sent to the metropolis for sale. On the above night six men were observed poaching on Mr.Crutchley's property, and being desired to desist and give themselves up, a quarrel ensued, when , after some threatening to fire, a shot was actually fired by one of the gamekeeper's party, and one of the poachers, whose name is Shirley, fell. His companions immediately fled. On approaching the spot where Shirley lay, it was found that the contents of the gun had lodged in his thigh. He was conveyed home, being well known to the gamekeeper, to his cottage at Sunninghill, where he lay for some days in a very dangerous condition, and we hear that he has since died.
Tuesday night last two wether sheep were killed in a field, the property of Mr.Robert Spencer, of Hampton, the carcasses carried away, and the skins left behind. Several similar depredations have lately been committed in that neighbourhood, the perpetrators of which, we regret to say, are not yet discovered.
Windsor Association
for the
Protection of Persons and Property
At the General Annual Meeting of this Society, held at the Castle inn, on Wednesday, February 7, 1827, the following New Members were elected :-
First Class
Second Class
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| Mr.James Hall | Mr.John Roberts |
| Mr.Sydney Smith | Mr.C.Layton |
| Messrs.Knight and Brown | Mr.Geo.Hughes |
| Mr.John Cocum | Mr.T.Duffield |
| Rev.T.S.Gosset | Mr.W.Finch |
| Mr.G.Spicer | Mr.James Brown and Mrs.Brickley |
| Mr.C.Day | Mr.Burge |
| Mr.B.Phillips | Mr.James Tubb |
Resolved, That in consequence of the disproportion at present existing between members of the Second and Third Classes, whose properties are equally liable to depredation, the Second and Third Classes be in future incorporated, and that all new members in the First Class pay 24s entrance, and in the Second Class 18s.
Resolved, That the renewed subscriptions for the expenses of the current year be, for the First Class 8s, for the Second Class 7s.
At this meeting Mr.Knight was re-chosen Treasurer, and the following gentlemen a committee for the current year.
Committee
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| Mr.Thos.Hughes | Mr.Berridge |
| Mr.Charles Hewitt | Mr.R.Sharman |
| Mr.Hanson | Mr.Dash |
| Mr.C.Wethered | Mr.Ingalton |
| Mr.C.Andrews | Mr.Digby |
| Mr.W.Clode | Mr.J.Clode (Church-st.) |
| Mr.J.Barton | |
Windsor and Eton
The Rev.Mr.Lonsdale, Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury, has been appointed to the Fellowship of Eton College, vacant by the death of the Rev.Dr.Foster Pigott.
We are happy to announce that the sum raised in the parish of Windsor, for the relief of the distressed manufacturers, amounts to �234 13s 1d. Of this amount her Royal Highness the Princess Augusta contributed �10; the Corporation of Windsor, �20; and the non-commissioned officers and privates of the Royal Horse Guards, Blue, �25 8s 9 1/2d
The lake at Frogmore gardens presents a gay appearance at this season of intense frost, her Royal Highness the Princess Augusta having kindly allowed the admission of gentlemen to skate, and of respectable company to witness this delightful exercise.
On Tuesday evening, at eight o'clock, a robbery was discovered to have been committed at the Infantry Barracks, in the apartment of the paymaster of the regiment, Captain Blair. That gentleman on entering the room at the time above mentioned, found that a box containing upwards of �120, principally Windsor notes, had been stolen. On the same evening, a person dressed as an officer's servant, offered a �5 Bank of England note, part of the stolen property, at three different shops in the town, at one of which (Mr.Hawkin's, butcher,) he received change, having purchased some meat. The following day a half-witted youth found the box in a ditch. in Sheet-street road, between four and five hundred yards from the barracks, which contained �12 in notes, but they being mixed with other papers were probably overlooked by the thief. The young man in question gave some very vague information of a person being near the spot at the time he found the box, which has led to nothing conclusive. Every means have been adopted to disclose the rather mysterious circumstances which seem to attach to this affair, but at present without effect.
In the night of Saturday last, or early on Sunday morning, the fowl house of Mr.Wm.Thompson, at Baylis Farm, was broken into, and 50 fowls, 5 turkles, and two guinea fowls were stolen. The feathers were traced to a ditch not far distant, where 50 fowls, 3 turkles, and 2 guinea fowls were discovered. With this clue to the discovery of the depredators, a constable and another person were stationed near the spot on Sunday, and at six o'clock in the evening, two men were observed to approach the ditch with sacks. The constable and his companion supposed that the two men detected them on the watch, as they immediately ran off, on which they quickly pursued them, and succeeded in overtaking one of the men, named Wm.Stevens, having a sack in his possession, with feathers in it. He was accordingly detained, and on Monday brought before Wm.G.Freeman, Esq., a magistrate for Bucks, and fully committed to Aylesbury gaol, to take his trial at the next assizes. In consequence of the prisoner's confession of the person who was his fellow plunderer, he was apprehended, but discharged for want of sufficient evidence. Mr.Thompson has suffered severely from the like depredations at his farm lately.
Tuesday evening, at seven o'clock, the carters employed by Mr.John Pearman, of Mapledurham, four miles from Reading, racked up their horses, and left every thing safe in the farm yard, which is detached and 200 yards from the farm house, situate up a lane, and not in view of the yard. By eight o'clock every man had left the premises, and half an hour after, a desperate ruffian broke open the stable, stole a nag horse, and then set the place on fire. The wind being high, the flames spread with tremendous velocity, and in a few minutes the whole of the stable, which was thatched, was one mass of fire. The blaze was first observed by a man living on a hill, about a quarter of a mile off, and by the time he had run down and alarmed Mr.Pearman, the roof of the stable had fallen in, and five valuable cart horses perished. The barns, containing 100 quarters of corn in the straw, were instantly enveloped in flames, which quickly communicated to the cart houses, pigsties, a large wheat rick, hay ricks, waggons, carts, thrashing machines, ploughs, and a variety of farming implements, the whole of which in less than two hours were entirely destroyed. The farm is half a mile from the Thames, which is the nearest place any quantity of water could be procured from, even if assistance had been at hand; but before any number of persons had assembled, all attempts to check the raging element were entirely fruitless. The wind carried large flakes of fire into the surrounding woods, and considerable anxiety existed for some time from fear the timber should take fire. The atrocious villain had an accomplice, who had gone to the upper farm, occupied by Mr.Pearman's brother, whence he stole a bay gelding, The incendiary , who had saddled the horse he had stolen, met his companion on the hill; but having been unable to find a bridle, and the animal being very fresh, and unused to be rode with a halter, threw him off, and galloped away. He was seen running after the horse, by a carpenter, who at the time did not suspect any thing wrong; but it is supposed, the flames having made quicker progress than the villain had calculated on, he became alarmed, abandoned the pursuit of the horse, and , with his companion , escaped on the bay gelding above described. The other nag was found the next morning quietly grazing, with the saddle on his back, and the halter on his head. (please email for further details of this article) .The half consumed remains of a great many rats were lying in all directions. The pigs and cattle in the yard were saved. The damage is estimated at �4000. The buildings, which were very extensive, are not insured to their value , but the stock is fully covered by a policy in the Norwich Union office.[Since the above, we have heard that the villain has been apprehended in the neighbourhood of Wantage - We shall be happy to have this information confirmed].
Aylesbury
The commission-day of the Bucks Lent Assizes is fixed for Tuesday, the 6th of March. Mr.Justice Gazelee is expected to arrive at Aylesbury about the middle of the day, and to proceed to the County Hall and open the commission immediately ; he will attend divine service the same day, and proceed with the business of the Assize on the following morning. Thos.Saunders, Esq., the High Sheriff for the county, has appointed Mr.Rose, solicitor, of Aylesbury, to be his Under-Sheriff. The calendar of the prisoners is heavy.
There are, or were until a few days ago, sixteen debtors in Aylesbury gaol, some of whom, conceiving themselves aggrieved by the conduct of Mr.Sherriff, the governor, lately addressed a letter to G.Morgan, Esq., then High Sheriff of the county, complaining of their treatment, and praying his interference to redress their wrongs. Mr.Morgan, on the receipt of this letter, write to Sir John Dashwood King, whose activity in regulating the affairs of the gaol and humanity towards the prisoners are well known, referring it to him and the other Visiting Magistrates to do justice between the parties. An investigation into the cause of complaint took place of Saturday, the 3d instant, before Sir J.D.King, Rev.Sir.Geo.Lee, J.Grubb, Esq., the Rev.Mr.Lockhart, and the Rev.Mr.Ashfield, when it appeared that, in consequence of the windows of a greenhouse which adjoins the Debtors Ward having been broken by glass bottles thrown out by the debtors. Mr.Sheriff removed three of them, whom he had reason to think did the mischief, from the part of the ward they occupied to a room more distant from his garden. In doing this, however, he met with considerable resistance from one of the debtors who declared that he would not leave the room in which he then was, and collared Mr.Sherriff when he took him by the arm and begged him to go out quietly, and it became necessary to use force to remove him. The Magistrates, having heard the statements on both sides, said, that the debtors had no just grounds of complaint, for they had by their own unjustifiable behaviour brought upon themselves the treatment they had met with, and expressed themselves perfectly satisfied by the conduct of Mr.Sherriff. Since this decision the turnkeys have received annoyance from the debtors in all possible ways; sometimes they have found the keyholes of their doors filled with dirt and other substances; at others chairs and bedsteads have been placed against them to prevent their being opened; and there has been no lack of abusive language. One of the Magistrates, too, has received some most insulting anonymous letters. In this state matters stand at present, but as one of the turnkeys (a steady man who has held that post many years) gave notice to the Magistrates on Saturday last that he should leave the gaol, assigning as a reason the treatment he had met with from the debtors, it is probable that there will be a further investigation.
Going, Going, Gone
On Tuesday afternoon last, as Mr.Flint was selling by auction a stock of drapery, at Leighton Buzzard, the floor gave way and deposited about two thirds of the company (between 60 and 70 persons) in the cellar. The consternation which this circumstance caused may be imagined; one person had her ancle dislocated by the fall, and a few others received severe bruises; these were, happily, the only injuries sustained, and notwithstanding these so ludicrous was the scene that there was much more of laughter than of tears on the occasion, and it will be long remembered by all who were present.
On the Friday week, two sheep were stolen, the property of Mr.John Holt, of (the Bottom) Grendon Underwood, Bucks. Four others had been stolen within the last twelve months, and all were ram sheep.
On Wednesday, the 7th instant, an inquisition was taken before Mr.Times, coroner for the county of Bedford, at the parish of Arlsey, on view of the body of Charlotte Robinson, an infant five years old. The grandmother of the child had left her by herself whilst she went to a neighbouring well to fetch some water, and during her absence (as it appeared by a statement made by the unfortunate child before her decease), she was standing before the fire, and a spark flew on her clothes, which immediately ignited. A next door neighbour hearing the cries of the child, ran in and promptly extinguished the flames, but she was dreadfully burnt almost all over the body, and died in about two hours. Verdict - Accidentally burnt.
An infant about eight months old was burnt to death at Hemel Hempstead on Thursday, owing to its clothes taking fire during a short absence of the person to whose care it had been entrusted; no pains were spared to extinguish the fire and to preserve the infant's life, but it died notwithstanding soon after the accident.
At the Petty Sessions, Aylesbury, on Saturday last, the passenger by the Union coach, who was in custody for taking a carpet-bag, from the George inn in this town, the property of Col.Badcock, was brought up for re-examination. The reply of Mr.Bebbs, the prisoner's late master, to the inquiries addressed to him respecting his character, was very much in his favour, describing him to have been quite exemplary in his conduct whilst in his service. Capt.Badcock, a gentleman residing in this neighbourhood, attended for his brother (the owner of the carpet bag) and said that under all the circumstances , and particularly in consideration of the prisoner's good character, he should decline to prosecute. The prisoner thanked Captain Badcock and the Magistrates, and repeated the statement made at his former examination - that he was intoxicated when he took the bag, having drunk freely on parting with his friends in town, as well as at several places on the road; he added that he had with him a carpet bag of his own and a great coat when he left home, which were both missing; he discovered when he became sober that the bag in his possession was not his own, and it was intention to have left it at the coach-office in London, from whence he thought he had taken it, had he not been apprehended. He was ordered to pay the costs of his apprehension, amounting to 30s, and was then discharged.
It was mentioned as a circumstance much in favour of the prisoner that he was returning to town by the same coach which brought him from thence when he was taken into custody, and that the carpet-bag, with all its contents, was safe in the boot of the coach - The Magistrates present were Lord Nugent, Sir.J.D.King, Bart., Rev.Sir.G.Lee, Bart., Rev.Mr.Lockhart, Rev.Mr.Ashfield.
Sir John Shelley has destroyed sixteen valuable hounds, bitten by a strange dog, supposed to be mad.