Newspaper Transcripts
Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
24th December 1842
Her Majesty's Christmas Gifts To The Poor
Her Majesty, with her characteristic and accustomed liberality and regard for the comforts of the poor of this borough, at this season of the year, has graciously been pleased to issue her commands to the Lord Steward, the Earl of Liverpool, that a liberal portion of provisions, &c, be distributed this day among the inmates of the alms-houses, and the families who receive out-door relief from the Union; and they have been distributed today by Mr.Thomas Adams, the Vicar's churchwarden (to whom that office was entrusted), in the following proportions:
- To each single person, 4lbs of meat, 2lbs of bread, 1lb of plum pudding, a peck of potatoes, a quart of ale, and a sack of coals. To a man and his wife, without children, 6lb of meat, 4lb of bread, 2lb of plum pudding, a peck of potatoes, 2 quarts of ale, and a sack of coals: and for each child, the following in addition:- 2lb of meat, 2lb of bread, 1lb of plum pudding, half a peck of potatoes, and a pint of ale.
Thus by
her Majesty's benevolence about 100 poor families, on an average of five persons in each, will be enabled to participate in the good cheer generally indulged in at this festive period.
The Streets of Windsor
The dirty and bad state of the streets of Windsor have been much and justly complained of, within the last few days particularly, by several highly respectable inhabitants who have requested us to draw the attention of the proper authorities to the subject. We trust this notice will have the desired effect, and some means will be adopted to remedy the evil complained of, especially as regards the condition of the foot pavements.
We have also heard serious complaints made against the authorities for allowing the guard of the Foot Guards, on its way to and from the Castle, to march in a body and occupy the whole of the pavement to the total exclusion of the public, who are compelled as the guard approaches them either to escape into some shop or turn off into the carriage road. This latter
cause of complaint , we are satisfied, would soon be removed if the authorities were to represent the case to the commanding officer of the regiment, who, we have no doubt, would order his men, when the main road was in a muddy state, to walk singly on the outer part of the foot pavement as the military do in London.
Show of Meat
The different butchers in Windsor and Eton have, according to custom at this season of the year, displayed a profusion of fine meat within and without their shops, which have thus been rendered very attractive.
Closing of Shops
In consequence of Christmas-day falling upon Sunday some of the tradesmen in Windsor, as well as in other towns in its vicinity, and in other more distant parts of the country, intends closing their shops, so as to allow their assistants to enjoy their usual holiday.
Nobility's Ball
The third subscription ball will take place at the Town Hall on the 30th instant.
Public Ball
It will be seen by an advertisement in another page that there will be also a public ball at the Town Hall on the 6th of next month, and which we have no doubt , at this joyous season of the year, it will be most numerously attended.
Literary Institution
On Wednesday evening last, the Rev.T.Schofield, of Chertsey, kindly consented to deliver a gratuitous lecture "On the aid which Science and Religion affords each other to their advancement in the world." We need scarcely remark that the lecture was of the highest order, the rev, gentleman's well known talent and abilities being a sufficient guarantee of that.
Mr.Schofield, in an eloquent and forcible manner, demonstrated the progress which religion and science had made from the earliest period to the present time - that they were inseparably connected together, and that science would never have made the rapid strides it had done had it not been for the union with it of religion.
That they mutually aided each other was deducible from the fact of the gross state of ignorance which characterised this country prior to the development of the inspired records - the foundation of our religion ; and as religion advanced science attended as handmaid.
The rev. lecturer alluded to the discovery of printing, and the great assistance it had rendered to the spread of christianity, and concluded a most talented lecture by expressing a hope that he had made this important and almost inexhaustible subject interesting to his auditors, which we are such it was, from the frequent applause bestowed upon it.
An Unfortunate Orator
On Monday evening, Mr.J.P.Anderson delivered another lecture in the Theatre of the Literary Institution on "Elocution," to almost empty benches. Whether this arose from the notoriety this gentleman has attained by circumstances of rather ludicrous and unfortunate character which recently occurred to him, and which appeared in some of the London journals, or whether it was caused by a dislike evinced by most people to patronise itinerant lecturers, we do not know. Mr.Anderson thought
proper on Monday evening to refuse free admission to our reporter, for our not inserting a paragraph of his previous lecture more congenial with his notions of what ought to have been said; at least this was his plea for so acting, but the real cause, we believe, was in consequence of his having been made to pay for his announcement bills before they were allowed to be
taken from our printing office: it would be well for some of our neighbours if they had acted with the like precaution.
Railroad Assessment Versus Income Tax
We understand that the farmers of Iver and Langley will derive great relief from the reduction in their poor's rates, consequent upon the additional assessment of the Great Western Railway, which has been made at our correspondent Justitia's suggestion, than is commensurate with the amount they will have to pay to the
Income Tax - and we are certainly right glad to have been instrumental in affording them such substantial assistance.
Stealing Geese
During the night of Saturday last some persons stole from the goose house on Mr.Gullick's premises, Clay Hall Farm, Old Windsor, four geese, each of which was marked with a hole in the fan of the foot. A reward of three guineas has been offered for the apprehension and conviction of the offenders.
Another Local Prize Fight
On Tuesday last there was a strong muster of the Berkshire fancy at Cookham Deane, to witness a fight, for �5 aside, between Teddy Hull and Butche Loyd, two pugilists of great repute, both having given the quietus to some of the best men of the country. The men
entered the ring at 12 o'clock, and the fight lasted nearly an hour, in which 36 slashing rounds were fought. Hull who fought against a stone and a half extra weight, had the best of it at the commencement, but was eventually defeated by the superior strength of his antagonist. Hull, who resigned entirely from extreme weakness, was considerably less punished than Loyd.
Coroners Inquest
On Monday an inquest was held at the Windsor Union Workhouse , before James May, Esq., coroner for the county, on the body of Thomas Paradise, aged about 65 years, who died in that establishment.
Charles Clarke, a policeman of this borough, deposed that on the night of Thursday in last week, about eleven o'clock he was on duty clearing out the beer-houses, when he found the deceased at the Rose and Crown, George-street, kept by Henry Wheeler. Witness asked him if he lodged there, and on finding he did not, told him he must go out. Deceased, who appeared then to be unwell, quitted the house, and witness left him in the street while he went to look after some other houses. On his return to the same place, at about 12 o'clock, he found the deceased sitting on the step of the door. Witness then left him the charge of Daniel Grass, another policeman, with directions to take
him to the place appointed to receive persons who were found destitute. In about ten minutes afterwards Grass informed him that the deceased appeared very unwell, on which the witness went to see him, and then proceeded to the superintendent for his directions regarding the man; the superintendent directed him
to make up a good fire, and to make the deceased as comfortable as he could, and also to send for Mr.Holderness, the surgeon. That gentleman's assistant soon attended and supplied medicine, which witness administered to the deceased, and at six o'clock in the morning witness left him. The deceased complained of a pain in the left side, and said he had laboured under it for four or five days.
Mr.Wm.Nicholls, the master of the union workhouse, deposed that the deceased was brought there, under an order, about eleven o'clock on the Friday morning, very ill and speechless. He was immediately placed in the infirmary and put to bed, witness sending directly for Mr.Ridout, the medical officer, who attended him between twelve and ten o'clock. Deceased was supplied with medicine, but he became worse, and at a little before twelve o'clock at night he died. On his person were found several duplicates, a half penny, and a pair of spectacles.
Mr. C.V.Ridout, surgeon, of Egham, stated that he attended the deceased as stated by Mr.Nicholls. Deceased was then in a dying state, and speechless. Witness gave him some brandy and arrow-root, of which he was able to swallow but a very small quantity.
Witness had examined the body, and found no external marks of violence, nor any symptoms or means to account for death in any other way than by natural causes - probably accelerated by destitution.
The Coroner summed up the evidence, observing that it was clear the death of the deceased arose from natural causes. Clarke, the policeman, had behaved very properly and humanely towards him, and all that could be done for him in the workhouse had been done by Mr.Nicholls.
The jury coincided with the observation of the coroner, and returned a verdict that the deceased died from natural causes.
Windsor Police - Monday
[Before R.Tebbott, Esq. (Mayor), and Sir John Chapman]
Jasper Walker [If you are interested in Jasper Walker, please contact me at the email address above].
James Thomas was charged with assaulting Clarke the policeman. Clarke however was not present, being obliged to attend an inquest at Old Windsor Workhouse, and the hearing of the case, after Grass the policeman had given evidence as to a part of the offence, stating that on Thursday night he saw Clarke struck by the prisoner in George-street, was adjourned to the following day.
Tuesday [Before Robert Tebbott, Esq., Mayor]
The case against Thomas was again gone into this day:- Clarke stated that on Thursday night he went to clear out the beer-shops in George-street. The prisoner was in the Rose and Crown, and when requested to leave refused to do so. He was consequently put out. The prisoner and others afterwards made a great disturbance in the street, and were told if they did not go home they would be taken into custody. The prisoner very much abused the police, and kicked the witness, who at once took him into custody, when the prisoner kicked him a second time. The prisoner was fined 5s and 5s 6d costs. He paid the money and was liberated.
Richard Blackell was charged with assaulting Thomas Usher, a miller, on Sunday night, in the neighbourhood of Clewer-lane. He was fined 10s and 14s costs, and allowed a week to pay the money, and in default of doing which he will be committed to prison for fourteen days.
Eton Police - Monday
[Before C.Tower, Esq.]
David Danden[?] was charged with having , at Iver, on the 12th inst, stolen about half a bushel of watercresses from the water-cress-beds of Mr. Samuel Piggott. The charge was fully proved, and the prisoner was committed to hard labour in the house of correction for one month.
Thomas Harris was charged with stealing a stable fork, the property of Thomas Middleton. It appeared that the complainant was in the service of Mr.Smith, the farmer, at Iver. On this (Monday) morning the prisoner was employed to load the manure from the premises of Mr.Smith, and he availed himself of the opportunity of going into the cow-house and stealing the complainant's
dung-fork. Information was given to Mr.Larkin, the chief constable, who went in pursuit of the prisoner, and came up to him at Cowley, with the article in his possession. The prisoner was fully committed for trial.
William Hill and William Marshall were charged with having, during the night of the 14th instant, cut down and stolen the part of a holly tree, the property of Benjamin Wey, Esq., of Denham. The case was proved against the prisoners, who were convicted in the penalty of 20s, each and costs, �1 12s 6d. In default of payment they were adjudged to six weeks imprisonment and hard labour.
Wednesday
[Before the Rev.Thomas Carter, C.Clowes, Esq., C.Tower, Esq., M.Swabey, Esq., R.Harvey, Esq., and the Rev. W.G.Cookesley]
Henry Littleboy, a lad 11 years of age, son of Mr.Henry Littleboy was charged under the following circumstances:-
It appeared that Mr.Samuel Witney, the surveyor of Stoke parish, had found two cows straying on the public road, without anyone to take charge of them. They, therefore, had to be impounded, and while being driven to the pound, the defendant came up and rescued them. This was an offence which rendered the party committing it liable to any penalty not exceeding �20. The defendant in his defence said, while driving the cows,
by order of his father, along the road, they ran off from him, and that was the reason he was not with them by the time the complainant found them. The magistrates, however, convicted the defendant in the mitigated penalty of 2s 6d and 13s 6d costs, which his father immediately paid.
Joseph Staples, a licensed victualler at Colnbrook, was charged on an information, at the instance of George Thomas Bulkeley,Esq.,
with keeping open his house for the sale of liquors during divine service on Sunday the 4th instant. The defendant pleaded guilty, and was fined 25s and 14s costs, which he paid.
Robert Dooley, also a licensed victualler at Colnbrook, was charged with a like offence, on the same day. Mr.C.S.Voules appeared for the complaint, which was laid by Mr.Bulkeley, as he said, with a view to checking the practice of keeping public houses open during divine service.
The defendant, in his defence, said he did not think there was any harm in admitting persons who did not call for anything to drink; indeed he left his door open to admit his children , who had gone to chapel.
The magistrates said he had no right to have his house open during divine service. He as convicted and fined 20s and 192 costs, which he paid.
Thomas Lawrence, a licensed victualler at Horton, was charged on an information with suffering drunkenness in his house on the 19th of December. The particulars of this case have already appeared in our paper from former examinations in two or three cases arising out of alleged disorderly proceedings taking place in the defendant's house. Mr.Voules appeared for the prosecution , and Mr.Williams for the defence. This was a complaint also at the instance of Mr.Bulkeley. It appeared that on the night in question
there had been a supper at the defendant's house, after which there was some singing by his party there, and they kept it up until after 3 o'clock in the morning, singing and drinking, during which several of them got drunk, and it ended in a row and a fight outside the house. After a lengthened examination of the witnesses pro and con, the defendant was convicted and adjudged to pay a fine of �5 and �1 9s costs, which he paid.
Daniel Bosher, a drayman in the employ of Messrs. Jennings of Windsor, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with riding, in his cart without reins at Iver. He was fined 20s and 8s costs, which he paid.
John Beecham[?], a carman in the employ of John Rubey, for a similar offence, was fined �2 and 10s 6d costs, in default of paying which he was committed for one month in the house of correction.
Joseph Pearce, an old offender in the poaching line, was convicted of having, on the 9th of December, taken and killed two hares on land the property of Benjamin Way, Esq., of Denham. He was fined �5 and �1 16s costs, and being unable to pay the money was committed to the house of correction to be kept to hard labour for three months.
Thursday [Before the Rev.W.G.Cookesley]
James Boult[?] and George Bagley were charged with stealing a cart, the property of Thomas Finch of Langley. They were however discharged, as it appeared they merely took the cart out of the cart house for a "lark," and left it in a ditch.