Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
24th May 1834
On Monday a boy employed in painting the up-stairs windows of Sir John Chapman's house, in Thames-street, fell with great
violence on the pavement; his fall was occassioned by the wheel of a cart running against the foot of the ladder on
which he was standing. The youth, contrary to the expectations of all who saw the accident, but was slightly injured,
and after being taken into Sir John's house for a little time to recover the fright, returned to his work again.
A gentleman named Welch, while amusing himself with shooting at a target in Mr.Bryning's shooting gallery, on Monday,
accidentally let the pistol drop in his hand, and going off at the same time, the ball struck the middle of his shin,
and passed obliquely downwards to just behind the inner ankle, a portion of which it struck off, and came out at the
sole of the foot near the heel. Medical assistance was immediately rendered, and we hear the gentleman is going on well.
On Tuesday evening last one of the lower form boys of Eton College, named Brine, fell into the Thames from the Weir, but
was most fortunately carried by the stream on the shallows instead of the deep water, by which means his life was
saved. Considerable anxiety was manifested by hundreds of persons who had congregated on the bridge, on hearing that one of
the Etonians had fallen in the water, and several of the masters and scholars of the College hastened to the spot, but
fortunately their assistance was not requisite , the youth having landed little the worse for his immersion.
DEATH of MR PYE.- On Monday a coroner's inquest was held on the body of this unfortunate gentleman at the
workhouse, at Egham. The evidence adduced merely proved the finding of the body by the draymen of Messrs.Ramsbottom, and Co.,
that the deceased was at the Barley-mow, Englefield Green, at ten o'clock on the night before the body was found, and at the King's Head, Egham,
at eleven o'clock; at the latter place deceased called for a glass of ale, which, he stated, he had not the means of paying for.
There was no evidence to show by what means the deceased got into the Thames, and a verdict of "found drowned" was recorded.
Ann Hazlehurst, wife of a beer-seller in George-street, appeared on summons on Monday before the Mayor, for assaulting George Raby,
a corporal in the Coldstream Guards stationed here. Complainant stated that he was on duty with the guard on Wednesday night last to look after their men, and called at the defendant's husband's
house and civilly inquired if any of their soldiers were there, when she flew into a great passion and struck complainant a blow on the breast,
and before he could quit the house he was also struck by a man, who suddenly came up; the corporal's statement was corroborated by
others of the guard. The defendant in her defence denied the assault and called one witness who did not assist her case, as he admitted she
was in a great passion and endeavoured to push the corporal out of the house. Under all the circumstances the magistrates convicted
defendant in the mitigated penalty of �2 including costs- This attack appears to have arisen from an ill feeling on the part of the defendant
in consequence of the soldiers being, very properly, prevented going into George-street since the recent disturbances there.
Yesterday afternoon a young woman in the employ of Mrs.Burge, of Windsor, was stopped at Runnymead as she was
proceeding to Egham, by a short stout man, dressed in a fustian jacket and white trousers, who endeavoured to take her reticule from her arm,
but finding she would not easily part with it, he opened a clasp knife and cut the strings, making off with the reticule and its contents.
Monthly Meeting of the Magistrates of the Hundred of Stoke - Christopher Inn, Eton - Wednesday
(Present :- William Hexter, Esq, Charles Clowes, Esq, Rev. W. G. Freeman, Rev. Thomas Carter, Maurice Swabey, Esq, and the Rev. T.W. Champnes).
A man named Richard Barksfield was committed to hard labour in Aylesbury gaol, for one month, in default of paying
ten shillings and costs, for assaulting a poor woman named Mary Cox.
Mr.Newman, of Datchet, at the instance of the Windsor Fishing Association, preferred a complaint against a man named
Joseph Rayfield, for fishing with a cast net, but in consequence of the defendant expressing contrition, promising not to offend
again in a similar way, and paying the costs, he was let off. We hope, by the indefatigable exertions of the society's agents that
this species of poaching will soon be put an end to.
Joseph Allum, of Langley, was convicted in the mitigated penalty of �2, and costs, for permitting his beer-house to be
kept open after prescribed hours.
A man named Rose, of the last named place, preferred a complaint against Thomas Done for an assault; but Rose not
pressing the charge the defendant was let off with paying the costs, and entering into a bond to keep the peace
for a year.
The constable of Stoke preferred a complaint against George Payn, a beer-house keeper of that parish, for keeping his house
open after ten o'clock at night, but there not being sufficient evidence to substantiate the charge the complaint was discharged.
Richard Harris, jun, of Stoke, was convicted in the penalty of �2 and costs, for assaulting his father on the previous
Sunday se'nnight.- Harris senior's wife also preferred a complaint against a man named Peverill or Howell, for a similar
offence, but the parties obtained permission to settle it out of Court.