Newspaper Transcripts
Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
28th July 1827
[Please note it was VERY DIFFICULT TO READ SOME OF THE NAMES who appeared under the Bucks Summer Assizes below (?)]
Bucks Summer Assizes (Continued)
Before the Chief Baron.
Wednesday
Joseph Hook[?] was indicted for stealing a liquor glass, a hair-broom, two chairs, and a pail, at the parish of Horton, the property of George Taylor.
George Taylor, being sworn, said, I am a victualler at Horton. On the evening of the 9th of July I saw the prisoner take a [�] from my bar, and run away. I did not follow his alone, for he had threatened to murder me; but having got assistance , I went after him. We could not at first find him, but, as we were returning we met him carrying the hair-broom, two chairs, and a pail, which I knew to be my property. He threw them down when we got near him and ran away. We followed him and I took him into custody.
Samuel Scott, the person who accompanied Taylor in pursuit of the prisoner, corroborated his testimony. He was certain the prisoner was the person who threw down the chairs and pail, he had known him ten years.
Charles P--enham being sworn, said, I was in the prosecutor's public house about ten o'clock on the night of the 9th of July. I saw Taylor take the prisoner; it was a bright moonlight night.
In his defence the prisoner said he knew nothing of the robbery. He had been at Colnbrook, and was coming back when Taylor met him and took him into custody. - Guilty. The prisoner was said to be well known to the gaol, and the prosecutor said his general character was bad - Twelve month's hard labour.
Wm.Daton [?] was indicted for stealing a sheep, value 20s, on the 25th of March last, the property of John Amos, at Hanslope.
- Mr.Maltby stated the case for the prosecution, Mr.Taylor conducted the defence.
Thomas Bignell, sworn, I am a shepherd to Mr.Amos, at Hanslope. On the 24th of March I saw 124 sheep belonging to my master in a piece of ground called Johnson's ground. On the following (Sunday) morning one of them was missing.
Mr.John Amos - I live at Hanslope. On the 25th of March Bignell came to me , and in consequence of what he told me I sent John Mills to the field, and he brought back a skin. I knew the skin to be that of one of my sheep, I can swear to it by a raddle-mark between the shoulders. I afterwards went to search the prisoners house with Daniel Whitbread and Thos.Evans. Whitbread found the neck of a sheep in one room and Evans found part of a carcase in the other; I compared them together, and they fitted. I took them to Mr.Adams, a regular butcher, and he agreed that they fitted; a piece of flesh was wanting on the thigh, and a piece on the neck. Pieces of flesh were left on the skin which corresponded. Cross-examined by Mr.Taylor - Other people may mark sheep in the same way as I do. I mark with dots not letters.
John Mills - I was sent to Johnson's ground in March for a skin. I delivered it to Mr.Amos.
Thos.Evans, headborough of Hanslope, - I searched the prisoner's house in March last. I found the carcase of a sheep, excepting the head and neck, concealed on a shelf in a corner of the chimney. I got upon the grate to pull the sheep down; it could not be seen by a person entering the house. In another room I found some suet[?], I compared the meat with the skin; it fitted.
Daniel Whitbread, headborough of Hanslope, - I went with Evan's to search the prisoner's house. I found in a pantry place a neck of mutton, cut off quite round, and not split.
John Adams, butcher, - In March last Mr.Amos brought me the carcase of a sheep, it was much mangled, and there were pieces of flesh cut off. Mr.Amos produced a skin also, which I compared with the carcase; it corresponded exactly; pieces of flesh were sticking to the skin, which fitted the holes in the carcase. It is my opinion the skin came from the carcase.
John ...bridge[?] - I am the landlord of the prisoner, I let him the house in which he lives in March. I gave him leave to use the room in which the meat was found - Cross-examined - No other person was living in the house; but he had not the occupation of the whole; the shelf in the chimney was made to prevent the chimney from smoking - Guilty - Judgement of death recorded. The prosecutor being questioned by the Judge respecting the prisoner's character said, he had heard that the prisoner had a very different character.
William Holding stood indicted for stealing a wooden bowl, and copper coin which it contained, to the value of 2s, the property of Joshua Grimmett, in the parish of Beaconsfield.
Joshua Grimmett sworn - I live at the Swan inn, Beaconsfield. On the 13th of the present month a bowl which usually stands in my bar was stolen. I saw it with the money in it about four o'clock in the afternoon in the bar; there were from 2s to 3s in it in pence, half pence, and farthings. I saw the bowl again about five o'clock in my tap-room, the half-pence were then gone. The prisoner had been in my house that day some time; I saw him in the tap-room between four and five o'clock in the afternoon. He was gone when I missed the money. Another man had been drinking with him.
Thomas West - On the 13th of July I saw the prisoner in Mr.Grimmett's tap-room. He left the house between three and four o'clock. He came back in three quarters of an hour. A man who was in the room offered to sell a shirt for 6d and went out, leaving the shirt with the prisoner who offered to sell it to the landlady. She refused to buy, and he went out, as he said, to sell it. He came back in two or three minutes, and while he was pulling the shirt about, the bowl rolled out of it, and the money fell into his lap and the bowl on the floor. He picked up the money and put it into his right breeches pocket. The man who left the shirt came in, and the prisoner gave it to him, and said he could not sell it. The prisoner went out directly. The bowl was not in the shirt when he took it out to try to sell it. The prisoner was in liquor at the time.
Wm. Bl--kwell[?], constable - I was sent to take the prisoner. I found him between five and six o'clock at the Cross Keys. The prisoner, when I was taking him before the Magistrates, begged me to take him as a deserter from the 69th Regiment of Foot, and it would be �3 in my pocket, and he should get clear off the charge. I offered to search him. The prisoner said I should only find 12[?] farthings given him by his mother on her death-bed, and which he had kept for her sake. I found nine farthings and 3d in half pence. He afterwards said his sister gave him the farthings.
In his defence the prisoner said, when the bowl fell from the shirt he thought it was Netterfield's, the man who had been drinking with him, and he took the money to pay for the beer he had with him. Verdict - Guilty - Dr.Freeman[?] had known the prisoner some time, and he was a very bad character - Two years hard labour in the House of Correction.
William Faulkner was indicted for assaulting Richard Sharp on the King's highway, putting him in bodily fear, and taking from his person 2s 6d in silver and three halfpence in copper.
Richard Sharp sworn - I live at Winslow. On the night of the 2d March last, about ten minutes past eleven o'clock, I was walking along the road from Little Brickhill - with a glass bottle of milk for my master's lambs. I met three men abreast and one behind them. The tallest of the three collared me, and said, "Stop my friend, lets see what you have got." He took my milk and threw the bottle on one side of the road. Three other men then stepped up, and one pulled out a pistol and said, "D--m your eyes, pull out." I said, "If you won't hurt me I'll give you what I have." I was fearful if I did not give them my money they would injure me, so I pulled out my purse in which there were two shillings and sixpence and I gave it to them. They then said "pull out" again, and asked for my watch. I said, I had none; they kept guard over me with sticks while this was going on. I had known the prisoner seven or eight years ago. I lived at Great Horwood one year, and knew him during that time. The prisoner lived at that time a quarter of a mile from my master, I was in service and he was a labourer. I can't swear to the prisoner.
The Judge directed the prisoner's acquittal, there being no other evidence against him. - Verdict - Not Guilty.
The bills against Samuel Marks, Henry Marks, and Stephen Marks, charged with the same offence as Faulkner, were ignored.
William Wright was indicted for stealing a metal watch, chain, and key, on the 12th of March last, from the dwelling house of Wm.Mills, at Hughenden, the goods of Wm.Mills. - Mr.Monro stated the case. - Mr.Barker was for the defence.
Wm.Mills sworn, In March last I was in the service of Mr.Gillett, a farmer, at Hughenden. The prisoner was also in his service. We slept together. On the night of Saturday the 11th of March, we went to bed at our usual time. I put my watch at the head of the bed. I got up at two the next morning to go to the sheep. I went out at the front door. I passed through the brewhouse to go. When I came back there was something laying at the back door, which I had left shut, but it was then open. I went up stairs and asked Wright how the door came open. He said I had let somebody in. We went down stairs together, and he asked me what it was lying against the door. I took it up and said it was his (Wright's) breeches. Wright looked at his breeches, the pockets of which were turned inside out, and said he had lost 4s and six or seven farthings out of his pocket. I went up stairs after this and missed my watch. The prisoner some time before this had told me he was going to have a watch of his brother-in-law very much like mine. I have seen my watch since this in possession of Hailey, the constable, when we were before the Magistrates together. Cross examined by Mr.Barker - I looked at my watch before I went out. The stairs of our bedroom lead to the brewhouse. The prisoner and George Willis were asleep when I went up stairs. I awoke George Willis and asked him if he had heard any one in the room. He said he had not. I awoke the prisoner, he seemed sounder asleep than George Willis. I asked him to go down, he went down directly. This took place on the 11th of March.
Ann James - On the 11th of March I saw the prisoner between one and two o'clock. He was with me until the evening. I took the watch from him in a joke which I kept until Tuesday, when Mr.Hailey, the constable, came after it, and I gave it to him. I kept company with the prisoner.
Richard Hailey, the constable of High Wycombe, produced a watch, which was identified by Mills.
Mr.Wm.Stanlon [?], watchmaker, valued the watch at 40s.
The prisoner made no defence, but the following witnesses were called to his character :- Mr.George Evans - I live at Great Kingsey[?] Common, in the parish of Hitchendum. I have known the prisoner five or six years, and never knew anything amiss of him before. James James, father of the witness Ann James, had known the prisoner some time, and had never heard a bad character of him in his life. The Judge observed, that owing to an error in the indictment, the dwelling house being stated to be the house of Mills, instead of Gillett, his master, the prisoner could not be found guilty of the capital charge; but they would consider whether he was not guilty of larceny, and he was sorry to say it seemed to be a clear case; if it had been doubtful, the good character the prisoner had received, would of been of service to him - Guilty of larceny - Sentence Twelve calendar months hard labour.
William Mendy, was indicted for stealing on the 13th March, a black horse gelding, value of �10, the goods of James Philps, at the parish of Chepping Wycombe. Mr.Monro stated the case.
Mr.James Philps sworn, I am a farmer at Wycombe. In March last, I had a black pony, which I rode on the 12th. It was stolen in the night following. I saw it on the 18th in the possession of Mr�.Weedon, at Pimlico. I knew it by its marks, it had a blaze down its face, a mark on the of hind foot, and a girth mark. Brompton is 29 miles from High Wycombe.
James Davis, servant to Mr.Philps - My master in March last had a black pony. On a Monday in March I racked[?] it up about eight o'clock. The door of the stable shut with a staple and a hasp; it was not locked. I went to the stable at half-past four o'clock the next morning and the pony was gone.
Charles Beech - I am a servant to Mr.Forty, a horse dealer. I know Mr.Badcock, at Brompton. I saw the prisoner in his yard on the 13th of March, when I got up. The hostler[?] told me he had brought a pony for sale. Mr.Badcock got up and looked at the pony. The prisoner asked �20 or 20 guineas for it, Mr.Badcock said he would give no such money; but he would see him trot. The prisoner got on the horse and he would not trot at all. He seemed tired. Mr.Badcock went away, and I bought the pony for �4. It was a black pony and nearly blind.
Mr.Robert Badcock - I live at Brompton. On the 13th of March I saw the prisoner there; he offered to sell me a black pony with a hog mane; the pony was bought by Beech and put in my stable. On Wednesday morning I changed it with Mr.Weedon, of Pimlico, for another horse. I was applied to by Mr.Philps respecting the pony, and on Sunday, the 18th, I accompanied him to Mr.Weedon's, where he saw and claimed the pony I had sold.
The prisoner was then called upon for his defence, said, he did not steal the pony; it was bought to him by John Moreton, and he himself was the person who told Mr.Philps who had bought it. - Verdict. - Guilty. - Death recorded.
William Taylor, aged 17, and Henry Taylor, aged 15, were indicted for breaking into the dwelling house of Thomas Plowman, at Fenny Stratford, and stealing a watch, key, and seals, his property. - Mr.Best[?] stated the case for the prosecution. - The appearance of the prisoners was juvenile in the extreme; although stated to be 15 and 17 years old, they did not seem to be older than eleven and twelve.
Thomas Plowman - I am a taylor at Fenny Stratford, On the 9th of July I saw my watch lying on the mantle piece at two o'clock; I missed it at half-past two. I saw the watch in the possession of a constable on Tuesday. I mentioned my loss to Francis White. I had left the door of the house on the latch, and had gone down to work in the lower room when it was stolen.
Francis White - I am a post-boy, living at Little Brickhill. On the 9th of this month, about half-past ten o'clock, I was going to bed, and saw the prisoners pass the Red Lion, where I live. I hallooed "Stop thief," and ran down stairs. I overtook them, and the biggest boy said if I would let them go he would tell me where the watch was. I went back with him, and he showed me the watch laying in the street. I had seen Mr.Plowman that day in pursuit of the prisoners, who had passed me on the road. [A watch was produced and identified by Plowman as that he had lost.]
Being called upon for his defence, Henry Taylor, the younger prisoner, said he was not with his brother when the watch was taken. - The boys had been asked where they lived, said, they came from Sheffield and were going to London to get on board ship; they had no friends. - The Judge, in his charge to the Jury, observed, that the facts of the evidence affected the two brothers differently; the youngest did not tell White where to find the watch, and the only circumstance against him was, his being in company with his brother when he was apprehended. Verdict - William Taylor Guilty of larceny , but recommended to mercy; Henry Taylor - Not Guilty. The younger prisoner, in answer to a question from the Judge, said, he had no objection to remain with his brother until he could be provided for, and the Judge very humanely said he would endeavour to procure him admission into the Refuge of the Destitute. He sentenced William Taylor to be transported for seven years.
George Lester[?] was indicted for stealing, on the 28th of November, two saws, one stock, and one carpenter's plough, value �1, the goods of Wm.Inns, in the parish of Preston Bissett. Mr.Best stated the case.
Wm.Inns. - I am a dairyman at Cowley, in the parish of Preston Bissett. On the 28th of November, 1825, my barn was broken open. I lost three saws, a carpenter's plough, and a stock; they were taken from a chest, which was broken open. I heard of the tools again on the 13th instant of this month. Mr.Cross, the constable of Aylesbury, gave me information, and I went to Aylesbury and saw there in a person's house there. I saw others in the house of a carpenter. I knew them to those I lost. I can swear to them.
Elizabeth Neale - I live at Aylesbury, I saw the prisoner at the Magistrate's on Monday week. He brought me a basket of tools the week before last Aylesbury Sessions, for John White. White was not at home when he came, and I took them in for him. I saw them again last Thursday in White's shop. I swore to them before the Magistrates.
At this stage of the trial the Judge held some conversation with the counsel for the prosecution, and then observed to the Jury that it would be occupying the time of the Court to no purpose to proceed further with the trial. If the prisoner has been indicted for receiving the tools, knowing them to have been stolen, there might have been evidence to have gone to them for their consideration. But the prisoner was charged in this indictment with stealing the tools, and the only fact against him was, that they were in his possession at the period of a year and nine months after they were stolen. He had before told them that when stolen property was found in the possession of a person immediately after the robbery, it afforded a strong presumption of his having acquired it dishonestly, but if at such a distance of time such a fact were admitted to be conclusive of guilt, no man would be safe. The necessary consequence was, that the prisoner must be acquitted - Verdict. Not Guilty.
Thomas King and Joseph King were indicted for stealing, in the parish of Little Missenden, on the 17th of March, a bull calf, value �4, the property of John Batchelor. - Mr.Raymond conducted the prosecution.
Job Batchelor - I live on Mantle's farm with my father. I look after the cattle. On Saturday, the 17th of March, I had three calves in the cowhouse. The next morning, one of them, a bull calf, was missing; it had a white mark on the near hind leg. As soon as it got light I traced the footsteps of a calf and two men from the stable over a meadow into a wood; then over other fields to the cottage of George Twig, about half a mile off. - Cross examined by Mr.Taylor. - I saw the calf about five o'clock in the evening before it was stolen. The calf could not have got out itself; it was tied up. I did not lose the traces of the steps until I got to Twig's cottage.
Thomas Batchelor, brother of the prosecutor - On the 17th of March last I traced the steps to Twig's cottage with my brother. I went directly for a search warrant and a constable, and went again to the cottage. When we went in Thomas King and George Twig were there. The constable searched the cottage and found part of a calf; he produced the near hind foot first, which I can swear to. While the search was going on Thomas King ran away. - Cross-examined - I had said nothing to him before he went off. He ran away on seeing the constables.
Wm.Olliff, constable - I went with Thomas Batchelor to search Twig's cottage, and in the bedroom I found a calf's head and about half a calf in a sack; it was lying on a bed with the bed clothes thrown over it. The meat was mangled very much. Thos.King was gone before I finished my search, and I could not find him until the 18th of July.
Margaret Gladman - I live in the pesthouse of Amersham parish. Joseph King had a room in the same house. On Saturday night, the 17th of March, I met him going to Amersham. I don't know whether he was out all night. On Sunday morning, the 18th, I saw some meat in the prisoner's room between the wall and the bed. I don't know what meat it was. I saw the constable go into King's room and find something. - Cross examined. - There were five families residing in the house at this time.
James Brickwell, constable. - I searched the pesthouse and found the half of a calf in Joseph King's room, between the wall and the bed. Joseph King was not there at the time.
George Twig - I recollect my house being searched, and part of a calf being found in Thomas King's room. About that time I saw that a bill hook belonging to him was bloody and notched, and I asked him how it came so; he said it had been so for a long time.
Batchelor, the constable who searched Twig's house, produced the leg of a calf with a white mark on it, and the skeleton of the calf's head, which he had found in Thomas King's room; and Olliff who searched the pest-house, produced a neck-bone found in the room occupied by Joseph King.
Job Batchelor identified the leg as that belonging to his father's calf by the white mark.
Mr.Spratley, a butcher, compared the neck-bone and head produced together, when they were first found; he was certain they belonged to the same calf. They corresponded exactly. They fitted each other now, but not so well as at first. - Both Guilty - Judgement of death recorded.
NISI PRIUS
Before Mr.Baron Garrow. - Tuesday.
Hobson v. Swannell - Verdict, by consent, for plaintiff - Damages �200.
Dover v. Illing - This was an action on the case to recover the sum of �18 13s 4d for butcher's meat, supplied to the defendant by Edward Bonham, late of Nash, butcher, to whom the plaintiff was administrator. Bonham committed suicide, and his affairs being in an embarrassed state, his widow declined administering his effects, on which the plaintiff, who was one of his creditors, took out letters of administration for the benefit of the whole of them. A bill against the defendant was found among Bonham's papers, which was presented to him by Mr.Willis, the plaintiff's solicitor. The defendant made no objection at the time, but said he had a claim for two bushels of wheat against Bonham, "and no more." Mr.Willis afterwards met defendant, who then said that he had discovered that he had paid Mr.Bonham �7 off the bill and wished to be allowed time to pay the balance, which was granted; but afterwards, on being pressed for the money, said he would not pay a farthing of it unless some of the party swore to the debt, for Bonham was a madman. He now claimed a set off for two pigs, although he never uttered a "squeak" about them before. - Verdict for the plaintiff - Damages �7.
Wheeler v. Young and another, executors of Barton. - Mr.Robinson opened the pleadings, Mr.Sergeant Storks stated the case. The plaintiff is a banker and brewer at Wycombe, and the defendants are the executors of the late Mr.Richard Barton, a paper-maker of the same place, for whom Mr.Wheeler discounted a bill of exchange for �134 16s 9d drawn by Joseph Barton, the deceased's son, upon a person named Collison. Both drawer and acceptor failed, and it was discovered that Mr.Richard Barton had omitted to endorse the bill. However it was proved by Mr.Wheeler's clerk that he gave Mr.Barton cash for the bill, and the Jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff. Damages �134 16s 9d. - Mr.Monro appeared for the defendants.
Butcher v. Butcher. This was an action of trespass, in which the parties are brothers, and disputed the right to certain land in the manor of Maid's Morton. The defendant John, claimed under a device from an elder brother, Wm. Scott Butcher; but it was contested, for the plaintiff, that the latter was only tenant for life, and had no powers to dispose of the property in question by will, it being originally granted to George Butcher, the father of these brothers, (the plaintiff), and John Butcher, successively, for their respective lives - The Jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, subject to any question of law that might be raised against it.
Expeditious and Safe Travelling
Matthew Milton
Most respectfully informs the Nobility, Gentry, and Public in general, of Windsor, Eton, and their vicinities, that he has, for their better accommodation, commenced the business of Coachmaster at Windsor.
His Superior Light Four-Inside Telegraph Coaches,
The Sovereign,
and
The Royal George,
Will leave the Castle Inn, Windsor, through Eton, every Monday at Nine and Afternoon at Five o'clock, and will perform the journey in Two Hours and a Half. His Coaches will leave the Angel Inn, St.Clement's, Strand, every Morning at a Quarter past Seven and every Afternoon at a Quarter past Four o'clock, and leave Dyson's, Black Bear, corner of the Burlington Arcade, Piccadilly, precisely at Eight in the Morning and Five in the Afternoon.
Passengers and Parcels carefully booked at the Castle Inn, High-street, the Crown Inn, Peascod-street, Windsor, and the Crown and Cushion, Eton.
Fares:- Inside 7s. Outside 4s. - No charge for Luggage.
Five Pounds Reward.
Stolen on Thursday Night last, from the Stable of Mr.Edward Cooke, A Bay Horse, seven years old, about 14 hands high, with a star on his forehead, wrung behind the near fore-leg, stands rather over with his fetlock joints; - also a Saddle, torn on the pommel.
Whoever will give such information to Edward Cook, Shopkeeper, Sunninghill, that will convict the offenders, shall receive Five Pounds Reward.
July 28.
Windsor and Eton
On Tuesday the following commissioners met at the Castle, in order to inspect the works of that extensive edifice: - The Earl of Aberdeen, Lord Farnborough, Viscount Goderich, and Mr.Sturges Bourne; they were met by Mr.Wyatville, who produced all the plans, and attended the commissioners in their inspection.
On Monday last, a set of eight unfortunate females and a man, were committed by J.Voules., Esq. Mayor, for various terms of imprisonment, to the House of Correction at Reading, as vagrants.
It will be perceived that out theatre opens on Tuesday next, for the season, under the management of Mr.S.Penley. The well known abilities of that gentleman, as caterer for the public taste, and his excellent company, will no doubt ensure him every success.
Aylesbury
Master Grossmith yesterday evening delighted a numerous and respectable auditory with his performance, at the County Hall, Aylesbury. The talent that he manifested in various recitations, and in a farce in which he personates ten characters, would in an adult prove that nature had been more than usually bountiful in the endowments of the mind; in so young a child (for he is only nine years and one month old), it is truly astonishing. The company by their frequent plaudits proved that they were as much pleased as surprised by his performance.
On Tuesday last, an inquest was taken at the Anchor, Newport Pagnel, on view of the body of George Tomkins, of Kislingbury, near Northampton, who was drowned in the river Ouze, on Saturday last, under very suspicious circumstances. After a minute investigation of five hours the Jury brought in a verdict that the deceased came by his death by drowning, in consequence of the wilful neglect of Daniel Lockwood and Joseph Wood, who had been employed to conduct him to Hanslope.
On Wednesday, the 12th instant, a little boy of the name of Thomas Gillingham got into the Peterborough waggon, at Biggleswade, to go a stage on the north road. The waggon had proceeded nearly as far as Girtford Bridge, when the waggoner perceived the waggon "jump," and heard a scream from the off side, where he looked and saw the deceased lying between the two off wheels, the fore wheel having gone over the lads head. The horses immediately stopped; several persons were near, and the deceased was taken up and placed in a cart to be taken to the nearest house, but when he had been in the cart a very few minutes he expired. - Mr.Times, the coroner for the county, on the day following took an inquisition at Beeston Cross, on view of the body, and the Jury returned a verdict of Accidental death. - It is supposed the deceased was getting into the hay bag in front of the waggon when he fell down just before the wheel.
An inquisition was also taken before the same coroner, on the 20th inst., at Sharnbrook, on view of the body of Henry Brown, who when at work in a field on the preceding day with several others, on a sudden fell down in a fit of apoplexy and expired immediately . Verdict - Died by the visitation of God.