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The Windsor and Eton Express.
Bucks Chronicle and Reading Journal

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Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express



2nd December 1837

The Gas Affair

By reference to the Report of the proceedings at the Council yesterday it will be seen that Mr.Bedborough, the present lessee of the Windsor gas-works, made an application for leave to lay down fresh pipes, so that the shareholders generally will have some cause to condemn the course pursued by some of the "knowing ones," acting in opposition to Mr.Bedborough, to whom the company is indebted for the flourishing state it is in at present.

We have great pleasure in announcing that the Rev.J.Jeffreys, executor of the late Mrs.Jeffreys, has presented �20 to each of the following institutions of Windsor, viz., the Dispensary, National School, Provident Institution, and the Lying-in-Charity.

Mr.Young.- We are pleased to find that this gentleman (late of the choir of St.George's Chapel) is becoming quite a favourite at the London concerts. The editor of the True Sun, in a recent Number of that Journal, speaks of his singing in terms most flattering, giving it as his opinion that Mr.Young is the finest counter-tenor singer of the day.

Windsor and Clewer Provident Institution

The annual distribution of coals by this very useful society has commenced, and will prove as it invariably does, of the most essential service to those of the labouring population who were "provident" enough to contribute their weekly mite to its funds. The Institution was established in order that the labouring class might be provided in winter with coals at a cheap rate. The contributors, by subscribing a small sum weekly for 18 weeks in summer, have the fund augmented by the donations of benevolent individuals, to such an extent that the labourer this winter, who has contributed in the whole nine shillings, receives coals that would , in his usual way of buying, cost fourteen shillings, besides having the extra quantity obtained by the society's extensive purchases. This is a benefit to the working men, which cannot be too highly prized, and which affords great encouragement to them, to provide themselves with fuel during the most inclement season of the year. The society is thankful for contributions even of the smallest amount.

Mutual Improvement Society
Last evening Dr.Epps delivered to a very numerous audience, at the Town Hall, his sixth lecture on Physiology.




Robberies at Slough

On Monday last a man named Andrews, a master bricklayer, at Slough, underwent an examination before the Rev.T.Carter, at Eton, charged with breaking into and robbing, the dwelling houses at Sussex-place. Andrews was taken into custody in consequence of footsteps being traced to his house from a Mrs.Jackson's, on the night of Saturday last; which house was attempted to be robbed, and from the fact that some of the property recently stolen from the houses in Sussex-place was found at his residence. The charge was sufficiently made out against Andrews to induce the Magistrate to commit him to Aylesbury gaol for trial.

Benjamin Moreton, was on Tuesday last fined �2[?] and costs by the County Magistrates, for damaging the paling surrounding Riching's Park; and George Simpson[?] was fined 15s[?] including costs, for assaulting Thomas Hopkins at Iver.




Staines, December 1
Public Dinner

A dinner is to be given to the venerable father of the House of Commons, G.Byng, Esq., on Tuesday, the 12th inst., at the Bush Inn, Staines.Mr.S.Whitbread, we understand, will take the chair. Lord W.Russell, Messrs. Denison, Clay, Briscoe, Tuffnell, Salway, Berkleys, M.P.'s, &c., are announced among the stewards. We have no doubt the dinner will be fully attended.

Staines Institution

Mr.Anderson, of Richmond, gave an interesting lecture on Zoology, on Tuesday evening last, to a crowded audience. We shall give an outline next week. We congratulate the Richmond Institution in having so useful and talented a supporter as Mr.Anderson.

A gentleman of this town, in his rides this week, noticed the following extraordinary circumstances at this season of the year, viz., persons making hay near Sunbury, and at Ashford a man, 95 years of age, shaving himself in the open air.

A boy was apprehended on Monday last, having in his possession the following articles:- One old silver watch, maker's name Charles Steavenson, Congleton, No.3,076; one metal watch, by Smith, of Dublin, No.13, 871; one pair of silver spectacles; one pair of silver buckles; one silver seal, engraved J.B.; one silver coin; three copper tokens. He gave his name as Henry Charles Williams; his real name is Richard Charles Smith. He was remanded to give further time for discovering, if possible, the right owner of the property.




Chertsey, December 1

We are happy to state that the subscribers to the Chertsey Literary and Scientific Institution, continue to increase daily, and we doubt not that the neighbouring nobility and gentry will readily join in the promotion of the extension of useful knowledge, by supporting it to the utmost of their power.

Extensive Housebreaking at Cobham

A burglary, of considerable extent, took place at the village of Cobham, on Tuesday morning. The victim is Mr.Rowland, a draper and general dealer in that village. It does not exactly appear by what means the depredators effected their entrance into the warehouse of Mr.Rowland; but the quantity of merchandise they contrived to get off with is estimated at �300. As soon as Mr.Rowland had discovered his loss he gave information, first, at Kingston, and immediately afterwards rode off to London to obtain the aid of the police.




Uxbridge, December 1
Highway Robbery

The following daring highway robbery, and attempt at murder, was committed in the neighbourhood of Iver, on Saturday night last between 10 and 11 o'clock. It appears that, as Mr.Roderick McGrigor, residing at Delaford Park, near Iver, was returning home, accompanied by his son, a lad about 15 years of age, from Uxbridge, shortly after they had crossed over the bridge leading from the Colne river to Iver, and had got across the first field leading to their residence, they were attacked by four men, dressed in white smock frocks, who had, unheard by them, followed them on the green sward. One of the villains seized the lad by the throat, and nearly throttled him, while two of the others rushed upon Mr. McGrigor with great violence, and held him while the fourth ruffian robbed him of a valuable silver watch, and rifled his pockets of all the silver they contained. They then knocked both Mr.McGrigor and his son down, and with fearful oaths threatened to murder them if they gave any alarm. A reward of five guineas has been offered by Mr McGrigor on conviction of the villains.

Coroners Inquest - Robbery and Suicide

On Thursday afternoon an inquest was held before T.Stirling, Esq., coroner for the Western Division of Middlesex, and a highly respectable Jury, at the sign of the Catherine Wheel, Windsor-street, Uxbridge, on view of the body of William Puzey, aged 55 years, who committed suicide on Monday last, under the following circumstances :-

Charles James Murray, one of the constables at Uxbridge, deposed that he knew the deceased, who was a hay and straw salesman and beer-shop keeper, at West Drayton. On Sunday last witness, accompanied by Birch, another constable, went under the authority of a magistrates search warrant, to the house of the deceased, for the purpose of searching for a quantity of pease, which had on the Wednesday previous been stolen from the warehouse of Messrs.Smith, at West Drayton, for the recovery of which a reward of fifty guineas was offered. We found deceased at home, and searched the premises, but did not succeed in finding the pease. We, however, found a quantity of foreign oats covered over with chaff, and concealed in the roof of the house, behind a chimney, we found eleven empty sacks, marked "Laing, Pickle Herring." We then came down and told deceased what we had found, and witness asked him how he came in possession of them. Deceased said the oats were brought there by his son about five weeks ago. Witness told deceased he suspected they had been stolen from a barge belonging to Mr.Bourne, of Old Brentford, on the canal, at West Drayton, and took him into custody and conveyed him to Uxbridge, where they locked him up in the cage between five and six o'clock.

Birch and witness, about eight o'clock, took him some warm beer with rum in it, which deceased had requested, and after he had drank it, Birch wrapped him up, after he had laid down on some straw, as well as he could. We then wished him goodnight, and left a watchman at the cage for the night. Witness did not afterwards see him alive.

Witness: He appeared perfectly tranquil, and declared his innocence. Between eight and nine o'clock on Monday morning witness, accompanied by a boy named John Birch, went to the cage, the boy carrying some tea and bread and butter for deceased's breakfast. The watchman was still on duty when witness went down. Witness asked him if any one had been to speak to deceased, but he replied in the negative; and said about three o'clock deceased had asked him what time it was, after which he believed deceased had fallen asleep, as he had not afterwards heard him moving. Witness then unlocked the door, and on opening it immediately discovered that deceased had hung himself. Witness said, "Oh Christ, Dick, he has hung himself - for God's sake cut him down." The watchman did so. Deceased was suspended by his handkerchief and a small piece of cord to the bars of the door. Deceased was resting on the floor with his legs bent double under him. The bars are not more than four feet from the floor. Deceased was quite dead, and almost cold. Witness sent for Mr.Charles Patten, a surgeon, who immediately came and pronounced deceased to have been dead some hours. Witness had no doubt deceased hung himself.

Richard Crockett deposed that he was employed to watch the cage on Sunday night, during which deceased was confined therein. No person attempted to interfere with deceased during the night. Twenty minutes before three o'clock deceased complained of being very cold and wished to have a rug, after which witness heard no more of him until the arrival of the last witness. Witness cut deceased down. He was quite dead.

Isabel Puzey, a fine looking young woman, deposed that she was a daughter of the deceased, who was very much disturbed in his mind after the officers had come to the house, on Sunday last. Previously he enjoyed good health and spirits.

Anne Puzey, another daughter, deposed that on Sunday, just previous to his being taken to Uxbridge, deceased pulled a piece of cord out of his pocket, and after looking at it, while putting it again into his pocket, wished witness "good bye," saying he should never see her again. Deceased also said so again while kissing witness's younger brother, whom she had in her arms.

The Jury having viewed the body the Coroner summed up, and, in conclusion, said it would be their province, taking all the circumstances into consideration, to find that verdict which agreed with their consciences, and that they should consider correct. A verdict of felo-de-se would be of serious consequence to the family of the deceased, insomuch as it would involve the forfeiture of all his property.

Several of the Jury said they did not see how they could find any other verdict. The room was, however, cleared for the Jury to consider of their verdict, when, after a consultation of half an hour, they returned a verdict of "Temporary Mental Derangement."

The deceased was possessed of considerable property, and has left a wife and large family.