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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



4th March 1837

Arrival of their Majesties in Windsor

On Monday afternoon, as the hour approached at which is was expected their Majesties would arrive from Brighton , the town presented an animated appearance by numbers of persons parading the streets anxiously looking for their return. About five o'clock the Royal carriage was observed coming down the Long Walk, and as it approached the gate the bells struck up a merry peal, cannon were fired from the Acre, and the monarch and his consort were most heartily cheered as they entered the town and proceeded along the streets to the Castle. In the evening many of the tradespeople brilliantly illuminated their house, in honour of the return of the Court to Windsor. Although no public dinner took place on Monday, we are quite satisfied that no disloyalty can be attached to any man for eating his humble fare at his own home; nay, we can confidently assert that there is a more pure and disinterested love for the King and Queen in the breasts of those who did so than there is in the Time-servers, called Members of the "Castle Inn Club," who dined in that Inn on Monday. It is stated that "some excellent speeches were made, full of loyalty," &c; not being present we, of course, cannot confirm or contradict that assertion , but this we know that the Ministry got heartily abused, and the Tories held up as paragons of excellence. In their rabid moments we also hear, the Dissenters came in for a full share of spleen, and to such an extent did some of them go, that all decorum was put aside for the purpose of making gross personal attacks. No person was allowed to be present at this dinner, unless he was either a member of the club, or was willing to do the bidding of those who were. In proof of which we know of one highly respectable tradesman who was refused admission, and no doubt others were similarly repulsed. So that instead of the Sovereign's return to the Castle of his ancestors being celebrated by a general public dinner, at which nothing of a political nature should be introduced, we have a hole-and-corner concern concocted by a faction, who are so opposed to the Government of him whom they pretend to have met to honour, and who seize that occasion to vilify the more respectable portion of their neighbours.

Windsor Police

On Monday last Anthony Towers was ordered to find bail for using violent and threatening language towards his brother William Towers, who swore that he went in fear of his life. The dispute between the parties arose out of family matters, and the defendant, not conceiving himself well used had frequently uttered threats towards his brother. The defendant declared he would sooner rot in prison than find bail, and he was accordingly placed under the care of the gaoler until he should be brough to his senses.

Turnip Stealing

Yesterday two men named Robert Lambert, and his son Charles Lambert were taken before Mr.Foster, the county magistrate, charged with stealing two bushels of Swede Turnips from the field of Mr. Thomas Hughes, of Clewer Farm. The prisoners were convicted in mitigated penalties and costs amounting to �1 13s 6d for the father, and 13s 6d for the son, and in default of payment to be imprisoned one month each. The prisoners have since paid the money and were liberated. Mr.Hughes informed the Magistrate that he had of late been plundered of turnips to a considerable extent, and he hoped the present conviction would operate as an example to other offenders, whom he was fully determined to punish if detected.

On the 1st instant James Hicks, of Winkfield, was committed by Wm. Felix Riley, Esq, a county magistrate, to the treadmill for a month, for stealing turnip-greens from a field belonging to Mr.Crutchley, at Sunninghill.

Berks Lent Assizes

These Assizes terminated on Monday last. The only cause on the Nisi Prius paper was that of Cox v Painter, which was an action brought by the plaintiff against his landlord, for expelling him from his premises after distraining for the rent that had been due. The Jury found for the plaintiff, damages 40s.

After the above cause was tried before Mr. Justice Parke, his Lordship proceeded to try prisoners in the Nisi Prius Court, Mr. Baron Bolland also trying prisoners in the Crown Court.

John Neale, aged 40, was indicted for stealing a wether sheep, the property of Richard Malins, of Bracknell. It appeared that on the 5th Feb, the prosecutor's son missed the sheep in question from the fold, and that he was immediately enabled to trace some of the foot marks from thence to the residence of the prisoner. He sent for Hickman, a constable, who searched the prisoners house, and found the carcass and skin of a sheep, which latter was identified from its marks, as being the one stolen. The Jury found the prisoner guilty; and he was sentenced to be transported for life.

Riley Jeffs, aged 15, was indicted for stealing a mare, the property of Daniel Wilshin, of Battle Farm, in the parish of St Mary, Reading. On Saturday night, the 16th of last July, the prosecutor had eight horses at grass in a meadow near his house, and on the following morning it was discovered that one of them, an iron-gray coloured mare, had been stolen. The footsteps of a horse were traced from the meadow to a towing-path on the bank of the Thames, and on the following Thursday the mare was brought back to him. On the 18th July (Monday) the prisoner was at Bradford Lea, Wilts, offering the mare for sale to Mr.Kendall, who, suspecting the prisoner had not come honestly by her, sent for his brother, who happened to be a constable. The prisoner said he had chopped the animal for a three year old colt with a person at Bagshot. The constable took him into custody, and advertised the mare, when she was claimed by the prosecutor. The Jury found the prisoner guilty; and he was sentenced to be transported for life.

John Sheard, aged 28 years, was indicted for entering a certain plantation in the parish of Seacourt, on the night of the 4th Dec, armed with an air gun, for the purpose of destroying game, and maliciously wounding William Stiles, with intent to murder him. It appeared that between the night on Saturday, the 3rd of December, and one o'clock on the morning of the 4th, the prisoner was out poaching in a plantation adjoining to the carriage drive which leads to the house of the Earl of Abingdon at Witham, and that on the prosecutor, who was one of his Lordship's gamekeepers, going to try to secure the prisoner, the latter struck him on the head with the barrel of an air gun, and wounded his head severely without cutting through his hat which was made of very thick felt. The Jury found the prisoner guilty; the Learned Judge reserving a question for the opinion of the 15 Judges, whether as the gun-barrel did not come into actual contact with the prosecutor's head, it was cutting or wounding within the statute.

Edward Goodenough, aged 29, was indicted for stealing a sheep, the property of Ferdinando Barnard , at Wantage. It appeared, that during the night of the 6th ult,one of the prosecutors sheep was stolen from a flock of 100. Foot-prints in the morning traced in the direction of the prisoner's house; and, upon obtaining the assistance of a constable and searching his house, two necks, and other portions of a sheep, were found between the bedding and the sacking. The prisoner's shoes exactly corresponded with the foot prints which had been traced. The prisoner was found guilty; and sentenced to be transported for life.

Bartholomew Allen, aged 23, for stealing a sheep, the property of Thomas Mathews, of the parish of Hurley - to be transported for life.

James Archer, aged 26 for stealing a pair of shoes, the property of Thomas Sansum, of the parish of Woolstone - to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for two calendar months.

Henry Bedford, aged 32, for burglariously entering into the dwelling house of William Stroud of Wantage, with intent to commit felony - Death recorded.

Sydney Cock, aged 20, and Anthony Cock, aged 22, for robbing Thomas Prior on the King's highway, at Cholsey, of a yellow purse, containing a sovereign , two half crowns, and ten shillings, and also a bag containing about 550 walnuts - Death recorded.

James Fisher, aged 26, and James Jackson, aged 18, for stealing two pairs of men's shoes, two pairs of women's boots, and other articles, the property of Charles Ashley and another, at the parish of Faringdon - to be transported for seven years.

Sarah Frazer, aged 33, for stealing from the person of George Norris, at the parish of Faringdon, three half crowns, and a five shilling piece - to be kept to hard labour for one year.

Samuel Groves, aged 26, for stealing two sows, the property of John Fidler, at the parish of Thatcham - to be transported for seven years.

Richard Harvey, aged 23, and John Whiting, aged 59, for stealing two gallons and a half of wheat, the property of Wm White of Reading - to be kept to hard labour, the former for one year, the latter for six calendar months.

John Hawkins, aged 40, for stealing a pig the property of Robert Jennings, of the parish of Tillehurst - to be transported for seven years.

John James, aged 20, for stealing a quantity of beans, the property of James Wheeler, at the parish of Sunningwell - to be kept to hard labour for one calendar month.

William Rodbourne, aged 17, for stealing four fowls, the property of Joseph Penstone, of the parish of Faringdon - to be kept to hard labour for three calendar months.

Henry Stiles, aged 17, for stealing two sheep's heads and a quantity of fat, the property of Richard Malins, at the parish of Warfield - to be transported for seven years.

John Wood, aged 20, for assaulting and stealing from the person of John Edwards, on the King's highway, a half sovereign, eight shillings, a silver hunting watch, and a knife, at the parish of Hungerford - Death recorded.

John Harris, aged 23, John Dance, aged 29, and Thomas Head, aged 21, for entering a certain wood in the parish of Shaw, armed, for the destruction of game - two months hard labour.

David May, aged 22, and George Tarrant, aged 44, for feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling house of Mary Miles, and stealing a variety of articles - Death recorded.


The following prisoners were acquitted:-

Henry Canter, aged 19, charged with stealing a damask tablecloth, at the parish of Old Windsor, the property of John Ramsbottom, Esq.

Thomas Girdler aged 47, charged with stealing some clothes the property of the Guardians of the Cookham Union.

Henry Green, aged 21, and Thomas Woodley, aged 31, charged with stealing a sheep, the property of Mary Shephard, of the parish of St. Helen[?]

Richard Parr, aged 31, and Martha Parr, his wife, aged 29, charged with stealing two sheep, the property of Wm. Chatteris,Esq, of the parish of Sandleford.

Guy Rex, aged 35, charged with the commission of a capital offence on the person of Sarah Skates.

As against the following prisoners, the Grand Jury ignored the bills, and they were discharged:-

John Cock, charged with feloniously receiving a sheep, or part of one, the property of T.E. Washbourn.

George Streatley, aged 19, for committing a capital assault on the person of Eliza Wyatt, otherwise Budd, at the parish of Bucklebury.