cornwall england newspaper
1843 NEWS ARTICLE
AUGUST
4 AUGUST 1843, Friday
[Perhaps as a result of the last Quarter Sessions, where one coroner
received over GBP100, and another GBP57, there is quite an upsurge in
Coroner's reported activities. jm]
CONSTABLESHIP OF LAUNCESTON CASTLE. Her Majesty has directed letters patent
to be passed under the Privy Seal of the Prince of Wales, granting to HUGH
Duke and Earl of Northumberland, the office of Constable of the Castle of
Launceston in this county.
FREE MASONRY. We learn that SIR CHARLES LEMON of Carclew, in this county,
Bart., M.P., F.R.S., &c, &c., has just been appointed Grand Master of the
ancient and honourable society of Free and Accepted Masons of the province
of Cornwall, under patent by the Grand Lodge of England, as successor to the
late Sir JOHN St. AUBYN, Bart., deceased. The Hon. Bart. is at present in
Ireland, where he will attend the annual meeting of the British Association
to be held at Cork. His formal public installation, therefore, cannot take
place for some time, but it is confidently anticipated that a fresh impulse
will be given to the order in every district of the province. We
congratulate the brethren on the acquisition of so distinguished a member to
preside over the lodges.
THE RECTOR OF FALMOUTH AND HIS PARISHIONERS
Since we last alluded to the unpleasant and unchristian dispute between the
Rector of the above parish and his parishioners, the bishop's reply to the
memorialists has been published in full, and it has excited no small degree
of attention. It has been noticed by almost every journal, and criticized
both by laymen and clergymen. It was hoped by many of the parishioners who
had hitherto remained passive in the matter, that the rector, finding that
whilst his Diocesan condemned the proceedings of the memorialists, he had at
the same time pointed out a course whereby a compromise might be made and
harmony restored, would, after a few weeks, have resumed the old system of
worship. Under this opposition, his own warden, MR. THOMAS PASKO,
officially called on him last Thursday, to know his intention with regard to
the petition, but more particularly with a desire of inducing the rector to
meet the views of the non-contents. Mr. Pasko had a long interview, during
which he pointed out to his reverence the inquietude of the parish, the
numbers who absented themselves from worship, the old associations which had
been disservered, and the heart-burnings which had been kindled, in
consequence of the untimely alterations which had been made in the mode of
worship. Upon principle, the Rector might be correct, but he, Mr. P.,
enquired whether it would not be merciful to the people to yield to their
requests. The Rector heard attentively all that Mr. Pasko urged, but could
not accede to his wishes. He believed the Episcopal Church to be a part of
the true Church of Christ, and the adoption of its first principle would
determine the fact. He therefore considered, that by the present test, it
would either stand or fall. He, moreover, added, that he should shortly
leave the parish, but that he had given his curates directions to make no
alteration. So ended this conference. Hereupon several of the memorialists
called upon the churchwardens to convene a meeting to receive the report of
the committee appointed at the meeting held in June, and for the purpose of
considering what further steps should be taken. The report will embrace the
correspondence with the rector and bishop, and also the result of Mr.
Pasko's interview. Had Mr. P. succeeded, no report, we hear, would have
been made, and the whole affair would have ended and been forgotten. Under
present circumstances, however, the churchwardens have acceded to the wishes
of the parishioners, and another meeting was to be held on Thursday evening
at the town-hall. What measures are intended to be proposed we cannot say
with certainty, but we have been informed that the committee will be
instructed to reply to the bishop?s letter, and to furnish him with the
particulars of Mr. Pasko?s conference and the result, as well as to give
legal notices to the organist and clerk of an intended reduction in their
salary in the next estimates for a church-rate. When this ungodly turmoil
will end, it is impossible to conjecture. Every week the conflict is
continued, wider will be the breach, until at length, the rupture will be
too extended to heal. Christianity wails, for the strife is suicidal. Her
emblem is Peace; Charity her office. But her disciples have hoisted the
banner of discord, and exchanged the words of charity for those of hatred
and persecution.
MR. TREFFRY's RAILWAY. The Railway projected by J. T. TREFFRY, Esq., which
connects the canal at St. Blazey with the village of Roche, is fast drawing
towards completion. The splendid viaduct, ten arches of large span, has
attracted a considerable number of visitors. The undertaking, as a private
and individual one, is the most extensive and important in the West of
England.
GRATIFYING PRESENT. On Tuesday last, a party of gentlemen, amounting to
nearly 50 in number, assembled at the Eliot Arms, St. Germans, whither they
had invited W. BETENSON. Esq., Steward to FRANCIS GLANVILLE, Esq., to dine
with them on the occasion of their presenting him with a silver snuff-box,
in testimony of the high esteem and warm regard they entertained towards
him. The REV. T. FURNEAUX occupied the chair, presented the valuable token,
and very feelingly spoke of the honour Mr. BETENSON had won to himself for
his long and faithful discharge of the duties devolving upon him. Mr.
Betenson, in an excellent address, returned thanks. The box is of exquisite
workmanship, was manufactured by Mr. EDWARD RAMSEY, of Devonport, and bears
the following inscription: Presented by the parishioners of St. Germans, to
Wm. Betenson, Esq., on his retirement from the stewardship, and receipt of
the Tithes of Francis Glanville, Esq., after upwards of 40 years; faithful
and impartial service, 1st of August, 1843.
SMUGGLING. On Monday last, two seamen belonging to the "Swift" and "Crane"
packets, were brought before the bench, at the Guildhall, Falmouth, charged
with having some contraband tobacco and cigars in their possession. The
case having been proved, they were sentenced to six months? imprisonment in
the town gaol.
TRURO POLICE On Saturday last, SUSAN JENKIN was charged with riotous and
disorderly conduct in the streets, and was committed to the house of
correction for three months? hard labour. On Monday, EDWARD CRAGIS, a
cartman, of Truro, was charged with drunken and disorderly conduct in the
streets, and was fined five shillings with costs. On Tuesday, JOHN DUFF, of
Truro, was charged with drunken and riotous conduct in the streets, and
being and old offender, he was ordered to find sureties in GBP10 to keep the
peace, and to be of good behaviour for the next twelve months. In default,
he was committed until the next sessions. NATHANIEL LANYON, a well known
character, was charged with being drunk, and begging, and was committed to
the house of correction for one month?s hard labour.
HELSTON - On Monday last, three vagrants were committed to Bodmin, for one
month, by the Rev. W. THOMAS for robbing an orchard at Breage, on Sunday
afternoon. He pleaded as an excuse extreme hunger.
BLISLAND SUNDAY AND FREE SCHOOLS. On the 19th ult., CAPT. COLLINS, who is
ever ready to contribute to the welfare and happiness of his poorer
neighbours, regaled the children of these schools, of which he is a kind
patron, with tea, on his lawn, at Trewardale, of which they all heartily
partook, and returned home, "one and all," highly delighted with their
treat.
COW STEALING. On Monday last, a man of the name of JOHN GIBB, of
Marhamchurch, sold a cow at St. Stephens fair, which he had stolen from some
orphan girls of the name of STONEMAN. Shortly after the sale, he was
apprehended, and committed to take his trial at the coming assizes.
CORONERS' INQUESTS. The following inquests have been held by W. HICHENS,
Esq., since our last report:
On the 18th ult., in the parish of Crowan, on the body of THOMAS KEMPE,
aged 26 years, who was killed on the preceding day in North Roskear, in the
parish of Camborne, by means of a charge which he was preparing for blasting
a rock, suddenly exploding. Verdict, Accidental death.
On the 20th ult., in the parish of Illogan, on the body of ANN CAYZER,
who died suddenly on the preceding day. Verdict, Natural death.
On the 24th ult., in the parish of Mawgan in Meneage, on the body of
GRACE LANE, aged 56 years, who died suddenly on the 23rd ult., whilst
returning to her home from Helston market. The surgeon who was called to
deceased was of opinion that the cause of her death was the bursting of a
blood vessel. Verdict, Natural Death.
On the 25th ult., in the borough of St. Ives, on the body of an old man,
aged 86 years, named FRANCIS UREN, who was found dead in a shaft, a short
distance from his dwelling-house, on the preceding day. The deceased left
his house in the morning it is supposed for the purpose of cutting turves,
and whilst so employed, his sight being very dim, he fell into the shaft.
Verdict accordingly.
Last week, an inquest was held at Launceston, on the body of ANN BISHOP,
a poor woman, who, on making a load of hay, fell off on her head, severely
injuring the spine, which caused paralysis of the lower half of the body,
and death on the following day. Verdict, accidental.
On Tuesday, an inquest was held at Truro, before John CARLYON, Esq.,
coroner, on the body of ELIZABETH SARAH ALLEN, a child aged four years,
whose death was occasioned by her clothes taking fire whilst in the act of
drying her pinafore at a neighbour's home. Verdict, Accidental death.
On Wednesday, Mr. CARLYON held an inquest at Comford, on CAPT. JOHN
MICHELL, of Tresamble, in Gwennap, aged 49 years, who was seized with a fit
in his court yard, which almost immediately caused his death. Verdict,
Apoplexy.
On Tuesday evening last, an inquest was held at the Spread Eagle Inn,
Falmouth, before W. J. GENN, Esq., coroner on the body of a fisherman called
THOMAS HILL, who was knocked over from a trawler by the slipping of the warp
of the trawl about three years ago, the particulars of which we gave at the
time. The body was found about three or four miles off Pendennis Castle.
Verdict, Accidentally drowned.
11 AUGUST 1843, Friday
Summer Assizes
[There was a long discussion regarding the cases to be heard; His Lordship
stated that this was the only county in England in which for two consecutive
years there had been a decrease in crime. Still, there were serious cases.
He found four cases of malicious wounding, somewhat serious; two cases of
felonious assaults on women, one of them of a highly disgraceful character;
two cases of highway robbery; three cases of burglary; and one very serious
case of manslaughter. He then mentioned several cases, including a thorough
description of the case regarding Peggy Hooper, if they thought the baby was
not taken care of in a proper manner, or protected after its birth, the
charge might be murder. Should they think that if Peggy Hooper had
interposed, the child would have lived, and that she had been so culpably
negligent as to make her guilty of murder, then that course might be
adopted. He thought it best to proceed as in respect of the substantive
misdemeanour. He believed these were all of the observations it was
necessary for him to make on the cases in the calendar. jm]
TRIALS OF THE PRISONERS
JOHANNA GEORGE, 35, was charged with stealing a quantity of coals, the
property of ALFRED PHILLIPS, of Illogen. The case was very clearly and
shortly proved against the prisoner; and indeed, she set up no defence,
beyond saying that she had been prompted and encouraged to commit the felony
by THOMASINE NORY, a servant of the prosecutor , and the principal witness
for the prosecution. After the prisoner had been convicted, the Judge put
some questions to the prosecutor, and it appeared that he had not known the
prisoner till she first came to wash for him in February; that she was a
married woman with 4 children, and that her husband, a miner, was in
Columbia, but regularly allowed her GBP 3, a month, which was paid out of
money deposited in the Savings Bank by the husband for that purpose. The
Judge, in sentencing the prisoner, dwelt on the aggravation of the crime
which these facts made out. Six months' hard labour.
JOHN BARBARY, 18, was charged with having stolen two ducks and a drake,
the property of JOHN REED, of Camborne. The prisoner was found GUILTY; and
besides this, two certificates of former convictions of felony were proved
against him. The Learned Judge, after telling the prisoner that lenient
punishments appeared to have had no effect in deterring him from crime,
sentenced him to TEN YEARS' TRANSPORTATION.
PUT YOUR SAVINGS IN SAVINGS BANKS
JOHN LYNE WILLIAMS, 20, was acquitted on a charge of having stolen 32
sovereigns and a half sovereign, the property of STEPHEN MATTA [or Motta] of
St. Ewe. The evidence, which was voluminous, was entirely circumstantial.
The prosecutor had been saving the money for more than twenty years, and had
part of it at a time when he was in the workhouse some years ago. He kept
it in a bag enclosed in another, which was put in a chest in his bed-room,
inside his bed. He last saw his money a week before he discovered his loss.
His married daughter, with her husband, JOHN BARBARY, lived under the same
roof with him, their respective bed-rooms being one on each side of the
stair-head. The prisoner lived in the house adjoining, his chamber being
divided from Barbary's by a wooden partition 10 feet high, with a space
about 4x feet between the partition and the roof. The inference was, that
the prisoner, who had but one arm, had climbed over this partition to get at
prosecutor's room through Barbary's. The bags, which had contained the
money were found, one in the chest, the other under prosecutor's bed. The
suspicious circumstances against the prisoner were, that Barbary's wife
found a quantity of dust on the quilt of the bed, and on her husband's
chest, as if it had fallen from the roof, with a footprint on the chest, and
another on the white cloth of a table which stood against the partition;
another witness observed some cobwebs and dust on prisoner's head; a
quantity of money, sovereigns, and a half-sovereign, were in prisoner's
possession about the time the prosecutor lost his money, and some of his
remarks after being taken into custody were very suspicious. On the other
hand, it was admitted that prisoner had been observed at other times to be
flush with money, and he said he got great part of his money by smuggling,
and an acquaintance of the prosecutor named JOHN TEAGUE, of Kestle, had
advised him to throw the bags over the partition into the prisoner's room to
strengthen the suspicion against him, which, however, he refused to do. The
jury acquitted the prisoner.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 5. (Before Mr. Justice Coleridge)
JOHN BULLEN, 22, pleaded GUILTY to a charge of having stolen a quantity
of brass, at St. Austell, the property of the Charlestown United Mines; and
also to an indictment charging him with having been convicted of felony on a
former occasion. Ten years' transportation.
GRACE DENNIS, 24, pleaded GUILTY of having stolen at Stithians, a gown
and a skirt, the property of NICHOLAS PASCOE; and also of a former
conviction for felony. Three months' hard labour.
SOPHIA BARTLE, 23, pleaded GUILTY of having stolen, at St. Agnes, a
child's frock, a night-gown, two caps, and a pair of stockings, the property
of WM. JAMES,; also of having stolen part of a child's skirt and a pair of
child's socks, the property of JOHN DALBRIDGE; also of having stolen two
chickens belonging to JOHN COCK. Three months' hard labour for the first
offence; and two months' hard labour for stealing the chickens. The second
charge was not pressed.
HANNAH HAWKE, 57, was charged with having stolen a child's cloak, the
property of JOSEPH CARNE, of Truro. The cloak belonged to the prosecutor's
daughter, ELIZABETH, an exceedingly intelligent little girl; and she, one
day, after coming in from a walk, left it on the banisters of the stairs,
while she went up to wash her hands. On coming down, she found it gone, and
subsequently she saw the cloak in the shop of MRS. TREGILGAS, and gave
information of the circumstance to HARE, the policeman, who, on making
enquiry of Mrs. Tregilgas, found that she had purchased it for a shilling of
a woman who said she had it given to her while out charing. Hare
immediately went in search of the thief, and brought several women to Mrs.
Tregilgas, who eventually pitched upon the prisoner as the woman who had
sold her the cloak. The prisoner had lost a front tooth, which rendered her
rather remarkable; and in reply to the Judge, Mrs. Tregilgas said she did
not observe that the person who brought the cloak had lost a tooth. Not
Guilty.
CUTTING AND MAIMING. JAMES REYNOLDS, 26, a sturdy looking ruffian, was charged with having maliciously cut and wounded JANE REYNOLDS, his wife, at the parish of Perranzabuloe, with intent to murder her; another count charged him with doing it with intent to do her some grievous bodily harm. Mr. GREENWOOD conducted the prosecution and the prisoner, who appeared to be unmoved by the danger of his situation, was undefended.
JANE REYNOLDS examined: I live in Perranzabuloe, and lived there in April last; on the 4th of April, I
was preparing dinner between twelve and one; my husband, James, was there;
he asked what was for dinner, and I had a kettle on to make some tea; I said
a bit of fry; he said he would not have fry again, he had had it for
breakfast; he did not say any more; he kicked over the kettle; he asked why
I did not bake something; I told him that I could not; he then took up the
kettle, looked at it, and then struck me with it in his hand; it struck me
in the face, and knocked me out of my senses; I believe I fell on the
ground; I came to myself; I don't know how many times he heaved to me; I
don't know what I felt after I was on the floor; I came to myself after I
was hoved from the floor; when I came to my senses I asked him not to beat
me again, and I did not know any more till I was heaved up from the floor by
his mother. I don't know whether he beat me after I asked him not. I laid
hold of the tea kettle while it was in his hand. I kept my bed a week. The
marks over my left eye and under the right eye were the work of that day.
My jaw was broke right in two in front.
By the JUDGE. This child is 16
months old; I have been married four years, and have two children. The
Prisoner, in reply to the Court, said he did not see that it was any good to
ask his wife any questions.
MARTHA REYNOLDS examined: James Reynolds is my
son; I live with my husband in an adjoining room to the prisoner. I heard
the dispute between the prisoner and his wife. He said why had she not
baked something for dinner; he said he would not have fry again he'd had it
for breakfast. I heard something like a kettle, and then she screeched, and
then I ran in; when I came in he was standing in the middle of the room with
nothing in his hand; his hands were upon one another; I never heard a blow
or saw him strike after I came in.
Prisoner, You are contradicting
yourself. Witness - No, I am not. I heard blows before I came in.
Examination Continued: The wife was lying on the floor, the child a little
way off; she was "blood and bad, and frightful to see;" the wife said as I
lifted her up, how could you do this to me, my dear? I helped her up, and
she went herself to get some water to warm, to wash away the blood from the
wounds on her face. You could hardly see her face till she washed the blood
away. She went over stairs, and went up to bed. I saw the dag (hatchet) on
the floor, near the fire wood, but I never saw the dag with he, or whether
he touched it or not I don't know. The blood was very nigh. I took up the
dag and heaved it up over the wall for fear he would interrupt (strike) me
for coming in. I saw the kettle, but I was so hurried I can?t tell where it
was.
By the Judge. The kettle was bruised up. The kettle is here and the
dag is here, but no man, woman, nor child can say he did it with the dag,
for I was the first to enter the house.
The Judge. Prisoner, do you wish
to ask the witness any questions? Prisoner, surlily - no, no questions at
all. WILLIAM STEPHENS, constable of Perranzabuloe, produced the hatchet,
which he said he found in a hedge before the prisoner's house, and also the
tea kettle which was greatly bruised, and had the spout broken off.
By the
Judge. Do you wish, prisoner, to ask the witness any questions? Prisoner.
I can convict him of a lie at once; he did not find the dag where he said he
did.
The Judge. That is not the way to ask a question. He says,
constable, that you did not find the dag where you say you did? Mr.
Stephens. I found the dag in the hedge, adjoining the father's house,
within a few yards of the prisoner's door.
Mr. CHARLES DOBLE examined: I
am a surgeon, and live at St. Agnes. The overseer of Perran desired me to
look at Mrs. Reynolds. I saw her about one at night; I was called about
half-past eleven on the 4th of April. She was in bed with her husband, the
prisoner, covered with blood, but her wounds were tied up securely. I did
not like to remain, and went for a constable, who did not, however, like to
go without other assistance. He said he was afraid of his customer. I
found her jaw was fractured. I observed nothing that night but a broken
jaw. I was timid about remaining, and went away. I saw her again the next
day, about twelve o'clock, when I found, on the left eye, a large jagged
wound, as if occasioned by some blunt instrument. The skin was quite broken
to the skull. It was about two and a half inches in length. I observed a
wound under the right eye, a smaller sized wound, of a similar character to
the first. I passed my probe, and found no fracture of the skull, but it
had gone to the bone. There was a wound in the left cheek, that appeared to
have been done with some sharper instrument, as if with a blunt nail, or
something of that kind, which had passed through the cheek into the mouth.
It was a smaller sized wound. I should think the wounds over the left and
under the right eye were such as would be produced by an instrument like the
dag. The other wound might have been made by the spout of the tea kettle.
She was under my care for three or four weeks.
The Learned Judge then
summed up, and the Jury found the prisoner GUILTY on the second count of the
indictment; namely, that of having committed the assault with intent to do
his wife some grievous bodily harm.
His Lordship, in passing sentence, said
he did not think that any observations he could make to the prisoner would
have the slightest effect upon him, but he should pass a heavy sentence upon
him, for the benefit of society. The sentence of the court was that he be
Transported beyond the seas for fifteen years. The Prisoner - Thank you,
Sir; I can live there as well as here. The prisoner was then removed,
followed by his aged mother, who cried bitterly. As for his poor wife, she
sank on the ground with her child, when she heard the sentence, and was with
difficulty removed from the court.
HONOR SALTERN, 30, was found NOT GUILTY of stealing a pair of stays, a
petticoat, and stocking, the property of SUSANNA SALTERN of Launceston.
CUTTING AND MAIMING. JOHN CUMMING, 18, was indicted on three counts,
charging him with cutting and maiming WILLIAM MAYBEE, at Scilly, with intent
to do him some grievous bodily harm. Mr. HOLDSWORTHY for the prosecution;
Mr. SLADE for the defence.
WM. MAYBEE examined: I live at Scilly, with my grandmother, FLORENCE
MAYBEE; in March I worked with MR. RICHARD TAYLOR, a shoemaker; I leave work
at eight o'clock; I left work on the 13th of March; Taylor lives about a
mile from my grandmother; I left about eight o'clock; on going home, in the
middle of Penninis Lane, a person jumped over the hedge and knocked me about
the head with a stick; I fell, and then he took out a razor and cut me in
the face (the boy showed a wound from his ear, all down the side of the
cheek, and across to the mouth), that was done while I was on the ground; it
was done by the prisoner; I knew him before; while on the ground I said I
had done nothing to him; he said I had; he then left; I was bleeding; I then
ran home; I was about half a mile from home; when I got home, I saw my uncle
ROBERT MAYBEE and grandmother; I was then carried to the town of St. Mary; I
had my wounds bound up by Mr. BLEWITT, surgeon; I was then taken home; I was
ill a month. The prisoner had a baragan jacket and trowsers on, and a
shining hat.
THOMAS PERCEVAL examined: I live in Hugh Town, St. Mary's, close by where
this boy works. I live with my mother; I had to go by Penninis Lane from my
mother's farm on the night in question; I met the prisoner about half-past
seven; he had on a baragan jacket and a black covered hat. I met him, and
he went off, at the turn of Penninis Lane. Cross-examined - I am quite
certain that it was Cumming. I have known him all his life; he has been a
particularly well-behaved boy.
ROBERT MAYBEE - I am uncle of the prosecutor, and live with my mother,
FLORENCE MAYBEE. On the 13th of March, about eight o'clock, I was at home,
and heard five or six screeches, and soon after my nephew came to the door
and into the house. He was cut very bad and blood was running from his face
down to his shoes. There was a cut extending from the top of the ear to the
mouth, and another running down nearly to the throat. I tied up his face
with a handkerchief and carried him to Mr. Blewitt. After the wounds were
dressed I took him home.
WILLIAM [LEMON?] BLEWITT examined: I am a surgeon, at St. Mary's. the
prosecutor was brought to my house on the 13th of March by his uncle, about
nine in the evening. There was a large wound across the face, beginning
just above the right ear, and continuing below the chin. There was a cross
cut to the mouth. There was a deep wound as if with a sharp instrument. I
made three stitches, and then put on an adhesive plaster. There was a
bruise at the back part of the head, as if with a stick. The wounds were
not dangerous, and the bleeding not very considerable. Cross-examined:
there is no insanity in Cumming's family but two or three of his distant
relatives are weak. I have known the prisoner fifteen years, and he has
been a well behaved boy, but gloomy. There might be a taint of weakness to
his mind, but not of insanity, though insanity may verge near upon that
weakness.
ALEXANDER GIBSON: I live at St. Mary's and am a constable. I know Wm.
Maybee; saw him at Mr. Blewitt's house; in consequence of what I saw I went
in search of the prisoner; on the following morning, I saw him coming down
Portheress Bank, in St. Mary's, with his father. I took him into custody,
and put him to prison. The father was with him. I searched him and he said
he had no knife. His father was by; and said what did you do it with, and
he said an old razor. His father asked him where he got the razor from, and
he said from up mine. His father said he would get some water for him to
wash, but he said he had already done it.
Mr. Blewitt recalled. Was present at the examination before the
Magistrates. I saw the Magistrate and Cumming make their signatures. The
prisoner being cautioned, and asked if he had anything to say, said "No,"
and then added "I have been guilty of all that was done. I was not in my
right senses when I did it. I was very sorry afterwards. I owed Maybee no
ill-will."
GEORGE DENNIS JOHN, solicitor, of Penzance, proved that the Scilly Isles
were in the jurisdiction of the County of Cornwall. Mr. SLADE addressed the
Court on behalf of the prisoner, urging that at the time of the commission
of the offence he was in a state of insanity.
The JUDGE, in summing up, said the question was whether they had any
satisfactory evidence that would lead them to presume that the prisoner was
free from responsibility. The rule of law was, that every person was
presumed in the first instance to be in his senses till it was proved that
he was not. His lordship then read the evidence of Mr. Blewitt on this
point, and remarked that if such evidence as that was sufficient to
establish a plea of insanity, there was hardly a person in that court for
whom it might not be set up. The prisoner had said himself that he was not
in his right mind when he did it - that he was sorry for it afterwards - and
that he owed Maybee no ill-will. Now things come into peoples' heads. The
old language of an indictment for murder was that they were instigated by
the devil. Things came into the mind, and they did what was criminal, but
that was anything but madness, and in this case there was nothing to support
such a view. It seemed more like the wanton act of a boy.
The jury found
the prisoner GUILTY of an intent to disfigure and do the prosecutor some
grievous bodily harm. The prisoner was sentenced to 18 Months' hard labour.
JOHN EDWARD JARMAN, 28, was found NOT GUILTY of a charge of having stolen
a quantity of rope, the property of EDWARD THOMAS, of Fowey.
CUTTING AND MAIMING. JOHN VINCENT HAYDON, 25, was charged on two counts of
having stabbed and wounded EDWARD JUNIPER, with intent to do him some
grievous bodily harm. Mr. Merivale appeared for the prosecution.
EDWARD JUNIPER. I am mate of the schooner "Phantom;" she came into Falmouth in
March last; on the 29th, I sent the prisoner with MUDGE and two other seamen
to take the captain on shore; he did not come back with the master, but
about five hours after, about eight o'clock. I was in the cabin when the
boat came alongside. The dog gave an alarm, and then I hailed the boat.
The prisoner came aboard; before he came aboard, the captain said you ought
to be ashamed of yourself for coming so late and disturbing the peace of the
ship, after staying away from the boat all day. The prisoner came on deck
and said I have not stayed away from the boat all day, I have been in
attendance on the boat; the captain said you must be an impudent scoundrel
to give me the lie in my teeth when all the crew know the contrary. The
master then said away with you off the quarter deck. He made no reply, and
went off, and the master ordered him away forward. The prisoner said, "no, I shall stop here, and while you talk to me I will talk to you." The captain ordered me then to take him by the collar and lead him forward. I
did so, and the captain followed me while I did it. I led him as far
forward as the windlass. While there I spoke to him and said, "Bill, stop
there, and don't come aft to aggravate the captain." I went then with the
captain to the quarter deck. The prisoner began talking of old grievances,
and threatening, and worked himself gradually aft as far as the mainmast.
Once or twice I ordered him forward; he was daring me and the captain to
come off the quarter deck, and said if we did come there it would be the
worst day of our lives. I went off the quarter deck towards the prisoner to
within about three feet of him, and ordered him forward. He said stand off
me, Edward, and with that he made a blow at me with his left hand. He
sprang forward and I received a blow on the left arm, and he then sprang
back. He sprang forward again and struck me with a knife with his full
force. He struck me about an inch and a half above the heart. I fell
backwards, and was carried below after that. He was not the worse for
liquor.
JOHN MUDGE examined: I am an apprentice on board the "Phantom;" I pulled
on shore with the captain. I was in the forecastle on the night in question
when prisoner returned. I heard a row on the deck, and came up; the
prisoner was by the windlass when I came up. I was present when he was
lying on a box below; and when he was taken into custody afterwards, I found
a knife behind the box on which the prisoner was lying.
MR. BROUGHAM, surgeon, of Falmouth, said I saw Juniper on the night of the
29th of March. He breathed with difficulty. I then had his clothes
removed; they were very much saturated with blood, and there was also a
considerable quantity of blood on the deck. He had the appearance of having
lost much blood. On examining his person, I found a wound about two and a
half inches above the region of his heart. The wound was a stabbed wound,
a clean cut wound, done with a sharp pointed instrument. I introduced a
probe about three inches. I considered it a very dangerous wound. I waited
two hours after seeing him, when breathing became more distressing, and the
symptoms more serious. I then bled him largely, which greatly relieved him,
and I attended him subsequently four or five days. The second rib was
fractured, either by the hilt of the knife or by the fist, and there was
considerable swelling. After comparing the knife with the wound, I handed
it to JULIAN, the officer. If this wound had been a little lower, the
consequences must have been fatal.
GEO. JULIAN produced a long, sharp pointed carpenter's knife, which Mudge
identified as the prisoner's, the prisoner being carpenter on board the
"Phantom."
The Prisoner, in defence, stated that when he was in her Majesty's service
on the coast of Africa, he received a wound on board the "Brisk" brig, in
his head, which incapacitated him for that service, and which, when he
drank, seriously affected him. To that he attributed his crime on this
occasion, and he threw himself on the mercy of the court. He said he was
also on board the "Pique" at the siege of St. Jean d'Acre.
The jury found the prisoner GUILTY, and recommended him to mercy. Two
years' hard labour.
JOHN LAMPEN, 48, was charged with having stolen, at Liskeard, a new
lifting pump, the property of SAMUEL BONE; and ROBERT COWLING, 38, and
WILLIAM WILTON, 46, were charged with having received the same knowing it to
have been stolen. Mr. TUCKER and Mr. KINGLAKE appeared for the prosecution;
Mr. B. H. LYNE, attorney; the prisoner, LAMPEN, was undefended, but COWLING
was defended by Mr. ROWE, and Wilton by Mr. EDWARDS. The case appeared to
excite considerable interest.
Samuel Bone examined: I am a builder at Liskeard; Lampen worked for me, and
left me about two years ago; have a store-room on my premises, in which was
a lifting pump; on the 4th of July last, in consequence of information, I
went and searched the store room, and missed a lifting pump which I had seen
there a fortnight or three weeks before; Lampen lived then in Liskeard, I
got a warrant, and went to his house; searched the house; he was in the
house when I searched, having previously found him at the Globe Inn; we
found parts of a lifting pump, the iron work, it was in the back room
secreted under some dirt; as soon as the prisoner, Lampen, discovered that
we had found something, he shut the back room, went to the front, and ran
off. I pursued him, and took him in Lyne's Lane, and brought him back. I
went to Mr. SAVERY's on the 4th of July; he showed me some pieces of 4th of
July; he showed me some pieces of brass, parts of a lifting pump. I
afterwards saw some pieces of brass brought me the same day by DAW, the
constable. They were parts of the cylinder of the lifting pump. They
appeared as if they had been put over a fire to break them up.
MARTHA SAVERY examined: I am wife of WM. SAVERY, glazier. I saw Lampen on
the 27th of June. He told me he had some old brass for sale. I bought it;
it was six pounds; I put it in a little box out of the way of the children.
I bought a lot of MAY also, for all of which I gave 4d. per pound.
THOMAS MAY examined: I live at Liskeard, and am brother-in-law of Lampen;
took some brass to Mrs. Savery's, which he asked me to take, and delivered
it to Mrs. Savery. I had 1s.16d. for it; it was weighed before I received
the money. I received no directions about the price before I went there; I
carried the money back to John Lampen. Nothing passed between me and Lampen
on my return.
WM. SAVERY examined: I am a glazier in Liskeard; on the 4th of July I
received some brass from my wife in the workshop. It was part of an
hydraulic or lifting pump. Part of it was quite perfect, the other part
broken and disfigured - hammered up. It was the piston rod, screws, and the
upper and lower box, and a part of the barrel. It appeared to have been
recently broken. The parts brought to me appeared to have been beaten. I
gave them to the constable. I know WILTON, he is a collector of old brass.
The pump I have described is quite different to a mine pump.
JOHN DAW, constable, examined: On the 4th of July, I apprehended Lampen and
took him to his house. He unlocked the door himself. Bone, Taylor, and
Davey were with me. I told him that I had a warrant to search his house for
the remains of a brass lifting pump, that we had traced part which was sold
to Savery, and the remainder was not found. He said it was true that he had
sold some to Savery, and that May had sold some; but he said that was brass
that he had from a tinkering man that he made a barrow for. I asked him if
he knew where that man was; he said no, he did not - that he had gone away.
I asked him whether he had any of the brass left; he said no, he had not,
nor any brass, nor any part of a lifting pump or any other thing but what
was his own. When we found parts of a lifting pump as stated by the witness
Bone, I said, John, I thought you told me you had no part of it here at all.
He never made any answer, but he looked down and went towards the back
door. I told him he should not go, and turned him round and desired Davey
to take charge of him whilst we proceeded with the search. Lampen then
pulled the door home and shut as in the back premises. TAYLOR went in
pursuit after him, and brought him back along with Mr. Bone and Davey. I
also took Thomas May in custody, the man just examined. I told Lampen that
I had May in custody under the same charge, and he said "May's as innocent
as a child unborn, what he did was only what I desired him to do, to sell
it and he brought me the money; whatever the law is I must suffer, he has
nothing at all to do with it." The same evening I apprehended COWLING in
bed in Liskeard at his own house; it was dark. I told him that I
apprehended him on a charge of receiving some brass belonging to a lifting
pump that had been stolen from Mr. Bone. Cowling told me "I received some
brass from Lampen last Saturday, which Wilton had bought before. I went
down after it, and Wilton helped it away along with him. Then Wilton came
back and he went on and sold it to the foundry.?" I took him in custody to
Mr. MOON's. I went the next day to the Roseland foundry. MR. BACHE is the
master; he delivered to me about 25lbs of pieces of brass broken up.
JOHN TAYLOR. Proved that on reaching Lampen he exclaimed "For God's sake,
John, fall down and let me go over the hedge." Witness took him back.
WILLIAM LOCK examined: [I am a workman in Bache's iron foundry in Roseland.
On the 30th of June, the three prisoners came to the foundry, and tried to
sell some old iron and brass. I told them to see the other building, where
the smith could look it over. Cowling and Wilton left, Lampen stayed. I
afterwards saw all three out together with the scales].
WM. BACHE affirmed: I am proprietor of the Roseland foundry, a mile and a
half from Liskeard. [Saw Cowling at the foundry with old iron and brass,
recently broken into small pieces. Purchased it for 6d. per lb, and put it
into a store room.]
The Judge. What is the evidence on which you mean to rely to affect the
prisoners Cowling and Wilton, more than Mr. Bache himself?
Mr. Kinglake, there are some declarations
of the prisoners.
The Judge. It seems to be quite the practice of
apparently respectable persons about here, to buy old brass and iron without
any inquiries at all. Proceed with the material evidence.
Several witnesses then related conversations that had taken place between
the prisoners at different times, in which they charged each other with
assisting in disposing of the property, and sharing the money for which it
was sold.
JOHN DAW produced the brass he got from the foundry, and DAVEY
produced some brass obtained from Mrs. Savery, all of which was identified
by Mr. Bone as part of a lifting pump such as he had lost. The prisoners'
examinations were then read, after which Mr. Rowe and Mr. Edwards addressed
the court, and his Lordship having summed up, the jury found Lampen GUILTY
and the other two prisoners NOT GUILTY.
JOHN LAMPEN was again indicted for having stolen a piece of timber, certain
brass pullies, and a lock, the property of SAMUEL BONE. These articles, it
was proved, were found on the day of the search in the last case, the
smaller articles being in the wall, closed up by some stones. The case was
soon proved, and the jury found a verdict of GUILTY. There was another
indictment against him, but on this he was not tried. The prisoner was
sentenced to Two months' hard labour for the last offence; and, at the close
of that sentence, to Seven Years' transportation, for the first offense.
TRIAL OF PRISONERS
CHRISTOPHER ROBINS, 56, charged with having ravished and carnally known
ELIZABETH ANN ROBINS, on the 4th of June last year. Mr. GREENWOOD conducted
the prosecution; attorney, Mr. CHILCOTT. Counsel for prisoner, Mr.
MEREWETHER and Mr. CORNSIH; attorney, MR. STOKES. This was one of the most
painful and disgraceful cases ever submitted to a jury. The prosecutrix was
the daughter of the prisoner, and about 14 years old. She lived with her
father and mother, one elder brother, and a younger sister, in the parish of
Kenwyn. The case, as stated for the prosecution, was, that on the day in
question, her mother and brother went to attend her grandmother's funeral,
leaving at home only the prosecutrix and her younger sister, about eight or
nine years old, and their father, the prisoner. Prosecutrix and her sister
were in bed, and asleep. The prisoner came to her bed, woke her, and
carried her to his own bed in another room. The prosecutrix stated that she
fainted away, after some resistance, and that on coming to herself, she
found that the crime charged had been completed. He threatened to kill her
if she told any body. She did not tell any body, till a fortnight after,
when she was questioned by a neighbouring married woman, ELIZABETH OATES.
She did not tell her mother till the day after she had told Elizabeth Oates,
because she was afraid.
It appeared that the charge against the prisoner was not made till January
last, and that then he went to Jersey, where he was taken by the constable
of Kenwyn. The prisoner was then passing by the name of SIMS, because as he
said to the constable, his family were a disgrace to him. He added that he
should not have returned to Cornwall, if the constables had not fetched him,
but should have gone to France to settle.
The defence to the prosecution was the proof, by a number of witnesses, of a
course of continued "profligacy," and the frequent use of disgusting
language by the prosecutrix. This was proved by several young men and
others, all of whom the prosecutrix denied, in court, most positively, ever
having known. Some of those parties she distinctly and repeatedly swore she
had never seen before that day. The case lasted many hours; and the
evidence was almost wholly of the most disgusting character. The result
was, that such discredit was thrown on the statements of the prosecutrix,
that at the conclusion of the defence, the jury said, in answer to the
judge, that they had no doubt about the case. Mr. GREENWOOD declined
replying to the defence, and the jury immediately returned a verdict of
Acquittal. On the trial of such cases, greater strictness should be
exercised in the exclusion of young lads from the galleries of the court,
than we have witnessed on this and similar former occasions.
There were two other indictments against the prisoner for similar offences
committed, on the 1st of July, 1842; and the other on the 4th of January
last. Mr. Greenwood, however, declined offering any evidence, saying, in
reply to a question from the Judge, that it was not in his power to alter
the character of the prosecutrix as it had been proved in the case already
heard. The prisoner was, of course, Acquitted.
ROGER FOLLY, 24, charged with having violently and feloniously assaulted
MARTHA POLSON, at St. Stephens by Launceston. The prisoner was a tall,
powerful young man, with somewhat of a sailor-like appearance. The
prosecutrix was a young woman, of very weak intellect. The assault was
committed in Werrington Park, near Launceston. The prisoner was found
GUILTY of a common assault; and sentenced to One week's hard labour.
CONCEALING BIRTH. MARY HOOKER, 23, charged with unlawfully endeavouring
to conceal the birth of her male child, on the 28th of May last, in the
parish of St. [..] Tregony. PEGGY HOOKER, 65, was charged with aiding and
abetting in effecting the concealment.
SAMUEL JEWEL, of Tregony, surgeon and justice of the peace, stated that, in
consequence of information, he went to the prisoner's house on Monday the
29th of May, a little before eight o?clock in the morning. He found the
daughter sitting at the end of a table in the room below stairs and the
mother was by the fire. He said to the daughter that he had come there in
consequence of a report that she had given birth to a child, and that the
child had been destroyed. She replied that nothing of the kind had taken
place, and the report was all false. He said, "Mary, I can't rely on your
word; I have been so often deceived that I am determined never to be
satisfied unless I make an examination." She said she would never consent
to that. He replied that he must then get a constable to make a search; and
walked towards the door. The mother and daughter then consulted together;
and the mother took him up stairs, where he found the dead body of a male
child, between the sacking and feather-bed. Nothing had been done for the
child after its birth. The child had breathed. There were no marks of
violence. He returned to the daughter, and told her she was putting her
life in danger, by intending to go out to work in the fields that morning.
He ordered her to go to bed, and he would send necessaries from the
overseer. He said to her it was a bad affair. She said she could not help
it; and was not willing the public should know she had a child, lest she
should get into more disgrace, and lose her place of work. The examination
of Peggy Hooker was put in and read. In it, she stated some circumstances
of the birth, and added that they consulted to bury the child secretly; and
Peggy Hooker was to get a carpenter to make a coffin. She put the child
under the feather-bed; but Mr. Jewell came before the carpenter could come.
Verdict, Both Guilty. Mary Hooker, Four Months' hard labour. Peggy Hooker,
Two Months' hard labour.
DISORDERLY HOUSE. JANE GODOLPHIN, 40, was found GUILTY of keeping a lewd
and disorderly house, in Quay-street, Truro, on the evidence of two
policemen of the borough, and of two miners named DATSON and COLLINS, the
latter two having visited the house. After a severe reproof, the Learned
Judge passed the sentence of Twelve months' hard labour.
AN AFFECTING CASE. JOSIAH THOMAS, 29, charged with having feloniously
killed and slayed JANE THOMAS, his mother. This case, which lasted many
hours, and excited the utmost interest among a most crowded assemblage of
people, was that of a son - a powerful young man - beating an aged and
feeble mother, so as to produce death. A considerable part of the evidence
was applicable chiefly to the legal question, whether the declarations of
the dying mother, which formed a most important part of the testimony
against her son, were admissible. The point was argued at considerable
length by the Counsel, Mr. MOODY, for the prosecution, and Mr. KINGLAKE, for
the prisoner. The Learned Judge decided in favour of the admissibility, on
the ground that the deceased was ill, without any hope of recovery
entertained by herself, the law providing for the reception as evidence, of
the unsworn declarations of persons in such a state.
The first witness called was GRACE COCK, daughter of ELIZABETH COCK, and
niece of the deceased. She lived in service at Cury, and recollected her
aunt, Jane Thomas, coming to her mother's house in March. Witness went home
and remained there till her aunt died. On the morning of Thursday, the 9th
of March, went to her aunt's bed-room; she appeared to be very ill. She
looked on witness, and said, "My dear cousin Grace, you are very young; mind
the one thing needful; live near to God; be dutiful to your mother." This
was about ten o'clock in the morning. She died the next day.
ELIZABETH COCK, wife of JOHN COCK, of Mullion, sister of Jane Thomas, who
died in witness's house. She came there on the 3rd of March, about eight
o'clock in the evening, very unwell, and asked to be allowed to stay there.
She died on Friday, the 10th of March, about five o'clock in the evening.
On the 5th, witness advised her to call in a surgeon. She then refused to
do so. She got worse. On Wednesday, the 8th, she asked if she thought she
was dangerous. Witness said "I think you are, Jane." She then consented to
have a doctor sent for. She said, "If the doctor comes, I must tell him how
it happened, or else he won't know what to apply." She said to witness, "My
dear sister, if I never come better no more, and these are my last words, I
can freely put my death upon him." That day, the prisoner came to see for
his mother. He did not know she was in the house. Witness went down
stairs. Her brother PETER was there, and said to him, "I do hear that you
have ill-used your mother." He replied, "No, I have not." Witness said,
"Yes, you have ill-used your mother; you beat your mother on the Sunday when
WEARNE was buried (the 5th of February); and you beat her on the Sunday that
CARLYON's wife was buried (the 26th of February). Prisoner said, "how do
you know? Mother have not told." Witness said, "yes, your mother have
told." He then hanged down his head, without speaking. After that, witness
saw her sister, the deceased, again, and told her Josiah was gone, saying to
her,"my dear sister, we must forget and forgive." Jane replied, "I can
freely forgive him; but I can never forget his ill-usage of me." On the
Thursday morning, the deceased saw witness cry, and said "My dear sister,
why are you crying? Are you crying because I am going to glory?" Witness
answered, "No, my dear sister, but 'tis near to part." She said, "if then
we must part, the Lord's will be done." She seemed very happy at her
approaching [dissolution]; and witness said to her, "this is the victory, my
dear sister." And then the deceased repeated the words -
"Oh how happy I shall be,
When I've gained the victory."
On Wednesday night, she sent for Mr. KERBY to make her will; and on Thursday
seemed very anxious that he was not come, and sent witness's daughter Grace
to fetch him, about eleven o'clock in the forenoon. She said she was afraid
she would be gone before Mr. Kerby came. On Wednesday night, the surgeon
having been sent for, he sent a mustard plaster; which made her easier. She
had the rattle in her throat all that night. When Mr. HATCHARD came on
Thursday morning, he asked her where was her pain? She said, in her side
violent; and that she got it from a blow. He said, "How did you get the
blow? Was it from accident?" She said, "No sir, I am sorry to say it is
from the hand of my wretched son." She said then, that her son had struck
her, and for a fortnight she could not turn on her side in bed without
shrieking; and when she was coming a little better, she received another
blow from him on the Sunday week, and ever since she had been going worse
and worse. In reply to Mr. Hatchard, she said her son was about 29, and was
a labouring man, but she was sorry to say, he generally relied upon her for
her living. Josiah was the only one of her sons who lived with her. After
Mr. Hatchard was gone, the prisoner came to the house, and witness went up
stairs and asked her sister if she would see Josiah. She replied," I should
like to see all my children." Witness took him up stairs to her. She
looked at him and said "Now, Josiah, now you can see; I often told you." He
began to cry; and she said to him" 'tis too late to cry now, 'tis all
over."
Cross-examined: The deceased gave her property to her children; she gave a
larger part to the prisoner than to her son JOHN. There were four children.
Re-examined: heard the deceased give instructions to Mr. Kerby about the
will. Mr. Kerby said, speaking of Josiah, "I should cut him off with a
shilling." She said "I must give him like the rest, to keep quietness, that
there be no noise when I am gone." She did not give Josiah as much as PETER
and JOSEPH. She gave him more than John, because she said John had his
trade.
ELIZABETH HARRIS attended on deceased before her death. A few hours before
her death prisoner came a second time to see her, and asked her if she knew
him. She said "Yes, if I never knew you it would be well with me then."
THOMAS HATCHARD, surgeon, of Helston, was sent for to attend the deceased,
and went to her about the middle of the day, of Thursday the 9th of March,
and found her taking the medicine he had sent her the evening before. He
had sent her [lowering] medicines, from what was told him. On the Thursday,
he found her in bed very ill, and he had not the slightest hope of her
recovery. The deceased asked him his opinion; and witness told her, on his
second visit, about an hour after the first, that her state was very
critical. (Mr. Hatchard here related the conversation with deceased, the
substance of which we have given in Mrs. Cock's evidence.)
Mr. Hatchard, on the day after the death of the deceased, made an
examination of the body. He found no marks externally; but on examining
internally he found the sixth and seventh ribs on the right side had been
fractured; and on opening the chest, he found marks of extensive
inflammation. From the appearance of the ribs and parts of the chest, he
should suppose the blow which caused the fracture had been given about a
month. It was such a blow as might have been given with a man's fist. The
fracture would not have caused death, unless it had been followed by
inflammation. But he had not the slightest doubt that the inflammation
caused death. This witness was cross-examined with a view of supporting the
defence afterwards set up, that the deceased met with the injury which
occasioned the inflammation and death from being knocked down by a horse in
Helston, on the Saturday week previous to her death. Evidence was given of
the accident, and of the deceased having immediately after complained of her
head and side. Mr. STEPHEN BROADHAM, surgeon, gave medical evidence for the
defence. Supposing the ribs to have been broken at Helston, and no great
care taken, death was very likely to have occurred within a fortnight.
Where the ribs had been broken, as in this case, he thought it quite
[doubtful] than any one should have gone on for five weeks with such an
amount of injury. The Jury returned a verdict of Guilty; and the prisoner
was sentenced to Eighteen Months' hard labour.
The Court rose at about a quarter to eleven o'clock.
A RUNAWAY JUROR. A curious incident occurred in the course of the above
case. At the conclusion of the prosecutor's evidence, three of the jurors
retired with leave of the Court, for a few minutes, under charge of a
bailiff. One of them, however, WILLIAM PINCH, of Pelynt, contrived to give
the bailiff the slip, and never returned again to his duties. The Court
waited for him more than a quarter of an hour, and search was made for him
in various parts of the town, but to no purpose. At length, another juror
was put into the box, and the whole case was begun again, the Judge
examining witnesses from his notes. His Lordship fined the fugitive juror
GBP 20.
THIRD COURT
The Judges appointed a third court this morning, in which Mr. SERGEANT
HALCOMB presided. This court was held in the Grand Jury room.
JOHN GIBBS, 42, was charged with having stolen a cow, the property of
ELIZABETH JANE PHILLIPS and MARY STONEMAN, at the parish of Marhamchurch.
The prisoner was tried on this charge on Saturday, but being acquitted on
the ground of a flaw in the indictment, this new indictment was preferred
against him. MR. HUGHES conducted the prosecution, and from the evidence it
appeared that the prosecutrix Phillips had milked her cow on Friday previous
to the St. Stephens by Saltash fair. On the Saturday it was gone, and the
same day Mr. EGGINS, of St. Stephens, saw the prisoner driving the cow,
which he said he was going to drive to Lifton, and that it was for sale.
Eggins asked the prisoner his price, which he said was GBP 6.10s, and the
witness bought it. On the Monday following, Mr. Eggins sent the cow in the
care of a man named VOSPER, to the fair, with a view of its sale, if he
could get a good purchaser. While there, the prosecutrix saw the cow, and
claimed it as her property. GUILTY - Twelve months' hard labour.
ANN TREBILCOCK, 17, was charged with having obtained a looking-glass
under false pretenses, from JAMES BREWER, of St. Columb.
James Brewer, examined by MR. HOLDSWORTH - I live at St. Columb, and keep a
shop; on the 30th of May, I was called into the shop by the servant; the
prisoner was there, and asked me for a common looking-glass for MRS. ROWSE,
of Trebadannon. She said her mistress would have a common one, the old
glass having been broken by another servant. I asked her her name, and she
said it was ANN WILLIAMS, and that she was living with Mrs. Rowse. I tied
up the glass, and gave it to her; and she went away. I saw the glass again
the next time in the hands of BURROW, the constable, before the magistrates.
She was taken into custody the 17th of July.
ELIZABETH ROWSE examined - I am the wife of Mr. Rowse, of Trebadannon, about
two miles from St. Columb. I have dealt with Mr. Brewer. I never sent the
prisoner to Mr. Brewer's shop for any article.
JOHN BURROW examined - I searched the house of the prisoner's father on the
16th of July. I found the looking-glass in the house, which I took into my
possession. The prisoner was present, and I had a conversation with her.
When I found the glass, I said, how came you to take it in Mrs. Rouse's name
from Mr. Brewer? She said she had some cousins coming to stay at her house
at Whitsuntide, and she had no glass for them. She said further "that it
was done, and that it could not be undone." I searched under a warrant
obtained by Mr. Brewer. I called first the previous day without a warrant.
Mr. Brewer was re-called, and identified the glass as his property. GUILTY.
Six weeks hard labour.
WILLIAM COLE, alias VIC. COLE, 36, was charged with having stolen two
pints of cider, the property of JOHN POLLARD, of Morval. Mr. W. BULLER
appeared fro the prosecution, and Mr. PULLING for the defence. The prisoner
was found, on the 28th of July, in the cider cellars of Mr. Pollard, by that
gentleman's son-in-law, and in his wool house the prisoner had left a
bundle, which, when apprehended, he asked to have returned to him. The
bundle was found to contain several things, among which was a new saucepan
with the private marks rubbed off. The case was clear against the prisoner,
and the only question was as to the state of his mind, he having acted like
a mad man ever since he has been in custody. On this point the witness for
the prosecution gave it as their opinion that he was only feigning madness,
and Mr. EVEREST, the governor of the gaol, and Mr. HAMLEY, the surgeon,
expressed the same opinion, from the observations that they had made since
the prisoner had been in custody. The jury found him GUILTY, and he was
sentenced to Transportation for Seven Years.
MARY ANN BENNETTS, 17, was charged with having obtained 6 lbs. of
candles, under false pretenses, from HANNAH GOLDSWORTHY.
Hannah Goldsworthy examined by Mr. Hodge - I live at St. Day, and am a
grocer. I know Mr. THOMAS MICHELL, [mercer?] and tailor, of St. Day; he had
been, previously to the 24th of July, a customer of mine. The prisoner was
a servant of MR. MICHELL's for a good while. On the 24th of July she came
to me in the evening, and said "please for 6 lbs. of candles, for master."
which she had frequently done before, and I gave them to her. She then went
out of the shop. Mr. Michell came to me on the Monday following, the 1st of
August.
THOMAS MICHELL examined: The prisoner has been a house servant of mine for
nearly two years. On the 24th of July, I sent her for no candles. There
were no candles brought to my house on that day that I know of. A week
after the 24th of July, I went to Mrs. Goldsworthy, and from what I heard I
had the prisoner taken into custody.
ANN MICHELL, wife of Thomas Michell, stated that she did not send her to
prosecutrix, that no candles were brought to her house during the week of
the 24th of July; and that she took charge of the candles.
By the Court - The prisoner had fetched witness 6 lbs of candles three weeks
before the 24th of July, and 6 lbs. lasted her about three weeks. The jury
found her Not Guilty.
CATHERINE OATES, 21, was also indicted for having obtained 6 lbs. of
candles from HANNAH GOLDSWORTHY, under false pretenses. The prisoner was in
the employ of Mr. MICHELL, the prosecutor in the last case, in his tailoring
business, and she, on the 29th of July, went to the shop of Mrs.
Goldsworthy, and obtained 6lbs. of candles. Both Mr. and Mrs. Michell
stated that they had not given the prisoner any orders to go to the
prosecutrix for candles within the last three months. ELIZABETH BENNEY,
wife of a miner named WILLIAM BENNEY, now in the Brazils, proved that the
prisoner came to her house on the night of the 29th of July, with 6 lbs. of
candles, which she said her brother had had given him by the miners for
looking after their things in the "dry" (the house where the miners dry
their clothes). She gave 1s.6d. for them. Subsequently these candles were
given to a constable named BAWDEN, and a pound of them were identified by
Goldsworthy, in consequence of the candles having fallen on the floor and
got covered with sand. GUILTY. Six weeks' hard labour.
BURGLARY. PRISCILLA LOCKERY, 16, and ANN GIST, 16, were charged with
having broken and entered the house of JOHN HOCKRIDGE, at Kilkhampton, and
stolen therefrom a purse containing about GBP 19. Mr. ROWE conducted the
prosecution.
John Hockridge examined. I am a carrier at Kilkhampton. On the 28th of
April, I returned from Plymouth to my home. I went to bed between nine and
ten at night; I had about GBP 19 in sovereigns and silver in a purse in my
trowsers' pocket. On going to bed I put my trowsers on the foot of the bed;
my wife afterwards came to bed. In the night my wife woke me, and I heard a
rattling of money on the top of the bed. I got out and heard the door
creak. I went into another room and saw no one; I then returned and said
they shan't have my money then, and I then threw my trowsers up by the bed's
head. I got up the next morning about eight, and found my pocket screwed
inside out, and the money gone. I knew Lockery many years; she lived with
Gist's mother, about twelve or fourteen yards from my home. Lockery had
been charing at my house, and had slept there many times, so that she knew
the house as well as I did. I at once suspected Lockery, and went to see
her; she said she had not been to the house that night nor a considerable
time before. I saw my purse again in the constable's hands that same day.
CREWS had it the same morning in my house counting the money. It was found
before ten o'clock the same morning. When the money was found, Crews
counted GBP 17 in the purse.
JANE HOCKRIDGE, wife of the last witness, examined: Went to bed on the
night in question about ten o'clock; came in from the stable through a back
door, which I barred, and locked the fore door. When I came in my daughter
was in the room into which the back door opens - both front and back doors
are in one room. I heard a sound in the night in the room, and alarmed my
husband. When I went down in the morning, I observed that a window was
broken in a little room, by which a hand could be put in and the shutter
opened. The street was outside of that window. The prisoner Lockery said
the back door was wide open on that night, which the witness denied.
JANE HOCKRIDGE, daughter of last witness, said that on the morning of the
26th of April she came down about half-past six; the back door was wide
open.
GEORGE CREWS, examined - I am schoolmaster at Kilkhampton; heard on the 29th
of April last of this robbery; saw HENRY ADAMS, a brother-in-law of
prosecutor, going to Gist's house about nine that morning; I joined Adams,
and stood close by outside the house; after Adams went into the house I saw
Ann Gist run on; she ran out to the end of the house, to her father's
garden. I went in the direction which she had gone; there was a quantity of
dung heaped up against Gist's house; I examined that dung for I thought it
was not all right. On removing the dung, I found a purse. I took it back
and produced it to John Hockridge and then counted it. There were GBP 17 in
it. I gave the purse to Mrs. Hockridge, who gave it to GODDARD the
constable. HOPGOOD, the blacksmith, was with me when I found the purse.
SAMUEL GODDARD examined - I am a police officer at Stratton; the two
prisoners were delivered into my charge on the 29th of April; I took them
into custody, and handed them over to females to be searched. The purse had
then been found. I heard Lockery say it is no use to search me, I have
nothing about me, I have not the two sovereigns, for I handed the purse to
Gist last night without opening it. At the time she said that the other
prisoner was not present. The women searched her, but found nothing.
Lockery said in her examination before the Magistrate that she lodged with
the other prisoner's mother, and was unable to pay for her lodgings, in
consequence of which Mrs. Gist told her that she must go into Hockridge's
house when he was in bed and get some money. She did so, and immediately
handed the purse over to Ann Gist, the other prisoner.
JOHN FITZGERALD - I am a constable, and on the 30th of April I conveyed
these two prisoners in a cart from Camelford to Bodmin. I heard them
conversing about the robbery. Gist said, "I wish I had took the money
further, and it would not have been found, but never mind we have got GBP2
and that will do to pay a lawyer, and when we get back we shall have a good
spree with it." Lockery again made a statement similar to that which she
made before the magistrates, and Gist said she was never out of the house
all that night. The jury found Lockery GUILTY, and Gist NOT GUILTY. Mr.
ROWE recommended Lockery to mercy, it being suspected that she was
influenced by others. Twelve months' hard labour.
JOHN GOLDSWORHY, 44, and JOHN MOORE, 32, were charged with assaulting
ROBERT LILLY, a policeman, while in the execution of his duty. Mr. xxxx for
the prosecution, and Mr. Merewether for the defence.
ROBERT LILLY examined: I am a policeman at Redruth. On the 24th of June, I
was on duty about half past eleven in the evening. There was a crowd of
people assembled opposite the Plymouth Inn. I called upon them three times
to disperse before I went to them. There were seven or eight. One of them,
named Michell, said he should not. I went and took him by the arm, and was
proceeding up the street when Moore came and said I should not take Michell
into custody. I told him that I did not wish to do so, but to take him
home. Moore then swore at me; he was very drunk, and I left go Michell, and
took hold of Moore and led him to within about fifteen yards of his house,
where I let him go. He called me then a number of blackguard names. I then
took him as far as the Plymouth Inn, and there I saw Goldsworthy, and
several others, and they begged me to let him go and they would see him
home. I did so, and then Moore aimed a blow at my face, but it did not take
effect. I told them then to stand back, for I should take him into custody;
he then struck me in the face, and kicked me on the shins, and he tried to
throw me down. I used no more violence than was necessary to get him away.
Then Goldsworthy came up and tried to take Moore away. I was then dragging
Moore down the street. I told Goldsworthy several times to leave go or I
would strike him with the staff. On his not leaving go I struck him rather
a severe blow somewhere near the mouth, and he let me go. I then locked up
Moore. Saw nothing further of Goldsworthy that night. Cross-examined. I
have had two or three assault causes here before. I handed Moore gently
first of all. Afterwards, after I had been assaulted, several women came
out, and begged me not to hurt Moore, as he had had a fever. I took up
another person the same night for being drunk. I did not strike Moore
before any thing was done to me. I did afterwards - as I was going with him
to the lock-up house he was striking me in the face, and I gave him a knock
with my staff on his knuckles to prevent him blackening my eye. Moore cried
murder at one time. Re-examined: I have nearly lost my life several times
in Redruth; the town is much quieter than when I first came down here. Some
of the people called out to others "kill the b---," and I was obliged to
give Moore to another constable to keep off the people. Moore ripped my [?]
right up with his hands, when I was taking him to the [?] house. The other
constable, CHARLES TREGONNING, was with me the whole of the time. Charles
Tregonning gave evidence in corroboration of that given by Lilly. A portion
also of the prosecutor's evidence was corroborated by MR. KINSMAN [or
Kintman]the landlord of the Plymouth Inn. Mr. Merewether addressed the jury
on behalf of the defendants, and called a witness who gave Goldsworthy an
excellent character. The Learned Sergeant summed up favourably for the
defendants, and the jury found them Not Guilty, upon which Mr. Merewether
observed that he had excellent characters signed by the vicar, magistrates,
and a great number of the inhabitants of Redruth. This was the last case
tried in this court, and this jury was then discharged.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 8
CHARGE OF HIGHWAY ROBBERY. THOS. HORNBROOK, 28, was charged with
assaulting JOHN KNIGHT, of Liskeard, and feloniously and violently stealing
from his person, one sovereign and some silver. MR. KINGLAKE and MR. ROWE
conducted the prosecution; attorney, MR. BOASE of Liskeard. MR. MOODY was
counsel fro the prisoner; attorney, MR. PRESTON WALLIS. It appeared that
the prosecutor, an innkeeper of Liskeard, on Thursday, the 20th of March,
was absent from Liskeard, in a gig, and in the course of the evening, was at
South Petherwyn, and afterwards at a place called Congdon's shop. He had
been drinking in the course of the evening, and left Congdon's shop about
eleven o'clock in his gig, having one sovereign, sixteen or seventeen
shillings, and some pence. After leaving Congdon's shop, he missed his way,
and inquired his way at a house where he saw a light, occupied by R.
PETHICK. While he was inquiring here, a man came down the road, whom, after
some conversation about the way, prosecutor offered to pay handsomely to put
him to some place of safety, or drive him to Liskeard. The man told him to
take the reins, and the prosecutor got in his gig and drove down the hill,
and when out of the gig at the bottom of the hill, he saw the same man
coming down the same road. The prosecutor asked him again to put him to
South Petherwyn, or Congdon's shop, or Liskeard, and he would give him 5s.
The man then asked "How about your money?" The prosecutor replied "That is
no odds to you; I've got enough to pay you for your trouble." The man then
began to rifle prosecutor's pockets, and a scuffle ensued. The prosecutor
fell, and while on the ground was struck insensible. When he came to his
senses, he found himself lying between two pieces of elm timber in the road,
and two men were near him who assisted him to South Petherwyn. He found his
money was gone, except the fourpenny piece. The night was very dark. The
man who attacked the prosecutor had a lightish dress, spoke a little short,
and stammered occasionally. The prosecutor stated that he had since heard
the prisoner speak before the magistrates, and was positive that was the man
who attacked and robbed him. On cross-examination, the prosecutor admitted
that he was very drunk on the night in question. He could not tell how he
got out of the gig; whether he got out himself or was thrown out or knocked
out. Could only tell the prisoner by his voice. When before the
magistrates, had told them he was not positive about the prisoner's voice.
Had never seen the prisoner before the night in question. Had no
recollection of the man at all, that night. Had been on the road once
before. When he lost himself, was driving in an opposite direction from
Liskeard towards Launceston; and had driven three or four miles up to
Pethick's door before he found he was going wrong. A large amount of
circumstantial evidence was afterwards offered, the case occupying some
hours. The Jury retired to consult, and after some considerable time,
returned a verdict of Acquittal. This concluded the criminal business of
the Assizes.
NISI PRIUS
MONDAY and TUESDAY, AUGUST 7 and 8
The QUEEN v. the PARISH OF ST. TEATH
[an indictment obliging the inhabitants of St. Teath repair one of the
highways near the village of Pengelly, known locally as the Quarry Hill,
leading from the old Delabole quarry. Use of the road saved a quarter of a
mile in going from the village of Medrose to Pengelly. Numerous witnesses
were called to establish that the old road, which is now broken up by the
working of Mr. AVERY's quarries, was used by the public for very many years
past, down to a comparatively recent period. There was no contention over
the condition of the road; it was definitely in need of repair. The Parish
maintained that the proprietors of the quarry used the road, and were
obliged to repair it. The summing up lasted three hours and ten minutes,
and was concluded about twelve o'clock on Tuesday night. The jury consulted
about ten minutes, and returned a verdict for Defendants. An application
was then made on behalf of the prosecution for costs, the Act of parliament
under which the indictment was preferred, directing the costs both of the
prosecution and defence, to be paid out of the way-rate. The Judge took
time to consider. This case closed the Nisi Prius business of the assizes.
COPPER WORKS
"We are sorry to state," says the Cambrian of Friday last, "that the workmen
of the Swansea Copper Works stopped work this morning, declining to submit
to the proposed reduction in their wages. The men engaged in the following
extensive works have stood out - Messrs Vivian's, Messrs. Williams, Porter
and Co's, the Middle Bank Works, the Whiterock Works, the Upper Bank, the
Crown Copper Works, Neath, and the Red Jacket Copper Works, Neath.
Those in the employ of the Messrs. BENSON have not struck.
The men of one of the works had assembled about ten o'clock this morning,
in a field above the Hafod Works, where they expected to be joined by the
others, when they were to go in procession through Morriston, and all the
Works, and perhaps through Swansea. The following are the reductions
complained of: Slagmen, formerly earning 30s. a week, are now reduced to
22s.6d.; metal smelters, from 30s. to 26s.3d.; ore smelters, from 26s. to
22s.6d.; roasters, from 31s.6d. to 27s.6d.; middle calciners, from 2s.4d. to
2s.2d. per watch; and ore calciners, from 2s.2d. to 2s. per watch." The
last accounts state that the strike still continues.
OPPOSITION TO PUSEYISM IN FALMOUTH. On Thursday evening, the 3rd instant, a
public vestry was held in the Town-hall, Falmouth, for the purpose of
receiving the report of the committee appointed at a vestry held on the 16th
of June, to prepare memorials to the rector of Falmouth and the Bishop of
Exeter, praying that the mode of celebrating divine service in the church
during the ministry of the late REV. L. MATHIAS be restored, and to consider
what further measures should be adopted. W. J. CLARKE was called to the
chair, and at once proceeded to read the report, which embraced the answer
of the rector, and the letter of the Bishop in reply to the memorials. A
long conversation followed in which MR. H. O. BULLMORE, MR. RICKERBY, MR.
HARVEY, MR. DROWN, MR. W. BROAD, Mr. BRADFIELD, MR. E. GILBERT, Mr. MO...
and the chairman took part. The following resolution s were at length
agreed to: That this vestry has heard with much surprise and regret the
determination of the rector not to accede to the expressed wishes of his
congregation of restoring the services of our church to their accustomed
mode of celebration; and that his avowed determination of carrying out the
obsolete canonical ceremonies and usages which he has revived, and which
have no foundation in scripture, and consequently are contrary to the tenets
of Protestantism, imperatively calls on a true churchmen to testify their
strong disapprobation of such practices. That the churchwardens be
respectfully requested to oppose the revival of the Weekly Offertory, for
the following reasons: first, because it is an old Romish relic and,
secondly, because it is detrimental to the public institutions of the town,
as such frequent demands on our benevolence necessarily tend to lessen the
amount of contributions and virtually destroy the efficiency of the
charities. That, it appearing to this vestry that the Bishop of Exeter has
been misinformed in several particular respecting the proceedings of the
congregation at Falmouth, the committee be requested to lay before his
lordship a true statement of all the circumstances. A vote of thanks to the
chairman concluded the business of the meeting.
TYWARDREATH RURAL GARDENING SOCIETY - The thirteenth exhibition of this
society took place at Tywardreath, on the 26th ult., when the produce of the
Cottager's gardens was really astonishing, especially in the vegetable
department. The gentlemen's table was also well filled with articles from
the gardens of Menabilly, Prideaux, and Tregrehan; and the nurserymen's
tables added also very much to the beauty of the exhibition. At two o'clock
the gates were opened for the admission of visitors, and upwards of GBP12
was received for tickets sold at 1s.6d., and 3d. each. The cottagers who
exhibited were also furnished with a ticket of admission and their wives and
children were admitted free. The chair was taken by Captain COLLINS, R.N.,
of Trewardale, in the absence of the President, COLMAN RASHLEIGH, Esq., of
Prideaux, who was detained in London. On the platform were, besides the
gallant Captain, J.T. TREFFRY, Esq., CHARLES SAWLE, Esq., J. STACKHOUSE,
Esq., RICHARD CARLYON, Esq., the REVDS. R.G. GRYLLS, N. KENDALL, R. BULLER,
J.B. KITSON. CUTHBERT HOSKEN, E. CARLYON, G.R. PRYNN, H. ILLINGSWORTH, R.M.
BAMFIELD, &c.&c. The chairman addressed the meeting in a speech of some
length, in which he spoke of the advantages of such societies. He had been
long connected with the Tywardreath society, and the more he saw of its
usefulness, the more he felt inclined to support it. He was delighted at
the productions of the Cottagers, now before them. The gallant chairman
recommended that each cottager should have a quarter acre of land. He had
proved the benefits of this, on his own estate, and he felt that nothing was
calculated to benefit the labourer more than the encouragement afforded him
by societies of this.
[He nominated MR. CHARLES B. SAWLE, Esq., as their new president, which was
seconded by MR. J.T. Treffry, Esq., and carried by acclamation. Mr. Sawle
then gave thanks. A vote of thanks was proposed to the chairman by Mr.
Sawle; it was seconded and carried. Mr. Sawle took the chair, and more
toasts and thanks were given.] The band struck up the "Roast Beef of Old
England," and the company returned to the market-hall, where Mr.
POLKINGHORNE, of the New Inn, had provided an excellent dinner, which did
great credit to his house. The chair was taken by the President for the
day, many loyal and appropriate toasts were drunk, and the company separated
highly pleased with the day's entertainment.
WEEK ST MARY FAIR. The fair at this place, on Saturday last, showed a
slight improvement in prices, and many bullocks were sold. Sheep are just
as they have been for some time past.
FETE IN ANTONIE PARK. A public promenade and fancy fair took place in the
ground of Antonie House, the residence of W.H. P. CAREW, Esq., on Tuesday
afternoon, in aid of the funds of the Literary Institution at Torpoint, for
which institution a handsome building is now being erected. The bazaar was
held on the lawn of Antonie House, and Marquees containing refreshments were
dispersed about the grounds, while in the centre was a large booth in the
style of a Chinese pagoda, in which the sale of useful and ornamental
articles was carried on by several ladies of Torpoint and the neighbourhood.
In other positions were a post office, raffles, and butts for the practice
of archery; while several little ladies bounded hither and thither vending
nosegays, the proceeds of the whole being carried to the credit of the
institution. Two bands of music, those of the Royal Marines, and the 76th
regiment, were stationed one at each end of the lawn. With great kindness,
too, MR. CAREW threw open his extensive gardens on this occasion, and they
were completely thronged, that the diminution of the assemblage on the lawn
was palpable at the most cursory glance. The proceedings throughout the day
appeared to give universal satisfaction.
MESMERISM. On Monday evening last, Dr. CANTOR delivered a lecture at the
Polytechnic Hall, Falmouth, on Mesmerism, to a large audience, who were
highly amused; and we hear he is going to give a second lecture on Monday
next, on the same subject.
THE TRURO POST OFFICE. We understand that in consequence of the vacancy
occasioned by the death of MISS THOMAS, there has been a general movement
among the Tories, many of whom have been besetting their friends in office
for the situation. During the many years that the late lamented
post-mistress filled the office, she did her utmost at all times to oblige
the public; and as we have had much to do with the post office, we feel
satisfied that whoever may have the good fortune to be her successor, it
will be impossible for him to perform its duties with more general
satisfaction to the public, or more fidelity to the government.
SERIOUS MINE ACCIDENT. On Saturday last, as a man named THOMAS COCKING was
at work in a shaft at the United Hills mine, St. Agnes, a stone fell from
the kibble, struck him on the head, and fractured his skull in a most
dreadful manner. But little hope is sustained of his recovery.
FATAL ACCIDENT AT SEA. As the schooner "Commerce," belonging to St. Ives,
was on her voyage from Milford to Glasglow, a youth named WALTER ROSS, aged
17 years, fourth son of the late CAPT. HENRY ROSS, of the schooner, "Grace,"
was knocked overboard by the main boom, and drowned. At the time of the
accident, the vessel was running before the wind, with a heavy sea; and in
bringing her to, the topsail split, so that no assistance could be rendered
to the unfortunate youth. The deceased was a worthy lad, and has left a
widowed mother with several brothers and sisters to mourn his loss.
INSOLVENT DEBTORS COURT
JOHN STEVENS HOOK, who resides at the Fish Strand, in Falmouth, and
attributes his insolvency to his connexion with "an unfortunate concern,"
but does not mention in his schedule what that concern is. It appeared,
however, from his examination, to be a connexion with Russell and Co.,
common carriers. His debts amounted to GBP325. On the 24th of February
last, he mortgaged some property for GBP180, GBP60 of which he deposited in
the Falmouth bank, which sum he has made over to his niece. Adjourned to
the next circuit to amend his balance sheet, to shew specifically what has
become of the GBP180, and to produce his niece, MARY COBLEDICK.
GEORGE EDWARDS TRESIZE was opposed by MR. P. WALLIS, for the detaining
creditor, MR. PASCOE. He was supported by Mr. BENNALLACK. The insolvent
was remanded from last court to produce his brother to account for a certain
bill of sale, and to amend his schedule. His brother did not appear, but in
consideration of his having been imprisoned already seven months, he was
declared entitled to the act, and was ordered to be discharged forthwith.
MR. PASCOE was appointed assignee.
ROBERT KENT was opposed by MR. WHITFORD, on behalf of the detaining
creditor. Mr. Whitford stated his object in opposing him was not so much to
remand him, as to enquire into an assignment made by him to his grandson,
ROBERT KENT, jun., residing in Liverpool, about two years ago, of some
property situate in St. Columb, known as the Ring of Bells Inn, and other
premises attached to it. The consideration money appeared to be GBP100,
which sum insolvent stated he had received from his grandson in different
installments. Insolvent appeared a very old man, and attributed his
insolvency to having no trade for more than two years, and having had a deal
of sickness in his family for several years past. The deed being produced
in court, and the transaction considered a fair one, he was ordered to be
dishcharged forthwith. Mr. GOLDSMEAD, of London, the detaining creditor, to
be assignee.
PAUL MICHELL was opposed by Mr. F. WALLIS, for E. TURNER, Esq., Insolvent
was arrested on an estate called Little Trennick, a lease of which was
granted, not to him, but to his son William; he executed this lease after
his son had possession, but does not know where his son now is. His
daughter now lives on the farm. When he was arrested he went there merely
to see his daughter. In April last he sold some property of GBP51; out of
this he paid MR. TYACKE, receiver for MRS. HARTLEY, GBP27.10s, the receipt
for which money being put in was not considered by the court to be genuine,
as there plainly appeared two different hand-writings in it. He stated he
also paid the sum of GBP24 to a MRS. FAULL, his daughter, a receipt for
which was put in, stating it to be for goods delivered to his family, but
did not say the description of such goods. Remanded to prove the actual
payment of rent to MRS. HARTLEY, and to produce his two sons, WILLIAM and
PAUL, and his daughter SYBIL.
HENRY SPRITTLE was opposed by MR. P. WALLIS for Mr. STEVENS, detaining
creditor. His object appeared to be to enquire as to the furniture in
insolvent's house, which he proved to belong to his aunt, who now resides at
Cardinham. Insolvent is a shoemaker, and carried on his business in the
parish of St. Kew, in this county. He was declared entitled to his
discharge, HENRY STEVENS was appointed assignee.
JOHN FLEMING RICHARDS was opposed by MR. BENNALLACK, on behalf of Mr. PETER
OLIVER, of St. Michael Penkivel. The insolvent was manager of the Branch
Western District Bank at Falmouth, and was concerned in the Truro steam
flour mills, with CHARLES WILLIAMS, who was in custody under the same
process. The opposition to RICHARDS, who had made a fair statement, was
withdrawn; and Williams, on satisfactorily answering the question as to his
being a superannuated excise officer in the receipt of salary, had
opposition withdrawn by Mr. Bennallack against him also. Both insolvents
were declared entitled to the benefit of the Act, and ordered to be
discharged forthwith.
JOHN BONETTO was unopposed, and was defended by Mr. Bennallack on behalf of
the Society for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors. He appeared to have been a
journeyman shoemaker, and his debts amount to GBP60, for bill and costs of
suit, which bill he says he never owed. The case being clear, he was
ordered discharged forthwith.
CHRISTIANA GROSE was opposed by Mr. SHILSON, on behalf of Mr. WHEELER,
merchant, of St. Austell. Insolvent had kept a shop in St. Austell, and
sold groceries. She became indebted to Mr. Wheeler to the sum of GBP
87.16s.2d., and law costs of GBP 17.2s. In November last, she gave up her
business, but still carried on for her brother, until December. She lived
in the same house with her father, to whom she owed GBP40. On declining
business, she had her shop front and the shop fixtures appraised in the
value of GBP40, which she signed off to her father, in liquidation of his
debt. She had offered Mr. T. COODE, solicitor, GBP 20, in part of payment
for Mr. Wheeler, which he refused to accept, without a bond for the
remainder. This money, the Commissioner said, should have been accepted by
MR. COODE, for according to the old proverb "half a loaf is better than no
bread." Insolvent put in that promissory note to prove the debt of her
father, one of which she admits signing after she was in prison; another
bore date three months after the date of the stamp. She denied that these
bills were her own handwriting, but admitted signing them. Mr. HIGMAN had
known her handwriting several consecutive years, and believes them all to be
her own handwriting. After being very sharply reproved by the Commissioner,
he ordered her to be discharged on payment of GBP 40 into court. Mr.
WHEELER was appointed assignee.
RICHARD DANIEL was opposed by Mr. C... for the detaining creditor, Mr.
RICHARD EDGCOMBE, but he was declared entitled to the benefit of the act,
and was ordered to be discharged conditionally upon giving up possession of
the house in which his family then lived, belonging to the detaining
creditor, who is to give evidence of a receipt in full of all demands.
JOHN PEARCE, a member of the Society of Friends, was opposed by Mr.
BENNALLACK, in behalf of JOHN EDWARDS, and by THOMAS EDWARDS in person.
Insolvent affirmed that he had been arrested at the suit of Mr. PENTREATH,
who agreed that he should come into the north of the county, and be arrested
there in order to save expenses. Insolvent had been collector of rates for
the Redruth Union, and also of highway rates for the parish of Camborne. He
was insolvent 12 years ago. About 12 months since there were defalcations
due from him to the Redruth Union, amounting to GBP 385, most of which had
since been paid. The petition was dismissed on the ground of "Friendly
Arrest" by Mr. Pentreath, and the insolvent was ordered to be discharged,
but was not freed from his liabilities.
JAMES STEVENS BUZZA was opposed by Mr. LITTLE, of Devonport, for the
detaining creditors, CHARLES HOWE and JONATHAN CLOWTHER. He was arrested on
two bills of exchange, which he stated he did not owe; consequently a trial
came on at Exeter, in March 1842, in which he was cast, with heavy expenses.
He attributed his insolvency to severe losses in mining, in the years
1834, 5, and 6. Insolvent commenced business in the year 1832, with a
capital of GBP300 in cash. His returns had not exceeded GBP400 per annum.
In 1840 he commenced a fishing concern at St. Ives, which had proved a
successful one, and which he had since sold to his father. He had had
extensive dealings with his father and uncle, to whom he had paid large sums
of money during the last twelve months; at the same time paying off other
creditors with 2s.6d. in the pound, and not a farthing to Howe or Clowther.
Insolvent was twice turned back by the Commissioner for evasive answers; and
as there appeared throughout his examination, a disposition on his part to
defraud one portion of his creditors, at the same time paying members of his
own family their debts in full, he was sentenced to ten months imprisonment
from the date of filing his petition - nine months of which time are
unexpired. Mr. Clowther was appointed assignee.
HENRY STRICK, who was defended by the Society, was declared entitled to the
benefit of the act, and ordered to be discharged forthwith.
PAINFUL CASE OF STABBING. WILLIAM NICHOLLS, a respectably-dressed boy, aout
13 years' old, was charged with feloniously stabbing WILLIAM MILLS, a boy
about his own age, with intent to do him some grievous bodily harm. Mr.
CORNISH conducted the prosecution; Mr. MERIVALE the defence. The parties
lived at St. Columb, the prosecutor having been employed for the last two
years by his uncle, a van driver. On the 24th of April, about one o'clock,
the parties having quarreled a week before, the prisoner, in the street of
St. Columb, held up an open pocketknife, but at that time said nothing. In
the evening of the same day, as the prosecutor was standing by the smith's
shop, in the street, the prisoner again came down the street, held the knife
out in his hand, and said to the prosecutor "I'll stab you before night is
over." Afterwards, in the same evening, as prosecutor, according to his own
statements, was crossing the road from his uncle's, prisoner took a knife
from his pocket, ran up to prosecutor, and stabbed him in the bowels.
Prosecutor caught hold of him under his left arm; and then prisoner stabbed
him in the shoulder. The prosecutor called out to a young man near, "Oh,
take away the knife;" and he came forward and separated the boys, and took
the knife out of Nicholls's hand. The prosecutor was taken to his uncle's,
and MR. MARTIN, surgeon, was called in. Mr. MARTIN stated in evidence that
the wound on the shoulder was very slight; and that that in the bowels was
about half-an-inch long. The knife had entered obliquely; if the knife had
been struck with much force, and directly forward, it must have gone more
than half an inch deep. This evidence was much dwelt on by the Counsel for
the prisoner, as showing that the wound was not premeditated; but that in
the struggle, the knife may have entered accidentally. Another circumstance
in favour of the prisoner was stated in the evidence of JAMES TAMLIN, who
said that before the boys met, Mills the prosecutor had been waiting in the
smith's shop with a boy called LIDDICOAT; that prisoner came down the street
with a kite in his hand, when Liddicoat said to Mills, "He's coming." Mills
then walked out of the smith's shop towards the road, when Nicholls said to
him, "If you touch me, I'll stab you." Mills replied "I've got a knife too
in my pocket." and tapped his pocket. Then Nicholls took a knife out of his
pocket, and said "I'll stab you." The jury found the prisoner GUILTY of a
common assault, Three months' hard labour; twice privately whipped.
ROBERT CALF, 45, charged with assaulting ANN SNELL, of Truro. The
prosecutrix was, on the 12th of March, in the service of Mr. DAVEY, at the
Pelican Inn, in Truro, and had seen the prisoner once before that day. She
went from the bar of the public house to the kitchen about six o'clock in
the evening, and prisoner who was in the kitchen, came up to her, put his
hand round her neck, making use of very indecent language. Prosecutrix told
him to let her go, and if he touched her again she would slap his face. She
ten went into the bar, and fetched a pair of bellows, and brought them into
the kitchen, and sat down to blow the fire. The prisoner came again, and
put his hand round her neck in a very indecent way. She told him again not
to touch her; and he made a violent threat against her if she slapped his
face again. After that, prosecutrix got up and went out of the kitchen, and
prisoner followed her across. She told him if he followed her, she would
knock him down with the bellows. She struck at him with the bellows, when
prisoner caught them out of her hand, and threw them at her. She fell
insensible on the floor, and on being examined by the medical gentleman, MR.
SPRY, was found to have a wound about 1 � inch long on the head, and she
complained of pain in the arm. The bone of the head was laid bare, and she
bled a good deal. Several witnesses bore testimony to the prisoner's quiet
and humane character. Verdict, GUILTY of common assault. Six months' hard
labour.
JAMES TOWDEN was found GUILTY of stealing a watch from the
dwelling-house of JOHN GARTRELL, in the neighbourhood of Penzance. Four
months' hard labour.
WILLIAM KNOTT, 22, charged with feloniously and burglariously broken and
entered the dwelling house of JAMES PINE, the younger, in the borough of
Saltash, and stealing therefrom a shawl, two handkerchiefs, and a hat, the
property of JAMES PINE. The evidence was fully heard, on both sides, and
the jury were charged, when a successful objection was taken by Mr. HUGHES
to the indictment, that the prisoner was charged with having burglariously
entered the dwelling house of James Pine the younger, and having stolen the
goods of James Pine, without the words "the SAID," James Pine, or the
addition of the words "the younger;" so that he was charged with having
broken one persons's house, and stolen the goods of another person. The
Judge directed an Acquittal. Mrs. Pine, in the course of giving her
evidence, gave a curious mode of identifying her husband's hat. There was a
stain, as was usual in his hats, produced by his using them regularly as a
depository for his quids of tobacco.
JOHN GIBBS, 42, charged with having feloniously stolen a cow the property
of ELIZABETH JANE PHILLIPS, of Marhamchurch. This case also went off on a
flaw in the indictment. The property was laid to be the property of
Elizabeth Jane Phillips, and not of Elizabeth Jane Phillips and others, as
was proved. In a second count it was stated that the property was in GEORGE
COOMBE and John STONEMAN, as trustees, in whom the property was not at all
proved. The court directed an ACQUITTAL, but directed another indictment to
be preferred.
The court rose at six o'clock.
HIGHWAY ROBBERY. MARK KELLY, 19, was indicted for feloniously assaulting
CATHERINE TREMAIN, of Newlyn, and demanding her money with intent to steal
it. Catherine Tremain examined: I am 15 years of age, and am daughter of
JAMES TREMAINE, farmer, at Nancarrow; on the 5th of July, I was out walking,
going from Tredinnick Water to Tredinnick; it was between three and four
o'clock; I got to a river, and as I was going along, the prisoner came up
and asked me how many miles it was from there to Truro, and I told him I did
not know; afterwards, I toldhim I thought it was twelve miles. He then put
his hands upon my shoulders, and demanded my money or my life. I said I had
none; and I fell on my knees and begged him not to hurt me; I was much
frightened, and I remembered that I had 2s. which I gave him, and then he
ran off. I am quite certain the prisoner is the person. I saw the prisoner
again the same day at Tredinnick. GEORGE VERCOE had him there, and I
identified the prisoner then.
George VERCOE examined - I am a servant to MRS. WHITFORD, at Tredinnick. On
the 5th of July, I went in search of the prisoner, and found him in
Tredinnick Moor, in St. Enoder. I took him to Mrs. Whitford's, and the last
witness came there. We found him in about half an hour afterwards. I took
him before the REV. E. DIX, a magistrate, and searched him; he had 2s. in
his pocket. I have not got the money; Mr. Dix ordered it to be given to the
prisoner again. Catherine Tremain was recalled, and stated, in reply to the
judge, that he touched her, but not to hurt her. What frightened her was
what he said to her when he demanded her money. GUILTY. A former
conviction was then proved against the prisoner, for stealing a gelding, for
which he had suffered twelve months' imprisonment, having been discharged
about five days before this last robbery. The jury found him, on the
evidence of Mr. Everest, to be the same person. Fifteen years'
transportation.
The Court then rose, the Grand Jury being discharged at the same time,
half-past six.
NISI PRIUS
THE QUEEN v. CLOGG. In this case, which lasted several hours, Mr. CROWDER and Mr. M. SMITH
appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Sergeant BOMPAS and Mr. GREENWOOD fro
the defendant. Mr. Smith opened the pleadings, and Mr. Crowder in stating
the case, said the nature of this proceeding was an indictment against the
defendant, JOSEPH CLOGG, charging him with embezzlement, an offence which
was punishable by transportation. It would deserve their most serious
consideration; it was a case of a criminal nature, one not usually tired on
that side of the court. This case came before them having been originally
an indictment preferred at the Quarter Sessions. The defendant wished to
have the benefit of a trial in this court, and it had on proper application
been removed. The prosecutor of this indictment was also a person of the
name of CLOGG. MR. JOHN CLOGG, who had resided and carried on business as a
merchant for many years at East and West Looe. He was a coal, iron, and
timber merchant. JOSEPH CLOGG was, about five or six years ago, acting as a
labourer, at daily wages of 1s.6d., under his father. He was a cousin of
John Clogg, and about five years ago, John Clogg took the defendant into his
employ. He gave him GBP25 a year at first, and afterwards increased it to
GBP 30. Joseph Clogg was put into a confidential situation by his relation,
and it was his duty to manage, to a great extent, the affairs of Mr. John
Clogg. He had to execute orders that were made by different parties for
iron, coal, and timber; he had to collect the debts which were incurred by
persons who had ordered goods of Mr. John Clogg, and he continued to act in
the employ of Mr. John Clogg till the month of March in the present year,
when he was discharged. [John Clogg thought it prudent that he have another
person superintend his business, and employed a MR. TREGENNA to keep his
accounts and to collect monies in his business in Jan. 1843. In March, John
Clogg confronted Mr. Joseph Clogg in front of his father, Mr. Wm. Clogg,
about the fact that 2 persons had made payment in full, but only partial
amounts were recorded in the books. Joseph Clogg retained the rest of the
money, and for that embezzlement the indictment was preferred against him.]
Learned Counsel then took time to state the nature of the evidence that
would be introduced, and called John Clogg, who stated the defendant had
entered in the day-book on the 28th of May last year "Mr. SAMUEL TAMBLIN,
Trenant Cross, paid Joseph Clogg, half a quarter of costs 5s. Received on
ledger GBP1.5s," while he had actually received and given a receipt for
GBP4.16s, leaving the other GBP3.6s. unaccounted for. There was a similar
entry to the same purchaser of the 24th of October last, in which
GBP4.10s.8d was unaccounted for. In cross-examination it was proved that
the prosecutor had been in partnership with his cousin to the amount of
several thousand pounds yearly in the potatoe trade, and that potatoes were
bought sometimes of persons on the partnership account, while any debts that
they owed the prosecutor were allowed to be set off against the purchase of
the potatoes. It was also shown that there was a very inaccurate and
irregular mode of keeping the books, the prosecutor frequently receiving
from the prisoner lists of payments and large sums of money, which payments
he subsequently ticked off in the posted ledger or the daybook, while he had
neither kept the lists themselves nor any cash-book in which he entered the
sums of money that he received of the prisoner. He also stated that it was
not his custom to balance his accounts at any time. The Judge, at the close
of the case, summed up, and the jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty.
18 AUGUST 1843, Friady
ANOTHER CHURCH-RATE CONTEST
On Friday last, a meeting of the inhabitants of Helston was held at the
Guild Hall, for the purpose of making a church-rate, the worshipful the
mayor in the chair. After the business of the meeting had been opened, the
church-wardens asked for a rate of two pence in the pound, which was
strongly opposed ; and on a show of hands the majority was against the rate.
The church-wardens, however, with the consent of the minority, immediately
made a rate for the amount they required.
GORAN HAVEN
One night last week, a schooner carried away several of the nets belonging
to DANIEL OLIVER, of this place, a poor man, who will be greatly distressed
by so serious a loss, this being his first season of having a boat, which he
has raised with much difficulty. We often hear of vessels carrying away the
nets of the fishermen, from not caring or trying to avoid them; and in this
case, there was a great deal of willfulness, for the fishermen called, and
made all the noise possible to attract the attention of the schooner. What
makes this matter the more disgraceful is the fact that the schooner's
people cut away the foot rope, which runs the whole length of the nets, for
the purpose, if run over, of saving the wreck of the nets. We cannot too
strongly censure those who so unfeelingly injure men who toil so hard, and
suffer so many privations, to obtain their scanty subsistence.
THE MONSTER OF THE DEEP AGAIN. During the past week, the inhabitants of the
Lizard, Kynance, and Cadgwith, have been attracted to the sea side, by the
appearance of a large fish, supposed to be a whale, which has several times
come within gun-shot of the shore, spouting the water as high as the church
tower, to the excessive amusement of the spectators. The preventative men
have fired several shots into the huge monster without any apparent effect.
At Porthleaven, it has done considerable damage by rolling into and
destroying a large shoal of pilchards which had just been enclosed by Mr.
CUDLIP's sean. Scarcely ten hogsheads had been taken up before the monster,
measuring upwards of 60 feet, and looking as large as a sean boat in the
water, made its appearance, and bid defiance to every resistance that could
be offered. Three other large shoals are now enclosed, and being tucked at
Gunwalloe.
WESLEYAN CONFERENCE
At the Wesleyan Conference, which has just closed its sittings, the
following ministers have been appointed for this county:
Redruth, JAMES SHOAR, JOHN KEIGHTLEY.
Camborne, JAMES MOWATT, WILLIAM HILL 2nd.
Tuckingmill, SAMUEL TIMMS, SAMUEL BEARD. Falmouth, JOHN SMITH, 2nd,
WILLIAM APPLEBY. Mr. Appleby resides at Penryn.
Truro, JOHN SMEDLEY, JAMES
GROSE.
Perranwell, JAMES SCOTT, who is to change on one Sunday in every six
weeks with the ministers in Truro.
Gwennap, JAMES AKERMAN, who is to change on one Sunday in every four weeks
with the minister at Perranwell.
St. Agnes, JOHN CULLEN, JOHN SHAW. St. Austell, RICHARD MOODY, SAMUEL WM.
CHRISTOPHERS, THOMAS WITHINGTON; JOSEPH WOMERSLEY, Supernumerary. St.
Mawes, HENRY DANIELS, who is to change once a month, on the Sunday, with the
ministers at St. Austell. Bodmin, THOMAS WOOD,
1st, CHRISTOPHER RIDLER.
St. Columb, JAMES MEADMORE, JOHN L. SANDERS. Penzance, THOMAS MOSS, THOMAS
HENLEY; JOHN REYNOLDS, 2nd Supernumerary.
St. Just, JOHN HEAPE, JOHN G.
WILSON. St. Ives, JOHN HOBSON, JAMES COOKE, 2nd.
Scilly Islands, PETER
PARSONS. HELSTON, THOMAS JEWELL, EDWIN J. STURGES, ROBERT KEYWORTH; WILLIAM
SLEEP, CHARLES COLWELL, Supernumeraries. Hayle, JOHN WOOD, 2nd, JOHN MANN.
Marazion, JOSEPH FLETCHER, JOHN DAWSON.
Launceston, JOSEPH HOLLIS, HENRY
GROVES.
Kilkhampton, JOSHUA WADE, WILLIAM J. DAWSON.
Liskeard, GEORGE
SOUTHERN, JOHN HUGILL.
Saltash, PAUL CLARK, JOSEPH B. WEST. The junior
minister is to reside at Callington.
Camelford, GEORGE BEARD, JOHN S.
RIDSDALE.
THE "CORNWALL" STEAMER. On Friday evening last, this steamer arrived at
Penzance, from Hayle and St. Ives, having on board about 260 passengers;
and, on the following morning soon after six o'clock, this beautiful boat
started for the Channel Islands and Havre, with about 90 passengers. The
weather has been remarkably fine, and no doubt the trip will be a pleasant
one.
REDRUTH COTTAGE GARDENING SOCIETY
This society held its sixth annual exhibition on Wednesday last, in the
Classical School-room, when the show of vegetable, fruits, and flowers, was
highly creditable to the industry, judgment, and taste of the cottagers of
the parish. The number of articles exhibited was much greater than had been
shown in any former year, and their improved cultivation, particularly on
reclaimed waste, whilst it deserves for the cottagers the highest
commendation, is at the same time an important evidence of the value of such
institutions. Encouraged by the countenance, advice, and assistance of
their richer neighbours, the poor have applied themselves to the cultivation
of the more useful vegetables with much greater skill than they had
previously done, and the happy results of their better directed efforts have
in turn encouraged them in more sustained habits of industrious application.
The REV. J. W. HAWKSLEY, in announcing the award of the special prizes,
complimented the successful candidates on their merit; but declared that
such was the improvement in garden and potatoe cultivation among the
cottagers, that it had been quite a difficulty to determine who were the
most deserving. He exhorted them to continue their meritorious efforts to
compensate themselves for the present distressing dearth of mining labour,
assuring them of such assistance and encouragement as the society had it in
their power to bestow. Mr. LEAH, and MR. GRYLLS, secretary of the society,
also addressed the cottagers, animating them to perseverance in their
praiseworthy and friendly competition.
GARDEN ROBBERIES. It appears that depredations are still frequently
occurring in the gardens in and about Truro. On Saturday night last, the
garden of W. M. TWEEDY, Esq. of Alverton, was entered, and a quantity of
unripe melons and cucumbers carried off. The thieves got through the hedges
into a neighbouring field, where they appear to have eaten some of the
cucumbers, as fragments were found strewed there about the ground. The
police do not seem to be so much on the alert as they ought to be, or they
would surely succeed in apprehending some of the thieves.
TRURO POLICE. On Monday last, GEORGE SAMPSON. Beer-shop keeper, of Truro,
was charged with keeping his house open for the sale of beer after eleven
o'clock. He was fined GBP 2 and costs. JOHN TIPPET, another beer-shop
keeper, was charged with harbouring and keeping disorderly persons in his
house and was fined 10s. with costs. On Thursday, ANN BLAMEY and ELIZA
ROWSCROW, from Illogan, were charged with indecent conduct in the streets.
They were sent to the house of correction, Blamey for three months;, and
Rowscrow, for one month?s hard labour.
FILIACIDE. On Wednesday last, a widow woman, of Redruth, of the name of
ELIZABETH MOORE, in a fit of passion at the disobedience of her son, a boy
about eleven years of age, threw a large stone at him as he was seated on a
hedge, and, striking him on the back of the head, so dreadfully fractured
the skull, as to cause his almost immediate death.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT. On Monday last, as C.N. BRAY, Esq. of Langford, one of
the magistrates for this county, was inspecting the work of some of the
masons in the garden, near his house, he unfortunately missed his footing on
the scaffold, and fell to the ground amongst a heap of stones, by which he
received considerable injury to his head and different parts of his body.
Medical aid was called in at once, and it is hoped he will do well; but he
is at present laid up.
FATAL ACCIDENT. On Wednesday se'nnight, a little boy about six years of
age, son of MR. CHARLES VARCOE, of Lombard, in the parish of Lanteglos by
Fowey, strolled by the water side, as was supposed, to catch mud crabs.
When missed at dinner time, search was made for him, but he was not
discovered till the following day, when he was found drowned, near the spot
where he must have fallen into the water.
CIDER STEALING. A few nights ago, MR. JOHN GLANVILLE, of Lombard, in the
parish of Lanteglos by Fowey, had his cellar robbed of about 100 gallons of
cider. There were four hogsheads and a pipe of cider in the cellar, and the
thieves had taken out the bungs, no doubt to make choice of the best. The
pipe was emptied, and left standing on its end. The thieves have hitherto
escaped detection.
SUICIDE. On Friday last, an inquest was held at the Crown and Anchor
Tavern, Falmouth, before W. J. GENN, Esq., coroner, on view of the body of
MR. JOHN DUNNING, butcher, aged about 57 years, who terminated his life by
hanging himself early that morning in his shop. From the evidence, it
appeared that deceased had lately been greatly depressed in spirits, in
consequence of his embarrassed circumstances. Verdict, temporary insanity.
ABSTRACT of a STATEMENT on the BURNING OF CHILDREN
Submitted to the Royal Institution of Cornwall, August 4, 1843 by C. BARHAM,
Esq., M.D.
After some preliminary observations on the magnitude of the evil, and the
good which might probably result from giving increased publicity, through
the medium of this and the kindred societies, to accurate information on its
extent, and the best means of prevention and remedy, Dr. Barham entered on
numerical details.
The only documents of any value on this subject are the registers of deaths
since 1837, except, perhaps, the London bills of mortality, which are useful
for the comparison on a large scale of past times with the present. These
have both been turned to account by MR. FARR in the annual reports of the
registrar general. In the third report especially, the subject of death by
violence and accident has been dwelt on at length, and a series of tables
has been given exhibiting the relative frequency of the several classes of
such causes of death, in the years 1838 and 1839, in various districts of
England and Wales. The ages at which death occurred are not there stated,
and this would materially lessen the value of those estimates for the
present inquiry, were we not able to supply the deficiency from other
sources. For the purposes of the children?s employment commission, returns
were made stating the age of each individual who perished by accident or
violence in 1838. in various parts of England and Wales, having altogether a
population of about three millions, and distinguishing the particular cause
of death, as far as it is stated in the registers. They embrace the mining
districts of Durham and Northumberland, of Stafford and Shropshire, the town
of Manchester, and fifty-five Unions in different counties, including
Cornwall, having a population more or less connected with mining, but
comprising several great towns. These returns have not been classified at
all accurately, and they have lain concealed in the appendix to a voluminous
parliamentary report, but in conjunction with the statements given by Mr.
Farr, and the notices of inquests in the newspapers, they furnish ample
materials for the satisfactory examination of the whole subject. By
averaging the deaths from burning in every Union under each year of age, and
placing the Unions in groups according to their localities, Dr. Barham hoped
to exhibit clearly the total extent of the evil, the relative loss of life
at different ages, and its comparative amount in the several parts of the
country.
The population of the places and districts above mentioned, with regard to
which we have accurate information, as to the individuals who perished by
fire or other violent and accidental causes in 1838, is 2,953,402. The
deaths by BURNING were 723, or 1 in 4,085 of the population, and they were
in the proportion of about 1 to 3.29 violent deaths from every other cause,
which amounted to 2,377. If this startling sum of deaths from the cause
which, more than any other, humanity shudders to contemplate, represented
the average loss of life throughout the country thus occasioned, the total
destruction would be about 3,500 annually. Happily this is not the case.
The calculations made by Mr. Farr make it probable that the actual amount is
not so great by 1,000 or more. Thus, in the metropolis, the proportion of
deaths by burning to the population is about 1 in 7,000; and in the
agricultural districts (Norfolk and Suffolk) about 1 in 6,000. Still the
mass of life thus devoured by the flames is frightful - and whatever portion
of consolation may be gathered from thus finding it a little less than had
been feared, we, as Cornishmen, have no share in it. Mr. Farr stated the
population of the mining parts of Cornwall at 239,379, and the deaths by
BURNING in 1838 at 61, or more than 1 in 4,000, besides 21 persons who lost
their lives by SCALDING. The more accurate returns which give the ages of
the sufferers are from these Unions ? Falmouth and Penryn, Helston,
Penzance, Redruth, St. Austell, and Truro ? the population of which was (in
1831) 194,688 ? and here the deaths by burning were 58, or 1 in 3,346 ?
other violent deaths being 158 ? not three times more numerous. The only
districts presenting a much more melancholy condition are the mining parts
of Stafford and Shropshire, where, in a population of 223,457, there
perished 111 by burning, of 1 in 2,013. The other violent deaths were 200.
In the mining parts of South Wales, including the Unions of Abergavenny,
Llanelly, Merthyr-Tydvil, Monmouth, Neath, Newport, Pout-y-pood, and
Swansea, having a population of 199,000, the deaths by burning were 54, or 1
in 3,685, by other accidents or violence, 209. This result is slightly less
unfavourable than our own, whilst that for the town of Manchester is
slightly more so, the population being 184,569, the deaths by burning, 56,
or 1 in 3,296, by other violence 182. The only considerable mining
districts presenting a proportion of loss of life from this cause very
materially different are those of Durham and Northumberland. The population
of these is 318,911, the deaths by burning 50, or 1 in 6,379; nearly six
times as many (290) having perished by other accidents or violence, a number
bearing nearly the same relation to the population, as in the cases of the
other mining districts noticed above. The greater proportion of loss of
life by burning among the mining class, than in other divisions of the
people, will be rendered still more evident by remarking, that all the parts
of the country here denominated mining districts, comprise in fact very
large agricultural and urban populations, whose share in this sort of
mortality is doubtless by no means equal to that of the same number of their
neighbours employed in mining operations; not greater probably than in the
instance above quoted of Norfolk and Suffolk.
We may now enter on the consideration of the causes of this terrible havoc
among our countrymen. There can be no question that the mode in which
persons are burnt to death is, in a vast majority of cases, their clothes
catching fire. This is especially true of children, and it is in them we
are most interested in this enquiry, their protection being, in a different
sense and degree from that of adults, intrusted to the guardianship of the
public, and more likely also to be effected by extraneous interference, such
as that to which it is in the power of our societies to lend a helping hand.
The proportion which the several periods of life bear to each other in the
amount of mortality in each, from particular causes, is always an
interesting and valuable object of research, but it is additionally
important in the present enquiry, from its affording the means of inferring
the mode of burning with great probability, a point on which the direct
evidence is rather defective. It has been very seldom stated in the
Registers of Deaths how the burning occurred. In those for the Stafford
District, Great Boughton Union, and Manchester, it is recorded that it arose
from the clothes catching fire in 108 instances out of 160, and in the most
accurate of these returns, that from South Staffordshire, it is stated that
of 94 who perished by burning, 81 were destroyed by their clothes catching
fire, and of this number 61 were under 10 years of age.
We shall now give the indirect evidence to the same effect, derived from the
ages at which the burning has occurred among the three millions in regard to
whom we are in possession of precise information, and we shall at the same
time perceive in how heavy a proportion this calamity has fallen on those
who may fairly be considered as the infants of the community at large,
entitled by their feebleness of body and mind to the guardianship of the
public, and more especially so, inasmuch as they are commonly deprived of
their natural protectors by the demand of the labour of the mothers made by
that public. The total number of deaths by burning among these three
millions in 1838, was 723; the ages at which they perished were as follows:
Age deaths age deaths
Under 1 5 5 10 to 15 42 8.4
1 to 2 24 24 15 to 20 22 4.4
2 to 3 69 69 20 to 30 22 2.2
3 to 4 104 104 30 to 40 16 1.6
4 to 5 117 117 40 to 50 16 1.6
5 to 6 79 79 50 to 60 16 1.6
6 to 8 106 52.5 60 to 70 10 1.0
8 to 10 38 19 70 to 95 38 1.52
We here see that of 723 deaths by burning, 541 occurred under ten years of
age, 503 under 8, and 290 between the ages of 2 and 5. The general scale
presents a regular gradation of mortality from this cause ascending steadily
from birth up to 5 years of age, then descending by progressive stages to
70. It tells us more clearly than words could do, who are the sufferers,
and what the causes of their sacrifice. We have before us the infant less
than a year old, necessarily protected by its own incapability of
locomotion; in the course of the second year the power of getting at the
fire is gradually attained, and is exhibited in the increased number of
deaths. From 2 to 5 years of age, the vivacity and curiosity of childhood
are daily growing together, with the activity of movement, whilst the
liability to falls is still great, the cautiousness of experience has been
little acquired, and the lessons of others are slightly heeded. At this
period of life, both sexes are likewise nearly similarly attired in a light
and combustible dress, readily drawn into the flames by the draught of the
chimney. From this time the increase of knowledge, strength, care and
obedience produces, slowly at first, afterwards with accelerated
improvement, a steadily progressive diminution of the frequency of these
fatal accidents, and the abandonment by the boy of the frock and the
pinafore contributes materially to his safety. After the age of twenty,
loss of life from burning becomes comparatively rare, and it is not till the
burden of more than three score years and ten has brought back the mental
and physical feebleness of childhood that we observe any increase in its
amount. The results for our own county are even more strongly illustrative
of the inferences here deduced from the whole body of facts. Out of 58
deaths by burning, in the six Cornish Unions named above, 48 occurred
between 2 and 8 years of age. The evidence from the other districts, if not
quite equally forcible, is to the same effect. In the eight Unions
mentioned in South Wales and Monmouth, of 54 burnt there were 36 between 2
and 8, in Durham and Northumberland 28 out of 50, in Stafford and
Shropshire, 70 out of 111, in Manchester 25 out of 56, and 9 more between 8
and 10. It is unfortunate that the sex is not stated, in the only returns
which furnish the stages of the sufferers, as it would be interesting to
ascertain the relative proportions at each period of life; but Mr. Farr has
distinguished the total number of males and females burnt in several masses
of population. Of 771 who perished in that manner in 1838, 316 were males
and 455 females. In some large cities, the proportion of females destroyed
is still greater; in Manchester and Salford, in 1839, 21 males and 49
females, and in the metropolis, in 1838 and 1839, 142 males and 285 females
died by burning. On the other hand, in the mining districts generally, the
numbers were 116 males and 139 females; and the agricultural districts
present nearly the same proportion. In Cornwall, the males are even in
excess, being 32, whilst the females burnt were only 29. It will be found
that this preponderance of female mortality from this cause chiefly exists
where the total deaths by burning, and the number destroyed in early life,
are relatively to other districts the least, - in other terms, in those
situations in which the boys are the most watched over in their infancy, and
the greater flammability of feminine apparel is the chief element in
producing these accidents during the whole of life. In this view, the
excess of female deaths by burning over those of males, strongly
corroborates the evidence derived from the other sources, that the flimsy
and combustible nature of the dress is one principal cause of the burning of
children of both sexes. This conclusion is confirmed by an interesting
tabular view of the violent deaths in the London bills of mortality, given
by Mr. Farr. It appears from this, that the proportion of deaths by burning
to 10,000 deaths from all causes, was 4.0 from the year 1647 to 1700 - 3.1
from 1701 to 1742 - 7.1 from 1750 to 1799, whilst from 1800 to 1829 it was
no less than 19.6, - thus advancing 'pars passu' with the use of cotton
goods. The colder seasons, when fires are most numerous, and the temptation
to approach them is greatest, will, if the above conclusion is just, be
those in which death by burning is most frequent. Accordingly, we find that
in Manchester, in the quarter ending March 31, there were 21 such deaths, in
that ending June 30th, 4, September 29th, 10, December 31, again 21. Here
then we have a body of varied evidence converging to the same point,
confirming the impressions derived from the reports of inquests, with which,
in the winter especially, the newspapers are rife, whilst it gives to our
notions the precision and stability of numerical estimate. Few perhaps will
have been prepared for the exhibition of such a host of sufferers, yet more
of such a multitude of little ones, who may demand our protection as their
right, dying a death of agony from a cause which may be said to be in its
own nature almost wholly within the scope of human prevention. But the
death of these individuals is only one of the evils produced by this class
of accidents. We cannot accurately ascertain the number who escape with
life, often to find it a burthen to themselves, and to constitute blemishes
on the face of society; objects at once of pity and disgust. Of 2,445
patients admitted into the London hospital on account of all accidents, 129
died. We do not assert that in the case of the clothes catching fire, the
mortality is only 1 in 19, but the number of recoveries probably exceeds by
much that of the deaths.
The mode in which burning usually takes place is familiar to all, and it is
so uniform, that the first example met with in a newspaper will probably
present a perfect illustration of the class. Here is one recorded only a
week ago. A little girl, four years of age, had been drinking tea at a
neighbour?s, and having dropt some on her pinafore, was holding it to the
fire to dry, when it became ignited. Another girl, about three years old,
was the only person in the room at the time, but the screams brought two
young women down stairs almost immediately, and they tried to extinguish the
flames, but from ignorance of the course proper to be pursued, quite
ineffectually. The child died in a few hours. This account presents all
the essential features common to these catastrophes. A child of very tender
years, left alone, or with one or more younger than herself, at liberty to
move without restraint in a room having a fire in it, that fire without a
guard or fender of any height, a light dress or loose pinafore, and when the
accident has happened, grown up persons doing more harm than good by their
ignorant attempts at assistance. Among adults, burning is perhaps as
frequently occasioned by the ignition of some lighter part of the dress by a
candle, through inadvertence, sleep, a fit, or intoxication.
Intentional burning during life is a very rare occurrence. Out of 771
cases, accident has been assigned as the cause in all but 18, and in these
the mode has not been specified. Burning the body after death is not
unfrequently resorted to by the murderer, whether for the purpose of
reducing to ashes all the relics of his victim, or for the sake of making it
appear that life was accidentally destroyed by fire. An interesting case,
to which suspicion of the latter form of crime was attached, occurred in
Truro some years ago. A dissolute woman had locked her child in her room
quite alone, where it was found dead, and charred by fire, some hours
afterwards, no cries having been heard in the dwelling-houses adjoining. On
accurate examination by Dr. Barham, in conjunction with Messrs. Bullmore and
Spry, some portions of tinder were discovered in the lower part of the
windpipe. These must have been drawn in with the breath, during the last
moments of the child, whose mouth and face had evidently been enveloped in
his burning clothes. This was the principal circumstance which prevented
the committal of the mother for murder.
The amount of deaths by scalding is very considerable, in Cornwall, as has
been stated, the number was one third of the deaths by burning, 21 to 61,
and in Mr. Farr's more extensive estimate there appear 301 deaths by the
former, and 962 by the latter cause. It has not, however, been thought
necessary to dwell on the subject here, as the analogy between the two,
though considerable in respect of the injury inflicted, is very slight for
the practical purposes of prevention contemplated in this inquiry.
A glance may now be given at the means most appropriate and available for
the lessening of the frightful amount of destruction and suffering which has
been shown to throw a cloud over the childhood of England, and in more that
due proportion, of our own country. The remedial measures which have
suggested themselves are of a simple character, and are calculated either to
prevent the near approach of children to the fire, - to render their dress
less flammable, so that the risk of its catching fire may be lessened when
they do get near it, - and thirdly to cause the adoption of the most
effectual methods of extinguishing the flames when an accident has actually
happened. For effecting the first object, nothing is so much to be
recommended as the use of substantial fire-guards, or better still, of high
fenders fastened to the sides of the hearth. These give the greatest amount
of security at the cheapest rate, and they do away with the necessity of
imposing much restraint upon the children, - but in the lack of these,
imprisonment of some sort is quite necessary where there is no trustworthy
superintendence, and expedients for this purpose will present themselves too
readily to require mention there. For compassing the second end, the
rendering of the dress less flammable, various suggestions have been
offered. The cheapness of cotton goods, and their showiness, constitute
attractions which make the substitution of the ancient woolen garments a
matter of very difficult accomplishment. It is, however, the point to be
aimed at, affording as it would do, many other advantages to the poor
besides comparative immunity for their offspring from the risk of the most
horrible of deaths. It has been proposed likewise that the manufacturers
should make their linen and cotton less combustible by means of a chemical
solution, This hint deserves consideration. A very simple expedient may be
recommended for immediate adoption, as materially obviating the drawing of
loose articles of dress into the fire by the draught, - it is the putting of
a strong piece of tape at the bottom of the pinafore behind, securing the
two sides together, with sufficient closeness to keep the dress in contact
with the body without impeding freedom of movement. When the clothes are
actually on fire, the first thing to be done is, to obviate the mischief
generally resulting to the head from the natural tendency of flame to
ascend; - this is most readily attained by placing the sufferer in a
horizontal position ? throwing him down. The fire will then have little
[food] in an upward direction, and it will be easily extinguished by rolling
him on the floor, wrapping him in the carpet, or rug, or blanket, sousing
him with water, or applying a wet towel firmly to the burning clothes. To
make these and similar recommendation known, accepted, and acted on by the
classes for whose benefit they are intended, is the principal difficulty.
They must reach and be impressed upon them through the channel of those to
whom they are in the habit of looking with respect and confidence ? the
clergy more especially, and other ministers of religion. There is a want of
condensed and familiar information on the whole subject. The Society for
Promoting Christian Knowledge, and several others which distribute useful
tracts, might supply this want. The furnishing the poor man's house with a
broad sheet headed by a striking illustration of a "burning," and giving the
pith of our knowledge on the subject below, would probably save many lives,
and prevent many injuries. This Society and the Polytechnic might unite for
the providing of some such succinct instructions, and possibly also for the
furnishing some specimens of cheap but effectual fire guards and fenders.
NOW, before the fires of another winter consume their hecatomb of Cornish
children, before their funeral pyres are again kindled on the domestic
hearth, is the time for action.
The numerical statements given above of the numbers sacrificed, greater by
one third at least than all the fatal accidents in our mines, exhibit the
importance of the interests concerned more forcibly than words could do; and
as to the mode of death, to heighten the colouring of those tortures the
endurance of which has given to martyrdom its terror and its glory, were
alike difficult and needless. Dr. Mitchell, the commissioner whose report
has furnished much of the preceding information, has observed "It may be
truly said that if the children are not made to pass the fire to Moloch,
they are as much sufferers in being made to pass through the fire to
Mammon." It is the imperative duty of those who directly or indirectly for
the furtherance of their interests or convenience, withdraw from the
children of the poor their natural protectors, to take care that they
thereby incur no injury which it is in their power to avert. But it is more
pleasant to look to the gratification arising from being useful to the
county in the capacity of members of this institution, and as private
individuals. Collectively or separately, to mitigate suffering, and still
more to save life, is the greatest privilege and honour within reach, and it
is not to be believed that the saying has lost anything of its justice by
the change from Paganism to Christianity "nulla alla re homines propius
[..id] accedunt, quam ]Salutem Hominibus dando." [see footnote jm]
Transcriber notes:
Per the Online Dictionary (Bartleby), HECATOMB = "a large-scale sacrifice or
slaughter."
The correct Latin is "Homines ad deos nulla re propius accedunt quam
Salutem Hominibus dando" which means "In nothing do men more nearly approach
the gods than in giving health to men." Marcus Tullius Cicero
[alt. interpretation - In nothing are men more like gods than in coming to
the rescue of their fellow men. jm]
25 AUGUST 1843, Friday
PRIZE MONEY GOT IN AN ODD WAY. On Saturday night, the 19th instant, a punt
belonging to a fishing boat of Porthleaven, in charge of THOMAS STODDEN,
jun., and Co., having been driven out of the harbour, with a few cork buoys
of pilchard nets in her, and her chain painter, was taken possession of by
the preventive men at Mulion Cove. When claimed, they said the salvage
ought to be GBP 4, but they should charge only GBP 2. The owners complained
of their distress and "slight speed," and the salvage was eventually reduced
to thirty shillings, which sum the poor fishermen were obliged to borrow
before they could have her, while her full value did not exceed fifty
shillings. One of the party writing to us says, "should any gentleman's
hat, or lady's handkerchief, or washer woman's clothes from her line blow
off, and be found by such a crew, the owner must pay salvage in the same
manner as we poor fishermen."
GARDEN ROBBERIES. On Saturday last, three boys were caught stealing fruit
in the garden of Mr. W. ALLEN, Berkeley-vale, Falmouth, and committed to
Bodmin gaol.
ROBBERY. On Thursday last, the 17th instant, a lad named YELLAND, belonging
to St. Austell, was committed for trial by J. H. TREMAYNE, Esq., of Heligan,
charged with picking a man's pocket of a silver snuff box.
CAMELFORD. On Monday last, a young man who gave his name as HENRY JOHN
RHODDA, but who has passed by the name of PASCOE, and several other aliases,
was committed to the county tread mill for three months as a rogue and a
vagabond, by the Rev. S. CHILCOTT, for having [begged] contributions on the
humans here, and in most of the neighbouring towns. The prisoner pretended
to have lost some horses and bullocks which, he said, were poisoned by
gypsies. He had succeeded in getting as much as 10s. from some gentlemen,
to whom he had made out a very good case.
AN OCTOGENARIAN REAPER. A person of the age of 83 years, in the parish of
Quethiock, recently reaped 260 sheaves of wheat in a field belonging to MR.
IVEY, of that parish. THOMASINE SMITH, aged 67 years, also reaped 460
sheaves on the same day, in the same field.
THE WEATHER - The weather having been very fine till the latter part of last
week, the harvest had become general. In many parts of the county the
farmers complain of a partial failure in the wheat crop. Since Monday,
heavy rains have fallen which have led to much fear for the wheat that is
still in the field, though they have been of considerable benefit to the
green crops.
FIRE AT ST. AGNES. TWO HOUSES BURNT. On Friday evening last, about seven
o?clock, a fire was discovered issuing from the roof of a dwelling-house,
situated in St. Agnes church-town, and occupied by a blacksmith named THOMAS
TREGELLAS. Efforts were immediately made to secure the furniture and stop
the progress of the flames. This, to all appearance, seemed to be effected
in a short time, but a hidden spark lay smouldering beneath the thatch, and
about midnight a fire again broke out with the utmost fury. The cry of
'fire,' soon brought the neighbours from their beds, and every exertion was
made to secure the property, but the weather having been for some time
exceedingly dry, and water being scarce, it was found impossible to get the
fire under till it had entirely consumed that and the adjoining house.
Fortunately there was no wind at the time or some other thatched buildings
that stood near must have been consumed also. The property destroyed
belonged to a mason named THOMAS CAVELL, and was, we are informed, insured
in the Alliance Fire Office.
TRURO POST OFFICE. Mr. RICHARD ANDREWS, of Truro, has been appointed by
the Post-Master-General to this office, vacant by the death of MISS JOYCE THOMAS.
PRAZE. The following superscription of a letter passing from this
neighbourhood, en route to its destination, will tell its own tale on the
one side, and show that the Postmaster-General should be a very learned and
active man on the other: "To Mr. Thomas Dunnethorne, carriage Builder
Licenced to Sell all Beer porter Cider & Tobacco. He do live 4 miles out of
Yeovil on the road to beaminster. I am not Sure where it is in Somercet or
Dorcet."
PENZANCE PUBLIC CEMETERY. A preliminary meeting has been held at Penzance
for the purpose of forming a public cemetery, and it seems to be probable,
from the course taken, that the proposition will be carried into effect.
MARAZION. The Dutch galiot "Gisena," J. B. DeJOHNA master, from Newport to
Hamburg, with iron, sprung a leak in the north channel on the night of the
19th instant, when, in consequence of the rapid increase of the water, as
well as the over-fatigue of the crew, the captain, on Sunday, about five
o'clock p.m., deemed it requisite, for the safety of the lives and property,
to run her on shore on Praa Sands. Her movements being observed by MR. JOHN
C. HARRY, acting chief officer of the Prussia Cove Coast Guard station, he
instantly ordered his crew to launch their boat for the purpose of
proceeding to offer any assistance in their power, and on boarding her,
found her to be in a very leaky state, with the entire crew entirely worn
out through past fatigue. Upon this, the captain being desirous of seeing
the Consul, who lived at Penzance, a distance of 8 or 10 miles, Mr. Harry
sent one of his men to accompany him who, on his leaving the ship,
authorized Mr. Harry to do the best he could for the protection of the
property, &c.. Mr. Harry then with his crew laid out two anchors to be
ready to heave the vessel off with the flood tide, after which he employed
about a dozen countrymen to assist his crew at the pumps. On the flood tide
he succeeded in floating her, and after great exertions, through a dark
night, he arrived safe in Penzance pier at seven o'clock the following
morning, to the great satisfaction and gratification of all concerned. Too
much praise cannot possibly be given to Mr. Harry for the very prompt manner
in which he lost not a moment in rendering his timely aid and assistance,
without which, and that too, instantly, great loss of life and destruction
of property must have been inevitable, the spot on which she was on shore
being a well-known and dangerous place,- in fact, a terror to all mariners.
MINE ACCIDENT. On Saturday last, as a man named JOHN KERSKESE, of the
parish of St. Hilary, was ascending a shaft in Wheal Prosper mine in that
parish, he missed his footing while endeavouring to step on the platform at
the 18 fathom level, and was precipitated a depth of about 8 fathoms into
the shaft, by which he so dreadfully fractured his arm and other wise
bruised his body that he still remains in a dangerous state.
SUDDEN DEATH. A farmer, named BUNT, died at Tintagel last week, from the
effects of drinking cider while in a profuse perspiration, which produced a
chill and violent inflammation and caused his death within 24 hours.
ACCIDENT BY FIRE ARMS. On Monday last, a party went from Penryn for the
purpose of shooting sea birds. When in the bay, outside Falmouth harbour,
one of the party, MR. JOHNS, cabinet maker, in attempting to reach over a
loaded gun let it fall to the bottom of the boat, and the shock caused it to
go off. The contents, unfortunately, lodged in MR. JOHNS' right arm above
the elbow. He was brought into the harbour and landed at the Kings Arms,
where a consultation of surgeons took place, and it was deemed necessary to
proceed to immediate amputation at the shoulder joint. This was
accomplished by C. F. BULLMORE, esq., assisted by several other gentlemen,
and we are glad to learn that Mr. Johns is now in a fair way of recovery.
[name might be JOHN - as it was shown as John's in the article, as well as
Johns.)
CORONER'S INQUESTS. An inquest was held before JOHN CARLYON, Esq., at
Redruth, on the 17th instant, on the body of JOHN MOORE, who, we stated last
week, was killed by his mother throwing a stone at him while in a fit of
passion. The jury found a verdict of manslaughter against ELIZABETH MOORE,
and she was committed, on the coroner's warrant, to take her trial.
At Kea, on Saturday last, an inquest was held before the same coroner, on
the body of ANN LAVIN, aged 49, whose death was caused by her clothes being
caught fire the previous day. The deceased, who was subject to giddiness in
the head, which is supposed to have been the cause of this accident, only
survived a few hours. Verdict accordingly.
On the 16th instant, before W. HICHENS, Esq., in the parish of Ludgvan, on
the body of JOSEPH KEVERNE, aged 22 years, who was drowned whilst bathing on
the preceding day. Verdict, Accidental death.
On the 18th instant, before the same coroner, in the parish of Phillack, on
the body of MARY GEEN, aged 3 years and 3 months, who was accidentally
scalded on the 15th instant by means of falling and upsetting a tea kettle
of hot water over her. The child died of the scalds and of the fright on
the following day. Verdict accordingly.
On Monday in the parish of Germoe, before the same coroner, on the body of
STEPHEN POLGLAZE, aged 9 years, who was drowned whilst bathing on the 19th
instant. Verdict, Accidental death.
And on Tuesday last, before the same coroner, in the parish of Illogan, on
the body of JANE KNUCKEY, who caught her clothes on fire on the 30th ultimo,
and died on the 21st instant. Verdict, Accidental death.
[END]
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