The National Register. — London, England, 1816-01-28 00:00:00

.012 ACCIDENTS, OFFENCES, &c. WHAM OF SIR EDWARD CROFTON. (FURTHER PARTICU LARS.] Sir Edward had but a few days retu r ned to his family seat from rugland, where he had been fur some months with his Lady (the sister of the Earl of Galloway) on a visit to his family, after an ab sence of nine years. He remained but a few days at Dublin, as Lady Charlotte was far advanced in her pregnancy, and he must have arrived at Moate about New Year's Day.—What was the un happy combination of circumstances which could have wound up the mind of a Gentleman circumstanced as he was, to the pitch of phrenzy which drove him to so desperate a purpose, it is difficult to conjecture. He was a man of gentle, affable, and cheerful dis position ; in the prime of life, elegant and manly in person, the husband of an amiable and accomplished Lady, and the father of eight children, whom he loved with the tenderest affection, and has kft bitterly to deplore his loss. His thte is imputed to the in fluence of derangement, and an affair of honour in which he was lately concerned. His zeal to maintain with firmness and moderta tion his authority as a Magistrate, in supporting the laws and pro tecting the oppressed, had some time since involved him in a dis pute with a Major Browne ; but that dispute Sir Edward had re solved to terminate by the arbitration of the law, rather than the desperate alternative of a duel, justly considering that a gentle man is not personally responsible to the code of honour, as it is called, for acts temperately done in the exercise of his bounden duty as a public Magistrate. By his spirit and exertions, three persons, the dependents and proteges of Major Browne, were brought to trial at the last Quarter Sessions of the county of Ros common, for a wanton and atrocious assault upon some poor coun try people peaceably returning from a fair at Ballinaford, a village in the neighbourhood; and those persons were sentenced to three mouths imprisenment. Sir Edward was obliged to go armed for his defence to the Quarter Sessions. Some attempts were made to force him to a duel, which lie very properly declined ; which cause, and an indictment against Major Browne himself, awaited trial at the next Spring Assizes ; as Sir Edward was determined to set an example to the Magistrates, and to try the question, whether a Ma gistrate, in the proper exercise of his duty, was to rely on the pro tection of the law, or be responsible to any defaulter who may think fit, on the score of gentlemanhood, to set himself above the law, and deter a Magistrate from taking cognizance of his miscon duct, or to take s such other steps as may seem consistent with strict justice. What, if any, influence the circumstances con nected with this affair may have had in the mind of Sir Edward, in producing the lamentable catastrophe his family has now to de plore, it is impossible to pronounce. But in him society has lost one of the worthiest members, his country an honour and an orna ment, and the poor of his country a zealous protector and warm friend.-it is a circumstance somewhat singular, that the person whom Sir Edward took with him to Ireland as valet and butler, on his late return, is the very man who served in the same capacity the late unfortunate Mr. Whitbread, at the time of his lamented catastrophe, and was the first to discover the circumstance. THE NATIONA L REGISTER. POACHERS. MOST ATROCIOUS MURDER. —An inquest was held on Saturday se'tinight, on the body of William Ingrain, gamekeeper to Colonel Berkeley, who was shot by some poachers. It appeared, that so daring have the poachers grown on the adjoining estates of Lord Ducie, •Colonel Berkeley, and Miss Langley, that the keepers dare not go nut but armed and in large bodies. On Thursday se'unight 30 of them divided themselves into three parties. Soon after their separation the third division, consisting of nine, were attracted by the sound of two guns, and immediately made for the spot ; on ap proaching, whirl► Ingram► received a shot, which killed him on the spot, and immediately a volley followed, which wounded the fol lowing I n ; Barge and -- Davis, in the head and eyes ; and R. Ilenslyurgh, J. King, Berry, and another, in the legs and thighs. The tiring brought up the other parties, or it is pro bable more murders might have ensued. An immediate pursuit took place ; but although they got sight of the murderers (18 iu number), they contrived to effect their escape. Under these cir cun►stauces the Jury returned a verdict of Wilful Murder by per sons uliknown,--We are happy to add, that three persons are in custody on suspicion ; and, from the indefatigable exertions used, it is hoped the remainder of the gang will be unable long to elude the stroke of justice. On Saturday se'nnight, about two o'clock, while the keepers on the manor of Mrs. Milnes, of Fryston, near Ferrybridge, Yorkshire, were unt in protection of the game, they heard a gnu lire, and soon after discovered a number of poachers, who attacked the JAN. 28. keeper and his party with blitdgewis, &e. Aher I sere., en,•age ment, one of the labourers gave the atiria at th,. H tl , ; %Own R. P. Milnes, Esq. and some attendants, came to the I , eeperst assist ance. One of the poachers, of the name of.Lali:f.eld, pursved by Mr. Mitres, ran into a stone quarry, and had his let; ha ekes. He refused to give any information respecting his aceourilices, who made their escape. In the cooilict, an esehanze of' hats took place between three ot' the servants and 'he poachers. On the llth inst. in the night-time, seven no 'n, armed with guns and bludgeons, entered the woods and grounds of E. Fei rapid, Esq. within the township of Bingley, 'and shot five ph , :asants they were discovered by the keepers, who fortunateiy :oiceLeded in apprehending one of them with the game in his pos. , Lssion ; and they have since been able to tra:•e his accomplices. four of whonf ' have been brought beteie J. A. ltuslield and W. Ferranti, Esqrs. and by them convicted of being rogues and vagationfts, under the Statute of the 39th and 10th of the present King, and committed as such to the House of Correction at Waketit-1.1, tilt the in at Pon,- teft•act Sessions. We hear that diligent search ►s making atter the others, who have absconded, and are supposed to have fled the country. On Monday week, a Writing Master, in Leeds, unfortunately put out the right eye of one of his pupils, by careiessly throwing a pen at him, which he had taken to be mended. The boy is about nine years of age, and is the son of a joiner in Hunstlet-lane. POLICE. UNION-HALL. AGGRAVATUD ASSAULT AND SUICIDE.--Two young men, Wil liam and Daniel Brown, the sons of a respectable inhabitant of Peckham, were brought before the Sitting Magistrate, charged with violently assaulting their father and mother on Sunday last. It appeared, front the statement of the hither, that on Sunday last, just as himself and his wife were sitting down to dinner, his sons, the defendants, came home, and his wife beginning to expostulate with them on some part of their conduct of which she thought she had reason to disapprove, one of them took up a chair and threw it on the table, proceeding to break the plates and dishes, glasses, Sze. The mother attempting to prevent him was knocked down— the father got up to interpose and protect his wite from further violence, and endeavoured to turn his unnatural children out 4. the house ; they, however, resisted, and a scuffle ensued, in which the poor oh gentleman was knocked down. As soon as he could recover his feet he went out to seek for a constable ; but before his return, both the defendants were gone. His wife appeared very much hurt at the conduct of her children ; and in the evening she went out, telling her husband, at the time she quitted him, that she had been cruelly used, and would never return to that house again. She did not return that night; and next morning (Mon day) he was informed her body had been discovered floating in one of Mr. Whitton's ponds at Camberwell-grove. Mr. Whitton confirmed the latter part of this statement; and further added, that on hearing of the affray which had taken place on Sunday, and the melancholy catastrophe of Monday morning, he immediately caused the defendants to be taken into custody. A respectable person having become answerable for the future appearance of the defendants, they were for the present dismissed , Yesterday, Wm. West, a lamplighter in the service of Mr. How ley in the Borough, was committed on suspicion of stealing a street lamp. Several publicans of Bermondsey were fined forty shillings each, for suffering apprentices and journeymen to game iu their ho uses with dice, cards, and dominoes. MANSION HOUSE. Yesterday Mary Wyatt was brought up charged with disorderly conduct, having but just come from Bridewell, where she had been confined for one month.—She was again sent to durance vile. Jos. Stevens, Edw. Walsh, and W►n. Hands, were held to bail to take their trial for exciting a riot in the auction room of Mr. Burton, in Barbican, on Friday evening last. GUILDHALL. Yesterday, the driver of the hackney coach, No. 446, was con* victed in the penalty of ten shillins, and a promise of making an apoloe-y in the public papers, for defrauding Mr. Woodthorpe, a country gentleman, of two shillings and sixpence for a one shilling fare. MARLBOROUGH STREET. On Saturday sennight, T. Elmore, l 4 years of age, was charged with stealing a gold necklace and locket, belonging to tho lady of tien..ll 4 Allister. The prisoner had lived iu the filthily au* foot .