The National Register. — London, England, 1819-03-14 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. LENT ASSIZES HOME CIRCUIT. Hertford, March 8. INFAMOUS CASE Or ARSON. James Head, aged 40, and Martha, his wife, were in dicted for having set fire to a ham in the occupation of Jaint Overell, of %%rakely, and burning thereby an im mense quantity of corn, his property, on the 27th of August last. Walford opened the case for the prosecution, and proceeded to cal: evidence. John Ovetell taid, he kept au extensive farm, and re sided in the hamlet of Wakely. The prisoner had been in his employment, and he discharged him on the 18th of May last. His barn was set on fire on the 27th of August following, and completely burnt down. The barn was separate sonic distance from his dwelling house. In the year 1817 his premises were set fire to in a similar way. J. Turtle said, he resided at Buntingford. On the night of the 27th of August he was alarmed by infortna nod of a fire at the premises of Mr. Overell. Ile rose from bed, and rode to the spot. The fire, which was blazing, appeared to have commenced at one corner. In about two hours after he had been there, Jas. Head appeared upon the premises, and kept walking about, and talking very much of the former fire at his master's, in 1817. Ile talked also much of the then fire, and wit- beta was induced to observe him closely. The prisoner caught his eye, appeared embarrassed, and shuffled away, to break off the conversation. George Mickley said he also went to the premises of - Mr. Overell the night of the fire. lie saw the prisoner there, who spoke to him, and said it was a sad job that a fire should thus happen again on his master's premises. His wife, he added, was unwell, and had got out of bed in, the night, when he (the prisoner) said he thought there was a fire. His wife replied it was nothing but moon-shine, but he thought it was a contiguous farm which was on fire. The prisoner appeared to the wit ness to be confused and agitated. He lived about a mile from the place where the fire took place. Witness did not think it possible, from the situation of Head's dwelling, that he could see a fire while fie lay on his hcd; but admitted that the atmosphere might be illu minated by a blaze where the fire was not directly oppo site to the view. _ _ . Thomas Britton resided at Mundell, close to the pri soner's house. The latter called hint up on 'he night uf the 27th of August from bed, by an alarm of fire. Wit ness arose, and accompanied hint to the premises of Mr. Overell. The prisonet told him on the way, that when be first called him up he was naked, and that his wife threw his clothes to hint out of the window, when he inn them on by the time he (the witness) had got dressed. Riahard Tew (an interesting boy) said he was the son indlaw of James Head. Martha !lead was his own ma ther, and he lived in the house with them. He slept up stairs in a room outside his finites, and through which the Inter must have come to go down stairs. On the irnAlit of the 27th of August he was awoke by a person, whom he knew to be his fattier, and who went down stairs and out of the house. Ile retu.ned in about a goat.+ ter or hall an hour. He knew his voice well, and heard Lim distinctly say, " I have left a brave light behind rue." Witness soon after this went to sleep, bin was again, in a short time, aroused by his mother, who called e:t, " Dick, get ; your master's (Mr. Overell's) farm is on fire." Witness threw his father's smock-frock out of the wiodow to him. Ann Bowyer said, that her husband was in the cm• ployment of Mr. Overell in August last. Her husband had money to pay the prisoner after his discharge from the prosecutor in May last. He accordingly came to their house, but her husband was not at home. Witness asked him if he came for his money ; he said, yes; but it would not be much when he had it. Witness said it would be some for him, as it was for them ; when he inzr.iediaicly replied, D—n his old blood (meaning ()retell), he wants my knife in his throat, and another or two want a knife as well as he." He also added, " l'il be d—d to hell if they don't have it, and he ((he-; fell) must not live. He wants another light over his head, and he must look d—d sharp if he dues not have it." Witness asked hint if her husband ever heard him use such expressions, when the prisoner replied, " No; hell a hit; the less sour husband knows, the better it will be for him." 'Witness had known Head and his wife fir 8 or 9 years, but had no immediate intercourse or acquaintance with them. She never had angry words or quarrelled with either in her life. Under the direction of the learned Judge, the prose cution as against the wom.in was here totally abandoned. ZVender, the Bow-street nfiker, said he laid down on the bed limn whence the prisoner said he had seen the light of the fire, and thought it impossible lir could hate seen it front thence. The prisoner. in the most sokmu manner, protested his innocence. Mr. Justice Park addressed the Jury, who, after a consultation ofabout ten minutes, pronounced an arreit la as to Martha that!, but found the prisoner James !lead—Guilts. His Lordship procceled immediately to pass upon him the awful sentence of death; and in the most so• lemn manner implored him not to indulge any hope of mercy in this, world, but lose not a moment in seeking his peace in the world of eternity, to which he must shortly be comigned. WtNciiivrric, SATUkOAT, MARCH 6. CIVIL SIDE. The A s6v.es of Mb COMM' commenced on Tuesday, before the llon. George Smiley liulro3d, lint.,and the Ike. 'Was. Drapee, Best. •TIIE •NATIONAL REGISTER Alarander Deverrux v. Boyce, M*l4 and Walls. This was an action to recover damages for injories sustained by the plaintiff, in consequence of the upset- I ling of the Express coach, of which the defendants are proprietors, and which travels from Gosport to London. fhe plaintiff, who is a navy agent and linendraper at Gosport, was riding on the box with the coachman, in the month of July last. This coach changed horses at Hill-pound, about six miles from Farehani, on the road from London, and travelled free from accident until it reached Fareham, when the off wheel horse began to kick and plunge violently, the reins broke, and the horses struck into a gallop, when, coming in contact with some rails on the left-hand side of the road, the passengers were precipitated from the roof and box, and the coach broken to pieces. By this disaster, the plaintiff had suffered two dreadful compound fractures in his leg, the joint of the wide was entirely destroyed, and other wise very much bruised. At the lapse of nearly a month after the accident, as soon as the state of the plaintiff's body rendered advisable, baud! when his life was doubt ful, amputation of his leg was made; and on the hun dredth day after the misfortune occurred, and since which time he had lain at the Red Lion inn, at Farehatu, he was conveyed home in a convalescent state. %V. Fox, assistant to Mr. Shute, deposed, that he saw the plaintiff at the Red Lion,Fareham, to whom he heard .Mr. Atfield (one of the proprietors) say, that Mr. %Vitus ought to have been ashamed of himself for putting such a vicious horse into the coach; he requested Mr. Dever eux to have every thing requisite for himself and his at tendants, and he had no doubt there would be a meet ing of the proprietors, after the plaintiff's recovery, and all debts which he might incur would be liquidated. John Charles Devcrcux stated, he remembered Mr. Watts coming to his brother's (the plaintiff ), after the latter's retorts home, and saying to him that he came front Mr. Boyce, in consequence ofa letter plaintiff had writ ten, enclosing some bills; he said Mr. Boyce was ex- treme;) , sorry fur the accident, and he came to know what plaintiff's intention was about the bills, and the dmiines lie expected for the deprivation of his limb. Plaintiff wished the offer to come from defendants. Watts said he could make him no offer till they heard what plaintiff had to observe. Plaintiff replied, that they must discharge the bills that had been tendered them.by the 33 of November, and allow him HAL per annum. Ile said he could not give an answer to that then, but would lay his proposition before Mr. Boyce. Mr. Shiite, surgeon, of Gosport, related the nature of the dreadful fractures of the phtintiff's leg: he attended him during the whole of his illness, during ti weeks of which period the plaintiff's life was very doubtful, and he was in attendance on him, daily, for two hours and a half. His bill amounted to 160 guineas. Mr. Harris, Landlord of the Red Lion, was called to prove his bill : it amounted to 2761. I tis. for too days, including chaise-hire, nurses, washing, upholsterer's bill, incurred by plaintiff's precarious state at that inn. —Verdict, OA CROWN SID.I!T. Wu:cheater, March 8. The only case of atrocity was that of Sarah Hunting ford, who was found guilty, on the clearest evidence, of murdering her husband, Thos. Huntingford, at Portsea, sm the 114th (Alan October.—He was upwards of 70, and she of tin years of age ; they had lived together nearly forty years, and no reason whatever was assigned at the trial for her cruel conduct. It was proved, that at a little before nine o'clock on the preceding evening, and the last time they were seen together, she was reading the Bible, and he was sitting near her. It was not known at what time they went to bed, but at three o'clock in the morning she was seen in the Yard, apparently ino eat distress of mind ; and when showent up stairs again, two other persons went up with her, and found ner husband murdered, he having in and about his head thirteen severe wounds and contusions; she then said that two persons, who seemed like chnuney-sweepers, hail come up stairs and murdered hitn, and that they told her that they would murder her also, if she made a noise. But this defence it seemed her Counsel aban doned, as it was endeavoured to prove, by various wit nesses, that she was insane, but as nothing of this sort appeared either immediately before or after the act, the !.earned Judge (NI r. Justice Best) thought this defence not available, and the Jury agreeing with him, found her Guilty on the whole imlictment —She was sentenced to suffer the punishmeat of" Petit Treason," which was put in execution tins morning, between eight and nine and her body was afterwards sent to the County Hospital to be dissected. She persisted in her not doing the murder, hut said that the instrument which was produced in court was not the instrument with which he was killed ; she appeared to be quite a visionary, and reconciled to her fate; when urged to confess, she re plied, that she would confess to God alone—that the *ct of dying was only momentary and what she did not fear. When broughtout of the Oaol she stepped on the sledge with rumness, and did not appear otherwise even when the fatal cart was removed, and she was launched tow eternity. Chem fora, March 10. CROWN SIDE. WALTUAM GANG. \William Bush, Ittn --- esWest;ood --- , George Westwood, Joseph Chesium. Robert Wolfe, banes Jeffery, and Robert Litchfield, were indicted for burelariotisly break in stand entering the dwelling-house of John Citapinan, at Waltham Holy Cross, in this county, and plunder ing the house of a variety of asides let out •Ate &u -thaw/cut. 'PARCH 14. Mr. Jessup stated the case, which was proved by an accomplice, of the name of Duvall, who gave the fol lowing account of the transaction:—that Wolfe, who was the captain of the gang, on the nth of October, met him in London, and told him that if he and Litch field would come to his house they would meet with some others, who were to proceed to a house where they could get a good booty, as they knew an old matt wh had a good hoard. He accordingly met with Lit( lifi i/d the next day at Hertford, and they went together to Hoddesvloo, ,where they slept at the Red Lion ; the -y staid there until four o'clock ; they went on to lininilvr, where they crossed the fields to Mr. Chapman'slon:,, which was a lane farm-house, in the parish of Wad them. They listened in a lane until it was quite dark, and then they went to an out-house near the house, where, by appointment, they were to meet Wolfe and the others. Soon afterwards - Wolfc and the four where joined them, and they all continued in the outdio nte until about eleven o'clock at night; they then went to the house, and just then they saw the carter retm with his wagi,ton, who had been to London ; he mi: into the house and got a light, and went with anoiliei lad into the stables. Some of them immediately In and the two men together, back to back, and fastened than to the manger, where Wolfe stood guard over them. The others then went into the house, and went up stairs, when they got into a sr on: where they found twa men servants sleeping; they asked them where was their master's bed room, and where kept his money. The men were very much frialiteueil, and replied, their master slept at another part of Cie house, and that they did not know where he keit hi t money. A guard was left upon them, and they lito ceeded to the other stair-case; but here they found a _strong door, which was fastened; they went out amd got two plough-cutters, with which they immediately shivered the door, and burst int!) Mr. Chapman's bed room ; he and Mrs. C. were in bed ; *hey demanded hit money and his keys, which he gave them, and told them his money was in a bureau below ; oh y went down sist a and broke open the bureau ; they also broke open an i on chest, forced all the closets, and completely ransacked the house, taking away considerably above tool. in too. ney, plate, and three watches; and they regaled them selves with u ine and spirits, and took away the best par: of a hint. The manner and circumstances of the rob bery were also confirmed by the servants, and Mr. and Mrs. Chapman. ' lit confirmation of the testimony of the accomplice, it was proved by the landlord at Hoddesden, that he and Litchfield had slept at his house the night before die robbery, and one watch was found in the possession of Jefferey, and another in the thatch of Wolfe's house. Mr. Corwood cross-examined the accomplice, but not discredit his testimony.—The Jury found Mini ad , Guilty. , Litchfield was also convicted of another liirglary to , the house of Nash Kemp, at Christall, a little sir p. keeper. He was found the next day with all the goLds, having stripped the shop. MELANCHOLY SUICIDE OF J. PAUL, ESQ. A Coroner's Inquest was he:d on Thursday after. noon, before Thomas Shelton, Esq. Coroner f..r London, at the Committee-room of St. Glare) Workhouse, on the body of John Paul, Esq. a incr. chant in the City, who put an end to his existco by drowning himself: The deceased was brother :) James Paul, Esq. (who fought a duel with Si: Francis Burdett) formerly a Candidate for West minster, who, it will be recollected, shot lidos: i at his house in Charks-street, St. James's-sip:sr , . and also brother to T. Paul, Esq. a merchant, Lite of Birmingham. John Stevenson, mate of the Humility sloq, moored near Gun-shot Wharf, stated, that he saw the body of the deceased floating on Tuesday rimm ing last; he gut it out of the water, and it 1%,;, conveyed in a shell to the dead-house of S;:i.:t Olave's. Isabella Brown stated, that she was housekeeper to the deceased, who had resided at No. 3, Circus, Minories. He had been absent five weeks last Tuesday, and for some days previously he was is such a state of mind, and so exceedingly distressed, .that she felt convinced he was not in his prop' faculties; she believed his affairs were embarrassed. For nights together he would leave his Led end walk about the room like a person distracted, and when she spoke to him he would burst into tears, strike his hand in great agitation against his fors. head, scream very loud, and appeared in great ter ror. She did not hear of the accessed until be was found drowned. Ile has left finir children, the youngest eighteen months old; his wife died twelve months ago. John Ratnsbottom, M. D. Old Jewry, stated , that he was called in by the deceased's surgeon to attend upon him, aid found him labouring under disorder, both mental and bodily; be talked of las disorder, but in such a manner as led him to suspect his mind was impaired; he prescribed for him, and called again on the Wednesday following, and was intinmed that the deceased bad left home (us above described) on the preceding evening. A letter, written by the deceased, was found upon the table , laddressed to his brother-in-law, Ur. H po ewettsoa, ths