The National Register. — London, England, 1819-04-19 00:00:00

116 FLINTSIIIRE GREAT SESSION. MOLD, TIIIIRSDAT, APRIL IL (Before MnSerganit COPLEY and Mr. &roost MORSUALL, kis MajestieJrattort.) SUPERSTITION.—FFYNNOti FLI AN. THE NINO N ON THE PROSECUTION OF Film AHD ',Triter., AGATSDIT JOHN EDWARDS. FOR ORTAINING MONEY UNDER FALSE PRETENCES. The nature of the case will be best understood front the eel :lsom. Edward Pierce examined by Me. Temple .—I live at Elandyr nog, in the enmity of Denbigh. I saw John Edwards, at hie own house. celled Berth-dda, in the parish of Northop, in the month of April. 1813. I understood I had been put in Ffynnon Elian ; I mean my name had been put in. I thought something was the matter wish mc. I saw every thing going cross. I was informed that John Edwards pulled people out of the well; I went to hint in order to be pulled out. I told him something was the matter with inc. He immediately observed my name was put in Ffynnon Flian. I trembled ! Ile said it was nut then a fit rime to take my name out, bet desired me to wait till the next full moon, alien he would take me out. He requested Inc in the interim to read the following psalms-6, 7, to. 66. 100. and 118; afterwards he would let me know when to go to 'Ffynnon bairn, as there were other people to go with us—it was absolutely necessary to go there. I went to his house in May following/ to inquire about the proper time to go to the well. Ile said he woidil go the following Sunday, and desired me to meet him at St. Asaph. We met there at seven o'clock on the Sunday evening; it was then full moon ! Edwards fixed the day. When I saw•himat St. Asaph, he desired me to go on one side with Aim to pay the money, which he said was to be given to the Woman o ihe Well, for taking my name out; he said, if I paid him, my name wookl be taken out; I was to pay 135.; but I told him had only 14s. fad by me, which he accepted! He then engaged to take my name out, and pay the money to the Woman of the Well. lie told me, that in consequence of having my name taken out, - I should hat emy health and authority as I wished to have; I an sure he told mc so ; I paid the money in order that my name might be taken out. John Edwards, myself, and two other mess an the same business, then started for the Well ; we arrived there from 12 to half past it on Sunday night ; I never saw the well before ; Edwards called me to the well, and sliewed it mc; we went to a stile near the well; he bid us duce gm over and retain there sell he fetched the key from the house where the Woman of the Well lived. He told rhe he would then pay the woman ; he did not *ay where the house was : the well was inside a fence; I did not see a key ; there was no door on it to my knowledge. Edwards was absent about to minutes; when he returned. he dished me to follow him; one of the strangers went with him ; they were absent about a quarter of an hour or tn minutes; when the man returned, I went in his stead. I found Edwards at the well; he bid me stand on one side of the we'd, and say the Lord's prayer; I did so: he then emptied the well with a small wooden cup; when emptying it, he prayed to Father, Son.and Holy Ghost, the well then tilled again. He then put sonic water into the cup, and desired me to drink some of it, and throw the remainder over my head; he said I must do so three times; I complied : after this, Edwards said, now we will look lire your name. He put his hand a little above near where the water goes into the well; he found something imme diately. and said, " Here is something," whith he gave to me. He desired me to put my hand in ; I did so, but could find nothing. What lie gave me was a piece of slate, a cork, a piece of sheet lead, rolled up, and tied together with a wire. I did not open it till I got home; it was in toy possession till then. When I opened the sheet lead, I found a piece of parchment inside, with the letters E. P. upon it; there were also some crosses. It was too dark to read at the well. When Edwards gave it me, he said he thought it was my name, and said every thing would be right and go on well with me, and that I should come on better than usual. I gave the slate, Etc. to Mr. Thelwall; I had them in my possession till then. Cross-examined by Mr. Manley.—l can't tell. I was better after going to the well. One of my daughters was ill before I went there; she was better after I mine back. My cows, horses, pigs. sheep, cats, nor dogs, were not ill, nor was my wife cross, but I thought something was the matter with me! Edwards told me my name was put int/stile ; he said if I would pay him 13s. be would take my name out. I don't know what you mean by ghosts. No. I saw no cows without beads, nor did I see black pins. By the Chief Justice.—l thought if my name was in the well, I should not prosper. Thought my name was put in, and that I was going worse in consequence. Thought by hearing ether peo ple talk I should suffer bodily pain, and go on badly in the world as long as I was in the well. By Judge Marshall.—Edwards told me if my name continued in the well, I should go on worse and worse every moon atter another. Margaret Pritchard, examined by the Attomey-General.—l now live at Row, in Camarvoneltire ; resided at Cetn y fynnou (the farm where the well is situated) in May last. I was called .6 The Woman of the WelL" I know John Edwards; 1 did not see hint in May last, nor for three years before ; he did not pay sue 14$. fel. in May last; no, nor a halfpenny. lam sure I did not see him since the time I mentioned. There is no lock or door to the well. The Rev. E. Thelwall produced the slate, cork, and parch ment. which he said were delivered to him by Pietee—they had been in his custody ever since. •. Edward Pierre" and the letters F.. P. were written on the Parchment, and E. P. was cut upon the date. . Edward Pierce then said, he received the articles produced by Mr. Thelwall from John Edwards. Chief Justice.—Who proves the Well to be in Carnareonshire ? Margaret Pritchard was then called, and said the well was situated in the township of Sirius, in that part of the parish of Llandrillo in Rhos, which lies in the county of Camarvon. The case for the prosceution being closed, Mr. Manley addressed the Jury on Lehall of the defendant, but called no witnesses. The Chief Justice then proceeded to sum up the evidence, and animadverted much on the enormity of the offence. The Jury, after a few minutes deliberation, found the defen dant Gni/N.—lle was then remanded, and ordered to be brought up for judgment the following day ; when the Court intimated, that the osee.: of which he had been convicted sithjected him to traneportation ; but in consideration of its being the first offence. and of his imprieonment since last Great Session, sentenced him to be confined in the county gaol for Twelve Cakoidar Mouths. WESP.VINSTEII SI:SqONS. nut Wetlueo4y, the Wewtooinster Seminns commented beft.re Mr. 134ket, anJ the Bench of Magistritteb. A./IAL LTS. Theism Mweyard, a re►pectaltle tiadrunan, remitting in S( Martin's-lane, Nall indicted fur n..attrting Wilbam Carrier„ a iinldier in the C•ililorealii Guard... On the of Deeeemliet wax one tiln party ef Guards retitriiinu *am duty at the Ptay-lhouse. Passing along Country- TIM 'NATIONAL REGISTER. street, the defendant met them. The witness was the se cond tile, nearest the delimilatit, who pushed to to against the first tile, and knocked him down. The defendant said, " This is nut a place for saline's." After the witress was knocked down, the Serjeant, who was in the rear, came sip and asked why the witness had been knocked down. The defendant knocked off the Serjeaties cap, and said lie would serve *lithe party in the same way. The wit ness was injured by the blow be received. On Ilk cross-eXdlllllllllioll he said, lie saw a man and a woman going the same way ; lie did nut push the man or the lady. The defendant said he hail been pushed by the first man of the psi iy. The ace t given by this witness was confirmed by the jeaut and two other palettes of the party. Mr. 11 afford, for the defendant, observed, the Jury had much experience, and they knew that it was not probable that an individual like Mr. Miinyaed, would venture to assault soldiers on duty in the manner stated by the a it siesses, our was it likely that three persons would wan tonly push against the Guards going along the bliceets, be cause they would know they were doing that which was dangerous to their 0%11 personal safety. The ilefearlant was a most tespectable tradesman, carrying on the busi ness of an ironmonger in St. Mai A witness he shurild call had paid him a visit on the day the transaction ',textured, and Irma. that witness the Jury would hear what really were the facts of the case. Merry of the Joey bad doubtless walked along the street alien soldiers were going by, and had stall the style in which they match ; it was well known, it' passengers did nut get out of their way, they would push them out of the way.-11 so, would the Jury believe the soldiers in this instance did not act as they always had dune? The Jury would never admit that the respectable Citizens of Westminster are to be pushed about in the streets by soldiers in the manner Mr. Man yet d had been Mr. IValfurd then called Mr. John Tes ter, who said, lie lived in South Audley-street. He had dined with Mr. 'Mansard, on the 28th ut December, and about 12 o'clock they went towards house. His wife was on his left arm, Nliniyard was on his right side. it hen the soldiers came up, he found his wife jostled, and wheeled her Talmud, a ith her back against the a all, to let them pass ; he placed himself in the same situatiou. lie saw our of the soldiers pints Mr. Nlunyard against a shutter. The man was knocked down. The Serie...nit then came up and said—Why did you knock closer, one of my mess? %lanyard said—if you had served inc as that man aid, 1 would have knocked you down. The Serjeaut then levelled his halbert at Miniyard's breast. The witness said—Serjeaut, let us have no military law liere.—The Corporal was then sent for a constable. Ni, assault was committed by Munyard upon the Seijeant. The witness supposed hi, cap fell MI when he was M the act of levelling his halbert. The second right-hand man pushed violently against Mrs. Tester. '!'hey gave uo notice of their approach. Mr. Baker, stating the evidence to the Jury, observed. that there might be an excuse for the assault by Nluily aril, yet it a Serjeatit marching through the streets found one of his men knocked down, lie had certainly a right to secure the man who committed the offence, and to detain him. The Jury would not, however. look at the parties as soldiers but as . citisenw, said say whether the defendant was guilty or not. The Jury found the defendant Not Guilty. houses or ILL FAIIIIC.—Gentge reancir and Martha Francis, alias Mary Conway, were indicted fur u misdemea nor: there were two counts iii the indictment; the hest charging them with keeping a notorious brothel in Lisle street, Leicester-square ; and the second with keeping a disorderly house. Mr. Barry shited that it was nut a parish indictment, hut a prosecution by a respectable trauesmair iu Last-street, Nlanchester.square, whose child. oiriy 16 year, of age, had been harboured by the defendants. The poor mass, its November 181'1, missed his daughter. He afterwards found her in the hospital, a litre she had been seat by Mrs....olMay ; he brought her home, but in three months after she was again seduced to the same house. He naturally went there, and was told by the lady she had sent her to Guy's hospital; but 011 enquiry there it was no such thing. He recovered her a second tinic. She had bees with Min only three weeks when she again vanished, and lie found leer in the same situ ation as before. Ile again event to the house and took her eau), trial kept her ever since. He then called Mr. William Sayer, the father of the cirt, who described himself to be a shoe-maker, in East-street.— Tim girl was the oldest of eight children, and absconded from him in November, 1811 ; he discovered in March following that she was at the house kept by defendants, hut on going there he could gain nu information, but at lemon found her at St. Barthalioniew'r-hospital, in a shocking state of disease; he brought her Mane, but she agaiu left him. He confirmed all the facts teltied bs his Counsel. Sarah sa,er, the girl herself', was then examined. She conclusively proved the facts charged in the Milk (meat, with particulars which we do 1101 think he to gibe publicity to, in all of which she was confirmed by Ilan ict Johnston another unfortunate girl. Thus. Weekly, a constable, assisted Mr. Sayer in finding out his dauglite. ; he went to execute a warrant to the house, and was told by the servant Mr. and Mrs. Francis were w bed. Shortly after ti Francis come down in his morniiig gown, and uttered SO or 40 gut aeas to make it up. Both lie and her produced m superseileas to the warrant. Nlr. Alley addressee the Carat sit considerable length for the defendants; and the jury instantly found them both guilty. The Bench sentenced George Francis to pays fine of 1001. and both to hr c 11111 l nine d to the House of Correction for 12 month-, and them find sureties for their behaviour for three years; themselves in SOM. each, and the sureties in 150/. An hatantaneous shout burst forth throughout the abate Court. SATURDA V, APRIL 17. John Reitman, aged only 11, was charged with picking the pocket of a gentleman in Southampton-street, Strand, timing the late Election in Covent.thirden, and was con victed t!tertron. The Chairman, in addressing this juvenile depredator, informed him, that in neck r to pi him lions an untimely end in this country, it was his duty to sentence him to tionsportation for the terns of 7 years. On the sentence bring di cured, the prisoner vociferated loudly," I thank you, sir!" Charles !Inward was convicted of picking the pocket of a gentleman in the Haymarket, and it being the first APRIL 19. °fetter, lie was sentenced to six wont isoninent iq the Fronde of Ciii mei ion. Jolla Coles was seateneed fur a similar period, for rob bing his master. Joseph Carr, a notorious offender, though only 19 years of age, was indicted for picking the pocket tile gentleman in I'arli:mtent•strcct a few days ago. I his prisoner, it appeared,was discharged from the last Old Bailey Sessions for a similar offence. In the present charge, umfortomately for the ends of public justice, the prosecutor did not appear against him ; he was therefore acquitted. Mary al y el s, a respectable looking woman, was charged with roblring a souuig woman named Loworth, her lodger, of a quantity of wearing apparel from one of her boxes. The prosecntrix stated, that she had a few weeks ago come to town in order to get a situation, and till she could get one had lodged with the pi isomer for nearly six a eeks, that at the latter end of that time she fr unit that he► box had beets broken open, rind charged the poisoner with it, when She confessed she had done it, and had pledged some part of it fur the trifling sentenced fur this offence to imprisonment too six mouths in the House of Correction, and there to be kept to hard labour. Time were other eases, bat not of the least interest. A fir plantation at Aldermarton, in Berkshire, be longing to William Congreee, Esq. was last week set oaa fire by some villains, by which the produce of about four acres was destroyed. A subscription has been set on foot for establish ing annual races nt Cheltenham in the month of August. The subscription already amounts to up wards of 1,2001. and in aid of the funds it is pro. posed to give an Amateur Play, and a Ball at the rooms during the season. The ground thr the race course has been marked out on Cleave-hill, which is esteemed the finest turf in England. Tatspast MATCH.-Mr. Buxton started early on Wednesday morning on Hounslow Heath, very pri vate, to drive a couple of horses tandem to Hare Hutch, 24 miles, in two hours. The horses, how ever, not pacing well together, broke from the trot twice in the first six miles, and the turns together occupied more than an hour bethre 10 miles were performed, and he resigned. Phe match was for 100 guineas. Jonathan Vest, the great Pedestrian, started from Blackfriars'-road on Wednesday morning, to go on foot 50 miles in eight hours, on the Lower Kent road, out and in. The pedestrian did rather more than 14 miles the first two hours, and he perfimned the other six miles an hour with apparent indiffer ence, and returned to St. George's-fields at eleven o'clock, as if he had been taking a morning's training. A Grand Pigeon Mateh.—Three Gentlemen of the Midghant Club against riiree °full England, took place on Monday on Farnham Downs at '1 birds, 1 a yards distance from the gun, far ISo guineas a side ; charge unlimited. Messrs. Adams, Russell, and Holt were se lected from the Crack Club, against Messrs. King, Short, and leans. The sports were as follow : Mr7Admis killed 19 birds, and the remaining two were severely hit —Russell killed 18, hut lost one three yards out of bounds, and Mr. Holt bagged i 6, making a total of hg from 63. The Club was at first backed to win, but the Englancl shots were now backed freely 6t04, as they were conidered safe eighletie bird men. Mr. King killed 20, but lost two out of bounds; Short missed his three first birds, strange to relate, which brought betting to 2 to 1 on the Club, but he killed the next 17, and missed the last bird. Mr. Keans had 17 to tye and 18 to win. and he was backed at 5 to 4 and at 2 to 1, after killing 11 birds in succession. He, however missed the 12th and 13th, and betting was even. He also missed the 17th, and had to kill the oilier four to win. He sue. ceeded, and the prize was won by one bird. It was alto gether the most interesting match of this sort known for years. EXPEDITION OF THE LAN. —At Coventry As. sizes the week before last, a trial took place which excited a great sensation in that town. Two women, the one a housekeeper, and the other dairymaid to a respectable farmer in the neighbourhood, went into a linen-draper's shop to purchase some article for the use of the dairy, when, after their departure, the shopman missed a small piece of cotton, about the value of 10s. lie immediately followed, and took their basket front them, and they followed him back to the shop. The cotton was found in the basket ; they were taken before a Magistrate, committed, and the Grand Jury then sitting found a true bill against them ; they were instantly put on their trial, and one was acquitted, and the other con demned. nits, in the little space of two hours, did a woman of previously excellent character, com mit a robbery, was taken into custody for it, exa mined, committed, a true bill found, tried, and con demned to suffer death !! In the case of appeal of some salesmen of Covent Garden Market, at the Westminster Sessions, the Chairman has declared his resolution forthwith to require that each salesman in the market shall be provided with a vessel, which shall contain exactly the quantity of the water-measure, and that it shall be competent for every purchaser to demand the measurement of the articles he buys by the vessel or basket.