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

- .70 SURREY LEA 7' .iSSI2 ES. KTNGSTON. Aran C. MOM . 7NI SI DE--N 1 URDER. Robert I)..an WAS' pill ur the , Isar this moriiimt, chanted with the wilful murder of Alan? Ann Alistri. a little girl, betwsen four and five yebrs old s on the Wilt of oe to!icr last. in St. George's-fields, by coding her throat ith a ease-knife. The•trial of this ease excited univer- Li! interest, and attracted immense crowds at an early I•nor of the mor 1111 l g to gain ailiiiitt,occ to the Conti, Lot not one-twentieth of the anxious throng could lind The circumstances of this singular transaction having been fully laid before the public in ills publication of the Coroner's Inquest, it is not now necessary to enter Into much detail. 'lnc following, however, are the leading circumsta tic is of the case :—On Friday evening, the t6th day of October last, between 6 and 7 Alock, the prisoner, who was a watch-engraver, went, as he had been in the habit of doing, to - visit the mother of the child, who lives near the Elephant and Castle, St. George's-fields, and she asked him to take tea ; while he was there he nursed and played with the child until . about six or seven, when he went away with Mrs. AlberOrabromer, Williams, with whom he was inti mately acquainted, and had been fellow apprentices.— They proceeded as far as the Orae!isk when they sepa rated, and the prisonerreturned and took the child again into his lap, and put his hand in his pocket to get some halfpence, said he would go and buy some apples far his little Mary ; he then took the up in his arms, an:l asked her if she would have an apple, and 111311 y other trilling questions, such as, do you hoe me ? do you know who 1 am? &c. He then went out tt ith thechild, but being absent rally long, and the mother feeling alarmed, went out to see after mem, and on going into a court near the house, she met the child, who reekil towards her, and on her taking her in her arms the blood gushed from her throat, and the child ap 7i:wed as if she was expiring ; a surgeon was sent for, but his efforts were fruitless, and in about an hour it died. The prisoner wandered about for three or four days, and although every diligence was used to find him, it was unsuccessful. At length on the morning of Tuesday following, at about five o'clock, he rapped at the door of the watch-house of St. Andrew, Holborn, audlaid his name was Dean, and that he was the mur derer, and he was of course detained, and taken to • ispui -street Com int: r. Mrs. Mary Albeit, the mother of the little girl, was -examined in suppon of the above statement. When she beheld the prisoner at the bar, she burst into an hysteric scream of horror, and was for a time incapable of giving her evidence, until site was relieved by a flood of tears. The prisonerseemed evidently affected by the agony in which she appeared to be. On her cross-ex amination site gave a very favourable representation of the temper and disposition of the prisoner, and that he was extremely find of child. en, and particularly of the enfortunate infant who had lost her life by his act. On ;he evenit:g in question, she observed the prisoner to he very uncal in his mind, on account of the want of em ployment, but he spoke in a rational and collected manner. Mrs. Sarah Williams, the mother of the last witness, on her cross-examination described the conduct of the prisoner, on the evening in question, as indicative of an uneasy mind, arising from Ins distressed circumstances. She gave the prisoner the highest character for kindness to her grand-daughter, and said that he had always been on the most friendly terms with her family. Just ph Williams, the brother of Mrs. Albert, deposed to the circumstances connected with the a: acre outline of ttie case. Ott his cross-examination, he said he had beet lellowapprentice with the prisoner, who bad al -ways conducted himself in the most friendly manner -towards bin) and his family. \Violets and the prisoner had lodged together for a long time; lie knew the pri soner was uarhappy in his mind on account of a young airrunan with wnoin lie kept company, whose father had forbidden any further intercourse. -.Lapel* .Myatt, the watch-house keeper of the parish of St. Andrew, Holborn, proved, that early on the morning of the 20th October, the prisoner surrendered himself tojusuce at the watch-house. Ile appeared in a state of great agitation, slating that lie had been in• duced to surrender.hiniself. in consequence of his having heard a s. triton at the Tabernacle, un Moorfields ; that he had wandered about ever since he co ttttt lined the wid deed, and was unable to bold out any longer.— The prisoner was afterwards taken to Cilispur-street Camieer, where he begged he might be allowed a Bible. The witness's description of the prisoner's demeanour at the %V.IICII•IIOUSe WA, strongly indicative of remorse, but of sound intellect. John May, a police officer of Union-hall, proved that lie removed time prisoner front Giltspur-street Conquer, and, by the direction of the magistrate of Union-hall, took him on the 20th of October before the coroner's inquest, which was then sitting on the body of the de ceased child. When they got in the place of sitting, the prisoner requested to speak with the witness in private ; and being, left alone, witness, at the prisoner's request, took down the following statement in writing, as he gave it in his own words:- 1 , Dim Friday evening last I met a young man named Joseph Williams, with Wilt,llll I had long been intimate, at Mee. Albert's house, in Jacepies-enure, Thomas-street. 1 had long been acquainted wits a young woman named s.o.n Lineman, daughter of Mr. L. at the Grapes, Chnich•row, Ablzue; my affection for her was ex tremely great bad for souse time corresponded with her. is dispute unhappily arose ; lis tote to her upon gar . scbject, expreasing sty regret at the unfortunate I'IIE A.TIoNAL ftp.c/sThn raptor', described the very &eat regard which I enter tained for her, implored her to consent to a reconcilia tion, and begged stir would write me an catty answer. She never replied to my letter. 11er father called upon le, and wtsiied that the connexion might be discon mined. 'These eire tllll had an indescribable effect "I"on uty ntuml; 1 was miserably luilia!wy, was i nca p a - We of attending to any business, and gave myself entirely up to despair. I (Nide:mtual to prevail upon her to re new the correspondence. 1 felt that 1 could not be happy in this world washout her, and determined to leave it. Thoughts of a dryadfol description entered my mind, and moat have proceeded from toe !)evil. I felt that should leave ine world in a state of happiness, if I could der her, and determined io pyrpeliate the deed. 1 had been from home three days, business not being very br.sk, and on Friday evening 1 called to see Williams, at Mrs. Albert's and we both came out together and walked in company as far as the Surrey Theatre. We did not go iii; 1 told Williams that 1 wanted to see a gentleman in the Borough, and should go that way. We parted. and 1 returned to Mrs. Alberts. After talking in a very friepdly i matmer with the family , . I asked for a knife, and they supposing that I wanted to cut some bread, gave me a case knife. 1 took an opportunity of concealing it unperceived in my pocket. I shortly after went out with the child to buy her some apples, which having done, I returned to the court. A sudden thought came over my mind, that if I murdered the child who was innocent, 1 should not commit so great a crime as murdering Sarah Longman, who was older, and as 1 imagined had sins to answer for. 111 a moment I pulled the knife out of my pocket, put the child down out of my arms, held her head back, and cut her little throat. In an instaaa 1 imagined that 1 was its the midst of flaming fire, and the court appeared to me like the en trance of hell. 1 ran away, nut knowing where 1 went, or what! did ; 1 wandeled about in a state of distrac tion until! soma:fere(' myself up at the watch-house." The prisoner, who, during the course of the evidence above-mentioned, appeared to be in a kind of idiotic stupor, being called upon to make his defence, merely said, in a uild manner, that he was 1501 Guilty. A great many witnesses were then examined on his behalf to prove a case of insanity. .Among others were, James Longman, the father of the yosul woman to whom the prisoner hail been attached ; George Cass, a watch-motion maker; Ann Keys, Eliza Camp. bell, and Maria Tyrrell; persons with whom the pris oner had lodged ; and the tendency of their evidence was to show that the prisoner, a few weeks recently to the unfortunate transaction in question, had been flighty and low-soirited, in consequence of his want of employ ment, and haling been forbid the continuance of his addresses to the young woman, Miss Longman. The case went to the Jury under the learned Judge's direction, and the prisoner was found Guilty. Mr. Justice PARK pronounced sentence of death in a most impressive and pathetic manner, and the prisoner was ordered for execution on Monday next. During this last awful stage of the proceedings, the prisoner exhibited a maniac apathy to the doom that awaited him, and he" was removed front the bar in a state of mental abstraction. Kingston, Saturday April 3. CROWN 510 K. This morning the Court was crowded to excess, in the expectation of the trial of Thomas Osborne taking place, fur the murder of Ely Cux, gamekeeper to Mr. ressier, near Epsom, in the month of August last, but it was postponed, and ordered the first on Monday morning; 31 witnesses were in attendance. At eight o'clock Mr- Justice Park took his seat, and 26 prisoners were arraigned, they were however, most of diem for trivial offences, and the only trial deserving attention, this day, was that of Joseph It ism' and John Owen, two notorious Characters. who were tried fur borglariously entering the dwelling house of Mr. William Hoare, in Newington, and stealing therefrom sundry articles of weariugapparel, his property ; but of this charge they were acquitted. They were then again arraigned on another indictment, charging them with burglarionsly breaking into the dwelling house of Mr. Philip de Hoogh, in IValworth, and stealing therefrom a tea caddy, some silk shawls, and other articles of wearing apparel his property. The facts toeing clearly proved against the two prisoners, they were found Guilty, and sentenced to transportation Mr Site term of seven years. Mary ‘'Cells, who was tried yesterday on a charge of murdering her illegitimate infant, and found not guilty of the murder, there being no evidence that the child was born alive, was this morning brought up, and sentenced for the said concealment to three mouths imprisonment in the Home of Correction. CIVIL. SIDE. No trial of the least importance occurred this day in this Court. oxFmn CIRCUIT. HEREFORD. MARCH °5. THYSISIE HOWE GWTHSTE, ESQ. V. SACKVILLE FRE DERICK °WYNNE, ESQ. _.. . This case has excited an extraordinaryAegree of int throngliout the county of Hereford, among persons of the highest rank; and having been fixed for trial this morning, the Caw t was crowded in every pert at an early hour.._ The Jury, which consisted of ten special and two common jurymen, having been sworn, Mr. Pcrt.en opened the declaration, which impnled that the defendant had had criminal conversation with the plaintiff's wife. The defendant pleaded that he was Not Guilty. and this was the issue to be hied. The damages were laid at Twenty Thousand Pounds. Mr. Jenvts addressed the Jury in explanation of the cir enmiitances under which the action had bees brought,— The plaintiff married !lisp:vocal %life in the menthol Juno, APRIL 4. 1809, a period of about len year. from the present time. He was then thirty. His Laity was twenty Mace. Si m . was young, beautifil, accomplished, and of a it obte family. She was the daughter of the late Lord Hereford, a n d sister to the present Land. It was a twitch !nodule(' in affection. The plaintiff took her almost without )ortion. Her fortune was only 15001. in respect to a hich he sem d neon her 5001. • year. But for the crimes of the def. o ctant, she *odd have been the happiest of woman Li. at, In cosset; of the purchase whirl, Mr. Thy nue Gwynne had made, he f lit tare yto make 'leveret yournies to Loudon, it. order to arrange the contruet.-1; was observed clueing these absences, and poi ticularky at the latter end of the year 1816, that the di Pendant was little 11101 T flequent iu his visits at the plaintin's !lOUS, I hats he had before been ; but, as on most of these occasionsh. Was accutnpanied by his w ile, the suspicion of the plaintiff was never excited. It happened in the month of 1816, on one of the occasions when far. Thy nue Gut one was in town, and alien his lady Wa• upon a visit at the house of the defendant, that au isecurtence took place which excited notch of painful feeling. Mrs. Tionne Gwynn. hail been there in company will. many other visitors. She remained for a considerable time !now than any of the other guests, having been spangly solicited by Ms. Sack. Gwynn to defer her &pastime. It was at length settled that sloe should return home on the 3.1 of May. On the morning previous to her departure from the house of the defendant, the defendant are observed to conic into the room where the ladies were together, and to band Mrs Thynue Gwynn, a newspaper. Mrs. Sackville Gwynne either saw, or fancied she saw a not e delivered with the newspaper to Mrs. Thymus Gaynor. she hastily demanded the paper, whirl. was immediately delivered into her hand. She then demanded the note which she suspected Had been delivered by her husband; but be (Mr. Jarvis) believed this suspicion ass unfounded; however, such was its effect at the moment, and it was with deep regret lie was under the painful necessity of stating the tact, that upon Mrs. Thynne Gwynne denying that she had seen any note, Mrs. Sackville Gwynne struck her • blow, and called her an adniteress ! The investi gation which took place on that occasion terminated by Mrs. Sackville Gwynne signing the following declaration: " I, Mary Ann Gwynne, the aile of Col. Sackville Gwynne, of • Glaribran Park, in the county of Caerinarthen, do hereby declare, that my late conduct towards Mrs. Gwynne of Langan, was most unwarrantabl e , inso muc h as that Iliad never any just cause for the aspersions I can upon her character ; and I most solemnly declare, that I think her perfectly innocent of the impropriety of conduct which I imputed to her, and that I had 110 foundation whatever for the charges I made against her. " MARY ANN GWYNNE. " Dated May 11,181 T. (Witness) " Tnostas MANtCLt., Capt. Royal Navy. " J B. CH etyma," Captain Mansell happened tube accidentally present.— After this the Jury wonld not wonder at the plaintiff's receiving her into his arms, and restoring her to his entire affection.—The Learned Counsel then proceeded to state a great variety of facts. He alluded to an intercepted letter of a suspicious nature, and a report made on dm subject. The report was communicated to the plaintiff, accom panied by the following solemn declaration of hi. wife : MRS. TIITNNE GM iiNNE'S DECLARATION. " I Georgiana Gwynne, do most solemnly promise before God, never to have any communication with Colonel Gwynne, directly or indirectly. I do further promise before God, if any letter should be addressed by Col. Gwynne to me, that I will forthwith deliver the same to my husband unopened. Should, however, the letter be directed in a disguised hand, by whirls means I might he induced, unsuspectingly, to open it, I will in that case, upon the fir, t discovery of the author, close the letter aid deliver the same to any husband unread, " GEORGIANA GWYNNE. 4 Signed in the presence of HEREFORD, Nov. 17th, 1817, Hay-Castle. in consequence of this declaration, added to the opinion of those to whom he had referred a subject involving so much of his personal happiuess and character, the plaintiff received his wife into his arms, and she was once mere restored to the confidence of all the members of her family. From this time until the month of January fol lowing they lived together with uninterrupted happiness. The Learned Counsel, after alluding to various other cir cumstances to show the infidelity of the Lady, proceeded to call witnesses to prove the adultery. The Rev. James Cheston, olGloncester, proved that, he was brother in-law to the plaintiff. He married him to his present wife in 1809. He was in habits of frequent intercourse with them, and always thought their union most happy, until the circumstances which led to the present enquiry. He knew the defendant, and knew that he was possessed of a considerable estate. He knew that the plaintiff and defendant heti been bronght up together, and that • great 'degree of intimacy subsisted betwet u them. The defendant bad eight or nine children. In the year 1817 witness was summoned to Glanbran in consequence of something which had taken place. The good understanding between toe plaintiff and his wife, in consequence of what then passed was restored. A decla ration was made by Mrs. Sackville Gwynn,. Jaunts Weller, Esq. lived in the neighbourhood of Glanbran. He was supernumery adjutant to the Caer mantle.' local militia. He was in the habit of visiting at the lioness of the plaintiff and defendant. The plaintiti and his wile appeared to live on teens of great affection. He met the plaintiff when he had an in►erview with the defendant at the house of Mr. Harris.—[The inteicepted letter was post into the wit hand ] That letter wls the defendant's writing. The plaintiff prodneed the lettt r to the defendant, and asked hint if it was his hand writing ? The defendant declined answering. The defendant's wife at that period bad, siuce died. He believed she died in May last. Elizabeth Pritchard, a t to the plaintiff, proved the circumstances attending the detection of the myste rious messenger described by Mr. Jarvis Mr. Jervis now called for the production of the letters sent by the plaintiff to the defendant on the subject of the mysterious messenger. They were Rot produced. The notice served on the