The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-01-03 00:00:00

eeneral 14eb3s.

coroner.

CHRISTMAS DAY Ilf Tan WORIEHOOBIII.—The poor
not alone in the metropolis, but throughout the king-
dom, were either through the means of parochial taxa-
tion, or of private and public benevolence, made partici-
paters in the usual festivities adopted by the English
nation in commemoration of that event. Among the
gratifying features of the report is the fact that there
will be found, as compared with the corresponding period
of last year, a vast decrease of pauperis,n. In almost
every pariah and district this is found to be the cane,
and in the few instances where the contrary exists, the
increase is so trivial as to be scarcely worth mention.
Another point is, that in most of the parishes there is •
feeling that the poor, in consequence of Christmas-day
falling on a Sunday, should not be denuded of any extra
indulgences, and therefore in most instances additional
allowances are made, and the festivities kept up in most
of the workhouses and unions, on Monday. The entire
returns are most satisfactory, and the diminution of poor
is no doubt consequent on increased commercial pros-
perity, affording a mean* of greater employment to the
industrious and poorer classes, notwithstanding the
recent dispute in the building trades.
HORRIBLI MURDER NEAR NOTTINGHAM.—A shock-
ing murder was perpetrated on Monday evening,
the 26th instant, at .New Lenten, a village about one
mile from Nottingham. The facts of the case are these :
About eleven o'clock on the evening in question, two
men, named Herbert and Alfred Slack (brothers), were
proceeding across the park which leads from Notting-
ham to Lenton, where they overtook two other persons,
named George Clark and William Weston, who were
going in the same direction. Shortly after Herbert
Slack commnceed annoying Weston. and then assaulted
him. The affair between them, however, was made up
on Slack's promising to give him • half sovereign. About
ten minutes afterwards the whole of the men arrived at
Lenton. The two brothers then whispered to each
other, and the younger Slack went to his brother's
house, • short distance off, and in • few minutes re-
turned with a dagger-stick. Clark not liking to see his
comrade unfairly used, interfered in his behalf, when
the elder Slack immediately seized the dagger, saying:
"I'll do for you!" and stabbed Clark in the neck. The
weapon severed the windpipe and entered the body five
or six inches. The unfortunate man exclaimed "I'm
done !" fell to the ground and almost instantaneously ex-
pired. Information was given to the police, and the two
Slacks were taken into custody. The murdered man
was said to be very harmless and inoffensive, and was
very seldom known to quarrel with any one. Ho was a
tanner in the employ of Messrs. Bailey and Shaw, and
was universally esteemed for the propriety of his con-
duct. He ha, left a wife and four childrem to lament
his untimely end. The elder prisoner states that he did
not tell his brother to fetch the dagger, but • half-
sovereign to recompense Weston, and that while the
scuffle was going on between himself and Weston.
Clark ran on to the dagger and killed himself. A coro-
ner's inquiry MU instituted on Tuesday afternoon,
before Mr. Coroner Swami.

---
Tile LATE MURDEROUS OUTRAGE IN LEEDS.—The
Leeds magistrates were occupied for several hours on
Saturday afternoon week in the investigation of the
circuinstanees attending the reoent assault and robbery
of Mr. James Trafford, silk manufacturer, Leek, Staf-
fordshire, which took place on Tuesday evening in •
notorious thoroughfare, called Nelson-street, in Leeds.
Three persons were in custody up to Friday night week,
on suspicion of being concerned in the outrage, their
names being G. Harrison, of ITnion-street, Joseph
Matthews, of Nelson-street, and the woman of loose
charazior generally called " Polka Ann," who lodged in
Harrison's house. Some other information, however,
came to the knowleige of the police late on Friday night
week, which led to the apprehension of three other
parties for the crime. These were "Sam " Matthews,
Teresa Watson, and Martha Bates, all of whom resided
at a disreputable house in Nelson-street, Watson being
under the protection of the male prisoner. No evidence
was taken against George Harrison, Joseph Matthews,
and Mary Pollard, and these persons were accordiugly
discharged. The prosecutor, Mr. Trafford, was able to
attend the examinations, but he was very pale, and ap-
peared to be very languid. He detailed the circumstan-
ces attending the assault and robbery, but qualified some
portion of his former statement. It now appears the
robbery took place in Nelson-street, and the prosecutor's
ignorance of the locality had led him to comfound the
two streets which run parallel from Vicar-lane to Mill.
forth-street. Mr. Traffonl said he intended to visit a
customer in George's street, but that he turned down
Nelson-street by mistake, and was there attacked and
robbed. The evidence against Matthewman, Bates, and
Watson was certainly sufficient to warrant the magis-
trates in sending the care for trial. Mary Connor,
wife of John Connor, pavior, bottom of Nelson-street,
and • female who lodged with her, called Georgian&
Ward, both distinctly swore that they were alarmed by
cried of " Murder " as they were sittiug in their own
house; that they therefore ran to the door; and they
saw Matthewinan strike the prosecutor on the head ;
that Watson afterwards rifled the pockets of the fallen
man; that Batt,- was standing by; and that the three
prisoners afterwards ran into their own house, which
was close by. Mrs. Connor says she called out to the
prisoners not to hurt the poor man, but that she dared
not further interfere. After the prisoners bad run
away, Mr. Traffunl rose from the ground, and staggered
down the street, but fell twice before lie reached the
bottom. The witnesses affirmed there could be no doubt
about the prisoners, as they saw the whole assault and
rubbery. and had previously known Mattliewman, Bates,
and Watson. Mrs. Martha Booth, wife of Samuel
Booth, 42. Nelson-street, also stated that on the morn-
ing after the assault she saw a maroon-coloured woman's
sleeve lying in the channel of the street. Teresa Wat-
son came down Nelson-street at that time, picked up the
sleeve, and went with it into Mrs. Booth's house, saying,
"Ilia is my sleeve ; I lost it last night; let it lie here
until I come back." This sleeve, which was covered
with mud and much rumpled, was afterwards claimed
by Watson, and taken away. There were other
suspicious circumstances, as, for instance, the prisoner's
preparation for a flight to Bradford as soon as they
knew they were suspected; but the evidence was not
completed, and to allow time for this being done, the
ease was remanded until the following Wednesday.
CRUELTIES ON BOARD AMERICAN BHIPS.—AS the po-
lice court, Liverpool. on Saturday week, P. Hall, second
mate, and Daniel Davenport, boatswain, of the Amen-
can 814 John Bright, were charged with causing the
death of a seaman, named Green, by various acts of ill-
usage. The prisoners were apprehended on Friday
afternoon week. Two passengers by the vessel, named
Pritchard and Hackett, stated that on several occasions
during the voyage the deceased was brutally ill-treated
by the two prisoners. On the day of starting the boat-
swain struck him on the arm with • piece of chain, and
as he was running away the second mate knocked him
down with his fist. The man shouted "Murder !" and
asked to be put on shore, but Ise was sent aft, and after-
wards placed in irons. His face was covered with blood,
I and as he was lying on the der* the second mate jumped
on his head. On another occasion he was beaten with •
rope's-end by the same prisoner, who followed him about
the deck. At another time he was sent up to the fore-
rigging, although scarcely able to stand on his feet, and
the moml mate beat him again in the same manner be-
cause he did not go quick enough. Before his death,
which took place About four days previous to the vessel
reaching Liverpool, the poor fellow complained of hav-
ing been kicked, and expressed • wish that somebody
would throw him overboard, as the prisoners were gra-
dually killing him. Hackett said that the deceased was
covered with black and blue spots on various parts of the
body, and that lie had black eyes during nearly the
whole of the voyage. He had seen the second mate take
a large packing needle and push the deceased about
with it along the deck. A surgeon, who had also been •
passenger on board, said he had attended the deceased a
few hours before lie died, and found hies suffering from
inflammation of the lungs, which was solely the cause of
death. Having been seldom on deck, lie had not seen
any of the ill-treatment spoken of by the other witnesses.
With the exception of • bruise on the hip, he did not
find marks of any violence, but lie lied only made a
cursory examination of the body. The case was re-
nomiled for a week, and in the meantime the evidence
would be submitted to the American Ambassador in
I London, and the Home Secretary.
ATTEMPT AT ASSASSINATION.—An attempt of this
kind, excited by • spirit of revenge, was made in the
vicinity of Worcester, on Friday night. As an old man
named James Williams was returning home from his
work, between 6 and 7 o'clock, he was suddenly at-
tacked by a man who sprung out of the hedge upon
him, and knocked him down with • bludgeon, with
which he struck him some violent blows upon the head.
Williams cried " Murder ! " but his assailant jumped
upon him, and, drawing • knife from his pocket,
plunged it into his throat, inflicting several severe stabs
on his neck and face, after which he returned across
the fields. The old man managed to crawl back to the
house of his master, Mr. E. Webb, • city magistrate,
and • surgeon having been sent for, every attention
was paid to his wounds, in the meantime suspicion fell
upon the poor old man's nephew, John Williams, who
resided in the neighbourhood, and the police being sent
in search of him found his house locked up. They
demanded admittance; but it was some time before the
mother of Williams would admit them. At length,
however, they obtained access to the house, and found
John Williams in bed—it was between 8 and 9 o'clock
—with his clothes lying upon the bed. They
iudnie-
diately took him into custody, and found in his
trousers-pocket • clamped-knife, the large blade of which
was covered with blood. There was also marks of
blood upon his trousers and waistcoat. The prisoner
was taken before the county magistrates at Worcester
on Saturday, when sufficient evidence was taken to
warrant his remand to next Thursday. It seems lie had
been lying in wait for the old wan some time, for on •
milkman, named Smith, passing the spot some time
before, he jumped out of the hedge upon him, but, per-
ceiving his mistake, went away again. The prisoner
was tried at the last Worcester summer assizes for hav-
ing married a cousin named Eliza Williams, he baring
wife living at the time. He had since his first mar-
riage refused to live with his wife, and had been re-
peatedly imprisoned for neglecting to support her. It
Is believed that his attempt on the life of the old man
was prompted by revenge at the part which he had
taken in instituting the prosecution against hint. The
Injured man, it is hoped, will recover.

EVIICLILIMIUIT AND ATTLIIIPTED SUICIDIL—A young
man, named John Fergusson, employed in the warehouse
of • respectable firm in the cloth trade, Morley-street,
Manchester, absconded on Friday evening week, with
£371 belonging to his employers, and on the following
Saturday a letter was received from line stating that he
was deficient in his accounts, but that it would be of no
use looking after him, as by the time the letter came to
hand lie would be beyond pursuit. The case was never-
theless placed in the hands of the police, and on Satur-
day afternoon week Mr. Superintendent Maybery, of the
detective force, sent Sergeant Bateman to Liverpool in
march of him. The result was that Bateman discovered
him OD Tuesday OD board the Empire of Peace, a vessel
about to sail. The young man, however, made souse ex-
cuse for going down to his own cabin, and while there
shot himself. He was found to be very seriously
wounded, but there are hopes of his recovery. He was
removed to the hospital at Liverpool. A reward has
been offered of 1:5, and • percentage on all the money
recovered, for his apprehension. Fergusson was &young
wan of good family.
BURYING A CUPFUL—A curious circumstance oc-
curred at Sandgate a short time ago. It appears that •
body was found ashore, and interment ordered by the
coroner. The coffin was supplied, and put in the shed
near to where the corpse lay. The sexton, • discreet
and careful man, took the hearse for the corpse, and OD
inquiry was referred to the abed, where lie saw the
coffin, and, with assistance, put it in the hearse and con-
veyed it to the cemetery ; the clergynian read the ser-
vice over it, and all was thought to be finished. In the
evening, however, Mr. Graves sent to the sexton to
know when he was coining for the corpse. The worthy
sexton at once saw his mistake--he had buried the coffin
only. The coffin was quickly dug up, and the corpse
properly interred on the next day.

SHOCK OF AN EARTHQUAKE ?JILT IN YORKSHIRE.—
The Yorkshire papers contain several accounts of a shock
of an earthquake having been felt on the 15th ult.. in
different parts of that county. The following is one of
the most full :—" On the bright cloudless morning of
Thursday, the 15th ult., between the hours of two and
three, great numbers of the inhabitants of Orassington,
with the neighbouring villages, and all along the valley
of the Wharfs, as high as its source, were suddenly
aroused by the shock of an earthquake. Several room
doors were hastily thrown open, a trembling or vibratory
motion was given to many articles of furniture, and
even the beds on which the alarmed inmates lay were
in some instances shaken as if by • strong man. Many
a timid inhsbitant arose, armed, and searched every
room and corner of his house to find some unwelcome
intruder. A few dressed and began their daily voca-
tions, mistaking the rattling sound which accompanied
the shock to be the call of their masters or fellow-labour-
ers. One man, we are informed, seised his gun, and
prepared for the worst. Some miners also were at that
moment at work on Grasaington-moor, 60 fathoms, or 360
feet, beneath the surface, and 200 fathoms from the
opening to the day. Those men heard distinctly the
noise attending the shock, mid mistook it for the falling
in of the mine. Many very amusing stories might be
told of the mistakes and surmises to which it gave rise,
but the subject is too grave to sdiuit of the least levity.
One reason why the shock was felt more forcibly in the
valley of the Wharfe than in some of the villages south
of its basin, may perhaps be attributed to its locality in
secondary series, for solid bodies like the carboniferous
limestone, which here abounds, are excellent conductors
of sound as well as propagators of motion." There are
other accounts describing the phenomena as having been
felt at Pateley-bridge and other parts of the county. It
appears that they were felt over an area of more than
WO square miles—at least the correspondent of one of
the local papers says so.
L• 1106 SEIWIIs OF GOVERNMENT lIITAL.—Two
sergeants of the Portsmouth dockyard police seised at
the Landport railway station, on Monday evening, a
I cask containing 300 lb. weight of ships' copper bolts (the
greater part new), cut up into different lengths, and
which had evidently been reduced to their present
lengths before leaving the dockyard. The greater por-
tion—about three-fourths—have had the "broad arrow"
removed by the application of the file, but the remain-
der have the broad arrow still upon them. The cask
was directed on the back of one of the sender's own
cards—" A. Morris Harris, glass merchant and marine
store dealer, adjoining the police-station. Landport-
road, and was directed to "Mr. Marks, Tilley-street,
Spitalfields, London." Mr. Morris Harris, it is almost
needless to say, is "not at home." The plundering of
copper in this shape from the Portsmouth yard has been
carried on now for some time to a very great extent.
It is known that upwards of • ton was ant on one occa•
sion by rail from this town to London only a short time
since; but the information came to hand too late to be
of any service. At the Portsmouth Police-court, on
Tuesday, • hired labourer named George ihrvey, em-
ployed in the yard in breaking up the Dryad hulk, was
convicted of stealing • copper bolt weighing 21b., and
sentenced to 21 days hard labour. The prisoner had
been stopped on leaving the dockyard, and the bolt
found secured by two pieces of spunyarn round his
waist in a perpendicular position.
Fu LFILVIINT OF A DRIAM.—An inquest was held on
Wednesday evening, at Sheffield, before Mr. Thomas
Badger, coroner, on the body of Mr. Charles Holmes,
button manufacturer. Clough-house-lane, who had been
found drowned on Monday morning, in the Lead-mill
dam in that town. The deceased left his home on
Saturday night in company with his wife; they walked
through the town together, and about 9 o'clock, as
which time they were at the top of Union-street, he
said to her, "I'm', going to leave thee here, Fanny." She
said. "Are your' and lie replied, "Yes. I want to see
an old friend who is going to Birminghato on Monday,
and he is to be here." She said to him, "Well, Charlie,
don't stop long, because I do feel queer about that
dream," and lie replied, "Oh, don't say that; I'll just
have a glass and then come home. Go and get the
supper ready, and I'll conic directly." She then left
him. When he got into the house he was invited to
drink with his friend, but he exhibited some reluctance,
saying that on the night before his wife had dreamed
that site SAW hint dead in a public-house, and that she
had dreamed a 'lir dream about a week before,
Unfortunately, however, he yielded to the temptation,
gut drunk, and did not leave the public-house till after
12. He was accompanied part of the way home by his
friend, and was never afterwards seen alive. Near his
house are the Lead-mill dams, and, in consequence of his
not returning borne, his wife felt convinced that he
had fallen in and got drowned. A search was made,
and on Monday morning his body was found in the
water, and was removed to the Royal Standard public.
hone, where his wife saw the body, and identified it as
that of her husband. The jury returned a verdict of
" Found drowned," and recommended that an opening
in the wall, near the dam. through which it is supposed
he had fallen, should be built up.
ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.—On
Monday morning an accident occurred on the Great
Western line of railway, near the Wallingford-road sta-
tion, and it resulted in the destruction of • large aniouht
of property. It appears that a goods train left the sta-
tion at Dideot and reached Wallingford-road between 8
and 9 o'clock, where it stopped. About half an hour
afterwards an express Birmingham goods train followed
and as it had not to stop at the intermediate stations it
proceeded at a good pace. On turning the curve in the
cutting ACM' the Wallingford-station the driver of the
express train saw that the other train was still standing
there, mid that a collision was inevitable. He and the
fireman, perceiving their danger, alighted from the
engine and allowed the train to proceed, as nothing in
that short distance could be done to stop it. In • few
seconds it ran into the other train, and the crash was
really awful. The engine was smashed, and nine trucks
filled with goods were all broken into pieces. Both the
driver and fireman by jumping off escaped uninjured,
but they must have been killed had they maintained
their position on the engine. The line of rails was
strewed with the fragments of the engine, trucks, and
their contents, but • staff of men was telegraphed for
and soon obtained, and little delay occurred to the pas-
senger traffic. By this accident the lofts to the com-
pany is estimated at between £2,000 and £.1,000. There
was great neglect on the part of some one in allowing
the signal to be on to allow • train to approach the
station while one was staying there. An official in-
quiry was commented on Wednesday at Paddington,
' the porters and other officials from Wallingford being
summoned to attend.
THE TRAGEDY NEAR NOTTINGHAM.—The full par-
ticulars of this horrible event transpired at the coroner's
inquisition held upon the hotly on Tuesday evening. It
appeared from the evidence of William Weston that he
and the deceased were walking across Nottinglisui-park
on Monday night, about 11 o'clock, and were overtaken
by two men—Herbert and Alfred Slack The two
lister without provocation commenced an assault. The
elder Slack, who was the taller of the two, pushed wit-
ness down. Witness did not know then who the wen
were. After the Assault Slack said he would give wit-
ness 10s, to make it up, and loped front that time they
would become friends. The taller of the two men took
witness's arm, and they both walked scrota the park
together. Deemed walked by witness'a side in com-
pany with the other man, and they all went pleasantly
together. They had no angry words. When they got
to Mr. Bertram's shop in the village of New Lenton,
the elder Slack called his brother • little hack, and
I whispered something to hina, but witness could not
I understand what transpired between them. Witness
acid the deceased stood still while they whispered, and
afterwar Is Slack took his arm again, and the younger
brother ran first. When they arrived at Mr. Benson's
shop witness observed the younger Slack coming to-
wards them. The two Slacks lived in the village, and
witness supposed he was returning from home. Witness
saw nothing in his hand at that time. When the
younger brother came up the elder Slack drew his arm
out of witness's, and said he was going to pay witness
the 10s. He then knocked witness down with his fist
and kicked him several times while on the ground. The
deceased came to pick witness up. Neither witness nor
the deceased had during the time struck any blow.
While deceased was picking witness up the former was
stabbed by the tall man. Witness could not see with
what instrument the wound was indicted, as it was
dark and a little foggy. While the deceased was stoop-
ing down the tell AIM took a dagger in his hand, and
struck the deceased with it. Deceased was at witness's
bead, raising line, up at the time. He could hardly say
which hand the weapon was in, but he believed it WAS
in the right hand. The deceased received the blow in
his left breast. Witness was picked up by • woman,
and then for the first time he saw blood. After deceased
had been stabbed he dropped down by sonic palings,
and exclaimed. "I'm done, I'm done." He stood up
two or three mounds, staggered back, and then fell. He
never spoke afterwards. It was not five minutes from
Ni. time witness was knocked down to the time de-
ceased was stabbed. The two men went away directly;
they did not stop to render any assistance whatever.
Several people came up afterwards, and the deceased
was taken house on a chair, Weeding profusely at the
time. Witness would swear that during the whole of
the time neither he nor the deceased gave any provo-
cation. After the elimination of other witnesses the
inquiry was adjourned until Friday morning. The
greatest excitement prevails in the village, and it was
not deemed prudent to bring the prisoners publicly to
the inquest. They were taken before the county maga
trate* on Wednesday on the charge of wilful murder:
Mr. Brown appeared for the prisoners, and asked to
have a private interview with them. The Bench, how-
ever, would only consent to an interview in the presence
of Superintendent Palethorpe. He again pressed for a
stricter private interview, but the Bench refused it. Mr.
Coroner Swann made application to the Bench for the
two prisoners to be present at the adjourned inquest on
Friday. This was also declined. They were than for-
usally remanded until Saturday.