The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-07-12 00:00:00

THE FALMOUTH bIURDEIL

We last week gave a brief outline of the dreadful
tragedy at Falmouth, committed in the heat of passion
by a surgeon named Sebiihen Winfield Lovell Bell, who
had for some time past been acting as resident surgeon
to the Weston-euper-Mare Dispensary, and we now sub'
j an abridged account of the coroner's inquest on the
body of the victim (Captain Caddy) held on Friday, 24th
tilt, at Selley'e Green Bank Hotel, Falmouth. Charlotte
Bell, of Falniouth, spinster, deposed :—About six or
seven o'clock last evening I was in my house with my
sister, Mary Ann Bell, and my brother, Stephen Bell;
my brother was very violent, and asked for money. He
threatened my sister, and I went for Captain Caddy,
the deceased, for help to quiet him ; I was in the house
when deceased Arrived ; my brother was then in the
dining-room with my sister; he was still violent, asking
for money, but we gave him none. Captain Caddy laid
he was acting as a friend, and desired my brother to
leave the Louse, and he would not. The deceased then,
through our desire, said be would fetch a policeman
unless my brother quitted the house. My brother was
violent to myself, my sister, and Captain Caddy, and
threatened to knock my sister down. I did not see any
weapon in may brother's hand—Mazy Ann Bell, of Ply-
mouth, spinster, deposed as follows :—Yesterday after-
noon, about six o'clock, I was sitting in our dining-room,
talking to my brother, who had called unexpectedly; I
had not seen him for twelve months past. He came for
seine money. My mother was accustomed to make him
an allowance, which had been discontinued fur some
time. My brother was very violent because we would
not give him money. I went in search of Captain
Caddy, as well as my sister, leaving my brother in the
passage. When I returned I found Lim in conversation
witli the deceased in the dieing-room. Captain Caddy
desired him to go out of the house, and he would not.
Captain Caddy threatened to send for the policeman,
and they came into the passage together. I saw my
brother take the spear from the wall, which we had
kept there for an ornament ; next saw Captain Caddy
in the door-way wounded; when my brother took the
spear I thought he was only going to damage the fur-
niture ; did nut see him strike the deceased with it.
Captain Caddy desired him to be quiet and leave us at
once. After deceased was wounded be said lie was
hurt. My brother was then in the passage ; deceased
was then standing in the porch leaning against the wall,
and he fell there. Captain Caddy was not in a passion.
Deceased had been in the house about ten minutes; saw
my brother break the spear. The spear now produced
is the one I saw in icy brother's hand ; I saw the blood
coming from the deceased whilst he was leaning against
the porch ; went to his assistance, and some of the
blood fell on my dress. I think my sister and myself
desired Captain Caddy to send for the police and I
fancy when lie went out of the dining-room it was his
intention to call • policeman to eject my brother f:oni
the house. Shortly after I saw the deceased and my
brother together in the passage. I cannot say what
they were doing. During our discussion my brother
threatened to knock me down. Our fear of him arose
from the great state of excitement he occasionally got
into. Frederick Charles Bullmore, of Falmouth, surgeon,
deposed as follows :—Last evening, about • quarter to 7
o'clock I was called by Mr. Fender to oome to Mrs.
Bell's house, to sea Captain James Caddy, the deceased;
I went immediately, and found him lying on the path-
way outside the door, and apparently dead; I tried his
pule., they had ceased; neither could I detect any
breathing; he was surrounded by a pool of blood, which
on examination, I found issued from his thigh; I went
home for • tornisinet ; when I returned, I found that
they had placed lam on • sofa as I directed; put on my
own turniquet, to command the circulation of the limb,
in case of reaction; I gave him brandy, and after taking
about a wineglass full, he began to breath; I oontinued
the application, and his breathing became more tree; I
heard the heart beat very feebly, but the pulse never re-
turned at the wrist; I persevered in the application of
the brandy, but he never spoke, and gradually sank; be
died at 10 minutes past ml o'clock last evening. After I
had seen Captain Caddy, and finding that Mr. Stephen
Bell was still in his mother's house, I opened the draw-
ing-room to see him, as I had known him previously,
and because it was the common report that he had
stabbed the deceased; I said to Mr. Bell," I hope you
will get your deserts." He appeared perfectly calm and
oollected, and replied, "You are not talking in • Christ-
ian spirit, you are adding fuel to the fire ;" I then said—
You were not acting in • Christian spirit by taking the
man's life ;" to which he made no reply; he was not in-
toxicated. Captain W. A. Boas deposed to having heard
• noise in Mrs Bell's house; he went down, and was in-
formed that Captain Caddy was killed; went up stairs
and found a person walking up and down the room with
• broken spear at his feet, and appearing in a very ex-
cited state, picked up the spear and gave it to the auper-
intendant of the police; went with the prieoner and
the constable into the drawing-room; he said, "I am
a gone mama, and don't deny that I did it;" asked him to
explain himself, and he said, "After Captain Caddy
threatened to call the police to turn me out of the house
I took hold of this lance, and Captain Caddy sprang upon
me, and it must have occurred in this way," or world to
that effect; I told him if the deceased made a state-
ment before he died that it was accidental, it would be
of service to bun; Mr. Bell replied—" My dear air, it is
of no use, he is a gone man ;" I asked hitu if he had been
drinking, and he said—" Not at all," and did not seem
intoxicated. Joseph Harris, police-sergeant, deposed to
apprehending Bell; on searching him be found a letter,
a memorandum book, an advertisement for the sale of
his furniture in Devonshire, and a rarer secured in two
pocket handkerchief*, although he told him lie had noth-
ing on hint ; Mr. Jacobs came in; Stephen Bell 'poke to
him in my presence and said, "I have done for Captain
Caddy ;" and he then put his band on zny shoulder and
began to cry. The prisoner, after being cautioned, de-
clined to make any statement. The deputy-coroner
summed up the evidence, and the jury, after a quarter-
of-au-hour's consultation, returned • verdict of "Wilful
murder against Stephen Basitleld Lovell Bell." The coro-
ner then visaed his warrant for the committal of the pri-
soner. He was subsequently taken before the magis-
trates, and committed to Bodmin gaol to take his trial at
the next iuutizes in August.

THZ CONSZAVATIVE L.U(D SOCIETY. The 27th
quarterly general meeting of this society WU held at
the offices XS, Norfolk-street, Strand, on the sth inst.,
Viscount offices,
in the chair. The noble chairman
submitted the report of the Executive Committee, which
showed for the quarter an issue of 190 shares—receipts
£10,035 34. Gd., making a total of 14,797 shares
and £300,850 3s. 4d. receipts. The total sale of land
amounted to E=2,1430. The sale of the Park estate at
Weymouth was commenced on the 23rd ultimo, and the
holders of rights of choice had the privilege afforded
them clearly selection. The plots will now Do disposed
of at the prices marked on the plan (including costs of
conveyance, roads, and drains), as purchasers present
themselves., and the deeds will be handed over at once I
on the costs being paid in full. The advertisement, for
tenders for the roads and drains have been issued, and
no time will be lost in completing the works and carry-
ing out the published plans. The competition for the
hotel plot, insure for the holders of the earliest rights of
choice considerable premiums for their shares, and plots
have been re-sold sinoe the allotment at a large profit.
The society still continues to qualify in eleven counties
persona desirous of obtaining the freehold franchise, and
afford them at the same time the security of a land
investment. For the registration of 11359 • circular has
been issued to the allottees on various estates inclosing
county claims, to be forwarded to the overseers; the
last day for such claims being sent in is the 20th inst.,
and they will be sustained at the Registration Courts
free of expense to the members. The conveyances to
the Ecclesiastical Commissioners of the freehold sites for
the churches on the Maidstone and Winchester estates
are now in preparation by their solicitor in order that
the edifices may be forthwith erected. The Executive
Committee have ender consideration the allotment of
the Roehampton Park estate through the register of
rights. The surveyor in the meanwhile has drawn up
• provisional plan whereby the mansion and about 45
acres of land are apportioned in • single lot for disposal,
and the remaining portion of land is allotted in quanti-
ties to meet the convenience of parsons desirous of erect-
ing villas in that popular locality. The noble chairman,
after an address explanatory of the report, moved its
adoption, which was unanimously weed to, as was a
vote of thanks lathe Executive Committee.