The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-08-13 00:00:00

ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES.

SHOCKING ACCIIMUCC ON THE GREAT WEnTintS
RAILWAY. —On Wednesday morning an accident of a
fri2htful nature occurred to the second guard of the
. .

7.15 parliamentary train of the above railway, from
Paddington to the West iif England, named Baldwin of
Bristol. The occurrence took plate at the Ealing
Station in the preaence of • number of persons. It
appears that the first stopping place of this train after
leaving Paddington is Slough, and as the train was
nearing Ealing Station the unfortunate man niust have
got upon the step board of on of the carriages, and it
is said that while lie was in the act of handing • news-

. -
paper to a passenger the train was pasinng the station
platform, which by noise iaieane Caine in contact with
his legs, dragged him backwards, and his head was
crushed in an awful manner by a horse-box at the end
uf the train. The body of the poor man was found upon
the line near the station in a frightfully matilated
condition. It was terribly inargied, one leg being
severed almost from the trunk. The remains were
_

removed to the station for a coroner'r inquest. It is
asserted that another accident occurred to a ticket
eollector at this station platform a few weeks since
under similar circumstances, but fortunately not
attended with fatal consequences, although considerable
injury WAS indicted.
THZ KINCBWooD 311:11DZI1.--The trial of Jokann
Carl Franz, 24. the German who was charged with
the wilful murder of Martha Halliday, i.O concluded on
Wednesday morning before Mr. Justice Blackburn.—
Mr. Denman addressed the jury for the defence in a
most powerful and eloquent speech, which occupied
rather more than four hours in the delivery. He said
that it had been truly stated by his learned friend,
Serjeant Balkntine, that the ease against the prisoner
rested entirely upon what was called circumstantial
evidence ; and while lie should not attempt to deny that
in many cares evidence of this character was the most
satisfiustory that could be laid before a jury, still he
could not subscribe to the observation of his learned

friend, that it was sufficient to show that all the facts'
that were brought forward were coaaistent with the
guilt of the prisoner, but that it wu also necessary to
show that they were inconsistent with his Innocence;
and he believed he should be able to satiety them that
this was not the case in reference to the present charge.
He then observed that it appeared that the prisoner had
endeavoured to gain a livelihood by his labour; that
he was not • mai' of bad character, and he did not,
therefore, appear to be the sort of man who was likely
to commit • crime of this dreadful description. The
principal evidence against him appeared to lie that he
was seen in the neighbourhood of the place where the
crime was committed in company with another person;
but there was nothing whatever to show that be was
ever in the house or near it, except from the pocket-
book and the papers that were contained in it, and he
submitted that there was nothing in the case to show
that the statement of the prisoner that he had beer.
robbed of this pocket-book was not true, and it
appeared to him that there were many facts in the cue
which tended to show that it was so. The learned
C‘unsel then proceeded with great feeling and earnest-
ness to call the attention of the jury to the destitute
and helpless condition of the prisoner, who, he said,
was not only deeply steeped in poverty, hut entirely
ignorant of the language,and consequently unable togive
the necessary instructions for his defence, and who,
but for the humanity of the Saxon embassy, would
have been altogether without legal usiatanee to answer
the dreadful charge that was made against him. He
then went on to cuinment upon the evidence that had
been adduced in support of the prosecution and con-
cluded by stating that although suspicion might be
created by that evidence, still it was not sufficiently
cogent to justify the jury in saying upon their oaths
that the prisoner was guilty of a crime for which his
life must undoubtedly be forfeited.—Mr. Justice Black-
burn then proceeded to sum up the case, and the jury
retired at 5 o'clock to consider their verdict . They
were absent about an hour, end upon their return into
court they found the prisoner Not Orilly.—There was
sorue applause when the verdict was pronounced.—lt
was said that when the jury retired ten of them had
made up their minds to return a verdict of guilty.—
The prisoner was immediately discharged from custody,
and it was stated that lUBIII.I were afforded him by the
Saxon embassy to proceed at once to his native
country.
Couurrrat roa WILFUL Mearmit.•--On Wednesday,
a young man, named Francis Fretwell, was brought
before the sitting magistrates at the Shirehall. Not-
tingham, charged with the wilful murder of Elisabeth
Bradley, at the village of Bilberough, Nottinghani.
From the evidence adduced it appeared that the prisoner
and the deceased were servants to neighbouring farmers,
and resided in the same parish. An intimacy commenced
between them, which remitted in the winuaileecoming
enceinte, and to avoid exposure he gave her some
corrosive sublimate for the purpose of procuring
abortiun. Immediately after she had swallowed the
portion she became very ill, being violently *Maul with
eta of vomiting and convulsions, and a few days after-
wards she expired. A post 'Norton examination of the
body was made, and the surgeons were of opinion that
death bad ensued from irritant poison. Mr. Cowley
appeared for the prisoner, who, having been duly
cautioned, stated that lie should reserve his defence.
Prisoner was then committed to take his trial at the
next Nottingham wheel on the capital charge.

.„_
FRIGHTFUL SUICIDIC OF A LICHNSIED VICTUALLER.—
On Thursday morning information was received by Mr.
Wakley, the coroner, of • most determined and dread•
ful act of suicide committed by Mr. R. Payne. aged 35
rears, licensed victualler, who resided at the Bee /five
Tavern, New North.road, Islington, under the following
circumstances. It appeals that on Thursday morning
he seemed to be in his usual good health, but being
missed for rather a long period and some alarm being
created, his wife entered the kitchen, and was horrified
to find him lying upon the floor in • pool of blood with
• terrific gash in his thrust, and by his side one of his
own restore covered in blood, with which no doubt he
had committed the act. On a medical gentleman
arriving he pronounced life to be quite extinct. The
cause of this act is not known. The deceased bad been
observed to be in a somewhat strange humour for several
days. He was highly respected in the neighbourhood.
as well as at Camberwell, where he kept the Anchor
and Hope, Southampton-street.
Sirloins ne HANGING FROX A DOOR KIT.--A moat
singular 'suicide was committed in the village of Woodier,
Berke, on Saturday, by a married woman named New,
who for many years was housekeeper in a gentleman's
family near Reading, but bad very recently n,arried a
widower keeping • beer-house at the above place. Her
husband soot to Reeding market on Saturday, and
during his absence his daughter missed Mr inotheriu-
-I,w, and requiring change for a customer, emit to her
b.-drooni with the intention of obtaining some from her.
Sic attempted to open the door, but found it was locked,
and on peeping through the keyhole fancied she could
tee some object close to the door. Accordingly she
returned down stairs and oommunicated with a neigh-
bour, who placed • ladder against the house, and on
looking into the window found that Mrs: New was Us •
kneeling position near the door, and on further exami-
nation it was discovered that a piece of doubled shit*
was tied around her neck, and fastened to the door-key, -
and that life was extinct. The deceased was a stout
figure, and must have been exceedingly deterniined in
her purpose to have oommitted the dreadful act by the
means she did. It seems* that during the past few
weeks she bad been in • low desponding way, and to
have made use of very strange expressions. Au inquest
was held on the body on Tuesday, before Mr. Rupert
Curb', the &malty coroner, when a verdict of temporary
insanity was returned.

FRATRICIDE nu LANCAtfIIiRE.—On Monday afternoon,
at the Itswtenstall petty sessions, • farmer named
Richard Ashworth, of Height Top Farm, Water. near
Newchurch. was brought up on • charge of wilful
murder. It app oared that the prisoner and his brother
(John Ashworth) were loiut occupiers of a farm, and
some dibugreement having taken place, the prisoner
went home under the influence of intoxicating liquor,
and commenced an attack upon his brother, from the
effects of which he never recovered. The sister of the
two wen was in the cellar when the occurrence look
place, and heard her brother John call out 'murder,"
but she Wig so much alarmed that she dared not come
out of the cellar for some time. She afterwards found
her brother John lying on the bed. Before ha died his
depositions wore taken. in the presence of a magistrate.
in which he 'dated that his brother struck him twenty
times, both with his bands and with his feet. The
assault was committed on Sunday, the 30th of June,
but John continued to live till Saturday, the 27th of
July. An inquest was subsequently held on the body,
when a verdict of manslaughter was returned. It was
believed that the i'epceitions would have justified • ver-
dict of wilful murder, and he was consequently brought
before the magistrates on kiondmy on the latter chine.
On the conclusion of the evidence lie VMS committed for
trial to the approaching Lancaster assizes on a charge of
manslaughter. The prisoner is • remarkably large and
powerful-looking man.
- - •

FATAL BOAT ACCIDINT AT MONHOUTH.—On Sunday
afternoon a slender boat, containing five men and a
little lons, who ste,red, was proceeding along the river
Wye, at Monmouth, and was being rapidly carried by
the strength of the stream towards the bridge. Snme
persons shouted to those in the boat to appriee them of
thtir danger, but the warning arrived too late ; the
boat almost itumediately came into collision with one of
the buttresses, And split along the keel from end to end,
the five men and the little boy being precipitated into
the water. One man, named Rushorne, struck out and.
swain down the stream, and was ultimately picked up
by the boata which put out to the rescue. His eon, the
little boy, clung to an oar, and was also slaved.
Another man, too, escaped with his life, but he waa in
a very exhausted condition. The remaining three, how-
ever, were drowned, and their bodies have not yet been
recovered. Their names could not be ascertained, but
It is believed that they all came from Hereford, and
were in the employ of the West, Midland Company.
99999 UL ACCIDINTR FROM Foteatoni. During
the past week two most frightful accidents have re.
suited from the iniantioue use of firearm'', and in one
instance the aocident had an awfully sudden and fatal
termination. Mr. Wells, • respectable farmer at Wood.
cotes, near East Retford, had been out shooting before
breakfast, and When he returned home 110 did so car-
rying his gun loaded. Before he entered the house
Mrs. Wells, his wife, met him at the door. She stood
convening with him • few minutes, when a favourite
dog ran up to Mr. Wells. Its paw caught the triaer
NW caused the gun to go off, and the contents lodged
iii Mr. Wella's side. Death ensued in ten minutes
after. In the other case • farmer and butcher hi Ant-
wickle-street, noir Doncaster, pointed • guo, which he
did not know was loaded, at two Irishmen, who with
himself had taken refuge from a storm in • wheel-
wriglit's shop, hut the contents did not go off. The gun
mimed fire. He put a second capon, and was about to
point at them again when it went off and shot two boys
who were standing dose by. The wounds, in each case
at the back of the head, were most serious, but they
are not expected to prove fatal.
FICARFUL 8111CIDS AT PORTBHOUTH.—A coroner's
inquest was held on Monday, at the Wellington Tavern,
Portsmouth, on the body of an officer in her Majesty's
Island Revenue, mimed Henry Mason, resoling iii
Commercial-road, lAndport, who committed suicide, on
Saturday morning,by cutting his throat. The deceased,
who was 53 years old, had.during the first week in June,
been suffering from great mental excitement, which
Dr. Vardy, his medical attendant, believed to be
caused by drink. At a little after ten o'clock on
Saturday itiornieg deceased came into the front kitchen
of his house, in which place was his wife, nurse, and
servant. He took • half.pint glass and went into a
second kitchen, in which • barrel of porter is kept.
The nurse heard a loud slam of the door, and thinking
that souiething was wrong, ran into the kitchen, where
she saw deceased on Cie floor covered with blood.
She ran for medical aid, and the police, and Dr. Vardy,
and Inspector German promptly arrived. German
found deceased's hands boned completely in his throat,
in which was an immense gash. German struggled
with deceased, who was very violent, and eventually
secured his hands. A common blunt knife was lying
by the deceased's side, and between his fingers was
a Ciril &roles Gazerte of Saturday. On Dr. Vardy
examining the unfortunate man he found his windpipe
'levered. Deceased hail been 33 years in the service.
Verdict, "Temporary insanity."
HIGHWAY 14.1b1BERT NEAR BATH. —On Thursday
afternoon • highway robbery was otnuinitted on the
turnpike road near Shockerwichledge, in the parish
of Rathford. A man named Charles Pearce, • resident
of Pillgwonlly, Newport, Monmouthshire, was pro-
ceeding from Bath to Corsham, for the purpose of
visiting his relations. When near the spot mentioned,
lie was accosted by a coloured man, who walked in
conversation with hits wine distance. The stranger
then demanded the content. of Pearce's pocket, and a
struggle ensued, during which the black mart presented
a pistol, using at the same time the usual highwayman's
threat. The rubber succeeded in securing Pearce's
watch, which he at once made off with.
SHOCKING OCCURRKNCE.—On Monday afternoon •
somewhat singular and thrilling occurrence took place
at the Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park. As Harriet
Field, • merriest woman, residing in Upper Somerton-
street, Caledonian road, was passing near the wolf-cage,
by some means one of the animals mixed her 'milt
hand, biting off the upper portion of the thumb;
while simultaneously a younger wolf caught her by the
little finger, not relinquishing his hold until that also
bad been much lacerated, and the first lint entirely
bitten off. The unfortunate woman was speedily
released (nun her perilous situation, and removed by
one of the keepers to the University College Hospital
when Mr. Gannon, the house surgeon, deemed it
advisable to amputate both the remaining portions of the
thumb and finger. At the time of the accident Mrs.
Field carried • parasol, which the wolf, in seising her
hand, snapped and tore asunder. The poor woman is
still in the hospital, and is reported as going on
favourably.

A MAN CHARGED WITH KILLING MS WIFE—At
the Liverpool Police Court on Wednesday, William
Owen, a carter, living in ilasooyne-street, was brought
up on the charge of having caused the death of his
wife. It sppeared thatbetween eight and nine o'clock
cu Tuesday evening the prisoner, his wife, her
brother, and other persona, were drinking together at
Mr. Buxton's pubhc•houe, Vauxhall-road. The
deceased wee about to pour out some beer out of a ,
can, and her husband took it from her, and was
about to leave the place with it, when she pulled
off his cap and threw it at him. This seems to have
exasperated him, for he turned round and struck
her on the. breast. The force of the blow caused her
to fall, and she died almost instantaneously. Some of
the persons were called as witnesses, and they stated
that the blow was not at all • violent one. One nun
said "it would not have hurt • child." The prisoner
was remanded until the result of a poet morteu e semi-
-1 nation was known.

Tat C MUIDUR—On Thursday, at the
Croydon aasises,• labouring man named Henry Hessell,
was charged with the murder of Emily Martyr, a child
14 months old, rear Chertsey. The prisoner had mar-
ried the mother of the child, which was
and one day in the month of January last, alien the
mother was from home, the child was taken seriously
ill, and died soon after the arrival of • medical man. A
post ',torten examination showed that death had been
caused by a fracture of the skull, and this the pri-
boner alleged was through the child falling out of bed
At the °stoner's ioquest, however, a verdict of Wilful
Murder was returned against Hessen, After hearing all
the evidence for the prosecution, the jury considered
it inatiMcient to prove his guilt,and accordingly so pitted
the prisoner.