The Express.
London, England, 1864-05-05 00:00:00

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ATTEMPTED
SUICIDE OF THE MURDERER

Yesterday (Wednesday) a horrible attempt at
murder and suicide was perpetrated iu the vinage of Hatch
Beauchamp, situate about six mile' from Taunton, in this
county. In a cottage resided a man named John Allen,
with his wife, both being between 40 and 50 years of age,
and having brought up a family of children i Allen was
a labourer, working for farmers ici that neighbourhood.
Toe Chard and Taunton Railway is in coarse of coo.
Antrim at Hatch Beauchamp, and this necessitates the
ameroblinat hat place of a number of navvies, some
of whom in Allen's house. Allen became jealous
of the men, t whether there was cause for it has not
been amertained. Yesterday morning Allen got up be.
tween 5 and 6 o'clock, to go to his work as usual, previous
to which he had accused his wife ci being unfaithful to
him which she strenuously desist!. He returned at
9 o'clock, and on gang indoors, be met his wife, and
asked her to kiss him. She told him that she would
as sort as she had put some sticks an the tire. As
eh* was going for the sticks he asked her again to kiss
him, and she made some evasive answer. (A little grand-
child, 10 years of age, was present throughout the dreadful
tragedy.) He that put his um mood her neck, as if be
was about to kir her, forned her head backwards against a
water-butt, drew a razor from his pocket, and inflicted a
Jarful gash across her threat, severing the windpipe, but
not the jugular vein. Immediately afterwards he indicted
• wound upon hie own throat, ea the right aide, and
fell to the ground. The little girl screamed, and
a policemaa, who happened to be near, was at
ones opal the spot. He despatched a messenger for • air.
goon, who sorrily arrived, and seeing that the man wee
not in a dangerous condition, Earned his attention to the
woman, who repot be expected to survive. The mats was
subsequently conveyed to the Taunt= and 80121111111 i Res-
pite!, and on hie way thither in a cart he frequently at-
tempted to tear open the wound in her throat, but was
prevented by the policeman. Mr. Gibson, the boor sur-
geon, mewed up the wound, but a policeman was obliged
to watch him, to prevent his again inflicting mischief en
himself ; and his conduct became so viola:it, that it was
found necessary to strap him to his bed. Mr. Giiieoe asked
him the reason for committing the fearful crime, when be
replied that his wife was always about with the navvies,
sod
onicthat be had caught her with oat that morning.—BrA
Chrle.

FATAL AOCIDENT THROUGH DRINIL—.OII Thurs-
day morning last, a rumour rapidly spread around this dis-
trict that a cold-blooded murder had been committed late
the night previously in the Henetridge Ash Inn. On
inquiry, however, it appeared that a number of labourers
were drinking together at the tap-room of the inn, and
that one, a man named George Chant, had with him an
old gun, whose lock was tied up with " taker; the
hwmmer being minus the am. ; that having a little drop of
liquor he knocked the gun about in a fool-hardy way until
it fell from his hand and discharged itself through a settle,
on the other side of which a young labourer, who went by
the same of Efebditch, but whoa real name was Parsecs,
wu in the act of rising. The charge entered between the
shoulder blade and passed upwards, through the kegs into
the oeck, carrying shot, and pieces of bora rad plugs of
wadding end clothing through the lungs and up the carotid
utery, the 'meatier' of which, it need hardly be said,
proved fatal. The poor fellow had just strength and mire
enough to my out, "Pm shot," ad then fell state dead on
the fluor. Chant looked at his victim, and, without saying a
word, left the house. Nest morning be wu passing by the inn
again, when police-constable Francis told him to come in
and apprehended him on a charge of murder. Ho was at man
taken to Whicantoo, where later in the day he was brought
before J. itailward, Esq., and remanded to await the
inquest. At the inquest the coroner, in summing up,
said, there had been no malice proved, but according to the
evideooe there had been gran negligence, and there Gould
be no doubt if he had let the gun fall carelessly when in
a elate of liquor, he wu guilty of manslaughter. The jury
ultimately returned a verdict of Manslaughter. The
cornea agreed to take two sureties in 100/. each for Chaste
appearance, but u these were not forthcoming be was
taken away handcuffed to gaol. The deceased, fortunately,
was an Quarried man. Chant has a lot of little children,
and his wile reedy to be moaned with another. The jury
humanely called in the distressed mother of the deemed,
and gave her their fees.—Sher/or ra Journal.

EvErr. —A coroner's inquest was held at
Drygill, near Pateley.bridge, in the West Riding of York-
shire, on Monday last, on the bodies of two young boys, on.
aged sight and the other four years, the eons of James
Howes, who was employed at the works of the Craven Moor
Mining Compsey, near Drygill. The two davassed children
bad lost their lives ca the preceding Friday anemias by
the explosion of &quantity of gunpowder. It appeared that
oa that day (Friday) a sorrier from 0 re to Paisley.
bridge, named Gill, took 16 quarter- of powder, each
recleaning 2511)., and placed them near the powder-house
Weenie; to the cianyisay ; and that the two children, who
a short tame before had been seen playing with some Inciter
matches about a quarter of a mile from the powder-bones, had
goes near the barrels of powder, sad by some amens mused
their explosion. The coasequeme was that they were both
ktlled their bodies being hurled to a oemiderable Menem.
and the powder-house was destroyed, and considerable
damage was done to other property. In addition to the
powder which exploded octal* two barrels out of four ex-
ploded inside the powder-house. It appeared that some
of the barrels were far from being tight, and that it wee
probable some grains of powder had fallm from them upon
the ground- The carrier was reprimanded by both the
coroner and the jury for haring left the powder barrels
where he did without informing the company's
A verdict to the following effect wee returned, "Accidental
Death, but whether it bad occurred through the children
using loafer matches, or by their haring 'track fire with
their clogs while playing near the powder...house there is no
evidence to show."

--15zsisrc-riois OF HiNour9's Otters it Mat.
Bit/AST, WZDNICSDAT.—Tbee morning, shortly sitar 9
o'dosk, this gos circus, the largest and most tasteful ewer
tweeted is Belfast, was completely destroyed by Sr.. The
autos was nearly finished. and wan advertised to be apes as
Saturday next, The buildieg was not oat of the con-
tracton' beads at the time of the Sre, One horse was
burned to death, sad another is missing. A considssable
quantity of valuable drew= wets also ',tuned. The Sr. le
believed to bare been canoed by an escape of gm, awe being
eizir is patting up the gas pipes.—DeMa Iforaisp

THE OORRISII MACKEREL FIESHEST.—Liat week's
catch of mackerel compared very favoinsbly, both in rasped
to quaatity and quality, with that of any week visas the
econmenoscosat of the seism On Friday eight th• Newly•
heats fell Is with • shoal of remarkably tins kik end took
from 700 to 5,000 per boat, which sold at from 25e. to 30a.
pee six snore. Some boats bad from 2,000 to 3,000 of
" °wordily" Bah, which were were small, and sold at from
14e. to 15s. per six soon. The St. leas boats west out oe
Thonday, the lowest catch being about IC3,eadthe highest
upwards of 3,500-14 s. to 30s. On Friday the hauls were
from 5,010 downwards, price 144. to les. On Saterday,
from LOCO downwards, 15s. to 17s. per six soma The
quantity of fish seat off to the Leedom and other markets
during the past few days has bees eery large. The retail
priest at the Cornish markets is from 2d. to 2ed. per ash, or
six or sight for • skill*.

THE TENATZEZIT OP TB E POOR IN BETHNAL.
CAW.

OFFICIAL POOR-LAW INQUIRY.—(TH!S DAY.)
This morning, at 10 o'clock, Mr. Farnell, Inspec-
tor a the Poor-law Board, opsesd an official investigation
into
Asa th
Anfielde circumstances oosnoctal with the death of Mary
.

The deccouti, it will be recollected, wu the wife of a
quill winder, and oo an inquiet recently bald upon her
body by the amour for the county of Midd.Wes, it was
deposed that when oho was brought to the workhouse
for admiesiou to the infirmary oo the 29th of April she
was refused, and wee kept outside the gates in the
min until she become so violently ill that she exclaimed
she should die in the street if she was not taken back. 00
• subsequent day she was admitted, and while in the work-
house the complained of the food she got, and mid it was
unfit to eat.

Mr. Qsrdwell was the fleet witases called. He deposed
that be was gate porter of the Bethnal-gees Workhouse.
He had the regulations of the Poor-law Board to guide biro.
His wife wee also • paid servant, and resided with him.
Sometimes poisons came to the gate stating that they ware
destitute, and required admimion to the workhouse.
Witness would refer such people to the relieving officers,
who had as offios in the workhouse, bat if the relieving
officers were absent be would refer to the master. If the
muter were absent he would not appeal to the mutton,
but would admit the awe himself.
The Commissioner said that as he went through the
evidence to-day he wished to pat out any point in which
the officials did not exactly fulfil the rules of the Poor-law.
The rules and regulations were established for many years.
but be sometimes found that officials ventured to act in a
manner which they conceived to be an improveme
ves •ad nt on the
reg:LaadHe wieldy lattOaknothw
Vera the regulations
di poor
di the porter to send destitute cases to the relieving
officers instead of admitting them.
Mr. Cardwell said that be was directed by the regulations
to apply to the master or the matron. In their absence he
went to the relieving officers.
The Commissioner maid that there began the alteration
in the rules. He was distinctly told that the master sod
not the relieving officers bad to do with such cases. The
Commissioner deo maid that it was productive of mischief
for the board of guardians to make by-laws of their own for
the purpose of supplementing or making clearer the rests.
tioos of the Poor-law Board.
Mr. Cardwell said that he believed that the muter had
directed him to seed urgent cases to the relieving officers.
The Commissioner said that he wished witness to dim.
Hardy understand that he was never to do so again.
Mr. Cardwell then said that he remembered that on Wed.
sudsy, the 2nd of March, Mary Ann Anfield came in • cab
to the workhouse gate at about 5 o'clock. Her husband was
with her, and be gave witness a paper, saying, " I have an
admission for my wife to the workhouse." Witmer read the
paper, and told him that ft was a certificate from Dr.
Moors, and wee a recommendation to the relieving officers
for her admission. Witness recommended him to leave his
wife in the cab until he could see the relieving officer, and
told him to apply at the proper door. Witness did not re.
collect whether they did so. Witness did not report to she
master, as he bad not time.
. . . . .

The 'Commissioner instructed the witness in future
never to take it on himself to give any advice or directions,
but to report instantly to the meter.
The withass said that about 30 minutes after the arrival of
Mrs. Antield he admitted her on the order of Mr. Christy,
relieving oftloer, and he put her into the receiving ward, into
which she waited. Witness had not heard that she applied
on a pprior day. He had not seen her. Au inmate of the
workhoasehadattended in his place. Witham had been
directed by the relieving officers not to admit one person
upon an order for the adminion of the whole family.
The Commissioner said that that was in direct contradis.
tioa to the regulations and the law. By Art. 88 of the rules
and regulations, a person was admissible to the workhouse
by an eider of the guardians signed by theclerk, by an order
of the relieving aim, or of the overseer, or by direction
of the master or of the matron. A letter of the Poor-law
Board espiedy stated that it sometimes occurred that an
individthl applied to be admitted with an order for the
admiasion of the whole family, and such an individual
should be admitted. He wee not bound to being his family
with him—they might net be destitute, or they might be
with framed'.

roitardian inquired whether that letter referred to only
the heed of a family, or ton wife or child.
The Gounnissioner mid that it referred to any individual.
Such wss the law owe the subject. The porter would find
his labours much simplified if he would take nothing but
his strict duties upon hiniseU. The relieving officers had
no power to give him inetructioria
The witome raid that whet Mary Ann Anfield was taken
to the receiving ward his wife saw to her, and the doctor
saw her the raw night and again at Bin the morning. She
was removed tato the hose/sat 9 o'clock the next morning.
Witness all that time did not report to the master, but took
it upon himself to mod for the medical officer.

The Commissioner said that witaest bad no such power.
The muter wet the proper nano* to send for the doctor.
and he was respousible. The doctor was not bound to
I attend on. witnees's order, and if the person died,who was to
be respoosible ! Neither muter nor doctor.
Witness said that the guardians had not given him these
directions. After the woman entered the house, Idiot=
heard nothing of her until she died on the 27th March.
Aaron Ao6eld said to the witness—l brought the de-
ceased to the workhouse gate on the Monday before the
Wednesday, the 2nd of March, and you spoke too..
Witmer—l distinctly swear that I never saw yon—at
all events, to my knowledge. I was all day at the gate
on the Moodav alluded to. My wife was there also ; that
was the 29th Feb. I forget who the inmate wu that as-
sisted me at the gate on that day.
Mr. F. Gent, F.R.C.8., surgeon end pathological sea.
torrid to the Royal Free Hospital, said that, by the dine-
fiat of the waste, be made a post mortem examisation of
the deesesed woman. Witmer said that she die I from eon.
gee ion of the lunge, and, hearing the evidence as to the
history el the case before the coroner, be said, taking in
cosmaxions with the post mortem examination the circum-
stances antecedent to her death, that the death had resulted
from coesestios of the longs and from expoeure and waat
of nourishing food and stimulant'. if he had not heard
the evidence referred to there was still entatieet atteuuatios
to show that in the atogace of chronic disease abe had beta
subjected to privations. He had not made any inquiries se
to bow long she had been is the workhouse before death.
The Commiesioner—Soppose you knew that for fear
weeks before death she had bees in the wxrkhones and had
been thoroughly well supplied with stimulants, Arc., what
then would you say was the canes of death
Witness—lfl was wide (which I am not, for I am ig-
norant of the fact) that she had been well fed and takes
are of is the house for four weeks before drily
I would not vesture to state that the congestion
of the lungs was caused by privation. Ido not know the
medical caw of this workhouse, nor did I let him know
about the post-mortem examination. I believe I wrote to
Dr. Moore saying that I would be at Asfield's house at •
=War hoar. I knew that she bad been in the work-
bag not of her death there, and I do not recollect
that I heard that at the Inquest. The privation to whisk
I have alluded must have been daring her residence In the
workhouse chiefly, but • portion of It might have been as•
dared before.

The Commissioner.—lf we are in a limitless to prove that
she waa thoroughly well taken care of for four weeks before
her death in the workhouse von would not say the conga.
tion win caused by privation;
Whose, said he would not.
By the Commissiosier—The appetite often fails in such
eases towuda the end. Stimulant, should then be given
without exactly coesultieg the patient. The 000gestion
probably arose a week before death. Convulsions a few
holm beam death would increase the appearance of oen•
gertioe.
[The inquiry was proceeding when our report left.]

SMOCKING DEATH IN HYDE-PARK.

An inquiry was held by Mr. St. Clair Bedford,
corooer for Westminster, lut night, respectieg the death of
Richard Power, aged 35 years. who 1.11 dead in the arms of
his intimated.

The deceased had been a moldier, and wee recently die-
charged from the army ou account of disease of the heort. He
was engaged to be married to a yews woman named Maria
Kelley, and as Thursday mooing last he went out to walk
with her hi Hyde-park. While they were conversing, be
exclaimed soddenly. •• I am very ill," end be caught hold of
a tree. He then fell back dead into the arras of the young
worms.

Matilda Cocaine, a boat binder, said that the was passing
through the park wham she sew the deceased on the ground.
=supported by a tree, and the roue' woman Maria
leaning over him and cryiag, " Olt ! dear what
is the matter!" and kissing him. Witness rid, "He is ill
he is dead." The young women, who was in great grief. mid
"Oh, don't my so, he is not deed." Witness can for the
parkaiesstable, who had deemed curried to the lodge. where
life wads found to be quite extinct.
Mr. Jones, surgeon, said that doomed died from disease
of the heart. The excitement mused by his intended tom-
rime and rapid walking no doubt accelerated Lie death.
The Mane for the martisse of the demoted had been pub-
lished on the Sunda previous to his death.
The jury ra verdict, "That deceased fell dead in
Hyde-NA from themes of the heart."

ALmmuiro Fmna.—(Tins Der).—Two alarming
Brea bimpened this sieridag--ese ese the mousse of Mr.
R. Thorne. • baker. aurybu on badness at Portland-
direst, Walworth-oommoo. The discovery wu made
by the eervert maid, who was is the hoses by her-
self. the family not havlag returned from the theatre.
The building was pertly destroyed. and • oodles of the
roof burnt off. The origin of the fire is auk Down. loured
is the General Fire Offlee.—ltte other fire happened as the
maimed Yr. Foster, puffins, of BlogfieM4street, Buns-
bury, and was not extinguished until the bar was partly
beret oak

ISLE or WIGHT Brtameas.—The steamers have
eornmemed running four Uwe daily between Lywhigtoa
sod Yarmouth, la the Isle of Wight. This, ft is @speeded.
will be a favourite route for tourist. pausing to sod from
the island, as it leads from Alum By to Freshwater, where
the poet laureate has fixed his reodenoe, and to Brook.
where Garibaldi resided. Steamers are about to ma
between Lymingtou and other parts of the lsle of Wight.

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LAW INTELLIGENCE

(THIS DAT.)

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.

..icp it; Banco.--(Tiefois Lord Chief Justice Cockburn,
**••• and Justus. BLokbme and Skies)
AI4E THE TRUSTS= OF THE WARRINGTON SAVINGS
sK t. THE contelnenOnnas FOE THE REDUCTION OF
NAnoNAL DEBT.
31r. uguisbeiudy.C. (with whom was Mr. Bayles) sp.
of the trustees of the Warring.
:,,nags Bank for • rule calling upon the Commas-
;.,sers for the Reduction of the National Debt
,how acne why they ahould not pay over too the
of the bank. in purulence of a certificate, the sum
The question raised an important question as to
rights of the parties with respect to what was
,:111 the surplus fund of the_
_bank. The in.
paid by the commissioners was always in
r‘os„, of that paid by the trustees to the dep0....0,
....o, the expenses of the management of the bank being
.-d out of the difference, and in a well•managed bank, as
instance, there was • surplus fund such as that now
•uestion. By the ".,6th and 27th Viet., chap. 87, sec.
the commissioners were empowered and required
:41, over any surplus fond for the purposes of the
bank, sad what the court was asked to say was
sLether this money was required for the wpm* of the
bask within the meaning of the clans,. lt appeered
the bank provided the actuary with a residence adjoin.
,-„; bank in part cf the land parokaasd by them for
erection of the bank. The depositor had now so
increased that additional room was requited, bat it
i;„,.r..1.1 not be offered without taking • portion of the
~teary's house, and providing similar accommodation for
1::le granted.

I‘..‘ Is; 1. BA XTEII, R05Z,...AND..00. e. 7113_DDIZCT0118 or

THE WIST.ISO)ICRBIT RAILWAY.

31r. Bori Q.C., with whom was Mr. Giffard, applied
ea Geball of Meson. Baiter, Rose, an 4 Co., the parlianien-
,,,geots, for • role calling upon Sir Peregrine Arland,
. • .oetender Hood, and Mr. Lserrenos Walker, the
directors of the West Somerset Railway
and Mr. Wilson, the secretary, to show
vly • criminal information should not be
I;sinst them for • libel published by them is a printed
rr. ,:c. The libel in question had reference to their bill of
The affidavits and correspondence in denial of the
‘.lr...as were very voluminona.
Alter listening to the lengthened statement of the learned

iLe Lord Chief .Tuatice said he must own that he had felt
bar some time that, except for allowing Messrs. Barter and
L :o explain their conduct in reference to the charges, the
of the covet bad been useless! consumed. It was not
for a criminal information. What appeared to hare
t..en place was this: The West Somerset Railway Oompany
.1 got into litigation with their previous solicitor
r.",ilve to their bills of costs, sod they had taken
•ption to at Min items contained in them. The director
I eo defeated, sod in order to cover their defeat the best,
• thee could, they had explained to the shareholders bow
• c:urred. and in doing so they might have used language
• was not justiciable, and which might expose them to
:o;ctinent or a civil action if Mews. Baxter, Base, and
..hould think it worth their while to do so, but it was
case which celled upon the court to issue a criminal
1: ..te refused.