The Express.
London, England, 1862-07-21 00:00:00

E. Om!.

THE FORDINGEHIDGE biORDER.--Sorne special
inquiry is about to be made as to the grounds on which
Gilbert, the Fordingbridge murderer, obtained his ticket of
leave. He bad been convicted of burglary and of highway
robbery, and tried also for attempted rape, before the
murder. He returned to Fordioghridge, as he left it, a
sullen and ignorant man. He lived close to Fordiogbridge
church, and was not dnven to desperation through want,
and yet he wandered about the fields on Sundays,
designing for a long time rape and murder. His having
bees let loose will prevent ticket-of-leave men really
deserving of compassion from receiving it, for they will be
refused work on purpose to drive them from a neighbour.
hood. It is singular that almost invariably when Mies
Hall went to church by herself, some one of the family
stood near her house and watched her pass the dark
gully, but on the day of the murder, by the merest acci-
dent, this was not done. Every Sunday also one of her
father's workmen had to go to a water meadow, and used to
return by the gully about the time of the murder, but on
the day the latter took place he met with a neighbour at
the meadow, and returned by a different route to gossip.
Gilbert was one of those who carried the body of his victim
from the gully to her father's house. The clergyman,
churchwarden, and other gentlemen were at Mr.
Hale., to sympathise with him in his dreadful calamity.
In conjecturing who could be the murderer they soon sus-
pected Gilbert, and while doing so they looked at him
through the window, he with others being outside. An ac-
quaintance of his said to him, "Do you see the gentlemen
looking at you? you will be locked up to-night, He re-
plied, morosely, ' I suppose I shall.' The only portion et
Miss Hall's father's house which is visible from the spot
where her body was found was her own bedroom window.
A HARD CABl.—The friends of the late Mr.
Adam Stapleton Puckett, the medical officer of the Wey-
mouth Union, who was killed and mutilated in a shocking
manner by an insane pauper, are making efforts to raise a
fund for the benefit of his widow and family. The deceased
was a man of good education and gentlemanly bearing, who
faithfully and honourably discharged the laborious duties
of his office. His district was a very large one, extending
in one direction not less titan fifteen miles over the country.
His salary was only lied. per annum, including extra
medical fees, and from his private practice as a surgeon
he only earned rd. during the six months preceding his
death. He had, however, out of this small income to keep a
horse, to find drugs for the poor, and to maintain himself
and his family in a respectable position in society. It is un-
necessary to make any remark on the Bandanna and prise-
Cons implied by this inadequate remuneration. It is evi-
dent that to save money was almost impossible. An in-
, mance, however, appears to have been effected by Mr.
Packett ea his life. It had been heavily mortgaged to meet
incumbnuicos caused by sickness, and the consequence is
, that the widow of the deceased, his son, and three dangh-
tars, who are incapable of assisting their mother, are left
nearly destitute. Under these circumstances we trust
that the appeal made to the medical profession and the
public will sot peas unheeded. An account, under the
heeding of "The Puckett Fund," has been opened at the
, bank of the Messrs. Elliott at Weymouth, to whom sub.
seriptions may be forwarded.
.11Evi ACT ON THE BALE OF SPIRIT & —OE SMUT-
day the new act relating to the sole of spirits was printed.
It only partially repeals the Tippling Act. Formerly no
debt uoileg TOL at one time could he recovered for spirits;
but it is now provided that the same shall be repealed, so
far only as relates to 'pi; knolls liquors sold to be consumed
I elsewhere than on the wreathes where sold, and delivered at
the residence of the purchaser in quantities not less at any
one time than a reputed quart.
Paws or BREAD.—The price; of wheaten bread
is the metropolis are from Bd. to ejd.; of household ditto,
17d. to 70. Sense bakers are selling from 6d. to 6,1 d. par
411 b, ioa4 weighed ea delivery.

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