The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-02 00:00:00

THE HELPER MURDER.

The coroner's inquisition was remised at Beim. I
on Wean. Way, in the presence of Tuner, who was very
calm and collected during the whole proceedings.
Further evidence, establishing farts already made public, !
having been gone through, the coroner asked the prisoner'
if he would wish it to be read over again to him. Ile said,
" Oh so, eke, I observed it all."
the 11111111111111 this read over the charge, and after giving
bba the mad erasing dies what he said might be taken
Am red used wing Idea at his trial,
Tamer said—Cam quite aware of that ; but, with your
permission, sir, I should like to say a few words to the gen-
tlemen present on this occasion.
The coroner again cautioned him, but Tome seemed
bent Oin addressing the jury, and roes for that purpose.
Ile them said, worthy Sad respected coroner, gentlemen
of the jury, and frieude—
The Coroner—Wait ; I must take down what you say.
Tuner—Unless I can go on with what I what 1 hay. to
say, my ideas will have down from me.
The Coroner then told him to proceed, and he would see
if it ware neemenry afterwards to take down whet he had to
Turner—Worthy and respected coroner, gentlemen of the
jury—What I have to say shall come before me another
day. lam not afraid of what I am going to say. Gentle
men of the jury, in your hearing and mine, I am
charged with the wilful murder of Phcebe Barnes. 'There
was one period of time I as little thought as soy of you
presect of being brought here on such a charge. I have been
knows in the town of Helper above thirty years, and if any
man present ever witnessed any act of ingratitude or incon-
'literacy on my part, let him speak out. But, unfor-
tunately, I am sorry to say for myself, I have fallen
into the hands of some who call themselves Christians,
and if all men who profess to he Christians acted as
such, they would be better than they are. My poor old
friend Mr. Walker (brother of the murdered woman), who
has gone hence, and I must shortly follow him—(here his
voice faltered with emotion)—my poor old friend Mr.
Walker placed in my care •enild—(his voice again faltered)
—which he acknowledged was his own. He placed the
child in the care of myself and wife, to nourish, and feed it,
sed clothe it. He sent a perms to look at the child, and
was satisfied with our treatment, and paid honourably for
it up to • month before the time of his death, and I have
got the aocausta at home to show. But, gentlemen, I mast
not trespass upon your time by going into detail ; I will cut
it short—

The Cormier reminded him that it was the duty of the
jury is tiara so long as he thought well to address them.
The Prisoner-1 can't feel satisfied to go to prison with-
out saying • few words on my own behalf. lam sorry to
say the crime is an awful oar; and I admit I have bees •
foolish man under the influence of passion and liquor.
Well, Mr. Walker paid me for the maintenance of the
child up to a month before the period of his death, which
I can prove. lie said to me In his lifetime, when we
were taking • glass and making • pipe together, " You
know the little girl is • great trouble to my maid." I
said to him, "Mr. Evans hr informed me that you are
liable to go of at any moment," and I advised him to
make some provision for her. He said, " Well, Taut, I'll
make the little girl right ; " and I replied, "I hope you
will." I rid also, " I will do all in my power to do as
you wish, bat my means are very limited ; I have tried for
several mouths to get • situation M which I can procure
those comforts I should wish the child to enjoy; and it
you go hence it will be painful to my feelings not
to be able to provide for her." He said, "I am satis-
fied with your conduct, I thank you, and I will do right."
Gentlemen, I hope I am addressing parents—fathers of
familiso—men that have children who have claims upon
their feelings. Well, that child—though not my own, 1
hops I passim 'Defecting' of a parent towards it in my own
breast. I WAS at Mansfield at the time of Mr. Welke?'
death. On bearing the news of it I came home and found
that he had left to his sister (Phoebe Barnes) no less than
two.thirds of his estate for life, and ene-third to his other
aster. Sly miad was affected at the time. I inquired if any
provision was made for the girl ; so, no provision, I was
told. The day after be died I went down to the house to sat
Mrs. Barn; Mr. Tophom was then arranging for the fu-
neral, sad in her bereaved state I went away without see.
lag leer, and waited in order to let the funeral be over. In
a fortnight after Mr. Walker's death, I was is Mm.
Barre's MOM see sight int:amenities with her. I told
her that I had is my mild something of the greatest im-
porters to Worm her of. "An you " rid I, "in pole-
stars of any deressents of Mr. Walker's P" (I did sot
mention the child them. It was a long Bine before I tame
out with it.) She said, " No." I then asked her if no
provision had been made ? She "No ;" and I said,
Mori's the pity !" She said, " Whet is the matter ?"
I said, " A child was placed in my hands by your
brother." She clapped her bands, sad said, " Oh,
dear ! what do you tell me, Turner ?" I told her it
was true, and that I would bring the child to her ;
she said, " No, don't bring it here !" I then said,
" Will you make provision for the chid ?" and she replied,
"No ; you have no claim upon me. I have nothing
for illegitimate children." I said, " Can you, sitting
there, and having two-thirds of the estate you, • lady
professing religion, professing to act justly—can you tell me
that I have no claim upon you-1, a poor man,—for the
maintenance of that child ? have honourably discharged
my duto it ; and God forbid then should be any religions
people In existence if you are such?" On Friday last I
came Infer her, and we were very warm on the subject.
Bat, gentlemen, I will not detain you. I only must tell
you that I was under excitement, and sorry I am. Had I
not
got
the liquor I should sot have doss the set. I saw
her Km Baran) when she was going to Buxton. One
posed wee ties due for the winterise* of the little
child. Sho said, " Collect my Pena r usual while I
am sway. Some repairs want doing, and, as far as the
TT: he the chi
thin are 61111j0z., aka that from the rents."
promised me atlpetip
aeameer, aid I want sew." Braid, "It will be • very
experibeYeas wry, sad I eta% dad it." Well ; I took for
dus allild est of the mar I took 41. fa the child, and gave
her aredit for 11. I rim bin a list of al the bills which I
had Debt I have bees adambeed Is wades that I
petard her rea it wee dee he maimeartee 311:
And, mad I'll fans say ate beep wideyam it. Übe rata-
Used ms es Friday, sail I think mate eel diamond person
either Wed mist sea Mee the prima Wind hard at
a permeate the seen, wed ink be heed at Idol But God
is a jest Osd, and the llssfjposer say that no weapon
armed soder tbso akdl pearpar.• There is a just God !
Hat I am sentry I bare dime it, and that I have to address
yea ea meth a oedema eeeeelea. But if her life has bees
altenolestoM me she wield waver pay another rata, fee
that AU, That injured mg beibie.; sad I mid, "Mrs.
Berea. 1 ebeald be lorry lier est Ilhe thee &eked me
to give tip the bilk I beds Laid, "No, if you like to call
Kr. Iris' is to emealne lie bills, I'll show them to
him, bat Isbell not give them up same you will sign 'them
as correct" I said a would be unjust tomyself to give
up those bills without I had given up ono bill for 71., and
61. was afterwards applied for. (So we understood him.)
"Oh," she said, "you can tell me what you like, but
Pedlar you
very tantalising. I said, "If you think I have done wrong
go to any of the tradesmen is Derby, and I'll prove I am
right." This charge brought against me is that of wilful
murder. Then is a just God, who knows under what
feelings I was actuated. I was rated at dm time, and in
and I asa lorry I was drives to web ea act. lam
sow in yaw halide and is the heals at my essatry. After
a hw rade the prisoner, wire, meet ia one sr two pas-
rie spoke with vim eellestedme et =lad, sat down.
These wee • breah dimes la evert lades hie eddmie.
The Omemer mid, as Teener% Sib= lea the mien In
asset lava &dime/ elm* ae a eatielhedea to lab ewe
mind, it wadi be saaesmeary Mr bin te tele it deem
Turner sad he should mom hie debase 1111 anther
daibe Orem the maned up, and ibe_Jury Mena a
make d "Wahl Mob, • ageing Tarter, Ida wee
committed to the eeestyeepl to await hie lid et tbe Mirth
moan. Mars riming wpm, he bed ea franlow with
his wife. Mom under Sees eireeembasee hie ealmem and
soll-posemellem did Net bombe lam. Judea, *en his
ble eet. tea-
des. MN mjad be %slimed te my that be or Mae he hoe
esimitied a ustifia

A CHRISTIAN OF • HUNDRED THOUSAND.—The
Cambers= Herald says--" The death of the Rev. George
Robson, of Rrhistock, near Wrexham, will awe • member
of vse•aies in this neighbourhood, in 'Rustics white he
bad held fee • great somber of years. It is supposed that,
sines his &sensation by Bishop Heasley, be has raised
180,800 E from the livings he held." That is held to be the
best epitaph that most bnefly, most tosobingly reveals to
the contemplative reader the virtues that adorned him liv-
ing, who now reposes below. The fewer the syllables the
better. We know nothing of the Her. George Robson;
nothing of the manifold excellencies that were, no
dosbt, lustrous ia him while he dwelt in the hash
Still, osr makes of the simplicity, the self-denying at..
tribetes of Christiosity, us propounded in the New Ter
tamest (if sot in the Clergy Leaf), are somewhat shocked
by the contemplation of that seclesiastieal monstrosity,
called • pluralist. In the Hindoo Mythology we see
all sorts of divinities hideously pictured ; some with
half rdessn heeds, others with • soon of legs sad arm ;
and these, nesestrous as they us, we take to be the use
'indication-6e yens eel of a reverend pluralist. Bat
sorely the /km Geerip_- Reim had only one heed, two
arms. • plir of legs 1 e eappws he ma him brim
• prollO itwelmnt Az • skp rmaw, but was doubtless •
mere simple blpsd, Om the COMM hehiou of biped
hamasity. How, WIS null he base bees pesakid to MI a
somber" of " &Win= l" With Ulf risen loads he
might et ease have prondied half-rdosen emmons. With
Ater pair of arias 1111 might have held six books. There
media have been samothiag like • physical adaptability to
he "ma mid religious duties; but as George Rubes.
deal= Reed gad died a plain man, how the poor chum&
man R al Yom hive been paneled by the plural calls
spas his sigh ability. We had better leave pluralities
to Viiirivinde,. m Christians, work in simplicity. How-
ever, the opitaidis of plundisle ; they might he mode
meet lee bilmese. weld Mee the gelid•
pal lime NNW by Dostem? thensesse. il. wm peeved,
we would lift she epilepli tea ties : The Rev. Barns
Titbegig; Pluralist, died —, aged mow
Has het the hit line se good sea hundred thousand
sad sash mid all uttering • warning and • ?
ads

BAllu Psalm ESPAY.—The pHs d 100 L,
ofsvell in imam INO te Joon Wiliam pips
/DV.
1P.R.8., of So WANE soi WooSioloolor No Ihr boa
y am SO ONO Dolnallwo. istdoo
"Bra Proodeol %skim" Ms boss ovoreol is *. thomille
thollboop, weer; la of BoOvioi boll el
orwlob.

IRELAND.

JAN. 1,

A large and influential meeting of the magis-
trates of Armagh, convened by the Lieutenant
of the County, took place on Tuesday, for the
ppuurrppooasas of coosidering the disturbed state of the
soathern and western portion, of the county. No
reporters were admitted, but the following resolu-
tions were unanimously adopted :
That be mike to the government to make
such an add Mee to t►e police and military force in the dis-
turbed districts of the country ea may be necessary to en-
force the law, an/ protect life end property ; and that in
all eases ef trial for say agrarian outrage, special juries
may be empannalled to try the accused parties.
That 7'll the expenses incurred in the maintaining of
extra police be chargeable upon the townland or townlands
foe which such extra foreemay be required, and that the rate
rendered necessary for th;ir support be levied forthwith by
the police authorities.
These proposed remedies are, after all, only the
old landlord nostrum which has been tried in all
such cases and as invariably found ineffectual. An
additional police force has been sent to the locality
in which the late attempt to murder Mr. Eastwood
was perpetrated, and the expense has been levied on
the townland, as usual ; but the only result is that
Mr. Eastwood, being himself the largest proprietor
there, is the very man who is made to feel the bur-
den most; and, in lees than a week after the outrage
from which that gentleman had so narrow an escape,
an attempt was made to murder a bailiff within a
mile or two of the same scene of crime.
The Limerick Chronicle states that in all the
rural districts of Limerick the annual Christmas
offerings made to the parish priests did not this year
avenge more than half the amount contributed last
year, thousands of the farmers and hardworking
peasantry having, observes that journal, emigrated
to America during the season, and carried with them
large sums of money. The ministers of the esta-
blished church, it is added, have equal if not more
came to complain of straitened circumstances, owing
to the heavy amount of poor-law taxation levied on
their incomes.

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat
yesterday, to adjudicate on appeals from the Encum-
bered Estates Court. In the matter of the estate of
Edward Thornhill, the appeal, which prayed that
certain sums might be declared first charges on the
fund, was refused, and the decree of the commis-
sioners confirmed. In the next appeal, which was
in the matter of the estate of Walter John Carew,
the decision of tho court below was set aside ; and
in the third case, in the matter of the estate of Mor- '
gnu John O'Connell, the order of the commissioners
was also confirmed, the appeal being on the part of
the solicitor of the Messrs. O'Connell, whose lien on
the property the commissioners had disallowed.
The Com

for The Sale of Encumbered
Estates have Sad the 15th of January next for the
sale of the extandati estates of George late Earl of
Mountnorria. Thus biro and valuable fee-simple
estates are situated is the baronies of Gorey and
Ballaghkeene, in the county of Wexford, and com-
prise, in round numbers, 9,900 acres statute measure.
The estates are divided into 122 lots, which vary in
size (but are for the most part small). The rent
payable out of the lands amounts to about 4,3001.,
and the valuation amounts to about 6001. more than
the rent payable by the tenants.