The Express.
London, England, 1846-11-07 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 7, 1846.

aid he heard a moan and some one fall. After a brief
struggle with the other three men, they ail went to the do-
es teed, whose clothes were on fire, and extinguished them.
Witness begged of the men to fetch a medical man, but they
walked away and left him. Whites went for assistance to
have the deceased removed, but, on returning, found him
already deed. The jury returned the verdict, " That the
deceased, W. Fisher, came to his death accidentally, and by
no other means, being at the same moment engaged in the
unlawful pursuit of game in the night."

DEVONSHIRE.
IMPRISONING TWO POLICEMEN.—At St. Oeorge's-stltmre
barracks, Devonpert, on Monday, a court of inquiry was
held, before Major Bury, as President, touching the conduct
of Lieut. Palmer, of the sth Fusiliers, for having detained
and kept in the guard-house two policemen when in the exe-
cution of their duty.—The circumstances werc of rather a
novol description.—lnspector Barton, of the police, stated
that he was on duty on the morning of the 30th of Octo-
ber, about a quarter before two o'clock, whtn he was told by
police-constable Hoar that dancing was going on at a house
at the back of George-street, and believing that the party
keeping that house was guilty of an offence by harbouring
certain persona there, he went with thepoliceman and found
a man named Webber and a party of five females and two
males. There was a jug on the table. Webber came up to
him and asked whether he had a warrant. He replied that
he had not, and Webber told him he should leave imme-
diately, saying, at the same time, " I shall make you pri-
soners." He then turned off the gas, and retreated to a
coal cellar. Witness and Hoar followed him. He then got
outside the door of the cellar, and locked them in for about
three-quarters of an hour. Witness knocked at the door for
a considerable time, when the sentry on duty at No. 4 post,
which is just opposite, came and asked what was the matter?
Witness told him that two policemen were locked in the
cellar, and could not get out, and wished him to send to the
main guard for a file of soldiers. Shortly after that a ser-
geant and some soldiers came, and the door was opened.
The sergeant told them the officer of the guard had ordered
him to take them to the guard-house. Witness objected
at first, but at length went with them. Witness accom-
panied them, and when they were about to be put into the
guard-house, Webber said, " Take care of them ; they are
slippery rascals." Witness and Hoar were detained there
until four o'clock. Police-constable Hoar gave similar
testimony. Webber, the keeper of the house, stated that
two men had entered his house on the day in question,
and as they came in without his permission, and had
not a warrant, he desired them to leave, and they
refused. He then put out the gas and went into the coal
cellar, when the policemen followed with sticks or staves
in their hands. He thought his life was in great danger,
and he went out of the cellar and locked them in.
There was a sentry on No. 4 post, and he desired him to
send to the main guard for a file of men. Shortly after
a picquet arrived, and he told the sergeant that the men
bad entered his house without leave, and he had made
them prisoners. He then opened the door and gave
them into custody. They were marched to the guard
house. Lieut. Palmer stated that he was officer on guard on
the morniug of the 35th. About a quarter after three o'clock
the sergeant came to him and said he had two men in cus-
tody, at the instance of a man named Webber, who told him
that they had broken into his house. He told him they
were policemen, and witness directed him to send to the sta-
tion-house and inform the authorities there that two of their
men were iu custody. The inspector of police came a Ant
time afterwards, and witness directed the men to be set at
liherty, on his promising to be answerab:e for their appear-
ance. This closed the inquiry, and the whole of the circum-
stances were forthwith laid before Major-Gen. the lion. H.
Murray, commanding the western district.
CORNWALL.
HER MAJESTY'S VISIT TO ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT.—
The Queen has been pleased to transmit to a gentleman
connected with the Mount property, a handsome sum of
money to be pr.sented to the inhabitants of that place, and
a dinner is shortly to take place on the Mount in cele•
brition of the royal visit. Brass plates, bearing inscriptions
relative to her Majesty's lending, are being prepared, and
will shortly he placed on different parts of that beautiful
spot, to point out where the Queen first set her foot upon
the shores of Mount's Bay.
'f ire MURDER IN ST. MARY'S.—Mary Treverton, charged
with the murder of Samuel Hockin, underwent a final exa-
mination on Saturday last, at the county jail, and was fully
committed for trial at the next assizes. so new facts were
brought to light.—Falmouth Pocket.

AN o,r, •
POOLE. —The municipal elections have been closely con.
tested; the Liberals have carried the whole of one ward by
an overwhelming majority, and one out of three candidates
for the remaining ward has been returned.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE.
FItIVOLOVS CHAILGES.—At the petty sessions at Amer-
sham, Mr. Lipscombe, butcher, of Beaconsfield, was charged
with stealing one turnip, of the value of one farthing, the
property of Mr. Parslow, farmer, of Coleshill. It appeared
that the defendant, when passing through the complainant's
field, took up a small turnip and ate a portion of it, and that
the complainant had endeavoured to induce him to give a
sovereign to make it up, which the defendant had refused to
do. The magistrates expressed their disapprobation at the
cDnduct of the complainant in bringing such a case forward,
and ordered the defendant to pay the costs, 13s. 3d. James
Jasper, labourer, of Beaconsfield, was charged by the above
complainant with stealing two turnips of the value of one
halfpenny. In this case the defendant was ordered to pAy
14s, 3d. costs; and was allowed a month to pay the
amount in.
vre•ni.-0/71,3

ABOLITION OF THE MONTEM —ETON COLLEGE.—It has
been predicted of every montem (which occurs on Whit
Tuesday every third year) that it would probably be the
last. At the triennial eelebrationof this festival, which will
occur in May, 1817, this prediction seems likely to be veri-
fied. It appears that the It-v. Francis Hodgson, the Pro-
vost; Dr. Hawtrey, the Head Master; together with the
Rev. Mr. Okes, the Lower Master, and the great body of
assistants, are of opinion that the time has arrived for this
custom to be abolished. One could hardly help regretting
the abolition of so very picturesque a ceremony; but still
the alteration of circumstances may render such a step ex-
pedient. The great facilities afforded by railways for con-
veying vast multitudes of people to Eton and Salt-hill, ren
den it hazardous to encourage the n'semblagc of such a
mixed crowd as is now certain to be collected at Montem ;
and however graceful and elegant the spectacle was, it must
be admitted that the great care bestowed about Greek and
Albanian dresses (which, of course, occupied a great deal of
thought for some considerable time)was not a verylegitimate
object of study to occupy'. the minds of the scholars.
Graver matters are now repaired; and boys who formerly
went to a public school with no great wish for learning, are
now sent with different views. In fact, the Eton authorities
appear to feel that the celebration of Montem creates a most
inexpedient interruption to the studies of the pupils ; and,
however the loss of the amusement may be lamented by
many, the decision which the provost and authorities of the
college have come to may be considered to have been founded
upon a proper iegard for the high character of this ancient
seat of learning.
THE LARGE PAINTED WINDOW AT THE CHAPEL.—The
Marchioness of Lothian, whose son, Lord Schomlierg Kerr,
fell dangerously ill at Eton a short time since, has, in grate-
ful commemoration of his recovery, signified her intention to
the Provost and Fellows of causing to be filled up with the
figure of one of the apostles one of the yet unoccupied com-
partments of the east window in the college chapel. The
boys are also on the eve of ordering three more compart-
ment to be filled with stained glass. When these works are
executed there will only be eight compartments left unoc-
cupied.
EXTRAORDINARY PCMPAIN EXHIBITED TO HER
MAJESTY AND PRINCE ALBERT.—An enormous pumpkin,
the largest, it is supposed, ever produced in this country,
grown by Mr. Wilmot, at Islewortb. in the open air, was
exhibited to her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince
Albert, at Windsor Castle, on Thursday morning. This ex-
traordinary production having been observed by General
Wemysa, equerry in waiting to the Queen, in the possession
of Mr. Minton, purveyor to her Majesty at Windsor, he
requested that it might be sent to the Castle, where it was
plated in the Prince's dressing-room, for the inspection of
the Queen and the Prince. The pumpkin measured six feet
ten inches in circumference, and weighed 143 lbs.; having
lost 61bs. in weight since it was cut, about a week ago. This
singular curiosity was also inspected by the Prince of Wales
and the infant royal family, as well as the lords and ladies
in waiting, and others of the royal suite, before it was con-
veyed back from the Castle to Mr. Minton.

WILTSHIRE.
A SWINDLER.—Many readers will remember the news-
paper expose of a dashing swindler, calling himself " Baron
Da Costa," who managed to ingratiate himse`f into the good
graces of some few of the tradesmen of Cheltenham and
Cirencester, and some other places. He first figured as Mr.
Da Costa, a rich American planter, and at Birmingham, in
a most romantic manner, introduced himself to a Miss Rim-
mer, of Alcester, who, very unfortunately, dazzled by his
fine promises and appearance, became his wife some time in
the month of November last. The adventurer shortly after-
wards honoured Cirencester with his presence, and his wife
having some relatives at Watermoor, near the town, he took
up his residence at the Ram Hotel. Here be sported his
hunters, and was a tolerably regular attendant with the Vale
of White Horse hounds. A carriage, too, the Baron kept,
in which four post horses would, now and then, convey
himself and his friend to Badminton, in order that they
might " 'ant with the Duke." Thus affairs went on for
about three months, until one morning the Baron was miss-
ing, and did not return for some days, though he had left his
wife behind him. Many who had given him " credit"
could not, for some time, bring themselves to believe that
they had been actually swindled. Speculation was rife as to
who he could be, and where his destination ; but, like other
circumstances, it was a mere " nine days' wonder," and soon
lost its novelty and interest. However, we are new enabled
to give the " whereabouts" of the Baron, for we observe by
the New York Obserrer, that he is in Central America,
I where we suppose, ke has been carrying on his old tricks, as
the editor of that paper cautions honest people against his
arts, and exposes some of his financiermg operations in
Venezuela.

OXFORDSHIRE.
SUICIDE OP A SCIIGEON AT OXFORD.—We have to
record the death of T. R. Fisher, Esq., an eminent surgeon
of Oxford, who fell by his own hand on Tues lay. It appears
that the deceased was in a very depressed state, and suffered
under singular delusion. At the request of Dr Jackson and
in his company he left Oxford and went to the Isle of Wight,
and subsequently into Lincolnshire for the benefit of his
health, and on his return he appeared so much better that
he partially attended to hie professional duties. On Tuesdsy
his servant went to his room, and found Mr. Fisher quite
dead. A bottle that bad contained prussic acid was stand-
ing empty on the table.—The jury returned a verdict " That
death was occasioned by deceased having taken prussic acid,
and that he was in a state of insanity at the time."—Dr.
Jackson stated that he could ascertain no cause for his de-
-1 presaion from his bodily health or circumstances, but he