The Express.
London, England, 1849-01-04 00:00:00

MR ICIPBXIIB, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 4, 1849.

Railway Company, dated that he tees • ea the
previous neat by the nallipowar,
west Landes. . Mad
that en the train reaching the gunk Matt
him sad Mated diet the bad been open
timy had base peramtly seibelllbseisi; bat that, as
to Beii4igerner, the meal peed had diaeuered that et tar=
nage had been speed sad the faiteniap .1 the begs
cot He was Whiled, hem this fefeensalise, that the
robbery mast have bees mimasitted by gems one la the tent,
s that whoever bad etnesekted it mart be la the train
still. Re, the:Were, gave dislodges that every deer should
be immediately anairodi then were very few passespre,
mid the prisseen, who hadept la se Bristol, were skein, to-
gether la • list-deas carries% Mr. Andrews, • sedeiter er
Modbury, was la the seam nomputnent, but
'pea toe ether
side of it, sad the don between hint and the primeing wit
shut end the blind down. Having saddled hinged( that
thew meat be the mint • ho had cat open the bip, he ceased
them to be searched, but nothing tending to Welk:ate them
was fund on them at that time. At Taunton, be
lied thug removed into the waiting-nem, and the
carriage wag searched more pardrithaiy ; under the
seat on which they bad been sitting a handkerchief war dis-
covered containing 13 or 14 parcels, taken hom the ittil
begs, end all directed to ponies in the West of England. la
thus carriage packet two nape mesh. are foetid, which bore
evident marks of having been freshly made ; there was .l-o
a black cap, well calculated for purposes of disguise. There
tied mace, he understood, been taken from Poole a pair of
false moutachice, which it was of some impute:ice to not ee,
became it wupoesible they might be found to bear upon •
simile robbery of the cep mail train, which hod haopened
on the it., night. He gave them into eastody of the super-
intendent of the Plymouth pace, who W.ll a paweepr by
the train ; and on reaching Exeter they were imatediatel)
handed over in custody.
Joseph Illiyabeart, the guard of the down mail trait,
' stated that, as reaching Bristol, a report wee made that the
bags of the up train had been opened between Reefer and
that place. The practice is hie the mail guard to remain in
the carriage with the bags between Bristol and London.
both oa *sup and dew° journeys ; but between Bristol and
Exeter he rides in the sunup carriage—which is a separate
compartment—with the sorting clerks. Oa reaching Bridge.
water, the mail guard called his attention to the fact that
the mail begs had been opened, and, on going into the car-
riage, he saw that many of them were tied up in a different
way frost that In width they were usually gut from the
Posteece ; the original fastenings had evidently been cut,
sad pieces et the arias were strewed about the floor of the
carriage ; other pieces of precisely the same description were
subsequently found upon the carpet In the cameo where
the prisoners had been sitting.
Mr. Clarke, the night superintendent at the Taunton ds-
Hen, proved that he scanned the carriage in which the psi
BOOM had travelled, at *4. Barlow's request, and found
under the seat a number of letters and percale, which he
handed over to Mr. Gibbons, superintendent of the Pay-
mouth police.
Mr. Gibbons produced the parcels, which were, with
scarcely any exception, of a bulky eharaeter, and such as
were likely, from their apposeata e, ti conceit valuable pro-
party. When be fleet searched the prisoners at Bridgewater,
be found a gold watch and mosey on each, but nothing to
' cornett them with the robbery.
The mail guard having beta obliged to go on to Plymouth
with the bags, and other evidence bang necessary to com-
plete the CON, the magistrates remanded both prisoners until
Saterday. The prisoner Poole was for some time in the ser-
vice of the Great Western It 41w4 Company's a guard ; the
other man is entirely unknown.
It sppean that on inquiry or the gentleman riding is the
same compartment of the carriage, it was ascertained that
Poole and tee other pesos with him entered the carriage at
Bristol, crowing the compartment in which he sat, and
going into that one on the of aide of the carriage, on seating
themselves in which they shut the door, aid pulled down
the green oiled. The .gentleman fell asleep on the journey,
and did not in consequence observe any act on the part of
the persons who travelled with him. Ho adds, that whirs
the parties crossed him, some pieces of string dropped from
the trick( ts of ens of them. These, it ie supposed, may have
been intended to retie the bags after having opened them.
In addition to the letter,, a woolitapler's book, which,
it is 'append, was used by the thieves to hang on to the
tender when leaving the first-clue carriage, was also dis-
covered. The ledge along which they MOB have walked to
obtain entrance to the tender is only an iech and a hall
wide. The Exeter bag was not disturbed, probably on ac-
count of the thieves fearing that, if they had tampered with
this, there might have been some fear of discovery before
they left the train.
There appears to be very little dcuht that both robberies
were the tie ork of the parties in custody. A gentleman who
travelled up from Plymouth to Exeter by the mail, on Mon-
day night, remembers two individuate getting to the next
compartment of the carr:sge he *coupled (which was the
next to the Post °Roe tender), at Star Cross. One of them
was disguised as a foreigner, and wore a pair of =oust&
aim, and it will have been observed that a pair of =mote-
chioe were found on Poole. It it beiieved that, at the exa-
mination before the magistrates, this geutleman will be able
to identify both parties in custody.
That the produce of the robbery of the up men is con-
cealed somewhere in Bristol there don not appear to be the
shadow of a dout.f. Oae of the registered letters stolen from
this mall, it is stated, contained 4.0001., aid the loss, BO far
as at present known, amounts to fluty times that stn. Cul.
Maberly, the Secretary of thePuot-office, and Mr. Peacock, the
Post oRn Solicitor, were eagaged the whole of yesterday
meriting in amusing plus for the full development of the
whole affair.

I meat of inanity. He did net feel himself required to enter I
the ems which he heed in lie house Mum he teen to it,
and his ere beak had lead helve ttie sonandeshmem in I
loam, who had fined so keit wilt his mode of lumple. it.
Dr. Bosom was queseloned as to the erne of • geffint,
described as V., who had sulaited an neddeset y Wei
dews emirs end fracturing hi vibe HimilasreMp of
the widest V. was rather tipsy: • seal wader at
would make him tipsy. Moms were taken to prevent his
gritting thea midi might make him tipsy, bat at the same
time it was ilsk time he wee a patient who -idea be allowed
emidenablie kiwi, hi rag aboat the tars and premises;
h• we' led bsisg allowed to assist at brewing, '
will& be Shed es de, he probably, when the servant was
kihbelliMeblif way, atinteived to &Ink a little beer.
Mr. W. G. B. was examiaed, bat dedined to be swore,
alleging es hie realm that he feared, from where be bad bun
pissed, that his maim might notserve him faithfully. He
said his was entered a patient of Dr. Hompas's sayiera ea the
July 17,18!7. There were three departments in the establish-
meat, and he wee place! in the second best, which waBOOCU-
Pild bY patients in the middle ranks in life. Witness 0011-
tinned in the first department about three weeks, and was
attended by two keems. Smith and Hunt. Wes quite civil
to the other patients, and used to amuse them by showing
them tricks with cards. Occatioaall, when he was smoking
himself, used to give theta cigars. Was locked into his bed-
room at night, which had an irritating Mime on him. Ex-
pressed • tei-h to Dr. Bumps. on teverel occasions to be al-
lowed to gore church, and was refused,which srexed bim very
much. Asked Dr. Bompas to allow him to walk out, but
he would net allow him to go beyond the walls of the WS-
btalißerli. There was a small garden there, v. blab he went
into. The keepers Hunt and Smith, witness thought meant
to be civil to him, but another keeper Barnwell, was very
I rough to him Wits's, was locked in the strong room and
kept there a very long time, and he 'placed wrist locks on
him, which hen him very much. Was put in the strong
room for having lost his temper and broken some windows.
Was irritated at not being allowed to go to church. Besides
the bons on his wrists had a chain placed round his legs.
Witness believed round both legs. Could walk out only
with the elt.in Inswing at his feet. After he bad them on
Mr. N. Smith (surgeon) saw him, and afterwards the
shackles were removed. Coesidered that his removal from
the department in which he first was, to another ward or
department, puludicially affected his health and also affected
his mind by makkg him very sad. The room (in the seemed
department) was a very man one with iron bate outside of
'he window; there might have been • chair in it, but there
was no table, no washing boson or water, no night-stool, no
water to dr:nk. There were shutters inside which were allot
on some occasions, and then the room was in perfect dark-
ens They were shut when witness went to bed on two or
tree s. Was ke, t in that ward two months or
more than that. Bainwell's treatment exasperated him
greatly, and he endeavoured to escape. Gut out the pad-
lock that fastened the window on the inside. Got
oat the staple, and then got the bars from the
other side by means of a gimlet he had. Did not
fleet Me escape ; the nom in which he then was
was boarded, but in consequence of his attempted escape
toeing discovered, he was placed in the strong-room, which
had • stone floor. It was • square room, with a skylight to
the top; was exceedingly cold there. There was no table
nor chair there. Slept is the strongroom several nights.
There was a bed, and a night convenience was brought him.
When he went to bed he was fastened. Had on the strait-
waistcoat in the strong room, and was chained in the other
room. It was a plain iron chain ; me end was fastened to
the bedstead, and it was then lotked to his ankle. It
made his leg emoadesally sore. Did nut remember
that Dr. Bomru ever visited him whilst chained in
this way. It had an exasperating effem on his
mind, and debilitated his bodily health. The chaining
continued until the arneistrates ordered it to be discontinued.
Could pet out of bed with great difficulty when it was os,
but could only get out one leg. Upon one occasion a pa
tient at the dinner table put the sleeve of his cost in his
plate, and upon his expostulating with him, witness was
taken by Barnwell, who used rough laugusge, and put him
into the strong-room, slid was kept there till nine at might.
Had no dinner, but some ti a was allowed him. Wristloeks
were put on his hands, there was nothing in the room he
could sit on, and he was obliged to tit upon the stone floor.
Felt exceedingly cold. Tee keepers took his shoes away
Irma him. After a time %Ley brought hint some
dippers. One of the wristlocks was removed while
he took his tea, and it was thot replaced. At
night he WU removed to bed, when he believed
he was chained in the same manner as before. Corn-
pleiued of this woo than once to Dr. Bomees ; but was not
aware what *newer he made. The chaining continued a
lung time. Complained to Mr. Mirehouse of being chained
and ill treated, and the nest night the keepers came after he
was in bed, and using some remarks as to the justices put
anottur lock on the chain : the following night it was re- ,
moved. Soon after this witness went bock to his original I
department, and he was allowed to go to church and walk
out, mad his health improved. Witawn afterwards thanked
Dr. Boma, fur his attention This woo after he was allowed
goto out and go to church. The iron ring did not produce
any sore on the leg : it was smooth. Winn Barnwell put
the extra lock on the chain he said, " I will teach
you to omelets to the magistrates, or some expression
of the kind."—Cron-examined by Mr. Keating: Have made
a statement to Mr. Wa.:rought, which was written down
Have been in other asylums—five or six I aSould think
Hon not escaped from any of them, and don't remember
stating that I had. Was not viol at when brought to Dr.
Bornotes, and do not kaow why my hands were placed in
muffles, and • strait waistcoat placed on me. It was put on in
a tidal near my own house. I was at Dr. Bos.paa's about a
math before • chain was used. I ems allowed to walk in
the garden. Dr. Bootees gave no reason for refusing me
leave to go out. Was in the asylum a week perhaps before
I began to break windows. Broke them becalm I
was out of temper. Might have broke them four
or five times. Broke the windows of the drone room
meteor twice. When I was thwarted elf temper was cer-
tainly very much exasperated. Believe I struck or
attempted to strike persons when I wee angry. It was
Smith the keeper. I broke the strong room window by
throwing a spoon at it. The wrest muffi s are made of
leather, with iron locks. The witness further stated that
he had been fastened some weeks to the bed with the chain,
until the voicing magistrates ordered its removal. Com-
plained to Dr. Bompas of Ow wristlocks. After the
visiting magistrates had been he was removed to
another bedroom, wh, re he was not chained. The
church service was not performed in the house,
but there was service within the wells on Tuesdays,
which he occasionally attended whilst at the asylum. Tee
witness had expressed himself obliged to Dr. Bompu for the
books he had furnished him, and had tbaukol him for the
civility shown h.m during the latter part of the time he was
there.—Mrs. examined by Mr. those, objeeted to
being examined on oath, because she had never Wien one.
She had been married five years, dating which period her
husband had been four or five times in asylums. He bad been
seat to them each tints except the first by he:self,and then his
brother sent him. He got very excited, and would nes
bad language, and was frequently violent, but only to her-
self, and he would not beat or kick any one. Dr. Bompas
wrote to her express( tg a wish that Mr. B. might be re-
moved from the asylum a few days before ha was removed.
Mr. E. never injured any one intentionally, and at all other
than than when he was exited w e truly kind and affee-
tiocate. He had an opinion that he was harshly and inju-
diciously treated at the asylum of Dr. Bonspu. Ha bad
very strong feelings, but witness did mot thick he would my
anything to Layers the parties whom he was Ovum; evidence
111111211‘
Thomas Cook deposed that three years ego he went to live
with the present Dr. Bompea's father as keeper. It was a
Inyear before the late Dr. &epees death. He died suddenly
the night. Remembered the present Dr. Bouipas errs
atonally attending the patients daring his father's
On the death of his father the peewit Dr. Bosom attended
the patients, together with Mr. Nathaniel Smith, who
r:siteei tiers a week. Continued es simper under the pre-
sent Dr. 13ompas foe about six months. There were three
departments In the Fishpeads' Asylum—the first, called the
suatlemen's ; the seeo-d the farmers' ; and the third was
for the sick and noisy, fo; people like were very ill, noisy.
sick, and dirty, and idiots. Remembered a gentleman
of the name of coming to the asylum. He was placed
in the farmers' department. Witness was attending In the
noisy department, and he was brought in there ociesaionally
when he was high or smiled. He wee brought into the
strong room ; he was kept there a short time, sad taken
beak again when he was quiet. He had been in the farmers'
deparuruat, with occasional removals to the strong room,
about three weeks' before he was brought into the noisy
department. Had heard able breaking windows. He was
a goad-tempered man sometimes; bat when he was excited
he would swear and spit at people, and all them bad names.
He would be excited if he had not in a
moment the things which be wished. Barnwell was
a keeper in the noisy department; he was sometimes
good to Mr. 8., and sometimes rough ; when he MIS
rough, B. was more excited. He h d rothing on his
legs when brought to the noisy department; but Barnwell,
when he had orders, placed a log-lock on his leg : it is a
steel thing to put on men's lege. with • lock and screw to it,
and a chain to fasten it to the bedstead. Knew an instru-
ment of restraint called the " shackles." Never maw it on
B. He was net locked In the strong room for long—it
might be, perhaps, for two hours. Upon being put in there
he would make a noise at the door, and swear. He was let
out in theard somatires, where there was a seat for him
to tit down under a mulberry tree. In the
room he was placed in there was a bedstead sad
*hair, but no table was allowed there. There was
a ilea stool occasionally and water if reining ; some-
times he would be violent, and strike the chair against the
door, and then it was taken away from him. Remembered
R's attempting to eism ; be told wheels that there was not
room for him to pass, bat that he hung in the window and
hurt his thigh. Wirers food bin in the morning in Mr
V.'s room. Dr. Bogota then removed him from then to a
room above. He was not tressed et all to the bed in that
room. Recollected his being chained to the bed, but
could not say whether before or after that. Had seen rings In
the asylum with coverings, but the ring put on Mr. B.'s leg had
no covering. It would shine like a stirrup iron. He remained
chained in that way about a week or fortnight. He was
chained at night till the magistrates meas. They ordered it
to be removes. The sere night they ordered it to be re-
moved it was put en again by Bemwsil anti 'Nitta& Re-
membered Mr. R. putting something ire the lecke, as that
they could not be undone. He had the um of the yard to
walk in by day, sod would get is lime end do it. He would
do say methinks could get at. Linothess be would get
the locks off and break then, and would epee a door with-
out a key, with • nail or anything. Had known
him open obe with his lager. He could get
out of bed when he had the sitar en, end stand on both
lege ; had never seen him do so. A Wei exassinati.n took
plami with rupee: to the length of the chain, and the possi-
bility of the patient being able to put his loot to the pround
His answers were not very satisfactory. He s.id it w s in-
tended 014 the patient should have the rower of gettin,‘ out

of bed if come ea required ; bat he did net think that the
ehda with, whin it paned over the framework of the bed.
stead, nal& die Bottom Urn* bed; and he weld notsay that
the IN lag devra.-11xamketMueoutieued:
Dr. deiced dleuelejerard every dsy. &mediae., ifit
was Wee a day, sad three times if he was waated
mew knew him go to the non after Mr. B— wee locked
up. whew he woe tithed and locked up for the
sight, be was ma* he sat at swan, or half-past
seven (Math In the soardag. If he wanted to emus
to
early, he wu Ist oat. The padenh went
to Led at about sight in winter, and nine in summer.
The chain wee paten his leg after be wash bed. If ha had
called out In the night he could have been heard, as two
kapott dope Jost above. Had heard Mr. complain
twice to Dr. Bowies of the chain hurting him, and Dr.
Bompas examined his leg. Dr. Hospu ordered the chain
to be put on when it was first applied. Did not afterwards
report to Dr. Hoopes, oriask If the chaining was to be eon.
tinned, and did not hear Barnwell do so. Asked Banswelt
whether be had received further orders, and he said he
had no orders. Mr. first complained to Dr.
Bompu of the chain hurting him the day after it
was first put on ; his second complaint was two or three
days after that After the order of the ma..bitrates no re.
engin was put on Mr. E—; he was removed back to
the farmers' department, and conducted himself pretty
well. He was a little excited sonsetimee, as patients would
be. He could be easily Inanspel with assistance, but not
by one man. No one man ought to be with a patient;
there ought to be two or three. Kind treatment in al-
ways the bat—The Chairman : How long have you
found that out? Witness: ! Titres six months.
I have been eminent keeper in the county eaylum of
Gloucester.—Mr. Stone Are there any chains used there ?
Witness : No, sir, nor any restraint. If a patient is high
there are two or three keepers to be with hiss, and to treat
him well, and the more kindly the patients are treated, toe
better they are. I have assisted in cleaning and bathing, and
ever since I hue been well or able to de ir, thank God tor
it, as beret my protector sad keeper.—[Here the witness
manifested considerable emotion, and was allowed to rtire
Mr. J. Waddell, surgeon of the Fiebparids, deposed thathe
lived clue to the 'ilium, anti reinembend on a Sunday
evening Dr. Bompas fetching him to see a fanner V—,who
had met with an accident two or three or four days before. lie
sib: he had been going on very well till that day, but that be
was then uncomfortable about hies, unfavourable symptoms
having come on. Went to see him, and found him suffering
from considerable fever and difficulty of breathing. He also
complained of pun in his aide. The keeper said be had
fallen down from a height when he was intoxicated. He bad
a fractured rib, and witness bled him. Dr. Hooves raid be
had had medicine, but it had not acted. Witness
suggested the propriety of givinr an active purgative,
and left immediately, Dr. Hemp.s leaving with him, and
naming to his brother's house. Never saw V— after-
wards, bat inquired about him, end found that be was gong
well.—Crag-examined by Mr. Keating: It frequently
happens that the fracture of the rib is not decanted for
some time ; from what I .aw, I have no reason to supple
that the man was ars:leered in any way.
John Finder depend that he was a hat maker ; went to
the meant Dr. &spas as a keeper in September, 1847,
and remained with him about six months ; remembered
V— falling from a ladder in the brewhouse, and assisted
in taking him up stain after he was brought in. When ho was
put to bed he was breathing hard. Dr. Charles B imnu saw
him shortly afterwards. Dr. Joseph Hoopla saw him the
mine night. Do not know whither any medicine was
given to mm or any thing done for him till Mr. Weddell
saw him—there was not anything to witness's knowledge.
Should think semethieg was done, but that witness was not
present at the tine. He woo very bad when Mr. Waddell
saw him. He was bled, and his side was bandaged up, after
which he got better. The witness was then examined in
suppirt of the statement of Mr. 8., which he to some extent
confirmed. He further stated that V. generally ass'eted
in brewing fur Dr. Bompas. Had seen him drunk
Saw hint more than once the worse for liquor ;
hut not very often. 'f hou.ht that he was in liquor en
the night cf the accident. There w. re six keepers at the
a.ylum, and sometimes three of them were allowed to go
home at night. Believed that the keepers were out some-
times when Dr. &ropes knew nothing of it. Had
frequently known Dr. &Topa come round at night,
without being sent for. Did not know all the mange-
aunts as to cleanliness ; but in the gentlemen's
and farmer's departments there were wsthhanil basins in i
all the rooms, and fresh water war put in every morning.—
Croseexuained Besides the three keepers, Scott the bailiff
and the coachman 'lmp close to the wards. Never knew
any one wanting help in the night. Before the accident
V. wso in the habit of going about the farm; he was quiet
and peaceable ; had a taste for farming, and would give
orders as if the farm were all his own. It was the same MI
to the brewing, and his fancy was humoured. When so en.
gaged he would take a glen of beer if he could catch hold of
it Had seen him a little elevated, but when so he was per-
fectly harmless.
Much more evidence was adduced, and the whole of
the proceedings have given rise to much conversation in
the county.