The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-08-03 00:00:00

CASE OF CRUELTY.

(From the De-..anshiro Freeholder.]
An Inquest was held on the body of Margaret Leary, on Friday
hat, before Joseph Whiteford, Esq. the Coroner, at the King's
Arms, Tamerton. It appeared that the remains of the unfortunate
deceased was interred in the burying ground of Tamerton Church
on Wednesday sennight, when, from the very singular appear-
ance of the funeral, the coffin being borne by four men and
followed by only ore female, combined with several other sus-
picious circumstances, the Minister, the Rev. W. Fromm, made
several inquiries of the partim, and from the confusion of
the woman, he conceived all was not right, ordered the corpse
to be disinterred, and the Coroner to be broaOt acquainted
with the particulars It appeared from the evidence adduced
before the Jury, that the name of the deceased was Margaret
Leary, that she was Men years d , and had been bound
out originwly from the parish of Stoke Daanatel, to Mr. Butcher,
inn-keeper, Devonport, by whom she was transferred to Thomas
Townsend, a *se-maker, of Duke-street, who removed from
thence about nine months since to a solitary cottage on Buck-
land Down. From the very opposite evidence oldie members of
des Wray, nothing conetadve or satigertary`could be gathered ;
the woman said the child died en Sunday morning, whilst her three
110 y averred that she died on the Saturday. at the time their mother
was at market. The batty vas in eonacq tence opened by Mr.
Ewing and Mr. Prow*, surgeons. in order to ascertain the proba-
ble cause of her death. From the examination, these gentlemen
reported that the girl appeared to have died from the want of the
common necessaries of life, but at the same time stated, that disease
might have preduced the same effects ; and as the evidence of her
death was confined to Townsend and his family, who never rurered
any one to enter their dwelling, nothing satinfaetcny could be
elicited : one person only had been known to be admitted, who en.
tered unawares, and found the family, Townsend, his wife, and fivt
children, i 3 the greatest state of wret.ltedness, pigs, poultry, /kr.
making the place their conrwin abode. In the course of the ca•
innination it also appeared that 3irs. Townsend came to lkevor.pota
on Monday week, and besroke a (-Ain of Mr. Garland, who made
it front the directions given by her, as to the six!, &e. In the
evening she called for it. and a carrier, employed be her. rock it h
llucklsnd Down, and laid it in the garden ouzst.'e the house, with
out entering the prenikes. An immerse number of wit:vases wko
examined, but nothing as to the real cause the girl's death ceulc
be ascertained, as the family liven in sm.ll privity.
'i'he Jury after a patient investigation, retorred o verdict—" Ths
the said Margaret Leary died by the eisita. r of pod." hut r
commended that the maizistrates the said Ttio.
Tmensliend and Mary hi, r •.; ncg:ect of their duty Cm'
time the child was their arrr.

I)I.I'RACITV. A circumstance occutrea at the Nc..
naitcy, on 31 oydr y 110, which rerrh ads ore of Fielding's azerun
of Jonatit:m Wittte pickittg Ova of the ordinary, whe ahau
to be turned or, at 11)bortt, it cn' irg the reverend gentleman'
cork-sena out of the world with him. A To named ('hard,
Tayltrr, About I 1 year. Oh', wft, 10t1.:47'1. op 01 two separate char,;:
of felony, and plar..ll with the nibrrltriYnt ers for examtbation, i
the paasage leading to t! r t!ic raicistntes was sittitil
Arnot.gst the prhoner.t. w par•or t anted Alencl. (cortitied on
charge of neghcting his . who r.itled off his ntak-alath,
rot of ia hi. coat pocket, whit... • t.x.,1 in the pass7go. IA af,
minutes afterwarbt he missed it, ro,ilcomilained to Pa7e, ore
the beadle., who wits printing the prisoners. -began
search, and print foond the tatralkerchirf concealed iit th • s.l:l‘
clothes of Taylor. 3lr. 'Wright. the maOstrate before whom _-r
. prirorer was 'brought, directed that the case should be taken, and
the prisoner was committed or. el :he that,: charges.—Manchcatcr :'lintel at TII i Ill: I 'IA Pit
I
• Gaardig I 1