The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-07-06 00:00:00

MELANCHOLY AND AWFUL EVENT ON
MALVERN M LL.

On Monday, a party of friends, among whom were the eldest
son and three daughters of Joseph Hill, Esq. of I.indridge. on
the borders of Gloucestershire, and several other young ladies who
were on a visit to them, had agreed tb form a gipsy party, to pis.
rambulate the beautiful rani e of Malvern Hills, which commence
about two miles from Mr. Hill's residence, and extend beyond
Great Malvern, in Worcestershire. They were accompanied by a
servant-man, with a light cart, furnished with provisions, &c. tor
their use during their anticipated agreeable excursion. AboLt
three o'clock in the evening they had reached the Worcestershire
beacon, on which is a building erected by Lady Harcourt, intended
for the use of persors walking on the !tills, and to shelter thein
from the pitiless pelting atoms." But, alas! it was no protec.
tion to them. The air looked tempestuous, a storm came on sud-
denly, the young ladies were very much alarmed at the vivid
flashes of lightning which so rapidly succeeded each odier, and
roaring peals of thunder which scented to shake the foundation of
the rocks on which they stood. The building is of stone. and the
roof covered with iron ; there was atone table in the middle of tits
room, and seats on each side, with a window opposite the door.
way ; time party were inside it Miss Eliza Hill, her sister Ju-
lianne, and a Miss Woodward. from Hereford, were seated at the
table; the others walking about. Mies Margaret Hill, a yourg
lady about 13 years of age, being much alarmed, was looking out
at the door. way, to ace it the storm had passed, when she observed
the electric fluid (which no doubt was attracted by the iron rout
appearing as a masa of lire rolling along the hill and approaching
their retreat; she attempted to tun out, but W. 13 instantly throw.,
with violence to the ground ; her shoes and part of her dress mutt
burnt; her brother, who was near, shared much the sante fate.
'flue electric fluid entered at the door, shivered the stone table
atoms, and many large stones in the wall, and passed through the
window, removing the window frame and stone work about it.
Two of the unfortunate young ladies, Miss Elias Hill and M'ss
Woodward, were instantly struck t'etd. Miss Johanna appealed
in the saute state. Medical aid being procured, and some signs of
life appearing. site was bled. and removed to the Unicorn Inn,
at 3/alvern. She has not spoken since, and the medical gentle-
men think there is bet little chance of her recovery. The three
were all burnt on the fate, neck, and bream ; their hair burnt tor
one title of the head, and part of their clothes destroyed: The
dead bodies were removed to a house at St. Anne's Weil.
to await the decision of a Coroner's Inquest. All the oti;er
ladies were in a slight degree injured by the electric fluid, acd
are much distressed in mind, and keep their beds.
There was a labouring man at work a short distance from the
!dace, who WWI attracted to the spot by the screams prociatelitt
front the man servant. He rendered what aid lie could, till other
assistance arrived. The two men are both very unwell, front she
agitation of witnessing so awful and distressing a scene.
Af messenger was despatched to Mr. Hill, who with his wit,
went to alalvern immediately, in a state of mind not to lie de.
scribed, to witness the appalling 'scene of destruction, with wltiz't
it bad pleased God to visit their heretofore united and hairy',
family.

Ma. RANDOLPH.—Bcfore the Alexander left the Capps
Mr. Randolph had displayed his courage and his pistols.
and challenged a fellow-passenger. Mr. Green, a Quaker,
to mortal combat.- C aptain Baldwin interfered, and the
pistols were put away. We should be glad to have it in
our power to say the Captain bad taken possession of thein,
or sent them ashore with the dog, in the pilot be.e.r--
American Paper.
DIABOLICAL OUTRAOC—During the night of ThuN.
day Las, some villains cut off the tails of several attic,
which were graying on Mieklegite Stray, near this eiv.
A reward has been offered for the discovery of the wi-
petrators of this cruel and wanton outrage, which we hop,.
will have the effect of bringing to justice those :who have
thus disgraced the city by condtiet of whicll we cannot
speak in too seacps,terins of reprehension.—Ye: h Con-ant.
•
• .10 RR

LAW NOTICES.

COURT or CHANCERY.

......... —.—..............
itt FOSS TN' 108111COANCiLI.OR, IN LINCPLIVN INN SALL, THIS PAT•
AT le.—Appeals.
Lectinarrit v. &amid, Attorney•Genetai v. ?pith v. M•viity. ditto
appr.d, tot. ptr jut*. Sidnneue Company, McCarthy V. Dv Caix,
Att..Ornitree v. 1 Drill inr. dlr. it. ordrr appeal
ut Chti.trhatrhi pet Fowler v. Willoughby„ Galllnt v. Gallle.l, cr. tto
`..ilts4f 111, is to an appeal per order I,Carytr't V. Carsick,
rxeeptiun Towmirott v. Tains- ditto
• . et!, appeal •

vicr-rim.veruionis crvett!..
pumas •Itt-CII&XC su.oa, IT LITCOLII lats DAY, A[

• MALT-VAST DV.
. V ' Reinstieing Motions.—Cause.
....veil* V. litayitlit,to be direction.. and $4.1. Att.-General v. Clerve
spoke to . . two, part hoard Rioz•ome r. Thor°ld
Truster. or ;le priti,li C..0..10, a. same. ditto Jone 4 v. Portal
lillottan. e.iVhite,d ... PhAlips v. Michell, Tolson v. Payne
Sweet v. IR, ...V A. tilt,. cart been, Tol•on v. Weleger
Chetlit V. ,*,nit:,, pan Same v. Phillips, ditto T.,lson v VI-her
Reuel Sterhen• V. Berrotsulte, reoriok V. Wil•on
ChArm•o V. Schroder, rebearinr. per order Itloni. net tv. Player
exceptlept, flo!':ier Tilbury x„lorakedvidAn 1 Mite V. M il*

'COrRT OF KINGS BENtß.—Tris re . AT, AT ITALT-PAATN:NE.
London Spectal Jut it...
Fty and other. v. Terry I Plummer V. Wornitotrne
Newsiest! v. Proctor Woodburn. v. Plummer
Landon Common Jrzlov.
CAI!"1 1/. Pritchard 1 Shaw V. Fick, ljalry v. Hendry
liowar T. Stever..., Sit.iina V. White I Walter v. Wells
TO-11.0.101,/,Friday', My 7th. 14 the haat dm! of sitting.
The 111rettpr of the Roth will itt this and Filday 'realm at at:o'clock.
aid is Saturday St nine to the morning. . .

him, and the memorandunt which had been pnt in in evidence was it
consetpience signed by Mr. Collirr. It was rather singular than
the representatives of Mr. Parga should be left in doubt as to Air.
P. having, advanced money to the defendant to purchase pictures.
His (Mr. Denman's) opinion was, that Mr. Collier was the owner
of the pictures, anti that Mr. Pero onty undertook to do the set-
vice of a friend in getting them insured. It was also a little re-
markahle that, in the will of Mr. Parga, there was no bequest of !
pictures Many kind, nor were pictures once mentioned. It had
been insinuated that a certain document had disappeared, which '
ought to be in the cos-raly of the testator, and that 111 r. Collier was
possession of his papers at the time of his death. This was
very iinfuir. when the only document on which the plaintiffs rested
their rave was toilful in the defendant's possession. But, in point
of fact, Mr. Quiros was present at the time of Mr. Parga's death,
and he did not wait on hour after that event before he possessed
himself of every paper, and put them under seal. The absence, there-
tire, of that separate account bee:rowan imi.ortant tact in the case,
because it afiindttl a strong presumption that no such document
had ever exi,octi. It was ttue, Mr. Collier hail expected that some
advance would have been niade•bn account of these pictures by Mr.
Parga, as mortgagee, but no advance was ever mode. Not only
had Mr. Perim always treated these pictures as Mr. Collier's, often
praising him for his industry,and wishing hint success on his dia.
posal of them, but he actually applied to persons to advance money
upon them, stating that he was getting extremely ir,firm, and that
he should therefore dr dine to advance the money which he had led
Mr. Collier to expect lie would do. The Learned Counsel here
detailed the nature of the documentary and o her evidence he should
adduce, and corcluded 11 observing th.d, after he had bid them
before the Jury, he should feel himself entiolni to their verdict.
The bill oh lading of the pictures was then put in and read. It
was intlor<ed by Don J. Pugs, that all charges were to be paid by
Mr. Collier. •
The poTcy of iirunnee effected on the pictures far 2,5001. was
then read ; also a memorandum, Mimed by Purge, to the following
effect :—" I tied ire, that in the collection of pictures belonging' to
Don Juan Collier, which have been embarked in my name, on
hoard the English brig Brilliant, one, numbered 18, is included,
belonging to Senor De Ponttl which I engage to recount for to
him, or for its proceeds, on his paying me the sum which I ad-
vanced for Its insurance in the aunt of 2001."
James Lerida, a clerk in the London Docks, produced an order
of transfer, signed by Parga, directing the pictures to be delivered
over to Mr. Culler. and on which transfer was an assignment or
order signed by Collier, directing the pictures to be delivered over
to Ale. Peter Chatman. Nine of the pictures were delivered op in
pursuance of this order, and the remainder detained to await the
issue of this trial.
Mr. Peter Charman was thekealled. bat was objected to by the
Attorney-General as an incompetent witness, he having an interest
in the result of the cause.
The LOUD Cotta' JUST ICE held the ohj zebra to be rod.
Mrs. Ratcliffe, who had formerly lived as servant with Mr. Parga
and Ale. Collier, was then examined, who stated that idle remem-
bered several pictures being brought to their house at Brommon, in
the cleaning and varnishing of which Air. Collier devoted the
whole of his time. They were always considered to be the mo-
petty of Mr. Culler, and she had often heard Mr. Parga say that
they were, and that he hoped Mr. Collier would sell them well.
She was present at the death of Mr. Parga, and so was Mr.
Quiros, who immediately after that event put all the property and
papers under seal.
This witness was eross.exatnlned as to a bundle of papers and
the contents of an old trunk, but nothing wu elicited that at all
tended to further the case of either party.
Mr. a surgeon, stated that Ire'bsd visited M. Collier,
who had invited him to go and look at Ms (Mr. Collier's) pictures
in the room below. This was said in ibe bearing of Ar. Parga,
who made no remark upon it. There were about nine pictures in
the room.
• •

---
The Loin Cetenr JUST len—fint it does not appaor that those
pictures were any of the pictures now claimed by the plaintiff.
Mr. CON HON SZESZAIIT said that on the bill of ladieg nine
pictures were stated to I ave been delivered to Mr. ()tiller.
The LORD Curse Jost-Ica—Yes, but I cannot connect them
with thou seen II the w mesa.
Several levet% written by i)nn Parga, in which he speaks of
Mr. Collier as a person having an interest in the pictures, were need
pat in and recd.
This dotted the defence.
Th. ArronxEY-Oxitnnae, in his adieus to the jury in re-
ply, said, that when he came to comment prow the evidence
offered be the defendant, Ire thought they would find every part of
it reconcileable with what he had originally eta' ea to them in his
opening Wren'. Certainly the defendant had a great advantage
over the plaintiffa, because Mr. l'arga was au more; and they
therefore hat no means of explaining the nature of the transactions
between the defendant and, the testator. But it was perfectly com-
petent for Mr. Collier to !Ave called witnesses to give the history of
these pictures. and to skew that they were purchased with his own
money. and that they were collected by him in Spain, for the pur-
write of being embarked to this country. These anirs had been
taken into the Court of Chancery, and he might have obtained a
commission for the examination of witnesses in Spaini• and might
have unfairied all the particulars before the Jury. Ile must have
known . (trim whom he purchased .all these pictures ; but
he had thought proper to leave the Jury totally in the
dark, and had rested his case entirely upon these docu-
ments, which were nil reconeiieable with the plaintiff's statement.
He had not shewn that he had become possessed of any property
since 1820, when lie was proved to be insolvent. Every act relat.
ing to these pictures bad been done by Mr. Parga as if the property
was his own. The only explanation given of this, and which was
an idle one, wax, that the transfer from Collier to Parga was made
to enable the latter to effect an insurance. Such an explanation
was perfectly nugatory. lle (the Attorney-General) had no doubt
that the pictures were originally purchased with the intention, that
if any profit should accrue or. tl,eir sale, that profit should lee shared
by Mr. Collier on account of his skill and labour employed about
them, and dun:fore they were called his pictures. If the Jury
took this, they would find it a k-y to the whole transaction. The
Learned Counsel then commented tenon the evidence adduced by
the defendant, in the course of which he requested the will of Mr.
Parga to be read (it having been omitted in the former part of the
trial), which being done, he argued that' no inference could be
drawn from the circumstance of there being no speciliz mention
made of pi :tures in the will, lots midi as that the whole of
the testator's property was disposed of under a general clause, with.
out any kind of troperty being particularly enumerated. Consi-
dering all the evidence, therefore, he thought it impossible to inter
that the pictures were the property of Mr. Collier ; and if so, the
pleltuiff was entitled to a verdict.
The Loan CHIEF .11:11IICE recapitulated the evidence to the
Jury, who in a few minutes returned a verdict for the plaintiff.

V