The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-11-21 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST'.

DILLADTCL SITICIDE.--On Saturday evening, a Jury assembled
before Thomas Stirling, Esq. at the Blue Posts, Orem Charlotte-
, street, Fitzroy-square, to inquire into the causes of the death of
Mr. Samuel Shepherd, of Tottenham-street, butcher.
Mr. Thomas William Shepherd. the eldest son of the deceased,
deposed, that he had resided for the last six months with the de-
ceased, who was a widower, and 57 years of age. Latterly he had
been low spirited. He complained of violent pains in the head.
and became so unsettled that he came to a resolution to make over
his business to the witness. On Friday morning, a boy, as usual,
knocked at the parlour-door, where the deceased slept, and obtain-
ing no answer, informed the witness, whn, upon looking through
the window, saw his father stretched on the floor. Ile threw open
the window, and made his way into the room, where he found his
father deluged in blood. With the help of a neighbour, he raised
the body. There was a deep wound in the throat, and a knife lay
close to the body, with which the act had evidently been performed.
l)ecessed must have been dead some hours ; witness went for a sur-
geon, but his services were useless. The deceased had had no quarrel
with witness, and was living upon the most affectionate terms
with him.

A neighbour of the deceased, Mr. John Ireatherley and his
niece, :'arch Shepherd, confirmed the evidence given by his son.
Mr. Jacob Dickinson, assistant to Mr. tarline, surgeon, of
Great Charlotte-street, stated. he had attended the deceased proles
sionally, for a head-ache and giddiness ; the deceased complained
I of an excessive oppression upon the eyes ; he received eassiselnes,
and Mr. Carline advised immediate cupping, but the deceased
evaded that, and upon being urged on Tuesday and Wednesday
last, said, " Well, well, to-morrow will be market-day, and if I
am not better on returning from market, I will getcupped." The
witness heard of his death on Thursday morning.
The Jury returned this verdict—“ The deceased terminated his
existence in a sudden fit of delirium.

MURDER OF A WIFE BY HER HUSBAND.
We have a most painful duty imposed upon its this week, in
having to record a murder, under circumstances so savage and
atrocious, as scarcely to be paralleled in the annals of crime. The
scene of this horrid occurrence was at a small dwelling-house, in-
habited by the parties and their family, consisting of three children,
at the back of Parliament-row, and nearly oposite the Bunker's-
bill public-house.
It appears that, about a quarter before ten o'clock on Wednesday
night, the people of the neighbourhood were thrown into the greatest
I alarm by the dreadful cry of " Murder !" and on proceeding to the
spot from whence the cry issued, they found, in the house of S.
Wood, bobbin and carriage maker, a female lying prostrate on the
floor, with several large wounds upon her face and head, and her
brains literally knocked out. It was soon ascertained that Wood
had, with a coal-pick, inflicted the wounds upon his wife, and thus
inhumanly murdered her. The wretch immediately fled, but was
apprehended by two men as he was trying to make his escape,
and conveyed to the Police-office, from whence he was sent
to the !louse of Correction, to await the verdict of the Coro-
ner's Inquest. The family appears to be in comfortable circum-
stances, and we understand the unfortunate deceased, who was
respectably connected, was in possession of a property amounting to
SOL or 1001. a year, which was so secured that her husband could
nut touch it.

THE CORONERS' INQUEST.
The Jury met on Thursday to investigate the case.
Joseph White, a surgeon, proved that the deceased had died from
wounds inflicted by some obtusely-pointed instrument, of consi-
derable weight. The jaw of the deceased was fractured; there was
a wound on the back of the neck, and three on the skull.
Elizabeth Burrows said, I em nearly fourteen years of age, and
am no relation to Mrs. Wood. I have lived in the house of the de.
ceased either a fortnight or three weeks. 1 lived with Mr. B.
l)unn, who lodges there ; he is my uncle. Samuel Wood, Mrs.
Wood, and myself, got our supper. together ; no other person was
in the house except three of Wood's children, who were up stairs
in bed. Atter supper Samuel Wood wanted me to go to bed, but
Mrs. Wood said I had better sit up with her until my uncle came.
The deceased and Wood were drinking rum and water. They had
no quarrel then, bat were very merry. They talked, but I cannot
remember what about. Wood was very much in liquor, and when
he was going up stairs, as if to bed, he fell on his knees on the
stairs. Mrs. Wood told me to go up stairs, and wait till he was gone
to sleep. I went, and took a candle. In about five minutes I
heard him go down again ; he then came up stairs again, and tried
my room door, which was fast. He again went down, and I heard
Mrs. Wood call him a rogue, and said she would go and see if she
could not fetch a constable. I did not hear Wood say any thing,
nor mention motley. 1 heard the deceased crying, and shriek out
" Murder !" I immediately ran down stairs, and saw her on the
house floor ; she was not bloody then ; he was across her. She
had hold of the coal-pick, struggling to prevept him hitting her
with it. He got it from her, and gave her three blows, having hold
of the coal-pick with both hands, as hard as he could, over her
head. She did not speak after the first blow. The blood flew all
about after be began to strike. When he was upon her, I ran up
to hint, and said, Oh, Mr. Wood, what are you doing ?" He
did not speak, but got off from her, and ran after me. 'flie door
was a little open, I caught hold of it, and whipped out before he could
get hold of me. I cried out, and many persons who live opposite
heard me, and came to me. Never saw the coal-pick in the house
before ; there was another hammer to break coals with.
. .

William Wainwright, watchmaker, Bridlesmith.gate, said,
Wood came to my house on Tuesday, and said he wished to
speak to me, for he had something on his mind which made him
very uneasy. 1 asked him what it was? lie told me he had
caught a person in an improper situation with his wife on Satur.
day, and that he was a ruined man. He asked me what he should
do? I advised him to discharge the person coming into the house,
and live comfortably with his wife. He said he could not live
comfortably ally more, and that " he should do something in a few
days which all would be astonished at." I asked him what he
would do? He said he should leave the town.

John Simpson sworn-1 was panting near the Milton's Bead,
and heard the shriek of " Murder!" I ran, anti saw the little
girl (Elizabeth Burrows) running away, and Wood running after
her with a coal•pick in his hand ; he followed her about 7 yards,
and then turned back into the house. lie cloned the door after
him. I heard him give something -a blow, but what I could not
tell. In a few seconds I heard him drop something, which I judged
to be a coal hammer. In about halt a minute after he came out,
anti was making his escape towards the open paddock. Ile had not
either coat, waistcoat. or handkerchief on. I asked Wood what he
had done so for ? Wood answered, "Oh ! good Lord, what could
I do when I caught her in the fact P'
Other witnessts were called who confirmed this evidence, and the
Jury returned a verdict of Nl'ilful 31urder against Wood.
The deceased bore as irreproachable character in the neighbour-
hood, so that the statement of the prisoner respecting her conduct
is entitled to little or no credit.—Nottingham Journal.

MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE IN THE UNITED ST•TES.--•
The first .American attempt, of which we have any record,
to impart medical knowledge by the dissection of the hu-
man body, was made in New York, in the year 1750.
There are seventeen medical schools in the United States,
in which nearly two thousand young men, from different
quarters of the country, attend lectures delivered respec-
tively by more than eighty of our most eminent physicians
and Surgeons. The State Medical Societies are twenty in
number, and most of them have branches in the different
districts or counties. There are twelve periodical medical
journals ; more than two hundred hospitals and other in-
firmarics for the sick ; and it has been computed that the
number of regular physicians is not less than ten thou-
sand.—National Gazette.

DISMAY AMONG SMALL DeßTollB.—The cause of the
immense number of arrests for debt on the eve of the pre-
sent term is not generally known, though rather a curious
fact. Lord Ellenborough's old bill for preventing arrests
on bills of exchange under IM. expired a natural death at
the end of last year. Its expiration was, however, not
generally known, and the small debtors had a respite.
When the Parliament met in February, the Attorney-
General lost no time in bringing in a Bill to revive Lord
Ellenborough's Act, and this Bill passed both Houses of
Parliament unanimously; but, by some unaccountable ac-
cident in the bustle of business, it was never presented for
the Royal Assent, and the discovery was not made till after
the prorogation of Parliament. The thing soon got wind,
and the harpies of the law laid their talons upon the small
10/. debtors, until they filled the King's Bench prison with
them this term. Another reason for the increase of small
debts is the repeal of the law stamps, which enables any
surly creditor to take out a writ as low as Gd. in Middlesex,
and for Is. lod. anywhere else.

Tna COMET STEAM-PACIET.—ACCIDENT NARROWLY
PREVENTED.—From a gentleman who came up from
Gourock late last night we learn, that thotigh the attempt
to raise the Comet have hitherto failed, she has nevertheless
been moved from her first position. Her stern has been
hove completely round, and now lies nearest file shore.
The hawser which was fixed to the capstan ashore was
hove in five fathoms, so that the distance from the shore,
after that operation, was only about thirty feet. About
forty-five people remained on board of the lighters on Mon-
;lay night, and they were nearly all run down by a large
brig which came up in the dark. A dense fog being in the
Frith at the time, the brig did not perceive the lights
(four or five) which those on board the lighters had ow,
till almost close upon them. On seeing her the men raised
a loud shout. The helm was immediately put down,
when the brig was enabled to clear them by about six feet !
Hail she not answered the helm at once the lighters and all
the people on hoard must have been sent to the bottom.
The chains keep a firm hold en one side, but invariably
give way on the other, which shows that the vessel must
on that side be severely shattered...—Glasgow Courier of
Thursday.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

BUNTING APPOINTMENTS.

Earl Fitewilliam's Bounds will meet this day at TompsoL.,
Thorns ; to-morrow at Thomhaugh ; and on Thursday next,
at
Old Weston Windmill.
The Oakley Hounds will meet this day at Melchbourn ; on
Thursday next at Marston Thrift; and on Satursday at Bletsoe ;
at half-past ten each day.
The Gransden Hounds will meet this day at Potion Wood ; n:,
IWedneaday next, at White Wood ; and on Friday next, at ti.:
Kennel—at ten o'clock.
Puckeridge Hunt this day at 13irchanger ; on Wednesday next at
Wadesmill ; and on Saturday next at St. John's.
Burton Hunt—Sir Richard Sutton's Hounds will meet this day s;
Lea; to-morrow at Stapleford Moor ; on Wednesday next at Gol.
tho ; on Thursday at Legsby ; and on Saturday at Spittal—eaci;
day at eleven o'clock.
The Hambledon Hounds will meet to.day at Broadhalfpensy
Down, Wednesday at Preshaw house, Friday at %Waltham Pond.
at ten o'clock each day.
The Hampshire Hounds will meet to-day at Weston Corn,
mon, to-morrow at Tichborne Park, Thursday at Meld Down,
Saturday at Windmill Hill—at ten o'clock.

Therm for a thousand sovereigns, in stake and Nets, took place
on Saturday, over the four-ruileswrep, from Frondle•hani to Rig.
shot-lane-end, on Saturday, between the Bertram mare, Phiebt,
and Diadem, considered by their owners, Mr. Wyse and cam.
Douglas, the best hunter,' in the kingdom. The start was half
an
hour a gallop, rode by the owners, and to clear a six-feet leap at the
end of the third mile. Diadem led, and scut out the work at full
speed, the mare keeping close at her haunches. Both cleared the
leap without difficulty, and a severe race followed. After". mi.
nudes, the mare got ahead in a neck-and-neck trial, and she wen
the match by several lengths, performing eleven miles and a few
yards in the half hour.
Mr. Oswald Dabaldeston,—not the shot so celebrated at the Rtes
House and in the field,—undertook on Saturday to kill, in tie
course of the day., 60 head of hares, rabbits, pheasants, and pan.
ridges, with the aid of markers, pickers up, Ice. to a double.nse„
relied gun. The match was won before three o'clock, within there
miles of Biggleswade. over the Fcrnahore manor, as tollnart„,
bagged, 22 rabbits, iii bares, 16 pheasants, and ll partridges.,
Total 65.
Very lately a hare was started on the Simons Moor, and hotly
pursued by a brace of greyhounds, who in the courseof a pretty
ong run made up in bottom what they lacked in speed. Al the
ground was level, the chase was seen from a considerable distance,
and excited such interest in the mind of a coachman, that he fairly
forgot what he was doing. and made so poor a use of the whip, that
the utmost stretch of Mr. 31artin's Act could not have convinced
him of cruelty to animals. The passengers at first chid him for
this, but on learning the cause of inattention, they became
equally on the qui vier. In a moment blinds were let down, and
heads popped out ; and while some kept hallooing and eneouragiog
the dogs, others, with rather more humanity, did all they col ld to
beat them back. Puss, by this ttmc, had taken to the rev, mai
just as the greyhounds were pressing on her heels (at a few yards
before the horses' heads) she made a sudden spring from left to
right, whets spying sal aperture, she nimbly cleared the carriage
window, and safely landed on a lady's muff: Though the lady.de.
liverer started and screamed a little at firm, she was speedily recoil.
tiled to her fellow-traveller, and even seemed proud of the eompli.
merit paid to her handsome midi: The hare, in fact, was patted
1 and caressed by all present, and honoured with a ride back to the
place from whence she came, while the outwitted dogs stood snug:
ing and gaping wistfully about, as if wondering what had become
of their prize. After the prisoner was fairly out of harm's way, the
coach was stopped and the door opened, an so sweet is libettywhen
death is not near, that scarcely were these things done, when puss
bade her kind friends good bye, and bounded away to her native
hills.—Deomfries Courier.

A curious'
canoe and double-barrelled gun, for the purpose of
wild fowl shooting, have been invested by Liemenant-Colond
Hawker. The canoe is long and narrow, the bow, or nose, termir.
ating at every sharp point, firmly cased with copper. The bends
of the gun, weighing two hundred weight, are of a great length and
large calibre. The boat was launched on Aylestind Pond on
Wednesday se'nnight, before Lord Rodney and numerous other
gentlemen, but there being no wild foal, Colonel Hawker had Li
an opportunity of fully displaying the powers of his ingenioui
invention ; he, however, at one discharge into a flock of starling',
killed 253, which were picked up, and it is supposed as many more
were lost in the reeds.

COWES, Nov. e are informed that a match between
two mms, belonging to Sir George Thomas and Mr. Alumay,
for 3# sovereigns a side, will be paddled fur by the proprlenvb.
The novelty of this intended race has already created considsm.
We interest, and it is expected that many of the Yaetli Club will
be present. The 28th instant, we understand, is the day fixed.
The Gentlemen are now in full training.

MEETINGS OP CREDITORS,
AT TAR COURT OF COMMISSIONERS OF BAWEIIITTS,
ASINGIIALL-STREET.
TO•MOBBOW.

THIRD METTTNO.
Naehbar, J. jun. Old Brentford, Middlesex, gardener
_ -

SECOND DEE CINGS.
Rinks, G. Balham.hlll, Surrey, dealer
Elgar, W. Castle-street, Holborn, coal.machant
Green, B. Kingsland„ plumbs'
Lancefield, J. Ladebourne, v

• In
• II
. 0

J. , Kent. builder .
Levy, J. Church-row, Trinity, Minorics, silversmith . 2
D. Lampeter Pontetephen, Cardigan, inn-keener 0
Norris, S. Cobham.row, Coldhath•Selds, common brewer . 2
Pott, W. Union-street, Southwark, victualler

FIRST NETTING& .-
Carrington, W. Fore-street, cheesemonger . . 10
Fell, H. Grocers' Hall•court, general merchant . In
lAntott, W. Leadenhall.market, butcher . . 11
Wells, J. and Onyce:, W. Bishopegate-etreet-without, wool.
len.drapers - - , . . 12
Wright, H. Eceleston-street, Pimlico, merchant -1;
Young, B. John's-place, Camberwell New-road, carpenter . II
DIVIDENDS.
Bromley. J. Circus-street, New-road, Marylebone, iron-
monger . - - - . 11
Foulerton, J. Upper Bedford-place, Blamosburusquare,
merchant - - . . . 1.
Ituspini, J. B. Pall-mall, medkine.vender - . 11
.
Beckham, J. Strand, bookseller - - 11
Spitta, C. Moiling, F. and G. and Spitta, 11. A. Lawrence
Pountney-lane, merchants - - - .12
Tucker, J. H. Jermyn-street, St. James's, chy milt . 11
Savage, %V. Fetter-lane, victualler . . . 12

A number of the colliers at Lofthouse nit, belonging ca
William Fenton, Esq. turned oat on Monday last for ar
advance of wages ; but this being refused them, they ve7
properly turned in again the following day.—Torloh,e
Paper.
The smallpox, we are sorry to bear, is at present prera•
lent in this town, both amongst children anttatlttly, and a
poor woman died this week at the bank, in so dreadful s
state of eruption, that her skin partly separated from ler
body, when she came to be undressed for interment—
Leeds 3fereury.

PRODUCTIVENESS OF THE POT&TO.—A correspowlett
of the Leeds Mercury states, that on the 18th of flay
he planted a potato of the Irish breed, (without either
extra manure or labour) weighing one- pound, and on the
7th of this month took up the produce, which weichal
forty-six pounds. Suppose this was planted and replan:Al
for the term of seven years, and contintio to be tquail
productive, it would yield 1,815,906,006 loads of potawc.
and would require 18,139,069 wares of load to grow 91,01.,
at ►he rate of 100 loads per acre.

BIRTIIS.
On the 13th inst., at Pontefract, the lady of PlintoifLealilwil
Esq., of a son.
On the 14th inst., at Walcot-place, Lambeth, the lady 010'4'
Wilkinson, Esq., of a daughter.

MARRIED.
On the 18th inst., at St. Michael, Wood-street,
maldi, Esq., of Copthall-court, 'fbrogroorton.strcri, 10„41:
Ann, second daughter of Thomas George Knapp, Esq•, of fl"''
dashers' Hall.
On the 17th instant, at St. Mary's, Islington, Mr. frrarrk
Greenhill, to Maria Louisa, youngest daughter of Edward 11,u•
Esq.
On the 17th inst., at St. Luke's, Chelsea, Mr. Jas. Whiieho4,
of Sloane-street, to Louisa, second daughter of John nolts7o,
Esq. of Suffolk-street.
On the 18th inst., by the Right Rev. the Bishop of Ilsrbsdo::
Lloyd Salisbury Baxendale, of Queen-square, Bloos..sharY•
Ellen, daughter of Richard Salisbury. of Hems Hill.

DIED.
On the Pith inst., at his seat at Enfield, Lieutenant.folottl
Riddell, in the 67th year of his age.
On the 18th instant, at her house, Osnaburg-strcet. Rctrt,"i's"
park, Mrs. Sarah Elliot, widow of the late Archibald Elliot. DS"
architect, aged 33 years.
On the 18th instant, at Portsmouth, the lady of Sit Q(
Garrett.
On the 9th instant, in his 6501 year, at the Rectory 11006
Greewated, near Ongar, Essex, the Rev. William Ilaini:ton %%
ren, 31. A., 31 years Rector of Uremia!, and SS years Vicar o'
Great Budworth, Cheshire.
Lately, at Bishant Vicarage, the Rev. Roger IllanwarIolobg0:4I;:
raring. 31. A., of Brasennose College, youngest son o
bert Parker, Esq., of Upper Harley-street.

LIGE! WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TATS PAT.
Morning, 58 min. alter IL. I Evening, 8 min. akar 11.

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Printed at THE BRITISH PRESS Office, by J. W. Carrell
NI, *mid, sad published by ht. CeJistos, Woe Phil"

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