The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-07-31 00:00:00

TJ4E I3PITISH PRESS.

•
when I went, and put the key older the water-bucket; Hannah
Russell had told me to do so.
Thomas Luck, huckster. knew deemed ~.rd his wife ; was often
at alt.!) house; has heard Hannah speak pf her littaband several
times last winter.; remembers ("roes ,in 4110 prit last; before
that time has heard her say, several ernes, " I wish he Woilltl droll
dead, and never come hack any more; he also heard her !ay so on
she fair-day ; and on the last occasion she visited be w0u.41 not go
to the fair ; it was sal.: before her husband's face; dec6ssetl was a
free drinker.
James French was at the deceased's house the Saturday befo;
his4enth. ,Ben, Hannah, Lenny. and witnesa Were present ; was
the, also snout eight or mne days before his death,; they were all
there then ; Ilannah said she would kill hint (speaking of her hus-
band, who was (leaf or make off with hint, sine way or other,
and that she would he the death of him. Her husband Went out
just as the was making use of one of these ex pre,sions. There was
no quarrelling between them that I heard. The expressions were
made use of by Halanalt Ituw,ell to me.
dark Blackford kitew deceased and prisoners; was at deceased's
house the Monday before, the deceased's death ; prisoners were
there, together with witness and a person of the name of Crowliur'at.
Deceased cattle in, staid about an hour, and then went to work
again. Ile saw nothing particular pass between the deceased
and his wife. A lwr Ben went out; she said she hoped lie would
Inver come home again alive. She hoped that somebody would
kill him. I replied, surely you don't mean that, Hannah ?
Site said, " Yes, I do; for there ale people about that I like
more than Ido hint." 'cite prisoner heany and Hannah we-e
used to play together, (dui ke got her in his lap. They appeared
to be very fund of each other. Decoded was often out, anti away
from home.

whether it was last night, in the night or that day morning,
because he bad not been at home all eight himself. Ilattnalt old
him that lien wanted Leany to come up and meet hint at the wood;
he said nothing about having been at the wood ; lie said he found
hint flat on his back,with his arms spread out—and represented hie
position with a stick lie held in his hand. Witness was at Russell's
house at ten o'clock, with others, and tae., two prisoners, the same
day; hey were talking about deceased's death; Mrs. Heinen said
her husband was in bed with her till between five and six o'clock ;
that Wm. Russell, deceased's father, come in utter her huebaial
went out ; she had a token of something on the fluor—she said he
had left her in trouble, and that she wished the death had hap-
pened with her. she heel three children.
11. Ililder, a labourer of Borwitsh, said he first heard of
Russell's death between ten and eleven on the hlontlay. Saw
the female prisoner afterwards, near the Wheel, formerly a public-
house. She inked him it he had heard whet a misfortune she had
had ? Witness mid he had heard it, but he thought it was not
right--meaning he did not believe it was true. She said it wee
true enough, she fancied. Witness said he thought he should go
up and see the deetased. She said she would go up with him, if
witness would stop for her. Two men then came by, who said
they had just been to see die deceased. Witness asked than how
he looked ? They said he was very black, and very touch swelled,
mid that witness could do no good if he went up to the deceased.
The female prisoner was present all this !ins. They then separated.
About noon witness called at the female prisoner's house, and told
her he should go and see the deceased. She said she would go
with him ; and having given the children their dinners, she went
with him to the wood. In the way he asked her what time the de-
ceased went away in the morning. She said at nearly six o'clock,
the time when the workhouse children were going to work. Ile
asked her where the deceased intended to go? She sail he was
going to meet a man with some spirits. Ile asked her whether the
deceased hal got some money,?, She said he had not, hot that he
was to go round owmtewliert for some, and that Leany was
to go sod meet him ; and that the latter went away from
home about half-past six o'clock, for that purpose, taking
with him a piece of bread and cheese, for his breakfast,
and saying, that he was too late to wait foe breakfast. Site then
said, that wheiPhi.any' was walking through the wood, he heard
something of a hlickleitd fly up; that hue looked round, and saw
the deceased lyi;fa on the ground; she then said she dared to say
she should be forced to bury the deceased on Wednesday ; th it
she should like to keep him till Thursday, if she could; that she
expected he would be very much swelled, because he had eaten
to !teeny a dinner and supper on Sunday. They arrived at the
place where the body then was, namely, the barn-floor, and the
female prisoner saw her husband. In the course of the same.
day he saw her again, and asked her what time Leany went to bed
on the Sunday night ? She said, " Why, Hilder ?" Witness said,
" I ask you, because you said he was in bed here." Repeating
the question, he said, "He was not iu bed here—was he?' She
replied, " It does not make stay aids to you." Witness then mitt,
Why, lien (ineaaing the deceased) was not n-hed here." She
said, " Yes, that he was, by the side of me." Witness said,
" Well. but Daniel (meastine ferany) was not." She said, " No,
not beside me, but he was a-bed here." He then mid her, " lie
knew that Lenny was not a.bed there, because he knew a man
who had seen bun." She said, " I know who it was told you
that; it was Newt:ins; curse lam, he may as well keep his
mouth shut, end look at home." Witness said. " I know that
Daniel was not tubed here, fur I know a man that saw Daniel,
and your fitther (Russell) before hitp." She said she knew where
Daniel was, and so did Russell, will she would say no ntrue. Wit-
ness had seen Ilawkine, and had spoken to him in the interval,
and these questions were put in consequence of what Hawkins hal
• aid. Witness had been to the house of the deceased on the Sun-
day, between ten and eleven o'clock in the forenoon. The de.
ceased was not at home. Witness went again between one and
two, and the deceased) came in whilst witness was there. The two
prisoners were pretreat. The deceased and witness talked together
about a sow which the former had to sell. The deceased then
went out, followed by his wife. She came in again and said that
the sow was hers, she had bought it, and that if the deceased sold
it, site would sell him. She appeared to be angry by the language
abe used. It was language unfit to be repeated. She said. " No,
if he sells that sow, I'll sell him, and that soon." The
deceased appeared then to be well and cheerful.
Francis Russell, uncle to the deceased, heard of deceased's
death about halt-after one on Monday afternoon ; saw the body
in the barn ; sent for Leans., who came there; asked him how lie
( Leany) came to find the bad y ? Ile said he went in for a par-
ticular pup ate to tileddish NVood., and found him ; took hold of
the stun, let it go, and it dropped; be put his ear to his mouth
and found he did not breathe. I asked him if he (Luny) was at Ilennronn, Julx 20, 1020.
home last night ? He said yes; that he did not get up until seven HORSE.ST EA LI VG.
o'clock, a.m. I told him I heard he was seen at half-past four, a.m. This case occurred after our packet of yesterday had been tie.
in Juden's Plat. He then slid he got up early to see his sister ; ,patched from Hereford.
that his mind altered, and that he went out and returned, and Thomas Linsey was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the night
then got up at seven. I asked what time Ben got up ? He said of the 19th instant, a bay gelding, talue twenty pounds. the pro-
he got up at six o'clock. I asked whether he went to meet him perty of Ann Nixon, widow, of Machin, near A berg:seemly. The
by appointment? Ile said he did. I saw Hannah on Wedaes- prisoner was only brought to teis city toulay, and a bill of indiet-
day following; I asked her what time Ben went away on ment having been preferred against him at these Assizes, in con-
Monday morning? She said he got up at six o'clock. I asked sequence of his being found in possession of the property at Rose,
if Daniel was out on Suaday night? She said no; she said site in this county, lie was now placed at the bar.
knew he was not, because she got up in the night to the children, Mr. Baron Gannow, with his wonted humanity, informed him,
who cried, and Daniel was sleeping with them, and got up at that if he wished for delay, it would be certainly allowed him ; but
seven a.m. he must recollect, that if he accepted this ale, he would have to re-
James Russell, brother of deceased, saw deceased at 11 o'clock, main in gaol until the next Aseieee, unless time proseeutrix thought
a.m. on the Sunday before his death ; he appeared well ; was at fit to prefer a bill of indictment at the approaching Monmouth As.
his house about 11 p.m. on Monday ; kuew then of his brother's sizes, on Monday next, which she could certainly do, as she had the
daeth ; saw prisoners there; they were sitting by the fire, appa- option of Instituting proceedings either in the county where the pro-
rently at supper together ; I went for the purpose of learning about petty was stolen, or in that county where it was found.
sty brother's death. Asked at what time my brother went to bed The prisoner, after a long consultation with his attorney, and
on Sunday ? Lenny said about ten. Asked him at what time be with Mr. WIIATELY. who had kindly offered his services on the
himself went to bed ; he said very soon after; that he got up about emergency of the prisoner's necessity, did not know what election
seven a.m., that he went up to the wood to meet hint, and found to make.. He said, ho sever, that a material whiten was not in at.
him dead. Was not in the habit of visiting his brother, but was tenibusce at present.
good friends with him. His brother bail been poorly a fortnight Mr. Baron Gennow—That certainly is a reason why you should
before his death ; he complain:d of a pain at his heart. accept the indulgence I offer to you.
dlr. Thomssl%bet Evans. sturgeon at Burwash—llad attended Prisoner—Then 1 leave it entirely to your Lotilehip's option.
deceased frequently before his death, but not for two months ins- Mr. Baron °ARROW —But that will not do ; I have no option
mediately before. Saw his body at a barn on the 10th of play, about it ; I have only a serious duty to perfunn, and you must make
Mr. Newington and 3lr. !Wake b .ing wi h me at the opening of the election yourself.
it. Examined the body to see Reny extensive violence had dactyl The prisoner, after some further mesultation with his legal mi-
med. Foued some considerable discoloration ;was visible about tints, determined to take his trial nowawithout further delay.
the face, neck, aboulden, and as far down as the breasts. On The trial then proceeded.
opening the body the tract lit, camber's, stomach, and intestines, Mr. JUSTICE conducted the. prosecution ; and it appeared in
were in a high state of Inflammatien. Pitt of the peritoneum was evidence that the prisoner was found bartering the horse in dues.
slightly inflamed, internally. The mucous membrane of the sto. don, at Roes, on Monday last, to a hone-jockey ; and it had only
mach waelin many places quite curtailed. We found a consider- been stolen on the previous day, at a distance of 33 miles, in Aber.
able 'tummy of gross white powder adhering to it ; the heart, gavenny, where the prosecute= resided.
liver, and brain, were perfectly healthy. We took the stomach One witness deposed that the prisoner had asked him to sell the
home, and analysed the contents by rations testae by which we horn in question for him, and that he formerly had had frequent
sublimed newly a drachm of white arsenic. A drachm would be horse-dealings with him.
quite sufficient to cause death, indeed much more than sufficient; Cross-examined by 31r. Witerreu—Never'llail the least sus
a few grains would, I believe, be sufficient, and a drachm contains Odell of the prisoner's honesty. I have known hint for years, and
60 grains. I have no doubt that more than one drachm was taken I know that he is a respectable small farmer.
by deceased. Death would ensue, after taking such a quantity, in The prisoner being called on for his defence, said that lie bad
two cr three hours. His death was caused by arsenic ; after arsenic purchased the horse from a man on the real, near Abergavenny,
has entered the stomachs, violent sickness ensues very soon after whom he had described to his friends, and they lied been inces.
taking, with a burning of the throat and stomach, and very speedily aantly searching for him ever since, but in vain.
acts upon the towels, anal death follows. I believe that a person Mr. WitATELY then called several witnesses 'or the prisoner,
poisoned would die struggling. I believe that persons who die who stated that he was a respectable farmer, and bore always an ex-
suddenly on generally discoloured after death. I think the posi. cellent character.
tion-of the deceased is not tomb a one as would be that of a man The Jury found him Guilty, but recommended him to mercy.
poisoned. 'There was nothing in the stomach but a little mucus in Mr. Bann) Gagnow then ordered that Thomas Middleton, who
the duodenum. We analyzea through the medium of suiplutte of had been convicted of a similar offence juring the present Assizes,
copper and ammonia, which produced a green precipitate. Apo. amid be placed at the bar, next to the prisoner last tried.
plexy generally produces dinolountion. Mr. Bellamy, the Clerk ofAtraigits, asked them the usual ques-
Robert Crowhurst, a shopkeeper at Burwash—Mrs. Russell came tion, whether they had any thing to say why sentence of death
to his shop about a month before deceased's death; but he does not should not be passed upon them.
recollect what she bought. lie went to her ou the 10th of May, The prisoners each expressed hopes of tile It niency of his Lord-
and asked her if she recollected how long it was since she was in shin, on account of their wives and young families.
his shop, and she replied, "as near as she could recollect, about a nil 1,02132111, then addressed them nearly in these words--
month ; ' and in reply to a question as to what she had then bought, Prisoners at the bar—You are hotb liable to have sentence of
she said, " the stuff I bought st your shop, we give to the mice, death pronounced upon you at this moment, and to be left by me
and threw the rest into the fire." When I sell poison, I always for execution. The situation of 2 Judge, in the present circum-
write that word on the parr; she made no hesitation in saying that stances of the country, is rendered peculiarly painful by the
the stuff she bought she gave to the mice. agonizing and conflicting duties he has to execute. I wish, an tar
Lydia Collins—Deals with last witness; saw Hannah Russell as poseible, and the execution of the laws of the country will lib
there one day baying stocking,: Crowhurst helped her also to a low, to recommend the sparing of human lite ; but the species of
small packet, on which he wrote poison," mentioning that he property which you both have assailed and stolen, requires the pe-
did not dare sell it without, and she said it was for the mice. It culler protection of the law. It has therefore been the necessary
was on a Saturday night., about a month before the death of de- policy of those who have to administer the km, finding the offence
ceased, of horse-stealing has grown to its present enormous height, to try
Crowhurst recalled by the Jrnou—Did not recollect whether how fat the uttermost punishment can nfibrd sufficiently severe ex.
Collins and Russell were at his shop on the sante day. amples to deter other offenders front eoMmitting the same sort of
William Collins, son of last witness, went with his mother to crime. I have, therefore, on the one haml, the painful and critical
Crowhurst'seltop, on a Saturday evening. about three weeks before duty of seeing how far I can deal mercifully with human lite ;
the death of deceased; prisoner Russell was there, and asked for and on the other, I am bound to see that the property of his
some white mercury; Crowhurst gave her something in a paper, Majesty's subjects is adequately protected. This crime has of
and wrote " poison' upon le, and said he did not dare sell it with. late been, and will continue to be, punished With the utmost
out doing so. severity of the law. Indeed. it is store particularly necessary that
Joseph Oliver hires at If eatlifield ; heard of deceased's death on the uttnost punishment should be awarded in this part of the king-
Monday,allay 10. Saw 'Any on Wednesday, and asked him if door titan its any other, because the vicinity of mountainous dis.l
he knew any thing of the death of the deceased ? He said no ; I tricts affords greetir opportunities for escape after the commission
told him I would not believe but whet he did ; lie still denied it ; of this offence, than counties more secure from depredation, on Sc.
he told me where I could find a parcel of wheat in a great oat field, count of their localitice, and being better bounded. It would be
this side of Mr. Holloway's house. I went with John Relf to look with the greatest reluctance that, at a period when the calendar be-
for the wheat, arid found it, but not just where he told me ; a part fore me presents, so setiefactorile for the character of the county ;bat
of it was against the stile; there appeared to be shout half a bushel. the diminished number of eight offenders, I should have to leave
I was at deceased's house about three weeks before he died. Mrs. any of those few fur execution. (Here the prisoners burst into tears,
Russell was putting some white powder on some bread and butter, and his Lordship was temporarily interrupted by female sobs in
and said it was far the mice. Lenny and French were there, and the crowd.) I say, I should fcel personally the greatest pain, under
saw her do it. Does not know what she did with the bread and such a circumstance, in leasing two unhappy fellow-creatures Mr
butter. execution. I struggle, therefore, against that pressure which the
Cron-examined—She made no secret of spreading the powder on necessity of example inflicts upon my conscience. and my own feel-
the bread and butter. lugs of common htunanite, to let in the effect which the good elm-
James Russell recalled, proved that he found 2j bushels of wheat, recur you have each received deservedly ought to have. la the
which, added to It. would make a sick. result, I have prevailed upon myself to hope, that I may be con-
Ann Hicks, niece of the deceased, was at Benj. Russell's house, sidered as discharging my duty, without compromising the interests
and prisoner, Rumen. was expecting her husband home, and was of his Majesty's subjects (which I sit sent lichee to protect), in
angry that he was not come, and said that she would cut his throat, ' leaving you both to the merciful consideration of the Crown. To
berm his head, or poison him ; the prisoner believed lie was gone the Monarch of this happy country your case is confided, and from
:thong with another woman ; thought these words were only the hint you may reasonably expect the mercy which has always elle-
threats of an angry woman, and did not take any notice of diem ; racterized his conduct. But if his Majesty shall be graciously
has seen deceased and prisoner lance together at their house. pleased to spare your lives, it will only be upon the condition that
Thomas Relf, labourer, of Iturwash, was at deceased's house the severest example be made of you, short of death. Thet mercy
about fifteen or :sixteen days before his death, in the cycling ; psi- will be extend, d necessarily on the terms of your leaving this coon.
sorter and some men were there ; son.e of the men went away ; I try for lite. You have appealed is the names of your wives and
then asked her where her husband was? she said he was gone to children, for life and mercy on their account. That life, to each of
bed t I asked her what made hint go to bed so stem ? She said that you, may probably be granted ; but I must tell you that your own
he and she had been falling out and fighting ; " have you ?" I said conduct wiil sever the bonds that ought to have tied you to tame
to her ; she said, " I'll be up to him for this—l'll be the death of who naturally looked to you for pretection and support. And here,
him before the aillnaler Is •" Jenny was present, end t‘aiii, let me add, that the purstilts of etime add to their public elan-
" hush that up ;" ahz ea, " he cursed if I don't;" I staid gcrous tendency the iallictittn of misery on unoffending and innia
till about a (leaner before one, atoll Leanv had gone to bed ; Mts. cent object. Theetettuers, intended as such, for your lives, and the
Russell went to bed at the time Leany did, and 1 locked ilia deer little lenocent offering of your matrimonial intervottnes, will be

..... ..-.....
Rabert LiEs. licadhorough of Hawkesberotigh; had Lenny
in custody on the Bth Ably, and was discharged in the evening.
On Tuesday I went to take him in custody on this charge.
Hannah Russell wan there, and 'Rimy was sitting close to her.
He remained in my custody until Thursday.. He said, if so be he
was sent in gaol,. nobody could swear that either be or Hannah
poisoned him (deceased). He was committed on the IGth of May,
and on the 17th, as I was going to Horaham with both the pri-
soners. Lear y said to Mrs. Russell, '!,,;tion't you (gay any thing..
If yoo don't, nobody eLs: can." Mrs. Ruasell.said„ " I'll try
and clear myself." IVitness was close by the cart in which they,
were tiling. Ile was walking by it. This was the case for tin.
prosecution.
ILchard Sinden, a little boy, proved that he saw the deceased CD
the Bund:ty afternoon; he complained of a pain in his chest; and
said he did not expect to be ache on Monday.
The prisoners being severally called upon for their defence, each
said they.had nothing to say.
The depoetion Of Willloin Russell. the father of the deceased,
was then put in, to contradict his statement on cross.exanitnatim,
which it did cifectuslly. It appeared that he had been sworn by the
Coroner,.
lily. Baron Guattaat summed up theevidence with elaborate Mi-
nuteness, making such observations upon the facts proved, as
could assist the Jury In coming to a satisfactory determination on
the case.

The Jury deliberated a few minutes and found both prisoners
Guilty.
Mr. Baron °RAMAN then passed the awful sentence of the kw
in a most impressive manner. and ordynd the wretched culprits to
be ea cuted on Monday morning.