The National Register.
London, England, 1818-03-01 00:00:00

ACCIDENT T, OFFENCES, 4r.

ATTrMPT AT Mownea.—An alarming circumstance occurred
in the town of Ipswich. a few days since. -- Cracknell, a wailer,
living near the Slack Horse public-house, has a sister-in-law, whys
has been some time in a state of derangement. Under the perste:sio4
that she was convaleocent. she had been allowed to come from Wix.
in lesser. to see her brother, with whom she had here several days.
After dinner on Wednesday week, when Cracknell had gone to his
work. she sister said to his wife `• I must kill you !" and instantly
intuited her with a table knife, making a deep incision in the lower
part of her throat. Mrs. Cracknell succeeding is extrication herself.
but not without having her hand dreadfully lacerattxl, fhe de-
ranged woman than made a second attempt, inflicting a wound in
the upper part of Mrs. Cracknell'a throat, anti lacerating her other
head. The cries of the sufferer brought the neighbours to her assis-
tance, and they secured the maniac. The knife had fortunately
taken a sloping directiont hereby avoiding the wind pipe and :rain
artery, to which it passed very near; it is evident that. hail not :11140.214..
I ranee been afforded at the instant, the woman would have effected
I purpose; and that her intention was also to murder some children.
who were in the room, Site was sent home to Wix.—Safilk
11 Paper.
A few slays since an inquest was held at Wappenbury, upon the
body of the Rev. W. Williams, Curate of IVappenbury and Rad-
ford, who was found drowned in the river Leam, and who had been
missing since the Oth of December. On that day lie attended the
Citation Meeting at Coventry, and it is supposed that, on his return
home in the evening, in attempting to cross the ford at Stanyford,
he wax carried down by the stream. The body, which was disco-
vered two miles beyond Stanyford, must in its passage have beets
forced through the floodgates at Eathorpe mill. The morning after
Mr. Williams was missing, his dog was seen attentively watching
on the banks of the river, and his horse grazing in an adjoining
meadow, which led his friends to suppose that lie had met his death
in the melancholy way just stated. The body bore no marks of trio-
ence upon it; and Ins snitch and money were found on his person.
Verdict—Found Drowned.
ATTEMPTED Su tcIDE.--Sunday morning an elegantly dressed
female was observed in a melancholy mood, walking backwards and
forwardsin the Green Park, near the naervoir. The singularity of
' her manner, in walking very fast, and then making a sudden stand,
caused the pedestrians in the park to stop and notice her. On an
instant she turned round to look at the persons passing, and then
' rushed into the water. When she was in, she screamed very loud
for assistance, and immediately sunk. Many persons were at the
edge of the reservoir.; but no one seemed to possess sufficient courage
to attempt to save her. She was on the point of sinking again. when
a young man, with a rake in his hand, leaped into the water, and
drew her out. She was carried to St. George's Hospital, where she
soon recovered from the effects of her immersion. She refused to
divulge the reason for making such a rash attempt ; but expressed
her pleasure at having been saved from destruction.
Last Thursday week, the P.ilice watchman, while going his rounds
in Rose-street, Edinburgh. was attracted by the cries of a female in
the Stable-lane, and, on going to the spot, saw a man having hold
of a girl, and endeavouring to drag her with him, which she resisted.
The watchman desired her to go home. She said she wished it, but
that the fellow had detained her for some hours, and would not allow
her ; the watchman then conducted her to the next post to take her
home. Shortly after, the fellow came to him, and threstenedto do
for him, in presence of some gentlemen, and after they were gone.
the watchman was beat unmercifully on the head, and left in a state
of insensibility ; in which situation he remained for almost an hour'
when he was discovered by another watchman. The poor mants so
dreadfully wounded that he lies dangerously ill in the 'Royal In-
firmary. A butcher has been taken into custody, and identified by
the watchman as the man who threatened him.

On Saturday week, May, Goff, and Bill, went to Greenwich for
the plirpuse of collecting. if possible, some further information con.
cerning the late korrid murders there. The only circumstance that
transpired in consequence, was. that the handle of a coachman's whip
was found on the remises of LAU. gird. the thick end of which was
dyed in blood. It is w5ll Immo that Mr. Bird hirl no articles of
that descripffon. and it is hoped that the owner of the whip may be
discovered, and that this incident will furnish a clue which may event-
unity lead to a discovery ofehe murderers.
Early on the morning of Saturday week the Court of Requests, it
Vine-street, Piccadilly, was broke open, and the locks of every desk
and drawer picked, the papers ransacked and scattered about rhe
door ; but the thieves were disappointed of the booty they expected.
I only finding 31405. in copper.
A distressing accident happened on Sunday wee*, at W hitnell, near
Charley, Lancashire. Five girls having gone upon a pit in that
place. about four o'clock in the afternoon, were precipitated into the
water by the breaking of the ice, and were all drowned. A coroner's
inquest was held on the bodies : when the Jury brought in i Ye:-
diet of—Accidental Death.

A serious accident happened on the 31 inst. at Langley, in Norfolk.
nit Burton, steward to sir T. B. Proctor, Bart. was going with a
carpenter to mark some timber, when, in passing through a plantation
within a short distance of the hall. his foot came in contact with the
trigger-string of a spring gun, which went oft; and the contents
wounded him in the legs and lower part of both thighs. Ile is, how
ever, in a fair way of recovery.
A young girl of Beverley, named Hunter, 16 years of age, was
found drowned in a place calks' the `• Willow-row," at that place..
about 10 o'clock on Tuesday night last. She had been missing about
four hours. .

, -
Sunday evening the house of Mr. Leet, of BetbnaLgreen,
was entered by thieves, and robbed of property to a great
amount. The.fainity was from horse when the depredation
was committed. The thieves carried away a large bed among
other property.
On the morningof Saturday week; dozing a gale, as the jolly boat
of his Majesty's ship Rochtiot, waspaseing towards the short at Gos-
port, with the usual compliinentaef men, and Mr—Lbnginore and
Mr. Frondlion, Midshipmen, she upset about the middle .of the
harbour. The seamen were driven up the harbour towards.his Ma.
jesty's ship Prince, and were taken oc!hoard in a very exhausted
state. The young gentlemen were observed to be exerting then lees
to gain one of the buoys, hoping thereby to be reieued frOns their
rynlous situation, but on their near approach they were drawn under
ehesame of the cuseent.aart totally disappeared. Mr:Fianeillon
is the son of F. Fumedlon, Esq.. Purser of the Rochfort. .
A few days since. Mr. Parsons, a partner in the home of Croft and
Pawns. paper-hangers, in the Strand, proceeded oil . a journey of
business to Cheltenham. A young...e.dly to whom he.svas about to be
married, living in the neighbourhood, he hired a horse with un mute_ •
tion of payin,,., her a visit. ..14e had not preceded more than Iwo
miles from Cheltenham, when the animal took fright, ran away„, and
finally threw him off: Ile fell on his htad, and almost immediately
expired. Ills corpse was carried to the house in which his intendeill
rid
ided. Her feelings may be nacre easily conceived nail described:
e deceased was one of ninetecushildren by the same parents, and
he lived, would have ecjieda very hand.oenc property.

dru--

U 3.1) BALI

Friday, the Sessions ended, sentence of transportation was passed
upon thirty four, for seven (years;—ten, for fourteen years;—..even,
fir the term of their natural lives.
Fweeral others received sentence of imprisainnicnt for aitrereat pe-
riods, some were ordered to be public)). and others privately whipped,
and the judgment of five was respiteii.
The liecorder then proceeded to pass sentence of Death upon the
fallowing persons, capitally convicted during the Sessior.s—ii. Clay-
t C. 11. Pringle, J. Ram, G. Matthews. I'. Coatce, M. Rainie,
an J. Gossip, for stealing in a dwelling house to the vallie of 40s.
and ipwards—R. Bishop, M. Keefe, W. Dickies, and .t. l)ogherty,
ter buri:l.ir)—J. Miller, for sheep stealing—and J. Ward and liar-
r...t fur forgery. The bessiocs then arkiourned to the flan
of Apia.

The following letter war found in the tioet of tlie Mur-
derer 11..1461, utter his dealt, adilt-esseil to the another of
• 511111111‘;, OH.I was produced WI the inquest.
" Newgate Feb. 19.
'•Vann MSTMIA....A. time i., drawing nigh to my dissolution it
11i114 but proper that I shotii.: make tome disclosure ie.- this
suo,t untOrttinate piece of business. Perhaps it may prove some
enajuialion to yourself. and I ant persuader) that I will save you and
cur family a. VILA deal of trouble. TherdOre Ido request. that for
Your medial. you will no: appear youiself, deidier the utility of any
one of your troubling yourselves to come at all r• because if I am
brought up toe trial. winch I do not think I shall, hut he that as it
soil. detennination is to plead guilty, because I cannot, nor will
I, for 1 well know- I have deluded men in regard to knowledge.
b tn 4 the person who emninitted the crime. Vet lam very well con.
ainceo iota I cannot deceive that Cod, whose iannisrient eye is every
'w;iert et Therefore for the satisfaction of you and the allevia-
tion of my own mind. I now come with a determination to disclose
to you how and in wliat way this transiction was accomplished. algid
k.rti, ION; it bad been in contemplation ; fOr believe me. Madam, it
was not us en fed to be dune by the instrument that did do it, but on
a...nant of my being. so Ivor. that 1 was unable to accomplish my
wish to procure a pair of pistols ; and then for both of 1.13 unhappy
beings to fail at each others side. But feustiated in that design. I
was deterinined, it possible, to do k in another way, in which way I
t :rat 1:0.1 1 did with • • • • • • (Here several sentences
were naid.Trd illegible by the letter being stained v di the blood of
deceased) owe poor untbrtunate, and happy, it: an instant as it
soil way only ton) that I had not time to tall with her. Oh,
en; dea: and Zed wife ! would to Gott we had both died together,
a .1 witli ;h.: same instrument. But it is not too late ta do it !NW
for it !t'ls r..:vet been out of my pwsession since Viat awful night ;
is,n...her shall it.before 1 die : for I am detorm-ned hot to be made a
yy lobe :me...facie, Therefore, whim you receive this, I shall, I hope.
Is past all trawl and experience. I have had with me last night a
Hoke?, who Itas hard the impudence to acense me with enibrning
an; bands in my fellow-ereturts blood; but uo dc. a o,ere !,e
t'!:s ~doming ; and ail I pray far is, that I may do it etFectually ; for
ire ar.stons to die sod be with the dear object of my soul; for I ant
rill perruaileil that t shall have that urboundespPasurc of enjoy-
in.; her company in a Cr superior wey than ever it wild he dune tr.
*Cos trumitory wo:bi; and ;taro: what roan dueswith this holy, a
'mire lame of clay, it it of no =sequence to me ; therefore men
• do with it as they please. So OW AlenigMy bless you. and
et remainder of your unfortunate family, is the las; prayer of a satis-
'lied Man. " W. II:114*CH."