The Sun.
London, England, 1830-05-15 00:00:00

MOST EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

o'clock.

(Abridged from the Shrewsbury Chronicle.)
The circumstance of a man, calling himself Robert Fisher,
being found tied to a gate near the Chapel Ash turnpike, close to
Wolverhampton, in Feb. 1829, and the subsequent detection of
his imposture, will no doubt be in the recollection of our readers.
A servant of Mr. J. Tarratt's was passing along the road about
nine in the evening, and found the man bound with cords to the
gate; he had a severe blow on his right eye and forehead, with
a large piece of brown paper rolled tightly together, in his mouth,
and fastened with two strings attached to it, at the back of his
head. The statement he gave of himself was, that he was a
native of Oswestry, and by trade a joiner. He said he resided
in London, but had been down to Oswestry to see his friends,
and was upon his return house; on reaching the village of Tet-
tenhall, two miles from here, he went to the Rose and Crowir to
refresh himself, and staid there until half-past eight, the night
being dark and foggy. When he came near the gate where he
was found, (which is within '250 yards of the turnpike and seve-
ral houses), a man overtook him, and he had scarcely time to
perceive indistinctly that one or two others were in his company
before he received a blow across the face from a stick or other
weapon, which brought him to the ground, and inflicted the
wound on his eye. He was stunned by the blow, and whilst he
lay in that insensible state was fastened to the gate, &c.; he
added that the men had rifled him of two sovereigns and thirteen
shillings in silver, a bundle of clothes, a case of drawing instru-
ments, and two books, but could give no description of the
persons who had robbed and bound him, on account of the dark-
ness of the night. Such was the statement this man gave of the
transaction, and his case exciting commiseration, a subscription
was immediately raised for him, but the publicity of the situa-
tion, and some variation between him and the account given by
the landlord of the Rose and Crown, having excited suspicion,
inquiry was made at Oswestry, when it turned out that no
person of his name or description was a native of that place, or
had ever been known there ; and at the same time a communica-
tion was received from the Rev. Mr. Dale, of Donnington, that
the same person had, immediately before, been at the same prac-
tices in the neighbourhood of Bridgenorth. In fine, the com-
plete detection of this artful impostor took place, and before he
could be apprehended he decamped.
At the late Lancaster Assizes, two men and a woman, of the
names of Paul Rigby, and James Grimes, and Mary Grimes,
were convicted of a. -highway robbery on the 23d of February
W.; upon tilr name of Robert Stanley. From the
report of the case which appeared in the Papers, it seemed that
the prosecutor represented himself as a joiner, residing in Os-
westry, but was on his way to the north ; and that about six in
the evening of Shrove Tuesday he stopped at a public-house
about four miles from Lancaster. Having taken some refresh-
ment, he proceeded towards Lancaster, and arrived within three-
parts of a mile of the place, when, a little after seven o'clock, he
met a woman, dressed in a dark-coloured cloak and light bonnet,
who asked him for some half-pence, speaking with a broad Irish
accent. He told her he had nothing for her, and she passed on ;
he then saw that there were close behind her two men, one of
whom struck him a blow on the cheek with a stick. After a
short struggle he received another blow on the fbrehead, which
brought him to the ground, and rendered him insensible. About
eight o'clock two men and a young woman saw the prosecutor
lying on the road, apparently drunk or asleep; at length they
discovered that his hands were fastened with wire to one of the
bars of the gate. A light was then procured—the wire was de-
tached from the gate, and the prosecutor being insensible, was
carried to the nearest house. There his cravat was taken off; and
it was found that a quantity of wire, similar to that with which
his hands had been fastened, was twisted tight about his neck—
of course it was immediately taken off; and the prosecutor, after
great care had been bestowed upon him, came to himself in about
an hour. He then stated that his money, his watch, and two
amain bundles, containing wearing apparel, had been taken out of
his pocket. As the night was dark he could not identify the per-
sons who attacked him, and could only say they resembled the pri-
soners at the bar. To prove that the prisoners were the parties
by whom the robbery was committed, a great mass of circum-
stantial evidence was adduced, which raised as strong a presumis
tion of guilt as was, perhaps, ever afforded by such a description
of testimony, and the prisoners were all found guilty. At the
conclusion of the business at the Crown Bar, Mr. Justice Park
passed sentence of death upon the two male prisoners, and the
woman was ordered for transportation. They protested their in-
nocence, but so strong were appearances against them that Mr.
Justice Park implored them not to suppose such an asseveration
would be of any avail, for that .‘ if they were innocent there was
no reliance to be placed on human testimony." He concluded by
feelingly exhorting them to prepare for eternity, and appointed
the day for their execution. Particulars of this case were report-
ed in the Shrewsbury chronicle, and meeting the eyes of the
principal inhabitants of Oswestry, who had never heard of such
a person as the prosecutor living there, the conduct of the im-
poster Fisher at Wolverhampton, rushed to their recollection,
and created a powerful suspicion that the prosecutor may possibly
be the same person, and the prisoners the victims of his perjury.
Doubts instantly led to inquiry, and inquiry to certainty that no
such person as Robert Stanley, joiner, had ever lived in Os-
westry. The information was promptly communicated to Mr.
Justice Park, and a respite was immediately granted by that
Learned and Humane Judge until the 21th of next month. In
the mean time, ir. consequence 'of a communication from Mr.
Longueville, ci Oswestry, to Messrs. Holvoake and Robinson
of Wolverhampton, Diggory, one of the police-officers, who
was well acquainted with the person of Fisher, and with all the
circumstances of his impostures here, was sent to Lancaster.
He returned to Wolverhampton on Thursday last, and from
his statement there appears the strongest presumption of the.
prosecutor and the man who called himself Fisher being one
and the same person, and of the prisoners being the victims of
the most diabolical perjury. The identity of the party from
description is of course too imperfect to be alone of much
weight ; but it seems that the prosecutor left Lancaster on the
18th by a coach to Liverpool, and the following day the chaplain
of the gaol at Lancaster received a letter bearing the Liver-
pool post-mark of the 18th, and stating that the prisoners were
innocent.
The most extraordinary part of the case, however, yet remains
to be stated.
When the prisoners were taken before Admiral Tatham, the
Magistrate who committed them, it seems that the Admiral in-
quirad of the prosecutor the name of some respectable inha-
bitant of Oswestry to whom lie could apply for the prosecutor's
character, and that Stanley replied he was known to the Rev.
Mr Yenables, the minister at Oswestry. Admiral Tatham ad-
dressed a letter accordingly, and received in due course the fol-
lowing answer, bearing Oswestry post-mark, March 6 :
(COPY OF LETTER.)
Oswestry, March sth, 1810.
Sir,—l received yours of the 24 instant. and am sorry to hear
ofpoor Stanley's misfortune—he is not known to me in person—
but I have made inquiry,. and find him to bear a very good cha-
racter since his residence in this town. He is but in a small way
of business but it is considered very industrious.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,
THOMAS VENABLES.
trea rl. Tatham, Lancaster.
P.S.—I should wish Stanley to call on me when be returns.
Addressed to the TowniCleßrko
, earL"Aandcmasi
Post-mark Oswestry, March 6, 1830.
Both these letters were procured by Diggory at Lancaster, and
upon his return to Oswestry the astonishment of the inhabitants
in that place, xho so promptly interested themselves in the pri-
soners'imagined than described. There
easily Thomas Venables" °meshy.
It is almost needless to add
m
add, that these important facts were in..
stantly forwarded to Mr. Justice Park, and, as might be expected,
the poor prisoners have been rescued from death. Sir John
Wrottesley has, we understand, warmly interested himself upon
the subject, and the case is now undergoing the fullest investiga-
is no
person
r fate,so of maybe
be
name more
nie of “
investiga-
tion of Mr. Peel.

„
BRUTAL CONDUCT IN A MOTHER TO-
WARDS HER INFANT--On Wednesday, the sth instant,
an inquest was held at the Rid Lion, High Wycombe,
before Wst. DENNy, Esq. Mayor and Coroner, and a re-
spectable and intelligent jury, on view of the body of
ELIZA, the illegitimate child of ANN RoLrE, aged ten
weeks. After the Jury heard evidence, they returned a
verdict of ” Died by the Visitation of God. The Jury
are also of opinion that there was great neglect on the part
of the mother towards the deceased infant." _ _

Forty persons left this city on Saturday last to
embark at Yarmouth for Quebec.—Nortvich Pest.

RYE ELECTION.-(THIS DAY.)

The Committee met again this morning at eleven

Mr. HAnnisow said, agreeable to the resolution of yes-
terday, he slioidd now proceed to prove to the Commit-
tee, that all persons who had been resident inhabitants of
Rye, and paying scot and lot for a year and a day, were
entitled to demand being admitted freemen, and in conse-
quence entitled to vote at the election of Members to serve
in Parliament. The Learned Counsel, in support of this
claim, read several extracts from charters granted in the
reigns of Edward 111., Henry VII., and Elizabeth, and
contended that the word baron and freeman of the Cinque
Ports was synonimous. . . . .

Mr. WiLmoT fIORTON wished to know whether it was
intended to bring forward for the decision of the Committee
a question as to whether the sons of non-resident freemen
were entitled to vote.

Mr. HARRISON said, if the Committee decided whether
or not strangers, after a year's residence, were entitled t'
their freedom, it would be unnecessary to ge into that in-
quiry, because no one who did not reside in the borough
could vote.

Mr. HARRISON then called Mr. James Miller, who
stated that ke had been an attorney at Rye four years.
He knew Mr. Holland ; be was a householder in that
borough, and paid scot and lot; his vote was refused at
the last election.

Mr. ADAM said they bad other cases which they could
bring, where similar refusals had been made, which, if
desired by the other side, he would bring forward.
Mr. Serjeant SPANKIE said, he had no such wish. Os
behalf of Mr. Pusey, after the resolutions of yesterday, he
felt no interest in any future proceedings in this very sin-
gular • case. The Committee had decided, that IS votes
ought to havebeen added to the poll, this was sufficient to give
Colonel Evans a majority. He should therefore be glad

if all who claimed to vote were added. It was of no
use to his client to discuss the subject further, and he
in consequence ha's withdrawn himself from all other
proceedings.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the Com-
mittee remained in deliberation two hours ; after which

Lord PALMERSTON said it was the opinion of the Com-
mittee that all persons of good repute that had been resi-
dent householders of Rye, paying scot and lot for one
year and one day, were entitled to vote at the election of
Members to serve in Parliament for that part.
Evidence was then given to chew that a sufficient
number of persons coming under this description, had ten-
dered their votes for Colonel Evans, which, had they not
been rejected, would have given the Colonel a majority on

the poll.
The admissibility of these persons (under the resolu-
tion that the Committee had come to) not being disputed;

The Committee declared " That Colonel Evans had
been duly elected to serve as Member of Parliament for
the Port of Rye, and that the election and return of
Phillip Pusey, Esq. was null and void."
By the decision of the Committee the right of all resi-
dent householders, paying scot and lot for a year and a
day, to vote at all elections is established.

THE MARKETS.-(THIS DAY)

COVENT-GARDEN MARKET.

There was a good supply at this morning's market,
and the trade was tolerably brisk. Strawberries, Goose-
berries, and Cucumbers, were cheaper than on this day
se'nnight ; prices otherwise about stationary.
s.d. s.d
Potatoes (cwt.)
New ditto (per lb.)
Cabbages (12 heads) 0 0 0 0
Ditto Red 1 2 '2 6
Ditto Savoy 0 9 1 6
Horse liadish(bundle) 1 6 3 6
Brocoli 0 8 1 6
Rhubarb 0 6 1 0
Celery 0 8 1 6
'Lumps 12 bunches) 1 0 '2 0
loung Carrots
Coleworts or Greens 1 2 2 0
Radishes 0 8 1 6
Young Onions 1 4 2 0
Leeks. 0 8 1 2
Brocoli Sprouts (bush )0 6 0 9
Turnip Greens ' 0 4 0 8
Old Carrots 2 0 4 0
Parsnips (dozen)
Cucumbers (brace)

sd. s. d.
Spinage (half-sieve) 0 4 tot) 6
Apples 1 0 4 6
Sweet Oranges (1( 0)
Seville Oranges 8 0 12 0
Lemons 4 0 12 0
Asparagus 1 6 3 0
Span. Chesnuts (peck) 6 0 10 0
French ditto 4 0 6 0
Spanish Hazlenuts
French Walnuts 4 0 6 0
Eng. Grapes (per lb . )
Sea-kail (pnmmet)
Small Sailad (basket) 0 1 0 3
French Beans 2 0 3 0
Strawberries (thumb) 5 0 10 0
Gooseberries 0 21 0 4
Currants 0 6 1 0
Cos Lettuces (score) 1 0 1 6
Cabbage ditto 0 4 0 9

HAY M A RKETS.—(At per Load of yd Trusses.)
ST. JAMES'S.

Coarse heavy Lowland Meadow Hay 4 0 to £2 10
New Meadow Hay U 0 0
Useful Old Ditto _ 2 10
3 10
. _

Nine Upland Meadow and Rye-grass Hay a li 4 is
Clover Hay 2 12 5 5
Oat Straw £2 6to £2 10 I Wheat Straw... .2 10 2 14
Supply treat, but of indifferent quality ; trade very dull, and
prices as last quoted.