The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-25 00:00:00

WE ULLINGSTVICK MURDER.

THE CORONER'S INQUEST, AND COMMITTAL
OF THE PRISONER.
HEREORD, THURSDAY.
This morning Mr. N. Sanwarne, the coroner for
this division of the county, held an inquest upon the
body of Mary Corbett, who had been brutally mur-
dered on the night of Monday last. The inquisition
took place at the Prince of Wales Inn, whither the
body was removed after finding it in an orchard, as
already reported. The prisoner (Hope) has been
previously convicted of felonious charges, and was
in 1850 sentenced to seven years' transportation,
but only served three of that term, when he re-
turned to Ullingswick on a ticket-of-leave, and has
since been twice convicted of misdemeanour, for
which he has served terms of imprisonment.
Dr. Bull, of Hereford, made a post mortem exa-
mination of the body, assisted by Mr. Hill, surgeon
of Bodenham. The clergyman of the parish, Rev.
J. M. Ware, was in attendance. The first witness
called was 'lrs. Elizabeth Skerrett, the mistress of
the deceased, who deposed to the circumstances
under which she had disappeared.
Mary Bevan said—l am a married woman, and
my husband is a drainer. I live at the half-way
house in Ullingswick, and keep a shop and beer-house.
I knew Mary Corbett, from her having come to the
shop. Mrs. Skerrett's is about 300 yards from my
house. On Monday night Mary Corbett came to my
house for candles, about ten minutes before 10 o'clock.
Any one going to the shop as a customer would have
to go through the kitchen. The only persons there
were Hope and John Prosser. Prosser was asleep,
and Hope had some beer. As she was about to go
out Hope asked her to have some beer, and she said
she did not want any that night. She then left,
and Hope, without speaking, got up and went out.
He left about a glass and a half or two glasses in
the jug. I did not see him or deceased after. I
never saw them together before, nor have I seen
either of them since.
Prisoner—Did I stop in the house ten minutes
after the girl left ?
Witness—No, you did not.
By a juryman—Hope gave the girl a glass of beer
when she was down before, when she came for beer
for her mistress. I did not see him attempt to take
liberties with her. It was about 8 o'clock.
Richard Mapp said—l am a labourer, and live in
this parish, about 150 yards from Bevan's beershop.
I have seen Mary Corbett at Skerrett's, and I knew.
Hope, who got his living by labouring about. I
did not see either of them on Monday night. I went
to bed about ten, and immediately after I heard two
screams. I got out of bed and went to the window.
It was of a female calling out, " Ohl dear, oh," as if
in distress. I opened the window, but did not hear
anything more, as the wind was very blusterous.
My cottage is about 70 yards from that part of the
road where the marks of struggling were. I fancied
the screams to come sideways to my house, which
would be in the direction of where the struggle
took place.
William Weaver—l am a thatcher and live in
Ullingswick. I have known deceased since she was
a child. I also know Hope. On Monday night I
slept at George Hope's, a brother of the pi isoner.
William Hope does not live with him. It rained
heavily, and when I went out to wash at 7 o'clock
1 found deceased in a field at the back of the house.
I could see it was a person as if covered over
with a black shawl. I called George Hope, and
said there was something lying under the hedge.
We both went to see what it was. We went round
through the gate instead of getting over the hedge.
I saw it was a female quite stiff, and George Hope
put his foot to her. She was sitting with her head
hanging over her right shoulder. Her clothes were
down, her face was covered with mud and blood,
and her hair was in a disorderly state all over her
face. The shawl was thrown over her, up to about
her face. The shawl was dirty and wet. She had
the appearance as if she had been rolled in mud and
blood. The shawl produced by the police is that
which covered her body. George Hope opened the
gate and went to her, and only found some heel or
toe marks near the body. I went to fetch Insole,
and then went after the constable. When bring-
ing her up here I found the place where the struggle
had taken place, in a corner on the side of the road,
and picked up the net now produced, which I gave
to the constable, Frederick Pugh. The net was as
near as I could tell to where her head was in the
lump of dirt where the struggle was. Had no
thought it was a native. Inquired if any stranger
had been seen about. It seemed like a murder, and
we took care not to disturb any footmarks.
George Hope confirmed the evidence of the last
witness, and added that he found the frail produced
at a corner of the orchard fall of turnips. The cord
was then attached to it. He fancied that it was his
brother's frail, but he could not swear that it was.
His brother did not live with him.
Sarah Prosser said—l am the wife of James Pros-
ser, a sawyer, and live in Ullingswick. I know
Hope, who had lodged with me four weeks. He
worked at hedging and draining for anyone who
could employ him. My rule was that Hope was
to be in at ten or be locked out. We never locked
him out before Monday night. I went to bed at
half-past nine. If he had come I should have
let him in. He did not come. I saw him on
Tuesday morning, about half-past seven, when
he said he was going to work for Mr. Hill, of the
Green. I had not seen him from Monday morning
until that time ; he then came for his breakfast.
Did not observe that he was dressed when he went
out. When he returned he had his short slop on
and trousers in which he usually works. Did not
see him go away from the house. He had not much
change of clothes. I cannot say whether the frail
produced is prisoner's, but he had one similar to it,
which used to be hung at the back of the house.
Never noticed whether there was a cord attached to
it. He used his frail to carry his food. I did not
see the frail on Monday. My husband has a frail,
which is hung up there now. Hope took the jacket
now produced on Monday morning, and he did not
bring it back again on Tuesday. It was not dirty
when he took it out.
James Weaver, a thatcher, said—l reside in
Ullingswick. On Tuesday, about 4 o'clock in the
evening, while on my road home, and in consequence
of what I had heard respecting the affair, I went
into a piece of plantation to look for the jacket that
was missing, and near to where were the marks of
struggling I found a jacket (the one produced) rolled
up tight and concealed in th 6 stump of an old tree.
I pulled it out, and in the morning placed it in the
hands of the police. It was about 150 yards or so
from where the struggle took place.
Daniel Harwood, superintendent of police at
Bromyard, examined-1 was on my way to Here.
ford on Tuesday last, and from information I re-
ceived .1 came down here, and found Simpson, in
whose company I went to where the marks of
struggling were seen. I examined the spot very
minutely, bat could not find footmarks, from previ-
ous rain and trampling, but found two places as if
the toes of boots had made indentations in the earth,
On some clay that had been thrown out of the ditch
an impression of a person lying on her back, from
the buttock and back of the head ; also found Rove-
ral knee marks, as if some one had been kneeling,
The knee marks were produced by a peculiar sad
of ribbed stuff. I then got a spade, and in the pre-
sence of Simpson I dug up the plainest of the im-
pressions, which I now produce. I also produce
impressions from the trousers of prisoner ' . the dif-
ference in the.impressions is accounted for by the
trousers being worn in some part, 1 then went to
prisoner and examined his trousers, now produced.
found them very dirty about the knees. It is a twill
ribbed cord,and appears to have made the impressiona
referred to_ On the fall of the trousers I also found
blood, and also upon certain portions of his linen;
also dirt upon his shirt corresponding with the dirt
upon his trousers and upon the wristbands of his
shirt; also found dirt upon the slop he was wear
ing ; also examined his boots and found several
places as if nails had been recently taken out.
Mrs. Bevan was recalled—Hope had on a jacket
when he went out after the girl. The jacket pro-
duced was that which ho 'wore at the time; she
knew it by a rent in the left-hand pocket.
Mrs. Sarah Hill said—My husband's name is
Jacob Hill. I undressed deceased ; I also laid out
the body on Tuesday morning; her olotnes were
very dirty ; she had not been washed. I found blood
upon her fezz.,
wk . I .. and her outside. garments were wet.
\'T hen got the dirt off her face I found two marks
under the chin ; I found a great deal of blood upon
the front tail of her chemise.
1
Mr. Henry Graves Bull said—l am a surgeon,
.
hying in Hereford. In conjunction with Mr. 11

I have, by the directions of the coroner, made a full
post-mortem examination. A most elaborate report
was then given in. After speaking of the injuries
inflicted upon the body it said death resulted from
asphixia or suffocation of the nose, mouth, and
throat. The marks of violence had been produced
by a left and right hand. No other signs to account
for death were found upon the body. Violation had
been completed with very great force. Could not
say whether violation had been completed before
suffocation.

Some further evidence was given, in which the
frail produced was identified as having been in the
possession of the prisoner on the night of the murder.
Prisoner declined to say anything in defence, and
the jury, withou, hesitation, returned a verdict of
Wilful Murder, upon which charge he was com-
mitted for trial.

HORRIBLE MURDER NEAR CIREN-

CESTER.

Yesterday (Friday morning a painful state of
excitement was created at Cirencester by the news
that a barbarous murder had been committed at the
pleasant village of Rendcombe, about four miles
from this town, on the Cheltenham road, the victim
being a young woman named Sarah Moss, and the
murderer a man named William Mealing, who was
engaged to be married to her.
The murderer, William Mealing, is about 26 or
27 years of age, and is an agricultural labourer. He
is a tall, thin young man, with a stupid expression
of countenance and ungainly appearance, and with
the stooping gait peculiar to men of his class. His
father and mother are labourers in the same parish
and bear a respectable character.
Sarah Moss, the unfortunate victim of this dread-
ful crime, was about 32 years of age, and had been
for some time staying at the cottage of her father,
which is situate in a secluded part of the road, near
the vicarage. She was formerlyi n the service of
the Rev. Mr. Bloxsome, of orth fibley, and while
there she formed an acquaintance with a young
farmer in the neighbourhood, which resulted in the
birth of a child, which has since been affiliated, and
the father contributes ls. 6d. a week towards its
maintenance. This child is now three years old.
The mother of Sarah Moss was burnt to death
some years since, and the household, until about
last Christmas, consisted of the deceased, her child,
and her father, an infirm old man of about 80 and
very deaf.
Shortly before Christmas last the prisoner left his
father's cottage and went to live at Moss's house.
A very close intimacy took place between Mealing
and Sarah, and the woman was at the time of the
murder very near her confinement. The bans o.
marriage between the parties had been pat up at
the parish church, and the wedding was to have
taken place immediately. The deceased have saved
£6 or £7 for the occasion, and she asked Mr. Riddi-
ford, the superintendent of police at Cirencester, to
intercede for her with the father of her child, and
try and get him to give her £5 more. Mr. Riddi-
ford, it appears, was in the habit of receiving her
child's money from its father, and handing it over
to her.

On Saturday last the parties quarrelled, and
Mealing returned to his father's house, where he
stayed until Thursday, the night of the murder.
On Thursday evening he went back to Moss's, and
his mother and other persons were present. A re-
conciliation apparently took place, and Mealing
and his victim went to bed, her child sleeping in
the same room.

About 3 o'clock yesterday morning Mealing went
to the house of Timothy Tarrant, the village black-
smith, who is also the parish constable, and, hav-
ing aroused him, informed him, that he had killed
a woman. Tarrant at first was incredulous, but at
length he went to Moss's cottage, and there he found
that it was too true, the poor woman being quite
dead, with her throat cut and her child crying, as
if it could realise the dreadful facts of the case
An alarm was created, and the prisoner, who had
gone to his father's house, was placed in safe charge.
Information was sent to Cirencester, and Mr.
Superintendent Riddiford, Sergeant Eyles, and
Constables Darel and Townsend were as soon as
possible at the scene of the awful tragedy.
Mr. Riddiford found the body of the ill-fated
woman lying on her left side, with her arms crossed,
and her throat literally cut from ear to ear. The
bed was saturated with her blood, which was
running through the floor into the room below.
From the calm and tranquil appearance of the body,
and the absence of blood on her hands, it would
seem that the murder was suddenly committed,
while she was asleep. Mr. Riddiford has possession
of the instrument with which the fatal deed was
perpetrated. It is a common black-handled razor,
with the words " shilling razor" on the blood-stained
blade, which is also notched like a saw.
The prisoner, after murdering the poor woman,
robbed her of her purse and money. This money,
consisting of six sovereigns, one half-sovereign, a
threepenny piece, and three penny worth of coppers,
he gave to his mother, from whom Mr, Riddiford
received it.

The dreadful news was attempted to be communi-
cated to the aged father of the deceased, but he ap-
peared to persist in believing that she had only been
confined, for which he was prepared, but the real
facts he could not be made to comprehend.
The prisoner was removed to the police-station at
Cirencester, where he appears to be in a most de-
jected and miserable plight, and evidently fully
alive to the horrors of his position. His face and
hands were blood-stained.

THE ALLEGED DEATH THROUGH UN-
SKILFUL 7.REA7MENT.

Yesterday afternoon Mr. Raffles Walthew, the
deputy-coroner for East Middlesex, resumed, at the
Red Cow Tavern, Mile-end-road, the adjourned in
quest on the body of a child 16 months old, named
James Weedley. It will be remembered from what
took place at the former inquiry that the parents of
the child were poor but respectable persons, and re-
sided in Cleveland-street, Stepney. The subject of
the inquiry had been ailing for some time, and suf-
fering from a kind of hacking cough, in consequence
of which the mother went to a shop which was
kept by a Mr. Timpson, of the Dog-row, Mile-end,
who had the words surgeon and accoucheur over the
door, by which she was led to believe that he was a
duly qualified member of the Royal Colldge of Sur-
geons, more especially as he had attended her in
confinement with the deceased. After stating the
symptoms of the child, Mr. Timpson prescribed
a mixture termed " paregoric tincture," which had
been labelled with instruction to give the child a
teaspoonful of mixture when the cough was bad. A
medical gentleman named Irwin, upon being called
in found the child in a dying state, evidently suf-
fering from disease of the brain and the effects of
some narcotic, and the child quickly expired, appa-
rently from disease and the effects of the mixture
given to him. The inquiry was therefore adjourned
for a post mortem examination of the body,
Mr. Irwin, surgeon, of Mile-end-road, said that
since the last inquiry he had made a post mortem
examination, and found about four ounces of turbid
serum on the brain, and on cutting through the
substance he found some red spots, indicating in-
flammation, proving that the deceased had acute
hydrocephalus. Upon opening the body be was
still of opinion that if such a narcotic as opium had
been given to a child of such a tender age it was
likely to cause death.
A Juror—What did you do for the child P
Witness—l gave it some stimulant in the shape
of spirits of ammonia and camphor mixture with
golden syrup and water coloured. I also prescribed
some powders composed of mercury and chalk. I
gave orders for one of the powders to be given to
the child every two or three hours.
By a Juror—The child would have died if the
medicine had not been administered; but it might
have accelerated the death.
Mr. Henry Clare Timpson, in answer to questions
from the coroner, edmitted that he was not a legally
qualified practitioner, although fully qualified more
than many others.
The Coroner—Have you got the certificate from
the College of Surgeons?
Mr. Timpson—l have not.
The Coroner—Then you are not fully qualified.
Mr. Timpson—l confined the mother 16 months
since, and out of the whole number of women I have
confined I never lost a single person, and if I had a
solicitor I have no doubt but the case would be at
once cleared up to the satisfaction of the gentlemen
of the jury,
The Coroner—l will adjourn the case again for
that purpose, if you like.
Witness—No; I am in the hands of the court. I
wish to say that I never prescribed anything for
the deceased; merely sold some simple cough drops.
In answer to questions put by Mr. Timpson, the
mother said that she never found the child to sleep
sounder after taking the mixture than before,
By the Coroner—Re never allowed his wife to
prescribe for any one, but he allowed her to sell
simple mixtures.
Dr. Letheby, analytical chemist at the London
Hospital, and medical officer of health of the City
of London,
said that on Thursday the summon-
ing officer delivered to him the bottle (produced)
which had contained a liquid 0 ten drops of
opium and oil of aniseed, the constituents of pare-
goric. He was certain that the other two bottles
did not contain the same mixture as the one that
had been handed to him,
By a Juror.—Such a medicine Would be impro-
per to give to a child at any time, and was calcu-
lated to accelerate death.
The learned Deputy
said—lfCoroner
give
a physi-
cian or surgeon should
medicine to his patients
to cure them and out
I to expectation, it killao

. .
them, then the death is only from misadventure,
but a distinction has been taken in this case be
tween a regular surgeon and a physician and one
who is not so. In the ,attt.r it is said to amount to
manslaughter at least, but the soundness of this dis-
tinction has been doubted, arid it is now held there
is no difference between a licensed physician or
surgeon, and a person acting as such without li-
cence. In either case, if a party having a competent
degree of skilful knowledge makes a mistake by acci-
dent in his treatment, and death ensues, he is
thereby not guilty of manslaughter ; but if proper
medical assistance can he had, and a person totally
ignorant of the science of medicine takes upon him-
self to administer a dangerous remedy to one .abour-
ing under a dangerous disease, and death ensues,
then he is guilty of manslaughter. In this case it
could not be said that Mr. Timpson was a person
so totally ignorant of the science of medicine as to
make him amenable to the charge of manslaughter.
The Jury, after consulting for some time, returned
a verdict of Natural Death from acute hydroce-
phalus, and no blame or charge of any kind is
attached to Mr. Timpson.
The proceedings, which caused a great deal of
excitement in the neighbourhood, then terminated.