The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-11 00:00:00

'AYS.
Cash.

Mr, Jefferson Davis in Prison.

A special correspondent of the New York Tinzes,
writing from Washington on July 21, gives the
following details respecting Jefferson Davis's prison
life :

The very few here who are permitted to know the
facts about Jeff. Davis's habits, health, his prison
diet, privileges, and so on, are much amused at the
manufactured fol-de-rol that appears periodically
in the New York and Philadelphia papers. One
would imagine, did he credit the statements of these
sensationalists, that Jeff. is in the hands of brutish
tyrants rather than of Christian gentlemen ; that
he is being woyn away between the upper and nether
stones of official restriction and prison torture, instead
of enjoying to his full capacity every comfort which
the necessary caution and watchfulness of his
guardians will permit.
He is confined in a large casemate, where there is
ample room for his bed, a table, several chairs, and
a bath tub. He is in no way hampered about his
person, everything being as free to-day as when he
stamped defiance with his foot in Washington and
waved adieu to his compeers of the senate. To be
sure he is not permitted to be alone, but the guard
are cautioned against intrusion ; and at no time has
he complained of either officers or men. Should he do
so, and were his complaint based on the slightest
foundation, it would be attended to. At night a lamp
burns within his room. This, however, was done as
a measure of precaution rather than annoyance. At
first he complained of it, thinking it would interfere
with his sleep, but as experience demonstrated the
folly of his fear, he withdrew the request that it
should be removed. The guard is changed every
two hours ; an inspection of guard is made twice
each day. The floor is neatly swept, and every care
taken to furnish water in abundance. The regu-
larity with which Mr. Davis takes his morning bath
is evidence of the care he yet takes of his person.
His toilet is as faultless as ever, and he presents the
same precise and well-ordered exterior as in earlier
and happier days.
I have seen it stated that Jeff's food was the same
as is furnished the rank and file of the army. If it
was it would be sufficiently better than that given
our prisoners at Richmond, but as retaliation is not
the practice of the Government, it may be as well to
state that this report is as far from the truth as is
the other which says that he is allowed all the deli-
cacies of the season. The fact is, strange as it may
seem to some of our copperhead friends, that
Davis is taken care of by people who have at least
an ordinary amount of common sense, and who
know the folly of going to extremes. The food fur-
nished the rebel chief is such as he can eat with relish.
He doesn't have strawberries and cream, nor boned
turkey and mince pie, but he does have tea and
coffee, beef and other meats, vegetables and cigars.
These complaints about food do not originate with
the prisoner, and until he sees fit even to intimate to
those in charge that his diet disagrees with hirn,it is
hardly necessary for the newspaper oppositionists
to worry themselves about it. Dr. Craven, who has
been with Mr. Davis every day since his arrival,
is a gentleman and a practitioner of acknowledged
merit, who would not forfeit the approval of his
conscience for all the advancement in the power of
his superiors, and to his opinion the officers in
charge invariably yield the most implicit respect.
At his advice sundry changes, vegetable mainly,
were made in the bill of fare, but they were sug-
gested as precautionary rather than as absolutely
necessary.
It is not true that Davis neither speaks nor is
spoken to. Such rigour would be childish and ab-
surd. With Major-General Miles, with Dr. Craven,
and other officers of the post he converses freely
and unrestrainedly. They have no desire to be un-
civil, nor would they consent to _ such a depth of
degradation as would be needful were they expected
in any way to irritate, annoy, or disturb their pri-
soner. With the soldiers of the guard he is not per-
mitted to talk, nor would he be if he was a simple
visitor. It is customary at all military posts for
visitors, and especially prisoners, to refrain from
conversation with any soldier on duty. In case he
needs anything at any time he has only to tell the
sentinel, who calls the officer of the guard, who re
ports to the officer of the clay.
Rising at an early hour, Mr. Davis takes a bath

then dresses, after which he is visited by the officer
of the guard, the officer of the day, and the medical
attendant. He then breakfasts, after which he walks
up and down his room, converses with Gen. Miles,

who generally visits his quarters about that time, or
with Dr. Craven, reads the Bible, and quite likely
longs for books and papers ; that he has not thus
far been permitted either is a fact. Whether it is
best to wholly deprive him of the society of books is
a fair matter of argument. Many think that he
should have everything of this kind with which to
while away his time and make the devious hours
pass less slowly. Then there are many who enter-
tain the idea that Jeff. deserves a little punishment,
and that it is not at all desirable that his time should
pass pleasantly or rapidly. Quite likely the Go-
vernment are of that opinion ; at all events, he don't
get the papers.

It has also boon stated that no letters of sym-
pathy had been received for him. This is incorrect.
Mrs. Davis and other members of the family have
written frequently, and although Mr. Davis is not
permitted to read the letters, he is furnished with
all items of domestic news and interest, such as the
state of health and movements of the family gene-
rally. In addition to these, numerous letters of
council and advice have been received, although
none of them, with one exception, have been given
him. It is not deemed right that intercourse by
letter should be permitted with any one, although
one would suppose it could do no harm if the mere
home letters were allowed to pass freely. Of course,
there are hundreds of silly people in the country,
and it would be strange if they who pester the
President for opinions, bother persons of note for
autographs, and deluge officials with advice, should
not occasionally scribble a line of abuse to old
Jeff. His friends, however, may rest easy on this
point ; he is never annoyed, by these impertinences,
because he never sees nor hears of them. It is said
that he rarely talks about or cares to have refer-
ence made to political or military matters. Quite
likely this is in deference to the good advice of his
counsel. When Davis was first incarcerated, he
made application for pen, ink, and paper ; the ap-
plication was refused. He then made no requests
for several days, until after the reception of a letter
from an eminent lawyer, when he again requested
stationery. It was granted on one condition ; find-
ing it difficult to comply with the terms, he returned
the materials. He has several times expressed ade li
-
sire for free correspondence with his wife and family,
and seemed annoyed at the determined refusal given
at each application.

What earthly honest purposes the press hope to
gain by circulating lies about Jeff's health it is dif-
ficult to conceive. He is in better condition to-day
than he has been in five years. It will be remembered
that a hacking cough seriously affected his throat
and lungs during his last days at Washington ; it
has gone entirely. He has been blind of one eye for
many years, and the sight of the other was exceed-
ingly poor of late. The power of his eye is greater
now than at any time in ten years. He wears at
times the famous green goggles, but there is not the
need for them now that there used to be. During
his rule at Richmond, the constant strain upon his
eye wore upon it, and it was the opinion of his
best and most intimate friends that he would even-
tually lose sight altogether. This is changed for the
better. Regular hours, much sound sleep, almost
total abstinence from wear and tear, are doing much
Tor his health generally, and very much for his eye-
sight. His carriage is still erect. His hair is
changing colour, his cheeks, always sunken, are now
covered with a light beard, making him look fatter
and sounder, his physique is in good repair, his
limbs arc firm and his step square.
Of his mental condition it is more difficult to
speak. He is as eager for books, for mind food, as

he is for the substantials needed by his body. Na-

turally nervous, years of ill-health have made him
irritable. Other years of absolute power made him
impatient, and trouble seems to have made him

querulous. Still he sleeps like a top. He retires

early, and sometimes never turns till morning. If

,he people who write laboured editorials about the

" treatment of Jefferson Davis" could contrast his
appearance with that of thousands who barely es-
caped starvation and death at his hands, they would
be compelled to keep quiet or change their tune.
Nor is it true that he has been denied the privi-
leges of an occasional walk, any more than is the
story that his near approaching dissolution com-
pelled a change of programme. General Miles, a
prudent efficient officer, has been in charge of the
prisoner's person and health. He is, in fact, held
responsible for him by the President and the Secre-
tary of War. At first, before the excitement of
capture and confinement wore away, it was deemed
best that he should be kept quietly in his ample
room. Since then, however, at various times, at
the suggestion of the General or of Davis, as the
case might be, they have walked out upon the ram-
parts in the cool of the early evening, and sniffed
the fresh air together. With General Miles Mr.
Davis has ever been courteous and decorous in his
bearing and conversation. There is no reason why
he should not be, for so far as the externals of life
and society go, he is as proper a person as can be
found in a day's tramp. The heat having become
intense at the fort, General Miles has made these
little excursions more frequently, and with great
benefit to his mental and physical condition.

THE TRAGEDY IN HOLBORN,

--
MORE MURDERS. MURDERS.

The inquest on the bodies of the three children will not
be held till this day ; and in the absence of authenticated
facts, the neighbourhood has been filled with rumours of
more or less probability. Yesterday morning it was re-
ported that another dreadful murder had boon committed,
and that the perpetrator (who had been taken in the fact)
had confessed that he was also guilty of the dreadful crime
which had just been discovered in London. This story
turned out to bo perfectly true ; but it will be seen from
tho report which has been furnished us by our correspon-
dent, and which will be found below, that the Ramsgate
murderer in no respect tallies with the person suspected of
the murder in Holborn. There would seem to be some
ground for suspecting Stephen Forward is a mere maniac,
and that he is guiltless of the additional crime of which he
accused himself before the Ramsgate magistrates. It is,
however, premature to indulge in any speculations upon
that point.

It is stated that the manner in which the name of the
alleged murderer of the children in London was discovered
was extremely simple. Mr. White, who lives near Holborn.
went to the coffee-house to look at the deceased, and was
horrified to find that they were his wife's. Immediately
he had mentioned the name of his wife, and said that she
had been living with Southey, whose description agreed
with the person who had brought the children to the house,
the whole was plain to the police, who had known Southey
for a long time. It seems that he is the same as that
Southey, the billiard-marker, who a short time ago brought
an action, in conjunction with Mrs. White, against the
Earl of Dudley for assault. The assault was said to have
been committed in the noble earl's house, where Mrs. White
had come with a begging petition for money for Southey,
who she said at the time was " more than her husband,"
and had been her saviour from starvation after she had
been deserted by the Earl of Dudley's brother at Brighton.
Beside the particulars of the trial, which were published at
the time, a long statement by Southey appeared in the
journals of the day respecting his wrong and the suffer-
ings of Mrs. White, whom ho had felt it his duty to rescue
from an erring husband and a life of shame.
Dr. Roberts, of Lamb's Conduit-street,was the first medi-
cal gentleman who attended, and on his viewing the bodies
ho was perfectly sure that they had been dead many hours,
and, with little doubt, had died from the administration of
poison. He at once communicated with Dr. Hardwicke,
the deputy coroner of Central Middlesex (Dr. Lankester
being on the Continent), and had a personal interview, the
result being the necessary order that a post mortem exami-
nation should be immediately made. By such promptitude
if any evaporating poison had been administered it would
be detected, and, further, the ends of justice would be as-
sisted. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon, Dr. Roberts, assisted
by a medical gentleman, commenced his examination upon
the bodies of the three children. Dr. Roberts is said to be
quite satisfied that the deaths of the children have been
produced by poison, but by what poison he was reluctant
to say. _ _

There are some indications, it is said, which render it not
altogether improbable that the man Southey had an accom-
plice in the fearful crime, but who the party suspected may
be tho police very properly decline to state.

The three children were respectively named Henry
White, aged 10 years ; Thomas White, aged 8 years ; and
Alexander White, aged 6 years. They have a singularly
placid look, and appear as if still sleeping. The eldest boy
Henry, met his death in the front room. His countenance
wore the same expression of repose as those of his younger
brothers. On the dressing-table near him lay a silk neck-
cloth crumpled up, and having the appearance as if it had
been used to wipe up a little fluid.
It was stated that on the dressing-table, near the silk
neckcloth, was found a small bottle, which had been taken
possession of by the detectives. It is believed that that
bottle contained the poison with which there is every reason
to suspect the children were deprived of life.
The children were not in good physical condition ; indeed
the body of Thomas was almost emaciated. They were all
three handsome and intelligent looking, their fair com-
plexions and auburn hair giving them an innocent and joy-
ous appearance. Their clothes, though neat, were shabby
and old. On. the bed of the eldest lay his little Scotch
cap, which he had evidently thrown there before getting
into bed. In this boy's roomlthe sum of 4d. lay on the table '
near the end of his bed; a Bible also was placed there.
From the fact of the bottle being found in the eldest
boy's room, it is inferred that the two younger children .
were poisoned first, and that the murderer then completed
his diabolical crime by getting the eldest boy to drink off
the remainder of the drug.
It is alleged that the servant girl at the Star Coffee-
house was passing the door of the room in which the
eldest boy lay when the murderer was coming out on
Tuesday night. She observed the appearance of the boy
as ho lay upon the bed, and she actually remarked to
Southey, " How pale that boy looks." Southey merely
answered, " Oh, that is no matter; he always looks that
way." He then locked tho door and wont down stairs.
Tho servant states that the boy looked as if he was sloop,
but beyond all doubt he was then dead.

At the Wandsworth Police-court, yesterday, Mr. S elfe,
who officiated for Mr. Dayman, referred to the murder, and
inquired of the officers whether they remembered a man
making an application to him about 12 months ago ?
Payne, one of the summoning officers, said that the man
who was supposed to have murdered the children had done
so, and he had also made an application to Mr. Ingham.
Mr. Self() remarked that when he came beforo him he
recognised him as the man concerned in attempting to ob-
tain money from Lord Dudley. He (Mr. Selfe) SAW that
he made an application to Mr. Tyrwhitt, at Marlborough-
street Police-court, with reference to being in great dis-
tress, and of his intention to commit suicide. It was stated
that he handed in a bottle of poison.
A gentleman in court informed Mr. Selfe that the mai
had been there several times, and that he had expressed a
" great desire to have his application made public." He
wished to make an appeal, through the instrumentality of
the press, on behalf of his wife, who was suffering from
some peculiar disease, and he said that unless she was pro-
vided with necessaries to alleviate her sufferings, it was
her intention to commit suicide.

The officers of the court all said that they could recog-
nise him from having seen him about on several occasions.
In the course of the morning Inspector Lovelace gave
instructions to several plain clothes constables to search for
the man.

RAMSGATE, Thursday.
This morning, shortly after 9 o'clock, Ramsgate was
thrown into a state of intense excitement by a report that
a man named Stephen Forward had committed a double
murder in a dyer's house in King-street. Unfortunately,
upon inquiry, this rumour proved only too true. It appears
that Forward, who was formerly a baker in the town, left
Ramsgate some eight years ago, leaving his wife and a little
girl behind him in a state of almost total destitution. From

time to time anonymous letters have been sent to his wife,
some of which have contained small sums of money. On
Wednesday evening, Forward suddenly appeard in Rams-
gate, and made his arrival known to his wife. He requested
her to take a walk with him, but she declined, giving
as a reason that as ho had been away for some years
ho was a comparative stranger, and she did not like being
seen out in the evening with strangers. She then invited
him to go into the house of a person named Ellis, a dyer,
residing in King-street. Forward accepted the invitation,
and they remained talking in the presence of Mr. Ellis and
his daughter for some time. In consequence, however, of
Forward having twice stated that ho had something to say
to his wife, and which he could not say in the presence of
strangers, Mr. Ellis and his daughter left the room, but
went into the shop which adjoins it. After the lapse of
half an hour the wife came into the shop and said that
her husband had promised to come again the following
morning. Mr. Ellis then went into the sitting-room, and
Forward repeated tho promise he had made to his wife,
and added that he would call shortly after 8 o'clock.

lie sat down for some time and told his wife and Mr. Ellis
about the trials ho had had to undergo during the time ho
had been away from her. .Ho further said that he had been
abroad, and that while away he had saved a sum of £1,170,
but had boon done out of the whole of it. HO then,
after renewing his promise to come again the next morning,
left. Yesterday morning, about 20 minutes past eight,

Forward wont to Ellis's house. His wife was there, having
some breakfast with Mr. Ellis and his daughter. Ho was
asked if ho would take any breakfast, but he declined. 110
sat down and commenced talking. Shortly before nine Mr.
Ellis went into his workshop, and while there his daughter
told Forward and his wife that if they had anything to say
in private they might go upstairs. They both went up-,

stairs, and had not been there many minutes before the
daughter of Forward went up to them. She had hardly
got there when Mr. Ellis and his daughter were startled by
two rapid reports of a pistol, and on the latter rushing up-
stairs, she arrived at the landing just in time to see For-
ward's daughter fall down dead, she having been shot by
the prisoner. She then called out to her father, who im-
mediately came in ; and on rushing up stairs he saw
Forward standing at the top of the stairs, just in the sit-
ting room. He said, " What have you done, Forward ?"
and seeing that he had a pistol in his hand, ho called on
him to give it to him, which he did. Forward then had a
black moustache and dark whiskers on. Ellis then saw the
feet of Forward's wife; and on, looking over the table he
saw her head, and that blood was oozing therefrom. He

told Forward to sit down, and he then perceived that he
had neither moustache nor whiskers on. Ho asked For-
ward where they were, and he replied that they were un-
der the grate. He looked there, but could not find them,
and Forward then gave them to him. He then called out
to send for the police and a surgeon. Forward added,
" Yes, send for a policeman." lie was then given into
custody.

At noon Forward was brought before the magistrates,
charged with the murder of his wife and child.

Previous to the calling of any witnesses, the prisoner,
addressing the magistrates, said, " I have here a paper to
Sir Richard Mayne, which I hope you will permit me to
read to you. I have a reason for it. If you will grant me
the favour I think you will see that my reason justifies me
in asking it. Immediately I was brought to the station-
house I asked for some paper, a pen, and some ink, that I
might draw up this statement, but it is not yet finished. I
also made a statement to the inspector in charge. I in-
quired whether he had heard of the murder of three chil-
dren in London. My reason for asking this question was,
that previous to my being charged with this crime I was
guilty of the murder of three children in London. (Sen-
sation.) I hope this may be taken as a communication
to Sir Richard Mayne, and also that it is made quite
voluntarily."
The Chairman—You had better wait until such time as
we have heard the evidence.

'William Ellis was then called, and deposed to the facts
as above stated.

The magistrates having decided to adjourn the case ti
Saturday,

The prisoner asked permission to'read the statement,
and having obtained it, he read it aloud, laying the whole
of the blame upon Lord Palmerston, Sir Richard Mayne,
the Earl of Derby, Lord St :ploy, Sir E. B. Lytton, &c.
The magistrates then adjourned the case until Saturday
next.

The inquest on the bodies will take place to-morrow.

HISTORY OF THE ALLEGED MURDERER.

The man, Southey, alias Forward, is stated to be a per-
son of good education and the son of respectable parents.
He was at one time a writer in a law office, and during his
leisure hours he frequented billiard rooms. He became an
accomplished gambler, and in progress of time a thorough
blackleg and swindler. Giving up all regular avocations,
he made it his practice to visit the different watering
places, and, dressing in the most fashionable style, to throw
himself in the way of rich young men and fleece them' at
his pleasure. It is said that at the present moment several
hundred pounds won in this way are still duo to him by
various gentlemen ; indeed the name of one nobleman is
given who is indebted to him for a sum of nearly £2OO.
In the course of his career he made the acquaintance
of Mis. White, the wife of a schoolmaster living at
Featherstone-buildings, Holborn. His own account of
his meeting with her was that one evening he saw her
weeping and evidently contompkting suicide on the pier at
Margate, and that he felt impelled to ask her the cause of
her troubles. Sho disclosed to him such a history of
domestic misery that he felt himself called upon as a man
of common humanity to accord her his protection, and
assist her in every way. But the real facts as to the origin
of the discreditable connection were not at all so romantic,
according to other and more reliable accounts. It is said
that he seduced her while she was living with her husband,
and at a time not long subsequent to her marriage. The
children whom he has now so ruthlessly slain are believed
to have been all his, although they were born under the
roof of the adulteress's husband. On three different occa-
sions, however, she loft her husband's home to go and live
with her paramour. Indeed, her character was known to
be the reverse of respectable. Her course of living was an
abandoned ono, and it is said that she had liaisons with
other men. But her guilty passion for Southey was never-
theless real, and she finally left her home and her husband
for him.

Southey and Mrs. Whit* figured not long since in the
extraordinary action against Lord Dudley, which is still
within the recollection of the public, and the result .being
adverse to them they both went headlong to ruin. He be-
came a billiard-marker, and continued to gamble, but hav-
ing become known he was not so successful as formerly.
But nevertheless, Mrs. White, knowing that her children
were in a state of semi-starvation, insisted that he should
consent to their being brought to live with him and her.
He reluctantly consented, and said that he would take them
to Australia. Heavy losses in betting rendered his affairs
completely ruinous, and he formed the diabolical plan of
relieving himself of the maintenance of the three boys by
murdering them. It is evident that he fancied he could
get rid of the children by poison and escape detection by
taking them to a coffee-house where he was totally un-
known, and where he did not give his name, and there
quietly poisoning them. The poison used is supposed to
have been cyanide of potassium.
As a proof of the unsettled state of his affairs of late it
may be mentioned that during the month of July he moved
his lodgings no less than four times. He lived first at Rose
Cottage, Putney ; then at No. 2, Windsor-street; Putney ;
next, at Elm Tree House, Putney; and lastly, at the
Cricketers' public-house, Putney.
A telegram received from Ramsgate last evening states
that the murderer is in a state bordering on madness, and
that he at times almost raves. He is evidently a man of
strong and ferocious passions.
The facts in respect to Earl Dudley's knowledge of
Southey, to which reference is made above, are as follows :
—lt would appear that the man Southey had, as has been
stated, at Brighton and other fashionable watering places,
come, in the course of his gambling career, in contact with
gentlemen of the highest respectability and position.
Among them was the Hon. Dudley Ward, from whom
Southey asserted that he had won £l,lOO at billiards.
Southey called on the Earl of Dudley and represented the
matter to him, at the same time stating that ho had called on
his lordship because he was the head of the family, and he
hoped ho would pay the amount. Tho Earl of Dudley con-
sidered the matter, and told Southey he could not think of
paying his claim,for various reasons. In the first place he did
not know that the money was actually duo ; and, in the
next place, supposing it to be due it was a gambling debt
and could not be recovered in law. His lordship added that
if the claim had been made on a tradesman's bill he would
have paid it ; but considering file nature of the debt, if he
were to recognise it his fortune would not be able to stand
against such claims. He therefore declined to recognise it
in any shape or way. A few days after the above interview,
Southey met the earl at the railway station when he was
about starting for Scotland, and again appealed to him to
pay this gambling debt, whereupon the Earl of Dudley told
him distinctly that he would not pay it, and gave Southey
to understand that if ho again obtruded on his privacy he
would hand him over to the police. From that time Southey
never applied to his lordship for money until about six
months afterwards, when ho sent Mrs. White on the 12th
March, 1864. On that occasion Mrs. White sent up the
name of the Countess of Shaftesbury, and Lord Dudley
immediately came down to his library to see her. On enter-
ing the room he was surprised to find a stranger thero, and
inquired her business. She replied that she came from Mr.
Southey for the money that was owing to him from the
Hon. Mr. Ward, and ho (his lordship) then most distinctly
refused to recognise the debt, and ordered her to leave the
house. He left the library, and some time afterwards
returning, was extremely indignant to find that Mrs.
White was still standing near the window. He again
ordered her to leave the house, and she refused. He
then took her by the arm and forced her towards
the door, and, as she averred, hurt her very much,
to prevent which she caught him by the whis-
kers. Eventually Earl Dudley got her into the hall
and thrust her out of the house, for which she summoned
him to the Hundred Petty Sessions at Worcester. The
case was heard on the 2d of April, by Sir F. C. Winning-
ton, the Rev. C. J. Farley, the Rev. W. J. Raymond, the
Rev. H. J. Hastings, and Mr. Edward Vernon. Having
heard Mrs. White's complaint against the Earl of Dudley
and his answer to it, together with the evidence of a wit-
ness who proved that he used no more violence than was
absolutely necessary for removing her from the promises,
the bench unanimously decided on dismissing the sum-
mons. This appeared to weigh very heavily on the mind
of Southey, who has ever since been brooding over what
he fancied to be a wrong inflicted on himself, but it does
not appear that he has 'again attempted to molest his lord-
ship. Since that period Southey aul Mrs. White have
been in cohabitation.