The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-19 00:00:00

THE ATROCIOUS OUTRAGE AT BARNET.

Yesterday morning, at 11 o'clock, Mr. W. Phillimore,
chairman, and Messrs. J. Baxendale, W. J. Myers, 0'
H. Cotterell, F. A. M'Geachy, and S. 0. Percival'
magistrates for the liberty of St. Alban's and county °',
Herts, assembled at the Police-court, Barnet, for the
purpose of investigating the atrocious outrage, and-0
the unfortunate victim is now in a dying condition—n°
doubt wilful murder, of Rebecca Brogsden, aged 63, 0°
the night of Sunday, the 10th inst., in a barn inth
vicinity of Chipping Barnet. The court was densely
crowded. Shortly after the magistrates took their seats,
two Irish haymakers, named Patrick Farley and Brian
Cunningham, were brought up from St. Alban's in
custody of Inspector Billers, of the S division, charged
on suspicion of being concerned in the horrible trans:
action, and placed at the bar. The deposition of
the dying woman (which is subjoined) had been Pre*
viously taken by the chairman of the bench, at the
Barnet Union to the infirmary of which the poor
creature had been conveyed on her discovery. The
following is the deposition of the dying woman, takes
by Mr. Phillimore :—" My name is Rebecca Brogsden,
and I believe lamon my deathbed. lam 63 years
of age, and am a native of Macclesfield. On Sunday
night last, about 11 o'clock, I was journeying to see my
son, Joseph Brogsden, who is a fishmonger, at Deptford,
Bent. I entered Barnet late on Sunday afternoon, and
at last went to a beershop at Underhill, kept by, Mr.
Hutson. Mrs. Hutson told me to go to Mr. Bryant's
barn, close by. That was about 10 o'clock. I went
there and lay about an hour, without going to sleep.
Four men then came along the lane and came into the
shed. I could tell from their voices they were four
Irishmen. Three went out again and one remained in
the shed. I got up and was going out, when the man
wished me to stay, and allow him to remain with me all
night. I refused, and he then laid hold of me, and held
me down and knelt upon me." [The unfortunate woman
here related the brutality she sufered from the four men
in succession, the details of which are unfit for publics.
tion.] Inspector Billers asked for a remand, in conse-
quence of the absence of "Barry Burns," and evidence
which he had reason to believe would enable the police„
to effect the capture of the other miscreants concerned.
The prisoners were remanded for a week. Government
have offered a reward of 1001., and there is no doubt
but the capture of all the parties will be effected. The
poor woman's death was hourly expected.

DETERAETNED SUICIDE OF A SPITALFIELDS WEAVER.
—On Saturday morning a determined act of self-destruc-
tion was committed by a man named John Cordon,
aged 50 years, a weaver, lately residing at 5, Chapel-
street, Spitalfields. It appears that the deceased
had
been in a low state of mind for several weeks, through
want of employment, which had reduced him to poverty.
He was last seen alive on Friday evening, when he pro-
ceeded to his home. On Saturday morning he was not
to be found, when search was made for him, and on
searching his room, he was discovered suspended by a
cord to his loom, apparently lifeless. A police constable
ran for Mr. Meeres, the divisional surgeon, of Brick-
lane, who promptly attended, and used means to re-
store life, but the vital spark had fled. The deceased
was a steady man, but was unable to bear up against
his difficulties.
SHOCKING MURDER OF TWO CHILDREN IN BIRMING-
HAM, AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF THE MURDERESS.—
'On Friday morning the neighbourhood of the Sand-pits
and Spring-hill was thrown into consternation by
the rumour that two children had been poisoned by
their mother, and on visiting the locality in which the
iWoman resided, the story was found to be too well
authenticated. From what we have gleaned, the fol-
lowing facts will present ar
eponfrtel
yttt
hyaebcoouwr rtiecetkhtei
rtv eyrd-sfiei ovened oi fs
yearstah ne
uaffnmairar:r—ieTdhefempaelrep,etraaptpoar
of age, and the children, who are twins a little
more than two years old, are the reputed offspring
of a man named Brookes, whose name the unhappy
woman appears to have adopted. Her Christian name is
Ann, but she refuses to give up her maiden appella-
tion. The principal occupants of the house in which the
murder was committed, situated in Eyre-street, are an
old couple named Roberts, from whom Brookes
rented lodging-room. The woman, who is in custody,
has informed the police officers that she came from
Leicestershire about 10 weeks ago, ail which period she
took up her abode at the above-named house ; and
her condition has since been that of a as far as we can learn , dependent upon charity vagrant,
for a subsistence. The man with whom she -
habited has been seen to vit her, but little is known
of him beyond that. On Thursday afternoon she and
her children were observed by the old couple to
partake of their usual meals. About five o'clock the
mother undressed the twins, after which she took one
upon her knee and held a jar to its mouth containing
milk. The child drank with avidity The woman
.
then carried the child to bed and on descendi
the staircase, she lifted up they other twin, to whomng she administered a similar dose. The children, uncon-
scious of their unhappy doom, were placed side by
side, and soon fell into a sleep from which they
were never again to wake. About six o'clock in the
morning, she was heard to leave her room, open the
house-door, and walk into the streets. Roberts
and his wife rose soon after, and having breakfasted they
became somewhat curious that the children were so silent.
Mrs. Roberts went up stairs to their bedroom, when the
real fact was revealed. Before the news had spread
round the neighbourhood, the wretched woman re-
turned to her home, and almost instantly fell to the
ground in a state of stupefaction. The inmates, supect-
ing that she also had partaken of something poisonous,
immediately sent for Dr. Hine and Mr. Humphrey, who
were promptly in attendance. The stornach.pump was
applied, and a quantity of ale and laudai un vomited,
,:o that in a short time she began to diFplaf smyptoms
of reaction. After recovering her sensibility, she was
accused of poisoning children, and she at once ran off
towards the canal, and there is no doubt but she
RwoesuelrdvohiravTeavpelrunn,gfed oliolivnedhaafdternaotndMbrr.oPughhiltlihpes,r of the
Up to last evening she continued in a fair way for re-
covery,—.Bi7ming4am klercury of Saturday.