The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-29 00:00:00

MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT MALVERN.

For the last fortnight or so the respectable and quiet
little town of Malvern, in Worcestershire, has been in
a very unusual state of ferment on account of the pe-
culiar circumstances attendant upon the commission of
a large robbery from the apartment of a gentleman there,
and the nature of the defence which the prisoner set up
as a justification for the perpetration of the crime. The
following are the particulars of the case :--
About the middle of July, Mr. S. Kelsell, a gentle-
man of independent property, went down to Malvern
for the benefit of his health, and placed himself under
the care of Dr. Wilson, the proprietor of a hydropathic
establishment at Malvern. Amongst the servants in the
place was a young man named David Filtness, a bath at-
tendant, who is well known at Brighton, having previously
filled a similar situation in the latter town (he was for-
merly a ticket collector on the South-Eastern Railway).
Filtness introduced his wife to Mr, Kelsell, who so far
improved the opportunity as to take her on a pleasure
tour through the country, and they accordingly visited
together the towns of Derby, Birkenhead, Liverpool,
and other places, returning to Malvern at the end of 14
days. This was in the early part of September, and Dr.
Wilson stated in evidence before the Malvern bench of
magistrates, that Mr. Kelsell was so reduced in health
from the effects of drunkenness and debauchery, that
his life was for some time despaired of, as he was
labouring under attacks of delirium tremens. Im-
mediately upon Mr. Kelsell's return Filtness sud-
denly absconded from the service of Dr. Wilson and left
Malvern, without even indicating to his wife where he
was going. Upon examining into the cause of his flight,
Mr. Kelsell found that 2461. in gold and notes, including a
valuable diamond ring and other property, had been ab-
stracted from his apartments during his absence. The
police were immediately communicated with, but he was
not apprehended until the early part of this month,
when Mr. Skey, solicitor of Malvern, received a letter
through the post, bearing the Brompton (London) post-
mark, from Filtness, which stated tha:, he, the writer,
" was very unhappy in his mind, and that he wished to
explain the matter fully about the robbery, and if they
would call, or send some one to call, at the Friend-in-
Hand public-house, Brompton, he would be found any day
at 12 o'clock, devoting his unhappy days to his God." Upon
the receipt of this letter Davis, the Malvern constable, was
dispatched to London. He called upon Sergeant Smith
and Mr. Gilbert, when they both went to the public-
house indicated, and found Filtness sitting in the par-
lour reading a Bible, and praying to the Almighty " to
forgive him his wicked sins," adding that "the happiest
moment of his life was when he saw the officers enter
the house." He said that since he had left Malvern a
new lignt had opened upon him, and had prompted him
to give himself up, and make clear this inquiry. He
then went down on his knees in the room, and exhorted
the people present to bring up their children in the fear
of God. In fact, he conducted himself much in the
way that a repentant criminal would when standing out
for public execution. He was brought away, and locked
up in King-street station that night, and conveyed to
Malvern on the following day, the 11th inst.
He was brought before the Malvern bench of magis-
trates the morning after his arrival. Mr. J. A. Higgins
occupied the chair ; Mr. Skey, solicitor of Malvern,
appeared to prosecute; and Mr. Hill, solicitor of Wor-
cester, appeared for the prisoner.
The case was remanded on two occasions to procure
the attendance of important witnesses from London.
Mr. T. Parry, a cashier in Messrs. Glyn and Co.'s bank,
proved paying over to Messrs. Kelsell, on the 20th o
July, the sum of 1,0001. in Bank of England notes, and
identified the 1001. note produced, which Packham
changed for the prisoner at the London and County
Bank, Tunbridge Wells, and Mr. Bailey, a gentleman,
in the "cancelling" department of the Bank of England,
produced the note cancelled, which had returned to the
Bank in the usual course of business.
The depositions having been completed, the prisoner
was again brought up, on Wednesday last, before a full
bench of five magistrates, when the chairman carefully
read over the evidence to him, and asked him, if he
wished to say anything, cautioning him in the usual
way. He replied that he would reserve his defence for
his trial. He stated that he never stole the money, but
that it was given to him by Mr. Kelsell for consenting
to the commission of an offence which must be nameless,
and that the diamond ring was also given to him on a
subsequent occasion in the same way. Mr. Kelsell, of
course, indignantly denied this abominable imputation.
The prisoner further stated privately that he had been
connected in the same way with parties moving very
high in society, and that the prosecutor would never
dare to appear against him.
Mr. Hill applied for bail, adding that good and
substantial sureties were ready.
Sergeant Smith opposed the bail, stating as his rea-
son that the prisoner had told him confidentially that
two noblemen of distinction had placed 5001. at his dis-
posal to purchase bail, and take himself out of the
country as quickly as possible, and that the prisoner
had plenty of money.
The Bench peremptorily refused the application, and
committed the prisoner to take his trial at the next Wor-
cester assizes, all the witnesses being bound over to
prosecute.
The greatest excitement has prevailed in the town
since Wednesday, on account of the rumours which are
in circulation with names openly attached to them.

THE FISHERIES IN THE WEST.—Pilchards still con-
tinue
to be caught in vast numbers on various parts o-
the coasts of Devon and Cornwall. On the whole, how
ever, the catches have not recently been so large, and in
many instances by no means so profitable,. as they were
earlier in the season. These fish chiefly frequent the
shores of Devon and Cornwall. At St. Ives the catch
this season has been about an average. During the past
week about 5,000 hogsheads have been saved by one
firm ; but, although the seines were taken up without
much damage, the destruction of fish was enormous.
Other boats have taken 560, and 1,550, and 3,500 hogs-
heads respectively. Several thousand herrings have also
been taken, and have sold at 4s. per hundred of six
score. A few days since, as five men were engaged in
drawing a net to catch mullet, off the Lizard, John
Wills, lately a publican in that place lost his footing,
and was drowned.

FUNERAL OF DR. GORDON.—The funeral of Dr.
Gordon took place on Wednesday afternoon, from his
late residence in Northumberland-street. After devo-
tional exercise, a procession of several hundred gentle-
men was formed, including the members of the Free
Church Presbytery, and numerous other clergymen of
different denominations, and a great number of private
friends. The interment took place in the Newington
Burying-ground. There was a large number of specta-
tors along the line of route, as well as at the place of
sepulture. A considerable number of shops were cloed
..
while the funeral procession passed. —Edinburgh ..eldv.ei

inr. - -
NAPIER'S DYING GRASP.—Dr. Edward J, Scott, of
Southsea, was one of the medical attendants of the 'ate
Sir Charles James Napier, and was with him constant
fitly
for some weeks, and up to his death. Dr. Scott a
Freemason, and at a late meeting of his lodge took occa-
sion to state that, an hour or so before his death, the
hand of Sir Charles laid in his, and that shortly
before
that event Sir Charles took him by the grip of a
final proof of his appreciation
M.M.,
and thus died ; giving as a mason, holding a brother
of freemasonry, dying
mason's hand in this fraternal manner.