The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-15 00:00:00

THE CLAREMONT TRAGEDY.

ESHER, Thursday.—The funeral of the murdered
children, it is understood, will take place this afternoon.
The coffins (six in number of the murdered children were
yesterday fastened down and left ready for interment.
Before this the father, accompanied by his remaining
daughter Mary, aged 19, who has been for some time
past lady's maid to a noble family in Yorkshire, and
who arrived here in the course of the day, took a fare-
well look at the deceased children. It was the first time
they had seen the victims since the tragedy, and as might
be supposed, the sight was attended with tenfold
horror, especially to the father, who appeared
completely maniacal. His wife has, it is said,
frequently requested to see him, but he refuses ever
again to speak to her. Shortly after her arrival the
daughter had an interview with her wretched parent,
who continued weeping bitterly, while she hysterically
narrated the whole history of the appalling drama ; at
the same time remarking that it was fortunate that she
(the daughter) was from home at the time. She said
her reasons for committing the foul deed were, that the
was afraid she would be separated from her children
by the agreement she was to sign on the Saturday
(the day the murders were committed). The interview
Concluded by her informing her daughter that she had
willed all her effects to her, including several valuable
trinkets received by her while nurse to the Prince of
Wales. The miserable woman, who remains under the
surveillance of one constable and two female nurses, is
expected, will be so far recovered at the beginning of
next week, as to be removed to the infirmary of Horse-
monger-lane jail, where she will remain until her trial.
The man who is charged with being the whole cause of
the dreadful acts, has sold his business and left the vil-
lage to evade the vengeance of his neighbours. He has
not made his appearance in the village since the catas-
trophe. He is a married man with a family, and is said
to be worth a deal of money. An action has been en-
tered against him by Brough for crint. con.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.-(THIS DAY.)

SHERIFF'S COURT.
WIIITECOMBE AND CO. V. MOON.

This was an inquiry, under a writ of capias ultigatunt,
to inquire of what property the defendant was possessed
within the bailiewick of the Sheriff of Middlesex.

Mr. Prentis appeared for the plaintiff in the cause, and
a Mr. Duncan for the defendant.

Mr. Prentis objected to any learned counsel being
heard, as this proceeding was ex parte, but might be set
aside hereafter for irregularity ; the only object was to
ascertain the value of the property possessed by the de-
fendant on or after the 23d of March, 1854.

The Learned Under-Sheriff said that this was a
Crown process, and on this writ defendant could not
appear by Counsel—it was for the plaintiff to prove the
defendant was entitled to the property.
After some discussion, evidence was adduced to show
that defendant, who had been a solicitor in Charles-
street, Piccadilly, was entitled under his father's will to
one-half of property sworn by the executor under
9,000/.

The Learned Counsel on behalf of the estate, again
contended that he was entitled to examine the witness,
as his, the Learned Counsels client, was interested in the'
estate.
The Undersheriff said that he was decidely of opinion
he could not be heard, but any suggestion as amicus
curse would be attended to.
It was then shown that defendant, although entitled
to the interest under the will, was, in fact, indebted to
the estate.
The learned Undersheriff said that was not the point ;
the plaintiff in this action was entitled to a verdict.
A verdict was taken for 1,2001. only, being sufficient
to cover the amount of the debt sued for.

CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY).

OLD COURT.

Charles Roberts, 26, a well-dressed man, who has been
for many years known to the police as a thief, was
charged with stealing a cheque for 31,0001. and Bank of
England notes of the value of 2,7001., the property of
Messrs. Barnett and Co., bankers.
Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Sleigh conducted the prosecution.
The prisoner was defended by Mr. Robinson.
It appeared that about 4 o'clock, on the afternoon of
the 13th May, Mr. Tasker, a clerk in the establishment
of the prosecutor, was in the London Joint Stock Bank
in Princes-street, for the purpose of settling the diffe-
rences of the day, and for that purpose he had a leather
Case, which contained a large sum of money in notes and
cheques, in his hand. Upon his name being called out,
the clerk proceeded towards the counter, and he was im-
mediately followed by the prisoner, who was observed to
take his hat off and hold it over the case with one band,
While with the other he took out the notes and the cheque.
The act of the prisoner was fortunately observed by
'some other bank clerks who were standing by, and the
prisoner was seized, and he was then seen to drop the
notes and the cheque, which were found crumpled up at
his feet.

The jury returned a verdict of guilty.
The learned judge sentenced the prisoner to be kept
to penal servitude for ten years.
James Champlovier surrendered to take his trial for
manslaughter.
This case was of rather a singular character. It ap-
peared that, on the evening of the Bth of May, the pri-
soner was walking along the street at Kensington, when
two met passed him in a cart, and one of them threw a
piece of coal, which struck him. The prisoner immedi-
ately picked up a stone and threw it at the man who had
thrown the coal, but missed him and struck the de-
ceased, who was an old man, who happened to be
passing accidentally at the tivie. It appeared
that he was wounded on the furehead by the stone,
that bis nose bled most profusely, and although on the
following day he was considered out of danger, it ap-
peared that on the day after he was seized with an apo-
plectic fit, which terminated in his death. The surgeon
deposed to these facts, but at the same time stated that
he was unable to say with certainty that the death of the
deceased was positively attributable to the injury he had
received from the stone thrown by the prisoner.
The Court, under these circumstances, directed an
acquittal.

LAMBETH--(THIS DAY).

CHARGE OF STABBING SEVEN MEN.

John Bannaly, an Irishman, was charged with stab-
bing and wounding no less than seven men.
The outrage occurred on the night of Saturday, the
13th of May, when prisoner and some of his countrymen,
also labourers at the Crystal Palace, having been turned
out of the Thurlow Arms, remained in the street, and
after attacking and kicking some men because they were
Englishmen, appeared eventually to have been over-
powered, when the prisoner drew a clasp knife, and,
rushing along the road with it, succeeded in stabbing no
less than seven Englishmen, several of whom were per-
fect strangers to him. Four of them were unable to
attend, but three were present--namely, Henry Fair-
brother, John Barton, and John West, each of whom
showed the remains of the brutal injuries they had re-
ceived.
Remanded for a week.

THE ARMS OF THE IRISH COASTOUARD.—An English
gentleman, who has been making a tour in the west of
Ireland, writes that within the last month one of the
places at which he happened to be was alarmed by a re-
port that the coastguard had been turned out to examine
and, if necessary to board a suspicious-looking brig, sup-
posed to be a privateer. Anxious to ascertain the truth
of the report, the tourist visited the adjacent coastguard
station, where ho learnt that it was quite true, and that
the men had general orders to capture any doubtful-look-
ing craft that might be seen in those waters. Some con-
versation having taken place between the stranger and the
men on the nature of the service, the former remarked
some old flint muskets that were ranged along the
wall, and asked if they were retained as mementos of
bygone times ; but, to his manifest surprise, he was told
that such were the only arms they had been supplied
with. One of the party observed—" We will do our
duty, Sir; we are not afraid ; but it is hard to ask us to
ri;k our lives where we have no chance. You know,
Sir, it is most difficult to keep the flints dry from the
. sea and spray, and what chance have we against even a
common percussion musket, much less a Minis rifle or
a Colt's revolver ? Why, every man of us would be
shot down before we got at them with those old muskets.
We ont rtain ,hJlth." Upon
making further inquiries, the tourist ascertained that all
the Coastguards were supplied with no better descrip-
tion of arm than the old and condemned pint musket,