The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-08 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

WESTERN CIRCUIT.—DEVIZES, AUGUST G.
CROWN COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice Talfourd.)
Henry Sprague was charged with having feloniously
sent a letter to Miss Horlock, threatening to kill and
murder the Rev. Dr. Horlock, at Box, in this county.
Mr. T. W. Saunders and Mr. Phinn appeared for the
prosecution ; Mr. Arney for the defence.
This case excited the greatest interest, as the prisoner
is a medical man, living at Box, and it appears that a
number of threatening letters have from time to time
been sent to Dr. Horlock and different members of his
family, and have caused them great annoyance and some
alarm. From some circumstances which had taken place
suspicion had fallen on the prisoner as being the writer.
The letter set out in the present indictment was in tha
following words :--
" Miss Horlock,—The evil machinations of the
wicked don't prosper for ever. You and the old damna-
ble doctor set your wicked imaginations to work to op-
press the righteous, but remember, old pills, that the
love of money is the root of all evil ; who oppresses the
widow and the fatherless, who seeks to punish innocent
children ? but go on, hellish den:ions, for you can't please
us better. Who has the trouble of going to Grosvenor
three times ? who went to the police station ? who went
to the Town-hall ? who has been again yesterday to
Jack Fuller ? who sent two youngsters the day before ?
ha ! go on, do ; we are ready for you, six against two.
Who will gain, especially when old grudge is in the
scale ? You could not spare anything for a famishing
old man and his family, and you will have to pull out
for law. Fine fun. Why don't you, when you are
generous, employ your own parishioners ? why must you
get half a hundred bonnets from Bath ? You are incar-
nate devils, and the old doctor preaching away as usual ;
why it is abominable ; but you will have it ; you cannot
watch night and day. Pray, can you and the learned
doctor of divinity escape poison ; do you drink water,
or can you live without ? do you eat bread, or can you
live without ? but the sooner you are with your dear old
father Satan the better—there will be no eating there.
The learned venerable Doctor of Box is the pattern of
all clergymen, bishops, and deacons, and an ornament
to his profession, for there never was such a surly, par-
simonious, ugly, filthy, covetous, hypocritical fellow,
except it is his daughter. "HY. S."
The prisoner pleaded not guilty ; when
Mr. Phinn stated that he had perused the depositions
with much care, and had arrived at the conclusion that
there was not sufficient evidence to bring home the
charge to the prisoner, and, therefore, with his lordship's
concurrence, he should withdraw from the prosecution.
Mr. Justice Talfourd concurred that there was no
sufficient case made out in the depositions against the
prisoner, and he was acquitted accordingly.
He was then indicted for sending a similar letter to
another person.
In this case, also, Mr. Saunders said no evidence
would be offered.
The prisoner was then called on to plead to two in-
dictments for misdemeanour in inciting certain persons
to kill and murder Dr. Horlock. He pleaded not guilty,
and it was arranged that these cases should stand over
until the next assizes.
The prisoner was subsequently admitted to bail.
Thomas Simmons was indicted for feloniously killing
and slaying his wife, Jane Simmons, at Wotton Basset,
on the 2d of August last.
Mr. Arney prosecuted. The prisoner was undefended.
The facts of this case were few and simple, but involved
a very serious charge against the prisoner, who was com-
mitted for murder under the coroner's inquisition, but
was only indicted for manslaughter.
It appeared that the prisoner, who is an agricultural
labourer, was at an harvest-home supper of a Mr.
Priddy, on the night of the 2d of August. He left with
his wife and some others who had been supping there
to go home, their road being along the towing-path of
the canal. The prisoner was rather in liquour. After
they had gone on some distance the prisoner struck his
wife several times, and tried to push her into the water,
but failed to do so. as she caught hold of him round the
neck. A little further on, however, he caught hold of
her and flung her in, and went on. The other persons
pulled her out and took her home. He was next seen
going home, and was heard quarrelling and beating his
wife. She ran into the house of a neighbour. Her hus-
band, however, followed her in, and dragged her out,
and was heard to strike her again. The poor woman,
who was far advanced in pregnancy, again got away
from him into the house, when a violent flooding came
on. A midwife and surgeon was sent for, but the poor
creature died in a few minutes ; and the medical man
gave it as his opinion that she died from the effects of a
blow given her on the stomach, of which marks were
found which produced the flood and death. After her
death the prisoner showed the greatest distress of mind.
Mr. Justice Talfourd having summed up, the jury
found the prisoner guilty.
Mr. Justice Talfourd then addressed him in a most
feeling manner, commenting on the dreadful nature of
the crime of which he had been convicted, and sentenced
him to be transported for 20 years.