The Sun.
London, England, 1836-10-03 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.

The following extraordinary occurrence has taken place
at Liverpool :—On the night of the 24th ult., a number of
foreign letters were handed to a man in the Post-office,
named Barnard, for the purpose of being stamped, pre-
viously to their being forwarded to London by the mail.
Among these was a bundle containing seven letters, all
directed in the same hand, and in the Spanish lan-
guage, to official personages at Havannah. The stamp is
a heavy steel implement, with which the letter is struck with
violence. He had got through all the letters but this par-
ticular bundle, and they had been removed as he had
operated upon them. He also got safely through the first
four of these, but in striking the fifth, the percussion pro-
duced an explosion which shook the whole building.
Every clerk in the office, even those at the greatest
distance, was stunned, and one who stood within a few
yards of the spot was thrown violently to the ground.
When they recovered in some measure from the shock,
they looked round for the poor man Barnard. The floor
around him was completely covered with the tattered
fragments of the letters, for all the remaining three had
insensible.
He and he lay upon the floor bleeding and
He was found to have been shockingly injured ; his hands
being torn almost asunder, and portions of the flesh and
skin peeled from them. His face was completely denuded
of the skin, and one of his eyes was forced backwards with
such violence that its use as an organ of vision is lost.
The thumb-nail of the left hand was torn off, and, what is
more extraordinary, was shot through the left cheek. The
poor man is in a very dangerous state, though hopes are
entertained of his recovery. The bag which contained the
other four letters having already been made up, it was
despatched by the man during the consternation incident to
the disaster. Mr. Banning instantly. forwarded an express
to the General Post Office, informing the parties there of
what had occurred, and warning them to be careful how
they opened these letters.
As soon as the circumstances above described were made
known at the General Post-office, St. Martin's-le-Grand,
Mr. William Peacock, brother to Mr. M. B. Peacock, the
solicitor at the Post-office, was despatched to Liverpool,
for the purpose of investigating the circumstances atten-
ding the extraordinary explosion of the letters, and to en-
deavour to trace out the persons who had been guilty of so
diabolical an attempt to sacrifice the life of a fellow-crea-
ture. Mr. Peacock, after a short time, succeeded in ob-
taining some information which led him to suspect that a
Spaniard, named Joseph Gomez, was the author of the
horrid scheme, and he directly proceeded to institute an in-
quiry into his position of life, &c. He ascertained that the
person alluded to had arrived, at Liverpool on the 21st Sep-
tember only, by a packet from America, and had lived in
Liverpool up to Sunday night, the 25th of the month, and
on that evening had started to town by the Red Rover
coach, which stopped at the Swan with Two Necks, Lad-
lane. Mr. Peacock directly quitted Liverpool, and re-
turned to town, when he obtained the assistance of Ruth-
ven, the active officer of this establishment. Inquiries
were then immediately made at the Swan with Two Necks,
and it was then ascertained that the person alluded to, on
his arrival in town, had applied to an individual in the coach
yard to recommend him to some private lodgings. He
was directed to the house No. 3, Benbow's Place,
Golden-lane, St. Luke's, where, it appeared, he even-
tually took up his residence. Ruthven, in consequence,
proceeded to his house on Saturday morning, accompanied
by an officer attached to the Post-office, and demanded to
see Gomez. They were informed that he was from home,
but was expected to return shortly, 'and they expressed
their intention to wait until he should make his appearance.
After having remained some time, Gomez knocked at the
door, and immediately on his entering the house, they
seized him by both hands, so as effectually to prevent all
attempt at resistance, a course which appears to have been
most fortunate ; for, on proceeding to search the prisoner,
they found a loaded pistol in each of his trousers pockets,
as well as dirk concealed elsewhere about his person. They
proceeded next to examine his pockets minutely, and disco-
vered a letter in his possession, the impression on the seal
of which was found, on being compared, to correspond ex-
actly with that on the two letters which were sent from Li-
verpool, directed Havanna, but which had not been for-
warded. The prisoner was directly put into a hackney
coach, and conveyed to this office, where he underwent an
examination before Mr. Minshull. The testimony of the
witnesses was, however, taken in a private room, as
it was considered desirable that the depositions taken
should not at present be made public. The cha-
racter of the evidence was, we believe, of a general
nature, and was sufficient only to justify Mr. MINSHULL in
keeping the prisoner in custody. The nature of the charge
was explained to the prisoner, and he was remanded, and
will be again brought up on Monday (this day). He was
then handed over to the custody of the gaoler of the office,
and was subsequently conveyed to the New Prison to await
his further examination. He is a man of remarkably di-
minutive stature, and is shabbily attired. It would appear
that there could be no reason assigned for so malicious .an
attempt being made upon the life of any of the persons
employed in the Post-office, and it is supposed that the de-
sign of the person by whom the letters were sent must have
been to injure the persons to whom they were dlreeted in
Havannah. Should it turn out that the prisoner is really
the offender, it is surmised that his object in coming to Eng-
land was to cast suspicion from himself, as the post marl;
would show that the letters came from this country, while
it was known that lie was resident in America.
After the examination of the prisoner, Ruthven returned
to his lodgings in Benbow-place, and brought away a very
heavy box, which it appeared had belonged to him. He ob-
tained a key also, which, on his reaching the office, he ,
found fitted the lock, to external allearangcl ()n '„lng

introduced, however, it was discoVered to have no effect on
the bolt of the lock, which it did not turn. Two smiths
were in consequence sent for, and after considerable exertion
they succeeded in forcing open the lid ; they then found that
it had been firmly held down by strong iron bars. On an ex-
amination of the contents of the box, a dagger with a cross-
handle was found, of a very curious construction.
was clasped, and it was not until some ingenuity bad been
employed that it could be opened. There was also a
smaller box found, which the officers deemed it hazardous
to open, as they thought it probably might contain fulmi-
nating silver or gold, the composition of which it was sup'
The
posed, had exploded on the stamping of the letters.
box was then reclosed and sealed, in order that its contents
may be safely preserved, and that no mischief could possiblY
result. The blade

HA TTON-GARDEN.
On Saturday information was forwarded to this office of
the death of John Goulding, an elderly man, by trade a
plasterer. The deceased, it appears, entered a lodging;
house in Buckeridge-street, St. Giles's, between eight and
nine o'clock on Friday night, and soon afterwards he was,
quarrelling and scuffling with a person named Welsh, Oa
something fell heavily upon the floor several times. At
nine o'clock all was quiet, and Welsh then leaving the,
house hastily, some persons entered the premises, and fon°
the deceased lying upon side, and quite dead. The
ord
circumstance was immediately made known to Inspect
Bell, who, with his two men, Sergeant Isaacs, No. 8, an
Edward Davis, No. 74, proceeded to investigate the me"
lancholy catastrophe. They first called in a surgeon, who,
upon examining the deceased, gave it as his opinion thai
the unfortunate man had died from injuries of the hean'
after which they exerted themselves to apprehend
but up to Saturday afternoon they had not obtained and
clue to his hiding place. The cause of the affray has no
come to light. Several other policemen were sent in 13‘..1r:
suit of Welsh, and the Coroner has ordered that an encluiri
be made before him on Monday (this day.)
The dreadful affair has occasioned many rumours, which
Y
we think should not be published for the present, as the
might prejudice the party accused of causing the deceased's
death, with the Coroner's Jury.
The house in which the deceased breathed his last vol
surrounded by hundreds of persons during the whole
• a
Saturday, and the surrounding neighbourhood was ln
state of excitement which we never remember to have seen
surpassed. Welsh,

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
A solicitor on the part of Newton, Esq., of Cumber-
land-terrace, banker, came to this office, to ask Mr
i
CONANT, the sitting Magistrate, if he had power to cage,
a number of pawnbrokers to deliver up a large quantity 0'
plate, stolen and pledged with them under these circa!'
stances :—ln July last Mr. Newton, on entering his resi'
dence at the dinner hour, discovered that the usual prePti;
rations had not been made ; on inquiry he was informed
:
that the pantry, where the plate-chest stood, was lecke'
and the footman, Thomas Lewis, absent. Mr. Newton
sent for Mace, an officer of this establishment, who broke
open the door, and on examining the plate-chest, aced
tamed that the whole of its contents, valued at 6001., par,.
disappeared, and a considerable number of duplicates le'
behind. The duplicates were found to refer to the missing
plate, and, from their dates, it was clear that the man va,
for some time raised large sums of money on his master
property. Search was made for the thief, but without se'
cess, he having contrived to make his escape out of the
country.
The pawnbrokers wero applied to, and when they
...
Pro-
duced the articles of plate pledged with them they we'
immediately identified by Mr. Newton. When the Pawn.
brokers were applied to to deliver up the plate in their Peg;
session, they all refused, alleging that there had been
Lilt
conviction, and therefore they had a right to retain %cult
they held.
The object of the solicitor's application to Mr. Collat.°
was to know if, under the Act against illegal pawning, tue
Magistrates could order the plate to be delivered up r
Mr. CONANT did not think a Magistrate could make Oa
order under such circumstances. Th• meaning of theIv° 5
illegal pawning, in his opinion, was confided to such al
as where persons (not servants) were entrusted with ge9
either to make up or take care of.
The Solicitor thanked the Magistrate, and retired.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

VESSELS ENTERED INWARDS AT THE CUSS

TOM-HOUSE, OCT. 1.
The Stella, Rolfe, from Seville ; Amity, Lynns, JcrseY
London, Pearson, Rotterdam ; James, Poole, Monte Viune,;;;
Harriet, Medwinter, Grenada; Mary, Plumb, Jersey; ';-•
trice, Young, St. Vincent's; Spheroid, Howe, St. Vincent
s:
Sea Bird, Crutchfield, Vera Cruz ; Taply, Taply, Calcutt4'
Ribero, De Fontecon, Oporto ; Janet, Ledler, Malta. I
ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR LOADING, Ocr..ci,
The Cater, Merrell, for Dunkirk ; William Jolliffe,
dleton, Calais ; Harlequin, Middleton, Boulogne;
M'Naughten, Hangwick, Sydney; Glaphyra, Reynolds, 'id,
nidad; Chieftain, Moore, St. Vincent's; Antonio Leop°
Balander, Baltic.
CLEARED OUTWARDS WITH CARGO, (W.
The Princess Victoria, Brocke, for Antwerp • Milleslo.
,-.
Cousens, Jamaica; St. Christopher, Courts, Gibraltar; `-'°st.
mercial Packet, Hart, Rotterdam; Joseph Storey, Lang), p,
Petersburgh ; Marys, Manger, Guernsey ; Batavier, D 11,11,0.
Rotterdam ; William Jolliffe, Middleton, Calais; Julie, T.' is.
gar, Calais ; Dart, Block, Ostend ; Iberia, Middleton, rig,
bon; Edward, Wessells, Bremen; Eliza, Saunders, 0111—
Alexandria; Permle, Bentall, Ceylon.
CLEARED OUTWARDS IN BALLAST, Oca„ni.el;
The Bertha, Voltz, for Elsineur ; Harrier, Pepper, "rl`,""nd;
Jane, Taylor, Gothenburg ; Robert, Hastael, Sunder'B,:it;
Maria, Ilarmack, Elsineur ; Emilie, Fredericks, Meal;
Resource, Hathorn, Memel; Teresias, Brunton, ivie"-
Sattow, Peacock, Memel.

ARRIVALS AT LIVERPOOL, OCT. I. n uorf
The Clio, Johnston, from Prince Edward's Island ;
Bruce, St. Petersburgh; British Merchant, Quebec;
Ann and Martha, Major, Newfoundland ; Clyde, Kean, /*
ENTERED FOR LOADING, OCT. 1. ,vheel•
The Prowler, M'Donald, for Alexandria ; Mary, ":,40r,
Wright, Barbadoes; Hermoder, Neilson, Christiania; S„,u,P,;n3-
Lontit, Dantzic; Spartan, Latch, Itappa • Rapid, ITheic
Jamaica; Ruby, Farrant, Lisbon • Bristol,' phi.
York ; Ceylon, Winch, New York% Pocahontas, West'
ladelphia ; Actif, Gross, Pillau.
CLEARED OUTWARDS, OCT. 1.
The Amethyst, Taylor, for Trinidad;. Savanilla, Y 8 py
St. Martha; Abbotsford, Mitchell, Jamaica; Britannia' or
vidson, Algiers; Adam Lodge, Cookan, Charleston ;og,
lumbus, Brake ; Lively, St. Thomas's ; Broad Axe,: tote,
Elsineur ; Majestic, Have, St. John's, N.B. ; At,af ear;
Taylor, Puerto abello • Columbus, Gillman, r'ig';ollB
Washington, Rogers, St. 'Petersburgh ; Eliza, Purdle, bop,
Leone; William and James, Ewell, New Orleans; BisPileir
James, Genoa; Ann, Paley, Rolstone, Lisbon;
lin, Jersey ; Tynwald, Porteous, Vera Cruz ; Friends. Li
un ;
Derbyhaven; Andrew M' Kean, Bullen, St. Peters
b
Corsair, Thompson, Halifax.
TELEGRAPHED. Betsey, ;pay,
n Ora'
Wind S. W.—Off Holyhead, inward bound, the A-e
from Quebec.
13evf
VIOLET ; OR, THE OPERA DANCER."' tb,,8
era in fiction may be prognosticated. For the last two 'irr otif
years the Naval Service has been the grand subject ciestea
talented novelists, but, lo ! the Dramatic Corps has stiggar, 08
a new and untouched theme. The deck of a man-ofwopers.
f
say, must now yield the pas to the stage Of the rank tp
Violet ; or the Opera Dancer, will occupy a
this new class of novels.
ASSu.-0y
PLATE FOR HIRE.—A LARGE
ront
MENT OF PLATE is kept exclusively for LENDIN?r;, ize';
portion of which may be had for the use of Parties, ni*lniir("%kisr
at a very moderate charge, from T. COX SAVORY''S, Lo clove
hh
Goldsmith, Silversmith, and Watchmaker, 47, Cerrll 'hi prices
N.B. A pamphlet maybe had gratis, containing a List of t
of Plate, Plated Goods, Watches, Clocks, &C.

BIRTHS. laili °
On the 30th ult., in Church-street, Smith-square, the
J. O'Leary, Esq. der, c.,144
On the 30th ult., the lady of William Alexander Bran
of a son. ~., laiii
On the 22d ult., at Paris, the lady of Aaron Vail, ""I,;,er.
Charge d'Affaires of the United States at London, of a dngcbarlet
On the 29th ult., at Bramdean House, Hants, the lady °'
Millett, Esq., of a son. adY a tbs
On the 30th ult., at Linton Springs, Yorkshire, the l - -
Hon. Colonel Douglas, of a son and heir. ~...../..<'
-----------•
MARRIED. Vir
Erskine AO
On the 29th ult., at Tonbridge Wells, the Rev. v, of ;$
Holland, A.M. Rector of Warehorne, in Kent, neFteebter "0
Right Hon. Lord Erskine, to Caroline Bennett Gra_y, aa.o7 GO/
Mrs. Oliphant, relict of the late Campbell. Oliphant, VA"
es
ouse, near Henley-ol
H
haell
On the 29th ult., atn-Thames. Wandsworth, Surrey, Robert rr . sr.
Esq., of Essex-street, Strand, to Sarah, third daughtero'
Hamblen, Esq., of Wandsvrorth. A Alfre
to
On the 30th ult., at St. Benedict's Church, Cambrite; d
iego -,_
Power, Esq., barrister-at-law, and Fellow of Downing e '
liejferu-
Lucyanne, elder daughter of T. Starkie, Esq., K. C.' of -.J.
square, London. tiOr..---
„:,,h d -al
On the 29th ult ,at Welton Church, the Rev. L'''-'" :,,hard - 1
late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, to Elizabe spiisbi,
daughter of the Rev. Joseph Walls, of Bootlby Hall, Ilear
Lincolnshire.

_
On the 27th oat, DIED. 111 b.
Atcherley, Esq., at Mar n Elizabeth, widow of the late
of Marton,Salop.toif of obil
On the 28th ult., at Harwich, ich, aged 32, Mary Ann, sy--e 4
Barnard,
Esq., baker, Cornhill. .
_ifc, ;
Tn April last, at Gurrawarra, Bengal, Frances Ell, Tor t °
Captain W. T. Savary, 46th Native Infantry, two month a'
birth of a son. ;A of Of {he
On the 29th ult., at Binfield Park, Lady Walsh, w'''''°ed 79•75,
late and mother of the present Sir John Walsh, Bart, ag ...el
On the 29th ult. at the Rectory, St. Michael, Cornhili, *o'
_Li
the Rev. Thos. Robert: Wrench, 111. A. of °
On the 20th ult., at Gloucester, Mr. Robert Lurnlo9,
Scotland-yard, Charing,-cr055.,...,
of Na
London I printed and Publicled by MURDO YOUNY.e OA
112, Strand, at The Sux Office, No. 112, Strand, iti Ix'
of Middlesex.—;Monday, October 3, 1836. I