The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-13 00:00:00

HA.WKHURST GANG.

The neighbourhood of Chichester, about a cen-
tury ago, was much the resort of smugglers, but
more especially of the cdebrated Hawkhurst gang,
which was broken up in 1749, by the execution of the
following desperadoes :—Benjamin Tapncr of West
Stoke, William Carter of Hants, Richard Mills of
Trotton, Richard Mills the younger of Stedham, John
Cobby of Sidlosham, John Hammond of Bursted, and
William Jackson died two hours after the sentence was
announced. These with others were implicated in
several murders, which they deemed it expedient to
perpetrate for their protection in their outlawry, but
the one for which they suffered was the murder of
Chater, a shoemaker of Fordinghridge, and Gallq
an exciseman, who were seized upon by the smug-
glers on their way to Major Battine, at East
Marden, for the purpose of giving information
against Diner, a ssmuggh-, who, with others,
had b:en engaged in breaking open the custom
house at Poole. Chater was murdered by being hung
in a well at Lady Holt Park, and Galley died three
days previously from wounds received from the smug-
glers. The whole of the prisoners were hanged at a
spot atintit e. mile from this city, and the body of B,q)-
junin Tepner was hung in chains on Rook's•hilt. Tile
bodies of Mills and Jackson were thrown into a hole
near the place of executiot , and near to it is erected a
stone, having the following inscription
' " Near this place was buried the body of William
Jackson, a proscribed smuggler, who, upon a Special
Commission of Oyer and Terminer, held at Chichesier
on the 16th of January, 1748.9, was, with William
Curter, attainted far the murder of William Galley, a
Custom-house ot!er, and who likewise was, together
with Benjamin Lipner, John Cobby, John Hammond,
Richard Mills the elder, and Richard Mills the younger,
his son (attainted for the murder of Daniel Chafer),
but dying a fere hOtirs after sentence of death was pro-
nounced upon him, he thereby escaped the punishment
which the heinousness of his complicated crimes de-
served, and which was the next day most justly inflicted
upon his aenortlplieso
" As a Memorial to posterity, and a warning to this
and succeeding generations—
" This stone is erected,
" A.D. 1749."

It is evident from the details given that the whole of
the north=western parts of Bussek and the eastern parts
of Hants, were a century ago much frequentet by
smugglers. Here they had tneir rendezvous, and at
different times in woods and various Owes—pits, and
other secret recesses, for the depositing their contraband
goods, have been discoi,ered, A short time ago an-
other of these places was brought to Ilght on the Old
Broyle Common, by some 1 ibourers, who, while en-
gaged in digging a gravel-pit, suddenly broke into a
subterraneous cavern. In Gls place there appcirs
be a regularly formed arch, br,nching out In severel
rections, but owing to its being filled w:th rubbish, it is
difteult to recognise its forrti, Nit this will not be lono,
a matter of conjecture, for workmen are now employed
in clearing it out. In one direction a man on his bands
and knees has penetrated as far as 100 yards ur.der-
ground, and in other places there is five feet st4nding
room. From the remains of old.fashioned wine and
Geneva bottles foetid therein, there can be no doubt o
its having been used by smugglers as a place of resor
and a depositary for their goodsi—Sussex Express.

'RIGHTFUL ACCIDENT TO A PASSENGER
ON THE EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.-011 Sunday
evening, about tventy-five minutes before eight o'clock,
a most frightful accident occurred Ott the line of the
Eastern Counties Railway, by which a pasietoger) mime I
Joseph Lovell, living at No, 2, Stvallow'segarden.,
Chamber.street, Goodman's-fields, teas nd much injuTei
that it is sepposed he caneet possibly survive. The ft o
f nel train, on its way to London, arrived at the nation in
Devonshire street, Mile-ond, at the time above-mentione.4,
when Lovell, who had been riding in (Me of the third-class
carriages, alighted, and was in the act of stepping aefose
a platform with a stick in his hand, upon whieea he *as
leaning, when, owing to the greasy state of the platform
from the rain which fell in the afternoon, he sildderly
slipped, and, his stick breaking in half; he fell baekwsris
on to the rails of the line. At this instant a policeman
called out " all right." and the train started, and a vio,
lent shriek was immediately afterwards heard. it tvai
then found that the engine and carriages had passed over
the unfortunate man. He was picked up apparently life-
less, and a litter being procured no time was lost in con-
veying him to the London Hospital, Mile-end-road. On
examination it was ascertained that his left leg was lite-
rally crushed and the feet of his other leg also severely
jammed. It was deemed expedient to amputate the left
limb, and that operation was Immediately carried into effect.
Mr. David Bell, of Glasgow, has addressed the
(.:ectors of the Kilmarnock district of burghs, announcing
his intention to oppose the present Member, Mr. Colqu-
houn, whenever an election takes place. Ira his address to
the electore, Mr. Bell thus declares his principles I
am friendly to an extension of the suffrage, to the ballot,
and to shortening the duration of Parliaments to three
years. lam also in favour of free trade in groin, of the
principles of free trade generally, and of a moderate duty
only being imposed on all articles of import, as essenti.l
to the prosperity of commerce, and to the general wee-
being of the community."
Patronized by their 'Majesties the King and
Queen of Hanover, and their Royal Highnesses the Princesses
Augusta and Sophia, her Serene Highness the Princess Esterhaay,
Princesses Mary and Rosa, her Grace the Dowager Duchess
of Bedford, and their Graces the Archbishop of Canterbury and tire
Dukes of Norfolk, Devonshire, and Manchester. In addition to the
above distinguished patronage to the newly-invented Spectacle
Lenses and Invisible Operative Voice Conductor, the Messrs. S.
and B. Solornons, opticians and aurists, 39, Albemarle street, Pic_
cadilly, and 76, King Williain-street, Bank of England, feel great
Pleasure to state that their valuable inventions have also gained the
sanction and unqualified approbation of above four hundred of the
Principal members of the medical profession ;
individuals of high distinction, as also of numerous
their use.
ht, with Immediately these improved Spectacle Lenses are
placed before extreme imperfect vision, it is at once brought back to
who have been greatly benefited by
itst natural and original state, every Object becomes clear and dis.
the least perceptible,
j: net, and the most minute particle is seen, either by day or candle-
which thousands of deaf •been greatly benefited, is not
ease and distinctness. Their Voice Conductor, by
persons have
not more uncomfortable, than n
having a piece
of wool i •
n its place, and the faintest whisper at a public a,sembi-
y
is heard with exact distinctness.-39, Albemarle-street, opposite
the York Hotel, and 76. King William-street, Bank.—No con.
nexion with persons of the same name.