The Sun.
London, England, 1847-11-12 00:00:00

THE ALLEGED MATRICIDE AT

HACKNEY.

Yesterday, at two o'clock, Mr. Baker, coroner for
East Middlesex, and a jury of respectable inhabitants
of the parish of Hackney, re-assembled at the Dolphin
Tavern, Mare-street, pursuant to adjournment from
Monday last, for the purpose of further pursuing the
inquiry commenced on the 3d instant, touching the
death of Mrs. Frances Sheridan, aged seventy, the
widow of an officer in the army, some particulars
referring to which have already appeared in this
journal.

The evidence at the last sitting of the jury, it will
be recollected, so far implicated a son of the de-
ceased, who was present during the inquiry, that [the
coroner felt it his duty to order the police to take him
into custody. On the same day he was charged
before the sitting magistrate at Worship street with
having caused the death af his mother; and, after
hearing certain evidence, T r. Hammill remanded the
prisoner to await the result of the coroner's inquiry.
Yesterdty, the jury having answered to their
names,

The CORONER said he had received a letter from
the son of the deceased, dated from the House of De-
tention, Clerkenwell, which, with their permission, he
would read.

The letter ran as follows :
" House of Detention, Clerkenwell, Nov. 11.
" Sir,—l beg to remind you that the witness
Armstrong contradicted herself on oath. When
before you she said my sister, the accuser, was drunk,
and before the magistrate that she was sober, and
added, that she thought my sister's mind is affected.
The latter ought to have been examined before I was
remanded.

" Mr. W. Baker, Coroner, Dolphin,
Hackney. (Immediate.)"
The CORONER after remarking that in the present
state of the inquiry he thought the communication
was of no importance, inquired of the summoning
officer what witnesses he had in attendance ?

The summoning officer said, the sister of the de-
ceased was the most essential witness present, and he
had no doubt she could throw some light on the case.
A woman who had slept with deceased on the night
she died, and a granddaughter of the deceased who
could depose to the fact of her first attack of sickness,
were also in attendance.

Martha Billing, the woman alluded to as having
slept with deceased, was first called. She merely
described having been called in to clean the apart-
ments occupied by deceased jointly with her son and
daughters, on the day before she expired. The de-
ceased was insensible and apparently asleep during
the whole of that day, and witness, who had been re-
quested to pass the night with her, found her dead by
her side about half-past three o'clock in the morning.
The above were the only material facts deposed to
by the witness, but her evidence afforded a painful
illustration of the manner in which the deceased and
her family lived together. Of the daughters one was
single and one married. The latter had been sepa-
rated from her husband some years, and resided, with
her daughter, a child about ten years of age, under
the same roof with her mother, sister, and brother.
This woman, it appeared, was a confirmed drunkard,
and on the night deceased died, such was her disgust-
ing state of intoxication, that her brother refused her
admittance into his house, and she passed the night in
the streets. The unmarried sister also appeared to
be on the worst possible terms with her brother, and
it was upon her accusation that he was given into
custody on the charge of having murdered his mother.
Frances Johnson, the infant granddaughter of the
deceased, was next examined at great length. Al-
though only ten years of age the child gave her evi-
dence with a remarkable degree of intelligence ; but
beyond the fact of deposing to the deceased's having
been first taken ill on Sunday fortnight, after drink-
ing a glass of gin administered by witness, her evi-
dence contained nothing of a criminatory character
against any individual.

The next witness being the unmarried daughter of
the deceased, who has charged her brother with the
murder,

The CORONER suggested that it would be much
better to adjourn the inquiry before calling her,
inas-
much as the party charged would have an opportunity
of confronting his accuser before the magistrate,
which he could not do were they to examine her on
the present occasion. It might be that the sister had
charged the brother with having caused her mother's
death with a view to exculpate herself, and taking all
circumstances into consideration, he would prefer that
the weight of the proceeding should rest with the
magistrate rather than himself. He did not by any
means shrink from the performance of his duty, but
he thought the course he suggested would be the
fairest for all parties.
Several of the jury expressed a decided opinion in
favour of calling the witness referred to; and
The inspector in attendance having remarked that
the magistrate had purposely fixed the remand for a
day beyond that on which the adjourned inquest was
to be held,

The CORONER said—Exactly so ; he was fully
aware the magistrate had attempted to put the labour-
ing oar on his shoulder, but he would much rather
that he had not done so. If the magistrate refused to
examine the sister, of course he would do so, but he
thought it would be much better that her evidence
should be taken in the presence of the party she
accused.

A juror said, while he thought it most desirable
and proper that the sister should be called, he had no
objection to give way if the coroner had any other
engagement which would prevent him completing the
case that evening. In making this remark, he could
not refrain from observing that on a recent occasion
where he had been summoned to attend as a juror
to inquire into the death of a child who had died
from the effects of a broken arm, Mr. Baker, jun., who
presided as deputy-coroner, had opened the proceed-
ings with the following remark :—" Now, gentlemen,
be as quick as you can, for I want to be off." He
thought such an observation extremely improper, and
he protested against it at the time. If, however, the
coroner had other cases to attend he had no objection
to consent to an adjournment.
The CORONER said, he had two other cases to go
into, but if the jury insisted on calling the sister he
would put them off and proceed with the inquiry.
After some further discussion the inquiry was ad-
journed until Wednesday next, Tuesday being the
day fixed for the re-examination at the police-office.
The jury appeared very much dissatisfied at the
course suggested by the coroner, although they ulti-
mately acceded to it.

ATTACK ON DR. BOWRING, M.P.,

AND HIS BROTHER.
BRIDGEND, NOT. 9.—The capture of the two high-
waymen who attacked and plundered Dr. Bowring,
M.P., and his brother, Mr. Charles Bowring, of 1,000
in notes, gold, and silver, has already been briefly
announced. They are both Irishmen, named Richard
Mahoney and John Lloyd, and were formerly em-
ployed at the Llinfi Iron Works, of which Mr. C.
Bowring is the resident director. Immediately on
the daring attack being made known in the neigh-
bourhood, all grades turned out to scour the moun-
tains for the ruffians. Of the large amount stolen,
we are happy to state that nearly all has been re-
covered. 6631. 15s. 10d. was found on the prisoners,
and notes to the extent of 1701. were subsequently
discovered in the Cwm Nantywyn-wood. Mr. C.
Bowring was in the habit of drawing money from
the bank every Thursday for the workmen's wages,
and it appears that the prisoners made the most deli-
berate preparations for the robbery, as they had pur-
chased the pistols on the previous Monday at the shop
of a Mr. Moses, in Swansea. They were brought
before Viscount Adare and a full bench of magis-
trates for examination, when the prosecutors deposed
as follows :

Mr. C. Bowring said—l reside at Bowrington
Maesteg, in this county (Glamorganshire), and am
an ironmaster. On Thursday I went to Bridgend,
nine miles from Bowrington, to get money from the
bank to pay the workmen. I travelled in a gig with
one horse. It is well known, I believe, that I am in
the habit of going to the bank every Thursday for
money. I procured 1,0001. from the bank on Thurs-
day, viz., 570 sovereigns, 200 half-sovereigns, 601. in
silver, and 2701. in notes. I placed the money in a
bag, and then put the bag in the boot of my gig. I
left Bridgend about half-past twelve at noon, accom-
panied by my brother, Dr. Bowring, M.P. When
we were about halt-way to Bowrington, upon going
up a slight hill, I saw two men approaching us on
the road. When they came close to us they sepa-
rated, one on each side of the gig; and when we
had got within about a yard or two from them, they
each presented a holster pistol at us. The prisoners
are the two men ; I am certain of it. Lloyd said,
" Your money or your life." Mahoney repeated the
words. Lloyd then hold the pistol to my breast; it
was cocked, and his finger was on the trigger.
He afterwards said, " Mr. Bowring, I want your
money, not your life." I replied, " I can't—
desist—l'll give you the money ;" and I stooped
down to reach the bag. As I
,stooped, Lloyd said to
Mahoney, " Shoot the —. Both pistols were
presented the whole time. I opened the boot, and
Lloyd pulled the .bag out. I ought to mention that

when I stopped Lloyd said, " Give me the two bags.
I used to carry the money in two bags, but on the
present occasion I only had it in one. After Lloyd
got the bag he went on for a couple of yards, and then
turned round and shot the horse in the gig in the
head. It dropped dead. The prisoners then made
off through a field on the west side towards Margelin
carrying the bag together. I immediately went to a
farmhouse near at hand, made known the robbery,
borrowed a horse, galloped to Bridgend, and gave
information. There was a cottage about 50 yard:
from the place where we were robbed, and within
sight. The farmhouse was about 400 yards off. I
heard that Mahoney was captured about four o'clock.
A number of our workmen and neighbours went
across the mountains during the evening in pursuit
of the prisoners. About eleven o'clock at night I
went with another party over the mountains to Mar-
gam. When we reached Margam, I met a police'
officer with Lloyd in custody. We had lanterns and
other lights with us, and I immediately recognized
Lloyd. I afterwards saw Mahoney in custody at
Bridgend, and I identified him.
Dr. J. Bowring, M.P., was then examined—r
reside in Queen-square, Westminster, London, and
am a brother of the last witness. I accompanied him
in a gig on Thursday from Bridgend, when we were
stopped by the prisoners. (The Doctor then corrobo-
rated his brother's statement in every particular, and
satisfactorily identified the men at the bar as being
those who plundered them.) The Hon. Member
added, I was astounded at the composure and self-
possession of the men. I watched their faces and the
levels of the pistols, and there was not the slightest
appearance of tremor about them. Lloyd shot the
horse with much deliberation. Before they got the
bag out I pulled out my purse with the intention of
giving it them, but they took no notice of it. I take
this opportunity of expressing my sincere thanks to
theinhabitants of this part of the county for the as-
sistance they rendered in pursuing and apprehending
the prisoners. All classes, high and low, evinced the
greatest zeal and alacrity to effect that object.
John Jones, a publican at Maesteg, was next
sworn. He said, on hearing of the robbery on Thurs-
day, I went between two and three o'clock, with
several others, over the mountains towards Margate'
I was in advance on horseback, the rest were on loot.
Near Margam I saw two men walking rather fast
from the wood, I followed them, and they welkn
towards Taibach. I passed them and then turned
back to meet them. I said, Hold ; you are the rob-
bers of Dr. Bowring; give up ;" and called for as-
sistance. The prisoners are the men. Lloyd said,
" Hush, or I'll blow your brains out." He plecel
his hand in his pocket, and brought something 001 d
don't know what. Lloyd jumped over the hedge 0..
ran towards the moors. He had a bundle 1101'
his left arm. Mahoney ran back and got ever a Iv'
I followed him over a field, when others came up'
and we then surrounded and secured him. Money
in gold and silver to the amount of 1381. 115. were
found upon him.
John Jones, constable, stationed at Taibach,
examined—On Thursday night I was watching I°
Lloyd on the turnpike road, near a gate leading I.lg
from Margam moors. About a quarter to 00'10
saw a man moving from the gateway. I elv.lce
him, and he said he was working on the railway'I
suspected he was the man I wanted. He said
was " on the spree," and I asked him to go tea
public-house. He walked with me a little waYtiw:as
he pulled something out of his pocket, en" "
feeling it, and said he would not go any further• a
was afraid of him, but I coaxed him on. We walkeAt
together till we reached the Somerset public-hour in
Taibach, when he ran away. I came up with hio„ci
the middle of Taibach village, and he turned r 01,",,
and said, " Stand back, or I'll shoot you throune
I immediately struck him with my staff, e.iniiiisa
leant against a wall, when I took hold of him.
fsu
against the wall I heard something like money
on the other side. Wright, a policeman, eagle the
and took hold of the prisoner, and I got over
wall, and under the spot on which Lloyd leant Wile:
his hands found a handkerchief with 5151., in .s°„v
reigns and half-sovereigns, in it. The prisoner
Lloyd is the same man. Ten sovereigns and 5°
silver were found on his person.
The evidence being complete, the magistrates fully
committed both the prisoners for trial at the ensuing
assizes.