The Sun.
London, England, 1848-06-15 00:00:00

THE SUPPOSED MURDER IN

BATTERSEA-FIELDS.

Yester afternoon Mr. W. Carter, the Coroner for East
Surrey, resumed the inquest upon the body of a gentle-
man unknown, who was found lying on the shore of the
river Thames, near the Albert Tavern, Battersea •fields,
on the morning of Tuesday, the Bth instant, and who,
from a subsequent post mortem examination, was believed
to have been murdered.

Since the announcement of Dr. Wing that the deceased
had met his death by violent means, the most active in-
quiries have been set on toot by Mr:Bicknell, the super-
intendent of the V division. to ascertain who the deceased
was, but athough nearly fifty persons viewed the body
and clothing, it was not identified until within a very
brief period of the coroner renewing his inquiry, when
the unfortunate man was recognised by his relatives.
The evidence of the parties finding the beady having
been read over,

Mr. Edwin Wing, the surgeon who had made the post
mortem examination, was sworn, and depoised that he
was a surgeon, and resided at Oak House, Battersea.
He first saw the deceased on Tuesday, the 6th instant.
He was lying in the stables of this house. He appeared
to have been immersed in the water twelve or fourteen
hours. Witness perceived a wound above the anterior
angle of the left orbit, about half an inch in length, and
somewhat circular. It had penetrated to the bone. He
did not perceive any other cut. There were marks of
violence visible on the forehead, nose, and back of each
hand, consisting of very considerable contusions and
echymosis of the entire forehead, with contusions and
a slight abrasion of the skin on the back of the
hands ; the nose was bruised. In removing the
scalp at the post mortem examination, marks of three
contusions were visible over the frontal bone, with
coagular blood, and a fracture of the bone where it
formed the anterior wall of the frontal sinus, correspond-
ing to the external wound, nearly circular in form,
and about the size of a sixpence ; a small splinter of
bone was found loose. On the opening of the skull
there was coagulated blood on the dura mater. When
the brain was removed, a circular fracture of the pos-
terior wall of the frontal sinus presented itself, with a
bullet firmly impaned in it. About half the bullet pro-
jected i❑ the interior of the skull so as to press on the
membranes of the brain. The brain was not lacerated
and was perfectly healthy; the other portions of the body
were perfectly healthy. The cause of death was severe
concussion of the brain, resulting from the pistol shot,
in conjunction with the blows on the head, aided by loss
of blood. Presuming that the deceased shot himself, the
concussion would cause him to lose all control of himself,
and a contusion might ensue, but it would not produce
the marks of three distinct blows. Witness considered,
from the presence of the echymosis, that these injuries
were inflicted during vitality. His head might have laid
lower than his body, and the blood might have flowed
from him without attaching to his clothes. Supposing
he was killed, the blood might have been wiped away as
they carried him to the river. He could come to no
other conclusion than that he had died a violent death.

Mrs. Eliza Gosling, a widow lady residing at 68,
Grove-place, Brompton, identified the deceased as her
son ; he was 23 years of age, and his name was Charles
James Gosling. He had formerly held an appointment
under Lord John Somerset, as a clerk in the recruiting
department, but he had done little or nothing the last
two vears. He lived at 18, Queen•street, Golden••
square. Was married, and had two children. He lived
on very bad terms with his wife. He was very violent
at times, and threatened to kill his wife. The first inti-
mation she had of the deceased being found was on the
previous evening ; the last time witness saw him alive
was on Monday week, as late as eleven o'clock at night.
lie had come to her two days previously, when he said
his wife had left him, and he was in search of her, and
that he had walked the streets all night after her. He
produced a bottle of vitriol, and gave it to witness,
saying he had intended to use it against her person.
On Sunday the deceased wrote a great deal, and
on II inday he went out for two or •three hours,
and returned with a small pistol, which he said was
loaded, and would do better for Maria (meaning his
wife) than paltry vitriol—with that he was sure to make
a good aim. He added that after he had taken her life
be would take his own; that he would go out to sea in
a boat, shoot himself, and then throw himself• into the
water, for no coroner's jury should ever sit on his body.
Deceased left her house to go to his lodgings, and not
having heard anything of them, she imagined be had
gone to Wales, where his wife has some property, and
where he expected she was gone. She did not think he
had any money or valuables on him when he left her
house. He was of very violent temper, but at times
very affectionate. He had o, ten said, if he committed
suicide he should do it in the manner he had stated.
Witness had no doubt this was his own act.

Mr. Thomas C. Smith, the landlord of the house, 18,
Queen-street, Golden-square, where deceased lodged,
gave evidence as to the quarrels that had taken place
between deceased and his wife, and on morn than one
occasion he appeared decidedly deranged.
Mrs. Gosling, the wife of the deceased, was examined
briefly. She gave her evidence in an extraordinary col-
lected manner, said she believed he was vexed with her,
and that was the cause of his destroying himself. He
had frequently exhibited symptoms of insanity, but she
had not thought it necessary to obtain advice.
After a short address from the Coroner, the court
was cleared, and after some discussion the jury
.returned
as their verdict, " That the deceased destroyed himself by
shooting himself with a pistol, he being at the time in an
unsound state of mind."

MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR.
Last evening Mr. Bedford, the Coroner, held a pro-
tracted investigation, at the George Tavern, Carey-
street. Lincoln's Inn-fields, touching the death of Eliza-
beth O'Brian, aged ,-ighteen, who met her death under
the following extraordinary circumstances :
The deceased, who was a remarkably fine young wo-
man, possessing great personal attractions, had recently
led an abandoned life, and appeared to have no fixed
place of abode. During the last two years she had been
lest sight of by her friends.

Sarah Holt, No. 3, Ite I Lion-court, Strand, deposed
that between four and five o'clock on the morning of the
18th ult., deceased came in company with a gentleman
to her house, for a bed; witness lighted them up stairs,
and they went into the bed-room together. There was
a candle in the room on the wash-hand basin, which
stood in a recess of the wall, and the female appearing a
little inebriated, witness cautioned them about the light.
I❑ a few minutes afterwards witness heard a hustling
noise; and upon proceeding up stairs, saw smoke issuing
from the bed-room door, which was then locked. She
immediately gave an alarm, and assistance having come
forward, the door was broken open, and the deceased
was running about the room enveloped in flames. Her
male companion had made his escape by jumping through
the window into the court.

By the CORONER—The whole of the furniture of the
bed, the top of the bed, and the chairs and hearth-rug
were on fire. The deceased was rescued, and put into a
cah and taken to the King's College Ilospital, as soon as
possible.

- The CORONER—Do you know who the gentleman was?
Witness—No, sir, He appeared to be a Scotch gen.
tleman. After the deceased had been taken to the hos-
pital, he came back for his clothes, having left the place
with only his shirt and socks on.—(Ainaz,men•.)
Mr. Fincham, the house-surgeon of the hospital, stated
that deceased was placed under his charge; she was fear-
fully burned over the back, arms, and legs; her injuries
were such that she never rallied from the moment she
was admitted, and died on Monday last. A post mortem
examination proved death to be the result of inflamma-
tion of the lungs produced by the burns.
By the Cottorma—Deceased told witness when ques-
tioned as to how the fire had originated, that the gentle-
man, after he had got into bed, drew the candle to him
and lighted his cigar, and shortly afterwards the occur-
rence took place.
The first witness was then recalled, and said she could
swear to the stranger if she saw him, but had no means
of finding him. It further appeared that the gentleman
in making his escape proceeded towards Brydges-street,
running towards Covent-garden, when he was :Upped
by the police and taken back to the house. Several
other witnesses, including a brother of the deceased, were
examined, but no one appeared to be able to clear up the
mystery as to who the gentleman was.
The CORONER then remarked, in avert'feelinthgmgahnt ;
n fromer, on
theevidence the deplorable
that
had
b
nature e ofe
n
the
adduced,case, and nu
ejury could
return no other verdict than one of accidental death.
A juror (warmly)—l think we ought to embody some
very strong censure upon the conduct of the gentlemam
who was with this unfortunate girl.
Several members of the panel immediately expressed
themselves to the same effect in strong terms.
The CORONER—You cannot do that unless you prove
that there was culpable negligence on the part of the
gentleman.
A juror—We think that there was a great want of
feeling exhibited by the party, and we consider that ho
is very culpable. We think great blame is attached to

The jury returned the following special verdict:—
" We, the jury, find that the deceased died from the
effects of burns she received when in a bed-room, situate
on the first floor
.of the house, No. 3, Red Lion-court,

but from what cause sufficient evidence does not apPsf
before us to enable us to decide."

---
THE CHARGE OF SEDITION
AGAINST THE CHARTIST LEADERS
Yesterday afternoon being fixed by Mr. Mole, t!'°.
solicitor to the Treasury,for the preferment of ty!
several indictments against those of the Chartist leader;
named Joseph Irenxus Fussell, Joseph Williams, iTti,
Ernest Charles Jones, who stand committed for till
for unlawfully, in the presence and hearing of di
subjects of our Lady the Queen, uttering, pronune'ev;
and publishing certain scandalous, wicked, and seditioo•
words against our said Lady the Queen and bet et
vernment, with intent to excite tumult and diso 0.
amongst the liege subjects of our said Lady the gilefeo
The witnesses, eight in number, assembled et the °
of Mr. Maule, Gwydyr House, in the first instance, °the
from thence proceeded to the Sessions-house of,bey
Central Criminal Court, when, having been sworn, 'ld
proceeded to the grand jury-room, and there Yeloo
their several depositions, being the evidence ahead"' g.
th
before Mr. Henry at Bow-street, and which Was Oro
in the bills preferred, the speeches and nete° jous
several defendants, being the offence committed Prey the
to the witnesses being called in. Mr. Kerninis,..leel,ith
Crown Solicitor of Ireland, who was in attendsneejobs
the official proceedings iu the case of the Queen too
Mitchel, was first examined, it being understood was to
object of the Learned Gentleman's being ealleu °clod
prove officially that John Mitchel had been indictencei
found guilty of felony fur having spoken, peorlelet!foot
and published certain seditious speeches, with th not
to excite the liege subjects of her Majesty of that rol
of the United Kingdom called Ireland to rebellion to hit
that the said John Mitchel had been duly put ulr tried
trial, and that he had been properly and la for the
and convicted, and sentenced to be transportedPooof
term of fourteen years; and that the said 10_,115 re•
Fussell, Williams, and Jones, had by words uttereedlSoo
nounced, and published certain malicious and I/ to re'
words, to excite the liege subjects of the Queehno been
store the said John Mitchel to liberty after lie roof
duly and lawfully convicted. The necessarqw,
having been established relative to the above cenreach
the witnesses were then called in, two in numbeirtinidlifg
case, who were shortly examined as to the wereetliselre:
Fussell and Williams at the meeting held on the, 000
May, at Clerkenwell-green; and the subsequet ores'
Bonner's-fields, at which Jones spoke. The PP:diad
pied by the whole of the witnesses before the P.% well
did not exceed one hour, when the several
found. The Attorne-General, the
Solicitor•Gen•jed
Messrs. Bodkin, Welaby, and Clerk, and, it is issikr the
by one or two Queen's Counsel, will APPe,erko Weidoi
Crown; while the only gentleman at present °ow
retaintd for the defence, is Mr. Parry. 4"-Adtion, "
Fussell will first be proceeded with, while, in iit--bite
Mr. Justice Patteson and Mr. Baron Rolfe, 0,1.-
one of the courts will also attend on the ocess'

HOP INTELLIGENCE' roc): sre
MAIDSTONE.-01.1r Golding grounds OD 1118;000ii:
really very good. The fly has left and Ibelthile
well—going down with a tap-root into the the gni;
did not feel the drought of May, and: 170°4.
showers of June have suited them essei'l,i wel,to
cropping is very general in all other sorts, of no.
very properly so. We expect to see ins:in g
grubbed next year, for it is certain they wi." "°red
grow. In fact we expect to see the 4
plantsti°ll '
s-
on
unsuitable soils, to the extent of 10,000 screug.
ceeding which would be better for all Ptlfllotuv-
the favourable showers of last week we must..ns•
to the estimate of the duty, making it 170,00re' 00....d'ed
STAPLEHURST.—The nights last week iv:, fetP",ff
genial, and the progress ot the plant bas
Ye AV
for want of rain. The rain on Saturdsi
beneficial.
CRANDROOL—The bine in this parish ••-. ,P 1
creasing in growth.
P-

ROTIIASI, .'LAXTOL, SHIPBOURN,
hop plantations in the above district (Pt- free pt
Basted and Plaxtol) are growing vigorouno 0 In
vermin, and healthy; they must, neverthelegs' for
last report, be considered " platty. 1, WI 60
NOUTHIAM.—A correspondent, who mai!. ban -ere'
tour through this part of Sussex, says, "4"„ r-e, 01/I'olo
plersure. in stating that the crops generaill —„d
miring condition, the wheat is in full ear4s„-t.'"
decidedly better than in the Weald of 04'
stone Journal.

RAIL WA It SHARE MAP'
LIVERPOOL, JuNis 14. rettf n'tfeto
SrocK EXCHANGIL—We have to report s rteraoll
though dull market, Midlands and North-17 esolOP,
freely. The sales are—Birkenhead, Lance „do4',diis
Junction, 311. Shares, 7% dis.—Ditto
—Lancashire and Yorkshire (late blanche oi•-;
Fifths,od
OA dis.—London and North-West (Iste9•s;pd tijitto;
New Quarters, 11. Is. 3d. p.-:-Manchesterinitta,
Lincolnshire, Quarters, No. 1, 434
51. lls. 3d. dis.—Ditto, 101. Prefereuci,
Great Grimsby and Sheffield), Quarters, gorth
30ter
Stock, loo%—Ditto, New Halves, 6%
shire, 2% dis.—North Union (B), 11r. "r(l6, IV§
and Dover, No. 1, 914 dis.—Ditto, t
York, Newcastle, and Berwick (G. E. zir A forl'
MANCHESTER, Jors taco Sfieh
STOCK EXCHANGE.--The sales are—Lsit-ctato,l 600 V
shire (West Riding Union), 3% dis.-rm,L
6 per cent., 14 p.—North Staffordshire, vj'Thititeha'
Eastern and Dover, No. 4, 915 16
Furness, 10 dis.

Prt
BIRMINGIIAIII,II°I4.re sPa•ngliiref
STOCK EXCIIANGE.—The sales are-1^),°;:: 511'
Western, 124—North British, Thirds, 2
Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley, 271
and Birmingham (A), 4% dis.—Ditto
Shropshire Union, 2% dis.

.......-r!
bi $ f ;13'1
d
tbibcnhail
close.
ganpsßs thdeoßomt.
whicht
h. ROYAL CALEDONIAN
governors
dAfsrri
elf:: -0-- e:tueurail: btelle::glcie:'•
clergy of the Scottish
Co
took Pt,ac;eiii-5, 1311711),°
don au Asylum, in the Copenhagen Le ~ildreo "ipil/'
to witness the annual examination a the c., sor, /111
aslum (a branch of the ancient Scottio_tiop ciiiej,
children wasot fsbouldnideerds, fsoariltohres,support and educhso od o,oj
or been disabled in the seraviicaemoafritcheel'r vic°"'".°ss;dip°::
also of indigent Scotch parents, resideny: epirt, C.
who are not entitled to parochial relief. Tll'sef.l7o4
Lion of the children was conducted hY t,tie IV tli'
Cook, the Government Inspector of Schools.
649
were examined in arithmetic, grammar' _, ostslttur
history, &c.; and their replies to the learnt u irk is soor,
interrogatories in the various branches of Old loco
lion, were given in the most clear and lu:i 10,1:001
Specimens of their proficiency in figure 1111.0 ef,oo 0
drawings were also exhibited, several 'of vik"1:01 ipsPoit
the germ of considerable talent. The ealiditeaviri
the girls' department also reflected much cre.bole, turel
instructors; the most pleasing feature in the ;04-I,oeo
the pupils well-grounded knowledge of thedo l'l/Aci'
inspectoreawnnhcdeyrr. ee l i
Igt,hihoseenp generally.ojekuoercompany
piiinailnehy i4bt hha
ent.,ndertamodtfjsho etuohrcfeno
tenhidcre:siturtosi
ti
tgoubnet
cif% 0 epo'solofgjoP rrroi.
,h-itie3:'
instruments,number,opejlnEatycc,ioTngsDi consisting
playedill
MUTINY
yahrei nationalvariety
o f popular bagPi Pe
airs -4
,;131: co' $l3 'lO
hreorceeea‘d‘rieGn
proceedings
saveof
the thedayQhuaedednb,:e.
ray:
isbosriaoltille:oevi 0::
00INboy: aGnlogLi.
fo.m
01.1,
wheels of the Petworth prison, West bea
,
sus_sexli)tle, ;0! 8,„,
out of repair, the prisoners have been eruP-135tfoili
tributing water about the prison in Pail!' 05f,re
pumping it as heretofore. c cos of keo
ircumstan , r. e ,
character having come to the knowledge °` tiodf ilif,
the governor, the male prisoners were cluss 0,001
it appeared from the confession of one ° the ba, it
while engaged in carrying the water about isopetor
slips of paper were exchanged by the Pr the r4o'
...bile bklot
result of which was an agreement that - th fort.„, 0
nor was absent from the prison attending i oeuicl ''',,i)icii
ing quarter-sessions at Horsham, they s er 14 (00
the turnkeys and escape. The slips of PaP weremoo'
the prisoners communicated with each other .er ;riiif
fro) 00. ir
to have been torn from the Bibles and
..,iog 00,,
A gipsy named Downes, who was und_el. itte,,,
prisonment of two years for burglary', ;,„lis oiva 1P,,,"
leader ; and on the discovery of the pint. vtiotes,
rovio
whipped by order of the vising raagls the Cue
presence of the remainder of the prisoners,,, i, th
~
and other officers of the prison being arnica ricti
of the prisoners attempting violence. „rico la oi
HAY BURNING BY LIGHTNING. -L, the 14, Der „A
weie set fire to on Monday afternoon ul„,(1013::,0"_',
which struck them in the Charlton rwvere
t', tl'.is
Woolwich, and although the fire engine 4, . P., ¢o
the spot, the ricks were totally 0)1',14.11113/;rell°°
being in a very dry state owing to t"'
weather. _ it'or"

„ ..- ____ Y” ii
SIRTBS. 5,4"' •
On the 10th inst., the wife of G. Itobir's'-E - YP'
street, Covent-garden, of a daughter, stillboroprisrbitr,
~
'F lie
On the 10th inst., at Broughty flouse%-- ~ cilf
Britain, Mrs. Donald Douglas, of a claughle".
of' et -
On the 10th inst., at Clifton-oottaget 4°lll ".
Pr
Mrs. C. Walton, jun., of a daughter. ert opl,
On the 10th inst., at Norwood, Mrs. C .Teel 50 nlif
On the 12th inst., in Northumberland- „,
slllll'
John Cobb, of a son. J. V
On the 12th inst., at Albemarle-street, its,
of a son.

o'7
itd gRIED. the .114
On the 10th inst., at St. Luke, Chelsea, hr,dfoi-;13,
rot
Wi
Gleig, Lionel Ames, Esq., of the Hyde; 4',1
Augusta Percy, eldest daughter of Sir J.
and of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. se. pclloll,
On the 10th inst., at Crosthwaite, by the oeto j,
111 A.. James George eldest son of J • G. n%telf'
Shidfield, to Charlotte', second daughter of the
of Dalehead Hall, Cumberland. Sot 61, of
Litig
On the 13th inst ,at St. John's Chureu, ot
the Rev. W. Holds;vorth, F. L. Slows, EscclCdstiglj
road, Regent's-park, to Ann Holgate, second
Sherborn, Esq., of Ladbroke-square.

On the 9th inst.,I C.
On the Bth inst., at Fn 61'14.147.5t t R. Joseli°'4. "1
aged 21, sec•,nd son of Mr. and Lady dberlotte oto.6l:4°ioc
at Morton Cone 'o
On the 9th inst., at Antermony HouL4,ll_„e elk' .i
G. Macintosh, E:q•,
1.,,q., of Campsie and Dunchatta., ,Or v,
rer;,ic
of the late C. Macintosh, Esq., F.R. S. r • ffb, fI,
On the 10th inst., aged 77 the Ref. T• I,e'v aof A
St. Magnus the Martyr in the city of London, se otiv'
;40
ham Bishops, Essex. ' Te',9- ifo
On the xforktrt,
44it;
10th inst. at Bisbopsteignton, neared 76• Aft
Christian, relict of the late A. Gordon, Esq., n,..13' ri
On the 10th irst.. at Bognor, Essex, it' Llis. I°'ef
infant daugh .er of R. W. Bonn, aged four nwnht golioll
On the 12th inst., in Clifford-street, the "'lit/3 1
Lady Montgomerie, daughter of Archibald, 31
e .0
Eglintoun, and wife of Sir Charles Lamb, 13frtilofe, seo
Oa the 12th inst„ at Dartford, Kent, 31r• ". of /
On the 12th inst., aged 23, J
- ine, daughter
Esq., of .Highbury-place.

_...................,"<:,1
--- 1/SIPIP
_-----,---330 fOr4,. 01
London: Printed and Published 127 Al
s":.,11 000%40
No. 112, Strand, Printer, at 7144 0...,
Sae(/'
ae
Strand, in the Precinct of the
Bllddleoz, Thuraciay, J 15, 1845.