The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 24, 1846:

Mrs. Kelly stated that she crossed the river with the
prisoner, who seemed on her arrival in Liverpool to be in
great pain. She asked a cabman on the road where she could
get a lodging, and he named a place about ten minutes'
drive off. She got into the cab and was driven off, having
declined Mrs. Kelly's offer to accompany her.
It appeared from the evidence of James M'Avoy, the car-
driver, that the prisoner had at first told him to go to one
Richard O'Brien's, in Regent-street. She afterwards told
him to drive to the Wavertree-road. On getting to the
Tunnel Hotel she said she wanted to go to Sandown-lane.
On going there he got down and opened the door. She told
him to wait a moment; and he perceived her wrapping a
child in some flannel, and she put it under her arm. She had
a basket with her, and went away up a lane.
It appeared, on cross-examination, that the witness had
received at first ss. from the prisoner, but stopped before he
got to the place where she finally left him, and refused to
drive her any further until he got ls. 6d. more. The whole
distance was 41y miles. She seemed very ill.
Elizabeth Parry stated, that on the day in question she
was going along Sandown-lane, and saw the prisoner leave
the car. She went across some waste ground, and to a gate
leading into a grass field. She got over the gate. She had
a basket with her. She sat down iu the field, and took the
lid of the basket off. She went on a little further and got
over a wall into a plantation. She returned shortly after
into the same field, and ran some distance up it. Witness
went to the police-station at Wavertree, and saw Mrs. liar-
rison, wife of one of the constables, who accompanied her to
the place, and she there saw something in a hole beside the
wall. Mrs. Harrison examined it and found a child. It was
lying with its head downwards among some nettles in a hole
which had apparently been made by dogs. There was a
flannel thrown over it. A person of the name of Carter went
after the prisoner, and found her about a quarter of a mile off
in the village of Wavertree. He asked her to go back with
him. She said she had done nothing amiss. He told her
of having left the child in the hole, and to this she made no
reply. He took her into the house and placed her by the
fire. He then heard another child cry, and found it was in
the basket which the prisoner carried.
It appeared from the evidence of Mr. Watling, a surgeon,
that he was called in to see the child immediately after itwas
found. It was cold and languid, with the pulse scarcely per-
ceptible. Its left arm was broken. It lived for a fortnight
after, and it was during that time baptised by the name of
Thomas.

The child was, in the several counts, described as being
known by the name of Thomas Davison, and it was objected
fur the defence that this was wrong, inasmuch as this de-
scription applied to the time of the offence committed, when
the child was not known by any name.
His LORDSHIP thought the objection a valid one, but left
the case to the jury on the facts whether the prisoner had the
intent alleged in the indictment, or whether, under all the
circumstances, they thought she put it there from being at
the moment unable to pay better attention to it.
Verdict—Not Guilty.

William Scott, fienry Goss, John Smith, and Thomas Ban-
croft, were indicted, the three former for a burglary in the
house of Mr. William Lord, at Manchester, the latter for
feloniously receiving a part of the stolen property.
Mr. Sergeant Wilkins and Mr. Hulton conducted the pro-
sccntien ; the prisoners Scott, Smith, and Bancroft were de-
fended by Mr. Pollock.

The burglary was committed on the Gth of April last, the
robbers having effected an entrance by taking up the
cellar-grid. A quantity of silver spoons, forks, and other
articles of a similar kind had been taken away, together with
some clothes from the hall. Nothing was heard of the
robbers for upwards of a month after, when one of the Man-
chester police went to search Scott's house. While the officer
was there Goss came in, Scott having previously stated
that he was a lodger. On searching him some keys were
found, which were found to fit some boxes up stairs, and in
them were found a great number of skeleton keys, a small
crowbar, and other articles. In the kitchen, under a cup-
board, was found a pair of slippers, the soles of which were
composed of felt, and in the cupboard a dark lantern. Goss
stated that the things found in the boxes had been brought
there the evening before by a man who was called John. and
who was a blacksmith by trade. Scott afterwards told the
officer that Goss had not given a true description of the man,
and that that man and Goss had committed the robbery.
After being taken to gaol Goss wrote a letter to Mr. Beswick,
the superintendent, stating that Scott and he had committed
the robbery, and that Scott had concealed some of the ar-
ticles under the cellar floor, and had some other articles
under the floor of his bedroom. Oa searching the house the
forks, &c., were found in a small box under the bricks in the
cellar. Smith, in consequence of the description given by
Scott, was taken into custody.: He lodged with Bancroft, and
in Bancroft's house, concealed under a bed, wa3 a small quan-
tity of linen, which was identified as part of the property
stolen. Bancroft said he had got it from Smith on account
of his lodgings, which Smith did not deny.
After a long investigation the jury found Scott and Goss
Guilty, and acquitted Smith and Bancroft.
Scott, it appeared, had formerly been in the police at Man-
chester and had been dismissed for being drunk and fighting
while off duty. His beat adjoined that on which Mr. Lord's
house was. It appeared that some years ago he had been
convicted of felony at the Carlisle assizes and sentenced to
transportation, but that sentence had been commuted. He
was also convicted at these assizes for having coining instru-
ments in his possession, they having been discovered at the
time his house was searched in consequence of the present
robbery.
To be transported for fourteen years. Goss to be trans.
ported for seven years.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT,
OLD COURT.
(Before Baron PLATT and Alderman HUGHES.)
James Button, aged nineteen, described as a labourer, was
arraigned for feloniously, with menaces, &c., demanding of
John Fielding Daniel his moneys, &c. No counsel was en-
gaged on either side.

➢lr. Daniel said, that on the 29th of July last, returning
from Kensington, he went into a urinal opposite to St.
George's Hospital, when the prisoner, who was in another
compartment of it, pushed against him. The witness asked
what he wanted, and the prisoner said, "I want money, and
money I will have." Witness refused to give him any, and
left the place, when the prisoner followed him up Piccadilly
towards Park lane, asking for money, or he would accuse
him (witness) of a horrible crime. Witness still refusing,
the prisoner asked for some beer, and the witness threatened
to give him in charge. Before this the prisoner said, " I will
have first pull," and, a policeman coming up, the prisoner
gave witness in charge. The policeman took the charge, and
so did the sergeant and inspector at the station-hose, though
witness preferred a counter-charge against the prisoner.
Witness was locked up all night, and next day taken to
Marlborough-street police court, when the prisoner ap-
peared against him ; but Mr. Hardwick, the magistrate,
taking cognizance of both charges, and the character of the
witness having been proved by several witnesses to be
highly respectable, whilst that of the prisoner was proved to
the contrary, the former was discharged, and the latter de-
tained and committed for trial.

Baron PLATT asked the prisoner what he had to say to the
witness's statement? Tue prisoner denied the truth of it;
but could give no satisfactory account of his mode of life.
No witnesses, though called upon by the Crier of the Court,
appeared to speak to his character.
After a short address from the Learned Judge, the jury
found the prisoner Guilty.
Two policemen were then called, who said they knew the
prisoner as a lazy, idle fellow, and associate with convicted
thieves.

Baron PLATT (to the prisoner)--You have been convicted
of a most diabolical offence carried out in a most dastardly
way. You have taken the advantage -of those who resort,
for their necessary purposes, to certain public conveniences,
and as they come in, you accost them in the way you have.
accosted this man. When a man has sufficient firmness to
refuse you, you have the audacity to turn round and charge
him with an offence of which you know him to be incapable
Besides, you dare appear before a magistrate the next morn-
ing and support your false charge by repeated perjury.
A more diabolical and wicked attempt I have never heard of.
I have given you every chance with the jury, ar.d witnesses,
who could prove the previous infamy of your character, were
not called until the jury had discharged their duty by a
verdict of Guilty against you. A different verdict would
have stained the character of a respectable man, and guilt
would have got free. The sentence of the Court on you is,
that you be Imprisoned in the House of Correction for
Two Years, and that you be kept to hard labour.
The Learned JUDGE told the prosecutor that if it would
be any satisfaction to him lie would declare publicly that
he did not think his character in any way affected by the
statements of the prisoner.
Mr. Daniel said that such an opinion gave him great sa-
tisfaction. He haft not employed counsel, because he was
certain the Learned Judge and Jury would do him full jus-
tice on hearing a plain statement of the facts. Sooner than
give money to any one making such menaces as the prisoner
had done, he would cut off his right hand first.
The Court applauded his moral courage, and rose at
five o'clock.

DISCHARGE OF THE GRAND Juay.—The grand inquest
having ignored the bills of indictment against seven persons
they were called into court, and liberated by puulic procla-
mation.

the neck from the action of the left hand, and the upper
part of the instrument presented the appearance of wear,
and scratches and blemishes, such as would become a
precious old fiddle that had been taken care of. On
looking into the interior, however, there was no forgery
of the handwriting of the ancient maker, no attempt to
disguise the entire newness of the instrument.
Mr. Alderman SIDNEY asked what was the value of
the violins? Mr. Fendt replied 201.
Mr. Turner felt that his character was somewhat im-
peached by the high value set on them, as he had given
only 41. for them. He appealed to the notorious fact
that nobody liked to play on a new fiddle. He wished
the alderman to ascertain whether any shopkeeper like
himself would give more than 21. for such new fiddles.

Mr. Redhouse replied, the quality might almost be
inferred from the choiceness of the wood in its various
parts.
Mr. Alderman SIDNEY, after hearing Mr. Fenth's ac-
count of the loss of the violins, said he would let the
case stand over for a week. There should be an
effort to catch and punish the thief before he determined
upon what terms the property sh,,uld be restored.
CLEI?KENWELL.

On Saturday, Maria Cook, a repulsive-leolting woman,
was finally examined, charged by Mary Ann Montgo•
mery, the wife of a carpenter, residing in Warwick-
court, Whitecross-street, St. Luke's, with having vio-
lently assaulted her, with intent to murder her. The
prosecutrix wes brought to the Court in a cabriolet,
from the hospital, in a very weakly state. It apreared
that the prisoner was in the habit of quarrelling with the
prosecutrix, and had caused her husband's jealousy, by
spreading false reports about her. On Tuesday fort-
night they met together in a public-house, when their
quarrel was renewed, and, after a great deal of recrimi-
nation, &c., on both sides,-the prisoner struck prosecu-
trix on the head with a quart-pot, and rendered her in-
sensible, She was conveyed to the hospital, where she
had since been in a dangerous state. Several witnesses
corroborated her evidence. The prisoner said nothing,
and she was fully committed for trial.

Mary Taylor,- an elderly respectable-looking woman,
was charged with robbiHg children.
Mr. Paul, a tradesman of John's-place, Bedford-
row, Holborn, sent his little girl, six years of age, with
a bundle of clothes to a neighbour, when she was stopped
by the prisoner in Lamb's Conduit-street, who proadsed
her a penny to knock at a door whilst she minded her
bundle. She took the property and was leaving, when
a gentleman who had cbserved her conduct gave her into
the custody of Sergeant Fuller, E division, mho took her
to the station-house.

The evidence in this case being clear and satisfactory,
the prisoner was committed for trial upon it.
Sergeant Fuller said if she was remanded he had no
doubt he could procure numerous charges against her, as
information had been received that a person answering
the prisoner's description had perpetrated innumerable
depredations on children under similar circumstances.
She was accordingly remanded.

A person named Third, the tenant of the Spafields
burial ground, appealed to a bench of magistrates in
petty session, assembled at the Clerkenwell Session-
house, against a poor-rate which the authorities of the
parish had called on him to pay.
Mr. Wakeling, the vestry-clerk, supported the rate.
He said that tht, burial ground occupied upwards of an
acre, and besides that, the defendant had a, dwelling-
house and garden.
The appellant answered that, in consequence of the
falling off of the funerals in the ground, the rate had
been reduced from 1001. to 651., and the latter, he now
contended, was too much, for he could prove that during
the last year he had sustained a loss of 1171., from the
false rumours that had been raised against the property.
Only about a quarter of an acre was now used for in-
terments, for he had been bound down not to open any
other portion of the ground for a certain period.
Mr. KNIGHT, the magistrate, regretted that the law
had not stopped the pest, for it was a disgrace to the
metropolis. He inquired how many bodies had been
interred within the last month ? Bird said—About
thirty.

Mr. KNIGHT was of opinion that the present rate
(651. a year) was too low, and he trusted his brother
magistrates would not, at all events, lower it.
The bench unanimously affirmed the rate.
SOUTHIVABK.

Bridget Mahoney, a stout coarse looking Irishwoman,
with twin infants in her arms, was charged with va.
grancy.

Sergeant Parnell stated that the defendant was sitting
on the pavement in the most crowded part of the Ro
rough, with the two, nfants in her arms, and her legs
stretched our so as to obstruct the passengers. He saw
her receive charity, and on requesting her to move from
that situation, she flew into a violent passion, swore at
him in Irish, and, throwing the infants on the stones,
attempted to leave them. He stopped her, made her
take up her offspring, and then conveyed her to the
station-house.

The defendant was loud in her denunciations against
the sergeant, and said it was a hard case poor people
were precluded from receiving alms by the police.
Mr. COTTINGUAM said he was confident the defendant
was an impostor, and that she had borrowed the children
to excite compassion. He committed her for 21 days to
hard labour.

THE DAGENHAM MURDER.

On Thursday morning a more minute examination
was made of the spot where the murder was perpetrated,
in the presence of the reporter, and the facts elicited are
most important, as showing that the murder must have
been cool and premeditated, and the spot selected admi-
rably calculated for the commission of the crime. The
field in question is situate abcnt a quarter of a mile from
the Dagenham Road. It is an extremely large one, and
on the western side there is a great bend in the high
blackthorn hedge which surrounds it, forming a perfect
nook. In this nook the body was found; and, as if it
were planned, the spot selected is the farthest point
from either of the three farms in the vicinity, and
upwards of a quarter of a mile from the main road, and
the same distance from the deceased man's heat. The
question arises how Clarke came there. It is absurd to
suppose that single•handed he would have ventured to
follow smugglers or depredators to such a spot, while on
the other hand he would be compelled, as an act of duty,
to follow his sergeant or any brother officer who ex-
pressed a cons iction that something might be going on
wrong there.

An absurd statement made its way into one of the
morning papers of Friday, that Clarke was known to
have a quantity of sovereigns in his box at the station,
and that the failure to obtain the key by some of his
comrades induced the murder. If the author had read
the evidence of constable Stevens who came with Clarke
to Dagenham from the Arbour-square station, he would
see that there was no key to Ctarke's box, for being
unable to find it when he left Arbour- square, he him-
self hunt it open to show his comrades that he was taking
nothing away but his own.
Although not in evidence, it is a fact that a handker-
chief stained with blood was picked up in the field ad-
joining that in which the murdered man was found, and
it is thought likely to lead to certain and tangible re-
sults. However strong the suspicions may appear
against Sergeant Parsons, it is considered that the
strongest point is that of his not accounting for his time
on the night of the murder, and his persisting in the as-
sertion that he was on duty, although all the constables
admit that, in the first instance, they committed
perjury in saying so, and now declare be was
not. There appears to be an absence of motive.
unless it coald have arisen from the simple
circumstance stated in the first day's evidence, namely,
that on the evening of the murder, while Clarke was
talking to Parsons, who was at the time on horseback,
Mrs. Parsons came along with his sister, and on com-
plaining of being tired, the deceased Clarke jocosely of-
fered to lift her on the sergeant's horse.
The conduct of the constable Butfoy throughout the
affair, together with his anxiety to cross examine all the
witnesses as to his being on duty on the night of the
murder, has also excited great suspicion; and he, as
well as the sergeant, aro closely watched. It is under-
,tood that steps are being taken by the authorities of
the Home• orliee and the Commissioners of Police to in-
dict the whole of the constables who have sworn falsely
for perjury, but it will not be carried out until evidence
is adduced, which is supposed to be in train, for bring-
ing home the more atrocious crime of murder to the
right parties.—Obsel vcr.

AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER

AT LEEDS.

A case of manslaughter of a most appalling character
occurrcd in the Old Post-office-yard, Kirkgate, (the
resort of the lower class of itinerant Irish, English ped-
lars, and low travellers), on Wednesday night. The
offender, who took away the life of one woman, and
placed in imminent danger that of another, is a man
named Wm. Walshaw, 29 years of age, who is a hawker
of hardware from town to town, but whose chief places
of residence have been Pontefract and L?eds. He co-
habits with a woman, and has children. On Wednes-
day evening he went to his lodgings in a state of intoxi-
cation, and commenced a quarrel with the woman who
lives with him, and shortly afterwards be began to 'B-
use one of his children. The cries of the mother
aroused the neighbours, one of whom went and took
the child from him. Walshaw then went away, hooted
by a large body of women who had assembled in the
yard. lle was absent for about an hour and a half. In
the meantime his wife got all the women around her,
and began to expose his cruel treatment. The women
resolved to mob him, and on his return two of them
entered his lodgings, while others outside were calling
for him to be turned out. At this moment he pulled a
parcel of knives from his pocket, took one in each hand,
and with the blades open made towards the door. On
the steps were two women named Elizabeth Smith and
Kitty McLoughlan. He made a rip at each, and stabbed
the former in the abdomen, and the latter in the thigh.
Smith's wound proved fatal within about two hours
afterwards ; and MeLcughlan was removed to the in-
firmary in a dangerous state. Apprehensive of the con-
sequences, the desperate man attempted to escape from
them by flight, but was secured by policeman Ruddock,
who was at that time proceeding to the police-office to
resume duty. Both Smith and McLoughlan are the
wives of pedlars. The latter has a numerous family.
Smith had one child. Walshaw is generally known by
the title of " Sheffield Bill." An inquest was held on
the body of Elizabeth Smith, and a verdict of man-
slaughter returned against Walshaw, the jury express-
ing their opinion that it was a very aggravated case.
Walshaw was then. committed to .York Castle, for trial
at the next assizes. McLoughlan is still in a precarious
state at the Leeds Infirmary.—Leeds Mercury.