The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-03 00:00:00

JULY 3, 1851.

MURDER AT LONGTOWN.

Oa trliy W. Csrri..k, Eq, c pr.eier. 1-I.ILI inu-st
at the Bush Lin, Longto wu, upon the Imly of Mr.
Thomas Plenderleath, registrar of births, deaths, and t
marriages, who had been strangled in a public-house by
William Kirkpatrick, a man well known in Longtown
by the cognomen of " the Pether" from the fact of his
having once been a pedlar.
John Ward, a shoem..ker in Longtown, deposed—l
remember the day on which this occurrence took place—
it was Tuesday, the 10th of June. I was at the Bush
Inn, with John Graham and William Kirkpatrick, the
accused. After some altercation, Kirkpatrick said
Plenderleath had kept five shillings of his, which he
had earned in taking the census tor him. Deceased
replied that he had kept back two shillings only, but
he did not say for what reason. Kirkpatrick then
jumped up, took a glass of spirits, and threw it on Plen-
derleath's breast. He next threw a glass of rum in Plea-
derleath's face. Plenderleath did not speak during this
time, but just cleaned his face with his handkerchief.
" The Pother" then sat down, and Benderleath said,
" Come and sit beside me, Pether,' and I'll treat you; if
you do not come and sit beside me come and sit beside
you." Deceased then sat down upon part of " the Pether's"
chair, when " the Pother" immediately seized him by
the throat with both hands—his fingers extending be-
hind deceased's ears, and his thumps pressing against
his throat, or windpipe. Toall appearance he was using
a great deal of force. Plenderleath's handkerchief was
loose at this time, and Kirkpatrick had hold of his bare
neck. I immediately seized Kirkpatrick by the arms
and said, " Do not choke the man," and pulled him
off. The landlord seized him either by the arm or neck,
and threw him to one aide. Ido not think he bad
Plenderleath by the throat more than a quarter of a
minute. The moment Kirkpatrick's hands were loosed
deceased's head dropped down, his chin resting upon his
breast. His arms also fell powerless by his sides, and
he never spoke afterwards.
Other witnesses proved that Kirkpatrick had used
malicious and threatening language towards deceased ;
and Dr. Lonsdale and Dr. Rome, who had made a
post mortent examination of the body, attributed the
death of deceased to the violence used by Kirkpatrick.
The jury retired, and after an hour's deliberation re-
turned into court with a verdict of " Murder" against
Kirkpatrick. The foreman added that he had been re-
quested by the jury to state that they wished to recom-
mend him to the merciful consideration of the court, on
the ground that he did not intend to take deceased's life

HEALTH OF LONDON JJURIAU THE WEEK.
(From the Report of the Registrar-General.)
In the week ending last Saturday the deaths regis-
tered in the metropolitan districts amounted to 1,032.
In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1841-50
the average number was 924; if, for the sake of better
comparison, this average be raised in the ratio of in-
crease of population (which during the last fifty years
was 1.778 per cent. annually), it will become 1,016, an
amount which differs not materially from the number
now returned.
It will be observed that there is an increase of more
than 60 on the week immediately preceding, when the
deaths were 968. But this excess is not the effect of in-
creased mortality; it is due to cases where coroners
have held inquests, in many of which, though they
occurred at earlier dates, the registration had not
been completed till the end of the quarter. Sudden
deaths, under which designation are classed cases
in which persons have been tound dead, or have died
suddenly, and the fatal disease has not been as-
certained—these, which in the previous return were
only eight, have risen last week to 29. Bat the
great majority of inquests is on deaths from violence, pri-
vation, intemperance, &c., and in this class the number
has been in each of the two last returns above the
average, in the former week amounting to 52, in
the latter to 85. In the present list the deaths of two
persons are ascribed to privation, of 2 to intemperance,
2 to want of breast milk or inanition, 3 to poison, 7 to
burns and scalds, 4 to hanging or suffication, 18 to
drowning, 41 to fractures and contusions (cnielly from
carriages and falls), and 6 to wounds and other injury.
the present return shows that the mortality from
diseases of the organs of respiration continues to exceed
the usual amount at this period; the deaths in this class
were 124, while the corrected average is 98. Phthisis
was fatal to 145 persons, which differs little from the es-
timated number.
The fatal cases included in the zymotic or epidemic
class have risen from 205 in the preceding week to 218
in the last. Smallpox carried off 21 children, and 3
persons above 15 years; measles was fatal to 41 chit
dren, scarlatina to 14, hooping-cough to 46, croup to 5,
thrush to 4, diarrbces to 16 children and 3 adults, typhus
to 38 persons. But this class is not in the aggregate
above the average, though measles and hooping-cough
are apparently rather prevalent.
It was mentioned above that two persons died of pri-
vation. The following are the particulars of the CALM:-
At the Workhouse, Whitechspel, on 21st June, a la-
bourer, aged 60 years, died of " starvation." He was
brought by the police from Angel-alley.
At the London Hospital, on '2lst June, a labourer,
aged 42 years, died a " sudden death accelerated by
want." An inquest was held in this case.
The following are the particulars of a case of cholera
which was registered last week:—
At 54, Hill-street, Walworth, on 20th of June, a car-
penter, aged 60 years, died of " cholera (14 days),
chronic disease of the stomach (2 years)." Certified by
medical attendant.

STATE or THE WEATHER DURING THE PAST WEEK..
SUNDAY.—The sky was generally covered wi`h cloud
till near noon, and clear during the remainder of the day ;
cirrostratus. Electricity—Nothing was shown throughout
the day.
MONDAY.—The sky, with slight exceptions, was covered
with cloud till 4h. P.M., and mostly clear afterwards ;
cumulostrati, cirrostrati, and light scud. Electricity—Nothing
was shown at any examination.
TUESDAY.—The sky was covered with cloud during the
morning and afternoon, and at night it was principally clear ;
cirrostratus and fleecy clouds. Electricity—Nothing was
shown throughout the day.
WEDNESDAY.—The sky was obscured with cirrostratus
during the morning and afternoon, and at night the amount
of cloud was variable. A solar halo was visible during the
morning. Electricity—Nothing was shown throughout the
day.
THURSDAY.--The sky was generally clear throughout the
day. Electricity—Positive, and tension weak during the
afternoon.
FRIDAY.—The sky was clear throughout the day. Elec-
tricity—Positive, and tension moderate during the afternoon.
SATURDAY. The sky was almost free from cloud through.
out the day. Electricity—Positive at 9h. A.M., and none
was shown after this time.
The mean reading of a thermometer placed on the main-
mast, and read each day at 9h. A.M., was 67.5°; and the
mean reading at 9h. P.M. was 62.7°; the mean readings at
the Royal Observatory for the same times were 68.9 Q, and
59.6° respectively.
The reading of the barometer increased from 2958 in. at
the eginning of the week, passing the point 30 inches early
in the morning of the 23d, to 30.13 in. by 9h. P.M. on the 24th ;
it continued at about this reading till after noon on the 2ith
w' en it began to decrease slowly, and from noon on the 27th
to the end of the week the reading was about 30.03 at all
times.

MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS.
NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED
THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1351.
Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseusea ...*2lB
Diseases of Uncertain Seat ... ... 50
Tubercular Diseases ••• ••• ••• ••• ... 189
i)iseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses... ... 127
Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels ... 30
Diseases of the Lungs, and other Organs of
Respiration ••• •• • .• • •• • •• • •••12 4
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs
of Digestion... „.„
Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. ••
Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c.
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles
Diseases of the Skin, &o. •• • ••• •• •
Malformations... ••• ••• ••• •••
Premature Birth ••• ••• .• •••
Atrophy ••• ••• ••• ••• •••
Old Age ••• ••• ••• ••• •••
Sudden ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• •••
Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance
Causes not specified

... 54
... 13

... 27
... 25
... 39
... 29
... 85

DEATHS FROM ALL CLUSES
Population Deaths in corn-
Enumerated, spending week
1841. of 1850.
West Districts... 301,189 .. 165 .
North Districts.. 376,563 .. 200 ,

1,032
DeaL
in the
Week.
152
201
169
244
266

Central I)istriet3 374,199

East Districts ... 393,067

,uuth Districts .. 503,346

Totals... ..... 1,948,369
Males
Females

... 1,032
... 519
... 513

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

ki .4 NSIOAV- /lOUS IL.

Robert Young. a cl -ik, iu the employtta• nt of Messrs.
M'Culloch and Squire, of Basingball-s,reet, drug mer-
chants, was brought before Alderman Cabitt for final
examination, upon the charge of having embezzled cer-
tain sums of money, the property of that firm.
Mr. C. W. Eddy and Mr. Bates proved that they had
paid to the prisoner the amounts of the debts due by
the-nu to the prosecutors ; and Mr. Squire proved that
the sums had not been accounted for by the prisoner or
any other person to the house.
The prisoner, it appeared, had been in the employ-
ment of the firm several years, and had borne an excel-
lent character.

The defence was reserved, and the prisoner was com-
mitted for trial.

LAMBETH.

Mr. Henry Frazer Dimsdale, one of the eons of Baron
Dimsdale, was brought before Mr. Elliott, on a writ of
habeas, from the Queen's prison, to answer a charge of
assaulting Mr. Jarman, managing clerk to Mr. Hum-
phries, by throwing eggs and other mi,silea at him on
the Oaks day, while rerurning from Epsom. It was oho
expected that several other charges would have been
preferred against the accused by other parties who had
been scandalously assulted on the occasion in question.
Mr. Ballantine, the barrister, and a solicitor whose
name did not transpire, attended on behalf of Mr. Dims-
dale, and the court during the proceedings was much
crowded.

The Learned Barrister for the defnce waited a con-
siderable time for the arrival of Mr. Jarman, who it was
said was engaged in conducting a case of considerable
importance at one of the superior courts, and who did
not, it is supposed from this cause, attend at all. It was
stated, however, that Mr. Jarman, in so far as his case
Was concerned had preferred a bill of indictment at the
Old Bailey, against Mr. Dimsd,le and five oilers, for
the outrage on him; that a true bill had been found
against all the parties, and that a warrant, signed by
Mr. Justice Coleridge, bad been lodged with the keeper
of the Queen's prison, calling on Mr. Dimsdale to find
sufficient bail to answer to an indictment. So that, bad
Mr. Jarman been present, ail he could have done would
be to c•►l1 on a magistrate to compel Mr. Dimsdtale to
find sufficient surety to appear at the Old Bailey to an-
swer the indictment.

Mr. Ballantine, addressing the magistrate, said he was
instructed, on behalf of his youthful client, to express
his extreme regret at being even in the slightest degree
a participator in the proceedings complained of,
and to say in his behalf that, though not tHking any
part in the egg throwing, he should be most happy
to make any fair or reasonable compensation to the
injured parties. From a feeling of honour, but which
he (Mr. Ballantine) conceived to be a mistaken
feeling—Mr. Dimsdale refused to give up the names of
several officers belonging to the Bth Hussars and the
16th Lancers, who were vastly his seniors, and who were
the principals in the cowardly and outrageous affair. In
his (Mr. Ballantine's) opinion, the conduct of these par-
ties—gentlemen as no doubt they called themselves—
was rendered the more contemptible by the fact of their
leaving Mr. Ilimsdale to bear the whole of the brunt and
odium of the disgraceful uffence, while they were the
principal actors, and never contributing one single shil-,
ling to the expenses already incurred by Mr. Dimsdale.
He (Mr. Ballantine) hoped that notwithstanding the
mistaken honour of his client, yet for the future protec-
tion of the public, as well as for the rake of public justice
and the credit of the British army, th,, names of
the real aggressors—no matter what their rank or
station might be—would be sent to Mr. Jarman and
the other sufferers, so that they might be brought to
j us tice.

The solicitor for Mr. Dilosdale admitted the fact that
he had seen the warrant lodged at the Queen's prison,
and signed by Mr. Justice Coleridge, calling on his
client to find the necessary bail to meet the charge at
the Central Criminal Court.

Mr. Peat, the army sailer in Bond-street, who, it
will be recollected, saved the whole of the eeg throwers,
if not from a desperate beating, at least from a night's
lodging at tee station•house, begged to make a few re-
marks. He seid that since the evening in question he
had become the object of censure among gentlemen who
were formerly his best friends and patrons, though his
interference was dictated alone by the best teeltnes on
his part. The cause of his interference he felt quite sure
was in the recollection of his worship, yet he was stig-
matised with interfering unnecessarily, and so great was
the length to which some of the officers had carried their
enmity that they had actually signed a "round robin"
to the colonels, declaring that his interference was quite
unnecessary ;and uncalled for; teat the police force at
the South Lambeth turnpike-gate was not sufficient to
take them (the aggressors) into custody; that, therefore,
his intetference was quite uncalled for, and therefore
they should not employ him (Mr: Peat) any more in
his business. The fact was that his (Mr. Post, s) inter-
ference in the matter was of the most disinterested, and
he might with justice, he thought, add, kindly descrip-
tion to all parties. On riding up to the South Lambeth
turnpike gate he feund a considerable disturbance,
and saw a friend of his, Mr. Watson, who was bleeding;
profusely, and Mr. Jarman, with whom he was also ac-
quainted, both e,f whom complained of having been se-
riously assaulted by the gentlemen on a four-horse drag.
Having been thus appealed to, and knowing several of
the gentlemen on the drag, he observed that he thought
they should give their cards to the injured party. The
gentlemen on the coach said they bad done so, but Mr.
Jarman having expressed a doubt about the ,genuine-
ness of the cards, he (Mr. Peat) asked the gentlemen if
he pledged himself to be accountable for them they
would attend on the following day, and they all declared
they would, and Mr. Ihmsdale was among them. They
did not appear, and he (Mr. Peat) having been subse-
quently summoned to this court, felt obliged, under the
learned Magistrate's direction, but without in any way
volunteering in the matter, to give up the names of those
he knew on the drag.

Mr. ELLIOTT remarked that from the beginning Mr.
Peat, no doubt finding himself in en awkward dilemma,
had been an unwilling witness, and it was only on his
(Mr. Elliott's) remarking that the offending parties had
acted in a highly improper and ungentlemanly way by
giving wrong addresses and false cards, and that there-
fore he (Mr. Peat) could not do less than give their
names, that he had done so.

.Mr.7Peat here handed to the magistrate a letter for his
private pm,al, and
Mr. ELLIOTT, on reading it, observed that it was any-
thing but creditable to the person or station of the
writer. _ _ _