The Sun.
London, England, 1833-03-14 00:00:00

INHUMAN MURDER.

Yesterday, at one o'clock, Mr. STIRLING, coroner for
Middlesex, and a respectable jury, assembled at the York
and Albany Tavern, Park-street, Regent's-park, Camden-
town, to inquire touching the death of Robert Paviour,
aged 13, who came by his death under the following
dreadful circumstances.
The case excited considerable interest, and the jury room
was crowded to excess. .

Mr. Joseph Curtis, surgeon, of No. 12, Union-terrace,
Camden-town, being sworn, deposed, that on Monday
morning last a policeman of S division called at his house,
and informed him that the body of a boy had been found
in the Regent's-canal, Regent's-park, and it appeared to
have been in the water two or three weeks. Witness then
declined going to see the body at that time, but shortly
afterwards the policeman called again, and said that there
were circumstances of a very suspicious nature connected
with the boy's death, and the parish authorities wished a
surgeon to examine the body, and witness proceeded to
view it immediately, and saw the body. On examining
the body it was of a reddish colour. The face was much
swollen and pallid. There was a severe bruise on the
temple, and another on the centre of the forehead, as if
they proceeded from blows. The eyes were closed ; other
parts of his person were discoloured, especially at the back.
The right arm was broken above the centre, and the left
above the elbow. He observed dirt in the nails, similar to
the clay at the side of the canal. The ventricles of the
brain were gorged with blood.
CORONER—Were the marks on the person caused an-
tecedent to death, or putrefaction after death ? Mr.
Curtis—My opinion is, that he received a blow a few
minutes after or before he was put in the water. There
was no fracture of the skull. In my opinion a disgusting
assault had been commited upon the deceased. The arms,
I think, were broken at the same time. He was first
stunned, and thrown into the water.
CORONER—Do you think a barge coming along the
canal would have caused the injuries ? Mr. Curtis—
No, Sir, it is improbable that such was the case.
Juror—You say that the deceased's eyes were closed
when you saw him ; is it common for drowned persons
to have closed eyes ? Mr. Curtis—lt is quite an unusual
circumstance.

Patrick Crawley, tailor, of 26, John-street, Tottenham-
court-road, stated, that he resides in the same house with
the deceased's parents. He saw the deceased alive, in
good health and spirits, about three weeks ago. He saw
nothing of him afterwards until he saw him dead on
Monday last, covered with bruises, and took information
to his parents. . _

Isabella Crawley, wife to the last witness, being sworn,
deposed that the last time she saw she deceased was on
Monday three weeks. On the following day, the 26th of
February, about seven o'clock in the evening, witness was
sitting in the parlour with her husband, when she heard
the deceased's mother call to the deceased to come and
have his tea. Shortly afterwards she heard him come
down stairs, proceed to the passage, and open the door.
Shortly a+terwards she heard a rumbling noise in the pas-
sage, which she thought proceeded from some dog, and
she went into the nassage and looked about, but saw no-
thing. She saw the door open, and at a quarter past
eight o'clock she closed it. S+iortly after the hither of the
deceased returned home, and on missing him he went
with the mother in search of him, but could not Lind him
anywhere. At ten o'clock they returned home. The sis-
ter of the deceased bad also been looking for the deceased ,
at about ten o'clock, when she said " I am sure he will
not return home to-night." She said so three or four
times. On the following morning witness again spoke to
her, when she again told witness that she was sure the
deceased would not come home. Witness inquired what
made her say so ? The sister replied "I am sure he will
not return how... I think he is gone to drown hims-lf."
Witness asked h. r again her reason for saying so. She then
said " I only think so."
Colton Elt—Did you observe anybody loitering about th•
door the evening be ore ? Wi+ness--.1 did not, Sir.
Juror—l am it,formed that you have stated to an indi-
vidual that you s9cv seveg al persons lot king about the house.
Witness—Aker I heard the scuffle in the passage, I
looked about, and saw three men at the corner of the
street.

Juror—ls the deceased Mr. Paviour's own child ?

Witness—l have heard not, Sir. I heard no quarrel or
disturbance previous to the death. On the Tuesday pre-
, ious beard the mother threaten and beat the deceased with
her 10.0 e. She informed witness that she could get him
to do nitthing. _ _

An Overseer—Do you know Marshal, Taylor, and
Evans, wt o are now in custody ?
Witness—l /to not ; I know that Taylor lives next
do..r'to me; I don't know who is in custody. I never
saw the boy in company with Taylor.
Mrs. Jane Paviour, of 21, J ,ho-street, Tottenham-
court-road, mother to the deceased.—The deceased was a
legitimate child. The last time witness saw the deceased
was on Tuesday, February 26, in her own room, where she
left him alone. He h,id no intention of going Out. Witness
quitted home, and had no quarrel or words with him. Had
not latterly corrected him. I"ever corrected him more
than was necessary for a parent to do. He never sulked
with her. He kept a rabbit in the yard of Mr. Ri-
chardson's house (her landlord).
CORONER—Do you know any boy or other person with
whom your son kept company, or paid more than ordi-
nary attention towards him ? Mrs. Paviour—l am
not acquainted with anybody of the kind. When witness
left the deceased on the Tuesday evening, she told him to
clean his boots and put his slippers on. On the follow-
ing morning witness found the boots cleaned.
Mrs. Paviuur was here very much affected, and inti
mated that Mrs. Crawley had told two stories.
Sbe at first said, that she heard the deceased come
down stairs and open the street door, and after
her husband went to the house of call, she heard a scuffle
in the passage, which she thought was a drunken man,
and she thought she heard a falling in the passage. She
had since frequently denied the statements, saying it was
scraping of the tett. The deceased wore slippers (odd
ones). She had not corrected the deceased within the
last week. Witness knows a person named Taylor resid-
ing next door. Never saw the deceased in his company.
Overseer—Do you know a person named Marshal ?
Witness—l am sorry to say Ido know him.
CORONER-Why do you say you are sorry ? Witness
—Because he has abused and agitated my mind.
CORONER-What is he ? Witness—He is a gentle-
man's servant.

Witness continued that Marshal was introduced to her
as a person who knew something of the boy. He gave a
full description of his person, and said he had seen him at
St. Katharine's Docks, and he was going out in a ship.
They proceeded to the Docks, and Marshal could not find
the boy. He said the boy was alive, and he was very
like her in the face. On a subsequent occasion he said
to Taylor, " Shall I take bim to Portsmouth and make
a pound or two more of him ?" Taylor replied, " You'll
go too far." Evans, another man in custody, threatened
witness while she stood at her window, and shook his
head. Marshal and two other persons were with him at
the time. Witness had seen Marshal in Taylor's com-
pany. He did not part with any money to Marshal.
Suspecting that they knew something of the boy's absence,
she applied to the Magistrates of Hatton-garden police-
office, and they were taken into custody.
Mary Ann Paviour, 18 years of age, the deceased's
sister, deposed, that tt.e last time she saw the deceased
was last Tuesday three weeks, about half-past five o'clock
in the evening, when she had her tea. On leaving to
return to her work at Mr. Hill's, 91, Tottenham-court-
road, she went over to Mr. Perkins's public•bouse to
ask what time it was. On her return home, at about a
quarter to eight o'clock, she went into the room of Mrs.
Richardson, the landlord's wife, on the first floor. Mrs.
Richardson said, " Robert is very quiet, as if he was
asleep." Witness proceeded up stairs with the Misses
Richardson to the second floor, between eight and nine
o'clock, when they found him missing. Her mother re-
turned home at nine o'clock.

CoßonEit—How came you to say to Mrs. Crawley that
you feared that your brother was drowned? Witness—l
did not tell her so. I merely said that they ought to have
the river dragged, as he might be drowned.
CORONER-Why did you say so? Witness—l had no
reason to suppose that he was drowned; I was agitated,
and thought it would be a satisfaction to seffch the river.

CORONER-Did he ever express any intention to you
of drowning himself? Witness—He never did.

CORONER.--Dld you not say to Mrs. Crawley that you
were sure your brother would not return home? Wit.
ness—l don't recollect it—l am certain I did not.
CORONER—How far is the Queen's Theatre from your
house? Witness—The gallery door is in Pitt-street, close
by ; but be never went tl ere. Never saw her brother
with Taylor. Knew Marshal and Evans by sight.

William Higgins, of 13, Ogle-street, Matylebone, de-
poi.td that on Marshal saying he knew where the boy was
to be found, witness asked him whether he was certain
that he could restore him. Marslial said that " he war
On their road to St. Katharine's Dock, where Marshal
stated he had seen the boy, he asked witness whether the
reward of 51. was sale, if the boy was restored. Witness
assured him it was, and sa d the moment the boy was
brought back to his parents, witness himself wound ad-
vance the money. On their arrival in the city, Marshal
said that there was a very rich man in tha.city, who was
in the habit of inveigling boys by giving them large sums

of money. He also mentioned the name of a Captain
Beauclerc, who cut his throat in Horsetnonger-lane gaol,
where he was committed on the charge of a nameless
cffence. Marshal knew nothing of the Docks. On Mar-
shal observing Mr Paviour following him, he called out
to a companion on the opposite side of the way, " It is
no go." Witness caused his apprehension.
Mr. Joseph Smith, broker, of 86, John-street, stated,
that about a fortnight ago he saw Marshal, whom he asked
whether he had any good tidings of the child. He re-
plied, ' I hope so ; I have read the bill offering a reward,
and the description exactly corre.pond with a boy whom
I have seen." Witness replied, "I think he is harked."
" No," said Marshal, " he is alive and as well and hearty
as you are at this moment." I asked him how he knew
that. He answered, "I am certain of it." I replied,
" I hope it will turn out so." He said he saw the boy
on hoard a ship at the Sr. Katharine's Dock. Witness
went to Mr. Taylor, japanner, of No. 27, John .street, and
asked him if he knew anything of Marshal. Taylor re-
plied " I do ; he is a man whose parents are respecta-
ble." Witness said, " Well, I hope it will all turn out
satisfactory to the parents of the boy." Taylor made no
answer. Here the witness stated, that since the deceased
was missing witness and his wife frequently saw fellows
lurking about Taylor's premises, and looking over, as if
they suspected that witness was watching them. He was
satisfied they knew something of the deceased.
Sarah Smith, wife to the last witness, deposed, that on
Thursday week she saw half-a-dozen men wending with
their backs to her shopwindow. Mrs. Paviour was
standing at her own window, when Evans clenched his
fist, called her a -- old --, and that she should
be plagued a little longer. He is a French polisher, and
a married man.

Mr. Henry Brittan, of St. John-street, frequently saw
a set of drunken fellows going in and leaving Taylor's
house. He saw Evans in their company. Taylor was a
bad character. -

Daniel Williams, lock-keeper, of Hawley's-lock, Re-
gent's Park—On Monday morning he received informa-
tion from a boatman that a body was in the canal. He 11
proceeded to the spot and hooked it out of the water.
The deceased had on a pair of grey trousers, a blue jacket
buttoned up to the neck, but no shoes or hat. He had the
body brought to this house.
Robert Paviour, father of the deceased, identified the
body. He reiterated the testimony given by Higgins.
Marshal told him that his boy was on board the Hereford,
but that ship was lying at Blackwell. Witness gave him
into custody in consequence of Lwhat he said to Evans
and Taylor about taking the boy to Portsmouth to make
21. extra out of him. This being the whole of the evidence,
Mr. STIRLING addressed the Jury at great length. He
remarked, that it was a most extraordinary and abomi-
nable proceeding. There was not the least shadow of doubt
that the unfortunate ,-bild had been forcibly taken from the
house of his parents, and conveyed to some infamous
receptacle, for the basest of purposes. It was evident
that be did not leave of his own accord, as Mrs.
Crawford heard him come down stairs, and was alarmed
by a scuffle in the passage about the same time. It
was an extraordinary circumstance that both his arms
should he broken, and the blow upon his head. He
could not have inflicted these inuries himself—the y
must have been inflicted by other persons, and the
question for the Jury to consider was how and ley
whom the boy was murdered. The man Marshal
was so mixed up with the transaction. that no one could
avoid thinking that he was in some way concerned in it.
His having alluded to a man in the city, who inveigled
boys without any occasion, it ultimately being ascertained
that violence of a horrible kind had been used towards
him, and his going to the docks, in order to give them a
wrong scent, to cause the parents to think he had gone
abroad and make them supine to discover the boy, were
all strung circumstances against him. The Coroner said
that it was probable that four or half-a• dozen fe:lows took
the boy away, and that he might have been atupified by
some liquor, and carried to a notorious place, where, being
brutally treated, he was destro3ed in order to prevent him
exposing the parties, whom he knew. His arms were
broken, no doubt, for the purpose of the body being more
easily packed up, preparatory to its being thrown into the
canal. He congratulated society, that the medical profes-
sion had the means of procuring bodies in a fair and honest
way, and honourable men would not receive bodies un-
leas they were come by honestly; that abominable system
which formerly existed was, he thought, quite done away
with, and the miscreants who murdered the boy were
obliged to rid get of him in some other manner. From
all the circutns►tances, there was no doubt but Marshal and
others knew something of the matter ; but it was for the
jury to consider that question, and if they thought there
was sufficient evidence to warrant a verdict of wilful murder
against any parties, it was their duty to do so; or, on
the contrary, to deliver a verdict of wilful murder against
some person or persons unknown.
The most intense interest was manifested during the
examination, and a gentleman from the office of Messrs.
Harmer and Co. attended, to watch the proceedings for
the prosecution.
The Jury viewed the body of the deceased, which lay
in an adjoining recent, and it exhibited a shockingly muti
lated appearance. They then retired to consider their
verdict; and in about twenty minutes they returned a
verdict of—." Wilful murder," against Frederick Marshal,
George Evans, and William Taylor; and a warrant of
commitment was placed in the hands of Keyes, the sergeant
beadle of St. Pancras parish.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

WARWICK SPRING MEETING.

The Trial Sake of 10 soya. each, with 50 added, for 2

and 3-yr.-olds. The Mile Course.
Sir G. Pigot's The Grand Falconer, 3 yrs I
Mr. Bristow's Pagoda, 2 yrs 2

Eieht others started, but were not placed.- Marianne
swerved against a post, and her rider was thrown ; Eleanor
was close behind, but her rider was not able to prevent
her running against Marianne, by which he lost his seat.
Won easy.
Leamington Cup of 50 soya., added to a Subscription of
10 soy,. each. Two miles.
Colonel Charretie's Goldicot, 3 yrs
Mr. Wightwick's Lottery, 4 yrs 2
The Pillerton Stakes of 25 sovs. each, h. ft., for horses
not thorough bred. Two miles. Gentlemen riders.
Colonel Charretie's Swing, 3 yrs.... 1
Mr. Hopkinson's Napoleon le Grand, 3 yrs 2
Three others started, but were not placed

Hurdle Race of 10 sovs. each. Six leaps. Two miles.
Mr. Whistler's Countess I
Mr. Ind's Cantab
Mr. Hunter's Clasher
Captain Birch's The Moor 4
'Mr. Blunt's The Red Rover dis
The Hack Stakes of 5 soya. each, with 15 sovs added.

Mile Course. The winner to be sold for 401
Mr. North's Miss Warwick
Mr. Thomas's Blinker
Five others st4rted.

A Yeomanry Plate of 50 soya., with 10 soya. to the second

horse. Two mites.
Mr. Lucas's The Asps, 6 yrs
Mr. Sudbury's Jesse, 6 yrs
Two others started.

The Farmers' Plate of 50 soya., with 10 soya. to the second

horse. Two mile heats.
Mr. F. Robbins's Lofty, 3 yrs 1 1
Mr. Hues's Plough Boy, 4 yrs 2 2
Nine others started.

A Forced Handicap of 10 Boys. eacb. Once round and a
distance.
Lord Warwick's ch. c. by Bobadil, 2 yrs.... 1
Colonel Charretie's Captain Rock, 3 yrs 2
Five others started.
The sport was excellent, and the weather fine.

We understand that the public are now al-
lowed free admission to the interior of the pillar, and to
its balcony, in Carlton-place, and that it will be open to
them without charge until the end of the present month ;
after which time each person admitted must pay 6d., and
the profits arising therefrom are to be equally divided be-
tween the Westminster, the St. George's, and the Charing-
cross Hospitals. _

A loan has been privately raised amongst cer-
tain members of the diplomatic body, and other distin-
guished persons, in order to relieve the pecuniary embar-
rassments of a much-esteemed ex-Minister, whose treat-
ment by a foreign Prince has excited the indignation of all
classes. The amiable lady of the Minister alluded to
made a noble sacrifice, many months ago, by disposing of
the whole of her valuable jewels, which had been in her
family for many years. The whole of the estates and
other property of this ancient and noble house were previ-
ously sacrificed in his Prince's cause.
Lord DURHAM has for some time been in a
very weak state of health, and his friends have more than
once felt serious doubts about his recovery. His Lordship
resignation
bire:
has therefore felt it a duty to resign his seat in the
on sible
and adviseryeste ofrd yesterday
laid Curo
thew n.
resi Earl axCabinet, on account of his inahility to transact the busi-
wi rela-
tion o
andf a
colleague, responsible h
great regret, yielded to the reasons of his noble rela-
fiae his MAJEsTr, by whom it was accepted. We sin-
cerely hope that Lord DURHAM may find the repose of
private life beneficial to his health. The country loses
one of the soundest and most decisive understandings ever
employed in public affairs.—Tames.