The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-11 00:00:00

THE TRAGICAL OCCURRENCE AT
BALL'S POND.

Yesterday Mr. Wakicy, Coroner for the western
division of Middlesex, held an inquest on the bodies
of John Clement Careell, aged 34, and Elizabeth
Freshfield, aged 30, whose deaths took place under
the most frightfully tragical and distressing cir-
cumstances, at No. 65, Mildmay-terrace, early on
the morning of Sunday last.
It was understood that the deceased parties
were somewhat highly connected, a circumstance
which probably induced the attempts made not
only to conceal their own proper names, but also
those of their relations, thus adding to the diffi-
culty of obtaining information in reference to the
shocking affair.
The jury having been sworn, the coroner in-
quired if any of the relatives were present to iden-
tify- the bodies, whereupon a gentleman, whose
name did not transpire, said that he knew the de-
ceased persons, but that none of the deceased's
friends were present. He was directed to view the
bodies, and quitted the room with Tubbs, the beadle,
who returned in a few minutes, saying that the
gentleman had refused to see the bodies, and had
off in an omnibus.
In the absence of other evidence, Mr. Morgan,
undertaker, of Liverpool-road, was examined, and
said he received instructions on Sunday to furnish
the coffins for the deceased parties, and last night
he received further orders for the interment of the
lady. He received them, and was to be paid by the
gentleman who had just stated that he was ac-
quainted with the deceased.
Coroner—What were the names of the deceased
given to you ?
Witness said he had simply received a card which
he had given to the summoning officer. The party
refused to give him any name whatever, and he
had been unable to get them.
Tubbs said that he had been also unable to obtain
any information as to the names or addresses of any
of the relations.
The gentleman referred to returned, accompanied
by the brother of the deceased lady, at a subse-
quent part of the proceedings.
Nathaniel Pierce Hodson said he was landlord of
the house, 65' Mildmay-terrace, and a solicitor's
clerk. The deceased lady and gentleman ,had
lodged at his house since last Monday week, on
which day they engaged oue parlour and one bed-
room furnished. The gave their names as Mr.
and Mrs. Webster. They gave no reference, and
lived as man and wife. Did not know them by any
other name but since their death had found two
towels marked with the name of " Freshfield."
Coroner—Has any person related to or acquainted
with the deceased called since this dreadful occur-
rence ?
Witness—The brother, I understand, of the gen-
tleman came and saw the deceased on Sunday
morning. lie gave the deceased man's name as
Clement John Carnell. He gave no address but one
verbally to the police-sergeant who accompanied
him. Heard the address, and believed it to have
been Surrey-place, Old Kent-road, or Surrey-ter-
race, Ne w Kent-road.
The Sergeant here said it was 10, Sussex-terrace,
Lorrimore-road, Walworth.
Witness continued—Was called up by the male
deceased about 12 o'clock on Saturday night. He
came into the back kitchen and said, "For God's
sake, Mrs. Hodson, come upstairs, my wife is very
bad." Witness's wife went up, and he followed
her. He (witness) at once saw the dreadful and
dying state the female was in, and said, " I shall
fetch Dr. Williamson," and, without being asked,
went for that gentleman, who at his urgent re-
quest immediately accompanied him back to his
house. When he saw her he asked who had been
attending, and witness's wife replied, she believed
that Dr. Medcalfe had been called in by Mr. Web-
ster about 11 o'clock on Saturday morning. Dr.
Williamson said he should like to see Dr. -Medcalfe.
The male deceased said he would fetch Dr. Med-
calfe, and witness accompanied him to the door and
said to him, " Be quick," to which he replied " I
will." He came back in a few minutes, saying Dr.
Medcalfe would arrive presently. Dr. Medcalfe
shortly after arrived, and the two medical gentle-
men consulted together. The deceased female was
still breathing, but she died just before one o'clock.
The male deceased remained in the room up to the
time of the death, and.when she was dead he threw
his bands over his head and exclaimed, "My God,
my God !" Witness went up to him, and said " You
are guilty of this woman's death ;" and his wife
also charged him with the same, upon which
he clasped his hands and beat his breast violently,
exclaiming incoherently that he knew nothing
about it. The male deceased then left the room,
went into the front parlour, and after pacing up
and down a few minutes, he deliberately went
down stairs, and through the back kitchen into the
garden. Witness then asked Dr. Williamson if he
would be justified in charging him, and he replied
"Yes." At that time the male deceased was how-
ling in the garden, making a dreadful noise, and
exclaiming, " Oh, my God !" and " Oh, my wife !"
Witness went into the garden, and found deceased
running about the paths howling frantically. Ile
said to him, " For God's sake come in, Mr. Web-
ster, and calm yourself ;" to which he replied,
" Oh, no, I en cutting my throat," and put his
hand to his neck. Witness immediately seized his
hands, and shouted f3r help. With much strug-
gling he managed to remove his hands from, his
throat, when the blood poured out in a continual
stream from a frightful wound. The deceased man,
however, continued crying, and seeing witness was
determined to keep his hand from his throat, he
suddenly threw witness :with the strength of a
giant upon his head, a distance of two cr three
yards, and finding himself unable to cope with him,
witness ran into the house and exclaimed, " For
God's sake come down, he is cutting his throat,"
and Dr. Medcalfe and a police-officer arrived at the
spot, and found the deceased still alive, but he died
immediately after.
By the Coroner—l asked Dr. Williamson if I
was justified in giving the male deceased in charge,
because he believed that he had caused the fe-
male's death by attempting to effect abortion.
He had previously had his suspicions aroused,
which were strengthened by Mr. Webster telling
his wife, Mrs. Hodson, about eight o'clock on
Thursday morning, that his wife had miscar-
ried during the night. Mrs. Hodson said, " Why
did you not call me ?" and he said, " Oh, dear, no,
it is nothing. My father was a medical man, and
I understand such matters." Witness on hearing
this, determined to speak to him, and at 11 o'clock
that night he spoke to him, telling him his suspi-
cions, which deceased vehemently denied, and
threatened him with proceedings. He, however,
retained his suspicions so strongly that he went to
the police station. The officer on duty said he
could do nothing on those suspicions, unless ho
(witness) charged him, and that he declined to do.
He said that he had thrown what came from his
wife down the water-closet.
A box of letters, in various hands, was here pro-
duced, said to belong to the deceased lady, bearing
the superscription—" Miss Freshfield, West-street,
Harwich."
The Coroner remarked that they could see at a
later stage of the proceedings if it was necessary to
read these letters.
Sergeant Crisp, 3 N, deposed to being called in
about one o'clock on Sunday morning. Found de-
ceased in the garden of first witness's
house. Des,
Williamson and Medcalfe were with
_on him a him, and he
died almost immediately. He found
portemonnaie, containing a sovereign, two half-
sovereigns, a shilling, and an address," Miss Fresh-
field, at Mr. Carnell's, 10, Sussex-terrace Lorri-
more-road, Walworth." ,

Dr. Williamson said, when called to see the de-
ceased lady he found her in a state of complete col-
lapse. She died in about half an hour, in the pre-
sence of Dr. Medcalfe. From the way in which
the male deceased described the case he concluded
he was a medical man, but he did not say he was.
He said she had miscarried. Made with Dr.
Medcalfe a Post-mortem examination of the body
on Monday afternoon. The immediate cause
,of
death was hemorrhage, which was occasioned parity
from miscarriage and laceration, which he believed
to have been caused by instruments. No doubt
existed but that it was caused by a foreign body.
The instruments might have been used by the
female herself, but the laceration being on the right
hand side, he could. scarcely entertain that belief.
In a carpet bag in the room was found an ounce
phial of chloroform, half full, and four powders,

each containing 20 grains of savin. There were no
marks of violence externally.
Mr. Hod•on said no instruments had been found.
Dr. Medcalfe corroborated Dr. Williamson's evi-
dence, and said, when called in on Saturday morn-
ing, the deceased lady stated that she had miscar-
ried, but did not complain of any misconduct on the
part of the male deceased, although she had an op-
portunity of doing so without his hearing. She
stated she was in her fourth month. He knew of
no medicine which would produce the effects disco-
vered in the uterus. A more dexterous hand than
the female's had, in his opinion, used the instru-
inonts.

Mr. Philip Wm. Freshfield said he was a member
of the Royal College of Surgeons, and resided at
Harwich. He had seen the bodies, and identified
the female as Elizabeth Freshfield, his sister. Her
age was 30. The body of the male deceased was
that of John Clement Carnell, or Clement John
Carnell, a member of the College of Surgeons. Was
not aware if his sister was married, or that the
male deceased had any particular residence. His
sister left home either last Friday three weeks or a
month, with the consent of her relatives, to stay
with Mr. Carnell's mother, residing at Walworth.
Mr. Carnell and his sister were engaged to be mar-
ried for about 18 months, but had no idea of her
being enciente.
The Coroner, at some length, commented profes•
sionally on the tragical nature of the case, and ex-
pressed his conviction that the deceased lady had
died from the use of instruments in procuring abor-
tion. If proved to be committed by the deceased
gentleman, he would be guilty of the crime of wil-
ful murder. There could be no doubt when he de-
stroyed himself he was labouring under a disturb-
ance of mind consequent on the horrible death of
the female.

The jury returned a verdict in the case of the
male deceased, " That John Clement Carnell died
from the effect of a wound inflicted in his throat by
his own hand, while in a state of temporary dis-
traction."

With respect to the death of Elizabeth Fresh-
field, the inquest was adjourned, to enable the police
to make a search for surgical instruments.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE-Aug. 10.

MARYLEB ONE.—EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE
AGAINST A POLICEMAN.—Patrick Farrell, 366 S,
was brought before Mr. Broughton by direction of
Sir R. Mayne, charged with violation of duty and
indecently assaulting a married woman, named
Susannah' Jenkins.

Mr. Vaughan attended for defendant.
Henry Jenkins, a gas lighter, living at 17,
John-street, Portland Town, deposed that ever
since last Mondly week defendant had been in
the habit of calling him up at three and half-
past five each morning. Yesterday morning he
got up as usual, and went out and extinguished the
lights in the lamps. At a quarter past four he
saw defendant at the corner of Frederick-street,
and in consequence of what one of his lodgers, who
came running up, said to him, he crossed over and
said to defendant, " What business had you in my
parlour 9" He paused, and presently said he did
not know what was meant by the question. Wit-
ness then went away.

By Mr. Vaughan—l took the defendant over to
my wife at 20 minutes past four, when she said to
me, " That's the man, I'm sure of it."
Susannah Jenkins, the wife, who is far advanced
in pregnancy, stated, after her husband got up, at
half-past three, she fell asleep. Soon afterwards
she was awoke by finding a man lying beside her,
with one of his hands on her left breast, and he
said in a quiet way, " Halloa." She thought at
first it was her husband, but on looking a second
time she saw it was not. She screamed loudly,
upon which the man jumped off the bed, and going
to the drawers took therefrom his hat; he also took
his cape and his lantern from the table, after which
he ran away as fast as he could. She threw up the
window, when he turned round and looked at her.
She was satisfied that defendant was the man.

By Mr. Broughton—Other lodgers in the house
were disturbed by my calling out. I have spoken ,
to defendant before, such as passing the time of
day with him when I have met him. When my
husband brought him back to me he was as white
as a sheet, and could scarcely speak. I heard him
tell my husband that he had better not make a
bother about it.

By Mr. Vaughan—l swear that he is the man
who was in my bed, and who put his hand on
my breast.
Anne Burtenhow, a lodger, said that soon after
four she heard a loud screaming in the parlour,
where Mrs. Jenkins slept, and entering therein she
(Mrs. Jenkins) exclaimed, " Oh, a policeman has
gone out this moment with his cape in his hand."
She (witness), who had neither shoes nor stockings
on, followed him through several streets, and on
meeting Jenkins told him that a policeman had,
during his absence, been found by his wire lying
beside her on her bed. He (Jenkins) brought back
the prisoner, and his wife at once identified him as
being the man alluded to.
This witness was cross .examined by Mr. Vaughan,
but her evidence was not in any material particular
shaken.
Inspector Dafter said that defendant had been 18
months in the force, and that his character was
good. The nature of the charge was made known
to Sir. R. Mayne, who, considering that it was a
case for magisterial inquiry, directed that defen-
dant should be brought up and charged in the re-
gular way at this court.
Mr. Vaughan, in an able speech of some length,
submitted to the magistrate that the case was on
•f mistaken identity. Defendant was a man ofe
good character, and he contended that it was not at
all likely that he would have conducted himself in
the disgraceful way sworn to.
Mr. Broughton observed that the accused could
not have been better defended than he had been by
his solicitor, but he felt it his duty to send_ the case-
for the consideration of a jury. He should remand
the defendant till Wednesday next, upon which day
the whole of the depositions would be read over,
and he (defendant) would then be sent for trial for,
an assault with intent, &c.

Mr. Vaughan applied for the accused to be al-
lowed to give bail, but the magistrate refused to
accede at present to the request.

SOUTHWARK. EXTRA ORDINARY CASE OF
GRIM. CON.—llarriet Spinks, a middle-aged, sin-
gular-looking, female, residing with her husband,
at 4, William's-place, Old Kent-road, was charged
with stewing an old pair of trousers from the house
of Mary Wright, an old lady, at 12, Thomas-place,
Grange-road, under the following singular circum-
stances :

The prosecutrix said she was a charwoman, and
occupied a small two-roomed house in Thomas-
place. Aboi;..'' three o'clock on the previous after-
noon, she had oce,;sim to go out, when she locked
up the house and hid :he key at the bottom of the
doorway. On her return, ,half an hour afterwards,
she wus surprised to find the kt7v was
gone, and on
looking at the door she perceived t,: at it was locked
and the key inside. She knocked rt-watedly at
the door for ten minutes ;at last the door N,--as sud-
denly opened, and out rushed a married malt re-
siding in the neighbourhood, with his clothes dis-
ordered, and he ran away. Immediately afterwards
the prisoner rushed out, with a pair of trousers
across her shoulders, very much agitated. She
was stopped by a constable, who brought her back,
and she then identified the trousers as her pro-
perty. On entering the bedroom she found that
it had recently been used. She found an old cloth
cape lying there which did not belong to her.
In answer to the magistrate,
Witness said she knew the prisoner and her hus-
band, but it was not the latter who had been with
her in the house. The prisoner must have watched
her on leaving her house, and by that means dis-
covered where she hid her key.
120 M said he stopped the prisoner and asked
her what she had about her shoulders. She said it
was her cape. Witness unfolded it and found that
it Was a pair of trousers, which the proseeutrix
identified as her property. She told him that she
had taken them from Mrs. 'Wright's house in mis-
take for her cape. Witness said that they were
both of the same colour.
The magistrate discharged the prisoner, telling
her that there could be no doubt as to her immoral
con duct.

WESTMINSTER.—THE TURN-OUT AT THE
CHARTERED GAS WoßKS.—Margaret Driscoll was
charged with assaulting. assisted by another
woman not in custody, Mary Regan.
The husbands of both complainantand defendant
are labourers employed at the Chartered Gas
Works, Horseferry-road, Westminster, defendant's
husband being one of the " turn out" men, while
complainant's husband continued at his work. The
complainant was purchasing some provisions at a
grocer's shop in Holland-street on the previous
night, when a woman, not in custody, rushed in
and dragged the clothes off her in the most violent
way. On coming out of the shop, complainant met
defendant, and complained to her of the ill-treat-
ment she had received, when the latter told her it
served her right, and began discussing tho merits
of the " turn out." After which, she also ill-treated
the complainant
After hearing some evidence pro and con.,
Mr. Arnold expressed his opinion that the matter
was serious, as arising out of the recent "turn-out"
and convicted defendant, but deferred judgment
until the apprehension or the other peisou
cerned in the outrage, good bail being required for
the reappearance of the defendant,
Cornelius and Mary Sheehan were charged with

assaulting Henry Jerden, of 8, Cottage-place, Bell-
street, Westminster.

The male defendant was employed some
years
ago at the Chartered Gas Works. On Friday there
was a " turn out" at the works for wages, which
Jerden did not join, but continued at his work, and
in the evening of the same day he was passing
along
the Horseferry-road, when he met the defen-
dants, with whom he never had a word nor any
difference in his life. Without the slightest provo-
cation the male defendant struck him and knocked
him into the road, and he and his wife then threw
themselves upon him, and she scratched his face.
In reply to the magistrate, complainant said they
appeared to be under the influence of drink. He
could not tell what defendants assaulted him
for.
They were with a great number of the " turn out"
men at the time, but no words passed about the
" turn out." He had no personal desire to press the
charge, but his employers had wished him to do so.
The male defendant declared he was on the best
terms conceivable with complainant. He (defen-
dant) had not assaulted him ; it was the " drop
taken" that had done it.
Mrs. Sheehan declared that she was so much
under the influence of liquor as not to remember
anything about it.
Mr. Arnold said if he thought this had anything
to do with the " turn out" he should either punish
the defendants very severely or send them to the
sessions. Men were not to be beaten and ill-used
because they preferred working to joining a set of
discontented persons. As, however, the male de-
fendant had not made use of any expression, when
committing the assault, about the " turn out," he
(Mr. Arnold) must treat the matter as a common
assault.

The male defendant was fined 205., or 14 days,
and ordered to enter into recognisances for his
own and his wife's good behaviour for the next
three months.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

READING RACES.,--WEDNESDAY.

The Abbey Stakes of 10 sows each, h ft, with 50 added, for
2-yr-olds; colts, Bst 71b; fillies, Bst 41b. Allowances
and penalties. About five furlongs. 31 subs.
Mr. J. Day's Chore Amie, 7st 131 b
Mr. Saxon's White Rose, Bst 41b
Mr. Mathew's Agra, Bst 41b (Payne) 3
Sir J. Hawley's Harridan, Bst lib (Cresswell) 4
Betting-6 to 4 agst Chere Amie, 7to 4 agst White Rose,
4to 1 agst Harridan. Won by three-quarters of a length;
bad third.

The Berkshire Stakes (Handicap) of 20 soya each, h ft, and
5 only if declared, &c., with 100 added. The second to

save his stake. Winners extra. About two miles. 31

subs, 18 of whom pay 5 sovs each.
Mr. Shelley's Lifeboat, 4 yrs, Bst 121 b.... (L. Snowden) 1
Mr. S. William's York, 4 yrs, 7st 91b
Mr. Saxon's Queen Bess, 5 yrs, sst 91b (Grimshaw) 3
The following also ran :—Tame Deer, Olympias, and
Dispute.

Betting-5 to 4on Lifeboat, 9to 2 agst Dispute, 6to 1
agst York. Dispute made most of the running to the last
turn when he bolted, leaving Queen Bess and Olympias in
advance ; at the distance Lifeboat took the lead, but was
headed by York half way up ; opposite the stand Snowden
called upcn the favourite, who won very cleverly by half a
length ; bad third.

The Bulmershe Plate (Handicap) of 100 sovs, for 2 and 3-
yr-olds. About five furlongs.

Mr. J. Day's Chere Arnie, 2 yrs, fist 1011;.... (Bray) t 1
Mr. Hall's Clemanthe, 3 yrs, Bst 41b (Fordham) t 2
Mr. Lowther's Brine, 2 yrs, 6st 41b ..
The following also ran ,—Hop Merchant, Artist, Feli-
citas, Neophyte, The Duke, Brother to Wentworth, Pre-
dictor, Turn of Luck, Plumper.
Betting-2 to 1 agst Neophyte, 4to 1 agst Chere Arnie,
6to 1 agst Clemanthe, Bto 1 agst Predictor. A dead heat
with Clemanthe and Chere Arnie ; Plumper was a bad
fourth, Neophyte was fifth, and Brother to Wentworth
sixth.

DECIDING HEAT.—Betting 5 to 4 on Chere Arnie, who
made all the running, and won a fine race in by a head.
The Borough Plato of 25 sovs., added to a Sweepstakes of
3 sovs each, for 2-yr-olds and upwards. The winner to
be sold for 80 sovs, &e. Half a mile.
_ _ _

Mr. J. Day's Brenhilda, 3 yrs, 7st 111 b (Bray) 1
Mr. T. Hughes's Chantress, 4 yrs, Bst 51b.. (D. Hughes) '2
Mr. T. Stevens's Boundaway, 4 yrs, Bst 51b (Payne) 3
The following also ran :—Miss Eleanor, Delusion, Mar-
malade, Timon, Little Dick, and Skittles.
Betting-5 to 4 agst Brenhilda, 4to 1 agst Chantress.
Won by a head, two lengths between the second and third,
Delusion was fourth, Little Dick fifth, and Marmalade
sixth.

Brenhilda was claimed by Mr. Hughes, and Chantress
was claimed by Mr. Stevens.

The Easthampstead Park Stakes (Handicap) of 5 sous each,
2 ft, with 50 added. Winners extra. One mile and a
quarter. 17 subs.

Mr. S. Jacob's Eltham Beauty, 3 yrs, sst 61b (Edwards) 1
Mr. Hare's Misty Morn, 4 yrs, 9st (Fordham) 2
Mr. Sadler's Frederick, 4 yrs, 6st 13Ik (Bray) 3
;The followiug also ran :—Botany, Broadlands, The
Gem, Whimsical, The Poet, Grillade.
Betting-7 to 4 agst Eltham Beauty, sto 2 agst Misty
Morn, sto 1 each agst The Gem and Pt.iderick. Won by
a length, two lengths between the second ti,nd third. Gril-
lade and The Poet bolted at the last turn.

The Ladies' Plate of 30 sows, added to a Sweepstakes of 3
sovs. each, for all ages. Optional selling weights, &c.

About five furlongs. 9 subs.
Captain Bayly's Miss Eleanor, (£4O), 6st 131 b (Edwards) 1
Mr. Saxon's Little Poll, 2 yrs, (LSO), sst 51b (Grimshaw) 2
Mr. Hadland's Ochiltree, 3 yrs, (ao), 7st 21b (Hibberd) 3

The following also ran :—Halliford, Hammersmith, and
Marmalade.

Betting-5 to 4 agst Miss Eleanor, sto 2 agst Little
Poll, 4to 1 agst any other. Won by a length and a half;
bad third. Marmalade was left at the post. The winner
was sold for 115 guineas.

COUNTRY MARKBT3.

BRISTOL SUGAR-AuG. 9.

We have still to report a very flat market for all descrip-
tions of sugar, and prices must be quoted Gd per cwt. lower
for all sorts, except fine, which are not altered in value.
Rum is very little inquired for, but prices are again rather
lower for Leewards.

tiET—Ana. 10.
the close of the market.)
Walls End.

s. d.
Heugh Hall 15 6
Haswell . . l7 0
Whitworth l4 6
South Keno° l6 3
Braddyll's Hetton 16 0
Kelloe l6 3
IGosforth l5 3
Framwellgate l5 0
South Hetton 16 9
Acorn Close l5 6
Hetton....
Benson l5 0
Birchgrove Graigola 2O 0
Haswell Gas. l2 6
Nixon's Duffryn 21 6
Powell's DuffiTn Steam 21 0

,140—Sold, 90.