The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-05 00:00:00

CONFESSION OF THE CHILWELL

MURDER.

About twenty-three years ago a report was cur-
rent that a pedlar or packman had been murdered at
Chilwell, a village about five miles from Nottingham.
The circumstances attending the case were these :
In a lonely house, near the wood, there lived a garden
labourer named Baguley, who was at that time
thought to be in needy circumstances. His family
consisted of himself, his wife, three sons, and a
daughter. The daughter was approaching to years
of maturity, but the sons were all considerably under
age. A travelling packman, smitten by the daugh-
ter's charms, frequently visited the house for the pur-
pose, it was believed, of paying his addresses to her.
One night he was observed going into the house, but
he was not seen to return, nor has he been heard of
since, and what is most singular the debts owing to
him by numerous customers in the neighbourhood
were never inquired after or called for. These cir-
cumstances, connected with the fact that soon after
the packman's disappearance Baguley removed to
a more commodious house, and invested a little
money in the purchase of live stock, gave rise to va-
rious rumours at the time, which were not much
heeded. We have heard a statement that appears to
be the most probable version of the murder, and the
reasons for it, but forbear repeating it at this stage
of the affair. Baguley lived uncomfortably with his
first wife, who frequently threatened him when quar-
relling, that she knew where his coat of arms was,
and that he had better mind how he behaved to her.
This was in allusion to the coat he is supposed to
have worn at the murder, and which it is said she
kept secreted. She died about six years ago, and it
is said he never allowed any one to approach her
during her last illness. Subsequently he married
another woman. The cottage he had quitted has been
for nearly twenty years notorious as " the haunted
house"—the villagers asserting that they fre-
quently hear strange noises in it, especially during
the night, and many ghostly tales are narrated
respecting horrible apparitions. In consequence
of these absurd rumours the house is forsaken,
no one being bold enough to brave its terrors.
A fortnight since the old man Baguley lay
upon the bed of death, and before his spirit left its
earthly tenement he confessed to his wife that he,
" twenty-three years ago murdered a hawker of
shawls, blankets, and other wares, with a pick, and
buried the pick at the bottom of the dyke near the
house." A great number of idle reports are afloat,
and the consequence is that Chilwell is daily crowded
with visitors. On Sunday there were some hundreds
of people round " the haunted house," and they,
wanted to dig in the dyke for the pick, but the cir-
cumstances having been made known to the autho-
rities, they were prevented. Baguley's widow, who
was married to him about three years, says she has
lived most uncomfortably with him, fur when asleep
he was always visited by annoying and painful dreams,
and he would frequently fight with his hands, as if
struggling with some one, and jumping up would ex-
claim in great terror that some one was about to seize
him. The affair is creating much gossip and sen-
sation, and during the present week hundreds of silly
curious people have visited what they call the " Ghost
House," and minutely inspected the premises. It is
a singular fact that the cottage in which the murder is
said to have been committed has never since found a
tenant who dared to stay for any length of time, and
for many years there has been considerable excite-
ment in the neighbourhood, and a great alarm
amongst the superstitious, by the singular and hitherto
unaccountable noises that have been often heard on
the premises, de3ignated as " The Cbilwell Ghost "
and " The launted House at Chilwell." We have
received a variety of communications on the subject,
with the names of parties who have heard and seen
strange things connected with his ghostship, but we
leave it for the curious and marvel-seekers to ferret
out the mystery.—Nottinghamshire Guardian.

that a serious rupture isR rAkil‘WIT.
GREAT
—We regret to hear
Ally to take place between the
engine-drivers of the Great Western
authorities and the en •
Railway. The drivers that a pinching system
ptialomfneeffiecasttinbeen insidiously
of economy has for some
veryaa pettyth a the introduced for the purpose
re-
ductions in the locomotive expenditurL
saving even of the few bags of coke consumed in the
lighting of an engine is allowed to interfere with that
reasonable comfort and convenience which the servant
has a right to claim at the hands of his master. The
most recent determination to impose additional labour,
without additional pay, upon the engine-drivers, is
stated to us to be evidenced in an alteration which is, on
the Ist of March (yesterday) to come into operation
amonst the drivers of the South Devon line, which is
worked by the Great Western Company.—Somerset
Gazette.
ALLEGED MURDER AT BRISTOL.—A coroner's in-
quest sat on Monday at Bristol to investigate the death
of Margaret Culley, aged 25 years. A number of wit-
nesses were examined, from the evidence of whom it
appeared that the deceased was brought to the infir-
mary about one o'clock on Sunday morning, quite dead.
There was a wound on her left temple, and a contusion
over her left eye. De sth was occasioned by a concus-
sion of the brain. It further appeared that about ten
o'clock on the previous night a man named Joseph
Prigg had threatened :to kill her for not bariag washed
his shirt ' • he knocked her down and kicked her on the
head and side. The coroner having summed up, the
jury returned a verdict of " Manslaughter" against
Prigg, who was committed to take his trial at the next
Gloucestershire Assizes.
At the North Pool mining meeting, a dividend of 251.
per share was declared, ;and a balance or 517/. 153. 3d.
carried to neat account.

EXHIBITION OF INDUSTRY OF ALL
NATIONS TO BE HELD IN LONDON,
1851.
The Committee appointed by the Royal Commis-
sion to advise on " all matters relating to the build-
ing," having received the sanction of the Commission,
are desirous of obtaining from all parties who are
disposed to assist them suggestions for the general
arrangement of the buildings and premises required
for this exhibition.
Upon the general form of the building in plan, the
distribution of its parts, the modes of access, and the
internal arrangements and contrivances, will depend
the convenience and general fitness of such a build-
ing ; and it is upon these points that the Committee
seek information and suggestions, and wish to en-
courage the most extended competition in the prepa-
ration of plans.
The Committee do not propose to offer any pecu-
niary reward for such plans—they rely upon the
desire which men of all countries will feel to forward
the objects of the proposed exhibition.
The Committee think it probable that, when the
plans are received, they may not be limited to the
selection of any one plan, but may derive useful ideas
from many ; and that the best :plan may be deter-
mined upon by the help of this general assistance.
As the credit of any such plan will be due solely
to the contributors, the Committee propose to make a
report, in which they will acknowledge by name.those
whose plans had been wholly or partially adopted, or
who had afforded the most useful suggestions ; and
the Committee hope to be able to offer such other ho-
norary distinctions to the successful contributors as
the circumstances may appear to warrant.
In order to guide the contributors in the prepara-
tion of such plans and designs, and to facilitate the
examination and the comparison of them when re-
ceived, the Committee have enumerated concisely the
principal desiderata for such a building, and have laid
down certain rules and conditions to which they ear-
nestly request the contributors to conform, as the
Committee will be under the necessity of abiding
strictly by the regulation of not acknowledging any
plans which may be sent_in a form inconsistent with
these rules.
Copies of the engraved plan of the ground referred
to may be had on application to the secretaries of the
Commission, at the New Palace at Westminster.
RULES AND CONDITIONS TO BE STRICTLY OBSERVED IN
PREPARING A GROUND PLAN AND SECTION OF THE
BUILDING TO BE ERECTED IN HYDE-PARK.
1. The communications from contributors must
consist of a single sheet of paper not larger than the
accompanying engraving, with a simple ground plan
upon a scale of 1-1000 of the full size, with such eleva-
tions and sections only of the building, and on the same
sheet, as may be necessary to elucidate the system
proposed—such elevations and sections not being in-
tended to convey more than a general idea of the
building, and not entering into details of construction
or of architectural decoration ; to be accompanied by
a.short, clear; written explanation of the system recom•
mended on a different sheet.
Any contributor wishing to send two designs
must send separate and distinct communications, each
conforming to the above conditions. No communica-
tions made inconsistent with these conditions, or any
plan prepared upon a different scale from that pre-
scribed can be received. The plans, &c., must bt sent
on or before the Bt.h of April next, addressed to the
Secretaries of the Exhibition, New Palace, at West-
minster, London.
It is suggested that the most convenient mode of
preparing the plan, elevation, and section, would be
to draw them upon one of the engraved copies of the
plan of the ground which accompany these instruc-
tions.
2. The building is to be erected upon the space
marked A B C D, and must not extend beyond the
boundaries of the shaded portion. The groups of
trees shown on the plan must be preserved.
The principal public approaches are by the roads
E F and G H. The road K L will be available
only for foot passengers. There will be no objection
to the formation of cross-roads between the two last,
G II and K L, if the design of the building re-
quires it.
3. The roofed portion of the building is to cover a
space of 700,000 square feet, or about 65,000 square
metres ; and the whole building must not occupy, in-
cluding open spaces, an area of more than 900,000
square feet, or about 84,000 square metres. The
building generally will be of one story only.
4. No space will be required for cattle, or for
shrubs or flowers.
5. It may be assumed, so far as it affects the
ground plan, that the light will be obtained entirely
from the roof, and the building will be constructed of
fireproof materials.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.
1. Simplicity of arrangement.
2. Economy of space.
3. Capability of extending or curtailing the build-
ing, without destroying its symmetry as a whole, or
interfering with the general arrangement, it being
impossible to determine the exact extent of roof re-
quired until a late period of construction.
4. Adaptation for the erection of separate portions
of the building at different periods.
5. Conveniences of ingress and egress, with facili-
ties of access to all parts of the exhibition, either from
the exterior or interior.
6. Means of classification of the various objects of
different departments.*
7. Wall space for the display of articles re-
quiring it.
8. Means of affording private access and accom-
modation for exhibitors, with counting-houses (if
required), committee-rooms, council-rooms, public
refreshment-rooms, and all other public and private
accommodation. [This portion of the building may
be in two or more storeys, if required.]
9. Internal arrangements, by which, under proper
regulations, large crowds of visitors may circulate
freely, and have convenient access to all parts of the
exhibition, and uninterrupted means of examining
the various objects exhibited.

* The Commission have determined upon the following
classification :

Section L Raw materials and produce; illustrative of
the natural productions on which human industry is em-
ployed.
11. Machinery for agricultural, manufacturing, engi-
neering, and other purposes, and mechanical inventions;
illustrative of the agents which human ingenuity brings
to bear upon the products of nature.
111. Manufactures ; illustrative of the result pro-
duced by the operation of human industry upon natural
produce.
IV. Sculpture, models, and the plastic art generally ;
illustrative of the taste and skill displayed in such ap-
plications of human industry.
Of which sections IL and 111. will probably require
by far the largest space.

LORD DENMAN AND THE BAR.
The following correspondence has been sent us for
publication :
(Copy.)
Temple, March 1, 1850.
My Lord—l should have desired in open court, before
the profession and the public, to give utterance to the
regret of the bar that illness compels your Lordship to
resign the high office you have long filled with dis-
tinguished honour t 3 yourself and with eminent advan.
tage to your country.
I may thus, however, be allowed to convey the ex-
pression of our feelings, and to assure your Lordship
that the learning, the impartiality, the high sense of
honour, the firmness and the dignity which marked and
ennobled your administration of justice have always
commanded admiration and respect; while every prac-
titioner in your Lordship's court bears grateful testi-
mony to the kindness and the courtesy that endeared
you to us all.
We are sensible that failing health and advancing
years entitle your Lordship to lay aside the arduous
duties of the Judge; but we pray that you may be blessed
with vigour to enjoy the leisure you have justly earned,
and to devote to the public service the patriotism and
the eloquence already so conspicuous in the annals of
Parliament. _ _ _

In the evening of an eventful life your Lordship will
carry with you into retirement the affectionsee sympa-
thies of every member of the profession, and will reap
some reward for your labours in the knowledge that you
will long live in their memory an example to applaud
and emulate. _ _ _

I have the honour to be, my Lord, with sentiments of
sincere respect and affection, your Lordship's faithful
servant,
JOHN JEnvis.
The Eight Hon. the Lord Denman, &c.
38, Portland-place, March 1, 1850.
Dear Mr. Attorney,—l receive with the highest satis-
faction your kind letter, expressing your own sentiments
and those of the bar in general, on my retirement from
office. If I have merited in any degree your valuable
approbation, I am conscious that mainly it must be as-
cribed to the learning, liberality, and candour by which
you and your brethren rendered the performance of my
laborious duties during so many years both easy and
delightful.

Fully aware of my many deficiencies in other re-
spects, I yet will not disclaim the praise of a constant
and earnest endeavour to discover truth and promote
justice; and it is my pride to feel that, with the assist-
ance of my excellent colleagues, I have not failed in my
anxious wish to sustain, and even elevate, the character
of the English bar. Among the many consolations
which support me in taking this painful step, none will
be more effectual than to witness the increasing pros-
perity and honour of the profession which you so worthily
represent.
With every feeling of esteem and respect towards
yourself, I remain, my dear Mr. Attorney, your faithful
and obedient servant, DENMAN.

farsn Hors.—One or two arrivals of small quan-
tities of hops from Ireland, the produce of that country,
have recently taken pisce, and the vessel, Ranger, ar-
rived from Dublin, Belfast, and Waterf)rd, resrectively,
has brought 11 bales of hops as a portion of her cargo,
which, being the largest importation cf the kind from
that country, is of interest.
Dispatches from the Governors of the North
American Colonies were received yesterday at the
ColoniRl• office.