The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-24 00:00:00

MURDER IN LINCOLNSHIRE

A murder took place at Bonby, Lincolnshire, on
the 15th inst. The murderer's name is Meggitt ; his
age 73. His drunken habits had long caused him to
be a terror to his fitfully and the neighbourhood in
which he lived. The partivilars of the shocking event
will be best gleaned from the subjoined evidence ad-
duced at the inquest.
The inquest opened in the New School Room at
Bonby at three o'clock in the afternoon, before George
Morris, Esq., coroner of the district, over the body of
a young man named George Sinderson. Robert Meg-
gitt was present during the investigation. He laughed
and spoke in the most frivolous manner. He has been
a hard drinker,and when intoxicated he has frequently
been subject to a kind of frenzy, during which his
conduct was exceedingly dangerous.
Mary Meggitt, wife of the prisoner, deposed—l
went to bed with my husband on Monday night last.
He had had a little drink during the day, but he was
sober. Aker we had been in bed an hour and a half
my husband got up and salt " What fire is that F"
at the same time going out of the parlour into the
living-room. I took bold of him and endeavoured to
bring him back but did not succeed. I told him all
were in bed ; he said, " Who's in bed ? I'll let 'em
know who's master here ; I'll smash their brains out."
He then took up the tongs and went towards the
stairs. I, however, with the assistance of my grand-
son George, obtained possession of the tongs. I en-
treated a man named Morley to oome in, and he held
my husband ; he was subsequently held down by my
son and grandson, and then by Sinderson. During
that day my husband was sitting by the fire and talk-
ing to himself, when he said, "I shall live to murder
somebody to-night or to-morrow morning." I did
not think he was out of his mind.
John Meggitt, son of the prisoner, said—On
Monday night last, while in bed at my father's house,
about eleven o'clock, I heard him go down stairs,
swearing that he would knock somebody's brains out.
I went down stairs with George Cross, and VI my
father, who was in his shirt, raving very much. We
got him into bed, and secured him until Morley came,
who held him down till the arrival of Sinderson, who
assisted us. He was afterwards allowed to get up,
on which he almost immediately ran at Sinderson,
who was very much hurt, and who it appeared bad
been stabbed. A knife was taken from my father. He
was then handcuffed and allowed to go to bed.
George Cross deposed—l am servant with Mr.
Oldfield, butcher, of Winterton. Yesterday being
Booby feast, I came to my grandfather's (the pri-
soner's) house, with the intention of staying all night.
I went to bed about half•past ten o'clock. When I
bad been in bed about half an hour I beard my
grandfather get up, and my grandmother trying to
persuade him to go to bed again. I and my unole
at once arose, and on going down stairs heard my
grandfather exclaim, "If you touch me again I'll
smash your brains out." He bad the tongs in his
hand. My uncle seized him and put him to bed, and
my. mother and sister ran out to fetch Morley, who
came in immediately and held my grandfather on the
bed till I and my uncle ran up stairs to put our
clothes on. Shortly after having dressed George
Sinderson came in ; he took hold of my grandfather,
who was raging and swearing very much, and held
him on the bed. My grandfatheh after a time, got
up again; but I did not see him strike Sinderson, as
I was standing behind some people. I saw soy uncle,
however, take a knife out of my grandfather's hands.
The dying declaration of George Sinderson was
here read, and was as follows :—" Robert Mcggitt, of
Bonby, stabbed me on Monday night, in ale middle
of my body, with a pocket knife. I was standing up
for his wife. One of the grandbairns came and
fetched me, for her grandfather was knpcking her
grandmother on the head. I know lam dying. I
know I have no chance to live."

George Walker, constable, of Bonby, said—About
half-part eleven o'clock on the night of Monday, the
7th of October, I was called to the house of Robert
Meggitt, who, I was informed, had stabbed a man.
I at once proceeded to the house, and there appre-
hended the prisoner on the charge of having stabbed
George Sinderson. He was in a violent St of pas-
sion, and I found it necessary to handcuff him.
John Meggitt, son of the prisoner, gave me a knife,
which I now produce, as being the one with which
he stabbed Sinderson. The following morning I told
prisoner that Sinderson was in a dying state ; when
he said he was not afraid to meet any magistrate,
as he was justified in doing what he had done,
because Sinderson was intruding in his house.
When I was preparing to go with him to Barton,
he inquired if I was going to take him to Lincoln
in the train. I said it was not a concern to be
trifled with, and he replied he was sorry he had
stabbed him where he had ; he wished he had stabbed
him in some other part where there was more flesh.
Robert Morley deposed—l am a carpenter, and
live at Bonby. About eleven o'clock on the night in
question, when about thirty yards from the priso-
ner's house, I was called in by the prisoner's family,
who sail that he was hallooing and shouting in the
house, and was going to murder them all. 1 imme-
diately made my way there, and found his son and
grandson holding him down in bed. They were
naked, and while they Cot their clothes on I stood
by the prisoner and held him down. During this
time he appeared raving mad. He said he had
dreamed a dream the night before that he had to kill .
somebody that night or the next morning. The pri-
soner desired me to release him, in order to get a
drink of water and put his clothes on. 1 did so, when •
be directly ran towards his son John, who was at the
other end of the room, but I seized and prevented
him. At this time George Sinderson came in and
held him. He laid him on the bed, and shook hint
very much, and said be would shake him to death.
Prisoner begged hard to be released, whereupon Sin-
derson left hold of him. He then ran at the de-
ceased, and struck him, as I thought, with his fist.
The prisoner's son said, " Oh, he's let his puddings
out," and immediately took a knife from his father's
hand. Prisoner was then taken into custody by
Walker, the constable.
Mr. Wiliam Wilkinson, surgeon, Barton, wee next
examined. He said—On Monday night last, about 12
o'clock, I was called to attend upon deceased. I found
him labouring under a serious penetrating wound on
the abdomen, about 2} inches below the umbilicos.,
The small intestines were protruding through the aper-
ture. He was also suffering from internal bleeding, and
must have been in great pain. I immediately endea-
voured to put the bowel into its proper place, but from
the internal bleeding and the great mass of bowel
which paotruded compared with the smallness of the
aperture, I was not able to succeed. I told him there
was only one chance to save him—namely, to make
the aperture larger ; but he refused to allow me.
told him I could not stand by and see him die, and
therefore I got three men to hold him while I made
tie aperture a quarter of an inch larger. I then en-
deavoured to reduce the bowel, but after I had put a
portion in another portion came out, with blood, and
I gave it up, telling deceased that I could do nothing
for him, and that he must die. I had not discovered
at this time that there was any puncture of the bowel.
I was with deceased about an hour and a half. I
visited him again on Tuesday morning, and found his
pain relieved by a dose of morphia, which I had given
him on Monday evening. On examining him, in co-
operation with Mr. Bennett, I found the bowel was
punctured, and that there was a great flow of serum
through the aperture. Deceased died on Wednesday
night, about seven o'clock.
Mr. Bennett, surgeon. Winterton, deposed-:--I met
the last witness (Mr. Wilkinson) at deceased's house
on Tuesday, about twelve o'clock, as stated by Mr.
Wilkinson. I have heard his deposition read over,
and, so far as the same relates to Mr. Wilkinson and
myself conjointly, I confirm it. I have to•day made
a post mortem examination of the deceased, and think
that death has been caused by inflammation and mor-
tification. The opening which was made to reduce
the bowel was about 1 inch long. From the wound
in the bowel I think death must have taken place
under any circumstances, and if more medical aid had
been obtained it would have been of no use.

Mr. William Grayburn, clerk to the magistrates of
the Barton district, deposed that, in his capacity, he
attended on :the deceased, along with Smith Wor-
mold, Esq., a magistrate, and took down in writiug
the dying declaration of deceased.
The CORONER having summed up, at half-past nine
o'clock the jury retirO, and returned with a verdict
of " Wilful Murder.' against the prisoner, who was
committed to take his trial at the Lincoln assizes.

DEATH OF MAJOR-GENERAL SIRE. G. STANNIJS,
C.B.—This gallant officer, who held the post of governor of
the East India, Company's Military College at Addiscombe,
died on the 214 at Addiscombe House, near Croydon, in his
67th year.

ROYAL ARTILLERY.—Her Majesty's ship Re-
sistance sailed from Woolwich yesterday afternoon with
several-officers of the Royal Artillery, and about 300 non-
commissioned officers and privates, for Gibraltar, 4ialta, and
Corfu.

A letter from Constantinople, sth instant, in the
Covatitutionnel, says :—" The English lady, who some time
since killed one of her eunuchs, has been condemned to five
Months' imprisonment, and her accomplices to a more severe
punishment."
PRICE OF WHEAT IN BELGsuM.—The average
price of wheat for the week ending October 12, was 18f. 3c.,
and of rye 1 If. 82c., being a decrease of 19c. on the former.
and of 13c. en the latter, compared with the quotations of
the preceding week.
THE LONG VACATION. —To-day (Thursday) the
long vacation terminates, when the offices of the several
law courts will resume business preparatory to the ensuing
Michaelmas Term, commencing on Saturday week. This
vacation—the first since the Extended Cou'fity Courts Act
was passed will be a remarkable one in respect to tie num.
ber of declarations to be filed and delivered. The agency
business has greatly decreased in codsequenee of the County
Courts Act, and it is understood that the Comugasionera of
pMI e
tei SnSgri.
of Fox
I RthArco.—m
the Law Commission will recommend that forme in actioati
brought in the superior courts be simplified.
AcoßnirrEaciorrEsxe
Cork ii) fi
FleTnalleErsoSn,utilhme
and Bandon Railway, have been declared contractors
making the wire rope of the electric telegraph for
to be laid down
between England and France.