The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-18 00:00:00

THE WEST
_CALDER MURDER.

(From the L'clinburgh Weekly Register.)
HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY, EDINBURGH.
The trial of James Bryce for the murder of John Geddes,
his brother-in-law, at West Calder, began on Tuesday,
j26aalthes or Bryce,
27th of December, 1843, with murder and
March 12. The judges present were the Lord Justice Clerk,
Lords Mackenzie and Moncrieff.
The
n indictmento
robbery,e
he did, within the dwelling-house at Blaw-wearie, in the
parish of West Calder, occupied by John Geddes, labourer,
isfar
r as,
chargedonthe
with intent to possess himself of money and goods belonging
to the said John Geddes, or in his possession, or from some
other malicious motive to the prosecutor unknown, attack
and assault the said John Geddes, and did, with a pair of
tongs or other instrument, inflict several severe blows on his
head and face and other parts of his body, and did, with a
cord or other ligature, compress his throat or neck, so as to
strangle or nearly strangle him, and did with his feet or
knees, or otherwise, trample or press upon his breast or
sides, by all which, or part thereof, or other violence, the
said John Geddes was mortally injured in his person, his
skull and lower jaw and. ribs were fractured, mid in conse-
quence he immediately or' soon after died, and was thus mur-
dered by the same James Bryce.
The evidence, which was wholly circumstantial, consisted
of tracing a considerable sum of money into the possession of
the prisoner immediately after the period of the murder,
when he had been just before in want, as well as some of
Geddes' property, including a watch and a pair of shoes;
and of trackinglim to different places where he was seen
both before and after tlirinurder. The whole of Tuesday ,
was occupied in examining witnesses, and on Wednesday the
Solicitor-General for Scotland addressed the Court for the
prosecution.
Bryce was ally defended by Mr. Crawford. His speech
produced considerable sensation.
The jury, after an absence of nearly an hour, returned with
a verdict unanimously finding the prisoner Guilty as libelled.
Lord Justice Clerk passed sentence, that th; prisoner be
executed on Wednesday, the 3d of April.—The prisoner re-
ceived his sentence without the least emotion.

DISSENTERS'Cif A VEL PROPERTIr.—The Select
Committee to which the House of Lords, on Thursday night,
referred the several petitions that had been presented to
their Lordships, " praying that the provisions of the Dissen-
ters' Chapels Bill may be extended to Ireland," consists of
the following Peers, who met on Saturday, at four,o'clock, for
the first• time, to appoint a Chairman, and commence the
duties delegated by the House to them :—Archbishop of
Canterbury, Lord Chancellor, Lord President, Duke of Wel-
lington, Marquis of Lansdowne, Marquis of Normanby, Earl
' Fortescue Earl of Ripon, Bishops of London and Exeter,
Lord Plunket, Lord Brotigham, Lord Denman, Lord Glenelg,
Lord Cottenham, Lord Langdale, Lord Monteagle, and Lord
Campbell.
. THE INNOCENT SUFFERING FOR THE GUILT r.---
There are some circumstances connected with the- lad Bean,
whose liberation from the Penitentiary, where he had been
confined for the-last eighteen months, for is treasonable
conduct in levelling a pistol at the. Queen, was noticed a few
days since in the papers, of an afflicting nature. His father
was a journeyman gold and silver chaser, and had brought up
his family in a creditable manner; but he never held up his
head after the conviction of his son, anxiety of mind having
brought on an attack of sickness, which terminated only in
his decease. By this calamity his widow was left with three
children, one of whom is ten, and the other two under that
age, having nothing to depend on but her own exertions, and
labouring under severe privations. In addition to all this
misery, smce his release he has also been thrown on her
hands, and she is reduced to utter destitution. . Bean applied
to his former master, Mr. Hilton, newsvender, of Penton-
street, Pentonville, to retake him into his employ, but being
already suited, he is giving him occasional employment.
Bean was instructed in the art of tailoring during his con-
finement.

The mortal remains of the late Sir Henry Halford,
Bart., were removed at an early hour, on Friday morning, from his
late residence in Curzon-street, for interment, on Monday next, in
the family mausoleum at Wistow, near Market Harborough,
Leicestershire, where the present Sir Henry Halford and other
branches of the family will attend theinterment. '
THE SICK POOR OF WINDson.—A hamper of
wine from Buckingham Peace was forivarded to the Windsor
Royal General Dispensary a day or two since, for the use of the
sick poor of the town ad neighbourhood,

CORONERS' INQUESTS.

On Saturday Mr. Baker held an inquest in the parlour
of No. 19, William-street, Commercial-road East, the
residence of Mr. James Sawyer, aged 66, a retired
tradesman of fortune, and the subject of the inquiry.
Mrs. Jemima Sawyer, daughter-in-law of deceased,
said that for several years past he had been subject to
epileptic fits, and that on Wednesday evening last, about
five o'clock, she left him alone in the drawing-room,
taking his dinner, very close to the fire, as, having a re-
pugnance to dine pith the family, he was in the habit of
doing. In an hour afterwards she was alarmed by the
screams of her daughter, who came running into the
parlour, exclaiming that her father was burned to death.
Witness had no doubt her father had fallen into the fire
in one of the fits he was subject' to, though he seldom or
never experienced one, except whilst in bed.
Miss Sawyer said, that about six o'clock on the even-
ing in question she went into the drawing-room to ask
her grandfather if he desired tea? and, to her horror,
saw him recumbent before the fire, with his face and
head completely upon it, and the upper part of his dress
in flames. She shrieked alarm, and persons came to her
succour, lifted her grandfather from the fire, and extin-
guished the flames which were encircling the upper part
of his person. The flesh was entirely burned off his face,
his lips and ears were roasted away, and his hands, which
hung before the fire, were burned to the bone.
Mr. Corrie, a surgeon, was hastily summoned, who
pronounced deceased dead, and that he had been so for
some time.- Verdict—" Accidental death."
On Saturday, an inquest was held before Mr. Carter,
the Coroner, at the King Henry, High-street, Lambeth,
as to the death of Mr. Joseph Richardson, aged 66, for-
merly an extensive woollendraper, whose body was
taken out of the river under most unaccountable
cumstances

Mr. Robert Binless, of 13, Union-street, Lambeth,
stated that the deceased was his brother-in-law, and was
formerly a woollendraper, but had lately been a travel-
ler on commission. He resided at 45, Chester-street.
On Wednesday morning, he heard the b,.dy had been
taken out of the river near the Archbishop's palace, and
saw it lying at the station-house. Witness saw him
on Tuesday evening at his residence, when he appeared
low in spirits, and said he was going to No. 1, Vaux-
hall-street, to collect some money. He then put
on his hat, and went out. Witness had then not the
slightest suspicion he intended to destroy his life. He
was a man who was very regular in his habits, and was
always at home by seven o'clock. At ten o'clock on
Tuesday night his sister came to him, and said he had
not been home, and wished to know if he had been to
witness, but he had not. She stayed about half an
hour, and then he went home with her, where he stayed
all night, as she became very agitated about twelve
o'clock. Inquiries have since been made, and it was
ascertained that he had not been to Vauxhall-street, nor
could the slightest clue be obtained as to where he went
to, or how it was the body should be found in the river.
No suspicion could be entertained that any one had en-
ticed him to the river edge, where he had no business,
and then pushed him in.
By the Jury—He was very well off, and his accounts
were perfectly correct.
Several of the jury said they had known the deceased
for many years, and he was a most regular man.
The Coroner observed it was a most singular circum-
stance how he got into the river.
The jury returned a verdict that the deceased was
found dead in the river, but there was no evidence to
show how the body came there.
The case excited. great interest in Lambeth, where
the extraordinary circumstances are the general topic of
conversation.

On Saturday an inquiry was gone into before Mr.
Baker, the Coroner, at the Five. Bells Tavern, Three
Colt-street, Limehouse, respecting the death of a Mrs.
Ann Shadrake, aged 47, the widow of one of thelate chief
engineers of the West India Docks, and who also pos-
sessed a considerable share of property at that part of
the metropolis, who destroyed herself under the follow-
ing melancholy circumstances :
Miss Louisa Shadrake, who was deeply affected, on
being sworn, stated that she was a daughter of the de-
ceased, who lived with her at N0..1, Ireland-row, Com-
mercial-road, being supported by her property. For the
last nine months she had been very low-spirited,
more particularly latterly, in consequence of being
obliged to sell two of her houses. She used to walk abou
the house talking incoherently, and would say she did
not know what would become of them. On Friday she
seemed bewildered, but at ten o'clock at night retired to
rest with witness, somewhat more composed. At about
six o'clock the following morning she (witness) missed
her from the bed, and on calling her received no answer.
She then proceeded down stairs, and on entering the
back kitchen she discovered her parent hanging by the
clothes line to a hook in the ceiling, having adjusted the
rope by standing on a chair, and then throwing herself
off, as one was found near her. She then gave the
alarm, and the deceased was cut down, but was quite
dead.

In answer to a question put by a juror, the witnese
further stated that the deceased's family consisted of six
daughters and two sons.

grs. Mary Ann Gunston, of No. 4, Ireland-row, de-
posed that the deceased had often threatened to destroy
herself by drowning, as she was very wretched, and
Could not lire. She also said that she had good chil-
dren, and that in selling the property she had done
wrong to them.

Mr. Cummins, surgeon, of Commercial-road East, said
that he was called to the deceased, whom he found to
be quite dead, and had been so several hours. Accord.
ing to appearances she must have committed the act in
the dead of the night.
The CORONER remarked in a very feeling manner
upon the melancholy facts of the case, and the jury,
after a brief deliberation, returned a verdict, " That the
deceased had destroyed herself whilst in an unsound
state of mind."

The deceased lady was very much respected in the
neighbourhood of Limehouse, and, as may be imagined,
the melancholy occurrence has produced the deepest sen-
sation. •
On Saturday afternoon, Mr. Wakley, M.P., Coroner,
held an inquest at the residence of Mr. John Crisp,
linendraper, in the town of Hounslow, Middlesex, on
view of the bcdy of that gentleman, who died in the
following awfully sudden manner onThursday last.
It appeared that the deceased, who was 72 years of
age had up to that period enjoyed most excellent health.
On Thursday, about ten o'clock, while sitting at dinner
with his family, he suddenly fell back-in his chair, and
momentarily appeared to be dying. Mr. Emmott of the
firm of Bogley and Emmott, surgeons, in the town, was
instantly sent for, and immediately attended, and opened
a vein; but no blood flowed, life being by tliat time quite
extinct.—Verdict, " Natural death."

PRICES OF SHARES

IN CANALS, RAILWAYS, BANKS, ASSURANCE
AND OTHER COMPANIES' STOCK.

Dividend
per

Annum.

bi per cent.

LONDON, FRIDAY, MARCH 15.

Names of Com,
pantos.

Amount

Share.

X s. d.
97 IS 0
113 0 0
100 () 0
ISO 0 0

percent.

8/. I-ss.

1 /ss.

31 12s. Bd,

33 16 8
85 0 0
125 0 0
150 0 0
12 10
144 0 0
125 0 0
145 0 0
79 9 8
100 0 0
2( 9 3
50 0 0
19 5 8
100 0 0
100 0 0
78 8 0
67 10 8
105 0 0
110 0 0

100 0 0
Stock
Stock

147 9 0

Stack

50 0 0

50 0 0
63 2 8
50 0 0
100 0 0

70 10 3

100 0 0
100 0 0
20u 0 0

40 0 0

50 0 6

109 0 0
100 • 0
100 0 0
50 0 0
25 0 0
100 0 0
10 0 0
50 0 0
100 0 •
28 0 0
50 0 8
25 0 8
50 0 0

20 0 0
40 0 0
20 0 0
77 10 0
50 • 0
20 0 0
20 0 0
20 0 0
100 0 0
100 0 0
75 0 •
51 0 0
50 0 0
50 0 0
25 0 0
30 0 0
50 0 0
100 0 0
50 0 0
50 0 0
50 0 0
50 0 •

25 0 0
100 0 0
41 13 4
100 0 0

soon
[OO 9 II
63 12 9
[OO 0 0

100 0 0
100 0 0
100 0 0
100 0 0
100 0 0
25 0 0
50 0 0
12 10 0
100 0 0
100 0 0
100 0 0
50 0 0
20 0 0
50 0 0
100 0 0
100 0 0
50 0 0
25 0 0
50 0 0
_lO 0 0
16 13 4
12 15 4
100 0 0

Paid. (Price.
... ..... ••••••••• ............

£ s. d

100 0 0I 171

1(m
01 13 4 31

100 0 0

00
00
00
00
00

-
100 0 0 l

O 0
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50 0 0
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75 0 0
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10 0 0
100 0 0
50 0 0
100 0 0

All paid

00 0 0
15 0 0
5 9 0
5 0 0
10 0 0
10 0 c

50 -5
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[OO 0 0
25 0 0
SE) 0 0
20 0 0

3ANIE
844.