The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-13 00:00:00

UNION-HALL.

John Brown, the driver of a cab, was charged with stealing
a trunk, containing valuable property of i%liss Smith, of Bruns-
wick-square.
The complainant engaged a cab at the terminus of the Great
Western Railway, in which she placed her luggage, consisting
of three trunks, containing valuable property. On alighting at
her residence two of the trunks were delivered, but the third
was driven away with by the cabman. The complainant un-
fortunately did not take the number of the cab, but from the
description given of it, as well as that of the driver, the pri-
soner was taken into custody. The complainant added, that
the voice of the prisoner resembled that of the man who drove
the vehicle.

The prisoner, however, denied the accusation ; but admitted
he was engaged at the above terminus.
Mr. COTTINGHAM said he should remand the prisoner, but
would take bail—himself in 40/., and two sureties of 20/. each.

MODEL PRISONS FOR TILE
COUNTRY.

Sir J. G. Graham appears to have a vast liking " to be talked
about," as the following will show :—He is proposing to the
country magistracy the erection of a " model " prison in every
county 1 His project has been discussed in Gloucestershire and
Leicestershire, and treated as it deserved to be. It has been
well observed that this project is too flattering for any Govern-
ment, never, at the best, the most disinterested class in the
country, to be discountenanced; and the present Administra-
tion, in the person and department of Sir J. Graham, seems
prepared to carry it out in its worst and most hateful form.
But so long as men in this country prefer light to darkness,
open inquiry and public scrutiny into their actions and treat-
ment of their fellow-creatures to the reverse of these, in fact,
to the revival of the Inquisition adapted to modern times, so long
we shall never fear the general establishment of model prisons
throughout the country. Astonishment is manifested at the
temerity of Sir J. G. Graham, of which no parallel in the coh-
duct of any Minister in this country can be recollected, in pre-
suming to require, or even recommend, the justices of a
county to supersede all the prisons in it, and erect one or seve-
ral at cost of 157,0001., upon a system, too, which is yet upon
trial, and has not yet received the sanction of Parliament, and,
it is to be hoped, never will receive it. The Chairman of the
Gloucester Quarter Sessions, held ten days ago, in reference
to this subject, said, " That the Government could not en-
force the plan upon them, and the only way they could compel
the county to build a model prison was by Act of Parliament;
which, if the county Members did their duty, the Government
could never obtain." The present Home Secretary's prison
" dietary " has already stamped his fame as respects gaol disci-
pline. Hear what Sir Peter Laurie, in a letter to the Leices-
tershire magistrates, says :—" The Model Prison at Pentonville
being a Government prison, I am unable to give you an opi-
nion on anything but the system as a mode of imprisonment,
and not on the manner in which it is carried out at that place.
I can, however, state, as President of Bethlem Hospital,
that although the Model Prison has been opened so short a
time, and although every prisoner is carefully examined, and,
indeed, selected with reference to his health, two pri-
soners have become insane, and have been trans-
ferred from the Model Prison to Bethlem. The Mo-
del Prison system of discipline was acted upon at the Milbank
Penitentiary, and during the year:before last nine prisoners
were sent from that place to Bethlem. We have received a
great many prisoners from the Penitentiary, and we always have
found that, by associating with others, they recovered rapidly."
Notwithstanding the full knowledge which the Government
possess of these startling facts, they, through the Home Secre-
tary of State, recommend model prisons in every county ;
but, it is to be hoped, the magistracy in every part will oppose,
by every means in their power, so alarming an innovation and
a constitution of " secret doings " for the present public pro-
ceedings—a description of despotism which makes one shudder !

TRAGICAL OCCURRENCE AT
DEPTFORD.

On Thursday evening, at half-past six o'clock, an ioquiry
took place before Mr. C. J. Carttar, Coroner for Wsst Kent,
on view of the bodies of two infants, the children of Mr. J.
F. Dickenson, lately residing in Giffen-street, Deptford, who
died in consequence of injuries inflicted upon them by their
mother.
A brief sketch of the melancholy transaction has already ap-
peared. Since the discovery of the offence great numbers of
persons have assembled on the spot, although none but the
police and persons officially engaged were allowed to enter the
house.
The inquest was held at the Two Brewers, in Giffen-street,
High-street, Deptford, and the inquest room was crowded to
excess. A great deal of disapprobation was expressed at the
mode of making out the jury list.
Mr. White, one of the Board of Governors and Directors,
preliminary to the arrival of the Coroner, took the names of
the gentlemen who entered the loom.
Mr. Nixon said that he was only expressing the opinion of
many others (twenty) round him, who felt that it was like
packing a jury.
Mr. White said he could not be stigmatised without a reply.
He had only taken the list given by the beadle of the names
of gentlemen who came in, without respect to parties.
A scene of uproar and confusion ensued, during which the
Coroner entered.
The CORONER said he could not allow such a scene to exist ;
but would assert his authority. All he had to do was, to have
the beadle's list handed in.
Mr. White—lt was handed to Mr. Bailey.
Mr. Bailey—l have not got it. I had it, it is true; but
other gentlemen also had it.
The CORONER—Then it must. be produced.
Mr. Elisha Smith said he was very willing to give up his
place if Mr. Nixon was desirous of sitting as a juryman; he
knew that as the case had excited great interest many were de-
sirous of being on the jury.
The CORONER said a better feeling ought to exist. He
regretted that any person, except in the performance of a pub-
lic duty, should step forward. His duty was a painful one,
and he should only call the names of those summoned by the
Cockle (the beadle) then called the names of the jury.
The CORONER said he would dispense with the attendance
of some of them.
A .juryman said he had not been summoned, and did not see
why he should have been called from his home by the beadle if
his services were not required.
The CORONER said that for the future the officer should
deliver a summons in writing ; but any person who then re-
fused or neglected attending should be fined 51.
A juryman said he believed one gentleman only would have
complained. He considered it a courtesy to a tradesman for
the Judge of the Court to send his officer and study their
convenience, instead of issuing a peremptory mandate for their
attendance.
The jury were then sworn, and proceeded to view the bodies.
In consequence of the great fiumber of persons present the
Court was adjourned to the Queen Charlotte public-house,
Church-street. The mangled remains of the murdered infants
presented a most shocking spectacle.
George Dickenson, uncle to the deceased children, was in-
troduced into the room, and appeared deeply affected. He
deposed that he resided in Cannon-street, City, and said that
he had identified the bodies of the deceased.
Mrs. Spencer, a lodger at the house of Mr. Dickenson, on
being called as a witness, fainted, and was removed.
Sarah White, of No. 5, Giffen-street, deposed that she saw
the little boy on Wednesday morning, at half-past eleven, with
a bit of bread. She did not see the mother. In the after-
noon she thought the children were very quiet. She had pre-
viously heard the mother say " Georgy, be quiet." They
were then walking backwards and forwards from one room to
the other. She saw nothing of them afterwards until nearly
six o'clock. She then heard a moaning ; she then said, " Oh,
dear me ; I should not be surprised if Mrs. Dickenson has cut
he;sthroat and her children's too." She went in and saw the
children ; Mrs. Dickenson caressed them whilst she was in the
room. Believed Mr. Dickenson was not at home. Witness
was not intimate with them. Mrs. Dickenson was a clean tidy
woman, and had lived there fifteen weeks. Mrs. Spencer was
very intimate, and had said she (the unfortunate mother of
the deceased )' must do something.
Mr. Joseph Arthur, surgeon, sworn—said he was called in,
and found the two children on the bed, both dead. It was
impossible to say how long they had been dead ; the bodies
were not quite cold. He found the female with the windpipe
divided, and insensible. The trachea and some of the blood-
vessels of the boy were divided. The other child had met with
similar injuries. It was one cut with a
.sharp instrudient.
The children were lying at her feet. She might have cut the
throats of her children, and then her own, and thrown herself
back on the bed.
Mrs. Elizabeth Spencer was next sworn, and deposed that
she knew Mr. and Mrs. Dickenson, and the deceased. Saw
them alive at half-past ten on Wednesday. Mrs. D. and the
children acre then together in the front room. Mrs. D. said
her husband was in town. I saw him before at half-past
eig`zt; saw him again at half-past five, when he came to her
apartment. Did not hear the children after she saw them.
When Mr. Dickenson came in, be fell backwards on the bed,
but could not speak. 'She asked him what was the matter,
but he could not answer. He got up and beckoned,
and she followed him down stairs. He said, " :she has
done the deed." She could not tell for the moment
what he meant. She went round the room, and saw
the woman on the bed, but she did not speak. All he said
to her when she got into the room was, "Do not speak ;
don't make a noise, you will disturb them." I had hot as-
certained whether the children were dead or not. He called
for assistance, and Mrs. White came in and Mr. Spencer
followed. Could not say how they lived, but by making away
with their things or pawning them. Witness was a lodger.
Believes they had no other means of subsistence except what
they got from their lodgers. Her conduct to the children was
kind. Her countenance appeared clouded at times. Mr. Dick-
enson and wife were both sober people. Witness advised her
to go to the parish and see Mr. Warman, the relieving officer;
but she said she knew he would not give her any thing, besides
she said she would not go to the parish, as she dreaded the ex-
posure. She also said she wanted to make up her quarter's
rent, and hoped her brother would assist her. Believed they
were in want of the necessaries of life. By Mrs. Dickenson's
confession the children had only two penny loaves in two days ;
this was about a week before Christmas. She always appeared
in sorrow and trouble, but never spoke of it particularly.
Police Constable Ewins, 160 R, deposed that he was called
in at half-past five. Messrs. Arthur and Drury, surgeons,
were present. He found o. ranir on the dresser, with blood on
it. (It was here handed to the jury).
Sergeant Roscoe, 9 Rs deposed:that he was called in, and
saw the woman on the bed- She attempted to sit up, and was
wringing her hands. Some remark was made, and she said
.4 Oh, it was I who did it." She afterwards said that she did it
at a quarter past one, just as the clock chimed. Mr. Taylor
asked me, in her presence,. whether she knew him, and she said
" Yes." Mr. Taylor is a- solicitor.
Mr. John Hills, churchsvarden, deposed that, at ten minutes
past six, he received infoiernation of the dreadful occurrence.
He went and spoke to MT. Dickenson, and asked what he
thought was the cause csf it ? He replied that he had only
come down from London at half-past five ; that he kept- his-
razor on a shelf, and when he got home he found it there, co-
vered with blood, and plat ed it on the dresser. Dickenson also
said that he thought distress alone had caused it. He (wit-
ness) found a great quantity of duplicates for bedding, &c.,
and children's clothes—the family had nothing to cover them
but a rug. A note was nis'a found, complaining of distress.
There were two slices of bread and a small quantity of tea in
the cupboard; sufficient only for a very scanty meal. She
said that she commenced murdering the boy, and heard the
clock strike four, and killed the other child afterwards; that
she heard her husband go in, hut could not move. She ap-
peared to be in greet mental.. agony.
Mr. George Warman, relvving officer for Deptford, deposed
that he went at half-past 'sex, and saw Mr. Dickenson, who
said, that when he went hoi.ne he thought the family had gone
to bed, in consequence of being without firing. Was quite
satisfied that was not the fat l.

A juror said, that quetio a must be distinctly understood, as
it had gone forth that relief had been refused.
Alr. 'Warman said that h e had not been applied to, directly
or indirectly, and it was ye ry painful to him that such a report
should have gone forth, as t hr ough the day he had been pointed
at in the streets, and told 'that he was the murderer of the
children.

The CORONER said there• Axas no imputation on the relieving
officer.

Air. Hills said, she stated that after having cut the throats
of the children she fell back (exhausted, and was unable to com-
plete her own destruction. jkfter the children were taken away
she said she was sorry. A great deal had transpired in con-
versation, and the mothers =id that on the previous afternoon
she had taken the boy on her knee to effect her purpose, but
her heart failed her.

Mr. Warman hoped that, as strong opinions had been ex-
pressed, the gentlemen of the jury would declare in his favour.
The CotioNEa said there s.,:as no ground for complaint.
The jury said they were q u!Lre satisfied.
Dr. Arthur, in answer to .a question by the Coroner, said
that there was every probabiili ty that the unfortunate woman
would recover by proper atte n tion, if she were removed.
Mr. George Dickenson, u ac le of the deceased, said that he
advanced 5111. to his broth e r in July, 1839, who, up to the
present time, had been very iit !fortunate. The witness seemed
deeply affected.
The CORONER. addressed e jury on the evidence, and said
that, under all the circumst an ens, there could scarcely be a
doubt that the unfortunate fe male was the person who had
inflicted the wounds. They 'could not consider whether she
was in a sound state of mir id. at the time or not. Her own
declaration or confession was made entirely voluntarily. lie
did not wish to call upon heir husband to give evidence on
which his wife would be co:it, icted. But no less than eight
witnesses had spoken to adios issions made at different times
by her, that she was the mil y party who had committed the
offence.

A Juror said that, if the w of nan died,
he should have come
to a conclusion that she had cc .mmitted suicide when in a state
of temporary insanity. Und es such circumstances he could not
conscientiously return a verd' tof wilful murder.
The CORONER said there seas no evidence to show any aber-
ration of intellect, but the contrary. The jury, therefore,
could not give way to mere feelings of humanity. His duty
was quite as painful as theirs, .and he only propounded the law
to them.

Mr. White, a juryman, sai sI that, much as he respected the
Coroner's opinion, he would no t, when he was on the jury, re-
turn a verdict contrary to his co ❑science.
Shortly after ten o'clock al is jury requested the room to
be cleared, and about half- p Ast eleven the Court was re-
opened, and
The CORONER announced that the jury had returned a
verdict of Wilful Murder agai nt t Sarah Dickenson.
The Foreman—At the sam .e time we say that she committed
the offence whilst in a state of great mental anxiety, brought
on by extreme distress.
The Rev. Messrs. Ffinch a n d Sketchley, the Rectors of St.
Paul and St. Nicholas, Dept fa rd, have most assiduously at-
tended the unfortunate wom; to , and Mr. Flinch remained with
her until after the inquiry te. !ri linated. It was announced las
night that such a change had t lion place as to preclude ever
prospect of her recovery.

THE NEW HISTORICAL.! ROMANCE—" WHITEFIARS:;
OR, THE DAYS OF CHARLES II."--In presenting this
work for publication to, Mr. Colburn, through the
medium of a friend, we in a lerstand the author preserved
the strictest incognito. W I ether the eulogituns so justly
passed upon it by the press will draw him from his
present concealment, rem n: us to be seen. It is certainly
long since any similar p. -c duction
has created so great
an interest in the litera r y world, or given rise to so
many inquiries respecting I the authorship.
A CERTAIN REMEDY FOR ILL-HEALTH, BY HOL-
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residing in Morrow-street,
Walworth, had been for th ree years in a very declining
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ller constitution appeared to be almost broken up, and
was considered as fast app )aching a consumptive state.
She is now restored to a very high state of health by
these invaluable pills. All females approaching to that
critical period would find t hi ,m the only effectual remedy
that such a dangerous 3 requires. This medicine
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gratis) ; and by almost all irt spectable vendors of medi-
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