The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-13 00:00:00

Several other of the neighbours who had been calhel
in at the first alarm, corroborated this evidence, but
without adding any material facts ; and Robert Lemon,
of Whitwell„ was then called. He said—l am a tanni r
and farmer at Whitwell, and William Frost has worked
for me, in my tan-yard and on my farm, about thirteen
years. He has during that time been a very steady, so•
her, and well-behaved man. He was unwell four ds;:s
last week and not able to work, but he was at work "on. -
Friday and- Saturday last ; he was then much better;•
Frost had previously told me that he thought he had.got:' -
a rupture coming. I advised him to see Mr. ILrstint;;;::.
the surgeon for this district, and I offered to give him a. •
note. I saw Frost on the Saturday afternoon. I saw
no more of him till after_the alarm was .given that his
four children were dead. I was informed that he bad •
killed them. I went to his house yesterday, imme-
diately on my hearing what had occurred. When I got .
to his house, I found him in custody of Parker the.police-
officer. He was sitting, handcuffed, by :the table. I
drew a chair and sat by him; I asked him: a few ques-
tions with a view to ascertain his state of mind, and-not
with a view to criminate himself. I asked him what
' could possibly indace him to commit so horrible a deed?
He remained silent. Some one. said, " It's of no use
asking him any questions, he will not answer any sate."
The house being very full, I asked the police-officer
to clear the house. I think about half-a-dozen persons
remained with me. I then repeated my question, how
could he possibly commit such a horrible deed ? He
shook his head, and groaned. I said, " Frost, you are
the last person in this parish I should have thought
could have committed such an act as this." I think
Parker at this time came up with the hammer, anti
"This is what the children were killed With ; here is
blood upon it now, and the handle has been washe:l."
My eyes are weak and I did not see any blood upon the
hammer. I did not think it had been washed so recently.
I cautioned Parker, the policeman, to remember what
Lord Abinger said at Norwich respecting the police. I
don't think Frost saw the hammer'; his face was quite to
the table. I said, "Frost, you hear, what is said al'ont
the hammer ; was this dreadful deed done with the
hammer ?" He answered " Yes." I then asked him
if he wa3hed the hammer afterwards ? He said " Yes."
I asked him if such a thought as this had ever cutest ti
his head before ? He said " Yes." I asked him if be
thoughts-by-41estreyint-his- innocent children, it 'woad.
be the means of getting them to Heaven ? He said,
he hoped so. I then asked him if he had any intention
of destroying himself ? He said " Yes, he intended to
have done so." I advised him to listen to the Rev. Mr.
Blyth, the minister of our parish, who was then in tho
room. I saw Frost again in the afternoon. I advist d
him again to have some spiritual comfort, and I inquired
if he would like to see Mr. Blyth again ? He said I.e
had no objection. He said Mr. Blyth had read and
prayed to him. I said " William, did you join with Mr.
myth in prayer ? " He groaned, and said, "How could
I ? " I saw him again in the evening, and then I advised
him to have Mr. Blyth. I considered that Frost an-
swered all the questions very rationally.
The evidence of the surgeon, Walter Harsant, of
Reepham, was as follows :—I was requested yesterday
morning to attend at Whitwell, to examine the childrea
of William Frost, who had been murdered, as repro,.
sented to me, by their father. I went over immedi-
ately, and examined the four children lying in Frost's
house. I found the two youngest children in the
pantry; one lying on the floor, and the other in a
basket, both quite dead. The two elder children were
upstairs, both lying on the floor dead. I first examined
Eliza, whq was lying in the pantry on the floor. I feu; d
there was a fracture on the back of the head. There
was a little laceration about the scalp. This was not
very extensive. I am perfectly satisfied that the injury
at the back of the head was sufficient to cause death. It
appeared as if the child had been injured by some bunt
instrument. I then went to the infant in the basket. I
discovered no external marks of injury there sufficient
to account for death. The clothes were wet and e.p it
to me as if they had been in water. I thick t
had the appearance of having been drowned. I th,
proceeded upstairs, and examined the two elder chil-
dren, who were lying dead there on the floor. I found .
more extensive fractures on the back part of the head of
both these children than upon the child below stairs, anti
these fractures were quite sufficient to cause death. I am
quite satisfied that these fractures were give:; by some
blunt instrument. lam certain there must have been at
least two blows given to each of the two elder childre
upstairs.
The Coroner then directed the policeman to prod, ca`
William. Frost, and the Coroner cautioned him against •
saying anything to criminate himself, ieforrning,hitn
that all he said would be taken down in writing, a. d, if
necessary, would be given in evidence against him ; t:ut.
it' he wished to make any statement, he, the Coroner.
was ready to receive it. The Coroner then read all the
depositions over, to which the prisoner paid murk,. if
attention, occasionally correcting the statements of the
witnesses.

The several depositions having been read aver,
The prisoner: aid—With regard to Satah Alttn's
position, it is perfectly correct, with the exception the; I
think my wife was gone more than five minutes. I have
nothint, to say against the evidence of Eliiabeth Yar-
ham. I have moiling to say against the evidence of
Mary Allen. I had plenty of victuals in my house. I
have no observation to make to the evidence of Mary
Rye. I have no observation to make to Robert ]lye's
evidence. The evidence of Alfred Savory appears pretty
right. The evidence .of Samuel Parker appears inc to
be pretty correct, except that 1 do not reoollect Turkel:4
sAying he would tyke me into custody•; but I do reeont-.t
his saying he would put the handcuffs en me. I do 11,t
recollect my saying to Mr. Leamon • that I intended
destroy myst lf. I don% think 1 had any thought of
kind after I murdered the children, of destroying w; -
self. I think the other part of Mr. Lew:eon's 'eride, ee
is pretty correct. I saw the hammer produced • by, t.;.e
policeman. I had washed the handle of th'e hammer at
little. The hammer produced is the hammer I eo,c-
mitted the act with. I think the evidence of Mr. Her-
sant correct. I think I gare the children more than twa
blows each. I wished to put them out of their miaery
as quick as I could. I cannot say how many blow s
gave the eldest child. I cannot say how many blows I
gave them. I think I gave the eldest child more blows
than the others.

The jury almost instantly returned a verdict
" Wilful Murder" against ►William Frost, the father of
the children.

Die Coroner having issued his warrant for the com-
mittal of the prisoner to:the county gaol, to take-his triat
at the assizes next ensuing, he was conveyed to Norwich
Castle the same evening, singing psalms by the way-
Ile has lately belonged to a new sect, called the ‘k itc-
vivalists," and been very active among them as a preacher..
Formerly he was a Methodist ranting preacher. It is.
generally believed in Whitwell and the neighbourhood
that he committed the above series of horrible murders.
on his own children under the influence of fanaticism.

MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS.
CITY. THURSDAY EVRNSIca
TIMES.—As the holders of the Three-and-a-Half -eer
Cents. 1818, in spite of what has already been said, way
not be all aware of the peculiarity of their positio-.1 with
respect to the operation of reduction, it is as wOl to re-
peat, that if they du not signify to the Bank of Englai.d.
their assent in writing to the Government plan on or
before Saturday, the 20th inst., they will be deemed to.
have dissented.

The annual meeting of the Shareholders of the Wye(
Mail Steam-packet Company took place to-day, and
passed over quietly compared with previous proceedings.
The working of the steamers is not yet sufficiently pro-
fitable to enable the Directors to declare a dividend, but
the result of the operations of the past year is favourable
to the opinion expressed at the October meeting. that.
the earnings of the Company would reach 120,000/. per
annum, subject to insurance and wear and tear. :110'.!
resent accounts appear to contain heavy sharp is
tor accidents and inexperience in the early career Or
business, and hence the absorption of a consdeeithiss
portion of the revenue received. However, as ati our,.
standing claims accruing from past transaction* las'ete
been satisfied, the service of the present
year will com-
mence free from such liabilities. In conformity will the '
resolution of the last general meeting, the insurances
upon vessels have not been renewed, and henceforward.
it is intended to set apart annual!): the sum of 25,000/. to.
meet any loss that may arise in this respect. The.
Directors offer no estimate as to the amount of sat-plus:
likely to accrue during the current year, 3 et they say the.,K-
are clearly of opinion that a considerable sum will
main applicable to the liquidation of debt, tke eis;
replacement of capital, or the payrnent ofa air{
dend. The sum remaining due by the Company fur-
sincehans itshe",herli-j•carly meeting in October late which it seems is a decrease of 50 Of.gq it. Teem
was little discussion of an interesting eh
34,15`11. 17s.
r7edfe.,rpenroceveldv
afsormDirectorsbring
against the
estate of Messrs. Aeroman and Co.,the
ring the difference,
between their contr.at. price
for the Avon and the
Severn, and the sum paid to them for end expended in
finishing those vessels Wl •th res • p..ct to the desire ex- •
pressed by several of the shareholders to be put in pos• -
session of simplified accounts, it was promised on t 1
part of the Directors that attention should be given k
this ao
subject, as also to proper economy in expendie gre.
The report was adopted unanimously, and there ostee
peered to he a much more friendly feeling amonK. the
shareholders, who now appear shortly to expect. some
return for their invested capital.

ST. STETHEN'S, WALBROOK.—Notice having in..ert
given that a select vestry would be held yes to edgy,
at twelve
_22clock, in the church of St. StopirWs. WO"
brook, for•the purpose of electing c.hurchwir..deno for the
ensuing year, the gentlemen composing the select -c-i..*try •
attended at the church at the appointed tire when, findieg
it had been taken possession of by the er iosite party, it wait
proposed to hold the vestry in some e'
Sher place ; in em-""
(pence of which, they proceeded to & a residence of Aldelioato
Gibbs, in Walbrook, where the ab' ,ve_mentioned gentleman
and Mr. Whitaker were elected et. mrchwardeas.
THE lIAIR.—Of the DIY .n US
growth or repreduc-
compound* Con-
stantly announced for proiriang. theo
tion of the hair, few survice, even in name, beyond a very
limited period; whilst " Rorilaud'a Macassar Oil," with a
er
reputation unparalleled,,, is sf ill on the increase in public es-
timation. The singular yin; des of this successful invention
for restoring, preserving, an d beautifying the human hair,
are too well known and appr feciated to need much commor,t.
The very facts of the high: and distinguished patronage it
enjoys, its general use in . all countries, together with nu-
merous testimonials constantly received in its favour, are au-
thorities which stamp its, erior excellence and title over all
attempts of a similar natio re. Being universally preferred.
its consequent great dem= d excites the cupidity of un-
principled shopkeepers, who - von d the most spurious trash as
the " genuine Macassar Oil : if hereas the genuine article
wholly the invention and arty of A. Rowland and Son.
and the amalgamation of its .a ,stly exotic materials renders
abortive any attempt to disceri sr its component porter—thus
proving the imposition of shit other articles bearing the titlef
of " Macassar Oil." The enuine article has. the words
" Rowland's Macassar Oirti on the wrapper.—All others are
fraudulent counterfeits! \'