The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-15 00:00:00

TRIALS AT THE OLD BAILEY.

We have devoted a considerable portion of our
space to an account of the proceedings at the Central
Criminal Court, in the case of Barber, Fletcher, and
Dorey. Barber and Fletcher stood all the time, from
the recommencement of the trial at nine in the morn-
ing, until its adjournment at half-past six in the
evening; Mrs. Dorey, the female prisoner, was ac-
commodated with a chair. Only an occasional glimpse
of her was got, as she held down her head the greater
part of the time. The effects of confinement, and of
the anguish of mind she has suffered since her appre-
hension, were visibly depicted in her countenance.
Her eye has lost its fire, and her spirits seem to have
forsaken her. She sat pale and dejected the entire
day. She did not resemble the same person she was
when first brought up at the Mansion-house. On her
various examinations before the Lord Mayor, she
wore a velvet bonnet and velvet shawl, 'with a boa
round her neck ; yesterday she wore a plain cap, with
a common looking light shawl thrown across her shoul-
ders. She is rather under the middle height, is some-
what stoutly made, and has a slight stoop about the
shoulders. Her face, which is naturally round and
full, has now an altered appearance. She is much
thinner, while her eyes are sunken, and her features
strongly marked. She has the appearance of a woman
about forty years of age.
Barber, who stood in the left corner of the dock,
is a fine gentlemanly looking man. He is rather
above the middle size, but somewhat slenderly made.
Judging from his appearance, he is under forty Tears
of age. His face is of an angular form, and his fea-
tures are regular and pleasing. His hair is of a
dark brown hue, and rather abundant. His com-
plexion is somewhat dark, and his countenance indi-
cates the possession of excellent health. He wore a
green coat, a grey coloured silk waistcoat, and black
stock. He seemed to maintain throughout the most
entire self-possession, and repeatedly took notes.
Fletcher, who stood next to Barber, is evidently
upwards of fifty years of age—probably fifty-four or
fifty-five. He is tall, and dresses more plainly than
Barber. His face is of an oblong shape, and has a
sinister expression. In this respect there could not
be a stronger contrast than is afforded by Fletcher
and Barber. Like his fellow prisoner, Fletcher
evinced great self-possession, and listened attentively
to the speeches of counsel and the examination of
witnesses. He rested his hands on the dock a con-
siderable portion of the time. lie was evidently less
dejected than on any of the occasions on which he ap-
peared at the Mansion-house. His features are
marked.. The prominence of his eyebrows is sure to
strike any person who sees him. His hair, which is
slightly grey, is rather 'thin on his forehead, but is
otherwise unusually ample. The complexion of his
countenance is sallow. This, however, may not be
its natural hue, but may be the result of his confine-
ment for the last ten or twelve weeks.— Observer.

CORONER'S INQUEST.
On Saturday a lengthened inquiry was instituted
before Mr. Baker, the coroner, at the Brown Bear,
Leman-streef, Whitechapel, respecting the death of a
fine young woman, named Elizabeth Hatchell, aged
23, who died in the Whitechapel workhouse.
It having been reported that the deceased had died
from the effects of some poison administered for the
purpose of procuring abortion, more than usual in-
terest was manifested during the proceedings, and
which was increased from the circumstance of there
being some presumed neglect of the parochial autho-
rities.

Sarah Higgs, one of the nurses in the above poor-
house, stated that the ,deceased became an inmate of
that establishment about a fortnight before her demise.
She was a single woman, and an entry stated that she
was encicnte. She had been a servant at Mr. Bar•
low's, the furnishing ironmonger, in King William-
street, and had been seduced by the foreman in that
gentleman's employ, who had since that period ab-
sconded to Liverpool. On the morning of the 30th
ult. she was suddenly taken ill with the pains or la-
bour, she remained so for twelve hours, and her ac-
couchement then took place, the infant being still
alive. She was properly attended throughout the de-
livery by the parish doctors, Messrs. Forster and
Ricketts. On the following day she expressed a
strong desire to see her mother, but, owing to some
mistake or other, she did not see her till the fourth
day of her confinement. On last Sunday her counte-
nance underwent a most remarkable change, having
twined quite yellow, and the medical gentlemen were
immediately called in, who administered powders to
her and had mustard poultices applied, but she gra-
dually got worse, apparently as if in a stupor, and
died on Wednesday last.
The Coroner inquired of this witness if she had
heard that the deceased had in any way taken drugs
for the purpose of abortion ? She replied in the ne-
gative, but stated that the deceased had attempted to
take poison, for what purpose she did not know, but
was prevented by the father of the child, who oh-
tained 'possession of the poison, and threw it down a
sinkhole.

The Coroner wished to know what gave, rise to the
idea that she had taken poison ? Mr. Forster, the
surgeon, remarked that the deceased had taken some-
thing;- and the master of the workhoAse being in-
formed by the mother of the deceased that her daugh-
ter had been in the habit of taking drugs, in order to
produce abortion, that official thought it prudent that
the Coroner should be made acquainted with the fact.

The Coroner observed that it'was a most extraordi-
nary case. He did not think that the deceased had in
any way taken poison, from the fact of the child being
born a fortnight ago, and still living in a healthy state.
Mr. Forster was then examined, and deposed that
he was called to the deceased last Sunday, when
she was seized violently ill. He found her labouring
under diarrhm and inflammation of the bowels, and
which ultimately caused her death. He had been in-
formed that she had attempted to take, poison to
destroy herself, and other drugs so as to produce
abortion. If she had taken the latter, it would have
no effect upon the child, presuming it was born soon
afterwards.

The Coroner here put it to Mr. Forster, whether,
if the body was opened, he could discover proof of
poison, now that the child had been born more than
a fortnight. He answered that, if such was the fact,
he should find ulceration in the intestines.

The Coroner was of a different opinion, and he
should wish to know the feeling of the jury on the
subject, whether an adjournment was required, so as
to allow a post-mortem examination to be made.
The jury replied that they did not think it neces-
sary, as so long a period had elapsed, and they con-
sidered that it would be impossible for the medical
man to trace any marks of poison.—A verdict of
"Natural Death" was ultimately recorded.

FIRE in the WESTMINSTER-ROAD

Shortly before four o'clock on Sunday morning a fire
broke out upon the premises belonging to Mr. Pardon,
hosier and linendraper, carrying on business at No.
81, Westminster-road, Lambeth. Police-constable
Fenn, of the L division, was the first to make the
discovery. It appears that the officer, in passing
along his beat, had his attention directed to the
premises by perceiving a dense suffocating body of
smoke issuing through the apertures in the window-
shutters. With all possible expedition an alarm was
raised, and the inmates aroused from their slumbers,
but by the time they were all awake, the whole of the
shop had become one vivid sheet of fire, and which
was making rapid progress up the staircase, to the
different apartments in the building, thereby cutting
• ofge4tvesape-lay-thicusualtseaus. Thwtoustalsier seeiug
the great danger to which Mr, Pardon and his family
were exposed, ran and brought a ladder, which he placed
in front of the blazing premises, hoping to take the resi •
dents out with its aid, but so strong a hold had the
fire obtained of the whole of the upper portion of the
house, that the constable was obliged to immediately
retreat. Mr. Pardon, with several branches of his
family, were to be seen in the kitchen area, confined
there by means of an iron grating, begging and
praying to the offi3er to release them. At first, their
destruction appeared inevitable, but several other offi-
cers came up and happily succeeded in forcing up the
grating, when the affrighted persons were, one after
another, released.. By tbia time the Waterloo-road
brigade engine had arrived with a strong body of
the brigade, followed by the West of England en-
gine, with Mr. Connorton and the Company's fire-
men. There being an abundant supply of water
flowing from the firemains in the neighbourhood,,
these two engines were set to work, but the
fury of the flames were such that they de-
fied for some minutes the exertions of the firemen.
Mr. Braidwood, superintendant of the brigade, with
an engine from Watling-street, and Mr. Carter with
the County firemen and engine, were also at the scene
of conflagration. The firemen continued to work
with little intermission until half-past five o'clock,
when it became evident that they had obtained the
complete mastery of the fire, and no further destruc-
tion. of property occurred. Mr. Pardon, whose loss
is very heavy, we understand is insured in the County
Fire-office.

MISS BUIiDETT COUTTS.—This' wealthy lady has
lately been staying at the Bath 11,,te1, Clifton ; and we
understand so pleased was Miss Coutts with the beau-
tiful scenery and attractions of the place, that she de-
termined to make it in a great measure her residence,
and had instructed parties to look out for a suitable
house for her; but her presence being soon ascertained
by all who had requests to make either for themselves
or others, and pecuniary petitions to present for objects,
charitable, or otherwise, she was so importuned
from morning to night, by. letters, visits, &c., that she
ordered her carriage and bade farewell to Clifton, to
escape ‘f the pressure from without."—Devizespazette.

STATE OF TRADE.
FOREIGN WOOL TRADE, LEEDS, APRIL 12.---We
have no change to report in the Foreign Wool trade
since our last. There continues -to be a moderate
amount of business transacted, and without any per-,
ceptible variation in prices.
`fieW •
ENGLISH WOOL MARKET, LEEDS, APRIL 12.-_ •
have not any alteration to report in this branCh of
trade during the present week. Sales of combing
wools are small ; but as the consumption continues
quite as large as for many months past, it is evident
that manufacturers must shortly come into the
market
again more freely as purchasers of wool. Clothing
wools are in steady demand ; and prices are without
any variation of moment.
LEEDS.—The markets at our Cloth Halls have
been much slacker during the last two weeks than
for the two months previous ; this does not appear t°
arise so much from the want of demand, as front
the circumstance of the goods which are now coming
to market being made from wools upon which a con"
siderable advance has taken place. They appear dear
in comparison with the prices of goods at the coal
mencetnent of the season, and many of the buyer:
are holding off purchasing except for present demand'
This applies to low and middle qualities of roc's'
but fine goods remain without any alterationin prices. There continues to be a very goTi
demand for goods calculated for the season,. sne„,
as fancy light trouserings and summer tweeds, and
there has also been a little improvement in the de-
mand for cloths ; on the whole there is a fair average
amount of business doing in the warehouses.
HECKMONDWIKE BLANKET MARKET, APRIL UP°.
There was only a thin attendance of buyers ne.
Monday, and only a limited business done. To-
day's market was better, and a quantity of orders
put out.
BRADFORD MARKET, THURSDAY.—In the pi,..ec..°
market there is not quite so much doing as a few
weeks back, and as the Germans are awaiting the I.!'
suit of Leipsic Fair (which is now on), we do
t
not expect any improvement till they ascertain wa.`
is likely to be most in demand, after which a full
tive business is.generally anticipated, unless the pinel
of the raw material should command prices belol3'
what the trade can afford. Yarns are moved off In a
fair way, and the general state of the trade is healthy
Prices stationary. The wool trade has not shown all
improved symptoms, which may be accounted for
the spinners buying so freely some months back, an
now using their former purchases rather than buy n"
present prices.
TRADE OF MANCHESTER, TuußspAY EVENING:'
We have a little more doing in cloth this week, • al
this has been decidedly the case since Tuesday, an
prices are very firm for all descriptions. The clonal?'
for China continues. The calico printers are again
rather busier, but printing cloth, from the great Pr°;
duction of that article, is very dull. The tw's
market is better in demand only; in prices there .s
no real change.—Leeds Mercury.

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