The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-26 00:00:00

UNION-HALL.

A youth named Hornblow was brought up for
making a most determined attempt to drown himself
in the Surrey Canal.
It appeared that the defendant had been walking
with a young female, and in the course of their walk
they quarrelled, when he quitted her arm, and, rush-
ing towards the Surrey Canal, jumped into the water.
He immediately disappeared, when a young man
living on .the banks of the canal witnessing the act,
and seeing him rise to the surface, plunged in after
him, and a struggle ensued, during which the drown-
ing man pulled him under, and it was with the utmost
difficulty witness at length succeeded in saving their
lives. The defendant was quite insensible when got
out of the water, and was obliged to be conveyed to
the workhouse, where the usual remedies for resusci-
tation being adopted, he was at length brought to life.
Mr. COTTING Ham said that the intrepidity displayed
by the young man who saved the defendant was very
much to be commended, and that he deserved a re-
ward from the Humane Society for his activity ; that
it was just such a case as a society established for
rewarding meritorious persons for saving the lives of
persons from drowning, should confer some substantial
mark of its favour on so deserving a person. The
magistrate then ordered the defendant's father to enter

into his recognisance for his son's future good beha-
viour.

William Windsor, well known to the police, and
previously convicted of felony, was charged with steal-
ing a purse, containing some silver, from Mrs. Pear-
son, an actress of the Surrey Theatre.
The complainant stated that she was walking along
the London-road about five o'clock in the afternoon ;
when she got to the corner of Garden-row she was
addressed by a young man, who asked her if she had
lost anything. She immediately put her hand into
her pocket, and found that her purse, containing some
silver, was gone, and the young man said he saw the
person who robbed her, and who at the time was
running with great swiftness down the London-road.
Henry Hughes, servant to Mr. Folkard, the pawn-
broker, of the London-road, stated that he was stand-
ing at his employer's door at the time mentioned. He
saw the complainant closely followed by the prisoner
and three other young fellows. When the lady got
to the corner of Garden-row, he observed the prisoner
step out in front of his companions, and with great
quickness and dexterity thrust his hand into the com-
plainant's pocket, from which he instantly withdrew
it, and then placing his hand in his own pocket ran
away, followed by his associates. The fact was made
known to a policeman, who succeeded in taking the
prisoner into custody.
The policeman stated that the prisoner belonged to
a very daring gang of pickpockets who infest the
London-road and the vicinity of the Surrey Theatre,
and that he had on a former occasion been convicted
of felony, and had only recently been liberated from
gaol. •
Mr. COTTINGHAM said that he should commit the
prisoner at once to the Old Bailey, and he gave direc-
tions that the record of his former conviction should
be made known to the judge, in order that such a dan-
gerous character might be sent out of the country.

EXECUTION OF MARK SHER-
WOOD.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, AUG. 23.—This day, at
noon, the wretched culprit, Mark Sherwood, con-
victed at our late assizes for the wilful murder of his
wife, suffered the extreme penalty of the law, on a
drop erected in the middle of the race-course circle on
the Town-moor. The concourse was immense, pro-
bably owing to the long period that has elapsed since
such a mournful proceeding was enacted in his dis-
trict. He was formerly a private in the Royal Artil-
lery, and from long servitude received a pension. He
then became very dissolute in his habits, and whilst
residing at Hull, his first wife was found in her apart-
ment dead, almost burnt to a cinder, and her guilty
partner lying by her side in an insensible state of in-
toxication. It was considered that she had met her
death from some accident, but owing to the similarity
of the demise with that of the unfortunate creature
for which act he has so justly forfeited his ex-
istence, and other circumstances which have
since transpired, it is too strongly feared that
she also fell a victim to his murderous
purpose. On re-marrying he came to reside in Bland-
ford. street, in this town where it appears he gained
a subsistence by working an illicit still. His de-
bauchery
was still of the worst description, both
living a most violent life with each other. The night
prior to the sacrifice of his victim, viz., on the 12th of
last March, he p',w red some of his apparel for a
trifling sum, in order to procure drink, and a serious
quarrel ensued between them. A niece of the unfor-
tunate woman happening to enter their apartment at
the moment, attempted to
pacify them, but of no avail..
The following- morning the relation went to call her
aunt up, when Sherwood answered that she had gone
out. Several hours afterwards, in the middle of the
day, the niece went again, and after knocking at the
THAMES POLICE. - , door some time, and receiving no answer, the assist-
On Saturday Mr. James Donovan, proprietor of the ante of neighbours was gained, and the door forced,
Windmill, Robert-street, Limehouse, appeared to
answer a summons, taken out at the instance of In. when the poor creature was found lying on her side,
bleeding from several wounds in her throat, quite
dead, and her guilty destroyer prostrate on the floor,
Spector May, for having his house open for the sale of in a state of complete insensibility from the effects of
whisky.
beer on the morning of Sunday, the 18th inst.
Police-constable 129 K stated that at half-past
o'clock on the morning named in the summons he
one r his condemnation and on being removed to
to spend
doomed cell, he showed no disposition
the
te

his few remaining days in a contrite manner, but
through the humane efforts of the worthy chaplain,
the Rev. L. Page at last succeeded in bringing his
mind to a proper state fitting the awful change he was
about to undergo.
On Thursday afternoon the miserable man, in" an-
swer to interrogatories put by the worthy pastor, ad-
mitted that he was prepared to die. He then partook
of the sacrament, and at an early hour retired to rest.
He slept rather more soundly than a man in such a
situation would have been thought to do, and shortly
before six o'clock this morning he rose and partook of
a hearty breakfast. He then craved the indulgence
of being allowed to smoke a pipe, which was granted,
and at nine o'clock the Rev. L. Page again joined
him in earnest prayer.
He made the following confession to the Rev. Gen-
tleman :—" He stated that be entirely denied all pre-
meditation in the committal of the deed that he slept
with his wife during the night, and that she got up
once to know (as she said) how the cursed still was
going on. In the in -;ruing when he arose he partly
dressed himself, and put on his great coat, and while
lathering his chin for the purpose of shaving, his wife
recurred in irritating language to the quarrel of the
preceding night—and this, together with her gross
and indecent conduct before him, so excited and en-
raged him, that in the moment he suddenly turned
round, seized and threw her down, and with the razor
which he held in his hand he made several gashes on
her throat; after which he drank the spirits to excess
to destroy himself, when it overpowered him, and he
fell down at the place where he was found. He fur-
ther stated, that with respect to the death of his first
wife, he denied all participation in it, and said that
the reports against him about it were all false."
Shortly after twelve o'clock the sheriffs and under-
sheriffs arrived, when the miserable being was de-
livered over to them by the governor for execution.
He was then placed in a kind of covered break or
van, accompanied by the minister, governor, and
wardens,: and which proceeded, in slow time, fol-
lowed by a mourning coach, containing the sheriffs,
to the Moor, escorted by a strong body of police.
On arriving at the drop he, for a moment, looked
around at the mass that was assembled, there being
upwards of 20,000 persons present, and was as soon
conducted under the fatal beam. Some few seconds'
delay took place through the rope not being properly
adjusted, during which time the wretched criminal
stood with the most unflinching fortitude. At length
the bolt was drawn, and, after a few brief struggles,
he had ceased to exist. The body hung the usual
time, viz., one hour, and was then cut down, placed in
a shell, and removed to the gaol for interment.

EXTRAORDINARY DEATH OF A

MISER.

A protracted investigation was gone into before
Vim. Carter, Esq., the Coroner for Surrey, at the
Jolly Farmers, in the parish of Horne, near Godstone,
as to the death of George Murray, aged 60, a well-
known eccentric character, who has for many years
travelled about that part of the country, which took
place under very singular circumstances, and led to
the discovery of an amount in money which, although
he was known to be of a very penurious disposition,
he was never thought to possess.
The magistrates of the county having been in-
formed of the particulars connected with his death,
and the large sum of money that had been found upon
him, immediately communicated the facts to the co-
roner, who forthwith issued his warrant for the in-
quest. Upon' the jury viewing the body, it was found
to be in a loathsome state of filth. The flesh NN as ac-
tually covered with living vermin; his shirt, such as
it was, must have been worn for months, while his
outer garments were but a bundle of rags.
Mr. Lane, the churThwarden of the parish, stated
that he had known the deceased for seven or eight
years, in consequence of his having travelled that part
of the country selling tapes, thread, and other trifles.
He was in the habit of sleeping in barns and stables,
or any other place %here he could get shelter, and
usually cooked his dinners under hedges, having
means to light a fire for that purpose. About the
middle of the day, on Monday week, witness (who
is an extensive farmer) was passing through one of
his fields when he saw the deceased sitting under
the hedge. He (witness) knew that he had been
ailing for some time, and crossed the field to ask him
how he was, v‘ hen he replied that he felt very ill. It
was found that he was unable to walk, and a constable
was sent for, who procured a chair, in which he was
conveyed to a barn on the farm of Mr. Huggitt, in
which he said he had last slept. He was here pro-
vided with nourishing food, and Mr. George Chap-
man, of Lingfield, surgeon, was sent for. In-
formation was also sent to the relieving-
officer, and arrangements were made for his ad-
mission into the union workhouse. Mr. Chapman
prescribed for him, and ordered what was
necessary, which was supplied to him in the barn.
During the following day it rained heavily, and it
was not thought prudent to remove him, especially as
he refused to go into the union ; ho, however, had
mutton-broth, arrow-root, &c., during the whole time
he remained in the barn. At the end of the week he

was again questioned whether he would go into the
union, but he persisted in refusing.
The CORONER observed that it seemed strange a
man in his state should prefer a barn to a place where
he would have been taken much better care of.
Mr. Chapman said he had advised his removal, for
the place where he was was unfit for a man in his
state of health.

Witness continued—When he appeared so positive
about not going to the workhouse, he was asked who
would take him in in the filthy state he was ? when
he said he thought Mr. Cooper (a large farmer in the
neighbourhood) would, though he had refused him a
short time before. It was therefore determined to
take him to Mr. Cooper's barn ; but as it was sup-
posed he had some property, it was suggested by the
constable that he (witness) should take care of him.
After a great deal of persuasion, he said that he had 71.,
which he produced.
The CORONER-But was that all he had ? Wit-
ness—Oh, no ; with great hesitation he " fumbled"
in his breeches-pocket, and at last produced an old
dirty bag, nearly full of gold ; it was counted in his
presence by the constable, and contained ninety-eight
sovereigns, three half-sovereigns, 45., and 11 Id.
A great deal of surprise was expressed in the court
at this announcement, the state of the miser being
fresh in the memory of the jury.
Witness added, that after this he got from his
waistcoat-pocket a 51. note, and the whole he handed
to the constable. He then said he would go to Mr.
Cooper's, for which purpose a cart was provided, in
which he was placed, and propped up with pillows
and straw. Having said that he felt quite comfort-
able, the horse went on for a few paces, and, upon the
driver turning round to look at the deceased, he found
that he had fallen back and was quite dead.
Mr. Chapman said the deceased, when he first saw
him, was labouring under severe bronchial affection ;
and his death, no doubt, arose from natural causes. It
was absolutely necessary to advise his removal, as the
place he was in was too cold for the state of his health.
The coroner and jury having remarked upon the
extraordinary facts which had been elicited, a verdict
of died from natural causes was returned.
It is said that the deceased has some half-sisters,
who may yet be living, and who will be entitled to
this property, should they hear of his death, but it is
thought this is not the whole he was possessed of, as
he was considered to be too cautious to carry the
whole about with him.

- _
DISASTROUS FIRE IN SURREY.
Throughout the whole of Saturday and Friday
night, the hitherto quiet village of Horsham, Surrey,
presented a scene of the greatest excitement in con-
sequence of a fire of a most destructive character
breaking out in the extensive premises belonging to
Mr. Nightingale, farmer, situated in about the centre
of that village. When first perceived the flames were
raging in the barn, a large building, nearly 70 feat
long, by 25 feet wide, and which was filled with un-
thrashed barley, the produce of 9fr acres. Fire once
communicated to an article so inflammable, of course
its progress was unusually, rapid, and very speedily
the entire building was one broad sheet of fire, which
shot up into the air a considerable height, completely
illuminating the horizon. Some idea of its extent
may be formed when we state that it could be dis-
tinctly seen from Richmond, nearly ten miles distant.
The" barn being surrounded by numerous other build-
ings, it was not long before a rangy of stabling be-
came ignited, and was quickly razed to the ground.
Fortunately the horses were all extricated, but not
without great difficulty. The flames next communi-
cated to the bullock-sheds, and from thence to the
cart and agricultural implement house on the oppo-
site side of the waggon way. The whole of these
buildings were blazing away most furiously, and for
some time the destruction of the farm-house, granary,
and chaise-house, appeared certain, there being very
little space of ground between them. The Esher
and Walton engines, however, arrived in the nick of
time, but shortly after their arrival the only conve-
nient supply of water, the pump in the yard, failed,
and they were compelled to work from a. pond a.
lung distance off. Nevertheless, they were of g„ 'at
assistance, and to them may he ascribed the safety of
several other buildings. The heat thrown out by the
conflagration was so intense that the inmates of the
}lenses on the opposite side of the turnpike-road
were obliged to keep throwing water upon the fronts
of their buildings to prevent them from becoming
ignited. The inhabitants willingly lent their assist-
ance, many of them working at the engines the whole
of the night, for it was not until twelve o'clock on
Saturday that they left the premises, and at five
o'clock, when our reporter left, the ruins were
sill emitting bodies of smoke. A deal of barley was
got out after the fire WS somewhat abated, but it is
greatly damaged, and it is feared will not be fit for
malting. The origin of the fire is unknown ; it is
hardly possible that is is the work of an incendiary,
as Mr. Nightingale is universally respected through-

out the village. His loss will be covered by an in-
surance in the Sun and Royal Exchange Fire-offices.

BANK ISSUES.

The Gazette of last night contains the following re-
turns under the new " Act to make further provision
relative to the Returns to be made by Banks of the
amount of their Notes in circulation." The period is
twelve weeks prior to the 27th of April last, and the
average amount in each case is certified by two of her
Commi,,sionrrs of Stamps end Taxes :
Burton, Uttoxeter, and Staffordshire Union £

Banking Company, at Burton and Uttoxeter 60,701
Bradford Commercial Joint-Stock Bank, at Brad-
ford
Bank of Whitehaven, atWhitehaven, and Wigton 32,681
Barnsley- Banking Company, at Barnsley
Bradford Banking Company, at Bradford
County of Gloucester Banking Company, at
Gloucester, Cheltenham, Burford, Cirencester,
and other places - 144,352
Cheltenham and Gloucestershire Banking Com-
pany, at Cheltenham and Tewkesbury ..
Coventry Union Banking Company, at Coventry 16,251
Coventry and Warwickshire Banking Company
at Coventry
Cumberland Union Banking Compuni, at Work-
inwon, Cockerinouth, Maryport, AN igton, Per.-
riih, and Keswick 35.:;95
Cariise City and District Bank, at Carlisle and
Coekcrinouth
Carlisle and Cumberland Banking Company, at
Carlisle, Wigton, and Appleby
Dudley and We,t Bromwich Banking Company,
at Dildlev and Wet Bromwich
Derby and Derbyshire Banking Company, at
Derby and Bel,,er 20,093
East of England Bank, at Norwich, East Dere-
ham, Eye, Fakenham, and other places 25,025
Fakenham Bank, at. Fakenham and Holt--Gur-
ney and Co ~ 24,293
Gloty:k stershire Banking Company, at Glou-
cester, Stroud, Newnham, Cheltenham, and
other places 155,920
Herefordshire Banking Company, at Hereford,
Leominster, Evesham, and Hay
Halifax Joint-Stock Bank, at Halifax 18,534
Huddersfield Banking Company, at Huddersfield,
Holmfirth, and Dewsbury 37,354
Kingsbridge Joint-Stock Banking Company, at
Kingsbridge
Walsall Old. Bank, at Walsall—C. S. and J
For-ter
Worcester Bank, at 'Worcester—Farley, Laven-
der, and Co 15,463
Yarmouth and Suffolk Bank, and Halesworth and
Suffolk Bank, at Yarmouth, Beecles, Lowestoft,
Halesworth,.and other places—Gurney and Co. 53,060