The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-27 00:00:00

DREADFUL MURDERS NEAR
NOTTINGHAM.

Norriscnust, THURSDAY NIGHT.—This afternoon the
town and its environs were alarmed by the discovery of a
murder, which, for atrocity, has perhaps never been sur-
passed. The victims in this massacre—for the term is
scarcely too strong—are a poor woman named Ann Saville
and her three children (two girls and a boy), of the several
ages of seven, five, and four years, who were found with their
throats cut from ear to ear in a small " spinny" in the parish
of Colwick, a beautiful suburban village, about three miles
from Nottingham. What is worse, there is a strong chain of
evidence to prove that it was a husband who took the life of

her that was, in the emphatic. words of Scripture, " the wife
of his bosom"—alather who Ailed the blood of his children,
and that, too, when from their.tender years it was utterly im-
possible that they could have forfeited a parent's love by any
misconduct of theirs. '"
It will be proper to statetlid following particulars to enable
your readers better to understand the details of this dreadful
business. Mrs. Saville and her children, after having been
in the union workhouse, at Nottingham, for the last three
months, came out at the request of her sister (a Mrs. Brown-
sword), on Monday last, and went in search of her husband, a
framework knitter, employed at Mr. Sutton's shop, at Radford.
On her finding him he came back with her to the town. and
left her to sleep at the house of Samuel Wardle, in Wood-
street, Meadow-platts ; next morning, after breakfast, be
fetched his wife and children away, and set off with them to
visit her sister, at Carlton. He afterwards returned on the
same day to Wardle's, and as his wife and her children were
not there he professed to be much alarmed.
It seems that he was paying his addresses to a young
woman, at Radford, named Tait, and on that evening be
actually went to her and offered to marry her ; the girl told
him that she understood he was already married, and refused
to have anything to do with him. Saville replied, " She's
not my wife •, she has never troubled you, and never will ;
she's safe, and the children provided for." The next dts he
went again to Wardle's, and his wife not being there, he said
he thought she must have drowned herself. Afterwards he
made some other statements of a contradictory nature, which
gave rise to a suspicion that lie knew more of her than he
was desirous to have understood. This having got abroad,
an immense mob collected round the house, and if the man
had not been taken into custody, lie would probably have re-
ceived rough treatment at the hands of the populace, who
believed that he had drowned his wife and children in the
Trent at Colwick Weir.
This afternoon the prisoner underwent an examination be-
fore the Mayor and Alderman Heard. The prisoner having
been properly cautioned, entered into a long account of how
he had spent his time since last Monday. He said that he
was taking his wife to Sarah Harestaff's (his sister) in Earl-
street, and that when on the way she began to cry, and
told him she would go no further ; since then he had not
seen or heard anything of her.
While this was going on, a note was delivered to the
Mayor, stating that the bodies had been found. It appears
that a bird-fancier named Swinscoe, M Carlton, was taking a
walk with his son, and discovered them in the spinny. The
children lay together, but the mother, with her throat shock-
ingly mangled, was at some distance. A razor was in her
left hand, but it was held in such a manner as to render it
evident that it had been put there since her death. The un-
fortunate woman does not • appear to have struggled much,
and•ler hands were uncut; there were also traces of her
having been dragged along the grass. The bodies were quite
cold and stiff, and the blood was congealed. The razor can
be identified as one that the prisoner was in the habit of
using; and when the prisoner's box was searched his raior-
case proved to be empty. Spots of blood were also found
upon his trousers. The bodies were removed to Mr. Parr's
barn, whither the inhabitants of the districts surrounding
have flocked in thousands to satisfy their curiosity by gazing
upon the bloody corpses.
An inquest will be held to-morrow (Friday) at Mr. Parr's
house, before Mr. Swan, the Coroner for the county.
The spinny where the horrible transaction took place is
situate on the top of a high hill between Carlton and Col-
wick, and is crossed by a footpath-between the two villages.
It possesses many natural beauties, the prospect being re-
markably fine.

TRUCK SYSTEM IN THE LACE

TRADE.

At Honiton, on the 18th inst., Mrs. Chick, of
Branscombe, lace manufacturer, was called on to ans•
wer the complaint of Sarah Perry, a pauper of
Ottery St. Mary, for hiving paid her wages in truck.
The justices present were—Wm. Porter, Esq., in the
chair; G. Smith, Esq.; and the Rev. T. J. Marker.
Mr. Cox, of Honiton, appeared for the prosecutor,
Sarah Perry ; and Mr. Coleridge, of Ottery, appeared
for Mrs. Chick. _ _ _

Sarah Perry was first called, and examined by Mr.
Cox.—She stated that she had worked for Mrs. Chick
between 17 and 20 years, and that during the whole
of that period she had been accustomed to be paid in
goods; that sometimes she received a halfpenny
or a penny in money, when the goods did
not exactly come to the amount of the lace, but that
she never had, on any occasion during that period,
received as much as sixpence she most posi-
tively s wore ; that just before Christmas last she took
some lace to Mrs. Chick, who ordered her to go on
making the same lace, and that on the 13th of February
she took the lace so made to Mrs. Chick's shop in
Branscombe, that she saw Mr. Tucker, Mrs. Chick's
agent and son-in-law, and that he took the lace, and
paid her in goods, viz.—a piece of print, a loaf of
bread, and some butter.
On cross-examination by Mr. Coleridge, she ad-
mitted that she had seen some paper stuck up at the
shop, like two that he produced, but that she did not
read them (one of these papers was the resolutions
of the board of guardians against truck, the other a
paper signed by Mr. Chick, and stating that he
should riot, in future, order any lace to be made, but
that he should exchange goods for ready-made lace).
She also said that Mrs. Chick had once sent her away
without buying her lace, because it was not made
well, but afterwards she called her back and took it.
Mr. Coleridge tried to break down her evidence as
to Mr. Tucker not asking if the lace was ordered,
and her stating it was not, but without effect. Mr.
Coleridge then addressed the. Bench for Mrs. Chick.
He did not defend the truck system ; he did not deny
that his client had practised that system up to the
time that the Board of Guardians had issued their
resolution, but from that day his client had been most
anxious not to break the law ; and in proof of his
anxiety, he put forward the paper which he had
caused tolantrinted, and he would show that he payed
money to all from whom he ordered lace. He also
could rely upon the fact 'that Mrs. Chick could not
be hound by the illegal act of her agent. He then
called

Mr. Tucker, who stated that in consequence of the
resolution of the Board of Guardians, he had the
notices produced stuck up in the shop, and that on
the day in question he had asked every person who
came with lace if it had been ordered, and all that had
been ordered he paid for in money. The lace that the
complainant made was a sort that was never ordered ;
they had no sale on it.
Cross-examined by Mr. Cox—Mrs. Chick sold
bread, butter, drapery, &c. Employed five bakers.
Did not deliver the bread to'the lace-makers, but gave
them tickets to go to either of the bakers for it. Paid
one baker 45/. for ten weeks' bread. The difference
in price at which Mrs. Chick sold the bread, and at
which it could be bought for ready money, was a
halfpenny per loaf; the difference in the price of
butter, one penny per pound. Paid all the persons
on the day in question in cash, whose lace had been
ordered, there having been eighty persons who
brought lace that day, perhaps more, perhaps less.
Would not swear that he paid 1/. in money ; would
swear that he paid some money. Did not know if he
had paid ss. ; believed he had. Had the bill declaring
that he would exchange goods for ready-made race
printed in consequence of the resolutions of the Board
of Guardians. Wrote it himself; employed no lawyer
to do so. Did employ a lawyer's clerk. Several
other witnesses, whose evidence was unimportant,
were then called, and
Mr. Cox addressed the Bench. After the facts that
had come before them, he need say nothing as to the
injurious effects of the truck system ; he had proved
that the lace had been ordered, and paid for in goods ;
and the attempt which had been made to throw dis-
credit upen the informants had failed ; he had never
known a person in her position give evidence better;
he was very ftirtutate"• in having so good an inform-
ant in the first case that was brought forward,

ti iiuci,„.l-I,JJ:. 1

The BENCH at once declared the offence p-oved,
and fined Mrs. Chick in a penalty of 51., and 2/. costs,
and ordered that 2L 10s. should be paid to the poor
woman, Sarah Perry. They further intimated that
on any further conviction of any one they should
award the full penalty.
The public are indebted to ti:e exertions of Mr. E.
Carter, of Ottery St. Mary, for this case having been
brought forward.--- Western Times,

WEST-END GAMBLING HOUSES.
The recent capture by the police of a number of
the gambling-house proprietors and unfortunate vic-
tims, has caused a general feeling of satisfaction
among the respectabl.e inhabitants who reside within
the district in which these dens of robbers flourished,
at the expense of the miserable dupes who nightly at-
tended them. In the City the exposuse has occa-
sioned a great stir, and excited a vast deal of conver-
sation and interest ; and the magistrates there say
that this first bold effort upon the part of the police
authorities must be followed up with an unflinching,
determination not to permit any attempt at re-esta-
blishing these horrible nuisances. We have taken
the trouble to make inquiries, through a channel of
unquestionable authority and experience, into the par-
ticular condition of affairs amongst the maters of the
extensive vicinity of the playhouses, and we trust
that the information we shall from time to time
supply will give important assistance to the
police, and that the police will be honest
enough to act upon it. It appears, upon the exami-
nation of the roulette tables which were seized by
the officers, that they were found to be so ingeni-
ously constructed as to prevent the possibility of
winning upon the part of the players, the proprietor
having the power, by the use of a secret spring, to
check the ball in its progress to the aperture, the fall-
ing of the ball into which would entitle the dupe to
win. The dice which were taken in all the houses,
particularly in the Albemarle-street crib, were false,
and co.lsist( d of different descriptions, variously num-
bered, and so ingeniously contrived that it was ut-
terly impossible for any one but the most adept black-
leg to detect the villany. For instance, if the player
had to throw six to win his bet, one of the fraternity
usually termed " bonnets " would change the dice
with the expertness of a thimble-rigger, and substi-
tute dice without such a number upon them, so that
a losing number must be thrown ; the same trick is
carried on with any other number. The expectation
of the slightest chance of what the unfortunate
players call luck is, therefore, quite out of the ques-
tion. This plan has been acted upon in all the play
houses, but most successfully in the large establish-
ments, in which the greater number of assistants or
" bonnets" are employed.
It may be useful to describe these rascals. A
" bonnet" is sometimes a regular swell, dressed in the
first style of fashion. On occasions he is dressed
without any dash at all, and generally in black, and
he frequently assumes the clerical appearance, " with
spectacles on nose." These worthies appear at the
tables, in the presence of the casual parties who are
playing. as total strangers to all parties, and play with
a remarkable degree of ease and quiet, as if they had
nothing on earth to do with the conspiracy to plunder
the visitors. There is another class of " bonnets" to
be seen at the minor houses. They are mostly Jews,
aid appear covered with mosaic gold chains and rings.
[f an unhappy person with a propensity to play gets
amongst these indefatigable gentry, the idea of escap-
ing with the amount of a fare of a cab is quite absurd.
A. " bonnet" generally receives from three to five
guineas a week, and a per tentage of from 25 to 50
ner cent. upon the money lost by any friend he may
introduce to the establishment. Some of the indivi-
duals who follow this most degrading occunation
were formerly in respectable situations in life, but
their early love of play reduced them gradually to
their present infamous position. When a " bonnet"
becomes too well known—say after five or six years'
employment—he becomes useless in that capa-
city, as his phiz is recognised by the still decent
frequenters of the house ; but he is not altogether
discarded by his old associates in villany. He is kept
to be turned to another account, and appears in the
character of a " dodger." In this capacity, if he
happen to be a sober fellow, he does great service to
an establishment. His duties are, however, most
laborious, as well as debasing. He is engaged in the
out-door work of the house at night—in following
new visitors to their residences, and ascertaining who
they are, and all about theca. If a stranger o!'gentle-
manlike appearance walk into a flash hell, and lose
fifty or one hundred pounds without making any
bustle or croaking about it, and behaves " quite the
gentleman," the " dodger" is ready to follow him to
his place of abode, and to make inquiries, which, if
found to be faVourable, cause great attention to be
paid to him on his next visit, and when he loses what
ever money he has about him, he is offered a loan
upon his IOU, or his cheque. The moment the ac-
commodation is accepted, the gentleman is booked as
a safe pigeon, for a sum corresponding with his posi-
tion in society. This game progresses for some time ;
the I 0 U's and cheques are paid, but at last the
victim finds out the secret that he has been robbed
and that everybody about him has been concerned in
plucking him. In some instances a dupe is bullied
out of his bills, or threatened with exposure amongst
his relations and friends. In other cases, however,
men who have plunged into the vice without thought,
have been able to muster up nerve enough to send for
the police to take the extortioners in charge upon the
demand of a settlement, and under such circumstances
the claimant has rejoiced to get away, and has never
been heard of as a claimant afterwards.
These practices have been carried on to such an
extent within a few years, that many young men who
held respectable situations in public offices and in
mercantile houses in the City have been obliged to
forfeit them in consequence of the annoyances to
which they were subjected by the duns of the gam-
bling-houses for the amount of I 0 U's for money
lost by the means we have already described; shame
alone having prevented them from at once rousing thes,
police from the nightly sleep in which they have been
indulging, while the owners of the flash hells have
been wide awake in this most atrocious work of
rapacity.
There is no part of' the metropolis which the gam-
bling-house keeper and his satellites hold in such
utter abhorrence as the City of London. They de-
clare that a City Alderman (and they more particu-
larly point at Sir Peter Laurie) has no notion of the
duties of a magistrate—that his early education unfits
him for taking an enlarged and liberal and enlightened
view of the refined usages of society—that he is in
truth a century behind the age; and they adduce, as
an instance, the fact that no gambling-house could
ever be established in the City, in consequence of the
absurd and misplaced vigilance of the Civic authorities.
It is 'not in 'the spirit of exaggeration we state that'
there is not a hell-keeper or " bonnet" or " dodger"
at the West-end who would not willingly subscribe to
pay the funeral expenses of the Alderman of Alders-
gate ward, whose image is perpetually haunting their
imaginations, as it was said, to visit the sleeping and
waking thoughts of Coster long before that delinquent
was charged with the offence for which he was removed
from the country. We trust that when any of these
gentry make their appearance in the City, to at-
tempt to extort money, pretended to be won, they
may be handed over to the magistrates for whose qua-
lifications they have so much contempt. Not long
ago a young gentleman of highly respectable family,
who held a situation, producing 1,0001. a year, under
Lord Jersey, the Master of the Horse, was ruined
amongst these hells, and, having become indebted to
some of the proprietors, was absolutely hunted out of
his office, and exposed, and is now wandering an out-
cast about the Continent.
It is well known that several of the men who have
shares in these establishments, and keep expensive
equipages, can neither write nor read, from such low
conditions have they risen to wealth; but they have,
indirectly attached to their interests a well-known
attorney, who is associated with a class of persons
who supply him with ready-made or extemporaneous
evidence, fur the purpose of sanctioning the enforce-
ment of any demands they have the shadow of a right
to make.
The Secretary of State for the Home Department
has been in communication with the Commissioners
of Police upon the subject of effectually putting down
gaming ; and it is rumoured that the Commissioners
have been rebuked for having allowed the Police Act
and the laws against gambling to be so openly and
audaciously violated as they have been within the last
two years, and they have been called upon to state
whether it is requisite to make the laws more stringent
to enable the authorities to check a practice which
has proved so destructive, and so completely paralysed
the moral energies of society.
It is considered a most strange and inexplicable
fact, that in such a country, boasting of an effective
and most powerful police as to physical strength,
public decency and the laws are so fearfully infringed,
while at Paris all the gambling-houses were com-
pletely broken up within forty-eight hours after the
Act passed for their prohibition ; and although ten
years have elapsed since that prohibition, not a single
instance of the transgression of the law has been
heard of.—Sunday Times.

THE COLLIERIES OF THE TYNE.—Arrangements,
as is now pretty well known, have been set on foot for some
time past by the coal owners of this district, to get their pits
again at work. In addition to those already enumerated we
have now to mention Willington, Heaton, Sosfuth, and Cox-
lodge, as having partially resumed operations. We have
been informed that Felling Colliery will commence full work
next week, with an entirely new set of men, unless the turn-
outs should in the meantime accept the conditions offered
by their late employers. If the pitmen should still hold out,
they will in many instances be compelled to quit their dwell-
ings, in order to make room for those who are willing to
accept employment.—Newcastle Advertiser.
LON4SEVITY.—On Thursday, William Milnes, aged
104 years, the oldest pauper on the barony roll and pensioner
on the Old Man's Friend Society, Glasgow, died in that in-
stitution. The deceased was brother to Andrew who is still
alive and hearty in the Old Man's Asylum. He is in his 103 d
year.