The Sun.
London, England, 1826-09-15 00:00:00

MURDER.

Richard Wells was indicted for having, on the 13th of
June, while driving in a coach drawn by four horses, run
against a gig in which the wife of Henry Farbridge was
dip riding, whereby she was thrown out of the gig and
the wheels of the coach passed over her head. She lingered
until the.sth of July, and then expired.
Mr. ANDiatiVs stated the case. The prisoner, he said,
was the servant of Mr. Waterhonse, of the Swan and Two
Necks, in Lad-lane; he had the character of a steady skilful
coachman, but it was evident, notwithstanding this, that he
was the cause of the death in question ; he was charged in
the indictment with the crime of murder, and onsthe Co-
roner's Inquest with that of
_Manslaughter ; it was for the
Jury to determine whether or not he was guilty of what
the Grand Jury thought proper to present. There was
one circumstance in favour of the prisoner, that he had sur-
rendered himself spontaneously for trial. He then called
the following witnesses :•••-•
Henry Farbridge was, on the night of the 30th of June,
driving in a one-horse chaise, having his wife on one side,
and his mother and a child sitting on a stool. He set mit
from Barnet at nine o'clock in the afternoon towards Lou
don. When he came to Barnet Church, be heard the
sound of a horn, and the noise of a coach behind him ; he
then made towards his own side of the road ; he came
within three feet of the foot path ; there was sufficient
room for a large' waggon to pass the other side, and, on
looking behind, he saw the so near his wheel, that it
was impossible for them to puss him ; he looked to• see if
the coachman was pulling up, and observing lie was not,
he endeavoured to get nearer to the near side, and imme-
diately the hind-wheel of the mail-coach struck against his
gig ; his wife was thrown between the two wheels of the
mail-coach, and he himself thrown under the hind wheel of
the coach. It then stopped, and he found his wife apparently
dead; he had not power to raise her • he. said to the coach-
man, " Yon villain, you have been her;
cause
of this; pri-
soner replied, " It was no fault Of mine; I blew the horn,
"
and you ought to get out of the way." The prisoner then
said, " That there was no room to pass ;" witness said,
" There was always room for another coach; there.were
at that time six or seven feet to spare for the mail to
pass ;" he measured it since, and found it to be so ; his
wife was then taken to a house, and witness asked the
coachman foi• his address, which, after considerable reluc-
tance, prisoner gave; it was on level ground, and witness
was driving at the rate of seven or eight miles an hour,. it
was as light as day ; his wife was brought home after hav-
ing remained there eleven days, and died.
Cross-examined by Mr. Bnobtatot—He had taken a
little Wine and water, and some ,ale, previous to his start-
ing froM Barnet; 'urgeon Morris attended his wife at
Barnet, who said that it was dangerous to remove his wife
home, but said she would die, and that she might as well
die at home as at Barnet.

John Robinson, a farl6r at Barnet, was walking from
market on the evening in question; saw the mail strike
the gig, he was behind; saw the woman almost imme-
diately under the wheel of the coach; the coachman had
made no effort to stop the coach previous to the mail
striking the gig. Witness knew that the mail would
strike the gig, from the line it war going in ; there was
plenty of room for the mail to pass without coming aril, inst
the gig; could not swear that he had heard the horn ;
the prosecutor was very near his proper side at the time.
Cross-examined by Mr. BnonEatcK—The mail stopped
directly the accident happened; he went to stop the gig
horse, and could
lying, vat see in what position the woman was

Siirgeon Morris examined by Mr. ANDREWS—Attended
the deceased after the accident; there were three fractures
in her lower jaw, the collar-bone broken ; she had diffi.
culty of breathing ; was sensible, but could not speak ; he
attended her after she had been brought to London ; she
died on the sth of July of inflammation in the lungs, pro-
duced by external bruises on the chest.

Cross-examined by Mr. BRODERICIC—The inflamma-
tion commenced at the time of the injury; did not ima-
gine that there was any danger in removing her, as her
case was desperate, and there was no prospect of her re-

covert'.
This was the ease for the prosecution.
The prisoner being railed on for his defence, said, thai

he (lid all that was in his Tower to avoid, the accident, and
that he was by no means in fault.
Mr. Farbridge was again called by. Mr. BRODERICK—
Was not aware that on hearing the horn he had pulled a
little to the right ; had considerable experience in driving.
George Christopher. Hudson, a post-master at Barnet,
saw the prosecutor driving lit the gig on the day in ques-
tion. Thought he drove like a person unaccustomed to
driving.
Cross-examined by Mr. ANDREWS—The road was '24
feet wide at the place where the accident occurred.
By Mr. BuomiticK—Knew the prisoner thirty years—
had always the character of a good coachman.
Edward Bans was' guard to the mail on the night in
question. On seeing the gig, he blew the horn, and the
coachman hallowed—the four horses and the fore wheels
of the Mail passed the gig, and stopped a minute. The
hotses gibed back, and the step struck the gig—where
the leaders and the splinter-bar pass, they consider that the
entire coach will pass.
Cross-examined by Mr. ANDREWS—The step was down
when the accident occurred. The cause of the accident
was the chaise coming against the mail ; did not believe
that there were six feet beyond the mail, but thought
there were three • the mail should have passed, were it not
for the backing Of the gig.; witness did not appear at the
Coroner's Inquest, not being summoned ; the time allowed
to the coach from South Mims to London (a distance of
15 miles) was one hour and 45 minutes.
Elizabeth King witnessed the accident from her own
door, a distance of ten yards; saw Mr. Farbridge on the
wrong side of the road before the horn blew, and then
crossing to the right side, and pulling the wrong rein; it
was the pulling of the wrong rein that caused the acci-
dent; the deceased was removed td witness's house, and
was getting better when she was removed.
Cross-examined by Mr. ANDREWS.--She heard Mr.'
Jarvis cry out to Mr. Farbridge to come to his own side
of the road; meant to swear that the prosecutor had been
on the wrong side of the road; no person applied to her
before yesterday to give evidence ; it was at Mr. Hurmer's
solicitation that she appeared.
Sophia Betty lived exactly opposite where the accident
happened; was standing in the window when she heard
the horn; she saw the gig as much on the right side as it
could be, as there was an iron,railing which separated the
Church-yard from the road; when the horses and the fore
wheels of the mail had passed the gig, the gig drew back,
and came in contact with the hind wheels ; if it had gone
on straight, nothing could have occurred; she attributed
the accident to the unskillfulness of Mr. Farbridge.
Cross-examined by Mr. ANDREWS—Mr. Farbridge was
on his own side of the road all along.
James Clarke witnessed the accident, was about thirty
yards off at the time; when the horses and the front of the
mail had passed the gig, Mr. Farbridge pulled the wrong
rein, and put the gig back on the mail.
By Mr. ANDREWS—If the gig would have gone straight
forward, the mail would have passed within a foot of it;
there was not a yard to the right of the mail at the time.
John Clay came up after the accident ; there was only
the length of his foot between the fore wheel of the pail
and the post; the road was 22 feet wide only, in that
place.
By Mr. ANDREWS—Three carriages could pass a-breast
on the road; Mr. Farbridge was in the middle at the time;
did not know any thing about Mr. Farbridge, he was by
all accounts, blowing the coachman up. Several witnesses
gave the prisoner a good character.
Mr. Justice LITTLEDALE in summing up, observed, that
there were not sufficient grounds to charge the pritioner
with murder, as it did not appear that the accident had
arisen from wanton or furious driving; but if the Jury were
of opinion that it was caused by the carelessness or- negli-
gence of the prisoner, they would find him guilty of Man-
slaughter; or if they thought it was the result of pure acci-
dent, they would acquit him. The evidence was so con-
tradictory, that it was difficult to come to a satisfactory
conclusion.

The Jury having deliberated for a few minutes, brought
a verdict of—Not Guilty.

ANOTHER MURDER.

Isaac Bateman, aged 36, was indicted for the wilful
nmrder of Sarah Bateman, his wife, by kicking and beat-
ing her.
Mary Hughes examined by Mr. Justice GAZICLEK—
Knee; the prisoner and his wife, they lived at the Old
Greyhound public-house, in Fulham, within 150 yards of
witness's residence; nobody lived in the house with them;
prisoner was a labourer in the market-gardens ; his wife
worked along, with him ; at twelve o'clock at night wit-
ness heard a violent noise, like the breaking of crockery ; she
supposed that it• came from the Old Greyhound, in
consequence of which, she went to about twelve yards
of the prisoner's house, and heard a groan. She went to
the house, and met the prisoner at the door. She said, I
say Bateman, you have murdered your wife, you thief, you
have murdered your wife; three times she said so—He said
no, he had not hurt her. Witness alarmed the neighbour-
hood,und cried out murder—He said she was not m urdered, it
was only gin or gin and water she wanted, and water he
would give her—he went to the pump in the yard, and
in his hand--she saw him no more—the pan
took a pan
was found in a ditch afterwards—she stopped there about
ten minutes, the neighbours collected in consequence of her
screaming. . . . _

Sever;il persons went in ; witness remained outside, and
saw the deceased in the lower room, while the women
were washing her; witness went home and staid there
until her brother came with the doctor; she returned with
the doctor, who desired that the deceased should be taken
up stairs,and stripped,and put to bed; the doctor examined
her, and asked if she had been guilty with any person.
f!. Justice GASELEL—I must not hear that.

She did not know how the parties lived together.
Cross-examined. by Mr. BRODERICK—The evening was
dark, and there were no lamps, but she could see the face
of the prisoner.
Johu Bowling, lives in Hammersmith ; on the 31st
of July, they sent for him to his own house; saw the de-
ceased on Tuesday morning, about ten o'clock, her face
was very much bruised, her left eye black, and nearly closed,
there was a cut over the right eye, and another on the side
of her head; she complained of a good deal of pain all over
the belly, and all round the heart, and upon examination,
he found it to be a case of danger, us there was a rupture
of the bladder, be. thought there was almost a certainty of
its being fatal; the deceased, on being , informed of the
rupture,.. said, that she thought there was great
pain, and that she should not be here long. Witness
was not quite certain at that time that it would prove
fatal ; thought it very dangerous, but not hopeless; de-
ceased, in his opinion, considered'hersdf in danger of death;
it turned out in point of fact that the bladder was ruptured.
CrOss-examined hy, Mr... Baotmittex.r—Said nothing
more about the bladder, than, " I think your bladder is
ruptured."
Mr. JustieeGAZELEE.—The wounds which he described
were by a bludgeon ; thought the cut on the bead had
been from a fall; the ruptureof the bladder was occasioned
she was taken to • St. George's Hospi-
btayi some
o Tuesdays violence;
at his recommendation.
Mr, TIRODE.RICK...,A fall or any violence would
cause a nipture,. if the bladder was much distended : fall-
ing upon a chair or is tub .would do it; the habit of in-
toxication produces aweakness that facilitates a rupture.
The Verdict was not given when we went to Press.
NEW COURT.
lif,aothe;ll,sootfz.
William
ntrifhonwere e s
t indictedof
Sept.for
(Before the COMMON. SERGEANT.)
Winter—He was in Water-lane on Ist Sep_
tsetemNiallti leritligir,igaafllWaS accosted by Margaret Johnson, who said
tru him
that she and the other prisoner, who was with
nothing to do. Witness then took them intoa houseand
brave them
Johnson in
„
ret
After they came our, Mary Smith laid Bold
of his arm,
and ' A
his watch from him. hold im. He took
of them, and kept
them till a watchman came up.
William Serivens Raw the preee(l* Ing witness and the
taript of
porter.ek
on the breast, and pulled

two prisoners bustling; Mr. Winter luotholti of the pri-
soners, and kept them till the watchman eatne up.
George Ferry, watchman, saw Mr. Winter seize the
prisoners by their wrists ; he gave them to witness in charge.
Mr. Winter was in liijuor.
The prisoners stated in defence, that on coming out of
the how Winter said that he had lost his watch, but
they dc*cd having taken it. They ,were found Guilty.
Thoras Dalton was tried on a charge of stealing on the
25th of August, 1,800 pounds weight of wool, of the value
of 1001.; and 1,800 pounds weight of drugs, valued at 26/.
the property of John Cooper and Joseph Sprott ; but
the charge not having been proved, he was found Kat
_

Joan Welsh was indicted for stealing from the person of
Cornelius Fay, a bag and 3/. 10s. on 25th August.
Cornelius Fay—Was in a public-house on the morning
of the day in question ; he was drunk the night before ;
the prisoner was in the same room ; witness fell asleep,
and when he awoke, the waiter told him that the prisoner
was feeling his pockets; witness then put his hand into
his pocket, and missed thenioney ; he immediately charged
the prisoner with stealing it ; prisoner produced 3/. 10e.,
and 2s. 6d. and said that the 31. 10s. was all he had of
witness's money, and that the 2s. 6d. was his own.
Cross-examined by Mr. PHILLIPS—He was nat drink-
ing with prisoner in the morning; took two glasses of gin
to bring him round.
[Fay delivered his testimony in a very flippant manner.]
The waiter deposed that Fay and the prisoner had come
into the house on the morning in question arm in arm.
One of them was tipsy; is not sure which. Saw the pri-
soner put his hand into Fay's pocket, and upon 'witness's'
observing it, the prisoner withdrew his hand. He saw
prisoner do the same a few minutes afterwards, and he
aroused Fay, and mentioned the circumstance to him.
Fay then examined his pocket, and said that he had lost
1.71., and charged prisoner with having stolen it. Prisoner
then produced 31. 10s. and 2s. 6d., and said that the
3/. 10s. was all he had of Fay's money, and that the 2s. 6d.
was his own.
William Allan concurred in Waiter's testimony.
The constable who took the prisoner in charge said that
he was tipsy.

The prisoner stated in defence, thut he met Fay on the
morning in question, and requested witness to go in and
take a glass of gin with him. Witness did so, and
Fay produced a bag containing some money. Witness
denied having stolen any of it.
A number of respectable men, who had known the
prisoner intimately, for 12 and 20 years, gave him the most
unexceptionable character.

The Jury, after a short consultation, found him Not

Fay requested the Judge to allow him his expenees, hut
was refused.

Thomas Hughes was indicted for stealing on the 16th
August last one sovereign belonging to Mr. Edward Lon-
don Rodick.
.Verdict—G;i/ty,but recommended to mercy.

FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS.---Her Royal Highness the
Duchess of Kent and the Princesses, are still with us.
The late rains have prevented the party riding out,
except in close carriages.
Her Royal Highness's visit here is strictly privlte.
Her Royal Highness is expected to leave us on the
29th instant.

On Saturday last, a disgusting exhibition was made
here by two girls and a man walking on stilts; to
the credit of the place we have to state, they met with
little encouragement.

BaIGHTOX) SEPT. 13.—The Duke of. Rutland,
accompanied by Mrs. Beanclerk and Colonel Trench,
M.P., arrived at the Royal York Hotel yesterday,
where they dined ; and set off in the evening, toking
with them the young Marquis of Granby, who was
at school here, to St. Leonard's Lodge, near Horsham.
The Hon. Col. Cavendish has taken 23, Bruns-
wick-terrace, fur the season.

Sir Itobert and Lady Arbuthnot are among our
arrivals.

The Earl of Aberdeen, arrived on Saturday ; his
Lordship occhies Regency-house.
Miss Wykeham is residing at 53, Regency square ;
Lord Montague occupies 68, Marine-parade ; Lady
Walsingham a house 'ln Regency-square.