The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-19 00:00:00

QUEEN'S BENCH-(THIS DAY.)
THE SPA-FIELDS BURIAL-GROUND.
(Before Lord DENMAN 'nd a Special Jury.)
ItUEEN, AT THE PROSECUTION OF WILIIAM C!;ARLES BIRD, TOM

SillTff. FRANCIS WIZEN, AND OTHERS.
The Solicitor-General appeared as counsel on behalf of the
Crown, and J. B. Wakeling, Esq., of St. John's-square, as solicitor;
Mr. Jarvis, Q C., appeared for the defendants.

The Court was crowded to excess, and the greatest interest was
felt in the proceedings.

The Spa-fields burial.ground is situated in the most populous
part of the parish cf Clerkenwell, abutting upon Exmouth-street,
Cold Bath-square. About four months ago complaints were made
to the Magistrate at Clerkenwell Police-court by Mr. Watt, a
pawnbroker in Exmouth.street, and several most respectable trades-
men, that certain horrible and disgusting practices were carriee on
in the burial-ground. It was stated that human bodies were ex.
homed and burnt, and that the effluvia arising from the putrid
flesh was most prejudicial to the health of the inhabitants. There-
upon Mr. Wakeliug, ve,try-clerk to Clerkenwell parish, came for-
ward to sustain the complaint of the inhabitants, and determined
upon prosecuting the offending parties at his own expense, if the
parish did not do so. The proceedings at the Court appeared in
the newspapers, and the public mind was much exeited by the re-
volting statements. The matter was brought tinder the cogni-
sance of the House of Commons, and the Government at length
came to the resolution of prosecuting the parties, and suppressing
the nuisance.

The jury having been sworn, the indictment, containing nume.
cons counts, was read

The defendants pleaded not guilty.
The Soucrroa-GExtram. stated that this prosecution was insti-
tuted by the Government for the purpose of putting down a sys-
tem, the existence of which in Spa-fields Burial-ground had been
much complained of; but he was happy to say that a proposal had
been made by his Learned Friend Mr. Jarvis, by which the Court
and jury would be saved trouble, and the nuisance effectually abated.
The prosecution was instituted on public grounds, to preserve the
health of the public. The defendants had agreed to plead guilty
to the sixth count of the declaration, which would, he thought,
answer every purpose, inasmuch as the matter would be referred
to the arbitration of a gentleman who would decide la what
manner the ground should be in future conducted. He con-
sented to their pleading guilty on these terms.

Mr. Jeans, Q. C., said he acquiesced in the course mentioned
by the Solicitor-General, and he would plead guilty to the sixth
count, which was as follows. The owners of the burial-ground
had not been aware that any improper practices were carrried on
there, and were desirous of having it properly conducted. The sixth
count was as follows :

"That the said Robert Vinal and the said William Langford, on
the said Ist day of January, in the year of our Lord, 1841, afore..
said, were and from thence hitherto have been, and still are, pos-
sessed of a certain close, situate and being in the parish aforesaid,
in the county aforesaid; and which said close, during the time
aforesaid, had been and was kept and used for the interment and
burial of deceased persons, far the lucre and gain of the said
Robert Vinal and William Langford, in that behalf, and divers, to
wit one thousand deceased persons had, during the time
aforesaid, had been and were interred and buried therein. That
the said Francis Green, Charles Bird, William Green, Tom Smith,
and Stephen Bishop, were, on the said Ist day of January, in
the year of our Lord, 1841, and on divers other days and times,
between that day and the day of the taking of this inquisition,
hired and employed in and about the interment and burial of de-
ceased persons, in the said close, for certain hire and reward to
them, paid in that behalf, whereupon it then and there became
and was the duty of the said Robert Vinal, &c., &a., not to inter
and bury in the said close a greater number of deceased persons
than could be decently interred and buried therein, so that the
bodies and remains of deceased persons theretofore Interred and
buried might not be thereby disturbed. That the said Robert
Vinal, William Longford, &c., &c., not regarding their duty
in that behalf, nor the religion, laws, and customs of this realm,
but contriving and intending to obtain lucre and gain, by interring
and burying in the said close a greater number of deceased persons
than could be decently interred and buried therein, on the Ist day
of January, in the year of the reign aforesaid, and on divers other dsys
and times, between that day and Vie day of the taking of this inquisi-
tion, with force and arms, &c., at the parish aforesaid, in the
county aforesaid, unlawfully, wickedly, and indecently, did dig up
and disinter divers, to wit, 1,000 bodies, full 1,000 remains of
bodies of persons deceased, lately before then respectively interred
and buried in graves, in the said close, in order and for the purpose
of interring and burying in the said lafit-mer.tioned graves, for
lucre and gain to them in that behalf, divers other bodies of de-
ceased persons, to the great indecency of Christian burial, to the
evil example of all others in the like case off.mding, and against
the peace of our said lady tile Queen, her Crown and dignity."
After some furtter discussion, the following decision was agreed
upon

" That the defendants should plead guilty to the 6th count—
that the residue of the indictment should be referred to the deci-
sion of Mr. Brannell, who Is to direct in what manner the burial_
ground is to be in future conducted. Judgment of the Court to
be respited for one year, and if the directions of Mr. Brannell
are complied with, no further proceedings to be taken—no costs
on either side—no arrest of judgment or writ of error. The costs
of arbitration to be paid by the prosecutors and defendants, each a
moiety.

SHERIFFS, COURT.-(THIS DAY
(Before Mr. Under-Sheriff BURCRILL.)
CLARKE V. WILDRORE.

The plaintiff in this action is a hairdresser in Ironmonger.row,
St. Luke's, and the defendant is a medical gentleman in Kensing-
ton-terrace, Bayswater. The action was brought to recover the
sum of 71. 10s., thebalance of an account for rent, work, and labour,
and money laid out for defendant.

The facts of the case were these :—ln August 1841., the
defendant called on plaintiff and asked if he Could accommodate
a lady with a room, who was near her confinement, and was
answered in the affirmitive, and defendant then agreed
that the rent should be 2s. a week till occupied, and 4s. when the
lady took possession. Plaintiff was also desired to hire a nurse,
which he did, The lady, however, did not arrive as expected, and
all was prepared. The defendant, however, called several times,
and one night in December a messenger arrived for Mrs. Clarke, to
whom, on going to Kensington, defendant gave an infant, a day old,
into her charge, and the took it to the nurse at two o'clock in the
morning of the 7th. Plaintiff and his wife acted as sponsors at the
christening and mourners at the funeral, the infant dying in June.
Defendant and a Mrs. Wells, the mother, occasionally called, but
plaintiff was left to pay the expense of the funeral.
On the faith of some notes which had passed it was now con-
tended fur the defendant that he had merely acted as the agent of
Mrs. Wells, and the father of the child, who was a man of family,
named Hudson, residing in Kensington Gravel pits. One letter had
been drawn out by defendant for plaintiff to copy and direct to defend-
ant, abusing both Mrs. Wells and Mr. Hudson, and threatening ex-
posure; but this letter, however, was made to appear as though he
did not hold defendant personally liable, but to frighten Hudson.
There had been another letter containing the terms of agreement,
which had been partially destroyed at the suggestion of defendant.
Mrs. Webb was called with an endeavour to show that she had
agreed with Mrs. Clarke after defendant had called, and had paid
some money. She said she was a widow, and had been so for
twelve months when she bore the child.

Mr. Hudson was also called, and admitted he was father of the
child, and had refused payment.

The jury, without waiting for Counsel's reply, or the Under
Sheriff's summing up, gave a verdict for the full amount.

CRIMINAL COURT.—(THIS DAY.)
OLD COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice Parreson and Mr. Baron PLAIT.)
MURBER.—Daniel .Johncock, 21, a respectable looking young
man, described in the calendar as a waiter, was indicted for the
wilful murder of Hannah Moore.
Mr. Payne appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Parry defended
the prisoner.
From the statement of the Learned Counsel, and from
the evidence adduced, It appeared :—That the prisoner and the
deceased lived together in service; they had been discharged
from that situation, and being unhappy in their minds they deter.
mined to commit suicide. The prisoner bought some oxalic acid,
which he administered to the young woman and also to himself.
That portion which was given to Hannah Moore caused her death,
but the prisoner recovered from the effects of the poison he had
taken ; this being the case, and the prisoner being present at the
time the poison was taken by the deceased, in the eye of the law
he was considered guilty of murder, and hence the present charge.
The clerk of the Lambeth.street Police.court proved the deposi-
tions and statements made by the prisoner.
The landlady of the Coach and Horses beer.shop, Cross-street,
Hatton-garden, proved that the prisoner and the deceased came to
her house on the 26th of May, and wanted a bed, which she ulti.
mately let them have. On the next morning they asked if they
could have the same bed the next night, to which she replied that
they could, and they went away. In the middle of the day the
young woman came home accompanied by the prisoner. She said
she was very ill, and must go to bed. She old so, and on witness
going up the next morning, she saw her lying on the bed dead, and
the prisoner had been taken off to the station.house.
Cross-examined by Mr. PARRY—The young man at the bar
seemed extremely atieched to the deceased, and she appeared to
have great control over him.
Charlotte Davis, a lodger at the Ccach and Horses, corroborated
the evidence of the last witness. When she went into the room
the next day she saw the deceased lying with her face on the
pillow, and on lifting her up she found she was nearly dead. On
lifting her up, she heardia noise in her throat. Witness then
fetched some water and bathed her face, and she breathed several
times. The prisoner fetched a doctor, and appeared most dejected
in his spirits. On the doctor's arriving he said she was dead.
Cross-examined by Mr. PARRY—The prisoner went down upon
his knees on finding the deceased had expired, and cried bitterly.
He appeared almost frantic.
Wm. Everley lodged at the Coach and Horses. Recollected the
night in question. Saw the prisoner take up a pot of hot water to
the room where the deceased was. Witness heard him ask for the
nearest doctor, and he was directed to Leather lane. Witness
went with him ; he ran all the way, and when they got there, they
were told to go to Mr. Pollock, of Hatton-garden ;
the prisoner went there by himself, and witness
went home, and went up into the room in which
deceased was. She was then nearly dead. She died in a minute
or two. When the prisoner returned with Dr. Pollock he asked
if she was dead, and upon being told she was, he threw himself
on the bed in a most frantic manner. He said they had both
taken poison. He then handed several papers to the doctor,
among which was a letter, and two papers marked " Poison.''
The landlord then gave the prisoner in charge of the police, and he
was taken away.
Daniel Humphries, a police-constable, G. 74--Took the prisoner
into custody, who appeared at that time to be in great distress of
mind and very ill in body. When witness told the prisoner he
must go along with him, he replied he would go anywhere with
him. As they were going along, the prisoner, when they came to
Exmouth.street, said, pointing to a chemist's shop, " I bought one
lot there." He then asked witness what he thought they
would do with him. Would they
hang him ? To which
witness replied he did know what would be done , when
the prisoner said, "Oh, dear, what a foolish young man I have
been." While at the station-house he appeared wretched. Wit-
ness received a letter from Mr. Pollock while at the station.house,
which he produced. During the time the prisoner was at the
station.house the stomach-pump
was applied, and he was after.
wards removed to the Free Hospital, where he vomited very much.
Upon witness searching him at the station-house, he found two
pieces of paper in his waistcoat pocket marked " poison," two so-
vereigns, t Jr° half-crowns, two shillings, a sixpence, a fourpanny.
piece, and threepence.halfpenny in copper, a knife, a key, two silk
handkerchiefs, a hand..towel, and a collar.
Cross-examined by Mr. PARRY—The prisoner was so distressed
that he hardly knew what he was talking about.
George Wilkinson, another policeman, after corroborating the
evidence of the last witness, stated that he heard the prisoner say
to Mr. Taylor, the surgeon who attended at the station-house, that
he and the young woman had taken poison ; that she mixed it,
and they both took portions alike. After this Mr. Taylor applied
the stomach-pump.
Inspector Perry said that the prisoner told him that he should
not have known what to have asked for had not the young woman
told him, and her father being a boot-maker, she said if any ques.
tions were asked he was to say it was for cleaning boot-tops.
Mr. Pollock, the surgeon of Hatton-garden, then gave his evi-
dence as to being called in by the prisener to see the deceased. The
prisoner, among other things, told him that he and the deceased had
been walking about in a most melancholy state for some time. That
they had been on Waterloo-bridge, where he had great difficulty in
preventing the deceased from throwing herself over the bridge.
That they then agreed to take poison together, which they did, but
that he had been very sick and brought his up. He said that the
reason they had taken poison was from distress, at being discharged
from their situations at a moment's notice. He said the reason of
their discharge was because he had been seen coming out of her
bed.room. Witness made a post mortar examination of the de-
ceased, and attributed her death to inflammation a the intestines,
particularly the smaller uses, occasioned by poison.
Cross-examined by Mr. Pa trair—Tbe prisoner appeared in great
distress at the death of thconong woman, and said he only re-
petted that he had not diea too.