Star.
London, England, 1830-07-17 00:00:00

POLICE REPORTS.

BOW-STRENT.—SVIIRENDEII or CAPTAIN HILLINAN..-It
must be fresh in the recollection of the public, that about twelve
months ago, a fatal duel was fought between Captain Heisham and
Lieutenant Crowther, of the let Royals, and that the latter unfor-
tunate gentleman received his adversary's ball in the neck, and
instantly expired. Thecircumstances connected with this melancholy
and sanguinary reneontre created a strong sensation at Boulogne,
where the meeting took place. and facts subsequently transpired
which led the friends of the deceased to cause criminal pro-
ceedings to be instituted against Captain Helaham in France, as
we stated at the time ; but, although that individual underwent
the ordeal of two trials under the French laws, he was pro.
nounced Not Guilty on each occasion. Such a result was by no
means satisfactory to the friends of the deceased, who used every
means in their power to induce the authorities of Boulogne
to deliver Captain Hehham up, but without success. An equally
fruitless effort was also made to procure the interference of the
Secretary of State ; and, finally, a brother of the deceased,
a Clergyman, residing in Kent, offered a reward for Captain
Helabam's apprehension. Thus the affair stood until within the
last few days, when information was despatched from Southampton
to the Rev. Mr. Crowther, intimating that Captain Hehham and
his family had arrived in that neighbourhood. As soon as the Rev.
Mr. Crowther was apprised of this fact, he lost not a moment in re-
pairing to Southampton' where he obtained a warrant from one of
the West Magistrates, and placed it for instant execution in the
hands of a constable, who soon afterwards learned that Captain
Helsluun had a short time before started for the molls. To Lon-
don the Rev. Mr. Crowther and the constable followed. They reached
town late on Wednesday afternoon, and on calling at this office to
have warrant backed, to their astonishment found that Captain
Heleham was then in the custody of Birchen, the officer at the
lodgings of the former, No. 7, Norfolk-street, Strand, and that the
Captain had surrendered himself into the hands of justice only
a few hours before. It was then arranged that the parties should
appear the following day, and accordingly, at nine o'clock yester-
day morning, Captain Hehham was brought before Mr. Mrs-
sault.r., who, in consequence of the late King's funeral, sat at that
early hour for the purpose of despatching the public business, in
order that the office might be closed before the hour of Divine Ser-
vice should arrive.

Mr. Smith, solicitor, of Bedford.row, attended for Capt. Helsham,
and Mr. Harmer for the prosecution.
E; The Rev. Mr. Crowther then deposed, that the prisoner was the
same individual who had shot his brother, the late lieut. Crowther,
in a duel, fought at Boulogne; and that, if time were afforded for
the production of witnesses, evidence to establish a complete case
against the prisoner would be adduced on a future day.
Mr. Smith submitted that the magistrate was not warranted in
detaining the prisoner in custody, the affair having occurred in a fo-
reign country beyond his jurisdiction, and the prisoner having been
there tried by the laws of that country for the offence.
Mr. Harmer contended, however, that the magistrates bad juris-
diction in the case under the recent act, known as Lord lansdowne's
Act, passed in the 9th year of the reign of Geo. IV. c. 31, see. 7.
Mr. MININULL said he was not aware of the statute referred to.
Mr. Harmer replied, that it was an act passed for the express pur-
pose of obviating the difficulty now started. The learned gentle-
man then read the following clause :—" And be it further enacted,
that If any of his Majesty's subjects shall be charged in England
with any murder or manslaughter, or with being accessory before
the fact to any murder, or after the fact to any murder or man-
slaughter, the same being respectively committed on land out of the
United Kingdom, whether within the King's dominions or without,
it shall be lawful for any justice of the peace of the county or place
where the person so charged shall be, to take cognizance of the of-
fence so charged, and to proceed therein as if the same had been
committed within the limits of their ordinary jurisdiction." In the
case of Peers there is a similar provision.
Mr. MINSITULL admitted that this Act had escaped his notice,
and observed upon the salutary effects that must result from it. He
thought it could not be made too public, as the impression abroad
was, that British subjects might fight duels in France without fear
of consequences. The magistrate then remanded Captain Helsham
for a fortnight.

DISTRESSING SUICIDE AT PECKHAM.

Yesterday afternoon an inquisition was taken at the Globe Ta.
vern, Peckham, before Mr. Carter, coroner, and a very respectable
jury, en view of the body of Mrs. Diana Bayne, aged 24 years, a
lady of great personal accomplishments, wife of W. B. Baylie,
Esq. who committed self-destruction, emanating from the most dis-
tressing circumstances.
The dreadful affair has produced the greatest excitation and grief
in the minds of the inhabitants, with many of whom the unhappy
deceased was upon intimate terms, and her amiable qualities en.
deared her to all who knew her.
After the jury had been sworn, they proceeded ,into the room
where the body lay in a coffin and shrouded. Upon the lid being
removed, the jury were struck with the placid and youthful appear-
ance of the unfortunate deceased, and many of them who knew her
in her lifetime shed tears, and described her to be a most lovely
young creature. After fulfilling this part of the business they re-
turned to the inquest room, where the following evidence was re-
ceived :

Mary Selwyn exesnined-4 live servant in the family of Mr.
Baylie, residing at Hill-street, Peckham; I saw ber last alive at
about 10 o'clock on Monday night last ; she was then in the par.
lour engaged with Mies Dorrity, a friend. Shortly after Miss Dor.
rity left the house, and my mistress took the candle and went up
stairs, and Aimee Immediately after a double knock came to the
door; it was Mr. O'Conner, my mistress's brother-in-law; I showed
him into the parlour, whilst I went up to inform my misstres of his
arrival; when I entered her bed-room I found my poor lady lying
on the floor with her throat cut, and apparently dead. The rase
with which she did the deed was grasped in her right hand. I
shrieked out, and Mr. O'Connor came up stairs, but on beholding
the corpse, be ran out of the room immediately. I ran for Mr.
Brett, the surgeon, who came in the moment, but his attendance
was of no utility, as she was quite dead.
Juror—The lock bas been forced off by violence, and the panels
splintered, and appears to have been effected by a poker or hammer.
A gentleman present said, that the manner in which the door be-
came in that state would presendybe shown to the jury.
Juror—ln what profession is your master ?
Witness—He is one of the principal clerks in the ordnance de-
partment in the Tower.
Juror—When did your master leave home last ?
Witness—He left home at about eight o'clock on Friday morning
(yesterday week.)
Juror—Did he appear to be in anger with his lady when he left
home? _ _

ss...—He did; and when my master went out, my mistress
followed him in a state of much embarrassment, and I saw them
talking in the fields together.
Juror—How long was she absent from home before she returned ?
Witness—About ten minutes ; and when she came in, she showed
much uneasiness in her mind, cried very much, and said Mr. Baylle
would not give her a positive answer. I advised her to lie down a
bit, which she did.
Mr. O'Conner said that the deceased was of a hasty disposition,
and bad latterly entertained a jealous feeling towards Mr. Balite,
which had caused much acrimony and ill-feeling between them.
He called upon her on Monday night, at about 10 o'clock, when he
had not been in the house a moment before be was alarmed by
the servant, and when he ran up stairs he found the deceased lying
as had been described, with her throat cut and quite dead. With
lEctto the bed-room door being injured, he would ex.
bow It came to be so. Mr. Baylie one evening wished to
to go out, which gave great offence to his unfortunate wife,
and she fron jealousy locked his clothes in the bed.room, to obtain
which he shivered the door open with the poker, which caused the
marks of violence upon it alluded to by the jury.
Coroner—Were you aware of the absence of Mr. Baylis from his
wife ?

Witness—l was, Sir; but be had occasion to be away from home
in order to settle some pecuniary matters. He slept all the time at
the Bricklayers' Arms in the t.road.
Juror—He ought to have corresponded with the ill-fated woman,
at all events.

Witness—He did, Sir; a letter was brought by a messenger
from Mr. Baylie to his wife scarcely a moment after she had de.
stroyed herself.
Juror—Ay, but he cones too late, the deed was done.
(Here the letter was in and read to the Jug by the coro.
use t it was to the following erect t)
44 July 12, 1830.
"My dearest D.—l am resolved not to come home till things
awe settled : how can I, when you are always reflecting and re.
surking upon my conducts but at all events be this as it may, do
not fires moment think of coming to me ; but if you will send but
one kind word back to me, promising not to reflect upon me any
more, I will return home directly.
" My beloved D.
" To Mrs. Baylie, Ns. 3, Hill.street, Peckham."
The witness said the moment he returned down stAits. after seeing
the dead body, the messenger was at the door with the letter.
The CORONES regretted the letter did not arrive • few moments
10011 t?, as, in all probability, its contents would have averted the
object of the deceased.
Mr. Brett, the surgeon, said he had examined the wound in the
throat of th:unhappy woman, and found that the wind pipe wee
completely divided as were also the prindpal veins and arteries on
either side of the direst. Death must have ensued instantaneously.
There being no further evidence, the coroner addressed the Jury,
who returned a verdict " That the deemed lady had cut her throat
in • fit of temporary mental derangement."

~ W. 8.8."