The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-24 00:00:00

MIDLAND RAILWAY ACCIDENT.
SIIEFFIELD WEDNESDAY.—At the Town-hall yesterday
afternoon, before Wilson Overend, Esq., Thomas Wheatley,
one of the engine drivers en the 'entitled Railway, was
charged under 13th section of Lerd Seymour's Act, 3 and 4
Victoria, c. 97, with having negligently driven his engine
into the mail train, near the Barnsley station, on Monday
morning, and thus endangered the lives of the passengers and
the safety of the carriages.
Mr. Henry Vickers appeared on behalf of the Company,
and Mr. Palfreyman d. fended the prisoner. -.
In opening the case. Mr. Vickers said, I am instructed by
the Di ectors of the Midland Company to prefer a charge
against Thomas Wheatley, engine driver, for having on Mon-
day morning last, the 20t II inst., about four o'clock, or be tween
four and five, negligently driven his engine, called a pilot
erigine, and run into the mail train, which he was going to
overtake, at the parish of Royston, near Barnsley; and also
with having endangered the lives of the passengers and injured
the carriages of that train. The short history of the facts is this :
—The mail-train from Lond,el to Leeds had reached Darfield
and Wath about haf-past flair or five on Monday morning,
when it was found that the engine was lamed from the
breaking of one of the pistons. The lameness caused a
stoppage of the train. At this time a goods train, on the
opposite rails, was going towards Derby, and instructions
were given to the parties in charge of that train to send a
pilot engine from Normanton to follow the mall train, and to
take it on to Leeds. After these instructions had been given,
the engineof the mail trait: was enabled to work with ()beside
or piston, and togoslonrlytowerds Leeds, reaching the Barns-
ley station, where instructions were left with the persons on
duty relative to the pilot engine. A short time elapsed be-
tween the departure of the mail train and the arrival of the
pilot engine at the Barnsley station. However, the pilot
arrived, and not finding the mail train at Darfield and W ath,
instruction was given to the prisoner that the red lights of
the mail train had been watched till they disappeared.
Those lights . were visible from a position in front of
the Barnsley station,. and remained visible for a mile
or a mile and a half. Wheatley then proceeded—
and I shell show, by two of the guards of the mail
train, that the defendant's engine approached rapidly ;
and while the mail train was going at the rate of about
eight miles an hour, the pilot engine ran into it with great
violence. The engine of the mail train was detached; the
second carriage much injured ; two men connected with
the Leeds police force were much hurt ; Mr. Commissioner
Boteler had both his legs broken—and several other pariies
more or less injured. The question, I apprehend, will be,
how far the man has discharged his duty cautiously or in-
cautiously, in apprea hing the mail train. The Mieland
Company have no vindictive feeling in the matter; and as I
am instructed by Sir Isaac Morley, who is present, ate only
anxious that the matter should be investigated, and the truth
come out.
Mr. Palfieyman said that if the Company proceeded
under the clause quoted by Mr. Vickers, he might put them
in jeopardy, but he should not take that advantage,
although the man had been taken to Derby on the day
before without any warrant. He was only anxious fur a
fair investigation, notwithstanding the constable had acted
illegally. .
The following witnesses were then examined.
John Porter, -sworn.—l am a railway guard to the Mid-
land. and was guard of the train that arrived at Masborough
at four a.m. At the north of Masborough something betel
the train between Wath and Darfield.. The engine fell
lame, and we were detained 23 minutes. A goo. s train came
in an opposite directi, ii, and I sent instructions for the pilot
engine to follow us free h. We went on without
the pilot. After being detained 20 minutes we went slowly
on to Barnsley, where we took in water. We had instruc-
tions there as to the pilot engine, and left soon afterwards.
We had three red lights, in a triangular fOrm, and side lights,
and one at the tail, in good condition, and turning. We
left about five o'clock. A person named. Blackmore was
with-me as guard. vee had proceeded at an average speed
of eight or ten miles an hour fom Barnsley, when
the pilot -engine ran into us about a mile and
a half north of Barnsley. I aas in the break car-
riage in front. The concussion .detached our couplings
of the engine. I got off alter the shock, and found the
hind carriages raised off the line. Oar train consisted of nine
carriages. The pilot engine ran under the buffer of the last
carriage and raised it up. Next to oer tender was my
break, then a parcel van, then two second- class carriages, then
two first-class carriages, six and seven, Post-office and tender;
, ighth, a first-class, and the ninth, a second-class carriage.
I found the second-class carriage driven into the hinder com-
partment of No. 8, and the carriage broken. The Post-office
tender was broken also. I saw my fellow-guard (Black-
more) picking up Wheatley, the prisoner, off the line. The
pilot- engine eas jammed underneath the second-class car-
POLICE INTELLIGENCE. wage. Wheatley was thrown off the engine, and very much
HAMMERSM I 711. stunned by the fall. I saw Mr. Botelar (commissioner of
bankruptcy), who was much injured. He was a passenger
Maria Elizabeth Thomas, a vindictive-looking young by the train, and I have seas been at Derby. Both his
woman, short in stature, who has during the last four or five legs veers broken. and one has been amputated. Another
years been repeatedly committed from this Court fur mis-
tentleman, Mr. Stubbs, of the Leeds police, and also Mr.
conduct in the Hammersmith workhouse, and has been three Childs, times committed to prison for assaults upon inmates of the of the same force, were hurt. It was a tine morning,
Kensington workhouse, was charged before Mr. T. Paynter, with a strong wind, but not foggy.
Cross-examined by Mr. Pa.freyman.—l_ have known
the sitting magistrate, with having assaulted Sarah Lection,
Wheatley for tome time. Did not know him on the Leeds
another inmate of the Kensington workhouse, and threat-
tined her life. and Selby; perhaps, about three years on the Midland line.
Sarah Lection, a remarkably respectable and decently- Between-Wath and Darfield we sent for the pilot. Spoketo Haslam. It was Biackmoor's duty to wave the flag or
dressed female, nearly six feet high, aid apparently between show the light in case of any accident having occured on the
seventy and eighty years of age, deposed that she and the line. If any- accident occurs we are ordered to go back, prisoner were both inmates in the Kensington workhouse.
[Mr. Palfi•eyman bete said, that in ca,e of any accident
Witness went that morning to a cupboard, in which she kept occurring, the guard should go back for half a mile, and
her tea-things, and with which the prisoner had nothing to
prevent ce her trains from coming on.]
do, when the prisoner flew at her and beat her most severely Witness continued.—l could see the white lights—the
about the head, until it was a mass of bruiees,
signal lights behind. The white light is the signal to go on,
By Mr. PAYNTER—The prisoner had before assaulted wit- the green to go slowly, and the red to atop, and any light
Hess, some months since, by dashing the door of a cupboard waved violently to stop.
against witness's head, when she threatened in the Court to
.j seph Sunter, driver of the mail train, said—l went down
have her revenge of witness.
on Monday at five o'clock. An accident caused a stoppage,
The prisoner—And I'll do SO still, if it is six months to
and instructions were given as to the pilot engine. We
come.
stopped W 22 inutes. We e at e
Mr. PAYNTER—Your violent conduct is likely to keep you for ortnear time.-ath I gavem instructions tosto thepe4watchman on in prison the best part of that time. The prisoner—l don't duty as to the pilot -engine that was following. We were
care. I'll have my revenge.
going from six to eight miles an hour. Tee wind had great
Mr. PAYNTER then referred to the minutes of the Court,
effect upon us; it came in heavy gusts. About a mile and a
and found that on the former occasion the prisoner had been half from Barnsley an accident happened, when we were
fined 40s. or a month's imprisonment, on the 17th of July geing aboutsix or eight miles en hour. I felt the concus-
last, which she had undergone, and said he should on the pre- sion and it detached the engine from our train. We found
sent occasion commit her for twenty-one days, with hard
the pilot engine had run into our train.
lab Our in the House of Corection, for misconduct in the Cross-examined—l have been a driver for eight or nine
workhouse, and the next time she was brought before him, five
f
years, and on this line or or six mat] a Know nothing
he would send her to six weeks' hard labour.l -
against the character of the prisoner hefitie ties occurrence.
The prisoner said, "Never mind, I'll yet have my revenge Sent word for the pilot engine by a man named Porter.
of her, if it is twenty years to come."
When the accident happened the prisons might have as-
Mr. PAYNTER said, after that threat, she must, at the ex- sited, but I did net see him.
piration of her imprisonment, find two sureties in 10/. each to Isaac Blackniore said—l live at Derby, and am a guard of
keep the peace for two months. Notwithstanding which, the Midland mail train. Was so en the killdeer morning. I
The prisoner, as she was removed from the bar, cast a was the hind guard, We proceeded to the Barnsley station
malignant look at the complainant, and said, in a cool de-
termined tone, "Never mind, l'll serve the old b— out when with
as to the pilot engine. I was on the last carriage of
I come out, for all that; mind, I don't say I'll murder her— the train, with my back to the engine and face to the Barns -
but I'll have may revenge."
ley station. We had three red lights when we left there, all
John Dempsey, swell-known
THMES. "
duffer," was brought before burning and in gold condition. I could see the side lamps,
but the tail lamp was underneath me. We were going
Mr. Ballantine on Thursday, on remand, charged, under very slowly, and afterwards about ten miles an hour ; perhaps
extraordinary circumstances, with unlawfully, and by means from six to ten altogether. I kept a look-out for the pilot-
of a false pretence, obtaining a silVer watch, valued at 51, engine, and saw its light from the fore box. When I first saw
from Thomas Strutt, the mate of the brig Mary, lying in the it, I took my light out,
T and placed it by my side, and turned
Ste Khe athariee Docks. the green light to the pilot-engine. Green is the signal to go
case excited very great interest, arising from the fact slowly. The pilot-engine still app welled us, and whet, it
that the prisoner falsely accused three seamen belonging to was 30 or 40 yards oft; I heard the steam beating against the
the Leo. of South Shields, with robbing him of a silver watch chinniev, showing that the steam was still on. I teen jumped
on the 18th of last month. After two days investigation, on to the top of the carriage, and holding on with one hand,
before Mr. Broderip on the first tray, and kr. Ballantine on and holding the green light out with the other. The pilot
the second, the ineocence of the seamen was clearly estab- was half a mile off when 1 first saw it. Its speed did not
fished; and it was proved that Dempsey bad disposed of to dintinisle and I saw no person on the pilot engine. When
one of them a worthless watch, called a " duffer," for which the concussion took place it bounced me into the air, and I
he obtained a good silver watch and 30s. in money. When tell on the carriege again ;on getting down, the first thine I
he came to the ship a second time he attempted a similar saw was Wheatley, the prig ner, on the line, stunned, and I
imposition upon aeother seaman, who refused to part with picked him up, but he could not stand. I slid, "Tor goodness
the watch handed to him by the prisoner until his shipmate's sake, how cane you to run into us in this way? Did you
watch was restored, and Dempsey then charged the three not see the lamp?" and he said "No—ldid not see anything,
seamen with a robbery.
The MAGISTRATES reprobated in strong terms the con-
neither train nor lamps." The train was at a dead stop, -and
I was to go a-head with the red signal, and a gentleman went
duct of Dempsey; and several police and dock officers said to the rear; I stopped the next train that was coming on the
that Dempsey had frequently sold " duffers" to seamen other line.
and others, that he (had been in custody several times for Cross-examined—The head guard sent back from Wath
fraud, and that he had been forbidden to enter any of the Ay s.
to eittsuoroueh ; at Watla went back with a red light. I saw
docks. Since then numerous complaints had been made of nothing of the pilot engine after we left Barnsley. There
the same person, and of another man named Thompsen, alias was no one left at Wath to tell about the pilot engine coming.
M'Bean, who has been expelled the docks, arid who has fee- I had not touched the lamp when I saw the trail coining on.
quently acted in concert with Dempsey. Watches sold by In the hurry of getting out the lamp the prisoner might have
the two fellows for 51. and 7/. each have been produced in seen the white light.
court of a very showy appearance, but only worth about as Re-examined—The accident happened at Royston parish.
many shillings as pourds have been given for them. The William Haslam—l live at Cudworth, near the Barnsley
anxiety of masters, mates, and seamen to possess very smart- station. lam watchman at Barnsley, and certain orders
looking watches on their return from a voyoge renders them were left with me as to the rilot engine. I saw the train
an easy prey to the tricks of the duffers, who abound on the start, and it had gone about 20 minutes when the pilot en-
river and in the docks. gine arrived. I watched the mail train till it was
Several officers knew the prisoner to be a regular duffer. out of sight. I could see the red lights for about a
Mr. W. T. Middleton, a very respectable watchmaker, re- mile and a half. Tire driver of the pilot was Thomas
siding in the Commercial-road, was sent for by the magis- Wheatley, the prisoner. I spoke to Wheatley, and gave
trate, and he deposed that the sailor's watch was a good him instructions. He asked me how long they had been
sound watch, capped and jewelled, and if he had given 41. 10e,
gone, meaning the mail train, and I told him that the
- for it he had not given too much. The other watch was red lights had just got out of my sight, and that they
what was called by the trade a " duffer," made for sight and
were going very slowly up the embankment. After that,
not for use. He could sell such a watch for 305., and obtain Wheatley proceeded with his engine. I saw a white light
a good profit by it. The " duffer" had no chronometer ba- soon after the pilot engine got past the crossing. I thought
lance.
it was at the mail train, and soon after that, I heard a crash.
. Mr. BALLANTINE thanked the witness for his opinion, and The lamps are very deceiving in the night, from the re-
said he must further trouble him to attend the Old Bailg. Hectors that are in them.
He should commit the prisoner for trial for the fraud. e This closed the case against the prisoner."
would take bail for the prisoner's appearance at the sessions Mr. Overend said it was quite clear that an accident had
if he could obtain it, himself in 80/., and two securities of 40/. occurred, and that every precaution had been taken.
each, but he would have good bail, and, if tendered, it must Mr. Palfrevinan said Out his client was as anxious as any
be inquired into, and notice given to Sergeant White of the one to have the case clearly investigated.
City police; he would take care the bail was not so artificial Mr. Vickers said that he was instructed to say that the
as the watch belonging to the prisoner.—(Laughter.) prisoner was a clever, intelligent, and steady man; and up
Dempsey was committed in default of sureties.
GREEN 11 ' ICH. to the present flute the Company had no fault to find with
ArreaurrEn MURDER.—Charlotte M him.
ackey, a married
woman, Mr: Palfreyman said his client had been apprenticed to
about 30 years of age, was brought up for final Mr. Peter Clarke, and had since been employed on the Mid-
examination, charged with stabbing her husband in the face land for three years.
with a knife.
• John Mackey, an elderly a an, husband ee the prisoner, Witness recalled—l watched the red lights go out of my
eight, and then I saw a white light, and in a very little time
appeared in the witness-box with his head bound up, and
his left cheek covered with strapping. The poor fellow, afterwards, perhaps a few minutee, I saw the white light.
When I heard the shock I ceuld not see any lights. By day-
from the injuries inflicted, gave his evidence with great dif-
ficulty, light I could see the place where the accident happened. I
The prisoner was accommodated with a chair in the dock
can see a white light further than I can see a red one. We
can see by daylight for about two miles.
and sobbed aloud during the examination. For the pri oiler :
John Mackey, on being sworn, said that he lived at No. Wm. Walker said, lam steker of the pilot engine. I went
, 19,New-street, Deptford. He had been married to the pri- with Wheatley. Our engine had a white light in front. We
soner five years. She had borne him no children. ,About started from Masborough about half-paet four. I was called
half-past ere o'clock on Wednesday, the 15th instant, they up after the news came. We went toff Wath, about 20
were sitting dowerto dimmer, during which a few words en- 'Ales an hour. There was no red light at Wath, and we
sued- The prisoner said she should go out. He did not went very carefully towards Barnsley. We saw a light
know where she intended -to go. He persuaded her to ree there, and the watchman said the train had just gone. We
main at home, and not leave the house. She had been drink- were nearly at a stand, and tee watchman walked by the
ing previously to his coming home to dinner. The prisoner side of us. We saw no red light, but we did see a. white
made no reply to his request, and immediately afterwards one. Our filet impression was that it was the guard who had
jumped up, and seizing hold of a knife which lay on the
table, cut him dot: n the cheek with it without a single ,
got off and was coming towards us. We then went further
and saw two red lights, when Wheatley immediately shut off
word. The knife passed through his left cheek into his :
mouth. Witness said nothing, and put up his hand to stop ; his steam. I put the break on. Wheatley reversed the en-
gine and put the steam back way; then the collision took
the effusion of blood, not knowing the extent of the injury ,
Inflicted. The knife was taken from the prisoner by his land- . place. We were two or three carriages off the train when
lord directly afterwards. we first saw the red lights of the train. When we stopped
and examined the engine the steam wait not on,
Ralph krewby deposed that the prosecutor au4 biz wif 1 Cross-opubsed—d- leaped eff the tinder about 10 or