Star.
London, England, 1831-04-08 00:00:00

DREADFUL SCENE Ar STAMFORD.

From the Stamford Champion of Tuesday.
A circumstance has just taken place in our peaceful borough of the
most painful nature, but which our duty as public journalists compels
us to detail. A man of the name of Jackson occupied a house on the
waste, which had been erected by Mr. Francis Butt. He bad, it ap.
pears. been served with a notice to quit, raid was in arrear of rent. As
this man load voted at the last election against the nominees of the
Mae-
quite of Exeter, it was generally stated, and he himself professed to be-
lieve, that he was to be turned out for in doing; this, however, his
landlord distinctly denies. On his non-payment of rent and refusal to
quit, Chwke, the sheriff". ()Sher, and an assistant, were sent to distrain
his goods. His wile applied to Mr. likaaley, and Mr. Beasley agreed
to advarce the money on goods being left in his custody, to be reties toed
when convenient. While these matters vete going on, the husband
had come home, and being infuriated at the presence of the officer's as.
sistant, be forcibly turned him out of the house, and thrust his warrant
into the fire. Afterwards, it appears that the unfortunate man, in his
wrath or revenge, ptocceeled to break up the doors, and otherwise els-
mage the prenoises. Mr. Butt baring been informed of tins, obtained
from the magistrates another warrant against hint, which was intrusted
to Blades and Samson, the constables, to execute. Having this wartant,
Blades saw the man, and directed him to attend at the Town-hall last
Thursday, at a particular hour. He did so attend, accompanied by
his wife, hut there were neither accuser, msgistrates, constables, nor
any other person to receive him. After waiting some time he walked
away. On Saturday Blades met him, and asked him why
he had not attended the hall at the time specific& He replied that be
had. Blades then took him before the mayor, at his worship's private
residence, who questioned him as to his conduct, to which question it is
said he mourned insolent smitten. His worship ordered him to be taken
to the watchhouse, end to be brought up to the hall on Monday. He
replied, thne as be lived in the town, and they knew where to find him,
he would not go to the watchhouse to be detained all Sunday and two
nights. The mayor was inflexible, and ordered Blades and Stimaon to
take him to the watchhouse. The party with their prisoner then went
out, and it appears Janie. Askew, eldest sou of the mayor, armed him-
sell' with a formidable baton, having a brass ferrule at the end, and ac-
companied them. When at the corner of the High-street, the prisoner
made au attempt to run off towards his own house ; the constables fol.
lowed, and young Askew fist came up with him, and seized him by the
neck. The prisoner, to disengage himself from the gripe, violently
kicked and plunged, and then James Askew, as it is stated by an eyes
witness, struck at him with the heavy brass end of the baton, on the
hack part of the head, inflicting a very lac to wound, and pettetrating
through the skull. The man dropped, and his blood flowed in totrelets
around. Young Askew and the rest dragged him bleeding in alb
state to the satchhouse, a distance of about four hundred yards:
When in the watchhouse he was insensible and in strong convulaiote,
six men could hardly hold him. In this state it was proposed to
lan bon, when Mr. Buesley, who was parochial constable, serving
in hie own ript tor that evening, insisted upon his being taken
to his house in the fly, which was done on the certificate of Mr.
Burdett, the surgeon, who, with 31r. Marreileux, and Mr. Whitby,
had been called in to attend him. These gentlemen caused his head
to be shaved, bandaged the wound, and bled him very copiously.
Dm tug the whole of the night and most of Sunday be eontittuW insets.
Bible ; in the evening he was something better, and could reply to
ques.ions. and on !Sunday he remained in the same state.
While bleeding a:11 inscusible in the watch-house his wife rushed in,
and her cries were heart-rending. He is murdered—he is murdered
—what shall Ido toe my chlldrer.l" were her chief tee/Amadeus.
These; cries were hollowed by demands that' the murderer" should be
taken into custody. A crowd was soon collected, who besieged the
Mayor's door, and demanded that James Askew should be given up to
tl.tni. Mr. liiebardson, of the Crown and Woolpaek, obtained ad-
mission, with Reed, the town serjeant, and on stating the object of
their visit, and the dangerous condition of the wounded man, the Mayor
asked whether bail could not be taken fax his son. Mr. Reed declared
it could net. His Worship then said, " Well, we must obey the laws
—them is tiny son, take him." James Askew then surrendered him.
self, and was let out (to avoid the enraged populace) by the baek.way,
in the custody of the town serjeant, who conducted hint to his own
beam.
These are, we believe, the simple facts. If the man Airs ninth is
not at all unlikely, from the nature of the wound, young Askew aid
be-pleced In a peculiar situation. Hence, it is our duty to !chitin' from
making those comments which naturally sugge t themselves as to this
;weedier neVerilitle*S, we may refer to other matters, which will
not .Iff...et a verdict as to this.