The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-10-15 00:00:00

THE INQUEST.

An inquest on the bodies, was held on Saturday, before
Richard Palmer, Esq., of this town, at Mr. Worthington's,
the Hesketh Arms Inn, in Rufford, The jury consisted of
the most respectable individuals in the neighbourhood, and
the proceedings during the day. produced a very strong sensa-
tion. We subjoin a verbatim copy of the evidence, which
will in some particulars be found to differ from our narrative.
Where this is the case, we have no hesitation in stating that
our version may be taken as the correct one. 'We can easily
imagine, from the excitement which prevailed, and froth the
short time which elapsed between the fatal transaction and
the inquest that an opportunity would not be afforded for ob-
taining the most correct and connected history. The ma-
terials for our account, however, mere obtained when the con-
sternation had in a great measure subsided ; and from the
source where our information is derived, and the industrious
investigation we have instituted as regards each detail, there
can be no doubt, that the above sketch contains an accurate
mention of every material occurrence relating to the sad
affair.

The following witnesses were examined :
Thomas Lea, of Rufford, labourer, was the first witness
examined. He deposed as follows : I was acquainted with
the deceased Robert Dawson, and have known him for upwards
of thirty years. He was a labourer in the employ of Sir
Thomas Dalrymple Hesketh, Bart. The deceased, Phoeby
Dawson, was the wife of Robert Dawson ; they have been
married, I believe, about fifteen years ; they had seven chil-
dren, six of whom lived in the house with them. They lived
in a cottage at Rufford. On Thursday last, the third day of
October inst., I saw the deceased, Robert Dawson, at work.
and about seven o'clock the same evening, he came to my
house to see a little boy of mine who was poorly ; he saw the
little boy, and asked him how he was, and the boy said he
was a little better, and Dawson then went away. I did not
perceive anything particular about him, he was perfectly so-
ber ; he did not stop above two minutes in my house, and
then bade me good night and went away. About nine o'clock
the same night, Anne Dawson, who might be about ten
years of age, and her sister Margaret, who might be about
eight years old, the daughters of the deceased Robert Daw-
son, came to my house crying. Anne said I must go to their
house, as her father was killing her mother. I ran as fast as
I could to Robert Dawson's house, and his daughter went
along with me. On going into the house, I saw both Ro-
bert Dawson and Phoebe on their hands and knees on the
floor of the chamber, in which were two beds ; they were
both bleeding freely from their throats ; they neither of them
spoke or made any noise. A lighted candle was in the room,
and was held by one of the daughters. Four of the children
were in the room when I got there. I was so much shocked,
that I remained a very short time in the room, and then
went home and told my wife what I had seen. Both Robert
and Phoebe Dawson looked at me, and I believe they knew
me. I did not speak to them. The deceased was a man of
sober habits, and has been a member of a Temperance So-
ciety for about two or three years. He went occasionally to
church, and was there on Sunday last, but was a member of
the Wesleyan Society, and attended what they call a class-
meeting. He was a man of regular habits, and, for any-
thing I know to the contrary, lived comfortably with his
wife. I went to Henry Dawson, the father of the deceased,
and told him what I had seen, and wished him to go to the
house. _ _ _

Henry Caunce, labourer, deposed—l have known the de-
ceased Robert Dawson for many years. On Thursday, be-
tween nine and ten o'clock at night, in consequence of infor-

I‘.•

motion which I received, I went along with my mother and
several other persons to the house of the deceased. On go-
ing into the bed-chamber, I found the deceased Phoebe Daw-
son, lying upon one of the beds • she was and her
head was laying over the side of the bed. I asked her what
was the reason of her being in that way. She said " she
should have brought some senna, and she had forgotten."
That was all she said in my hearing. I enquired of the chil-
dren where Robert was, and they said he was gone out. I
took a lanthorn which I had brought with me, and went in
search of him. I went into the shippon which adjoins the
house, and found him hanging by a rope, which was round
his neck, and attached to a nail in a post. The nail in the
post was about four feet from the ground, and the deceased
was croodled down. I went into the house to get a knife,
and returned into the shippon, and cut the rope, and on ex-
amination he was found to be dead. The rope now produced
is the one which Iso cut. Robert Dawson was an industrious
man, and regular in his habits. About the beginning of this
week, I was shearing in a field in Rufford, with Phcebe Daw-
son and several others, and in the course of conversation,
Phoebe Dawson said, that she and her husband had for some
time past, lived very comfortably together. I never heard
her husband make any complaint as to his wife's conduct.
Yesterday morning I was present when the razor now pro-
duced was found on the edge of a ditch, about seven yards
from the deceased's house. The razor was closed ; I opened
it and wiped it ; I could not tell whether any blood was upon
it—it was rusted.

Thomas Caunce, farmer, examined—On Thursday night
last, about half-past eleven o'clock, I was in bed, and was
desired to go to Robert Dawson's house •, I got up and went
immediately. On going into the house I went into the bed-
chamber, and found Phoebe Dawson lying upon a bed, and
with her head partly over one side : she was bleeding from
the throat. I said to her Phoebe, in the name of God what
have you been doing? I said, " Oh, dear me," but nothing
more then. Presently she asked me to let her drink ; some
water was brought up in a tea cup, which I held to her
mouth ; she suppeda part, and what she took into her mouth,
came through the cut in her throat, and went upon the floor.
She seemed disposed to vomit, but what came from her sto-
mach, did not come through her mouth, but through the cut
in her throat. I went out of the chamber into the house
part, and found Robert Dawson lying upon the floor ; he was
dead. I took a horse, and went immediately for Mr. Barron,
surgeon, of Tarleton, and he came back with me. I have
known the deceased since I was a boy, and he was a man of
industrious and sober habits. I had not seen him for six or
seven weeks before that night. The deceased Phoebe Dawson
died in my arms, about half past three o'clock on the follow-
ing morning. I never heard Robert Dawson make any com-
plaint against his wife's conduct. He was about thirty-five,
and she was about forty years of age.
Mr. W. Barron, surgeon, of Tarleton, deposed.—Yester-
morning about two o'clock, Thomas Caunce came to me at
Tarleton, to attend upon the deceased persons at Rufford.
I came ff immediately and arrived in about half an hour.
I went to the bedchamber, where Phcebe Dawson was lying;'
she was upon the bed and 'partly covered. She was then in
a dying state. There was a great quantity of blood upon the
bed, and upon her person. I examined her and found that
the windpipe was cut through • the cuts appeared to have
been made by a razor or some sharp instrument, and which,
I have no doubt, was the cause of her death. I have ex-
amined the body of the deceased Robert Dawson ; his throat
is cut ; the windpipe is cut partially, but it is my opinion,
that his death was caused by strangulation.
Jane Dawson, a fine little girl, daughter of the deceased,
deposed—The deceased Robert and Phoebe Dawson, were
my father and mother. On Thursday last, about half-past
six o'clock at night, my father came' home from his work ;
my mother was at home, and five children besides me were
in the house. My father and mother got some tea for sup-
per, and my father went to bed about half-past seven ' • my
mother went to bed in about half an hour after ; they had no
quarrel or angry words before they went to bed. My mother
did nothing after my father went to bed, but take the child to
nurse. We children went to bed before my father. There
are two beds in the chamber • in one of them my father and
mother and the youngest child slept. I was awoke by my
mother calling out as loud as she could, " Jane, get up and
light a candle." I got up and lighted a candle, and brought
it into the chamber, and I saw my father and mother both
kneeling down on the floor, and bleeding from their throats.
I did not see my father do anything at mother, nor did I see
anything in either of their hands. My mother got up from
the floor and laid upon the bed, and my father went out, and
was out about a quarter of an hour ; he then came in again
and laid himself upon the bed, but he did not lie long. When
Ile got up I saw a piece of rope in his hand ; he put it round
his neck, and was going to fix one end of it upon a nail be-
hind the chamber door, but we children shrieked out, and
then he went out of the room. He had the rope round his
-neck when he went out, and his neck was bleeding. My fa-
ther asked my mother before supper if she had sent for the
senna ; she said she had forgotten it. He said, "If you had
wanted it for yourself you would have sent for it." That was
all he said ; he did not seem angry about it. The razor now
shown to me I believe to be my father's.
Mr. W. T. Dickinson, surgeon, of Croston, deposed—l
knew the deceased Robert Dawson, and have attended him
professionally for the last five or six years. He came to me
about a month ago ; I found him suffering from pain and
difficulty in breathing. He also complained of violent pain
in his back and lower extremities, which I considered rheu-
matic pains, he also complained of pains in his face and head,
which I considered nervous pains ; and from the state of his
pulse I considered it proper to bleed him. After he was
bled, I perceived that he was suffering from anxiety of mind,
and it is my decided opinion that he has been for a certain
length of time suffering from despondency. From the symp-
toms apparent in the deceased at the time he visited me, I
am of opinion that he was a person liable to be attacked with
sudden insanity.
The jury gave very serious and patient attention to the ex-
aminations, and, after a few minutes' deliberation, returned
a verdict of " Wilful murder against Robert Dawson" as
related to Phoebe Dawson, and in the case of Robert Dawson
a verdict of "Feb° de se."

The Coroner issued his warrant, according to the statute
commanding the body of Robert Dawson to be interred be•
tween the hours of nine and twelve at night.
The Coroner, after complimenting the jury upon the satis•
factory manner in which they had performed their duty, dis•
charged them.

CONSTERNATION IN THE WEST!

CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT OF RAPHAEL, THE

ASTROLOGER.

" He made a planetary gin,
Which rats would-run their own heads in,
And come on purpose to be taken,
Without the expense of cheese or bacon."

EXETER, OCT. 9.—Much excitement prevailed at the
Guildhall of this city yesterday, a large number of the inha-
bitants having assembled there, in consequence of a report in
circulation that Raphael, the astrologer, had, through some
unlucky configuration of Mars and Saturn, got into the
hands of the police. Many stories were afloat as to the charge
against the conjurer; but it appeared from the authority of
one of the officials, that a servant-maid, who had been de-
tected in purloining some plate from her master, had con-
fessed that she had been to Mr. Raphael to have her planets
ruled, and that she had been induced to commit the robbery
in consequence of some revelations made to her by the seer.
It is understood that the silly girl was told by the vagabond
that if she committed some crime that would get her trans-
ported, she would marry a great man and be a lady in the
convict settlements ! This, with other evidence of the do-
ings of Mr. Raphael, came to the knowledge of the magis-
trates, and the astrologer was " consulted" by the police,
who, in spite of his " stars," placed him in safe custody in
the station house.

Soon after twelve o'clock the wise man was placed at the
bar, and great was the anxiety of the spectators to get a sight
of his phiz. He is rather above the middle stature, with
black bushy hair, dark complexion, and a roguish cast of
countenance. He was smartly dressed, and, when attired
in his mystic gown, must have represented the magician in
tolerable style. He was informed against as being a rogue
and vagabond, under the act against fortune-telling, &c.
Sarah Stacie, a respectable servant at the Half Moon Com-
mercial Inn, deposed as follows :—ln consequence of seeing a
card, like to the one produced—(he had left cards at various
houses, with his address, stating that " Raphael might be
consulted—nativities accurately cast—all strictly legal horary
questions answered") I went to the prisoner and saw the
man ; a paper was brought to me from him by my fellow-
servant on the 23d of September. It was the Friday before
that I went to him, at a private house in the lower part of
the city. I gave him ss. I told him I was come for him to
tell me what he could. I don't know that I said anything
about telling my fortune. He said he would give me a paper.
I went to him again the following day, and asked him what I
was to give him. He said he received more from some people,
but I must give him another 55., but I refused to give it. He
then said there would be some misfortune happen to me, and
I must give him ss. for him to get me something to prevent
the misfortune ; but I did not give the money. He said I
should be sent out by a person and should drop down ; that
was the evil that was to happen to me. He said he would go
on with the paper, but he could not get me what he wished
unless I give him another ss. My fellow-servant, Mary
Boult afterwards gave me the paper. [The paper was here
produced : it was folded like a letter, there being on the out-
side, " 17th Dec., One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twelve."
The contents were a kind of astrological scheme, consisting
of figures and signs of the planets, with a statement that the
woman would be afflicted with convulsions, which he could
prevent, &c. The 17th December, 1812, is my birth-day.
He asked me, and I told him.
Mary Boult deposed that the letter she gave the former wit-
ness was given her by Raphael, and that the prisoner was the
person. She then said—When we went to him we said we were
come to have our planets ruled. He said he would do it, and
asked us when our birthdays were. I paid 5s on the Friday
and 5s on the Saturday, as he said he was going to prepare a
talisman, or amulet, to keep me from having my legs broken?
I have it now as it was given me, in myjetter.
,The witness
produced the talisman ; it was square, formed of sealing-wai,
and some white substance, with planetary signs on it. 3 He
said I was not to open it, or let it drop on the stones. He
said if I had not got it, I should have had my two legs broken
in a very short time !
_ _

Mr. duo VES addressed the bench at considerable length for
the prisoner, and contended that he was not a common for-
tune teller, but an astrologer, which science was not illegal.
He produced a large work of " Dr. Sibley's," on astrology,
and a small work, purporting to have been written by the
prisoner, who, he said, had studied hard for years to acquire
his knowledge.
The BENCH consulted a few minutes, and the mayor (D.
Macgowar,) in pronouncing the judgment, described the pri-
soner's case as one of great enormity, and sentenced the as-
trologer to be imprisoned for three months and kept to hard
labour.

Ebenezer Webber, alias Raphael, on hearing this, looked
as if he was "no conjuror."

Sir Andrew Halliday died at Dumfries on the 7th day of
September last; he has not long survived the wasting climate
of the West Indies, where he was Inspector of Hospitals.
He retired to the air of his native country; but it was only
to droop and die. His life from his youth up was one of
action. He served on the staff of the army both in Portugal
and Spain ; was at the assault of Bergen-op-Zoom, and at
the battle of Waterloo, and accompanied William IV., when
Duke of Clarence, in his journies abroad in quest of health.
He was a good scholar as well as a skilful physician, and his
varied and almost general Intelligence obtained him high es-
teem with princes abroad as well as at home. Like his
dalesman Telford, the engineer, whom he knew and loved,
he was of humble parentage, though of good and ancient
blood, for he came from that brave " Thom Halliday, my
sister's son, so dear," as he was called by the renowned Sir
William Wallace. He knew most of the episcopal history of
Scotland, and was familiar with his country's antiquities;
he knew as much of the poetry and traditions of the land as
if they had been the study of his life. He had skill as well
as taste in literature and in natural phi'osophy, as'his Histo-
ry of the House of Hanover and the West Indies sufficiently
prove. He had collected materials for writing an account of
the chief campaigns of Wellington, which he had witnessed.
He loved ingenious men : he was ever ready to do a good
deed or speak a kind word, and such was his generous na-
ture, that though he met with a base return to-day, he was
ready to befriend the meritorious to-morrow. He took so
much care in helping others on in their fortune, that we fear
he neglected his own ; his half-pay at home was not large,
and Portugal, we have heard, stopped his well-merited an-
nuity, serving him as she served her other benefactors. We
hope his country will remember that his lady survives him.
We knew him, and loved him with the love that is due to
the generous and the good, and say of him, without a chance
of eoptradictiou,—" A warmerheart death ue'er wade cold."

.*•%.

Z.

ECCLESIAST/CAL AND UNIVERSITY
INTELLIGENCE.

(From thi Oxford Herald.)
On Tuesday last, the Rev. Ashhurst Turner Gilbert, D.D.,
and Principal of Brazenose College, having been re-nominat-
ed Vice-Chancellor of the University, took the oaths of office
in, full convocation, and entered upon the duties of the Vice-
Chancellorship for the fourth year, with the accustomed so-
lemnities. The following heads of houses were afterwards
nominated to act as Pro-Vice-Chancellors during his absence
from the University, viz., the Rev. Dr. Jenkyns, Master of
Balliol ; the Rev. Dr. ridges, President of Corpus ; Dr.
Marsham, Warden of Merton; and the Rev. Dr. Hawkins,
Provost of Oriel.