Star.
London, England, 1826-10-12 00:00:00

MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

T

FROM THE BOSTON GAZETTE, OCTOBER 10.

Monday *the 2d instant, an inquest was held before
Mr. MASTIN, Coroner, at Horncastle, on view of the
body of Sarah Plant, then lying dead in Toynton Church.
George Allbones deposed, that on Sunday the 24th
ult. he saw the deceased walking with a man who was
dressed in a long white smockfrock, near an enclosure
which divides the parishes of Scrivelsby and Horncastle.
Witness observed the deceased shake her head at hi'
companion when they parted, and she then proceeded
towards Horncastle, the man in the smeckfrock taking
the opposite direction. After she had walked about 50
yards, witness saw her fall down, apparently very ill.
He hastened to ha assistance, and remained with her a
few minutes till the arrival of a cart, which was going
towards Horncastle, and the driver of which allowed
the unfortunate deceased to ride.
Robert Osgaby, sen. of Thornton le Fen, said that on
Saturday the 16th ult. his son Robert attended at Horn-
castle, under a Magistrate's warrant, to make provision
for the maintenance of an illegitimate child, which had
been sworn to him by the deceased, Sarah Plant, who
had lived nearly a twelvemoth in the service of witness.
On the afternoon of that day witness left his son and
the deceased at Horncastle, and returned home; the
latter told him she intended going to Tedford work-
house. His son did not return home till breakfast-time
the following morning. The deceased had used herself
to taking laudanum ; yet witness neither knew who
fetched it, nor where it was procured.
Dorcas Thompson, wife of Charles Thompson, saddler,
of Horncastle, said that she observed deceased on Sun-
day, the 24th ult. walking on the toad leading to High
Toynton. She then appeared to be very unwell. Wit-
ness invited the deceased int.► her house, and she stopped
and had some tea. The deceased told witness that she
had come from Coningsby ; that a man had walked
with her as far as Horncastle field, from whence she rode
in a cart. Deceased acknowledged being in the family
way, and said she was afraid that she had caught a fever
which was prevalent in the neighbourhood, as she had
been very ill for a week. When the deceased again
started on her journey, the witness sent a little boy with
her. Deceased soon after sat down upon the ground, and
said she could walk no further, and the boy then left her.
Mr. Cave, constable of Toynton,, deposed, that on
Monday the 25th, he found the deceased sitting upon
the ground, nearly opposite Toynton church. She ap-
peared asleep; but on being roused from her lethargy,
told witness that she was very ill, Witness afterwards
observed her about half a mile nearer Tedford, laid upon
the ground. On being again roused from her lethargic
slumber, she resumed her walk, and was a third time
found laying in a ditch on the road side by some persons
who were passing in that direction, and who informed
the witness. With the assistance of the persons who
discovered her the third time, witness conveyed the de-
ceased to a house occupied by Mr. Wm. Moody, and then
sent for Mr. Lomas, surgeon, who immediately attended.
Mary Moody deposed, that on Monday the 25th of
September, she found the deceased lying in a ditch by
the side of the road leading to Tedford. She was taken.
to the house occupied by the husband of witness, and on
Thursday she expired. Deceased told the witness that
young Osgaby went with her to Toynton ; and that he
gave her plenty of ale on the road. Witness told the
deceased that she was afraid Osgaby had put something
into the ale, and deceased said she doubted he had.

Mr. Lonias, surgeon and apothecary, of Horncasde,
said, that he had attended the deceased during the last
few days of her life. Witness administered different
medicines to her, particularly several emetics, only one
of which took effcct, and from various circumstances
he was perfectly convinced that the deceastd died from
the effects of an opiate. Verdict—" Died from the
effects of a deadly opiate, but how or by whom admi-
nistered no evidence was adduced."

The Coroner's Court on the above Inquest opened
at Toynton at eleven o'clock on Monday morning,
viewed the body in the parish Chinch of that vil-
lage, and then adjourned to Horncastle, where the
Coroner and Jury continued their labours until about
seven o'clock, when the above verdict was returned.
—At six o'clock the witnesses were dismissed, and
returned home, the elder Osgaby oa horseback, and
his son travelled on foot. We have been thus minute
in detail; in order that our readers may perfectly un-
derstand the following particulars of a very violent
attack upon the Coroner, which, but for providential
circumstances, there appears every reason to suppose
would have cost him his life. On turning a corner at
the bottom of Scrivelsby-park-lane, Mr. Mastin ob-
served an object in the middle of the road, and on ap-
proaching nearer he discerned that it was a very tall
man dressed in a long white smockfrock, who, on Mr.
Mastin's reaching the spot where he stood, immediately
levelled three or four tremendous blows at the horse's
head, with a very thick hedge stake,without demanding
money, or using any interrogations, accompanying his
blows by some imprecations in an under and evidently
feigned tone of voice. One of the blows grazed the
Coroner's left thigh, and the villain then attempted to
seize hold of the bridle; but on perceiving his intention,
Mr. Martin, being totally unarmed, and therefore un-
prepared for such an attack, forced his spurs into the
horse's sides, the animal spfang forward, and soon left
the da,tardly assailant 'a distance behind. Apprehen-
sive that theivillain might be assisted by some comrades,
Mr. Mastin pursued his journey, but beard his assailant
either crying out in pain or uttering another volley of
imprecations, but which the clattering of the horse's
feet rendered it impossible to distinguish. Mr. Mastin
made due inquiry early the following morning in the
neighbourhood of the place, but could obtain no de-
cisive clue either as to the purpose or the person who
committed the outrage. If the villain's design really
was murder, which there is too much reason to suspect
it was, the time and place was every way fitted for the
bloody purpose. The night was very dark, and the
spot selected was so shaded by trees as to throw a still
deeper gloom around. The place too is some distance
from any habitation or village, on a lonely roaJ, where
the struggling cries of the victim would have produced
no helping friend, and his .last groans died away un-
heeded upon the midnight air.

It appears, by the French Papers, that Rear. Admiral
Monckton died recently at Havre, at an advanced age.
His funeral took place on the 6th inst. The honours
were performed by a battalion of the 64th French It gt.
Letters from Fallenmeir, in the canton 01 Maestrecht,
state,, that an epizootic has raged there for some weeks
with great violence, and bad already destroyed a Rum-
my of hones and cattle. It is vulgarly called by the
inhabitants thefire, and is so sudden in• its effect, that the
cattle attacked over night are fount:dead next morning.,

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE..

RICHMOND MEETlNG—Ocrosaa 3.
The Dundas Stakes of 30gs. each, 20gs. ft —Five yrs old, 95t..11b,
six' 9n. 51b. and aged, 9st. 71b.—Once round the Course.
Duke of Leeds's b. c. Croweatcher, 4 yrs . . 0 1
Mr. Russell's b. h. Abron, by Whisker, 6 yrs . 0 9
Ld. Dundas's b. c. Saladin, by Selim, 4 yrs . . 3dr
Two dra,

_ ____wn.
Even betting between Crowcatcber and Abron, and 2 to 1 apt
Saladin ;- after the dead heat, 5t04 nn Crowcatcber. In the dead
hear, Crowcatcber took the lead, with Abron and Saladin close at
his heels, to below the second mile-post ; a beautiful race then took
place, finishing with a dead heat; Saladin being 'lily beat by a neck.
The second start—Crowcatcher again beaded till near the distance,
when Abron got up ; an excellent race, but won cleverly at last.
A Silver Cup, value 60 guineas, given by the Corporation, added to
a Sweepstakes of 5 gs. each, for bones, &F. of all ages.. Two
mile heats.
Non. T. 0. Powlett's br. g. brother to Jack Spiggot
Mr. Robinson's be. in. tFbe Countess, 4 yrs
Mr. Ingledew's b. f. Sweet Nan, 3 yrs ;
Mr. Ilorsley's b. f. by Blacklock, 3 yrs .

4 drawn.

1 1
4 2
3 3
2 4

e to 4 apt Horsley's filly, and 9 to 1 apt Jack Spiggot; after
the first heat, 2 and 3 to 1 on Jack Spiggot; both heats won easy.
The weather being remarkably.fine, drew a great concourse of
spectators to the races, and a numerous assemblage of Nobility and
Gentry graced the Ordinaries and Assemblies, with their presence,
amongst whom were the following :—The Dike of Leeds, Mar-
quises of Carmarthen and Titcbfield, Lords Dundas, Milton, Mun-
caster, Verulam, Newark, and Bentinck ; Hon. T. Dundas and J
Dundas; Messrs. Biddell, Vantittast, Powlett, Stapleton, Risky,
Lawson, Morritt, and Pullerni ; Cols. Cradock, Coore, and Lane.
The Stewards appointed fur next year are Sir E. Dodsworth, and
H. Vansittart, Esq.

HUNTING;

Batauroxi OCT. 10.—Oar Subscription Hanierx, training for
some link time past, have taken the field, in high condition, and
with every prospect of producing capital sport, as hares are in abun-
dance about the downs. Their throwing off days, as lan year, will
be at Patcham, on Mondays • on the Race Course, on Wednesdays;
and on Fridays, at the Devil's Dyke.

GREAT MATCH.
Yesterday morning Captain Farrell started to perform his veal
undertaking, to ride and drive thirty-six miles in two hours. He
first rode, and accomplished 21 miles ten minutes under the first
hour. This part of the conditions was performed in less time than
he expected. He commenced his charioteering, betting 6t•4 in
his favour. The ground selected was a bye-road, near Maidenhead
Thicket, between Hare.hatcb, and Hemming-wood. The driving
was well performed in a vehicle adapted fur the occasion. The
first horse in the gi&was too fast, and in case of an accident another
horse had been provided to do ally thing which might be required.
This second, was a fine horse, new to the fkiorting World, and ,
said to belong to a trainer at Epsom. He did his work at the
rate of sixteen miles an hour, in grand style, and the match was won
with great difficulty a few seconds under the given time.