Star.
London, England, 1803-01-15 00:00:00

oLn !MILL):

Yelerclay twelve prifoner.; were tried, three of
whom wet e capi.aily convifled, viz.
Grwse Fger, for the mutd,:r of his wife,
!ly drowning her in the Pad,h;:gton Canal on Sun-
day the sth of I)ectmher :aft.
He flood charged alfo with anoth:r indictment

for the wiltid murder of his infant temale child,
of about the age of eight months, at the fame time,
and in the Time manner. Ile was tried only up.
on the lira.
Mr. KNOWLYS opened the cafe for the profecu.
tion, in a very tenlible fpeecli, obferving that the
evidence was purely circomilantial, arifing
nut of fads which wete to be compared with the
deliberate declaration of the priioncr himfelf be-
fore Sir Richard Ford, at Bow Iltect, and by
which circumftances, as they Ihould be detailed by
the witneffes, it would appear that the moll mate.
rial parts of the prifoner's declaration mull of ne-
cellity be fldfe, and that thefe cireumßances could
not exit} confillently with the poffible innocence of
the prifoner at the bar; In that the necelrary and
unavoidable inference mull be, that the prifoner
threw his unfortunate wife with her infant in her
arms, into the Canal, by which they were drowned.
The prifoner was a coach.harnefs maker with a Mr.
Buflinell, near the top of Oxford-greet; and, for a
man in that fit nation of life.was rather comfortable.
Mr. Knowlys then Ratedall the circunetancesof the
cafe, and proceeded to examine the witnelles, the
fuhftance of whole tellimony was as follows :
Jane Hotham--,4 I am the mother of the de.
ceafed ; I live in Bofivell-court, near Carey-greet;
the left my honfe on the Saturday three weeks be-
fore Chriftmas Day, about five minutes before
four o'clock. I took her from the work honfe to
fupport her with her child, and to live with me ota
her endeavours. She flept molt nights and in ge-
neral with me. She left me three Saturdays run-
ning to go to him (the prifoner at the bar). She
had four children, two were at Barnet at the poor-
houfe, one had died, and one in her arms. I ne-
ver few her after that Saturday, neither did
ever fee the body. She took the child with her ,
when the left me on the Saturday."
Crofs.examined, the raid, the deceafed had been
twelve months in the work houfe. She was very
unhappy in her mind. They wanted her little
child to be rent to Barnet, but (he was fo fond of
it that the would not let it go.
Jofeph Bradford.—" I live in North Row, near
Grofvenor-fquare. The prifoner lodged with me ;
his wife and child did not lodge with him at my
!tonic. On the Saturday evening before the death
of the unfortunate woman, the was at my houfe
the flept there with her hufband. I CAW them all
three on the Sunday morning; his wife breakfaft.
ed with me, and the partook of a glafs of rum, be-
fore they went away from my houfe, which was
near of about ten o'clock. I did not fee the pri-
foner again at his lodging until about half paft
eight o'clock on the Sunday night ; his wife and
child were not then with him, neither did I ever
fee them after they left my houfe on the Sunday
morning. The prifoner did not make any inquiry
after his wife and child again of me until the fol-
lowing Sunday, the lath of December. On that
day I had been to Highgate, and I believe the
prifoner had been to Barnet. He called for me
at my mother in law's boure ; her name is Young.
He had never called for me there before, except,
as I believe, once, which was the (simmer before.
On Sunday the tath he bad no converfation what-
ever with me about his wife and child at High.
gate. We came from there altogether, the ord.).
ner, myfelf, and my brother in law. When we
came to town, he allied me, if his wife had been
at my hook ? I replied, not that I knew of. She
ufed to call on him in general twice a week. In
the beginning of the week often, but always on the
Saturday. From what I heard both his wife and
him fay to each other, I found that they were not
on good terms, and they appeared to live unhap-
pily as hulband and wife ; but they did not live
together. I cannot tell exactly, but I think he
lived with me about three quarters of a year. She
sited to come to him on the Saturday to receive,
I believe, Come little matter of money. She want•
ed to come home to her hufband and live with hint,
and that appeared lobe the cattle of her uceafinels."
Crofs.examined, he raid, 64 She did not ileep
Many times in my honfe, it might be four times.
She ufed to come on the Saturday to receive a
little money. I never obferved in my life that the
was addifted to drinking. I had ken her but
(eldom before the left the work.bottle, and what
her habits were before that time,' r do not know.
When the prifooer Aced me about he, wife, whe-
ther the had been at myboufe ? there had been no
rumour of her having been loft. The prifoner is
a coach maker, and frost. the sth of December
down to the time he was taken, he went to his
work daily, and followed it as uCual."
Margaret Bradford, the wife of the lea witnefe.
" The prifoner had lodged at our houfe for fix or
eight months. I law his wife iNk the Saturday
previous to her death ; the Raid at our hook all
night—l knew her and her child very'welL I was
at hone when the left our houfe in the morning
of the Sunday, which was about ten o'clock. Front
what 1 obferved from both althea*, I am et:win-
ced that they did not live on good.terms at, all.—
On the Wednefday week afterwards I few the
body of the child at Chellea : I knew it very well
to be the prifoner's chili, which was brought to
our houfe by the mother ; it was a little gid, her
name was Louifa—l c moot Cloy that I ever faw
the prifoner's wife in liquor."
Eleanor Winter.-4, I live at Weftbourn Green.
by the ft le of the Canal, my hook was called the
Spotted Dog; it is now called the Wellbount
Green Tavern. On the sth of December lati, I
faw the prifoner at my houfe. He came about
eleven o'clock in the forenoon, with his wife and
child in her arms. They ?laid at our bouts until
one o'clock: they brought fame beef.Reakr, which
were dreied by the prifoner. The; had a two.
penny gla(s of brandy, and four pints of porter
between them. Mr hog& is abrit two miles from
the Mare Tavern, which is nearer the Canal; my
honk is on the fide of the towing path, and the
other is mt the'oppofite fide. While they

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ft_ treencil lout in her fl;:r:ts, and li e
had b:cn CI V111,!;-111,1 f EL.! in the pretence of her
by fit whiie Lc NV.I C l'y .•'.r, that fl. it
there thre: tin:. • ; :ov.l ; that it was
true, and the faid, fiat thry ,-si,caA to rntet
n:an who I 11 '!" • C..11"..1 rn'ncv ; and if the
buitr.J. : . it Jay, the would not
come al . t> m.re. They both clult
torte:her my •
t.ff to her hufband
h; j i . 1 • • to go wifh him to the
f ' f • t or, AVII.ICI fee the
p..e1,• o",e 1 .o who pro.w.Cd to p;y
it to ]
The w:•nets h I —" They left my houfe
a li:tle Set try orsa fotrnip,ht after, I fasv
the ot the wor.tao at the ?line Tavern, and
ironic :;att.:l‘. to',::: c fore perfon I had
the v:iteaer on the :;tinL:ty."
.f" se.,s sv.:i•cr at the Mitre Ta•
v S•tifia:•. f Decer.Ltcr haft. I
I.:C, prri, there at two o'clock. I
think it was halt ptti font when they left our itonfe,
becatite it was ouhe dark. Toey left r.ur houfe
both to,tether. and the chid with them. I was in
the how... ai' the time they were there. During
the t:rac they tare there, neither of them acquelt-
ed a b^il, to- propuied to flay all night. They
to-toed to the left band, when they left our houfe,
and that led them to the oppolite fide of the tow..
ing path. I law them from our bottle about lc°
lards A little gitl, of the name of Sarah Daniel,
cam, to our houfe a few minutes after the prifoner
and Ids wife left it.
(This the:it:it girl corroborated afterwards, laying, fbe law
the woman with a chili in her arms, and]card her Gy to the
child. " Your daddy wilt come prerently ;" and at that time it
appeared that the prifoner after haulng gone out with his w;fe
tad child. earn hack ,gah, in fearcb of the child's aloe, a ma-
terial circuraltanct. tmuture it !hewed that the wiermaki were
right as .0 t'..e tine of the afternoon, it being then dark ; the •
importzn:, or which will appear when we come to tha Rate-
start of the prifoncr, fired by him.]
'flue witnefs J. Gough proceeded—" When the
prifoner and his wife left our houfe they had not
the lead appearance of being the worfe for liquor.
The body of the woman was afrerw: rds brought
to the Mitre Tavern,and I knew it immediately."
Crofs-examined, he Paid—" My miflrefs ferved
them with the lafi quartern of rum. I will poft-
tively (wear it was about half paft four when they
left our boort, though we have no clock in the
houfe ; the reafon I have for that is, that it was
growing dark, and my miftrefs came into the
kitchen for candles—l think it was abbut half pall
four. The vritnefs then added, that the way the
prifoner and his wife went from the Mitre Tavern
was not the ufual way, and that nobody went it,
there being pailiogs to flop the way, except a per.
fon had a mind to go over the fields to Mr. Fil-
lingham's houfe, for which there was no path,
and over which he never obferved any body go
ibtfcre. He paw the prifoner and his wife, howe-
ver, go that way fot about too yards."
Hannah Patience.—" I keep the Mitre Tavern.
On Sunday the soh of December laft, the prifoner
was at my houfe with awoman and a child in the
tap room. They left my houfe about half after
four, as near as I call gucfs, but I have no clock:
I law them leaving the houfe—neither of them
appeared to he the leaft in liquor. Sarah Daniel
came to me at that time, and asked for a candle,
aid the prifoner came back for the child's shoe,
which was not found. I had nobody at the time
in my houfe but the prifoner at the bar, and the
woman.—/ am very clear that neither the prifoner
nor the woman Aced for a bed at my hottfe—l
never asked any 'body fince I have been on the
fpot, half a•crciwn for a bed at our houfe. I after-
wards law the body of the Woman, and I knew it
from the perfon and apparel."
Sarah Daniel gave the evidence we have Rated
already.
Charles Wield—"l was a fellow workman with
the prifoner, at Mars. Williams and Bufbitel's,
coach-makers in Oxford-greet, near Parkßreet.
On Sunday the sth of December, oft before he
got to the bottle where be lodged, I met him ; it
WAS jug about six o'clock, at very. little after fix
O'clock I know the time, for I was come from
Chapel. He did not go into his lodging, but
went with me to the Horfe Grenadier public-
houfe; where I always p to. I parted wnh him
about a quarter after eight. It might. perhaps,
be halt after fit when I met the prifoner; but I '
am quite fore it was not feven."
John Atkins, a boatman, employed on the Ca-
nal, aid, about eight o'clock on the morning of
Monday, he found a child's body under the bow
of the boat, at the didance of a mile from the
Mitre ; that in eonfequence of fome dire ions
which be received from Sir Richard Ford, be
dragged the Canal three days.on the lag of which,
elope under the window of the Mitre, he pulled It
the woman's body, entangled in a lonfe 1)41. He
had before then felt fomething heavy againft the
drag at near too yards towards London front the
honk ; bat he could not afcertaia whether that was
the body or not.
Sir R. Fotta--" I am one of the Magiftrates at
Ili,%•firect. The prifoner was brought before me
fir • samination. I had direlbed him to be taken.
I t'o r., -t recollca tie day, but it Was about a week
slot: the death of the woman I took the examina-
tion of him. I examined him two or three tunes.
At two different examirations, what he laid, which
hind been taken down, was read dittirtaly over to
Llnt. lid dc.Cred tome alterations to be made in
l•hich were made accordingly. I read it over
to him paragraph by paragraph, and that
, and 1 alked him nt the end of each, uhether it
w.. true ? Ile laid it was. I told him he might!
it vr not. It was for hint to confider the'
:I....quences of it ; and he did f do it. There
sy,,; not the le :ft tiettat or pi omhe held out to
lee ill it, but it WAS i7CI.:CaIY rclunta-
,:. ire, Ili. t."
w is then rend, which is, as
tr e.t• 17... a it, ai follows:
• he ..i.d came to me cot the night of
D.:cct::ber, :tad dept !,t my lo...gings
7 -,.•„ Ti::scat mots between nine and
t-r. r• t tar lit mit v. 1111 theni, and we walked
t , ; we went to the Mitre Tavern and
1 LI rum and fume porter, and bread and
that, we had flopped at the public-

hinife. by the 11:14,,e, where we had fome beaf-
(leaks and porter, after which the withed me to l'
walk on by the fame way, fo I went with her, and
I kit her dirt.. af:er we came from the Mitre
Tavern ; sylii,:li was about three o'clock. [This
was irtterln;:d by the prilioner's own reettert after
it was d;.:;)eia:,:ly read to him.] 1 made the bell
or my way tlirongh lanes and field. to Whet.
Read, I,ci;:g &Cron, to go to Barnet to Ice my
two chilJren, ‘vlio were in a Workhoure there.—l
was aby,it an hour and a half walking from the
Mitre to Whettlea(l—[This was not lefs than about
13 miles, by the molt deferable way, nor I:fs than
t miles any way.]—When I got there, 1 found
it fo (husk that I did not go to Barnet, but came
home. I have nr feen my wife ur child finee. I
had not enquired for them, but meant to do Co as
I came back. I came from %Vhetttead that even.
ing between [even and eight o'clock. I law no
per:*:)n in going to Whetflead, nor did I flop any,
wit:: e, except at the Green Dragon at Highgate,
where I got a glaft, of rum. My wife had a black
bonnet on the sth of December, and the child had
a draw bonnet on. My wife was a !rule is 4 tor.— ;
Then the prifoner made an addition to his first ex-
amination, fo deliberately read to him.—" My
wife afked the miftrefs of the Inn, whether the
could not have a bed there ? but the miftrefs of
the Inn alked half..ecrown for it, which I and my
wife thought too muck, and therefore the laid the
would go home."
This is the fubftance of the cafe for the prole-
cation.
Mr. Hod fon , Coroner for Mid dle fe x , before whom
the inquifition was taken on the body of the de-
ceafed, proved there was nu mark of violence on
the body, and therefore the verdift of the Jury be-
fore him was accidental death. He d:feribed the
Canal and the paths near it, and fitewed the pri-
loner and his wife went the ncarett way to the
road to Town, as they went from the Mitre Tavern.
The pi lamer had an excellent charaSer from
his mailer and others.
The LORI) CHIEF BARON began his charge to the
Jury, by remarking, that it ii.d been frilly listed,
that this was a cafe to be decided entirely upon dr.
cum (bound evidence. It was alio as st ell obfcrved,
that many crimes were perpetrated beyond the reach
of pofitive proof. Therefore eircuinflances were
laid before them, for them to judge whether loch
circumdances could exits confident with the inno-
cence of the prifoner. It had alto, with equal
troth, been laid, that circnmhantial evidence was
the bell, becaufe it was much caller to fabricate a
falfe fiery than to create a chain of circumnances,
which fhould, in no part. clath with each other.--
There were, indeed, indances where Courts had
been mined by both forts of cafes, but that only
proved that human o-eafon was fallible, and mull
occafionally be deceived. The quellion now before
the jury for them to try was, whether the dream-
(lancet, as proved, could will, without guilt on the
part of the pill-one!? That he took to be the mean-
ing of circumflantial evidence. His Lorehhip then
went through the detail of the evidence, and oh-
(creed upon the improbabilities of the prifoner's
(tatement, and pointed out the natural probabilities
of the cafe, as refulting from the various circum-
(lance s proved. He left the lueftion of the guilt or
innocence of the prifoner entirely to the Jury, who
retired, and having remained out of Court about a
a quarter of an hour, brought in their Verdia
Grithy.
The Clerk of the Arraigns afked him what be
had to fay, why be &mild not have judgment to
die ?
The rtifoner replied, o Nothing, or I certainly
&could."
The RICORDRR immediately pail the reviewe of
the Court, which was, that the prifoner be hinged
on Monday next, and his body be died and
anatomifed, purfuant to the Statute.
He (toad with apparent compoftwe while the
names of the Jury were calling over ; but when the
Foreman uttered the fatal word Gray, he turned
exce(fively pale, and kerne& dreadfully agitated.
His age is 33,
Jabs Godwin, for healing two horfes, the pro-
perty of Charles Mafon ; and Irma Richards, for
healing feveral filver fpoons, and other articles,
value cos. and upwards, the property of William
Jethro, Efq. in his dwelling-houfe.
Seven were consieled of felony, viz.
T. Waimea, for healing a pocket-handkerchief,
the property of J. Bentley; Jaw row, for heal-
ing a fill handkerchief, the property of R. Craw-
ford • Relent Taal, for healing two hempen pack
fag cloths, the property of E. Wakeling ; Thr.r.
Lhosie, for healing a filver watch, the property of
Joreph, Jackfon ; Ir. Giblv, for healing three linen
{beets, the property of T. Hargrave ; R. i.e Roy,
for healing a pocket handkerchief, the property
of T. Wiltfltire ; T. gacifon, for healing three
packs of playing cards, the property of ja.Dowfc;
and two were acquitted, among whom,
jaw i Wiry was tried for the murder of Eli-
zaheth Hurdle, by beating her over the head,
(ides, and brcaft, on the t 7th of December laft, in
the neighboui hood of Billiopfgate fireet.
A furgeon hated that lie had examined the de-
ceafed, and thought the died in confequence rf an
inflammation on the heart and lungs. There were
no external bruifes on the body fullicient to induce
him to think her death had been occaGoned by
beating.
Mary Wilkins had known the prifoner for two
year c ; he was a chip hat weaver. On Friday
evening, about the middle or the month, the went
to his apartment, and faw him lying drunk on the
bed. He was a married man. The deceafed was
drunk likewife and fmokiisg by the fire. She shed
the deceafed where Mr. Lilley was. and in a few
minutes the deceafed laid to the prifoner, "you
have hooked my child open, and now I'll hook
you." She then began to fcratch his face. The
witnefs ran and held down the prifoner, fearing
that he would drike the deceafed. His wife came
in, and bean aiding the deceafed. The witnefs
went nut for affiitance to the prifoner. When Ilse
returned he was handing on the deceafed's left fide.
Mr. Juftice ROOKS here addreffed the Jury, and
told them that the only queltion for them would
be, that of Manhaughter, as the prifoner bad re-
ceived provocation (Foes the deceadid....-Ner Grill.