The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-07-21 00:00:00

MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF MR. JOHN BIBBY

On Saturday afternoon Mr. John Bibby, of the firm of
John Bibby and' Sons, merchants, and father of the Rev.
Thomas Bibby, incumbent of Trinity Church, was found
dead in a pond in Stand Park, not far from Aintree Race
Course. The intelligence was quickly spread, and it became
the topic of general conversation, Mr. Bibby being highly
esteemed in the first business circles of Liverpool. He was
recently a member of the town council. _

It appears that the unfortunate gentleman spent the even-
ing of Friday last in company with an intimate friend, from
whom he parted about eleven o'clock, at the bottom of
Evertors Brow, and proceeded in a car to his residence, at
Linacre Marsh. It was Mr. Bibby's almost invariable cus-
tom to be set down opposite the Rimrose Hotel, whence he
was in the habit of walking to his mansion. He got out at
this spot on Friday night, or rather on Saturday morning,
about twelve o'clock. He paid the driver and bade him good
night, and the latter, as he turned the head of his horse
towards Liverpool, saw the unfortunate gentleman walking
at a steady pace towards his home. He was missing on
Saturday morning, and his family and friends were, of
course, alarmed, and anxious to know what had befallen him.
Their inquiries, however, were fruitless till the melancholy
intelligence was conveyed to them of his body having been
found as above mentioned. The watch which Mr. Bibby
usually carried was not on his person when the body was
found, neither was there any money in his pockets, though
it was at first conjectured that he must have had a
considerable sum of money about him when he left Liver-
pool. Subsequent inquiries caused some alteration in the lat-
ter opinion, as it appeared that he had, immediately be-
fore he left town, sent to the bank for money, which he did
not, however, take with him. Mr. Birch and Mr. Formby,
magistrates of the district in which the melancholy event oc-
curred, have been indefatigable in their endeavours to trace
out all the facts. Mr. Whitty, some of his officers, and se-
veral members of the rural police in the Kirkdale division,
have been using unremitting' efforts to arrive at the truth. All
the approaches to the pond where the unfortunate gentleman
was found were carefully examined to ascertain if there were
any traces of foot-marks, but nothing resulted from that part
of the investigation. 'lt was surmised that the watch might
possibly be in the pond, and it was .dragged, but the watch
was not found.

Yesterday, at one o'clock, an inquest was held upon the
body before John Heyes, Esq., arid a respectable jury, at the
Rimrose Hotel, Bootle. There were present Mr. Birch, Mr.
Formby, Mr. Penny, (son-in-law to the deceased) and many
others, who took a deep interest in the proceedings. The
first witness sworn was

•
Henry Ambrose, a farmer, living near Stand-park, in the
township of Sefton. On Saturday last, about half-past two
in the afternoon, witness was getting sticks in a field belong-
ing to Joseph Lettson, his brother-in-law. There was the
road (an occupation path) and the park wall between him and
the pond, but between the pond and the road there was
nothing but a few brambles. The pond was about two feet
below the surface of the road. As witness was in the act of
leaving the field he observed the hat, shoulders, and part of
the back of a man floating-in the water. lie did not go
to the place, but immediately procured the assistance of
Joseph Lettson and Wm. Martin. The body of deceased was
then about three yards from the banks, and Martin drew it
out of the water with a pitchfork. At that period none of
them knew who the deceased was. His hat was fast upon
his head, and over his eyes, and there was a dint just below
the crown of it, which might have been caused either by the
deceased falling against the brambles, or by the pitchfork.
They searched his pockets. A pocket-book was in the left
pocket of his coat, a bunch of keys, a single key, and a knife ;
and a shilling was found in the left pocket of his trowsers.
No watch was found upon him. There was a silk handker-
chief in his coat pocket, but it was not taken out. The pa-
pers in his pocket-book did not appear to have been a bit
ruffled. There was no name on the book, but in it they
found two papers for the highway rates of. the township of
Litherland, addressed to Mr. John Bibby. Joseph Webster,
the constable of Litherland, was sent for immediately, and
he conveyed the body in a car to the late residence of the
unfortunate gentleman. Witness did not observe any foot-
marks upon the banks of the pond.
By the Jury.—The soil about the pond is rather sandy,
but just now it is slippery and dirty, owing to the rains. It
rained hard on Friday night. No dirt or soil was observed
to cling to any part of the deceased's clothes or body. The
fields are pasture fields, and the road had been much tram-
pled by cattle, and by people going to and coming from the
races. Nothing was found in either of the deceased's waist-
coat pockets, and his watch pocket was quite straight.
-- Simpson, a hackney coach driver, was next called.
He said he lived in Bute-street, Everton. On Friday night,
at a quarter past ten, he was with his coach on the stand in
Castle-street, when the porter at the Royal Bank in Dale-
street, called him, to take Mr. Bibby and Mr. Taylor home.
He went and remained there till a quarter past eleven, when,
he was told by the porter to take Mr. Bibb}, to the Riinrose-
gate, Linacre Marsh, and to put Mr. Taylor down at the
foot of Everton Brow. Witness did not know Mr. Bibby.
They got into the coach together. He set Mr. Taylor down
at the place appointed ; then drove Mr. Bibby along Nether-
field-road, through Kirkdale, and over Bootle-bridge to the
Rimrose-gate. He asked Mr. Bibby to be allowed to drive
him to his own door, but he replied " No, coachman, I
know the road very well." He then took out some silver
and gave witness is 6d, and as witness was turning his
horses round, he saw Mr. -Bibby walking along the lane
leading to his own house; he seemed to walk quite steadily,
but he was a little in liquor. It was a fine night.
By the FOREMAN.—Mr.TayIor paid me 2s. Mr. Bibby
did not ask me what my fare was, but he gave me two six-
pences, half-a-crown, and four shillings ; he took that out of
his pocket and no more. He did not appear to count it. I
had no lights to my car.

By a Juryruan.—There was no conversation that I heard
between Mr. Bibby and Mr. Taylor when they parted at
Everton. As I was returning I did not see any person about.
I returned by Rake-lane and Great Mersey-street.

By the Foreman.—l have only two horses. There was
no one to receive them when I got home. My wife and six
children were in bed. When I had done with the' horses,
and eaten some supper, I went to bed. It might be a little
after one o'clock.

By the CORONER.—The people at the turnpike were not
up as I returned. I did not notice whether Mr. Bibby had
any watch or seals.

Mr. Penny here stated, that about a fortnight ago Mr.
Bibby had a gold watch, which he gave to Mr. Harrison to
repair ; but on this occasion he had a silver hunting watch,
with a steel chain.

The CORONER said it had been stated, although not given
in evidence, that Mr. Bibby had strayed on his way home a
week or two before ? Who had any knowledge of that ?
Mr. Wolfenden, an inspector in the county constabulary,
produced an extract from one of the books of the force,
shew•ing that on the sth instant, Mr. Bibby was found by an
officer and conveyed home.

Thomas Abrah'am, an inspector in the county constabulary,
for the Kirkdale division, said that on Saturday morning,
between one and two o'clock, he was Walking along the turn-
pike road, between the Black Bull, at Walton, and the
Sefton Arms. He heard some wrangling on the left, and
exactly in the direction of the pond where the deceased was
found. He listened at the Sefton Arms but heard nothing
there. He then went down the lane but heard nothing
more. In the lane be met a market cart, and two women in
it, but he did not hear anything then or see any other person
that night.

Mr. letson said he lived at no great distance from the
pond, and he heard his dogs bark violently just at two
o'clock. His wife got up to quieten them, and she said she
thought she heard something, bnt she did not know what.
The dogs often barked, and both he and his wife often had
to get up in order to appease them.
Henry Barker, a lad 12 years of age, servant to Mr. Lett-
son, was the next witness called. He said he had never been
taught to read or write, but on being asked what would be
the consequences if he took a false oath, he gave a satisfac-
tory answer. His testimony was, therefore, received. He
said that about eight o'clock on Friday night he went with
one of his master's horses to the pasture adjoining tothe pond.
He had to go through two gates for that purpose ; and, after
he had left the horse, he returned and shut both the 'gates.
On Saturday morning, about eight o'clock, he went to fetch
the horse, and he found one gate partly open, and the other
opened quite wide, and fastened with a piece of slate just as
witness was accustomed to fasten it to prevent it going to.
There were three horses in the field that night, and they were
all there in the morning.
Ann Owen, housemaid in Mr. Bibby's establishment, said
that on Thursday morning she gave Mr. Bibby a silver hunt-
ing watch. She fetched it down stairs for him as he had left
it in the bed, and gave it to him as she was brushing his
coat. The watch had the initials of Mr. Bibby's son James
upon the back, "J. J. B." On Friday witness did not see
the watch. She could not tell how long he had' been in the
habit of using it ; but he had it before she came, nine months
ago. There were three or four long steel links to it. Wit-
ness had never seen Mr. Bibby with any other watch. She
sat up waiting for him on Friday night, and did not go to
bed till five o clock on Saturday morning.
In answer to a question from the Coroner, Mr. Penny re-
peated that Mr. Harrison had Mr. Bibby's gold watch to
repair. Mr. Bibby, on Fridays was in the habit of request=
ing the cashier to give him £4O or £5O for the purpose of
paying his brickmakers and workmen. On this occasion,
however, he did not apply for any money. Mr. Bibby was
63 years of age.

Mr. Thotn'as Wainwright, surgeon, of Everton, said he
had made a post mortem examination of the body of the late
Mr. Bibby. There were several small round black spots
upon the inner side of the right arm near the elbow,
one upon the upper part of the fore arm, one on the back
of the wrist, one on the front of each knee, and also one upon
the outside of the left arm. These, when cut into, showed
blood extravasated in the cellular structure, but no bruising
of the muscles. The integuments of the head presented no-
thing unusual. The brain appeared healthy; the right and
left ventricles contained a quantity of serum, as also did the
base of the skull withig. The stomach contained about a
pint of, fluid and undigested food, but in the absence of any
evidence as to what he had been drinking, the appearance of
this fluid could not be put down as evidence of drowning.
The mouth and nostrils were perfectly free from froth. The
lungs were fully expanded, filling every part of the chest.
Prom the whole examination he inferred that Mr. Bibby was
alive when he fell into the water, and that death was instan-
taneous ; the instantaneous character of his death would in-
dicate that he was in an exhausted state when he fell into the
water, either from fatigue, or struggling, or in a state of deep
sleep.

The Foreman.—How do you account for the marks upon
the arm ?

Mr. Wainwright.—I feel more difficulty in accounting for
them than for anything else.
The Foreman.—Would not the symptoms that you have
described be produced if death was caused by putting a hand-
kerchief over the mouth and nostrils ?
Mr. Wainwright replied that in such a case there would be
some marks upon the lips.
The witness Ambrose here suggested that the black marks
on the arm might have been caused by dragging the body
out of the water, especially as the clothes were torn by the
pitchfork. .

Mr. Wainwright could account for the spots on the arm on
no other supposition than that they had been caused by the
pressure of a man's hands. He did not believe it possible to
form them after death.
Mr. Jones, ,
surgeon, who assisted in the post morteni
examination, concurred with Mr. Wainwrights testimony.
The Cashier at Mr. Bibby's office, proved that the unfor-
tunate
as a gentwareleman had received no money on Friday of which
he w.
This being the whole of the evidence, the CORONER ad-
dressed the jury. The only suspicious circumstances attach-
ing to the case were the absence of the watch, and the two
gates being left opened. He must, however, confess, that
from the evidence of Mr. Wainwright he was not disposed
to think that there had been unfair play. If there had been,
it might afterwards he discovered through the means of the
police. He therefore did not see any occasion to adjourn'the
inquest ; but he would recommend the jury to return such a
verdict as would not preclude further inquiry.
The Jury then returned a verdict to.the effect that the de-
ceased had been found dead in a pond, but how he came there,
there was no evidence to shew.

Arrivals at the Misses Perkins' family boarding house, 70,
Duke-street :—Charles Cartier, Esq. London, Professor
Espy and lady, Philadelphia, Capt. W. Robinson, New
York, Capt. R. Talbot and lady, Pepper, Esq. and Miss
Pepper, Edinburgh, Edward Oliver, Esq. Miss Oliver, and
Miss M. J. Oliver, Quebec, Charles Ware, Esq. lady, and
Miss Ware, Capt. J. B. Smith, Capt. E. Talbot, Freeport,
U.S. Captain Richardson and lady, Boston.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF STORMS.—Mr. Esky has • con-
cluded his several courses of lectures upon thillinteresting
subject, and he has proceeded to Manchester where we wish
him success.

MODEL OF WATERLOO

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

SIR,—In my last letter I promised to make a few remarks
which would enable such of your readers as may be 0-
visit Captain Siborn's model of the battle of Water,
mediately and easily to comprehend the merits of the
as there pourtrayed.
The utmost space which could be allotted to a sing],
would not enable me to enter into the various particu►t.
shall, therefore, in my present. confine myself to the
scription 'f the position .•elected and maintained by t'
Duke of Wellington upon that most memorable occasion.
It may appear strange that statements of a very contrail
tory nature should yet be circulated respecting that bat
leaving the true merits of the day apparently misunderstt
or at least but partially declared.

'out to

This arises, aoubtle-ss, from the reluctance
of the Duke to become his own historian. Had not
tacks which have been made upon him relative to the battle
of Waterloo been universally disregarded, and had he not
maintained a general silence upon all points which yet ap-
pear as matters of dispute, the explanation of that field would
have been to him a source of perpetual annoyance, and of
greater difficulty than was the obtaining of the glorious vic-
tory which filled every English mind with exultation, whilst
it added gall and wormwood to the envious dispositions of
his astonished and disappointed foes. Wisely, therefore, he
leaves the particulars upon which his fame depends to be
obtained from well-established facts, and from the concise
wording of the dispatch written by him upon the evening of
the victory.

The silence of the Duke has left room for unfounded re-
ports, and for statements so various, that this, the clearest
and the most simple of all foughten fields, has been com-
pletely enveloped in mystery ; and the result of the day has
been ascribed, by interested parties, to accident, to chance,
and in fact to everything but to that soundness of judgment
Which directed, and to that invincible courage which sup-
ported, the tactics of the field.
• Fully to understand, in their utmost comprehensiveness,
the Duke's plans upon that occasion, would require much
investigation, and an education decidedly military; yet (as
was justly observed in a Liverpool paper of recent date)
such are the means afforded by the model of Waterloo of

is which

assisting and explaining the 'authentic stateme
have been made relative to that field, " that even tL_
learned in military tactics may fight the battle over agai__,
and satisfy themselves that the victory was not the effect of
chance, but the result of a deeply-laid and well-supported
plan.

I am sorry to say that the remarks, if they be truly stated
to us, of Napoleon himself, might be looked upon as the
nucleus whence arose, and around which have since been
woven, the tissue of errors which have passed current as
having a connexion with the true statements of the battle.
Napoleon, in his despatch to Grouchy written on the field
at one o'clock, and even whilst urging him to manceuvrc
towards hi* right and afford him assistance, says—" At this
moment the battle is gained upon the line of Waterloo."
Now, if the battle was gained at one, or if, according to e
subsequent statement, said to have been made by him, the
British were beaten at three o'clock, what, shall we say,
became of them during the four hours of successive and des-
perate attacks which preceded any influence or operation of
the Prussians upon the right of his arm`

-or h

was it

that these beaten men should, at seven o'clock, have facet,
theirfoes upon the very ground their front lines occupied
when first the fight began?

Again, we are told that the French condemn the Duke's
choice of position—that they state it to be bad—and that,
but for the Duke's selection of the spot, and but for the fact
of Napoleon's having failed in his endeavours to force his
position, there is nothing which would point it out as favour-
able for defence or military operations.
To fall in with French hypercriticism in this respect would
completely deprive them. of the only stay whereon they can,
upon this occasion, rest their national esteem. The battle
of Waterloo, as a test of skill, presents peculiar features. it
was not the accidental meeting of two hostile forces, where
the defeated party might raise the plea of measures incom-
plete, or of numerical advantages on the part of his oppo-
nent ; but it was the long-anticipated and the ardently-sought
meeting of the two greatest generals of the age.

Napoleon brought upon the field upwards of 70,000 of his
best and bravest troops ; the Duke had a minor force ; that
numerical deficiency included 17,500 men who were worse
than useless, from their more than suspected disinclination
to the British army, and to the cause of the allies ; and yet,
with all the advantages of numbers, unanimity of feeling,
and discipline, victory inclined to the weaker party, and the
French were beaten.

Now, if there had been no advantage in position, the
French soldiers must have been deficient in spirit and bra-
very. This was not the case. Never did Napoleon's troops,
his officers, or any men, manifest that quality in a more ex-
traordinary or conspicuous degree. Nothing can exceed, or
scarcely equal, the dash and the vigour. of their movements,
but the steady courage and the obstinate defence by which
their splendid onsets and their continued charges were re-
pulsed.

In arguing the subject in the absence of such capabilities
of demonstration as the field itself affords, mysteries, as re-
gards position, might and would arise ; but in the presence
of the model, whereon every undulation of the field is given
in its true and exact scale, the difficulty of a full and perfect
conception vanishes, and truth and generosity alike require
that to the advantages of that chosen spot the victory should
mainly and decidedly be ascribed.

The Duke intended to fight a defensive battle, and nothing
can be more happy than the spot chosen for such a line of

tactics

The extent of the ridge which formed the Duke's position
was just sufficient for complete occupation, without leaving a
gap through which the enemy could penetrate. Its conti-
nuous character admitted of the troops being so posted that
each regiment protected the flank of the adjoining, and, by
the same means, the flanks of the different brigades of artil-
lery were fully protected against all attempts at capture or
disorganization. The superior height of the ridge which
formed the Duke's position enabled him to overlook that of
Napoleon—to observe the number and description of the
troops put in motion—and to ascertain, long, before its shock
was felt, the portion of his line against which the weight of
the attack was directed. The declivity of the ground towards
Brussels, upon which the allied reserve was posted,
that portion of the Duke's army from the fire of tl._ _ .-..-..
artillery, and. it enabled the Duke to change their position
without the possibility of observation from any portion of the
French lines—whilst the intermediate ground between the
positions of the two contending armies, over which the Em-
peror's troops had to pass in their attacks, and to repass after
their repulse, laid their columns and their squadrons com-
pletely open to the ravages of the British guns.
On the right (and in front of that position of the field which
was, at first, the right of his centre) he had the strong post
of Hougomont. This post prevented any outflanking move-
ment on the right, and whilst in doubt of how long Hougo-
mont might be tenable, he had his right, under Lord Hill,
thrown back, and resting upon Merbe-Braine. In advance
of his centre he had the smaller post of La-Haye Sainte.
The occupation of these two advanced positions prevented
any formation by the enemy near the British line, and obliged
Napoleon, in passing these positions, either to mask them
by large bodies of infantry, or to expose the flanks of his
advancing and retiring columns to the troops by whom they
were occupied.

On the extreme left (which pointed to Wavre) the Prus-
sians were expected, and known to be approaching. Here
the Duke was, in a measure, and for a time, open to an out-
flanking movement on the part of the Emperor • but had
such an attempt been made, the troops detached for such a
purpose Would have been opposed by the strong body of ca-
valry, under the Earl of Uxbridge, posted and retained for
this purpose upon the left, until the arrival of the Prussians
precluded the possibility of such a movement.

- It is evident that the -whole of the Duke's arrangements and
instructions were comprised in the obstinate defence of this
admirable position—that his officers were directed neither
to suffer themselves to be driven therefrom, nor were they
to be tempted, by any partial advantage, to advance beyond
the shelter afforded by the position of the Duke; and the
extraordinary provision which we see made for counteracting
every probable movement of the French, fully convinces us
that the position was not hastily decided on, or accidenially
occupied, but that it was the result of previous examination,
and a careful estimation of its most minute particulars ; and
it fully accounts for that astonishment and awe which per-
vaded the mind of Napoleon when he found himself baffled
in every manmuvre, and repulsed in every attack whereby
he hoped to establish himself upon the British line.
Throughout the day it was evident that it was a contest
for and against time. Napoleon, equally aware with the
'Duke that the Prussians were advancing,* and convinced (as
we learn from his despatch to Grouchy) that they would ul-
timately arrive, to augment the numbers of the Duke—and
being, until this junction could be effected, by far the stronge
power, was endavouring to crush his opponent by hasty
sures and superior weight, whilst the Duke was husbandit4,
and economising the British strength; and for that line of
conduct the British army as individuals, and the British na-
tion in general, should never cease to be thankful.
From the commencement of the action the most 4.-
dinary exertions were made by the French ,
charges were made with a vigour and a rapidity never pi
viously exhibited in any modern field. Their columns
infantry were received upon the ridge by our troops in lint
their cavalry by the same troops rapidly thrown into square
around which they rode, vainly endeavouring to penetrate
through any gap, or to find a point of entrance from the
shaken nerves or the unsteady conduct of the men.
_ _

From the reckless and determined character of the attach
upon one side, and from the steadiness and comparative]
sheltered position on the other, it was perfectly apparent till
the loss upon the side of the French was in a ratio of 7noi
than three to two of the British; and (if the original ar
advantageous position could be maintained against Napoleon
troops in all the vigour of the early hours of contest.) it w:

easy to foresee that the strength of the armies would, ere
night-fall, be more than equalized ; and that Wellington
(who never moved till certain of success) could ultimately
turn the tables on the foe, who had, during the mornin.
lavishly used and completely expended the physical
and jaded the horses, of even those troops which forinea t
usual reserves.
Thus far the features of the spot and its recorded occupi
tion enables us to enter into the motives of the Duke. NS
are aware that the Duke did not wish to avoid a battle, be
that he was desirous of receiving it upon a spot, the advan
taps of which would atone for his numerical deficiencies
R,e have every reason to suppose that had his position, the
now memorable ridge, been more conspicuously formidable,
Napoleon, rash and impetuous as he was, would neither have
commenced, nor would he have persisted' in the attack ; and
we have the fullest proqf that had it been less capable of de-
fence, or had any other line of tactics been pursued, Na-
polon held in his hand the means of accomplishing the
threat which he that morning made of " trampling to the
very earth" the small but formidable band which that day
crossed his path ; and by the leader's skili, supported by the
soldier's hardihood, entwined its last and brightest wreath
around the British arms.
Having, in this, connned myself principally to the posi-
tion, I shall, in my next, describe the co-operation received
from the Prussians.

powers

I am, Sir,