The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-08-24 00:00:00

Dix TALE or MYSTF:EY.

,
•

:AM

• • .

1 •••

.The investigation into the mysterious death of the
West:Riding Clothier, 40 years ago, as mentioned in
our last Paper, has bed no satisfactory result. A• we
have already stated, the self-accuser, whose name is
Joseph Royston, and whose residence is et Morton-
Hanks, neer Bingley, set out on Frirley, along with
Mr;Slater, the son of the deceased, and the constable
of Yeadon, for York.
On Saturday morning they proceeded to Coning.
writh, a village on the hanks of the Der-went, where
the remains of the senior Sister were said to be depo.
' sited. At this place diligent search was made, and
all the proper enquiries instituted without success.—
Royston, whose conduct is as *unaccountable as it is
suspicious, led them from place to place, arid at
length said that the.hody was interred in the church.
yard. That nothiogmight be left undone which seemed
likely to cast light upon this mysterious affair, the
Clergyman at that place was applied to, ■nd the re-
gister was carefully searched, but no traces of such
• burial could be found in it. &filled in their ender.
Yours, the party returned to their respective homes
oniunday, and on Thursda♦ last Royetnn was taken
before MAJOR IFEKILAND; Him. one of the Magis-
trates of this Riding, at Bingley, where he- ander.
'went a long examination in. the presence of thsi partici
to whom lie had at first declared that be " killed'
Slater 40 years ago, and buried him in the corner Of
a torn field." . Though the conduct of this unhappy
man has in it sufficient to excite violent suspitions of

his guilt, the evidence against him rests mainly on
his own confession, and the Magistrate very properly
judging that under such circumstances he would not
bejustified in committing him for trial, ordered him
jrf the present to be discharged.—( Leech Mercury.)

day.
biattbi Rorflo°
• ,

•

•••••”N

*lt" - •

..

-~..~~

. .

, -
• LetIVC4IST'E ft ASSIZES, 416. 1111- *v.'. • 114e;ry -ii-ueitin.es...p.Ut as to h• r saying.
-,-sm.— • I bind's saying: " D-z-A3 hitn, give him whi
MIL SIDS. if he will mike his will ;" and after it
.The Court disposed of a considerable member of en- I " D—u Mee, &To UM el Muth Whisky
defended copses, end then entered upon the trial of , can swallow, she sooner be is riff the bet
the validity
,of an Irish will. I answered by Ho.o.o! Mr. keine estirat
in respells& - ROGERSON O. wurretucTo* awn (mum. log

.•.

.

Thomas Jordan, a native of Lancashire, aisalin
1804, in the house of Thomas Rogerson, near Chapel
hod, which, is two miles from Dublin. His wilt be-
qiniathird 101. for mourning to Thorne' Rogerson,
151. to his wife, 61. to each of his children,Wnd .61: to
the servant maid, all for the same purpose • acrd the
rest of his. property, real and personal, after pay-
ment of Ms debts, and the went* of his funeral. to.
John Jordan Rogaion, the present Plaintiff, godson
to the testator, And eldest son of Thomas Rogerson.
The propeny thUs bequeathed was very considerable,
including two real estates near Manchester. The tes-
tator's nephews and heirs at law refused compliance
with the will. A bill was Cell in Chancery in 1808.1
This issue was directed by the Court of Chaucery,
cud the record entered this time last year, bat with-
drawn without trial. Issue was this day fairlyjoined.-
Messrs. 'Scarlet!, Richardson, and WilliaMsOseral
•Counsel 'for the Plaintiff; Messrs. Topping, Ramis;
and Littletiale, for the Defendants.
William Hogan, vestry-clerk and schoot.esasferr
Chapel lead, knew Jordan in 1804. He was a eel.,
lien-printer.. Ile lived in btogersoals hause:'ltoget.
son had. a. son, John Jordon Rogerson, WlO RIM
(hen a year or two old. Jordan applied to Mm to
make his will, and shovied hies his father's will to
copy from. He had property to a considerable
amount, 20001. personal property, 'lnd two estate'
near Manchester. He, witness, Bide his will, it
was Patented on the 6th of April, 1804, and attested,
by him and James Kain. Thomas Rogerson after-.
wards told witness that the testator wished them 111
show it to Wilcox,' to see if it was right.. They did
so. Wilco' made some alterations in it. The second
will was written out and dated on the 9th of April.
It was io,suhstance precisely the same as the first.---,
The testator having then recovered, and being seen
by witneii walking to Chapel hod, he was in no
hurry to bring hies the will. Mrs. Rogerson came
t• him, and told him to hurry with the will. Ile
did so. Ile found the testator lying very ill in bed,
and a'ked him how he was. lie replied by the ques-
tion, !live you brought the will ? Ile read it to
him. The testator said, "It will do now." Welsh
and Byrne were then called in. In their presence
the will was read over again and executed, the wit-
ness holding the testator's hind. The witness,
Welsh, and Byrne attested it. The testator said his
Home was hadly written. hot it would do. A Cler.
own, O'Neil, afterwards attended the testator.—
Ile died a day or two afterwards.
This lively schoolmaster was most fi.lgety, and of-.
forded high amusement antler Mr. Tiseeino' cross-,
nomination. lie had known the testator about a
year before. Byrne anti Welsh were apprenticea.—
There was a servant in the house, Susannah hi'Der-
mid. She might have come into the room, es the
door was not fastened. He did not hear of any
particular fall which the deceased had, by which
his teeth were broken. lie had many
.e (MIA ,lie,
was fond of a drop., Not only of' asap,. bet of
large quantities, which he preferred. He liked a
large glass better than a small one. Ile was almost
always drunk. He was not quite insensible when
the will was executed. If witness ever said so, be
must have been at the time very drunk. A signature,
"W. Hogan," was here shown to him. He long
persisted in tossing away the pater, and said he never
signed 'his name " W. Hogan," but either ".Wm.
Hogan," or William Hogan." Ile would not swear
that the signature was not .his. He acknowledged
the writing, and at length the signature, but added
that he was very drunk when he wrote it. This
paper set forth that William Hogan, if called upon
in any Court of Justice, would right all parties, and
added, that Thomas Jordan was quite insensible
when he sigood the will. Witness said that Mrs.
Rogerson had said to him, she should be ruined if be
did not hasten with the will. .
Ott his se.elarnittation, he said that Thomas Jos..
don, nephew of the deceased, brought him to Dublin,
made Dim quite drunk, and then got that writing
from him.
The will was then produced, from the Prerogative
Court in Dublin, and reed.
Martha Rogerson was nowise in the box. Mick
argument arose upon her admissibility. being a le-
gatee under the will for 151. and her husband hiving.
been a party to the suit in equity. It was answered,
that she was released es i legatee, that tier husband
was a witness, by the espies. order of the court .of
Chancery ; that the only ground for objecting to,her
was therefore removed, and that there was no kiloton.
arising from the Costs, since, whatever the decision,
here might be, the Lord Chancellor wouldlive costs
according to his discretion.
Mr. Justice I:34TLEY thought her admissible.
Two letters were then put in and read: They,
were written in 1802, by Thomas Jordan, then owls
visit at Manchester, to Thrones Rogerson. Teey
contained expresaions of great regard for him and
his family, and .consplisitits against his friends ar
Manchester. ". You cannot conceive what occtrii:
drel my nephew 'Thomas is turned not."
Martha Rogerton was then eximined. She sp.:
peered very delicate, and had frectient recourse
a glass of water, a smelling-hottle, and her chair,
while examined by Mr. Williams. Sire said that
Thomas Jordait had been very ansioes to get his
will made, ofteOsaid that trope of hie friends should
get any of his property, and was very fond of her
little toy, John'Jordan Rogerson. She could not
tell when this boy had beeu born. he was now going
18. It was therefore inferred that he was boon its,
1800: Thomis ,Jordan was quite sensible when We
will was necistel He had lived in their. totise all
the time he had been in Ireland, sis or seven years.
She became *rather more arm and intrepid, 'while
.Mr.' RAINE was cress.esamining. Jordan drink
largely. He antriier husband sometimes quarrelled,
bat it was when jot
every day ?—Yeti.
Mr. Justice 8421
net warranfed.• .141
was only when he 4
but it does not fell

o..mombe

On bevre.aiimialliatlona that
resisnd some 'ests alike, end Used in Sc.
he and her buttband bad no* tom froth
togive their evidence; • •
Thomas Rirgertnn was theh triamlited ,
length. He had first becoint atkosinfed
..I,.rdan when he was in the Lancashire
1780. Mr..torden had
Chapel hod, tind, alwayir.tedged with 111
In. first ats agent there for a hoote id.
and afterwards inshe commission Ilne.
Mr. LI7,S4bALIti crow-eiiiitittat
',vies of quagiiuns, whit%
They were of the sane cltartigilt-Vitt'',
'Mrs. angering): _ • • • ." • t
'Mr. Watkins, solicitor IA Chiebeartt
tilf wag etamined to 'croup far lilt
.
ttio. had had insituctioni Alti a
and he believed it • was died in URA.
sisiert then was awing to the I)efeitsl,
.done eel in4ii*pnwer to'.bring
ered (*it year. •He then-hadla
It. dadertinod 4be f Byere • sh
,sind intended to italiptiena mat .tout
Jam- The mold- was 0/ithdilkiilekbartil
not. think-4 prudent, to go W. ttlill midst
eridenue. :Ile bad *instil/44 ftslitiO4
In consequessec• H. -Inky'Wite,4ic
eabpososed
luso es to • rarhilthee the bill tits ittli Viet
.xBlo.—lle had'* meant ofirtylitg ditties*
01110enticdrift propeelf *Ws gbleat tt
$ year. 'Tin 'ne-twetve thousand. pounds
Is deeply mevigaged. It is perhaps ,
th""0" P^9l4ll•llfwe paying off alt matte- -
Mr. Torttsce tom/ new to address thriottfdt tilie •
Defendants. • . • •••
Mr. Justice delmair.-i-Do 74.19 eat yillopidetf .•
Mr. Toirrrili.o yest7iny 14tirdi si,grogi `• •
• Mr. Justice BirneT.-r-Lainitran briitg she deaf
within any ressonablis Valeria? ' Wit isle nailv.lll
-the Assize to keep the- lerrip all.. night: •*8it410.4,'
after a certain perindr the atteattiod ner;etlitally tbit' •
bees.
B r Cloth utin expresoid great • *gig"'
, •,.-
joarn. . `. • . : • .
• Hrs.-Lon/ilk asked bow they.itewfd det told. 041
Jury ?, 7. -
Mr. SCAR'LltlTield, they would not bf thewllollllll.
converse with any one on the subject. '
Mr. WILLIAMS am sere the Genii/min!
see in the boa will pi/110.k a word on the subject Ui.
any one.
Mr. TOPPING.—Who ? the Jury Bless your solid.
I would trust my life to them. I know the Grentlei •
men of Lancashire.
Adjourned at biz o'clock/

. ••

. f

~_.

, •
: • 4.

_ • ;41*

-1

•

S

WIRDNRIDAY. Aas.l.ll. •. •
11001tetto 9. WIIIITINGTOPi Atte CI.T Iltlbir •
This adjourned care eccepied the Court Aldo dolt .•
till half past five. •
Mr. ToreING made, st very lively and seitabl•
speech in the morning.
~ •
Susanna Smith (fortiterly ist'lDerisirl) was servant
to Mr. Rogerson when Mr. Jordan died in his hoes&
She remembered. Jordan's being always drunk, sea
particularly his getting six _glasses of rum the morn.
ing he signed hie will. He bed on one .neellfinab •
threatened to cut Mrs. Rogeismes thioat. She•
thought him quite insensible the day his will. wet
signed. He ease indirect.answerewben be gaveouy
answers at'all. .•.. c d.. :a: •
The essmination and crosi.etamitetire 'of
lady occupied four hours.
Patrick Byrne, one of the attesting esitnestesw •
thonet Jordan prigtotly iesetisihle, end believ4.3:
that Christopher Welsh, whose name was signed se- '
another witness, never learned to write at all-miss
Welsh died, it was believed, in the army. H• had-.
heard Jordan always speak with respect of his as..
phew William.
This witness had given letters and engagements to
the Plaintiff's Mende to serve theta, bust, ilk, Mt:
Hogan, be now said that he had been made dreelk-
with wine and whisky.• Yet, drunk as he was, he
refused to sign a declaration he bad written, as his
signaler* week! make it legal.
Mr. SCARLSTT made a very ingenious and powerful
reply.
Mr. Justice BATt.eY summed up at great length,
sod rather with a leaning to the Plaintiff's evidence.
The Jury, in a few minutes, found a verdict fee
4PDafeodants. ,
' ;.Thi7.occasioned some difficulty and misappreheo—
slitoittnoHt the partieS, and his Lordship asked the
lir), whether tkey found for the mill or against the
-nett I,"'
IniiinsfiL—Apipst the will. •
.
' A few•utidefeuded clines were afterwards disposed
of, and tile.toort adjourned at vii o'clock. •
•
:1110.1ri Is the Arms stables was not se do.
itroettantothetpuilding as was imagined in the first
period
_oralerte; but this destruction of -the horses is
rather greatir.. Eight are now dead, and one or
tsistilmire are in.sucli a stele Oat it is apprehended
shooting must biked.secporse to, in• order ti deliver
thine from torture, The fire must have been ism. •
sioned by a careless-spark dropped either ie. the straw
at the horse's' feet,. er.in the Joky on the loft above,.
1044 of the lrorsep,Ass a spirited pony belonging to
Lit-0 of the bar, son to•the Bishop of Chester.

.~

1:' '

.

~~

,

t

elliew'r ' -----••••wr.--
•.- •:-..!. - 41-,--• -,,-7.- - 1.
. s
. . -
. or her hte-1. •
higky eimi.gh '
it wed 0)604 It
:, ii9ii as 14 •
it
bpi ter,' „wire •
1r t AA' 1
prialltie
iiclegriet4
• .
Wet Wdd left
i Sem irstd...-z•
'robs Giotto** .
• • ,
a 'reit* The& . •
* Milititt...id, • i
sting mill. at ..
•
Rim. %Weill . .
i Mitsiebeiteri •
I.‘
I
111(o, iNid -4: . . 1
negativo....: . •
.1 k
'4Bo* patio •
i. 4 ,
for de Oldie:
--:,- 1.1 . &let of thd .
'bill in-19011* k
i. "fhb &lit
1.4t1.; he ha •
..... ':-: .
• decision. ft: .
..
kin •beie freed ..
ti -...,
qvs here. foe • • ''•
4 -. CI:
Doha ' not 84'
letetittii he did
. . t
hteef.tietbee
lila kertiad . •
beesitego- Ind . #
r Mt. Tom..
.-- . .
iet dled 'Wert -:..:
lathy. it iiiii' *.--
tho. bi 4001 . f . •As , ~
cis i..:(ct.-- .if'
tlra-.r tbred .". I:,
'llPlii‘lkii ' . .
~.....i....e... 4161. i. • . .41/. * ik

ore inferred that he was boon in - ,-T---'-
!rdato was quite sensible when ilie The following occurrence toiik pies, in the Re.
lie had lived in their itotive aft gent's Park yesterday, and was nearly attended with
en in Ireland, sis or seven yeti's. fatal consequences:—Teo boys; about eleven years /-
ier more Orin and intrepid, While 'of ne, were standing on the brie li of the Canal, op-
Frpss-esamining. Jordan drink , patently at high words with eaCkelber, when one. of . •
.
her husband sometimes quarrelled, 1 them suddenly lave the ether sr violent push, and i
grdan was drunk. And that was precipitated binsioto the water. The young dean. •
.-., , f • I quent immediately took to his. heels, leaving hi, cols. , • iii
TLST.-0, bet year inference is 'Anion to sitilk or. maim, and bed it net been for Mr.,..*. .;
..;
.
Osk.was drunk every day, and it ' Clare, of H .„:4,
Hampstead, who was passing by, be moeit- . • ; ~,
' itaedrunk that they quarrelled, ' certninly have been drowned. This Gentlemastfieelit.
'oliew that they quarrelled every 1 of his coat, and went into the water, and by
; trifling assistance of another man, succeeded in base • -
on said they quarrelled bat seldom . log tko poor boy Soloed, in a reel; eabsested stets. -
.....
•
•
-.-
.. -. ..
. -:-..-..*•' .