The Sun. — 1826-09-15 (London, England)

MURDER.  Richard Wells was indicted for having, on the 13th of June, while driving in a coach drawn by four horses, run against a gig in which the wife of Henry Farbridge was dip riding, whereby she was thrown out of the gig and the wheels of the coach passed over her head. She lingered until the.sth of July, and then expired. Mr. ANDiatiVs stated the case. The prisoner, he said, was the servant of Mr. Waterhonse, of the Swan and Two Necks, in Lad-lane; he had the character of a steady skilful coachman, but it was evident, notwithstanding this, that he was the cause of the death in question ; he was charged in the indictment with the crime of murder, and onsthe Coroner's Inquest with that of _Manslaughter ; it was for the Jury to determine whether or not he was guilty of what the Grand Jury thought proper to present. There was one circumstance in favour of the prisoner, that he had surrendered himself spontaneously for trial. He then called the following witnesses :•••-• Henry Farbridge was, on the night of the 30th of June, driving in a one-horse chaise, having his wife on one side, and his mother and a child sitting on a stool. He set mit from Barnet at nine o'clock in the afternoon towards Lou don. When he came to Barnet Church, be heard the sound of a horn, and the noise of a coach behind him ; he then made towards his own side of the road ; he came within three feet of the foot path ; there was sufficient room for a large' waggon to pass the other side, and, on looking behind, he saw the so near his wheel, that it was impossible for them to puss him ; he looked to• see if the coachman was pulling up, and observing lie was not, he endeavoured to get nearer to the near side, and immediately the hind-wheel of the mail-coach struck against his gig ; his wife was thrown between the two wheels of the mail-coach, and he himself thrown under the hind wheel of the coach. It then stopped, and he found his wife apparently dead; he had not power to raise her • he. said to the coachman, " Yon villain, you have been her; cause of this; prisoner replied, " It was no fault Of mine; I blew the horn, " and you ought to get out of the way." The prisoner then said, " That there was no room to pass ;" witness said, " There was always room for another coach; there.were at that time six or seven feet to spare for the mail to pass ;" he measured it since, and found it to be so ; his wife was then taken to a house, and witness asked the coachman foi• his address, which, after considerable reluctance, prisoner gave; it was on level ground, and witness was driving at the rate of seven or eight miles an hour,. it was as light as day ; his wife was brought home after having remained there eleven days, and died. Cross-examined by Mr. Bnobtatot—He had taken a little Wine and water, and some ,ale, previous to his starting froM Barnet; 'urgeon Morris attended his wife at Barnet, who said that it was dangerous to remove his wife home, but said she would die, and that she might as well die at home as at Barnet.  John Robinson, a farl6r at Barnet, was walking from market on the evening in question; saw the mail strike the gig, he was behind; saw the woman almost immediately under the wheel of the coach; the coachman had made no effort to stop the coach previous to the mail striking the gig. Witness knew that the mail would strike the gig, from the line it war going in ; there was plenty of room for the mail to pass without coming aril, inst the gig; could not swear that he had heard the horn ; the prosecutor was very near his proper side at the time. Cross-examined by Mr. BnonEatcK—The mail stopped directly the accident happened; he went to stop the gig horse, and could lying, vat see in what position the woman was  Siirgeon Morris examined by Mr.