Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1879-05-10 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

ANOTHER PERJURY OA.SE AT (SUICIDE OF AN OLD STOCKTON STOOKTON. I TRADESMAN.  At the Stockton Police Court on Monday morning a young woman named Hannah Carter appeared in answer to a charge of committing "wilful and corrupt perjury." The woman is the daughter of Mr Benjamin Carter, landlord of the Black Horse Inn, at Billingham, and the charge now preferred against her arose out of the evidence she gave in Court when her father was summoned for selling drink during prohibited hours. Mr Carter has already been charged with committing perjury on the same occasion, and is now awaiting to take his trial at the next Assizes. Superintendent Bell proseouted in th 6 present case and Mr Thomas, of West Hartlepool, appeared on behalf of the defendant. Mr Farnd ale (Deputy Magistrate's Clerk) gave evidence to the effect that on the 23rd of April Mr Benjamin Carter was charged at the Police Court with selling beer during prohibited hours. He was found guilty and fined. In the evidence he then gave he stated that the two men Wright and Hope told him , they had walked from South Stockton. The Black Horse Inn is situated about three milesfrom South Stockton, and consequently , if the statement of the men had been true they woull have been within the "privilege lof travellers" in obtaining refreshments during the hours the public. house was closed to ordinary , persons. But both men denied having told Mr Carter that they came from South Stockton. Mr Carter's daughter, on the other hand, supported the statement of her father, and it was upon these statements that the two charges of perjury were based Inspector Caisley, Detective - Sergeant Heslop, and the men Wright and Hope repeated the evidence they gave at the hearing of the charge against Mr Carter. The evidense was published at length in the Daily Gazette at the time, and it is therefore only necessary now to give an epitome of it. In the "small hours." of the morning of Sunday, the 20th of April, Inspector Caleley and Sergt. Healop proceeded to Billingham and took up a position behind a wall, from which they could watch the back entrance to the Black Horse Inn. At about eight o'clock the men Wright and Hope came up to the back door, and were served with two pints of beer. Inspector Caisley and Sergeant Herslep then scaled the wall behind which they were secreted, and appeared upon the scene whilst the mer. were drinking the beer. The Magistrates (Dr. Dale and Mr Benington) after carefully considering the evidence, committed the daughter to take her trial with her father at the next Assizes on the charge of wilful and corrupt perjury. Bail was accepted, as in the case of Mr Carter.  Mr Coroner Settle held an enquiry at the Stockton Police Court on Friday morning into the oircumetanc.ee attending the death of Mr Guy Herbert. The deceased was a wellknown Stockton tradesman. At one time he carried on a diapery business in High-street, and subeequentiy became landlord of the George Hotel. Some time ago he severed his connection with the hotel, and commenced business as a coal merchant in the rear of the hotel. Mrs Elizabeth Herbert, wife of the deceased, said her late husband had been quite MI "altered man" for some months past. He had had much trouble and indulged too freely in drink. Al half-past seven on Saturday morning, the 19th of April, he asked her to make him a cup of tea. Witness complied with his reqnest, and the deceased, after drinking the tea, left the house with the remark that he should" be back soon." He did not return, however, and witness never saw him again alive. She had no suspicion that Ideceseed intended to commit suicide, although circumstances had previously occurred which led her to fear that he might ' harm himself when under the influence of drink. On the day before the deceased left the house he was confined to his bed, and w.a unable to take any solid food. w itness on that day discovered that the deceased had secreted a bread knife beneath the bed. She ' asked him what his object was in hiding the knife there, but the deceased refused to make any reply. Mr John Jubb, landlord of the Bolton House Inn, in Thistle Green, said the deceased entered his bar about quarter to eight on Saturday morning, the 19th of April. He was served with one glass of whisky, and left immediately after he had drank it. Wit- , nese thought the deceased seemed perfectly rational, as he bade witness "good morning" on leaving, and said he should go home to breakfast. Miss Elizabeth Harris, barmaid at the White Swan Hotel, in Silver street, gave evidence to the effect that the deceased went to the hotel about eight o'clock on the morning in question. She served him with a glass of whisay, and after remaining in the house about a quarter of an hour the deceased left. He seemed quite sober and sensible. John Boswell, a puddler, said that as he was fishing in the Tees opposite Thornaby Wood about twelve o'clock yesterday, be observed something dark moving at the bottom of the river a few yards from the bank. tie at once cast his line towards the spot, and succeeded in hooking the moving °Ned , which proved to be the body of Mr Guy Herbert. Witness and another man took the body down the river and landed it at Dixon's stage, whence it was conveyed to the dead-house. Mr Edward Dickenson, grocer, Highstreet, now identified the body as that of Mr Herbert. The deceased, in the course of conversation with Mr Dickenson, told him that "he had a load of troubles" to bear. Detective-Sergeant Healop deposed to ' searching the body and finding a number of papers which left co doubt as to the body being that of Mr Herbert. The jury, after a few minutes deliberation, returned a verdict of "Found dead in the River Tees."