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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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OUR CIVILIZATION
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TRIAL AND CONVICTION OF BACON . © mas Fullkr Bacon ,, who was recently tried at ndon for the murder of his children , of -which crime waa acquitted , was charged at the Lincoln Assizes t Saturday with administering arsenic to his mother , ; h intent to kill her . Mr . Mellor , Q . C ., who consted the prosecution , decided on proceeding on this ictraent rather than on that which charged murder . 8 trial was to have taken place the previous day ; but Taylor , one of the witnesses , being absent on aner trial , the case against Bacon could not be proded with . The Judge ( Mr . Justice Erie ) felt in siderable perplexity , and was obliged to postpone the airy . In the meanwhile , a telegraphic message was t to Dr . Taylor by the Judge , commanding him to md , and adding that if he neglected it would be at his 11 . Accordingly , on Saturday he was present , and
case proceeded . Bacon pleaded Not Guilty , and ing the whole of the trial he was weeping . The s lay in rather a small compass . On Sunday , the h of May , 1855 , the mother of Bacon dined with her the accused , who was at that time living at Stam-1 . She was seized with illness shortly after dinner ; i taken home j got worse for a time ; recovered on Monday ; became very ill again on the Tuesday , died that night . Thomas B ^ con and his wife < the nan acquitted of the charge of murdering her children the ground of insanity , and now confined as a lunatic ) e about . the elder Mrs . Bacon ' s bed , and Bacon often linistered her medicines to her . At one time , he reed his wife to a bottle on the dressing-table , and L be thought his : mother had better have some of its tents . Immediately after the death , he removed a are bottle—" not an ordinary medicine bottle , " one of witnesses said—which contained some whitish fluid ;
at the same time he remarked , " This is of no use r I may as well take it away . " William Bacon , a ; her of Thomas , was also about the house during the ass , together with his wife ; and they found that , on Monday preceding the day of the death , Thomas had tessed himself of his mother ' s rent book . He said it his right , but he was reproved for taking it by his her William . Old Mrs . Bacon owned several houses , ch Thomas seems to have thought would become his > erty on his mother ' s death . It turned out , how-• , that the property was divided among the rest of children . Some months previously , Bacon sent a to a chemist ' s for arsenic , alleging that he wanted > harden iron ( he was a whitesmith ) : but he was
sed . Subsequently , only eight da 3 s before his her s death , he obtained one ounce of the poison , this 3 applying for it in person , and signing the chemist ' s c . He said he required it for killing-rats . His her , during her illness , suffered immense pain , being cted by . severe vomiting , purging , twitching of the res , . and stiffness of the limbs—all symptoms of nical poisoning ; and , on the body being exhumed February , a ^ d analysed by Dr . Taylor and Mr . ison , arsenic , to the extent of three quarters of a , n , was found in the coats of the stomach , the spleen ,, leys , liver , gall-bladders , &c . With respect to the Ration about the rats , a witness was examined , who that , during seven years when he had lived in oil ' s house , he had only seen two rats there .
his was the case for the prosecution . For the dee , it was contended that Bacon was being persecuted prejudice ; that there was no proof that he had adistered the arsenic ; that he really had bought the on to destroy rats ; and that it was more probable : the criipe was committed by Thomas Bacon ' s wife i by Bacon himself . It was urged that the woman been proved to be afflicted by what is called homi-. 1 monomania , and Bacon ' s counsel proposed to call a ness to show that she had been , acquitted of the rge of murdering her children simply on the ground laanity . The Judge , however , thought this evidence levant , and it was therefore not received , [ is Lordship having summed up , the jury retired for minutes , and returned a verdict of Guilty , Judgit of death was then recorded .
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THE ASSIZES . inoch Jordan , brickmakor ; Richard Allsop , blacking lufacturer ; Henry Black , Alexander Macdonuld , George Williams , labourers , have been tried at coin for a burglary at the dwelling house of Mr . dar Worth , at Scothorn , on tho 18 th of May . Tho s appeared in tho Leader of May 23 rd . Tho attair was ifly remarkable for tho courage of tho oldflat of tho ng ladies , who declared that tho robbers tthbuld not hurt parents . Tho men were heavily armed , and uttered iata of what they would do if an alurin woro given ,.
Mi 83 Worth bogging to have a locket containing her bar ' s liair returned to her , one of tho men broke it tho chain , and throw it to nor . Shortly afterwards , of tho mon left to go into tho next room ; wherel , Miss Worth said to thorn , " Lot mo go drat , or tho iron will bo frightened . " This aho was allowed to Jordan had boon in Mr . Worth's aorvico sover . al a ago . Ho and tho othera wero found Guilty . Blaok AHaop , who wore tickot-of-lonvo mon , worq aonod to twenty ycara' pqnul servitudo ; tho mat to toon years .
Robert Ivatt and four other men were tned by Lord Campbell at Cambridge for an assault on the police oh the 3 rd : of last April , the Say of polling at the last general election for the county . On that occasion , a mob had assembled after four o ' clock ; and had proceeded to demolish and remove the hustings , there being a notion that the populace are by custom , if not by law , entitled to appropriate that property . The police , by order of the magistrates , had interfered to protect the hustings , and in the discharge of that duty had sustained great personal -injury , and were driven back to the
station , where a savage attack was made by the mob upon them and the station , so that in self-defence the police were obliged to resort to firearms . It was not till a late houry and after the station had been all but demolished , that peace and quiet were restored . Among the mob , all the prisoners had been seen . At the suggestion of Lord Campbell , the case was compromised . The defendants pleaded Guilty , and were simply required to enter into their own recognizances for their future good behaviour . This wa 3 done , and they were discharged .
Joseph Vaughan , John Harrison , John Allsop , and Henry Jones , were tried at Stafford for an attack on John Smith , a tollbar keeper at Whitgrave . He was awakened early on the morning of Sunday , the 12 th of July , by his window being broken by a stone , and , looking out , he saw the four prisoners , who are tailors . They appeared to be ' out on a lark . ' Smith dressed himself , and followed them , demanding payment for the broken window , when they attacked him with great ferocity , and finally left him insensible in a ditch , with
a broken rib . A man named Skelton , who was passing by , exhibited great courage in defending Smith ; but he also was attacked . However , finally he got Smith into the tollbar house , whence he was removed to the Stafford Infirmary , and his life for some days was despaired of . All the prisoners were found Guilty , and were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment . Mr , Baron Martin highly eulogized the conduct of Skelton , and , on finding that the statute made no provision for rewarding such a man , gave him 21 . out of his own pockets
Stephen Fox has been found Guilty at Maidstone of the murder of Mary Ann Hadley , a girl to whom he had been engaged to be married , but whom he shot in the streets of Canterbury on finding that she had determined on breaking off the match . He was sentenced to death . Samuel Baker , a publican , was tried at Maidstone for the wilful murder of Edward M'CarrolI , a young lieutenant in the 44 th Regiment , staying , at the time in question , at Walnier Barracks , near Deal . On the night of the 29 th of March , M'CarrolI went , while intoxicated , to the house kept by Baker , and , on being refused liquor on credit , abused 3 Irs . Baker , and knocked some of her teeth out . The exasperated husband , on hearing of this , followed M'CarrolI with a poker in his hand , and beat him so severely about the head that his skull was fractured , and he died , The defence was that , under the circumstances of provocation , the crime only amounted to manslaughter ; and of this Baker was found Guilty . Sentence waa deferred .
Richard Many , a corn-dealer , lias b . een found Guilty at Exeter of forging a bill of exchange for 701 ., which he got cashed at the Devon and Cornwall Bank at Kingsbridge , where he had kept an account for many years . He afterwards called at the bank , and confessed the forgery , addiiig that he then felt his mind relieved . He was sentenced to six years' penal servitudo . Charles Cliumley , a waterman , has been found Guilty at Maidstone of manslaughter in causing the death of Elizabeth Jones , a girl of light character , with whom he had a quarrel ending in his striking her a blow on the head with a broom . Ho was sentenced to four years ' penal servitude .
George Parker has been tried nt tho same Assizes for shooting at Mary Ann Eliza Taylor . They had been engaged to be married , but quarrelled , and Parker , being jealous of the girl , fired a piatol at her , and slightly wounded her with a knife Ho was Acquitted ; but the Judge ordered him to find sureties to keep tho peace for two years .
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A STRANGE TALE OF WEDDED LIFE . James Hays , a mastor mariner at South Shields , married in 1851 a person in his own station of life , and for some years lived with her on tho most affectionate terms . In October , 1856 ( they had then one child ) , Mr . Hnya was engaged to navigate a vessel to Constantinople and Ualaklava , and , previously to starting , ho took for his wife a small grocery shop , and also secured to her tho payment ofhnlf his wages during the time ho should bo absent . Furthermore , ho made arrangements with a relative to pay her an allowance in inonej ' . Tho husband and wifu parted apparently with tho utmost
sorrow on both sides . While staying for a short tune in London hoforo starting for JJwlaklava , Mr . IJayfl received from his wife a letter , in which el * o said she hud boon vory unhappj' sinoo ho had left , and nskod whether aho might not shut up tho shop for a week , and go to London to sco him . To this the husband replied in n lottor of admirablo fooling and good eonso , in which ho aaitl : — " You well know bow gladly , liow readily , I would . wiah you with me , for I am sure I onjoy no roal plousuro nor happiness but only in your dear company . My foollnga plond hard for you } but what to do jn thia mutter J roally do not kn , o ) v , Oijr wplfaro br 4 fUtlFe
happiness depend upon our economy .. We wish to be careful , although the wish , is at variance with our fond and deep feelings for each other . I cannot say no to your very natural request to come to me , nor dare I say yes when I consider how we are circumstanced . Come if you cannot be reconciled without coming ; but stop at home if you have strength of mind to do so . If you come , there will be the pain of parting from each other again repeated , and' I can assure you the excited state of my mind has with me hardly worn off since I bade you farewell at home . " Several other very affectionate notes passed between the couple , and in one of them the husband says : — "I would fain have you here , if it could only he managed cleverly ,. for I feel a great miss of you ,
If you come , come quickly . " It would seem , however , that she did not come to London , after all , and in due time the vessel departed for the East . In October , 1856 , Mr . Hays returned ; but , in the meanwhile , a Mr . Briscoe , a gentleman of fortune , had seduced the wife . Mr . Briscoe was at that time a married man , but his wife has died since . He had children and grandchildren ; and he seems to have effected the ruin of Mrs . Hays by a liberal use of money . On one occasion , he threw to her carelessly a 1001 . note . In the month preceding the return of her husband , he induced her to shut up her shop , to leave South Shields , and to live in lodging ? which he took for her at Sedgefield , where she passed as Mrs . Briscoe . Even while she remained at South Shields , however , the intimacy subsisting between her and Mr . Briscoe was notorious ; and it continued after the removal . They subsequently went to Newcastle , married at
and , on the 7 th . of last February , were Bishop Wearmouth , and then lived permanently together . On the 9 th of March , the woman gave birth to an infant . Mr . Hays , on arriving at Leith on his return home , received a letter from his wife , stating that she had given up the shopv and had gone to live in a situation where she could keep herself and child . He could learn nothing , however , of where she had gone . In O ctober , he met Mr . Briscoe at the Bath . Hotel , South Shields , and asked him if he knew where his wife was ; but he said he did not—he only wished he did . It was not untillast May that Mr . Hays received some information that his wife was living at Sedgefield , where he went in company with a policeman in search of her . There he found her and Mr . Briscoe living together , and the former told him that she wa 3 married to Mr . Briscoe . In saying this , she burst into tears . Mr . Hays then gave her into custody on a charge of bigamy . week at the
An action for adultery was brought last Durham Assizes against Mr . Briscoe by the injured husband . Before the evidence was given , however , the defendant ' s counsel consented to a verdict for 150 / . Mr . Pickering ( who appeared for the plaintiff ) then said : — " Your Lordship and the jury will understand that the acceptance by the plaintiff of this verdict is quite bond fide And without collusion . There are many painful circumstances which would be disclosed if the evidence wore gone into—painful as well to the witnesses as to the parties . " Mr . Baron Watson replied : —" There can be no doubt about the bona fides of tho plaintiff . He has brought this action , and has indicted the woman for bigamy . This is a very paiaful case—extremely so . I haVe attended to Mr . Pickering ' s opening , which showed a very strong affection between the plaintiff and hia wife . How the lady came to change her views so very suddenly , I don ' t know . " The wife was afterwards tried and found Guilty of bigamy . She vas sentenced to a month ' s imprisonment .
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Thading on Viutuk , —A woman named Catherine Brown has been examined at tho Westminster policecourt in connexion with a singular scries of frauds . She was in the habit of going to various Roman Catholic clergymen , and of saying that she and her twin sister were living at a house of ill fame in Charles-street , from which the } ' were desirous of escaping , being disgusted with their modo of life , but in tho inoanwliilo required a small sum to enable thorn to procure food and lodging . Having obtained this , tho presumed penitent would go , and bo heard of no more . On one occasion , after obtaining money from a rovorend gentlemen , the woman loft , and absolutely returned in tho character of tho alleged sister , with what success does not appoar . It now turns out that tho diareputablo house alluded to doos not exist . Brown was ronmnded .
AiiuuoTioN . —John Aarons , a young man of twenty - two , is under remnnd at Worabip-strcot , on a charge of abducting a girl , between fiftcon and sixteen , namo « l Kobeccu Pasa . It would aoem that tho girl ' s conduct had been irregular for some time past , and hor aunt , with whom sho had boon staying , sent her liomo to her father . Aurono then wont to tho fnthor ' house , nntl waid tljo aunt was willing to take hor buck , and had sent him for her . They loft togothor , but it was soon discovered that el » o hud boon inveigled away . Aarons wns therefore arrested , but th . 0 coao is not yet completed .
__ A LiTUBAitY SuioiuB . —Ouo WodnoHcJay afternoon , in tho early part of laat Juuo , a person named 1 homos Barrett , a Mnnchostor warehouseman , wont into tlui Spa-road public batlia , « . »! waa shortly aftorwarda found by tho bathman in tho water with blood trickling down hia nook . In answer to an inquiry , ho mud . Oh , It ' a only a blood-veasol that has suddenly bunt . lh « bftthman doublod ttalH explanation , when Barrett oa « oc »
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No . 364 , ATrGtrs * 1 , 1857 ] THE 1 EiPER , _ _ _ *^
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 1, 1857, page 729, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2203/page/9/
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