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——CRIJffiES AND OFFENCES. ** —
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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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v Dreadful Murder near Stafford . —One of the most tragical muxdeis -which has been committed in Staffordshire for many years was perpetrated early on Monday morning , the 25 th inst ., near the county town , Stafford .- The place where it occurred is situate about three miles from " Stafford , on the road to Wolverhampton , down a narrow and secluded lane . The house was occupied by an aged couple named Blackband , who , in addition to the land and buildings adjoining , were also the owners of several fields of land .
Naturally of a penurious turn , and imagining the safest place for his wealth to be on his own person , Blackband invariably carried about with Mm a large purse of gold , and it is supposed to have been the knowledge of this fact ¦ which induced some person or persons to conceive the horrid idea of murdering the old man and woman for the purpose of possessing their wealth . About eight o ' clock in the morning information was sent to Stafford that a cottage at Moss Pit was on fire , and engines were immediately despatched to the spot . On breaking open the door of the house , the fire was discovered to have originated in one of the bed-rooms , but the smoke and flames
prevented any one from ascending the staircase . Ladders were then procured , and holes made in the roof of the building , and the fireengines having subsequently arrived , the flames were extinguished . On ascending the stairs , the old man and woman were discovered at the further end of the room on a bedstead , still burning . Upon examination it was found that the head of Blackband had been fractured by some heavy weapon , the frontal bone being completely smashed , and the back of the head opened . The body was reduced almost to a cinder , with the exception of the head and one of the legs . The bowels , blackened and scorched with the flames , were
protruding ; one leg was completely destroyed , and almost every mark of identity or recognition obliterated . A small portion of his trousers still remained on the lower part of the leg , but all the other clothing in the room was burnt , and the gold was nowhere to be found . Across the bottom of the bed lay the burnt and blackened trunk of his wife's body—the arms and legs being entirely gone . A blow over the right eye , where the bone was broken , showed , however , that she also had been murdered . For many years the old couple , through infirmity , had slept apart in different rooms in the house , the stairs to Blackband ' s rooms ascending from the horse
place , and those to his wife ' s bed-room , at a distant part of the dwelling , from the pantry . At the bottom of the pantry stairs is a large pool of blood ; and it is supposed that after the murderer had despatched the old man he proceeded to the other part of the house , where his second victim was descending the stairs , when he immediately dealt the fatal blow which deprived her of life . Having committed this twofold deed of guilt , he must have carried her through the house to the bed-room of her deceased husband , and , placing her on the bed , have set fire to the clothes , intending to destroy every mark which would lead to his detection , by burning the house and all that it contained , and thus lead to the
supposition that the fire was one of accident . The dog which belonged to Blackband , and was kept in the house , was found in the well opposite the door , a heavy blow on the head having no doubt previously deprived it of the power of making any alarm . The house doors were all locked when the fire was discovered , and the key is missing . It is supposed that an entrance was effected through , one of the windows . The murder must have been perpetrated after daylight . At half-past seven a gentleman passed the house , when there was no sign of fire , but he observed a man walking through an adjoining field , as if from the house . It is supposed that the murderer could not have completed the deed without having marks of blood upon some parts of his body or clothes , which may lead to his apprehension .
A Burglarious Family . —Three of the daughters of the notorious burglar Maggs , a native of Horsingham , Wilts , have been apprehended by the police , charged with attempting to break into a farmhouse at Woodlands , near Frome . The house is not far from the scene of the Frome murder , on suspicion of prepetratbg which Maggs and two of his associates were tried at the last Somersetshire assizes , but acquitted . It appears that while the occupants of the farm were at the market , these girls went into the garden , lifted up the sash of the window , and , having propped it up ^ the eldest was proceeding to assist her sister to get in , when they were discovered .
On being taken before the magistrates , and the case gone into , the youngest was discharged ; the eldest was committed to Shepton Mallett House of Correction for two months , and her sister for two months , with hard labour attached . Their ages are respectively ; six , nine , and fourteen years . The family is a most incorrigible one ! Maggs has nine or ten children , all of whom are , it is stated , as expert at poaching and thieving as their notorious father . He , himself , is partly the victim of a bad example , his own father having early initiated him into
the career of vice and infamy which he has pursued for so many years . His wife was formerly convicted of theft and suffered imprisonment , and both a son and son-in-law have been transported , the latter for a burglary at Frome vicarage . The sang of which he was the head was for a long period the terror of Frome and the surroundmg district , but it is hoped that they are now effectually dispersed ; and as to Maggs and his immediate associates , from the amount of evidence collected against them on various charges / there can be no doubt of their ultimate fate .
A Female Railway Picrpocket . -A very stylishly-dressed lemale of ladylike manners , was brought up in custod y at the Leeds Oourt-houseon Tuesday last , charged with robbing the lady of the ? w wa - ' / - T ° T i . > " j" Ripon * On the P i <™ day Mrs . Ward arrived m Leeds by the express train of the Great Siorthern Railway , and at the station in Leeds was met by her hus band . A cab was engaged for her , and just as she was entering it her husband observed the prisoner in the act of withdrawing her t 5 ! a ? Wlfe s pocket - Mr - Ward at once seized both arms M ^ w ^^^'^^^^^ PP purs e just abstracted from and Z S f n * uPon theP ^ ement . She was given in custo dy , fite ^ T ^ * before the justices > she was coramittei wr iriai at tne next sessions .
Cour I T , tpf 7 A 1 CE Hoi 1 ' ~ Attne Manchester Borough S i S all ; OrmDg ' licensed Waller , named David whh ^ 2 ' tiT Ca \ ? ? {? ' a ? swer t 0 a sumraons charging him £ SSft inhlS 0 USMhe Manchester ArmsI * n . ss ^ sssss ^ SSSB& ^ S FFi
Parricide AT ^ HE ELD . »_ Since the last Midsummer assizes the town of Sheffield has been the scene of an appaUin K numbe 3 ^ black est crimes . There have been two instances of S 3 L meditated murder , and several cases of homiridp nfVwT ' - cWer Another death has cocked SH S ^ UA ta lSS & ft " " ° An * 5 the ctar § e ° having sainh ' s lather , fhenameof thedeceased was Francis Briee ; he 4 as atout fifty-four jears . of age ; he resided in a dingy court inCoalnitW 2 ^» ^*^ *^^ Stof 5 ? £ * : " ? ; ! ^ yo » ng fellow named Richard B ! « -rt attained his majority . He works at Mr Stacks wwmu , IB Pond-lane . He was of the most dissipated
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habits , and , ^ being of an exceedingly irrascible temper he seldom went home tipsy without creating a disturbance with the family . On Saturday night he was out drinking till past midnight , and when he went home he began to chastise his sister because of some opprobrious epithets that some few hours before she had applied to a young woman with whom he keeps company . The father and mother interposed , and a great disturbance ensued ; but it was an incident to which the nei ghbours were so accustomed , as coming from that particular family , that they took no notice of it . The
mother sank down upon the floor jn a fit , and the young man , having now less opposition to contend with , was able to indulge his violence to greater purpose . Some hard fighting ensued . The father , having been struck at least once with great violence by the son , and seeing no hope of quelling his rage , ran out of the court and shouted lor a watchman . The next moment he dropped senseless , and , one of his daughters having run to his assistance , he expired in her lap directly afterwards . The watchman came and took the young man into custody .
Extensive Railway Robbery . —Several robberies have recently tajcen place of valuable packages of goods from the goods shed of tnfe Midland Railway Company at Bristol , and among others , was one about three weeks since containing £ 35 worth of sewing silk and silk twist which had been consigned to Mr . Lindrea , of Maryleportstreet , Bristol . Inquiries were set on foot , and the result has been the apprehension of two men named Charles Delatouche and Charles Derrett . It appears , from their examination before the magistrate at the Bristol Police-court , that the prisoner Derrett keeps a shop in Pipe-lane , close to the gate of the railway company ' s premises .
About three weeks ago a truss of silk twist , of the value of £ 35 , was sent from a place in Shropshire directed as above . It was seen at the Bristol station at six o ' clock in the evening , and missed shortly afterwards . Information was given to the police , and Sergeant Summers , of the detective force , discovered that Delatouche had been selling silk of the description stolen . Summers went to some tailors to whom he had sold it , and , having procured some , exhibited to Mr . Lindrea , who stated his belief that it formed part of the parcel . Summers then went to Delatouche ' s house for the purpose of arresting him , but on his way he met Inspector Webb conveying
him to the station . It appeared that Mr . Webb had received some information , and , on going up Old Market-street , he saw Delatouche carrying a package . He watched him into a tailor ' s shop , and on his coming out he . stopped him and asked him if he had not been selling silk ? He confessed that he had some , and that he had sold some to the tailors ; whereupon Mr . Webb took him to the station . On arriving at Delatouche ' s house , Summers saw his wife and daughter ; the wife was ill in bed , but , on asking her about it , she at once said that her husband had had silk , and had taken it out to sell ; and that it had been brought there by a young man named
Derrett . Derrett ' s house was accordingly searched , and a large quantity of knives were found , but no silk . The knives consisted of clasp and glaziers' knives , which Mr , Wilkinson , the company ' s superintendent , said he had no doubt were stolen from a packet sent by ' railway , consigned to a person residing at Pontypool The prisoners , who were very respectably attired , were defended by Mr . Dene and Mr . Crosby , solicitors . They were remanded , as it is anticipated that a clue has been obtained to the mode by which these systematic robberies have been carried on , and , in all probability , further charges will be preferred against them .
Extensive Robbery of Bank Notes . —On Saturday information was forwarded to the various metropolitan and City police stations that a man named Jenkins , recently arrived from California , had been robbed of £ 650 in £ 10 notes , and a draft on Rothschild ' banking-house for £ 450 , by some sharpers , in the following manner : —Jenkins arrived from California . on Friday with a considerable amount of gold , which he sold at a refiner ' s for £ 650 , receiving the money in £ 10 notes . Upon coming out of the shop Jenkins was accosted by two men , who must have been watching his movements , asking whether he knew where they could sell some
California gold . They were directed to the door , and one of them pretended to go into the shop , whilst the other kept Jenkins in conversation . The man soon returned , stating that he had received £ 1 , 000 for his quantity , and they all walked together as far as the Hugh Middleton Tavern , Islington , where , they went into the parlour , and after taking something to drink , began to talk about the advisability of opening an establishment for buying and selling gold . They all agreed that it would be a profitable concern , and it was
proposed that each should make an immediate deposit . Jenkins , who had been promised * £ 1 a day , in addition to commission , &c , as he understood all the qualities of gold , said he had got £ 650 . One of the sharpers immediately produced what appeared to be banknotes for the same amount , and Jenkins and one of the , sharpers then went out for the purpose of obtaining a receipt stamp to do the business legally . After ineffectually endeavouring to find a stationer ' s shop , the sharper suggested that Jenkins should go back to look after the person who had been left with the money . He did so , but of course found him gone , and it was only a me by the other also to escape . The One Thousand Pounds Fraud at ' Hull . —At the Hull Quarter Sessions last week , William Cooper Robinson , of Hull solicitor , was tried and convicted of having endeavoured to obtain money by false pretences from Messrs . Charles Wells , of Hull , in August last . The case occupied some hoursand the evidence
, showed that the prisoner applied to the prosecutors for a loan of £ 200 on the title deeds of a client named Pritchett , ajid the prosecutors being willing to make the advance ori the I 0 U of the client the prisoner went away , and shortlyreturned wijh an 10 U for £ 1 , 000 , purporting to be signed by the client and Brnself , on which he asked for a loan of £ 500 . This aroused suspicion , and on application to the client , who lived in the town , the fraud was discovered and the prisoner given into custody . He was ' senteiiced ' to eighteen months ' imprisonment . ¦ ' ' .
The Drypool MURDER . —Our readers , says the Bull Packet , will remember that William Francis Mapelthorpe , the unfortunate young man who was murdered in May last , was robbed , at the same time oi a five-pound note , the number and mark of which were known . It was subsequently discovered that wittiin a period of ten days after the murder this note was in the possession of a young man named Walter Benson , a stranger to the to ^ n-of whom nothing was known , and who told a very improbable story . as to how it came into his hands . This man was tried at the Hull quarter sessions just
concluded , and has been found guilty of receiving the note well knowing it to have been stolen , and for . winch offence the prisoner has been sentenced to fourteen years' transportation . Whether or not the result of this trial . may assist in bringing to light further circumstances in connection with that gloomy transaction can at present be matter of conjecture only ; it is , Oaqwever / only one step towards the consummation of the ends of justice , and it is sincerely to be hoped that it may lead to the final a ^ success&runrayeUing of the mystery which at present unfolds tlie ^' eil of darkness .
A Clerical Swindler . —The Rev ., J , B ^ rriii ^ n , ^ ho was remanded to Brighton by the metropolitan . Magistrates last week , underwent a lengthened examination before t % Brighton bench of magistrates , on the charge of obtaining money under false pretences irom Miss Richardson , formerly residing wilti \ the family of Sir Charles Habin , of Denton Hall , on pretence of going to Australia on a religious mission . After hearing the case at , great length the prisoner was remanded for further evidence , : preparatorY to his committal fox trial . *" " ; .
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Barbarous Infanticide . —Barnstaple , Saturday n quiet town has , within the last day . or two , been sWi / V ^ v rumour that a young woman named Eliza Boucher i Z ^ ^ employ of Mr . W . Wadham Hill , hairdresser and nerfuT ^ ^ street , had been delivered of an illegitimate child wV J , % afterwards destroyed by burning- it in the washhouseT e W appears that her condition was suspected by her mistiest I ? ' h her with being eneeinte , but the young woman stoutlv \ u -N an insinuation . Discoveries were made , however wh" i i % ] > doubt of her confinement having taken place wlie l "o
, rpnn again questioned as to her conduct . She then admitted i w i **» been confined , and stated that she had thrown the chui - e ^ river . Subsequently , however ,. she said she had buried it t t \! ^ and , as if tc . give a plausibility to her story , she conimence d ^ herself , as if to bring it out . At length , however all 2 ? ^ conceal the truth failed , and she confessed that she harl h pt st « infant in the washhouse furnace , where she had kindled a \ tlle early on the washing morning . She was then , of course hJ ! fire to the police authorities ; but she was now too ill to be ' exa °
Murder and attempted Suicide .-A shocking tragedv u been perpetrated at Wednesbury , a married woman havingi JUst her child , aged fifteen months , in a tub , and afterwards ?" attempt on ¦¦ 'her own life by hanging herself . The cirenm ! , an were investigated by Mr . Hinchliffe , the district coroner i " ' ? of witnesses were examined , and the following is the eh ? n ? testimony ; -The alleged murderer , Sarah Smith , isthel L T moulder , employed at the ironworks of Mr . George Adam r ° town . On Saturday evening last , about five o ' clock Sm ? ni . husband , came home from his work , but could not find V - After looking about the house , he discovered her hang il ^ e > hook in the pantry by a handkerchief , which she had tied rou , rU * neck . He cut her down , and found her insensible but hvT surgical assistance , she was restored . Almost immedkiolv ? pt wards , the dead body of Smith ' s little child was f oWta ^ water , over which a tea-tray had been placed . The tub was *!!« one-one foot eight inches in height , and ' one foot two inch ! TdiameterAfter the other had been n ani uiuer
,. m taken into o , l ^ V «»« ,. ««« ,. we u jiaa Deen taKen mto custody M Chowle , a neighbour , asked her how she could do such a L kill her child , to which she replied ,--1 will tell you all 2 ^ I left the child in the brewhouse , playing with its chair , while hvenl to the cistern ior water . When I returned I found it in the ! h with its head downwards I pulled him out , but he was neari } gone SV felt afraid , and I put him m again , and went and hang m Jil , mH ? envards re P eated thi * statement , and denied ! she had killed the child . Mr . Bailey , a surgeon of WedS ? having examined the prisoner on the evening of the alleged murder gave his opinion that she was labouring under temporary insanity ' Jw-I ( U 7 {/ J er a Charge from the Coroner , returned a verdict f " WilJul Murder " against Sarah Smith .
Attack upon a Keeper in Bedlam . —A man named Wheeler who was ordered to be detained during her Majesty ' s pleasure for ' murdering his mother , by cutting off her head with a carving knife on Thursday made a savage attack upon one of the keepers in the institution . About dinner time , Wheelepmanaged to gain access to a cupboard , where the tailors ' goose-irons are kept , and taking one of them , came behind Hooper , the keeper , and attacked him in a most desperate manner , inflicting a very extensive cut on his head
and otherwise disablin g- him . Immprfiatplw nnnn < w «* i , .. ., ' and otherwise disabling him . Immediately upon the other patients becoming aware of the attack , several of them rushed upon Wheeler , whilst others locked up the" knives and forks , to prevent hinv inflicting further injuries . The alarm bell having been rung , further assistance arrived , when Wheeler was secured and confined . The unfortunate man was after the attack removed to the infirmary of the institution , where he remains .
An Aristocratic Highwayman . —A most alarming case of high , way robbery took place near Penrith , in the county of Cumberland , on the afternoon of the 23 rd inst . The facts are briefly as follow : -Mrs . Williams , the wife of the Rev . Mr . Williams , of Dacre Vicarage , was . returning from Penrith in a gig , with a female servant , where she had been on a visit to the Countess Oassinski , when she was overtaken by a youth of gentlemanly appearance , mounted on a valuable pony . He rode past her vehicle , and kept in front till he
got to a lonely part of the road , shaded by trees , between Dalemain and Dacre .. He then turned round , met Mrs . Williams , and presented a pist l , at the . same time demanding her money . Mrs . Williams at first refused to give it to him , when her assailant said he would count / three , and , if she did not deliver her money before he had finished , he would shoot her . Terrified by his threats , she surrendered her purse , which contained a considerable sum in gold and silver . Having made an ineffectual attempt to obtain money
from the servant , he asked Mrs . Williams her name and residence , and the lady having'told him , "Well , " said the highwayman , " I'll see if you are Mrs . Williams . I'll follow you ; and , mind , if you have told me a lie , I ' ll shoot you from behind , both you and your servant ; and if you speak to any one on the way as to what has happened , I'll shoot you . " Mrs . Williams then drove on , the highwayman riding behind as footman . She met several persons , but did not speak to them , being afraid that her unwelcome attendant
would make good his threat . After following her for some distance , her pursuer turned his pony and rode rapidly away . When Mr . Scott , the high constable , was informed of the circumstances of the robbery , he immediately went in quest of the highwayman , and found that he had gone to Mr . Robertshaw ' s , the Castle Inn , on the day of the robbery , about four o ' clock , where he had his horse fed . He then went out , and returned again about seven o ' clock in the evening , and requested to stay all night . Mr . Robertshaw
refused , to allow him to stay , but directed him to the Fish Inn , near to the railway station , at which place he stayed all night . On the following day he told Mrs . Hodgson , of the Fish Inn , that he was the son of the Hon . Mr . C , that he was low of funds , and that if he could only get to Keswick , and see James Stanger , Esq ., he would be able to procure a supply . He also asked Mrs . H odgson to lend him 30 s ., which she did , He then left by the express train
for Kendal , intimating that it was his intention to proceed by coach to Keswick from Kendal . Mr . Scott went to Keswick and awaited the arrival of the coaches ; the highwayman , however , did not make his appearance , consequently Mr . Scott was obliged to return without him , On subsequent inquiry it appears that the young man came by the express train from London to Carlisle , two days previous to the robbery ; that he put up at the Bush Hotel , and after staying all night . wished to know if he could be accommodated with a hacK
horse , as he wished to go to Corby Castle , the seat of Philip Henry Howard , Esq . Mr . Birch , the proprietor of the Bush Hotel , was unable to accommodate him , but sent him to Mr . Brockbank , oi Carlisle , livery stable-keeper / where he was furnished with a pony- " the same upon which he committed the robbery , and which he lelt at the Fish . Soon after borrowing the 30 s . of Mrs . Hodgson , as the youth did not return , Messrs . Birch and Brockbank concluded that they were " done" consequently MrBird opened the portmanteau
; . which he had left at the Bush , in order to trace out the name oi tnj delinquent . The marks on his linen corroborated the sta tement that-he was the son of the Hon . Mr . C—— , and it appears froni subsequent inquiry that he has broken loose-from the Miliw School , where he . was in training for the army . He has been [ ry j hisjhaMat a profession of his own choosing . He has not been Aear tiTiince he left Penrith .
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180 THE STAU OE EOEDOM . ' [ October m ' ' """ ' n^—«—* ¦»¦¦* " - i j i ' | i -- — ' ¦ ¦ ...- _ - _ _ ¦_ ..- ¦ . - - . .... _ .. f '¦¦¦ llJllj i ¦ " ^^*^^^ " *? T * " ^ ' ' " " *
——Crijffies And Offences. ** —
——CRIJffiES AND OFFENCES . ** —
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 30, 1852, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1702/page/4/
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