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Etching. Two men p*ue6 me; they were pplng td**ftlfWhaddon ; they passed me at the distance of 77 yards. 1 was ditching up a hedge, and did not notice their faces ; one bad an umbrella, and the other a gun-case. In about half air hour after I heard alarming cries, which were not repeated ; the mil came from the coppice. 1 immediately got out of the h, and saw a man striking with a gun something on the ground, (and the man held the muzzle-end, in both hi* hands) violently. He did so as many as twenty times, until the gun broke, i was about 183 yards off. I stood behind a tree, and was much alarmed ; he continued the blows uven after thegun broke ; he then threw away the piece *of the gun, and walked backwards and forwards as if looking at something ; he walked a short distance, and picked up a bundle, and came towards me o distance of 66 yards, and took of his coat and put on a fustian jacket and hairy cap ; he had a hat on before, which be earned in his hand, and walked away towards Sbenley-common. The ditch where I was at work separatedthe coppice from the common. I waited until he went away .and then ran to the spot where 1 saw him striking something, and saw the dead ohd bleeding body of a man* an umbrella, two handkerchiefs, and the broken parts of a gun, one part In the case, and the other not. I then ran for assistance, but could ee the prisoner a considerable way. I gave the alarm, and ome other persons and myself struck off in a direction where e could meet the prisoner, and secure him. When about 30 arris from him, he saw u*«, and on going up to him, he said, What is your reward for taking tne?” He was then coming ut of the 'meadow-gnte on to the common. 1 collared him, nd asked him If he had any fire-arms ? He answered, 44 If I ad, I would iiot be taken by you of any man alive.” We led lm towards Whaddon, ana on the way be said, “ You hare ot told me what your reward is.” I answered, “ I did not • now what he meant he rejoined, M Why, blood-money ; ou would take your own father for sixpence. ’ And as he was mg on he pulled out bis watch, and said “ Oh, dear! this ill break the hearts of my friends—who would hare thought *hculd hare come to this? and, holding up the watch, said,I wish some of them to have this.” On reaching W haddoo, e Mr. Parry, who asked if the man in the Wood was uite dead. The prisoner replied, “ 1 hope be is,” I he dead ody was that of the man who passed with the prisoner. Cross-examined by Mr. Storks—When the prisoner surren-ered, I don’t think he knew I saw him or any part of the ransaction. I beard a cry, but cannot say which blow it fol-owed. 1 observed the fustian jacket he put on, it was made ullahdlargei I don't remember his saying the resurrection-dh were nfier him, or his saying he *** sold to them.Bv the Judge—He did not run away from the body.Mr. Thomas Parry confirmed ihe latter part of the preceding itness’a testimony, adding av follows;—I was in the raom ith the prisoner at the Haunch of Venison pub lie-house, wlurn he writing materials were introduced — the witness recollected ha prisoner writing—“ Dearmotber, i have committed ta—. c then put down the pen, and leaning his head on the table, id he could not write any more, i urged him to finish the •iter ; be appeared muefi agitated, and taking up the pen rote “ murder.” or finished it. as he had written the letter m efore ; be afterwards tore off the w ntten part, aud threw it into e fir*.TJJE nsrrNCE.The prisoner was then allowed to retire, and on his return, in bout a quarter of an hour, Mr. Justice Gaxelee addressed tm, aud said ** Prisoner, tho ca«e for the prosecution against ou is now closed j have you any tiling to offer in your de-encerjThe prisoner looked steadily forward for some minutes, and hen turning to Mr.. Sbenriff/the gaoler, asked what he was to-Mr. SherrifT directed him to address himself to the Judge ndjury in hia defence. After some consultation v-,th Mr. artnct, his solicitor, the prisoner in a very Jow tone of voice id, “ My Lord and Gentlemen of the Jury.” Here. b»$ voice aultcred and bogatji«fptltxust inaudible;, apd w« understood him o say he had lived at. Vauxhall for a long period of utpo^and rom some circumstances, particularly because he fancied the eople jeered at hjm, he determined to leave Yauxhall, god ommunicated hts intentions to the deceased mao, Abraham ngJS «rbo agreed to accompany him into the country. An rraogemept was then made to gu into the country. .It) a day r two {the k*st day of December.)—[The prisoner here raised is foige, and *aid,‘ 41 From my employment I had been m e habit of dnhklpg, and it took a great effect upon me, my rd, and sometime*, drove me almost mad. againropped his voice, and gave a long unconnected narrative of •s intimacy and habits of friendship with AbrahAin Hogg. Ilia anner and matter both showed an unsettled mind.]The first witness called for the defence was Edward 'Deval, who was examined by Mr. Stork*—I knew e prisoner at the bar, and the d ceased man Hogg. I have nowh them bo: b ft»r a number ofyears. I recollect the Sa-rday before they left London. The prisoner complained of •king a bad week of it. I saw him on the following Monday ooperitge of Messrs. Burnett’s dLtiflery. ^ He looked Idly. I afterwards saw him at hi* mother's house, he oked so flush in the face that I asked hi in if he had been at e fire. Hie said he had not been near the fire. He combined of having a severe head-ache. I pressed him to go to *n with me, and he agreed to go. We went ovrr London ridge, md called at Mark-lane, where I had some business to from that we went to the Sir John Faistaffpublic-house is outidsditch, where we had twogla-ses of gin. The prisoner, ter taking the contents of the glass into h is mouth, threw it t again, which was very unusual for him. tram Hour^ditch e proceeded to Backchurch-lane, Commercul-road, to call on Ir. Oakley, a friend of our’s, who went with us to the Cherrv ree public-house in that street. While the prisoner was there look up a newspaper which lay on the table and commenced read it out jo a loud voice, and in such a manner as to call rth n remark from the landlord, who said that the prisoner ouid make a good par*on : the prisoner seemed insensible of hat he w«is doing, and made no answer to what was said, ext day the prisoner came to my mother’s house to spend the emng : his manner on that occasion was such as to excite the rprise’of all present. I concluded at the time that he must wrong in Xhe bead. I recollect a person of the name of angan being in tbt employ of the Messrs. Burnett, i have en him since at the East India Company’s barracks, Chat-m- Knew the prisoner’s father to have been subject to a sease in the head. I and the prisoner «-e»e brought up toge-ibe prisoner saved my brother’s life, and two others im drowning. He was remarkable for his humanity audarity.Eliza Ann Lynn;about 23 years of age, was next called, and araitied by Mr. Dover. — I am sister to the prisoner, and re-e at No. 4, Moorhall-pUce, Vauxhali. In the evening of st Christmas-day, while my brother, a few friends, and I, ere playing at card*, my brdthcr Charles got up in the middle the game, and walked out. On the following day, and in-ed lb« whole of the week after wards, he continued very low trrted. On Monday he complained of his head being very d ; he got up-aboul half-past eight o’clock, took his breakfast, d went out about nine. The tame night about haif-pasi.niuc returned home; he was wet through. I got him dry clothes, d as !»oon as he put them on he went out again. On Tuesday ght he came home about half-past eleven ; he bnd on a fustian ket. I asked him how he came to hare such a nasty jacket ? He replied that he wns going a shooting the next Looming, the course of the night I was alarmed bv a great noise in the ichen. I afterwards heard a loud knocking m my aunt's door, v aunt called out and said she would get up immediately, and a few minutes I heard her scream. I get up, and weni dowu the end of the stairs, and said to Charles Lynn (the pri-nrr), who stood near my aunt’s door, “ hoVv can you be so olirh ?” At this moment the deceased, Abraham Hogg, was miug up stairs. I took my brother by the hand, and assisted ogg to take him down stairs. Hogg told me, when 1 first w him oo the stairs, that he wanted to speak to me. I told m it was a very improper hour to come to the house. I uI-neglected td bind dfdr *ithmm mho giveevidence before him on the Inquest, the prisoners would not•£• prosecuted ; but that a mere formal arnigBBMnt . would take place, a plea of not guilty would be given, no evidence called, and the patties acquitted aud discharged. Ilia Court, notwithstanding, was crowded to excess.Mr. Jones, the associate, desired the prisoner* to hold up their right hands. They did so. He then stated—*4 You, Charles Alexander Wood, gent. stand indicted for having, on the 28th of February last, in the parish of Eton, in this county, unlawfully and feloniously assaulted the Honourable Francis Ashley Cooper, and that you* Charles Alexander Wood, with both your hands, did beat the said Honourable F. A. Cooper on the bead, and strike him to the ground, and did thereby cause the rupture of a large blood-vessel, of which mortal wound he died; and you, Alexander• WeH«dej Leith, was then and there present, and did the said Charles Alexander 'Wood comfort and assist in the felony and manslaughter, of which he stands charged. Are you guilty, or not guilty ?”The prisoners replied—*4 Not Guilty* '•Mr. Sergeant Freer, and Mr. Storbt, were Counsel for Mr. Wood; and Mr. Dover, for Mr. Leith.A few moments elapsed and the Judge was evidently expecting the witnesses to be called and examined to sustain the charge, but no person rose to support the prosecution.Mr. Justice Gaxelee—la the Coroner who held the Inquest in Court?—Mr. Cbareley fwbo stood on the left of his Lordship) : I am here, my Loro.Mr, Justice Gaxelee—Have you received a regular notice of the intention of the persona at the Bar to aurrendtr and take their trial*?—Mr. Cbarsley : 1 have, my Lord ; 1 received a formal notice.Mr. Justice Gaxelee—It is an unusual circumstance for persons charged on a Coroner'a Inquest, to surrender at the close of the Assize, and that induced me to make the inquiry, for ihe purpose of ascertaining whether the parties came before the Court in a regular manner?—Mr. Cbarsley: —I was aware of the parties intending to surrender,Mr. Sergeant Freer—WilJ your Lordship ask Mr. Coronerwhen he received notice from the.parties? —His Lordship asked the question.—Mr- Charsiey; 1 received notice on Saturday lost that they would surrender on Monday.Mr. Justice Gaxele£—That is all I wanted to know, and 1 felt it mv duty to make the inquiry, owing to the lateness of the surrender.The Associate ordered, the Officer of the Court to make proclamation, 44 If any one can inform my Lord the King's Justices, Ac. of any murder*, treason, felonies, or misdemeanors, c. dono by the prisoners at the,bar, or either of them, Id them come forth and give evidence, c.”—No person appeared.——Mr. Justice Gaxelee: Doe* no gentleman appear ‘to-prosecute?—Mr. Storks; No Gentleman at,the Bar is instructed, my Lord.— Mr, Justice.Gaxelee: .Officer, call Christopher Teasdale, constable of Eton, to give evidence.He was called, bet,did not.appear.Mr. Justice Gaxelee expressed hi •surprise at his non-appearance.——.Mr. Justice Gaxelee; Mr. Coroner, did you bind Teasdale the constable over to profcuU?Mr. Charsiey—I .did not, my .Lord.Mr. Justice Gaxelee—Have you subpoenaed him to attend on the trial?—Mr. Cbarsley; 1 have, my Lord.Mr. Justice Gaxelee— Have you xhe original sttbpcsoa?— Mr. Cbarsley: I have not, my Lord; and I Jtfn not positive the subpcena was served on him, as X did pot spnra it myself..I believe he wassubpceoaed.Mr. O’Keiliv, a witness on the Coroner’s Inquest, was o»-dered to be called by the Judge. He did not apjiear. The other witnesses were called ip succession,but none of them answered'to their names.Mr. Justice Gaxelee—GenUecqien.oftbfi Jury—The prisoners at the bar stand indicted for the critn* of manslaughter, in causing the death of w ■ gentleman in^tned CtttyjMfj* Which circumstance you cannot be entirely4 tmst^qdalntiedwitaj Yfib witftrtaei examined before the Coroner are not Hb attendance, and notice having been did v served upon a be Owe nws befbretliediachxrger of the Grand Jury, that dfcey wonki etwtndtf to* taka their trials, it is my -duty 'to state to 'you, that* alt; no- evidence -has been called to support the; charge, thgy sre entitled so an acquittal, and you will aay they are Not Guilty.— The Jury install tiv acquitted them i lt;~ . ...The prisoners bowed end withdrew from the turn • • *Mr. Justice Gaxelee rosa and said—C feet called upon to cay, on this occasion, thatitistho botioden duly of«a Coroner to summon all parties before him, where - the' death.«f sus individual has been occasioned by violence to gtye evidence touching the death ; and it is also his duty, after the verdict ia returned to bind over ih recognizances all the witnesses to give evidence on ti^e trial, i n Ibis case, none of the witnesne* wbo- were called were bound over, and no one-was boundover to prosecute, -rThe Assize, which was one of the heaviest ever known in Aylesbury, then terminated.MR. LEITH'S STATEMENT.The friends of Mr. Leith bad prepared the following document to be submitted by him to tbe Court, if the trial bad taken place:— '1*• My Lord—I am anxious to state a few words, which must not be considered as an attempt to justify the part I took in the late unhappy event, but ansing solely from the very great desire I feel lo temoye some impresdorts which have been circulated tn my disadvantage in the published reports of tbid most lamentable transaction, which I feet'I dt) not merit, and which are calculated to increase very materially the distress of my present situation. 1 never can'eiijoy happtneis again till these impressions are removed, arrd I hope therefore that your Lordship will allow me to make a short statement of a fact which has been so cruelly misrepresented; that I did administer brandy to the unfortunate deceased is true, bht the exaggeration of the quantity in the public prints has been a aotrrce of much disquietude to my mind, and 1 feel my*elf called on to make the following statement, ‘ in * justice to my family and myself:—The quantity of brandy brought into the field did not originally exceed two small wine glasses, of which the lamented school-fellow sipped at intervals, but in nil not more than one small wtne-giass ; in proof of this, I must mention, that I wetted hiy handkerchief to rub the face and hands, and none was given by me without the knowledge and approval of his other Friends* I beg leave, ulsn, to observe, that in former fights at Eton, I have seen (and which can be proved by witnesses now present^ spirits given to the parties; this vriJ} prove that the giving it in this instance was not a novel practice. I have, my Lord, further to rema»k, that i was not the on/y second to the unfortunate and much lamented deceased; that, iu point of fact, I only gave him a knee the two first rounds, and that, for the last ten minutes of this unhnjiuy fight, I was employed entirely in keeping the ring. 1 acknowledge 1 vra* very much interested that my brave little companion should obtain the victory, and it is probable that this anxiety may have led to the expression used at the Coroner’s Inquest—that I was the avowed second. Having expressed my anxiety that my brave little companion should obtain the victory, 1 cannat omit thiyopportuuity of bearingtestimony to the generous conduct of the adverse party in this fight. 1 shall conclude my observationsoa this point with declaring most solemnly, that I was never second to any boy at Eton, except ooca, for a couple of round*, and those the t«o last, when 1 g*v« it» for him, teeing bo had no chance; and I appeal, with confidence, to the-whole 8c boo I, when 1 say, that under the peculiar circumstances in which I was applied to to attend as second, by and with another, whom, for obvious reasons, I do not name, ! could not'refuse being so in this case; and 1 beg leave to add, that during four years 1 have been at Eton, I have never fought with ;ooe of my schoolfellows, though on one occasion, when 1 thought lt;little boy had been ill-used by a man, I naturally took* 14s port and' fought the man. As if misrepresentation .fa*d not already been smb. cieuily used, it baa been stated (though, indeed, justice haspivi here wati a gun m the room, whirh he wanted to take, I prevented him. He asked me to give him some money, fi I gave him five sovereigns.Ann Lynn, examined by Mr. Storks—I am sister to ihe last tut'** and the prisoncrat the b3r, On the Monday before my thrr weaiiu Liverpool I saw him at my mother’* house : hepea red to me to lie deranged.Ann Taylor, servant to Mr. Newman, of the White Lion, Brickhill, deposed tw the inconsistency und wildness of the soncr’s conduct there.Anthony and Mary Bradshaw, of Brickhill, proved, that on night of the 5th of January, the prisoner cam* to their ise m a wild and insane state, and was received into the he having threatened to burst in if they did not adopt, • They let him in, and be remained there for the night, they could not sleep, believing they had a madman iu the sr.ord Nugent was examined, and detailed at great length his wersationis with the prisoner in the gaol, relative to the fisactian; and ir was his firm belief that he was lobouriog dvr strong mental delusion.Die Jury retired to consider tbeir verdict, and on their re-i, tbe Foreman said, *4 Guilty of killing the deceased, but believe btm insane at tbt tmie.” 1E FATAL PUGILISTIC CONTEST AT ETON.inle the Jury in the above case were deliberating upon ir verdict, the trial of Mr. Charles Alexander Wood, the of Col. Wood, of Littleton, and Mr. Ahrxapder Welles-Leith was called on, a.frcrii Jury bring $worn. The jopng tlemcri, sincC Saturday, h.ve been v, siting some of Ihe must pvciablc persons in the countv. Part wf the time they were^ house of Mr. Bickford,' M. P. for this place; and at Lordperil’s.L. Justice Gaxelee, at six o’clock last evening, observed ! I'v was informed there was another criminal case to t»y. ir June*, the Associate, called to Air. Sheri O’, the Gover-of Aylesbury Gaol, “ Aoulmvein your cus:.»dv, Charles L.incier VVood, Gentleman, of the County ot Buiks; end •x-uuier Wellesley Leith. Gentleman, of the same County, r~ed wuh Manslaughter.”L. bhcrifi—They have surrendered themselves to my cus-^ «bvprironersinstam^v appeared in the Dock, accompanied Xirri (.barns itzroy, J .crd Nu^nt, Col. Braun, St J. D.wkevA-’rfr !hc HvV' Edward Cravenv ni.’i oil SiTi LV’ r th? Tutors of tiie accused,a nui 20 otudcou of htnn«L. \\„o«l is a youth apparently about 15 years of age. He •irks upon hj« «f the seventy of the ponhhrm h the lute fatal contest. Mr. LeitBut, ruy Laid, let me not bear the whole blame; and to whomsoever it may attach, let it be attributed to the real cause—inexperience.”,in »THE MKRIH.H AT iSThw n imtaw(ttrciat€■t.dtBabnpu is ament he„ . ■ -• - fine growni— i’.»* ..it i17 ycAts of age. l liev were both’ \ - y*»'ganllyf and appeareo not the least discomposed »-.i situation. 1had waf greatlv decreased dtir-bythe »B'*t ihe Ealt; I of Shaftesbury hadproecut:ori ; and ih.it ;n c.»ustijuci.'cc of thefirectedtihtnP'otofdiof;irraelMarorwfomth
Newspaper Details
Baldwins London Weekly Journal
London, Middlesex, GB
Sat, Mar 12, 1825
Page 3
Full Page
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GB 02 Sep 2022
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