tended to by some gentlemen con nected with that laudable institution, the "Shipwrecked Fisher men's Fund." -MORTALITY OF LONDON IN 1841. A statement has just been published, by authority of the Registrar General, of the number of deaths in London and its suburbs in the year 1841, from which we glean the following information: The population comprised in the districts from which the returns are made, forming an area of seventy square miles, amounted, according to the last census, to 1,870,727, of which number 874,139 were males, and 996,588 females. The deaths in the year were 45,284, being at the rate of 2,429 per cent.; of the total number 22,995 were males, and 22,288 females; the deaths in the first quarter of the year amounted to 13,713, in the second to 10,404, in the third to 10,406, and in the fourth to 10,761. 20,780 are stated to have died under 15 years of age, 15,167 between 15 and 60, 9,266 60 years and upwards. The highest temperature was 87 degress; lowest 14.9; daily mean 51-7. The mean height of barometer 29 757 inches. Self-registering thermometer,highest 69-3, lowest 36; mean of daily maxima 57·5; mean of daily minima 45-6; mean temperature 51.6. Dew point, mean 47.2. Rain, 27-372 inches. The rain fell for 177 days. The mean quantity of rain which fell in the 10 years, from 1830 to 1841, was 16.87. WESTERN CIRCUIT SALISBURY.-CROWN COURT (BEFORE MR. JUSTICE COLERIDGE). THE WRAXHALL BURGLARY.It is impossible to describe the sensation produced by this case. Several of the leading families of the county came into the town at a very early hour, in order to be present. The under-sheriff issued tickets to a very large number of applicants, and the gallery, in which the common people usually sit, was, on this occasion, occupied by some of the most respectable residents in Wilts and Somerset. John Stokes, Nathaniel Burge, George Stokes, John Milsom, John Gough, and William Allen, were indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Mr. John Awdry, and stealing therefrom a quantity of plate, jewels, and other articles, the property of John Awdry, at South Wraxhall. John Stokes pleaded "Guilty." The learned Judge told him it would make no difference in the punishment, and as he was charged with having before been convicted of felony, he would therefore ask him if he had well considered what he was about? The prisoner persisted in his plea, and was therefore removed from the bar. Mr. Hodges having stated the case to the jury, called the following witnesses :~ Mary Townsend: I am a housemaid at Mr. John Awdry's, at Wraxhall. It is my place to close the shutters of the dining-room. I closed them on the night of the 22d of December, before the family were gone to bed. There were three windows looking on the lawn. I fastened the shutters with one iron bar across them. There were two other female servants in the house. Osburn, the cook, went to bed at twelve o'clock that night. Our bedroom is on the first landing, as are those of Mr. and Mrs. and Miss Awdry; but Miss Margaret's room is above. Perrett, the other female servant, and myself went to bed at one o'clock. Miss Awdry came into the room in the night and awoke me. there is a locket 1 much value. One of them said, "Let her have it," and gave me the chain to take it off. They made many inquiries as to the people in the house; as to the men servants, and where they slept. They then said they knew there was more money, and they would have it or kill all the people in the house. I said, if they would let me, I would get up, as there was more money in my mother's room, but I must be allowed to go first, as I feared alarming her. They consented to this, and one was particularly civil, and checked the violent expressions of the others. I put on my dressing gown, and went to my mother's room. I feel almost certain that the civil man was George Stokes. In the passage I saw four men, and I believe a fifth. I went into my mother's room, and they paused a moment at the door, as they had promised, while I was waking her. Three men followed me in; they held a stick over my mother, and said they would dash out her brains. I don't think George Stokes used any threat, though he was in the room brandishing a stick. I think they took the keys, and either one of the men or myself opened a cedar case in the room, out of which were taken two 57. notes, and many articles of jewellery and miniature paintings and rings. The leader took the notes and crunched them violently, and said, "This will never do ; we must have gold-and we will have it." I recognise the leader in Nathaniel Burge. They took An my mother's pockets, and I saw them put into the leader's hat, and then the hat quietly put on again. The drawers were searched, but I think nothing was taken from them. While the cedar case was Miss Sophia Awdry: I am the eldest daughter of Mr. John Awdry. On the 23d of December I was residing with my father. I went to my room at half-past twelve; but did not go to bed till two o'clock. I soon afterwards heard a noise. I went half way down the passage. I heard a noise in the direction between the kitchen and servants' bedroom. I think it was the moving of a door. I went back, and after warming myself, went to bed. I knew the servants had been ironing. I put out my light before I went to bed. In about a quarter of an hour I heard the lock of my door move. I had not been asleep, and said, "Who is it? come in ;" and in a few seconds the door was opened, and three men came in. I do not feel certain that there was not a fourth man. They had large sticks in one hand, and candles in the other. They all came round my bed, and one held a stick over my head, and said, "If you will lie still, we will not hurt you; but otherwise, we will dash your brains out." I answered, "I shall be quite quiet: what do you want?" One said they were starving, and must have money-"We have not been used to such ways, but it is no use resisting we are ten." I told him the money was in a basket on my table. There were 137. in the basket. Two or three of the men went to the basket; they also looked into the cupboards. eye-glass, gold-chain, brooch, and other things, were taken from the table. The leader asked me if I had a watch. I took it from the pillow and gave it him, and said being searched, the man whom I believe to be Milsom came to the door, and said, "We have two pistols loaded, if you want them." There were three persons at the time in my mother's room. They then renewed their threats, and insisted on my father's having more money. I decidedly said, "It is no use injuring us, you've almost all the money in the house, and it will do you no good to do us any harm." At this time George Stokes made many apologies to me, and said it was only starvation that drove them to it; and he shook me once by the hand. They then asked for the plate. I said I would get the keys for them, which were in the servants' room, and they allowed me to lead the way, giving me one of the candles they held in their hands. By this time they seemed to have confidence in me, and to feel that I meant to do exactly as I said. I went down the passage to the servants' room. I knocked at the door, and the servants unlocked it. I first went into the room, and told them not to be frightened; if they were quiet, I thought they would not be hurt, but they must give up the keys of every thing they had. Three men followed me into the room. I had heard a man walking up and down the passage, and I had seen him and heard his voice. He was acting like a sentinel on guard. He could command a view of all the bedroom doors. Two of the men ordered the servants to lie down, if they did not wish their brains to be dashed out. One asked if they had a watch, and put in his hand under the pillow to feel. I obtained the keys of the pantry door and of the plate-chest. I then led the way down the back stairs, followed by the same three. VOL. LXXXIV. After some difficulty about the lock of the door, it was opened. They helped themselves to some silver things on the shelf, and then opened the chest. They unfolded a table-cloth and put the silver into it. Gough took up a pistol, and asked me if it was loaded? I answered, "We have no loaded arms in the house." He then held it to my forehead. Gough left before the pantry was cleared; I heard his steps on the back staircase. The man who had acted as sentinel upstairs came down, and stood at the pantry door, and I then stood close to his side for five minutes, looking at him the whole time. He was complaining that they were too long, and that they should be disturbed. I thought also I recognised the voice as that of Milsom. He had large auburn whiskers, apparently put on for the purpose, and his countenance is certainly changed. I then went to the dining-room door on the same floor. Two of the men carried the plate to the dining-room window, and handed it out. I could not say positively, but I am almost sure it was given to some one outside, as it did not fall. The leader then again began threatening, and said that there was more money in my father's room, and they would have it. I said I would take them to his room, but it was no use their speaking to him, as he was very deaf, and would not hear them, They then followed me up to his room, and while I was waking my father they ransacked his drawers. There were certainly three men with me. The leader took a silver watch from my father's bed's-head. They searched his coat pocket. They said if they did not have more, they would murder us all. My sister then E called from up stairs that if they would come up she had a little money. They instantly ran up stairs, and I followed them. When they got into my sister's room, she gave them her purse, as she had promised. They then took her gold watch and chain, and other trinkets. They brandished their sticks at her, and swore a good deal. I think I saw a pistol in the hand of one. After they had satisfied themselves there was nothing more, they ran down stairs, and I followed them. When in the pantry they had asked for wine, and I had promised to give them some. They now went into the dining-room again, and the leader had my keys in his hand. I asked him for them, saying they could be of no use to them. He gave them to me, and said, "You promised to give us wine." I opened the cellaret. They asked for a glass. I was turning to get one, when they commenced drinking wine from a bottle. I saw one of them getting out of the window. I went up stairs, and returned in a quarter of an hour, and found they were quite gone. Immediately after they were gone my sister and myself began making out a list of what had been in the plate-chest. We missed a great coat of my father's. All the silver things were missing. I have not the slightest remembrance of Allen. Gough and Burge I am positive of, and George Stokes nearly so. Two servants were called who corroborated Miss Awdry's testimony. Mr. Justice Coleridge summed up the case with very great perspicuity. The Jury found all the prisoners "Guilty," except Mil som. They were sentenced to be transported for life. 9. NORTHERN CIRCUIT-YORK. EXTRAORDINARY CASE. CHARGE OF MURDER. Robert Goldsborough was indicted for the wilful murder of William Huntley at Crathorne, in this county, in the year 1830, by shooting him with a gun. The case, from the unusual nature of the circumstances connected with it, excited extraordinary interest, and all the avenues to the Court were densely crowded long before the doors were opened by persons anxiously seeking admission, comparatively few of whom could be accommodated in side. Sir G. Lewin stated the case to the jury, the nature of which appears from the evidence by which his statement was to be supported. Mr. Garbutt, a solicitor of Yarm, stated, that he knew the deceased, and was engaged in a Chancery suit relating to his father's estate. On the 27th of July, 1830, witness paid him 851. 16s. 4d., being the balance of a legacy due to him. All but a few odd shillings was paid in notes of the bank of Backhouse and Co., of Stockton. Shortly after he was missing. Huntley had a large head, and a tooth on the left side, that projected in a remarkable manner. Witness had lately seen a skull which, from the formation, he believes to be that of the deceased. George Fearnley deposed, that in 1830 he and the prisoner lived at Hutton Rudley. The prisoner was a weaver. On the Thursday before Yarm fair, in that year, he saw the prisoner come down the yard with Huntley, and about a week after heard that Huntley was missing, and observed one Joseph Dalkin asking the prisoner if he could give any account of Huntley, and the prisoner said he was gone to Whitby, to take ship for America. On the Friday before the fair, the last day on which the deceased was seen, he observed prisoner, with something bulky in a sack, go into his house. On the Sunday following prisoner told witness that a man was to give him 51. at Yarm, and he would lend it to witness to buy a cow. The prisoner went to the fair, and returned in the evening with a red cow, and agreed with witness for 2s. 6d. a-week to feed in his field. James Gears went along the road to work at his potatoes, a few days after Huntley was missing. The prisoner walked with him, and pulled out of his pocket four 57, notes and a quantity of silver; said he got them out of the Stock ton Bank. Witness knew them to be bank-notes by the picture in the corner, though he could not read. The prisoner was ill off before that, and would come and borrow a little meal or flour. Wit ness saw Huntley for the last time on Friday, the 30th of July, between three and four o'clock, going down the road with the prisoner and one Garbutt. James Bainbridge, a bricklayer at Middlesborough, saw Huntley, on the 30th of July, in the prisoner's house, sitting on a box, in the evening. He went to Yarm fair next morning; and, on the road at Fixton-bank, near the bridge at Crathorne Wood, saw a quantity of blood. About ten days after, he passed the prisoner's house in the evening, and saw a large fire, and perceived a smell like woollen burning, and went in. The prisoner said it was old rags burning. Witness said it was time to go to bed. Prisoner said he could not sleep. James Mawe, a greengrocer, stated that he knew Huntley, the prisoner, and Garbutt. He saw Huntley on Friday evening, the 30th of July, about nine o'clock, near the bridle-road leading to Crathorne. The prisoner and Garbutt were with him. Huntley asked witness if he would go with them, and he replied, " Na, thoul't be getting into some mischief with thy poaching." Huntley said they were going to try a gun which the prisoner had got. If they got a hare they would have a stew. He then put his hand in his pocket, and pulled out some notes, saying he had drawn his fortune of Garbutt, and had got plenty. The prisoner told him to put up his money, and witness went home. On the Saturday following, witness went to the shop of Hatton, a butcher. Prisoner was there, and Hatton said, "Goldy, what's thee done with Huntley; there's strange reports about?" The prisoner seemed agitated, got his hat off, and required some time and aid of both hands to get it on again. The prisoner then gave some contradictory statements as to where he left the deceased. A similar conversation took place the same evening. A woman named Hannah Best was washing, and found some old clothes at the prisoner's, which she could almost have sworn belonged to Huntley. Among them were six new shirts marked 66 'W. H.," which the prisoner said Huntley had given him for a debt. There was also a silver watch with. "W. H." on the back, and upstairs were three parts of a sheep. A gun was in the chamber, and prisoner's sister, Sophia Goldsbo rough, was crying and said, "Oh, Robert, this is the thing thon hast hit (or killed) Huntley with." He said, "Hold thy tongue, thou fool;" |