The Cambrian

BRECONSHIRE GREAT SESSIONS, Aug. 19. T/M KING against JOHN EVANS, for the Murder of MARGARET WILLIAMS. Tried before the Hon. MICHAEL NOLAN and ROBERT MATHEW CASBERD, Esqrs. On the Prisoner being arraigned by the Prothonotary, fie pleaded "Not Guilty," and such arraignment having been Stated to the Jury, The Attorney General (Mr. Allen) opened the case, by Saying, that they had then arrived at the last period of their Great Sessions, but that the most painfulpartof their duty yet remained. You, Gentlemen of the Jury, have indeed a trulv heavy duty to perforin—to sit in judgment between life and death, and that on the most enormous of crimes against God, against nature, and against man. The prisoner at the bar stands charged with Murder."—Here the Learned Counsel ex- plained to the Jury the nature of malice, and the necessity of such being proved to constitute that crime, and after several observations on the different features and circumstances of the case, he concluded by stating, in a most perspicuous manner, the leading facts connected with it. Elizabeth Williams, sister to the deceased, was then called and sworn.—She stated, that she resided with her father at the Frydia Farm, in the parish of Glandulas (otherwise New- church), in this county that on Saturday, the 6th instant, the inmates of her, father's house consisted of her father, herself, lier sister, and her sister's chiid, who was about two years of age. On being asked who she meant by her sister, she answered, "Margaret, that was killed."—She said the de- ceased went to bed that night about dusk, and herself about fin hour after; that.sometime after, she (witness) had gone to bed, she heard a dog barking near their house, and imme- diately afterwards the outer door(which was only fastened by a latch), was opened, and she heard a man enter it, who instantly directed his steps to the room of the deceased; he remained there some time ;—no one s:ept with the deceased but her little boy. She.afterwards heard the man leave the deceased's room, and go out of the house she knew him by his voice to be John of Troedrhy w-Ithon (the prisoner). On the following night (Sunday), her father, herself, and her sister, with her child, who again slept with her, went to bed as usual-her sister about dusk,and herself soon after; her father had gone a little before, being rather unwell.,—About the middle of the night (she thought between twelve and one, but there was no clock in the house) her father called her, desiring her to go to the little boy, who was crying she went and found himicrying and in bed alone—her sister was missing witness then went down stairs and found her sister's shoes, stockings, and hat near the kitchen fire, where she had left them on going to bed she never saw her sister alive after- wards, but her dead body was brought to her father's house on Friday last; she said her sister was about 41 years of age. On being cross-examined, witness said she had not been1 asleep before she heard the footsteps of the man going up stairs on 'he Saturday night; that he was with her sister a considerable time, much more than all hour she was sure. but knew not how long; witness did not sleep before lie went away she slept ill the same room as her father—'tis on the ground floor, under that which the deceased occupied there are only two rooms in the house, one up stairs and one down the house door opens immediately into the lower room, where her father and self slept; her sister in going out of the house must have passed through their room there was fire in their room on the Sun- day night. On being questioned by the Bench, she said she knew the voice of the man talking to her sister on the Saturday 'light, because she had often heard it before was sure it was that of the prisoner; she had known prisoner visit her sister many times before that night. Witness does not always reside at her father's, but generally in another house, which is, how- ever, under the same roof; but she was at that time staying with her father. John Evans was next sworn.- He stated, that he lived in the parish of Newchurch, near the abode of David Williams (the deceased's father—that he knew the prisoner well; remem- bers seeing the prisoner between three and four o'clock in the morning of Sunday, the 7th in-taut, on his (witness's) father's farm, at the distance of about a quarter of a mile, or less, from David Williams's house, at the Frydia; the lands of his father's farm adjoin those of the Frydia; the prisoner appeared to be coming from the Frydia, as his back was towards it, and he was going in the direction of his own home when witness first saw him he was about tOo yards on before, and they were both going in the same direction the prisoner was then walk- Ing smartly, hut on witness's attempting to get up with him, he ran and turned on one side out of his way prisoner had with him two dogs, which were barking after him; witness thinks he was running from him, and not from the dogs, as he called to the prisoner two or three times, but he returned no answer. On a question from one of the jury, witness said, he happened to be going the same way as the prisoner for about a few hundred yards. David Williams, the father of the deceased, being sworn, said, that he lived at the Frydia, in the parish of Newchurch that hit daughter Margaret had made his house her home. On being asked whether she was still alive, witness (who ap. peared an old man) was greatly affected, and wept much he said, she was not alive, the last time he had seen her was on ounday. the 7th inst. as she was going to bed in the middle the night (he thought between twelve and one o'clock), on '.earing the child crying, he called Peggy," but no one an- swered he did not go into the room himself, but on his calling s other daughter (the witness Elizabeth Williams), she went I II t ere and returned to him immediately, saying, that the child as in bed alone, her sister being missing he never saw the eeeased afterwards, 'till her lifeless body was brought to his house on Friday last. Thomas Williams, brother of the deceased, was then sworn. j was well acquainted With the prisoner that M*u>nday morning, the 8th instant, he went in company with Kees Davies (the next witness) to search for his sister 7-1 .H<^ keen lost; that about ten o'clock in the riwpMn^' ,he.y w'ere searching for her body in a small r near their'house, they fell in with the prisoner, when ',mi H he knew any thing of the deceased, who *9,wthe prisoner replied in the negative to nrpi7«nf ? 5 to the prisoner, If you have sent her away, to prevent her swearing i child to you, say so, that her friends tiling rnl,. after her; I am afraid you have done some- and hir.Hi-0/' ^S- Sile *las feonp'off with only a gown, petticoat, had nr.* Davies concluded by asking him if he nrisnno! at 'he Frydia on Saturday night, when the .i dnsw<irefl No." Davies then said he heard he had a Jack, of Keven-Iole (the witness John said I "J CominS from there. To this the prisoner faC ,l ^ve guineas Jack would not say so to his fcrouVu L r\ w?nt for, Evims- of Keven-Iole, and «onn to Mr. Davies, and whilst he was with them they T,'i!*rwards again met the prisoner, who immediately iiiiirnin seen him towards the Frydia on Sunday wYwh t?' -w.'len Evans said, was that not the case ?" j0 ni'uht audPhSSner.rep|ipd'^that he had been ut home all that prisoner to bril^e'Uy 10 Pfov,e lt' Evans then desired the lie had SPP.. & Ulos?} people forward, as he was sure of what ,1,en oEt rT but abonf f«, U J Witness soon afterwards again searched heCo?,'>>, Rea Thorn, Between two anH Pnce' and a many others, the house of thH r?- eeoc'ock in the evening they went to fish of I Inmro Priso"er' Qalled Troedrhy w-Ithon, in the pa- «vitne<«'s fail mmar, which is about two miles from that of KeTer hvini, U,e Prisoner was not at home; they had, fialf an kLi^r.' Vf16' deter.mined to pursue him, and in about soinu a«v fnet n 61 s,aw him on horseback, without a saddle, of him he i°U id ttiey went w''hi" a field's breadth out. Ston «rV, fWi rlrl'n £ away from them; they cried mations Wit»» Murderer," and other similar excla- desiring himtoJnrr.a8,iUre tlie fjris"ller must llavt' heard them dow, op to a fiplH V-eP.7S0,ier wa"then going across a niea- public path. vlnch led to the mountain it was not a Monifay?tTe^thT.lf "fXf sworn' said-ihtlt> on t,lf! morning of of the ileceaspH • .1 »' ,eTellt w»th the last witm ss in search Prisoner [Here wi ne^r' Sttch se"ch' the-v ",et wilh ,he between him nr. s.sta'«'d the conversation that took place ^breqTeluiy^. ^.P^-l^.an'l the circumstance ofWir ■with the arpmmt 1 011 horseback, .which statement agreed Witness then « .f'?'en hy Thomas Williams, the last witness.] ceased was founH f .Was present when the body of the de- Friday, the t^tl 'le aflerwards stated took place on this WHS on LlwrmSUUlt' between twelve and one o'clock church, in some w MVytlW^ut ^arin' in the parish of New- the place thev obsft !d'e a b"g w,|eii they came up to w«re immediatelv r VC ,ile grou,lci had been turned up, and 'he people had heP..°!r m?ed tllat the body lay there. After to their view, b'utwit '8'.ng for a s!lort tln'e' lt was«xposed hot bear at first to ile»s e.<v no' at what depth, as he could lifetime: after n,n i?'j at l,e knew the deceased in her I ""d was quite SIII-P y had been "p ,ie 1('oked at it, Petticoat, and shift- i Was,ier's5 sf'e was clothed in a gown, I chief on the head 'l 'S Uot sui-e w',ether there was a handker- °n the check lifc» k^S' aild 'eet were hare there was a mark that the heart'h»,i u ru,se-'atid he thought, by its appearance, The body wi« imm f wrunK' as't seemed perfectly loose.— der. in Which m llate,y washed, and then placed on a lad- Iength procureH a"kr Was carried a short way, till they at of' the decease i' f. i"' 0n whlcl' 't was carried to the house sai l that he onVJ1 j~~°n l'eing "oss examined, witness lo<>king at the K^4 ,r" away for a sl,ort time at first from there; he diH „iV were 8 great number of people others <3o- so, liancJle the body himself, but he^aw several t,,eS8tM^taVntS|1S the^.sworn• He said that,,on Monday, people, in Dup«„;t Wf"tiWUh.,he next witness, and several other pursuit of tlie prisoner, for the purpose of aPPre_ iieritting iiirn; tliat abotat thrre or four o'clock in evening, they came up with him 01.1 their first seeing him, he was about two hundred yards off, and he immediatel y Jumped into a pool of the river, which was just by. Witness then stated the sub- sequent conduct of the prisoner* giving the same, though not so particular an account of it as that of'the next witness. Thomas Davies said he was Constable of the parish of Newchurch that lie joined in the pursuit of the prisoner, as mentioned by Isaac Davies; that when they came up to the prisoner in the poo!, lie took a knife out of his pocket; the prisoner then desired the people several times to stand hack, and said if they would stand back, he would give them 201. for so doing; witness then told him that tliev would go into the pool to him, when the prisoner said, If you do, I will fall upon the knife immediately, as it is better to kill oneself than be hanged." Witness then went into the pool, and took him. On the following morning the prisoner was taken for examina- tion before the Magistrate, Col. Gwynne, at Llandovery. Daniel Rowlands was then called and sworn, He stated that he lived at Pen-y-rhiew, about two miles from the house of the deceased's father; that his wife is the prisoner's sister; that on Sunday, the 7th instant, he went to bed a little after dusk, his wife and child having gone before him that in the course of the night (he thought about twelve o'clock, or a little after), lie heard a man calling out at the house door, Hollo, where are you ? In bed?" and some other like exclamations. The door (which had no fatch Or bolt on it) was then opened, and the man entered, whom he found to be the prisoner; he im- mediately desired witness to dress, and conic out, which he re- fused to do, asking him what he wanted prisoner again said, "Elr.e,s, and come úutdireclly;" witness then dressed himself, and went to the door, When the p'risonerenquired where his spade was: witness asked him what he wanted with it; pri- soner said," Come out with mewitness asked him what was the matter, to which the prisoner replied, Peggy has taken what she ought not;" witness asked what she had taken, when the prisoner said he could not tell, but that she had taken something wrong they had by this time goneotat of the house; the prisoner had a spade in his hand, which he had found in the house, on a heap of turf; witness then asked the prisoner where Peggy was, to which he replied, Here, dead enough, and on that he took witness up to the body, which lay on the ground to the best of witness's knowtedge it was lhat of the deceased Margaret Williams; they were accustomed to call the deceased '• Peggy;" Witness began to cry over the body( when the prisoner cursed and swore, and told him not to make such a noise; witness then took hold of her hand, to see whe- thephe was really dead, it fell lifeless to tlie ground he lifted it again, and it again fell; the prisoner (hen desired witness to raise the body up to the horse, which he at first refused, but he at length drew it to the prisoner, who hud by that time mounted his horse, and prisoner pulled it up before him. The prisoner thus moved off with the body before him. Witness was returning back, when the prisoner requested that lie would go with him, which he refused at first,but through fear he at length agreed to follow him. Witness here said, I was at the mo- ment so afraid of him that I could have sworn the peace against him in the place." Whilst witness was walking after him, the prisoner told him to hold his tongue and say nothing, and not to make a noise about it; againndding, "She has taken what she ought not." When witness had thus accompanied him for about three or four hundred yards, the prisoner (who was still on horseback, with the body before him) turned down towards a wood, and witness ran back home as fast as lie could. Wit- ness did not observe whether or not the prisoner had the spade in his hand when he left him the night was not moonlight, though not too dark to see. On his cross examination, he said vi I that he came to give evidence to the Court that day from the County Gaol, where he had been confined about the matter. [Here the warrant of his committal was handed np to their Lordships, by whom it was immediately put into the hands of the prisoner s Counsel; Mr. Chief Justice adding, at the same time, that If they meant the Jury to infer, that by the witness's being confined in gaol, hewassoasahaecompfice, lie wished them to understand the fact, which was, that he was only so confined in consequence of his not having entered into a pro- per recognizance for the appearance of himsetf and his wife there that dav, as witnesses] His cross-examination then continued. Witness never told any one until Friday, the 12th instant, about this matter, he not having been spoken to before that about it; nobody had charged him with the murder lie told Rees Prytherch of it first; when Prytherch asked him about it, he told him all he knew; witness did not recollect Prytherch threaten or charge him with having committed the crime witness had a child sworn to him by the deceased about eight years ago, but it only lived a fortnight. In answer to questions from the Bench, lie said, he was present when the body was found; that on the Sunday night when witness parted from him, the prisoner was taking the body in the di- rection of the place where it was found. Elinor Rowtands being sworn, said; she was the wife of the last witness, Daniel Rowlands, and sister of the prisoner. On Sunday, the 7th instant, she went to bed about dusk, and her husband soon after; during the night (she thought about twelve o'clock) she heard some one call out, but she could not swear who it was, nor could she on her oath say what con- versation that took place between this person and her husband, but she heard them leave the house together. William Price was the next ca)!ed, who corroborated the other witnesses, as to the circumstances attending the finding of the body of the deceased, and he also added, that the body. was placed in the house of the deceased's father, in the sqirie state as when found, except that it had been washed. William Powell, the next witness's evidence coincided with that given by the preceding one. Elizabeth Williams being re-examined, said, that when the body was brought to her father's house, on Friday, the 12th instant, it was placed on a table, in the kitchen, and left in the same state up to the time it was seen by Mr. Morgan, the next witness. ■ Mr. Morgan Morgan was then sworn. He stated that be was 4 Surgeon, residing at Llandovery that on Sunday, the 14th instant, he went by the desire of the Magistrate, Col. Gwynne, to the house of the deceased's father, for the purpose of ex- amining the body; he first dtvided a muscle on the neck, when lie discovered that the first vertebra of the neck had been dislocated, to which dislocation he solely attributed her death he afterwards exposed the external parts of the stomach and bowels, but did not examine their contents; they appeared to have been perfectly healthy he also opened the uterus, which contained a foetus, apparently about three months old. On being cross-examined, witness said, he was convinced that that dislocation caused her death, as there was no other apparent cause that it required much force from an unskilful hand to distocatetheneckofa living person; that he concluded the deceased did not die by poison, as that would have inflamed the coat of the stomach witness afterwards allowed that there were certain poisons which did not cause inflammation. Benjamin Williams, Esq. was the last witness sworn. He said that he was one of the Coroners of the county that he had practised as a Surgeon, for many years in Brecon, but had relinquished such practice about two 'years ago that on Mon- day, the loth instant, he held an inquest on the body of the deceased, at her father's house; in his opinion her death was caused by the dislocation of the first cervical vertebra. On his cross-examination, witness stated, that such dislocation might have taken place after death, but that if it did so during lite, it must instantly have extinguished it. The evidence having been gone through, the Chief Justice summed it up with the greatest accuracy, explaining as he went on, the nature and drift of the different parts of it, nnd the Jury after a few minutes' deliberation, returned a verdict of Guilty. Sentence of Death was then passed upon the prisoner, to be executed on Monday, the 22d instant. The unhappy criminal, who appeared to be under thirty years of age, and is said to be possessed of consIderable. property, heard his dreadful doom with less apparent emotion than man y of the auditors. The miserable victim to the iawtess passion of the prisoner, besides being again pregnant, had a child living by the same barbarous father; and it has been stated, that he was paying his addresses to another female, who had discouraged his suit, in consequence of his guilty connection. After sentence had been passed, the Counsel for the pri- soner moved for a respite thereof, on the ground of a defect in the indictment, inasmuch as it did not allege that the dis- location of the neck and head therein mentioned was mortal; but after an argument of some length, the motionwas overruled. The trial commenced at eight o'clock in the morning, and occupied about eight hours. Mr. Sockett and Mr. Whitcombe, were with the Attorney General, on behalf of the prosecution, and Mr. Cross and Mr. Maule, were Counsel for the prisoner. There were six other prisoners for trial at these Assizes, of whom John Howard and Evan Williams, for stealing wine from the house of Mr. Thos. Williams, druggist, were sentenced t o one year's imprisonment to hard labour; and Mary Jones, for stealing cloth, handkerchiefs, &c. from the house of Mr. Isaac Pro-ser; to two months' imprisonment, to hard labour two were acquitted and against one there was no bill found. CONFESSION AND EXECUTION OF JOHN EVANS.-—On Wednesday last, this wretched man suffered the awful sentence of the law, precisely at one o'clock, in the presence of an im- mense concourse of spectators. He died without a struggle, and apparently quite penitent. From the time sentence was passed until the day of his execution the Prisoner continually declared that Daniel Rowlands was concerned with him in the murder, which he at the same time said was effected by means of poison; but, previous to the administration of the Holy Sacrament to him in the morning, he fully confessed the falsity of Such statement, and that he alone was the sole perpetrator of the crime; in consequence of which the following memo- randum was made by the Rev. Mr; Jones, the Chaplain, in the presence of the Under Sheriff!:—» Brecon County Prison, Monday, the nd day of August, 1R9Z "I, the undersigned, consider it to be due to the character of Daniel Rowlands to state, that the wretched Criminal T«hn Evans, who this day suffered for the Murder of Mirsrirel Williams, previous to his death, acknowledged the iustice of Ins sentence, and that he alone perpetrated this horrid Murder He further stated, that Daniel Rowlands was not implicated in f"». *•»«« Witness, Joaw JONES, Deputy Sberj&ap'a"1 °f t,le ^aoJ" The GfefeAt SE^srojfs fof GtAMdiuuffSHtfeE,' cotfj. menced onSatuiday last. The Judges, attended by J. Bennett, Esq. the Sheriff, and a large party of the neighbouring Gentry, Corpoiatiort, &c. made their public entry into Cardiff on that day, and immediately proceeded to the Town-hall, where the Commission was opened with the usual formalities.—There were only seven prisoners for trial :-Elizabeth James, for stealing silver spoony the property of Wm. James, of Cow- bridge, was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment; and Daniel O'Harn, for stealing a silver watch, See. the property of John Thomas, of Swansea, to six months' imprisonment; John Morgan, charged with the murder of John Rees, of Merthyr lydfil, and Josiah John, with maliciously stabbing Wm. Thomas, at Cardiff, were acquitted Evan Lloyd, charged with stealing a letter from Wm. Edwards, containing two ten-pound notes, of the Dowlais Bank and a Bank Post- al, J thirty John Morgan, with having broken into the Aberdure Canal Office, and stealing various articles therefrom and Leah Morgan, with having stolen a pocket-book from Ihonias Davies, containing Bank of England and local notes, to the amount of fifty pounds, were acquitted.—At the Civil Bar, very little business was done, and no action of particular interest. One circumstance created some little surprise a poor man brought an action against another for depriving him of an eye, and was awarded 31. damages; a gentleman brought an action against another, for shooting two dogs, and was awarded 1501.; a strange anomaly this, and difficult to be reconciled. At CARMARTHEN GREAT SESSIONS, the following causes were decided Lessee Donne v. Thomas Davies-This was an ejectment brought to recover possession of premises, situate in Quav- ?i* "DI 'e ^untJ the Borough of Carmarthen.—Verdict for the Plaintiff. ° p David Anthony v. J. G. Philipps, Esq. and others, and William rrothefo v. J. S. Saunders, Esq. and others.—These two actions were brought against the defendants, who are Magistrates for the County of Carmarthen, for levying on the goods of the plaintiffs; (who reside in Kidwelly), for the County Stock for Carmarthenshire. Plaintiffs contended that as inhabitants of lvidwelly they were not subject to the payment of the Stock tor the County, the town of Kiljwelly being exempted under an ancient Charter, Owingtoaninformatttyin the warrant from the Chief Constable to the Overseer, the rea I question in dispute was not decided, and a verdict was given in each action for the plaintiffs. William. Griffiths v, Anne Stephenson.■—This action was pro tight against defendant, as administratrix of the late David yv m. Stephenson, Esq. deceased, for shop goods supplied him nuns life-time by plaintiff.-Verdict for plaintiff 21. 1.5s. 3d.; subject to a new trial, granted. Thomas Howell v. Thomas Lewis -Plaintiff broHght this action against defendant for disturbing him in the quiet pos- session of a Pew in the Parish Church of Llanwinio.—Plaintiff nonsuited. "DM, on the demise of Daniel Evans v. John Davies —This was an ejectment to recover possession of lands in the parish of Pencarreg.—Verdict for plaintiff. Henry Lewis v. Samuel Tardrew,-This action was brought' to recover the amount of a bill of costs for business done as an attorney.—Verdict for plaintiff. PEMBROKESHIRE GREAT SESSIONS commenced on Tuesday last. We are given to understand, that there is less business in that County, than ivhat has been for a number of years. There were only two causes entered for trial Thurs- day, viz. Roe v.Benjamin, for mesne prtifits.-This was an undefended cause. M. Mathias v. Anthony.—This was a cause that excited con- siderable interest in the town of Haverfordwest, where the parties resided. The defendant hired furniture, to furnish his house, of the plaintiff, for which he paid her the sum of 101. the plaintiff claimed a further sum of 121. 10s. 6d. for the hire of her goods.—Verdict for plaintiff, damages 121. lOs. True Bills of Indictment have been found by the Grand Jury against six prisoners, five for larceny, and one for murder. At Gloucester Assizes, on the trial of John Adlam, for aiding in a,boxing match, in which James Miller received a blow which occasioned his death Mr. Baron Garrow said, that he was sure the magistracy of this county would on all occasions he found to do their duty to prevent prize-fighting, whenever a complaint on oath was made that there was a likelihood of a riotous assembly, meeting for the purpose of committing any such untawfu) act; if any magistrate should neglect his duty, by omitting to act on such information, it should not be long until he would be brought up before the Court, and called to order for dereliction of his duty. Saint Nicholas fair, on Monday last, was very thinly attended. There was very little stock of any value, and scarcely any dealers. Average price of wheat in Cowbridge Market, on luesday last, 31. 8s. lOd. per quarter. On Wednesday, the 10th inst. a grand match of Cricket was played near Ruglatid Castle, between eleven gen- tlemellof the County of Brecknock and eleven of the County of Monmonth, which terminated by Brecknockshire beating them single innings. At six an elegant dinner was served up by Mr. Allen of the Beaufort-Arms. The return match was to be played on Wednesday last, inCourt-y-gollen Park. A Prospectus for building, by shareholders, a new town at Aberdovey, Merionethshire, have been published. The country is romantic; the sea views are delightful; and the sands on the there are firm and hard for driving upon or horse-racing. The buoy lately fixed to that dangerous rock, the Rundle-stone, parted from its moorings during the gale on Monday seWight, and was picked up. by a Mousehole-hole boat at some distance. The boatmen brought it into Pen- zance, with about fourteen fathoms of chain cable. Within the last few days, several firkins of Irish butter have been washed on shore at Perran, from which it is feared some Irish vessel foundered in the late severe gales. The brig John and Mary, William Harris, master, was driven on shore in Barnstable Bay during a gale, on the 4th inst. The crew were saved and the spars, eab)es,sai)s,&c. were got on shore. The Master sold the hull for ,£40; but the speculation proved unfortunate for the purchasers, as the day after she went to pieces ;the vessel was in ballast. It is proposed, by deepening the bed of the Wye in some of the streams, to render the river navigable at the lowest water for barges carrying ten tons. The Devon and Cornish coasts are completely thronged with pilchards. Monday night the driving-boats belonging to Looe took upwards of 40,000 very fine pilchards; and on Tuesday one of the seans enclosed about 14 hogsheads. A site of ground, about two miles from Chester," has been marked out for the erection of a new pottery next spring, and potter's earth is represented to be there of a supe- rior kind. Saturday evening Mr. Green made a fine balloon ascent from Worcester; and descended at Beauchcanip, three miles from Gloucester. Mr. G. had in view at the same time Gloucester, Worcester, Hereford, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Upton. &c. and the entire command of the Bristol Channel. The House-warming dinner of the gallant Ex-Cham- pion Spring (Winter), who on his retirement from the ring purchased the Boothall Inn, in Hereford, took place on the 16th inst. and was attended by nearly 70 of his friends, in. ctuding several gentlemen of the first respectability. Spring's health was drank with three times three. Spring, in returning thanks, declared it to be the happiest moment of his life in which he saw so many friends come from far and near to sup- port him in his new vocation, and amongst the rest his old father of the prize ring Tom Cribb. Tom Cribb's health was then drank with great applause the old Champion returned thanks for the honour done him, and said it made his heart leap for joy to see his son so nobly supported. The health of Brown, and may success attend him if he enter the ring again," was next given Brown, in returning thanks, stated that he had no particular wish to fight, but if Ward, or any other man in England who called himself champion, should lack a customer, he should be found ready to meet him for 5001. or 10001. The evening was spent with the utmost con- viviality. The public should be cautioned against the use of imitation pepper. The detection is by no means difficult, as the stinking quality of the article cannot fail of discovering itself after having been kept, it being composed of glue, snuff, and pepper dust, sold to the Jews by the porters who sweep out the pepper warehouses. A few years ago the sale of this, even in respectable shops, was very common, and now it is ground up with good pepper and sold in retail shops. ——. ■