WEST BRITON AND CORNWALL ADVERTISER APRIL 4 1851 NOTICE I HEREBY GIVE NOTICE that I will not be answerable for any DEBTS my wife MIRIAM CHAPPLE, now residing at Pool, in the parish of Illogan, may contract from this date. CHARLES CHAPPLE, Camborne, April 3, 1851 ........ NOTICE - ALL PERSONS having any DEMANDS on the ESTATE of the late Mr. ROBERT LILLY, Victualler, St. Michael Penkivel, deceased, are requested to send the particulars thereof, within one month from this day to MR. WILLIAM PASCOE, Tregonian, St. Michael Penkivel aforesaid, the Executor in Trust of the deceased; and all PERSONS INDEBTED to the said ESTATE, are requested to pay their several Amounts to the said Mr. Pascoe, within one month from the date hereof. (This will be advertised but once.) Dated, the 2nd day of April, 1851 ........ GENUINE SOUTHHAM CIDER S. BOWDEN and SON have on Sale a choice lot of GENUINE SOUTHHAM CIDER, which they beg to offer to the Trade at a moderate figure, considering the great scarcity of the article. Intending purchasers are requested to make an early application. Totnes, Devon, April 2, 1851 ............................. LOCAL INTELLIGENCE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF CORNWALL - On Monday last, Mr. R. Q. COUCH delivered a very able and scientific lecture at the Penzance Institute, on the "Physical Geography of Cornwall." Mr. FLAMANK occupied the chair. The lecturer introduced the subject by taking a hasty glance a the Physical Geography of the Globe. He then led his audience to the hills of Cornwall, measuring their heights and comparing their elevations. He described the beauty and salubrity of its valleys, and drew attention to the rivers which cut the bounty, as it were, into small peninsulas, and which, assisted by the ocean, produced a temperature so equable, as scarcely to be equalled in the world. In speaking of the internal heat of the earth, he gave the thermometrical temperatures of the Cornish mines at different depths, clearly proving that the deepest mines were the warmest. He then spoke of the intelligence of the Cornish miners, as compared with other working men, of their wear and tear in descending to their work, their perspiration when at work, and their again ascending, causing in some cases a loss of weight in the eight hours thus occupied by them, of from 6 lbs to 8 lbs to each man, the loss varying according to the depths at which they worked. The lecturer observed that he had himself proved this fact. Some very interesting information was then given respecting the fisheries of Cornwall, and the migrations of the fish. An opinion was hazarded that Cornwall was once united to the Isles of Scilly, and also to the continent of Europe. In the discussion which followed the lecture, one of the members stated a circumstance, as evidencing the warmth of the winter in Cornwall, that he had that evening after sunset seen a butterfly on the wing. A vote of thanks was passed to the lecturer at the close of the meeting. ST. AGNES - The annual parish meeting took place at the Hotel. The accounts were examined, and passed as correct, shewing in the disbursements an increase over the preceding year of GBP 158.2s.10d. [for 1850, GBP 2,109.7s.2d] At the same time the officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: Mr. A. Stephens, collector and assistant overseer. Messrs. Joseph Newton, M.T. Hitchins, Anthony Williams, George Chellew, and John Letcher, were unanimously elected guardians. Altogether this was the most amicable meeting there had been for many years. The connexion with the union was deeply deplored from the great increase in the rates, bearing as they do so heavily on the farmers, and house property in the parish. By this connexion the expenditure is increased at the rate of GBP 700 per annum above the old system of managing the poor. DELAVEL'S CHARITY At the Falmouth Town Council meeting on Wednesday last, it was decided that this Annual Charity should be awarded to JOHANNA SINCLAIR. PROLIFIC EWES Mr. JOHN HORE, of Rescorla, in the parish of St. Austell, has five ewes, which have produced sixteen lambs this season. ST. IVES The mackerel boats have had but small catches throughout the week. HELSTON MIDLENT FAIR This fair on Monday was well supplied with fat cattle, which brought about two guineas per cwt. There were not many cows and calves or lean cattle there, but the former were in great demand. There was rather more business than usual in the horse fair. HELSTON QUARTER SESSIONS At this sessions on Monday last, EDWARD MITCHELL was charged with having stolen part of a brass tap from MR. THOMAS GEACH, inn-keeper, of the White Hart Inn. In September last Mr. Geach had found the tap wanting, and after a long search a part of it was discovered to have been sold to Mr. OLVER, of Falmouth; but Mr. RENDLE, a foreman of Mr. Olver, who bought the brass, could not swear positively to the prisoner. Another person of Falmouth, MRS. OSBORNE, swore that the prisoner had offered her the same piece of brass for sale, and she, not dealing in that way, recommended him to dispose of it at Mr. Olver's. the prisoner had been in the employ of Mr. Geach, as an ostler, and had free access to every part of the inn. Mr. TYACKE appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. H. ROGERS for the defence. After a lengthy trial, the learned Recorder, MR. BEVAN, summed up the evidence, when the jury retired for more than an hour and returned a verdict of "guilty of selling the brass, but that the evidence was not strong enough to convict." The Recorder desired them to retire and reconsider the verdict, when after another hour's deliberation they found him guilty. The prisoner was then sentenced to three months' imprisonment in the town gaol. It is worthy or remark that this is the only case that has been brought to trial in this borough for many sessions. PENZANCE QUARTER SESSIONS These sessions were to have taken place on the 28th ult., but in consequence of the absence of the Recorder, Mr. COLLIER, (who was engaged at the assizes) they were adjourned to Monday last. There were two cases for trial. CATHERINE CHEETHAM was charged with stealing, on Thursday the 6th day of March last, from MR. THOMAS TREWHELLA, a purse containing GBP 13.14s.0d. Mr. Rogers appeared for the prisoner, and MR. ROSCORLA conducted the prosecution. The prisoner was found guilty, and sentenced to eight months' imprisonment with hard labour in the borough gaol. EDWARD PASCOE, REUBEN LIMPENNY, JOHN KNAPP, and HENRY VINGOE, were indicted for having on the 11th of February last, broken into and entered the shop of MR. PETER ARTHUR, watchmaker, and stealing from thence several gold and silver watches. A second count in the indictment charged the prisoners with having received the goods knowing them to have been stolen. The last-named two prisoners were defended by MR. PASCOE; Mr. DAVIES appeared for Limpenny, and Mr. Rogers for Pascoe. On the part of the prosecution it was stated that there had been stolen about twenty-four watches in all. It was not attempted to be shewn that the prisoners broke and entered the shop of the prosecutor, but it was proved that each of the prisoners had dealt with the property. The evidence shewed that both Knapp and Vingoe had pawned one or two of the watches in Penzance, and that Pascoe and Limpenny had disposed of three at Helston and Falmouth. Some of the witnesses for the prosecution were subjected to a severe cross-examination, and in one instance the effect of a portion of evidence, which seriously affected the prisoner Vingoe, was materially lessened owing to the conflicting statements of the witnesses. On behalf of Vingoe, Mr. Pascoe examined several witnesses, who established an alibi as to the robbery, and gave the prisoner an excellent character. Mr. BALL, of the Union Hotel, gave the prisoner KNAPP a most unexceptional character for honesty. The advocates for the prisoners severally addressed the jury, who afterwards remained in consultation about one hour. Pascoe and Limpenny were both found guilty on the first count in the indictment for housebreaking, and sentencved to Ten Years' transportation. Vingoe and Knapp were found guilty on the second count for receiving goods knowing them to have been stolen, and were sentenced to be imprisoned in the borough gaol for eight and four months respectively, with hard labour. St. AUSTELL PETTY SESSIONS - At these sessions, on Tuesday last, SEPTIMUS FILIUS WILTON, of Mevagissey, was convicted of trespassing in search of game and rabbits, on the 7th day of February last, at Mevagissey, and fined 20s. and costs, and in default of payment to be committed to the house of correction for one calendar month. -NICHOLAS HICKS and JOHN VERCOE, of St. Dennis, were convicted and fined 5s. each and costs, and HENRY HOCKEY, of St. Dennis, and ROBERT GOODGE, of St. Stephens, were convicted and fined 2s.6d. each and costs, as the drivers of china clay waggons, for having on the 8th of March last, obstructed the turnpike road at the town of St. Austell. The turnpike at the eastern end of St. Austell, in the direction of Charlestown is very hilly, and from the immense traffic in the china clay trade, the insufficiency of many of the teams employed in the carriage, and the rivalry of the drivers, the place in questions is frequently a scene of tumult and confusion; the road being sometimes entirely obstructed for as much as half an hour at a time, and not unfrequently accompanied with considerable danger to passers by. It is hoped that these cases will serve as a warning to the drivers for the future. PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE - FALLING INTO A SHAFT Great excitement prevailed in the family of a tradesman at St. Agnes, named SAUNDERS, on Thursday the 27th ult., in consequence of his son, a young man about twenty-one years of age, and a daughter about sixteen, being missing. It appears that young Saunders and his sister, on the night in question, left their father's house for the purpose of accompanying home a young woman, an acquaintance, who lived at a place called Mount, about a mile distant. The night was extremely dark, and an hour or two having elapsed without the return of the young man and his sister, the family became alarmed and feared that some misfortune had befallen them, but still expecting their return they waited until the clock struck twelve, and at that time started off in search of the missing party. They first went to Mount, and ascertained that they had been there, and had left about ten o'clock to return home. The distress of the parents at this moment was painful in the extreme. They at once concluded that as their children had to cross a common in the neighbourhood, of the old Wheal Kitty mine, they had missed their way and fallen into some shaft. Every place of this description that could be thought of was searched without success. By this time daylight was appearing, and whilst hesitating what step to take, they saw a young man coming toward them, which on his approach, to their great joy and surprise proved to be the young Saunders. On asking him where he had been, he said "I have been all night in a shaft, and my sister is there still." At once they followed him to the place, and discovered the poor girl at the bottom of an open shaft about twenty-five feet deep, into which she and her brother had fallen, and remained the whole night exposed to torrents of rain that descended upon them, nothwithstanding which neither of them were injured excepting a few bruises. Young Saunders gained the surface by a difficult effort of climbing; he afterwards procured a ladder and assisted to get up his sister which was done, and the young party restored to their parents. ARSON On Monday night, some person or persons, wllfully set fire to a mow of barley, rick of hay, and a rick of furze, the property of MRS. JAMES MARTIN, of Crellow, near the church-town, Stithians. Hundreds of the neighbours were soon on the premises, some of whom appeared to be anxious to put a check to the fire; but while some were endeavouring to extinguish the flames in the rick of hay, the rick of furze was discovered to be on fire. It is believed that the parties also entered the barn, and stable, in order to set fire to the building, but finding no hay or straw there, they could not succeed. There were some old rags and Lucifer matches found on the premises near to the burning ricks. It is feared that the act has not been perpetrated by any stranger in the neighbourhood. CORONERS' INQUESTS The following inquests have been held before Mr. HAMLEY, county coroner: On the 26th ult., at St. Germans, on the body of Mr. THOMAS GEAKE, of that place, tanner, aged 56. It appeared that about seven o'clock on the morning of Monday, the 24th ult., he left his home for the purpose of going into his tan-yard, and took a tool-box, hammer and nails, in order, it is supposed, to do some repairs to a portion of one of the pumps. About two hours afterward, one of his workmen going through the yard, saw the tool-box lying by the side of one of the pits, and, thinking it had been left there inadvertently by some one of his fellow workmen, went to the spot, and looking into the pit, saw his master therein, with his heels upwards. He immediately procured assistance, and the body was taken out, quite dead. The water in the pit was only about three feet deep; but the deceased had evidently fallen head-foremost, and in the position in which he was found, jammed between the pump and the side of the pit, it was impossible for him to extricate or raise himself. M. KERSWELL, surgeon, who attended him professionally, said he had lately been subject to lightness in the head, and there was no doubt he had been seized with giddiness, and fell head-foremost into the pit. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death. " The deceased was a highly respectable man, greatly esteemed by private friends, and for his performance of parochial and county public duties. On the same day at Penquite, in the parish of St. Germans, on the body of a labourer called JOSHUA HEATH, 50 years of age. He had been in a depressed state of mind for the last year and a half, and had several times threatened to destroy himself, and for the last few months, had been constantly watched. In the same village in which he lived, there resides a farmer called STEVENS who has, in his cow-house, a turnip-cutting machine, the blade of which is an old scythe. Heath had often been observed examining this machine, and he had several times asked some boys to come there and cut off his head. On Monday morning the 24th ult., he went out of his house, and his wife followed and watched him. At last, she lost sight of him for a short time; she passed by the cow-house but did not suspect that he was inside as the door was closed, as it had been kept for some time latterly in order to prevent her husband getting to the machine. In about ten minutes, Mr. STEVENS's son went into the cow-house, and found the deceased lying by the side of the turnip-cutter, in a pool of blood, quite dead - his head being nearly severed from his body. On looking round the building, it was found he had got into the house through an old window, at the upper part of the building, and had then descended to the floor. It is supposed that he had himself placed his head under the scythe of the turnip-cutter, and, with his hand, had pulled it down on his neck, which, as before stated, was nearly severed. Both the jugular vein and the carotid artery were divided, and consequently, he must have died almost instantly. The jury all knew deceased to have been long in a depressed state of mind, and did not hesitate in coming to the opinion that he had destroyed himself and that he was in a state of "temporary insanity. " It appeared that he had threatened and endeavoured to destroy himself in various ways; for some time he had carried about with him a rope; and on one occasion, he was saved by some of his friends when in the attempt to thrust a pike into his bowels. He was about to be sent to the County Lunatic Asylum in a few days. The following inquest has been held before Mr. GILBERT HANMLEY, deputy coroner: On Friday last, in the parish of St. Austell, on the body of the child of a travelling hawker named PITCHER. The child was four months old. Both parents went home the previous evening in a state of intoxication, and the mother, on awaking in the morning about half-past six, found the child dead by her side. There was evidence of the child having been subject to a dreadful cough for the last six weeks, and it also appeared that the mother had taken the child from St. Austell to St. Blazey on the previous day, which was a very cold one. Mr. BERRYMAN, surgeon, St. Austell , at the request of the coroner, made an external examination of the body, and stated that he could find no mark of violence, and that from the statements of various witnesses he had no doubt the child had died from natural causes, most likely inflammation of the lungs. The foreman of the jury severely reprimanded the parents of the child for not having sent for a medical man when they found the child was dead, they having admitted that the body was quite warm when they awoke in the morning. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence. Julia Mosman, OPC for St.Austell,Charlestown, and Treverbyn Website at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~staustell W. Briton newspaper transcripts at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~wbritonad Please visit the OPC website at http://cornwall-opc.org