Page 30 - Reading Mercury

Monday se’nnight the wife on one Price, a cooper at Farcham, Hants, rose very early
in the morning, put on her petticoat, and went down stairs, threw herself into the well,
and was drowned, her petticoat was found by the side of the well.

th
Fri 27 May
BERKSHIRE NEWS
WOKINGHAM, May 27.
Yesterday se’nnight as the crew of his Majesty’s ship the Barfleur were exercising
with their cannon and small arms, one of the soldiers’ firelocks burst, and shattered
his arm in a most shocking manner. It was the tenth time of discharging the small
arms, and it is imagined he had all the ten charges in his piece at the time this
unfortunate accident happened. His thumb and the lock of his firelock were carried to
a great distance in the ship, but no other person received any hurt. The surgeon of the
ship immediately cut off his arm below the elbow, and next day it was found
necessary to have it cut off a little below the shoulder, the bone being shattered so
high. The poor man bore both operations with great resolution, and there is hope of
his recovery.

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On Saturday evening the 15 inst. One William Fry, a tailor, who lived on
Brinkworth Common, about two miles from, Wotton Bassett, was most inhumanly
murdered. He was seen that evening in company with four or five other men drinking
in a public-house in Wotton Basset, which they left about eleven o’clock, and parted,
each to go to his own home. The above unfortunate man was not got out of the
liberties of the Borough before he was assaulted, and it is supposed robbed, as he was
heard by a person in bed to say, “Don’t hurt me now.” He was stuck under the ear
with a knife in the manner butchers stick a calf, and had his jaw broke and trampled
on his head.---The Coroner’s inquest sat on the body, and the jury returned a verdict--
-“Murdered by some person or persons unknown.”

Monday se’nnight as a young couple were going to be married at Whitechurch,
Hants, the clerk of the parish dropt down in the church yard, as he was going to call
the parson to perform the ceremony. He was immediately carried to a neighbouring
house, and expired soon afterwards.--- he went from home seemingly in perfect
health.

As Mr. Connell, surgeon, of Emsworth, was returning from Rowland Castle fair,
Hants, he was stopped by five ruffians, who not being contented with robbing him of
his stock silver buckle, and some money, but beat him in a most cruel manner and had
it not been for the timely assistance of two neighbours, he might have been murdered.
A warrant is issued out for apprehending the delinquents, who are a set of well-known
sharpers that have infested that neighbourhood for some time.

rd
Fri 3 June
Tuesday morning a seizure of India silks and painted taffatees, was made at a house
in Deptford to the amount of £500. The information was given by the waterman that
carried them from on board the ship.

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