Re: Tales from the mid 19th Century

The story of William Seller (part 1)

The Leeds Intelligencer,
Saturday, June 16, 1838

SHOCKING MATRICIDE, A WOMAN MURDERED BY HER SON

It is our most painful duty to lay before the public the details of a shocking murder perpetrated in the neighbourhood of Malton, and which has created a more than ordinary interest and excitement. The unfortunate victim of this appalling outrage was an old, infirm woman, of the age of 74 years, named Frances Seller, who resides with her family at a place called the Rainbow House, situate a short distance from New Malton and Old Malton, and being in the parish of the later. Her family consisted of two sons, an idiot daughter, and other branches, and though not perhaps in the best circumstances, they had contrived to procure an honest livelihood by gardening, and from the produce of a garden attached to the house, which was a place of resort in the summer months to the inhabitants of Malton. One of these sons, William Seller, aged about 46 years, has been the perpetrator of this lamentable murder, and what is most singular, is the fact, that he was always noted for his great affection for his mother, always paying her the greatest attention.

It would appear that he has been in an erratic and unsound state of mind for some time past. On Tuesday evening the 5th inst., we have been informed, he accompanied his mother to the Methodist Chapel, at Old Malton, which was an unusual circumstance, and when there he betrayed evident symptoms of great mental excitement, by his loud ejaculations, and otherwise extraordinary conduct.

On Thursday morning, however, all doubts of the man’s insanity should have vanished, as we are informed that he was seen and heard in the streets of Old Malton in a raving and alarming state of excitement. After raving for some time through Old Malton, he called on Mr. George Anderson, tailor, of that place. He was accompanied home by Anderson down to the rainbow, and there left by him in the keeping of his brother.

It appears about half-past twelve o’clock, his brother having left him for a short time, to go into the garden, and no one being present in the house but the old woman (his mother) and a person of the name of Robert Craven, of Old Malton, who is an old man, he asked for a razor to shave himself with, and had made one or two strokes, when, as we are informed, his mother requested him to desist, on account of his hand not being steady, and she feared he might cut himself. This it seems had annoyed him, for he immediately got the old woman down, with her head on the bars of the range, and actually raked the burning coals out of the fire upon her, and not content with this brutal conduct, got upon her with his knees, and severely kicked her on different parts of the body, which blows are supposed to have occasioned her death rather than the fire. The old man, Craven, was so terrified and astonished, as to be utterly unable to render any assistance, and was fortunate in escaping to the door, or he might have fallen another victim to the maniac’s fury. The old woman’s cries and shrieks soon brought in the brother, and an alarm soon spread, and numbers of persons came in from their employment in the neighbouring fields, and succeeded in securing the offender, but not before he had inflicted such injuries on his mother as to cause her death, which happened on Friday night.

She was attended by Mr. George Davye, surgeon, Malton, but medical assistance was of no avail. Seller was immediately taken into custody by Mr. Joseph Hardcastle, consble of Old Malton, and lodged in his house, two men having the charge of him night and day.

On Monday last, Mr. Harrsion, surgeon of Kirbymoorside, coroner for the North-Riding, attended, and a most respectable and intelligent jury having been summoned, an inquest was held at the house of Mr. Hardcastle, the Wentworth Arms Inn, Old Malton. The jury proceeded to the rainbow House to inspect the body, but it was not necessary to open it, as they were unanimously of the opinion that the woman had come to her death from the blows and burns she had received. The prisoner was examined, and seemed to be in a very composed state of mind, giving very rational answers to the questions asked him, and appearing much grieved that he had committed the act, but declined to say anything in his defence. The Jury returned a verdict of “Wilful Murder against Wm. Seller,” whose commitment was made out and signed, and on Tuesday morning the prisoner was conveyed to York castle.

Re: Tales from the mid 19th Century

The story of William Seller (part 2). Trail at York.

The Leeds Times,
Saturday, July 21, 1838

YORK SUMMER ASSIZES
CROWN COURT

Saturday, July 14th.

William Seller (47), stood charged with the wilful murder of Frances Seller, at Malton. The prisoner pleaded not guilty, and during the statement of the case against him wept bitterly and sobbed aloud.- Mr. Dundas and Mr. Bliss, conducted the prosecution; and Mr. Temple defended the prisoner. Mr. Dundas stated the case. The prisoner stood charged with the crime of wilful murder; he had killed and murdered his own aged mother. In the month of June last he occupied a small house in the neighbourhood of Old Malton, and followed the occupation of gardener. There lived with him the deceased, an idiot sister, and an orphan niece, to all of whom he had manifested the greatest respect and kindness. On the 7th of June last, he asked for a razor to shave himself, the deceased refused to let him have it, saying , “he was not fit to be trusted with it.” Some altercation took place, after which the razor was given to him; he began to shave, but before he had taken more than one or two strokes he suddenly put down the razor, seized the old woman, thrust her under the grate, poked out the fire upon her, and kicked her severely with his feet. His niece and another girl who were in the house ran out and their screams brought a man named Anderson to the spot, who assisted the deceased up into a chair. She was severely burnt and otherwise injured, and died in consequence the next day. The learned gentleman then proceeded to call witnesses, one of whom stated the prisoner’s mother would not let him have the razor because she thought him “wrong in the head;” he had been very odd for some days before. The surgeon, who was called in to visit the deceased gave similar evidence as to the unfortunate man’s state of mind. The jury, without hearing his lordship, said they were satisfied, and immediately returned a verdict of not guilty, on the ground of insanity.

Re: Tales from the mid 19th Century

Initial newspaper reports of the escape from York Castle basically repeated what had been stated in the reward advert. However piecing them together a slightly more detailed picture of events comes though.

DARING ESCAPE OF THREE PRISONERS FROM YORK CASTLE.

On Thursday morning last, a rumour prevailed in York that three prisoners had made a very daring escape from the Castle during the night. The report turned out to be correct.
The men who have escaped are James Coates, 38 Years of Age, formerly of Leeds, five feet seven or eight inches high, brown hair, grey eyes, pale complexion, by trade a joiner and cartwright, person small, thin face, with a wound on the elbow joint of his right arm. He was convicted of Larceny at York Summer Assizes, July 1835, and sentenced to be transported for seven years, but the hangman at that time vacating his office, Coates accepted it, and consequently remained under confinement; William Marshall, late of Ripon, 37 Years of Age, about five feet six and a half inches high, brown hair, grey eyes, pale complexion, by trade a shoemaker. Was tried for the Murder of his Children, at York Assizes, 11th July, 1837, and acquitted on the ground of insanity; to be confined during the Queen’s pleasure; and William Seller, late of Old Malton, aged 48, about five feet seven inches high, brown hair, bald on the fore part of the head, hazel eyes, sallow complexion, by trade a gardener. Was tried and acquitted on the ground of insanity, for the Murder of his Mother, at York Assizes, in July 1838, to be confined during the Queen’s pleasure.

From what we have been enabled to collect of this transaction, it appears that on Wednesday evening the cells were all left apparently safe, but early next morning it was found that the prisoners had, in some manner, escaped from them. Coates, who is an adept locksmith, has, it is supposed, picked the locks of the various cells, with false keys.

The prisoners, having previously broken into the store room and supplied themselves with their own plain clothes, and thus got rid of their prison dress, effected their escape by means of rope ladders, with which they scaled the inner wall near the corner of Castlegate Lane, and afterwards employed the articles in lowering themselves the tremendous height which they descended. The rope ladders made from bed-rugs were left by them, and were plainly seen by several persons.

It appears probable that some parties have been in connection with them. It was expected that the term of Coates’s imprisonment would soon expire, and on Wednesday his brother, under the pretence of some misconduct on the part of the prisoner’s wife, obtained his spare clothing and what he had in the castle, to be sent, as was expected, by railway to Leeds, preparatory to a public sale. Whether this circumstance is in any way connected with the escape we are not prepared to say, but it seems very probable, from the daring and reckless character of Coates, that he has planned and effected the escape.

Nothing has been heard of them yet. A reward of £15 is offered for their apprehension.

From

1839-11-30: Leeds Intelligencer
1839-11-30: The Yorkshire Gazette
1839-11-30: Leeds Mercury

Re: Tales from the mid 19th Century

Marshall's freedom did not last long. He was the first to be returned to York Castle. He gave an account of their escape which was covered by several papers. The most detailed (which reprinted old information) appears below.

Leeds Times,
Saturday, December 7, 1839.

ESCAPE OF THREE PRISONERS. -

On Thursday morning, in last week, it was discovered that three prisoners had escaped from York Castle.

James Coates, thirty-eight years of age, formerly of Leeds, five feet seven or eight inches high, brown hair, grey eyes, pale complexion, by trade a joiner and cartwright, person small, thin face, with a wound on the elbow joint of his right arm. Was convicted of larceny at York Summer Assizes, July 1835, and sentenced to be transported for seven years. Coates, who was apprehended by Mr. Reed, our active chief constable, has during the last three years acted as hangman.

William Marshall, late of Ripon, thirty-seven years of age, about five feet six and a half inches high, brown hair, grey eyes, pale complexion, by trade a shoemaker. Was tried for the murder of his children, at York Assizes, 11th July, 1837, and acquitted on the ground of insanity; to be confined during the Queen’s pleasure.

William Seller, late of Old Malton, aged forty-eight, about five feet seven inches high, brown hair, bald on the fore part of the head, hazel eyes, sallow complexion, by trade a gardener. Was tried and acquitted on the ground of insanity, for the murder of his mother, at York Assizes, in July 1838, to be confined during the Queen’s pleasure.

Coates, who is an adept locksmith, has, it is supposed, picked the locks of the various cells, with false keys. They then got over the walls with rugs which they had torn up, having previously broken into the store room and supplied themselves with their own plain clothes, and thus got rid of their prison dress. Nothing has been heard of them yet. A reward of £15 is offered for their apprehension.

Since their escape, certain circumstances have transpired, from which it appears that the men had walked to Tadcaster, where the hired a post-chaise and proceeded to Leeds. They had then taken up their quarters at the house of Coates’ mother.

Since writing the above, one of the prisoners, Wm. Marshall, of Ripon has been lodged in the Castle. He has given the whole particulars connected with the escape, &c., and he states that Coates was much injured by falling from the top of the Castle wall. Now he must either be mistaken as to the height which he had fallen, or he must have told a deliberate falsehood; the former supposition seems the most feasible, for one of the ropes was found on the morning of their escape to be broken in two near the middle. There were two ropes, which were formed of bed clothing. If he had fallen from the top he must have been killed, or so seriously injured as not to have been enabled to escape, owing to there being some large stone blocks near the wall. The fact of Coates being so injured may probably lead to his detection.

He had walked with the aid of his companions to Tadcaster, where they got breakfast at Mr. Kidd’s, and hired a post-chaise to Leeds, as we have stated above. Marshall had not, however, remained there long before he set out on his way to Oldham, in Lancashire, to see his brother-in-law (a very respectable gentleman) and his own child, which had been placed under his protection after it’s escape from the terrible fate which the prisoner’s other children underwent.

During the few days he remained there, the sight of his child and former recollections crowding upon him so affected his mind, that he resolved, after the matter had been fully discussed by himself and brother-in-law, to return to York. They arrived at the Castle on Tuesday afternoon, and the brother-in-law will be entitled to the reward of £5. It seems that a police officer had received information respecting Marshall, and he would have been taken into custody in a short time.

The other men, Seller and Coates, have not since been seen.

Re: Tales from the mid 19th Century

The end of the story.

Seller was recaptured. Coates, however, was never seen again. He was never recaptured and what happened to him is a mystery.

Leeds Times,
Saturday, December 21, 1839.

ESCAPE OF PRISONERS FROM YORK CASTLE. -

After a minute investigation into the circumstances of the escape of the three prisoners from York Castle, on the 27th ult., the visiting magistrates have unanimously determined to dismiss two of the servants of the gaol for negligence, viz., J. Ayrey, 4th turnkey, and J. Burnett, the cook.

CAPTURE OF A PRISONER.-

On Monday afternoon last, William Seller, of Malton, who escaped from York Castle with two others, a few weeks ago, was again lodged in that prison. It appears that, from information which had been received at the Castle, Mr. Samuel Holdgate, and Burnett, the cook, set out on the previous morning in search of the fugitive, and at night they fortunately entered the very house in which he was sitting, situated between Longtoft and Kilham, in the East-Riding, and occupied by a distant relative named Marshall. The surprise must have been great at the discovery, and Seller states that he parted with the other two men at Leeds, which corroborates Marsahall, the other re-captured prisoner, as to the fact, but there does not seem to be any new incident worth recording, excepting that the prisoner states that after having stayed two or three days in Leeds, he then crossed over the country by way of Ferrybridge and Selby, and from thence to Driffield and the place where he was found.

Re: Tales from the mid 19th Century

and now for a little cautionary tale.

A CAUTION TO WIVES

Leeds Times
27 January 1838

Ripon

The following occurrence, which took place a week ago, in a village not sixty miles west from Ripon, may not only prove a caution to wives, but to husbands, who love the beer-shop better than their wives.

A newly married husband, instead of smoking his pipe and taking his beer over his own fire-side, in the society of his new partner - foolishly and inhumanly left her to go to bed alone at this inclement season, and went to join a party at a beer shop in the village, glass after glass of the foaming liquor beguiled away time, and banished all remembrance of wife and home; but in others it suggested the base idea of taking advantage of the young husband’s indifference.

The wife, it would appear, had waited with great patience for his return, and had retired to rest, but judging of her husband’s affections by her own, “that he would not long delay,” incautiously left the door of the dwelling unlocked. In the course of the night, a noise in the house arouse her attention, and hearing the voice of her father-in-law, who slept in the same house, exclaim, “Thou’s a bonny fellow to be coming home this time o’night,” but no answer was made by the supposed son and husband, who proceeded to the room and deliberately began to undress himself. The wife, insuspicious of any guile or deception, addressed some conversation to him, but received no reply; nor were her suspicions aroused, until the intruder getting into bed on the contrary side to which her husband always slept. With virtuous indignation she lept up exclaiming “What fellow is this that’s come to bed, I’ll soon see.” The rapid succession of sparks from the flint and steel, fully assured the wanton spark in the bed, that his dark designs would speedily be brought to light, and that it was time to decamp he effected his escape with what clothes he could grasp in his hand, and finished out his toilet under the winter’s canopy, lighted with brilliant stars, and appropriate mirrors of ice, and every convenience of the season.

The poor forlorn female, after dressing immediately went to the beer shop, in quest of her own dear partner, to make known the insult she had experienced, and there found not only her lawful protector, but the friend of her husband who had so basely attempted her chastity, partly undressed and minus his hat. It appears he had about 20 minutes previous, left the company with an excuse, but ordered more liquor, and paid for the same.

It was fortunate for him that all the horse ponds in the village were frozen, for he thus escaped a ducking, but it is hoped the above will prove, that if husbands will spend their nights at public houses, in drinking and fighting, or biting of noses, how needful it is for their wives, before they go to bed, to secure the doors in their absence.

Re: Tales from the mid 19th Century

How not to escape from gaol.

SINGULAR ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE IN RIPON HOUSE OF CORRECTION

A man calling himself Thomas Sword, who is committed for trial at the ensuing Quarter Sessions for the Liberty of Ripon, attempted to cut his throat, a few days ago, in the following manner. It appears an iron spoon was missing from the number delivered to the prisoners at their meals, which the fellow had contrived to hide in his apparel, and in the course of the night had broken off the shank, and with the aid of a little scouring stone used in cleaning the floor, had managed to get it tolerably sharp, and commenced operations, obtaining a little blood, with which he besmeared his hands and clothes, so as to make the best appearance of his claret.

This attempt failing, (as it will appear it was his intention it should,) his next plan was to tear a new blanket, with which he made a rope, fixing it to the iron grating of the window; but sly Thomas reserved three chances for escape, but not one for death - viz. the window not above four feet high being too low to suspend him , the frail rope being too weak to bear him; and at last the noose was made above a foot wide, secured by a fast knot, that it could not draw upon his neck. In this state, Mr. Stubbs, the governor found him in the morning, when he unlocked his night cell, but this did not in the least create that fear and alarm which this Sword of Subtlety intended; for all his plans were seen in their proper light, and received the treatment they so well deserved, by having him placed in double irons, he of course pretending to be mad. He enjoyed himself in that way till the surgeon arrived, who immediately bled him profusely, and finally caused his head to be shaved and well blistered, when Thomas, for fear of repetition, declares himself quite well, and laughs at the joke he has played off, but declares that this Sword shall not again be drawn to effect it’s own conquest, but submit patiently to the Sword of Justice.

RIPON SESSIONS

Thomas Sword, was charged with stealing a pair of half-boots on Sunday 10th July last, from Jane Smith, servant to Miss Benson, of Ripon, and also with stealing a great coat from Langthorne, near Bedale, the property of Mr. Anthony Stebbing, on 6th July last. Evidence was produced to bring the robbery clearly home to the prisoner, and the jury returned a verdict of GULITY on both charges, Sentenced to be transported for seven years.

Yorkshire Gazette 22 October 1836

Re: Tales from the mid 19th Century

Very likely to Australia.
Many did not survive the journey.
Those who did faced years of British brutality -600 lashes with a cat o' nine tails was not uncommon for minor offences.
Overwork, chains, malnutrition ...

For pinching some boots and a coat when the poor bastard was probably freezing !

Re: Tales from the mid 19th Century

Well we don't know if he was cold or not. If he was sent to NSW he was one of the lucky ones. If he was sent to Bermuda, it was almost the same as a death sentence. Bermuda sentences were usually for seven years. The reason being that it was hard labour, building the naval port. A lot did survive, some got sent home early but many died due to the harsh and unsanitary conditions.

Not too sure about 600 lashes. I'd have to check but I think the law stated that lashes were only administered until the skin was broken.

Re: Tales from the mid 19th Century

Never walk out with a frail nymph.

CHARGE OF POCKET-PICKING RIPON COURT HOUSE,
Friday, Feb.24 1843

Present - The Mayor and C. OXLEY,
R. PALEY, and T. MASON, Esqrs.

A frail nymph, giving her name as Mary Jones, and who said she was from some place in Staffordshire, was charged by a young man named George Hardy, with relieving his pocket of £3 10s.

From the statement of the complainant it appeared that on the preceding evening he had been in the young woman’s company in Stammergate and elsewhere - that they had partaken of some beef steaks at a beer-house kept by William Umpleby, and afterwards walked out together.

On complainant’s return he missed his money. The fair deceiver of course pleaded innocence to the charge of taking it from him, and there being no money found on her, their worships were under the necessity of discharging her, in doing so they directed her to leave the city with all due despatch, and recommended the complainant be more cautious how he came into such society in the future.

Yorkshire Gazette 04 March 1843