Singular outrages at Merthyr.
A series of remarkable occurrences have taken place at the Crown Inn this week, which have naturally excited a great deal of curiosity and alarm. On Tuesday a bed was discovered to be on fire, evidently done wilfully. This after some time was extinguished, and the usual course of things being carried on, when another alarm of fire was made, and the hose sent for; but this time the fire was discovered to be in the garret, and it is thought was caused by throwing certain things there from the burning bed room. After this alarm it was thought that no more be feared.
Wednesday morning came, and to the horror of the landlord three large casks of spirits kept in the cellar were found to be running, and the whole contents were in a few minutes scattered over the cellar. These things point to some one instigated probably by revenge, and we shall be much surprised if Superintendent Thomas does not speedily bring home the offences to some one or other. The spirits lost were worth £60, so that Mr Davies has to sustain a great misfortune.
Cambria Daily Leader, 31st December 1868.
The mysterious occurrence at Merthyr.
In the Leader of yesterday we referred to some mysterious occurrences which have taken place within the last few days in the Crown Inn, and when we did so it was with the impression that on the next day we should be enabled to record the capture of the offender, but strange to say no capture has been made, and the whole affair is wrapped up in mystery.
Still worse than this, it continues. On Thursday morning, about ten o’clock, an alarm was raised of fire, and instantly two of the beds in separate bedrooms were found to be on fire. This was put out, and up to the despatch of our report we have not heard of any repetition, but the inmates live in momentary fear of another alarm. In fact, the whole neighbourhood is thoroughly alarmed, and no one living near likes the idea of sleeping at night.
The worst piece of mischief was that of turning the taps of four large casks of spirits, entailing a loss of £60 to £70. The niece of the landlord keeps the key of the cellar, and she is certain it never left her possession.
The natural query prompted by this is how was an entrance effected. The Superintendent of Police, in making investigations, found a small hole which might admit a boy, but the dust was undisturbed, and evidently no one had entered by that way.
The servants favour the idea that the visitation is a supernatural one, and refer to a time, about three years ago, when the bells were rung in a mysterious way, and the author was never found. One of the girls states that she heard a hollow voice calling to her from the garret, and warning her that something dreadful was to happen on Friday.
These things, of course, recalling the Cock Lane ghost, and Dr Johnson, with other strange affairs of the past, have led to a good deal of gossip, to mysterious shakes of the head, and solemn whisperings; but the clear practical minded agree that the source of the disturbance is human enough, and is to be found among the inmates. If the strange visitor were to confine his freaks to innocent table rapping, or so, something might be done in turning it to account. It would be a new sensation, beating the Alhambra hollow, for a man to have a glass of colloquial ale, and listen to spirit rapping at the same time; but the sprite is too mischievous for this, and his destructive and teetotal habits render it necessary to exorcise him as soon as possible. We hope to see him yet before Mr Fowler.
Later Particulars.
Throughout Thursday the inn has been besieged by crowds of the curious, and anxious glances have been directed towards the windows, in expectation either of seeing a fire break out, or something uncanny look out on the people. Just before our despatch, two of the servant girls were arrested, and are now in custody. Their arrest has caused great excitement, and now it will be seen whether any fires break out during their absence from the inn.
Cambria Daily Leader, 1st January 1869.
The Mysterious Occurrences at Merthyr.
The result of a very minute investigation on the part of the Superintendent of Police on Thursday, at the Crown Inn, was the arrest of two of the servant girls. They were very much frightened at being placed in charge of the police, and strongly remonstrated. The general remark made after the capture was, if no fire or disturbance takes place it will be a strong inference that one or other of the girls is the criminal. Remarkable to add, on Thursday night, when the girls were in the Police-station, locked up in durance vile, a fire broke out in the stable.
The alarm, we need not add, continues, and the landlord has requested a force of four police constables to watch and guard the place. The Crown Inn, where these strange occurrences are taking place, is one of the most ancient public-houses in the town. It has weathered through an epoch dating from village days to the present, and if a fire were really to have any headway there, the street would stand very little chance, as the building is old and full of timber.
Since Thursday evening there has been no further alarm at the Crown Inn, but the excitement aroused by the extraordinary attempts to set fire to the place, and destroy the property of the landlord, has by no means decreased; and accordingly, when it was understood that the two servant girls, Elizabeth Clinton and Mary Ann Davies, were to be brought up on Saturday morning before the magistrates, there was a large attendance to hear the trial.
On Saturday the case was entered into as follows: – Mary Ann Davies and Elizabeth Clinton were charged with stealing a leather purse, ladies’ belt, umbrella, and bunch of keys, the property of John Davies, who said, I am landlord of the Crown. The prisoners were my domestic servants. The umbrella produced was left in the bar by Mr John Harries. The leather purse is mine, it was bought of Mr Ballord; the keys are mine, the belt is my wife’s.
By Mr Plews, who defended – The prisoner Clinton has lived with me more than once. I have said that I do not believe her to be guilty; I say the same today.
Sergeant Thomas deposed to searching the house in reference to a fire. Between the mattress and the bed, jointly occupied by the prisoners, he found the purse produced, also the belt; the purse contained three threepenny-pieces, one fourpenny-piece, and 1s 11 1/2d in coppers.
P.S. Thomas said: The prisoner, Mary Ann Davies, while in the cell, called to me, saying, “Come here, I have something on my mind, I must tell it.” I cautioned her, and told her what she said would be used as evidence against her. She said, the purse found by Mr Thomas belongs to Miss Oakley, a cousin of Mrs Davies, the Crown. I saw it with her about a month ago. I told her I was going to get married. She replied, then I’ll give you a present. I said, I don’t expect it. She said, you can go to Mr Evans, and look out a pair of sheets. I did so, and showed them to her. She went into the little pantry. She gave me either 6s or 7s 9d to pay for them. I saw her take the money out of that purse. The other day I saw Miss Oakley up-stairs in one of the bedrooms. She was on her knees under the skylight. She had a handkerchief with money in it. After she left I went to the spot, and in a hole I saw a bunch of keys. I left them there. Acting on that information (remarked the police-constable), I went to the Crown, and found the keys I now produce. One of them opens a club box, another the bar cash-drawer.
Mary Ann Davies, wife of the prosecutor, said: The belt is mine; I never missed it. The purse is mine; cannot say when I saw it safe. Cannot say how long the prisoners have been in my employ. I had no suspicion of Elizabeth Clinton. If she is discharged today I am ready to take her back. The house was on fire on Friday twice. Both prisoners were washing on Tuesday and Wednesday. Miss Oakley would attend to the chambers. She sometimes slept with the prisoners.
Elizabeth Oakley: I am cousin to Mrs Davies (the witness was cautioned by the bench as to answering questions tending to criminate herself.) I know the umbrella. I saw it in the bar. There was no cover on it then. The statement made by prisoners respecting the keys is not true.
His Worship said the case was a delicate one, and should be dealt with cautiously. He should merely say the evidence was not such as to justify their detention.
The same prisoners were then charged with feloniously setting fire to the house.
Superintendent Thomas deposed to being sent for on Tuesday, when he found a bed and child’s crib on fire. In the evening he was again sent for, when he found a quantity of spare bedding on fire, also to finding burnt matches about the room. (Portions of the partly burnt articles were also produced in court.) On Wednesday he placed an officer in plain clothes to watch that night. Four barrels of spirits were let loose on Thursday, half an hour after the officer had been withdrawn. Two beds were also found to be on fire.
P.S. Thomas said: I arrested the prisoners. In the cell Mary Ann Davies said Elizabeth Clinton told me to say nothing about the matches, and to say no to everything. Elizabeth Clinton said in reference to Mr Davies he is too miserly to give a halfpenny to buy matches. He said this morning it was some of us who done it, and it would serve the old b—r right if he was burned.
There being non further evidence, the prisoners were discharged, and the Crown mystery remains yet to be solved.
It has often been found that crime is blind. In this instance feather beds were selected as the means of burning down the house, but feathers will not burn easily, and thus in every case time was given to put it out before serious damage was done. The first impression of an ignorant person would be to set fire to the bed, and there would be but little chance of putting it out.
Cambria Daily Leader, 4th January 1869.