A Perplexing Plot.
For several nights past, Mr Hincks, of Wellington-street, maltster, has been sorely annoyed by some anonymous brewer of mystery and mischief. Night after night, in the dusky hours, some unseen hand has thrown pieces of coal at the windows of Mr Hincks’s house, and broken several squares of glass. The Police have been engaged in an endeavour to detect the ghostly visitant, but hitherto he has eluded their vigilance, and the neighbourhood is in a state of great perplexity and alarm.
On one occasion a hot coal was thrown at the house, which turned the attention of the gossips to a nameless quarter: the old women shook their heads, and hinted their suspicions that the burning missile was hurled by one who was “no better than he should be.” Some calling to mind the proximity of Mr H.’s house to the scene of a late horrible murder in this town, have connected the perpetrator of that foul deed with the present suspicious and mysterious amusement! Whoever the offender may be, we hope in another week to be able to introduce him to the public unmasked.
Leicester Chronicle, 10th June 1837.
Mysterious Affair.
During the last fortnight the inhabitants of Wellington-street have been in a state of great excitement in consequence of ten or a dozen panes of glass, in the house of Mr Hincks, the maltster, being broken in a most mysterious manner. Night after night the inhabitants and the police have been on the alert, perched on chimney pots, and in other convenient situations for observation, but still the windows have been smashed, without the prime movers of the missiles being discovered. As may be supposed, various rumours respecting the “when and the how” are afloat, and some old ladies do not scruple to affirm that supernaturals are at the bottom of it, particularly as the missiles are of a very bituminous nature. Ordinary folks say that they are nothing more than pieces of coal, but they are met with the assertion that it is very extraordinary to have hot cinders popping through their windows of their own accord.
Leicestershire Mercury, 10th June 1837.
Another Cock-lane Ghost.
For the last week or ten days, the neighbourhood of Wellington-street, and particularly the part where the poor unfortunate Mr Paas met his death, has been in a disturbed state, owing to the windows in the house of Mr Hincks, maltster, being broken, by pieces of coal hurled by some invisible hand. To such an extent had the system been carried, that it was deemed necessary to set the Police to watch, but like most of their other services, were performed in a very stupid and bungling way. Night after night, for nearly three weeks, were the windows broken, and yet not the least clue could be obtained, till on Thursday morning last, when Mr Hinck’s servant girl, named Jane Orton, daughter to the Blaby carrier, confessed she had done it. Mr Hinks had for several days suspected her, and on Thursday morning, he told her that he had been to the “knowing man” anglice, the Conjurer, who had declared that she was the person. The girl then began to cry very bitterly, and admitted that she was the person that threw the coals, but would not say who else were concerned.
She was taken to the Station House and underwent an examination before the Mayor, and remanded. The various learned opinions, given by visitors at the house of Mr Hincks, would indeed fill a column; some contending that the coals were thrown hot from an air gun, while others stoutly maintained that they were sent with such force from a cross-bow. The girl had been narrowly watched for several days, and one evening, when in the house, she took up a warm coal and threw it, and broke the window. The curious in such matters then began to be seriously alarmed, and a painter who happened to be in the room, took up the coal, but was obliged to drop it again, as it was so very very hot. This was quite enough to stamp the affair as belonging to the “spirits of health and goblins, d-n’d” and the ghost of the murdered Paas was soon after seen to flit across their bewildered imaginations; while the hot coals were duly considered part of the heap, that helped to burn the remains of the murdered man.
On Sunday, (for doomed spirits walk on a Sunday), while part of the family were at Church, some more pranks were played, and so frightened were the inmates, that medical advice was found necessary. The girl, in order to frighten her mistress, when out in the yard, took and thew a large piece of coal into the house-place and which went with a tremendous rattle against a large tea-tray.
That there are other parties besides the girl, concerned, we have no doubt. One or two Beer-houses in the neighbourhood, have had a rare time of it, particularly a broker named Timson, who taking advantage of the circumstance, exhibited Cook’s binding shop to the crowd for the small charge of one penny. The hot-coals, and the singular manner in which they were thrown, gulled the crowd, and the place has been well attended ever since.
Leicester Herald, 17th June 1837.
The Wellington-street Mystery.
“From the days of Eve until now, there has never been mischief in the world, but a woman was at the bottom of it.” Such is the ungallant (we do not say untrue) assertion of some writer, whose name we have either forgot or never knew. The remark has been called to our recollection by the annoyance to which (as related in our last number) Mr Hincks, of Wellington-street, maltster, was exposed for several nights. The mysterious throwing of coal at his windows continued for two or three evenings at the commencement of this week, and the notoriety of the singular affair attracted nightly crowds to his house. The intelligence of the mystery spread throughout the country, and of course lost nothing in its progress. The single live coal thrown into the house multiplied in its flight throughout the villages of the neighbourhood, until it became a volcanic shower, far exceeding any vomited forth by AEtna or Vesuvius; and in the midst of the fiery rush of cinders, the spirit of the murderer to whom the visitation was attributed was seen to fly abroad, exulting in the alarm and consternation of the people of this Borough!
But, when the romancing imaginations of the gossips had done their worst, the arch-contriver of the mischief was discovered in the person of a silly wench of seventeen summers! – Jane Houghton, of Blaby, servant to Mr Hincks, was for some time suspected by Mr Goodyer, Superintendant of Police, but stoutly denied the imputation. At length, however, she admitted that she threw the live coal into the house; that she threw several pieces of coal against the door; and that she carried coal into an upper room, and deceived her mistress into the belief that it came through the windows. But she denied that she broke any of the squares of glass; although it appears pretty evident that she at least broke one, and from her confession it may be inferred that she has perpetrated the whole mischief. A youth, whom she wished to implicate, is, we are inclined to think, quite free from the offence. On Thursday, she was taken before the Mayor, and remanded to a solitary cell, there to remain till a further examination. Since the apprehension of this damsel, no coal has been thrown.
Leicester Chronicle, 17th June 1837.
Mr Hincks has called our attention to the attack made upon the Police in the Journal, in connection with the annoyance to which he has been subjected. The Editor says that the old constables would have got to the bottom of the plot in quick time; but Mr H. (who is indignant at our contemporary’s unjust remarks) informs us, that he at first employed Measures, and afterwards Unwin, who failed to detect the offender; and that he was indebted to the assistance of Mr Goodyer for the solution of the mystery.
Leicester Chronicle, 17th June 1837.
The “Mysterious Affair.”
At length “the ghost is laid,” and literally too, for the active spirit who has caused so much mischief, and frightened so many easy good-natured folks into the belief that the shade of Cook was lingering about his old haunts, is now lying in the Borough Gaol, from whence all her subtle ghost-like qualities will not extricate her, until she has undergone that meed of punishment which she has so richly merited.
It was indeed, high time that the ghost should be exorcised, for during the early part of the week, Wellington-street (in the immediate vicinity of the building where the unfortunate Mr Paas met his untimely fate) was nearly impassable from the crowd of gazers, while the building itself, we understand, was exhibited to the numerous spectators for “only a penny.” The police having watched night after night without observing from whence the pieces of coal came, and the windows still continuing to be broke, the opinion began to gain ground that some of the inmates were concerned in the affair, and the impression was rendered still stronger from the fact that the servant girl found out more broken windows than any other person, and that on one occasion, when in an upper room, the window of which (a sliding one) was open, an inner pane was broken, while the outer one remained uninjured.
The girl was then questioned, and after her fears had been worked upon by a threat of applying to a “cunning man,” she at length confessed that, about a month ago she became acquainted with a groom in the service of Mr Hole, (whose garden is opposite the front of Mr Hincks’s house,) and that he had been in the habit of making assignations with her by throwing pieces of coal at her master’s windows. Finding that the family were alarmed at these regular mysterious visitations, she determined to increase their fears by commencing business on her own account, and occasionally hurling a stray cinder at the windows, taking care to watch her opportunity, which unfortunately occurred very frequently, her mistress being partially blind. Among other exploits she owned to throwing the hot cinder (which caused so much alarm) while she was apparently dozing by the side of the fire, but stoutly denied breaking any windows.
It is very probable she has been assisted in her praiseworthy endeavours to alarm the neighbourhood, though by whom it is not very easy to say; but certain it is, that, on a piece of coal coming over Mr Hole’s garden wall and breaking one of Mr Hincks’s front windows (the majority of those broken being behind the house, looking towards Belvoir-street,) Policeman Taylor (47) immediately scaled the wall, notwithstanding its height, and chased a man, who contrived to get to the house by a nearer path than the one Taylor took. The girl was apprehended on Thursday morning, and, after being examined by the Mayor, was remanded. Mr Hole’s groom denies that he ever made any assignation with her, but the girl still adheres to her story.
Leicestershire Mercury, 17th June 1837.
Exchange – Monday June 19.
Before the Mayor: Robert Brewen and John Oldacres, Esq.
The Wellington Street Ghost – Jane Orton, a servant in the employ of Mr Hincks, maltster, Wellington-street, was charged with breaking her master’s windows by throwing coals at them.
– Mr Hincks stated that on Monday 29th May he went to bed at 10 o’clock, when after being there a few minutes, he was told that some person had broken a pane of glass. He went down stairs, and found the glass broken. The family searched the yard, but could not discover any person about.
– On Tuesday evening, another pane of glass was broken. His daughter went to bed rather earlier than usual, and being unwell she put her feet in some warm water. The prisoner was requested to go in the next room and see what o’clock it was, and while there, another square of glass was broken. The prisoner then came running into the daughter’s room and cried out “Oh my eye, my eye.” She had got her hand to it but it did not appear to be hurt. – She said that as she was pulling down the blind a piece of coal came through the window and struck her. They had since examined the window, and found from the situation in which she was placed, that the coal could not touch her, if thrown from the outside.
On the Saturday night four panes were broken, and he charged the prisoner with doing it, but she stoutly denied it.
On Monday evening following he (Mr Hincks) seeing the garret and slide window open, told the prisoner to go up stairs and shut it, for if a piece of coal struck one window it could break two. – She went up stirs, and directly after a pane of glass was broken. Witness then went up stairs and found the window had been broken in the inside but not the outside one. He felt then convinced that the prisoner had broke the glass.
The Inspector, Mr Goodyer, stated that he took the girl into custody, when she confessed to him that she had broken some of the windows.
Mayor – I think the evidence is conclusive. Do you wish to ask your master any questions.
Prisoner – A piece of coal was afterwards found on the bed when I went to put the blind down, and which coal struck me first. – Miss Hincks was looking at the clock at the time, and I only went to hold the candle for her to see it. – I cannot tell the time.
Miss Hincks stated she recollected the night the prisoner came into her room, when she said a piece of coal had struck her on the eye. She would not let witness see it, and in a few minutes after, it was quite well. The prisoner could tell what a clock it was, and there never was found a piece of coal on the bed. Witness observed the prisoner on Saturday night. She was in the yard, and a window was broken, when looking round saw the prisoner running into the shop.
Mrs Brown stated that it was quite impossible the prisoner could be struck with a coal when looking at the clock. The pane was at the top of the window, and could not touch it with a chair. – The prisoner did not complain of her eye in a few minutes after, and there was nothing seen the next morning to suppose she had been struck with a coal.
Mrs Lucy Clayton, stated that she was at Mr Hinck’s house when the Chamber window was broken. Recollected the prisoner going upstairs to shut the window at the request of Mr Hincks, and when up stairs, heard the window break. Soon after the [illegible] and the Chamber window was broken. Mr Hincks scolded her for not shutting the window before, as there must be two windows broken. Witness saw the window afterwards and was convinced it was done by a person inside.
Prisoner – I was in the kitchen when the window was broken.
Mr Hincks said the prisoner could tell what o’clock it was, for she had often, when she had got up late, put the clock back.
Mayor – Do you persist in your defence, that you did not break the windows.
Prisoner – I do.
Mayor – We have given the case the utmost consideration in order to do justice between you and your master, and that we are of one opinion that you did break the glass. That you were concerned at the beginning, the middle, and the end of the business we have no doubt from the information sworn to this day. It being a case of aggravated and wilful mischief, we order you to pay the whole of the damages (for 11 windows) and the expenses, or go to the House of Correction for two calendar months.
Mr Hincks said he took the opportunity, thus publicly, to thank the Police for their efficient aid on the occasion, and he was sorry to see that some remarks had been made upon their conduct elsewhere.
Leicester Herald, 24th June 1837.
The “Mysterious Affair.”
The Wellington-street ghost made her appearance this morning in the shape of Jane Horton, who proved to be a young girl, of real flesh and blood, about 15 years of age. Mr Hincks detailed the charge against her at considerable length, and showed that she had acted a most artful part throughout, supporting her plan of operations by telling the most gross falsehoods. There was not the slightest doubt but that the whole of the windows in the back part of the house had been broken by the girl, who owned to taking up pieces of coal into the upper rooms to make the family believe that they had been thrown through the glass, while, in reality, the greater portion were broken from the inside, particularly the sliding window mentioned in our last. The girl positively denied being in the room when this latter window was borken, but there was plenty of evidence to prove that she was telling a falsehood. Among other things she denied that she could tell what o’clock it was, notwithstanding Miss Hincks said that she had often told her within a few minutes, and Mr Hincks assured the Bench that her former mistress (Mrs Robinson) turned her away for putting the clock back so repeatedly. She also pretended that, on one occasion, a piece of coal struck her on the eye, and the organ was so injured that she could not raise her eye-lid, but in about ten minutes after she forgot all about it, and, of course, her eye was perfectly well.
On being questioned by the Mayor, she persisted in denying the charge, notwithstanding evidence of her having confessed her guilt was produced. The Mayor said that there was not the slightest doubt she had done all the mischief with which she stood charged, and after characterising her case as one of the most wilful and premeditated he had ever met with, ordered to pay the damage and expenses, or two months’ hard labor.
The case having been disposed of, Mr Hincks (addressing the Mayor) said that he was grieved to hear that reports in connection with the affair had been circulated to the prejudice of the police, than which nothing could be more unfounded. So far from the police having misconducted themselves, he was bound to say that they had exerted themselves to the utmost day and night, and he did not know how to thank them sufficiently – indeed the conduct of one policeman, in scaling Mr Hole’s wall, was truly astonishing, and he would doubtless have secured the individual he was chasing, had it not been for his (Mr Hinck’s) over anxiety, which baulked him. Though he was loth to suspect any of his neighbours, deeming it impossible that the perpetrator of the mischief should have been under his own roof, yet under such circumstances he could not but suspect every one, and he regretted exceedintly that the slightest imputation had been cast on Mr Goodyer, who had done everything in his power to assist him, and to whom he was greatly indebted.
The Mayor replied that it was not at all surprising, considering the degree of art and cunning exhibited by the girl, that Mr Hincks should have suspected his neighbours, but he must say that, as he had never heard any complaints respecting the police from any persons whose opinions were worth listening to, he did not think there was any necessity for Mr Hincks to justify their conduct, it having been, as he could testify, most active and praiseworthy.
(This, then, is a tolerable answer to the lies propogated last week by the Journal, that “mirror of piety” which can find room for anything base and scurrilous. If the Journal was not well-known to have been a match for the “Father of lies” himself long before the “ghost” could have been perfect in the accomplishment, we should have been inclined to think that it had borrowed a leaf from Jane Horton’s book; though we are aware that it is offering a great indignity to this holy high-church paper, to suppose that a mere country girl – adept as she has proved herself to be – is worthy to compete with it in the art of lying.)
Leicestershire Mercury, 24th June 1837.