about a mile and a half from the Farnborough station of the Southwestern Railway. Mr. Hollest was in his fifty-fourth year; he had held the curacy for seventeen years, and was universally respected. He lived in an old-fashioned brick house standing in its own grounds, and distant about a hundred yards

from any other house. There dwelt in the same house Mr. and Mrs. Hollest, their two sons, youths who were at home from school, a man-servant, and two maid-servants. Mr. and Mrs. Hollest slept on the first-floor. About three o'clock in the morning, they were awakened by a noise in the room, and saw two masked figures standing at the foot of the bed, with lights. Mr. Hollest thought it a trick of his sons, and goodnaturedly chided them for the unseasonable hour they had chosen. Mrs. Hollest was not so deceived, and she screamed in terror. The men instantly seized Mr. and Mrs. Hollest, and, with pistols pointed at their heads, declared that if they made the slightest noise they would blow their brains out. Mrs. Hollest, notwithstanding the imminent peril she was in, struggled hard, and at length succeeded in slipping out of bed and seizing a bell-rope; upon which her assailant rushed round to the side of the bed, and threw her down with such force as to snap the bell-rope asunder. He continued to press her down on the floor with his pistol close to her eyes, and she expected to be shot dead every moment. Mr. Hollest, who was a very strong and active man, on discovering how matters stood, struggled with the villain who stood over him, and getting out of bed, was in the act of stooping down to reach the poker from the fire-place, when his assailant

fired, and wounded him in the abdomen. Mr. Hollest was not aware at first that he had been struck, and continued to grapple with the burglar, endeavouring by every means in his power to prevent his escape. The report of the pistol alarmed the miscreant who was standing over Mrs. Hollest, and he left her for a moment and joined his companion. This courageous woman, on finding herself released, rushed to the fire-place, and seizing a large hand-bell, swung it to and fro. The burglars almost immediately left the apartment; and, descending the staircase, hastened out of the house by the front door. Mr. Hollest seized a loaded gun, ran down stairs, and fired at three men who were running across a lawn, but without effect. All this had passed so rapidly that the servants were awakened too late to be of any assistance.

On returning up stairs, Mr. Hollest first discovered that he was wounded. He got into bed, and sent the man-servant for constables and a doctor. Examination of the premises showed that the robbers had entered by a scullery-window, and then forced an entrance into the kitchen. The manner indicated that they were not novices. They had set all the doors open, and fastened them back, so that they might easily retreat, and had carried off much plunder.

When Mr. Davies, the family surgeon, examined Mr. Hollest, he at once foresaw a fatal issue. The patient's sufferings were intense; and at noon on Sunday it was announced to him that death was approaching. He received the intelligence with Christian resignation; took an affectionate leave of his family and servants; expressed a

desire to partake of the sacrament, which was administered to him by a clerical friend and neighbour; and he expired, in a state of almost unconscious exhaustion, between eight and nine o'clock on Sunday evening.

At the inquest, the surgeon described the wound:-there was an abrasion to the right of the abdomen, and below the abrasion a ragged orifice, on probing which to the depth of two inches, the probe came into contact with some hard substance, which, on examination after death, proved to be a common gray stone marble, and which had lodged in the fold of the peritoneum between the bladder and the rectum.

The inquest was several times adjourned, during the investigations of the police. The jury found a verdict of Wilful Murder" against Hiram Smith. Levi Harwood, and James Jones; adding that they did not think there was sufficient evidence to justify a similar verdict against Samuel Harwood.

By the activity of the police three persons, and soon after a fourth, were taken into eustody on strong grounds of suspicion. They were known to have been absent from home on the night of the murder, and they were known thievestheir names were Levi Harwood, Hiram Trower, or Smith, James Burbage, or Jones, and Samuel Harwood. They gave accounts of their doings on the night of the murder which were known to be false, and two of them were recognised as having been lurking about Mr. Hollest's grounds. In the meanwhile, a keeper had found traces of the robbers in a plantation nigh at hand; bread and meat half eaten, empty bottles, a camlet

cloak and a silver chalice, stolen from the premises, and two masks formed of green-baize. Now one of Mr. Hollest's servants had found in the parlour four or five small round pieces of green-baize, and in the house of Samuel Harwood was found a piece of baize corresponding. On the lawn and gravel-walks of the house were footmarks, and a mark as though a person had tripped up and fallen violently: the footmarks corresponded with the feet of Levi Harwood and Hiram Trower, and the great toe of the former was much injured, as if by a trip; and a piece of stockingworsted answered the description of the stockings of Samuel Harwood. A copper token, which had been paid to Mrs. Hollest a few days before as contribution to a clothing fund, was found in the pocket of Jones. Nevertheless, as these were skilful and determined ruffians, and kept their own counsel, nothing had yet been discovered which brought the crime clearly home to them. But all anxiety was removed by the faintness, or irretentiveness, or the cupidity of one of the murderers. A very remarkable scene was the consequence. Notwithstanding it was known that the governor of Guildford gaol was in possession of a full confession, the magistrates had the accused placed before them, and the inquiry was gone into in the usual manner. The confession of the one was kept carefully from the knowledge of the others. The scene which ensued can scarcely be appreciated without this knowledge. The appearance and bearing of persons charged with enormous crimes while listening to the slow but cer tain steps by which justice pursues them, is always a matter of pain

ful interest. Hiram Smith, who appears to have been the ringleader and plotter in the burglary, is about the middle height, with narrow contracted shoulders, and a stooping figure. His face, of a sallow unhealthy hue, is extremely forbidding, while the doubtful and hesitating glance of the eye indicates a disposition at once cunning and irresolute. Levi Harwood is a ruffianly-looking man, square built, and evidently possessing considerable physical strength. His features are coarse and rugged, and his face betrays the mastery of violent passions. He looks like one of those idle fellows, half hostlers, half anything else, who are seen loitering about country inns, and waiting for any job that may turn up for them. James Jones is also about the middle size, his features flat and repulsive, and his whole physiognomy expressive of a life of depravity and crime. Both he and Levi Harwood look like bold determined fellows, capable of carrying through any deed of violence they may once have undertaken. Samuel Harwood, the youngest, and least unprepossessing of the gang, must be a man of great bodily strength. He is broad shouldered, and has immense limbs. He has more frankness of manner about him than any of the rest."

The prisoners were placed in a semicircle before the magistrates, separated from each other by turnkeys, so as to prevent communication or violence.

Sergeant Hollington said that on Monday, the 14th instant, in consequence of what had passed on the previous day between the prisoner Smith and Mr. Keene, the governor, he came there, and was informed that Smith wished to

see him. He was brought into the room where they were then assembled.

The Chairman.-What passed? (Levi Harwood here glanced rapidly and suspiciously at Smith, whose eyes were fixed on the ground. Jones looked doggedly forward, turning his eyes neither to the right nor to the left; while Samuel Harwood, whose face became suddenly pale with apprehension, gazed with an alarmed expression at the Chairman.)

The witness proceeded to state that Smith had asked for the handbill, offering a reward of 150l. for the discovery of the murderers; and after reading it asked whether the promise of pardon would be acted up to were he to " peach." He was told that he must use his own judgment; and thereupon, being duly cautioned, he made a confession to the effect that he, Jones, Levi, and Samuel Harwood had broken into the house, plundered the lower apartments, and disguised themselves; they then proceeded up stairs, and in the ensuing scuffle Levi Harwood fired the pistol at Mr. Hollest.

While this important document was read by Mr. Smallpiece, the clerk to the magistrates, Smith remained with his eves fixed on the ground.

Levi Harwood swung himself to and fro occasionally, and shot looks full of the most savage anger at his approver accomplice, his hands all the time being deeply buried in his breeches pockets, as if to restrain himself from some act of violence. Jones scowled fiercely forward, and Samuel Harwood looked more and more alarmed.

When the reading of the confession had terminated, Levi Harwood exclaimed, though in a subdued tone of voice, "It is all

of it."

Jones then, for the first time since the announcement of the confession. turned towards Smith, and in a voice rendered hoarse by the vehemence of his passions, said, ← I hope you will get shot yourself some day for what you have said."

It is a most singular example of the inconsistency of the human mind, when bariened with great guilt, that Smith. throughout the exmination which i receded the readmg of his confession, was the most schove of the four in cross-examining the witnesses, and in denying the statements which be had already admitted to be true.

As the confession of an accomphot, unul cerroborated. operates on'y as evidence against himself, the inquiry was proceeded with on salsagart dar

Jan Smith and Levi Har wood were committed for trial, as was Samuel Harwood at a subse

Bestaurs — It is remarkable that crimes seem to follow some seral law, and to prevail, epidemedy as it were, at certain seases and places The excite went occascered by the Frimley prender was at its height, when the pudde were terrified by a suc ceston of burglares, attended with more or less violence to persers, who gave rise to a general pane The most daring only of ibem can be recorded in these pages, but the curious inquirer wild in the journals of the day astonishing proofs of the prevs lence of this crime in England at this time. That robbery attended with violence to the person should Do the prevailing crime in a civilised country with its police, telegraph, and detective machinery, is

Three men broke into the house of the Rev. O. E. Vidal, at Arlington in Sussex, on the night of the 20th of September. After stealing two watches from the servants' room, two of the robbers, both masked, successively entered Mr. Vidal's room. They compelled the gentleman to rise from his bed, show them where he kept his money, and procure the key for them. Mr. Vidal remonstrated with them, and warned them of the great sin they were committing; upon which one of them placed a sword across Mr. Vidal's throat, and threatened to use it if he made a noise. After taking nearly 401. in money, the robbers locked the gentleman in his bedroom, and made tea for themselves before leaving the premises. These fellows are believed to be the same who committed the burglary and murder at Frimley.

On the Sunday following the day of the murder at Frimley, a burglary was committed at Wokingham, about midway between Reading and Frimley. The shop of Mr. Porter, a watch-maker, in the market-place, was entered during the evening, and property worth from 2001. to 3001, carried off.

At Manningtree a burglary was attended by an unusual atrocity. Some experienced robbers entered the house of Mr. Vail, a hairdresser, by cutting holes in a back door; they rifled the place of a good deal of property, set fire to the lower rooms, and decamped. The family were awakened by the smoke, and managed to escape from the house. The exertions of the neighbours prevented the place from being entirely destroyed, but little of the building or its contents was saved.

On

At Manchester the house of Miss Codling was broken into and plundered, and that lady treated with brutal violence. A jeweller's house at Manchester was broken into, and the proprietor, who maintained a desperate conflict with the burglars, was very much injured. On the 30th Nov. a house at Frencham Common was forced; the owner knocked down with a life preserver and seriously injured; his sister was thrown on the ground and kept quiet by pistols, while the villains ransacked the house. the 28th Oct. the Dublin Castle, Camden Town, was plundered and the contents of the till, about 251., carried off. A policeman met the robber and challenged him. The robber suddenly turned on his captor, and stabbed him in the face with a knife. A terrible contest ensued. The robber stabbed and cut the policeman's face in all directions, and also cut him on the ear and hand. The policeman, on his side, did not spare his truncheon, and ultimately captured his

assailant.

OCTOBER.

3. FIRES IN SOUTHWARK. About 10 o'clock at night, a fire involving considerable destruction of property broke out in the premises of Messrs. W. W. and R. Brooke, tallow-melters and chandlers, No. 1, Southwark Bridge Road. The premises were of great magnitude, and extended from Southwark Bridge Road into Little Guildford Street, where they had another frontage and entrance. The whole occupied nearly half an acre of ground, and comprised the melting-houses, the making-shops, spacious stores filled with dips and

moulds, the warehouse containing a large and miscellaneous stock, and the store-rooms for depositing casks of tallow. The fire was occasioned by a copper of fat boiling over, and spread with such rapidity, that the workmen on the premises had great difficulty in escaping with their lives. Engines were near at hand, and immediately got to work; but, owing to the inflammable nature of the stock, the flames travelled with the rapidity of lightning, and ignited almost simultaneously the storehouses, making-shops, the spacious warehouses, and some hundred frames filled with candles. But a very short period elapsed ere huge sheets of flame broke through the roof, and mounted high into the air. This caused the more distant engines to hasten to the spot, and by their united exertions the fire was got under, but not before Messrs. Brooke's premises were almost totally destroyed, and great damage done to the adjoining property.

On the 15th, a destructive fire broke out on the premises of Messrs. Beach and Sons, leatherdressers, Grange Road, Bermondsey, by which those buildings were consumed, and the adjoining property much injured.

Early in the morning of the 16th, a very destructive fire occurred in the same neighbourhood on the premises of Messrs. Eason, tanners and leather-dressers; the warehouses are very extensive, very inflammable, and contained a store of bark worth upwards of 5000l. Along these consumable materials the flames ran with great rapidity, baffling the efforts of the firemen, and illuminating the city. A neighbouring workshop was burned down, and other premises