Front page of the first ever edition of the Goxhill Gazette, Thursday, 12 January, 1871
Community prepares for big wedding
All of Goxhill parish is in high spirits as the wedding day of Sir Cosmo Cowperthwaite and Miss Namaste Chigwidgeon draws near.
"She's such a lovely girl," said Mrs. Edith Cropley, chair of the Altar Guild of St. Wilfred's, Goxhill. "They make such a lovely couple."
The ladies of the parish have been planning a tea to welcome the new Lady Cowperthwaite-to-be to the community. "Mrs. Cropley even found out her favorite foods," Mrs. Emma Gribble, another member of the Altar Guild, added.
"It's going to be a traditional tea, and we've invited all the ladies visiting for the wedding," Mrs. Jenny Weaver said.
"We're hoping some of the Countesses and so forth who've come for the wedding join us for tea," Mrs. Peggy Tinker said.
The church belltower, newly repaired, is equipped once more with the full compliment of bells. "We've been practicing all week," said Mr. Matthew Newitt, whose father was a bell ringer when the church last had the full set of bells, 38 years ago. "We'll ring them in to a right happy married life, we will."
"It's wonderful to see the Earl's heir take an interest in the community," said Mr. Sam Dankwerts, Parish Clerk.
"At first we thought they'd just come in for the official announcing parties," Mrs. Dankwerts added. "When the Earl announced the engagement and invited everyone to those lovely dances and picnics. But she's stayed at the Manor all winter and he's visited several times each month."
Many in the parish see the wedding as an omen of good times to come. "They were estranged so long," Mrs. Cropley said. "The Earl and his grandson, I mean. It's good to see them putting things right between them."
"It's bound to be good for us, doesn't it?" observed Mr. Bob Crump, local sheep farmer. "I mean, the railway saved the whole area from financial ruin. We're quite lucky Sir Cosmo and his partners came in and kept it from going out of business."
The curate of St. Wilfreds, Rev. Pottle, is looking forward to the ceremony. "It won't be my first, of course," the reverend explained, "but every wedding is special. It's an important sacrament. It doesn't matter whether the groom is a tradesman or a Prince, we're all the same before God. And we all wish them the Lord's Blessing and favour and a long life together."
Tragic death ruled murder
The tragic death of Mr. Enoch Jokking, respected editor and publisher of the Hornsea Post, has been deemed a Willful Murder by the Coroner's inquest. The inquest, which began shortly after midday Tuesday and continued into early evening, laid out the shocking facts of the crime in sharp detail.
Mr. Proctor Xanthus, not a local resident, offered a full confession on the witness stand, explaining how he had planted evidence to throw suspicion on Sir Cosmo Cowperthwaite. The motive appears to be revenge.
In an exclusive interview to the Gazette, His Grace the Duke of Balmoral explained Sir Cosmo's previous encounter with Mr. Xanthus. "Xanthus kidnapped my two eldest sons," Lord Balmoral said.
Lord Balmoral was referring to the events of July, 1853, when Lord Colchester, aged 10, and Lord Robert, aged 7, were abducted from the family's townhouse in Westminster.
"Xanthus demanded a ransom, of course, but that wasn't his true motive," Lord Balmoral explained. "My father, may he rest in peace, had been the Home Secretary when Mr. Xanthus' father ran into trouble with the law. Because my father had signed the arrest warrant for Xanthus' father, Xanthus wanted revenge."
Her Grace the Duchess of Balmoral added, "He kidnapped our sons and threatened to do all manner of abomidable things if we did not give in to his demands!"
The police were unable to locate Xanthus' hiding place. "Xanthus had gone to great lengths to mislead the police," Lord Balmoral said. "One of those false trails led the police to Sir Cosmo. Which is how he became involved."
"If he had not helped the police, who knows if we would have found them in time?" observed Lady Balmoral.
"Our oldest son, Lord Colchester, had become gravely ill while held prisoner," Lord Balmoral explained.
"That fiend was just going to let him die in agony," Lady Balmoral said.
"At great personal risk, Sir Cosmo confronted Xanthus in his hiding place. He prevented Xanthus or his confederates from harming our sons further until the police arrived," Lord Balmoral explained.
Police records indicate that that felons did not surrender without a fight. Nine members of Xanthus' gang were captured, four died at the scene. Three of the constables on the scene were seriously wounded, as was Sir Cosmo and a man in his employ. Xanthus, unfortunately, eluded capture.
The two boys were rescued, alive. "Though Charles [Lord Colchester] has never recovered his health," Lady Balmoral lamented.
"Xanthus has hated Sir Cosmo since that day as much as he hated my father," said Lord Balmoral. "He is an evil man, entirely devoid of human decency or moral fibre. They say that he is mad, but it is madness with a purpose, a malevolent and unyielding purpose."
Mr. Xanthus made a full confession at the inquest. The jury quickly rendered its verdict. The Coronor, Mr. Andrew Earwig, Esq., then remanded Mr. Xanthus to the care of London police authorities, so he might answer to charges in several previous crimes.
Banders sought
The Sigglesthorne and Goxhill Old Comrades Brass Band is holding auditions for position several open positions. "We are in most dire need for Tenor Trombone," said Mr. John Elver, Band Director. "But we have several positions open, and are always looking for new blood."
Open auditions will be held on the next three Wednesdays, beginning at 7:00pm, at the Sigglesthorne Meeting Hall, where the band rehearses.
"We're very excited for this year's County Competition," said Mr. Dennis Wayfield, soprano cornet.
"Our trophy case is getting a might crowded," said Mr. Matthew Newitt, solo tenor horn, "but I reckon we could squeeze another in."
Meadow fire
On Sunday night at about half past ten a serious fire broke out in the common meadow known as East Field, north of Hornsea.
The meadow was occupied, at the time, by several families of Irish Tinkers. The fire was first observed on the roof of a wagon, which was occupied by five persons at the time, four of them children. All five were safely removed before flames engulfed the wagon.
The Hornsea fire brigade under the conductorship of Superintendent Wright were present and rendered every assistance, though the fire had been contained thanks to the work of several citizens who came to the aid of the Tinkers.
The origin of the fire is at present a mystery. The scene of the conflagration was visited by several hundred persons from the neighbourhood on Monday.
Roadway accident
On Saturday, Mr. Charles Ager, a carrier from Seaton, was descending Mill Hill when he alighted from the cart to ease the horse, in doing so he fell and dislocated his knee. He is now progressing well we are happy to say.
Inquests
There was an inquest on Wednesday at Hornsea before the Cornoner, Mr. Andrew Earwig, Esq., on the bodies of several persons found in Goxhill Grange. All persons were members of a gang which had taken Sir Charles Fernly, owner of the Grange, and his servant prisoner. Several of the persons could not be identified.
Mr. Percival St. Simon, aged 49 years, death by fall which resulted in broken neck while resisting lawful arrest.
Major John Grey, aged 58 years, death by gunshot wound while resisting lawful arrest.
Mr. Rajak Tandu, aged 45 years, death by multiple wounds while resisting lawful arrest.
Other unidentifed bodies, death by multiple wounds while resisting lawful arrest.
There followed another inquest on the body of Albert Collins aged 33 years, footman. Deceased was employed at Thorpe House. Finding of Willful Murder at the hands of Mr. Rajak Tandu, subsequently killed while resisting lawful arrest.
Excerpt from the diary of "Cousin George"
Thursday, 12 January, 1871
I don't know what I did to deserve that!
Maybe Wilhelmina's still mad at me about the hot coal trick. Maybe she's disappointed with me because I was tricked by Natesh. Or maybe she's just angry with everyone. She certainly wasn't happy to see her Mother, particularly since the only reason she was here was to ruin Namaste's wedding.
And yesterday was so wonderful! I've seldom seen Wilhelmina so happy. Her dress for the wedding came out just the way she wanted. We made good progress on Namaste's present. We weren't attacked or shot at or ensorcelled. She was in a happy mood all day long. It was a good day all around, well, as long as you don't count that weird bit from Mrs. Cuthbert's dream. I mean, Master Tandu can't be my father. I'd know, wouldn't I? I should have felt it when he possessed me.
That part of the dream is obviously muddled. So, other than that, yesterday was great.
But today has been a nightmare. I don't even know where to begin. Namaste's present was finished and presented. Namaste was very pleased with the mechanism and can't wait to try diving in it.
The ladies wanted to do some mystical investigation
of the footprint left at the newspaper office. Mr. Frazer said
it was made by someone with feet such as mine. But it was too
small to be mine, and too large to be Edward's. Mrs. Cuthbert
has had several visions about the the mast Jerrold
Mor the Cobb's family tree. I don't know what to call him.
He's Wilhelmina's Grandfather. Wilhelmina tells me he's my Grandfather,
too. But he never told me that while he was alive. He did say
something when he spoke to me after he died that might have been
a hint at that, but it could have meant something else altogether.
Dead people don't always make sense. Just go ask Insp. MacGreggor
about his father.
Anyway, Mrs. Cuthbert's visions tell her that the Cobb kept track of the bloodlines, and that my mother wasn't the only sister that Shadrach (Wilhelmina's father) had.
That very well may be, but Shadrach never called me "nephew" when we saw each other. He did call me "cousin" sometimes, but that's just because the Cobb often called all of us with the special toes "cousins." Maybe we are all actually cousins. Well, there were still a few of us alive after the big explosion on the barge. I didn't stay in contact with them because when the Cobb came to me in my vision, he said I couldn't trust anyone except Salmalin.
I'm getting off topic again. The point is, Mrs. Cuthbert said we had another cousin, that looks exactly like Edward, and that he's working for the man who gave Xanthus the etheric pulse gun. So they wanted to find him before someone else gets killed. Xanthus said the person who brought him the gun was named "Natesh." That's a common enough Hindi name. I even remember a boy named Natesh in temple, but I don't recall that he looked much like Edward. Of course, I didn't know Edward then, so maybe he did.
Wilhelmina wanted to find him because he's family. But we'd been up all night working on the present, and she needed some sleep. So we stayed at the Manor while they went to do stuff.
Humphrey was recharging. Wilhelmina was asleep. I was practicing the Swan of Knowledge mantra, since Salmalin had told me I needed work. Another carriage load of guests arrived, and Their Mr. Graves and Our Mr. Graves needed us to help get the luggage in and get everyone situated. I was just down the hall for a few moments. When I came back, Edward was coming out of the library carrying something heavy in a large bag. He asked me to help him. I took the bag and carried it into the nursery. Humphrey was still charging. I noticed, through to door into the sleeping room, that Wilhelmina was laying on the bed, snoring.
Before I could move he was on me. He had studied at temple, and he was good. He shouldn't have beat me.
No, that's not true. I shouldn't have let him surprise me. Once that happened, his defeating me was almost inevitable.
I had a strange dream while I was unconscious. More like a nightmare. Wilhelmina was missing, and I couldn't find her. I was searching all over the countryside and in London, except that some of the buildings I searched weren't in London. There was that small castle in France we stayed in, for example. And the cathedral that was destroyed in Prussia.
No one knew where she was and no one seemed to care that I thought she was in danger. I kept searching and searching. I finally thought to look in the river. When I got to the riverbank, I could see prints on the shore that I knew had been made by one of the diving suits. So I dove in and swam down, down, down. I finally found the diving suit, and I could see Wilhelmina's face through the face plate.
She was building something under the water. At first I thought she was building another sinkable boat, but it was just an open frame, without bulkhead or hull. And there were little green glittering autonite batteries in it. She was arranging that batteries inside very carefully. I tried to signal to her, to ask her what she was doing or if she needed my help, she waved me away, and kept working.
I finally realized what it was. It was the same kind of bomb that had razed the Teutonic Knights castle and other buildings to the ground. I tried to ask her why she was building a bomb in the middle of London, but she kept waving me away, but I knew I couldn't leave her alone, because I knew she was still in danger.
Then I finally realized that I'd been underwater way too long, and if I didn't get a breath of air soon, I'd die. So I started swimming toward the surface. I could see a glimmering light above me, but it never seemed to get closer. I swam and swam, my lungs burning and my heading pounding, but still the surface never got closer.
And then I was surrounded by light. Pure, blinding light that turned the water to steam. It melted and burned all the boats on the surface, all the fish in the river, destroying everything it touched. A moment later, a wave of force hit me. It felt like all my bones shattered and I was flung high into the air.
When I regained consciousness, I was in the bed in the room I nominally share with Salmalin. There was a note from Our Mr. Graves sitting on the bedside table. It said Edward was fine, Salmalin had stopped Natesh, but that Edward had gone with Sir Cosmo to Goxhill Grange. Our Graves and the other gentlemen's gentlemen were securing the Manor. It said if I felt up to it when I awoke, I should join them.
My head felt like someone had used it for a drum, but I went out to help. I could feel something in the air, a vibration of magick. I found Stuart, first, and he told me that Miss Mitzi had cast a spell to drive away hostile magick. They'd found no evidence of anyone other than Natesh sneaking into the Manor. Humphrey had been seriously wounded by Natesh, which is why Sir Cosmo and Edward had accompanied Sir Charles back to the Grange to try to revive him. Salmalin had gone along, and they had taken Natesh with them.
So I worried about Humphrey and Wilhelmina. Okay, so Wilhelmina wasn't hurt, but it was no thanks to me. And her friend was hurt, maybe dead, because I'd fallen for such a simple trick. No wonder she's so angry.
They hadn't gotten back when I felt the first errant breezes of the wild spell. It's like a big storm came at the house suddenly from the north.
Strange noises came from the nursery. I went inside and Wilhelmina's trunk of projects was shaking and jumping like something was inside trying to tear its way out. And the projects she had out on the tables and shelves were all moving on their own. Most of them were little clockwork toys of one sort or another.
I tried to catch some of those and turn them off, but it didn't seem to work. Once I picked them up I could feel the power of the wild spell moving inside them. They just kept going. And I could hear all the gears and springs inside the trunk going something fierce. I tried reciting the Mantra of the Fifteen Syllables of the First Goddess while I grasped one of the toys, to ward off the magic. The clockwork stopped. Until I put it down to grap the next one. The first one started moving as soon as I let it go.
The trunk had bounced halfway across the room and the straps were looking strained, so I leapt on top it, grasped it firmly, and recited the Fifteen Syllables over and over. About the eighth or nine iteration the trunk stopped bouncing. I stayed there, ignoring the crashes and yelps from other parts of the house, figuring this was probably the most dangerous machine inside the place.
I was nearly right. Salmalin had heard noises coming from Sir Cosmo's room, and run inside to find one of the etheric pulse weapons rolling along the floor. Salamlin was as busy as I was.
The wild spell started to subside. As the "storm" faded, I could feel Miss Whitnell's and Mrs. Cuthbert's magic nearby, as well as Mitzi's within the house, and several others further away. I couldn't recognize most of the rest, but then I don't know them so well.
When the ladies cast their history spells in town, they'd seen some sort of machine being used to hurt Sir Cosmo and Miss Chigwidgeon. So Miss Whitnell had tried her "Shape the Element" spell to try to find a machine. I didn't know it could do that. Of course, maybe that's why the spell went wild.
Sir Cosmo and Edward and the others came back to the Manor shortly after that. Humphrey seemed to be making a full recovery. Natesh had been tied up quite thoroughly, though I was thinking some of that really heavy chain like they have at the shipyard and one of those anchors might make a nice addition to the bindings.
The wedding party needed to get to the church for a Tea Party and the wedding reshearsal. Many of the guests for the wedding went into the village for the tea. My head was still hurting, and someone needed to keep an eye on Natesh, so I stayed at the Manor.
At the rehearsal Mrs. Cuthbert had another vision, and one thing led to another, and most of the League--along with Sir Sebastion and Sir Anthony and Nanny and Rip--went into Hornsea. They captured Wilhelmina's mother and some gentleman from the Foreign Office by the name of Mr. Mannering. He's the younger brother of one of the people at the Foreign Office that Xanthus had fingered when we asked who he thought was the person helping from inside.
Unfortunately, they didn't get very far in his interrogation. There's a mage involved in this somehow, in addition to Mr. St. Simon, and this one knows the Traitor's Curse spell, or something very close to it. I know the Cobb used it a few times. The spell is triggered if the subject tries to betray the castor, or reveal something the castor has proscribed. It kills the subject. Miss Whitnell didn't know such things exist. I don't know how it works, I just know it's one of the reasons people were afraid to cross the Cobb.
Anyway, between the sorceresses on our side and Mrs. Cuthbert's healing, they saved Mannering. His mind is broken. Mrs. Cuthbert says the brain is damaged. So we can't ask him if he was the person pulling the strings from inside the Foreign Office, or if he was taking orders from someone else, and we don't know who the Mage was.
We've got Natesh and Miss Brody locked up in a couple empty rooms up in the attic. Sir Sebastian doesn't want to transport them to London or leave them in the local jail, because we don't know that they'd be safe. There may be more members of this gang we haven't found yet.
Wilhelmina wanted to talk to both of them. Mostly she talked to Natesh. She talked to her mother a while -- my aunt? Should I start thinking of her that way? I mean, Wilhelmina's my cousin, so her mother is my aunt. Somehow I think if I said that outloud Wilhelmina would have another screaming fit. And I feel pretty chewed up already, so I'd rather avoid that.
From the 'datebook' of Miss Maeve Brody - evidence recovered by Mr. Benton Frazer
Friday, 6 January 1871
Breakfast passable. Lovely lunch. Tired of sewing. Tommy better bring me chocolates as he promised. Got the boy who does errands for the old bat to get me a new bottle of gin. So nice to meet an agreeable young man.
Saturday, 7 January 1871
Tommy arrived this morning, v. happy to see me. So enthusiastic. Not as good as the errand boy, but his money is nice. Remembered the chocolate. Brought gin and laudenum. Said certificate is ready. Still won't show it to me. Searched his things while he slept it off. No luck. He's gone to meet someone. It's the brat, I know it. Still won't tell me where my daughter has been hiding. The nerve! My own daughter!
Sunday, 8 January 1871
Tommy's been all of the city, leaving me here to sew. Imagine! He promises the next place will be more to my liking. The old bat is getting on my nerves... she may have seen me having one off with the errand boy. What's a girl to do when her man is gone as much as he is?
Monday, 9 January 1871
Packing. I have to do my own packing! I've told him again and again if I'm to appear a proper lady, there should be a maid! He can arrange trains, certificates, and murders but he can't find me a maid?
Tuesday, 10 January 1871
Moving day. Brat was there. Didn't see him, but I can tell. The packing wore me out. Fell asleep as soon as I got in the carriage. Don't even remember the train ride. Some excitement at the town square going on when we arrived. Mustn't be seen, yes I know. Tommy doesn't have to keep repeating it. A classy hotel, just like he said. Our own bath! A view of the ocean! So very posh. I can't leave the room without the veil. They bring stuff to your room when you ask for it. I can put up with this for a few days.
Wednesday, 11 January 1871
Things to do once I am a woman of means:
Thursday, 12 January 1871
Tommy's been very upset about something. Told him not to read stuff that upsets him, but does he listen to me? Been down to the telegraph office four times already, and now he's off again. Brought me more chocolate before he went, nicer than the stuff they bring to the room. Wonderful bath. Could soak all day. Have to get his mind off this other business. When he gets back.
Editorial in the London Echo, Thursday, 12 January, 1871
Rewriting history to suit their wishes
by Oliver Lomax, Publisher
Recent stories in other publications have claimed that inquiries and inquests into the death of Channing Payne, Marquess Dearingford, had exonerated Sir Cosmo Cowperthwaite. This is far from the case.
Readers will recall that Lord Dearingford was found, dead from a single gunshot wound to the head, on the grounds of his estate on the morning of 11 June, 1852. Lord Dearingford was hardly a saint. He has rightly been described elsewhere as notorious. Among his many documented vices were a vicious temper and a tendency to challenge those with whom he disagreed to a duel. Several men accepted those challenges, and all were killed.
Lord Dearingford fled England in 1838 rather than face multiple charges of murder. In 1852 his mother, the Dowager Marchioness, fell gravely ill. The Palace compassionately granted the Marquess leave to attend his mother at her death bed and to set both his affairs and hers into order. He clearly indicated his intention to surrender to the authorities once the Marchioness had been laid to rest.
When he was found dead, there were those who thought the matter bore no further investigation. It was alleged that he was less than attentive to his dying mother. It has been further alleged that he was busy exacting revenge on those he felt had somehow betrayed him. These things may be true, but neither constitutes a just cause for a private citizen to take the law into their own hands.
Many names were suggested as possible culprits. Relatives of the men Lord Dearingford bested in duels chief among them. But another name was also mentioned: Sir Cosmo Cowperthwaite, baronet.
Witnesses had placed the two men at the same location on several occasions in the weeks prior to 11 June, and that angry words were exchanged. Rumour had it that Sir Cosmo and Lord Dearingford were competing for the attentions of a young lady. Other rumours said that Lord Dearingford had insulted the honour of a lady of Sir Cosmo's acquaintence. In either case, it was reported that on the afternoon of the 10th of June, 1852, Sir Cosmo demanded an apology or satisfaction. Lord Dearingford allegedly suggested pistols at dawn.
An inquest was called by the Deputy Coroner of Wessex. However, despite these very specific rumours, Sir Cosmo was not compelled to testify. The only testimony given came from a doctor who examined the body, and the Chief Constable of Wessex, George Fothergill.
The Chief Constable testified that he had investigated a number of suspects. Several had been eliminated as witnesses were able to definitively place them elsewhere at the time of death. Sir Cosmo had no such witness. In the Chief Constable's testimony, Sir Cosmo was lumped in with other suspects whose whereabouts could not be verified. The Chief Constable spent more time documenting Lord Dearingford's famous prowess with pistols and at dueling than outlining evidence against the suspects.
Because a loaded pistol was clutched tightly in the hand of the dead Marquess, the Coroner ruled the death as either Willful Murder or Self Defence, and referred the matter to further police inquiry so that charges might be laid against the culprit if appropriate.
Although police records indicate the case remained open for several months afterward, no charges were ever laid. No witnesses that could exonerate any suspect were found. The case was referred to the new detective department of the Metropolitan Police, where it languished for a year, before being marked "closed due to lack of evidence."
One of the foundation stones of the British Legal System is the presumption of evidence. This paper does not need to be reminded that a man is deemed innocent until proved guilty. However, the cornerstone of the British Legal System is the trial by jury. Neither learned judge nor a jury of upstanding citizens has heard any evidence in the matter of Lord Dearingford's death. Until such a trial occurs, and a jury finds that there is insufficient evidence to convict any of the suspects, then none have been exonerated.
Proceed to Match and Matrimony
Contents this page copyright 2005 by Gene Breshears. All Rights Reserved.