_Lowbell_ (Vol. vii., p. 181.).--The inclosed was taken from the
_Northampton Herald_ of the 16th April, 1853:
"On Monday last this village was thrown into a state of great
excitement by the tidings that a married labourer, named Samuel
Peckover, had taken poison, with the intent of destroying himself. This
was found to be the case. He had swallowed a dose of mercury, such as
is commonly used for sheep, and, but for the timely arrival of Mr.
Jones, surgeon, from Brackley, who administered him a powerful
antidote, he would have expired within a short time. The circumstance
which led the misguided man to attempt this rash act was as
follows:--Although a married man, and wedded to a very respectable
woman, he had seduced a young female of the village, named Adelaide
Hirons, who was delivered of a female child on Saturday last. This
disgraceful affair, of course, had become known to the neighbours, who
expressed great indignation at his most disreputable conduct, and they
in consequence determined to put him to open shame by 'lowbelling' him
in front of his cottage in the evening, when all the old pots and
kettles in the village were put in requisition, and a continual discord
was kept up for two or three hours, by way of administering him a
wholesome punishment for his breaking the marriage vows. It is supposed
that the fear of this impending disgrace, and also remorse for his
crime, were the cause of his thus attempting to make away with himself,
and to rush unprepared and unpardoned into the presence of his Maker!"