The Press. — London, England, 1858-07-10 00:00:00

1 .. . . THE PRESS, JULY 10, 1858. 669 --____ - r 2 - - - - _____Aummummmemmenumm." s tokers, " tl: slacken speed rating several co, curves." I do n know of many she. barn. The inquiry was t n ext at lialf•past ten o _— THE DAGENH. on Monday morning, a, filewitt, a farm labourer, was. amination at the Court-house at Essex, before a full bench of in with being implicated in the myst George Clarke, a police-constable of who, it will be recollected, was found 1 at Dagenham on the morning of July 3, L mutilated. Mr. Tindal Atkinson appeared as CORM accused, and Mr. Rawlings, the solicitor, was for the prisoner. The CHAIRMAN asked Inspector Whicher, c metropolitan detective force, whether any additie evidence had been obtained which would throw a, light on the murder. Inspector Whither said, that he had received im portant informaticn, but he was unable to produce t h e witnesses. If the case was adjou rned for another i week he should ba fully prepared. There was a diffi culty in getting the witnesses to g ether after the COIL lapse Of twelve years. Th Mr. Atkinson here rose a nd said it was monstrous for adj to detain the prisoner in custody on the uncorrobo- prisoner rated testimony of the woman Smith, late Page. Inspect The CHAIRMAN asked if Inspector Whicher was have more sure that he could obtain important evidence if Mr. Atkii, the case was adjourned until a future day. prisoner on 1, Inspector Whicher answered in the affirmative. application. The CHAIRMAN : The bench did not for a moment The CHeresite, wish to press hard upon the prisoner, but at the Police Commissiot same time they felt themselves bound to give this for the prosecution , extraordinary murder the fullest investigation. tent case, which was. Mr. Atkinson, the counsel, then proceeded with every possible attentio, the cross•examination of the witnesses, and elicited The other members the fact that no blood was seen in the corn-field co cunrred, and the exam until the body was removed. The c orn had been week. trodden down to a considerable extent round the The young man Page, wh spot where deceased was found. There appeared to last occasion, and found the I. have been a desperate struggle. the public to know that he was After the testimony had been read by Mr. Clifton, to the women Smith, formerly I: the chief clerk, Mr. Atkinson said he had looked over the case with care, and he felt bound to say that a mass of fi' wontg glarket a 0 Cttg evidence taken at the last examination was not legal, e. and ought not to appear on the face of the depositions. If the case should be sent to another tribunal the FRIDAY - court would certainly object to such testimony. THE return of the Bank of England for , The Chief Clerk said a portion of the evidence of ending Wednesday last, the 7th inst., she the woman Smith, who made a confession, implicated her own husband, William Page, who died te n years following changes compared with that for the ago. preceding : The principal witness, Smith, was then brought Increase in Circulation into the court, and her evidence was read over to her, Decrease in Public Deposits 400.199 when certain parts were erased by order of the bench. Decrease in Other Deposits By Mr. Atkinson : I was married to my first Increase in Government Securities 15,449 husband, Page, at the parish church of Havering- Increase in Other Securities 259.756 Decrease in Bullion atte-Bower, atte-Bower, October 20, 1847, and about nine mon t h s afterwards I was married to Francis Smith. I never Increase in Rest 37,544 Bat Decrease in Reserve mentioned the fact of the murder to any one until A Bullion in both Departments last August. I hid the secret, and lam truly twiny. and St. Circulation, including Bank Post I have said that my husband's ghost followed me Bills about. I saw him in three different cottages, and ever, that The changes shown by this comparison are important, my eyes were wide open. I could see him as plain owing to a. as noon day , but I did not speak to him. My particularly in respect to the falling off in the Bullion and Exchange th husband told me in the hospital that if I said any- the Reserve. The decline in the Reserve is, however, inasmuch as t thing he would rise from the grave and crush me. I incidental to the period, and therefore less important impediments most favour have told Mrs. Woolmer that when I have been relatively than the reduction in the Bullion ; because it has remarkable firmt taking my meals I have felt the devil tapping the been caused by the payment of public salaries for the half- elements that di, bottom of the chair. Through his threats to me I year, and by advances upon securities, which again have speculators, they hole have really believed that the visitations were through frightened, even by 0 the devil from my husband. I have charged my acted upon the circulation.. But the decrease in the into placing it on the to, husband with stealing seven sacks of potatoes. I Bullion has no such incidents. It is the natural terse- carted the Bears not a lit know a Mrs. March and a Mrs. Palmer. I don't quence of the continental demand, and it is probabli they felt it expedient in operations, and to buy back t recollect telling Mrs. March that I never went into that the next return will show a continuance of the move. liiewitt's house on the night of the murder , b ut I ransold. The consequence has h ment to pre•ty nearly the same extent. The stock has two per cent. With regard to the under an apple tree. now been diminishing for several weeks ; and unless the prevailed. The announcement u. The witness here became much excited by the Emperor of the French at Cheri). process is speedily arrested by the arrival of large supplies. questions put to her by the learned counsel, and ex- • arrrivals from the 'United States, h. claimed, "If I had committed the murder I would it can scarcely fail to produce some effect upon the value sensitive minds that our foreign rt tell the truth ; right is right, but wrong is no matt's of money. The Bank is steadily adding by small amounts more satisfactory ; while at home evet right." to its stock of Government Securities. The next return in Parliamovernment .t en proves that these we have cumst A s, When she liad somewhat calmed and reg ained her will show a lar g e diminution in the Public Deposits by G Under in the Money Market has produced it. seli4ossession the learned counsel proceeded w ith the the payment of the dividends. upon Public Securities ; and from pr cross-examination : Mrs.Allsop, my daughter, resides The monthly debtor and creditor account of the Bank antes we only need the realization of the i. at Brentwood, and I have visited her. I have spoken b I nnteons harvest, i and an expansion of come, to her about the murder since the police were ma de of France was published in the Moniteur this morning, and tadence, to consolidate and extend the niprovemt acquainted with the case. I have beeged of my altogether it is the most favourable of any that has an. opening. With confidence revived and comm, daughter if she knew anything of the murder to tell peered in the present year. It is the first return for the tended, railway property m ust i no rove a lso ;wb me. I never told any one that my husband struck second half of the year, and it indicates generally that the severe lessons of the half-year just terminated wi, Clark e with a fork. I have never said that I held doubt, cause proprietors tu keep a sharp check n,Jon turning point has been reached in French commerce, thus Clarke's head while my husband cut his throat I do judicious management. con fi r ming the accounts to this effect received throug h not recollect saying that I tho Consols, which left off last Friday at 95 1 , t o I have tc, had lent the V. 10s. to George Blewitt. I did not p r i v ate sources. For example, the Discounts, which in the some extent been affected by the mon thl y settlemsa stokers, " the drivers are specially cautioned to slac k en speed at the following places (after enume rating several places), when running round all sharp curveg ." Ido not consider this a sharp curve. I know a many sharper curves than the one at Chil- barn. uir Th e inqy was then adjourned until Monday nest at half•past ten o'clock. THE DAGENHAM MURDER. On Monday morning, at ten o'clock, George lllewitt, a farm labourer, was brought up for re ea• amination at the Court-house adjoining Ilford Gaol, Essex, before a full bench of magistrates, charged with being implicated in the mysterious murder of George Clarke, a police•constable of the K division, wbo, it will be recollected, was found in a corn field at D;wenham on tht morning of July 3, 1816, brutally m utilated. Mr. Tindal Atkinson appeared as counsel for the accused, and Mr. Rawlings, the solicitor, was present preceding month fell off no less than 1,110,0001., have in the present month increased 1 761,4981., and they have now attained an aggregate of 15,740,206/. This circum stance, taken in conjunction with a diminution in the Pri vate Deposits, indicates returning activity in commerce, and a relaxation of that distrust which has so long pr, sited upon the trade of France. Another indication of greater say that my husband, Ralph Page, and Blewitt murdered the policeman. I had said that Bill told me that Blewitt and Ned Wilcox were going to get some corn out of the barn. Blewitt came to me one Sunday morning, but I was afraid through her to speak to him about the rumours that were in circula tion. I have told Blewitt in the presence of his eon that when Bill died he never gave me a halfpenny, but his brother Bill gave me a shilling. Ido not recollect saying that if he had given me one I did not know where the harm would have been, but I might cost him pounds. I did not say that if it had not been for the money I should not have done it I did not say to Blewitt " I do not know who did it, but I wish I did." On the night of the murder I was at Blewitt's house. I saw present the prisoner, my husband, and George Chalk. Ned Wilcox, to the best of my knowledge, was not present. We all four left the house of Blewitt and proceeded to the barn. My husband had a loaded stick in his hand when the policeman Clarke came up to the barn. I cannot say, when the police-constable came up to the barn, whether he had his cutlass extended in his hand, but when he was being driven back tho weapon was drawn from the scabbard. While the struggle was going on between my husband and Clarke my husband called out very loudly for help. George Blewitt came out of the barn to assist him. No one, to my knowledge, came out but the man Blewitt and my husband. When my husband struck Clarke the latter used his cutlass. Other questions having been put by the learned counsel, The CHAIRMAN said if there was only fair ground for adjournment he should feel bound to remand the prisoner again. Inspector Whicher said that he should, no doubt, have more evidence in a week. Mr. Atkinson asked for the liberation of the prisoner on bail, but the magistrates refused the application. The CHAIRMAN said that he expected that the Police Commissioners would have employed counsel for the prosecu►ion to take charge of such an impor tant case, which was of a character that required every possible attention. The other members of the bench unanimously concurred, and the examination was adjourned for a week. The young man Page, who was examined on the last occasion, and found the body of Clarke, wished the public to know that he was no relation whatever to the women Smith, formerly Page. for the prisoner. The CHAIRMAN asked Inspector Whicber, of the metropolitan detective force, whether any additional evidence had been obtained which would throw any light on the murder. Inspector Whicher said, that he had received im portant informatico, but he was unable to produce the witnesses. If the case was adjourned for another weik he should ba full witnesses There was a diffi culty in getting the i together after the lapse of twelve years. Mr. Atkinson here rose and said it was monstrous to detain the prisoner in custody on the uncorrobo rated testimony of the woman Smith, late Page. The CHAIRMAN asked if Inspector Whicher was sere that he could obtain important evidence if the case was adjourned until a future day. Inspector Whicher answered in the affirmative. The CHAIRMAN : The bench did not for a moment wish to press hard upon the prisoner, but at the same time they felt themselves bound to give this extraordinary murder the fullest investigation. Mr. Atkinson, the counsel, then proceeded with the cross-examination of the witnesses, and elicited the fact that no blood was seen in the corn-field until the body was removed. The corn had been trodden down to a considerable extent round the spot where deceased was found. There appeared to have been a desperate struggle. After the testimony had been read by Mr. Clifton, the chief clerk, Mr. Atkinson said he had looked over the case with care, and he felt bound to say that a mass of evidence taken at the last examination was not legal, and ought not to appear on the face of the depositions. If the case should be sent to another tribunai the court would certainly object to such testimony. The Chief Clerk said a portion of the evidence of the woman Smith, who made a confession, implicated her own husband, William Page, who died ten years activity is the addition of 1,895 5761. to the circulation, which now amounts to 25,317,5111., but this may be partly owing to the payment of the dividends upon Rentes. The stock of hullion now amounts to the unprecedented sum of 21,118,2791. 0r3,709,6221. more than there was in the Bank of England on Wednesday last; with this farther fact, that it is increasing in Paris while it is decreasing in London, temporarily at least. The Bank has increased its advances on railway and other securities by about a million and a k pause, rather sudden, has taken place in the demand for money. Last week there was a considerable Inquily at three per cent., stimulated by the concurrence of several heavy calls on railways and other undertakings, and by the preparations to meet the commercial acceptances at. matu rity on the 4th. These simultaneous demands largely re duped the reserves of the joint-stock banks and discount houses, and increased the applications at the Bank. But, as on many previous occasions, the sensitiveness of com mercial men led them in numerous instances to take more fontg glarket Cttg ]uttlitynce. than their necessities absolutely required ; and in the desire is make themselves perfectly safe against all con• tiugencies, they found themselves on Monday, and for some days during the current week, in the possessinn of larger reserves than they could immediately employ. The market FRIDAY EVENING. THE return of the Bank of England for the week ending, Wednesday last, the 7th inst., shows the following changes compared with that for the week preceding Increase in Circulation Decrease in Public Deposits 400.199 Decrease in Other Deposits Increase in Government Securities 15,449 Increase in Other Securities 259.756 Decrease in Bullion Increase in Rest 37,544 Decrease in Reserve Bullion in both Departments Circulation, including Bank Post Bills ago. The principal witness, Smith, was then brought into the court, and her evidence was read over to her, when certain parts were erased by order of the bench. By Mr. Atkinson : I was married to my first husband, Page, at the parish church of Havering atte-Bower, October 20, 1847, and about nine months afterwards I was married to Francis Smith. I never mentioned the fact of the murder to any one until last August. I hid the secret, and I am truly sorry. I have said that my husband's ghost followed me about. I saw him in three different cottages, and my eyes were wide open. I could see him as plain as noon day, but I did not speak to him. My husband told me in the hospital that if I said any thing he would rise from the grave and crush me. I have told Mrs. Woolmer that when I have been taking my meals I have felt the devil tapping the bottom of the chair. Through his threats to Me I have really believed that the visitations were through the devil from my husband. I have charged my husband with stealing seven sacks of potatoes. I know a Mrs. March and a Mrs. Palmer. I don't recollect telling Mrs. March that I never went into blewitt's house on the night of the murder, but I ran under an apple tree. The witness here became much excited by the questions put to her by the learned counsel, and ex chumed, " If I had committed the murder I would tell the truth ; right is right, but wrong is no man's right." When she Ind somewhat calmed and regained her sell-possession the learned counsel proceeded with the cross-examination : Mrs.Allsop, my daughte r, resides at Brentwood, and I have visited her. I have spoken to her about the murder since the police were made fmqqainted with the case. I have begged of my daughter if she knew anything of the murder to tell me. I never told anv one that my husband struck Clarke with a f or k. I have never said that I he ld Clarke's head while my husband cut his throat I do not recollect saying that I thought that my husband had lent the V. 10s. to George Blewitt. I did not thus obtained an - artificial appearance of ease for the time, and rates, following the ordinary law, declined in L-nn bird-street, while the higher terms required at the Bank reduced the applications there to a minimum. Yesterday the payment of the July dividends commenced, and the capital waiting employment was increased. But, mean while, the surplus obtained in anticipation of the 4th had been absorbed; so that the inquiry yesterday, resuming something like its natural proportions, became a little more active, while the means of meeting it were more ample. The market, therefore, now that it is less affected by inci• dental circumstances, has thus become regular, and the demand for capital is steady, at from two and a half to two and three quarters per cent. upon the hest paper. There is a better demand for money at this moment for legiti mate commercial enterprize than at any previous period of the year, for manufacturing stocks nre generally low, while our foreign as well as home trade is gradually expanding. Under these circumstances, we are still of opinion that rates are not likely to be lower than the terms now current; and that, when the effect of the dispersion of the dividends has passed away, they will probably advance. The specie movements of the week have possessed con siderable importance, though the amounts involved are but of secondary interest. The withdrawals of bullion from the Bank, which last week amounted to 150,0001., have continued, 201,0001. having been taken out since our last, making a considerable aggregate in the course of the fortnight. This amount has all been sent to the Conti nent; and in addition to it 180,3321. have been purchased for the same destination in the open market as the vessels bringing it have arrived. The continental demand is not vet satisfied. Its continuance is exciting attention ; but it has not yet been satisfactorily explained to what cause, or causes, it is attributable. About 03,2541. have been sent abroad elsewhere, principally to Brazil, in connection with banking operations at Rio. Altogether, the total export of the week has been 480,000/., whilst the imports have been largely below that amount. From the United States little or nothing has come; but there are no less than 1,110,4281. in Australian gold now at sea en route for this country, of which fully 500,0001. are either now due or will be in the early part of the week. Until some of this amount reaches us, it is probable, as stated above, that the Bank will have to meet the demand from the Continent. A partial reaction has followed the depression in Stocks and Shares to which attention was called last week, and some improvement has now to be noticed. We fear, how. ever, that as far as railway shares are concerned it is more owing to the operations of speculators within the Stock Exchange than to the bona-fide investments of the public, inasmuch as the causes that we glanced at last week as impediments to returning confidence remain unmitigated. The most favourable feature, as regards the public, is the remarkable firmness with which, putting aside the elements that disturb the calculations of professed speculators, they hold to their property, and refuse to be frightened, even by the certainty of reduced dividends , into placing it on the market. This firmness has discon certed the Bears not a little this week ; so much so that they felt it expedient in many cases to reverse their operations, and to buy back that which they had previously sold. 'l'6e consequence has been an advance of from one to two per cent. With regard to the Funds, a better feeling has prevailed. The announcement that the Queen will visit the Emperor of the French at Cherbourg, and the successive arrrivals from the 'United States, have satisfied the most sensitive minds that our foreign relations could not be more satisfactory ; while at home every day's experience in Parliament proves that we have a strong and popular Government. Under these circumstances the ease in the Money Market has produced its natural effect upon Public Securities; and from present appear ances we only need the realization of the promise of b ointeons harvest, and an expansion of commercial con• fidence, to consolidate and extend the improvement that is opening. With confidence revived and commerre ex tended, railway property must i improve also ; while the severe lessons of the half-year just terminated will, no doubt, cause proprietors to keep a sharp cheek u„ion in• judicious management. Consols, which left off last Friday at 05 1 , to have to some extent been affected by the monthly settlemsn The changes shown by this comparison are important, particularly in respect to the falling off in the Bullion and the Reserve. The decline in the Reserve is, however, incidental to the period, and therefore less important relatively than the reduction in the Bullion ; because it has been caused by the payment of public salaries for the Ifelf year, and by advances upon securities, which again have acted upon the circulation.. But the decrease in the Bullion has no such incidents. It is the natural cotse• quence of the continental demand, and it is probablvi that the next return will show a continuance of the move• ment to pre•ty nearly the same extent. The stock has now been diminishing for several weeks ; and unless the process is speedily arrested by the arrival of large supplies, it can scarcely fail to produce some effect upon the value of money. The Bank is steadily adding by small amounts to its stock of Government Securities. The next return will show a large diminution in the Public Deposits by the payment of the dividends. The monthly debtor and creditor account of the Bank of France was published in the Moniteur this morning, and altogether it is the most favourable of any that has ap• peered in the present year. It is the first return for the second half of the year, and it indicates generally that the turning poimt has been reached in French commerce, thus confirming the accounts to this effect received through private sources. For example, the Discounts, which in the