The Press. — London, England, 1857-05-30 00:00:00

MAY 30, 1857. Speedwell•road. In ad lition to these there will be a triumphal arch at Edgbaston, near the parish church. There will be a free concert at the Town. hall, Birmingham, in the evening, given by the Mayor. Yalu ant Volitt. THE LUNDHILL COLLIERY EXPLOSION. THE inquest on the 189 sufferers by this explosion was brought to a close last week, when, after an elaborate summing-up by Mr. Badger, the coroner, of the eleven days' evidence, the jury returned a verdict strongly recommending an improved system of ventilation and the exclusive use of safety lamps. With respect to the deaths of the sufferers the ver dict referred as follows : The jury are of opinion that Abraham Turner, Thomas Grey, and others, met with their deaths from the effects consequent upon an explosion of carburetted hydrogen gas in the Lundhill coal mine, on the 19th day of February last, but the immediate cause of such explosion there is not any conclusive or sufficient evidence to show. The jury cannot come to the conclusion that it was crimi nally negligent, but accidental ; they, however, must con demn the laxity of the discipline and the nonobservance of the rules allowed by the manager and his deputies at the Lundhill mine. They are of opinion that the proprietors of the colliery were not cognisant of the laxity of the conduct of their underviewer, deputies, and workmen. From the evidence of the eminent engineers em ployed to examine the pit, there is no doubt that the use of naked lights instead of safety lamps was the proximate cause of this explosion, as also of the other two frightful explosions which occ•irred in the immediate neighbourhood (i.e., at the Darley Main and Oaks colleries) some few years ago. The engineers believe the immediate cause of the acci dent at Lundhill to be a fall of roof in one of the goafs under the following circumstances:— Above the roof of the old workings is a strata of shaley matter, and above this a strata of rock upon which rests a thin seam of coal. The shaley strata would naturally fall at an early period in the exten• sion of the goaf, and gas (which is freely emitted in the Barnsley seam), being lighter than the air, would accumulate in the cavities left by the fall. The area of the goaf becoming more and more ex tended as the workings progressed, the strata of rock would eventually fall also. In so doing it would force out the magazine of gas which had accumulated in the cavities left by the previous fall, and would probably also bring with it an efflux of gas from the thin seam of coal with which it is asso ciated. The gas would be driven upon the candles of the miners at work in the bank surrounding the goaf, and would at once ignite. The proprietors of the Lundhill Colliery have intimated their intention of adopting all measures necessary for the safe working of the pit, without regard to the cost. It is estimated that the explo sion will entail an expense of from 12,0001. to 15,0001. on the proprietors, apart from the loss of interest on capital. THE CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD brought against three well-known mercantile agents for the linen trade—Messrs. John May, of Huggin-lane ; William Taylor, of 1, Church-passage ; and George Myers, of 4, Malvern-terrace, Islington—was finally examined into ou Wednesday by Mr. Alderman Humphery, and the three prisoners fully committed for trial. The charge against the detendants is for conspiring together to defraud Mr. Gorman, of Dugan, in Ireland, and Mr. Lawson, a linen manu facturer at Armagh, respectively, of two lots of cam bric handkerchiefs, valued at 5001. and 0001. Alder• man Humphery in summing up said : I have carefully considered all the circumstances as affecting the defendants individually and ss being con nected with each other, and my opinion in Gorman's case is that all the defendants acted together in concert to get possession of the goods—May first, though Taylor attempts to get the goods, but, upon Gorman refusing to sell to him, Taylor writes to say Myers will buy them at the terms, 27i discount, and Gorman accepts Myers as a purchaser, and accordingly sends the goods to Taylor, who, on the same day that they arrive, delivers them to May at the warehouse used by Myers and May. This was on Satur day, the 28th of March. and on Monday, the 30th. May takes the goods to Mr. Meeking, and sells them at some tiling like fifty per cent, under the invoice price made out by Gorman. May receives the proceeds, and out of that very money he pays Myers a sum he is indebted to him, but for what it does not appear; and he pays Taylor U. 01., but Taylor does not send that amount to Gorman until he finds it likely to be found out. I think the goods might have been sold at a better price, but it does not appear that any attempt was made by the defendants to sell them in any other market. As regards the character of May's conduct in this transaction, it is so apparent that 1 need not dwell upon that part of the case. It is equally clear that Myers lends his name to Taylor, which enables hint to get these goods, and that May was so connected with Myers and Taylor in business that it was next to impossible for them not to know his transactions, or for any of them to be ignorant that these goods went to Meeking. What, then, is Taylor's position ? He writes on the 7th of April to say that May intercepted the goods, and on the 11th he THE PRESS. tells Gorman that May got the goods when he wag out ; and there is no doubt that Taylor knew on the 7th of April that the goods had gone to Meeking, for he writes on that day to say that May had sold the goods for Myers and Co., whereas lisirby, Taylor's confidential clerk, says that Taylor did not know where the goods went until five days age, which is very improbable. Mr. Hairby : I said that it: reference to Lawson's goods, not with regard to Gorman's. Alderman HUMPHERI : Now, if May really did intercept the goods, it was a stealing beyond all doubt, and if Myers and Taylor had entertained honourable intentions in this matter, they would have applied to a magistrate for a war• rant to apprehend May upon that charge, and if May had been given into custody Gorman would unquestionably have recovered his goods from Messrs. Meeking, who, as they had been stolen from Taylor, would have had to have given them up—not that I presume Mr. Meeking knew they had been stolen—still he would have had to have made restitution if such a course had been adopted. It is rather curious that the counsel for Taylor endeavoured to cast Cie responsibility of this transaction upon Myers, while the counsel for the latter tried to fix Taylor with the criminal liability ; but it is a melancholy fact, in my opinion, that such facilities are offered for dishonest traders in a large commercial city like London to obtain goods to such a large amount and sell them at so much below the value. And I think there is some want of due diligence on the part of Mr. Meeking's buyers in not making more inquiry, for after the first transaction they must have had some idea that the goods could not have been honestly come by to be sold at the price they were. Under all the circumstances I think it my duty to send the case for trial, where Taylor and Myers will have an opportunity of jus tifying themselves, and I hope th e y may acqu i t themselves in the eyes of a jury. THE MAGISTRATES OF CANTER BTTRY having investi gated the conduct of Inspector Parker and Police constable Elvey, in permitting the man Fox to go at large after their attention had been called, on the evening of May 13, to his murderous intentions towards Mary Ann Hadley, designs which through their neglect he carried out by shooting her on the following morning, have decided that Inspector Parker be suspended for six calendar months, and Police constable Elvey for one month. MR. HENRY SALMON, the bank defaulter of Fal kirk, is still at large, although the police are using every means to secure his apprehension. Mr. Salmon, besides being agent for the Commercial Bank, was a justice of the peace, an elder brother of the Church, and had held the post of provost, post master, and chairman of the parochial board. His defalcations are said to amount to some 20,0001. The discovery was made quite by accident. On Tuesday week, while Mr. Salmon was absent at Stirling, attending the Licensing Court as a justice of the peace, the bank inspector arrived at Falkirk on an inspecting tour. In the book-safe he disco vered a note-book which revealed, to some extent, the true position in which Mr. Salmon stood to the bank. The inspector at once communicated with the management in Edinburgh, and the consequence was the immediate suspension of Mr. Salmon from his office of agent. The whole of this transpired while be was at Stirling administering justice, and he was first made acquainted with the fact by one of his sons, who at once drove from Falkirk to Larbert, and intercepting his father at that station, conveyed him back in a gig to the bridge of Allan. The next morning Mr. Salmon left Falkirk for Edinburgh by the mid-day train, and he has not since been heard of. THE PRISONERS CARTEL, charged before Mr. Corrie at Clerkenwell with fraudulently obtaining 2501. from a Mr. Durgan, under plea of obtaining for him a Government situation, have been fully committed for trial. THE GREAT SHREWSBURY LAW CASE, involving the right to the first and oldest earldom in the land, and to estates worth 40,0001. a year, is now fairly before the Lords, and will soon come on for hearing. Lord Talbot is the claimant, and the opponents of his lordship's claim are three in number—first, the Duke of Norfolk, as guardian of the interests of his infant son, to whom the late earl bequeathed his magnifi cent property at Alton Towers; secondly, the Princess Doria Pamphili of Rome, as only surviving child of John, 16th earl ; and, thirdly, Major Talbot, of Castle Talbot, county Wexford, as a rival claimant to the title. LORD PANNURE'S RESIDENCE, in Chesbam•place, during the night of Saturday last, was entered by thieves, and a large amount of valuable pro• perty stolen. The family jewel case is gone, and with it, it is said, the badges of several orders of which Lord Panmure is a knight. The police are in consternation at the escape of the burglars, and hourly conclaves have since been held on the subject in Scotland-yard. Obituarg. Mn. ROBERT HALL, who was returned after a severe contest as the Conservative member for the borough of Leeds, at the late election, died at Folke. stone on Tuesday last. Mr. Hall, who was Recorder of Doncaster and Deputy-Recorder of Leeds, suffered 53t severely from an accident, about two years ago, on the Great Northern Railway, near Leeds, and, although he so far recovered as to be able to resume his professional labours, his constitution was un doubtedly permanently injured, and has given way at last to the labour and excitement consequent upon his recent struggle for parliamentary honours. He entered with great vigour into the political contest in which he was engaged for the representation of his native town, and was unceasing, for more than a week before the day of election, in his efforts to win his way, often addressing two or more meetings of the electors in different parts of the borough the same day. After the election, when his hopes were crowned with victory, his strength appeared to give way, and he suffered from the reaction which followed the severe activity of the contest. He also thought that he received injury from sitting in the House of Commons near one of the openings for the admission of air. An influenza came on, and added to the depression of the system. He was advised to retire to Folkestone for the sake of relaxation, and when there he was forbidden even to write. As he grew wore, his medical adviser in Leeds (Mr. T. P. Teale) was summoned to Folkestone last Friday week, and when he arrived he found him in an alar►ning state from fever, and quite delirious. The case proved to be beyond the power of medicine,,and Mr. Hall expired at half-past three o'clock on Tues day morning, aged fifty-six. Mr. Hall was born in Leeds in the year 1801. He was educated at the school of Heath, near Halifax, at the Leeds Free Grammar School, and at Christchurch College, Oxford, where he held the rank of first class in classics and second class in mathematics. He had attained a very honourable position in his profession, and, as before stated, was Recorder of Doncaster and Deputy Recorder of Leeds. Ma. D. DAVIES, M.P. for Carmarthenshire, died suddenly on the evening cf Friday week. Mr. Davies, who was a barrister-at law, and for many yeats Chairman of the Cardiganshire Quarter Sessions, was first returned fo Carmarthenshire in 1842. In politics he was a Conservative, and he voted against the Government on the subject of the Chinese war. Mr. Davies was in the 66th year of his age. LIEUT. JOHN WOOD ROUSE, R.N., died at his resi dence, Greenwich Hospital, on Saturday morning last, having been attached to that establishment neatly twenty years. FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE. Tuesday, May 26. BANKRUPTCY ANNULLED.—EnmoND STEPHENSON, Daventry, Northamptonshire, iron and brass founder. BANKRUPTS.— ELizAR ..TH HILL, Little Moortields, City, coach builder—JOHN FLEMING, 9, High -street, Wapping, nautical instrument manufacturer—JOSEPH SLAUGHTER, 55, fligt-street, Southwark, hop merchant—EDWAßD BUTLER, 21, Clifford-street, Bond street, tailor—SAßAH PATRICK, Worcester, butcher—JoHN BARRY, Cashel, near Clonmel, linen and woollen draper—Thomas JONES, Aberavon and Cwmavon, Glamorgan shire, general shopkeeper—WlLLlAM HENRY Salm, Swansea, Glamorgenshire, brickmaker—RoßEßT WORDEN, Watiebtidge, St. Breock, Cornwall, builder—JAMES WEARING, Ulveraton, Lancashire, joiner—Joseph KEY, Crowle, Lincolnshire, Iron monger—JOSEPH BOWRON ELGEY, Horton, Bradford, commis sion agent—Bosun' ATKINSON, Hendon-road, Sunderlanl, draper. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS.—GEORGE CAMPBELL and Co., Leith-street, Edinburgh, stationers—JOHN AONEW. 99, Gallowgate, Glasgow, tobacco-pipe manufactur er—JOHN KELLY STUART, Ark lane, Duke-street, Glasgow, smith and screw bolt maker—JOHN STOBO, 199, Crown-street, Glasgow, commission and general agent. Friday, May 29. BA NICRUPTS,—LEwis HENRY MYERS, Wellesley-street, Stepney, dealer in Manchester goods—Jortx Haar, Halifax, Yorksnue, linendraper—Joan HILL Govurr, Dennett-road, Peckham, buiIder—ADOLPHUS HARRISON FEISTEL, Bucklers bury, City, Wine merchant—THOMAS LAWRENSON, Liverpool, shipsmith—JOHN MARKS, Bell -street, Paddington, coachmalier —GEORGE BATES, Bristol, soda water, lemonade, and urger beer manufacturer—Jogs PRINGLE and JOHN THURMAN, Nottingham, lace manufacturers— Rostar ATKINSON, York, hairdresser—GEOßGE BAXTER and GEORGE TOONE, Nutting ham, dyers—WILLIAM EDWARDS, Stamford, brew er--Joux GEORGE THOMAS, Illingworth, Halifax, dama , k manufacturer —WILLI►M TURNER, near Asbbourne, Derbyshire, cotton spinner. • SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS: NKIL MACCALLUS/, Glasgow, drysaltar—ALLAN FORBES, Dunfermline. flesher—WlLLlAM WIGHT, Kilmarnock. builder—JOHN GREW, olbooth-Alod, Leith, baker—JOHN and SAMUEL 'MACBETH, Aberdeen, furnish ing Ironmongers—WAßßEN and COMPANY, Glasgow and London, merchants. BIRTHS. ARNOLD—On the 14th Instant , at .Swanscombe, Kent, the wife of Edwin Arnold, Esq., M.A., of a son. LUSHINGTON—On the 12th instant, at Lyndhurst, the wife of Lien-Colonel Lushington, C. 8., of a son, stillborn. MARRIAGES. ARDAGH—HTTCHINGS—On the 16th instant, at Bath. Capt. A rdagh, 11th Regt. M N 1., to Frances J. Procter, daughter of Lieut -Colonel Hutchings, E.I.C.S. DE CR ES PIG Y—C LAY—On the 211th instant, at Camberwell Caroline Julia, sister of Sir Claude Cho. de Crespigny, Bart., to WM. Clay, Esq., son of the late General Clay, K.C. DEATHS. DAVIES—On the 22nd instant, at the University Club, David Arthur Saunders Davies, Esq., M.P. for Carmarthensbire aged 61. LITCHFORD—On the 23rd Instant, at Boothby•holl, Lincoln- shire. Louisa Elizabeth, wife of John Litchford, Esq.,, aged 71. POULDEN—On the 15th instant, Sophia Elizabeth, wife of Major Pouldea, late R o y a l Artillery.