The Press. — London, England, 1855-12-29 00:00:00

DECEMBER 29, 1855. THE SECESSION OF THE REV. MR. WHEELER, Rec tor of Shoreham, and his reception by Dr. Manning, into the Roman Catholic Communion, took place at Brighton, last week. The secession of so leading a member of the Puseyite party has excited an im mense sensation among them. Mr. Wheeler is a man of large fortune, through his wife, and not long since rebuilt, the vicarage at Shoreham at immense ex pense. The living is in the gift of Magdalen College, Oxford, and is returned in the Ecclesiastical Com missioners' Report as worth 1271., net income. THE WILTSHIRE REFORMATORY INSTITUTION, to establish which a meeting was held some short time since at Devizes, under the presidency of the Mar quis of Lansdowne, is considerably advanced by the sum of 1,0001. having been already subscribed. Very great interest is evinced in the matter by most of the leading persons of the county. A site for the proposed building has been selected, within an hour's journey of Salisbury, Bradford, Trowbridge, Chip penbam, Melksham, Devizes, Westbury, and War minster. SHEEP-STEALING iS just now so common in Kent, that one of the local papers lately proposed as a remedy the provision by the authorities of a couple of " County Bloodhounds!" The humanity of this proposition is, we think, rather questionable. THE ROYAL BARON OF BEEF this year weighed 4251b5., and took fifteen hours in roasting. It was decorated with holly and ivy, and placed, cold, on a sideboard in the Banqueting-room, on Christmas day, where it remained, together with the boar's head and woodcock pie, during the week. The baron was cut from a five-year old Highland Scot, fed by Prince Albert at his farm in Windsor Great Park. THE GIFT OF THE EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH Of 4001. to the poor of Windsor, was distributed this week between nine hundred families, under the supervision of a committee formed by order of the Queen. LORD LYTTELTON, the first president of the Midland Institute, and one of its warmest supporters, has expressed his willingness to deliver a lecture on Shakspeare to the members of the institute. The lecture will he delivered on the 14th of January, the day of the annual meeting. ptlao. THE TRIENNIAL VISITATION OF THE QUEEN'S COL LEGE took place on Friday last, before the Chancel lor, Baron Greene, and a distinguished assembly. THE ENDOWED SCHOOLS COMMISSIONERS are about to bring their labours to a close, and to prepare their report for the House. A general impression prevails that extensive reforms will be suggested, and the large annual income of from eighty to ninety thou sand a year, for 1,500 endowments, will be re-distri buted in some measure. Mr. MEREDYTH, in thanking the electors of Meath for their support, states that his canvass led him to expect a very different result, but that a most reck less system of violence and intimidation was brought to bear against him. Mr. Meredyth then promises to reserve the proot of this for another occasion. A CURIOUS ILLUSTRATION of what is understood by " Tenant Right" in Ireland, transpired at the Car rickfergus Sessions last week. William Mc Gookin was summoned at the instance of the Marquis of Downshire, for refusing to give up possession. The defence raised was that the premises were freehold, had been in possession of the defendant's family for several centuries, and no promise of payment or payment of rent could be proved. The defendant strongly denied that he had ever promised to pay any rent at all. The court, after considerable dis cussion, ordered a decree for possession. A POSITIVE PROHIBITION is stated to have been received from Rome, forbidding the priesthood to at tend political meetings in Dublin. 61ertion flttiligtutt. GREAT YARYOUTR.-Mr. Rumbold's reported in tention to resign is stated to be a mere rumour with out the slightest foundation. Mr. Torrens M'Cullagh and the Hon. Colonel Vereker intend contesting the borough in case of a vacancy. Colonel Vereker has declared himself favorable to the prosecution of the war with vigour, but opposed to " Tractarianism, the Maynooth grant, universal suffrage, and the ballot." HEREFORD.—Mr. Robert Biddulph, of Ledbury, who formerly represented Hereford in Parliament, is reported to be desirous of again offering himself as as candidate for the suffrage of the electors whenever a vacancy may occur. Charles Seely has retired from the contest, having first assured his supporters that he found be had no hope of success. It is reported that, at the next general election, Major Sibthorp and Mr. Seely will be returned together, the Liberal party having determined not to invite their present representative, Mr. Hencage, to stand again. THE PRESS. WEBT Rnmo.—A great change in the represen tation is spoken of in the Riding. Mr. Denison will retire from public life, and Mr. Cobden will not, it is presumed, be invited to stand again. The Right Hon. J. Baines and Mr. Edwards, late M.P. for Halifax, are spoken of as the probable candidates. WELLs.—Mr. Sergeant Kinglake has issued an address to the electors thanking them for their sup port, and soothing them for their disappointment by promising a speedy aay of victory over "that combi nation of secret and irregular influences which can not and will not prevail" against " the firm and un shaken demonstration" of Mr. Sergeant Kinglake's supporters. Sab3 Rub Vita. TRZ CASE OF THE BANKRUPT GORDON, committed for two years last week for illegally obtaining gouds on the eve of bankruptcy, came on for bearing before Mr. Commissioner Goulburn, at the Bank- ruptoy Court, on Monday. After some discussion, in which Mr. Linklater explained that two notices of ad judication, and one of surrender, had been duly served, the petition was ordered to stand over until the 24th of January next. The prosecution of the bankrupt for fraud on Messrs. Overend, Gurney, and Co., by means ci false warrants, will be continued about the middle of January. THE CASE OF DR. VAUGHAN was brought before Mr. Justice Crowder, at the Queen's Bench, on Saturday last, the prosecutors applying for the re moval of the case back for trial to the Central Criminal Court. Mr. Clarkson, who appeared on the part of the prosecution, rested his application on the ground that the writ of certiorari had been ob tained secretly and against good faith, no notice having been given to the prosecutors. The learned counsel said that there was no ground or reason whatever for the issuing of the writ, or why the case should not be tried at the Central Criminal Court, and he, therefore, urged that the certiorari should be quashed, and a writ of procedatdi issued to return the proceedings back to that court. Mr. C. Cr, Prideaux appeared on the part of Dr. Vaughan, to oppose the application. Mr. Justice Crowder said he could not interfere to set aside the flat of another judge at chambers; application ought to be made to the full court. But in the present case he thought the proper course would be to lay the whole of the affidavits, on both sides, before Mr. Baron Platt, for his reconsideration of his former decision. The application was accordingly adjourned for that purpose. A HORRIBLE MURDER was committed on Wednes• day last, in Church-street, Minuries, by a person named Corrigan, in the employ of the East India Company as foreman, at their warehouses in Leaden hall-street. The victim on this occasion was the unfortunate man's wife, and, from the total absence of all motive, as well as from the previous habits of the murderer, there is but too much reason to sup pose that the act was committed more from the effect, than under the immediate influence, of drink. From the evidence given before the jury on Thurs day, it appears that Mr. and Mrs. Corrigan had been spending Christmas-day with their friends in Church street, a Mr. and Mrs. Burton, and it was there noticed that Corrigan himself was more than usually reserved, and "looked very curious." On Christmas night Mr. Burton and the prisoner, with some other male visitors, kept up their festivities till morning, when Corrigan, "shortly before nine o'clock went to his place of business quite collected," and in the course of the forenoon his wife, acc ompanied by a Mrs. Fearon, another visitor at lie Burton's, went to Bethnall green for the purpose of seeing her four children. During her absence the prisoner returned, and asked for his wife; he was told she was up stairs, and on his coming down without finding her " he looked round very curiously, and appeared in a very abstracted mood ; " be then left the house, stating that he was going home. About four o'clock in the afternoon, Mrs. Corrigan and Mrs. Fearon returned from Bethnal-green, and almost at the same moment the prisoner came into the room where Mr. Burton was waiting for tea, and observed that his wife had come back. The two women went up-stairs to take off their bonnets, and the prisoner seems to have followed them. While there, they heard something like the click of a knife, and Mrs. Corrigan called out, "Is that you, Tom?" Upon which he imme diately rushed upon her, pushed her back on the bed, and stabbed her in several places. Mrs. Fearon attempted to save Mrs. Corrigan, but the prisoner attacked her, and drove her from the room, Mrs. Corrigan rushing after her. The screams of the women brought Mr. and Mrs. Burton and his friends to the spot, by whom the murderer was at once secured. Mrs. Fearon, in her fright at being wounded, hastened to a neighbouring surgeon's, and while going there saw Mrs. Corrigan come out after her and fall to the ground. She was soon rfter brought into the surgeon's in a dying state, 1239 expired in a few minutes. The inquiry at the Thames Police-office last Thursday, was adjourned till the two female witnesses, who both gave their evidence with extreme difficulty, are sufficiently re covered to attend without danger. Mr. Burton states in his evidence that the manner of the prt- soner on the day of the murder was very tiistaut ; also, in reply to a question from Corrigan, that his nervous system had been shaken by strong thinks, and that it was mentioned on Christmas-day that he ones had an attack of delirium tremens. "I have no douLt," continued this witness, " that he drank to excess, though I have not been much in his com pany." The prisoner is remanthtd ou the charge of wilful murdeito Thursday next. EUZA TRZNAINE, the Canterbury double of 'Alice Grey, who has been committed for two months with hard labour as a vagabond, presents in her history a singular example of the easiness with which people of all ranks suffered themselves to be imposed upon. As early as 1843 this young woman commenced) her system of imposture, sometimes taking the character of a nursery governess in great distress, or as a re pentent Magdalen, or as a runaway for love, or as a convert to Romanism, or, lastly, and more success fully than all the rest, as a truly repentant impostor seeking forgiveness and consolation for her sins. In such various characters for the last twelve 3 ears has this young woman roamed over the country, from Canterbury to Yorkshire, now taken iu hand by benevolent philanthropists or earnest divines, and put to school for reformation ; occasionally appre hended ane sent to gaol as an impostor ; while in each and every case no sooner was she out of asylum or prison than she instinctively returned to her old system of imposture and deceit, as the easier and more pleasant means of obtaining a livelihood. Her exposure at Canterbury, and committal for two months, is only another event in her career. As soon as she is liberated, she will disappear from the neighbourhood, and, probably wending her way to some distant and hitherto unexplored counties, prosecute her impostures with as much 111100431146 as ever. ANOTHER CRUEL CASE OF WIFE -BR ATI 50 wtls brought before Mr. D'Eyncourt, at Worship-street, oil Monday last. Sarah Lander, a neatly-dressed, baud some, little woman, deposed that she had been mu ried to her husband, Edward Lander, fur nine years, and that, though be had treated her well in the earlier years of their marriage, he had lately given way to drink, and was continually cruelly beating and ill-using her. On Saturday night and Sunday he was away from home, spending his wages in drink, and when, after a long search, she found him, he struck her furious blow* upon the face and head till she was covered in blood, and would have injured her more severely but for the interference of the police. The prisoner etlinitted that his wife was every thing that was good to him, and that lie bad nothing to say in his defence. Mr. D'Eyncourt then sentenced him to six months' imprisonment, with hard labour, in the House of Correction, and to find bail for six months' further good behaviour. THE 'WORLEY POISONING CASE 15 at present wait ing the decision of Dr. Taylor upon the stato of the intestines of the exhumed bodies. No further facts have been made public. The prisoner Palmer welt removed to Stafford gaol last week, and a rumour prevailed on Monday that he had succeeded in voluntarily starving himself to death ; but this is denied on authority. He is alive and a prisoner in Stafford gaol. The analyses of the intestines of his deceased wife and brother are being carried on by Dr. Taylor, of Guy's. The police are making a strict sear ch for the ionising betting-book of the deceased Cook—the discovery or loss of which will form an important point in the trial. THE INQUEST upon the body of Jones, killed on the 11th in the fight with Madden, terminated on Thursday, when a verdict of " Manslaughter " was returned against Madden and the four seconds. Warrants were immediately issued for their appre hension. THE KEYNSHAM BURGLARY CASE, in which seven men were charged with having entered and robbed the house of Mrs. Baber at Keynsham, was inves tigated by the Bath magistrates last week. Three of the prisoners were immediately identified by Mrs. Saber and her servant, and their evidence baring been heard, the magistrates committed the whole seven to take their trial at the next Somerset assizes. THE MAN Nils, acquitted last week of the murder of Jane Ileagley, at Cudham, was on acquittal immediately arrested on a charge of burglary, in August last, at Buckover, Gloucester. At the request of the superintendent of police, the prisoner was remanded, to give time for the collec tion of the necessary evidence. EDMUND AND Louis SCHELL, charged with the forgery of the ten-thaler Prussian notes, were fully committed for tr al I y Mr. Bingl am on Monday. The evidence is in.ibt voluminous ; the prisoners 1 and reserving their detance.