The Press. — London, England, 1856-11-01 00:00:00

. 1042 A CASE OF MOCK-AUCTION SWINDLE was brought before the Recorder of Birmingham last week. The question arose upon a gold watch and chain, which had been bought for 101. by a Mrs. Hyanis at one of these auctions. The watch and chain proved to be worthless. For the defence it was contended that the four prisoners bad been guilty of nothing more than what took place every day in ordinary business and by every auctioneer in the country, by giving a hyper bolical representation of the goods which they were selling. The prisoners were found guilty of a con spiracy to defraud. In sentencing the prisoners, the recorder satd the verdict was a most important one to the public, inasmuch as it was impossible to be ignorant of the fact that a great number of persons were being defrauded from time to time in that town at what were known as " mock auctions." The present case would show the view which a jury took of such proceedings : It was so desirable to put a stop to these dishonest practices, that he should not pass a slight sentence in the present case, and he hoped the fact would go forth to the public, and have the effect of shutting up all such places, and that parties who might be defrauded would confer with the excise and police authorities. Nicholson and Maxwell were eac'i sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment, Ellen Duff to nine months, aud Kirby to six months, with hard labour in each ease. WILLIAM JACKiON, charged with the murder of his two children by cutting their throats, and afterwards burying them, was finally examined at Chester on the 27th ult., and fully committed to take his trial on the charge of wilful murder. _ A - HORRIBLE MURDER has been committed at Dover. A young laundress, Frances Wallace, aged :29, some five years since hal a child by her sister's husband. During the last few months the woman made the acquaintance of a young carpenter in the town, one Thigh. To him she confided her secret of the parentage of the child. She appears to have bsen afterwards alarmed at this rashness. She feared that Bligh would tell her sister of the intrigue. Last Sunday an unaccountable notion that Bligh had gone to London by the six a.m. excursion train to tell her sister the fact appears to have impressed itself upon the poor woman's mind, and about seven a.m., when the child got up, the mother took it into the front r iom and deliberately cut its throat with a carving knife, and then rushed out screaming that she had murdered her child. The neighbours, of course, satisfied themselves of the fact, and seized the un happy woman, who, in the course of the day, was fully committed for trial. A CURIOUS CASE OF LIBEL, " Salter V. L IWe,' was tried at the Old Bailey before the Recorder oar Tuesday. The facts of the case were these : in 1814 a gentleman named Hood died at Chard, leaving certain properties devised by will, which will was duly proved by the exe critors. The solicitor on this occasion was Mr. S titer's employer. About fourteen years ago the defendant, Joseph Lowe, set up claims to some of the property, commenced carrying on a series of petty annoyances against the prosecutor, and indicted him for forgery. The bill was thrown out, and then Vie defendant harassed the tenantry in every possi ble manner, by actions of ejectment, distresses, and •arious acts of violence, such as driving their cattle aid sheep off, and other forcible proceedings. He eintinued his annoyances for a series of years, keep ing within the law. In August last be, however, went beyond bounds, and deliberately published in the hue and Cry an advertisement characterising Mr. Salter as a thief and forger, and offering 501. reward for his apprehension. This was the libel. Tne case was proved in evidence, and the jury re turned a verdict of " Guilty." The Recorder respited sentence till next session to consider what should be done ; the prisoner to remain in Newgate. Gt - ISEPPE LAGARVA, GIOVANNO BARBALANO, Italians, and Motto Peltrich, an Austrian, three determined looking young fellows, were brought before the mayor and other magistrates sitting at Portsmouth Court house on Saturday, charged with committing a most desperate act of piracy on board the barque Globe, of Alloa, and murdering Joseph Pattinson and Evan Evans, English seamen, on board the ship. They were further charged with wounding two more of the crew, Daniel Cullen and David Thomas, with intent to murder. The facts have already appeared in print. The murder took place in the Black Sea. The cabin boy. Nellegan, described the circumstances of this horrible case. He said that he slept in the forecastle of the vessel, and on the night referred to had turned into his bunk, and had been I)inr, some time awake, when he aaw twu men come down into the fore castle : Joseph Pattinson and David Thomas were then in their bunks. When the men came down, they had a piece of lighted candle, and they went to the bunk of Joseph Pattinson. A few seconds afterwards the candle was blown out suddenly. After that he heard a heavy substance fall out of Pat:inson's berth on to hia chest, and from that roll on to the deck. He then heard a groan, and a noise as in s person's throat, and a noise of struggling. After Pattiz). •on had fallen out of kw bunk the two men came and set THE PRESS. down on the chest in front of Ntaess s bunk for a few minutes. They talked in their own language, and Pettrich put his hands on witness's legs, and said " Piccolo." They then went up the ladder on deck. The witness deposed to the subsequent movements of himself and the prisoners, and to his seeing David Thomas coining down the hold with his hand to his neck and die blood streaming from it. Witness returned to his bunk and remained some time —he could not say how long, tut it seemed a long time to him. Before Thomas came down, witness beard noises on deck as if some one was being chased round. When it got light, witness saw Pattinson alongside of his bunk dead with his throat cut. Afterward* Pettrich and Barbalano came down the forehold into the forecastle. Pettrich had a pistol in his hand and Barbalano a long knife. Witness jumped from his bunk and implored them to save his life, as he had never hurt them. Pettrich caught hold of him, kissed his cheek, and said, "Ne no touch you." The prisoners and the other two foreigners, having plundered the vessel, went on shore in a boat. The prisoners were remandel. JOHN PRATT, the young clerk in the Bank of Aus tralasia, who decamped a short time since with 981. 10s., belonging to the bank, has been sentenced by the Lord Chief Baron to nine mouths' imprison ment with bard labour. ANDREW BLAND, who attempted to rob Mr. Ben son, the jeweller, ou Ludgate-hill, was sentenced on Wednesday to nine months' imprisonment. THE SUSPENSION OF Fox., HENDERSON, AND CO., for some time past rumoured about, is at length con firmed. The firm is unable to meet its engage ments. The liabilities unsecured amount to 150,0001., the principal creditors being Glyn and Co., Crampton, the Ebbw Vale Iron Company, &c. According to the statement of Mr. Colema t, the accountant, the assets are more than sufficient to pay 20s. in the pound; and it is said that the plant and stock are valued very moderately. The firm have large and Frofitable contracts on hand, and it is probable that there will be no stoppage of the works, which in the event of an arrangement will be car ried on unJer inspection. The suspension has been caused principally by a serious loss, amounting to about 70,0001., by the R)yal Danish Railway, for which the house contracted. A MURDER was committed at Shrewsbury on Wed nesday night. A man named Hollis quarrelled with a woman, one Ann Usher, with whom he cohabited. One Bromley, a labourer, interfered, and Hollis struck him a blow with a knife just under the region of the heart. Bromley fell dead without uttering a word. Hollis has been arrested. HARRISON, THE WIZARD, who obtained an unen viable notoriety in the Dove case, was fully corn. witted by the Leeds bench to nine months' impri• sonment as a rogue and Vagabond fur fraud and imposture. A charge of tigamy is also standing against him. lltelligente. HER MAJESTY'S SHIPS Duke of Wellington, Con queror, Wanderer, Vigilant, Swallow, Coquette, and Wallace, have arrived at Malta. The Desperate, Vigilant, Harpy, and Supply have left Malta for the Bosphorus. STAFF APPOINTMENTS IN THE INDIAN ARMY, WS the Overland Mail, heretofore bestowed exclusively, or almost exclusively, upon the officers in the com pany's service, are, it is rumoured, to be shared by officers of her Majesty's service : The report is, we believe, not wholly destitute of founda tion ; but it is only true in a much more limited sense than is supposed by many who have taken alarm at the report, as though their privileges were about to be seriously invaded. It is proposed, in case of the demands of the public service requiting the employment of a larger number of military officers in detached situations than the company's regiments can supply, without serious loss of efficiency, to., employ fr,,m time to time officers of the Queen's army who have passed in the languages and have otherwise proved themselves well qualified for such em ployment, in certain military staff-offices—as assistants and deputy-assistants, adjutant-generals of division, assistants and deputy-assistants, quartermaster-general, deputy judge advocates ; and (in cases of peculiar qualification) in the officering of the irregular corps. This is the full extent of the " innovation." THE EXTENSIVE ADDITIONS to the Wellington Barracks, situated at the corner of Birdcage-walk and James-street, Pimlico, are proceeding with great rapidity. SERIOUS DISTURBANCES have taken place among the British German Legion stationed at Browndown. Throughout Monday the camp at Browndown was in a state of great excitement in consequence of some Germans having been arrested for misde meanors by the police. At night a number of Germans seized the police-station. A serious dis turbance ensued. Ultimately 400 men of the Royal Marines were turned out ready for action, and 200 at once marched to the police-station. The Ger mans on their approach tied, and the riot was soon suppressed. Other disturbances are mentioned in connection with this corps, which was specially moved from Aldershott in consequence of the im possibility of getting the German troops to agree with their neighbours. SATURDAY, A BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS from Chelsea Hospital assembled at the invalid establishment, Chatham, last week, for the purpose of ordering the discharge of a large number of troops belonging to cavalry and infantry regiments, consequent on tne reduction which is now being made in the army. Two hundred and fifty non-commissioned officers and men were discharged. Nearly the whole of them received their wounds or were disabled while serving in the Crimea. THE AMERICAN FRIGATE 66 MERRIMAC " was visited on the 27th ult. by Mr. B. Andrews, Mayor of Southampton. He was accompanied by the sheriff, Mr. J. White; the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. J. It. &ebbing ; and a number of civic officials connected with the corporation. On arriving at and leaving the vessel the mayor received the usual complimentary salute from the guns of the frigate. Lord Palmerston, who happened to be in Southampton on Saturday with the French Ambassador and a party of friends, paid a hasty visit to the Merrimac. Lieutenant Harrison of the Merrimac being informed that the Premier was cruising round the vessel, immediately went alongside the steamer containing the honour able visitors, and politely invited them on board: This invitation, however, his lordship expressed him self compelled to decline in consequence of the late ness of the hour, but manifested great admiration of the external noble appearance of the ship. While in the docks his lordship and party viewed one or two of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam ships, taking particular notice of the Candia, which vessel rendered such valuable and lengthened ser vice during the Crimean war in the transportation of troops. Since the Merrimac has been lying in the Southampton waters an immense number of persons, including many foreigners of distinction, naval and military officers, and professional men of all classes, have visited the vessel. The Merrimac sailed on Thursday for Brest. Captain Prendergast and the officers were entertained by the Mayor of Southamp ton on Wednesday at a parting dinner. The Mer rimac, from Brest, will visit Lisbon, and finally sail for the West Indies. THE HALF•YEARLY INSPECTION of the corps of Royal Engineers with the troops of the East India Coin pany's Sappers and Miners took place at Chatham on Wednesday by General Sir John Burgoyne. On the conclusion of the inspection General Sir John Burgoyne proceeded to Prince Henry's Bastion for the purpose of inspecting the huts recently erected for the troops of the Royal Engineers. He also inspected the barracks and library, with which he expressed himself in terms of satisfaction. SIR CHARLES YORKE, military secretary to his Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, will, it is said, shortly vacate his i.nportant post. Colonel Forster, the Deputy Adjutant General, is mentioned as his successor. THE RETIREMENT OF MR. MONSEIL and Colonel Mundy is announced ; Lieut. Colonel Letroy, R.A., will take charge of the Ordnance Department ; the financial business of the whole War Department will be intrusted to Sir Benjamin Hawes; and Mr. Peel will introduce the estimates info Parliament, and undertake the duties of parliamentary Under Secre tary at War. Colonel Mundy, on his retirement, will obtain a brigade iu the Channel Islands. THE Fancy yacht, with the Marquis of Drogheda's family, have returned to Malta, after a tour in the Black Sea and Levant. The Russian authorities sent a pilor to take them into the harbour of Sebas topol, and were in every way polite and civil, allow ing the party to visit every place of interest. Very little is being done towards the restoration of the town; only one or two of the smallest vessels have been raised, and those, they fear, cannot be made seaworthy. Obituarz THE RIGHT HON. JOHN EARL OF SCARBOROUGH died at his seat, Sandbeck-park, near Tickhill, Yorkshire, on Wednesday last. The deceased noble man was the eighth Earl of Scarborough, and the lineal representative of a family which traces its pe digree to a period considerably anterior to the Nor man Conquest. The deceased peer, John Lumley Saville, Viscount Lumley, and Baron Lumley of Lumley-castle, in the county of Durham, in the peerage of England, and Viscount Lumley of Water ford in the peerage of Ireland, was born at Edwins • towe on the 18th of July, 1788, and succeeded as the eighth earl on the 21st of February, 1835, his father having been killed by a fall from a horse. Prior to his accession, the deceased nobleman represented the county of Nottingham in the House of Commons, having been elected by that constituency in the years 1820, 1830,1831, and 1832. In 1839 he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of the county of Notting • ham, in the room of the late Duke of Newcastle, who was summarily removed for having written an offensive letter to the Lord Chancellor Cottenhatn. Soon after the death of the seventh earl some litiga-