The Sun. — London, England, 1845-03-24 00:00:00

ALARMING AND DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT THE APOTHECARIES' HALL, LIVERPOOL. Liverpool has again been the scene of a dreadful conflap-ation, which, if less disastrous in its results than some of the extensive fires that occurred about two years ago, was certainly more threatening in its aspect during the short time it raged. It commenced yesterday afternoon, between three and four o'clock, in the manufactory or laboratory connected with the Apothecaries' Hall, situated in Back Colquitt street. The Apothecaries' Hall itself, which is one of the largest and most handsome edifices in the town, is situate in Colquitt-street. The building in which - the fire originated is four stories high, at the corner of Wood-street, im mediately in the rear of the main structure, but separated from it by Back Colquitt-street, which is about eight yards wide. The fire was first observed by a labouring man, named Dilston, about half-past three o'clock. He was at work in the third story when he observed a dense smoke in the room. A fire engine being kept upon the premises, he immediately took steps to get it into play, with a view of putting a stop to the flames, b u t, j ust at t hi s t i me, police-oftl cer, No. 11, Anderson, who was lea v i ng Se e l- s t ree t Station, obs e r ve d, as he was passing along Colquitt , street, the flames bursting from one or two of the stories. lie instantly gave the alarm, and proceeded to the fire-station, where he found the horses had scarcely a moment before been unharnessed after their return from the fire in Lodge-lane. Of course no time was lost by Mr. Hewitt in again attaching the horses, and in a few minutes the engines were at the scene of conflagration. Short as was the interval be tween the alarm being given and the arrival of the engines, yet it was found utterly useless to attempt to save the laboratory. In fact, it was completely en veloped in flames, which were bursting forth with great intensity and fury across the street, threaten ing the destruction of the splendid building opposite and the property surrounding it. The exertions of the firemen were therefore judiciously directed in pro tecting the premises adjoining. Two hose from the engines were passed into the interior of the Hall, and water from these was poured upon the doors and windows outside, and in front of the laboratory. At the same time from both sides engines were throwing water upon the large doors of the gateway, and, although the woodwork was partially consumed, and the cornice stones cracked by the intense heat, thebuilding sustained no further injury, if we except that consequent upon the introduction of the water pipe and the flooding of the whole premises. Next to the laboratory, in Wood-street, is a low building, the public-house of Mr. George Cato. To the roof of this a branch was passed, and a continual stream of water dashed upon the walls, in order to prevent the flames from proceeding further in that direction. Whilst these arrangements were being made and carried out for the preservation of the property the premises adjoining the fire itself were burning with unexampled fury. The story in which it broke out was filled with an immense quantity of castor oil, almond oil, and balsam of capivi, all highly inflam mable substances. In the top story there was a large quantity of empty castor-oil packing-cases, whilst the other stories contained a vast variety of chemicals and drugs more or less inflammable. It need scarcely be wondered then that the flames progressed with the greatest rapidity and intensity. Parties who saw the breaking out of the fire state, that first there issu e d a d ense bl ac k smo k e, and then, as if by a simultaneous movement, the flames burst forth from every window. Almost in a second, the whole building was in a blaze. Those who were not on the spot will scarcely credit the effect of the heat. The eyes of individuals who stood at least 40 yards from the building, and in a contrary direction •to the wind, were severely scorched. A better idea of a volcanic eruption, perhaps, could not be given. The' roaring of the flames, as they ascended hundreds of feet above the walls had a most overpowering effect among the spectators, many of whom shrunk back in terrror. About a quarter to five o'clock there was a terrific explosion, as of a thousand rockets, and the flames rose higher than ever. Volumes of densely black smoke then made their appearance. This was followed by a second rush of brilliant red flame, and then a third, which was succeeded by a discharge of light green vapour. The flames on these occasions reached across Wood street and ignited the back of Bold-street premises, which were at some distance. Ladders were imme diately raised to the walls by the exertions of the fire men, and in this direction the fire was soon subdued, although a chimney of one of the houses which ap peared to have been ignited, by some of the flakes of red hot fire which were floating about in the air, continued to burn for some time. The roof stood much lunger than could have been anticipated, and the molten lead was seen running from it in large quantities. 'I he warehouse was topped by large heavy free-stone cornices. These, by the great heat, were soon cracked, and they fell to the ground with tremendous crashes, greatly endangering the lives of the officers who were standing below. The fire brigade worked with great faithfulness and determination, and to their exertions alone must be attributed the almost miraculous preservation of the houses adjoining. Had the flames extended in any direction, the consequences must have been ap palling. Next to the public-house of Mr. Cato was the workshop of Mr. James S wallow, lathe and ' axletree-maker, and adjoining this was the soap and candle manufactory of Messrs. Brown and Co., the materials in which places would have been an easy prey to the devouring element. Opposite the labs '. tory, in Back Colquitt-street, was the warehouse, well stocked with drugs and other articles most s susceptible of fire, whilst a cabinet-maker's shop stood to the south. Nothing, therefore, had the fire not been confined within its original limit, could, in our opinion, have saved the whole of that part of the town. Human exertions would have been used in vain to stop the flames. The Mayor, although not yet recovered from his late severe illness, was early on the ground, and re• inained until six o'clock, when all apprehensions that the fire would spread were allayed. Amongst other gentlemen present were Mr. Rushton, Mr. Alderman Turner, Mr. J. Aspinall (who attracted some little attention in consequence of his attempting to protect himself from the flakes of the fire and the water from the engines by means of an umbrella which he held over his head), Mr. llarbord, Mr. Sheppard, Mr. G. 11. Lawrence, &c. The head constable (Mr. Dowling) was early in attendance, and exerted himself in the most praiseworthy manner, as also, ire need scarcely add, did Mr. Hewitt, Mr. M‘Fad zen, Superintendents Brown, Quick, and Leverett, and in fact, the whole of the police force, officers and pri vates. Great emergencies like the present prove the superiority of our fire-brigade and the talent and energy of the force generally. The West of Eng . land fire-engine was on the ground, and the men, under the direction of Mr. Kelly, exerted themselves well. der-seeker in the Grotto del Cane to the unknowing and A silent suffering of the denizens of three-fourths of the habitations of Europe, the want of a visible distinction between the vital necessary, and the subtle poison, alone seems to hare prevented a recognition of their difference. Rooms, and houses, and towns, have for ages been constructed wholly without reference to ven tilation. Food, a want more gross and palpable, but no whit more pressing, has always been an object of keen regard. It has often been hard to get ; and mul titudes have died of famine. But during its greatest scarcity we do not hear of men having voluntarily and largely mixed with their food articles not only unfitted to nutrify, but especially adapted to disorganise and destroy their bodies. Yet so have they invariably dealt with the air they breathe. Of all the neces saries of life it is by far the most plentiful, and most universally accessible ; and yet it is in dubitably that with which we are worst supplied. As to the economy of towns in this respect, recent investigations have established the fact that, under ordinary circumstances, the population of a town vitiates, or renders unfit for the purposes of respiration, a stratum of air " sufficient to cover the entire surface of the town to the depth of three feet." To this is to be added " the changes caused by the products of com bustion from forges, furnaces, and other fires minsling ith the atmosphere (to s.iy nothing of the enormous quantity of gas, oil, and candles nightly consumed in large towns), and by the escape of gaseous effluvia from manufactories of different kinds." The expediency of constantly changing the air, thus rendered unfit fee' further breathing, is obvious enough. The vitiation itself, so far as we have yet described it, cannot be avoided. It is a necessary result of the congregation of the people in towns. There are, however, many diffi culties in the way of a constant and complete change being spontaneously, ar even easily made. The most prominent feature of the alteration effected in atmo spheric air by its use in respiration and combustion is the generation of carbonic acid gas. This, being heavier then air, settles downwards, and so is easily confined in narrow streets and in low districts. Again, much of the foul air is pent up in close rooms and passages. It stays there till it is driven out, and as no means are, in general, taken to do this, its stay is commonly de pendent upon causes merely accidental, and is in almost all cases very much longer than is consistent with the health of those most nearly concerned. All this, how ever, merely concerns ventilation in its more general point of view; it goes only to impeach the neglect of the measures required for clearing the air of crowded districts of impurities necessarily engendered in it. But the peculiar class of atmospheric impurities to which our attention is now mainly directed, and of which the state of the Spa-field's burial ground furnishes so apt an illustration, involves far more pressing considerations. The question, in this department of the subject is, not whether we shall fold our hands and leave untouched those sources of atmos pheric contamination consequent upon the mere existence of towns constructed in ignorant disregard of the natural laws affecting ventilation, but whether we shall continue the barbarous and disgusting prrctice of slowly poison. ing each generation with the gaseous effluvia from the dead bodies of the preceding one. STANDARD.—Mr. Morison's speech of Thursday, on the subject of railroads, merits more attention than can be claimed for his resolutions, with which, indeed, the speech is at variance. The resolutions demand to fix a maximum of railroad fares, than which we can imagine nothing more foolish, or more likely to deprive the public of the benefit of these improvements. This great instrument of social improvement is as yet in its infancy, and its prompt and successful operation, must depend to a great extent, upon the perfect freedom with which the experiment is permitted to be tried. We are firmly convinced that the necessity for competition (in eadern materia) to induce railroad proprietors to lower their fares will not have arrived for many, very many years to come, if it shall ever arrive. Judging from the experience of the last few years, it is plain to us that the lowering of fares will be the true means of increasing profits, until all the population shall have beome travellers. The pro prietors of railways may not, perhaps, have yet made the discovery, or if they have, they may reasonably enough think that it is as well not to apply it too abruptly; but no less is it manifest to us, that before the lapse of many years extreme cheapness will be the rule in railroad travelling—dearness the exception. It must be apparent, however, that at all times, in the future as well as at present, some railroads must have less traffic than others ; and therefore, to in sure remunerative profits, their owners must demand higher fares. Any attempt, therefore, to fix a maximum fare would be either unjust to the less popular, or useless on the more popular lines, and would thus repress enter prise in every case, except where very great profits were certain. As matters stand, the public surely has little reason to complain, seeing, that on any one of the principal lines a person can travel any given distance at about half the expense, in from a third to a fifth of the time ; and beyond all ca l cu l a ti on more at hi s ease, than ie could travel by coach ten years ago ; and as respects expense, this is merely a beginning. Most, if not all, of the lines commenced at their opening with much higher fares than at present ; but, uncompelled either by law or competition, they have lowered their fares, and as they have lowered them they have found their profits increase in a greater proportion—and so it will proceed, fares descending and profits rising, until the locomotive wants and propensities of the whole thirty millions (probably the number of the present population of the United Kingdom) are exhausted—a term which we may con sider as indefinitely remote, when we reflect - upon the multitude of new trades and pursuits which railway tra velling is creating, and the prodigious stimulus which it supplies to old pursuits. Mr. Morison's allusion to the improvement of the fisheries, among the rest, is most interesting and most gratifying. An im provement which really makes provision for half the food of the people, in case of necessity, is itself an occasion for deep gratitude to the Giver of all good, but in the low light, this must cause a great traffic not merely of fish, but of fishermen, and of all others concerned in the renewed trade. The same must take place• in a greater or less degree with hun dreds of other trades and pursuits revived or called into existence by railroads. " The iron net," as Mr. Smythe poetically calls it, thrown over the island, gathers the whole population into one market—(the Greek word agora, " gathering," better describes the collection) and the whole of the two islands will soon present the bustle and activity of a market. Already, indeed, we have some specimen of this bustle and activity at the railroad termini ; but this is a very slight foretaste of what may be looked for to occur in the lifetime of many now living. We may mention in passing, that there is, as regards the metropolis, at least one obstacle, the removal of which will, we are persuaded, at a, stroke augment the number of railway travellers twenty-five per cent., we mean the delay, expense, and turmoil of getting at any railway, whether by omnibus, coach, or cab. A man going to Oxford or Portsmouth, thinks much more frequently of the stage to Pad dington or Nine Elms than of the rest of the journey. We can answer for some who would have visited both the one and the other of these places half-a-dozen times within the last year, had it not been for the delay ar.:i difficulty of getting at " the London end" of the railway. Were it not for this diffi culty, multitudes who now confine themselves to London, would consult their own health and the health of their families, by residing at a distance, thus leaving the City more airy, and therefore more healthy for those who remained. liobert TVlsite was again to have been tried to-day on a second charge of robbery on the highway. He was convicted on Tuesday last, and then sentenced to be transported for fifteen years. The other indictment is for robbing James Ackroyd, at Leeds, on the 2d of Ja nuary, the former charge referring to the 22d February. He was therefore placed in to-day's arraignment, in con sequence of some particulars connected with the case of Frederick Harrison, who was tried yesterday for a si milar offence, and received sentence. It is said that White accuses the other man of being the person who robbed Mr. Richardson, at Barwick-in •Elmet, near Leeds, on the 22d of February. The verdict against White upon that charge appeared, after the evidence, to be satisfactory to those who witnessed the trial ; but it is understood that there are facts in these cases which ren der it proper that the second case against White should be now gone into. Mr. OVEREND, the prisoner's counsel, applied to the Learned Judge, however, to-day, to have the trial put off until next assizeF. The reason stated was that there were witnesses forthcoming for White who were not now here, but could be brought forward on another occasion, and these were material for his defence. Mr. WILKINs, for the prosecution, observed that he should offs no objection to this course. The prisoner would, of course, be detained in custody in the mean while. The other trial is accordingly postponed till the nex assizcs. The Crown business concluded to-ni, NORFOLK ClRCUlT.—Cambridge, Murat 22. The Courts both opened this morning at ten o'clock. In the Civil Court there were ten common jury causes, and one special jury. The calendar contains the names of fifty prisoners, whose offences may be thus classed : Manslaughter, 1 ; rape, 2 ; arson, 4 ; burglary, 2 ; high way robbery, 4 ; sheep stealing, 1 ' • house breaking, 2 ; concealment of birth, 1 ; unnatural offence, 1 ; and the remainder for larcenies. CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice PATTEsom.) Thomas Bowers, aged 20, was indicted for having un lawfully attempted to steal a bundle, containing clothes, from Ann Hills. The prosecntrix is a schoolmistress at Cottenham, and resides in the house of the Rev. Mr. Frere, the rector. On the 23d of December the prosecutrix left Cottenham to pay her friends residing at Soham a visit, and was on her way towards Landbeach to meet the omnibus run ning from Cambridge to Ely, and when half way between Cottenham and Landbeach, she saw the prisoner in a field by the side of the road, and shortly afterwards he passed her and turned into the gateway of a field, and just as the prosecutor was passing the gateway he turned out and met her 'and seized hold o f a b un dl e conta i n i ng some clothes which she was carrying in her hand, and endeavoured to pull it forcibly from her - she resisted, and the prisoner then took hold of one of her hands, held it tight, and put his other hand over her shoulder and threw her down upon the ground, and upon her strug gling and screaming out he knelt upon her, and lifted up her head and knocked it twice violently on the ground, and then on his hearing the noise of a cart coming to wards the place, he ran away, and the "fair" school mistress was shortly joined by two persons, to whom she related her disagreeable adventure.. The prisoner pleaded guilty t o the charge, and was sentenced to one year's imprisonment and hard labour. James Williams and Samuel Wilson were indicted for having feloniously assaulted George Jeffs, and stealing from his person one silver watch. Mr..,Naylor appeared for the prosecution. It appeared in evidence that on Sunday evening, the 2d of March, the prosecutor was at the Racehorse pub lic-house at Barnwell, and the prisoners and several other persons were also there. The prosecutor left about half-past seven, and was going towards his lodg ings at the Shakspeare public-house, near the line of the Eastern Counties Railway. After proceeding some little distance along the Newmarket-road, the prisoner Wil liams suddenly came behind him, and laid hold of him by the throat and pulled him backwards and held him down, whilst two other men took his watch from his pocket. On the following day the two prisoners were apprehended, and clearly identified by the prosecutor as being two of the party who had robbed him; the third man was also capturned, but unfortunately could not be identified. The jury found both prisoners Guilty, and they were sentenced to fifteen years' transportation. Mr. Justice PATTESON, in passing sentence, observed that he held in his hand a letter from the High Con stable of Norwich, in which it was stated that the pri soner Wilson had been committed to gaol on various charges 34 times. _ Several parties, accused of very trifling offence•, pleaded guilty, and were sentenced to different terms of imprisonment. There has been nothing on the civil side to-day of the slightest public interest. The greater part of the day was consumed in trying an action of trespass, which was not finished when the Court rose. WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Erecter, March 21. This being Good Friday, the Learned Judges attended Divine service in the Cathedral. The Courts, therefore, were not opened for business till one o'clock. STATE OF TRADE. Alarmed by the appearance of the fire the poor people in a fe,w of the small houses in Wood-street removed their furniture, and we fear they will be con siderable losers thereby ; it is a matter of great satis faction, however, to be enabled to state that not the slightest accident occurred to life or limb. The loss is roughly estimated, including building, stock, and machinery, there being a grinding-mill and steam-engine on the ground floor, besides other valuable pieces of machinery, at 50,0001., and we understand that the greater portion is insured in the Manchester, West of England, Phoenix, and another office, the name of which we did not learn. In con sequence of some dispute, the Liverpool office, fortu nately for itself, as it now turns out, would not ac cept the risk at Christmas last. ENGLISH WOOL TRADE.—LEEDS, MARCH 21.—We hare not any alteration to teport in this market during the present week. The manufacturers buy combing wools sparingly, and for present use. Prices are about the same as last week. There is a moderate demand for clothing sorts. at recent rates. LEEDS.—There has been less business done at our halls this week, but this is in some measure accounted for from the circumstance that considerable quantities of goods have been delivered at the merch an t s ' warehouses direct from the manufacturers. The demand is, how ever, not so brisk for low goods as of late, but fine and middle qualities are in pretty good demand. Prices are steady, and stocks low. There has been a good business doing in finished goods during the week. HUDDERSFIELD MARKET, TUESDAY, MAncrt 18.— The demand for new goods was again brisk to-day, and anything of a novel description met with ready sale. The business in the warehouses during the week has been active. The fineness of the weather during the latter part of the week has caused an influx of buyers to the market. Wools are in steady demand, and prices re main firm. CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice ERLE.) Mary Hayes was indicted for having maliciously se fire, on the 29th of January last, to a dwelling-house, with intent to defraud John Pyke. Mr. Kirkwich and Mr. Cornish prosecuted. The prisoner was defended by Mr. White. This proved a most singular and extraordinary case in all its details. It appeared that the prisoner was a servant to a person named Lashbrook, who was a farmer renting and occupying a farm belonging to Captain Pyke. On the Monday before the 20th of January last, the farmhouse was on fire. The fire was extinguished. On the following day the house was again on fire, which was again put out. On the Wednesday, the day after, the roof of the house was again seen to be on fire by one of the workmen of Mr. Lashbrook, who was at work at the time in the farm-yard. He mounted a ladder which was standing by the house, and, seeing where the fire was in the roof, he succeeded in putting it out. Whilst thus engaged, he saw the prisoner, through a hole in the ceiling of the room, which had been made the day before, fling a quantity of lighted reed through this hole, under neath the thatched roof, and she told him that he was not to touch it, but let it burn if it would, as her mistress had given orders to that effect. It appeared that the witness did let it burn, and the consequence was that the entire house was consumed. Wheu the prisoner was taken up she admitted that she had set fire to the house, but added that it was by her mistress's express orders. who had said that the sin would lie at her door, and that it was quite right the old house should be burned, as she had lived there thirty years, and nothing had been done to it except nailing up a few boards to the stairs. She also said that she would not care if old Pyke was on the top of' it, as he refused to do anything to make them comfortable. The origin of the fire at present remains a mystery. It is stated that, in the third story, where the smoke was first observed, there had been no fire used that day—nothing but the steam-pipes passing round the building. Mr. Superintendent Levered saw the la boratory at twenty-five minutes after three, and then there were no symptoms of fire. It appears to have burst forth instantaneously. BRADFORD MARKET, THURSDAY.—There is nothing different in the market for combing wools, which for some time past has been very dull ; yet, from the small supply coming from the growers and coun t r y d ea l ers , there is no increase in stocks, n3r any material decline in prices. The Yarn trade is still flat, and the prices de pressed to ,a point beyond precedent, with the raw mate rial at the present value. In Pieces we do not l earn o f any amendment, and the business done to-day is very similar to that for several weeks past. TRADE Or MANCHESTER, THURSDAY have had another dull and i nact i ve. week, and as some allege, on account of the continued frost ; at all events our dyers are very slack as compared with their late busy engagements. The calico printers, &c., complain heavily. Cloth •is in consequence easier to buy. Twist, oa the contrary, meets brisk sale, and commands very full prices. TRADE OF BARNSLEY.--The linen trade continues steady, with a fair prospect for the Spring trade ; but work is impeded by the continuance of a severe frost, on account of the process of bleaching being obstructed, so that many hands are waiting for want of bleached yarn, which would otherwise be well employed.—Leeds Ale, cu , y. The four blackened walls are now the only remains of :this fine building, if we except the tall cfiimney, used for conveying the smoke from the furnace; and the firemen, at the time we write, are still plying the engines, and pouring water over the now mouldering embers. There is not the slightest chance of any fur ther damage being done.—Liverpool Mercury. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. • FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF SATURDAY. GLOBE.—The recent revelations touching the condi tion of the Spa-fields burial-ground, *revolting as they .are, will yet be viewed with a feeling of satisfaction by those who are aware of the extent to which the health of every.town-population in the kingdom suffers from the to lerated nuisance of inter-mural interment. This is but a .single instance, tied it is no worse, in reality, than hun dreds of others ; but it will probably serve to attract public attention to the general subject ; and, in doing this, will, we believe, remove one of the chief obstacles to an amendment of our pres-nt system of interment. Among those whose attention has been drawn to the sanitary condition of our population, particularly in connexion with the recent Parliamentary inquiries into the causes affecting the health of the in habitants of teems and popular districts. there are probably few who have not been painfully conscious of the vast amount of physical suffering and moral degra dation whiCh is traceable directly to such causes as mere indolence, ignorance, or prejudice on the part of the chief sufferers. r:that men, being breathing animals, need a constant supply of air, must, however vaguely, have been practically recognised as a truth from the days of ' Adam downwards. But that the health or good condi tion of the breathing; body was dependent in any degree upon the purity of the air supplied to it—that the pro cess of respiration was a chemical as well as a mecha nical one—appears to have been left kr the 19th century to discover. For ages men have continued to immerse themselves in collections of foul air, and die at once, or gradually to accumulate it around them, and sicken slowly to the same end, without any definite idea of what they were doing. From the mute astonishment of the won- Mr. WHITE addressed the jury for the prisoner, con tending that the prisfmer had acted under her mistress's orders, without being at all aware of the consequences of the act she was committing. Mr. Justice EILLE summed up, telling the jury that a party in the eye of the law are always taken to intend the consequences which his acts were likely to produce. After a long conversation, the jury returned a verdict of Guilty. The Learned JUDGE remarked, as there were very peculiar circumstances in this case, he should not then pais sentence, but consider as to what judgment he ought to pronounce. INCENDIARY FIRE AT WESTLETON.—About one o'clock on Thursday m orning, some sheds were set on fire at an off-hand farm of Mr. Thomas Capon, at Westle ton, but fortunately were early discovered, or the whole extensive premises must have been reduced to ashes. The inhabitants showed 'praiseworthy - exertions, and pulled down some_ part of the buildings, which was the means of preventing much damage. A shed, a load of hay, two fat hogs, all the fowls, and a quantity of harness and implements, were destroyed; the damage is supposed to be between 50/. and 60/. One or two persons are in custody on suspicion.—Suffulk Chronicle , LYNN.—NOVEL POSITION.—On Monday last, the ferry boat with four passengers, from West Lynn, was set fast in the ice fur nearly two hours. Two boats' crews went off to their assistance, but could not near her ; afterwards a warp from the steam-tug was thrown to the boat, and with which, after great difficulty, it was extricated from the ice. It is certain that for a long series of years, our harbour, during the month of March has never been in such a terrible state as at present.— Norfolh H'en's, March 22. CIVIL SIDE. (Before Mr. Justice COLERIDGE and a Special Jury.) BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE. COMMINS V. WILT ISFORD. This was an action brought by the plaintiff to recover compensation from the defendant for a breach of pro mise of marriage. The defendant pleaded that he did not promise, with a second plea, which amounted in sub stance to a release. Mr. Crowder, Mr. Cockburn, Mr. Butt, and Mr. Col lier, conducted the plaintiff's case; Mr. Sergeant King lake and Mr. Smith appeared for the defendant. The facts proved on the part of the plaintiff were shortly as follow:—Both the parties were natives of Tavistock, in which place the father of the plaintiff officiated as cashier and head clerk in the Tavistock Bank, whilst the defendant's father had for many years practised as an attorney there. Living in the sams country town the young people were of course ac- THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MARCH 3 r24, 1845. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—York, March 20. CROWN COURT.—(Btfore Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN.) Thomas. Birkenshaw was indicted for having, on the 7th of December, at East A r d s l e y, feloniously stolen sixty sovereigns, 109 half-sovereigns, and one note of the value of 51., the property of William Fenton. Mr. Ovcrend and Mr. Pickering appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Wilkins defended the prisoner. The prosecutor, an elderly man with a wooden leg, is a carrier, and ou the day in question went to Dewsbury with his tilted cart, having his son along with him. Fenton took the money with him for the purpose of de positing it in the Dewsbury Bank. B u t h e arr i ve d at the bank too late; and therefore:brought the money back in the cart at night, when the prisoner also was in his company. The prosecutor sat on a low box at the fore part of his cart, keeping the money, which was in a bag, under his thigh. Something being amiss with the har ness, he got over the front of the cart to adjust it, leaving the money where it had been so placed, on the inside of the cart. It was at that time, he said, that his money must. have been taken, as he shortly after wards missed it, and there was no means by which it could have fallen out of the cart by accident, the cart being perfectly close all round, and the top of the box on which the money lay being considerably lower than the board in front. The money was never found. To confirm the case against the man at the bar there were witnesses called who had themselves been several times tried for felony, and were now in gaol undergoing sentences for that crime. One of them had been before tried on a charge of street robbery, and the verdict of the jury was that of guilty, though he escaped on a technical objection. These witnesses detailed at great length the particulars of statements which they had on several occasions heard from the prisoner in the nature of admissions of his guilt. It seemed, from them, that he had been confined in a ward adjoining that in which the witnesses were em ployed at their prison labour, and while they were so engaged the prisoner had several times come to them, entered into conversation respecting the charge against him, and openly related how the robbery was effected ; it had been, he said, taken from the cart by him, and afterwards buried in a field over a hedge, at the depth of a yard under ground. These statements, they said, had been communicated by them to an officer, and hence they were brought as witnesses on the present trial. After the speech of Mr. W inxxxs, in which he cau tioned the jury as to the danger of convicting upon the strength of testimony so little to bo relied on, the jury begged leave to retire. They remained out of Court for several hours, and then returned with a verdict of Acquittal. years, was charged with having, on the 13th September, 1844, thrown stones at, and struck, a boy named Daniel Jones, and that Daniel Jones died on the 14th of Sep tember, and that he (Evan Lloyd) feloniously and with malice aforethought killed Daniel Jones. The prisoner, a little boy with a downcast look, pleaded not guilty. Mr. Chilton, Q.C., and Mr. N. Carrie appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. V. Williams defended the prisoner. Mr. CHILTON, in stating the case to the jury, said that in his long experience he had never had the misfortune to meet with a case in any respect its parallel. The pri soner was a boy of the age of nine years, a son of Thomas Lloyd, of the parish of Llanfihangel-ar-arth. The father of the unfortunate deceased was a labourer, named John Jones, residing in the same parish. The bov who was murdered was a mere infant, three years old, and certainly could have injured no one. That the infant died on the 13th of last September would be placed beyond all doubt, and that he died from the effects of external injuries was equally certain. That these inju ries could not have been inflicted by the deceased him self, and that they were not the result of accident was al:o certain. The child was found in a ditch, with a number of stones lying about him. He had bled pro fusely, and the stones were covered with blood. The jury would have two questions to determine ; first, whe ther the prisoner threw a stone and struek the deceased with it ; and secondly, whether at the time he did so, he had a guilty knowledge that he was doing wrong. Until from circumstances the contrary was made to appear every killing of a fellow creature was accounted by the law to be murder. However, there could scarcely, he would confess, be malice aforethought in a child like the prisoner. Under seven years of age no proof whatever could justify the conviction of a child of felony. Above fourteen a child was subject to the same laws as those of mature age. Between those ages the law said that an infant should be deemed prinal facie incapable of com mitting a crime, unless the contrary should appear. Malice, however, supplied the proof which is requisite, that is the criminal intent. The presumption that the child is incapable may be rebutted by strong and fre quent evidence of its capacity to do a guilty action. There was no proof that the child's body had been hid den in the ditch, but after the child had been missed and a search had been instituted, the prisoner had denied any knowledge of him. Again, while the search for the child was proceeding, and when the people were going in the.direction where the body was afterwards feund, the prisoner told them that that part of the field had already been searched. Mr. CHILTON then proceeded to call witnesses for the prosecution : John Jones—l live at Llanfihangel-ar-arth. I had a little boy named Daniel Jones, who died on the 13th of September, 1844. He was four years old wanting six weeks. I saw him the day before he died on the boun dary hedge between Coedlaney and my place. He was playing with Evan Lloyd. I saw him next between six and seven o'clock that night in my house. I was not in the house when .he was brought in. He was covered with blood. Hannah Davies—l live at Llanfihangel-ar arth. I heard that Jones's child was misting. Between tour and five in the evening I was searching for him. I saw pri soner at the bar at the top of the field called Pan t3bro. I found the child. Pantybro is the field I afterwards found him in. It was a large field's breadth from the place where I found the body that I met the prisoner. I asked him if he saw the little boy of Danywaun. He said " Yes." I asked him where be was playing with him a little before dinner. Where did he go to after wards, I said. He said that he had sent him home. He said that the boy went from him to sit by the side of his father's house. I then went with the people to search. Another woman, named Lydia Davis, saw the child first. I saw her when she found him. The child was found in the field of Pantybro-Gellyvelin. That was divided from the one I met the • prisoner in by a road. He was all over blood.. The blood that was not dry was on the back of his head. It was bleeding then. I saw some stones there. They were white stones ; from 1 fib. to 21b. in weight. I saw about six atones. Some were stained with blood.- The stones were lying by the child's side. Lydia Davis carried him home to his mother. I showed Sarah Thomas the place where the child was found. quainted one with the other, and were in the constant habit of seeing each other. In 1842 Cupid appears first to have made an attack on the gallant defendant —for a gallant gentleman he is, holding the rank of lieutenant in her Majesty's 66th Regiment of Foot. He was then at the very suscaptible age of twenty, and the fair plain tiff, a beautiful girl, at the bewitching age of seventeen. He told " a flattering tale," and told it so well that it found its way to the heart of the fair listener, and awoke corresponding emotions there with those which flowed in his own. The young people loved with all the fond ness and fervour with which young people alone can love. But, alas ! they had fathers, and fathers never will let those interesting matters alone, but are ever dis posed to interfere where their children the least desire their aid or interference. Mr. Commins, the plaintiff's father, was the first to find out the love that had stolen into the heart of his daughter for the gallant defendant ; and feeling assured that the match would not be approved of by the defendant's father, he wrote that gentleman a note, communicating the fact to him. Mr. Willisford, sen., replied to that note, expressing his obligations to Mr. Commins for the handsome manner in which he had acted. An interview then took place between the old gentlemen, the matter was talked over, and both ap peared agreed that the match was not, under all circum stances, a desirable one, and that it was, therefore, to be interdicted. This consultation and its results were communicated to the parties interested, and it was agreed upon between them that the silent love of their hearts must be extinguished. Time passed on, and, living in the same town, they often saw each other. It is easy to Command a heart not to love, but it is often very difficult to get that heart to obey, especially when it is found beating in the breast of a young man of 21, or a girl who has about her all the warmth and fancy of 17. The flame that had only been smouldered for a time, burst out with renewed energy, and as the young people could not meet at the houses of their parents, they enjoyed the deliht of stolen interviews at the house of a married sister of theplaintiff, who with sisterly affection contrived this happiness for them. But a second interruption was made to the lovers' dreams, and from some cause or inter ference, the exact nature of which did not transpire, a fresh separation took place. The disconsolate fair one returned the letters that had breathed of love and devotion to him from whom they had come, and to whom she had given, in all its warmth and purity, her virgin heart and affections. She had deeply felt the first separation which had taken place ; but this second was a blow which bid fair to blanch her damasked cheek, and dull the lustre of her lovely eye. Her health was impaired, to recover which her father, with parental affection, sent her to London for change of air and scene, and kept her there as a parlour boarder for almost a year. In the meantime the defendant had left the place, and gone to join his regi ment, which he entered as an ensign about this time. Some time in 1842 the father of the defendant died, and left the defendant about 4,000/. or 5,0001. After his father's death, the defendant returned fer a time to Ta vistock. He had separated from that maiden who bad awakened all his youthful fire, and at the desire of his deceased parent had promised to give up all pretensions to her love ; but as it appeared the shaft which had been fixed in his heart had never been withdrawn, and his heart was still beating with the warmest emotions of love for the young and beautiful Eliza Ilillyard Commins, the name of the fair plaintiff. He first met her at a party, where it did not appear any communica tion took place between them. A few nights after he again met her at a public ball, where his reserve was broken and his resolution taken that she should be his wife. He employed one of his sisters as Isis mediator, and she confessed her task was not a difficult one. The plaintiff lent a ready ear to the wish the defendant had expressed, and the parties once more stood in the ro mantic and endearing relation of lovers. The defendant at this time called on the plaintiff's father, declared that his affection remained unabated for his daughter, and requested his sanction and permission to renew and continue his addresses. Mr. Commins replied, that the death of the defendant's father had removed the principal obstacle to his consent, and that if his in tentions were pure and honourable he should not ob ject. " But," added he, " remember, there must be no more breaking off the affair, if it is again commenced." The defendant assured him that his intentions were most honourable, that he had resolved on making her his wife, and nothing would ever induce him to forget or forsake his darling Hillyard. On this assurance Mr. Commins gave his consent, and from that time the gal lant soldier was received in the plaintiff's family as her affianced husband. A few days after this the defendant was obliged to quitTavistock to join his regiment. Then began the correspondence, extracts of which were read to the Court, and which convulsed all present with laughter. So hotly did the love of the gallant son of Mars burn at this time, that he could not proceed fur ther than Exeter, before he found it necessary to ease his over-charged heart by writing to his lady-love, from whose arms he had just been torn away. He commenced his letter, "My dearest ever-devoted Hillyard." He then went on to depict the misery he had suffered from the moment he had been torn from ber, and declared that he had been crying almost every moment since. A thousand loves and angels, dears and darlings, followed, with a conclusion vowing eternal love and fidelity. The next dayj the valiant ensign had got as far as Bristol. Distance bad only increased his passion, and rendered his misery more acute. He sat down and wrote another letter. This commenced, "My dearest dear, dear, dear, dearest dear;" and then, attempting to declare the effect of his anguish, he declared it had so operated on him that he had hardly a bit of hair left on his head. Al though he had thus in his anguish made himself bald, it was necessary that he should proceed, and the next letter was dated from Birmingham, where at that time his regiment was lying. The correspondence continued, and one might judge by the number of " dears" " sweets," " angels," " pet s ," an d " darlings," , the love of the valiant ensign by no means decreased. On one occasion he so far forgot his fair correspondent as to write a word or two about himself. He writes thus : " You don't think it, but I assure you the ladies fall very much in love with me. You may think me an ugly fel low, but I am not so bad neither when rigged out in a black coat, white waistcoat, an d w hi te • look as neat as a parson, and as modest as a judge, and am very much the thing I assure Y o u."—(Here ther e were roars of laughter, in which the Learned Judge himself was compelled to join.) At last the defendant wrote to say that he gained his lieutenantcy without purchase, and that he longed to have his beloved with him, and that she must fix a day for their wedding. The answer was not read, but at no great distance of time from this he once more came to Tavistock. The happy day was fixed, dresses were made, the bridesmaid chosen, friends In vited, cakes prepared. together with all the usual para phernalia of a wedding—when, lo and behold ! the false son of Mars sought an interview with the plaintiff's father, and informed him that he had found, from ha com municatinghismewanitsh brother , whoiusldnotbe so who lived i n T av i s t oc k, good as he expected ; and he therefore thought it was no use to marry. The father expostulated, but in vain ; he had made up his mind, and would not change. Un der these circumstances the plaintiff had gone into Court to seek that compensa tion for h: r wounded and insulted feelings which the jury should determine her to be entitled to. Mr. Sergeant KINGLARE addressed the jury for the defendant, contending that what he had done was an act of prudence, for which the plaintiff would have great , therefor e , oug h t not to b e Mr. Justice COLERIDGE summ e d up. cause vsi t visited d t o w rejoice,th heavy and which., damageshi c.h The jury then requested permission to leave the Conrt. This they did, and were absent a considerable time. On their return they gave their verdict for the plaintiff— Damages 700 t CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice ERLE.) Samuel Haydon was indicted for th e murder of his in fant daughter, Mary Hayden, by g i v i ng her a quantity of hartshorn. Mr. Tyrrell and Mr. Kekewich prosecuted ; the pri soner was defended by Mr. Cox. It appeared that the prisoner had lived at Bradninch, in this county, and that in February last h e h a d l os t hi s wife in giving birth to the child whom, by the indictment on which he was arraigned, he was charged to have mur dered. The wife died about eleven days after the birth of the child. He then made arrangements with his wife's sister to take and keep the child, for which he was to pay her 2s. 3d. per week. In consequence of this, she took the child to her house, and commenced the duties of a foster-mother to it, and up to the day of its death the poor little thing appeared in good health. On the 17th of February the prisoner's wife was buried. He had been ill for some little time, and had kept his bed. He ex• pressed a hope that his sister-in-law, who was coming to the funeral, would bring his child with her, as he said he very much wished to have her with him whilst they were burying his wife. The child was brought and carried to the prisoner, who was in bed. There it was left whilst its foster-mother went down stairs and saw the funeral depart. On her again taking the child she perceived that its little mouth was very much swollen, and found that it refused the breast. She mentioned this to the prisoner, who did not say that he had given it anything, but remarked that it had appeared to suck with difficulty before. The child continued to moan, and appeared to grow worse and worse. The woman took it to the house of a medical man, whom she did not find at home, and consequently she carried the child back to her own house, without any medical advice. At four o'clock that morn ing the child was aeorpse. Suspicions were awakened. An examination of the child took place, when the cause of its death was discovered to be some irritant poison, which had most dreadfully burnt and excoriated its south and throat, from the effects of which it died. Evidence was given that the father had, a few days before, purchased a pennyworth of hartshorn, and a constable, on searching his room, found concealed in a hole in the floor of the room in which he slept a bottle, which, it was proved, was the one in which the hartshorn bad been fetched. The prisOner had been taken up and ex amined before the Coroner. When in custody he had gated to the constable and the foreman of the Coroner's jury that the child was crying and appeared ill, th a t h e bad been taking some hartshorn himself immediately before, which had done him a great deal of good, and that thinking it would benefit the child, he had given it about half a teaspoonful ; that he had no idea it would injure it, or he should not have given it, and that he should not have given it at all, had he not been in such distress of mind as not to know what he was about. Medical men had stated that they had no doubt the child had died from*.taking the hartshorn, which was a poison if administered by itself and undiluted with water. But they had never known a person killed by hartshorn before; and it was constantly taken Mixed in water by the peasants in that neighbourhood as a very wholesome medicine. It was proved by another witness that the prisoner had, as he stated, taken some in water a few days before. Mr. Cox addressed the jury for the prisoner. Mr. Justice ERLE summed up, pointing out the rattily circumstances in the case which tended to throw a doubt on the guilt of the prisoner. After a short consultation, the jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty. Cross-examined by Mr. V. WILLIAMS—The field where I spoke to the prisoner was adjoining the field where the body was found, only divided by a lane. By the COURT—I found the child about seven o'clock. Sarah Thomas—l live at Highgate, in the parish of Llanfihangel-ar-arth. I was near the prisoner's father's house on the 13th of September, reaping. I met the prisoner at the bar about half-past six—he was coming out of the field in which the child was found who had received the injury ; it is called Pentybro-Gellyveliu. He was coming out over the stones which filled the gap. There was no gate. I asked him if he had seen the child that was missing.. He said " No, I did not." Hannah Davies showed me the spot where the child was found next morning. That was within sight from where I saw prisoner coming over the stones, about ten yards. I met some people looking for the child. Cross-examined—l did not know how far it was from the gap. She told me ten yards. I showed William Williams where I. stood, and where the prisoner came out of the gap. It was here.stated by Mr. Chilton that h e wou ld t a k e his Lordship' s opinion as to whether the statements of the prisoner to a policeman could be received as evidence. His LORDSHIP said that it appeared by the deposition that the first statement made by the prisoner was to the policeman, and he told the prisoner that it would be better for him to tell the truth. Under these circum stances, the admission or confession could not be re ceived. Mr. CHILTON said that he had no further evidence to offer, and he would therefore decline proceeding to the jury.. his LORDSHIP then directed the jury to acquit the prisoner, and the boy was then ordered to be handed over to his parents. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. GUILDHALL.' William Boggriss, aged 35, a respectably dressed person, was charged with obtaining from Messrs. Ranken and Co. of Honey-lane-m ar k e t, a quant i ty o f d amas k , value 5/. 10s., in the name of Messrs. Cowper and Co., of St. Paul's Churchyard, and afterwards disposing of the same without authority. Mr. William Husband, a salesman, in the employ of Ranken and Co., proved that, on Thursday- last, the pri soner obtained three packages, containing a dozen and a half of table-cloths, of the value of 51. 10s., which were delivered to him by witness. Knowing .that he had pre viously obtained goods for Cowper and Co., the invoice was made out in the name of that firm by a fellow clerk named Young, Mr. H. Nash, 'of the firm of Cowper, and Co., St. Paul's Churchyard, stated that the prisoner had been in their employ as warehouseman for upwards of seven years. On Thursday last a " corrected" invoice of the above goods was sent from Messrs. Ranken and Co., with a request that the one given to the prisoner might be re turned. The prisoner immediately said that the goods were fur himself, but witness's suspicions being aroused he proceeded to R inken and Co.'s warehouse, where he was informed that the prisoner had obtained the goods, whereupon the latter said he had purchased them for Mr. Kidd, of Tottenham-court-road, who paid him 3/. 12s. for them. Mr. Andrew. Kidd, of 120, Tottenham -court-road, was then sworn. Alderman FAREBROTHER thought it proper to caution him against saying anything which might in the slight est degree criminate himself, as it was proved he had purchased the goods at an extraordinary low price. Mr. Kidd 'said he wished to tell all he knew of the transaction. When the prisoner brought the goods to his shop he stated that they belonged to his cousin, who lived in Essex, and he wished to dispose of them, as he was short of money. The goods were purchased for 3/. 128. At the request of the solicitor who appeared on behalf of the prosecution, the prisoner was remanded until Saturday, when it is expected several other charges of a like nature will be brought forward against him. BO W-STREET. Two men, named Boyd and Phillips, were charged with having in their possession a quantity of cambric handkerchiefs, alleged to have bet n smuggled. It appeared from the evidence of a person named Palmer, who described himself as a captain on half-pay, that he met the prisoner Phillips in Holborn, and in consequence of certain representations made by him, he was induced to accompany him to a public-house in that neighbourhood, where he found the other prisoner Boyd. That some cambric handkerchiefs were then produced, which the prisoners represented to be of foreign manu facture, and which witness was ultimately induced to purchase at the price of one sovereign, but afterwards, having reason to suspect that he had been imposed upon, he made an excuse to leave the room, to which he after wards returned with a policeman, and gave the prisoners into his custody. The prisoners, in order to convince him that the articles were of foreign manufacture, gave him a foreign bill of parcels for them, which they told him he might keep for his own satisfaction. Mr. Bayley, an officer of the Customs, attended, and he stated that he had examined the articles, which were undoubtedly of British manufacture. He then called the attentiin of the Court to the Act of Parliament, which stated that no person was justified in giving, any party into custody for an offence of this description, unless he was expressly authorised so to do by the Commissioners of her Majesty's Customs. Mr. JARDINE, on reference to the Act, found that officers on full pay of her Majesty's army, navy, or marine, had power to detain goods of this description, in whatever possession they might find them, but all other persons detecting an offence of the kind must proceed by information, and subsequent summons, or in the Court of Exchequer. Mr. Bayley said he did not know anything of the pro. secutor in the present case, and at all events he had not the authority of the officer of Customs to give the pri soners into custody. Mr. JARDINE said that under these circumstances the prisoners could not be detained, and he ordered them to be immediately discharged. MA BLBOR- OUGH-STI?EET. Margaret Dobson, an Irishwoman' living at No. 23, Crown-street, Soho, w as br oug h t before Mr. Hardwick, charged with stealing an infant four months old, and its clothing. When the prisoner was put to the bar, she had an infant i❑ her arms. She hugged it and caressed it, evi dently with the intention of attracting notice towards her extraordinary exhibition of fondness, and when the real mother made her appearance she called out, " You're the woman that wants my dear baby, but you'll not get it ; you'll get my life first." Caroline Swan, when sworn, said she was a brush maker, living at No. 11, Playhouse-yard, Whitecross street, and she got her living by going about the streets selling her goods. On the 15th of last February she was out selling her goods, when she " put in" at the Spot ted Dog public-hbuse, Goodge-street, Tottenham court - Carmarthen, March 20. MURDER DY A BOY.—Evan Lloyd, a boy aged nine road, to refresh herself with half a pint of ale. While drinking the ale the prisoner came and sat alongside of her, and began as ki ng some quest i ons a b out th child. The prisoner looked at the child, and said it was a very pretty boy, and then she told witness she was wait ing for her sister, who was about to leave her place, at No. 15, London- street, Fitzroy-square. The prisoner asked her to ca: ry a message for her to her sister's, to say she (the prisoner) was waiting for her. The prisoner said it would appear strange to take a baby to a respectable hotere, especially as the lady was very particular, and, therefore, she begged complainant to leave the baby with her. The prisoner then took the infant, and complainant went to London-street. She had not been away more than two minutes, wken she found, on her return, that the prisoner had gone and taken the baby with her. Complainant made search end inquiry, but could hear no tidings of the prisoner until last Wednesday night, when she met the pi isoner accidentally near St. Giles's Church. She had only seen the prisoner once before, but recognised her imme diately, and the prisoner also knew her again, for she instantly ran off towards Crown-street. Complainant pursued her and said, "You wretch, you stole my baby." The prisoner struggled to get away, and asked her what she wanted with her. Complainant called " police," but no assistance came, and the prisoner broke away from her and made her escape. Complainant at last as certained who she was and where she lived, and went with the constable to No. 23, Crown-street, and on going upstairs and knockinzat the door of a back room, the prisoner opened it, but on seeing complainant imme diately shut the door in her face. Complainant got into the room, and saw her baby on the bed. Mr. Hannwsex—Were any clothes found in the pri soner's room by which the infant can be more com pletely identified ?—Police-constable E 102 found a child's shirt and bed-gown, which be now produced. . The complainant said these articles were part of the infant's clothing when the baby was stolen from her. The constable further stated that when the prisoner was accused of stealing the baby the protested it was her °sin child, and that she had been delivered of it in the house of a woman named Sullivan, living in Upper Gren. ville-street, Somers-town. Mr. HARDWICK (to the prisoner)—Where were you ,confined, and when ? Prisoner—l went on the 14th of February to be confined at my • friend's place ; they wanted me to go into St. Giles's Workhouse, but I would not, and so I was confined. Mr. HARDWICK—Then you were confined at this woman's house ? Prisoner—No ; I was confined in the street near the church. • Mr. HARDWICK—Where did you take the baby? Pri soner— To Mrs. Sullivan's, and I stopped there some days. A woman, named Sullivan, was called. She said she recollected the prisoner, coming to her about ni ne c ' c l oc k one night in the m iddl e of last February. She had a child with her, and she appeared very poorly. The child had a cap and clothing on. It appeared dre-sed as infants gerrerally. are. The prisoner was carrying the child, and walking without assistance. The chief clerk (Mr. Fitzpatrick) told the gaoler to bring the infant to him, to give him an opportunity of judging of its age. The prisoner banded him the child, which was immediately given to its real mother. The prisoner, seeing this. said, " Won't I get back my baby ? then see how I'll die ;" at the same time setting up a sort of a prolonged' cry, known as an " Irish howl," until lodged in the lock-up cell. In addition to the evidence, the infant's clothes found in the prisoner's room, and the identification of the in fant by its own mother, the constable found the dress worn by the prison when she stole the child, in her room, of which dress the complainant had given a de scription when she mentioned the loss of her child. The prisoner was fully committed. CR 0 YD ON. Mr. Richard Messenger, a pawnbroker at Croydon, was charged, upon information laid by Mr. Charles Leigh' Hoskins Master, the Chairman of the Godstone Board of • Guardians, with having taken certain erticlei on pledge from one ' lames Herriett, and with having neglected to make a proper entry of the transaction in his book, and also neglecting to make the proper inquiries of the person who pledged the property as to whether he was a lodger -or housekeeper ; and likewise with-neglecting to place the letter L. for the former, or H. for the latter description of the person, upon the ticket. Mr. Richards attended on behalf of the Board of Guardians of the G'odstone Union, by whym the pro ceeding was instituted, and Mr. R. Russell appeared for the defendant. It appeared that some time in March of last year a Man named James Ilerriett, who was at the time an in mate of the Godstone Union . Workhduse, absconded with some blankets and other articles, the property of the guardians. Inquiry was set on foot, and it was at length ascertained that Herriett had pledged the stolen articles at Mr. Messenger's, and upon his being appre hended Mr. Messenger was requested to attend and give evidence. He at first did not do so, but on the se cond examination he attended and produced a duplicate, Which, upon being examined by the officers of the union, did not appear to them to be in conformity with the re. quirements of the Act of Parliament ; they, therefore, directed the present proceeding to be adopted. Mr. RlOhards observed, in opening the case to the bench, that it was very important ,for the public that pawn brokers should be compelled to act up to the letter of the Act of Parliament, and comply with all those regula tions which were necessary to prevent facilities being given for the disposal of stolen property. James Herriett, the prisoner alluded to in the infor mation, and who stated- that he had come from the county gaol, where he was undergoing a sentence of im prisonment for unlawfully disposing of the articles in question, was examined as a witness, and deposed that on the 21st.of March, 1844, he pawned two blankets at the defendant's shop for 45., andahe name he gave was James Strep. He add, d, tat he did not recollect that Mr. Messenger asked him any questions as to whether he was a housekeeper or a lodger; but he said that all he did was to give him a ticket and 4s. That ticket he had since destroyed. • Some discussion here took place as to whether parole evidence could be given *of what appeared upon the du plicate produced by the defendant before the bench at Godstone, and at length Mr. Ruisell said that to save trouble 'upon the point, Mr. Messenger was ready to produce his book, and also the duplicate. -Mr. Messenger accordingly produced a duplicate, and a book containing entries of pledges made in the month in question. The duplicate and the entry appeared to be both in the proper form, but Gower, the master of the workhouse, who had• been summoned as a witness, ex pressed his opinion that the duplicate now produced was not the sense that was brought to Godstone. Mr. Messenger requested the witness *Gower to be cautious in what he stated, for ulterior proceedings would certainly ,be taken if he stated what was fal-e. Mr. LUCAS told the witness that he was throwing a very serious imputation - upon Mr. Messenger, and he requested him to look at the duplicate again carefully, and then say whether he persisted in his former state ment,. Gewer having done so, declared his belief to be that the duplicate now produced was entirely different from the one he formerly saw in Mr. Messenger's possession. Mr. Russell then addressed the Bench and submitted that the charge against the defendant had altogether failed in proof. Ile said that Mr. Messenger had been long known in the town as a most respectable tradesman, and far from his ever having given any facility in the disposing of stolen property, he could, if it were neces sary, show by the evidence of the police that he had on several occasions given them• valuable information and assistance to discover offenders. The Magistrates, after-a very short deliberation, ex pressed their opinion that the evidence was not sufficien - . to support any of the charges against the defendant, and :he information must therefore be dismissed. THE CONVICT TAWELL. AYLESBURY, SATURDAY.—The unfortunate Tawell is said to be somewhat more composed and resigned to his fate to-day than he has hitherto been. The authorities of the gaol are as close as possible in regard to him, and it is therefore with much difficulty that any inform. ation can be obtained. He continues to be supplied with dinner from the White Hart in the same way as he used to be previously to the trial. It is remarked by some, that this indulgence to him is such as most pro bably would not have been granted to a poorer man if he was placed in the same position ; at least, such has never been the case before. As it is, however, near nine years since any one has been executed at Aylesbury, and then, perhaps, the party under sentence might not have been enabled to pay for a dinner sent to him from an inn in the town, it is just possible that this inference may be unpist. It is expected that his wife will pay him another visit on Monday. She is in a dreadfully depressed state, and seems even now to be thoroughly impressed with a conviction of his innocence. A petition has been got up in the town, to be presented to the Secretary of State, praying that the sentence may be transmuted to transportation for life. The petition, however,goes more upon the general principle of the impolicy of capital punishments than upon any assumed probability of the verdict of the jury in Tawell's case not being strictly in accordance with the truth. The petition has been signed by about 120 persons ; amongst these are the names of one Baptist minister (the only clergyman who has signed it), and the foreman of the jurywho found him guilty. In the town there ap pears to be a very general aversion to capital punish ments ; and many even who do not go so far as to say that capital punishments ought in all cases to be abo lished, appear to think that executions ought not to be public. It is said that on Friday next, when it is fully expected that the execution will take place, the shops will be closed. The general impression as to the guilt of the unhappy man appears to increase. The more calmly all parties are enabled to think upon the subject, the more fully do they seem convinced that the verdict of the jury is a proper one. Within the last few days a circumstance has come to light which would have been of material importance on the trial, and which now has the effect of corroborating the impression of his guilt. It is stated that in the omnibus, in which it will be recollected lie travelled a short way after he had left the deceased, Sarah Hart, an empty bottle was found, having a label on it marked "Scheele's Prussic Acid." This was found by the conductor, but some of Tawell's friends got intelligence of the fact, and through their in fluence, backed, perhaps, with "substantial reasons," it was kept " dark until the trial was over. It is supposed that the unfortunate man must, in his confusion, have dropped this in the omnibus. Although the Quakers have expelled him from the society, yet, with a strange inconsistency, many of their body continue to visit him. Many religious tracts have also been. forwarded to him by them, which, it is said, he, reads with the greatest attention. The part of his con duct, since his conviction, which is considered to be the most strange and unaccountable is the fact that he never makes any allusion to the awful crime of which he has been found guilty. Many, from this, are inclined to draw conclusions unfavourable to him ; and it also tends to strengthen the conjecture that he will not make, any con-, le ssion. " • THE CONDEMNED CON I TAPPING. FINAL INTERVIEW WITH HIS RELA I All hope of s av i ng th e lif e o f t hi s wretc hed has been set at rest by the r e ply o f the Seer , l State, Sir James Graham, to the petitions forol him to be presented to her Majesty. iin , According to . p rev i ous d es i re, S atur d ay W as for his final interview with his relatives, and — ' , o ing, as certai n ly suc h event m i g h t appear --eetT e l t , that the parting took place in a manner prising, as far as regards their deliberate se," r sister, Lion. At no on , his who is a very plesil behaved girl, a b ou t s i xteen years o f age, 'ibr: younger brothers and sisters, and an elder visited him in his condemned cell, which ciree,le afforded him m uc h conso l at i on. H e appeared d' 1e tached to the younger branches—very so ; bee t quently kissed them. Hi s sis t er b egge d that t pi confess to his sins, assuring him that such a 5 e , ( V , the only sure means of gaining that wer e l r ld, could not be sh own t o hi m i n t hi s sf e° l P replied, " What am I to confess ? Surely not die with a lie in my mouth. She and so shall I be ; and God Almighty w ". , know I cannot confess more than what I have. bid was his general replies ; and, after being about an hour, they bade him adieu—a most 1 11 ' e- 14 g adieu—of thi s wor ld ; an d, w i t h an extrao rdina possession that marked the whole party, thi s in ended, and the re l a ti ves l e f t t h e pr i son. 0 if/ The prEsent . destitut e s t a t e o f t h e cu lp r it's h' ill „b s cl excited a feelin g of' much commiserati u n, and a s " t o tion has been s e t on f oo t amongst t h e trad es ifer ite Bethnal-green to i n some way a ll ev i ate t heir 5 1 1 bi l /1 They arc left fatherless and motherless ; 611 ' 4 , 3 4 Tapping may have been considered, yet ben o . s- 4fr . them, with a little assistance of, his sister, for bt years. They are at present in the receipt O,OOIOIJ and sixpence out-door relief from Sr. Matthew's, Bb Jet green, and, unl ess some b en e vo l ent han d stretc' efe ri in their behalf, th e i r su ff er i ngs f romwant h eo s tie l felt. They live in a narrow court, in M an cheste r Bethnal-green, a n d e ith er o f t h e gua rdi ans of ,„ p oe, or the vetry clerk of the parish, or even tbe u r e yi W g we are sure, receive any amount towards r"' e condition. THE CONDEMNED SERMON. o .* Yestt relay, tLe unfortunate man James Tall',7 t r' stands condemned for the mu r d er o f E mm a Bethnal green, heard the condemned sermon 1 , 1 :0 chapel of Newgate. The Rev. Mr. Davis, char the ft° A g t a garter past ten o'clock, at which time t h°9 o l. f-- o' were favoured With cards by the Sheriffs were - 0 0' a number of applicants, not having the neceisarY t oy were refused ; and among these, the unforttlea te et brother was one of th e mos t pert i nac i ous . He 1:° indignant r e m onstrance f rom t h e wor thy g °,. ' 3O lO Mr. Cope, on th e i n d e li cacy o f hi s reques t to sit spectator of his wretched relation's demeanour. sst) A considtrable number of those who did P 2s st il gateway were femalss ; a ti d ce r t a i n l- the taste ° l i ed a very morbid on e , indeed, which could haol,lloo them to lay aside the delicacy of th e ir sex ie th e cation of an unfeminine curiosity: w e ' The Sheriff and o n e or t wo of the Aldertne ut present at the service. 0 oc ' Shortly before' eleven the prisoner Tapping ftY r duced. He was sho r tly f o ll owe d by Thomasfl enrf o rsq and they were accommodated with chairs" placed . , ge from the rest of the a u di ence , an d ' on oppes' te ,"o3l, the room. They were, however, facing the Tapping seemed stouter than when last seen at olu, Bailey. His ma nner was grave and resigne d ' t , pg l 2 l evidently paid the d ee p es t a tt e n t i on to t h e differ s 'witer, of the beautiful Ch urc h service. Occasionally the sultject of the lessen seemed applicable to b e., painful situation, h e covere d hi s f ace w ith 11 ' 9 f r u flocker exhibited the same callous i n differee! es has marked his manner a ll along. He s onietim b ic a furtive glance at .the other prisoner, as if W 1 6,. observe with what spirit he bore his peculial and until the servi ce c o mmence d hi s - eyes wein e ,„it tee the general body of the pri so n ers w h o we re Perw - - be present. Tapping made the responses in an under tel t , 03 ., Hockey made them in a voice firm and ani ll iF during the service of the communion, when ET.,, e „ P' c i) man rehearsed the Commandments, at the " tit " thou shalt do no murder," while T a pping IP t ir , response, }locker, in a voice easily heard ° A to e° chapel, replied, " Lord have mercy upon us, W i n our hearts to keep this law 1" After the morning service had b een reedy . 0 7 the 410,; 4 1 lain preached f rom th e 4th verse o f t h e 130th A — der „ " For there is' forgiveness with thee, that thou be found." „ The preacher, after adverting to the fauti e of man, and instancing the cases of several of t,, tv,, wise and holy of the ScriptUre worthies, to s'lw, e P t y they and all had need of pardon and indulge t*,:oP e tbk ceeded to state, that though earthly judges were let • I l e error, and often capricious in their decisions,' o dt ;tr One Judge ahove, supreme over all, the infinite. f immutable, would deal mercifully with the 0 /4 3 ,,W f , of sinners, if he but came before his throne wit "di °, trite and a humbled spirit. There had been . 11e 0 st te fered an all-atoning sacrifice, the blood of ha” to r loved Son, and through him there was . forgiv' found for the meanest of his creatures. But It e es cer j hardened in his, iniquity, might not hope t°,, t There was no hope that at that bar there c ot"" r t : escape, from any informality or, irregularity i a P i t dure. His guilt would be clear as noonday, rin s „ r escr e i nishment would be certain and eternal. Tiv r o e then:refeired to the spirit of the English law - .fie to gratuitous confession on the part of t'ee Colf er Clergymen were liable to be called into e.f eli ta there to reveal what might have been told to. tlo o lro ° „, the seal of confidence. They were, then ir e ' ee ttlf, obliged to address prisoners in the first i , asie n ole s , " The less you say to us the . better f lir 3 is ,4 5,? and. therefore, keep us hi ignorance." Was not iotttef tern quite opposed to the principle of the. S e , f a i` o re 4 „ Oh, that men of judgment, • that the 1 ee' ho d ui, , their country would think of these things. id e b , voted much time, and care, and attention, 4 0 h t is eal e j dation of every fact connected with the pain: ~t e rot i o the unfortunate young man more immediat 1 ,1 the t oi s in the proceedings of that day, anti it appceir e brofiL t had been most kind and gentle to _his youiste, r o) .-- 1 P" o t 1 - , --that his labour had been given to support a s it . 1) 0 in fact, he had been as a father to theme;; 1 ,0 singular, then, that he should stand tb' e . re- , of t o if kind and so gentle, charged -with a ctit° evil, r , enormous magnitude? The problem w,";, solved. Unfortunately; neither he nor , 14 ,; re s$i?", tunate victim had had any religious ii n t' cu lar f o p She had been in the habit of using certain A t oll pressions calculated to raise in a j e alous ittZOsfs e , doubts Of her constancy ; an d o th er parties'be" i i those diff,rences more, by penning the ine st oil se ; insinuations under th e cowar dly an d the 1211) , btes tb curity of an anonymous signat ure . What low,hicl l :4 result ? I-at that dread judgment, before " a 1 1 0'I must appear, that sin,' if. unrepented, must b e f t he t! f i ;, that to answer for. . He found tt the morals i ° fortunate young man had been. con t a minate operation of two causes ; fi rs t, the beer-shoP s , , 7 1 .- he 1 0 places of nightly resort, dens of infamy vati c f r og; c l the young female used to visit ; stud, seconclii 0 06 society of the prison inmates with whom W e ffee', o laws of his, country had before cast his let• been three times before the judges of his conn 1000; acquitted, the, second. time committed for ihreedher co t o and the third time sentenced to di e . The prer,te,.,t s o eluded by a powerful exh or t a ti on t o those pi - es% 0 , walk in the truth that their end might not t l i ;, e re t e r : The prisoners then left, a n d as so on as they t he F ee conducted to their cells, the remaining part at sons present were dismissed. it o EXECUTION AT READI o .h 8 The wretched man, Thomas Jennings, suff,eiw nd — of ' 4reme penalty of the law on S a turday, in " -.4)-- new gaol, Reading. d be; It will be remembered th a t th e criminal - held fore Mr. Baron Platt, at the Berkshire assizes , rdet • the above place, on the 3d i ns t , for the wilful /1111 tbs his daughter, at the villa ge o f Thatcham. ice d At an early hour the Rev. Chaplain fi g 5 0 11- wretched man, and remained w ith him until the Is in atl meat of his earthly career. Preoholy at foul' of past twelve o'clock the prison bell commencedtt ° o that time the whole of the vacant ground frotn A ;0 1 ;1 to the front of th e railway, nearly two huadrrf WO a , was literally studded with human beings, maltt d loce, f) ,l ) had been waiting many hours to witness the Ww . , " o , Mr. Mitchell, superintendent of the Reading alit O gli fi ; Mr. Collard, chief inspector, and several of Ifs" pany's officers, were required to keep the crowrepor getting upon the line. Owing to the admire Ref, Sef r Lions made by Mr. Will a t s , th e M a yor, who I r n ot be ro ber of barriers erected in the Forbury, we clie that a single accident o c curred, although £ llO I f oto was very great. &VA° About five minutes past twelve o'clock O MI Tby procession reached t h e top of the gallows, l eu n ner chaplain, who read in a most impressive 1 : 1 °010, 10 burial service, the wretched maa, Jennings' 0 0 " with his eyes t urne d h eavenwar ds, but we vre r :„ i rett A to hear whether or no t h e res p o nded to the PTh O lior -111 s In the course of a f ew m i nu t e s all the pr e a n d The by being finished, the fat a l b o lt was drawn a„„ bifire wretched man was sent hence into eternity all' ~,Lten having hung the usu a l ti me was cut down, side the gaol. .--------;---- BIRTHS. On the 18th inst., a t Fi ns b ur y-square, Mrs. James foillf"' .I,i of a daughter. e lacli On the 15th inst., at Tartaiagham RectorY,th f the Hon. and Rev. Francis Clements, of aslaughter. E s q., 0f . On the 18th inst., the lady of Edward Peters, P peoc, Madras Civil Service, of a daughter. ...., ,„ner. • On the 18th inst., at Cumberland-terrace, WE,- the wife of G. Rainy, Esq., of a son. cii , ° 1.1 ba r g ij lEli. On the 21st inst., at 18, Great Stuart-street, E Ilea Alexander Blackwood, E sq . gr. S tep On the 15th inst., Eliz a b e th, re li c t of the late si x , Dando Cheapside, agedw ife Of the On the 17th inst., at Cheltenham, Emily, Leopold E. Dryden, Vicar of Whitnash, War wicl: - 11. .06 On the 18th inst., at Halste a d, K en t, Mrs. Ad,!T r iet oi/ On the 18th inst., at Chippi ng N or ton, Mrs Oa" - .., s ie (formerly Downing), aged 67. veer" On the 19th inst., Elizabeth, th e w ife of the B ev * ! A O - Puckle. Rector of Graffham, Hunts. , r of t ile On the 19th inst. at Rochester, Ann, daughter itifo John and Mary Coil, of Booth •street, Spit altield s lbeln'or 0110lyndtaltzgie 1119tethr o i f ns C t ga l r n le e s 110ellearllegyu,arLq:aort.ehl 2°16b1e'04,, debar, aged 21. o soe , White inst., ,ioAnn. Lion -street, the e et, sp wife it a l_ Clarkesciva re Duch-- _"; surgeon, On th e o f l9 l I t ' h h i i .../ f %T o_ istht;' , L3n6)n: P r i n t e d and Pv.bl , shed by MUR -D ?Ti c e, - Nro, „aopf No. 112, St ran d , P rinter, at The SW , „ Strand, in the PreciMet of the Savoy, in the Middlesex, Monday, March 24, 1845. - ;REIT A jLI D _ from tli 'LEEN Ll] Capi t44l4.iktotitltt i a e l : t sou o : ri iii a c tae ( I I 11 erta et ut e, will tit;, ‘ ;‘ l, Posit t ea m of all to.. ilui to a 7 1 'ed for , ~it h virus, li., B e d ' 4B ' E 11 v , lt, r 4 „ ourig, bt r , nat-s kl ar ' e t' IV" in ,41,%e(1, :t . i z: 2 ...... t1ii roro_ n • 1 1 0 court, ? i e :bur ne 4 , 'Maur trkle,„. 41, erde e , the orG.einlem i herri e : a i e -44signitl Dated .............._2t_ 1 1° T r e , f " , t h .2est th (11 ' Pitt bedui Bra