The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-03-22 00:00:00

TAXATION. THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL —The repeal of taxes is at present a fa e public, and there are few of the multitude resented to Parliament, that do not include eal of some one or more of the sources of hout reference to the national engagements ;ed. ie existing taxes, considered more or less n houses and windows are among the most re represented as being unequal in their Live on the middle classes; it therefore inquire, and give consideration to the pr , their repeal. ?ty, as subject to taxation, may be conside ree distinct classes, all differently affected ;—first, the wealthy, or such as are indel -next, the middle class, whose fortunes are mpt them from either bodily or mental - the working class, who depend wholly on tbt for their support. I think it must be admi Lnd window taxes are so framed as to fall t of these classes,—heavily on the second, , and then only in a very slight degree, iddle class, therefore, almost every where ustice they suffer from unequal contribution. principle of taxation is considered to be fr I protection received proportionably by the ed. The revenue is understood to be eq: Lion to the means of each contributor, and to for the benefit of the whole. Let us col ects the house and window taxes, this princ portion of society which is occupied in whose means are moderate, and property .esides in towns or villages, where the hous, those who occupy them ;—the rents paid ion to the cost of building them, and as e in number, the scale of taxation rapidly he other band, the expensive and splendid d' filthy are their own property, built for corder' ratification, without regard to cost; th e y a re to be let for rent when not required for the re' rners, and when so let, it is ou such low ternli to their cost. A tradesman's house, which hundred pounds, will rent for £so;—it is tasc rent, at the same per centage with the dwelliD hich, not being rented, are valued for taxati o ion to their cost of ten or twenty thousand po' low valuations, such, as it is alleged, and il l ' le fact, they would only brin g if ren t e d , pet , ' Ina). Thus, the house that costs £BOO, rent' Bd. tax ; the mansion costs £20,000, valued at' ster the cost, the lower the rental,) pays £l-I'. :cale under which the tax on windows is laid unequal in its application and pressure ; it in' : en point, within which the dwellings of the are placed, and rises in a diminished degree ai to the mansions of the rich, until it reacY Then it ceases altogether. 45 windows pay 0 pays £46 Ils. 3d., whereas, if the proport se rate would be £63 75., whilst any given hig .ot subject to additional tax. L these facts it appears that the industry of taxed more heavily than the property of the ciple of taxation applies to him in a lower the sources of his expenditure are within b . •operty he may possess, generally personal, lily removed, and standing less in need of real estates of the higher classes that cannot 21 which their incomes and influence are draw ' nequality and injustice of these taxes apt' and also of a nature not to admit of equal' 5e tax the rule adopted is the rate of rent, the b kiddie classes, being built for profit, are reD lose of the rich, built for pleasure, and into) sole occupation, are, for the reasons I have ble of being brought within the just applicati se window tax may be less objectionable o u t tale might be amended, so as to ascend in th e any given number; but in that case the Ares' 'indoors to be closed up, or houses left un o ` eal of both taxes seems, therefore, to be well ;ideration of Parliament, as unsound in pri n application. taxes produce a revenue of above two milli heir repeal would cause a deficiency that cowl' l by substituting some other of a less objectio which in these times is not a matter of light L property tax has many advocates; it coil if applied to income, and to be equally so, e profits of all capital employed in c o ming aufacture, as well as the fruits of professiona l the rates levied on these sources might, icertain nature, be placed on a lower scale t' from real property, the public funds, annuil a. others of a more certain c h ar a c t er , s et, st i s classes would feel them heavily, whilst their uisitorial operation, calling often for discll tions of the most painful nature, would l e ad .1 and frequent frauds for the purpose o f e a Lid thus hold out, as it were, a premium for f i .fore, appears to be alike impolitic, impracll g to the feelings of Englishmen, to raise a pe f/ rom a tax on income. Lion on consumption is certainly less felt by the community at large, being more wi perceptibly levied; all classes being su bject n proportion to their optional consumption ; ' iture of the rich is usually in proportion to the rat increased degree, thry ate influenced by indirect taxation. But, to this department ! I jected that it presses heavily on the labour' , ioes not appear to me to be well founded; fol of labour exceeds the demand for it, as unto' 3W, and is too likely to continue to be the our sink down to the lowest points of reo ire such as are absolutely necessary to press poses of labour; therefore, if articles necessg taxed, their cost is in that proportion eel' lerefore be included in the price paid for tb hey were not so taxed, the price would in diminished, and their wages reduced in the sv; efore follows, that whilst this surplus of lob continues, the repeal of such taxes on produce no benefit to the working classes. :o be, that, generally speaking, property is, ts, directly or indirectly, the more immedra n, and the most permanent source of revs tceptions exist, as in the case of duties 0 11 7s paid by the middle classes, the sooner they the better it will be for the community at 1 3 ' might venture to suggest a substitute for thei v tax, it would be a tax on the inheritance ° of the same amount with that now levied fr ° tonal property. In principle, perhaps, the I be higher, as the protection required to . s,` ; ter; but it is, at the same time, to be consic e ante of real property is subject to other c' that of personal is exempt; but it does seeitt e heir of the wealthy owner of real estates , orn tax, and the comparatively poor man, si onal property only, should be liable to it. , a very large revenue might justly be drat !serving the consideration of the Ch a ncellor !r, pressed, as he now is, from all quarters 1.19 r g taxes ; and, as our present government 1.0 formed of rich and patriotic men, who look ountry's, more than their individual advantal rportunity seems thus to be afforded them e le to the other wealthy members of the co'' Ling a measure which would be alike just to inourable to themselves.—Yours, &c. LANCASTER SPRING ASSIZES. High Sheriff, Si r J o h n G erar d , B art., atten d e d b y his of bailiff's javelin men, &c. entered Lan cas t er a b out three o'clock on Monday afternoon; and, at five went forth on the Kirkby Lonsdale road to meet the 11r. Justice ALDERSON and Mr. Baron Guasir.r.)— lips arrived soon after s ix o' c l oc k, an d proceeded to where the commission for holding these assizes was • and read. Tuesday, at ten o'clock, their lordships attended divine '• An excellent sermon, strikingly apposite to the cir \nes of the present time, was preached by the Rev. Mr. If St. Helen's, the Sheriff's Chaplain; —the text from )ter 59,—the latter part of th e 19th verse : —" Wh en shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord e a standard against him." istice Alderson took his seat in the Crown Court, where of the assizes commenced with the usual forma- of the grand jury was called over, and the following , having answered to their names, were sworn, viz.— B HO RN BY. Esq., of Dalton-hall, Foreman. ence Itawstorne, Esq., Penwortham-hall, les Orrell, Esq., Blackbrook, Bernard Birch, Esq., Hazles, Clifton, Esq., Lytham-hall, :Bigland, Esq., Bigland, Anderton, Esq., Euxton, an Gale, Esq., Lightburne-house, lad Gale Braudyll, Esq., Conishead Priory, lel Taylor, Esq., Eceleston-hall, iam Farrington, Esq., Shaw-hall, H argreaves, Esq.,Onnerod-house„ Joseph Traftord, Esq., Trafford, Gerard Walmsley, Esq., Platts, Wilson, Esq., Dallam 'rower, Fitzherbert Brockles, Esq., Claughton-hall, A Wright Crosse, Esq., Shaw-hill, Whalley-, Esq., Clark-hall, lel Hughes, Esq. Sheidley-house, Woodeooek, Esq., Highfield, ird Gillow, Jun., Esq., Leighton-hall, Thicknesse, Jun., Esq. ialnation against vice and immorality having been -lee ALDERSON rose and delivered the following the jury :- - of the Grand Jury, Is glad to see a numerous attendance of persons of Itt Consequence at the customary and ancient pro tstice through the kingdom of Eugland,—progresses been wisely instituted, in order that justice, being i „," e d in the face of people of all classes, ad may know 1 , - `, l , acquainted with its value, objects, and real utiiity re 'iug us proceedings. You, gentlemen, however, are merely as w it nesses i n a c ourt of justice, but to render 1 4 ,ttant assistance in its proceedings. To your care, vi tald p experience, is committe d a riminry exaina t, e gecl facts, before a person can be el put up n on his m trial, t v :other jury more immediately . appioaching the sta ill „ I 'll the accused person lives, is committed the final toC e 4 . ,facts affecting his life or liberty. It is well ind ee d Ii e ,Qings like these should be carried on before an open ist . ,the people—before an assembled multitude, in order q` e may continue to be administered ,— (l hope I speak 1 1 when I say continue to be administered) with equity ptttiality- In order that this desirable object may be 6,,,,, ° t he aummistration of justice must be wat c h e d, it must W from time to time, and being thus watched by the bolearning,‘, it must be corrected from time to time by the expe „ the a nd by the good sense of those—the t • 4 i y few,—who have made themselves masters of the at its minute details. In all truly useful reforms, po sition s mus t eve r be combined,—lst, the existence of 41, Practlial grievance or evil.-2dly, and this is the most i'' the invention of some practical remedy, which shall i;: . ! of evil th an the grievance which it proposes to re ,.:!s important object can only be attained by experi- Ctug and good sense united, and to its attainment, the r u f Mankind will be most useltuly directed. ve es Pect to the calendar lamtbu few observations from me Pirefl, It contains, glad to see a much smaller oleriminals thn are usuady presentedat the assizes for r of the year. a in It contas, however, a very large,pro- Persons who are accused of shedding the biood of their n a tures, not, indeed, under circumstances which amount 14 te of murder but stiil cominitted under circumstances 4, that there is something in this county of Lancaster, .14ire s amendment more than the cruLinal law; au 1 ,,, 1 t whichcan only be accomplished by carryingChris erPles into effect lam sorry to see crimes of vi oieuce tt in this county; I hope that education founded iu e kt ' l ls priuciples,—principles which can alone make edu tr,liable, win prevent those evils of which there is much d e co4 lplain ; that until the accomplishment of that event t 0 criminal justice unnecessarv, it is y to take ° knees of this sort shall no longer p revailp, at least ki t. e • Y -4te two causes in this calendar on which I think it ne ,ornake a few - reinarks ; in one, certain persons are !th murder; in the other, two or three persons are p u l th manslaughter. With respect to the murder case, • eteen are perfectly well acquainted with what it is ' il tutes'the clime of murder, and I know the value of ; 44 te'which I shall derive from your labours. You are ''ell aware, that in order to constitute the crime of i, ‘. i,;` is necessary that there should be inalite, either ex ildeiaration of revenge previously made, which do not kus case before you; or that species of malice which 'Plied from the nature of the act itself, quite as much Previous declarations of revenge. You will have to L'‘'hether, under circumstances, there was such a de- I l ltality of disposition evinced, such a degree of violence as might imply the existence of that malice which is h, to constitute the crime of murder. If, on the other v'h " find that the conduct of the accused was certainly slit not such as to infer malice, that it was brutal, O k t intended to produce such a result as either death or bodily harm, that, in fact, the accused, wantonly and ' d ssly i n fli c t e d greater injury than they intended or con ! 4 ' You will probably take the more merciful view of the t t ,espect to the two cases of manslauOter, I have to 4 15 1 this offence may be committed either when the i, 4 all act of which death is the consequence, or where omits t : somd act, which by- law he is bound to do. gent commission of an act, which he is not by law I, t do, does not constitute the crime of manslaughter, Party . is bound to take those usual precautions which 4 ar, in order to insure the safety of the subjects of 41 , in passing through the public street, and by his conduct unhappily causes the death of an individual, in point of law amounts to manslaughter, and it ,necessary to enforce the punishment awarded by the oer to prevent its repetition. These are all the obser t the is, howeve calendar, r, wh one other subject to ich it seems necessa fr me to lhere which I beg i h allucle. For some time past, the calendar has been k t ,"!-0 two or three dis!ricts. To a certain extent great ...„ e has been obtained from this arangement, but it is 4 , qu es tion whether greater advantage might not be 1 1 carrying it a little further, and by some little sacrifice of time and labour, and 1 know that I am I g ieritie - inen of fortune, station and respectability, n ever ready to make sacrifices of this description, in ,• In order to carry into full effect, the division of the it will be necessary that prosecutors and witnesses 6t be compelled to come into court on the first. day of in order to prefer bills. A little delay on your part be the means of saving a considerable sum to the h ,l witnesses, iu some cases were not required till ii 4 or third day the cases on te first day might be (I ' 4 , tri e d by the - Judge, and witne h sses need not be de- Tng, nor the county saddled with such expense as at w I throw this out merely as a suggestion for your con e in consequence of a circumstance which occurred ‘ lv ilen a similar application was made to the Judges. 14 '.' , Ps were not required in court before a certain aay, sole the business would be placed on the same footing a the civil court, and. a considerable expense would be e county. ,' l. ll owin g cases were tried this day:— so 4i !Y.—.Tames Meadowcroft, 22, William Brown, 19, 17 ) , e 'd, 24, and William Hollis, 28, were indicted for 411 y entering The dwelling-house of John Burns, at all the night of the 15th of November, and stealing t in cash, with a quantity of tea, sugar, tobacco, k:rticles, his property. The robbery was affected with ii c ity as not to alarm either the prosecutor or any of Init the prisoners, having been observed near the fiore than one occasion during the night in which it , itted, were apprehended the next day, and the stolen o . as found in their possession.—Brown having plead. 1 1 .11 r. ALEXANDKR, as counsel for Schofield, applied o !hi h sworn, in order that his client might have the M . evidence. He was accordingly sworn and rh iti the dock, and stated that Schofield was wholly f'(l in the robbery. The jury, however, upon the e evidence, found all the prisoners guilty, and his b r dered sentence of Death to be recorded against them,. 6 that they would be sent out of the country for life. L, ai k, we nt - I t fa u v d u e ast thr e e ST4 e ll t o ih b Ludes ° (Mr. f pub • ast r le dsiii h P centsf°l dan' w and re p T uesday „ obiel ot : oc43f , most P tt, of St. apPli h, ; chapter beco l li e fr y sh, presual, j u t i l t ta e . ct "illes s idered ted of t 1 e n, ha e pee t ? AR • are 1 3 ' 4 6, w renee al lab Th a o l n le as s al thei r P 4 )rsas C B . arn 011 a, Samuel b it u te : l c 6 F affect dottli tlar Lure f . , tv. n :nas C foul] e' o r nl e p R o ot the 1t 0 „,,,tv rquaLLY rich ao rid to b i e W oe "'hard:onsidef 1)11Cli rinciP ll Wocl aio • J4sti a P a" "c'th e e e rty gel] ,amen louses • ilw ays paid a auu c , is their C' v !iisti Ely asc stere'd'o! THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. There was a second indictment against Meadowcroft, for ano ther burglary, which, however, was not gone into. MANSLAUGHTER. —John Hibbert, 18, was indicted for killing and slaying William Horsfall, at Gorton. On the Sth of De cember I.ast, the prisoner and the deceased were persuaded by a person named Barnes to fight for a shilling. They were both at first very unwilling, but, at length, were induced to set to. It was to be what is called "an up and down fight," wherein the parties kick and maul each other ad libitum; and several kicks were given ou both sides. After a few rounds the de ceased gave in, and was taken home when he complained much during the night of a pain in his side, and died on the following morning. On the examination of the body, the cause of death was found to be an internal rupture, and externally there was .a mark of a violent blow or kick, by which it appeared to have been produced.—The learned judge reprobated, in strong terms, the brutal mode of fighting practised in some parts of this county, and cautioned parties who engaged in it to beware of the con sequences, as a signal example would certainly be made of some of them upon conviction where fatal results ensued. The pri soner was found guilty, but his lordship deferred 'raising sen tence. BIGAMY.— Thomas Darcy, 30, was indicted for feloniously in termarrying with Mary Anne Gibson, Hannah Hill, whom he had previously married, being . still alive. The deceased was a hackney-coachman, and Witham Neilson, a coach proprietor, by whom he had formerly been employed, deposed, that he was present at the prisoner's marriage with Hannah Hill in Febru ary, 1825, in the Old Church, at Manchester, and gave the bride away. A printer, named Laycock, stated; that ou the 6th of January last, he was present at the marriage of the prisoner with Mary Anne Gibson, also, in the Old Church, at Manches ter ; and that, on the same day, while they were dining at home together, the prisoner's former wife called at the house, and ex hibited to him such proofs of her marriage as induced him forthwith to turn the prisoner out of his house, where he had been lodging for some time. The, learned judge, on the pri soner bein g found guilty, commented in strong terms of repre hension on his offence, and sentenced him to be transported beyond the seas for seven years. WEDNESDAY. CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.—John Wood, 32, was indicted for killing and slaying Robert }homily, at Manchester. Harriet Biornity, the motherof the deceased, who hada-child three years of are, deposed that she was standing talking with a female ac quaintance in Newton-lane, Manchester, on the 7th August last, and the deceased was with her, when a coach, driven by the pri soner, came up. She endeavoured to get the child out of the way, both fell down in the attempt, and the coach passed over it. The poor infant was taken to the Infirmary, and died the same day. A witness deposed that the coach was going at the rate of about five miles an hour.—Mr. Houlton, house•surgeon • to the Manchester Infirmary, was called to prove that the death of the child was caused by the injuries it sustained; but Mr. Justice ALDERSON said it appeared to him to be a case of _pure j accident, and put it to the jury to say whether they were of opi nion that any negligence was imputable to the prisoner; where upon they immediately pronounced an acquittal. FORGERY.—Joseph Lingurd, 31, was indicted for uttering to Hierom Whittaker, at Manchester, a forged bill of exchange for £4O, with intent to defraud the said Hierom Whittaker; there was a second count charging the same act with intent to defraud Joseph Ward, on whom the bill was drawn. Whittaker keeps a public house at Salford, and was in the habit of supply ing the prisoner with beer. In March, 1832, the prisoner, in discharge of his account, paid him a bill of exchange for £3O, which was duly honoured. In May, being again indebted to him, he paid him the bill which was the subject of this indict ment. Joseph Ward proved the acceptance of the bill in his name to be forged. Mr. Darbisbire, the constable of Salford, stated that when the prisoner was taken to the police office, he laid before him the two bills which the prisoner had paid to the prosecutor, and asked him if he had drawn them, to which he answered that he had. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and the learned Judge sentenced him to transportation fur lift, ob serving that the law left him no discretionary power of miti gating the punishment. FIGHTING.—James Rigby, 50, was indicted for manslaughter, in killing and slaying William Moors. It appeared that, in the evening of the Ist of January last, the _prisoner and the deceased were together in a public house, at Stockport, when a dispute arose between them, and they went out to fight. In the second round the deceased fell and broke his leg, and was conveyed to the Infirmary, where he died in consequence of the injury, on the 19th. Ttiere was no evidence to show whether the fall proceeded from a blow, or a stumble, and the jury un der his lordship's direction, _4equitted the prisoner. COW-STEALING. —john Green, 35, was indicted for stealing a heifer, the property of James Lampert. On the 14th of iNo vember last, the prosecutor had a number of cattle in Smith field market, Manchester, when the prisoner was observed to go amongst them, and single out a heifer, which he drove away down two or three streets, and was then stopped and taken into. custody. The jury found the prisoner .guil . ty, and he was sentenced to be Transported beyond the seas, jor life. MANSLAUGHTER.—Thomas Armstrong, '2O, was indicted for manslaughter, in killing and staying Witham Brogden, at Manchester. The sister-in-law of the prisoner proved that they were at supper together, in the cellar in which they lived, on the night of the 22nd of January last, when they heard a noise at the cellar grating, and some one called out that people were breaking into the house. They cried " murder !' and the prisoner went out with the poker in his hand. Shortly afterwards the deceased was found in the area of the cellar with his head very much cut and bruised and wholly insensible. He died in the course of the night, in consequence of the wounds. The jury found the prisoner guilty; but strongly recommended him to mercy. His lordship then sentenced him to be impri soned a fortnight. CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTE R. —John Holcroft, 44, was in dicted for killing and slaying his wife, Mary liolcroft, at Bar ton-upon-Irwell.—The prisoner and the deceased were drinking together at a public-house, on the night of the 14th of October last, and at midnight they were leaving it to proceed towards their home, in a state of intoxication. When they got to the door, the deceased fell, and the prisoner kicked her. He after wards took her up and carried her some distance, and then pro cured a wheelbarrow, in which he conveyed her home, but she died almost immediately after they arrived there. The surgeon who examined the body deposed that the wound which had caused her death might have been produced by a fall, and un der these circumstances, the jury, by direction of his lordship, ac9iitted the prisoner. UAUTION TO WAREHOUSEMEN AND OTHERS.—SamueI Stocks and Thomas Blackshaw were indicted for killing and slaying Alice Tatton, at Mauchester.—This case, from the peculiarity of the circumstances, excited more than ordinary interest. The deceased, a lady of most respectable connections, in walking along one of the streets of Manchester on the 6th of January last, was so severely injured by the fall of a package of goods upon her head, which the prisoner Blackshaw was in the act of lowering from the third story of a warehouse belonging to Mr. Stocks, the other prisoner, his employer, who is a most respect able merchant of Manchester; as to cause her death in the In firmary, five days afterwards.—Mr. STARKIE, with whom Mr. L. PEEL was associated as counsel for the prosecution, in stat ing the case to the jury, said, he must admit, at once, that, in point of law, there would be considerable difficulty in bringing home the charge to Mr. Stocks,. for, undoubtedly, he was not present at the tune when the unfortunate occurrence took place, although he had been repeatedly cautioned respecting the inse cure state of the teagle used for hoisting goods into and out of his warehouse. The learned judge, on hearing this, said he was of opinion that, in those circumstances, there was not suf -1 ficient evidence to convict Mr. Stocks, whom the jury, by his lordship's direction, immediately acquitted.—The case then pro f ceeded against Blackshaw, who had acknowledged that he was the person engaged in lowering the package; and the witnesses attributed its fall to the rope by which it was lowered not being secured sufficiently tight around it. His lordship, in summing up, told the jury that, if they were satisfied that the prisoner had not used reasonable and due care to guard against such an accident, they must find him guilty; and they returned a ver- J diet to that effect, hut strongly recommended the prisoner to mercy. His lordship said the verdict was a most proper one, and he hoped it would have a strong tendency towards placing the lives of the people of Manchester in much greater security in future. It would not be necessary for him to pass a severe sentence in the present instance; but, should the example fail, he would be comps led, in any similar case which might occur hereafter, to inflict a much heavier punishment. He trusted, however, that, in passing a lenient sentence on this occasion, he should not be in the least exposing the lives of others, but that this case would prove a sufficient warning. If, however, the system of carelessness which seemed to have hitherto pre vailed should be persevered in, it. would involve other persons, and of considerable station—masters as well as servants—in jeopardy. His lordship concluded by sentencing the prisoner to be imprisoned two months. HOUSE-Brmaxisi .—Thomas Bond Walker, 17, was indicted for breaking and ea ering the dwelling-house of Betty Gartside, and stealing therein a watch, and a quantity of linen and wear ing apparel of the value of £5. The prosecutrix lives at Roys ton, and it appeared teat. on the 16th of November last, ;he went out to her work a eight o'clock in the morning, leaving at home her mother and son, wno went out in the afternoon leaving the house door properly fastened. About five o'clock in the evening it was discovered that the house had been broken into and thoroughly ransacked, and the articles mentioned in the indictment carried off, part of which were pawned by the prisoner on the day of the robbery, at Oldham.—Verdict Guilty. —Death recorded. BURGLARY.—Thomas Preston 17, Thomas Heteson 18, and Charles Ribbed 24, were indicted fcr burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of William Johnson, at Barton on-Irwell, in the night of the 20th of August, 1832, and stealing therein seven bottles of wine and one mallet, his property. The prisoners were observed in the vicinity of the prosecutor ) s house on the night in question, and being suspected, three persons watched them and took two of them into custody with the stolen property in their possession. The other, who was seen coming out of the cellar window, escaped at the time, but was taken the next day at Manchester.—Verdict Guilty.— Sentence of Death recorded. CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER ON THE RAILWAY.--Nathaniel Eckersl y . was indicted for manslaughter in killing and slaying Benjamin Cropper, at Manchester. The prisoner was the engineer of the locomotive steam engine Liverpool, on the Ist Feb. last, when three persons were killed, and the deceased so severely injured that he died in consequence, by the Liverpool, with a train of loaded coal waggons running over them, as they were standing on the railway, at Parr Moss, where the blue train by which they were travelling to Manchester had stopped, in consequence of au accident to a train conveying goods a head of them. The particulars of the accident, which were fully stated in all the papers at the time, must be fresh in the recollection of our readers. After hearing the evidence of the guard of the blue train, his lordship put it to Mr. Hulton, who conducted the case for the prosecution, w heth er th e evidence was sufficient to establish a charge of gross negligence on the part of the prisoner. Mr. Hulton said he thought that when the prisoner could not see his way clear, as was the case in this instance, in consequence of the steam escaping from a pipe that had burst, he ought to have stopped his engine. Mr.. Justice ALDERSON. Then a coachman ought to stop his coach as soon as it becomes dark. A gentleman on the jury observed that he thought the parties who suffered had incurred the danger by their own impropriety in getting out of the carriages, and standing on the road.—The prisoner was acquitted. ' • THURSDAY. AGGRAVATED CASE OP MANSLAUGHTER. Edward 0' Neale, 18, and James Callaehan, 25, were indicted for killing and slaying Edward Al' Phelan at Manchester. Mr. Arinqroug in stating this case to the jury, observed that it was a most serious outrage, and amounted, at the very least, to the crime of manslaughter of the most culpable description. Mr. Justice Alderson :—" Do you not think it amounts to murder?" Mr. Armstrong:—" I say, my lord, that, at the least,it amounts to manslaughter." The case then proceeded, and sever a: wit nesses were examined, from whose testimony it appeared that, on Sunday the 25th of November last, the deceased and several other persons were assembled together at a beer-shop kept by a person named Connerskey, in Manchester, where a large par ty, among whom were the two prisoners, entered the honse and made an attack upon the deceased and his friends, one of whom took refuge in the cellar. The deceased was knocked down and O'Neale jumped upon his back; he then got into the yard and seized a mop-handle, with which he defended himself resolutely for some time, but was at length overpowered by numbers, and severely beaten by both the prisoners and others of their party, who ultimately left him extended on the ground in a s t a t e o f insensibility. - He was afterwards taken to the Infirmary and for some time appeared to be recovering, in consequence of which the parties who had been taken into custody for partici patingin the outrage were discharged. On the Bth of De c e m b er , however, he suffered a relapse, and died on the 10th of inflamma tion of the brain, upon which, after death, a quantity of matter was found extravasated. The learned judge having summed up the case,the jury, after consulting together a few minutes, returned a verdict of guilty against both the prisoners. His lordship then ob served; that the case was one of the most brutal that he had ever heard, and he had doubted much within himself, whether it was not bis duty to stop the case and direct a bill for murder to be preferred to the grand jury, which he should have done had he not considered that it was always better not to proceed to the extremity of the law when it could well be avoided. It would, however, be unsafe to others of his Majesty's subjects, and, therefore, improper to allow the prisoners auy longer to remain in this country, wherefore the sentence of the Court was that they should be transported beyond the seas, for the term of their natural lives. MINT CASE.-William Howard, 45, and John Smith, 25, were convicted upon an indictment charging them with having feloniously in their possession at Wham, on the 12th of November last, a mould of Plaister of Paris, on which were mad and impressed two impressions of the similituue of sixpence.—Sentence deferi ed. NISI PRIUS COURT—Tut.spAy. 13EFORE !OR. BARON GURNEY One hundred and forty-four Cilll6CS have been entered for trial, of which seven that were undefended were disposed of to day. The following was the only one tried:— MMUS AND OTHERS' ASSIGNEES t. STUBBS AND OTHERS. • The defendants in this case were creditors of a person named Davis, residing at Birmingham, against whom they had reco vered a verdict in an action at law for £271, the amount of his debt to them. Before, however, they had entered up judgment, a docket was struck against him, and, being aware of that fact, they entered into a composition with him, by which they agreed to take 12s. in the pound, in full discharge of their claim, which he accordingly paid them—amounting to £l6l. A commission having been afterwards sued out against him, this action was brought by his assignees to recover that sum on the ground of the payment having been unduly made, to the p re j u di ce o f th e bankrupt's other creditors.—Verdict,/'or the '1 he celebrated \VU cause—Due on the demise of TATHA IU O. Wl:win, has been entered in the third list, and is expected to occupy several days at the close of these assizes. WEDNESDAY. The causes tried to-day have been singularly destitute of terest. HOYLE V. FEATHEKSTONIIMIGH This was an action brought by a corn-dealer living at Roch dale, against a coach-proprietor at Chorley, to recover damages for an injury done to a mare belonging to the plaintiff, by a coach beionOng to the defendant, through the alleged careless ness or negligent driving of the coachman. Mr. Serjeant JONES, with Mr. BRANDT, conducted the case for the plaintiff, and Mr. PoLtocx for the defendant. It appeared that, on the 2nd of August last, a man in the service of the plaintiff was sent to take the mare in question to Chorley, and not being used to riding, was directed by his master to be sure tokeep on the proper (left-hand) side of the road. In going up a hill, at some distance from Chorley, he was met by the coach belonging to the defendant, which runs between Ch;rley and Bolton. The coach was descending the hill, at the rate of about six miles an hour; there was a turn to the right in going down the hill, om that part of the road, and the ground on the left was much more worn and out of repair than on the right, which caused the coachman to keep rather more to the off than the near side. The distance between the coach and the foot way on the off side was 2 yards and a few inches, and on the near side there was a clear road way of about 23i or 3 yards. The plaintiff's man was riding close to the footway on his left or the off side of the coach, and as the coach was passing the mare shyed and turned away, placing her fore feet on the foot way, which was ten inches above the level of the road, and the roller bolt of the splinter bar striking her in the flank, wounded her very severely. She was taken immediately to a stable aliout fifty yards from the spot where the accident happened, and remained there a fortnight under the care of a farrier. The defendant was informed of the accident soon after it occurred, and went to see the mare, and desired that all possible care should be taken of her. On the Monday follow ing, the plaintiff's son called upon him, when he expressed his sorrow for what had happened, and hoped that the plaintiff would not be hard upon him ;" and said he was willing to pay what was reasonable for the damage, adding that the mare would be none the worse for what had happened for his work, and, therefore, he thought the best thing the plaintiff could do would be to let him have her at a fair valuation. The plaintiff, in answer to this proposal said that the mare was a favourite animal of his, and had no wish to part with h er , an d re f use d to take less than 1.30 for her. The defendant conceiving that sum to be much more than she was worth, would not give it, and this action was the consequence. Verdict/'or the Defendant. None of the other cases tried presented any thing worth reporting. LANCASTER INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT. This Court was opened on Tuesday week, by John Greathed Harris, Esq., one of his Majesty's Connnissioners, at the Castle of Lancaster. There are IUB insolvents claiming relief under the act, 33 of whom have receivcd notice of opposition. The following have been disposed of iu the manner undermen tioned Geo, ge Hindle Ilampson, Borough-street, Salford, accountant, was remanded to Monday next, to produce his brother and sister. John Grundy, Becks, near Manciiii ster, weaver, also adjourned to Monday next, to produce a person named Johnson, with a deed, otherwise remanded to next circuit. James Rigby, Richmond-row, Liverpool, watchmaker, remand e d t o Monday, to produce his detaining creditor. Wm. Gahm, Aynharn-street, Preston, commission agent, adjourned to Monday, to produce the auctioneer who sold his go o d s un d er an execution for rent. Miebael Campbell, formerly of Mason-street, Manchester, and late of Whitechapel, Liverpool, remanded to amend his schedule by Mon day. X 77 William Parnell, Queen street, Salford, joiner and bulkier ; case adjourned to Monday, to obtain the consent of a creditor, otherwise to next circuit. Ilichard Farrington, Gildart's-7a, rdens, Liverpool, bl ac k sm ith, d o . Thomas Crompton, Bolton -le.Moers, barb er , was opposed be Mr. Venables, on behalf of Messrs W. W oo d and 'Co. merchants, Liver pool, and remanded eight calendar months from the date of filing his petition, for fraudulently making away with his property both be fore and after his imprisonment. Daniel Harrison, Northgate, Blackburn, butcher, remanded six calendar months, under the 47th sect. • • DISCUARGIRD rokrnwrrit. Richard Barlow, Blakel&y, near Manchester, carrying on business under the firm of Barlow and Co., skein-printers. Thomas Barton Wheeton, Leith, near Bolton-le-Moors, attorney. Daniel Smith, Broad-street, Pendleton, calico-printer. Thomas Mather, Chorley. William Whalley, Lancaster, whitesmith, James Lythgoe, Toxteth-park, Liverpool, timher-dealcr. William Haydock, Penny-street, Blackburn, rag and bone-dealer. John Medcalfe, Kettlewell, Yorkshire, cattle-dealer, Peter Sephton, formerly of Richm on d- row, Li verpool, joiner. la* of Great liarewood, near Blackburn. Nicholas Phillips, Market-street, Manchester, auctioneer, &c. William Spencer, Angel Inn, Deansgak., Manchester. James Entwistle, Bury, retail beer-seller. William Roberts, Ilellinwood, near Oldham, publican. William Davis, 86, London-road, Manchester, earthenwam-dealer. Henry Llealilm, Chorlton-upon-Medlock, near Manchester, pub lican. Alexander Devine, Oldham-road, Manchester, retail beer-dealer. • Thomas Hill, Little Lever-street, Manchester, provision shop keeper. John Greenwood, formerly of Salford, beer-dealer, and late no bu siness. James Tempest, Oldhall-street, Bolton-le-Moors, bufeher. William Lleyden, 15, Faulkner -street, Liverpool, timber-merchant. Robert Sharroek, Rishtons, near Blackburn, cattle-dealer. Henry Prescott, - Ormskirk, formerly woollen-draper. Jonathan Mellor,_ Oldham, plumber and glazier, Ite. ADJOURNMENT OF THE ASSIZES. • A petition to Parliament, in favour of Mr. Ewart's motion for the adjournment of the Assizes from Lancaster to Liver pool or Manchester, has been got up in this town, and has already received a number of very respectable signatures. The gentlemen of the legal profession in this town, who naturally feel highly interested in the question, are also earnestly devot ing themselves to procure the contemplated transfer. In fact, there are few classes of persons who will not be ready to acknowledge the advantage of holding the assizes at either of these two places, which are now, as far as intercourse is con cerned, in a manner, united; and when the astonishing in crease of these places in population and magnituue is consi dered, the measure must appear fraught with the most impor tant benefits, of which we cannot yet, perhaps, fully see the extent. The following extracts from the petitions are reasons, we think, as strong as could be adduced:-- "That according to the population returns of 1831, the population of the hundred of West Derby (including Liver pool) was 386,078, of 'the hundred of Salford (including Man chester) 612,414, and of the other four hundreds together (in cluding Lancaster) 3-13,108; the population of the whore county being £1,335,000. '• rhat in the assessment for the county rates, in 1829, the hundred of West Derby was assessed at £1,536,;33, the hun dred of Salford at £1,554,314, and the other four hundreds together only at £1,123,587; the assessment of the whole county being £4,214,634. " That from returns to your honourable house it appears that at the assizes, in the last eight years, 2,085 civil causes were entered for trial, and in the last nine years 378 persons were tried from the hundreds of West Derby and Salford; and that at the same assizes only 479 civil causes were entered for trial, and 32u prisoners tried from the other four hundreds together." BOLTON PETTY SESSIONS—MONDAY. Richard Rostron, John Fletcher, John Dines, Charles Arrow smith, retail beer sellers, were each convicted in the penalty of 40s. and lls. costs, for selling beer in their respective houses at unseasonable hours.—The police have lately been very ac tive in visiting the beer houses. MINOR THEATRICALS.—James Greenough, the proprietor of a show which has for some time past been exhibited in New port-street, was charged on the information of Mr. John Bar row, deputy-constable of Gr e at B o lt on, w i t h act i ng and causing to be acted a (—fain play and ent , ..rtainment of the stage, called "Black-eyed Su in, or All in the Downs," at Great Bolton, on the 7th oi Ma ch instant, contrary to 10th GLo. 2, c. 28, sec. 2.--James of Great Bolton, said that ou Thursday , night, the 7th instant, he went to a wooden building in New port-saeet, used as a Theatre, which is eahed the " New Thea tre." On going past it in the day-time, he saw a board outsiue of the door, on which was painted "To-night, 'Black-eyed Susan, or Ail in the Downs' singing and farce—to conclude with the `Red Barn, or the Mulder of Maria Martin mission two-pence." At seven - o'clock witness went to the building, and after paying two-pence, went in. Ih e pi ece per formed was "Black-eyed Susan . "—Caleb Bromily corroborated the foregoing testimony.—The defendant said that he had writ ten to the Lord Chamberlain, to ascertain if thaplay of "Black eyed Susan " was a regular licensed piece, and had received no answer.—On defendant's application, the decision of the magistrates was postponed. RAUDULENT R EMOVAL OF GOODS.--James Bondwas charged by Mr. John Barrow, his landlord, wills fraudulently removing goods, to prevent a distress, at Great Bolton, on the 7th of March instant. The defendant did not appear.—Mr. John Barrow said that defendant entered into possession of a house belongit% to him, on June 20th, 1831, and agreed to pay £8 a year for it. On the 12th of February last, defendant owed £5 for rent. On Tuesday last. witness went to the house, -to demand the rent from defendant's wife, who did not pay, him any thing. He went again on Thursday, and found the house empty—all the goods had been removed except a backstone.— Betty Moores said that she had lived in part of Vond's house. On Thursday she found that Bond's goods were removed. Wit ness enumerated what goods she recollected to have been in the house, which altogether she valued at £4 Os. ed. £2 only being laid in the information, the magistrates convicted in double that amount, according to the act of parliament in such cases provided, and ltis. 6d. costs. TH RSDAT. MINOR THEATRICA LS.—.James Greenough appeared upon an adjourned information, for having, on the 7th instant, without authority, enacted the dramatic piece of "Black Eyed Susan." He brought forward two performers of the company, who said that Greenough was not the manager. They said that the concern was a joint stock company. The magistrates, how. ever, as the concern was in Greenough's name, convicted him iu the penalty of £5O. The concern has since left the town. CHESHIRE ASSIZES.—The commission for the county will be opened on Saturday next, but the Grand Jury will not be impannelied before Monday morning, wh en th e business of the court will be proceeded in. The Jury processes must be re turned before ten o'clock on Saturday night, and all eausee entered before nine o'clock on Monday morning, or they will not to be tried. BANKRCPTCY COURT, MARCH 16.—The Commissioners of this Court were occupied throughout the day in examine so licitors and assignees, relative to the proceedings of old Com missioners, which they were summoned to produce. Mr. Graham, one of the , official assignees of this Court, embraced this opportunity of reporting to the Commissioners, that since his appointment, in January, 1632, he bad received from the assignees of old commissions, some of which had remained in statu quo upwards of fi fty years, the sum of £49,799, and col lected-debts from these commissions to the amount of £6,715, making a total of £56,514. There are at present sixtten or seventeen official assignees of this Court, but for whose exer tions last year a loss of £BOO,OOO to the creditors of bankrupts in old commissions would have resulted. SMIEWSBIRY.—At our fair on Tuesday and Wednesday, the supply of fat cattle was plentiful; but the number of purchasers was very great., and the primest cattle we r e so ld at 54-d. to s;d. 4:1) . lb., inferior sd. Store bullocks sold well, and cows and calves particularly well. The primest sheep, of which the supply was very small; brought ild. IfY lb. ' • oilers from bid. t o AL A few ewes and lambs were penned, but they were not of first-rate quality Small pigs sold better than last fair; half fed stores were not so brisk in demand, nor worth so much money; and pigs were sold low. Butter was offered abundantly; but the quality of a great part was inferior, and prices ranged from 71d. to 9d. ; in lumps 7d. to Bd. were the prices ; and a good deal re mains unsold. The prices of cheese did not vary from last fair, but the demand was brisker, and nearly the whote was sold. A moderate supply of bacon met with dull sale, at 51d. to 6d, ty lb. Hams 5 Md. to 7d.—Shrewibury Paper. CURIOUS MATRIMONIAL CASE.—In the end of December last, the banns of marriage between a weaver, of the name of John Reith, and his sweetheart, were duly proclaimed in the church of Old Machar; but, owing to the interference of the friends of the bride, the marriage ceremony was not performed. The weaver, feeling insulted, paid his addresses to a widow, who, nothing loth, accompanied him and/two witnesses to the residence of the Rev. Hugh Hart. On producing the certifi cate of proclamation with his first love, the weaver and the widow were, after the usual preliminaries, duly declared mar ried persons, for which good turn the moderate fee of one shil lin was paid. The affair having com e t o th e k now l e d ge o f t he public authorities, the lately married couple were taken before the sheriff, on Wednesday, when they were committed for trial, on a charge of fraud and wilful imposition.-4i:erdeen Observer.