The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-24 00:00:00

THE RUGELEY POISONING CASES. ADJOURNED INQUEST. AITINATION OF PROFESSOR TAYLOR (FROM ova OWN REPORTER.) RUGELEY, WEDNE SDAY N IGHT . This morning, at ten o ' c l oc k , the inquest upon the body .;' air. Walt er P almer, which had been further adjourned ,rona y es terday week, aft er h ear i ng two day's evidence, Was resumed. The jury had requested the re-attendance Of Professor Taylor and other witnesses, and also desired that Mr. Pratt, solicitor, of Mayfair, London, should be examined in reference to the insurance transactions in W hich he h a d b een engaged along with William Palmer. Mr. Deane, solicitor, of London, again attended on behalf ofthe insurance companies, an d M r. Smith, solicitor, of Birmingham, on behalf of William Palmer. Mr. Pratt $ was also present, along with Mr. C. Vallencey Lewis, soli watchr of 48, Bedford Row, London, aeared to the proceedings for Mr. Pratt. Professors Taylor and Rees, Dr. Knight and Dr. Day of Stafford, and Mr. Thurlby, Wtn. Palmer's assistant, were also in attendance, in addition to Captain Hatton, superintendent of the county police, &c. &c. Before the proceedings commenced, Mr. Deane said, that immediately on the inquest being adjourned, accom panied by the request that Professor Taylor should be re called, the Rome -office at once directed that Professors Taylor and Rees should attend the adjourned inquiry. Now, as Dr. Rees was not present when the medical evidence and the evidence of the other parties who were present when the deceased died, was given, he wished that that evidence should be read over before the further additional evidence was taken. The Coroner, before-proceeding to read the evidence, said : Gentlemen, during the past week, remarks have appeared in the provincial and metropolitan press reflect ing on myself, the jury, the town of Rugeley and its inha !lonebitants, which are wholly unjustifiable and untrue, and r they have not emanated from any one now present "' may also say that with regard to the remarks made 1„1113‘;r1 myself, I shall on a future occasion, so soon as this teVidry is concluded, be quite ready to give a full explana- Of , in . y conduct in the matter, which has been made e 8110 .leet of animadversion. (Cheers in court.) eezT..ehr.aelevidence given by the different medical men and other witnesses at the former hearing, was read P ° " by the coroner. The reading of this evidence occu- Iv i ed a considerable time. On the evidence of George h Yman being called for r. S m i th objected to this witness's evidence being read, and More especially as he was not present.' c__Mr. Deane said he would be present. He would arrive from IVolverhampton at half-past twelve o'clock. rrideAir. Smith would at once state why he objected to the nce being read. As far as his instructions went, and he tnight say so far as his belief went, the whole of Why- Man's statement was a fabrication from beginning to end, Sod, therefore, he objected to its being read. P Hit was ultimately agreed that the evidence should be reed when the witness made his appearance. The further i reading of the evidence was then proceeded with, and at 1 its close, Mr. Deane requested that certain extracts from the 1 diary of William Palmer might be read, upon which, Mr. Smith rose and said —He desired to have the whole of the diary read, because he intended to ask for a copy of it, and therefore he wished to have it in evidence. It might be long and tedious, but he was aware that the police authorities had taken a copy of it, and he (Mr. Smith), must therefore take such a course as would enable him to be placed in the same position. He was entitled to it as a matter of law, and he therefore insisted upon the coroner taking such a course as would enable him to secure a copy of it. On an assurance frorahe coroner that a copy of the diary should be furnished to Mr. Smith, the latter was , satisfied, and the reading of the extracts having been. waved by Mr. Deane, the additional evidence pro ceeded. Mr. Benjamin Thu_rlby, assistant to William Palmer, was then called by Mr. Deane. lie said: 1 remember the day on which Walter Palmer died. I remember Ludlow race-day. William Palmer told me that he had a ho rse r u n ning that d a y at Ludlow. It was Thur s d ay, aneday Walter P a l mer died. on the w. Campbell, of Stoke-upon-Trent, was examined I the deceased Walter Palmer. Prom June 1853, to June 1 854, I was his medical attendant. In 1853, he had an attack of pleura monia, and was suffering from chronic inf lammation of the liver, and had also an attack of con- Jestion of the brain. The illness continued six or eight Weeks. I saw him again in 1854, from January to March. W e was then suffering from enlargement of the liver, and i rritability of the'; stomach. He also vomited a large quantity of blood, and the right lobe of his liver was on a line with the navel—it was so enormously enlarged. His lower limbs were dropsical; at that time he had also in flammation of the right kidney, which continued for two ;tenths. I did not attend him again after. I never saw his brother Willi am at the time. of I3 Y the C oroner: After his last illness, Walter thought Ins' • lifsiourr Insuranclife,e bi n,. I said that no medical man should pass I wss a ' e L . w as so organically diseased. I told him his life "If% hazardous one. I knew his habits were texneeecLieglY intemperate. 5 ,7 4 '.._,1 r• Deane : He was a mass of organic disease. b e '' l. tkane: Is there anything inconsistent with his e rn i , n g,i,,i_ 3l a state of organic disease in 1854, and dying -11 the effects of pr uss i c ac i d in 1855 ? . Witnes s : My beli e f i s that he died from apoplexy. , ‘ , " y the Corner : I h ave heard the former evidence read: ere is n othing in it i nconsistent with death having been caus ol Caused by pru ss i c acid or a narcotic, either opium or alcoh 1 ti 1337 Mr• Smith : Disease of the kidneys impedes circula _ on, and deranges the whole system. It produces disease in other organs.. kidneys the b 111 an advanced state of disease of the r am Is most likely to be affected. Disease of the liver would also affect the brain. The symptoms I L•Phave heard described are more consistent with death from coPlexY than prussic acid. Sterterous breathing is inconsistent M w ith poisonin g b according to th e dose that has been given. It would be an exceptional case for death to ensue within fifteen minutes from an attack of apoplexy, the result of disease. 11 . Y Mr. Smith : I think that death would follow very soon after an attack of apoplexy. followed by drinking two or three pints of spirits, especially in Mr. Walter. Painier's case, for I knew he was subject to congestion of the b ra in , . By the Coroner; I never considered the deceased Inotithy from 1852. In that year I saw him, and he had every,appearance of labouring under disease of the liver. During the attack of pneumonia he appeared to be ratnbliug in his conversation. 4 Professor Taylor recalled: 'raking the average of cases as apoplectic tit caused by effusion of blood on the brain. Which is the most usua l , would last two or three hours. I have _known one death in an e ases of death th ere i s hour. - .I n . the sudden generally disease of the heart assoc i ated with effusion of blood. The tom s , of of which I have taken a note, are these— Avidity of the faee, as described by some of the witnesses ; dilation of the pupils, the eyes open and fixed, as spoken to by Mrs. Phillips ; general relaxation of the limbs and Atuscles of the body; sterterous breathing; coldness of the a kin, with clammy perspiration. and twitching of the Muscles on the side of the face. Those are all the symp toms I have' been able to note down from the evidence I have h acid, heard. They are all qu it e consistent with poison by prussic and with death from prussic acid in half an nour after its being administered. ay Mr. Deane: Brandy in prussic acid causes the odour. to a great extent, to be removed, and prevent its detection. 1 3y a Juror : There would be no pain in the patient, as a state of coma dispels all sensation. Death from Prussic acid is a rapid sort of apoplexy. Professor Taylor produced two bottles, each containing trossa table spoonful of brandy, one including a fatal dose of ic acid, and the other ere examined `4°AY the jnry, with a view to detect in whichwas the larger , B ,e, but the test failed. L -15 ,Y Mr. Deane : The power to detect prussic acid in lurandy by the smell would depend upon the proportion of each, and whether or not attention was directed to the subject. I h ave frequently not been able to detect it in medici nal mixtures b y the smell, when I have detected it by a na l ysis. I never heard that stertorous breathing Pr e ceded an att ac k of - coma. A man is not ina state of apoplexy until he is in a state of coma. Sterterous breathing is certainly not inconsistent with Poisoning by prussic acid. It is the result of ennpstion on the brain,,and is consistent with every state in whin!' ioines is ease of coma may lead -to st porduced, that is to say , every - ........„-w o not, and there have b e en some Casesu, breathing.ofe a p o p l exy without st erterous breathing, Mr. Deane then attempted to found a question to Ilea) fessor Taylor, upon an extract . from _ae work Journal w of s .f leaved)not oar science, but Mr. Smith objected, as th . of authority. The examination was tnen continued as follows ; „ By Mr. Deane: Are you in a position to give an opinion 'ear, as to the cause of death ? Professor this Taylor:. AS to apoplexy, from disease, there I s not case any clear roof. add itional evidence, the case resolv p es itself l3 m u edi f c a poplexy, as th e resu l t of excessive drinking, t r medically t ° as th e result of poisoning by prussic acid. ° Du a r P iu ° g Pi 4 1Y e evidence I have taken notes of the following points. The evidence of Mr. Walkerdin and Dr. Campbell, on the v ery large quantiti es o f a l co h ol or alcoholic liquors taken 1 th e deceased ; th e a b sence of any evidence that he ardotook Prussic acid, (as far as I am aware), and which, in r to have killed him, he must have taken within half hs ‘a hour of his death. Then sir, a third point I have -Lar ked down, which we rather rely upon medically, th e absence of any Poison in the body, when examined. On that Po int I wish to make one observation. I once '4(l intestine the s o pportunity of seein g th e contents o f the of a man who had died from th e effects of a'dose of three drachms of prussic acid. That IN seven t t ime s n the quantity :that will d es t ro y life. 2are4 fnd ha r twelve ys I could n, b y the most ou ful dissectio n , detectda the remotest trace of prussic '",te'd• This is owing to two causes. The loss of prussic ge ld is owins, first, to its great volatility and: diffusion ; w an i?l i s P t e mial3 7 , when the animal matter putrifies in contact ' , so alto produce hydro -sulphate of ammonia, the poison is chemically destroyed. I should not expect to Pad any trace of prussic acid after three months' burial latx_.l close coffin. If this were a question of poisoning by ~,I2t_lalocY, arsenic, or mercury, the non -discovery of Poison would be adverse to the belief that the person died ° f Poison, but in the case of prussic acid, after the long period, we ean never expect to foul it. Therefore, the non-discovery of it in Walter Palmer's body is not in any way inconsistent with his death from prussic acid. The symptoms that I have stated are consistent with apoplexy, as the result of prussic acid, or as the result of excessive drinking; and there is this great peculiarity in the case, that assuming prussic acid to have been taken, the ordin ary symptoms may have been somewhat modified by the drinking habits of the deceased. The sterterous b rea thi ng which is generally att en d an t on poisoning by alcohol may have been in this case partly dependent on the amount of alcoholic liquor taken by the deceased. Rest ing upon medical data, it is impossible to say, from the evidencejwhether he died from prussic acid, or from apo plexy as,the results of excessive drinking. I am giving my opinion now from medical grounds alone. The only abso lute solution of the question would have been the exami nation of the head and stomach, within two or three days after death. A very rapid death like his within half an hour, is, according to my experience, very rare, unless accompanied with the apoplexy, there be disease of the heart. In poisoning by prussic acid the almost uni versal rule is, that death takes place within half an hour, or the patient recovers. Wherever there is disease in the body it acts more rapidly. That is, I believe, sir, alt I have to say By Mr. Deane There might be ef f usion on the brain caused by congestion. It is probable that there might be effusion of blood. Supposing there had been effusion of blood in this case, there might have been pon mortem traces. By Mr. Smith : I have stated that I 'could not give an opinion as to the cause of death. We examined the heart very closely, for Dr. Rees and myself desired to see if there was anything in the heart to account for death. It was sound enough. All the valves were sound, and I certainly can take upon me to state that there was nothing in the state of the heart to account for death. There , was no thickening of the left ventricle. I state my opinion that at the time of death there was no disease of the heart. Supposing the circumstances had been related to me, the suggestion of poison would not have entered into my mind: I should have said apoplexy, but whether from poison or disease, I could not:say. It, there was no change about the body to account for death, the suggestion would have come as to poison. The fact of throwing off the blood from the stomach is indicative of a conjestive state of the brain, and diseased state of the liver. Ido not think that apoplexy would result from diseased liver and kidneys. The evidence given now is the same as before, that death resulted from apoplexy, caused by excessive drinking, unless there was something administered to him within half an how. of his death. By a Juror: I should have expected that Walter Palmer's apoplexy would have lasted about two or three hours. By Mr. Smith: I am not aware of any case of rapid death by apoplexy, where there has not been disease of the heart. Professor Rees 'was then re-called, and examined : I assisted Dr. Taylor in making the analysis, referred to him in the case of Walter Palmer. The cause of death was either apoplexy, arising from natural disease, or the ad ministering of prussic acid. We were unable to trace prussic acid, but, even if it had been present at the time of death, three monhta' interment would have been sufficient to have produced evaporation. By Mr. Deane : The symptoms found might have resulted from drunkenness or not. We could not discover disease in the heart. The cavities were examined very carefully, and we could detect no disease in the heart. The kidneys ap peared to be somewhat congested, as also the other organs. The liver had evidently been diseased during life, as it was enlarged, and its edges thickened. In my opinion, the duration of a fit of apoplexy, caused by internal disease, or by excessive drinking, would last from four hours to four hours and a half. When there is no disease of the heart, four hours would be a quick time for death to ensue. Such causes of death as that of Walter Palmer have been re corded, but they have been extremely rare. Mr. Day, surgeon, of Stafford, was here recalled, and was about to give his evidence, when Mr. Bergen, the su p e rintendent of the Rugeley police, came forward and stated that he had a private communica tion which he wished to make to the coroner. Mr. Smith here rose and demanded to know in what capacity Mr. Bergen was acting, and contended that his interference now was highly improper. In reply to Mr. Smith, Mr. Bergen refused to communi cate to him the information he had to give, and he then approached the coroner, and stated to him that he had ascertained that Mr. Day, who had already given evidence to the effect that the deceased died from apoplexy, the result of excessive drinking, had stated to Mr. Shaw, of Stafford, that he believed the deoeased, Walter Palmer, was poisoned. (Sensation.) Mr. Smith, mnch excited, here denounced the conduct of Mr. Bergen as unconstitutional, disgraceful, and disgusting. Mr. Day denied making use of the statement just made by Mr. Bergen, and wished to explain. Ile then said---I never said that I believe Walter Palmer was poisoned. You will please to emphasise the word " believe." But I m have said, an d I b e li eve I have said, in conversation with Mr. Shaw, of Stafford, Mr. Deane, Captain HattPn, and even Mr. S m i t h , that I thought if he (William Palmer) had done the other two cases it was not impossible that he might have done it for his brother also. I will draw your attention to the difference between what I might have believed, and what I might have thought. To believe is a conviction founded on evidence amounting to belief. But to think is an imagination of the mind that may be reversed. Mr. Smith : Is this rubbish to be placed ;upon the pro.. ceedings? Mr. Bergen has no right to come and make such statements. Mr. Bergen : I have a right, and I have made the state ment in the exercise of my duty. Mr. Smith (still much excited): Sir, I do not wish either to prolong this enquiry, or unnecessarily to take up the time of the court, but I do say that for the sake of all of us—for the sake of the public, present and absent—l must protest -t the course that has just been adopted. I say it you, sir, to the jury, and to all those who are now present, but at the same time I say it firmly, Or what we have now witnessed is scandalous. I sa, most disnusting exhibition, to pick up mere hearsay ev deuce. in order to prejudice a man who will be present!, on his trial on two of the gravest charges. I sa: that if the mere scandal and gossip that exist in the locality is to be picked by a policeman and publicly brought forward in a case like this it is dishonest on his part as a police officer— disgusting as a man, and it is unconstitutional the pre sence of a judge. (Loud cheers in court.) You, sir, ought to protect the office you hold, rather than allow yourself to be dictated to by men who are evidently prejudiced, and ready to believe every piece of scandal they hear. The Coroner: I am not aware that I allowed myself to be dictated to. Mr. Smith : I repeat that it is most unconstitutional that the palladium of our liberty should be sacrificed to the mere prejudices of a policeman. Mr. Bergen : 1 hare only done my duty. Mr. Smith : You have far outstepped it, sir, but I will make you know your duty before I have done with this again with respect it is a The Coroner : Proceed with the evidence. George Whyman, the chemist's apprentice, of Wolver hampton, was next re-called, and produced his employer's books. He said that he was now certain as to the day when William Palmer purchased the prussic acid from him in his employer's shop. It was on the 14th August last. Mr. Smith then proceeded to cross-examine the witness at considerable length; but before doing so, he cautioned him as to what he said, as he (Mr. Smith) was in a position absolutely to prove what he had stated was not correct. Mr. Deane remarked that it was unfair to intimidate the witness. Mr. Smith replied that he did not wish to intimidate him, but he had proof that there was a mistake. The witness was then subjected to a lengthy and severe cross-examination at the cl ose o f wh i ch Mr. Smith im puted perpi r y to t he witness, and said he knew his remedy, and should have the witness tried by a jury of his country. Mr. Weaver, of the firm of Maunder and Weaver, Wol verhampton, one of the employers of the last witness, said they had never had William Palmer in their books. If any one had said he had an account with them, it was false. At the time of Cook's case, the last witness told him that he sold an ounce of prussic acid to Pa'mer. After the examination of three other unimportant wit nesses, Mr. Pratt, solicitor, of Mayfair, London, was shortly examined in reference to his insurance transactions with Palmer. He said he should be a loser of £4,000 by Palmer, on the policies he (witness) held. The examination had not proceeded far, when the jury said that they did not think he was at all implicated. %The Coroner then summed up the evidence at great length, after which the jury retired, and after an absence of two hours and a quarter, re-entered the court amidst the most profound silence. The coroner : Gentlemen, are you agreed in your hhect?oreman: We verdict? Are are not. The Corone r : Twethte majority agreed? The Foreman: whanty-two are agreed to a verdict. The Coroner: do vou find to be the cause of the death of Walter Palmer The Foreman: WE FIND TH AT MER DIED F/3 0 M THE EFFE CTWALTER PAL_ OF P ACID, AND THAT SUCH PRUSSIC ACID WAS WILFULLY ADMINISTERE D BY append to our v er di ct manner in Whici of WM. P ALMER. t e he also Thomas our h s trong e e d m i s a a n p p a d r o d v e a d : Walkerdin gave his evidence. The Coroner: That, I take it, is a verdict of Wilful Murder. The Foreman: Yes it is. The jury at the same time wish it to be understood that ,they think great credit is due to the chief constable and the conqabulary, ',for bringing these cases before us, although they are pain ful enquiries to us all. We think application should be:made in the proper quarter for some recompense to be made to Mr. Willis (of the Talbot Inn) for the mis chief done to the business of his house by the body being taken there. The proceedings then terminated about nine o'clock ----- The Medical Times and Gazette publishes a memoir of the accused William Palmer, from which we cull the following extracts : It appears that William Palmer is a member of a very wealthy family, and is now in his thirty. NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1856. fourth year or thereabouts. He was educated for the medical profession, was a pupil at St. Bartholomew's, received the diploma of the College of Surgeons in 1846, and settled at Rugeley, his native place. He married in 1847, Anne, the natural daughter of Colonel' Willi am Brookes and Mary Thornton, his housekeeper. Colonel Brookes, who, after quitt:ng the East India service, took up his residence at Stafford, died in 1834, leaving con siderable property, and more than one natural child. To Anne Thornton he bequeathed, by a will dated July 27, 1833, nine houses at Stafford, besides land, and the interest of 20,000 sicca rupees, for herself and her children, and appointed Dr. Edward Knight, a highly respectable physician of Stafford, and a Mr. Dawson, her guardians and trustees. To Mary Thornton, the mother of Anne, the colonel bequeathed certain property, which was to pass to the daughter at the decease of the mother. Mary Thornton departed this life, it is said while a guest at Palmer's house, in 1848 or 1849. Now, although the will of Colonel Brookes would seem clear enough to any one who was ignorant of law, and although, in the present state of the law, as we are informed, it would be sufficient, yet it was discovered by the legal fraternity some years since, that the language conveying the bequest to Anne Thornton was not suffi ciently forcible to convey it to her absolutely, but only to give her a life interest in it; so that at her decease it was liable to be claim 3d by the heir-at-law to Colonel Brookes. tinder these circumstances, there was nothing unnatural or unusual in the idea that Palmer should insure his wife's life, in order to protect himself from the inevitable loss which must ensue in case of her decease. And since her property consisted of seventeen acres of land, valued at between three and four hundred pounds an acre, besides nine houses, and the interest of the sicca rupees—probably altogether worth at least £4OO per annum, upon which he had borrowed largely from his mother—there could be no doubt of his having such an interest in his wife's life as would justify insur ance. Mrs. Palmer died on September 29, 1854, leaving only one surviving child, a - boy of seven years ; and, as if to justify the husband its eliecting an insurance, an action was brought within a month, by Colonel Brooke's heir-at-law, to obtain possession of Mrs. Palmer's pro perty. Palmer brought up the life policies on the 16th October, 1854, and employed Mr. Pratt, the solicitor, to obtain the money from the offices. Mr. Pratt, who seems to have acted with entire bona fide, and the caution usual among lawyers, required to be furnished with evidence of the husband's pecuniary interest in his wife's life, took counsel's opinion on every step, and obtained the £B,OOO from the offices on the 6th February, 1355 ; strangely enough, the £5,000 from the Scottish Equi table was paid through a banker, nnknown ti Pratt, The same publication, alluding to poisoning by tartar emetic, says : The Rugeley case seems to be the first occasion on which we hear of tartar emetic as a slow poison ; and we may fully expect that this point, as well as the varied and apparently uncertain action of this substance as a poison, will be well handled by the gentlemen of the long robe employed in the defence. The public mind is not aware of tho diversity of action of poisons according to the dose and circumstances of administration. For, first, an irritant poison may destroy life by its action on the glottis while being swallowed. 2nd, it may do so by its immediate effect on the stomach, or/ i on the intestines. 3rd, it may pass from the stomach into the blood, and produce great diversity of effects by its operation on the organs to which it is carried, and with which it may possibly be incorporated. 4th, if the patient live on, it may again produce a frail set of symptoms by its passage through the organs by which nature destines it to be eliminated from the body. Now, in the cases in which tartar emetic has been recorded to have acted as a poison, the symptoms were those of the second order; vomiting and convulsions being the leading symptoms, both arising probably from the primary irritation of the stomach : as, for example, in the cases of the two children poisoned each by 10 grains, as reported in Taylor. But in the case before us the second, third, and fourth classes of symptoms were each probably present in equal proportions. There were irritation of the stomach, poisoning of the blood, and exhausting efforts at elimination. Then, again, while small doses in some persons, in some states of health, will produce dangerous symptoms, in other per sons, in the same states of illness, immense doses produce scarcely any perceptible effect at all. Then we may look with liberal interest for the kind of proof which will be offered of the supposed fact that Palmer, and not any one else, did administer antimony. That tartar emetic was found among the other common drugs which he possessed does not amount to much I THE ASSASSINATION IN BEDFORD-ROW Yesterday, the adjourned inquest on the body of the unfortunate Mr Waugh was resumed at the board-room of St. Andrew's Workhouse, Gray's •inn-lane, before Mr. Wakley, coroner, and a highly respectable jury. The inquest was adjourned on the former lay in order that Westron, the murderer, might attend, and be identified by the various witnesses who saw the prisoner on the morning of the horrible and melancholy occurrence. A memorial was presented to the Secretary of State, who issued an order accordingly to the Governor of the House of Detention. Yesterday morning the prisoner was conveyed in a cab, in custody of Inspector Checkley and Sergeant Haynes, of the E division, to the board-room ; but owing to his temoval being earlier than was expected, but few persons had congre- gated to catch a glimpse of him The prisoner, whilst before the coroner, appeared not to feel the awful position in which he had placed himself by the diabolical act he had committed. _lie stood with his arms fol , and leisurely surveyed the proceedings i❑ a manner almost amounting to total indifferent Hum- phreys attended to prosecute on the part of the executors of the deceased gentleman, and Mr. Lewis for the prisoner. The various witnesses, whose examination has already been given, were in attendance to identify the prisoner, but before he was brought into court Mr.Wakley requested Mr. Whitfield, the principal witness, to retire. The prisoner was then brought into the room, and allowed to stand amongst the crowd ; when Mr. Whitfield was called in, and asked to pick out the man who he saw shoot the deceased. He immediately pointed out the prisoner as the man. Inspector Checkley deposed, in addition to what has already been published, that ott searching the prisoner's lodgings he found, amongst other things, a bAt containing powder, percussion caps, from twelve to fifteen bullets, and a bullet mould. The bullets fitted the pistol, which the inspector ascertained the prisoner purchased about fifteen months ago, for a guinea, from Mr. Wilcox, tobacconist, Railway•arcb, Minories. The Coroner then directed the Inspector to remove the prisoner from the room, and have him conveyed to the police station at once. The prisoner was then removed. Mr. Lewis said it was to be regretted that the prisoner laboured under a delusion with reference to the deceased gentleman, and the friends of the prisoner were anxious that it should be known that so far from that gentleman having behaved ill to him, he had treated him and tharn with the greatest kindness, and had always acted for their benefit. On another occasion he (lir. Lewis) should be able to prove that the prisoner was labouring under'a delusion; but it was useless for him to do so then, as that court could not act on such evidence. This delusion was, if he might so term it,. an hereditary complaint in the family. The prisoner's father, and uncle destroyed themselves whilst labouring under mental derangement, and his aunt died in a lunatic asylum. His conduct in his lodgings had been such as would leave no doubt but that the prisoner ought not to have been permitted to be at large, and ho had h a d t o leave various lodgings from his conduct being, as the par ties:stated, that of a madman. On one occasion he opened his window, and set the things in the room on fire, and when remonstrated with, alleged he did it to destroy the devil. The Coroner, in summing up, made some remarks on the impropriety of allowing persons of the prisoner's description ,o be at large. He looked upon it as an act of cruelty to allow such persons their freedom. The jury returned a verdict of Wilful Murder against the prisoner The prisoner had been taken to the Clerkenwell police station, from whence be was formally committed for trial for the wilful murder of Mr. Waugh. The following letter has been addressed by the prisoner to Inspector Checkly "House of Detention, Clerkenwell. " Sir,—l have not received the leather bag, sealed with red wax, in my bag, containing some papers that I am desirous of having in my own possession, and for which I have made application at my lodgings, but find the keys are still in your hands, and I am unable yet to get them. If you prohibit my having them, you will Please inform me at once, as other steps must be taken.—Sir, yours, &c., `. WESTUON." FUNERAL OF AIR. WAUGH. The mortal remains of this unfortunate gentleman were yesterday eoPsigned to their final resting-place. The vicinity of the residence of the late Mr. Waugh was in a state of much excitement, and groups of persons were to be seen patiently waiting, at different parts of the road, the arrival of the melancholy procession. At eleven o'cloelt the funeral cortege, consisting of a hearse and five mourning coaches, proceeded at a slow pace towards the Highgate Cemetery, at which place it arrived shortly after one o'clock. With the exception of the family and rela tives of the deceased gentlemen, there were but few persons present itt the interment or the body, THE STEAM-SHIP PERSIA Yesterday, at eleven o'clock, the royal' mail steam-ship Persia left the . Jitiskisson doek, and proceeded to her moorings in the Blayne, preparatory to starting on her first voyage across the Atlantic on next Saturday. The morning, which promised fair, suddenly became overcast, with dark and threatening clouds, about half-past ten o'clock, and shortly afterwards a heavy and drenching rain began to fall ; but notwithstanding this damper to sightseers, crowds of spec- tutors were gathered on the dock piers to witness the departure ; and had the weather proved favourable, we have no doubt that they would have been counted by thousands. The Persia left her berth in the dock at eleven'o'cloct frOm her immense size, fully an.hour e e was about to propo itors," he might al e meant the Colli of their Compet the Atlantic—h snips across. He —(laughter)—it N that the Collins' 1 vas a matter of history, but he world shown them how to make 5..1 great deal about f self he h - ad secured f • "--.)/ would therefore as k th em to drink a full buraper—" Suet. to the Collins' Company," coupling William Brown. (Applause.) ith it the name of Mr Ir. Charl Maclver, who, eers.) The chairm said tl: 1 them in speed ; but t: a the Collins' co powerful competitors to con lated tl em. (Hear, hear.) to the fact, that ".Brother Jonathan" was enterpri,..„ skilful, and that while his ships were one day to be seen in the Arctic seas, h e was i n t h e next to be seen cutting a canal to unite two of the great oceans of the world. (Hear, hear.) All such enterprise was net only a national benefit, but it also benefitted the world, and he was sure there was not one in this country who was more gratified at the suc• dess of.the enterprise of the Cunard company, and the gen tlemen connected with it, than he was. (Cheers.) One thing he regretted to see, and it was this, that the enter prise was not sufficiently remunerative to the Proprietors, as the act lately passed at the instance of Lord Campbell sub jected them to responsibilities whic:a no man could guard against, and which few men would be willing to incur. (Hear, hear, hear.) He for one should be afraid to be a steam ship proprietor under the circumstances, but the Cunard Company were willing to incur all those responsibilities, in promoting the comfort and pro sperity of their fellow subjects, and, on that account, they deserved a large amount of success. In conclusion, he begged to propose the health of Mr. Charles Maclver, and trusted that he and his family might long enjoy every prosperity, and be blessed with every comfort. The toast was drunk in a bumper, and was acknowledged, on the part of Mr. Maclver, by the OJ end with, who . turn. s They could not shut theil Mr. and then proposed the h ea lth of _ aatrman the . lion. Joseph Cunard. In doing so, he said he had long experience of the energy and zeal which Mr. Charles Maclver displayed, in working out the great interests of his company, and, in fact, in a great measure the works which they saw around them, on leaving the dock, had been brought into being by his energy. (Hear, hear.) He, on all occasions, gave the dock committee every assistance, and they, in turn, felt justified to do their utmost to carry out his intentions, but there was another gentleman, one who was connected with the company even before Mr, Maclver, whom they should not forget. He alluded to the Hon. Joseph Cunard, the gentleman with whom the scheme of the company originated, they should not forget g its great success the man with w Ae hPrrarorl om it I (Hear, hear The toast was drunk with all the honours. The Chairman acknowledged the toast on behalf of the lion. Mr. Cunard. Mr. Potter proposed the health of Messrs, Barns, and in a brief but eulogistic address, pointed out that to their energy too, in connection with the gentlemen with whom they were associated, was the success of the company due. The toast was drunk with all the honours. The Chairman responded on behalf of the Messrs. Burns. Mr. Harold Littledale proposed Captain Judkins' health, which was chunk with three times three. Captain J udkins, in appropriate terms, ackowledged the compliment, and said that if the speed of the Persia on her approaching trip, did not come up to expectation, it should be remembered that she was an iron ship, and that he was new to such vessels. Before he thought of speed, he would secure safety, and when he had that, he would look for speed. (Hear.) If he erred at all, he would err on the right side. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) The health of Captain Harrison, who is to command the Leviathan ship, now being built by Mr. Scott Russell, was then drank. rrison r I.P.,then proposed the II( of the chaff I that n ) the etla the competition bete , that that competiti on wou ld b e carried out in the spirit which had hitherto pervaded it, and which was alike honourable to both. (Cheers.) The Chairman briefly acknowledged the compliment. ^ -• .1 Judkins then proposad the healths of Captain `;'aptain West, and Captain Eldridge, the corn the Collins' line. Comslock mandcrs vn, M P., acknowi ged the complime lemen to The Chairman then proposed the health of Mr. Bannin The toast was duly honoured. Mr. Banning briefly acknowledged the complini it, in doing so testified to the efficient and satisfact...., trit in which the mail service was performed by both companies Mr. Bathes, of the Liverpool Times, responded to the toast of the Press ; after which the company broke up. The Jackall, tender, was in attendance to bring them to the landingLstage. THE MURDER OF A WIFE AT BATH On Monday night the inquest upon the body of Eliza Howell, who was brutally murdered by her husband on the Saturday night preceding (as reported in yesterday's NOIIIIIEIOI TIMES), was commenced before Mr. English, the coroner, and a respectable jury. From the evidence, additional to that given before the magistrates, it appeared that Howell, after inflicting the injuries on his wife, ran off to the midwife who had previously been engaged to attend the deceased, and said she must come directly, or his wife would be dead before she got there. When near near the house Howell wished the midwife to go on by herself, but she refused, and ho then accompanied her. She found four or five people in the room NI ith deceased, and, upoa seeing the dreadful condition of the latter , declined to have anything to do with her without medical assistance. Two medical men were almost immediately in attendance. but, their aid was useless. After deceased's death they delivered her by the Caesarian operation of a healthy male child. It showed no signs of life, but had not long been dead, and would 'probably have been alive if the deceas d had been delivered half an hour earlier. Mr. Cox and Mr. Barrett deposed to the injuries sustained by!deceased, which might have resulted from a kick, but bore rather the appearance of having been produced by the heel of a person's boot stamping upon deceased after she was down. There was no furniture found in the room against which she could have fallen so as to produce the injuries, excepting a chair, against which it would be possible for her to have fallen, but not probable. The inquest was then adjourned. Letters received at Berlin, from St. Petersburg, announce that orders were sent off, on the 18th, to General Gortschakoff to suspend hostilities. The return of the General from the Crimea is expected; he is to be appointed Governor of Poland. The London Post says :—We believe that intelli gence has been received from St. Petersburg, that on the 18th instant the Emperor despatched an order to the Russian Generals in the Crimea to suspend hostilities. This important public step argues the sincerity of Russia's desire for peace— a desire which we hope may soon be gratified on meet and sufficient conditions. At the same time, it is but right to observe that the acceptance by Russia of the Austrian ultimatum does not justify us in yet :suspending hostilities. We must ourselves sign preliminaries of peace before we can abstain from acts o f war . It is also but fair to remark, that at the present season of the year, an order to suspend hostilities, where none can go forward amounts to a mere formality. he was courteous and gentlemanly, but, at the same time, he was not the less firm in requiring that whatever was necessary for the efficiency of the ship should be done. (Hear, hear.) He believed tat no officer in England bad fitted oat so many ships as Captain Bevis, nor had any officer done so much for the transport service as he, had done. (Cheers.) He begged, then, to propose the health of Captain Bevis. The toast was drunk with all the honours. Captain Schomberg, in tha absence of Captain Bevis, acknowledged the toast, expressing his pleasure at a brothe officer being sa highly lauded for the strict and faithfo performance of his duty. The Chairman then called for a bumper to ha toast which I e, namely, the "Health not say, their allies, on ships. (Hear, hear.) They knew a lines, and symmetry of build ; and, in a word, be did rot. know whether the Persia would have been floating in the Mersey that day had it not been for the.existerice of the Collins' line. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) In that lay the advantage of competition—that it developed not only enter prise, but mechani ca l s kill , in making it a n e c essar y ele ment of success. (Hear, hear. , ) That enterprise and skill had been shown in the Collins' line, and it would be their pride that day to drink its success (cheers); in connec tion with the toast, he begged to couple with it the name of Mr. William Brown, whose energy and perseverance had rained for him the pre-eminence he now enjoyed, and whose esy, and urbanity, had earned for him the respect of all. rs.) The same respect which h e h a d earned for him- The toast was drunk standing, and with all the honours. Mr. W. Brown, M.P., responded to the toast. He said he felt great pleasure in his name being coupled with it, and that if he was an owner, instead of being as he was the mere agent of the company, the manner in which it was proposed, and received, could not have been more pleasing or flatter ing to him. (Cheers.) He was merely the agent of the line, but no words could adequately describe the feeling of good fellowship, and mutual kindness, which characterised the intercourse hetw,P , ", - as dit d before the dif ficult task of warping her into the river had be omplished. Just as she ente d the dock basin, the Pacific came abreast of the spot, was proceeding down the river 'ou her outward trio, and immedi y on sighting now the greateSt of her rivals, saluted her with a salvo. The crew of the Persia were too busy at the warps 0 answer the salute, but we feel assured that her performances on her first voyage will prove that she merited the compliment, and that the Pacific will not have long to wait in New York for a return of it, and with interest. When she en- tered into the river, her engines were put in motion, and if anything were wauted to complete the admiration with Which, on the merest cursory ance, she inspires the be holder, it would be found in the stupendous machinery which propels her. Scarcely a vibration was to be felt as her huge cranks and pistons rose ~ even the eruptible tremour will bs lessened, when use e first stiffness. She slowly steamed up to the Sloyne, and anchored at her moorings at half-past twelve o'clock ; and here she will take in the remainder of has warn away ti her cargo, A numerous party of gentlemen were invited to witness the departure from the dock, those to whom cards were sent comprising --the Mayor and Magistrates of Liverpool the chairman and members of the dock committee; the chairman of the pilot committ€ Ir. Potter, chairman of r. W. lrown, M.P., e underwriters' and the other nuraber,s for -South Lancashire ; Colons Scott, commander of the forces of the Manchester district Colonel Bell, commander o' forces of he Liverpool district; Colonel Key, of the 15th Hu. Scott, son of the Duke of Buccleuch ; Adjutant Edwaras , W. Shuttleworth, Esq , Town Clerk; Joseph Pollock, Esq., judge of the county court ; the American, French, Sar dinian, and Turkish Consuls ' • the Collector, Comptrolle r , and Inspector 7 g enera l o f the Customs at Liverpool; the Postmaster of Liverpool, C. B. Banning, Esq., &c., &c. ; Mr. T. B. Horsfall, M.P. ; and Mr. J. C. Ewart, M.P., members of the borough, were also invited, but they, as well as other gentlemen to whom cards were sent, were unable to attend. After the ship had been secured at her moorings, the company de3cended to the saloon, where they were enter tained at a sumptuous - dejeuner. In the absence of Charles Maclver, Esq., who is at Maltz, the chair was occupied by Donald Currie, Esq., supported on the right by William Brown, Esq., M.P., and on the left by Francis Shand, Esq., vice-chairman of the Dock Committee. The vice chair was filled by Captain Judkin, commander of the Persia. . rs; Lord Witter After the repast had been partaken of, the usual loyal toasts were drunk with all the honours. The toast of the "Emperor of the French and our Allies" VMS then drunk, and it was succeeded by that of the " Army and Navy." Lord Walter Scott briefly acknowledged the compliment on the part of the army. Capin Schomberg responded for the navy, and in the course of his observations, referred to the services rendered in the presen: war by the steam mercantile-marine of this country. Not only had its ships conveyed the armies of Great Britain to the seat of war, but they h a d a l so conveye d the great part of the armies f the Allies, and, moreover, they had fed those armies at a distance of 3,000 miles from home..• (Cheers.) Th a t h e th oug h t reflected the highest honour on the directors of the steam-ship companies of England—(hear, hear)—and especially on the Cunard Com pany, whose fleet was among the most conspicuous. (Hear, hear, and cheers) The captains, and officers, and crews of those ships—and upon all of them the labour had chiefly devolved—had distinguished themselves in the performance of their duty (hear, hear), and he had great pleasure in having an opportunity to give expression to that feeling, because he felt assured that in doing so, he spoke as the mouthpiece of the navy. (Haar_ hp4,l k ilear, near. As to the ship o n which they were then on board,) her builder was a man whose celebrity and name were known in the most remote parts of the globe, certainly wherever the British flag floated ; and if it were any satisfaction for a tutor to know of the success of his pupils, Nr. Napier should feel it in the fact that some of the officers who had " walked" his factories, now commanded some of the finest ships in her.nijesty's service. (Cheers ) iThe Chairman then gave the " Health of the Members for the county and the borough," end coupled with the toast the name of Mr. W. Brawn, !f P. Mr. W. Brown, M. P.. acknowledged the compliment in brief terms. The "Health of the Mayor and Corporation of Liverpool" s then drank; Mr. Alderman S. Holme responded. He said he could have no hesitation in returninz the company hig sincere thanks on behalf of the body with which he had the honour to be connects them. It was that he came on board the sp.,. saloon they were then assembled ; fo the compliment which had been pai Li a feelin 4, in iihose r juvenile—(laughter): —still he remembered the period when he chased r 11)1) . 0 within a field of the noble dock fr which they had that morning come; and when the - town of Liverpool went down to look at a ship of 500 tons as a matter of the greatest curiosity, (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Now they were on b oar d a vessel whose tonnage was so enormous that he was almost afraid to state it, and yet, large as she was, he understood that she was to be succeeded by a vessel no less than 680 feet in length. (Hear, hear.) When he had looked in the magnificent engines, heard their pulsation, and seen how such a mass of iron could be turned and propelled, he exnerienced a fee'ing of awe, and of wonder, when he considered the skill which had conceived, and the p ower and energy which had executed so sublime an erection, and his heart had been lifted up to Him who , gave the genius to conceive, the mind to design, and' the skill to execute. (Cheers.) He treated the Corporation, in all their measures, would look forward and provide for the increased size of their ships— (hear, hear)—and they would go hand-in-hand with the spirit of energy which always characterised this country. (Hear, hear.) He had always been an advocate for every measure of the public bodies being carried out upon the largest and most gigantic scale, and he would not hesitate to say that if small measures characterised the public bodies of Liverpool, they would not be doing their duty, or acting fairly towards the skill, energy, and enterprise of the com mercial community of the town. (Hear, hear.) He begged again to thank them most cordially, and he trusted he might venture to say, in reference to the ship, on lading,ci may God give th e good ship a speedy and safe board of which they now wer e , i n t h e words of the bill of voyage." ,(Hear, hear, and cheers.) The toast of "The Magistrates of the B wough" was then drunk. and responded to by Mr. Edward Cropper. The Chairman then gave the " Health of the Chairman and Members of the Dock Committee." In doing so, he observed that the Cunard Company were grateful to the committee for the consideration which was always given to their applications ; but while the company 'gratefully ac knowledged every facility afforded them, he was sure that the committee would admit that they never asked for what was unreasonable. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Cunard himself was anxious to be present to express the sentiments of the company towards the dock committee, hut being unahle to e-tend, he requested that he (the chairman) would do so. (Hear, hear.) In conclusion, he would again say, in regard to the committee, that as the company only reasonably asked what they required, they were liberally met in what they demanded. (Cheers.) Mr. Francis Shand, in the absence of Mr. Chas. Turner, chairman of the committee, acknowledged thecompliment. He could assure them that the committee were ready and willing to facilitate the enterprise, of which such a ship as the Persia was the result, and at the same time he should say, that no company came forward in a more liberal spirit than the Cunard company, nor was there one to which the Dock Committee had greater satisfaction in fulfilling all they asked. (Hear, hear.) He regretted that the chairman of the committee - was not present, because though he fully felt the rbaponsibilitiea of his office, he could yet more nearly measure the largeness of their duties by observing the size of the vessel for which the port had to provide accom modation. (Hear, hear. hear.) He could only say, that it was the ,earnest desire of the committee to keep pace with the progress of the age, and to provide for the increased size of ships, and the requirements of the port. (Hear, hear.) The Chairman, in introducing the next toast, said that reference had been made to the services of the steam mer cantile marine in conveying the troops to the seat of war and supplying them with provisions, and Captain Schoen berg had paid a tribute to the commercial men whose enterprise had cared those fleets into existence. He did not intend to be egotistical when he said be believed those ships were well managed—(hear, hear,)—but they had been well paid for it, because of the simple fact that they could not be done without, (Cheers and laughter.) But, while they prided themselves on those ships, it should not be for gotten that, at this port at least, the Admiralty agent, had contributed not a little in securing for them that efficiency by which they had been so distinguished. (Hear, hear.) Captain Bevis was the Admiralty agent at this part- - r"•., auu lle (the chairman), could say, that no man could perform more satisfactorily and conscientiously the onerous duties which devolved on his office, than he did,.:(llear, hear.) To all, ilw vls TRADE REPORT ,--WEDNESDAY, --A1,....,,--. COTTON : There has been considerable animation in the Cotton market to-day. The demand has been active, and with only a moderate supply, prices tend upward-- The sales including 40 Pernambuco. 6id to 62d ; 20 Bahia, ; 150 Maranham, Gd to (iid ; 1,000 Egyptian, 521 to 80; 3,000 Surat,3ld to 4id—are reported 14,010 bales,of which 4,000 are on speculation and for Pm IF TS or 'I .t quiet, GUA to 59s 6d, ?,icl lower WOOD : 7 only bid y bid ;JO tons-oj. per cent f 6 frered at cent., sold at o 9 cwt. each, put up, 27s 6d oq. 275, 10 bags at 28' 6d. also ref f, making and 51. lon I for a cargo auction 17s 17s 9d. CUTCH : .1 194 cas' and 28s 6d r SAGO FLOUR , the market 2i to 3s lowe FARINA : 80 bags fair, at reruseu :ror of best 2nds, FUSTIC: 0 tons S, of hid light, avera per lb.; fai at 83c1 to 91 d 5. mon do., and brined do, rubbed, 73d to 81d; 2i ge 11 to 12 ibs - , at 7acitotild yen:ire 7 lbs. at 52 to avers_ daroaze( covers, 4Zd to 6 to 45 lbs per R 1!• Rrrle dri salted. Buenos A voi 11.4111 . —240 ox, average 61 lbs, a t 70 to 7#d 'per u lb, tare s solu lbs 60 do, average 69 lbs, at ad per lb, tare 5 lbs, (cut).- 1,700 salted, River Plate, horse hides offered, but not sold. —939 dry, Rio Grande, ox hides offered ; 200 sold, average 29 lbs, at 114 d per lb.-4,268 salted, N - hides offered, 2,193 sold ; ox, average per lb, tare 5 lbs ; cows, average 3' 54d per lb, tare 4 to 5 lbs; heated, at[44d to 41d; 2nds, 3i.1 to 44 per lb. tar e a lbs.- 468, Paraguay, hide cases, Ist class, average 19 to 20 lbs, at 81d to 82(.1 per lb; 2nds, 7 c 1 ; 3rds. 3d to 31d per lb. SUGAR. There continues a steady inquiry, and rather stiffer prices are realised; the sales consist of 160 hFcls. St. Lucia, at 38s to 41s; 70 casks French West India, at 44s ; 150 bags Dates, at 42, 9d, and 450 bags grainy Bengal, at 44s 6d per cwt. • e iv South iii to 591 b ,t 5d lo ge 44 to 56 lbs, RUM : 120 puncheons Demerara are reported at about previous prices. TEA : The market is unaltered; common Congou, to 9 1 d per lb. RICE : We have had rather more doing; 600 bags Bengal having been sold at 13s 6d, also 2,000 bags Arracan, of which the price is not reported, and M casks Carolina, at 24s to 253 61 all faults, and at 30s per cwt for sound. POLICE COURT YESTERDAY ( BEFORE MAXWELL.) STEALING BASKETS.- T wo young women, named Mar garet Sweeney and Mary Lyons, were brought up by detective officer Thompson, who said he saw them go into several shops in London-road, and try to steal some thing, but they did not succeed ; he however followed them into Queen-square, and there they entered the St. George's Bazaar, wl7 one of them managed to steal Ind hand them to.the other, 'Alen he arrested, both. :ets, of some value, lig off with tit lt to gaol for tl They were flths each who was ch N.—Dan iel Roden, f Lord-itreet, wa,s mrth, stated, that he purchased c( sum to the prisoner: certain and he was he other facts led in yesterday kNOTfIER SIIOPMAN C not think the oviden I sold , 7}d; ship d to 50 ; )bed, 9 erase 30 2nds, 64d to Buffalo hide , ugh, at to sd; 184 Penang cow hides. re was one paid for it the magistrate did allicient, and the prisoner was ~BARGED —George MeGregdr, ..nd Agnes, his rite, were brought up by Detective Scott, on a charge of having. stolen a large quantity of property from the shop of Messrs. Cook and Townsend, drapers. Byrom street. Mr. Black was for the prisoners. From the evidence of Scott, it appeared tbat for some time past he had watched the prisoner, who was in the employment of the above firm. The prisoner lodged at No. 14, Christian•street, and on searching his lodgings, goods to the value of upwards of £l2 were found there, and a quantity of similar goods were discovered to have been pledged at some pawnbrokers. The allegation was that the prisoner had stolen them from his employers, as goods of the same description had been missed from their stock.- Mr. Richard Taylor, the manager of Messrs. Cook and Townsend's establishment, proved that some of the nronerty`found belonged to the firm, although h e L T , was ably cross -examined by Mr. -*her houses had simi k on it :1 the f bility of his being the servant girl of pawnbrol it some .oduceti, She said, o nine b she was going dress; she cai witness plec ownsi Fairhurst, i pledged at 1 COD- ,ands )n of the cloth (( house, an_ taining a duplicate relatin s slip of paper, on which was writt( ceived a letter. Dperty ple4 " Li ft the things the He thought it was very suspi- Ind Scott coming just at the time to look for some sliewed him the letter, and it was found to relate to some of the stolen Property. Mr. Block contended that the wife must 'he discharged, which was accordingly done. He then stated that he would produce witnesses this day who would _prove that the prisoner had the things in his possession long before he went t o C oo k and Townsend's.. Mr. Cloug asked for a remand for seven days, as he expected to bring other charges against the prisoner from Manchester. Mr. Bluck loudly pro tested against this, and hoped that the magistrate would deal only with the case before him. His worship said that was all he would deal with. 'I he prisoner was then remanded to this day. STEALING LINEN.--Margaret Levison and David Levison were charged with stealing linen from behindi sottre houses in Smithdown-lane. This was a remanded ; case. The prisoners were mother and son, the latter a well-looking little boy. The clothes stolen were pawned by the mother, upon whom, when she watt arrested, no less than 42 pawn tickets were found. The boy was committed for seven days, and the woman for two months. (BEFORE MR. MANSFIELD.) A DOG BITING A POLICEMAN.—Thomas Burns, pawn broker's assistant, Crown-street, was charged with having set a dog to worry John Swarbrick, police officer 714, on the 12th instant. Mr. Block appeared for the defendant. It appeared that about three o'clock on the morning in question, the policeman found the door of the defendant's premises open, and knocked for some time to arouse the residents. The defendant at last with the dog, w hi c h r an at the came out oliceman and. bit him. It did n ot appear, however, tha p t the bite was a very severe one. Mr. Bluck argued that the night being dark tl. olicem recognised, and the ~roused at that hour. s only 'doing his duty when he found endant was very ungrate. I received. He fined the nt wa n Was not ngry at h e i n r. iviansfield said the intmat Sussanah Wilmot, a and handsomely dressed woman. t-tk_ the dock, charged with keeping an improper house in Oxford-place, Vine-street. Mr. Dd.lookir v alter, cuted. A police-officer was examined, who deposed that he saw several girls and gentlemen go into the prisoner's house at all hours, that he heard noises and disturbances there, and that ono night he saw a young woman expose herself in a state of nudity, on some waste ground back of the house. Evidence of a similar character was given by parties residing in the neighbourhood. Mr. Walter said he only applied for a remand for seven days, that the defendant might have time to leave the house, and enter into recognizances for her future conduct. Mr. Mansfield granted the application, and the defendant was 'Ordered to appear in court again next Wednesday. AN OLD SoLDIER.—A man named Radigan, . who resides in Chaucer-street, and who had been in the arm, got drunk on Tuesd ay evening, and mounting an o ld bayonet on a pole, marched through the streets, "shouldering his crutch," and showing " how fields were won," to the great delight of a crowd of boy s , w h o followed hi m shouting. The military ardour of Messrs. Thomas Keatley. and Henry Holland, was so much excited, that they first.began to break the windows, and then the head§ of the people, in which operation th were seized on by the police. They were fined 10s each.ey to -7id