Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-10 00:00:00

LANCASHIRE WINTER ASSIZES. WEDNESDAY. BEFORE MR JUSTICE WIGHTMAN. His Lordship entered the court, precisely at nine o'clock, when the Court proceeded with the trial of THE CHARGE OF MURDER AT WOOLTON, In this case, Andrew O'Brien, aged 36, a publican, having two extensive spirit vaults in Liverpool, the one in Milton -street, and the o her in Hanover-street, was charged with the murder of Ellen Molyneux, his wife's mother, at Wootton, on the Ist of November last. The case excited a more than usual amount of interest, the prisoner being well known in Liverpool, and during its protracted hearing, the court was densely crowded by a number of reapectab'e persons, who evinced great interest in the result. The prisoner appeared exceedingly dejected, and at time s wept severely, and evidently felt the painful position in which he was placed. Mr. o:ens, with whom was Mr. Scott, appeared for the prose cution, and Mr. Monck, Q C., with whom was Mr. Aspinall, appeared for the prisoner. The prisoner, on bring arraigned, pleaded not guilty. Mr. Ovens in open ing, said : The case which I shall hive to lay before you, is one which, from the grave nature of the crime, and the line of defence which will be taken for the prisoner, will require, and, I am sure, will receive, your mature and entire attention. The prisoner at the bar is charged with the wilful murder of Ellen Molyneux, who lived at a place called Much-Woolton. Mrs. Molyneux was the widow of Richard Molyneux, who carried on his business on acme premises in Milton-street. Be was a cow-keeper, and a seller of milk. He died in the year 1832, leaving his property in Milton-street to trustees, for the benefit of his wife. during the time that she remained unmarried, but at her death the property was to be divided, and shared amongst the !env children. I should have told you that there were two children, George and Mary, by Richard Molyneux, and two, James and Elizabeth, by a former husband. The son George is since dead After the death of her husband, the deceased carried on the trade, until the early part of the present year. The prisoner had also live'', and carried on business at the corner of the same street, and an intimacy sprang up, and the result was that the prisoner married the daughter of the de ceased Mr. Molyneux. They continued so until the March of the present year, when the deceased let her premises at the rental of £2B per annum; and went to live at Woolton. Woolton is six miles on the South East side of Liverpool. She went to lodge with a person named Moss, and the prisoner was in the habit of going to see her there occasionally, and to sleep in the houee, he on the bed, and the deceased on the sofa. We will now come to the 30,h of October. On that day, in the course of the afternoon, the prisoner and his wife visited the deceased. The wife remained there all that and the next day, up to the Saturday nigh*, when she left for her home, the prisoner continuing there. Up to that time, although the prisoner had been drinking, and was then suffering from its effects, he ha 1 romaine 1 all right. and all was well and quiet, up to the Sunday afternoon. The learned Counsel then went on to detail all the circumstances that took place, after that time, whica will be found fully narrated in the evidence adduced on the trial, by the several witnesses examined, and concluded by observing that in this case, there will be only two questions for you to decide. The first —was it the hand of the prisoner that caused the death of the deceased— of that he thought there could be no doubt; but the next, and most important question, would be—was the prisoner, at the time he com mitted the act, in such a state of mind as to render him responsible for his acts. On that point, every person is presumed to be in his senses until a jury had satisfied themselves, by the evidence, that he was not so, and, after citing Justice Willes's definition as to what sanity was, said, in conclusion, if it is proved to your satisfaction thee the prisoner was in a sta'e of mind to render him responsible for his actions, it will be your duty to find him guilty, but if it was not so, an'! they thought that, at the time he committed the act, that he was not respon sible for what he did, then they would arrive at a different conclusion, and acquit him cf the charge with which he then stood charged. Wha ever your verdict is, it was quite certain that it would give satis'actien to the court, and to the public. The following wit nesses ware then called for the prosecution : John Moss, of Woolton : The decease! lodged in la's house. On Friday, the 30th of Oct., the prisoner came to my house. I was at home, but did not see him, nor did I see him the next day. On Sunday I saw him first. I kept at home, and all was quiet. On Sunday morning I heard a sound coming from the deceased's room. It was the7noise of a person praying. I went up to the roam, and the prisoner was praying. The deceased came up and shouted to my wife. She called twice. I asked her what she wanted. "I want to know if I may go into Ellen's room, because the praying of Mr. O'Brien so loud annoys me." She afterwards said, "As he has taken to praying. I am gled." On that morning the deceased got acme whiskey for the prisoner. The prayer was out or a book, called "St Joseph." The prisoner prayed for an hour, at least. In consequence of that praying, about eleven o'clock I went across the road for a person called Thomas Atherton. He came with me to the corner of the house. The praying was still going on. It was so loud that we could hear it in the street. There are two outside windows in that street. The one fronts the road, and the other the garden. It is on the middle fl,or. I went for the priest, Mr. Kershaw, at the request of the deceased. This was before I heard any praying at all. After I had seen Atherton, I spoke to the deceased about the prisoner going home to Liverpool. I went out of the house about half-past two o'clock, accompanied by my wife and her sister. The deceased and the prisoner were left in the house. The street door was fastened, but any person might get in by a sharp push from the street. Cross-examined : My house is in the village, and is one of a number of houses built together, and faces the street There was one of the rooms occupied by the deceased, one window of which looked into the street, and the other was by the side. The entrance to the house is fr me the street. At the time of church service there are many persons passing. The deceased had lived with me since the 4th of May. I had no knowledge of her or the prisoner before that time. I was not at all alarmed by the demeanour of the deceased on that morning, nor was lon that day. I told Atherton that I had heard that the prisoner had been in the asylum, and was rather violent at times, and asked him if he would give me assistance if he should become rough. Re-examined : I recollect the priest leaving about half-past twelve o'clock, when the praying was over. When I left the house in the afternoon all was quiet Mrs. Moss, Ihe wife of the last witness, stated: I recollect the deceased, who lived in the upper room of my house. The prisoner used to Come sometimes to see her. He has remained all night. The decea=ei had only one room, which she occupied as a sleeping room and a bed room. When the prisoner stopped ail night he slept in the bed, and the deceased on a sofa The deceased was ab ut 69 years of age, She was a very strong person. I recollect the 30th of October. On that day the prisoner and hie wife carne to the house on a visit to the deceased. It was about half-past seven at night . . The prisoner was then quite drunk. hay both stopped all that night. The wife remained until four o'clock on the Saturday afternoon. I saw the prisoner in bad just before his wife left, and lees was then very quiet. I did not see the prisoner again until the Sun lay. About nine o'clock on that morning the- deceased came down and asked for some milk, and after that I gave her about half a gill of whiskey. The deceased, on that morning, went to chapel, and I saw her repeatedly after that. I beard the prisoner praying, Lord, have mercy on tie Jesus, have mercy on us I" This he repeatedly said. I saw the priest at the house with the prisoner, but he did not remain there more than fire minutes. After that deceased came down and cooked her dinner In the afternoon I left the house with my husband, but before doing s) I heard some knocking, and I called to her that I was going eut, and the deceased replied " Very well." I asked the deceased if she use going out before we returned. She said " No." We took the key cf the doer, as she said she would take him home by the six o'clock cmnibue. I staked her how the prisoner was then. She replied "He is very quiet and comfortable ; he is eitting in the two arm chairs." I did not see the deceased after that. Cross examined : The prisoner frequently visited the deceased. On the Sunday morning she appeared to be much put about, particularly so after the prisoner had been prayi ng so loudly and so violently. Thomas Atherton stated : On the morning of the day in question, the witness Moss called me, and I went to the corner of no house and heard a person praying very loudly, saying : ." The Lord Jesus save me —the Lord sly° me," and then repeated the Lord's Prayer. Cross examined : This was quite loud. I told Moss that when he had a man effected as the prisoner was he should give notice to the police. About a qn.attar past three in the afternoon I saw the head and arm of the deceased out of the window of the room where I had previously heard the . praying. The deceased was very steady. Mrs. Kay state ! : On the Sunday afternoon I left my house for the purpose of going to chapel. I had to pass Moss's halve. When I got there I heard several loud screams from the house The words I heard were, "Oh dear !" "Oh dear I' The sound came from the deceased's room. made a stop, and heard the wrestling of two feet, and as if a person's head was knocked on the boards. I stopped only for a few momeu !e, and called at the next cottage (Walker's), and told them what I heard. I then went on to chapel. Lucy Gore, the sister-in-law to the deceased, said : The deceased was 66 years of age. I recollect the Sunday in question. I went to. Moss's house about three o'clock on that afternoon. The doors were all closed. I tried to open them, but could not get in. At the back- At LEWIS & ()WANT'S, Ranelagh-street, , BOYS are CLOTHED from ale Ages of Six Tireaty lean door I heard a voice as if a person was going up stairs. It was the sound of a heavy footstep, going up two or three stairs at a time. I afterwards heard a noise as if some person was stamping on the floor. I then went to the window, which was open to the top, and called, as loud as I could, " Mrs. Molyneux," but did not receive any answer. I then went away, and told my husband. Cross examined : I have seen the prisoner several times. I have never seen him violent and excited. Margaret Collins examined : About three o'clock in the afternoon she went to Walker's door, which is next door to Moss's. There were some persons then inside Moss's house. I heard something like somebody knocking ; it was more like a thumping. I then went to the house under the deceased's Kind iw, out of which I saw a head and arm hanging over the window cell. She appeared to be dead. After I had told Atherton, I returned and saw the prisoner draw the body from the window. Ralph Ashton cor roborated the statement made by the last witness, as to seeing the body of the deceased by the window. Charles Kershaw : I was the Catholic priest at Woolton on the Sunday in question. In consequence of a mes age I went to see the prisoner shortly after twelve o'clock. I was with him from five to ten minutes. When I went into the roo n I patted the prisoner on the shoulder, and expressed a hope that he would do better in future, sled encouraged bin to do so. I do not recollect who spoke first. The deceased was in the room. There was no reason assigned for my being sent for. I found the deceased kneeling in the room. with the fora hart of his body on the bed. There was a book on the bed before him ; He rose, and seemed very much flurried. I think I asked him what was the cause of his getting drunk ? His reply was, to the best of my recollection, " Company." I encouraged him to do better, and Ido not recollect that he made any further observations. The deceased said that he had been very good and quiet all that snoinirg. He appeared, as I have seen men, as though he was recovering from a drunken fit. After that, I went to the door of the house. It was about half-past three o'clock. There were a number of persons about the door. The door was forced open by me. I and Gore were the first that went in, and went up stairs. I saw at the head of the stairs what might be termed a pool of blood, an i I passed on into the room. I saw the body of the deceased partially hanging out of the window, covered with blood. The prisoner was standing over her in a leaning posture, with his hand on her breast. The prisoner said, "I have done it." Mr. Gore, after that, said, " Oh, Mr O'Bren, what have you done ?" and the prisoner repeated the words, " I have done it." The prisoner did not utter another word, but I observed that he appeared very calm to what he had been in the morning, a calmness that appeared almost preternatural. I put my hand on his shoulder. Cross-examined: The prisoner appeared as if he had been labouring under drink, the effihts of which were going off. He was not in a fit state to receive con solation. I do not think that my presence would have had the effect of quieting the prisoner in mind, although the presence of the priest may have had that effect on toe minds of some Irish Roman Catholics. William Gore, the brother to the deceased, wont to the house with the last witness, and fully corroborated the evidence given by the last witness, as to the appearance of the house, and the exclamation of the prisoner—" I have done it." Cross-examined : The deceased and the prisoner seemed to be very fond of each other. Ho used, when iu a state of excitemenago and stay with her. By his Lordship : The prisoner did not appear in his right mind after the murder. He appeared caluaand did not take any notice of any body. Re-examined.: He appeared, when I went into the room, as if he was playing with the deceased's head. She was quite dead. Inspector Green recollected the Sunday in question. I went to the house soon after the door was broken open. I saw the prisoner. I heard him say, " I did it." He seemed quite calm, and was raising himself from the body. I did not see anything in the prisoner to induce me to believe that he was not in a sans state of mind. I took him to the Station-house. Mr. Cross, the surgeon, was present. I asked him his name, and he said " O'Brien " I then asked him if he knew what he was taken for. "He replied, for the murder of Mrs. Molyneux." No more passed at that time. I then went to the house, leaving the prisoner in charge of a constable, and on the body of deceased was found a key, which opened a drawer, in which was an I. 0. U., signed by the prisoner. After that I visited the prisoner in his cell, with Mr. Cross, and received instructions to remove him from the posi tion in which he was siting. When we went up to him he sprang up in a threatening attitude to Mr. Cross, when the handceffs were font for; but Mr. Cross, before they were put on, said, " O'Brien, will you be quiet ?" and ; he replied " Yes, I will." I spoke to him several times while he was in custody, and he always gave me rational anserers When he was before the magistrates he appeared to be very vio'ent. He put questions to the witnesses, and they were all to the point. Cross-examined : Mr. Lawrence is the magistrate's clerk, and he instructs the prosecution. I and Superintendent Fowler have got up the evidence, and we heard that the prisoner had been in a luna'ic ward at the workhouse. Superintendent Fowler: On Sunday I went to the police station. The prisoner was in custody. He was sitting on the cell bed, with his head hanging back He was in his shirt sleeves, and his stockings were bloody. I asked him if he would like to have a pair of clean stock ings, and he replied yes, and they were sent for. I after that searched the house, and in a drawer I found the bank book, and inside of it I found an ' I 0 U." There were also some deeds in the drawer. On the table I found a book ; it was open. Mr. Cross, a surgeon, went to the house shortly after three o'clock on the day of the murder, and found the body of the deceased, which bore marks of violence on the head that caused cencussion of the brain, marks on the neck from strangulation, and the windpipe broken. These injuries would cause death. I then went to the prisoner in the police-office, I asked him, if he knew where he was Ile said, Yes, in prison." I asked him if he knew what it was for. He said, "Yes, for murder." I then said, how canoe you to do it. He replied, " I did it so," moving his hand, as if striking a person on the neck. I said, it is a bad business, He said the hand of Gml was upon me, ; and I could not restrain myself. He then appeared to rue as if he had been drinking. I did not observe any appear ance of insanity about him, nor of delirium tremens. He did not talk incoherently, nor did he appear bodily to have been affected by it. About eight o'clock in the evening I saw the prisoner again. There was another en geon present. I spoke to him, but he did not give me any answer. I saw him again about eleven o'clock, and again on the lionday morning, when ha was soleldeg. When before the magistrates he was ex ceedingly violent, and wrung his hands. Had he (witness) seen that, and that alone, he should have thought him mad. He also said, "The doctors will be able to show that I am not in my right senses " He asked the doctor if he was in his right senses when he did it, and the doctor replied, " You were conscious of what was pass ing around you." Cross-examined: I have been in prac tice for twelve or thirteen years. At one time my impres sion was that the prisoner was insane. From what I have seen and from what I have heard of tiso prisoner, I am of the opinion that, when he came before the magistrates, he was sane, and knew how to regulate his conduct. This witness was examined at considerable length, the result of which—as well as his answers were heard, and could be understood—was to the effect that he should be better able to judge of the sanity of the prisoner if he had heard his previous history, and, therefore, could not give an opinion no further than as to ' what he had seen of him in gaol or before the magistrates. Re; exsmined : His conduct with the body appeared to him to be a sample of sanity, but he was not well versed in that practice. Mr. Rigg, a surgeon :On the Sunday in question, I .sow the prisoner in the cell, and amain on the following morning. He then examined him minutely, when he appeared to be asleep, but afterwards began to sob. Ho had seen hi n twice subsequently to that time. I never saw him before the deed was committed. Mr. J. D. Clay ton, governor of Rainhill, saw the prisoner on the 17th of November, but did not see anything in his actions to denote insanity. Charles Kelly, of the North Dispensary, was next called On the 2nd of August last, I visited the Main Bridewell, and there saw the prisoner. He had made an attempt upon his life. He appeared to be suffer kg from symptoms of delirium tremens. But in this case was caused by drink. He was not violent. There was no symptoms of insanity. I recommended his removal to the Tempory Lunacy Wards in the Workhouse. It was not safe for Ei'm to be at large, for homself or the public. Another medical witness was called, hut as neither his name or what ho stated could be heard in the Reporters' Gallery, we are unable to give even the substance of his evihe uc e, b e y on d th a t h e explained the difference between delirium tremens and delirium furore. He was also tuiderstood to give some account of the prisoner at the lime ho was in the work house, from the 2nd to the sth of August. During which time he was most violent and threatened to take his own life, but when he was overpowered he became quiet, but soon after broke out again. Cross-examine 1: I have not the slightest doubt but that at the time he was under my care, he was in sn unsound state of mind. O n one occasion he behaved the same by locking up a t th e ceiling, as he had done when in the Bridewell, after he had been apprehended on the charge of murder. On that occasion he bit a piece out of his arm under the impression that he had been starved to death. George Clarke, connected with the Liverpool Workhouse : Recollect the prisoner being there in August last. He was very much excited. He was put into a violent cell, when all his clothes except his shirt, was taken from him He was suffering from delirium tremens.--George Park an assistant medical officer, was at the workhouse at the Exclusively for CLOTHING BOYS from Six to Twenty Yerw LEWIS & COMPANY Raztolagh-street, same time, arid his opinion was that the prisoner was suffering from severe mental affliction ' brought on through drink. He go: better, and was discharged.—Cross , examined : He bit his arm, and sucked the blood, and I asked for some water to mix with it.—The Warder of Kirkdale Gaol : I have seen the prisoner frequently since he has been confined there. The I 0 U" produced is in his handwriting. It was dated "Sept. 30, 1850," and s'gned by the prisoner, to the deceased. Several other witnesses were called, to prove the legality of the will, and other documents found on the premises.— This concluded the evidence for the prosecution. Mr. Mouck then, on behalf of the prisoner, submitted that the I prosecution had failed to make out the case of murder, and, therefore, the case remained as one of insanity. His Lordship expressed it as his opinion that the case, being one of such magnitude, should proceed, and go to the i jury. Mr. Monek then addressed the jury, and in doing so said that his Lordship havin g intimated it as his opinion that their opinion should be taken in this serious matter, he feared that it would be his duty to detain them for a Imuch longer period than he otherwise should have done, as it would, of necessity, become his duty to call a number of witnesses to prove the fact which he thought had already ' been brought out sufficiently clear by th evidence that had been adduced. The fact that they would have to decide was, was the prisoner, at the time he committed the act—fhr he would not deny, for a moment, that it was he who did it—in a sound state of mind, and to that point he would pr due: evidoece iii :eseenso He would not oesupy much of their time by detailing the circumstances, but would confine himself to the sole point in the inquiry. The prosecution charged the prison©r with having felo niously, wilfully, and with malice aforethought, killed and murdered the deceased. He denied that there was any pro , f of malice, nor was there the slightest proof of any motive for the committal of such an offence, beyond the absurd proposition as to the I 0 U, which he was per fectly iu a position to liquidate, if it even had been demanded. Having commented upon the evidence at some length, contending that it went all t o sh ow th a t th e p r i soner was not in a soun state of mind at the time of the offence, and having powerfully and forcibly addressed" the jury, concluded by calling the following witnesses, for the purpose of proving his case. Mr. Jelin Cooper, a surgeon, said: I have known the prisoner for three/ years, when he first consulted me, and have frequently seed him since. [This witness, like the rest of the medical men called upon this, and almost all other trials, gave his evidence in such a low tone of voice, in such a slovenly and disjointed style, that it was quite impossible to hear or understand its effect.] The prisoner was troubled with some local disease, that effected his mental powers, but he had never heard that he was addicted to habits of intemperance. Mr. Callow, surgeon : I have known the prisoner since the 7th of Juno last, when I:feaw him professionally. He was suffering from violent excitement, complaining of his head, and that he should go out of his mind. Ho complained of havingisudden " rushes " to his head, and the horrors. I ordered him to be watched, and on the following morning I was told he had tried to get out of the window. In a few days after, I saw him again —about the 30th of July— when he was in the same state. On the fourth day after that, he attempted to commit suicide. The next day I saw him at the Workhouse Lunatic Asylum, naked, and more excited than ever. When I went in, he recognised me, and asked me to liberate him. The next day he was calmed down, and on the following day lie directed my attention to his arm, and said that his idea was that ha had been taken prisoner of war and was about to be starved to death, and was determined to have something in his stomach. The last time I saw him, his mind appeared quite off its balance. Ho had, previous to that, advised his wife to send him to a lunatic asylum. Cross examined . I liana not taken any steps to see the solicitor for the prosecution. I thought that drink had led to the pri soner's state. I believe he was of unsound mind at the time. Charles Mill :. Had been for many years the medical attendant of the prisoner. He had complained of pain in his head, and expressed a fear that he should go out of his mind. At this time I had prohibited him from taking drink. He had since then at different times seen him labouring under excitement and great delusions. George Hetherington, another surgeon, also spoke to the prisoner having exhibited symptoms of insanity for an hour on one occasion. John Henry Dove, a surgeon also spoke to some complaint having been made on the 3rd of Sept., which was perfectly unfounded, and at that time he was perfectly sober. Thomas Scatter, the brother-in law to the prisoner, and manager of one of his places of business : Ho recollected the prisoner coming into the room with a jug, which he carried in a vary curious way. He then appeared insane, but was not in drink, nor had he been so for some days. The prisoner always complained of his head. On the Friday before this matter happened, he saw the prisoner at his house, and he then expressed a wish to go into the country, and his wife took him away that night. Sometimes he was crying, and sometimes he was dancing. Cross-examined : I cannot say that the prisoner was in the hebit of taking drink. I never, for four or five years, saw him drunk. Martin Leahy, a policeman (No. 4): In Sept. last, was on duty near the:prisoner's house, when he heard a noise, and the prisoner came out of the house, partially dressed and partially undressed, and kneeled down at the corner of Hanover -street, and prayed that they might not take him away. Robert Kelly had known the prisoner for some years ; and had been often sent for to take care of him, as he appeared to be in a state of madness. He once sail that the room was in a state of flames, but it was not. Mr. Lunt had seen the prisoner when he appeared to be out of his mind, and then it was that the deceased appeared to have great command over him. He (the prisoner) was not at that time in his proper senses. Davis, a watcher at the lunatic ward at the workhouse, saw the prisoner looking at the wall of the cell. He also saw him bite his arm, and chew it, and drink the blood. When he was discharged he said he did not feel free from the attack yet, This concluded the evidence brought forward for the defence. Mr. Ovens then replied on the part of the prosecution. He said ho should not detain them with any lengthy remarks on the evidence that had been adduced for the defence, as he had no doubt but that that would be much boner done than he could do it. He then briefly said that from that evidence it was clear that the prisoner had been addicted to drinking habits, for all his symptoms showed it. He then roviewe 1 the evidence that had been adduced for the prosecution, pointing out all its most prominent features, particularly that of the witnesses Moss and the Catholic priest, from which they must gather that until Moss left at half-past two o'clock all was quiet, but at a quarter of an hour after, it would seem that, when all had left, and the deceased and the prisoner were left alone, then the attack was maife.and it would ho for the jury to say whether that was a sane or an insane act. He then referred to the conduct of the prisoner after the violence had been com mitted, and contended that all the calmness exhibited by the prisoner, indicate I that he was in a sane state. Hence his pertinent remarks while in gaol; for he tells the police officer what he is there for, having previously said the "He did it." He thought it exceedingly strange that the fit of insanity should have come on after the Mogi's had left the house, and again before the magis trates for a time, but when he had the privilege of putting questions to the witnesses, he availed himself of it, and then put those which were the most pertinent to the matter, as he had said," The Rev. Mr. Kershaw will be able to say that I was insane when I did it." The learned counsel then, h eying as he said, performed his duty, left it to the jury, whom he was sure would do theirs, under the able directions of his Lordship, to say whether the prisoner at the time he committed this act, was itr a sound state of mind or not, and would give their verdict accordingly. His Lordship, in charging the jury, observed that there could not be a doubt that the prisoner at the bar had committed the crime with which ho stood charged, that if they believed that at the time he committed the deed, he was a rational being, responsible for his act,they could do no less than find him guilty of wilful murder. The question then for them to consider was, whether oe not at the time he committed the ace he was in such a state of mind as to be incapable of distinguishing right from wrong, or of appreciating, or understanding the nature, character, and consequences of his act. In reference to the plea of insanity, resulting from intemperance, hie Lordship ebserved,that although intoxi cation was never allowed as an excuse for the commission of crime, yet, if a man had reduced his mind by habits of intoxication to such a state that he was permanently ince nehle of exercising any reasonable understanding, ha should then be regarded a 3 an irresponsible agent. The jury retired to consider their verdict at half past five p.m. They returned at a qua• ter to six p.m., and delivered a verdict of " Not guilty, on account of insanity.' The verdict was received with applause, which was cheeks with some dvfficulty. The prisoner, who seemed very weary and excited, p - dnfully pressing his hands near his heart, was then removed. He will be detained ii a lunatic asylum during the remainder of his life. The Independence says, in its opening line, " European politics are in a dead calm." The deaths in London last woelt were extraordinarily large, the weather huiog ,been highly unfavourable to health. PRoarEcrs or Tim SA.T.ItON.—A very great deal of fish are observed on the sowning beds A the Tweed at pre sent, and thelief prevails that the Oenefits of the recent legislative chaufge in the protectorate of the river are being practically malised. The breeding ponds constructed by the Duke of Roxburgh° on his estate are not in operation and arc already falling into deca,•, though costing a large sum. of money. At LEWIS & COMPANY'S, Ranelagh-3treet. LOTS are CLOTHED from theAgee of Six to Trrnty Year POLICE INTELLIGENCE-YESTERDAY. LIVERPOOL. BEFORE MR, MANSFIELD. A BIT OF Fisn —A fellow named Thomas McVey, with a face like a bull-dog, was charged by Mrs. Eliza White, the keeper of an eating house in Park-lane, under the following circumstances She said the prisoner was in the habit of coming to her shop and annoying her. He was also in the habit of getting victu ds, and when he refreshed himself he would walk off and laugh at her Some time ago he assaulted her, when she asked him for payment. The previous night he called and demanded some fish, which she refused to servo him with, but he doclarad he would be very quiet, and that he would pay like a " trooper." She gave him some fried flukes, bread, and other nice things which he dispatched in quick time, and then was walking away; the reminded him of his " promise to pay," but he repudiated the notion, telling her all cash payments were, at p csent suspended. She did not place any confidence in this statement and pressed him for the " tin," but instead of payment, he rushed out and pushed her down on his way ; he was followed and arrested. In reply to the charge the prisoner, in the most audacious manner, said ho paid for his " bit of fish," but his worship not believing the story, sent him to jail for one month, with hard labour. PADDY F&G AN'S GAMBOLS.—A well dressed, stout look ing man, with a head of hair like quills upon the fitful porcupine, who gave the name of Paddy Fegan, was charged with having broken four squares of glass in the public-house of Miss Edwards, Parliament-street. Police officer 139 said the prisoner was drunk, and was put out of the house, when he turned on the windows, and smashed four squares of glass, value Hs. Miss Edwards said the prisoner was in the habit of calling at the house when he was tipsy, and had a great propensity to breaking things. She did not, however, wish to have him punished for his last gambol. The prisoner said he would pay the amount of the damages, and the lady being satisfied with the promise of Mr. Fegan, he was discharged. A COUNTY COURT BAILIFF " WIIACIIRD: i —Mary Con nor was charged with having assaulted a County Court bai iff, named James Campey, in Blundell-street. Mr. Cobb defended her. The case was this :—The bailiff hg.d a warrant for the distress of certain property, belonging to a certain party, in a certain house, in 'Blundell-street. It seemed, that some days ago, the woman sold the furniture and other things to another woman. On Tuesday, the bailiff went to execute the warrant, when he was shown the bill of sale ; the owner of the house hal been confined on Sunday, and the prisoner was in attendance on her, and when the man proceeded to remove the goods, she prevented him, and a squabble ensuing, she gave him, what he called, "a good licking." Mr. Cobb, however, produced a witness, who swore that the bailiff struck the woman first, and that she, therefore, stood on the defensive. The complainant admitted to Mr. Cobb that he shed tears like rain. His Worship discharged the prisoner. SUSPICIOUS.—Officer Riley,. No. 91, broaght up Ellen and Mary Edwards, mother and daughter, residents of Cress hall-street, on a charge of having six new shawls, value about £2 10s, in their possession, and for which they could not acc)nnt. The daughter is not inure then nine years of aye. The officer said he heard that stolen pro perty was in the house—which is a receptacle for 3tolen property—and on going , here, he found five of the shawls concealed on the old woman, aed one on the child. They would not say how they got the property. He lad not tune, as yet, to inquire about the articles. The p isonefs were remanded for a week. THE NORTHERN TIMES. LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1857 BOYS' CLOTHING MADE WITH GEPAT TASTE, At3LEWllland cOMPANT'S, Hanglaghitroet, At LEWIS & COMPANY'S, Banelagh•street. BOYS are CLOTHED from the Ages of Six to Twenty'evs, LANCASTER INSOLVENT COURT. BEFORE T. B. ADDISON, REQ., DIiTIITT-JVDCM EXTRAORDINARY JUDOXF.NT. Be RICHARD ORRELL.—This insolvent, who himself as " formerly of Georgiana-street, Barhutaodi "late of Oak-street, Bury, labourer," came up le tee for hearing, and was opposed by Mr. Fernley , for the detaining creditor, and by Mr. Boote, 1 :f f a creditor. His schedule showed debts to the or £1,152 Its sd, but no assets. With the exeep ,07 three debts, one of .E 1 is id, and another of 15s 2d ..le, e ' beer," contracted in 1852, and one of £6, for lu res described borrowed," contracted in 1854, all his debts bad isge incurred in 1856 and 1857 ; the principal portion je•wiie by his becoming surety for one Ellen Woolsteeheo:Pfaiied formerly carried on business as a draper in Belly b ?', pee some time ago. Several merchants in Mane been amongst the victims, and various loan societies t,e l ,,t wa liberally p , tronised. It appeared that the insin °B 4 o oB the owner of 14 houses in Bury, and when Woolsttno wanted goods or 'money she proposed Orrell as b et. s " r tif and he was represented to be a person of Pr . ,;ri e de and a respectable and responsible man. In JaOVOOO, Orrell told Mr. Boote's client that be only o wed efek which was secured by mortgage upon his property, ti t be had cast him £1,400; and even so late as October l as re ;se made the same statement. On the faith of that,r e P n "Leer tation, a large sum of money was advanced to "; 0 0 home and the insolvent. On reference to the in l 4 ° `'ilse schedule, it appeared that his property 113 ' sold it ee d mortgaged for " £6OO about," and that he ee Fe eley , ; about" the 19th of October last (after Mr. 0 t client had served him with a writ), for £9 60 . be bad the balance, after paying the mortgage moneys , made a variety of payments, amongst others arlef; oae 12e 61c1 to "E. Wild, grocer." To the same Per s ' e ;:foh o of £lOO "for money borrowed ;" and one of £lOO to teat Orred (kis brother) " for money borrowed." Thei ll ' — „t tell had no receipts for these payments, and be could 13— go when Wild and his brother had lent him the raoneY; had paid to another grog r, for groceries, £7 4161 , 1 1 d ao r Fernley examined him at some length but e 3 e obtain satisfactory answers from him. The Judg es ;au the insolvent only owes about £7 on his own aceel l 'i t i e ell the rest is on his guarantee. Mr. Fernley But 0 3 1 1 , C ;$0 0 goods, to the amount of upwards cf £2OO, were ° o ot° on his credit, and goods have been got from other L' a r ou tett a large amount in the same way, and surely jour -I"The will not discharge him under such ' circumstane ee• Judge : They are not his own debts. Mr. B 0 0 7: g - eft e t oppose for a creditor. The Judge : Well, N r ' n - btsitr what is your ground of opposition ? Mr. Boots ing money from my client through a false repress e: p• I have a witness here to prove th e f acts . The Judgiedciti.el was only a surety, Mr. Boote : But the money s'/ ° "b have been lent but on his account, and We il l 1 1 1 representation that he had only £2OO on the prePef'',o o ; Judge : It is not his own debt. Mr e B oo t e : I be i f oo O teli " o fr o ; that it is. The Judge : I say it is n o t. Mr. he has given fraudulent preferences. The Judge a eitiP paid his own debta —oppositi on t o a s urety la fj-t He must be discharged. t P S ; There certainly have been some cu r ious cases a as 0- caster, and some judgments pr o n oun c e d the greoPtit which it was difficult to underst a nd ; b u t the judel 0 0 this case is perfectly incomprehensible: Surely , tee becomes responsible for either goods supplied 11, " t eo o l, chant to the man's relations, or for money lent 1° 0 00 . , , which goods would not have been supplied o ° l. e ,"er: lent but neon his credit, it is as much e his owe u s — OS; if he had the goods or received the mosey ? I t : te ra ll er ee t. unusual thing for a merchant to require a 61 ;1 get some person to give a guarantee before 118,.,110 pea further credit ; and to do so is only what et tbs denee dictates ; but if such decisions as those giv e " s °. d e; Lancaster Insolvent Court are t o p re v a il, go r ee ant tie x worthless. Such a state of things ought l ot to ge e tO' and we recommend the mercantile community t 0 I3Y -SERIOUS ASSAULT UPON POAC33I GAMEKEEPER. W oo e l f , On Friday night last, about half-past eight °L o re!' John Horn, gamekeeper to the trustees of the t ; so oo2 Fletcher, of Clifton Hall, was going his usual nige""z, he met with three men, who were evidently Peac b "lo ol6 , his approaching them he asked what they w ere w ary there, when they made off, running up a elope to 1 0 0 plantation. Hein followed them tad overtook OW O tetts they had got about half the way np the hill. „, 0 0 6 shouted " Come along, Jim," as if he had got 50;006 with him, and the men immediately threw W I . 10, the ground three rabbits, which they had 11 „:. ore!' Horn having picked up these, followed '" again, and overtook them by the side of a s o 00; One of the poachers it seems then aske d , d erre c e panion to give him a bludgeon, and he liOutlick frer t Horn's brains out ; on receiving the 19 0 Vei l ; his companion, he aimed a blow e t a th h i, n to t o i who at once struck the poacher, and fel le ",,, o elknne l fho ground. He thep turned upon a second ni all ' o tten him down also. The third ran away. fe e , e - en s a U' r si two men attempted to rise, the keeper dealt `."" o dseeei and knocked them down again. This was repeat the times. By and by, two girls were passing a l°96 and and the keeper requested them to go to Clif ten md, him some assistance. When assistance ~ at r , iio .l3oo poachers were removed to the Seven Stars Pu" to 1 I ne Clifton, where it was found necessary to put te 6 fo r, Mr. Doming, a surgeon residi ng nea r, was scu t tlennil was thought the men were dyi ng ; an d on that eenied arrival he ordered that they should not be rer a° be co ll o he had seen them again. On Saturday mornieg, , oat upon them early, and they had so much recove rse .• lf e l gave the police an order to remove them to 1, 0 4; Bailey Hospital. On Monday morning they we, rB o lllo, l ll o l before- Mr. Trafford, at the New Bailey, N a- 0 00 1 ."0 although still in a very feeble condition, and wer e re 114 to this day (Thursdas). The bludgeon, a cone 0 61 0 ash walking-stick with a hook, was prOdnee, ftbe,. ° o ol with 175 yards of netting, and some band einAtf tsool herd in their posiession. The prisoners are 1041 50 years of age . Th e y sa y th e y come from As di" give respectively the names P e te r Farrington ptie'sd Shaw. Shaw appeared with his head plastered an,rei4lo in a sling, while Farrington had his forehead p 66 ;elt l b sa his left eye blackened. Mr. Trafford said it el/ 1 010 him that the keeper was the first to strike, an 4t i .71 16 1 0 6 no right to do so. • He had no right to use. ra e - der e se oX than was necessary. Horn replied that he o ° - „ - o i ld, -- t d: had not done so. One of the men said that he:ve i rde his brains out, and he therefore struck first. . I "`",i,tal l ld Before he struck, you knocked him down; l i ° 7 tr;infl if you had struck either or both of them dea u %;o o t o , l l l6 "' have been tried for murder. Horn : Thel h i o er",,for struck me then. Mr. Trafford : But do seedyeu h an k - 0 16 any right to strike these men in the way you 1:1 CIO " t for pursuing rabbits ? Horn : I don't know ; tP t `' ye s eli ere s if they had struck me do wn , th ey wou ld n ot P o ol - a doctor to me. The prisoners were then real the dock, back to the hospital. AN ASSISTANT OVERSEER SHOT HIGHWAY. O w * f. f.: 1 0 On Sunday merning, about one o'clock, a s - 0 10 4 Mawson, the assistant overseer of Otley, t u b e ll se t re ing, was walking b e t ween B ever l e y and shot, about three miles f rom th e l a tter to e, e ito th se person concealed behind a hedg e . He recei',,lllre6,o4o66; shots in the left side of hi s face, the back o r his left shoulder ; but none of the wounds ors oofro He did not see the person who shot him ; b u il au set o ielbr to run, he ran quickly to the nearest farm 'Se , M A "; only two fields, and close to the highwaY•ese fe ' e of;is the farmer, sent three men with the wounded oti b i g a r od land, half a mile distant, where were the n ° ,;"d toll bar and the public-house. At Newlyn to lei - 18 procured, and Mr. Mawson was brought 00/3t,ferbot it lodged in the Hull Infir mar y. Betwee ° ,o o l, s , e ncl uef Hull he had been ov er tak e n by a t a ll active - a o sle;: r lo 6 ',p. years of age, who inquired if he was a hur s , e i l is ° pre h oe there had been any fairs. Having satisfieuot b e i d, W' io g the man walked on very quickly and fie) r r ° , o ' r pe s° ; o o Mawson, before he came to a turn in, 1 , `,"" 01; 0 0 there are a lane and a drain like a cava' e d tbe, i 'on this turn one field, he received the shot, fi r ds. 1 0 ;40 6 behind him, at a distance of about fiveStie, rho r st s that day, between Drlffield and Bele i ; s tol• r ohu;ion had for a companion a man who had a F 1 /0 4 , 0 ,.i5s t oo' always carried one, as there had been e° on 13 ;.00 and murders. In the course of c-nve;s a „ Ohet,e - ;00', stated that he was going from Beverley t " Oe o oe and wanted to reach Hull that &e t ' of sg e l a cO r TlO healthy, sober.looking man, about 41 fe ar the Tear OW prior to his present appointment, 20 7e 4 at Mr. Ackroyd, the wors'ed manufacturer' r yf police are diligently inquiring into the ra 3tte _Ado u'" do" zoo ty cop cr The Spectator now admits, with col oo dthirs o f oe t fo t that all the horrible stories about til t ? : b h ght , 4 41 of the English troops in India, which oh °le- 0 ' 1 " temporaries have gloated over with so lo ggr s& • 04 the last few weeks, are either grco s esa greeser inventions. t TAS I% BOYS' CLOTHING MADE WITH GREA T stre et. tOr COMPANY'S. Itax elagb. z se 4A , RTIO i 8 / ;o 4l 'd NOTICE TO DE RS ONS seeking 1. Assistants, Clerks, Apartw.entee,° u ` b ne, bt o , of NORTHERN their wants under the Notice of the .. r .ient 0 , 6 41 .411 the NORTHERN TIMES, WhiCh is ttle mest ew i e si do s or z EADnep"l.oyra_firo'dg°.l.o,o frelly1116:6111:. in this district. The cash prise for this ellny y(GBP' Is reduced to THISBEFEKS for TYlneee EZTORE MESSRS. R. AND' W. EARLE. SUOKE NUISANCE. —Mr. Inspector Wignall, of the Smoke Nuisance Office, summoned' Messrs. Tvigg and Co., proprietors of Rica Mills, in Bedford-stret, Perk, under zha Sni.dee Nuisance Act. Mr. McGowai was for the prosecution. Mr. Wignall was examined,and in the course of his evidence, he exhibited an anount of scientific knowledge, that so far as theory writ, showed he was a man of no ordinary capacity. It any be said at the same time, that his knowledge was appliedpractieelly, and in this also he was quite suace3sful. env men in the position of the Inspector, emit have given more genuine information on the points relaive to the long contested and vexed question of the smoke nuieanee, aLd his evidence having cempletey:established the-case, the bench inflicted a fine of £5 on tie defendants. 'l:he same Inspector summoned Thomas Chipman, biscuit biker, James-street, under the same Act, and for a like effence. In this ease the Inspector shower his knowledge of the theory and practise of preventing smoke, and having fully established the case against the defendant, a fine of £1 and costs was inflicted. The Western Bank of Scotland have finally resolved to abandon all idea of resuming business. Dutilh and Co., of Liverpool, who suspended after the failure of Messrs. Dennistoun and Co., will be likely to pay in full, and have a good surplus, their New York house having stood through the crisis. The City of Glasgow Bank shows a favourable balance sheet. After all necessary deductions the rapital is found to be intact all but £75,000; and the greater part of this deficiency may be made good by a sligh , improvement in the value of securities and recoveries fora doubtful debts. SERIOUS ACCIDENT FLOSS THE INCAUTIOUS USE OF FIRE ARms.—A very serious accident, resulting from the incautious use of firearms, occurred na far from this town on the tied instant. It appears that asery fine young man, named John Gleeson, a farmer, who 'asides at Cloneyharp, was in the act of cleaning the exterior of his gun, which he held by the muzzle wi'h his lef hand, while the stock rested on a chair, off which it sipped, and the hammer coming in contact with the sex, the piece which was unfortunately loaded, exploded, aid shattered his hand in such a manner that amputation ras deemed necessary for the preservation of his life. operation was skilifilly performed by Dr. Russell, of C,shel, and, though Glesson suffers much pain, he is doing as well as could be expected under the circumstances. It is arange that the numberless accidents caused by the incautoue use of fire Tres do not serve to make people more careful in handling those dangerous and deadly weapon.— Yozeigh Guardian. THE CONFESSION' OF AILIRIER AT SUNDERLAND.—Mary Jane Wilson, who was remerded a few days since by the Sunderland magistrates, on ier confession of having been concerned in the supposed nurder of a seaman at Hull, was brought before the handl again on Friday, and dis reharged, communications having born made with the governor at York Castle and with Mr. ivirManus, the superintendent of police it Hull, who say that no such circumstance as'stated byier has recurred at Hull, nor was there any person a,waititg his trial at York for such an offence. It cannot be onceived why the woman should have made such a statenent, except on the supposition ' that she must have bee labouring under some mania of an hysteric kind, thoughless of the consequences to herself if true. She is a native of Kilmarnock, and only 19 yeors of age; and we undersand that Mr. Gifford, the superin tendent of police at iunderland, will pass her to her parents, and thereby eve her from returning to the evil courses she has been tursuing before her apprehension. RAILWAY FROM JALLINASLOT4 TO Paasoaarowx.—A survey of the propoed line of railway from Ballinasloe to Parsonstown has justbeen completed by Mr. Lynam, C.E., who was employed for the purpose by the meeting of leaded proprietors hid some time ago at Eyrecourt. The maps on which the ine is delineated have been left at this office, together witl an excellent report on the subject. It is to be hoped that a meeting of the committee may be held at an early day to take steps for furthering this movement. No ether railway in Irol ad could be so cheaply constructd, and no other line would afford a more profitable return on investments. We understand the Great Southern ,nd Western Company would be disposed to continue th Roscraa and Parsoastown line to the Shannon, and een across it, if a company met them with a line from Baiinasloe. The Midland Company are also friendly to th project, and we, therefore, think that a deputation frog the landlords of this district should wait on the respetive boards of directors of those two com panies and sdicit their co-operation.— Western Star. GAROTTE ATTACK IN LEEDS.—At the Leeds Court House, on ilonday, two dissipated-looking fellows, who gave their lames as James Baxter and Henry Pickard, were chard with assaulting Mr. Wm Turner, of Garden street, Sclool Close, with intent to commit a ro'.bery. Mr. Tarter was proceeding along Albion-street, about one o'clock 'esterday morning. on his way to his residence, when hi was joined by a stranger, who walked with him until tiey had arrive! opposite the Music Hall. At this point two men rushed up on thorn from behind, and seized both him and his companion by the throat. In struggling, both Turner and his companion obtained partial deliverance from the grip of their assailants, and t awled out lustily for assistance. As two policemen appeared at the bottom of the street, the garotters released their victims, and ran away. They were hotly pursued by the policemen and the two men, traced into Kirkgaie, and there taken into custody ; Baxter being arrested in the street, and Pickard in his own house. A somewhat curious feature in the case was the sudden disappearance of the man who had joined Turner in the street, as soon as the pisoners had been conveyed to the police office. He gave an address, and promised to be in attendance at the Court House yesterday morning, but when he did not appear, he was sought up, and it was then found that the a !dress was a fictitious one. The prosecutor swore positively to Baxter, as being the man who had attacked him, but could not swear to the identity of Pickard. The latter was consequently discharged, and Baxter was committed to take his trial at the present York assizes. WEST DERBY BOARD OF GUARDIANS. The usual weekly meeting of this Board was held yester day, in the Board-room, West Derby Workhouse. Mr. H. Edwards in the chair. Other members present—Messrs. Roberts, Lunt, Tattersall, Parkin, Stone, Ledger, I. Edwards, Almond, French, Pitts, Birch, Shaw, Abrahams, Tay'or, and Roscoe. The number in the house last week was 673. There were admittod 40 ; discharged, 33 ; born, 1' • died, I. Number at present in the house, 685 ( o f whom 396 beto• g to Toateth-park) ; number in the house in the corresponding week of last year, 633. Number of sick cases last week, 115 ; admitted, 19; discharged, 7 ; died, 1. Number of sick cases at present in the house, 122 (of which 22 are fever) ; number of sick cases in the corresponding week of last year, 116. PEES ON PAUPER INTERMENTS AT WALTON. The following letter from the Lord Bishop of Chester, in ref, r2nce to this subject, was read : Chester, December 7, 1857. &r,—l beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated 24th November last. Absence from Chester pre vented me from replying to it at the time. If the table of fees set forth in your letter was established by proper authority. and has not been suspended by any subsequent act of like authority, or by any special agreement between the Guardians of the West Darby Union and the Rector or Vicar of Walton-on-the-Hill, or by any long continued custom, then I think that, in case of interments of paupers being parishioners of Walton, no larger fees are legally payable than those specified in the table. I express my opinion, but do not pretend to decide the point of law. I hope any doubt may be cleared up by friendly explanation between the Barad of Guardians and the Rector or Vicar of the Church.—l am, sir, your obedient servant, J. CHESTER. To William Cleaver, Dq., Clerk to the Union. Oa the motion of Hr. Shaw, seconded by the Rev. Mr. Tattersall, it was ordered that copies of the letter should bo sent to the Rector and Vicar and Churchwardens of Walton. The Clerk, (Sir. Cleaver.) intimated to the Board, that they should make a call for the ensuing half-year. Taking into account the balances due and coming from the different townships, and also what they would require for expenses, he estimated that they would require to make the call for £5,624, and snggested that it should be made in two moieties, the first on last Tuesday fortnight, and the second in about six weeks from that time. The call was ordered. INC 4NASE OF D. NEVIN'S SALAZY. lirr. Pitt m)ved, in pursuance of notice, that the salary of Dr. Nevins be increased 30s per week, dating from last February, for the purpose of enabling him to provide a qualified assistant to aid him in the discharge of his duties in the house. He observed that Dr. Nevins had himself paid such an assistant during the past year, and he did not think that it would be jest or honournble on the part of the B)ard to allow him to be at such an expense when it was incurred for the benefit of those over whom they had to watch. He believed that Dr. 'Nevins required this assistance for the due discharge of his duties in the house, and that it was ( he duty of the Board to provide him that assistance, or at all events the means of securing it. The Rev. Mr. Tattersall seconded the motion, and dwelt on the (lades which Dr. Nevins had to perform in attending to the health of the inmates of the house. He considered that they would not be justified in retuing Dr. Nevins the assistance which he required, and still less would they be justified in allowing him to pay for that assistance himself. r. Ledger and Mr. Abrahams supported the motion. Mr. Lunt opposed the motion, and urged that Dr. Nevins never on any occasion remained longer in the house in looking to the patients than two hours. He did not consider that Dr. Nevins required assistance, and that if he sought to discharge his duties by deputy, he should himself pay for the assistance. Mr. Siraw concurred with ➢Zr. Pitts, that no man could do justice to the sick in the house unless he devoted all his time to theta ; but he would ask them to look over the porter's book, and say whether Dr. Nevins had given that time to the'&ck which he ought to have done Frequently Dr. Nevins did not come to the house until half-past four o'clock its the afternoon- a practice which should never have been to'erated by the b.lard r and if they increased his salary, he would not give them more of his time than he did. In point of fact, he required to be merely con sulting physician to the house, and to have the duties performed by an assistant. He (Mr. Shaw) would there fore move a direct negative, that the increase of salary be not granted. Mr. Roscoe—The motion. The original motion was then put, and carried by 9 to 8. The voting was as follows . For the itierecue—Messrs. lAdger, Parkins, Birch, Pito, Tattersall, Roberts, French, H. Edwards, and Abrahams —9. Against—Messy. Shaw, Richmond, I. Edwards, Lunt, Alinone, Roscoe, Taylor, and Stone—S. This concluded the general business. There is a vacancy in the representation of Whitehaven, caused by the death of Mr. Hilliard. The suspension is announced of Lichtenstein and Co , a German house. Liabilities about £B,OOO. D. Couvela and Co., a Greek firm, of New Broad-street, London, have failed. Their liabilities are not expected to exceed £25,000 or £30,000. We deeply regret to learn that the Hon. Edward Crof ton, eldest son of Lord Crofton, and heir to the barony, is dangerously ill at, Moate Park.—D?blin, Parer. MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE.—On the 9th ult., a trivial quarrel took place between two cousins named Gleeson, at the forge of a man named John Williams, near Thnrles, whore they were getting a plough repaired. After an hour had elapsed, during which Michael Gleeson remained at the forge, his cousin returned and struck him on the head with a bar of iron, while he was in the act of stooping. The unfortunate man was brought home, and died from the effects of the blow on last Friday. He was a fine speci men of a Tipperary farmer, in good circumstances, and leaves four children to mourn his untimely end,—Limerick Reporter. FALL IN THE Pa cE OF PRovisloNs.--At length, after two years of extreme prices, the retail rates of most articles of food are approaching what may be termed the poor man's standard. At all the bakeries in town the price of bread has been reduced by a figure which would be reckoned material in a large household ; but we regret to state that the consumption of bread among the working classes has considerably fallen off within the past two months. In beef and mutton there is little alteration, but bacon and hams have at length become lower, and for bacon, eggs, potatoes, exorbitant prices are no longer sought.— Banner of Uls7rer. THE UNEMPLOYED IN BRADFORD —An outdoor meeting of the unemployed was held on Monday afternoon, on some vacant ground opposite the Philadelphia Chapel, Bolton Road, Bradford. The meeting had been convened by a placard, couched in violent terms against what was celled " Oppression of labour." There were 700 or 800 persons assembled on the ground. A person, named Moss, was called to the chair. Mr. John Priestman, a respectable member of the Society of Friends, being at the outskirts of the meeting, was invited to speak. He did so, offering sonic wholesome advice, and recommending the meeting to apply to the board of guardians for relief. When Mr, Priestman had retired, the meeting was addressed in very violent terms, by George - White (a well-known agitator), George Liscombe, and Abraham Robinson (Wilsden). Liscombe recommended the meeting to go and help them selves to food wherever they could find it, A - squabble arose at one part of the meeting, in consequence of two persons having charged White with an appropriation of chartist funds in 1848 A committee of ten persons was aupointed to canvass the town for money to relieve the distressed poor. AMERICAN POLITICIANS.—The depth of ignorance and and diFqualifieations which characterizes the p esont Com mon Council is very little known to the people. When the Controller, a few weeks ago, sent in his usual instal ment of stationery, it was not only whispered but openly and jeeringly asserted that to many of the people's repre sentatives the pens and paper were as useless as the fifth wheel of a coach. It may be that the stolid ignorance of an Alderman is a valuable qualification ; if so, we have any number of Ilazeltines in the City Hall who ought to be advanced to the supervision of Normal Schools. Here, for instance, are copies as near as we can reproduce them in type, of two documents signed by the Alderman of the Sixteenth Ward, Mr. Peter t4'ellmer—the man who is to have the regular Democratic and the bcgus American nomination for re-election : New York Sept lrst 1857 the Police effacer will Pleas Let the rairer Thomas Smith Have the Body of Sophia Smith to R,moihi hir to his House No 21G—Nenth Avenue Now Lying Drovndtd at the foot 21 streete Dcck and Notify the Corner of the Plac you have Removed hir for the inquest, and you will Confer A favor on Your friend Yours truly Peter Fulliner Alderman 16th ward N B you will t ecompany the Bodily to No 246-9,h Av and Retaen Snpeveteon over hir your.; P F— _ Now York Nov. lrt 1E57 this Certstenl hive this Day Granted Per•.nition to Mrss Wor 2 endike & Hopper pemition to have threr Bay Horse ki id as he has the Glanders A Dissas Dangerous to Horees and Should Not Be Parr mitted to Live theer fo.e he Shad be kild According t • • Peter Fullmer Ald 16 h ward f any other Sixteenth Ward Democrat can beat that, let him come forth and claim the nomination.—New York Tribune. 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