Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-30 00:00:00

ALLEGED OUTRAGE AT SEA. THE COMPLAINT OF MISS JANE HAGGARD AGAINST CAPTAIN GEORGE CONWAY, OF THE PACKET SfilE) SWITZERLAND; FOR RAPE. UNITED STATES COMMISS/ONEIt'S COURT.-JULY 17. BEFORE JOSEPH BRIDGRAM, SSQ. TILE UNITED *STATES v. GEORGE CONWAY, CAPTA CF THE SHIP SW.TZERLAND.—Tho defendant in this cs se is a thick built man, some 47 years of age, and is charged with violating Jane Haggard, a passenger on bo• t ri the ship Switzerland, on her voyage from Liverpool to IS ew York, in April last. The prosecutrix is a fine looking girl of good sta' u-se and consideraNe pretensions to the term handsome. She; is apparently 24 or 25 ye.rs of age, but she acknowlei ;ged to only 21. She gave her testimony in a somewhat x,ll - manner ; the unpleasant circumstances in w lea she was placed and the painful and delicate natur a of her testimony would, however, sufficiently account fo rthe embarrassment She was accompanied by her sister, Sirs. Davis, who resides in this country. Dr. Otto Potton, cf Mr. Peachy, the passenger who died, was enx' crasly watching the proceedings. The case for the prosecutrix was conducted by Joachimssen, United States Assistant District Att emer y. Mr. Charles Edwards represented the British Goven n sa e rs t, of which the prosecutrix is a subject. Messrs. Beebe, Dean, and Donohue appeared f .ler the defence. _ _ Jane Haggard, examined by Mr. Joachimssen, A saistant United Staes lis , rict Attorney. deposed—l am & single - woman ; I lire in Kendall, in the State of New Y zela, and came from England ; I arrived here on the 23rd I Lay ; ar rived at Quarantine on the 22nd ; I left England on the 7th April=; went on bard the Ocean Monarch on the Bth, and was transferred to the Switzerland on the 4 3th at Liverpool docks; the Switzerland is an American . wessel ; George Conway was captain ; I was a steerage p . rasenger ; on the mtarno.n of the 15th April Conway a.sl sea me to come into his cabin ; I was then on the deck o Hite ship talking wirh William Henry Peachy, a cabin r at..asenger ; I had at the time a violent cold and had lost my -vdiee ; he said that l had an awful cold, and told me to 'come with him into the cabin and be would give me so east ling for my cold ; I left Mr. Peachy, and followed hi_ ea (Captain Conway) into the cabin ; he told me to sit whioh I refused; the cabin boy entered the cabin ap,t, the time, - and the captain swore at him, and he again immediately left ; Captain Conway took a teaspoon-. and went to his medicine chest and brought out F ontething in -a teaspoon which I took, and he a gain told me to sit down, which I refused ; I don't know what I took 'he then pushed me on a seat and sat down by me, and told me he wanted to talk with me; I said I wished to leave the eabin, and he told me he wanted a wife, and when he arrived in New York he would marry me ; I told him that I felt myself insulted at such conversation from a perfect stranger; he said if I was a stranger I should not be long; I again attempted to go, and he pushed me as far as the door of his room, which was close by - I felt alarmed, as I saw no person in the cabin, and I called out as loud as I could, though my woice was nearly lost ; I called out for Mr. Peachy several times, and no one came . to my assistance; I was clinging to the door-post not to enter his cabin; he then took my hands from the door post, and said, "By God, you shall go in ;" he held my hands; he prevented my leaving the cabin, so that I could not leave it ; he lifted me into the room ; his room was open ; the medicine chest wee just inside his room ; he got me inside his room, and then locked the door and took the key out ; Mr. Peachy, Mr. Shaw, and the doctor of the ship wore the only cabin passengers; all these three were on deck ; there was a steward, and I do not know where he was at the time ; I thought he was in the cabin ; when he locked me in his moth I said, "Dro you intend to ruin me ?" if you do. go and throw me overboatd ; any young woman had better die than be ruined in that way ; I prefer death ; " he made no reply ; I said, Do you doubt my respect that you would treat me so ;" he said, "No, not for a moment, and the day I arrive in New York I will marry you;" I replied, "111 y only request is to leave the cabin; I therefore request that you will open your door immediately and let the go ;" he gave no heed to it ' • I shook the door, and tried to mike a noise to attract their attention—any one that would hear me ; he said, " Damn my eyes, you want to let everyone know that you are here ;" he then attacked me, and I resisted him as long as I could, and I became weak and paralysed, but not senseless ; he then pushed me on hie bed, and it was then he treated me so improperly ! he aecomplis‘ted his purpose; I was very weak and exhausted; he kept me in his room for about an hour ; I remonstra.ed with him and told him I would expose him ; he replied to me that I need not be alarmed; that he would marry me as soon as he arrived ; I made no reply ; he then opened his door, and Mr. Peachy was sitting alone almost close to hie door, and I said, ".111r. Peachy, the captain has locked me in his room and treated me very improperly, and has also prom'sed to marry me on the day of his arrival;" the captain was present ; Mr. Peachy then sai "I am very sorry to find the captain has treated you so very impro perly ; I also heard him promise you marriage ;" Mr. Peachy is dead ; he died at sea on the 13th of May ; his health was ailing for three days before ; I do not know who doctored htm ; the captain gave him medicine ; he died within twelve hours. Ex-Judge Dean objected to the testimony. Tfe supposed they did not mean to charge the captain with poisoning Peachy. Mr. Charles Edward?, who appeared for the British government, contended that it was admissable; he agreed with the counsel en the other side that the captain was not now charged with poisoning Mr. Peachy, but it was evident he would have been a very important witness for the pro secution. Mr. Dean said that they would produce letters from this witness to contradict her evidence, and give testimony to prove that she had been intimate with other men before. {Here the witness become faint, and cried " Oh !"] The testimony was taken, subject to the objection. Witness continued: I heard a conversation between the captain and Peachy in reference to myself; when I told Mr. Peachy that the captain promied to marry me, the captain said, " Yee, and I will do so ; do you think a man of my years would seduce a girl under promise of marriage without doing it?" Mr. Peachy replied, " I hope not ?" I then said, "Mr. Peachy, you must be a witness of the manner of the seduction, and also of the promise of marriage ;" Mr. Peachy said, "Do not cry. I will see you righted as far as I can ;" the captain was then in the nom with me ;' I was no acquainted whit Mr. Peachy ; we had convened ; found he had been in a city where I had friends ; I am :twenty-one years of age ; I never was from home before ; I was coming to join my sister and brother-in-law ; I saw -the captain prepare the medicine for Mr. Peachy and bring it into his room, but did not see Peachy take it ; I saw the captain come across from the pantry with a white mug in his hand ; I heard the captain say, " Peachy is a damned fool, but by God I will give him something that will do him good ; I'll settle him ;" the captain was first told of Peachy's death at half-past four o'clock in the seeming; the cabin boy said to the captain, " Mr. Peachy is dead, I have just found him ;" the _captain replied, I expected it ; I thought as much ;" I did not see Peachy dead.—From the time you went into the captain's room as you describe, would thea-aptain allow you to go back to the steerage? He kept me in his room the night he seduced me; locked me in, and said as he had made me sick he should,give up his room to, me for the night ; I said. "you will not keep me here if I can get out of the cabin ;" he replied, " then you shall not go ;" he then went out and locked me in; he kept me there four days ; the cabin boy brought me my meals ; when the captain came from his nicale he came and uelcked the doer, and the cabin boy braught me mine; I Lover asked the cabin boy to help me to get out, because the captain was.always there ; I tried to get Lack to the steerage on the fourth day, but col id not; I was met in the doorway by the captain ; he asked me where I was going; I told him down in the steereage, which I ought never to have left. When the captain misused your person did you consent to it ? No, sir, it was against my will. Did you have any connection with any other man on board the ship? No, "air ; I never had anything to do with any other men before .1 came on board that ship. When Peachy died was any proposition made to open his body and examine his -stomach? (Ohjfcted to.) Yes, sir, the doctor said, "Do you think I had tot better make vost morton, examina tion, as Mr. Peachy has no friers on board ; it will be -satisfactory to his friends, and his uncle might think it strange if noth , rg was done ;" the Captain replied, "No, Ido not wish that it should be done." Ido not know how many state chambers there are on board ; I staid in the rap amt's reom ell the time except once or twice I walked through the st ate cabin ; the cabal is on the main deck ; you get in fa m the main deck ; I think it was half past aor 6 when I first went into the cabin ; it was not quite dark; I do not know how many passengers there were; they were rated at 300; the mate's room ac'joined the captain's; there were two berths in the captain's room; each on a side opp site one another. Crose-exlmined by Judge Dean : We left Liverpool on the 14 , h April ; it was the day after we sailed the carain had connection, the night I was taken into the captain's room. I eat on the captain's trunk. I did not sleep any all night ; I did not go a I+. Tha next night I was ex hans ed, and slept on Vie captain's bed ; I was obliged to. With him ? He slept with me, rather. Did he sleep with 3 o❑ every night from that time till the vessel aarived in New York ? He did, sir. Did lon get very much in love with him ? No, sir; I don't know if he got in love with me. Did you tell him you were is) loge with him ? No, sir. Did you toll him pm wanted to marry him? Yes, air, I was in such a situ ation I needed it ' • I told him I wanted to marry him be causethewas in the fsmily way ; I don't know that I am in the family way now ; I was when I left the vessel. How did you find it out so soon? Well, I don't know, I thought I was; the only reason I wanted the captain to marry me was because I was in the family way. Do you now want the captain to merry y, it? No, sir. Why'? (Objected to and ruled out.) Are you now in the family way ? I don't know. Have you had a miscarriage since you left the ship ? I teFeve so, the doctor said so. Have you got in the family way since you left the ship? No, sir, I have not said so since I left the ship. Have you written to the captain since that miscarriage to say that you were in the family way ? (Objected to ; the Commissioner ruled that if there was a letter it should be p• educed. Letter -produced.) Witness : I believe that is my handwriting, but I cannot swear. If I have written that letter I was deranged. I cannot be responsible for any letter which I have written to hm, because sometimes I have been deranged. I was deranged at my sister's hence. I cannot say how long I was deranged. The witness here presented the letter, and said: I will not swear that I wrote the letter, if ? I did, I was not in my senses. (Piece of yellow paper produced.) I cannot swear that is my handwriting. It was as follows :—" You will be sure to keep my address, it is thi., aril I will go to the Post-office, and fetch it —Miss Haggard, E. Davis, Esq , Sandy Creek, Orleans County, N.Y " Witness continued : My brOther-in-lew's name is Evert Davis ; I sent that ; I do not know what I sent with it; I was derail ged elt lest week ; I was deranged by spells ; I can't say how keg; I arrived at my sister's on the 24th June; I left New York immediately after I left the vessel; I was deranged two or three hours at a time ; Dr. Nicholse n, of Sandy Creek, attended me nearly all the time since I went to my sister's. What did ho attend you for ? Ile said it was derangement from extreme anguish of mind ; I have got ever it ; I have not been deranged since last Sunday ; I was not deranged oe the 4 h oe July, or the day before the..;. I was not deranged on the second of June ; I hardly know when I had the miecarriage I have been sick so many times ; the doctor knows ; I think it was a Sunday, but I don't know ; I think it was May 23, no, I mean June 2; -- s, I lefr. my brother's, I think, on the 23rd of June, to come to New York to make this camplaint ; I have had no lovers at my brother's. Was there not a young doctor at your brother's who made love to you ? No, sir, when I was deranged I thought there was; I was always writing to the captain when I was deranged; my sister told me so ; the captain gave me four sovereigns and a half when I was leaving ; I told him I did not want his assistance, but he wished me to go rapidly to my sister's; the captain sent the doctor and the cabin boy ashore with.me, and put me in the cars ; he paid 10 dollara for my ticket ; the captain has written two letters to me ; Mr. Joachimesen has them (another letter produced) ; to my knowledge I don't know that I ever wrote that letter; there are two letters that if I could see I would know ; in one of them I said I would expose him in Liverpool in order that another should not fall a victim to him Is the signature to this last letter yours ? I believe so; I cannot swear positively.; I did not write the letter in my senses. Look at this let , er and sea if its in your handwriting ? I believe it is ; but if I did it, it was in a state of derangement; I wrote only two letters to the captain that I can remember; one on the 24th of May, the oth r, I believe, on the 29th ; I put them myself in the post office at Sandy Creek ; I don't remember posting other letters to him at Sandy Creek, but I cannot say positively ; my sister was not absent any time while I was there ; the doctor said I ought not to be responsible for any letter I wrote to George Conway. Did any tall, smart looking yeurg man out there want to marry 3 ou ? Ne, Sir. Did the young man say he would die if you did not marry him ? Ido not know, Sir; I have been a perfect maniac; I have not been deranged since last Sunday ; I have been rational sometimes ; my health is feeble an I have lost flash since ; when I am warm and excited I lock better ; I am not aware that my sister and brother-in-law were opposed to my marrying the captain because he was an old man ; I don't know enythirg about any young man out there tel ling MO that the American women are not as good looking as the English. Mr. Dean proposed to read the letters. Mr Edwards and Mr. Joachims en objected.. Mr. Dean offered them for the purpose of showing that she was sane at the time she wrote them, and to contradict other portions cf her testimony. The Commissioners considered the letters sufficiently identified and admitted them. Counsel for the prosecution would consider the letters read. October he says be would give all the world to possess me now I hope you will write me by return of post and tell me if you wish me to stay for you if you do not write and tell me by the 9:h of June I shall consider silence an answer then I shall certainly receive the attention of the young Doctor but as my sister and brother and him wants to mike me hate you 1 will just show them that I will not do as they please about the mater they are very unkind to me because I wiil not say at once that I will have him but I will not until I have heard from you that is if you write to me by.the 9th of June that you can tell me what mcnth you think you will come in there is no such thing as my coming to you for they will not let me go out of their sights but if you want me of course you will come with pleasure I like you as dear as ever and I think you do me but however if you can cease to like me I will soon endeavour to forget you still if your love remains as unchanged as mine I could love you as Long as thnis Life shall last and only live to make you happy 1 would be True to you as the angels are to God and as Death will sooner or Later over take us we know not how soon I would comfort you to the Last moment of your existence and hare your depart ing spirit on the wings of Love to its last resting place there to await the arival of her who will Love you as True in Death as in Life You are the first and only one I ever did Lova and God knows I Love you dearly Mine is indeed a Loveing Heart God knows and it will he indeed a happy meeting if Ever I meet you again with I hope I shall if please God but still if I tind you do not care for me I must not care for you My Brother and sister do not know I am writeing this but I hope you will not fail to answer by return of post I do not know that you will he able to read this scrawl of writing for my Hand shakes I am in haste when you Come to me yon must scold them for being so unkind to me because I will not hate you for they do not know that any thing has been the matter they are only mad with me bee 'else I will not marry the Doctor hut I know you will protect and Love me still and then I will not do as they please these Trials and separations we meet in this ctu4l World teaches us to look bey, nd these changing scenes and to place our confidence in that Imortal being in whose hand are the Issues of Life and. Death that Almighty God that sais fornicators and Deceit ful men shall not live out half their Days on that God that says I will never forsake the innocent do I put my Trust I pray for you every night and morning yes to our God who seeth in secret I never wronged you even in thought though for more than a week my poor Heart has ached God Almighty pittyed me and I hope you will pitty me my dear I Long to Lay my head on your dear Bosom again and kiss them dear lips and call them mine and in every way p , ssible Teach you that a Loving Heart is Rich tie an undyeing Tresoure that money cannot purchase when your spirits are weary and sad I will whisper hope & comfort to your afflicted soul for my dear if you are strong now think how soon you may be called to pay the Debt of Nature and I do not consider you will be a Long Lifed man at all I never thought but that your death would be sudden for you have a perticnlar short neck therefore it is well to prepare for what will most certainly overtake us weather sleeping or wakeing it is awful to think where we may go if not prepared for Heaven yon can have no idea what awful feelings prompted me to write my Last Letter hut when the sigh yields no balm and the tear no relief then think of met daresay you will Laugh at me and call me foolish for writeing so now but my dear we ought to think•of all this for be assured if we do as we ought not we never prosper in this world for God sais the calamity of the wicked riseth up suddenly sin mee s its punishment in this world as well as the next My Papa and Mama is thinking of coming to America in about a month I under stand by a Letter I have just received from them My dear if you do come to me when you write to me I will sand you back a proper Directions how to find me if you have Lost the other and I think I must beg to say no more and. Remain Yours Truly and affecdona'ely Till Death JANE HAGGARD • I shall Exhaust all your patience fo read all this but it is the greatest pleasure I have writeing t 3 you. Good bye Gcd bless you my dear Address my Letters so and I will fetch them myself Miss Ilsgeard E Davis—EFq—Sandy Creek Orleans County N Y mind I shall go for one by re:urn of post and mind you write." _ "June 14, 1857. "Mv Dear,—Will you on receipt of this letter for God Almighty's sake write back and tell me what is the name of God Almighty I can do ? I have almost lost my senses. Sleep is a stranger to my pillow. I can take nothing. I am almost in a state of derangement. I cannot live three months if you do not. My sister's unkindness is awful, and what will it be when she knows my awful situation ? Oh, my God ! thou art the only witness to my sufferings. I shall then be desolate in a foreign country—homeless, homeless in this wide cold world; and then in my awful misery must bring another der little angel into the world desolate, and to learn the cruel and awful fate of its wronged heart-broken mother, that like me will have neither father nor mother. I shall be sure to die ; lam dying daily. My father and mother I shall never dare to see again. Mr only refuge for the short time I shall want it will be an almshouse. Oh, my God! my God ! I have been brought up a lady ; now the poorest, most desolate wretch that ever walked this earth is richer and happier than I. Oh, could you but see my poor, wasted form and pale face you yould hardly know me. They treat me cruel because I am so desperately unhappy. But, oh, my God ! they little think the bitter and awful secret that makes me daily pray to die. God forbid that they should ever know it. No, I must run away and go into some house of protection, and there I shall soon die. Yes, soon my poor persecuted soul will by a merciful God be taken out of the reach of all cruel and deceitful men. God says—l will give to every man according to his doings; wicked and deceitful men shall not live out hill' their days ; I will cut them off suddenly ; they shall call on me, but I will not hear them, with the Lord. God says, I will never forsake the iunocent. No, my God, I never knew deceit. My poor heart bleeds, but you are happy. Yes. I believe you are happy. But a little while and all will be dark to von; you will never prosper as long as you live, and that, I think, will not be long, Neither will God let you be happy long. God says—For give those who cruelly wrong you, and leave vengeance to me, I will repay. But yet, I am dreaming of despair. You promised me you would fetch me in three months when I left you; that is a month ago. Now let me beg of you, by all the hopes of heaven, to write by return and tell me what I am to do. Oh, surely, you will, my dear, my dear, write and tell me in what month you will be in New York again ; and then tell me if you will fetch 'or send Bill for me. Oh, will you. send him to Roetester, and from there to Holly, and telli him to go to Perry's Hotel, and tell them to drive to Sandy Creek, to Dr. Nickson's, and fetch a young lady, and Bill can stay at Holly till I get to him to come on to you ; but you must send enough to pay my fare. Do send for me soon if it is possible ; if not, send me hack a check by return, that I may keep ready to came when you get to New York again, and tell roe where I shall find you, and tell me in what month. Oh, God ! if you could feel as Ido ! Oh, my God forbid you ever should. You surely will not get me into this trouble, and then leave me suffering and destitute. I am sick every day. Oh, my God !if you desert me so lam bound to die. Death is my only refuge; bat before I die I will well expose my awful fate, as I told you in my second letter, as a caution to otherpoor young girls, and I by so doing shall gain the sympathy of strangers if you are lost to all feelings of humanity. Oh, Gad ! is it possible you can leave me so ? No, never ; you cannot. You will send Bill for me the day you receive this, if it is possible ; if not, write by return and tell me when you will. My sister shall never see any letter that comes from you. I will give you another direction where to write to me, and I will fetch my letters from there myself. JANE HAGGARD. P.S.—Let me beg of you to write by return, my dear soul. Do, my dear, send me back a check by return. Adjourned. To witness : Did you ever sit on the dock beside Mr. Peachy, with his arms around your neck ? No, the cap tain did not wish to Fee him speak to me ; the captain told Mr. P. one day to kiss me; that was a few days before he died, and the captain did not care ; Mr. Peachy never sat with me on the quarter-deck with his hands up my clothes. Did the second mate catch you and him by the house on the quarter-deck in that position ? No, sir. How did you get your night clothes in the captain's room ? I had none for the first six days ; I had no opportunity of going into the steerage ; after I had an opportuniiy I went down with tho hope of staying there, but I could not, the steerage passengers were so violent ; I don't know the names of any of them ; they were principally Irish ; I went on board the 9th ; the vessel railed the 14th During the time did you become acquainted with any one ? No, sir ; I cola not get,. acquainted with those dirty Irish— (laughtee)—l made no acquaintance among the passengers. Mr. Joachimssen : Except Me Peachy. Witneas Except Mr. Peachy ; I had sleeken to him several times about a bad cold I had ; I had been in the steerage all the time up to the 15th except when I went on deck to get the air ; the doctor had spoken to me about my cold ; he is alive for aught I know; he did not give me medicine for my col ; ha gave me medicine several times on the voyage ; the captain told him ; the captain also gave me medicine ; I don't know what it was ; the fleet time I saw the captain was when I went up to ask the pilot if I would have time to write a letter to my parents; the pilot said we would be there two days ; I had been talking to Mr. Peachy half-an-hour or three-quarters when the captain came up ; he said to me, " You have an awful cold ;" my conversati m with Peachy was about my family in England and in this country ; the day this occurred between me and the captain I came on deck about three o'clock ; the pilot was on board the day this happened ; I cannot saw how long it was after I get into the captain's room before he had connection with me ; the captain was violent ; he tried to pull me by the bed ; I caught the handle of the door and made a noise; he took hold of my left arm, and I could scarcely raise my hand to my head fur a week atseewards ; I was clinging to the handle of the door with the right hand while he had me by the left ; it was a round white knob ; I held on as long as I could, until I became powerless ; he pulled me on to his bed ; I tried to take hold of everything as I passed; I tried to take hold of the chronometers ; they were fastened to the wall ; I passed them on the way to the bed ; I cannot Fay how long it was after he got me to the bed that he had connection with me ; I was weak and powerless ; he did it only once that night; he wanted to undress me, but I would not let him; I had no supper that night ; I believe the vessel was out of sight of land ; I believe every one on board knew that this happened ; I don't know whether the second mate knew I slept with the captain. Did the mate or second mate cell the captain every four hours ? He was, but they didn't come into the room. The first eight you were in the captain's room, did not the second mate come into the room to call the captain, and find you in bed with the captain. both undressed ? No, sir. Did you on that night go to the steerage, and bring in your night-clothes on your arm to the captain's room. No, sir. 'She cross-examination was suspended here. The following are two of the letters which had been produced. The handwriting is a pretty fair specimen of the class to which the peoseentrix belongs, but the ortho graphy is not in accordance with Johnson, Walker, or the more modern Webster : MISS SMITH IN LIVENPOOL.-..A fall-length and correct Likeness of "Sandy Creek Orleans County N Y June 257 miss -min is jast added to Allsop's Crystal Palace Wax , sork Eshi " To Cepen Conway bitten, Lime strew, Liverpool, modelled from a drawing taken daring " Dearest Sir My sister have been from Home for a few er trial at Edinburgh, and positively the only one taken.—Adst. Days for her Health and while she was away I was taken THE NEGRO AND HIS WRONG3.—A. negro belonging to very sick and I Miskarried My Brother in Lew sent for a Langan Harbor, iu Chicago, in the State of Mississippi, Doctor and no cue -but the Doctor knows it and he says he arose in the night and killed his wife by chopping off her will never say anything about it :nd he also told me that heal, after which he hurg himself to a tree near the house. I should never have any child artiive and he did not think The reason for this horrid deed was, that his wife, a I should ever have many at all but I hope I shall some day beautiful quadroon, was obliged to submit to ihe sensual I feel rather sick now but lam Looking better than I have caprices of her master.--New York Express, all the time therefore la m a ll right they will not let me go Hop INTELLIGENCE —A. small portion of the plantation out of the house by myselffor there is a Gentleman he is a in the vicinity of Canterbury has improved a little since doctor but not the one that att en d e d me in my sickness last week. The burr is coming out more freely, and looks who is very fond of me he has fallen deeply in Love with healthy, but the greater p trt is still in a very precarious me he would die he says if he-thought I should fever have state, the burr being small and unkindly. Lice are still ve.y him he is a tall smart looking man and has a good Business nurnerons,and fireatast is very prevalent in nearly the whole and he wants me to be married on October the Gila he is a of the grounds, and much honeydew, causing the general great friend of my Brother in Laws and my Brother and appearance to be little or no better than last week. About sister is very mad with ma because I think any thing about Maidstone the hops have oat made m ooh progress during you they say you are an Old Man you cannot expoct the week ; although the burr has made its appearunce the to have a young wife now for you will not live many bine does not present a healthy look. The nights have years besides they say there is too much difference in our been cold, and many pieces seem to have suff red from ages for you are more than Twenty years older than me the continued dry weather. A few heavy s' - lo sere would my sister and Brother thinks I am goirg to be married be likely to improve the prospects, but there will certainly to him and so does the young Gentleman he says the not be above half a crop in this neighbourhood. From American Women are not so Good Looking as the Erglish Sussex the accounts generally state that the grounds ere and not half so kind and he says he cannot live without me looking extremely bad, and in most places are getting and he is sure I shall give up all thought of yon you are worse. The Worces`er reports jay that the very rcugh too much older than I am but however if you write to me i winds which have been blowing for the last three days at once and tell me you do not wish me 'o give my Cum- from the eouthewest have done considerable damage in pang hup to the young Doctor atd that you intend to , the hop plaretations; and the bine, which is throwing out come and fetch me as you promised to do in 3 mo n ths I , its blossom, i'as been much torn and bruised, and many will not have anything to say to him at all that will make poles heavily laden with the plant have been blown dawn. them awful mad if you was to come and have me for The duty has sl,',.Atly declined is estimation,--South they and him to thinks and hopes I shall have him in Eastern Gazette. THE NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1857. SEDUCTION BY A MINISTER. In the early part of the mon'h of June, facts were put in our possession tending to prove almost beyond a doubt that a minister of a Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of Allegheny City, was guilty of having seduced a young girl from Missru i, who had been placed under his care by a parent to educate. We therefore published the bare fact, leaving out all names, however. A day or two after the reverend gentleman called upon us, and entered into a long and detailed statement, endeavouring to establish his innocence of the charge ; but as the explanation was not deemed sufficient by us to warrant a contradiction, we declined complying with his request to recall what had been previously stated. Since that time, corroborative testimony of guilt has almost daily been pouring in, but we have refrained from making an expose, or even furth - I. mention of the matter, both for the sake of the girl and her relations, and also the pastor and his congregatio-, hoping that it would be arranged and justice done without the necessity fur such a proceeding. Bit as the case will undergo investigatson by the Prestestery of Allegheny of the Cumberland Piesby terian Church which meets tc-day, July 8, at or near Freeport, Armstrong County, for the purpose of trying their suspected brother, and deciding upon his guilt or innocence, and as affidavits were yeste-day male before Alder man Steele, of this city, by the persons who- saw the two in the same bed together, on board the steam-boat lowa, we feel called upon no longer to shrink from laying before the public the facts in our possession, and the names of all the parties concerned. The injured girl's name is Sallie Henderson, aged about sixteen years, and her father (J. C. Henderson), with the remainder of his family, are now residing in Lexington. Mo., but were formerly of this city. The Rev. T. J. Simpson is the minister, and he has been pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in Allegheny City, for a number of years. In fact, he built it uo. lie also holds several other responsible positions in the C. P. Church. S. is considered to be an eloquent preacher and good theologian, but has always borne a reputation fir indis creetness in associating with the ladies, and it is said he promised to marry several of then), but as yet he remains a bachelor of some thirty years. . Miss Henderson was 'placed under his guardianship by her parents to educate, he kindly offering to defray the expenses of tuition. She has been attending the Waynes burg '(Ps.) Female College a lent time, but Mr. Simp son went nut for her in the month of May, to go with him to pay a visit to her relations, as ho had to attend the meeting of the Gearral Assembly, at St. Louis, Mo. The gentleman went to Capt. Devenny, of the Arctic, at this port, two d rys before she was advertised to start out, and represented where he was going, and asked the privilege of coming on board at that time, a 3 staying at the Monooga hela-house was very expensive. The request was granted. Mr. S. t ild the clerk to register the name of the Rev. Simp son and lady, which was done, and the c uple occupied one state rows two nights before the boat left the wharf. Before leaving—on some pretence, we forget what—Mr. S. got an ither state room, and had a young lady quartered with Miss Henderson. Of course nothing wrorg was suspected, as it was believed that they were lawful man and wife. At Cinchmatti they shipped on board another boat for St. Louis, and we heard no more of them until the Rev. Simpson applies at the St. Louis wharf, to Mr. Daniel Moore, clerk of the steamer lowa, and engages passage for himself, Miss Henderson, and Revs. Hudson and Miller, of Waynesburg, to coma to this place. • The suspicions of Captain Moore and his brother, the first clerk, became aroused by several actions on the part of Mr. Simpson and his young lady. For instance, they would be nearly always out of sight—he in her state-room, or she in his—except at meal times, and when in the cabin would carry on very foolishly and indiscreetly. Having been told by the chambermaid that Mr. Simpson had been alone in Miss Henderson's state-roon several times, the captain and clerk determined to satisfy themselves if any improper connection existed between them. Accordingly the steward ordered that two little girls occupying the next state-room to Miss Hender son's should he removed. He then had a gimlet hole bored in the balkhi al, by which a view could be obtained of every hing in the lady's apartment. That night ; about ten or eleven o'clock, he went into the adjoining room, and on looking through the hole some three or four minutes, was enabled to distinguish, by the light shed from a lamp burning in the cabin, that two persons were occupying the lower berth, as three feet were distinctly visible, and also an arm thrown from the far side over the top of the covering, with a gold chain-button clasping the waist. The steward then went and informed the captain and cletka and Rev. Hudson of what he had seen, and all soon became con vinced of the truth of the statement by ocular demon stration. Captain Moore then knocked at the state-room door, and demanded admittance. There was no answer for a few moments, when Miss Henderson cried out, " Yes, Captain, I will open the door, if you will wait a mcment." Mr. Simpson was found lying on the bed, with his pantaloons on, and endeavoured to make a transparent defence, by pleading that the lady would not allow hie' to leave her, as sae was afraid to stay tre her self. The captain seas indignant, and ordered the two to get ready to be put on shore immediately. However, Rev. Hudson had a conversation with Mr. Simpson, and afterwafds prevailed upon the captain to take them to Wheelin, where all four (Rev. Simpson, Miss Henderson, and It.vs Hu :son & Miller) left the boat and pursued their way to Waynesburg Female College, where the girl was left, but front which, we believe, she has been since expelled. To the ab ire statement of things which occurred on the lowa, Captain Moore and his brother, the first clerk, Daniel Moore, together with 0. C. Bunting, the second clerk, and L. F. Oberlin, the steward, have qualified them lves before Alderman Steele, which affidavits will he offered as evPeace against Mr. Simpson in the Presbytery. He was notified to attend at the squire's office, bat did not go. Tt e issue of the trial of Mr. Simpson, by the Presbytery of Alle;hencl, will ba looked for with painful interest. It is meat probable that be will be expelled from the church. —Pittsburgh Journal, July 8. THE CONFLAGRATIONS IN RHENISH PRUSSIA.—The Treves Gazette, wick reference to the conflagrations, de c'ares that it will cease to report the constantly increasing rumours of new conflagrations, because it only tended to pare': se the efforts to carry assistance to the places which have already suffered. Letters threatening incendiarism are now sail to be found in Treves itself. The evil appa rently is a real m )ral epidemic, and indicates something wrong in the state of public opinion among the lower orders in that part of Rhenish Prussia. MUNIFICENT GIFT TO THE INHABITANTS OF HALIFAX, BY FRANK CROSSLEY, FSQ , M.P.— In the liberal spirit mani fested by Mr. William Brown, of Liverpool, in his noble gift for the intellectual improvement of the people of that town, Mr. Frank Crossley, the respected member for Halifax, has presented to that borough the splendid park at Belle Vu', which has lessen laid out with his accustomed taste by Sir Joseph Paxton. At the last meeting of the Town Council of Halifax, a letter was read from Mr. Croisley, in which be offered to convey to the corporation, for the use of the inhabitants for ev,r, .the before-named park. on the condition that that body should expend three hundred guineas pea annum in maintaining the buildings, bridges, statues, trees, shrubs, walks, seats, and fountains, ant in providing. also, an adequate staff of gardeners and keepers. The Towo CJuneil unanimously accepted the munificent offer, and the general purposes committee were directed to make suitable arrangements for the public opening of the park on the 14th of August next, when a popular demonstration will mark the occasion. Although Halifax is situated in a delightful district, and much beau tiful scenery surrounds it, the Belle Vue Park will be a great acquisition to the town, and be the means, as in other crowded manufacturing places where public parks are laid out, of adding to the rational enjoyments of the people and the improvement of their taste. EAST INDIA RAILWAYS.—There has been printed, in the shape of a return to parliament, a copy of the memorandum laid before the Court of Directors of the East Comoany, upon rei;ways in Indio, sanctioned and projected. 3,648 miles of rai!way have been sanctioned, and are in course of construction, for which the estimated amount of capital required is £30,231,000. The total amount of capital issued with the sanction of the compenv, at varying rates of interest, is £20,314,300. The land for the railways has been given by government, the value of which may be es titnated at more than 41,000,000. The lines now in construc tion have been chosen for commercial quite as much as for military arid political objects, and the accommodation of the cot ton-predecing and agricultural districts has been specially attended to, will a view to the development of their re sources, and to the brieg'ngof their produce into communi cation will the sea Tne guage fixed upon for railways in' India is five feet six inches, as being the width best calcu lated to secure all the advantages compatible with economy. The cost of the two lines which have been completed is as follows, viz., the Eist Indian line, fro at Calcutta to Ra neegunge, about £12,000 per mile. The distance is 121 miles, being ten miles longer than the London and Bir mingham Railway, and having occupi d one year less is its construction. The other line, from Madras to Arcot, is 65 miles in length, cost about £5,500 per mile, and was open for traffic within three years of its commencement. The traffic on both lines is stated to be very sasisfactory, the receipts on the former, from 31st December, 1854, to 31st December, 1856, being £57,312 12s. 3d., out of which the expenses were £28,743 4s. 7d,, leaving ft net profit of £23,549 7s, Bd. BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE. At the Surrey Sheriff's Court, on Tuesday, the case of Bilk v. Dennison was called, before Mr. Sheriff Abbott, The plaintiff, Miss Mary Ann Bills, the daughter of a retired licensed victualler, lately carrying on business in St George's-in-the-East, and the defendant, William Matthew Dennison, is" the captain of a merchant vessel, the son of a wealthy s'eipewner of Aberdeen. This was a writ of inquiry, defendant having suffered judgment to go by default. The damages were laid at £5OO. Mr. Stam mers appeared for the plaintiff, and described the latter as a young lad, of con,iderable attractions, and whe, while assisting in the business of her father's house, was en by the defendant, who commenced paying her atten tions as suitor in April, 1854, and had continued his attention in person while on shore, and by numerous love letters—sometimes as many as three in a day—while on board ship. In 1856 defendant sailed in a ship belonging to his father, called the Golden Fleece, and proceeded to Algoa Bay. On board was a young lady passenger, who, during the voyage, had made such an impression on the de fendant that he married her, and he then wrote to plaintiff a letter breaking off the engagement. The leirned counsel read several from a huge mass of letters. The following are extracts : My dear Love,—lt is bowing a gale from the north-west, but if you were here how happy I should be. I see captains of other ships with their ladies walking about the decks as we should. We are not without music, for there is a flute on board, which is'now playing " Pop goes the weasel," and there is a nice accordian, which plays in the cabin. (Laughter.) • _ In another he said — Your likeness is now on the table before me ; I never write wi bout it. I have no tears to fill my ryes, for my heart is too full of grief at your abience. I cou!d sit and write all day long, but think and feel I shall not hear from your dear llps anything soothing or consoling. On the same day, and in a second letter, he regrets his " only companion is the second officer," and hopes soon to " enjoy each other's smiles and fond kisses." Next day he wrote, "I am quiet in my own cabin. I have got your portrait open before me, and can almost fancy I see your sweet smiles ;" adding, that he hoped they " may love one another, and by the will of Almighty God through life. I never write without your likeness befo:e me. I hope nothing will mar our cherished love," &c. Then was added a bit of poetry— • Farewell, thou clime of beauty, Where blooms the maid I love. Fond thoughts in pleasing duty, I round her ever rove. What way to say farewell in, In vain the heart would tell ; Winds blow while sails are swelling, Oh, native land, farewell ! In caer letters he said, " I miss your half-and-half; tell your father I am sorry I have got no bottled stout. (Laughter.) Since my voyage to Shanghai the hair is partly off my forehead, which gives it a more ample appearance." The last letter, breaking off the match, Wag as follows : Mary Anne Bills,—l have heard from my parents about our correspondence, so I must say the truth to you, as I shall lose the ship, and be forsaken by them, so I must give up all hopes of being yours ; so you had butt r look out for another, and what you are out of pocket I will recompense you. So I must remain single as I am, and pray you will forgive me. and if I can be of any service in any other way I will be most happy. Defendant not being present, or professionally repre sented, the learned Under Sheriff summed up, and the jury, after a brief consultation, returned a verdict of damages £250. AN IRISH TRIAL. At the Cork Assizes, on Saturday, one Patrick Coleman was indicted for breaking into the dwelling-house of one John Mullane, on the night of the Sad of July last. The prisoner pleaded not guilty. Margaret Ahern was the first witness sworn. Ex amined by Sir C. O'Loghlen : I live in Church-street, Mitchelstown ; I live with my daughter and an old man, a cripple ; Mr. King owns the house. Sir Colman O'Loghlen called ltpon his loriship to amend the indictment under Lord Campbell's Act, as the house was wrongly described. His lordship accordingly caused the indictment to be amended, Examination,continued : When was your house entered? He came into it three weeks on Thursday. Did anything occur to you that night? I don't know whether there did or not. (Laughter.) Were you awoke in the night ? I was not awake when he came, or if I was I would not let him in. Did you find any one in the room ? There is no room, but a kitchen. What did you find in the kitchen ? I saw him with the old man. Do you know him ? Idoto be sure (pointing to the dock.) There is the very lad there (laughter); I know him very well, for I ought to know him, because he frightened the life out of me. How did he frighten you? Because he came in between one and two o'clock, and handled me from head to foot. (Laughter ) What did you do to him ? I caught him and held him between the door until my daughter went for the police and brought them up. Was the door locked that night? It was not locked at all, because there was no lock on it. How was it fastened? 'There was a little staple down in the door, and another little staple down in that. (Laughter.) Is the door in two halves ? 'Tis indeed in two halves. Cross-examined by Mr Fitzgibbon 4,Now, Peg, are you sure there was a door at all to the h4tee ? lam sure there was a door to it, and I fas'eaed it myself. What, an hook and eye ? Aye, hook and eye. (Laughter.) Come, now, was it an hook and eye? There was an " asp" on it, and a " stable" put down in that. When did you get the old house? TSO years next May. What did you give Jack Mullane for L.? 1 gave him a place in it : he is an old cripple man. Were you asked for a mad fire ? Oh ! no, he did'nt. , Did he want to robyou ? I could not tell what he was ir cliued to do ; I won't swear robbery, but let the law do what they like with him. Who was in bed with you ? (Laughter.) My daughter. Was the cripple in bed with you ? He was at the foot of the bed. Was he in bed with you ? Why that would be a con trary thing—(laighter) —he has an oil woman of his own. Was Biddy in bed with you ? She was. You felt a man feeling all over you ? I did. It was you he was feeling ? 'Twas me he was feeling. (Langhter.) He mistook you for th 3 daughter ? I suppose so. (Laughter.) You ware wide awake ? I was not awake till he fright• ened me. You ware frightened ? To be sure ; a woman kind ought to be frightened, for a fallow of that kind to come into me. Was he about to rob you? I can't swear it, because I can't say what was in his mind, either to rob me or do what he liked to me. (Laughter.) I was never in a court before. Did you know what expenses are at assizes. I want no expenses at all, but let him have the course of the law. You won't swear he was wanting to nb you ? I don't know •, you won't catch me there. (Laughter. ) Eh? Eh ?. (Winking, laughter). To Court : When he cams in, I said who is that, and got no answer, and then my daughter said I was dreaming. He (the prisoner) said, "she is not dreaming, it is a lump of a man is in the house." (Laughter.) Bridget Ahern daughter to the last witness, was next sworn. She recollected the night the man went into the house. Her mother called her out of her sleep, and told her there was some one in the house, and she (witness) said she was only dreaming, when the man said, " no, she is not ; you have a lump of a man with you." The old man and woman held him while witness was going for the police. Andrew Mockler, constable at Michelstown, swore he found the man in the house sitting c n the grass. His Lordship, in charging the jury, said they should be satisfied of two things before they brought in a verdict against the prisoner. First, that he had actually broken into the house, and secondly, that he broke into the house with intent to steal. If they , were •of opinion he had broken into the house with the intention of steeling they should bring in a verdict of guilty. The jury acquitted the prisoner. Court : He may be discharged. Prisoner (tapping his os frontis) : I thank your Lord ship. A letter from Sil,m;ca states that the ban] of a noted brigand chief had carried off into the mountains Bessim Bey, the Cadi of Caraferia. They demand for his ransom a sum of 200,000 riAstres and the release of two of their band, who are in the prison of Salonica. CASH AND DEBI, Bosts.—The next Important thing to the posses sion of (ash is, how (when you have got it) to keep it safely, either in the counting-house or at home. The same remarks apply to deeds and other valuable documents. We have seen a large and varied stock of both these desirable articles, manufactured expressly for Mr. E. T. Hall, of South John-street, that challenge attention. These boxes are made on new and admired principles, and possess patent locks, which defy the ingenuity of any "pick-lock" in the world to open, except with the legitimate key. To merchants, solicitors, and others, these new safes, on a small scale, must prove valuable udeed 44k1.90hrria Daily Times, 21st may, 1867. CHARGE OF MURDER AT MAIDSTONE. At the Home Circuit, Maidstune, on Tuesday, before Mr. Justice Willer, Samuel Baker, 36, was indicted for the wilful murder of Ed ward M Carroll. Mr. Deedes and Mr. Robinson conducted the prosecution ; Mr. Serjeant Ballan tine was specially retained with Mr. Denman to defend the prison r. The circumstances under which the charge was preferred were of rather an extraordinary character. The deceased, Mr. M'Car-011, was a very young mate and it appeared that at the time he met with his death he was a lieutenant in the 44th Regiment, and was stationed with that regiment at Waltner Barracks, near Decd. The prisoner kept the ship public house upon the Esplanade at Deal, and about 1 o'clock in the morning of March 29, the deceased spoke to a coast-guard man named Morden, who was on duty on the Esplanade, and asked him to tell him where he could get something to drink, and at the same time stated that he had been to the Sandwich election, and hal lost eCS. The deceased was at this time evidently the were° for liquor. Morden directed him to the house kept by the prisoner, and he knocked at the door, which was opened by Mrs. Baker, the wife of the prisoner, and he • asked her to let him have a glass of grog " upon tick." She replied that she dal not allow any one to have liquor upon tick, and told him to go about his business. This refusal evidently excited the deceased, and he called out to Mrs. Baker, that she might go to hell, and she would find that a hot place enough for her. The deceased had a stick with him at the time ; and although there was no distinct evidence to show that he actually did resort to any violence, yet it appeared that after the deceased had gone away Mrs. Baker complained to Morden that the young gentleman had thrust his stick into her mouth, and had forced our two of her teeth, and there was no doubt that she made the statement to her hnsbrnd, and that this led to the fatal event that afterwards occurred. The deceased had gone away in the direction of the barracks at Weimer, when the prisoner came out of his house without a hat on, and evidently in a great passion, and he inquired which way the deceased had gone, and on being informed he went in that direction but returned in about five or ten minutes and went into his helve, and he then, according to the evidence of one of the witnesses named Dissent, went into the tap-room, after he had put on hi. hat and coat, and took up the poker from the fire-place in the tap room, placed it in his pocket, and left the house a second time. Ha was then seen to prd coed again in the direction of the barracks, evidently inpur suit of the deceased, and shortly afterwards cries were heard, but it appeared that no notice was taken of them, and although there was no doubt that the prisoner overtook the deceased, and thAt he inflicted upon him the injuries which caused his death, there was no evidence whatever to show what took place, or under what circumstances the fatal injuries were inflicted. The prisoner was very soon afterwards seen corning towards his own house, and it was observed that there was something sticking out of hie pocket, the end of which appeared like the end of a poker. At half-past five o'clock on the same morning, the deceased' was found lying on the sea shore, in the route he would have had to pass to go to the barracks, in an almost lifeless state, nearly insensible, and unable to speak, and he was removed to his quarters, where he died about nine o'clock, without being able to give any explanation of the circumstances under which he had lost his life. Upon post mortem examination, it was discovered that there was a fracture of the skull seven inches in length, which, with its consequences, was the cause of death ; and Mr. Mason, the surgeon who was called in, expressed his opini , n that this injury was of a nature that would have been occa sioned by a violent blow from such a weapon as a poker. It appeared th t when the prisoner returned to Deal the second time he told Morden, the coast guardman, that be "had caught the deceased near the toll gate, and that he had something in his pocket, and he gave it to him." He was asked where he left the deceased, and he seid that he had left him about the dockyard, and near the red light, and he also stared that before he came away from home he told him that he kept a public-house in Deal, and that if he wanted him he could find him. The prisoner, it appeared, was taken into custody on the same day, and on his being told that he was charged with ki ling a man by , beating him about the head, he said that the man had thrust a stick into his wife's mouth, and nearly drew out her tongue, and he went after him with a bavin, or small stick, and that when he came up with him the man struck him, and he was obliged to use his stick. The cap of the deceased was found near the toll-gate, and it was suggested on the part of the prosecution that the fatal affray had taken place at this spot, and that the body of the deceased had been carried to the place where it was found, and where it might possibly have been washed away by the tide. Serjeant Ballantine made a powerful and able defence for the prisoner, and while he admitted that it would be impossible for him to deny that it was by hig hand that the unfortunate young gentleman had met his death, he said he entertained a confident hope that when the jury looked at all the circumstances surrounding the sad occurrence, they would feel that they were not called upon to return a verdict, the effects of which would undoubtedly be to consign the prisoner to the scaffold, but that they would come to the conclusion that a verdict of manslaughter would be quite suf ficient to meet the ends of justice. He then called the avention of the jury to the facts, and said that whether the deceased had made use of violence towards the wife of the prisoner or not, there could be no doubt that the prisoner believed he had done so, and it was under this impression he had resolved upon inflicting some chastise ment upon the deceased, but he submitted that there was nothing to show that he had any deadly intention in hie mind, and there was no evidence as to what actually occured upon his coming up with the deceased, or to prove that the statement made by himself upon the subject was not the truth. He concluded by stating the - , he felt assured the jury would make allowance for the feelings of a husband who was placed in the position of the prisoner, and who had reason to believe that his wife had been most grossly insulted and assaulted, and that although they might entertain no doubt that the prisoner had been the unhappy cause of the death of the deceased, yet, at the same time, they would feel that the act was not committed under such circumstances as would amount to the dreadful crime of wilful murder. Mr. Justice Willes having summed up, the jury retired to consider their verdict, and after being absent about twenty minutes, they returned into court and gave a verdict of manslaughter. Sentence was deferred. DROGTIRDA ELECTION COMMITTEE.—Lord R. Clinton, Sir Fanquhar, Mr. Majorbanks, and Mr. Rust. Chairman, Mr. J. Estcourt. Private letters from Toulon of ne 25di announce that tho English equadron of evolutions under the orders of Admiral Lyons hai put to sea, and was on her way to Algiers. It was afterwards to visit Tunis and Tripoli. INDIA.—The writer of the Times city article, who lately calculated that the telegraphic despatches would probably arrive last Friday or Saturday, now says that, up to last evening (Monday), the Ind"n mail was scarcely overdue. There is, no doubt, a great difference in the speed of the mail steamers employed in the Indian seas, and the stea mer likely to have been last despatched is a slow sailer. CONMERCIAL FAILURE.—On Monday the suspension wag announced of the house of Mr. G. P. Guistiniani, a Greek merchant, with engagements estimated at from £250,000 to £300,000. He was largely engaged during the Russian war in supplying steam vessels to the Turkish government. These operations were understood to have been profitably, but latterly speculative losses are believed to have been sustained. THE POETRY 011 PAUPERISM.—A committee of the Sun derland board of guardians having been appointed to in quire into various matters connected with the state of the workhouse, presentei a report at Wednesday's meeting, in which they recommended (we quote the words of the senti mental document), "That measures be adopted to destroy the hosts of invaders who have taken possession of the clothes of the paupers, and who may be seen in embryo state, in myriads, in the valleys and on the mountains of the invaded possessions, waiting to be warmed into life and activity, when they make a hostile attack upon the poor inmates of the house, and though they do not massacre them, yet they dreadfully harass and distress them. Sunderland Times. THE ATTRACTIONS" OF PALMER'S EXECUTIONER.—At the York Assizes, on Saturday (before Mr. Baron Channell), the case of Mrs. Davis, the landlady of the Griffin Inn, Halifax, created a good deal of interest, as it was alleged that Palmer's executioner had been engaged by a previous tenant, i n June, 1856, t o " attract " custom to the house. The action was brought against a person named Prest, on the ground of certain false representations which were alleged to have been made, in order to induce the plaintiff to become the tenant of the inn. The defendant's son-in-law stated that he had Palmer's executioner for a week to assist in waiting. He wore a white smock frock, and parties came from Rochdale and other places to see him. It was no part e f their bargain that the hangman should bring a piece of the true rope, and none was ever exhibited by him. On leaving the defendant's house, the hangman went to a public house at Bradford, he havinga series of engagements in the Provinces. (Laughter.) Witness did not dine with th e h angman , as he did notlike sitting down with a man who wore a smock frock, but if he had been dressed as a gentl3man, even though he had hung the Rugeley poisoner, he should not have objected to have sat down to dinne r w ith him. (Renewei l aug hter.) Mr. Atherton replied, con t en ding that the bringing of the executioner to the inn was the . desperate expedient of a person who felt he was net flouris . hing , and that there had been gross exaggeration in puffing the weekly receipts at £24. The jury found a verdict for the plaintaft:—., Damages, £BO.