The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-11-13 00:00:00

THE British and North American Mail steamer Canada
sailed hence on Saturday, with 178 passengers, a large cargo,
and the usual mails.

ON Friday Ellen Patten, living as servant with Mr. Swift,
beerhouse-keeper, Duke-street, suddenly left her master's
service, unobserved, taking with her £4O, which she had stolen
from a box in his bedroom.
THE first annual meeting of the Liverpool Auxiliary to the
United Kingdom Alliance for the Suppression of the Liqudr
Traffic was held on Thursday, in the Teutonic-hall,Limestreet.
Mr. Lawrence Heyworth, M.P., the president, occupied the
chair, and there was a very large attendance.
TRIAL or A NEW STEAMER.—A new paddle-steamer, called
the Emperor, belonging to Mr. James Jack, of the Victoria
Engine Works, of this town, made a trial-trip on Saturday,
from the Sandon Dock to the Bell Buoy and back. The work-
ing of the engines, &c. was highly satisfactory.
THE Rev. G. Bull,of Birmingham, will lecture for the Kirk-
dale Working Men's Reading Room and Night School, this
evening, in •St. Mary's school-room. The subject will be,
"Home, and how to make it happy." The chair will be taken
by the incumbent at half-past seven o'clock.
SOME young rascals, by way of what they termed a "lark,"
set fire to a quantity of shavings in the house of Frederick
Westgate, in Kitchen-street, on Saturday afternoon, The
Liverpool and West of England fire-brigades turned out, but
the only damage sustained was confined to an old sofa.
THE sth regiment of Royal Lancashire. Militia, now in •
camp at Aldershott, has been so much redueed, in consequence
of the number of volunteers from it into the line, that infor-
mation was received in Burnley of the speedy return of Cap-
tain Fenton and other officers, with the band of the regiment,
for the purpose of recruiting. Since then the order has been
countermanded, and the regiment is now expecting to pro-
ceed to Dublin. 200 of the volunteers arrived at Cork last
week.
A LIVE RACCOON IN A. BA-LE OF TOBACCO.—Tho Cus-
tom-house officers were one day last week unpacking a bale of
tobacco, in the bonded warehouse, Liverpool, when, on re-
moving the outer covering of raw ox hide, they found a rac-
coon, thin, indeed, to emaciation, but still alive. It had
existed, probably for months, by nibbling at the raw ox hide,
which thus at once became its food and prison-house. It has
since been allowed more generous fare, and is rapidly recover-
ing from the effects of its long and hungry confinement.
THE Committee of the Liverpool Governesses' Institution
are endeavouring to raise a sum of money sufficient for an
annuity of £2O, to be called "Archdeacon Brooks annuity."
Their first presentation to be placed at the disposal of Miss
Brooks ; afterwards the selection to be vested in the general
committee. The recipient to be a native of Liverpool, a
widow, or unmarried lady—not under fifty years of age,
and who has been a governess, either resident or daily, for five
years in one or more private families, and whose income does
not exceed £2O per annum.
PILFERING FROM A COOPER.AGE.—John Jones, a lad, was
charged at the Police-court, on Saturday, with stealig lead
and other articles from the coopehra ge of Mr. M
nd other
'Cawrthy, in
Bond-street. On Friday night, the prisoner ato
boys were observed by Mr. Rimmer, who lives in Bond-street,
to break into the cooperage, and presently to return with a bag
evidently containing some heavy substance. He p
is ursuedthem,
,and succeeded in capturing the krisoner, but h companions
escaped. The prisoner Isis carrying the bag, which was found
to contain lead and other articles, which had been taken from
the cooperage. He was committed to prison for two months.
DEATH FROM EXCESSINE DRINKING.—Robert M`Cann,
about fifty years of age, keeper of a disorderly house in
Lancelot's-hey, died on Saturday morning from excessive
-drinking. At the inquest on Saturday it was stated that
this was the third case of sudden death which had come be-
fore the court. M`Cann, who was formerly a seaman, was
living with a female some three or four years ago in the
above house, and she was found suffocated in the privy. A
young woman who appeared at the time as a witness subse-
quently became his wife, and died -suddenly from the course
of life she led ; and a witness at the present inquest, who
appeared with a bruised face, had since that period lived with
him as mistress. "
- -

RECTORAL BURIAL Fims.—ln the Court of ' Queen's
Bench, on Saturday, Mr. H. Hill applied for a rule calling on
the auditor of the West and North Lancashire district to
show cause why a certiorari should not issue to remove into
this court certain disallowances and surcharges made by him,
that they might be quashed. Mr. Campbell, the rector of
Liverpool, claimed certain burial fees, which were paid to him
by the vestry, but were disallowed by the auditor, on the
ground that the scale under which they had been paid, and
which had been made by the commissioners, was not autho-
rised by the 10th George IV., e. 11. The application was
made to obtain the opinion of the Court upon the construc-
tion of the clause.—The Court:granted the rule.
LANCASHIRE Murrre..—The following commissions have
been signed by the Lord-Lieutenant :-3rd Regiment of th
Duke of Lancaster's Own Militia : W. Mathias, Esq., late
major in the 6th regiment of Royal Lancashire Militia, to be
lieutenant colonel, vice Bentham, resigned ; Ensign F. Beas-
ley to be lieutenant, vice Reade, appointed to the line.-6th
regiment of Royal Lancashire Militia: W. L. Echlin, Esq., to
be surgeon, vice Harrison, resigned.—Royal Lancashire Mili-
tia Artillery : J. Richard, gentleman, to be first lieutenant,
vice J. E. D. Campbell, appointed to the line.—The following
appointment is substituted 'for that which appeared in the
Gazette of Friday, the 2nd- of November :-4th or Duke of
Lancaster's Own (Light Infantry) Royal Lancashire Militia :
T. A. Corlett, gentleman, •to be ensign from the Ist of August,
1855.
AUSTRALIAN EMIGRATION.—Baines and Co.'s " Black
Ball" clipper Ocean Chief, Capt. Tobin, sailed for Melbourne
on Tuesday, with the mails of the sth of this month. She
had a very heavy cargo, and 276 adult passengers. The next
mail will be dispatched -on the 21st of November, by Messrs.
Pilkington and Wilson's splendid ship Mermaid, Captain
Devey. The mail ship .of the sth of December will be the
Marco Polo, which is rapidly filling with passengers, principally
for carded ; and the mail of the 20th December will be
forwarded by the Earl of Sefton. The " Black Ball" ship
Oliver Lang was to leave Melbourne, with the mails for Liver-
pool, on the 21st of August, and is, therefore, in her eightieth
day out. The Surprise is in her eighty-first day out; but the
Ballarat having brought news up to the day before the Oliver
Lang sailed, we do not expect much later intelligence until the
arrival of the White Star, which was to leave Melbourne on
the 30th of August ; and, allowing her eighty days to make
the passage home in, -she may be looked for on the 20th of
November. The Kent• was appointed to leave for London on
the Bth of September, and may, therefore, be looked for about
the end of the month.
Does COMMITEE.—Mr. Charles Turner presided at the
weekly meeting on Thursday. The other memhers present
were Messrs. Shand, Rankin, Rounthwaite, Hubback, Langs.
dale, Mondel, Barber,-J. Holme, Greg
and Robinson, Lockett,
and Holden. A communication was read fromade to the m Messrs. Allen
and Gillespie, in reference to the complaints com-
mittee last week by Messrs. Jacot and Tipper, and applying
for a permanent berth for a new line of screw-steamers which
it is in contemplation to establish in the spring of next year.
Referred to the Harbour Masters' Committee. A letter was
received from Mr. T. A. Miall, landing-waiter, stating that on
the sth of September-last, whilst he was returning from the
lluskisson Dock, he met with a very severe accident at the
drawbridge, in consequence of the gorge chains not being up,
having fallen between•the bridge and the pier, a distance of
12 feet, upon the granite pavement. Under these circumstances
he made application to the committee that the expenses to
which he had been put by the accident be defrayed by them.
The Chairman said the matter had been investigated by the
Harbour Masters' Committee, and they found that the man
declared that he had put up the chain. The chain must have
been unhooked by some one out of mischief. The secretary
was instructed to write to Mr. Miall, on behalf of the com-
mittee, regretting the accident, and stating that they had in-
quired into the circumstances, and found that the chain was
put up by their servant. A memorial was read from twelve
master pilots, in reference to Mr. Garniss having given evi-
dence before the Recorder, at the sessions, in a case of colli-
sion, in a case in which Joseph Corkwell was implicated, and
calling for an, explanation. The Chairman stated Mr. Garniss
was summoned to appear, and could not disobey. He had sent
a letter to the committee in reference to the subject, which
would be transmitted to the master pilots.
LIABILITY OF RAILWAY COMPA.NIES.—In the County
Court, on Thursday, Mr. T. S. Raffles presided in the absence
of the judge, Mr. Pollock. An action, Wignall v. the London
and North Western Railway Company, was tried, which in-
volved a question of considerable importance as regards the
liability of railway companies. The plaintiff was a commercial
traveller who, in May last, being about to travel by the Lon-
don and North Western Railway, came to the Lime-street
station, shprtly before the starting of the nine o'clock night
train. The booking-office was not open when he arrived there,
and as he wanted to get some refreshment, he gave his lug-
gage to a porter, who placed it in a carriage, and who told him
he might leave it there, as it would be perfectly safe. Upon
this assurance he left the luggage there and went into the
refreshment room, where he remained about ten minutes.
Upon coming out he found that -his desk was gone. The
train w•
as actually then moving off, and as the desk could not
be found, he was obliged to get his ticket and leave in the
train at once. The desk was not recovered, and as it contained
a number of private documents useful to him in his business
and otherwise, he claimed to recovercompensation. The corn-
pany offered to pay him £3 10s., the actual value of the desk,
but denied any further liability- On behalf of the defence the
law agent of the company contended that there was no lia-
bility, inasmuch as the desk was lost before the plaintiff had
taken his ticket, and therefore before any •contract was made ;
and also that the documents contained in the desk were not
personal luggage, and did not come under the character of
articles to which the liability of the company extended. This
Litter point was that which was most strongly urged on behalf
of the defence, and upon which the company •more especially
desired to have the judgment of the court.—Mr. Raffles stated
that he would take time to consider the case and :consult with
Mr. Pollock. The judgment will be delivered •on Tuesday
next.
SINGULAR ROBBERY BY 'A SERVANT.—At the Police-court,
on Thursday, Elizabeth Sparks, her mother, Jane Sparks, and
her sister, Mary Sparks, were brought up under the following
remarkable circumstances. Elizabeth, a stout, strong-looking
girl, lived as servant with Mrs. Wilson, wife of Capt. Wilson,
who is at present on his voyage home. A few evenings ago,
Mrs. Wilson left her house, No. 77, Iluskisson-street, taking
her two children to pay a friendly visit, and leaving the girl
in charge of the house.. On Mrs. Wilson's, return, about ten
o'clock, the back doors were found open, the house in great
confusion, and the girl lying stretched on the sofa in the sitting
room, apparently suffering from the effects of a drug, as well
as from some personal violence, her hair being dishevelled, a
slight bruise being on her face, from which blood flowed, and
the front of her dress being a little torn. On being well
shaken the servant seemed to recover her consciousness, and
muttered :—"'Let me alone, and I won't make a _noise !"
Shortly afterwards she made a statement to the following
effect :—A strange woman came to the door, who seized her,
threw her down upon a sofa in the parlour, and forced some
liquid down her throat. She quickly became insensible, and
knew nothing more. On being discovered by her mistress,
the girl was taken to the Dispensary, with a view of giving
her an antidote to the pernicious drug, though what that drug
was has not been discovered; and she does not appear to have
suffered any material injury, either externally or. internally.
On examining the house, it was found that every article of
value had been stolen, including gold rings, silver dessert
service, articles of clothing, and two small boxes containing
two £5 Bank of England notes, the whole amounting to
about £5O in value. A reward of £5 being offered for the
discovery of the thieves, Detective-officers Povey and Cozens
succeeded in tracing the whole of the missing property to the
possession of the servant girl's mother and sister, their sus-
picions having been drawn in that direction by Ole extraor-
dinary nature of the case, and by the fact that the mother had
been previously convicted for felony. The prisoners were com-
mitted for trial.