The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-06-26 00:00:00

OPEN-AIR PREACHING.

ON Sunday afternoon, the Rev. W. F. Taylor, M.A., In-
cumbent of St. John's Church, preached in the open air in
Spitalfields, one of the most abandoned spots in his district
being almost wholly occupied by unfortunate females. The
rev. gentleman had on his academic gown and bands, and was
accompanied by his curate, churchwardens, clerk, and Scrip-
ture readers. The service was very simple; a few verses of a
Psalm were sung, the Collect for the day (St. John Baptist).
and a few others, together with the Lord's-Prayer, were read,
After which a short, pointed, earnest address was delivered
from the words of Matt. iii. v. 10 : " Now also the axe is laid
to the root of the tree, every tree therefore which bringeth not
forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire." A
large number of persons, about 250, were preient, many of
them abandoned females, all of whom remained until the close
of the address, and listened to it with the greatest attention,
After another short Hymn and Collect, the Apostolic benedic-
tion was pronounced, and the assembly peaceably dispersed.
There was somethingpeculiarly appropriate in this attempt
of Mr. TAYLOR to carry the Gospel to those by whom it is so
much needed. The day was that of St. John Baptist, who
commenced his ministrations by preaching in the wilderness,
and the subject of his discourse, the simple but all-important
exhortation, " Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

;SHOCKING !DEATH FROM DKINKING. - The Borough
Coroner held an inquest, yesterday, on the 'body of Michael
Kelly, a sawz,er. aged 55, who, while walking, long Mill-street
intoxicated, cm Saturday night, fell and hurt his left eye and
temple by contact with the kerbstone. He was carried home
to No. 5 Court, Hughes-street, Toxteth4park, and although
'every attention was paid to him by Dr. Fidler, he died in a
few minntes, from concussion of the brain. Verdict, "acci-
dentally killed by a fall."—Also, on'thel7Kody of Denis O'Hara,
aged atout 50, who was taken to Rose-hill Bridewell on Friday
night, by.police-office 107 (Kennedy), and booked as drunk
and .disorderly. Shortly .after, he 'became sick, and a doctor
advised his removal to the Workhouse Hospital. He was
removed on a stretcher, and died 'there at three o'clock on
Saturday morning. Verdict, "died from excessive drinking."
THE RESULT or " DrwrnG 'OUT. "—William Walker and
Louis Lyons, two young gentlemen who come under the
category of " heavy swells," 'were brought up before Mr.
Mansfield, at the police courtaesterday. Officer 4.31 said that
a little before three o'clock on 'Sunday morning, the prisoners
landed on the stage from the Woodside ferry boat, with some
females in their company. On the pier-head they met with
some more parties, who, as 'well as themselves, were evidently
" muggy " (laughter). A quarrel occurred through some
drunken jokes, and they all 'began to fight. The two "gentle-
men" charged were the worst of all, and refused to go away.
When he (the officer) tried to separate them, they became very
abusive, and at last "quite obstropulous " (laughter). The
prisoners admitted that they had " been at a dinner-party in
Cheshire, and drank too much wine." They were each fined
ss. for being drunk and disorderly.

THE N'ECESSIT'Y OF FENCING MACHINERY.—This was
made painfully evident in a case at the Coroner's Court, yes-
terday. An inquest was held on the body of Jonathan
Hodgson, aged 33, who was employed at the Ship-bread
Bakery of Messrs. Dempsey and Co., South John-street. On
the 13th instant, he got entangled in the machinery, and some
of his toes were 'taken off. He was removed to the Northern
Hospital, where a portion of the foot was amputated; and the
shock was so severe, that he gradually sunk, and died at seven
o'clock on Sunday morning. The jury returned a verdict of
"accidental death," accompanied with a presentment, that
they considered there was a degree of blame attached to
Messrs. Dempsey and Co., for not having the machinery
boxed off. Mr. Dempsey stated that, prior to the accident,
they had given orders for the machinery to be fenced ; but
the deceased, who was foreman, objected, on the ground that
it would impede the work : hence it had been deferred, but
would at once be executed. _ _ . _

DR. REID ON VENTILATION.—On Thursday and Friday,
-through the permission of his worship the Mayor and the Law
Courts' Committee, Dr. D. B. Reid gave, in St. George's Hall,
an explanatory lecture on his theory and practice of ventilation,
which is equally applicable to private dwellings and to ships as
to large public edifices. He illustrated the lecture by reference
to large and well-executed diagrams of the ventilating and
heating apparatus of the Hall and Law Courts; and at its con-
clusion he accompanied the parties present in a personal
inspection of the grand and imposing arrangements made for
the purpose of heating and ventilating the noble building. In
the progress of this inspection, the learned gentleman, with
his usual courtesy, and customary clearness of elucidation,
answered all questions and cave interesting details of the
various arrangements as they went along. The lecture and
explanations were repeated on Friday, and the numerous
listeners appeared to derive pleasure as well as instruction
from Dr. Reid's lucid and interesting exposition.
ROBBERY AT THE STANLEY WAREHOUSES.—Matthew
Osborne, a small-storekeeper at the Stanley Dock Warehouses,
was charged at the Police-court yesterday with stealing 221bs.
of copper bolts. From the evidence of the superintendent
and several of the officers employed at the warehouses, it ap-
peared that, on Saturday afternoon, a bag containing copper
was found concealed under a bale of cohair grass, on the dock
quay. It was not disturbed, but a watch was set, and shortly
afterwards the prisoner was detected in the act of taking it
away. He was allowed to remove it, and followed to his
store-room," where it was found concealed. A quantity of
wearing apparel, and several pieces of beef and pork, pre-
viously stolen from different parts of the warehouses,were also
found concealed in the "store." The prisoner, it was stated,
had been employed at the Albert Dock for some years, but
this was the first time any complaint had been lodged against
him. The prisoner's attorney (Mr. Chilton) argued that the
property had only been removed by the prisoner to his store
for safe custody. The magistrate (Alderman J. H. Turner) did
not believe the defence, and after severely commenting on the
necessity of punishing betrayal of trust, sent the prisoner
to gaol for two months.
LONG WOOED, BUT NOT WON YET.—William Caunce, a
stout-built, tall fellow of about 30, was brought up at the Po-
lice-court, yesterday, charged with being caught upon a wall
at the back of a house in Highfield-street, between twelve and
one o'clock on Sunday morning. Mr. Thomas Griffin said that
a quantity of wearing apparel was discovered to be stolen from
his house about the time stated, and seeing the prisoner on the
wall of the house adjoining his, he gave him into cus-
tody on suspicion. Caunce said he " was after a young woman
he knew."—(Laughter)—A portly dame here stepped forward
into the witness box, and, smiling pleasantly at the bench,
said : *" He came to court my daughter, sir (renewed laughter).
Alderman Turner : " Why doesn't he marry her, then ?"
Mother :—" Because I can't find in my heart to part with her.
(Laughter) Alderman Turner :—" How long has he been
courting her ?" Mother :—" Oh ! about eight or nine years,
perhaps;" (Roars of laughter) Alderman Turner : " Well, if
he has been courting her eight or nine years, it is time he
'brought it to a termination. What is he?" Mother : " He's
a farmer's son, or something of that sort." Alderman Turner :
-" Has he a good character ? Do you think him capable of com-
mitting a robbery ?" Mother : (indignantly) "No, lam sure
'he is not." Alderman Turner : " Well, he may be discharged.
I think you had better let them get married." All parties
then left court together, apparently appreciating the force of
the alderman's advice.
BRUTAL ASSAULT ON A WlDOW.—James Davies, a rough-
looking fellow, was brought up at the. Police-court yesterday,
charged with a drunken and most unmanly assault. Elizabeth
Davies, of Rupert-street, a woman advanced in years, stated
that she engaged the prisoner and seven others to carry the
body of her deceased husband from her house to St. Mark's
churchyard on. Sunday afternoon. After they returned from
their melancholy task, she supplied them with meat and drink
in lieu of, payment, as had been agreed upon. They all went
away apparently satisfied, but about an hour subsequently
the prisoner returned in a drunken state, and demanded
or half-a-gallon of ale additional. She could not give him
either, so he took out a pocket-knife, ripped up a dress that
was lying in the room into shreds, and then rushed upon her
and slit up her nose with the knife, from bottom to top. The
case was remanded until to-day, in order that the surgeon
who dressed the wound might be examined, Mr. Mansfield,
who heard the•case, remarking that it was very necessary that
the surgeon should always be present on such an occasion.
HOW THE POOR BATES ARE AlgiMENTED.—"Polly Kelly,"
one of the paupers from the workhouse, was brought up at
the Police-court yesterday, for refractory conduct. Mr. Carr,
the governor, said that "Polly" had been a constant inmate
of the house, "off and on," since 1847, during which time she
had had no less than four illegitimate children, all of whom
were now a burden on the parish funds. Her conduct was
continually insubordinate. She was sent to gaol for two days.
Three other women were sent to gaol for three months each,
for attempting to break into the vagrant sheds, to which they
bad been denied admission.
A CASE FOR THE Door COMHITTEE.—David Johnson, a
young married man, in the employment of the Dock Trustees,
at the Transit Sheds, Prince's Dock, was yesterday charged
at the Police-court, with the following offence :—On Saturday
he was stopped at one of the dock gates, conveying away some
deal planksoralue 45., in a cart. There was no one to prosecute
from the Dock Committee, and Mr. Filcher, the Superintend-
ant of the Sheds, was sent for. Mr. Chilton, the prisoner's
attorney, stated that the planks were considered " rubbish,"
and the prisoner had taken them as "perquisites," intending
to chop them up into " firewood" for the use of his household.
Mr. Filcher, being placed in the witness-box, said that the
planks were not actually the property of the Dock Trustees,
but had been left, as similar property continually was, by
some parties who had been landing or discharging a vessel.
When any merchandise or goods were left, they were collected
and sent to the Albert Dock to he sold for the benefit of the
trustees. Property of this description, however, was kept for
five or six weeks, and often claimed by parties ; if not, it was
removed to No. 1 Shed, and broken up, or otherwise disposed
of. He certainly thought the prisoner had been guilty of a
breach of discipline for removing the timber without
leave, but he would not have given him leave
had he applied to him. Superintendent Clough, who
appeared extremely anxious to press the charge, said
that he wished this matter thoroughly investigated, for
a similar case occurred at the Brunswick Dock some time
ago, when Mr. Pilcher came forward and said the property
taken away was " mere rubbish." In consequence of that,
the case was abandoned, and the police and the authorities of
the dock committee had come into collision on the matter,
relative to an alleged want of activity on the part of the
former. Mr. Chilton said the prisoner had had no inten-
tion whatever of committing a felony. He had been upwards
of twelve months in the employ of the trustees, and had a
ten years' character from Messrs. Boyd, Edwards & Co.,
before going to them. The case was remanded until to-day,
and bail was accepted for the prisoner, himself in £2O, and
one of $lO,