The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-03-22 00:00:00

enteral Nclus.

Tux Wm: Mi•notm IN NElAMllT.—Mattliew Fran.
cis was brought before the pinker:Ate. at Newport,
Moninouthaiire, on Monday week, charged with the
wilful murder of hi wife. Sarah Prmicis. The prisoner
Wee committed fur trial on the charge of murder.
THE MENDER NEAR NEWARK.—Thu culprit Ilirkitt,
who was sentenced at Nottingham Aasizes to be hanged
for the murder of William Whatmore, at llamby-in•the
Willows, has been respited during lier Majesty's plea.
sure.

el/NNUMPIION or CIt:ARPI ix FRANC.--According to
an account wade up (rota tilllciiil documents the number
of cigars mid cigarettes consumed in France, in IKI7, was
U fullows:—Havannali and Manilla cigars, 36.056.500 ;
eigani made in France, 441,071,NX) ; cigarettes 6,4714,000;
total 56:16,000.
SOUTH KENSINGTON 3111141EV11.—An important col-
lection, lent by Mathew Uriclli, Ke4., of antique and
other engraved gems and CaMead, ig now tube, seen in
the Museum, South Kensington. It comprises nearly
7100 specimens, many of great excellence and value, in•
eluding upwards of MO of those recently dispersed at
the sale of the Hertz collection. There are examples of
the best periods of Greek and Greco-Roman work, also
some of the cinque-cento in settings of the time.
A LADY PIITMICIAN.—Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, who
has been practising for the last seven years in New
York as a physician for women end children, has he
livered, during the last two weeks, at the Marylebone
Institute, a series of lectures to ladies on topics con-
necte I with the subjects of medicine and hygiene in
connection with the special duties of women in the
spheres of iloiiieitjc and social life. One lady has
offered to contribute the sum of ES,OOO towards the en-
dowment of a female sanitary professorship and women's
hospital, provided such an institution be eiitabliidied in
London. The fair lecturer delivered her discourses
with much ease of manner.

Tut: RoYAL LITERARY FUND.—The annual genetai
meeting of this society for the election of officers and
other business was held on Wednesday afternoon at the
chambers of the Corporation in Great Russell-stree:,
Earl Stanhope in the chair. The abstract of the cash
account showed that 1:1,649 had been granted in relief,
of which amount 1:1,455 had been assigned to 43 males
and LAI to 15 females, of which latter sex 9 were
authorecies and 6 widows of literary men. The amount
of subscriptions and donation, for the past year,
together with the receipts of the anniversary dinner,
anti ttttt ted to £715, and there still remained • balance in
hand of £21.15 In. Rd.
!delimit IN r.AR MERTHYR TIDVIL. William Jones,
publican and miner, residing at llirwain, a village
situate eight miles from Merthyr Tydvil, was brought
up on Saturday morning week, at the Merthyr Him:-
court, before Mr. J. C. Towler and Mr. David Evans,
charged with the wilful murder of William David, re-
siding at Ifirwaun. The prisoner is a married man.
apparently about 45. The evidence went to show that
the deceased. accompanied by his brother, Mary Ann
Williams and her husband, and two children, went to
the house of the prisoner. The prisoner's wife said they
might all sleep there if they would sleep three in a beJ.
One of the men, in a joke, made a remark to the effect
that lie would sleep at the bad of the landlady's bed.
This remark gave offence to the prisoner, who manifested
his anger by throwing the furniture about. !loth de-
ceased and the pris ttttt went out. On the return of the
p-isoner lie said a man hail fallen through the loft and
was dead, and addressing his wife, he added, " Ile is
dead on thy account." The evidence was not direct,
but the nreaumption was that the deocased had been
thrown down the loft by the prisoner. Several other
witnesses were examined, who partly corroborated the
previous evidence. Marks of blood were found upon
moue clothes alleged to have been worn by the prisoner
on Monday night, but which were changed on ruesday
morning. On Monday morning several of the witnesses
were re-minim...l by Mr. Frank James, who appeared
for the prosecution. At the conclusion of the evidence
the prisoner was co lted for trial on the charge of
wilful murder.

LKTEIMINKI) SUICIDE.—A few days since the family
of Mr. Robert rook, of Southerden•farm, were some-
what surprised at receiving an unexpected visit from a
female relative named Victoria Shirley, whose father
carries oil the business of a grocer in London. On being
questioned she said it was not her intention to make a
stay there, as she had done on previous occasions, but,
being in the neighbourhood, she had merely looked in
to see them. After partaking of dinner with the family,
at which nothing occcurred to create the slightest
suspicion', she expressed her intention of taking a walk,
and left the house, as was supposed, for that purpose.
She did not return, but it was thought she had gone
to visit another relative, who resides about a mile and
a half distant. On the following morning, however.• boy,
named Moshe'', in going to his work, discovered a mantle
and bonnet hanging in the bushes by the side of a pond
in what is called the South-meadow (a very retired spot,
a short distance from the house), and the body of the
young WOlllllll in the water. When taken out, seven
stones the size od • persona's linnol were discovered in
her dress, and her hands were locked in her bracelets.
To all appearance she had walked into the water and
quietly laid herself down, there being scarcely sufficient
water to cover the body. An inquest has been held,
and a verdict of " Insanity " returned. The evidence
given on the occasion almost warrants the suppposition
that the deceased left her I with the intention of
destroying herself at that particular place, as her friends
could in no way account for her absence from home, and
knew not were to find her until the receipt of • tide-
graphic 'message conveying the sad tidings. The
deceased WAS a handsome young woman, 21 years old.

DTSPERATE CAME Or BUItta.ART ix CLKVELAND.
On Friday morning, about two o'clock, a must desperate
attack was made by a band of ruffians on the inhabitants
of a wayside publiehouse, situate on the Whitby and
tluisborough-road, about three miles from the latter
town. The landlord of the hostelry, named Storey, who
is upwards of 60 years of age, retired to rest at his usinil
hour, after securing, as he thought, the doors and
windows. The other occupants of the howl° were two
daughters and a son-in-law, and they retired to rest at
the one time. About the hour named they were dis-
turbed by the sound of footsteps. Presently three men
entered the arried daughter's bed-room. She stood
prepared to meet them, having jumped out of bed and
seised • gun, which, unfurtuilately was not 10.001.
'fliey made an attack upon her, but ahe struggled with
them bravely, and belaboured them with such strength
and courage with the butt end of her weapon that it
WAY shattered to pieces. The father and son-in-law hur-
ried to her assistance, while the other daughter, in her
night clothes, ran to the iwarest farmhouse for help.
The Nowin-law was felled to Ow ground immediately on
entering the girl's room by one of the fellows with an I
axe, and rendered insensible. A fearful gash is in. ,
Bided, we understand, on his bead by the blow. The
old man grappled with them but was overpowered and
no severely used that doubts are entertained whether
he can survive the injuries inflicted on various parts of
his body. When assistance arrived the ft-blown had
decamped, leaving no trace behind to lead to their
identity. However, one man has been arrested on
solticion and the police are lAi the track of two others.
They bull the appearance of tramp', and are supposed
to have taken different directions across the country.
It is not yet known whether they secured any booty.
AT THE BOTTOM or a WELL.—thi )(outlay ~,,, ming
a bricklayer named Jerry Billings commenced deepening
a well, !whinging Li the inn at !belle-street. in the parish
of IVarbletlon. Having dug alstut two feet, and blot-
iug
hianaelf very warm, lie was drawn up and took some
refreshment. He WAY let down again about 10 o'clock.
Ids getting to the bottom it was remarked by some
idle looking down the well, "There is something amiss
with Billings." It was at once too evident that choke-
damp had entered, and was fast actin 1111 l lating. His
nephew attempted to descend to Ilk assistance, Lot was
obliged to give a sign to be drawn up again. The excite-
ment of all classes became intense. Medical aid was at
mice sent for. The incumbent of St. John's, the Bev.
Arthur C. Havilatel, on hearing the sad event, hastened
to the spot. The rev. gentleman says :—" Before I gut
there they bail lighted some wood shavings and put them
into a basket to let them down by a rope, thinking by
this means to burn some of the foul gas; but, of course,
, the tire went out &lomat directly, and there was noth-
ing but smoke from it. I said tins would never do, as it
was only making matters worse. What was to be dune
to save his life? There lie was, !saw fellow—lie could
be seen at the bottom jll4 struggling about, and could
be heard gasping for breath and gro • g. To my great
joy, Mr. Sit 11111 l ina, surgeon, of Bort:ham, came, and at
once advised them to tie genie sacka and clothes together
at the end of • rope, and draw thi sup and down to create
some fit-all Mr for the wretchetl loan. This seemed to
give him some relief ; but how to get him ue was the
! difficulty, as lie seemed putt: unable to lift himself up,
I and WAY seen rolling round on his hands. A rope with
a firm noose WWI let down, anti caught his arm ; they
then soca:vied by coiling it around him to fasten it I•e-
-curely, drew him up, and so the poor fellow WAY leaved
' from ' the horrible pit.' He had indeed a most narrow
escape. I suppose the gas was not so strong at the bot-
tom of the well, or Billings could not have lived many
minutes. He war down in the well two hours and a half.
Whet, taken out lie war quite insensible, but sobbing
heavily ; lie continued in this state for hours. The
proper remedies were resorted to, and the man wax put
to bed." Mr. Haviland sat by him a long time, and went
to see him several titnes, but he was not sensible during
his visit. By the following morning he ITU sufficiently
recovered to be taken to ins home.

APPALLING CATASTR./PIIE.—A most appalling catas-
trophe ozcurred in North Shields on Wmlttesday last.
Thu Waterworks Company have arranged for a supply
of water from a spring in South Preston New Pit; and
on Tms I.iy night Mr. Thomas Wilson, foreman to
Messrs. fieppell and Landells, engino builders, and Mr.
Proctor, foreman to the waterworks, descended
the pit in a cage, to arrange about the requisite machi-
nery for pumping the water. John Herdnian, the
bankunan at the pit mouth, had forgotten that the cage
hind gone down with them, and whilst talking to wow
cArtitien pushed a tub to the top of the shaft, fie then
saw the cage was not there, and tried to prevent the
tub from falling into the pit by holding on, but it over-
mastered lino, and lie and it were precipitated to the
bottom. Thi fell upon Mr. Wilson, and killed him on
the spot. The tub also struck Mr. Proctor, breaking
his thighs and otherwi-e injuring him, and lie is not
expei.ted to recover. flenlinan's back was broken by
the fall, and ho died shortly after the accident.

THE Pitgfut ix TURIMY.—The Lerani Herald, an
English paper published in Constantinople, has received
a " lirst warning." Our contemporary thus co iiiiii etas
upon the fact —" We print this cu,lnlnunication infi-
nitely 1111 l re in sorrow than in anger. Totally irrespec-
tive of the public value or worthlessness of our young
journal, it will have the worst poisible effect both here
and throughout Europe. In England, especially, it will
be read with the indignation of a rudely disappointed
hope and abuses: confidence—hope in the regeneration of
Turkey in spite of all tho abuses that weigh her down,
and Canfi.lenCe in the good faith and patriutiam of her
rulers. In offering the remarks which have procured
for us the 1111 l ur of this ' waniing,' *e were actuated
by no reckless levity, but by a deeply rooted interest in
the welfare of an empire for which but yesterday so
much of the best blood of England was spilt, and so
lunch of her treasure 'squandered ; and in our uhnoziona
comment:, we expressly exonerated the other members
of the Caldnet from any complicity with the individual
whose conduct we impugned. In the teeth, however, of
this correctional reproof, can we still bold to this chari-
table exception? , Without risking an answer to this
question, we may content ourselves with affirming that
iu England at least—to the Cove 11111 l ent and people of
which, as we have said, the Porto owes so much—this
act of official intolerance will la) must unfiattefingly
interpreted. As to ourselves, however, our duty is clear
and our resolution firmly taken. lk the risk of official
displeasure what it may, so lung as our journal is per.
mitted to appear, we shall continue, when occasion
needs, to offer legitimate co •nt on whatever concerns
the welfare of the country, and especially on whatever
affects the deeply staked interests of Englishmen here
and at home. If such criticism be unwelcome to those
whinu it may concern, we know the worst ; and if that
come Europe will appreciate the motives of our suppres-
sion."

lIC FUEXCH AlLNY.—Atnong the milita7 promo-
tions announced by the Monde-sr on the I,ccasmon of time
Prince Imperial's birthday (March 16), I observe that of
Colonel de Castagny, of the 82nd Regiment of the
Line, who is made a brigadier-general. His nause is
not unknown to your readers, w:to may see, by referring
to the IMO News of January 29, 1858, that I predicted
his apeedy advancement. His was the first and time
most enthusiastic of thew celebrated addresses pub-
liaised by the Moniker, in which the invasion of Eng-
land was suggested in order to root out the refugees.
"If," said Colonel Castagny, "your Majesty requires
soldiers to seek out these wretches, even in the recesses
of their den, we, the 82tm4 of the Line, humbly pray to
be allowed to forum part of the advanced guard of this
army. He now has his reward. Another hero of the
same epoch, Colonel Gault, of the Vitit Regiment, is also
made a general. His address was one of those few.
which, on account of their containing matter too
strong for the public eye, were not published in full.
That part of it which in all probability referred specifi•
cally to England is indicated in the Monitrur of Janu-
ary 28, by asterisks, which are followed by the phrase,
" We will fight your enemies wherever we may find
themn.'' The ellf(11111 de b.f., IK of the lot Regiment of
Grenadier Guards went to the Tuileries this g to
offer their comrade the imperial Prince, who is on the
roll and draws the pay of the regiment, a bouquet on
the occasion of his birtliday.—E.rpersa.

it tILWAY BEN rVoI.V.NT ITITiTIOX. The first
festival in abl of the funds of this institution—which is
as yet its its infancy, !taring been in existence for a
period of not inure than 10 mouths—WAS held sin tVeikg.
day evening at the Freemasons"faveni. Mr. Joseph
Locke presided on the occasion, and in dwelling upon
the claims which the institution possessed to the
sympathy of the public at large, and of the railway
interest in particular, expressed his belief that although
at the present moment it may stand in need assistance,
it would eventually become relf•supporting. Its establish-
ment, be went on to observe. WAN something new in the
history of railway proceedings ; but when it was borne
in mind Bost there were frosts day to day 120,000 persons
employed in connexion with those great undertakings,
while there were from 15,000 to 24)010 parasols eligible
AN participators in the benefit.' which the society pro-
posed to confer, he could not help thinging it WS,, a
matter for surprise that it should not have long since
been set on foot. But, be that as it might, it WWI now
formed ; it had its patrons, its president, and its vice-
president, and it might, in every sense of the word, be
said to be fairly started. It laid in the brief time
during which it had been in existence had about ki44o
contributed towards its funds, and that amount, he felt
assured. would be considerably increases' by all appeal to
the public, who could not be supposed to be indifferent
to the successful prosecution of railway undertakings,
and who were afforded a sufficient guarantee that any
money which they might lay out in the promotion of the
views of the institution would be expended upon worthy
objects, inasmuch al they who would he the recipients
of the public bounty afforded sufficient evidence of their
good conduct by the very fact that they continued to be
eusployed in positions in which the exhibition of good
conduct was eminently required. The chairman having
briefly explained the character and objects of the society,
and proposed the toast of " Prosperity to the Railway
Benevolent Institution."—a toast which was responded
to by Mr. Dixon. the honorary secrytary —the subscrip-
tions and donations of the evening were announced to be
between £1,200 and El.ffiXt. The chairman WAS sup-
ported by Lord A. Paget, Mr. Ifornby. M.P., Mr.
Beal, M.P., Mr. G. U. Glyn, M.l'., Mr. Saunders, Mr.
Morrison, Mr. Eborall, and several other gentlemen
intimately connected with railway transactions. The
utmost unanimity as to the benefits which the new
society was calculated to confer pervaded the speeches
of the various speakers throughout the evening. and
nothing scented wanting to the NUOCtill of this its
inauguratory festival.