The Express.
London, England, 1862-07-28 00:00:00

THE MURDER Or A ROT AT CHATHAM arras.

EXAMINATION OF THE 11LI8ONER.—(THIS DAY.)
This morning Robert Alexander Burton, 18, who
stands charged on his own confession with having wilfully
murdered Thomas Frederick Houghton, by cutting his
throat on the afternoon of Wednesday last, was placed at
the bar before the Rev. J. Formley, county magistrate, at
Rochester, by Mr. Everest, superintendent of the Kent
polies, under remand from Friday last
The prisoner, who is a strong stout-built youth, with
light hair and complexion, manifested the utmost coolness,
being apparently the least interested person in the murk
The moment the doors were opened • crush of people of
both sexes, anxious to obtain • view of him, entered the
ewe devoted to the public, and created some confusion far
a short time, to the amusement of the prisoner, who
smiled and even laughed until the circumstance was
observed, when he resumed quickly a composed de-
meanour.
The prisoner had seated himself in the dock, and upon
being ordered to stand he rose with ► military alertness,
which no doubt was due to his training in the militia,
and stood in the position of attention.
Superintendent Everest said that he did not propose to
take any. farther evidence an the present occasion, and it
would be very desirable to have the prisoner remanded to
• future day, by which time the case against him would
be more complete.
The Magiatrate—Well, prisoner, what have you to say
why you should not be again remanded?
Prisoner—l am not going to object. I have nothiugto my.
You may remand me if you like.
Magistrate—Very well, you stand remanded.
The prisoner was then removed from the dock appmently
quite unconcerned.

ATTEMPTED MURDER IN SMAD WELL.
(THIS DAY.)

Walter Hill, a man of colour, late cook and sea-
man of the ship Ben Nevis, front nrinam, who stands
charged with cutting and wounding a prostitute named
Hours Morris, better known as Mad Nomb a Bluegste-
fields, Shad well, yesterday morning wss brought from the sta-
tion-house, Kin David-lane, Shad:veil, to the station-home,
in Arbourstreet, Stepsey, fadjoining the Thames police-
court, this morning, at 10 o'clock. An immense number of
persons were collected in and near King David•lane, and
Inspector Allison, of the X division, took the precautioo of
sending the prisoner out the back way in charge of four
police-constables, to avoid the crowd. It soon trammel
that be wu cm his way to the Thames police court, and 57
the time he reached Arbour-square a mob of 500 persons,
chiefly the scum of Shadwell, were following at his heels.
He was quietly lodged at the station-house without cor
exhibition of feeling whatever. The sympathyof thefew el-
=le persons assembled in manses the police oourthefore
al of the magistrate, Mr. Woolrycb, was decidedly
is favour of the unfortunate prisoner, who had been plus.
demi of his money, and stripped. of everything Im pal-
snoser.l, in a vile den, by the most infamous thieves in the

distria. •
It was rumoured that the woman, Honors Morris. dig
of her wounds this morning at 1 o'clock, sod mock
excitement prevailed. However, on the arrival of Yr.
David Hyman Dyte, house-surgeon of the London Hor
pital, at the Thames Police Court, shortly after 11 o'clock.
he at once allayed the prevailing excitement by stating that
the woman was alive, and progressing as favourably
could be expected considering the many wounds she re-
ceived. She lost very little blood— in fact scarcely any at
all—and he saw no reason why she should not recover. At
present the result was extremely doubtful.
The e prisoner is a native of St. Thomas, in the Writ

Indies.
At twelve o'clock, when this report was despatched, the
magistrate had not commenced the bean*, of
the night charge*. Hill will not be arrinfou
until 2 or 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The evidence
against him is complete. Many persons saw him inflict the
wounds on the unfortunate woman, who will not, under the
most favourable circumstances, be able to attend the court
for the next three weeks.
The prisoner will be remanded for a week as a matter ci
course.

EICTICIDI OP A FEMALE FROM BLAC6FRIAIt"
111D01. —Mk (Monday) morning, about bailout 12
o'clock, a decently-clad female, about 28 years of stu
after partaking of some coffee at the foot of Blackfriare•
bridge, suddenly rushed down the steps and plunged iota
the river. The Themes police, with the Mermen of the
bridge, succeeded in getting the unfortunate woman out,
but she was quite dead.
DRAT)! BY LIGHTNING. —A shocking event ,a'•
mind at Elvingtoo,in the East Riding of Yorkshire. lot
week. On Wednesday some labourers on Mr. Richardson
farm were engaged on the clover harvest when a thuoler-
/MOM came on. A man named Johnson, who was forking.
was struck down by a flub of lightning, which also sued
another man named Wills, knocking him off the load of bay
and setting fire to the hay and cart. The horsed wereabo
knocked down, but were soon up, ad away with the hunting
load. Johnson also soon recovered, and found his omen".
Wine a blackened corpse. The poor man had been avast
es the bead, which was split open and the flesh torn from
de arm and a portion off one foot. His clothes and boot,
were completely burnt up.
00-OPIRATION AND DISTRESS.—At the qoarterit.
misting of the Maischeeter and Salford Equitable Co-01.11'
tin Society, held this week, the members voted 211. boo
their profits towards the fund for the relief of their di'
tressed fellow-workmen. Them are above 2,000 mambo!
is this provident society, many of whom bare accumulabteg
a fund from their profits on food purcbsam which ri
proved of essentialservice during the present saucily
employment.

ENGLISH, SCOTTISH, AND AUSTRALIAN
CHARTERED BANK.-(THIS DAY.)

The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders was I
held at won, at the offices, 73, Cornbill ; Mr. J. 8.. TROY-
:-01: in the chair.
The following report and balance sheet were presented :
" The directors have now to place before the proprietan
the annexed statement of account., exhibiting a balance of
profit for the half-year of 240621. 61. 94. Although the
business of the put six months shows au improvement as
compared with any similar period, yet, owing to a con-
tinued depreciation in the value of land, and are-valuation by
Mr.Salusoc, the recently-appoiuted manager at Melbourne, of
different properties taken se collateral security for obligations
to the bank, it has been deemed right, in the meantime, to
carry a sum of 11,5001. from the reserved fund to a suspense
account. The adverse decision in equity of the suit against
the Royal Mail Steam Pack* Company, which had bees
long pending, has also induced the directors to transfer the
amount in dispute, viz., 11.2781. 19s. 74., to she same em-
press account. They are advised that they have still a
remedy at common law. The directors have much pleasure
in informing the proprietors that Mr. J. Young, who wu for
some years manager of the Sydney branch, has upon has re-
tirement from that office joined the local board of the bank,
thus affording it the benefit of his valuable experience.
The directors propose to apply the balance of profit as fol-
lows, vii—To the payment of a dividend at the rate of six
percent. per annum. free of income tax, on 500,0001., the
paid-up capital of the bank, 15,1001. ; towards the reduction
of the amounts at debit of preliminary expenses, 5001. ;
bank premises and furniture account., ; leaving,
6,562/. 6.. 9d. ; which, with the balance of the reeernd
fund, 4,6701. 6s. Bd., after the deductions mentioned above,
will make 11,2321. lle. Bd. at credit of that account.
" Liabilitix Paid-up capital, 500,0001.: deposits,
645,0014 18., 9d. ; bills payable and other llMlties,
100,4061. 19a. 6d. ; circulation, 79,9244 ; reserved fund,
4,6701. fa 8.1. • amount carried to profit and loss account,
*.t1.5021. 17s. ; tote', 1,366,5064 2s. 7d. Assets: Bills
receivable (including the estimated value of those overdue),
loans on securities, cash at hankers, Ire., 1,074,4851. la. Bd.;
specie and bullion, 225,9981. 9e. 6d. ; bank premien. and
furniture, 62,4411. sa. 4€l. ; preliminary expenses, 3,54901.
6.. Ist. ; total, 1.366,505 C 2e.
" Profit and Less Account. —To current expenses is
Melbourne, Sydney, and sub-branches, 8,3621. 9.. Id. ;
London. including directors' remuneration, 2,0784 la. 104.,
00,4404 10s. Ild. ; to balance, 23,0621.65. 9e1.-
5024 17a 83. By amount brought down, 33,5021.
17s. Bd."
The Ortsrascue, in moving the adoption of the report and
accounts, said, although the suit against the Royal Mail
Steam Packet Company had terminated against them, the
board could not blame themselves, having acted upon the ,
beet advice. The amount in dispute, viz., 11,2781., would
be carried to a new suspense account, and the 11,5001. re-
ported by Mr. Salmon as the amount of depreciation would be
added to the same account. He would now state how it
was proposed to deal with those items. In January last
the reserve fund amounted to 27,0007.; and if the two sums
previously mentioned were deducted from that amount
there would remain 4,6701., and with the 6,5621. now
added after paying six per omit., the reserve fund would
still be 11,2001. The bank Dow stood in a better position on
the whole than it had occupied for some years.
Mr. BojitruDAlLL a director, the motion.

_ . .
In reply to a qu—ution,
The CHAIRMAN stated that the securities which bad un-
dergone such depreciation were taken only as collateral
securities. . . .

In reply to further questions,
Mr. BORMADAILI said the board would not =gap In fresh
law prooeedings without almost a certainty of snore., If
the European and Australian Company were euccessful they
(the English, Souttisb, and Australian Bank) would no
doubt participate in the benefit.
In reply to another question,
.Tbe CHAIRMAN said the inspector bad written as follows :
I believe all our current business in both colonies may
now be regarded as in a satisfactory condition, and l think
the uneasy feeling which has existed amongst the squatting
interest lately is beginning to subside." Both the inspector
and the manager were very careful—in fact, rather too
careful.

Dr. Brawn stroogly urged the directors not to enter
into any fresh law proceedings. He presumed that the
11,000/. would not be retained much longer.
The CHAIRMAN said it bad already been paid.
A SHARIMOLDER thought it would be best to mast the
loss by foregoing a dividend, and made a proposal to that
effect, which, however, was not seconded. He believed
that that course would roduce the best result on the other
side of the water.
. . . . .

Mr. BORRLDAILI said that queetioo bad been maturely
considered by the board, and the board abstained from pur-
cuing the course suggested, because they thought it would
produce an impression that the accounts were unsatisfactory,
which was not the cue. (Hear, hear.)
The report was adopted, and a dividend at the rate of 6
per cent. per annum declared, payable on the 4th of August.
The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the
chairman and his colleague.