The Press.
London, England, 1853-11-05 00:00:00

ttibents nab Offences.

THE DEATH OF A LUNATIC, in the Middlesex
County Asylum, was made the subject of a protracted
investigation, before a coroner's jury, on Monday last.
The deceased, whose name was Parsons, was thirty-
three years of age, and had been a butler in the ser-
vice of a gentleman connected with the firm of Hoare
and Co., brewers, residing at Wavendon, near Newport
Pagnell. It appeared that Parsons, having displayed
symptoms of mental aberration, was, by the direction
of his master, taken to London by a fellow-servant.
At a coffee-house where lodgings had been secured
for them, the deceased was treated by a medical man,
who said the case was a dangerous one, and the
patient had better be taken to the Middlesex Hospital.
Ile was taken there accordingly, and complained
much afterwards of his treatment, having been
strapped down to the bed. From the Middlesex
Hospital deceased was taken to Marylebone Work-
house, where he was placed in a bedroom stated to
have been padded, and was very violent, making fre-
quent efforts to escape, and tearing his strait-jacket
to shreds. Admitted to Hanwell Asylum on the 22nd
of October, be was found to be marked with severe
bruises upon the face, body. and leg. Then he was
said to be weak and ill, and, on being admitted to
the infirmary, died on the 25th. Dr. Bagley, the
senior physician at Hanwell, deposed that he bad
made a post-mortem examination, proved the existence
of bruises upon the body, and gave his opinion that
deceased had died from exhaustion after mania,
resulting from natural disease of the brain, and in•i-
tation caused by the external injuries be bad received.
The Coroner, in summing up, expressed his opinion
that neither in Middlesex Hospital nor in the Mary-
lebone Infirmary had the deceased received the care
and attention which his case required. The jury,
after some deliberation, returned the following

verdict :
"That the death of the said William Persons was caused by a
mortal exhaustion, produced by mania and natural disease at the
brain, and also by a mortal irritation, produced by bruises on
divers parts of his body, caused by fall. in an improperly padded
room in the Maryleboue intirmary ; and the Jurors further say,
they consider it was cruel of his master. the said Mr. Frederick
Woodbridge, to send the unfortunate William Parsons to London,
as he did, while the said William Parsons wee H
of lnsane statt
of mind ; and they consider that the treatment the sohl
tiara Parsous in Middlesex Hospital and in the Marylebone
Ifirmary was not at all creditable to the character of those
institutions."
A WORKMAN NAMED PEARCE, employed at the new
Irvingite Chapel in Gordousquare, got drunk one
night last week. Next day he was reprimanded by
his employer, and again had recourse to intoxication,
to soothe his feelings. He then seems to have gone
into the belfry of the edifice, and, while in a drunken
sleep, fell oil, and, the place being ninety-six feet
from the ground, was nearly dashed to pieces. Ver-
dict at the inquest, " Accidental death."
THE WARD OF TRADE have directed Captain
Beechy to investigate into the circumstances con•
nected with the late awful wreck of tho Annie Jane.
This is nearly, if not quite, the first time that a
shipwreck of an emigrant ship bus been considered
a fit subject for judicial investigation ; and, were it
not for the manner in which the matter has been
taken up by the public press, the shipwreck at Barra
would, even now, probably have passed away without

luiry.
Am EXTENSITA CONTLAGRATIUN broke out early on
Wednesday morning on the premises of Mr. Lavi-
sage, a wheelwright, and two private houses, in
George-street, Borough. In spite of the most
strenuous exertions, some hours elapsed before the
fire could be entirely got under. The whole of the
wheelwright's factory was levelled with the ground,
and the other two houses were partly gutted. Some
neighbours also suffered considerable damage from
fire and water. The total loss is serious.
Os Sunday afternoon great sensation was created
in the neighbourhood of Hornsey, front the report
that a man was hanging from a tree in the wood
Dear Hornsey Wood-house. A woman was the first
to make the discovery. The body was cut down, but
fife had long been extinct. The deceased was a
middle-aged man, and apparently from the country.

THE PRESS.

A BRUTAL. MunnEn has been committed at a fl
house near Barham, in Buckinghamshire. The farm
is tenanted by Mr. tioodwin, who went out upon
Tuesday evening on a visit, leaving his housekeeper,
a young woman named Sturgeon, in the house. Ou
returning about midnight he noticed some disorder
in the lower part of the house. and, on proceeding
up stairs, found that the housekeeper had been mur-
dered, anti a fire HMO out Of pieces of furniture had
been piled upon her body, which was already par-
tially consumed. Marks of violence were traceable
on the head, anti stains of blood on the stairs. Va
rious articles of property were missed by Mr. Good-
win. but many snApienma ell-moment-es have given
rise to the belief that the crime was not perpetrated
solely for the sake of plunder.
ON Wednesday, Ann Martin, of Loscoe, Derby-
shire, was committed on the coroners warrtuit to take
her trial on a charge of having murdered the idle
gitimate child of her daughter by throwing it into a
well.
Tin: approach of the but of November has
been marked its usual by serious accitient.4
with fireworks. One took place on the premises
of Mr. Wodin, New (travel lane, Shadwell, a fire-
work maker. Mrs. Wotim and a boy who were
in the house were frightfully burned and nearly
suffocated. They are in a dangerous state. The
accident is said to have been occasioned by a boy
throwing a lighted squib into the shop. The tither
explosion happened on Wednesday, at Chatham. ut
the workshop of Mr. Henniker, u gunmaker. His
wife anti three sons were busily making fireworks
against Gunpowder day, when a heap of squibs ex-
ploded from soma mime ruined cause. The roof
and wall were blown out, the whole contents of the
workshop demolished, anti dl the occupants more or
less injured. Mrs. Henniker was so much burnt
that slight hopes wore entertained of her recovery.
A Dar.torui. Bon.ta Exmositot occurred on
Wednesday morning on the premises of Mr. W.
esketh, cotton-manufacturer at Blackburn, by which
five persons were killed anti sixteen others were se-
verely injured.
THE Loss OF THE BARqUE Princess Victorin,while
on a voyage from London to Melbourne, has been
reported by the Argo. When within a few miles of
her destination, on the 11th of August, the l'ictoria
was discovered to be on fire, and, having 400 barrels
of gunpowder stowed in her hold, the crow were
seized with alarm, and at once took to the boats, anti
succeeded in getting beyond reach of danger, when
the explosion took place, shivering the ship into
atoms. Fortunately a vessel was attracted to the
spot by the intense light of the explosion, and picked
up the crew in the boats, who were landed itt Mel
bourne a few days afterwards. The Princess t ic-
toria is reported to be insured. She sailed from the
Downs on the Rth of April.

tArtlant.

Tin: iltrtorSTlttAl. EXIMITTION thitilly closed on Mon.
day last. There were more than 20,000 persons pre
sent, and the occasion was marked by some brie!
musical performances, a little popular excitement,
and an approptiate speech from the Irish Viceroy,
who officiated in chief. Ills excellency said :
" I cannot declare the Great Industrial Exhibition of
10.53 to be closed without expressing tttt dirtiest wish for
the health, happiness, and prosperity of the man to whim]
we are all indebted for the insirnetion we have reeeive4l
from the many productions of art and nature which are
contained within them, walls. 1 also desire to acknow•
ledge the liberality of the owners of those treasures fur
permitting them to he exhibited. Let me also pay a trio
bate of praise to the committee, the secretaries, and the
other officers connected with it, for the zeal, the assiduity.
and the intelligence with which they have discharged their
many duties. Lastly, let me, in the name of this assent-
lily, oiler to Almighty Gest our heartfelt thanks for having
bleastil and prospered this undertaking. I now &elate
this Exhibition to be dosed."
The honour of knightb ood was aftem.ards conferred
no Mr. Roney, the secretary to the Exhibition com-
mittee.
TME DAIGA) BAwcatirr came of on Wednesday,
under very splendid circumstances. Six hundred
guests attended, from all tanks of society, represent-
ing the peerage, the professional classes, the mer-
chants, and the traders of Ireland, who testified in
that public and emphatic manner the respect, esteem,
and admiration, with which they regard the great
founder of the nobld temple of industry which had
conferred so much honour on their country. The
Lord Lieutenant sent a letter apolociaing for his ab-
sence, and expressing regret at his inability to assist
on the interesting ateasion. Mr. W. Fry presided.
Tritantu. }'suers have occurred in many parts of
Ireland, occasionitut severe destruction of property
and some loss of life. Cork has been most heavily
visited. The city on Wednesday was inundated by a
deluge of unprecedented magnitude. The morning
of that day was briitht, the rain, which fell in tor-
rents on Monday mad Tuesday, hod (visaed, but about
ten tidal( the flood In the river became nrYstr Car.
midable. The Lee overflowed its bank', and the

water was soon several feet deep in the principal
streets. About half-past twelve o'clock a ni,,st heart.
rending scene took place at St. Patriek's.britige,
when a crowd of pen ions haat collected loolfuli at
the many articles brought down I.y the dots', when
on a sudden the northern arch gave way, preetpate-
ung several ter our into the water. It is imposaible
to describe the horror wad panic which svizeal tho
bystanders—as to conjecture either the number or
names of the unfortunate victims. They were
variously stated at tisini twenty to forty. .t car with
four persons and the driver on it was precipitatod
into the river, and they wore mat seou after, so rapid
was the action of the flood. Accounts from other
quarters, though less melancholy, are sufficiently
serious. !louses have been swept away, bri,htes de-
stroyed, anal whole districts m0,111(.4;0,1 in many
to and the communication by road and rant
temporarily suspended, or accomplished with mug
difficulty anti danger.
Asoriteu Exit:NsiN l'itornurv—that of peter
Fit /gent'''. Esq., commonly rattled the Knight of
Kerry—has been disposed of in the Enomathered
Estattes Court. It vonsisted of lands us the counties*
of Kerry anal Limerick, anal produced a sum att.
50,911:0/., Lying at all menage of twettt years' pur-
chase on the estimated yearly value.
A C asi: tshirh was commenced in the Dublin
Commission Court on Saturday has, trout the pit,j
tiell Of the penott criminally impheated, exeitod au
unusual amount of pulalia. interest. A )outat lady,
named Margaret. Cantwell, tone of sc‘cral sisters,
who elallillet a respectable Homan cathadie school hi
the metropolis, stood eltart.ted with having purloined
a piece of ribbon, of the value of a few pence, whilsa
making purchases at the shop of Messrs. Cammack
and White, drapers in the city. The lady is nearly
related to the Right Rev. 11r. Cantwell, of Meath.
Some idea of the importance which was alt ached to
the issue may be learnt from the fact that seven
banisters were engaged to conduct the carte, tour of
them Queen's counsel and loading nearly the loco-
:nom. rank in the profession. The trial lasted five
clear days, three of which wore devoted to the prose-
ention, the lomila to the defence, turd the IRA to tits
rhurge at I 'bier Baron Pigott and the finding of that
jury. Thu chief evidence against the moused wad
abut aaf all assistant in Messrs. 0W110414%1
who •1111011 that he saw her, us he believed,
clip a piece of ribbon, which she had not paid for,
into her retiettle. Ile immediately chanted lter with
the theft, anal she was tacit to another apartment,
where she remained until the votive were sent for.
On being searched, the stolen ribbon was not found
on her, but it appears to illt‘e liven discovered shortly
after near where she was for some time sitting.
This statement was controverted by the witnesses on
the other slate, who made it appear that the employes
had clearly been mistake'', or were petinred.
Afterwards there was praluceal for Mi.% Cant/NU a
whole host of witnesses to charneter, nll depo,.ing to
the excellence of the prisoner's conquer in all the
relations of social lifr•, awl to het remarkable preci-
sion and integrity in her pecuniary dealings. however
large or small. The Chief Baron's charge was dis-
tinguished by the most inflexible impartiality. At
its conclusion the jury retired for a minute or two,
and handed down a verdict of "Not Utility.- The
scone that followed is baid to have surpassed all
description. The courthouse literally rang with the
cheers of the spectaters, the ladies standing tip On
the ',eats anal joining in the demonstration with no
less zeal than the nude portion of the auditory. The
learned judge rather Abruptly quitted the bench, end
soon afterwards the sub shetiff came forward, by his
lordship's directions, and told the police to west
any one guilty of making a distill bane* in the court;
hut, as almost every one present assisted in keeping
up the applause, it was manifestly impossible to
carry out the order of the Chief Baron, and the
cheering was again and again renewed, until it was
taken tip lay the crowd outside. All older was then
made for Miss Cantwell's discharge, anal shorty
afterwards she was conducted to a coy red car,
which drove away timid the cheers of those assem-
bled in the vicinity of the courthouse. A large mob
subsequently made a rush to the premises of Messrs.
Cannock and White, and, having groaned and yelled
to the top of their bent, separated without any fur-
ther practical Manifestation of popular indignation.
Thus terminates the ease for the present only, as an
expression thrown out its the address of Mr. Fite-
gibbon for the defenee pretty plainly intimated that
his client would be shortly aftirded a second oppor-
tunity of viudicatiug her character before another
jury of her countrytuen. This miserable affair has
teen made quite a "party" business in Dublin.
Each evening as Miss Cantwell left the court for
laer own house, and whirl) she was permitted to de
on her own recognisance", she was greeted with a
wild cheer by the dense mob outside, with sun-
dry other expression's of satisfaction at the prospect
of her ultimate deliverance from the snares of the
Philistines within. Daniel O'Connell himself, after
the %tate trial of 1N44, seemed rather less of a
martyr than Miss Margnest Cantwell did during her
week of unmerited trouble'.