The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-24 00:00:00

CHARGE OP ARSON AGAINST A LADY AT
BRIGHTON.

At the Magistrates', Court, Brighton, yesterday
and the previous day the beech were occupied: for • °mai-
&rabbi time in the usmetigation of a charge of anon, the
circumstances connected with which were of a somewhat
peculiar character. The prisoner was a fathionably dressed,
middle-mod woman, named Margaret Grant, and the
charge against her was of feloniously setting fire to a home
in her oecupetion, being No. 12, Cliesbam-rand, Kemp-
towo. It appeared that the prisoner hired the house of •
Mr. Field, upon • lease of two years, and she had been
living there nine months, but recently she bad left to go
into apartments. On Friday night she and her servant
left the house at a little after six o'clock, and at that time
the hones was quite safe, and there were no signs of fire.
At about eight o'clock the prisoner was in St. James's-
street with her servant, and she put her bead in her
pocket, said that she had lost her purse or left it behind
her, sad that she would go back for it. Accordingly she
got the key of the house and went back, raiding her ser-
vant on ; and she had admitted to Superintendent Crow-
horst that she was in the house at about half-pest eight.
She said she went for the purpose of finding her purse,
which she had left behind on • table—that she ran up-
stairs, got her puree, ran down again, and locked the door
after her. Within about a quarter of an hour some per-
sons who were going by the house heard • crackling noise
inside, and they called Mr. Field, who lives next door, and
to whom the home belongs. It was then found that the
house was on fire. The prisoner was the last person in the
house, and • few minutes after she left the fire broke
out in eight different places io the house—all separate
and unconnected, and on different floors of the home.
The furniture was insured for 5004 in the Atlas, and
the house by Mr. Field for 2501. in the same office.
The beech, yesterday, granted bail ; prisoner herself in
5004, and two sureties in 2501. each. Aldermen J. C.
Barrows, J.P. (who spoke from the beech, but had not
taken part in the mire), said he had known Mrs. Grant
ever since she bad been in Brighton. Ile knew she was
the widow e • major in the Bengal army, who had begin
killed at the siege of Delhi, and that she was regarded with
much respect and esteem by all those who had enjoyed her
society. Be should be very happy to be one of the bail. '
The seemed recognisance was mitered into by a London
military tailor. The prisoner, after having been formally '
committed for trial to the arum, was then liberated as. the
bail tendered.

ATTENDANCE AT THE JUDO'S' CH•MBENA.—Yes-
terclay, at the Judges' Cttambess, Mr. Justice Mellor an-
noueceil his inteotioo to adjourn from Thursday (this day)
to Wednesday next, remarking that he found the attend•
mice at chambers was acting upon his health.

ATTIMPTZD ASSASSINATION BY • WONIAN.—A
woman named Ann Leslie, reported to be of locus charm
ter, was brought before the msanstrates at Manchester yes-
terday morning, charged with Bring at a gentleman on the
previous evening with • revolver. It was stated that about
Tuesday evening a gentleman was crossing the
wooden bridge over the River la, leading to the Victoria
railway station (near the centre of Manchester), when the
prisoner, who bad been following him, with the pistol
levelled at him, suddenly discharged one of the barrels. A
boy named White said he saw the pistol discharged, and on
the smoke clearing away he saw a gentleman turn round,
and say, " Oh, you villain !" The gentleman them called to
the people near the woman to keep her back, and raa
into the refreshment room at the railway station. The witness
and other boys attempted to take the pistol from the primmer,
but she threatened them, and then called after the gentle-
men, "I will kill you, you rascal before night." She then fol-
lowed to the station with the revolver concealed under her
shawl, but was arrested on the steps in front of the station
by • milway porter named Fawley, whotook the pistol from
her and detained her till the arrival of a policeman. Oa
examination of the revolver one barrel appeared to have
been recently discharged, and had a @mut cap on the nipple.
Two other barrels bad been charged with powder sod ball,
but the ball had apparently dropped out of one of them.
The gentleman fired at was supposed to have gone away by
a departing train. Another gentleman had informed In.
spector Godby that the ball, or some other substance, struck
him while going is the opposite direction to the person fired
at. He felt a blow on the left breast as if from • stone or
some kind of missile, and afterwards found that two pieces
of cloth bad been taken oat of his waistcoat. This gentle-
man bad been unable to attend the court. The prisoner,
who declined to say anything, was remanded.
ANOTHER DEATH THROUGH CRlNOLlNL—Ytieffer-
day morning, Mrs. Maria Fox, aged forty-eight, who re-
sided in Montpelier-row, Brampton, was standing by the
side of the stove, when her large crinoline caught fir*
through coming in mutest with the bars of the grata. She
stood frightened, and screamed for assistance, which shortly
came, and the flames were extinguished. She wu coo-
veyed to Si. George's Hospital dreadfully burntall over, and
expired shortly after ber admission.
WORKHOUSE VISITING SOCIITY'S INDUSTRIAL
Hour rot Grata, MID Home row Inocithata um Brenta
WOMIN.—The third anniversary of this institution was
held on Friday, the Ilith instant, at 22 and '23, New
Ormond-street. Service was held ic the chapel, and as
address given by the Rev. T. J. Roweell, Rector of St.
Margaret, Lothbury ; after which a meeting was held, his
Grace the Arolibisho, d Canterbury presiding. Many of
the friends sod subscriber were present, including Mrs.
Tait, Mrs. Gladstone, Lady Wood, Lady Ague Courtenay,
Miss Langley, etc. The report having been read by
the lady superintendent, Miss L. Twining, the
Archbishop spoke of the interest In felt in
attending the meeting, and called upon the Right
Hoe. W. Cowper to move the adoption of the recut,
which was seconded by the Earl of Devon. The pelt rim-
Intim was moved by the Rev. 0. J. Vignoles, chaplain
to the North Surrey District Schools for pauper children,
to the effect, that it is desirable that no girls should be in
workhouses alte the szliool period, as tending to undo
the benefit of separation and teeming in schools. This
was seconded by the Rev. G. IL who spoke of
the value of the Home for Girls, in which numbers
from the parish of St. Georges-in.the-East bad beta
rescued from probable ruin. The third reso-
lution was proposed by Dr. Goodfellow that
it is desirable to increase the accommodation foe ,
respectable infirm per ores with small means ; either
taking them out or St•Dif them from, workhouses.
Thanks were then offered to his grace, by the Rev. T. P.
Dale, and the company separated to visit the adjoining Home
for lecnrables, and the large room where SO girls were as-
sembled at tea, 35 being imams of the home, arid 45 in-
vited from service for the day, having good characters. Of
these, tea received rewards for remaining a year and up-
' wards in their places, ad seven six months and upwards.
Two hundred and sixteen girls have been admitted
since the opening of the institution, three years ago.
The Home for Incurables contains IG inmates, and it is
now proposed to extend thia part of the work, and
increase the number ; above 40 applications having been
recently made for admission, nearly all of whom are able
and willing to pay 201. • year towards their rash:amaze',
and who can be received in none of our existing hospitals.
Au earnest appeal for help towards this object was made,
and it is hoped that in a few months it may be realised.
The iocurablee are not exclusively from workhouses,
though the first object of the Home is to help such
I persons; but the girls are solely from this source, and are
paid for (to about half the amount of the cost of their main-
tenance) by the guardians, theiHome being legally certified
by the Poor-law Board.
COMPLETION OT THE HAMMERSMITH AND CITY
RAlLWAT.—Yestorday the works of this city and suburban
lies, constructed by Mr. Fowler, the enemer of the Metro-
, polities Railway, were completed, sod only wait fur the
junctions with the Great Western and West London to be
"laid on," whim the government inspector will go over the
line prior to its public opening.
[Advertisementi--HouowAY's Pius.—To nee-
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course of Holloway's Pills will dissipate both canoe and effect.
i Many ISCINOUS maladies of long duration have afforded the most
remarkable recoveries under these purl.) lag they have
sastia.ed suffcrinp of the severest charecter, end stead* re-
stored the lifilicted to c =fort, confidence, aad health. abler
change of climate and every means had signally failed. Hollo-
way's Pills renew the lost appetite, and conduct digestion with-
out permitting those feelings of When, lintulen,y, distention,
faintness, and palpitation which seem to threaten instant death
Is the timid and enfeebled.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.

The adjourned half-yearly meeting for the elec.
tion of directors was held yesterday at We Paddington
&Mina.

Mr. B. Par= presided, and explained the carom.
elemosa ander which the meeting had been adjourned from
Friday last, adding that since the adjournment the opinions
of two eminent counsel usually consulted by rail-
emy companies had been taken, and acting upon those
opinions he should recommend that seven directors
be elected in the room of the seven retiring
by rotation. viz, Messrs. Bassett, King, Melds.
Awaits, Wanklye, Whithoro, and Williams. Mr. J. Par-
son retired finally, sod in his place the board recommended
Yr. GOMIS, M.P., who represented a large body of
sharebelders in one important district connected with their
system, nod the proxies is the bands of the directors would
be need in that gentleman'. favour. In order to afford the
shareholders present an opportunity of offering any Meer.
sotto= or asking any questions, he moved that Mr. P.
Bassett be re-elected.

The gqmotion, that Mr. Bassett be re-elected, was put and
dsdirsd to be carried, Mr. Adams and two other share.
holders only holding up their heads against it.
Mr. ADAMS demanded a poll.
The names of the other five retiring directors were then
severally put, and they were declared re-elected, in each
cas► Mr. Adams repeating his demand for a poU, notwith-
standing the loud expressions of dissent from the great body
of shareholders present.
Mr. SHAW moved, and Mr. Com seconded, Mr. Adams
to fill the vacancy.
A SHAHABOLDIR read a latter from Sir W. Miles, to the
effect that Mr. Adams did not represent the views of the
shareholders' committee.

Upon the question being put six bands were held up for
Mr. Adams, end be was declared to be not elected, where.
upon he demanded a poll.
The CHAIRMAN then mo►ed that Mr. E. Greaves,
fill the vacancy.
A SHARRHOLOZR, who seconded the motion, said that
Mr. Grieves reprreented the Midland district of the system,
of which Warwick was the centre.

Aftersome discussion, in the course of which Mr. Greaves
explained the circumstances under which he had come for-
ward, sad in reply to a question stated that beheld 7,0001. of
original Great Western stock, and Mr. J. Parson intimated
that he bold a much larger alumna of proxies than Mr.
Adams, and should use them in favour of Mr. Graves,
arguing that therefore to persist in a poll was a useless ex-
pease and a mischievous continuance of agitation, Mr.
Grieves' election was declared carried, there being only two
dislostisets.

A poU was ep•ia demanded.
Mr. ADAMS moved that • list be printed 'penally of
all the shareholders, distinguishing with • star those who
wore qualified for directors, and sold for is. per copy. This
was seconded by Mr. Shaw, but negatived ou • show of
hoods.

The poll was then fixed to be held that afternoon, to-
morrow (this day), and Saturday, and the meeting wor ad-
journed to Wedsesday ooze, at 3 p.m., to receive the report
of the scrutineers.
A vote of Umpire to the chairman eoneluded the discus-
aims; bat afterwards, as the directors were Istria( the room,
Mr. Adams withdrew his demand for the poll, and the
directors who bad obtained the majority by allow of hands
WWI declared duly elected.