The Express.
London, England, 1863-03-17 00:00:00

CRUEL MURDER BY ♦ STEPMOTHER.

On Sunday morning last a child, aged a little
over five years, living with his father. a collier, named Evan
Ellis EMI" on Mammon Ones, in Wolverhampton, ran into
a neighbouring public-home, sad said that his mother
had thrown to the pound a younger brother aged between
three and four years, and had killed him. Information
was conveyed to the police, and the child was found in the
house laid out io bed a corpse. There woe an incised wound
on the forehead near the left temple, and one on the lip,
aid there were bruises upon other pule of the body. It up.
pears that the deceased is the youngest of three children,
whose mother is dead ; that they are now in the are of •
stepmother who, when she was married to their father, was
a widow, and had hare& three children ; and that sioce
her second marriage she he bad ether three children.
About &year ego sbe was eosvkMed al as aggravated assault
upon the child, and sentenced totwo months r'mpn
Since that date frequent complaint' have been lodged with
the police alleging a continuance of the cruelty for which
the stepmother had been convicted. Upon en investigation
by the police, the child was found to be suffering from
extreme hunger sod thint, so much so that it ate mamas',
when 'applied with food; and neighbours alleged that
whilst suffering from thirst, the child had drunk dirty
water that bad collected in frost of the house. Whilst the
child was so occupied, the stepmother is alleged to have
lifted it from the ground, and throwing it back spin, broke
its arm, for which injuries the child had to be treated by
the surgeons of the South Staffordshire Hospital. These
statements haying been communicated to the coroner, he
has ordeted a jury to be summoned, and an ioquest to be
held to-day. rhe stormother alleges that the child died in
bed during Saturday night.

SHOCKING GUNPOWDER ACCIDENT TO THREE
LITTLE BUYS.

On Saturday afternoon three little boys from
Lewes met with • frightful accident at Divide, through tie
incautious use of a large bag of gunpowder. Two of them
are twine, between ten and eleven yews of aige, and their
father, Warden Ware, works es forensan to Messrs. Rick-
man and Co., lime merchants, at (Dyads. The gird,
William Sprinks, is seven yews of age, and is the sou of
Mr. Robert Spanks, warder at the Lewes Howse of Cor-
rection. From the stateniente of the poor little fellows
themselves it appears that, having a holiday at school on
Saturday, they walked over the hill to Ware's father,
who was at work at the Mount Odium chalk pit, to
gather some violets. At the Mount taburn pit, it
seems that there is a small outhouse or hovel, in which
the workmen take their refreshments. It is built
of brick and is slated, and in one part is a rude
sort of fire place made with bricks and won bars on the
ground. During the dinner hour ou Saturday the moo made
up a fire with some wood, and left the embers smouldering
when they resumed their work. About half-past 3 o'clock
the boys repaired to this hovel, which was generally kept
locked, and seated themselves around the ire-place. On a
shelf in one corner was a bag, containing nearly a gain of
gunpowder, used by the workmen in blasting the chalk. This
soon attracted their attention, and they decided to pt acme
of the powder and make a " burning mountain." By the aid
of a stool one of the twins got the bag down and sat with it
in his lap in front of the fire. A small quantity of the
crldeser was towed upon the smouldering wood, and the
immediately communicated with the bath cawing a
most terrific explosion. The place was turned almost loads
oat, the roof nearly blown off, and the children driven with
great violence woes the building, and most frightfully
burnt. Henry Ware was the arse to get out of the- hovel.
and he tried most biturly far his father. The other two
goon afterwards groped their way out ; they ell pnwented
a most horrid spectacle. The clothes upon their becks
were buret in holes and literally blown to ribbons, their
hair was scorched up, while their faces, hands, and pasta
of their bodies were almost black with bums. Canada,
tag the immense quantity of powder, and the nature
of the explosion, it certainly is a matter of grog
astonishment that the little fellows were not blown
from limb, and their sufferings thus terminated upon
the spot. Assistanoe, however, was soon at band, and they
' were warmly wrapped up aed conveyed to their friends at
Lewes. The Wares have since been under the medical
treatment of Mr. Merrell, while Dr. Smythe has attended
to the requireenenla of Sprinkle They all three will lay
in • very p dotal state, but Sprinks doss not seem to be so
smionsly burnt LI his companions, his injuries being pried.
pally confined to caw side of the fees and neck. The poor
Wares are a sad sight to witness. Willis.., who sat with
the powder is his lap, moot no at all, owing to his hes
being so much swollen and accused. One of his loos is
also very much injured. Hi brother Bony coa no on
of one eye, but he is likewise very me:Mealy buret. They
still lie in a precarious state.—thissez Advertiser.

SINGULAR RAMP-ACCUSATION OP WIPE

-iftiliblit:

At the Deal borough police court, yesterday,
Robert Webster was brought up under the following singe.
lar circumstances. Thomas Parker, superintendent of police,
deposed :—Yesterday the defendant surrendered himself to
me, as having murdered his wife. He was brought to iso
by °apron' Goy from a ship from Newcastle, end bound to
Catherine. I have written to the superintendent of polka
at Edinburgh, and I apply for a remand until Thursday. I
produce the prisoner's first letter, which is sa follow, :
"Ship Trenton, March 9.
" troubled mind makes me inform you of • deed
I committed some few yews back, for which my coeseienee
will not allow me to rest. I murdered my wife in 8
at Edinburgh, end I have escaped justice up to this time.
ern miserable, and have no wish to live. W hat I have
suffered shut God osly knows. I call upon yon, therefore,
to give me over • primmer to the authorities, or to some of
bee Majesty's ships of war. I give myself over to you,
Clapham Kay, as • prisoner, and eo more one of your crew,
for you to hand me over to justice. I have ao wish to live.
but for the sake of my poor children. My right name ie
Webster, not Guthrie. Forgive the trouble I give you.—l
am, he, "Roman 1,/isern.
"Sunday, 15th —My wife's nave was Apes Webster. I
lived at No. I, Danubeetreet, Stock Bridge, Edinburgh. I
believe my two children, whose names are Jane and 11111.
belle, are living with my wife's mother, named Jane Sluff,
in the same place that I left them about three years ago."
The following letter, addressed "To Resident Magi&
tote," was written by the prisoner yesterday morning:
" Honoured Sir,—l am the unfortunate wretch who was
brought ashore from the ship Trenton on aecouat of my
&dressing a letter to the captors what I was labouring under
delirisies tremens from exixesive drink. I received a sun
stroke in the ieterier of Afries,while lion hunting, and whim
under the influence of drink my mind wanders. I left my
wife, Ague Webster, a few years beck, through •
family quarrel, and have been in Africa ever dorm
I came home to London about two mouths ago. I
had written numberless letters home, but never re.
coved any reply. My wife used to threaten to matilrs
with herself if I left her, and co my arrival in
I heard she was goes. I was Dearly out of my wad as
bearing this. I made up my naiad to put an end to my
*riotous, as I cemedered myself her murderer; hut from
the state of mind I was labouring under, I had neither the
fortitude to put an end to my life nor to go to Scotland,
and I gave myself up to the authorities. I have no wish
to live if my wife is dead. If the law will not acknowledp
me sus bar murderer, the Almighty will. If she lives, I wit
be 100 happy to return to the bosom of my family. Bak
my conscience tells me she is dead, all through me. Be
kind enough to communicate with the authorities in Folia•
bargh that my mind may be at rest—Roarer WIIIBIIII..
The bench remanded the prisoner until Thursday, in order
that the superintendent may receive • reply to the commis
nication be bas addressed to the police authorities at
Eduiburgh.

CARRYING THI Mine IN ?RR HEBRIDES.
accident of a very alarming nature took place at Ices last
Saturday morning, about 1 o'clock a.m., which threw the
inhabitants of the village into a state of the utmost caustem
nation. While the lettereerrier was creasing the Sound d
lona to Mull in has boat it was upset by a heavy breaker on
the banks. It wee a calm morning, bat the swell wee to..
mentions, and the boat was only abort half way moron wham
the accident occurred. The postmaster, who was watokinglt
all the time in case of an accident, pre the alarm, sad got
a boat launched and manned. The boatmen pulled nobly
over the large breakers in good style, until they reached the
boat, which was bottom upwards, and the letterearrier and
his comrade, its occupants, were holding on by the keel,
which must have been bard work, owing to the heavy swell
washing over them. About 30 minutes elapsed from the
time the boat upset until the other boat retched them,
sad brought them ashore in a very exhausted state ; but
after being properly attended to they soon recovered. The
postmaster saved the life of the letter-carrie, under similar
circumstances, on the same banks, some 2/0 years ago,
before the poetoffice was established on the island ; and we
understand it is the fourth time the letter-carrier has had •
hairbreadth escape from drowning.
TAHITI IiNDRIL Till FLYNCH PROTICTORATE.-..
Tabiti has bees regarded by the imperial government
merely as a military and naval station. In sgrmulture, as
in commerce, the effect of the protectorate has been to
slacken the rate of progress. The Dative population is dwia.
ding with appalling rapidity, owing to the daily lemma*
prevalence of drunkeenees and debauchery. Theaters openly
countenanced by the Freuch officials. Nowhere can more utter
ahameleeemes be witoeseed they at the Pre Catalan--•
lawn-like meadow which *anode in front of the governor's
palace, end r, in fact, moot its dependencies. Here, in the
presence of the Preach gentoreses and soldiers, under the
very eyes of the Protectorate authorities, and in utter de.
limos of the native laws, dances of the most obscene kind
are executed by half•drunken Tahitian girls. One must
ham seen nays Dr. Schemer) the Upa-Ltpa &Deed by these
lascivious Tahitians, with all the impassioned vehemence of
• sexual nature, in order to comprehend the mingled
shame and indignities with which it fills any but a French
bystander. Amidst a popolatioe so diesolute, it is not
wonderful that even catholicism should make little pro.
Bras. What is much much more deplorable is, that the
succenful efforts of Protestant missionaries should have
been arrested, that Protestant schools should be closed.
sad a large proportion, consequently, of the native chili
dna be growing up in utter ignorance, although by far
the greater number of the inhabitaate, with the queen at
their head, profess proteatantinn. It would be difficult to
find a more revolting pietar• of a government for selfish
ends alone, rsgardle altogether of the good of libe governed.
than that exhibited by the Pronek Protectorate in Tahiti.
Saturday &tier.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
(THIS DAY.)

EQUITY COURT.
(Before the Leeds Justices)
PILICI V. LET.

This was an appeal from a deemon of Vice-Chancellor
Stuart. letting aside an agreement between the
plaiutof and defendant for the purchase of a lease
for mven years, and the remaioder of the fee
simple expectant oo the determination of the lame.
It appeared that Mr. Blake, from whom the defendant bad
the lease, could only make out • title in fee simple to three
undivided lengths, and in • term of 1,000 years
to the remaining one-fourth, and that the
plaintiff thereupon declined to complete the agreement.
The defendant brought an action at law to recover 500/., the
value of his lease, and the plaintiff gave judgment to abide
by the decision of the court of equity, having in the mean.
time filed his bill to declare the agreement null and void.
The Vioe.Chaooellor declared the agreement void cm the
ground of mistake. The defendant appealed against this de-

Their lordships confirmed the Vice-Chancellor's decision
on the merit' of the case, and gave the plaintiff the
deposit as his want of the appeaL They declined to give
him his oasts in the action at law, except so far as soy rule
ororder at law prior to judgment ouvWoosta, and gave him
his costa is the court below.

Mr. Melina Led Mr. Wright supported the decision of the
court below ; Mr. &COG, Mr. Southgate, sag Mr. Lake
were for the appellant.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Commisioser Fluke.)
IN Bt WISTGARTH. _

The bankrupt was...• niercha;t:lrThreadneedleetreet.
This was the adjourned sitting for the consideration of the
order of discharge. The liabilities are about 30,0001., on
which there has been • dividend of 7s. 6d. in the pound.
Mr. Sargood appeared for the assignees ; Mr. Linklater
for opposing creditors ; and Mr. Bagley for the bankrupt.
The ezaminatiou of the bankrupt was resumed from
the last sitting. He stated that be bad begun
business in Australia in 1841, where he was
insolvent the following year, through having
made himself importable for the debts of • large
bankrupt estate, for which he acted under power of attorney.
He then paid Is. 44d. in the poised, and had since
paid the creditors m full. Afterwards the firm of
Westgarth and Ross was formed, and in 1437, the
bankrupt came over to this country. Spowen joined the
firm in 1858, and business was then rented on in Melbourne
under the firm of Westgarth, Rose, and Spurns' and
in London as Weetgarth and Co. The object was
not to deceive anyone, but for the convenience of keeping
the accounts In 1853 the firm had • capital of 60,0001.,
and was doing • large business—upwards of 12,0001. a year
in commissions, besides doing • large import business
on their owa account. On the establishment of the
Victoria legislature, he was elected a member for
Melbourne, and was the first president of the
Chamber of Commerce there. In 1831 the discovery of
gold in Australia raised the value of all property to an un-
exampled extent. This firm then bought largely, but in
1854 there came • revulsion, and they were obliged
to obtain • ken from the Bank of Australasia of
130,0601., girl•securities which. though suffloiect at
the time, bad frightfully depreemted, am mush am
70 or 80 per out. His present deficiency of 18,7001. was
attributable to this ; of this deficiency 11,4001. was that of
the old firm of Westgarth and Roes. The (Wiesen of 8,6001.
on his separate estate comprised debts of B,Boof. due from the
firm of Westprtb and Bon The deficiermy ma all three state'
was 26,0001., end then bad been remitted from Australia by
his partners 19,0001. He bad bought goods in
Englaod, raised mousy on them here, and ap.
plied that sun to meet the supplants of
the firm. He did not buy them for that object,
but believing that they had • market for them. He was
then receiving large orders by every mail from Australia.
L 1861 his pYtnen suggested that he should borrow 10,0001.
of his He did not believe his firm wan insolvent
before Dec., 1861, and be then ceased to make purchases.
Ems aim was proceeding when we went to prem.]

(Before Mr. Registrar Millar.)
IN 11 Ping MOIZZION.
This was the ad)ourned eittang foe the 000siderstion of a
proof tendered *gaunt the estate by seed the victims of the
Deposit Book.
Mr. C. E. Lewis took the ofirjeetion that the registrar was
sot competent to dispose of disputed proofs ; end the mat-
ter stood over for the opinion of the aalailaialle.