The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-25 00:00:00

, .1110111SIVATi :EVENING, SEPTEMBER :25, 1862.

witnesses stated that they saw the defendant ruing with
the omeibus, and urging his horses on so as to get in advance
of the omnibus, and one witness fearing, from the reckless
manner in which the defendant was driving, that there
would he an accident, followed Lim up and witnessed the
whole occurrence.
Yr. Lewis said the defendant's version of the matter was
that the driver of the omnibus drove hie wheel against one
of the defeadeut's boreal, which caused the hone to start
forward, and that was the cause of the complainant being
I knocked out of the cart. Be hoped his lordship would not
prejudice his client by convictiog hint in any penalty, as he
understood the complainant was going to take the matter
before another court, for the purpose of obtaining compensa-
tion for the injuries he had received.
Hu Lordship said two or three witnesses had distinctly
swore that the defendant was urging his horses forward to
get in advance of the omnibus. It was his duty to protect
the public against such outrageous conduct, and he should
five the defendant 40e. That was all be had the power to
inflict, and he could not think of mitigating it; infect, he
thought the fine of 54 would be hardly heavy enough for
the offence the defendant had committed.
The defendant paid the fine.

admit him isltd the plies, 'maim had her sospiaimmaboat him.
On the previous evening he called again and demanded to
be admitted into Mr. Amim's rooms. Witness of course
refused him, aid he went away. About heli-
port tou at night she wan alarmed at bearing
some one attempting to open the street door.
She descended and heard the nabs repeated. Wit-
ness then threw up • window and saw the prisoner
leave the door. Au hour afterwards she was roused up by
bearing a smashing of glass. She iontootly jumped out of
bed mail looked agaiu out of the window' when she saw the
prisoner drop from the balcony into the front garden. She
called out Harder" and " and about 12 o'clock she
mew the prisoner in custody. Witness found that the hatch
had been broken, and a piece of skeleton key was inside.
One of the drawing-room windows was also broken, so that
the window could be lifted up. Three shirts belonging to
Mr. Arnim were missed.
Poliosooonstable 228 31 said he received information of
the occurrence, and • little before 12 o'clock he found the
prisoner in the Roebuck Tavern. He denied having been
at the prosecutor's house at any time in the night. When
at the station-house witness found a bunch of small keys
and skeleton keys under the seat where he was seated. One
of the keys was broken, and the piece was in the latch in the
prosecutor's door.
In answer to the charge, the prisoner said he was quite
innocent, and knew nothing whatever of the keys produced
by the constable. At the time mentioned by Mrs. Stock.
ham he was at the Three Stags public-house, Kennington-
road.

Mr. Combo inquired whether the prisoner was known to
Mr. Arnim.
The constable replied that be believed he was partially
known to him, as they were countrymen, but Mr. Arnim
had given orders that he should not be admitted into his
room during his absence.
Two young men from the Three Stags public-house
stepped forward, and said that at 11 o'clock on the previous
night the prisoner was at that house. He was keeping cow.
;say with the daughter.
Mr. Combs observed that the finding cf the keys under
the seat in the station- house, the broken part of one being
in the latch, made the case very strong against the prisoner.
It was requisite that Mr. Arnim should be present, there-
fore be should remand the prisoner until Saturday next.
The prisoner asked if his worship would accept bail for
his appearance.
Mr. Combo replied in the negative. He must be remanded
to prison.

LONDON GENERAL OMNIBUS COMPANY
(LIMITED).

Yesterday an extraordinary general meeting of
shareholders in the oseepsoy was held at the London
Towers, to receive • report from the directors and • state-
ment of the revenue eseount for the half-year gad* 30th
June. The report and statement of account' have already
been published in our columns. Mr. F. J. Law, the chair-
man of the company, presided, and having explained that
the meeting was not one of the ordinary general meetings
contemplated by the deed of iecorporaion, which provided
that • report and staten.eut of accounts should be aonually
Lid before the proprietors, but an extra or half-yearly
meeting held in accordance with a wish expressed by the
shareholders to receive an ad inttrint report of the
progress of the company for the six months since
the date of the last annual report, he proceeded to say that
never since he had had the honour of occupying the
chair bad be met them with more agreeable
feedings. They had now arrived at a state of
solidity and steadfastness which could not but be
gratifying to every shareholder. They bad rime, in a very
brief period, from a position of extreme poverty to ow of
independence and comparative affluence. (Hear, hurl
They had paid off since the last year 37,5001. in the drama
loans and other extraordinary liabilities. They hod added
718 to their stock of horees,and they hod 50 additional omni-
buses, representing 27,2001. value in addition, making, toge-
ther, 64,7001. as the amount at which they stood better
than they did on the Ist January last. (Cheers.) No doubt
they were indebted, to some extent, for this favourable re-
sult, to the Great Exhibition, but not entirely so, the re-
turn for the months of January, February, March and
April having shown an increase of 13,6681. as compared
with the corresponding mouths of previous years, affording.
as he submitted, satisfactory proof of permanent improve-
meet, irrespective of any exceptional cause. (Hear,
bear.) Another favourable feature in the present
position of their affairs was that while there was an increase
in their receipts of 16,7871. upon the half-year, the expen-
diture had been 7,280/.lese than in the corresponding period
of 1861. (Hear, hear.) Generally it was found in railways
and other companies that increase in the receipts was ac-
ca:ruled with at least • proportionate addition to the ex-
penditure ; but it was not so here, the additional revenue
having been obtained with a positive diminution of charge.
This result had been brought about in some measure by the
reduced price of horse provender, upon which a saving of
9,0001. had been effected during the half-year, and other
reductions, 4,0001. odd, which they bad been enabled to
make is favour of the present year, amounting aitegethee
to 13,728. The directors had in their report of
last year spoken of a project they had is sow
templatios for • parcels service in connexion with their
omnibuses. No expense had been incurred in carrying out
that project at yet beyond the charge of showboards, eta-
tiotaery, and advertisements. It was, nevertheless, in course
of gradualdevelopment ; 120 portals oflices,bid been opened,
but the remuneration of the agents depended entirely upon the
business they did, the payment to them being so much per
parcel. At present the grew receipts from this service
were from 151. to 201. a week. After the close of the Exhi-
bition more attention would be given to this source of
revenue, and it was anticipated that it would yield an ade-
quate return. Theadlrectors spoke last year of a contemplated
cheap in the system of lighting. That change had now beet
carried i to effect, and the consequence was that an item which
in a previous account stood at 9981. ss. Id., had entirely dis-
appeared, the present system being that the conductors
found their own Lampe. There was an item for law charges
consequent upon the necessity which the directors found
themselves under of resisting unfounded claims against the
company for compensation. The practice of speculative
&Morose taking up cases of imaginary injury, in the coufi-
donee that the natural objection felt by public companies to
appear in court as defeodante io such actieus would lead to a
compromise which would secure paynient of costa, had grown
to each • pitch that the directors felt it their duty to meet
it with a bold front, and this determination on their part
bad been so far rewarded that at this moment the London
General Omnibus ,Congany had not a single lawsuit on
their bands. (Cheers.) At thelast meeting the board pro-
posed a dividend of L. a share ; their recommendation had,
however, been overruled by the French influence repre-
sented at the meeting, which had carried an amendment
increasing the dividend to Is 6d. a share. The shilling
dividend was proposed free of income tax, and the directors,
feeling that it would be expected that the same principle
would be applicable to the increased dividend,
paid that also without deducting the tax. This
nude a difference of 4741. 7s. 9d. in the Wa-
ltham. The board bad recently made a purchase of
Messrs. Greenwood aid Tamer's stock of Manchester omni-
buses, which they considered a wise step, as obviating the
possibility of that stock being bought up by other parties
and made the nucleus of what might have become a formi-
dable oompetition. For the entire stock of 20 omnibuses,
258 horses, stalk materials, sod the whole of the working
plant, 10,1581., and it had been valued by compe-
tent parties at 10,0001., so that for • trifle more
than the selling vales they had obtained
of the complete stock, with • guarantee rroart'abe
vendor. that they would retire permanently from the Lon-
don trade, and in addition they received the profit' of the '
working of those omnibuses from the Ist of September.
Since last year he was happy to say that the directors had
been enabled to make considerable program' towards the re-
duction of their liabilities. At the present moment the
logo debt was under 20,0001., and they bad a batmen
at the banker's more than sufficient to clear that
off, if it was thought desirable to do so ; but hav-
ing paid off 60,0001 of these loans, or extra-
ordinary liabilities, the directors thought it right to
retain the balance in hand towards the ensuing dividend.
(Hear, bear.) Steps were being taken, by memorialiaing
the Chaucellor of the Exchequer, for reducing tee mileage
duty, which was felt to be • very onerous, and, as compared
with the charge imposed upon railway congeries, • very
unjust burden. (Hear) Another impost which weighed
heavily upon the company was the turnpike toll, but the
directors were co-operating with several members of parlia-
ment and other influential persons, and they hoped with
every prospect of success, to bring about the abolition
of all turnpike tolls within four miles of Charing-
cross. Be was happy to tell them that the long-pending
cause between them and the late Saloon Company was at
length drawing to • close. The arbitrator had intimated
that his award would be reedy on the 25th, and he had no
reason to doubt that it would be favourable to this com-
pany. The horse stock of the company bad never been in a
better condition, their omnibuses were largely increased in
number, and at no period since their establishment had
the directors been enabled to show so much value for the
capital expended. (Cheers.) Sinister rumours had bee
put forward to the effect that the sward in the mina
omnibus case would destroy them ; but be bad no fear oa
that score, neither did he believe in the anticipations of
unfavourable results to their traffic from the opening of
the Metropolitan Railway. So far as his experience went,
railways always created omnibus traffic, and his belief was
that the case of the Metropolitan would be no exception to
the general rule.
Mr. S. HEREPATE complained that the accounts now pre-
sented were nut so complete as the annual accounts.
The CHAIRMAN replied that the understanding was that
only a revenue account was to be presented at the half-yearly

meeting.
Mr. Hrn?ATH bad distinctly understood that the direct-
ton at the last annual meeting assented to the suggestion
that a full account should be presented at the hall-yearly
meeting, so that the proprietors should have the opportu-
nity of compariug the mileage receipt' and charges with
those of the previous half-y ear. He questioned the wisdom
of the directors in purchasing the Manchester omnibuses and
plant just at the close of the Exhibition, when the probabi-
lity was that there would be little or no demand for them.
The enamour' observed that they had paid only within a
few pounds of what competent valuers ad estimated the
worth of the vehicles, horse., and plant, in addition to
which they had bad the profits of working the omnibuses
from the let September, and had bought off what might
have become a very formidable competition. He reminded
the meeting of the expense to which the company had been
put by the competition of the Saloon Company as an addi•
timed justification of the purchase.
A SHAREHOLDER asked what was the average note at
which they had paretissed the homes of the Manchester
Company.
The CHAIRMAN—Twenty-four pounds ten shillings each.
The SHARAHOLDDR—And what is the average cost of your
own stock of bones?
The CHAMlNAN—Tweaty4ix pounds, and those we have
from the Manchester Company are trained
runs' s,hitild therefore more useful to us than horses just
brought from the country.
Mr. LINGHTON, as a private omnibus proprietor, was of
opinion that the directors had acted wisely in purchasing
the stock of the Manchester company. If they lied not, he
believed that the Manchester buses would have been
placed upon the Hornsey line, where now they had no
competition. Twenty-four pounds ten shillings was a low
average price for the horses.
Mr. Bosasqnwr also approved of the purchase, adding
that it would enable the directors to meet the complaint
that they had Dever fulhlled their pledge of introducing an
improved description of vehicle.
Several other shareholders expressed a similar opinion.
A SRARLHOLDNR wanted to know how it was, with such
im;roved prospects, that the shares were going down in the
market.
Mr. S. HEREPATH observed that that wen easily explained,
by the fact that the French proprietors were, sod bad been
for some time, large sellers in the English market.
In reply to questions,
The CHAIRMAN said they bad money enough in band to
pay off the whole of their extraordinary debts, if the share-
holders desired that it should be appropriated in that way,
instead of dividend. All ordinary debts were paid as they
accrued—not one farthing was due to horse dealers or to
anybody else for stook or forage, and their meets bad at DO
previous time presented so high a value, as compared with
the capital represented. The total ea Teary liabilities
were under 20,0001., and they had in the bands
nearer 25,0001. than 20,0001., after all ordinary
were paid. The debt due by M. Carteret, ogee=
French directors, was still unpaid, but his fete as •
director were regularly written off, and there was emery
reason to believe that he would soon be in a pewhioa to
pay the balance, which Mr. Wilkiama, the sebil added
hs Meow It. Carteret was sexless to do. The
ware not responsible for Y. Carteret's =Ewe: mil as •
member of the baud. the shairebolders **A ;
and were Its sow removed another Fresh sad he
appoiatei in his piths.
-Mr. MACNAMARA &mete) had every soaddisaat that
ultimately the whole et the debt in viatica wool be prat.

After some farther discussion upon enimportout detailA,
a vote of thanks was accorded to the chairmau, sod the

proceeding. terminated, it haring been expleinedl that the
meeting being en extraordion:y one, not prorld.•d for by the
deed of settinuamt, the usual fennel vute Adopting the
report was not to be suboaillei.

RAILWAY OPPICIRS AND SERVANTS'
ASSOCIATION.

The first half-yearly meeting of this aasociation
was held yesterday evening at the Cogs Hotel, Aldernian-
bury. The institution was established in May last for the
purpose ad giving assistance, by means of members' 'cheerio.
dos aided by benevolent oontributions, to railway officials
in periods of difficulty and distress. It embraces amongst
those to whom it addresses itself a class not hitherto cared
for by any similar auomatiou—namely, the lower grades
of railway employ,* stated in round numbers to include
150,000 nom ; and in addition to superannuation alkwaoces
aid temporary aid in rases of accident and okaying', it pro.
posse to establish a turd for the payment of a certain sum
upon the death of subscribing members.
The meeting was presided over by Mr. W. DTI% of the
Loudon, Brighton, and South Coast Hallway, who briefly
explained the objects of the society, and urged upon those
present its claims to their support. He stated that at in.
fluential meetinv of railway officials held recently in New.
castle and Edioburgh, the principles of the emaciation had
been unanimously and warmly approved of.
The report, which wee read by the secretary, Mr. J. A.
BURN, referred to some delay which bad taken place in
drawing up the rules, but stated that the time had not
been lost, inasmuch as it had enabled the committee to
elicit at public meetings held in different parts of the
kingdom opinions favourable to the principles of the
emaciation from the employes of the London, Brighton,
and South Coast, the South Eastern, the London and
South Western, the London, Chatham, and Dover. the
Great Eastern, the Newcastle and Carlisle, the North
British. and other railway oompsniea. No less than 34:!./.
bad been received up to the 30th of Jun* the close of tl
half-year's accounts, with promises for hundreds of pourida
more, and since that time a much larger aumber of mem.
berg had been enrolled than before. A few applications
had beep made for temporary assistance, each of which had
been so promptly and liberally responded to that additiorod
support had in oonsequenos been secured. The permeate
up to the Mho( Joe amounted to 2401., leaving a lelance
in bend of 1021. Se.
Mr. WALLIS expressed as opinion that more confideke
would be felt in the 'pokey if its rules were certified by ILL
lidd Pratt.
The (Mammas said that that point had not escaped the
attention of the committee, bat he thought it would to
better if aay decision upon it were deferred till the next
half•yearly meeting.
The SacarrAuy doubted whether their association wax if
that description which would bring it under Mr. Tidd
Pratt's notice.
The report was then adopted, and votes of thanks having
been accorded to the committee of management, the secre-
tary. and the other officers of the association,
The meeting separated.