The Express.
London, England, 1852-04-15 00:00:00

THE LAMBETH MURDER.

Thomas Wheeler, the alleged maniac who per-
petrated the recent shocking murder in Durham-place, was
brought up yesterday for final examination bet,. the lion.
Mr. Norton The deportment of the prisoner wss tranquil
and orderly, but his look was generally rather wild and ab-
stracted, and he seemed to take little or no ir.t•rs et in the
proceedings. He wept once or twice when hi. mother's
name was mentioned in reading over the depositions, aced
smiled with au air of triumph when his unel,, the last
witness examined,deseribed his eccentric conduct on several
occasions. An involuntary action of the ine.eles of the
mouth at intervals, were the only symptoms t t insanity
that would have been noticed by an onlinary.observer.
Owing to the number of assault cases, arising qut of the
Easter holidays, the prisoner was nut brought up until
about 3 o'clock, when the names of the witnesses were
called over and their depositions read to them hv the chief
clerk, uud the following documents were hand .1 in con-
firmatory of the tact of his insanity :
"Hertford, April 13.—Sir,—I think it right to inform
you that in August last 11101M/11 Wheeler, who 8 HOW in
custody fur causing the death of his !miller, ass ~rough[ to
me by Sergeant Dunn, of the Mertes county eio.4altulary,
he having threatened to shoot a person on tin highroad,
two stiles from this town. lat once perceived R .teeler was
insane; and, after taking away the pistol with which he
was armed, I sent him to his mother in LIIOIIII., it, and tho
neat day the accompanying letter was read b, Superin-
tendent Dunce, partly written, as you will peer ire, by the
man himself, mid partly by law unfortunat mother.
Wheeler protested that the man he had thee. rued was
about to rob Win. 1 SID, A. Runtimes:, Chief Con-
stable of Herts."

" Mr. Superinteielent Dunce,—l am happy to inform
' you L have arrived safe home. My mother semis her
ream cte and thanks as I do also to Mr. Dunn, jun., and the
ladies. Yours obliged, Tnintse WILLELEK - Will you
please to thank C'aptain Robertson also.—Durhatn-place,
Lainheth-road, corner of King Edward-street."
"Sir,-1 feel truly grateful fur your kind ..•tentiou to
my son, fur whom I aas very anxious, E. Wile) ten."
the following additional t vide-nee was then given
Mr. Thorns, the landlord of the house in which the de-
teased lodged, in addition to his former cent. nee said,
that he knew prisoner had been more than once is confine-
ment as a lunatic, having heard so from his mother and
friends. In (act the prisoner had been taken front witness's
house to Bethlehem. The prisoner's uncle, Mr. Cathie, of
the Lee Arms, Whiten, was present, and could ..peak posi-
tively to his insanity.
John Cathie, landlord of the Lee Arms, Brow.ilow-mad,
Denton, deposed that he was uncle to the prisoner, whoso
mother was witness's sister, her name being Elisabeth
Wheeler. Deceased was a widow ; had not aeon her body.
Saw her alive about a fortnight since. Witne/11 knew the
' prisoner to have becu a lunatic since March, 1819. Witness
took him to Bethlehem Hospital. lie remaintl in nine
months, and was discharged at the request of his
mother. Had seen him almost every week since.
Witness fancied lie had left the hospital uncured ;
saw him also at Wandsworth Asylum. He wits not out
more than four months. Prisoner made his escape from
Wandsworth. Ile was brought back, and again discharged
at the request of his mother. She was warn. dby the
committee, who told her he was uncured, and that it any-
thing happened she would he responsible. When he made
his escape he went home and the keepers followed him. To
pacify him and get hint to go with the keepers his mother
pronused to try and get him out. She did ; and the
committee at last yielded to her entreaties. It.tnipa had
been in the habit of making him a small allow...nee. On
Tuesday. last prisoner had pursued very strange conduct op-
posite witnees's house, standing like a statue, and for a long
time declining to enter. Witness asked him to ...Imo into
the bar parlour but he refused, alleging that hr wished to
be in the sun. He walked to the back door and stood
there for 20 minutes. Two of witness's daughters came
down and spoke to him, but he took co notice. They said to
him "There's your allowance." Witness gave hint a coat
ho hail promised, which prisoner insisted on carrying
openly. lie had a bag, but refused to put the coat in it.
In answer to an expostulation from witness, prisuuer said,
"I am eccentric, and I mean to bo so. I am all English-
man, and 1 mean to stand up for my rights." He swore
and muttered to himself, and witness said, "Young man I
am sorry to see you in this state, you're min h worse."
Prisoner then left, muttering threats in an under tone. As
soon ss he was gone witness went up to his win, and said
" That poor Tom Wheeler is very bad. I'm sure some-
thing fearful will happen." Witnen sent a mi. Inge over
to his sister, which he was sure she had received, as she sent
word hack nt she'd have him confined immediately. Pri-
soner had enlisted, subsequently escaped, and was ultimately
discharged, and wandered into Hertfordshire. lie came
back himself, and had spent no money. Prisoner had a bag
with him when at witness's house.
Prisoner—That bag had nothing in it. I used to carry that
bag about merely to swing it. I to swing it like a
pendulum.
Magistrate—Do you think lie was insane before he went
abroad ?
Witness—Yes; I can trace eccentricities of conduct now.
He threw up several excellent situations without any suffi-
cient cause; one especially, in Bermondsey, where be said
the men had conspired to throw him into a tan-pit. He
was very fortunate in getting situations, having held one
for six years; and having such excellent testimonials, he
had only to advertise to procure employment. On Sunday,
when dining at my house, lie would soy he was very coot.
tenable in his nituation. ai..! c a the next I found be had
thrown it up w;iliout viy sufficient cause.
Magistrate—Up ti the recets nior...irtenet• enerzyc,pee,
you never knew him to irtjun Any one
Witness—Never. Previous as that he was an es.-ecilingLy
mild young man. Ile hail ant the been to k.:l a 11301100.
ilia only anxiety was 1,1 hare a ewosoymm, eo.t„, Jar his
mother awl sister.
_

Witness's son here obwrved that prisoner', ftr. ::tetion the
last visit to his fether's house. was luy restless, he refused to
sit down. Mr. Cathie, ten., then said, in Co. elusion that
prisoner had enlisted twioe, once before going in: o BCthle-
em and once after he came out. On the latter occasion
he was discharged immediately, the military euthorities
seeming to know that ho was unfit for the public service.
Mr. Hutchinson, surgeon, was then re-called, bet added
little to his former testimony. He was still of (Onion that
the wound on the head had been given with au axe. Ile
had fitted the head to the body, and in doing so had ob-
served several marks un the back of the neck, as it a knife
had been drawn 'backwards and forwards several times,
without having entered beyond the scarf skit. He had
also observed a small crape scarf attached to the dress,
which was partially cut through.
The prisoner was then asked in the usual form by Mr.
Perry, the chief clerk, whether he had anything to say
Prisoner (starting up suddenly)—No; I have nothing
further to say at present.
Mr. Cathie stated that ho had been informed by the co-
roner that in such an evident ease of lunacy the magistrate
had power to commit the prisoner at once to close custody
without the painful exposure (t 3 his friends) el a public
trial. If possible, it would be most desirable that such a
course should be taken.

The Magistrate was not swan that he had such power,
but would look into the act.
The prisoner was then committed for trial in the usual
form, 9nd removed from the court.
During the proceedings an elderly man was eogagcd,with
very questionable taste, taking a likeness of tho unfortunate
man, for which purpose he stared mold obtrusively at him
nearly all day.

REPORT OF TILE GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONERS
ON RAILWAYS IN POSTVGAE.—The report of the Cum-
mitsioners appointed by the Portugnpe government to in-
quire into the construction of railways in Portukil just
issued, sets forth that the advantages of railways being
now incontestable, Purtugel, in imitation of all civilised
nations, ought to have some railways constructed, but
without neglecting the ordinary roads ; that the lino
most convenient to begin with is the one proposed to
unite Portugal through Spain, with the rest of Europe;
that the direction of this line is preferably the one from
the east ; that it would be well to begin negotiating with
the neighbouring kingdom Spain, to secure the construc-
tion of the Spanish line to anite with the Portugunie
one ; that the section from Lisbon to Smtarem be im-
mediately commenced ; that under the actual circumstances
of the country, the best plan fur the completion of the
enterprise is its concession to a company, with the gliara•-
' tee of the least possible interest, end sinking fund,
besides a bonus that the tax of the ten per cent-
on notes, or an equivalent, be destined to meet these
expenses of the Treasury ; that these expen,s of the
Tressary are not so burdensome as is supposed, as the air
dilation or traffic of the Portuguese line promises a net re-
venue of 4i per cent. in its first section, end that the union
of the peninsular custom-houses based on advantageons
iterms for both countries, combined with the abolition of
the excise (so-called) of Lisbon, and the diminution of some
of the duties of the excise, are reforms which, by facili-
tating traffic, must increase the circulation of the line. As
the recommendations of the commissioners, the Baron da
Lux, Almeida Garrett, Joachim Larcher, Antonio ila Silva,
and Joachim &Avila' differ from the basis of the pro-
gramme already published by. the government, they re-
commend that new competition for the line be opened.
The commissioners compute the cost of constructing a rail-
way from Lisbon to the frontier at 6,000 *onto. of refs, or
1,400,0001. The route of the propused eastern line would
be from Lisboa, slung the right bank of the Tagus, which
it would cross between Santarem and Abrantes, continuing
to Hatlajoe, and there join the line from Madrid to the fron-
tier. Intermediate tines would also run through Thome to
Coimbra, by the valley of the Mondogo through Visen, en-
tering Spain to the north of Almeida, with breeches to
Porto and Algarve.
SOCIETY FOR THE PROSECUTION OF DOG-STEAL-
W AND THEIR CONFENEMATIOL—Yesterday a meeting of
eke above society was held at their offices, 170, New Bond-
Areal. James Graham, Esq., having been called on to pre-
side, Mr. Bishop, iu detailing the progressive prospects of
the society, congratulated the members on the petronego
bestowed on it ; 'Weed, so thoroughly had the movement
for the suppression of the dog-stealing nuisance been ap-
Nedra( d by the nobility and gentry, that the subscriptions
already placed in his hands, amounting to a huge sum,
warranted increased efforts to stimulate public energy. To
carry out Mr. Bishop's proposition, a circular, explaining
the objects, uses, and general management of the society,
was prepared, agreed to, and ordered to be printed for cir-
culation amongst the nobility and gentry. Vett, of thanks
having hero passed to the chairman, demurer, &c., the
meeting Ilepsrated.
SIikEWSBUKY AND BIRMINGHAM RA [MAY.—
Traffic receipts for the week ending April 11 •.-I..issengere,
3611. le til. ; carriages, haters, and parcels, 1.21. Its. likl4;
live stock, 13/. 16s. PM.; merchandise and minerals.
3491. 7i. 10d. Total receipts, 739/. Os. lad. Corresponding
period last year, 5401. Is. 2d.

Tllk SOLICITOR-OENERAL AND MS

STATISTICS.

(Frvat lM Vail, Nara )

Iler Nt.ijesty's Solicitor-Oeneral is not only an I
funoio.,ls r, but he is a learhed gentleman, liound
theretwe by his title to possess knowledge and to
me it lairly. At Harwich last Saturday he said:
It is yuits true, though the amount has been often and
Often macerated, that in the year 18.50 we imported fully
3000,01.0 quarters of corn more than we did in 1846; but
does it necemarily follow that the people, the great hulk of
the con inanity, have eaten a quantity of bread, the produce
Of thew. 8,000,000 quarters of corn, over and above the
quantity they had to eat before I deny that such is the
Bid, and I will prove it in One moment by reference to un-
sloutitso returns, forming a part of the statistical literature
of the country. It is true that 3,000,000 quarters of corn
lays b. sue imported more than were imported in 1846, but
it is eqa.,lly true that the growth of corn in this cnuatry
hes u uff by more Man a . orrespoading 01.101114: us com-
pared with 1816, and that the quantity grown and sold fur
the benefit of the aviculturists of this country in 1846 ex-
seeded wy more than 3,000,000 quarters the quantity grown
In 1460 What, then, is the result ? Not that the people
of t: is molly have actually consumed and eaten more
bread tit4o they did M. fore the repeal of the corn laws to
the eat of 3,000,000 quarters of corn annually, but that,
Instead .1'3.000,000 quarters more being produced and sold
by the striculturints of this country for their own pretit and
oda tittaqt., the amount of their produce has been less by
that quality, whilst the 3,000,000 quarters' lacerate upon
the in ii •rta have been purchased- with British gold in
forei4n mmtries.
l'o,ing over the clap-trap of " British gold," every
novertiLm in the country being foreign product.,
bough and paid for by goods exported; passing over,
too, th • total want of connection between tho ad-
mitted introduction of foreign corn and the assumed I
&dim acorn grown at home, and assuming that
the term "corn is used for wheat and flour, other-
wise the whole statement is preposterous—for we im-
ported in Ittad upwards of 0,000,000 qrs of all kinds
of grain--let us see exactly how the facts are. We
take the following, therefore, from parliamentary
return. :

Tots. import of wheat and Hour, reduced to quarters of
whet, in titra.
1848
1850

locreue in I&60

.103.700

Thu- the increase i.i 18,10 above 1840 was not
more t !lan 3,000,000qr5., as the hon. and learned gen-
th 111.11 said, but 2,103,700 qrs. Either he was igno-
rant f the facts, and nut deserving the title of
learned, or ho wilfully mistated them, and is nut de-
serving the title of honourable. The exaggeration was
not nu ant to confer honour on the corn law, but to
prove by the vast quantity imported how great was
the injury done to the farmer. Two million quarters
is a dufmence which can be matched under protec-
tion, aid was a trifle not to be alarmed at ; but more
than three million quarters is a large amount, and a
deeisi%e proof that the farmer is ruined by Tmporta-
tion. 'o the hon. and learned gentleman increased
the amount by one-third, and made out an extra-1
ordinal ily strong case for the jury he was be-
guiling.
To t linch the matter, the ruin caused by more than
three million quarters imported was amply confirmed
by the less than three million quarters grown and
sold in 18.50 by our own agriculturists. A marvellous
coincidence proving the truth of the statement. We are
not acquainted with any official returns of the quan-
tities of corn annually grown by our agriculturists,
but the Gazette publishes weekly an account of the
quantities sold in the markets, and we have no doubt
—as • e have seen a similar statement to that made by
the SoLicrroa-ORNEKAL avowedly founded on these
returni —that he has been poaching on them. We
bare before us parliamentary statements of the quan-
tities of corn returned by the corn inspectors as sold
in the daferent towns from 1832 downwards, and in
1840 and 1830 they were as follows:
Ws sold.
1848
1850

Diffatoce

Thus the falling off was not u the hon. and
framed gentleman said, more than 3,000,000
qrs., but only 1,270,716 quarters. We believe the hon.
and learned gentleman has no other authority for
his statement than these returns, and they thaw that
be was more grossly in error as to what was sold in
the country in the two years than on what was
imported.
In 1846 the duties on corn were reduced. " The
Corn Bill," says Mr. TOOKE, " received the Royal
asstint 67. the at& of June, and immediately on
the new duties coming into operation the whole
quantity of foreign and colonial wheat and flour then
in bond, amounting to more than 2,000,000 qrs., was
entered for home consumption." That is an expla-
nation of the large quantity of corn imported in IM6,
which shows that the benefits of free importation were
beginning then to be experienced, and that makes
the vear selected not a good one for comparison with
1836.

It happened also, as Mr. TOOKE states, that the
harvests of 1842.3-4, were unusually large, and at
the period of the harvest of 1843 there was a larger
quantity of home-grown corn in the country than
had been held at the same period since the harvest
of 1835. The harvest of 443 was rather short ; the
potatoc crop was a partial failure. It was made
certain in 1843 that in 1846 the corn laws would be
further dealt with, the consequence of all which was
that of unusual quantity of wheat, considering the
harvest of 1845, was sold in 1846. With that year
the SOLICITOI-OENKRAL contrasts the quantity sold
in 1830, miter the deficient harvests of 1849-1848.
The comparison, therefore, of the two yeses is un-
fair, and reflects somewhat either on the honour or
an the learning of the flouerroa-fimtheau
Between a harvest which is one-fourth more, and
a harvest which is one-fourth less than the average,
there may be as great a difference u 5,000,000 ira.
It is quire poseible, therefore, for the quantities
sold to indicate a larger difference than that geeing
by the Soucrroa-Oreniat., without affording the
least ground for the inference that our agriculturists
suffered from the importation of foreign wheat, or
that one acre of land has gone out of cultivation.
In 1843 the quantity sold was 6,666,240 quarters,
and in 1847, 4,637,616 quarters, a difference
of 2,028,624 qrs., or 737,908 qrs. greater than the
difference in the quantities sold in 1846 and 1830.
Why did sot the hon. and learned gentleman take
those figures to illustrate the great losses of the
farmers.? Simply, because they did not permit a
difference which occurred under protection, and is
the obvious result of varying manes, to be ascribed
to free-trade. It would have madeout a case against
protection, from which the learned gentleman received
his brief and his fee.

If be had selected 1449, he would have found a
still smaller quantity of core sold than in 1860, viz.,
4,433,00.2 qrs., while the tremliq said L 1850, as
Mated above, was 4,688414er5• APO
sold in 1849 wee the at the laewt
of 1848 sad of yam lame the
corn law was aboilehed, and while prises
were, as in 1647, extremely high, and that wadi
have thrown, eessediag to the Soucrroa-Ommal,
discredit on . Or the hon. and learned
gentlemea have run his eye along the
of the paolassatary return with which a mestrOlif
his Wamakes tzars Its extremely familiar, and he
Weidd hsea ellieleined that there was positively
about as poet a illirence between the quantities of
OM odd 1811.161136,30t1 quarters, and sold in
1110, 4.11/1141964proters, and a larger per centage
dllbrease lima between the quantities sold in 1846
sod 11140. shouisto difference between the two
frost Aoriois was 1,096,644, between the two
War 1 0,710, asi the per centage difference was
seepestiesly 33 and 27. By continuing his
ememeshes In a forward direction the great
hod ride to DIMBY lmielarion would have
Mimi list the quantities sold to April Ist of the
'harvest of 1861, are much in exams of the gisiddes
mid to the mama period of the harvest et 11110, or of
1849. But that would have bean gang eat at hie
brief, taking a comprehensive view of the
and acquiring the knowledge that all *WV
fences are the consequences of variations he the sea.
eons, making one harvest abundant sad macaw
mato, which natural inequalityt protection map.
rats and free-trade neutraliser.
A wiriprise lawyer is not always held essumbis,
as the dara of TAW/ILL and Counywuna are
Well aware, for Mahal; everything down in Ms
brief, those' the habit of thus for another
without ponosol responsibility Isw_ •
looseness of assertion that in a statesmen er a We•
later is unpardonable. At Harwich, the Ilataarros-
sal4
OINIPAL was his own attorney : hs
he
Mr-
he draw up ths brief from whisk he ad
be roar idler ismsrkes bald

a client whose roguery ho was bound to defend or
hose criminality he was feed to disprove. He
could scarcely, however, base made more unfounded
statements had he received a brief from the most
unscrupulous attorney on the Rolls.
WC must say a word of another supporter and.
almost a member of the unscrupulous administration.
Mr. GEOROIS F. Youxo seizing hold of some of the
"stout writing" of the Tunes, has impressed on the
credulous protectionists the belief that the losses suf-
fered by the trading classes in 1831 were enormous.
Drawing out en arrow too from Mr. M.Cw.oeu's
quiver, whose half complete theories doom him now
continually to forge weapons for the protectionists,
Mr. Yowl() concludes that low profits in a single
year (Mr. M'CuLIA)CII speaks of an average of years)
are a certain indication of a nation hastening to
ruin. Mr. YOUNG must know that enormous lasses
were incurred in 1846-7, 1838-7, 1824-3, and that
low profits have previously, been experienced,
tending to the reduction of the interest of the debt
without causing a national ruin. Admitting the
enormous looses, no class of traders or persons has
now been discredited, and no widespread bankruptcy
has ensued as after former losses, and no appeals
have been made to the government to interfere with
the Bank or advance money to suffering traders.
The enormous losses are, therefore, comparatively
trifling. Mr. YOUNG might have learned from the
great light (Mr. Itiexano), from which Mr. M'CuL-
toett has borrowed much lustre, " that nothing can
affect profits but a rise of wages," and that, therefore,
the present low rate of profit is quite compatible with
what is happily the fact—a very considerable rise in
real wages. The daily pay of the labourer now brings
more food and clothing and better house accommoda-
tion than it would bring at any previous period of the
present century. As the labourers are a much more
numerous body than the capitalists, their well-being
is a better test of national prosperity than the well-
being of capitalists. High wages may bring about
rapid accumulation, and its consequence low profits,
which have hitherto been the effect of free trade, and
very blessed effects they arc. Human wisdom could
accomplish nothing now more desirable. At the
same time, in the mouth of a protectionist, Mr.
YOUNG'S complaint is ridiculous as well as un-
founded, for all his clique complain of free trade as
increasing the power of the monied class, and his
jeremiad is that the monied class is getting low
profit and low interest.