The Express.
London, England, 1848-10-26 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL.

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND DICIDE.—At Lincoln,
an Monday, at the usual sitting of the magistrates, Charles
Hastings was charged with attempting to murder Lydia
Greekam by cattail her throat, and then endeavouring to
destroy himaslL The prosecntra, it appeared, led an aban.
dosed life. She had boss :on intimate terms with the pri-
soner end, on the 6th of this month, the peosecutrix was
seen walking with another man. This enraged Hastings,
who struck her three or four times, dragged her along the
floor into the parlour, and fastened the door. Screams of
murder were then heard, and, on the door being forced open,
the unhappy mamma, Lydia Gresham, was seen stretched
upon the sofa with ha hands over her throat, and Hastings
was kneeling upon her. It was then found that her throat
was cut, a d before the primer could be arrested he also in-
flicted a severe gash in hie own throat. It is exceedingly
doubtful whether the woman will now survive. The magis-
trates remanded the jwisoner....

-- - -
WORKSOP LABOURER'S FRIEND SOCIETY. —OR
Tuesday was bald the eighth anniversary meeting of this
societ,y. In the evening, a public dinner took place at the
Red Lion Hotel, the Duke of Neweutle presiding, there
being about ninety gentlemen present. The usual loyal
toasts having been duly honoured, Kr. H. Owen proposed
" The Health of the Duke of Portland," coupling there- ,
with " Success to Agriculture." His Orate had ever been a ,
most zealous supporter of sioicaltural interests, and the ,
results of his exertions had been of advantage to all ,
humanity, foe Americans and others were instantly arriving ,
at Welbeck to view the noble duke's farms, as well u her
works•of irrigation Mr. Owen concluded by expronin a
hope that his Grace might survive the great affliction which
had fallen upon him in the loss of his son, Lord George
Bullock, and that he might live long and happily.
The successful competitors for prizes having been called into
the room, the Duke of Newcastle, as president of the societ
congratulated them upon their success. He wu delighted
, at the large attendant*, and at the great number of com-
petitors. and said it wu for many raisons a happy thing that
the institution should be so prosperous. It must be a great
inducement far labourers to conduct themselves properly,
and strive to becomeskillalworinnen, that they might receive
the rewards of the riciety. He hoped all who had gained
prizes would, by their continued good behaviour, and re.
eider attendance at church, show an example to their fel-
low-servants ; and it was also desirable that they should on
every amnion strive to serve their employers faithfully and
well. [The awards were then presented.)—Sir T. W. White,
iititsimininittilsie health of the noble president, congratulated
and hearers that they were Englishmen ; because,
in looking at other countries the y perceived how the people
were saffiring, and how badly they had behaved to their
sovereigns and all above them. The fact of a different state
of thaw existing in England, was attributable to the aristo-
cracy joining ics like the one whose annivereary they
were met to celebrate ; and emulating in the way they did
with the agriculturists and labourers of the couatry.—His
Grace acknowledged the compliment, and said he always felt
that no persona were more entitled to the respect and esteem
of their countrymen than the labourers, especially those who
prizes by good conduct or skill in their calling.
reinehomas White had spoken of thine " beneath " him (the
noble duke). He did not consider men beneath him who
earned respect by their labour and industry ; and he hoped
to live to see the time when two-thirds of the inhabitants of
this country would be such, for then would England be pros.'

perms and happy.—The Vice.preident (Mr. Eddiion, of
Elltinoeks) said be hoped there would be • large attendance
en Thursday next, at thegreat county meeting to be held at
Maaadleld, to decide open some fitting testimonial to the
memory of Ledaeorge Bentinck.—The noble president
rose at eight o'clock, and bidding the meeting farewell, maid
he retired thus early because he had a great demi to occupy
his attention with respect to the county meeting to which
Mr. Masan had alluded. He (the Duke of Newcastle)
hoped all present would be at Mansfield on the 26th.

Tag LAW OF LllooAol.—A point of importance
to railway travellers wee decided recently at the Bath
Cassidy Court. The Rev. Mr. Rogers, on the Ist of May
bet, travelled by the first.clees train from Bath to Paddington. 1
He arrived at the Bath ration by coach; his luggage, con-
sisting of a portmanteau, and containing chiefly articles
of clothing, was handed down from the coach by one
of the porters of that vehicle, and immediately one of
the aempany's porters approached and asked Mr. Rogers
woes* he was going to; being informed Pertain-
ton, he pasted one of the company's luggage tickets
on the portmanteau and placed it in the luggage receiving
room, where it was drawn upon the platform above by a
machine used for the elevation there of passengers' luggage.
The rev. plaintiff procured and paid for his ticket, and pro.
ceeded to the platform, where he saw his portmanteau, with
other luggage, in the care of the company's servants. He
watched one of these wheel it to the luggage van on the sr-
rival of the train, and was informed by one of them in reply
to a question he pat to him respecting ha safety, " It would
be all right." The rev. gentleman then took his seat in
the carriage, and on arriving at Paddington he got out
tilhand went to the luggage van for the oortmanteau,
however, could not be fouLd. It appeared to have
been lost or stolen in the transit from Bath. Inquiries were
made of the superintendent, but no tidings had been
beard of the portmanteau, and, consequently, this action
was brought against the company to obtain 191., the value
of the articles of clothing which the portmanteau contained.
The company disclaimed their liability under a bye-law, said
to be made in pursuance of a clause in their act of parlia-
ment, 6 & 6 Wall. IV , c. 107. authorising them to make
bye.laws for the regulation of the company. The bye-law
was in these words ; —'• Every first-class passenger will be
allowed 112 lbs., every 2nd-class passenger 56 lbe ,of luggage,
free of charge ; but the company will not be responsible for
the care of the same, unless booked and paid fur accord
ingly. All surplus luggage, and miirchandise of every de-
scription, will be charged tor. The company's porters will
load and unload the luggage at the different stations free of
charge." It was contended for the plaintiff that the compar.y
had no power by such a bye-law to restrict their liability in
respect of passengers' articles of clothing not exceeding 401bs.
in weight and contained in a package not exceedinz 4 cubic
feet in dimensions, because lay section LA of the Railway
Act it was enacted, "That without extra charge, it dual be
lawful for every passengerto take with him his articles of
clothing not exceeding that weight and those dimensions,
though the company should in no case be liable for the sale
carriage or custody of any articles other than such and such
dimensions." By the same clause, it was provided, "That
nothing therein contained should extend to charge the com-
pany further than where, according to the laws of the realm.
stage coach proprietors and common carriers would be
liable." If the company agreed to take au excess beyond
the 401 be. weight, it must do so on the footing of common
stage coach proprietors, who could not rid themselves of
liability in respect of such articles to any amount, ex-
cept by special agreement with the passenger.—The
rev. pnintiff then deposed to the facts states,
and added that he was wholly unaware of the
existence of the t ye-law in question.—On the part of the
company Mr. Seymour Clarke was called, and produced a
parchment, upon which was printed a copy of the original
bye.laws attested by the seal of the company.—His Honour
then summed up, and in refiewir.g the arguments, observed
that no doubt the bye-law in (patio's had been legally
passed by the company and allowed by Mr. Justice Patteson.
By the law any luggage, of whatever weight, in order to en-
title a peasouper to charge the company with its loss, must
be booked and paid for by the passenger. The regulation
had not been observed in the present cue. That was an
answer to the present action. He saw nothing in any other
acts affecting the question, and although it must be admitted
to be a hardship on the plaintiff, the only question with
which he had to do was whether the company were legally
liable to the loss. He was of opinion they were not, ai.d
consequently that the plaintiff must be noneuited.