The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-22 00:00:00

THE CYCLOIDAL DIGGING MACHINE.

An intimation from the patentee of the above in-
vention, that, " by permission of her Majesty's Commis-
sioners of Royal Parks and Palaces," he intended on Tuus
day last to dig up the south aide of Kennington-common,
led us, at the appointed hour, to the spot, where we found
a goodly assemblage of parties curious to witness the work-
ing of • machine which, it was alleged, would dispense
with the old-fashioned plough, and teach the farmers of the
United Kingdom how to avail themselves of the advanced
state of science as connected with agriculture. The " in-
vention" proved to be nothing more than an adaptation
of Crosekill's " cultivator," and, with every desire to make
allowasiee for the disadvantages attendant on a first trial, there
is every reason to fear the practicability of the machine in
its present state is extremely problematical. As exhibited,
five strong horses were attached to • small wooden frame,
aboat six feet square, the centre of which consisted of a
series of five iron cylinders, each armed with 20 teeth of the
consistence of an ordinary pickaxe, set in a position best
calculated to enter the ground with the smallest amount
of resistance. Cast-iron scrapers affixed to the rear of the
machine were intended to receive the clod of earth from
the teeth, and complete its friability, but early in the trial
these scrapers yielded under the force they were subjected
to, and the complete action of the machine, as designed by
the inventor, was consequently not seen. The great
objection to this and all other implements of the same
character hitherto introduced, arises from the irregularity
with which the iron diggers enter the ground, and the im-
practicability of turning the upper soil over so es to destroy
the grass or weeds growing upon the surface. The irregu-
larity of depth produces a corresponding number of holes,
into which all ',the drainage of the field neces-
sarily discharges itself, and at these points seed sown
would, as a matter of course, perish. The consequence of
not effectually turning over the sod would be simply this,
that after the first shower the grass or weeds shaken or
scarified by the machine would spring up with increased fer-
tility, and in a few days the surface of the ground would re.
some its original hardened state. The spot selected for the
trial was certainly calculated to test in the highest
degree the powers of the machine. The ground was very
hard, and it is more than possible the surface had not been
disturbed for the last quarter of • century. But although
even this earth was broken up and the surface almost com-
pletely destroyed, it is undeniable that, after the machine
had traversed the same spot several times to and fro, the
ground was still left in a condition that no practical agricul-
turist would approve or desire. A great deal of this may have
been owing to the confessedly imperfect condition of the
machine, and it is hoped that experience will suggest im-
provements of • nature calculated to insure its practice-
bility. There can be no greater boon to the agricultural
community at this moment than the introduction of a
machine which shall expedite and facilitate the tillage of
the ground. At present there has been nothing brought
forward of a really practical character, and it is dill doubt-
ful whether digging by hand labour may not be pecuniarily
more productive than any existing system of turning the
soil. The inventor of this machine is a Mr. Wilson, a
native of Newry, who has had some experience of agricul-
ture in the Australian colonies; and the patent has been
taken out by • gentleman named Crouch, who has devoted
much valuable time and experience to the improvement of
agriculture. It is stated that the machine will be set to
work at Tiptoe Hall during the present autumn.

RECOVERY OF SIX HUNDRED POUNDS.-A
CONSPIRACY DETECTED.

1 A report was circulated in the early part
1 of last week, that a woollen cloth manufacturer, of the
firm of 0. and 0, Booth, whilst ;paring from One ware.
house to another, is Huddersfield, had lost two cheques,
amounting to 6991. It is now discovered that the transac-
• tion was a fraud, the object of which was to prevent the
• payment of the mone to a creditor. The concealed cash
. was found on Tuesday in Manchester. We believe the
following is a pretty correct account of the whole ,affair.
/ George Booth is the senior partner in the firm of G. and G.
• Booth, woollen cloth manufacturers, at Mytholm Bridge,
near licolmfirth. They wen in the habit of dealing with
Messrs. Armitage Brothers wool merchants, from whom
they purchased wool on credit. Their manufactured goods
• they often sold to Messrs. Stark Brothers, end it was
I the practice when they received payment from Messrs.
• Stark Brothers, to hand the cheque to Messrs.
' Armitage in payment for the wool. On Tuesday,
1 the 13th of the present month, the elder
Booth received two cheques, amounting to 6091.
Bs. 6d. from Messrs. Stark, and it had been arranged that
• ate certain time he was tie meet his junior partner, when
• they would mowed to Mesers.Armitage Brothers, to and to
them the two cheques due for wool. When the junior partner
arrived, however, the senior one said he had lost his pocket-I
• book, containing the cheques. They went to the warehouse
of Messrs. Armitage, and stated what had happened. As the
cheques were on the Huddersfield Banking Company, Mr.
• Armitage suggested that the best plan would be at once to go
to the bank, and stop payment of them. He accompanied
the Messrs. Booth thither, and they were told by the cashier
that he had cashed the cheques to a young man who bore
some resemblance to Mr. Booth, sad that the person was
' about 20 minutes in counting the money, and had only left a
short time before. On receiving this intelligence, they ap-
plied to Mr. Heaton, superintendent of the upper division of
Aggbrtg, and to Mr. Thomas, the police superintendent of
Haddonfield. These officers, in prosecution of their inqui-
ries, obtained the best description which the cashier could
supply of the man to whom the money was paid. Their
suspicion fall on .the son of Mr. Booth, who professed to
have lost the cheques. This soa had left Enddenfi eld on
the previous day (Monday), and was stated to have gone to
, the Isle of Man, but suspecting that this might be false, and
that he might have been in Huddersfield on Taesday,and he
meditating emigration, Mr. Thomas proceeded to Liver-
pool, in order to look out for him in that direction. An
, aunt of this young man, named Alin Booth, has been for
some time in the 11•146111 of Mr. Wilkinson, draper, 98,
Oldham-street, and it appears that on Monday week he came
to Manchester to see her, and remained there all night. On
the Tuesday morning.(tie day the cheques were cashed) she
accompanied him part of the way towards the Victoria rail-
way station, as though he were going to Liverpool. Be-
tween six sad 111TeK1 o'clock the same night be again called
upon her at the shop, when she asked him, in apparent
surprise, how it was that he was not in Liverpool t He re-
plied that he was too late for the cheap train, and so deter-
mined to remain until Wednesday morning. In this inter-
val be no doubt went to Huddenfield, cashed the cheques,
and returned with the money. She accompanied him again
on Wednesday morning, and saw him into the train, but did
not see him start. On Friday morning last, the mother of
young Booth came over to see her sister-in-law, in Oldham-
street, and inquired if she knew where her son was ; and on
Sunday the father (the pretended loser of the money) came
also, and he and his sister went to Btalybridge together
in a cab, whence Booth (the father) returned to Hudders-
field. The final disooisry was now on the point of being
made. Yesterday morning Mr. Heaton sent a telegraphic
message from Huddersfield to Mr. Thomas, in Liverpool,
to meet him in the forenoon, at the Manchester detective
office. This being done, they, along with Inspector Park-
inson, proceeded to Mr. Wilkinson's, in Oldham-street, and
explained to him their object. He expressed the utmost
readiness to render every facility for prosecuting a search
for the missing money, which they believed was concealed
by their servant, Alice Booth, somewhere on the premises.
She., however, denied all knowledge of it, and would give
no information. We should hers state, that Mr. Heaton
had taken the son into custody on Saturday last, and on his
being recognised by the cashier as the person to whom he
gave the cash for the cheques, he also apprehended the
father on a charge'of conspiracyto defraud his creditoreßoth
were Vaud before the magistrates on Monday, and stood re- I
mended to Saturday next. When in prison a confession was
made, that the money was at a shop in Oldham-street, Man-
chester.
Whilst the three officers were prosecuting their i
• search here a telegraphic message to this effect reached
them. They told Alice Booth that one of the prisoners had
confessed that she knew where the money was, upon which
she directed them to a small tin box covered with coals in
the cellar. In this they found 206 sovereigns, 2001. in the
notes of the Huddersfield Banking Company, and 2001. in
Bank of England notes—in all 606!. She told them that
young Booth took two sovereigns himself. She was taken
into custody and conveyed to Haddonfield. We under-
stand that Mr. Wilkinson was much surprised at the dis-
covery which was mad. on his premises, having enter-
tained a good opinion of the servant's honesty.—llasuliestir
Examine,.

I MR. OLI VEIRA, M.P., AND Ills CONSTITCENTs.
PONTEFRACT, SEPT. 21.—Mr. Oliveira met hie
eeeettuents in the Town Hall, Pontefract, at noon to day
(Wednesday), for' the purpose of addressing them on tho
measures of t►e past session of parliament, and of giving
any explanation of his parliamentary conduct which might
be called for.

The MAYon presided, and there was a considerable at-
tendance of electors. He haying formally introducd the
hon, gentleman,

Mr. OLIVEIRA having briefly reviewed the leading busi-
nen of the sessioo, said the only public question in which
he took a leading part was upon the wine duties, and on
submitting his views upon them, the Chancellor
of the Exchequer admitted the justice of his
proposal to reduce those duties, but said he could not
spare the amount from the menus. He hoped, however,
that the success of his financial mimes of this session
would admit of his dealing with this question nest year.
The general use of the cheap and wholesome wines of tho
continent would open markets for the manufactured goods
of Leeds, Bradford, and other towns, would displace the
use of ardent spirits, and tend to promote habits of sobriety,
temperance, and morality. The days of the wine monopoly
were numbered.