The Express.
London, England, 1851-10-09 00:00:00

JAMAICA.

We find the following account of a disgraceful
outrage in the town of Lucca copied front the Fal-
mouth Past into the Kingston Morning Journal of
Sept. 8:
At a petty session of the peace which was held at the
Courthouse, in the town of Lucca, on Saturday, the 30th
August, Lieut. O'llannagan, of her Majesty's 3rd West
India Regiment, was brought before Justices Chamber-
laine, Dawes, Hayward, and Breboer, charged with having
committed a violent assault on the person of Dr. M'Bean,
the staff assistant-surgeon, nt the barracks in the above-
named town. It appeared by the examination of the wit-
nesses that on Friday night, the 29th ult., Dr. Melican,
having spent the evening out, returned to his residence
between seven and eight o'clock, and found his wife and
mother-in-law sitting in the drawing-room with Lieutenant
O'Flannsgan. The three parties commenced to mock and
jeer the doctor, who, being thus insulted, required the
lieutenant to leave the house. Mr. O'llannagan refused to
obey the order, and told Dr. M'llean that if he wanted to
tight, "he was his man." The challenge was not
accepted, but the doctor, labouring under excited feedings,
'4vanced . .
of

idea.__.. towards Mr. O'Flannagan with the intention.
forcibly ejecting him from the premises; but he was pre-
vented from carrying the intention into effect by Mae.
and her mother, who held him by the arms until
Mr. O'Flannagan came up and kicked him down stairs.
The servants, who were witnesses of these sad doings, felt
indignant at the manner in which their master bad been
treated by the officer and the two females, and declared
their rcadine.s to stand by him. Dr. M'Bean then went up
stain, and inflicted a couple of blows on the face of Limit.
O'Flannagan, who quitted the house, and returned soon
after with an armed party of soldiers from the bamcks,
whom he placed in the several apartments. It appeared
that the object in bringing the soldiers was to arrest the
doctor, but he had gone to the house of a friend, and there-
fore the object was not effected. In reply to a question from
one of the magistrates, Dr. M'Bean said," that he had more
than sufficient cause for suspicion that au improper in-
timacy existed between his wife and Lieutenant O'Flanne,-
gen, and that this was the return made by that officer foe
the hospitality which had been extended to him." This
statement was made in a crowded court, as a great number
of persons who empathised with Dr. M'Bean went thither
fur the purpose of listening to the facts which were deposed
to. The magistrates, after hearing the whole of the evi-
dence, forwarded a copy of it to Major Cockell, the com-
manding officer; and called upon Lieutenant O'Flannagan
to enter into reeognisances, himself in 200/., and two sure-
ties in 1001. each, to keep the peace, and appear to answer
any bill of indictment that may he preferred against him,
either at the Cornwall Assize Court, or the Hanover Court
of Quarter Sessions; and our correspondent adds, that the
justices who acted on the occasion have received a letter
from Major Cockell, informing them that the charge against
Lieutenant O'Flannagan is of so serious a nature, that the
note. of evidence would be forwarded forthwith to the com-
mander of the forces at head quarters.
Tar JAMAICA WO:K.—At the half-yearly meeting of the
feteireholders of this establishment, held on lot September
at Kingston, a highly satisfactory report of the transactions
of the bank for the six months ending 30th June last was
presented by the directors. From the statements accom-
panying the report it appeared that the balance of net profit
realised on the six months transactions was 4,7801. 18.. 10d.,
from which was to be deducted 175!. for remuneration to
directors and auditors, leaving an available balance of net
profit to the amount of 1,6011. 18s. 10d., of which it was
proposed to appropriate 3,000/. to the payment of a dividend
of 3 per cent for the half year on the capital stock, and to
starry the balance of 1,60.,!. 18s. 10d. to the credit of the
surplus fund, which would be thus increased to
Ils. 9d. Nor was the statement of assets and liabi-
lities Ito, satisfactory. The circulation of the bank amounted
on the 30th of June to 40,7471. 10s., and the deposits to
53,0971. ls. 2d., being an aggregate liability in these
respects of 93,844/. lls. 2d., against which the
directors showed cash in the bank treasury and
balances in London and foreign agencies to the amount
of 33,3201. 13s. Sd., and bills of exchange and other secu-
rities to the amount of 166M031. 18s. Soch a statement
cannot fail to be as satisfactory to the public as it was to the
shareholders, and reflects no small credit on the gentlemen
who have acted OA the directors of the company. In sub-
mitting the report to the shareholders the directors took
occasion to observe that there was a small increase of profit
realised on the half-year's transactions as compared with
the previous six month., a result which the directors had
not expected, considering the season of unexampled distress,
and the temporary suspension of agricultural employment
and business in almost every parish in the island, caused by
the spread and prevalence of cholera; but at the seine time
the directors had the satisfaction of assuring the shareholders
that no casualty had arisen to affect the iuterests of the es-
tablishment since they last had the pleasure of submitting
their half-yearly report. The report was unanimously
adopted by the meeting, and Lawrence Gibson and S. W.
Mais, whose terms of office had expired, were re-
elected directors.