The Express.
London, England, 1848-07-07 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL.

LANC %Sy 11:F,

SUGAR Drrna.—Yeet,riay being the day when
the reduced sugar duties, under the act of 18IG, came Mtn
operation, the Custom-hoagie, nt Liverpool, from an early
hour wan crowded with parties eager to anticipate the pro-
posed new duties, but which duties cannot yet be levied, the
government resolutions not having been repotted. A very
large sum meat have been paid e eaterday.
EXTRAORDINARY CAsE OF KIDNAPPING.—A young
woman named Ann Williams is now in custody at Mau-
chester, Laving been apprehended on Sunday, at Macele.- '
field, and sent to Manchester from thole-, on a charge of
stealing a child fur the purpose of using it us a means of
exciting compassion and sympathy in asking elms. The
woman had stolen the cobel from Manchesteron W. dnesday
week, after experi.ncing great kindness at the hands of its
parent•, who are working people, and had begged with it
about the neighbourhood the two following d ,ye, travelled
on Saturday with it to Buxton, where her inhuman treat-
ment to it had caused several persons to remonstrate with
her, and on Sunday, after stripping A of its frock, bonnet,
silk handkerchief, and neck:ace, left it exposed to the
inclement weather which prevaled on that day merely
wrapped in its pinafore, near to the brick of a stone quarry,
on a common between Buxton and Maccle,field. She had
offered its clothes fur sale at • small farmhouse by the road
side for fourpenee, with such a pitiful tale, that the people,
so far from suspecting she had been guilty of such in-
humanity, tad kindly given her food and money wherewith
to pursue her journey. A lady on horseback having dis-
covered the child about • couple of hours subsequently,
called at the farmhouse to tell them, and this circ matinee
Vel to the pursuit of Williams, and her apprehension at
Macclesfield. She has been examined before the magistrates,
but stands remanded till Tuesday next, in order that the
witnesses may be got together from Buxton and Maccles-
field. The child is alive and well, but had many marks f
ill-treatment about its body when first recovered. The
woman expressed surprise next day on hearing that it wu
still alive.

THE TRIAL OP MR. ROBERT Ross DIY, late a
partner in the firm of Christopher George and Co., came on
at Bristol Quarter Soul ins, before the Recorder, on Wed-
nesday, and occupied the court till after 10 o'clock at night.
It must be in the recollection of the readers of tLe Er.
press, that Mr. Dix, who had been a partner, was subse-
quently to a dissolution by mutual convent appointed ledger-
' keeper, at aso ary of 2501. a year, and that in March last,
come investigation being instituted intro the affairs of Mr.
Christopher George, who had carried on the business on his
own account, Mr. Dix took the opportunity of possessing
himself of some of the books and papers, which were at the
office of a public accountant, and absconded with them. A
reward of 1001. was offered for his apprehension, and
he was captured at Woolwich. lie was then taken
to Paddington for the purpose of being conveyed by
a police serpent to Bristol, and while the officer was
engaged in paying fur the tickets effected his escape,
and succeeded in eluding the vigilance of those
in pursuit of him for a considerable time. He was ulti.
mately apprehended by a gentleman named Chamberlain,
who, whit: driving in his gig near Radstock, Somerset, saw
Dix in the road, and having chased him across a field, suc-
ceeded in securing him. The prisoner, en Wednesday, was
arraigned on three in lictments. The first charged him with
stealing the books, and the others with embezzling various
sum. of money, the property of his employer. Mr. Stone
and Mr. Leversege appeared fur the prosecution, and Mr.
Skinner and Mr. Pndeaux for the prisoner. lie was first
charged upon an indictment (or having embezzled on the sth
November, 1847, the sum of 201. 10:1. ; and, or. the 18th of
Pebruary,lB4B, the sum of 501. ; and, on the 23rd of Feb- I
ruary, the sum of 1441. Evidence was adduced to show the !
receipt of the differen: moneys, which Mr. George said the
prisoner had never accounted tor. The counsel for the de-
fence attempted to prove a partnership and right to appro-
priate the money, but .:the jury, after a short consultation,
found the prisoner knilty. Sentence was defernd.