The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-23 00:00:00

WHOLESALE FRAUDS OAT THE PRIVATE

SOLDIER.

PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 22.
To day Mr. Kennard Knot, contractor for the sup-
ply of butcher's meat to the troops in this garrison, was
summoned before the borough magistrate', charged with
having a number of light weights in his poseession. The
magistrates on the bcuch were the Mayor, G. Gillman, J.
0. Travers, B. Bramble, and J. F. Pratt, Esqrs. Mr. T.
Field, of Gosport, appeared for the defendant.
The inspector of weights and measures for the borough
deposed to proceeding, on Friday morning, to the Clarence
Barracks, in this garrison, and examining the weights in
the defendant's stores there. They were all deficient ; a
14Ibs. weight being 61 or. light; a 7th.. weight b or. light,
and smaller oats in proportion. The beam of the weigh-
iag machine had been beaten out at one end, so as to alter
the leverage, and by this an alteration to the extent of ten
ounces, in favour of the dealer, was effected. The practical
result of serving out the meat to the troops, in the cases in
which the Tiba. weight, above named, was used, would be
a deficiency of 11b. 3oz in the daily mem of every tea men
of the troone in the above barracks. The daily quantity
sent to time barracks was upwards of 5 ewt. The inspec-
tor afterwards proceeded to the Colewort Barracks, where
she meet of the weigh 4 were deficient, but not to the ex-
tent that existed at the Clarence Barracks, the chief de-
ficiency being one of 11 os. in the 4lbs. weight. The in-
spector also went to the Royal Artillery Barracks, and
there the weights were also deficient; but, as they were
government property, he could not seize them.
For the deftness it who urged that the defendant was not
at all cognisant of the weights in question being light, the
nun blame noting with the men he employed at the bar-
racks. Evidence was produced to substantiate this argu-
ment, it being proved that defendant had his weights ad-
Tied tame times a year by • respectable tradesman.
Mee found at the Clarence Barracks, however, had not
been so adjusted, having been procured by one of his men
in s surreptitious manner.
The bench convicted the defendaat, and fined him the
fall penalty of fit, with 91. costa, together with the tee-
total, of the weights and weighing machine.

AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS.
TO Tllll IRDITOR or Till =POW.
Sta,—Mr. Fitzroy's bill for empowering magis-
trates to enforce penalties more commensurate with
tie offence en those who transgress the laws of
humanity even more than they set at nought the
law of the land, by their brutal mal-treatment of the
weak and defenceless, suggests certain modifications
which I desire to submit through your columns to
the consideration of the boa. member whose inter-
lenses in this matter the public cannot fail to ap-
peeciate.
propose that it should be at the magistrate's die-
'whoa to award to the injured party the whole or a
Portion of the fine u some compensation for the in-
jury that has been inflicted; and I further suggest
that the magistrate should be so empowered to vary
the punishment as would afford the means of com-
pensation to the sufferer, by a diminished fine, and
at the same time vindicate the claims of outraged
justice by a restricted period of incarceration : and
thus, through the mingled agency. of the purse and
the person, establish alaw of discrimination adapted
to every clan of offence.—l am,

D. W. HARVEY.
Old Jewry, March 21, 18.53.

TWENTY MITIIDERN.—The following appears] in
the Courrier dr Alarmlie of Saturday Some persona
who have just arrived from Toulon inform us that a horrible
discovery had been made by the police of the town. For
tie time put pablie rumour signalised a house, occupied
yen Went for ending substitutes for the army, as the
theatre of a series ol atrocious demos. Minute researches
having been made, about 20 corpses, buried in the cellars of
tie bdwle, were found. It appears that the victims were
weteseively assassinated, and that the death of the first
!wit Place several years ago. The confessions of a woman
ut her leap moments placed, we are assured, justice on the
him of the crimes. The victims, according to the same
nes. were military substitutes received by the Conseil, de
4./61011, and the man murdered them in order not to have
to pay the price of their enrolment."
DIviIisCEPUL OVTRAGE. The magistrates of
ChM hare recently been investigating a case 04 great
,ulddity. Six men—named Thomas Mills, Wm. Sparks,
rawge Harp, John Harp, Stephen Harp, and Edward
r,afft—were charged with criminally assaulting Mary Ann
names, a married woman, apparently about 27 years of
efts It appeared from the evidence that the prosecutrii
had been working during the slay at a beershop kept by a
leasi aimed Raison, at erewkerne, in snaking baby linen for
his wife, during which time she had imbibed sundry tul po-
us.ions of beer. She left to go home, in company with
. shortly before eleven o'clock. Raison left her at the
...▪ W. and she hail no sooner entered than two of the pri-
4w•
w rushed in, and, seising Ler, carried her off hurriedly,
wi by the others, to a lonely spot near the parsonage.
There by threw her on the ground, and tied her hands
'M- I
a Peckethandkerehief, and her legs with a piece of
told. • (Joe of the prisoners (Mills) assaulted her criminally.
°sweat of them afterwards beat her with a belt till aho be insensible. Oa her recovery she succeeded, after
'ft" time. in escaping from her bands; and her impres-
dm Wei, that while she wee in that state all the men as-
s's.'ett I,r. The beach cmimizted the rat n rn :1 ial at
r, a' 4%S:Le.i
.61•Alls1)W AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY
'lithe week ending March 19, £4,227 164.54.1. correspond
46 vet k last ytu, £3,77615,. had. Increase, £l4 131. ,

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.
PROPOSALS FOR CORPORATION REFORM.

Yesterday a court was held, the Lord Kayor in
the chair. Some considerable interest appeared to be ex
cited, in consequence of there being upon the novice mete,
fur the day net less than three webers of motion upon thc '
eubject of the extension of the municipal franchise. Tic.
following sv.re eopiee of them :
1. "By Mr. HENRY BLaca.—That it be referred to th.
freedom committee to prepare a bill for extending Co
tranchicse for the wardmote elections in the city of Loads,.
to all persons occupying premises rated at 101. per annum,
and to confer with bee 311jeecy's government thereon."
2. " by Mr. Deputy PEWTEP.ES.—To take into consilera•
him the propriety of introducing into parliament a bill to
effect suitable alterations in the corporation of Loudon,
and to obtain the support of government to the measure."
" By Mr. H. L. Latt.ou.—That it be referred to a
committee of the whole court to consider what suitable re-
forms are required in the Courts of Aldermen and Common
Council, for the purpose of introducing a bill into parlia-
ment, and to obtain the support of government to the
measure."

Mr. BLAKE, in introdncingliis motion, remarked that the
question cf the freedom was intimately connected with the
franchise of the City. Many of the bye-laws and ancient
customs of the corporation had become obsolete, but there
were others which still lingered, and drew on en objection-
able though lengthened existence among them. (hear,
hear.) One of these was the practice of requiring all parties
who wished to vote for their municipal representatives to
purchase the freedom of the City. These men had to
pay to the local rates, and if they slid so, and thus paid their
"scot," they ought to be permitted to vote. Th, principle,
indeed, was recognised some centuries ago ; for in M is.,
Charts it was seen in the fact that there provision ate male
that no man should be taxed who had not the right of voting
for the party qualified to make the Wits. Parliament,
also, in later days, had carried out the lime principle, in
the 14th clause a the Municipal Bill, which provided that
the powers given to ancient corporations in this respect
should be altogether abolished. This had been done
in all eases, except in the city of London. (Hear, hear.)
He knew that some parties hail hugged to themselves the
d. fusion that the corporation of that great city was so pure
that such a stringent measure was not required. this was
not the fact; indeed it was quite the reverse. The corpo
ration had not done sufficient to justify themselves in the
opinion of parliament by reducing the hoe for admission to
the freedom of the City from 251. to 51., and in making it
wanes:eta. y for parties to belong to a trading company, in
order to become free. After alluding to the historical de-
tails of the case, Mr. Blake went on to remark that if one
party was compelled to take up the freedom, no doubt all
ought to be so compelled. ((sear, hear-) lie also reviewed
the progress of propositions El that court from 1821 to the
present date, ending with expressing a hope that he
should soon Get the court ready not only to unction
all that had been done, but willing to agree to
the motion before lt, and sanction the prepara-1
nun of a bill fur extending the frivachiso for
the wardmote elections in the City of London to all per-
sons occupying premises rated at 101. per annum. (Hear,
hear.) It read been suggested by some that other reforms
might be entertained upon that occasion as well as the one
of which he had given notice; but when reform in parka.
went was brought on, they did not find that the currency
question, or free trade, or any other important measure,
was mixed up with it. The house of Commons, wisely in
his opinion, determined in the first place to reform itself ;
and in the case before them he (Mr. Blake) thought they
had no right to add other reforms. (" Hear," and " Yes.")
Let Omni get the constituency enlarged, and other reforms
would follow. (Hear, hear.) No man 'Budd reach the top
of a high elevation at one step—it was by degrees that the
eminence was attained. The public out of doors were
anxious for this reform of the corporation as a first mea-
, sure ; and he, tie:ug satisfied of its necessity, and that if
:hey did not reform themselves the government would
soon do so, most willingly submitted his motion.
Mr. AHRARAX, in seconding the :resolution, observed
that he agreed entirely with the mover. He felt wildcat
that if they did not reform themselves tha government
would do so, by legislative enactment, before lung. Many
of the men who had been compelled by the late coercive
measure of the corporation to take up their freedom were
very little better off than paupers, and he therefore hoped
that the motion would be agreed to.
Mr H. L. TAYLOR remarked that any one who had heard
the two previous speakers would suppose that that was the
first time the subject had been mooted in that court. The
members should be aware that many impediments had been
thrown in the way by the Court of Aldermen in past times,
and be thought that his friend Mr. Blake had exhibited nee
small degree of assurance in putting upon the paper a
motion which had been discussed in that place ever and
'over again. The court had repudiated the idea of going to
rirliament for an isolated part of a necessary whole.
(Hear hear.) Bache proposition, again renewed, therefore,
he could not but regard as au insult to the court. ("Bleu,"
and " No.") What ass was it for them to attempt to go to
parliament for that which would be granted by the
government, namely, merely au extension of the municipal
franchise ? (Hear.) All of them were agreed that this was
essential, but was that all? No; they must go also for a
reform of the Court of Aldermen. (Hear, hear.) He for
one would not be a party to their entertaining any such an
abstract question, nor would he agree to go to parliament
for any such a farce as the mere extension of the franchise.
Such a proposition would neither satisfy the City, the public,
nor the parliament. (Cheers.) Besides, the motion was
impracticable. They could not go to the house this session
without the sanction of the government, and they might
depend upon it that such sanction never would be obtained
unless they desire much more extensively to reform the
eorporation. (Hear.) Believing that it would be far
better, therefore, to propose a plan of reform upon a much
larger scale, he would move the " previous question."
Mr. BARILLRY, being anxious to see a reform of the
Court of Aldermen, would aecoad the amendment proposed
by Mr. Taylor.
Mr. W. Josas supported the enlarged proposition, and
hoped that a well-matured messure of reform would be in-
trodaced, such as would be worthy of the corporation and
the time in which they lived. (Hear.)
Mr. Axoantox reiterated his opinion that the Court of
Common Council would never reform itself. (Laughter.)
Upon many occasions they had attempted to do so, but
what had been the result? Why, the whole matter had
turned out to be nothing more nor less than a babble,
which had soon burst. (Laughter.) Every one of the pro-
positions had been negatived. (Hear, hear.) These
• mushroom reforms" were sheer nonsense and govern-
meat, he was certain, would have to do the sibeessary heal-
sees for them. (liese, hear.) He should like to know
that day what the Court of Aldermen intended to do In
the matter of reform ? Were they anxious to give up their
practice of putting their bands into the corporate privy
purse ? Would they recognise the right of the whets body
of that court to deal with the funds. (Hear, hear.) In
past years applications had bean made from wards in the
City, from Lord Brougham, by the Ecclesiastical Con-
missioners, and other authorities, for the reform of
the Court of Aldermen. He would advise the
court to adopt, as far as possible, the recommendations of
the Municipal Act, which had worked so well in Liverpool,
Manchester, Hull, and other places. Let them take the
Initiative at once, and endeavour to reform themselves, and
they would, doubtless, receive the united thanks of all their
fellow-citizens. (Hear )
Bir J. Duna suggested the amalgamation of the mollies
on the paper, with-the view cf saving the time of the court.
The beanies, however, proceeded in the same order.
Mr. Nowa smegrateleted the asiasstbs unanimity
exhibited wee dist smartie. Ho Weed, that no
sane person mid be opposed to the of the mead-
! cipal franchise by set of parliament. It would be ruin, in
(act, to the osependes, If they were to moist a full and
aeetice, thragh gradual reform; and he was sure that so
lea( as they save way so far, they aged defy Bic B. Hall,
or aq see elms by whom they might be throatosed with a
grereigara rights. He than.' the pee
gams at swag leadsmen as small retail duke% ender as
amisst tge4ews was nothing less than *Weft tansy
media tiles COMM Rather than peel& ammlsre trading
tbey 4•llBll7,llll:lsl,waechalLdegrals tbeissolvee
had smiessised that .1,9 0 swasnowiss bad
boos base be. visa sbeseborlain's otfiee, 156 parties bad
paid the Aso; 203 hid begged to be =COMM ; 492 had taken
no aegis* oda, etheasems. (Hear.) Aye, and he regarded
these ms sea gases bead who be begat would succeed
is the Lea of the cornet. (Hoar.) 299 had
that Hey were " wholesale dialers," but surely
aesh grass wield not be allowed to escape, while the poor
teas_ pessisseed sad drivenfrom their houses and their homes.
It bribese said by some,that if they went to parliament they
wool be ruined. No such thing. The men who gave
such epitome in the present day-were the worthy successors
of thee", who in 1671 declared that the building of Putney.
bridge would be a great evil. (Laughter.) If the court
pursued the system of oppression they had of late put into
operation, he would advise the suffering parties to go round
to wealthy men in their employ, and say where they found
such to be the case—" You have workmen in your employ
I who are not free. You have no right to employ them.
'I have been fined for not taking up my freedom, though
a small retailer, now I will infirm against you,
for you arc likewise liable to a 51. penalty." (Cheers.)
He did hope the court would agree to go to parliament for
a bill praying for a large increase of the municipal consti-
tuency of the City of London. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Bissocn declared that he regarded the motion of
Mr. Blake as embodying the greatest and soundest prin-
ciple of reform, and he del think that they ought to endea-
vour to obtain that at all events. (lieu, hear.) 11e re-
gretted that the discussion had taken such a turn, as he
hoped the whole of the resolutions would have been embo-
died and carried as one, lie was in favour of a special
committee, which he hoped would sit from day to day until
the question was fully matured. (Hear, hear.)
Alderman Smear said there were three motions of re-
forth placed on the paper of business that day ; and though
all apparently concurred in the same object, there existed a
wide difference, and that chiefly consisted in the important
listinction, that the motion immediately before the court
pledged the court to the immediate preparation of a bill to
parliament, while the ether two were for referring the
whole subject to committee?, to consider what suitable alte-
ration should be made in the constitution of the court.
(Hear, hear.) Ile wished the court to mark that distinc-
tion, because as the subject had been mooted for the last 25
years, it was quite clear that the members must be prac-
tically acquainted with such reforms as were really needed.
The reference of the subject again to a committee to re-
port what were suitable reforms would be to wrest a golden
opportunity of doing themselves what, if they fail. •l or hest-
tared to do, w.uld he attempted by other and los, sperm
hands. (Hear.) The time they consumed would prevent the
court from approaching parliament during the present
session, and afford to the opponsats of the municipal insti-