The Express.
London, England, 1851-08-18 00:00:00

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.7IAvuo,OOL, Auo. 15.

- -
TUR BOILER EXI.I.IISIIIN ►T MANCIIIFATEII

Thomas Williamson and Tlwmas Eyeaua were charged
with having at Manchester, on the 2ith of March, camicd
through negligence, a boiler to explode, whereby nine per-
sons lost their lives. The two prisoners had been found
guilty of manslaughter he a eoruncr'o jury, and un this
charge they were arraigneil to-day.
Mr. Munk and Mr. Pollock, instructed by the town-clerk
of Manchester. appeared for the prosecution ; Mr. Segar
appeared for Williamson, and Mr. Wheeler fur Egerton.
Mr. Williamson was a master sawyer, net Egerton was
the engineer who had charge of the boiler which worked
tke sawing machines. The boiler, though not the property
of Williamson, was his no far us being tenant of the pre-
mise•s whereon the boiler had been put up. The euginc,
which was of 25-horst power, and cylindrical, was put up
in November last.

Mr. Monk stated the ease for the prosecution, and called
David Reid, a sawyer in Mr. Williant9Ort's employ at the
time of the explosion, who stated that on going into the
engine-room, atter dinner, he saw Egerton packing the
cylinder lid to keep it tight, as the steam, before tinnier,
blew off a little. Ile, Richard Webster, JOllll Sunderland,
and Richard Phillips, at Egerton's request, assisted him iu
the screwing down of the lid, and putting in the hot bolts.
After the lid had been screwed down they twice endea-
voured to lift the fly-wheel, to start the engine, hut without
success, upon which Egerton said he would " try to start her
whether he broke ought or not," At this time Egerton
was working up and down the throttle-valve, but no steam
appeared to come. Egerton then said " There's no steam,
by God it's a case." Immediately after lie heard a great
noise, and was knocked down, but he could not say by
what. When he recovered he was buried in the ruins of
the place. While endeavouring to get the engine to move,
something like "blue glimmers" came out of the cylinder,
the lid not being screwed down.
Mr. Fairbairn, civil engineer, was next examined.—lle
hod frequently been called in to examine and report upon
accidents similar to the present. Ile had been engaged in
an investigation in this case. The boiler was a good one,
and well constructed ; but it had only one instead of three
stays at each end, by which he considered it had lost one
half its strength. Its resisting power was 140 to the egoism
inch, assuming the flue to be covered with water, with
three stays, 270 would have been the bursting point. Ilia
opinion was that the boiler burst Irons extreme internal
Pressure. On a careful examination of the flue and the
ower part of the boiler, there was every indication of is de-
ficieney of water. A considerable portion of the uper part
of the Hue and part of the sides had been red-hot during an
hour or two previous to the explosion. The fire must have
been under the NOler front the time the engine stopped until
the explosion took place, and there being no escape liar the
steam except a defective safety valve, the result must have
been an increase of pressure, and, front his experience, he
had no doubt that this increase might have taken glare
without exciting the suspicion of the engineer that the
boiler was in a dangerous state. lle believed the safety-
valve to have been inoperative prior to the explosion,
although he could not say it was so. It might fasten
any moment front oxidation owing to steam. It was tco
close a lit. For the supply of water into the boiler
there appears to have been a self-acting feeder. There
were cocks for turning the water into the boiler and into
the cistern. The " blue glimmering," referred to by
Reid, is steam at a very high pressure., technically called
" dry steam."
Mr. Fairlatirn was here cram-examined by Mr. Wheeler,
on behalf of Renton. lie stated the engine had only one
safety-valve ; some have two and throe. The diameter of
the valve he also considered too small. There was only
one stay at each end of the boiler, while there ought to bo
riot less than three. at each end. The end platen were not
FO thick as they ought to be. One of the stays was defix-
tively joined to the Moe.
Mr. Menk—lf ordinary care and attention bad been
paid, is it your opinion the explosion wind(' have been
averted ?

-11ii7k;airbairn—The boiler might have lusted for years.
It is my opinion the precautionary parts were not ade-
quate to meet the danger. Double the strength would
have gone in a little longer, there being no vent t4r the
steam.

A Manchester fir man proved the finding of one of the
parties killed by the explosion.
This closed the ease for the prosecution, when
Ilis lordship (on an application by Williantson's coun-
sel) declared he could see no case against him, and
The jury, as directed, returned a verdict of Not
Mr. Whoeler then addressed the jury on behalf of
Egerton. At the conclusion of his address, he called
upon
Mr. James Pullitt, calenderer, Manchester, who gave tko
prisoner a very high character no a steady man, and capable
of doing his duty. Ile had been six months in his father
employ some years ago, and three years with himself before
going to Mr. %Villiamson.
The learned judge having summed up very minutely,
The jury returned a verdict of Guilty.
Sentence deferred.

AUG. IG.
Cltuwx(79vr.

Mr. Baron l'latt was occupied the entire day in
the trial of eases possessing no general interest.
THE 11.10A-4TREET BOILPIt EXPLOSION.
The engine-driver, Egerton (who was convicted on Fri-
day of manslaughter, occasioned by negligence in regard to
the late boiler explosion at Manchester), was put to the bar
to receive sentence. The learned judge acid that in all easel
of negligence on the part of persons having charge of en-
gines and machinery, where fatal results ensued, the courts
were determined to pass very severe sentences in future. ha
the prisoner's C4/10, however, is the hope that it might
be a warning to hiss and ethers, the sentence would be six
months' imprisonment iu the common fowl, without hard
labour.

Num P.m%
DONALDSON V. MACKE:mit.
This was an action of debt and detenu, brought against
Dr. Shelton Mackenzie, official assignee of the Manchester
Court of Bankruptcy, to recover the sum of 741. and sumo
bank vouchers, alledged to belong to the plaintiff, but
claimed by the defendant as part of the estate and effects
of one Douglas, a bankrupt, who had been taken pro.
custody by the police while in a state of intoxication.
money in question was found upon him, and the inspector
knowing that lie had recently become bankrupt, gave in-
formation to the official assignee, by whom the property in
question was immediately sequestrated. The bankrupt,
Douglas, underwent a long cross-examination, in the course
of which he prevaricated arid fenced to such a degree, that
Mr. Justice Williams on several occasions threatened to
commit him. After a trial which lasted upwards of five
hours, the learned judge minutely summed up the evidence,
and the jury retired to consider their verdict. In about
three hours they returned into court, finding a verdict for
the defendant, thereby establishing the right of the official
assignee to the money found on the bankrupt, and that tho
plaintiff had entered into a collusion with the latter to de-
fraud his creditors.
EAsT LA:4CAAHINB RAILWAY CoWVANY V. ETTENFIELD.
This was an action to recover the sum of 1001. which had
been paid to the defendant, as deposit money, for the pur-
chase of some cottage property in Salford, belonging to Mr,
Turtill._ _ .

The facts of the case, as elicited in evidence, were as
follows :

In the latter end of last year the East Lancashire Rail-
way Company required some property for the purpose of
their station in Coronation-street, Salford, and the defen-
dant hail entered into an engagement t negotiate for tho
purchase thereof, at a commission of one and a half per
cent He thereupon entered into correspondence with the
respective owners, keeping out of sight the fact that he was
employed by the railway company ,• and, having made ar-
rangements with Mr. Turtill and others he got from Mr.
Adshead, on behalf of the company, lila as a deposit for
the purchase money of that portion of the property which
helped to Mr. Turtill. lfftenfield had originally agreed to
air r. Turtill the sum of 2,0001. for 24 cottages, which sum
ho presented to the company as the required Rurchagen
ney. This sum the railway company agreed to give ; b s
defendant, subsequently meeting Mr. Turttll, eai elks
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whom he represented, and who was NT. Oterffb
Marv, the printer of the Railway Guide, would not
give more than 2,1001., and advised Mad r.urtil
Tl to. take
that sans, tilting that cottage property h become dpre-
canal. hlr. f being about to quit England, at length
ajr cal to take this sum, aml gave the defendant a written
agreement Cut any sum he obLiiniel above the amount
agreed upon as purchase money should tie his (Ettentield's)
own. As won as ha had obtained this agreement the do.
fendaat made inquiries respecting the adjoining property,
which led to saspicioas on the cart of Mr.onal, who
clasped the defendant with having practiced a deception
on lum by representiag that Mr. Brulohaw was to be the
purchaser, when he knew it was intended fur the railway
company.; and that, as he had deceived bins in one thing,
be had no confidence in him, and refused to hsvu anything •
further to do with Etteufield in the business. In the smooth
of February last, through the agency of Mr. Aitshcad, the
purchase Vila effected fur the company at the sum of 2,4001.,
wpm which sacasion an authority was signed by Mr. Tur-
till, giving up all claim to the deposit niouey paid by the
company, repudiating Ettenheld's agency, and authorising
the retort ry of the 1001. received by the defendant as de-
posit money.
!such wee the CAW as discluseci by the witnesses on behalf
of the company.
For the de fen:e, Mr. Atherton, Q.C.,declined to adduce any
evidence, or to address time jury ; but submitted to the
learned judge that from the documentary evidence put in
the action could not be maintained.
Mr. Seneaut Wilkins maintained that the whole trans-
action was covered with fraud, Cad that the agreement
with Mr. Turtill was obtained Ly inisrepresenLitiim.
'the learned judge left the question of feet on this issue
to the decision of the jury, who found that the agreement
had been obtained by fraud. A verdict fur the phiintiffs was
then taken fur principal and inttrest, with leave to the
defendant to move the court above tu • 'tenant.

NORTH WALES CllteUrf.:—CilEstEr., Arc. 16.

Emma Me. JIMTICC rmaD.
CH %ROE OF I.OIIIONING.

Jonathan Barcraft, aged 24, deseribeit as a labourer, was
indicted for the wilful murder of his daughter, Sarah Ann
Rennin, by oulministi ring to twr a certain quantity of
arsenic. He was further arraigned fur the murder of Eden
Hills, by the same 011.3T.K.
Messrs. Trafford and Bevan prosecuted, and Mr. M`ln-
tyre defended the prisoner.
The trial occupied a considerable time and created great
interest, hut the following will be found to contain the
main facts. The prisoner, who resided at Muttrarn, was
employedat some calico works at filoseop. On the night
of the 27th of April, one of his children, Sarah Ann, was
suddenly taken ill and lingered until the 29tli, when it
died. While it was dying two children of a John
hills and two others were in the cottage playing,
and it would Meru that they partook of something
of a deleterioua character, pi/middy from accident, for they
were seined with violent Meknes., and eventually Ellen
Mills, a fine little girl, daughter of John Mills, expirNl.
it may hem well to :stoner mention that both the poor little
creature. were found to hone died (rum the effects of ar-
senic. On the death of the pri.oner's child, he observed
mime caution and Imete in getting it buried. It being en-
tered in a burial club, he, on the same day it died, applied
for the amount (2/. Itis.) which was allow, il for ita inter-
ment. Ile was told that a certificate was required, and it
appeared begot one from the registrar of the district under
a false pretence. The 21. was then tend to him, and he
called upon the action of Charlesworth rhopiland inquired
where they buried children whose friends could not afford
to pry for a grave. In two or three day, or so, the
body was interred, but owing to the state of the
other children, and certain suspicious circumstances
which traa.pired, it was exhumed, and underwent the
chemical examination which led to its real fate being
known. Inquiriea then brought out the Lot that about a
week before the child died the primmer took some colour
roll of a pea of the calico works he was employed at, and
asked a man nano d Marsden to give him some sugar of
lead and arsenic for a man to put round mime trees, and
bad n 0.., accordingly, f one to two ounce.. On the
primmer !wing arrest“l, and placed in a cell, a man named
Lee was imprisoned with him, in roller to take care of
lie, however, did nut know the character of the offence
charged against him. He toll Lee that be was there fur
having a falw certilicate. Lee lied occasion to go out for a
abort time, and the plio.lllll regretted that he had nut
known it, as he would hare gut him to have done him a
little job. Lee asked what it was about, and the prisoner,
having enjoined him to every &envy, stated that a
man at the print work. hail gime him some white arsenic
and sugar of hold three or four weeks ago and that he
had buried it in his garden. Lee replied that he would
be going out at seven o'clock, and the prisoner then wished
him to find his brother, who was at a public-house at Bunt-
ing Visitor!, and to tell his heather to go to the works and
get some ermine, but not of the chap (Marsden) he hail got
some from ; that, after getting it, he must put some of the
arsenic in the porket ut JAI.I, Mills, the father of the little
girl %he/died. Thin they must find a man named Booth,
a tulip grower, end make him promise that he (prisoner)
gave him some arsenic three or four wicks non to put round
Isis tulips. The task was to close with the following dia-
bolical scheme After they had dropped the poison in
pocket, they were to go to Mr. Little, the constable
of Hyde, and tell !aim what Mills bad iu hie pocket. He
would give him (lase) two sovereigns; they would base
Jack there, and he would beat am clear as a 01.
This was the testimony of Lee, who stated that he had
been placed with the prisoner to take care of 'inn, and nut
to pump hint.
he etilleuer alining for the prosecution. Mr. M'lntyre
arlibeem.l the jury for the prisoner at rah'. length.
Ili* Lordship then summed up, and the jury returned a
verdiet of Kai e;oolly.
The prisoner arraigned on the second indictment for
the murder of Ellen Mills, but no eviLenee being offered on
the part of the prostration, he was As-quitted, and ordered
to be diecharged.
MOM? NN rNN OT SILK.
indwro Doran, aged 21, and Thomas Lonsflale
Mar-pars, 31, wile indicted for stealing a quantity oh silk
seek mil pocket handkerehii fa at Macclesfield, the property
of Wawa Thomas Hooky and Cu., and Thomas /
24, was indicted fur receiving the property, kuowing it to be
stolen _ .

soss
Mr. Trafford and another were counsel fur the prosecu-
tion. and the prisoners were separately delenthal by Mr.
brand), Mr fiwetenhans, and Mr. kl'lntyre.
It appeared from the evidence that in the early
part of lone last the warehouse of the prose•utor. was
broke ink o, a•d silk handkerchief. to the value of about
2101 were stolen Information was at MCC given to the po-
lice of Macclesfield, and also of the surrounding towns.
The 1,11,111 f ',coon carried on business in Manchester as
a broker and appeared a acre respectable pirmii, but from
some oif it,,,,, in ismseission of the police, Mr. Superin-
tendent lll'Mullen went to his wani.oaw•. which wassituate
at the corner of r inowstreet and Iligh-street, haying a
separate entrance from each. In this warehouse a quan-
tity of Ike stolen silk was found, the prisoner at the time
assuring the superintimileht that it was all he hail, but on
furthers-arch a eimsiderable quantity more was discovered,
the total value of which was about 160/. Fenton gave
Trey un•:disfartory acceonts of the mode in which
be borame dosses•) of it, but said he had par-
chased it from two persons introduced to him
Ly • person of the name of John Shaw. These
persons turned out to b• the prisoners. Shatpli 9 and Mem,
and both they and Shaw wen• apprehended. but the latter
was admitt•sl an approver, and on his eaidcua•. corrobo-
rated by other circumstances and wituesses, the prisoners
were found guilty.
Ili, Lordship sentenced Sharpies and Doran to eighteen
flotilla' imprisonment and hard labour, and Fenton to
years' transportation.

THE POLICE COURTS.
M, NSION-UOVSE.
On Saturday the justice-room was densely crowded, in
consequence of its having become generally knuwo, that
the Lord Mayor had determined upon investigating the cir-
eurustancee attending the death of a Labouring man named
William Cogan ethos John Bull, upon whose body an in-
quest had been held below Mr. Pay ne, the coroner, about a
tortuight since, when the jury returned a verdict of Man-
slaughter against 'erne person or persons unknown.—
l'he death of the deceased was alleged to have occurred
from violence used towards him by a constable of the City
Police
Mr. Pearson, the City solicitor, attended as adviser of the
Lord Mayor.
Mr. Daniel Whittle Harvey. the Commiesioner, and Mr.
Hodgson, the Superintendent of the City Police, were also
present.
Mr. James Lewis appeared on behalf of Benjamin Cole,
the officer supposed to be the person who committed the
violence.
The Lord Mayor shortly stated his reasons for adopting
the present proceeding., and concluded by saying that he
was most anxious at all times to render every assistance in
his power for the protection of the poorest and humblest
within his juriediction.
The whole of the witnesses who were examined at the
coroner's inquest were called, with the exception of one of
the surgeons, and, after giving their evidence in chief, were
subjected to a very rigid cross-examination by Mr. Lewis.
Their evidence proved to be of a most contradictory cha•
meter, with the exception of that of Mr. Dagby, one of the
medival men who was present at the post.mortens esamina.
lion of the body of the deceased, and several of them, it ap-
peared, had frequently been in custody for riot and assault.
The Lord Mayor, after the inquiry had proceeded for
several hours' said he should not consider tbe ease closed
until lie had heard the evidence of Mr. Topping (who, it
was stated, was at present at Bath) the surgeon, who was
called upon to visit the deceased immediately after death,
and for this purpose he should adjourn the meeting fur a
week.
Mr Lewis said that he had not the slightest objection to
an adjournment, as the police-officer for whom he ap-
peared was only desirous of having the whole case
thoroughly investigated, and that he himself should have a
good many witnesses to call to rebut the accusation which
had been made.
Mr. Pearson, the City solicitor, said he wished it to be un-
derstood that the individual on the Hoer of the cutlet was
not charged by him in any way whatever • that he had
simply been asked by the Lcsd Mayor to direct the course
of examination ; that he had not at all pointed to the indivi-
dual present ; and he trusted that, in justice to that indivi-
dual, the press would feel it their duty not to publish any of
the proceedings until the inquiry was concluded.
The Lord Mayor—l should be very sorry to fetter the
press. Nothing has occurred to day on either aide that it
would be at all unfair to publish. For my put, I desire
that the whole statement should be made as public as
Me. I sun eddy desirous that the ends of justice should be
staged.
Thu inquiry was than adjourned fora week.

BOW-STREET.
Three well-dressed f. miles, named Emma Thomas, Caro-
llime Wright, and Jane Johnson, were placed at the bar
charged with attempting to pick pockets in the Royal
Ace.hug,.
The prisoners, who had been several times in custody,
were observed for :1 considerab:e time by an oilier in plain
clo:lies to be loitering about the rooms, evidently no great
admirers of the fine arts, and, while a lady stood admiring
a pietere, the prisoner Thorns' swept her hand round the
inside of her pocket, but finding nothing she tried her skill
on the skirt of a gentleman's coat. They then glided
among the company to the west room, peeping into the
pockets of each person until they fixed upon three young
ladies, but, observing the constable, they were again disap-
• pointed, and were apprehended as they were about to leave
the building.
The constable applied for a remand without being able to
assign any reason, except that one of the prisoners offered
him 5/. it he would not pr, ss the charge.
Mr. Ilall said he would do no such thing, the constable's
object being to have the prisoners sent for trial to the
Central Criminal Court, where the expenses would be four
times more than at the Westminster Sessions, which would
' take place at the beginning of next month.
CLEHKENWELL.
_ . .

A sickly-looking man applied to Mr. Tyrwhitt fir advice
under eery lamentable circumstances. Re Raid that he had
recently come from a hospital, where he had been confined
with a painful and incurable disease for &considerable time,
and on the previous day, while he was from home a short
time, his wife moved away all his goods, leaving him with-
out even a rag to cover him.
The wife here pressed forward, and brutally olrerred that
she was not going to shelter ouch a sickly fellow as that
(pointing to the afflicted hush:and).
Mr. lyrwhitt (indignantly)—Why, you are a curse,
instead of a blessing, to him. When he requires your utmost
care you discard him, and turn him into the street.
Mr. Tyrwhitt ordered her out of court, and recommended
the applicant to apply at once to hi, parish, where, he would
take care he should have attention.

MARLBOROUGH-STItEET.
!;.urge Strickland was charged with stealing furniture,
valued at about 21101., the property of Mr. Richard Turner,
wine merchant, Mark-lane.
Mr. Henry Collins, auctioneer, of Li, Brewer-street,
Gulden-square, said he was agent to Mr. Turner. In Au-
gust, 1050, he was applied to by the prisoner to effect a loan
on the security of furniture at No. 16, King-street, St. llf
James -square. Witness named the matter to the prosecu-
tor, who advanced 2001., less the expenses, on a bill of sale
on the furniture. On the 9th of September, 1010, a female
named Lockwood was put into the house in possession of
the furniture, as the servant of Mr. Turner, and she war
paid 7s. a week for this service. In consequence of an exe-
cution being put into the house in King-street an inters
pleader action was commenced, the goods still remaining
in the possession of Mr. Turner by his servant. When the
action was tried the prisoner was examined, and be
then swore h,• had sold his right and title to the
property in question in March or February last to
Mr. Turner. On Friday last witness went to the house in
Mug-street, and found the house locked up. Witness,
eller sonic trouble, gained admission, and discovered that
the whole of the furnimre had been removed; the female,
Lockwood, and the prisoner gone. Witness had traced the
farniture to Mr. bent's warehouse, in Crawford-street.
The chair produced in court was part of the furniture.
On trues-examination by Mr. Witham, witness said Mrs.
Lockwood was lett in prw•xsion of the furniture on behalf
of Mr. Turner. The sum of 110/. had been received on
aecoant of the apartments. The loan was 2110!., and the
witness got 121. Alter the action the landlord distrained,
and Mr. Turner was about to sell and pay the landlord out.
l'risoner then paid .501. to him (witness), and the goods
were not sold. The rent and expenses were about 72/.,
which was ',Mil. Prioemer said he had a lease of the house.
'l•he understanding after the action had been brought was
to pay all outgoings and to receive all in-comings. About
a month since 1 saw the bill of sale in Mrs, Lockwood's
possession. The fixtures in the house were worth 701. and
were included in the bill of sale. Mr. Turner was to have
121 per cent. per annum fur the loan. The rent of the
11041-e we, 2001. a year.
Thomas Hied, furniture dealer, Store-street, became ace
quainteil with the prisoner in iWhitecross-stre.•t poison. The
prisoner came to him several times within the last month,
end by his desire lie went tolook at some furniture in King-
street. The prisoner wished witness to buy the furniture,
and witness offered hint 1501. Witness, not having the
money, applied to Mr. Dent, and he agreed to advance the
money. Witness was to get 71 per cent. as commission.
On Friday week the first van load of goods was removed
from the house. Witness paid the prisoner tell. on ac-
Count.
Samuel Ilolt, manager of the furniture department in
the establishment of Mr. John Dent, 30, Crawfonl-strt•nt,
said he went with Ilinl to look at some furniture in King-
street. Witness boudlit the furniture from hied for Mr.
hint. The furniture was partly taken away and placed in
Mr. Dent's premises. Some of the furniture was still in the
warehouse ; other portions had been sold.
Inspector Parke saiol he apprehended the prisoner, who
told him he knew nothing about the charge.
Mr. Dent proved that he paid 160/. Mr the furniture.
'l•he prisoner reserved his defence, and was fully com-
mitted.