The Express.
London, England, 1862-08-16 00:00:00

BAR VEST PROSPECTS.

(From the Gardeners' Ckronick and dgriceUsral Gazette)
The greater part of our present number is occu-
pied with reports of the coming harvest and the present
appearance of the crops. There can be no doubt if the
gentlemen who have favoured us with their opinions have
taken only ordinary care in forming them, that the wheat
harvest crop of 1862 is one of the wont we have
bad for many . years. There has always hitherto
lon the occasion of these annual returns been,
among 20.) correspondents, a considerable propor-
tion who have declared the crop to be over average, even
where the preponderance of opinion, and the ultimate expe-
lrience, lay all the other way. We have never before had to
report that of 188 reporters there is only one who speaks of
the crop in his neighbourhood as being " very good," and
he is from an Irish county whose wheat crop has no great
influence on the general supply of the year. And it is
a still worse report of the information which
has reached' as, that out of 188 there are no fewer than 150
who declare the crop to be inferior—only 37 who anticipate
an ordinary return. Storms of wind causing the plant
to be root fallen before the wed wee fully formed—" red
gam" and " mildew," the consequence of an un-
kindly Rummer—have produced their natural result,
a deficient harvest. A correspondent, who very pro-
perly adopts the signature "Common Sense," fairly cles-
cribes oar poeition in the following paragraph :—" I have
often in former rears observed the curious unwillingness
shown by the public (that is the newspapers) to acknow-
ledge the unpleasant fact of a deficient harvest.
Our summer throughout England has been cold
and wet. The consequence, namely, a deficient
harvest, is as certain as that two and two make four ; yet
I observe that the newspapers persist in inserting non-
sensical paragraphs as to the probability of an average
produce, which one should think the slightest considera-
tion would show to be now impossible." The following is
the tabular epitome of the returns, and it entirely bears out
the above prediction of " Common Sense :"
Over Under Total
Crop.. Average. Average. Average. Reports.
No. No. No. No.
Wheat
Barley
Oats
Beans
Peas _ .. 10 73 23 106

It results from these figures that the wheat crop is very
inferior, that barley is barely an average crop, that oats are
a fair average, that beans are geoerally good, and pees on
the whole a fair crop.

SINGULAR DEATH OF A GENTLEMAN OF PROPERTY.
—This morning information was forwarded to Mr.
Humphreys of the death of Mr. William Henry Biggar, • i
Scotch gentleman of property, who expired on Wednesday I
last under very melancholy circumstances. It appears the
deceased had taken a passage at Aberdeen on board
the steamer Trident, for the purpose of coming up
to the metropolis. While at dinner, nine miles from
the port, be was informed that the steamer was
about to start, and he instantly rose from the
table, and no conveyance being at Mad, he walked
with great rapidity and reached the Trident just as she was
potting off the quay. He had no sooner entered the cabin,
however, than he fell from exhaustion, and in spite of all re-
medies he expired almost immediately. The body of the
unfortunate gentleman was brought to London, where it
awaits an inquest, prior to being taken back in the same
vessel to Aberdeen for interment.
SUICIDE OF • BETTINO-MAN.—This morning Dr.
Lankester held an inquest on the body of Godfrey Clay,
aged 50 years, lately residing at 6, Goodgeetreet. The
deceased was respectably connected, and had always been
icousidered to be in very good circumstances. Not very long
since a considerable property was left him ; but latterly he
was supposed to have been much addicted to gambling, and
to betting heavily at races. Witint the past month or two
be appeared to have become very destitute. He 001 W.
plained of pains in his head, and refused to take sufficient
nourishment. On Wednesday night he was found hanging
in his room, quite dead. Verdict—" Suicide whilst in a
state of unsound mind."
A CHILD KILLED BY STONE-THROWING.—Late
yesterday an inquiry was held at the Golden Lice Tamen,
Cannonetreet-road, by Mr. John Humphreys, Middlesex
coroner, respecting the death of Esther Adele Frail, aged
two years, who was killed in her mother's arms by a blow
of • stone on the head. It appeared from the evi-
dence that some boys having flung a heavy stone
into the purge of a house, where a little girl
named Mary Anne Hurry, was playing, the latter picked it
up, sod threw it into the street Just at that moment
Mrs. Frail was proceeding along the pavement with her
daughter in her arms, and the stone struck the obild a
violent blow on the head, stunning and dreadfully Injuring
her. Mrs. Frail fainted and fell on the flags. The child
died shortly afterwards from the injuries received. The
cproner remarked upon the great danger of throwing stones
in crowded thoroughfares, and the jury returned a verdict
of " Accidental Death."
THE HAMPSTEAD PONDS.—Dr. Lankester, the
coroner, held an inquest at the Duke of Hamilton, New-end,
Hempstead, yesterday, on the body of William Wood,
aged 15, residing at Harmoodetrest, Kentish-town. It
appeared from the evidence adduced that on last Tuesday
evening the deceased, accompanied by Edward Toughy,
another lad, went to one of the Hampstead-heath ponds to
bathe. They undressed together, and went into the water.
Shortly afterwards the deceased rot out of his depth, and
was drowned. His companion and another lad made a
fruitless effort to save him. The pond was dragged
by police-constable 445 S till twelve o'clock the next
day, when the body was recovered. The police authorities
in attendance presented a return showing that there had
been 11 accidental deaths and four suicides from drowning in
these ponds, besides many narrow escapee, since 1858, and
that they were too much exposed for the public safety. The
coroner gave his opinion that something should be done at
once to remedy their present dangerously exposed state.
The jury returned • verdict of "Accidental Drowning,"
with a strong recommendation that the New River Com-
pany, who hold possession of the ponds, should provide
greater protection to life than now exists.
A FIRE DISCOVERED BY • PARROT.—Yesterday
morning, about 3 o'clock, the inmates of the premises be-
longing to Mr. Burgess, tobacconist., No. 1, King-street,
Old Kent-road, were aroused from their slumbers by a
parrot belonging to the occupier crying out, " Master !
master ! Fire !" Upon getting up the premises were
found to be on fire on the ground floor, and so rapidly
were the flames extending that none of the residents were
able to reach the street, door ; they were obliged, therefore,
to escape out of the windows. Fortunately every person
was enabled to reach the ground without sustaining the
least injury. The engines of the London Brigade and
others were quickly in attendance, and • good supply of
water having been procured, the firemen went to work, but
they were unable to get the fire extinguished until the
stock in trade was nearly destroyed. The origin of the
fire is unknown. Fortunately the sufferer was insured.
FATAL EXPLOSION OF A METAL CASTING.—An
explosion of a metal casting at K,rkstall Forge, on Tuesday,
caused the assembling of a coroner's jury at Leeds. It
appears that the workmen at the forge were engaged in
casting an enormous metal anvil, and inoomequeoce, as it
is supposed, of the hot liquid metal coming in contact with
the damp bottom of the mould an explosion followed.
Above nine tons of hot metal was blown about the shop,
burning seven men, one so severely that he died on Wed-
nesday, whilst another lies in a dangerous state.
Two CHILDREN KILLED ON A BAILWAY.—ATI
accident of a very distressing character occurred on the rail-
way at Anjogton, Dear Tamworth, last Saturday, by which
two children last their lives. They were named Geo. Henry
Lawrence, aged 13, and Harriet Elizabeth Lawrence, aged 3
ream, and were the children of an agricultural labourer.
living near the railway at Amioston. Wm. Lawrence said,
at the coroner's inquest —I am a labourer, and the father of
the deceased. They were brought homeontkiturday afternoon.
The boy was quite dead, but the girl livedtill nearly midnight.
Jas. Ratoliff mud— I sin a gatekeeper on the Treat Valley
Railway. I was on duty at the Amington crossing ou Satur-
day afternoon. I saw the deceased at the coming. I would
not let them pass as a train was a *rig. After the
train had gone by I went to the si on the opposite aid*,
and saw another engine and tender coming on the down
line. I shouted to the children to stand still ; my back
was then towards them. On perceiving that the engine had
shut off steam, I turned and saw the two children lying
on the Km I lifted them on to the bank. Henry Smith
deposed—While acting as fireman on the engine in ques-
tion, I observed a little girl run on the line, and •
little boy ran and caught hold of her to pull her back.
The engine then struck them. I first saw them when about
five metals length off, and reversed the engine, but could
not stop until I had passed them about 30 arda. The
train WAS going at about 18 or 90 miles per hour. The
jury returned • verdict of " Accidental death," at the same
time urging very strongly on the company the great neces-
sity of providing bridge accommodation at this crossing,
which is near a very sharp curve. The children were
, buried at Tamworth on Wednesday afternoon. A large
! number of permit assembled to witness their funeral.—
I
St ordain Advertiser.
THE CONDEMNED PRISONER FLOOD.—The Sussex
Express states that the Brighton petition for a commute-
non et Flood's sentence receivri upwards of 11.C)0 signs-
! tures, and that from Lewes I,sca. Other towns and villages
have also sent to the Secretary of State numerously signed
petition..
IA CORONER FINED FOR BAD WRITING.—AI the
Liverpool Assizes yesterday, Mr. Baron Wilde, before the
I crown trials commence I, complained that some depositions
which had been prepared by Mr. Driffield, county coroner,
were so badly wntten as to lie quite illegible. His lordship
remarked that negligence of this kind amounted to contempt
of court, as it interfered with the operations of justice. He
should therefore fine Mr. Driffield 101., and if the offence
I were repeated a much heavier penalty would be imposed.
Mr. Driffield regretted that his lordship should have bad
I any cause of complaint ; he had written the depositions "in
I his asnal meaner, • and bad sever Moeda difficulties having
been before exPerimeed with hie manuscript. The judge
advised Mr. Driffield to consult with the clerk of assize, who
would explain the form and style which should characterise
depositions intended to be of use to the court.
SALE OF THE ENTATIE OF SIR MORTON PILTO.—•
The Norfolk News states that Messrs. Deals! Smith, Soe,
Craerrczersz PAstair Ceintar.—lt is proposed ble
and Oakley, commenced the important sale of the value-
property ia the neighbourhood of Lowestoft, belonging
to restore the parish chards at • east of 12,0001., which to Sir & Morton Pet., M.P.. on Wednesday last. Thirteen
win Dot Wade inspeosenesm to thp Immo, Aldred glade, lots were pot up, but six of them were DOS sold at the prices
sad other ceeealeatal haprovesseeli.--Iheess ike/wrsi. bid.

Mr. Sargood declined to withdraw any of the observa-
tions he had made.

Mr. Brough declined to participate in the " squabble "
mi between Mr. Pook d Mr.
Mr. Bargaod—That is an observation which, as a member
of the bar, you should not make. Enough is already said
about the bar in this court.

Mr. Keough, in cootinuation, denied that the learsed
counsel had any justification for the hard words he had
used.
The Commissioner reserved judgment.
SHERIFFS' COURT.
(Before Mr. Kerr and a Jury.)

BOLL V. CHOLLT.-AN OPEN CAZZIAOL POE THE ASCOT RACE.
CUIIOOB ACTION.

This was an action to recover 71. 6s. for the hire of an
open carriage, plaintiff keeping the Castle Hotel at Rich-
mond, and defendant being a stockbroker of the Royal
Exchange.
Mr. Jones was counsel for the plaintiff, and Mr. Way for
the defendant.

From the statement of the plaintiff it appeared that on
the 12th June last he received a telegram from the defen-
dant ordering an open carriage and pair to be at the Rich.
mood railway ?station, at 11 o'clock, on the 13th June, to
go to the Ascot races, and to be hired for two days. This
telegram was received at 1 o'clock, and an answer was deli-
vered by plaintiff at the Richmond telegraph office at 2
o'clock. The carriage was duly at the station as ordered,
but defendant did not appear to avail himself of its use.
The telegraph office clerks stated that there was a great
influx of businees on the 12th June, and the result was that
the answer was not sent from Richmond till 4 o'clock (as
each message had to await its turn), nor delivered in London
till a quarter to 5.
Hr. Way on the part of defendant stated that his client
waited for an answer to his mammas till half-past four (some
time after his usual hour of leaving his office) and finding
that no answer came he imagined that no vehicle was to be
had, and he obtained another. Under these circumstances
defendant surely was not liable.
His Honour, in summing-up to the jury, said that if the
late delivery of the mange ensued from any negligence on
the part of the Telegraph Company, then defendant was not
liable, and plaintiff had his remedy against the company,
but if through great press of business the menage was un-
avoidably delayed, then plaintiff was entitled to recover.
The jury found for the plaintiff.

THE POLICE COURTS.
(THIS DAY.)

CLERKEN WELL.
ALLEGED CORPOIJDORT MARRlAGlL—conurrst FOR

BIGAMY.

Louis Napoleon Ltgras, • Frenchman. residing at 17,
Upperliathbone-place,who described himself aS an engraver,
was charged before Mr. Barker with intermarrying with
Jane Pybea, his wife Charlotte being then and still alive.
Mn. Mary Ann Blake, of 13. Bedford-street, Bedford-
square, having proved that her sister Charlotte was married
to the pnaoner at Bt. George's Church, Hanover-square, in
May, 1856, and that she is still alive,
Jane Prbus, of 30, Thanet-street, Burton-crescent, the
ascend wife, was called, and stated that she was married
to the prisoner at Old St. Pancras Church on the 23rd of
July last.
Prisoner—Did you not torment me to marry you? Did
you not torment me very much, and know that my dear
wife was alive? (Laughter.)
The witness stated that she did not torment the prisoner
to marry her, although she had every reason to believe that
he had • wife living.
Mr. Barker remarked that it warn very strange for her to
want to get married to the prisoner when she was aware of
the facts.

Wdeess—Bat I loved him dearly and sincerely then.
(Load laughter.)
Police-constable Thomas Evans, 113 C, mid be took the
prisoner into custody, and when he told him the charge, be
said, " She persuaded me to many her. It was all her own
doing." He produced the certified copies of the certificate.'
of the two marriages.
The prisoner in defence said—She persuaded me to
many her. She gave me money to do it. I made a mis-
take in the l►w, for I thought I could many her as my
first wife lived away from me for seven years. The com-
plainant was with me for four years before I married her.
I married her on a point of morality, as I had lived with
her for years, to bring her to her family. Charlotte is
my dear wife.
Mr. Barker fully committed the prisoner to Newgats for
trial

WANDSWORTH.
A YOUTHFUL SWINDLER.

Williast R4AanTaweil7drt;l3l;th, who was de-
scribed as having neither home nor occupation, was finally
examined before Mr. Nyman on a charge of obtaining sis•
vent horses and gigs by fraudulent representations.
The details of one came will be sufficient to show the nature
of the frauds.

Ou Thursday, the 22nd of May last, the prisoner west
to the yard of Mr. North, of No. 6.5 Railway-arch, Vans.
ball, and represented that he wanted a pony and trap to
go to Mitcham to see his aunt. The prosecutor remarked
that the prisoner came out of the Walk, meaning Lambeth-
walk, where he had many customers, and he replied ' 'yes." He
darted away with a pony and trap, and promised to return
early in the evening. The prosecutor waited up till 3 o'clock
the next morning. but the prisoner never returned with the I,
property. On the following Tumidity the prosecutor
discovered his property at the house of Mr. Bundle. I
of the Greyhound Inn, Hendon. He then ascertained
that on the Thursday the prisoner, with another
young man, drove to the inn and put up the
pony mid trap. The next morning the prisoner
went out with the pony acd trap for a drive, and in the
afternoon he wanted them again. Having some suspicion,
Mr. Bundle refused to let bun have them unless the pony's'
keep was paid. He then stated that he had no money;
and after some conversation, he said, " Well, I want to
sell this pony and trap." He also stated that they were his I
property, and that his father would be very sorry for him
to part with them. The innkeeper refused to purchase,
and the prisoner then asked hint to lend him 10s. to go to
Loudon to get one money to pay his expenses at the ion.
The innkeeper advanced the money with the understanding
that the pony should not go until the expenses were paid.
On the 24th of the same month the prisoner and
another obtained two ponies front the premises
of Mr. Johnson, of &M-street, Hampstead, and
wham 18e. was demanded, both declared they
bad no money. He then took Mr. Johnson to the Grey-
hound and offered to sell him the pony, but he refused to
purchase or to advance any mossy spoitthe pony and chaise
to pay Mr. Bundle's sapserms. They afterwards went to
the Bell at Hendon, where the pekoes: and his companion
escaped.
Mr. Daymau committed the primmer for trial in four oases.

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