The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-28 00:00:00

exbal Knit inifitstv.

(rI LAJIT moitY's CAZDTTP..)
ADMIRALTY, SIP?. 24.
Mr. Edward Holmes has this day been promoted to the
rank of assistant engineer of the first clam in her
Majesty's fleet, with seelority of 28th August, 1867.
ADMIRALTY. Skrr. 25.
Charles Cawley Scot!, Bm., hes this day been promoted
to the rank of staff commander in her Majesty's fleet.
ADMIRALTY, Sim. R.
Frederick R. Bturclee, Esq., his this day teen promoted
to the rank of retired captain in her Majesty's fleet,
under order in council of 26th June, 1867.
The Res. Edward Lawton Palmy has this day been ap-
pointed a chaplain in her Majesty's fleet.

r t PORI:011017TH, Barr. 27.
The Enchantress, steam yacht, Staff-Commander
J. It. Petlay, sailed on Thursday afternoon for Woolwich.
The Davie, 4, wooden screw sloop, made • first trial of
her speed at the measured mile in Stokes hay to-day.
The Fancy, screw gunboat, has made another trial of
Walker and Whettam's patent, which consists of •
drum of plate-iron encircling the propeller, with
both ends open. The primary object was to ineresse
the speed of the vessel, and there were two important
secondary purposes for which this simple construction was
also designed—viz., the protection of the propeller, and
the diminution of vibration caused by this method of pro-
pulsion. Without the shield the Fancy obtained a mean
speed of 7.967 knots. On the first trial with the shield she
made only 7.793, but there was a total absence of vibration.
Since then the drum has been shortened by six inches,
and it is now only eighteen inches wide. The result
of this alteration was that the engines were enabled
to make the same number of revolutions, via, 194, with a
pressure of 40Ies. of steam, and the vibration of the vessel
was scarcely perceptible. The speed realised on the last
trial was 7.989, being • slight improvement upon the trial
made under the usual conditions ' • but this difference may
be accounted for by differenos in the force of wind and
tide. The prevention of the vibratory mojon, however, is
a great point gained, and if the plan can be adopted with
equal facility in larger vessels, when the diameter of the
shield would, of course, have to be in proportion to the
diameter of the screw, this will prove to be a very valuable
invention.

ADMIRALTY, SEPT. 27.—ArrourrinicTe.--Staff
Commander. Richard Sturgess and Wm. P. Haim, to the
Octavia, additional for transport service ; Lieutenants
Francis G. Shaw, John D'A. Irvine, Wm. H. Childers and
Alfred S. Watts to the Octavio., additional for transpwl
service; Navigating Lieutenant. John Jones, to the Indus,
additional for service in the Defence ; Thomas Roberson,
to the Asia, additional for service in the Dana. ; Reber;
Gilpin, to the Octavia, additional for transport service
Midshipman Wm, A. Norman, to the Gladiator ; Naval
Cadet James G. Bremer, to the Challenger, as supernu-
for disposal ; Assistant Paymaster, Frank Pitt.
rala( charge) to the Plover ; and Aubrey A. navel, to
the Cumberland. _ _

15118PATC110/1, BOMBAY MAILS.--SOIITHAMPTON,
SEPT. 27.—The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-
ship Ripon, Captain Rogan, sailed this afternoon with
mails for Gibraltar, the Mediterranean, Egypt, Ades, and
Bombay. She took out 103 passengers, and on freight a
general cargo, including—Sovereigns, 3,000 f.; bar silver,
1,434; . rapes', 1141.; and watches, jewellery, gold and
silver thread, 1,1031. Amongst the passengers by the
Ripon are Majors Doyley, Bill, and Rose,',Colonels Stevens
and Wingfield, Captain Tronson, Lieutenant Godfrey, Dr.
Mackae, Surgeon Jones, and Deputy Assiatant-Com-
miseary-General Christie.—Re'fer's Express.

Pale; or BEER. —A tolerably fair barometer of
the true state of the barley harvest mayonerally be read
at this season of the year in the price of Burton alai; and
it is satisfactory to know that notwithstanding the very
partial hop crop this year, the prospects of the barley
yield are so good,thatthe leedingßurton brewers—Allsopp
and Sons and Bass and Co.—have determined upon teduc-
iog the present cost of their bitter ales to the normal
price of 60s. per barrel. This announcement will be re-
ceived by the public with mach satisfaction.

•

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

THE MURDER BY A FRENCHMAN.
After our report left yesterday,
In answer to a question put by Mr. Sleigh, the witness
said that she MU out with her father and mother on the
previous night, and they were on very friendly terms.

ThisCloied the case (-or the proseciiiion.
Mr. Poland then proceeded to sum up the case for the
prosecution, and havin observed upon the fact that Ida
eare friend had intimated that he should call no wit-
nesses, and should rely upon the evidence to support the
defence of insanity that had been already given, be urged
upon the jury the extreme danger of giving effect too
easily to such • defence, and the danger to the interests
of society that would be incurred by doing so. He then
reminded the jury that the prisoner's counsel had not ven-
tured ,to call a single fellow-workman of the prisoner or
any other person to show that there was the slightest
foundation 'for the suggestion that the prisoner was in-
lane, and that they would be called upon to relieve the
pillion'? from the consequences of a dreadful crime upon
the fanciful theories of one medical witness.
. Mr. Sleigh made an eloquent appeal to the fury on be-
half of she prisoner. He went at considerable length into
the general question of insanity and the law upon the
subjects and he argued that the circumstances under
which this crime was committed were in themselves
almost sufficient to justify them in coming to the conclusion
that the prisoner was not a responsible being. He then
to comment upon the various facts that had
been given in evidence, and particularly Toga the testi-
mony of Dr. Simpson, and concluded by call' upon the
jury topaluit the prisoner on the ground of insanity.
Mr.. Justice Smith, in his summing up, said there was
no doubt in this case that a wilful sad deliberate murder
had bed committed by the prisoner, and the only ques-
tion was the state of mind the prisoner was in at the time
he committed the act. It was not possible that any
great crime of this kind should be committed without the
mindat the person who committed it being to some extent
perverted, but this was no excuse for the commission of
such • crime and the law of England held that every man
TM responsible for any act committed by him if he was
aware that that act wart • wrong one, and contrary to the
law of both God and man. He was bound to remark in
this case that down to the very threshold of the time of
this °Reece being committed there was not a single tittle
of evidence to show that the prisoner laboured under any
aberration of mind, and the defence of insanity rested en-
tirely upon the evidence of Dr. Simpson, who knew nothing
of the prisoner, and had never seen him until after the
crime had beea committed. ' His lordship then referred
to the evidence given by this gentleman, and expressed his
opinion that the jury ought to look very carefully at all
the circumstances of the case before they gave effect to
such delusion, as were represented to have been en-
tertaieed by the prisoner. He observed that the learned
counsel for the prisoner had urged that it was • proof of
insanity on the part of the prisoner that he should have
avowed his crime and explained how it was committed
with the coolness that he had done ; but that was a ques-
tion for them, and they would decide whether this was
the conduct of a man who was not of round mind, or
whether it was that of • man who admitted in cool blood
what he had done, and was perfectly prepared to meet
all the consequences of his crime. His lordship then went
minutely over all the material points, and concluded by
leaving the came in the hands of the jury.
They retired at twenty minutes to five o'clock, and in
about three-quarters of an hour they returned into court,
and found the prisoner Guilty.
The prisoner was then seed whether he wished to say
anything why judgment should not be passed upon him,
and he replied " I have nothing to say."
Mr. Justice Smith put on the black cap, and, addressing
him, said—Louis Bordier, you have been convicted of the
murder of Mary Ann Snow the woman with whom forthir-
teen years you lived as with • wife. Your crime was com-
mitted after long premeditation, and in the most deter-
mined manner, and for each a crime the law of England
and the law of your native country has but one sentenoe—
that of death. There is reason to believe that you had
endured suffering and misery, but it is the part of a brave
man to suffer the ills of life with fortitude. He is not
really brave that seeks to escape from them by the com-
mission of • dastardly and wicked deed. I do not say
this to wound your feeling, but It has been stated
that you felt satisfied with what you had done, and that
you expected the set to be ted. I feel rolled upon
to protest against the sc supposition that there was anything
heroic in such • proceeding, and have nothing more to do
than to pass the sentence of the law. His lordship then
pronounced antenna of death in the usual form.
The prisoner, who did not exhibit the least emotion, was
then removed.

This oonaluded the business, and the court adjourned
to Monday, October 28.