The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-16 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR Or THE EXPRESS.

SIR,—I notice in a late impression of your paper
a paragraph drawing attention to the sudden disappear-
ance of Mr. Hobbs from Reading, coupled with a state-
ment that Mr . Hobbs is now a member of the firm of
" Hobbs and Collins." This statement is incorrect. I
purchased the whole of Mr. Hobbs's business, ineludim all
his land agencies, when I commenced practice in Reading,
in June, 1862, and from that time I am personally and
solely responsible for all transactions connected with the
firm of " Hobbs and Collins," the retention of Mr. Hobbs's
name in the firm from the before-mentiond date being

nominal only. I shall be obliged by your publishing tii
letter in your next impreeeion.—l am, kc.
HENRY COLLINS, Solicitor.

Reading, April 13.

ATROCIOUS MURDER NEAR GATZSREAD.—About
a quarter to 9 o'clock on Friday night, a man, named
Joseph Burns, was proceeding from Carr's Hill to the High
Felling, Gateshead, in company with his wife. Shortly
after they had passed the farmstead of Mr. Rowell, which
doting the autumn of last year was the scene of so many
supposed incendiary conflagrations, they discovered a little
girl, apparently about five years of age,lying by the roadside
motionless. They attempted to lift the little creature ; but
in doing so found that the child was dead. Its little hands
were bound tightly together, while around its neck a
cord was tightly drawn. On making a close examination,
they found that the person of the girl had been violated in
a most shocking and horrible manner. The lower part of
the body had been cut with a knife, and the child was com-
pletely covered with blood. Mr. Burns and his wife lost
no time in communicating with the police. Police-consta-
ble Kemp, on being informed of the dreadful occurrence,
immediately proceeded to the spot; and having removed the
body of the child to the house of Mr. Harvey, Gardeners'
Arms,Cares-hill, be proceeded to theGateshead Police-sta-
tion. As soon as he arrived on the spot the chief-constable
despatched the detective for Dr. liarkus, while he lost no
time in making every investigation in the neighbourhood.
The doctor soon arrived, but of course his services were
of no avail, life having been extinct for some time.
The body of the child, who has been the victim of this
atrocious outrage, has been identified as that of Sarah Mel-
vin, between five and six years of age, and the daughter of
Michael Melvin, hawker, who lives at the Blue Quarries.
She was last seen alive about five o'clock on Friday night,
when she was at the High Felling, crying for her mother.
Melvin and his wife had been separated for some time, but
are now living together,• and on Friday night they passed on
their way home from the High Felling by a road, not far from
the scene of the murder, and about the time at which it is
supposed that the heartless crime wax committed. Mr.
Superintendent Elliott examined every inch of the ground
to obtain a clue to the perpetrator of the dreadful outrage,
but so far nothing has transpired to lead to the discovery
of the villainous fellow.—Newersak Chronicle.

Tne CATTLE PLAGUE.—NEW ORDER nrCorNcIL.
—A. supplement to the London Gazette, published on
Saturday night, contains an Order in Council that no
cattle shall be brought by land into the district bounded
by the outer boundary of the counties of South Wales and
Monmouth, by which that district is separated from the
rest of Wales and England. No cattle brought by sea into
any part of that distnct shall leave the place at which they
are lauded alive, but all such cattle shall be slaughtered
within 4$ hoursfrom the time they are placed on shore.
South Wales, in this order, shall signify the counties of
Pembroke, Carmarthen, Glamorgan, Breoon, Radnor, and
Cardigan.
THE NEW LUNATIC ASYLUM OF THE CITY OF
LINDON. —The practical opening of the new Pauper Lunatic
Asylum of the City of London, at Stone, near Dartford,
takes place today, the Commissioners in Lunacy having
certified that It is fit for the reception of patients. The
first patients received will be those chargeable to the City
through being found wandering in the City, or by arriving
from abroad in a destitute condition. Of these six came
recently from France. The asylum is capable of accommo-
dating 2.50. and the bulk of these will be contributed by
the City Unions, the expense falling upon the ratepayers.
The cost has been 64,711 M., added to which there is • sum
of 3,3951. for the site and surrounding grounds, altogether
covering an area of 33 acres.
HOSPITAL FOE DISEASES OF THE CHEST, VIC-
TORIA-PARC—The number of patients relieved at this in-
stitution during last week was 1,490, of which 351 were new
oases. _ .

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Xittu Intelligente.

METROPOLITAN COUNTY COrRTS.
(Sitting days apse dated for the present week.'
WEsTgistrtrn, St. Martin's-lane.—Wednesday, AprlllB ; Thurs-
day, 19.
ilLoowsitrar, PortLunt-med.—Wednesday, April 18 ; Thursday,
19 ; Friday, 20
BicomPros, Whitehead'sgrove.—Tueeday, April 17; Widnes-
day, IS.
DRENTVORD.—FrIday, April SO.
Curassiorscc, Inmesn-terrace.—Tuesday, April 17; Wednes-
day, 18 ; Thursday, 19.
NHORIDITcH, 014-greet-road. Tuesday, April 17; Thurs-
day, 19.
Bow, Bow-mad—Monday, April 16; EMILY, ES.
WErnienaPn, Great Presoot-street.—Wednesday, April 18;
Thursday, 19; Yrkisy, 20.
8ouTHW•111, Swaustreet.—Monday, April le; Tuesday, 17;
Friday, 20.
CITY or LONDON, Guildhall-bullanga—Wednesday, April 18;
Saturday, EL