The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-21 00:00:00

THEATRICAL LICENSES AND REGULATIONS

COMMITTEE.

This committee met for the fourth time yester-
day, and the chair was taken by Mr. Locke, M.P., In
the absence of the Right Hon. G. J. Goshen. Mr. Strange
completed his evidence, and was subjected to cross-exami-
nation by Mr. O'Beirne, Mr. Powell, and others, in refer
ence to certain details of management at the Alhambra.
He explained that his management differed very little from
that of the opera'or the theatres, allowance being madam
his more complete organisation for the sale of refresh-
manta. Mr. Strange stood up rather warmly for the charac-
ter of ballet girls as a body, compared with that of girl
in an equal position of life. Mr. Bodkin, the And/dant-
Judge, was next examined, and expressed himself per-
sonally in favour of confining music-halls, eosalled, to
the performance of music, and leaving the theatres or
halls where ballets and such spectacles are represented to
be licensed by the Lord Chamberlain. Mr. Bodkin, like
his colleague, Mr. Pow-nail, appeared to have little regard
for public wants or public taste amongst the middle
and lower Skil. Mr. Pownall thought that working men
could dine at six, visit the music-hall, without wanting
further refreshment, and " take their coffee after," as
" we"—the aristocracy—do ; and Mr. Bodkin thought that
no regulations or supervision were required to keep the
upper classes moral, but that the middle and lower classes
require all kinds of leading-strings.
Mr. Bodham Donne, the licenser of plays, was next ex-
and told the committee that the Lord Chamberlain,
in granting or refusing dramatic licenses, was guided only
by a regard for public safety in the construction of the
building. When asked why a dramatic license was granted
to the Gallery of Illustration, and refused to St.
James's-hall, he boldly stated, in defiance of the
notorious facts, that the small building was remarkably
adapted for the drama and the large building wholly un-
adapted. It almost appeared from his cross-examination
that St. James's-hall was safe as long as songs only were
sung upon its stage, but that the moment any dramatic
performance was attempted the foundations became
weaker and the roof showed a tendency to falL The in-
quiry was adjourned until Monday next, when Mr. Benja-
min Webster will be examined amongst other witnesses.

Mr. James Ellie, who originated the Cremorne-
gardens and many other well-known places of public
resort, takes his farewell benefit at the Strand Music-hall,
on the 24th instant. He is about leaving England for
Australia.
MR. CARLYLE. —Messrs. Chapman and Hall
have published an authorised report of Mr. Carlyle's Edin-
burgh address. Mr. Hotten, of Piccadilly, has also repub-
lished a newspaper report of the same address, with two
portraits and some prefatory matter.
THE LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY
SERVANTS' FRIENDLY SOCIETY, EUSTON STATION.—The
Bishop of Oxford has just given a proof of the kindly
interest he feels in the operations and welfare of this
society by forwarding a donation of 5/. for the funds to
the society's secretary. Mr. Cornelius Griffith, Easton
Station.
EXTRAORDINARY OcCURRENCE. —A woman
named Harriet Eastbnry was missed from her home at
'heckle'', near Moreton-in-the-Marsh, Gloucestershire, on
the 14th ult., and no trace of her could be discovered
by her husband or the police. On Sunday morning last
a labourer was passing along the " Warren," on Lord
Northwick's estate, where there is an ornamental lake,
nearly surrounded by shrubs, when he heard a moorhen
making a peculiar noise; he proceeded to the spot, and
found the nest of the bird on the breast of a woman's
body, which was floating in the water. On the body being
removed it was found to be that of the woman Easthury,
which must have been in the water forfive weeks. At the
inquest a verdict of " Found drowned " was returned. The
nest contained seven eggs, which were nearly hatched.
THE MURDER AND SUICIDE IN DRURY-LANE.—
Yesterday Mr. Bedford, the coroner for Westminster,
held au inquest at King's College Hospital on the bodies
of James Whitley and Mary Whitley, his wife, the woman
having been found dead in the passage of the house, 8,
Feathers-court, Drury-lane, on Tuesday morning last,
and the man having died at the hospital about '2 o'clock on
the same day. The circumstances of the discovery of the body
of the woman and her husband and the other facts already
reported having been confirmed, Dr. Welch and Dr.
Harvey gave evidence as to the condition of the woman,
who was quite dead, and the man, whose removal to the
hospital they ordered. The death of the woman had
ensued in consequence of a stab in the neck. Mr. Howell,
house surgeon at King's Collage Hospital, proved that the
man died from severs:ace of the large vessels of the neck
about six hours after his admission. After some further
evidence the jury returned the following verdict in the
case of the woman, " That the deceased Mary Whitley
was wilfully murdered by her husband. James Whitley."
The brother of the deceased man in his evidence stated
certain circumstances with regard to the mental condi-
tion of the murderer which led the jury to decide by a
majority " That James Whitley committed suicide while
in a state of temporary insanity."
SUSPECTED POISONING OF THREE BROTHER/L
A mysterious case of suspected poisoning is now oc-
cupying the attention of the Northumberland constabulary,
under the orders of Mr. Superintendent Wookey. The in-
vestigation has been set on foot in consequence of the sin-
gular circumstances attending the illness of a family
named Bashby, and the death at brief intervals of three
of the members of it. Mr. John Bushby, aged about
fifty years, occupied a farm called Donkin's Houses,
situate near Ponteland, about eight miles north-west
from Newcastle. He was unmarried. Two unmarried
brothers, named William, aged about forty-nine, and
George, aged about ferty-three, resided with him, and as-
sisted in the management of the farm. They were all strong
healthy men. On the 22nd December of last year William
was taken suddenly ill, and on the following day George
also fell sick. They vomited very much, and were also
affected by sore throat. A few days afterwards John was
similarly seised, with the exception that be did not feel
any pain in his throat. The housekeeper and the servant
girl also participated in the attack, but recovered. William
died on the 2nd of January, and George on the sth. At
one time hopes were entertained that John would recover,
but after lingering some time he gradually became worse,
and died on the 11th of February. After what was be-
lieved to be a thorough investigation into the cause of
death on the part of William and George, the medical
gentlemen in attendance came to the conclusion that
they had fallen victims to an attack of fever generated
by the unsanitary condition of the premises. On the
death of John Bushby, however, following so closely upon
; the death of his brothers, suspicion was revived, and Dr.
Atkinson, of Tbrookley, who on this occasion was called in
to assist the family medical man, Dr. Dodd, of Ponteland,
;took away certain articles of food for analysis. After a
most unaccountable delay of upwards of two months, it is
now stated that his analysis has resulted in the discovery
of poison. The police think they have discovered a clue
to the perpetrator of the alleged poisonings, but decline to
give any more exact information, on the pound that the
MOO is incomplete. The body of John Bushby will be ex-
humed, and an inquest held at Ponteland at the beginning
of next week.—Corfesle J 011016651.
The postmaster-General has given notice of the
termination of the mall contract of the West India and
Pacific Steamship Company. This company conveyed
Jamaica, Haytian, Mexican, and Honduras mails.