The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-02 00:00:00

MADRAS RAILWAY.-(THIS DAY.)

This day the annual general meeting of share-
holders was held at the London Tavern ; Mr. Witssu in
the chair.
It appeared from the report that the average mileage
travelled over, as compared with that of the corresponding
half of the previous year, was 598 miles against 538 • the
aggregate traffic receipts, 225,1121., against 169,56-1/.'
being an increase equal to 32 per cent.; the net receipts,
131,5001., against 83,6881., being an increase of 57 per
cent. These favourable results were partly due to changes
in the tariff and classification.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
said that the company had to regret the loss of their late
chairman. General Sim, who had done so much
to promote its welfare. The progress of the corn.
pany had proved satisfactory, and they enjoyed
a remarkable immunity from accidents, which spoke
well for the management of the line. There were 32 miles
of the north-west line to be completed, and he hoped that
that portion would be opened in a short time. There were
156 miles above Cuddapa to be finished, and most of that
ground was now occupied by their engineers and workmen.
Although the south-west line is not an easy one to
work, the cost of working had been reduced to
44 per cent. ; on the north-west the working expenses
were reduced to thclow figureof 27i. per cent. The costof the
south west line and Bangalore branch was under 11,000/.
per mile, that of the north-west line was under 9,200/.,
including rolling stock and additions made to the works
of the line. Great credit was due to the staff for the man-
ner in which they conducted the works. Resolutions would
be submitted for authorising the raising of further capital
sanctioned by the Secretary of State.
Mr. ARBUTHNOT seconded the motion, which was
adopted.
The CHAIRMAN moved and Mr. ARBUTHNOT seconded
a resolution authorising the directors to increase the
capital of the company to the extent of 1,000,000/., con-
sisting of 50,000 shares of M. each, bearing a guaranteed
interest of 5 per cent. which was also adopted.
The CH %Milan, in reply to questions put to him,
said that the whole line would be finished in about three
years' time, and there was reason to hope that it would
produce more than 5 per cent.
The retiring directors were re-elected.
Mr. A. Hall was elected an auditor of the company, and
Mr. J. Thomson was re-elected to the same office.
„ A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the pro-
al errant&

STRANGE CASE OF SUPPOSED SUICIDE AT
LONDON-BRIDGE.

INQUEST.—(THIS DAY.)
This morning Mr. John Humphreys, Middlesex
coroner, held an inquiry at the Dock Hotel, East Smith-
field, relative to the death in the Thames of Mary Ann
Abbott, aged 38 ears.
Benjamin Stonye identified the deceased as his sister,
and raid that she was the widow of a land drainer, and
resided with her mother at Barking-side. She was engaged
HARWICH.
to be married shortly. On Tuesday, the 17th April, she
left Barking-aide and was never seen alive by her family The committee resumed their business to-day at
after eleven o'clock; Mr. Gathorne Hardy presiding.
Henry Lee, elabourer living at Barking-side, said that Counsel fur petitioner, Mr. Serjeaut Dallantine,Mr. Fitz-
he had been keeping company with the deceased for four james Stephen, and Mr. Clarke. Counsel for the sitting
years past, and was engaged to be married to her. Another member. Mr. Rodwell, Q.C., Mr. Henry James, and Mr.
young man wished to marry her, and her mother favoured Wolferston.
him, and did not like witness to go to the house. On the The petition of Dr. Burt and other electors against the
morning of Tuesday, the 17th April, he was leaving Bark- return of Captain :Jervis and Mr. Kelk, on the ground of
ing along the Cranbrook-road with a bundle bribery, corruption, treating, intimidation, and a corrupt
in his hand, when ho met the den:teed, and he paid agreement with the Great EastenCompany, was proceeded
her 8.1. which he owed her. She said '• I will go along with.
with you." He said in reply, " You had better go home ; Mr. Serjeant Ballantine opened the petition. He said
but she stated that she would never go home, and that she that the inquiry would be considerably narrowed, as the
would go with him. It was not a matter of previous allegation as to bribery or treating would not be gone
arrangement that they were to run away together ; but into. They would be only required to consider whether
she had a basket ana an umbrella, and they walked up an agreement entered into by Captain Jervis, as deputy-
towards London. Between Barking-side and Hackney sta. chairman of the Great Eastern Railway Company, and Mr.
tion they had pints of ale at the different public-houses, and Kelk, was not an illegal contract, and one which invalidated
they decided that he should get a lodging for her. They I the election. Neither Captain Jervis nor Mr. Kelk
took the train to Bow, but could get no lodgings there, I had any connection with the borough of Harwich,
or in Whitechapel. By that time it was 11 o clock at except that which arose out of the fact that the former was
night, and they had been into seven public-houses. and had a member of the railway board. The borough contained
nine points of ale. They decided to cross London-bridge 347 voters, and of these 63 were connected with the rail-
to get lodgings in the Borough. When nearly across the way, and about 60 of the employes of the company voted fi r
bridge, and within fifteen yards of the Southwark side, the sitting members. In 11164 a project was started to run
witness stopped for a minute, and the deceased walked on. • line of steamers from Harwich to Rotterdam, and the
He then saw her go down the steps towards the water, and management of the line was given to Captain
he rushed after her. She ran into the river, and was Jervis, who appointed two electors of great in- '
drowned. Once she rose to the surface, and cried out, fluence in the borough, Mr. Daniel and Mr. Groom,
" Oh, Harry !" He ran out up to his knees in mud, but to superintend the neffic. In January, 1863, the railway
could not reach her, and she sank. He gave an alarm, and company thought it desirable to make • change in the
assistance came, but she was carried away by the tide. management of the steamer traffic, and they sent down a
In cross-examination, the witness said that he could not person to take charge of it, but at the instance of
account for the deceased's act. When in the Whitechapel- Captain Jervis he was allowed to enter the offices
road she had said, " I will not go anywhere." She was of of the company. A move was then made to pm- '
sober habits, but she was not quite sober when she rushed vent the contemplated change, and Mr. Kelk coin-
into the water. Witness never said that she had fallen municated with Mr. Bidder, then one of the members of
over the bridge. He bad notasked her to spend the night the railway board, and in the course of conversation Mr.
with him. She knew on the Monday that he was to leave Kelk stated that he had agreed in the event of Captain
Barking on the Tuesday. She did not threaten to commit Jervis obtaining his return for the borough to pay the
suicide. entire election expenses of both. Mr. Bidder reported
A brother of the deceased said that a City police-consta- the circumstances to the board, and a correspondence
ble had arrested Lee on London-bridge on the morning of with Mr. Belk ensued in which several allusions were made
the 18th April, and he was detained for some hour on to the agreement, and he did not in any way deny that
suspicion but was then allowed to go away. such a contract existed. Counsel contended that the
Stephen Britten, • weterman, proved that he found the agreement was illegal and corrupt. Captain Jervis's
body of the deceased in the water above London-bridge on influence at Harwich was a railway influence, said the
the 28th Aprll. contract was to the effect that that power and influence
Mr. J. Willa, surgeon, said that the deceased died from should be purchased to secure and return a person who
drowning, and that no marks of violence were visible on had no claim whatever on the electors. If the contract
the body. were proved in evidence and sanctioned by the committee,
The Coroner, in summing up, said that the use was in the result would be that Harwich would remain a pocket
many respect most unsatisfactory and surrounded with in- borough of the railway company.
exphcabie circumstances. He advised that an open ver- I [Left sitting.)
diet should be returned.
The jury returned a verdict, "That the deceased was
found drowned in the Thames, bet under what dream- ACTS OF PARLIMCIINT.-Cp to yesterday the
stances she came into the water all evidence was not min- number of public acts which rectKved the royal assent in
cleat to show." just three months is twenty.