The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-09 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 9, 1867.

DLIASTROUS GALE;.

WINDSOR. Trrs DAT.
The sudden thawing of the great deposit ut snow
Co Sunday, and the subsequent rain of Monday and the
storm of this morning have greatly swollen the waters of
the Thames at Windsor, Maidenhead, and Staines. At
Windsor the water rose very rapidly, the rise ta-iLi; es-
%Mated at about two inches an hour, and by this morning
the stream was quite two feet higher. A strong westerly
wind has been blowing, accompanied by showers of rain,
and as a volume of water has yet to come down from
the Oxforiri hills, it is not unlikely that the inundation
of last year may be repeated. During the gale of this
morning the wind caught a portion of the stone battle-
ments on the south side of the roof of St. George's Chapel,
and tearing it away it feU upon the pavement between the
buttresses. It is a fortunate thing that no one was
beneath, or fatal consequences must have ensued. The
dilvidated condition of this part of the ancient cathedral
render im renovation imperative.

WEYMOUTH, TUESDAY, NOON.

The gale of Saturday has been succeeded by another
of a most violent nature which has again caused much
damage. As before stated the wind considerably moderated
on Sunday. and it was not until about mid-day on Monday
that there again appeared any symptoms of a gale. Soon
afterwards. however, the wind set in from the south, and
throughout the whole of Monday night, and up to the pre-
sent time, there has been a complete hurricane,
although it is now veering round to the W.N.W.
The sea is tremendously high, and much damage has
been done in Weymouth. It unfortunately happens that
the spring tides are just now, and this, coupled
with the boisterous winds, has had the effect of
Waiting the sea higher than it is under ordinary circum-
stances. In the -harbour the quay has been inundated,
in some 'daces along the Backwater the water being
almost two feet high. The working of the tuunway
which runs on the quay cannot be carried on, and trade
is almost generally stopped. Owing to the heavy run of the
tide in the harbour a portion of the quay, near the Cus-
tom-house. has been pulled down by the severe strain
upon it from the cables of ships. The schooner
Isabella, of Waterford, broke away from her
moorings, owing to the exceedingly strong run of the tide,
and it was by the merest chance she contrived to save
herself from being dashed against the quay. Our beauti-
ful esplan.ule is sadly disfigured by the sea, especially the
upper portion, near Brunswick•buildings, where, owing to
the effect of the breakwater, the sea is driven with great
force. The inhabitants of this part of the town were in
a great state of alarm, owing to the boisterous nature of
the elements, the sea actually reaching the very doors of
their houses. The harbour is full of slapping, which have
put in for safety. All communication between Weymouth
and Portland is stopped, the sea from the West Lay having
washed a portion of the railway away. The sea in the
bay is awfully grand, it making a complete breach over
the Chesil Beach. The train which left Weymouth at
half-past seven this morning could not succeed in reaching
Portland. The turnpike road is inundated, and besides
this the sea has washed great holes in it, thus rendering it
impossible to come either to or from Portland. Later in
the morning Mr. Reynolds, the superintendent of
the Great Western Railway, and other officials, proceeded
on the line as far as possible, with the view of
seeing whither anything could be done to effect a com-
munication, but it was deemed useless to make any at-
tempts, as tons of water were being thrown on it. It is
impossible to say when the line will be in a fit state for
working. The steam tug Commodore put to sea early in
the morning for the purpose of saving portions of wreck.
At the time of our writing a brigantine, with her main-
boom gone, was seen, and it is feared other vessels have
Eistained damage, but the rough weather prevailing ren-
ders it impossible to make communication with them.
To show the violence of the sea, we may state that a boat
was thrown to the door of a sergeant of police, who lives
about DV yards from the edge of the Backwater. About
a do...en vessels, we learn, took refuge in Kimmeridge Bay
on Monday, and the lifeboat George Scott went out, but
fortunately her services were not required.
SOUTHAMPTON, TeitsDsv.
-•• • • -

It blew a hurricane from the S.S.W. the whole of last
night. and seine damage was done to the quay. The Chan-
nel Islands and Havre packets, which should have left at
midnight, were unable to get away until seven o'clock this
meriting. The homeward bound steamer from Havre,
which should have reached here by daylight, did not arrive
hefore midday. The Isle of Wight steamers have brought
wo.d that a large ship is ashore at Black Gang Chine, at
the bask of the iskintl. A strong wind has been blowing
from the west the whole of the day.

PLYMOUTH, Tummy.

A heavy seuth-south-west gale was experienced here last
night, when two small schooners were totally wrecked in
Batten Bay—the Tearer, of Ipswich, with loss of all
hands except the mate, and the Palmyra, of Southampton,
with all hands. The ship John Gray, of Glasgow, from
Demerara for London, was also totally wrecked in Mount's
Bay. The rassengers and crew rived ; the captain and
mate were drowned. The telegraph wires in some parts
have been blown down.

LIVERPOOL, TUISMAY.
A heavy gale prevailed all the morning from W.N.W.,
accompanied by a very rough sea, which prevented many
ships item putting out to sea. Accounts received here
from several of the outports show that the storm which
swept over Liverpool on Saturday night and Sunday
morning must have extended longing down the channel.
The steamer Firerer tiden, bound from Liverpool to New
Orleans, was coin to seek shelter in queenstown,
having encounte the full force of the gale, and having
her cargo shifted. The Hound took shelter at Milford
with loss of maintopruast, rigging, Sze. The schooner
St. George, bound to Runcorn, was lost off the Great
Onnalimil on Saturday night and two of the crew were
drowned. The iron ship Countess of Renfrew has gone
ashore near Tacunishope, Wexford, and is likely to become
a total wreck. The Brighton, Favourite, and Clara went
ashore on Sunday morning at Milford, but were ultimately
got off without much damage. The ship Blossom, from
Dantzie, has put into Torbay with loss of bulwarks, deck-
load, &c., having experienced very heavy weather in the
channel. The Robert and Anenrin were at Waterford, in
distress. The brig Eliza, Penzance, was fallen in with off
Sr. Ives by the steamer Colon. The crew were taken off
and lauded here safely. The ship J. 0., which left this
port a few days since, struck on the rocks near Ramsay,
Isle of Man, on Saturday night, and went to pieces. The
Catherine Porter has been wrecked on the Kish Bank, and
only two of the crew saved. The schooner Brothers is a
total wreck near Beaumaris. The sloop Sisters was
fallen in with outside the N. W. Lightship on Sunday
last by the tugboat Her Majesty, iu distress, and ,the
crew exhausted. The sloop was towed into Liverpool. A
letter received here from the fele of Man states that the
ship Janws Crosfield, which struck near Castletown on
Saturday night, is a most complete wreck, and that very
little of the cargo can be saved. Not one of those on board
have been saved, nor have any of the dead bodies reached
the shore. The spot where the ill-fated ship struck is
described a. almost similar to the rocks at Lambay Island,
where the Tavleur was lost some years ago, at which wreck
upwards of 4ou lives were lost.
LEICESTER, JAN. S.
The heavy rains which have fallen during the thaw have
produced disastrous floods here. The valley of the Soar is
one vast sheet of water, so that in some parts neither river
nor canal can be distinguished. The cellars in the low
lying districts are tilled up to their ceilings with water, and
much property is injured—the water rising to several feet
in some of the houses. Pedestrians have to be conveyed
to their work and business in carts, and the traffic gene-
rally is much impeded. There are signs of the water sub-
siding.

COLLISION ON THE BORDEN UNION RAILWAY,—
The snowstorm which has prevailed to a serious extent on
this part of the border has interfered to a considerable ex-
tent with the railway arrangements, and the trains, both
from north and south, were in some instances delayed
for hours ; but no really serious impediment to traffic
occurred till Sunday. A hard frost and still &two-
sphere prevailed till Saturday night about eight o'clock,
when the wind blew in angry, fitful gusts, drifting
the snow before it. The result was the blocking
up of the Border Union Railway in several places,
and particularly on both sides of Iniitrope Tunnel,
near the summit level of the line, and about twelve
'idles south of Hawick. On the south side of the
tunnel is one of the deepest cuttings in Great Britain,
through the traditionally-celebrated " Nine Stane ltigg."
A goods train from the south stuck fast here late on Ba-
' tunlay night, thus blocking the up-line. On the north
idle of the tunnel, a goods train from the north got em-
bedded in the snow near Langburnshiels, a wild, exposed
spot, traversed by the " Cattail ;" and a second was
stopped short north of the Shankend Viaduct, in a deep
cutting, the distance between the two wreaths
being little more than a milt. At this last
place, i rather serious collision occurred on Sun-
day afternoon. An engine and two carriages,
' containing eurfacenien, for the purpose of clearing
the line, ran into the goods train stuck in the ,now, The
men were dashed against each other with great violence,
and sustained bruises and contusions more or less seri-
ous. One of the number, who was on the outlook, and
saw what was going to happen, sprang from the train,
and was seriously cut on the head suffering more
than the rest, who kept their seats. One man escaped
entirely unhurt. The buffers were knocked from
the engine, but no other damage of consequence
was done to the rolling stock. It is said the
danger signals were fully displayed, and the cause
of the collision has not yet been explained. The
injured men were brought back to Hawick, and at
once received medical assistance. They were all able to
' lease for their homes by the train to Edinburgh at six
p.m., and no danger is apprehended from their injuries A
strong force of workmen were employed clearing the line
all Sunday, and at two a.m. on Monday morning it was
again reported open for traffic. The Sunday morning
train from the south was seventeen hours behind time ;
and the morning train from Edinburgh was five hours
late, and could, of course, go no further. The Border
Counties line has also been blocked up with snow near
Keilder, North Tyne. This is the first time the traffic has
been stopped by snow on these lines since they were
opened in 18d2, though they pass through a very high and
exposed pastoral district—Scotsmen.
CRYSTAL PALACE. ONE SHILLING DAY.—
Tt: EADAT, JAN. B.—Admissions on payment, 1,613 ; ditto,
by season Casts, 1,249. Total visitors, 2,862.

MORE DEATHS PROM STAR! -ATION AND COLD.

Dr. Lankester held an illqlest yesterday at the
Royal Oak, Circus-street, Maryiebone, on the body of
Sarah Berriman, aged 70, who was found stark naked and
dead in a small and filthy apartment in Walmer-street.
The evidence of her landlady was as follows :—I live at
5, Wahner-street. Deceased has lodged with me six or
seven years. She occupied the back room, and paid 2s.
per week rent. She received 3s. 6d. • week from the
parish, and that was the whole of her income, to the Lest
of my belief. I believe she lived on Is. tid, a week.—
Coroner : The state of filth of her room was so great
that I do not believe she could have lived very long
there. (To witness)—When did you see her last alive'.'
—Whiner : I saw her last alive on Monday last
Ghat day week). She was found dead on Friday. Mr.
Fuller, one of the relieving officers of the perish, used to
bring her the 3s. 6d. each week. A young girl named
Harriett Grigg, who used to go on errands for the de-
ceased, said, to answer to the Coroner—She had no bed ;
she had no blanket to cover her ; she had nothing but •
quilt. On Thursday last I left her sitting before • little
bit of fire. I always fetched her what she had to eat. She
never fetched anything herself. I used to fetch her one
quartern loaf, two ounces of butter, a fewcoals, and a little
tea and sugar, and that used to last her for • week. I
never fetched her any meat. Sometimes, when she took
her money, I fetched her a penny roll extra. Mr. Charles
Heberden, of 14, Gloucester-place, Portman-square, who
is connected with a charitable society which allows 2s. a
week to some of the aged poor during ten of the severest
weeks of the year, said deceased was one of the society's
pensioners, but she had not yet received any money. I
called at her lodging on Friday last to give her the first
2s. I rapped at her door, hut not receiving any
answer I tried the door, which was locked. Having called
• person in the house up, I fetched a locksmith, who
opened the door, and I then saw the body of deceased
l naked and dead on the door. There was • basin of
Flirtywater near her, but there always had been that when
I called. She had told we on a preview occasion that
through some malformation of the body she could neither
sit in • chair nor lie on a bedstead, and had always re-
clined on the floor. Dr. Goddard deposed that he had
made an examination of the body of the deceased. It was
covered with vermin. There was extensive curvature of
the spine. He found the stomach perfectly empty.
Deceased died from want of food and warmth. The
Coroner said it was a shocking thing that this should occur
the richest district in the world. Marylebone contained
a quarter of • million of people, who paid more taxes than
any other quarter of a million of people in the world on
account of their great wealth, and it certainly seemed
dreadful that this should occur. The jury returned • ver-
dict that deceased died through want and starvation. The
Coroner held an inquest later in the day, under somewhat
similar circumstances, on the body of an old man whose
only income was 10a. per month.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

(Betore the Recorder.)

John William W,tt surrendered to take his trial for
embezzling various sums of money, the property of his
master, Alexander Beattie.
3fr. Lilley and Mr. Thompson conducted the prosecu-
tion ; and Mr. Oppenheim defended the prisoner.
The prosecutor in this case carries on the business of •
dyer and scourer, in Oakley-street, Lambeth, and it ap-
peared that the prisoner, who stood in the relation of
nephew to him, had been in his service for • great many
years, and it was alleged that while so employed he had
received certain sums from customers which he had not
accounted for. Two similar indictments to the present
were disposed of at the Surrey sessions, in one of which
the jury acquitted the prisoner, and in the other they
were discharged without being able to agree upon a ver-
dict, and the indictment now under consideration was re-
moved to this court for triaL It did not appear to be
disputed that the prisoner had received the several
sums that he was charged with embezzling, and that he
had not accounted for them ; but the state of affairs be-
tween the parties appeared to be somewhat complicated,
and it was admitted by the prosecutor that in the year
1857, in consequence of his holding shares in the Royal
British Bank, upon which be expected to become liable
for calls, he conveyed all his property to the prisoner and
his sister, and went away, and the prisoner was left in the
entire charge of the business. The substantial answer to
the charge, however, was that the prisoner was • partner
in the business, and that consequentlyhe was not amenable
to such an accusation.

Mr. Oppenheim made an energetic and able appeal to
the jury on behalf of the prisoner, and after commenting
upon the fact of an uncle prosecuting his nephew with
such apparent vindictiveness, he argued that upon all the
facts the only reliable conclusion they could arrive at was
that the prisoner really was a partner in the business, and
as such could not be convicted upon the present charge.
The Recorder, in summing up the case to the jury, said
be felt hound to express his opinion that there was not •
tittle of evidence in the case to support the suggestion that
the prisoner was a partner, but at the same time there
was certainly this material question for theirconsideration,
whether the prisoner had wilfully neglected to pay over
the sums that he was alleged to have embezzled.
The jury retired at half-past one o'clock to deliberate
upon their verdict. They were absent more than two
hours, and upon their return into court they gave a verdict
of Guilty, but, at the same time, strongly recommended
the prisoner to mercy on account of the use that the pro-
secutor had made of him when he was in difficultits, which
they said might have induced him to consider that he wee
entitled to take some liberties with the accounts.
Sentence was deferred.

Frederick Crane, William Pelham, and Henry Pelham,
three young men, were charged with assaulting Henry
Brown, and robbing him of ten shillings.
Mr. Langford prosecuted; Mr. Oppenheim defended the
two Pelham', and Mr. Straight appeared for the other
prisoner.
The prosecutor in this case described himself ea a general
dealer, and a little after midnight on the 17th of De-
cember be was on his way home in the Lambeth-road,
when he met a woman, and behind her, at a distance of
about twenty yards, were four men, three of whom were
the prisoners. As he was passing the woman she said
something to him, and he told her it was time for her to
be at home, and upon this he was attacked by the four
men and knocked down, both his eyes were black-
ened, and he was severely beaten, and robbed
of ten shillings. The prisoners were taken into custody
at a public-house near the spot, and when they
were charged with having assaulted and robbed the prose-
cuter, they attempted to make out that the prosecutor
hail insulted the woman, who was the wife of the prisoner
William Pelham, and that this had led to a fight, but that
no robbery was committed or intended. The prosecutor
swore that he was perfectly sober at the time the occur-
rence took place, but both the constables who were engaged
in the case expressed their opinion that he was the worse
for liquor. When the prisoners were under examination
before the magistrate they persisted In the assertion that
no robbery had been committed, and that the fight arose
in consequence of the prosecutor having insulted the
woman, and this was the defence that was now set up for
them.

The Recorder, at the close of the evidence for the pro-
secution, expressed his opinion that there was no case
established agkinst the prisoner Crane ; and after Mr.
oppenheint bad addressed the jury on behalf of the other
two prisoners. they said they believed that the transaction
was only a drunken row, and they Acquitted all the
prisoners.

THE POLICE COURT&

11A1.,TSION-HOUSE.

James Were, a decent-looking lad, 13 years of age, was
charged before the Lord Mayor with stealing a bag con-
taining 15 cocoanuts from the warehouse of Messrs. Plum-
ridge and Son, foreign fruiterers, 2, Botolph-lane, City.
1 rem the evidence of Mr. Ashton, warehouseman, in the
service of the prosecutors, it appeared that on the previous
afternoon, about 5 o'clock, a little boy entered the ware-
house and informed him that three other boys had just
taken from the passage a bag of nuts, and on seeing that
the bag, which had been safe on the premises Ave minutes
before, was missing, he followed the three lads into St.
Mary-at-Hill, where he saw them in the act of dividing the
cocoanuts between them. The prisoner was carrying the
bag, which, on the approach of the witness. he threw down
and ran away. The witness, however, overtook and cap-
tured him, but his two companions made their escape
with their share of the booty. On being searched at the
police-station seven cocoanuts were found in his pockets.
When charged lie said that he did not take the nuts, but
that it was the other boys who had done so.
The mother of the prisoner presented herself, and stated
that her eon had up to Christmas been employed in a
printing-cdfice in the City et 58. per week, and had always
been a well-conducted lad, and had only lost his situation
in consequence of a slackness of work in the office.
In answer to the Lord Mayor, Partridge, the gaoler of
the court, stated that the prisoner about two months ago
had been charged with two other lade with attempting to
steal a tarpaulin from a cart, but they had been discharged
in consequence of the non-attendance of the prosecutor.
The Lord Mayor said that it slid not appear that the
prisoner had any excuse for this act, for, unlike other
juvenile depredaton, he had been at work and knew how
to get his living honestly. He should punish him for
this offence, in the hope that when he came out he would
return to an honest calling, instead of having recourse
to thieving. The sentence upon him was that he be kept
to hard labour in the House of Correction for 14 days.