The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-04-22 00:00:00

IRELAND

teti°4ll the Gth instant a case of gross superstition, which
ted in the death of a boy, took place in Kilkenny. The
ets
boy about ten years of age, named
Ilat
.were these.
parents near Kilkenny,
Ipketleic Kirans, whoAresicl'ed tsith his
et attacked with illness, but the nature of the disease is not
ated
the k.: Some of the neighbours persuaded the parents of
tio„un that he was " fairy struck !" There is a supersti-
n be cured only by a
f.`41.111 Ireland that this " malady'
intbiltY man ;"—that is, a man
.wchao is supposed to have
``ln'e,,l!ee over the invisible spirits, something like the
ce,,euleines" among the tribes of American Indians. In
"fairy man" v 7-13
iteligaequence of this recomtnendation, a
an ght, and found in the person of one Michael Donovan,
He was
4 Ignorant fellow about twenty-one years of age.
p,1)11,,,,kir, and on arriving at the house. he was shown the
dean lad, who was at the time in. artzeulo mortis. Donovan
1,0,7,ed that " the fairies had a howit of him, but that he
ontu aoon make them leave that!" He dragged the boy
eald of bed, and gave him a jug full of
lie': Water to drink. The boy rejected this,
Do at the moment in the last pangs of existence.
one
Of the then declared that the fairies would not be put out
trer muaY in this manner, and in order to chow, his power
ktr - le " wee people," lie pulled the boy violatly by the
var!, beat him about the head, and kicked him severely on
there
parts of the body. The boy died on the spot, -and
'lei elilvas no more about the matter, until the priest of the
tn,A banrhood heard of the transaction, and he at once
and the coroner, who held an inquest oft the body,.st
bon the jury found a verdict of wilful murder against
Ithge"an. The "fairy man" had, in the meantime,
1. anded, and a reward was issued for his apprehension.
Nerd
conat aY, head constable Richard 2/Pilate, of the Irish
et abnlary, arrested Donovan ou board the ship Bridge-
tte rl', now in the River Mersey. and bound for America.
tloth:d a sum of LI 45. in money, and a good store ot
den:, and provisions on board. The accused at firs trop, (n..that he was the person charged, and said he was
214 M
1 -12ipperary but ultimately he confessed he was the
I he Willr. Wl:tale brought him on shore, and this evening
be transmitted to Ireland to answer the charge.

THE EXTORTIONS OF GAS COMPANIES

A LIGHT SWINDLE, BUT AN OUTRAGEOUS ONE

A good deal of just indignation is expressed by the
citizens of New York and Brooklyn, at the new swindle
now practised by the Light Gas Companies, of these
cities upon their customers.
It seems that the Manhattan and the New York Gas
Light Companies—whose legitimate business is to supply
the city of New York with light—have within the past
year, made it an imperative rule to demand from every
one making appl:cation for their gas, a permanent deposit
of money, which must be made before the gas will be
furnished. This money varies in amount from 10 dols to
50 dols, according to the number of burners to be sup-
plied from any one metre. For an office the deposit must
be 10 dols. For a dwelling-house, 25 dols, &c. A certi-
ficate of deposit is issued by the company in return for
this advance. This certificate nears no interest ; is not
allowed as an offset in value for any gas that may be con-
sumed by the holder of it; nor will it be redeemed until
the owner, having paid the last gas bill, notifies to the com-
pany that he has no further need of the gas,—which, of
course, will not be until he removes his residence from
this city, where light is thus *axed. In short, these de-
posits are a new capital belonging to the people, but used
for the benefit of the Gas Company, who obtain it with-
out any value given, and retain it without any compensa-
tion allowed. _ _ . .

..„..
The Brooklyn Gas-light Company, which is an exclu-
sive monopoly, and charges more for its gas than any othor
company, has followed the example of the New York
establishments, though more timidly, (for the legislature
is still in session), and demands a deposit of five dollars
in advance, before they will allow their gas to flow into
any premises.

The miserable excuse offered for this extortionate tax
is that some consumers, on moving, leave their last bill
unpaid, and that there is no other way to prevent this loss
than by requiring from all a deposit of money in advance,
as a security for final arrears ! That is to say, the com-
munity must be taxed for the purpose of insuring certain Gas
Companies, whose business is exceedingly lucrative, against
all bad debts, real or imaginary !
There is certainly neither right nor treason in this
policy, and we doubt if there is any law in it. We have
no means of knowing how many defaulting consumers
there are that patronise these avaricious gas companies.
There are, probably, but very few. But if these com-
panies really suspect that their customers are villains—
disposed to cheat them out of their hard earnings—they
can demand payment of their bills once a week, instead
of once a month, or once a quarter. Or they may pre-
sent them every morning before breakfast, for the gas
consumed the night previous ; and in case of non-payment
they have the right to stop the flow of gas into the de-
faulter's premises, as they do now. But what legal right
have they to compel.a loan of money from every one who
deals with them, and at the same time refuse to pay
interest for it ? No matter whether this loan be sor 500
dols, it is a heavy tax upon many poor but honest
people; and is, in principle, exceedingly offensive,
tyrannical and unjustifiable.
We take it for granted that Gas Companies are char-
tered and protected by law as public conveniences; that
their legitimate business is to furnish gas to any party
who demands it, and will pay for it ;—that they have no
right to refuse a supply under these circumstances. It is
neither their business nor right to prejudge, as dishonest,
everybody that applies for that merchandise ; requiring
that, as a preliminary, to any transaction, a douceur, a
" deposit," shall be made under the pretext of protecting
them from possible thefts, and insuring them against
imaginary losses ! If a Gas Company may do this law-
fully with its customers, why may not a water company,
a bank, or even an omnibus driver in Broadway ? We
cannot but characterise this scheme as a gross SWINDLE,
and that one would never have been attempted if the
business of making gas were not a monopoly. Public
sentiment cannot tolerate it long. Our citizens are
justly indignant about it ; but the only consolation
offered by the monopolists is, that "we will return
you your money when our transactions are closed with
you.'' Most of us can do better with our money
(when we have any) than loan it for life, without interest,
to parties about whose responsibility nothing is known!
We are informed that the amount of moneys already
colkicted in this way by the New York and Brooklyn
Gas Companies exceeds two million dollars I—capital
enough to sulapty all the gas consumed in these cities.

We desire to call the attention of the legislature, now
in session at Albany, to this subject. We beg to submit
to that honourable body—Have these gas companies any
authority, by their charter, to borrow money, or extort
money in this way ? Have they any authority to assume
the functions of savings' banks, receiving long deposits of
money, and issuing certificates for the same? If they
hav

then we would ask what securities are pledged fo-r
the faithful redemption of these loans and certificates?
And does not the interest which accrues on the loans,

while in the possession of these monopolies, properly
belong to the unwilling depositors ? We hope the legisla-
ture, before its adjournment, will look into this matter.
And we hope that some of our citizens who have suffered
this imposition (the newspapers have been passed by),
will speedily test the justness of it by legal proceedings
against the extortioners.

THE HOTEL ROBBERIES AT
MANCHESTER.

The two Americans charged with plundering several
hotels, who were apprehended for robberies at the Albion and
Royal Hotels, at Manchester, were on Saturday re-examined

before the Manchester magistrates, and there is now but little
doubt that they are part of a gang of most accomplished cracks-
men, who have been travelling through Europe for some time

past, practising their calling with no ordinary success. The
name of the first prisoner is Oscar Kingston, styling himself a
merchant from Philadelphia, who was charged with stealing
£25 from Mr. Elden, a commercial traveller, sleeping at the
Royal Hotel, Manchester, on Tuesday night. The other gave
his name Daniel E. Branch, and he calls himself a lawyer from
New York, and who was taken at the Adelpid Hotel, Liver-
pool, on Thursday, charged with having entered the bedrooms
of four travellers, and robbed them, at the Albion Hotel, Man-

chester, on Tuesday night, in addition to having atolen.a

large quantity of foreign coins from the landlord's bedroom.
When Oscar Kingston was taken, at the Royal Hotel, Man-
c'rester, he had managed to divest himself of everything
which could lead to a suspicion of his calling, but, subsequently,
two instruments were found concealed behind mats or oil-
cloths, between his bed room and that which had been robbed,
which threw a light on the facility with which gentlemen's
bedrooms could be entered and plundered without much
disturbance. One of these is an instrument entirely of steel,
i❑ the form of a mortising chisel, well adapted to cut out a
panel, unscrew the hinges of a box, or prize open a door.
The other is in the form of a pair of pliers, the two ends of which
when pressed together form a barrel, well adapted to lay hold of
the end of a key so as to turn it in the lock ; so that sup-
posing a door to be locked inside, and the key left in the
lock, the person having these pliers in his possession would be
able to turn the key from the outside, and on leaving the
room could re-lock the door without the necessity of removing
the key. Amongst the luggage of Branch was found a
formidable instrument used by thieves in New York, and
termed a "knuckle-duster." It is a thick, flat piece of
metal, about three-quarters of a pound in weight, with holes
at one of the edges, through which the four fingers of the hand
can be passed. When put on for use, and the fingers clenched
over it, the larger portion of the metal fills the fist, whilst the
outer edge presents four rings of solid metal over the knuckles
of the second joints of the fingers, calculated to give powerful
effect to a blow struck by the wearer. Up to Saturday, infor-
mation had been received of twelve or fourteen hotel robberies,
which the prisoners are supposed to have perpetrated—several
of the most serious being in London and Paris.

The prisoner Daniel E. Branch was first placed at the bar
of the police court, to be re-examined on the charge of five
robberies during Tuesday night at the Albion Hotel, Man-
chester ; but ultimately only one case was taken against him.
Inspector Maybury and police constable Stanley described the
apprehension of the prisoner at the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool.
and the search of ,his luggage. They produced four shirts
marked "M. de B." a small portmonnaie, with mother of
pearl sides inlaid with silver, and a silk mantle.
Mr. Michael de Burgin, said he had been lodging at the
Albion Hotel, Manchester, and went to London on Thursday
week, intending to return next day, and had consequently left
his luggage behind. He did not return till after the robbery,
when he misse4 all the articles produced. Ho could not
swear to the mantle or purse, hecagse he had no private marks
on them, but the shirts were his property, and had been taken
from the Albion Hotel. They were bought from a celebrated
sbirtinaker in Paris, who put his initials, "M. de B." on them.
Other evidence was tendered, showing that the prisoner
slept at the Albion on Tuesday
night,
and left very early next
morning, with the other facts of a suspicious character detailed
at the examination on Thursday.
The magistrates, without taking much time to consider,
decided to commit the prisoner for trial.
Oscar Kingston was then placed at the bar, charged with
entering a bedroom at the Royal aotel, Manchester, on the

same night.
Mr. Stanisland, solicitor, of Boston, Lincolnshire (who, it
is said, has been robbed of a large sum recently at a hotel in
London) conducted the case.
Mr. Edden, of London, said he slept at the Royal Hotel
on Tuesday night. About half-past two o'clock on Wedges..
day morning he was awoke by a person having entered his
bedroom, and who he saw examining his clothes at the foot
of the bed. It.was a man in drawers and Jersey vest. He
asked him what he did there and the man bounded out of
the room and witness after him, but the mars,escaped, and
he could not say which way he took along the corridor.
Notes to the value of £25 had been taken from ono of his
pockets, which were afterwards found on the floor outside his
door. Had locked his bedroom doer on going to bed and left
the key in the door.

evidence given on Wednesday, of the prisoner
seen on the landing over Mr. Eddeu's room, after
bbery, with the other suspicious circumstances, and
the chisel and pliers spoken of above, was

The
heir

the finding

again repeated

Mr. 11. S. Sowler, barrister, addressed the bench upon the
case in favour of the prisoner, observing that the prosecutor