The Express.
London, England, 1868-12-03 00:00:00

TSB LICENBING 61STB11.

Yesterday afternoon a meeting was held at the
Langham Hotel, having for its object to promote certain
changes which are deemed necessary or desirable in
the becoming system with respect to beerhouses.
The following resolution was proposed:—" That a
national aroxiation be formed ice the purpose
of bringing legislative action to bear on the
existing facilities and means of intemperance ;
in the first place, by preventing the issue of any new
licenses to new persons under the Beerabop Act of 1830,
and subsequently by promoting • general revision of the
laws affecting public houses and other places of public
entertainment.' This resolution reeeird the support of
Ascbbiebop Manning, who said, although the United
kingdom Aibseea bag done it. sw Ilk Kt goal talukuary,
yet, wisely or unwisely, they advocated the entire extinc-
tion of the liquor traffic and the permissive bilk and he
thought it might be worth while to try and form another
national association, claiming support from those who
went as far as the members of the United Kingdom
Alliance, as well as those who were only in favour of
some revision of the laws relating to the sale of intoxi-
cating drinks. rke rrsolution wal agreed to, and the
proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the
chairman.

BURGLARY AND ATTEMPTED MURDER AT
IBLINOTON.—Y, eterday. morning between 3 and 4 o'clock,
one of the meet daring burglaries, with • deliberate
attemit at murder, which hair occurred for some time,
was committed at the house of a widow lady named
Bland, who, with her daughter, keeps a school for young
ladies in Halliford-street, Islington. The premises are
situated at the corner of the Oxford-road, a rather quiet
neighbourhood. The only inmates at the time were
females, and two grandsons of Mrs. Bland, aged mine-
tively 13 and 16, named Law. The eldest of these,
Charles, wee awakened by a noise in his bedroom, and,
on starting up, discovered • man leaving it. Springing
out of bed, be went partiall down stairs, when lie heard
voices issuing apparently from the kitchen. Re-
turning to his bedroom, Mr. Law hastily put on
• portion of his clothes, and, taking • sword with him,
went quietly, and with the greatest presence of mind and
remarkable courage in one so young, down stairs to the
kitchen, where he was in the act of getting a light, when
the burglar deliberately tired • pistol at him. Fortu-
nately, however, this did a,,t take effect, but on examining
the room afterwards, it was discovered that the bullet had
gone through a teatray which was on the droner, and had
deeply imbedded itself in the wall. From the momentary
flash caused by the Petal Mr. Law saw that his
assailant was • thick-set man, of about 6 ft. 7 in.
or 8 in. in height, with a stubbly beard, and wearing
what appeared to him to be a large fur cap drawn low
down over his eyes. Recovering himself from the shock
occasioned the discharge of the pistol, the bullet of
which close by his ear, Mr. Law rushed towards
the rob , and in his efforts to overtake him threw down
a table, over which he fell, and this aroused the other
inmates of the house. Springing to his feet again Mr.
Law followed in pursuit of the burglar, but the latter ran
hastily away, banging two or three doors in his flight, and
got claw off. By this time the ladies in the upper part of
the house had given the alarm to the police, who hastened
to the spot, but too late to discover the thieves.
In the bedroom where the two young men
slept they were in the habit of keeping two
rapers, one on each side of the bed. These were taken
b the robber, as were also • watch from underneath the
Mow, and some 31. or 41. from the pocket of • pair of
at hanging the foot of the bed. The rapers
were afterwards dimmed, with other things which had
been packed up read for removal, and in the garden the
watch was found with thee's' broken, and 'omega or seven
shillings in silver and copper money, which had evidently
been dropped by the thieves in their Fred/P616/ elaaPO.
The doom and windows were all esessid, iplemsd over-
night. It is thought that the robbers elfeeted la entrance
before the inmates bad retired to rest, and when all was
still had proceeded to ransack and plunder the home.
FIRE ON THE THAMES BIIBAREMEMT.—About
eleven o'clock last night • fire, resulting in the destruc-
tionof mmaidetable property, broke out as the work, in
connection with No. 3 contract of the Thames Entbink-
ment. The pFaart where the disaster originated fame the
Temple garosne, and the works, which have been wholly
deetx comprised a row of wooden storehouses, ex-
tending overnearly one hundred yards. The fire was Bret
discovered in the stores belonging to the works situated
about the centre of the buildings ; and no sooner was the
alarm given than the workmen employed in the construc-
tion of the new bridge at Illackfriars, and those
on other parts of the embankment, were on the
rto render assistance. The flames soon relished
oupsnten, and smitba' shop in one direction,
and the surveyor's hut in the other, and • the
cams of the clerks of the weeks were soon in a Mara. In
Its the fire came in contact with a quantity of
nepntha, turpenUne„&c., stoned near the oMoes already
and at wNth point the works terminated. The
waned,artirely &mashed. The Zia] bell bad JIM
folks as the Ant engine began te y. How the Ire
originated is unknown, but that the spark emanated
hem the doves is otetaln. The hoes et machinery, tools,
*c.. will be ocasiderable. The andineke for the works
is Wr. Webster.
THE BLACM3DEN MUEDIR.--COMMITTAL TO THE
Ammres.—On Tuesday last Thomas Fallon (40) and
Dowd De* box Cowas ers brought before the XaLer of
wWYI rof Thomas Wh=lipdche'r_ awiweei the,
ca 1M ~igbt of the 17th Xemesher. Xr. Addison, bar-
octal ibedehmes. After ses= of nine
boa" at elgOt sirdoladk at Odd the beach
winners to take Oak Wel ea the charge orteillike
innedim at the ansedni Limped demises.
Doirmia anl4fr.imtb are tha
sitand. is
Weielenes tel= Mrsada.
tram. .ura'X' intrirk :VT
am* Taira, W.4.4lldentlemenk

LAW INTELLIGENOR.

001111,T OF WARM BEINCIL—Dno. 2.
After Twee NW rekea Adage at Weeiniekr.—(Betere
the Lord Met Jaetise sad • llcetial Jam)
aosimoing c mums.
MN am Oa mires ter Mee hapionritere
the is
sheet.
first wet • jambes 1 iht Ss
time of Ow was eetheatiog husatit
ro a deagereee hone* awl that le ecullsesseat ia a
heo steam was
'Throats*, the rehetansm"rige ;Mel woe stew is yeraw.
day's ispreso, wee adjourned.

COUNT OF COMMON PLEAS.—DISY. 2.
Sittings at Nisi Pries in Miiiihmes.—(Before Lord Chief
Justice Boa end a Spieled Jury.)
WILT 'I. SUM. as eefoa~.
The plaintiff in this we bad far a good many years I
been a -tailor and outfitter in the ilaymen and the de-
fendants were woollendraßers, in bemiring in St. Nadia's-
lase. In 1866 the plaintiff found it mommy to oaf his
creditors together, and be propmed a deed by white he
agreed tom 20s. lathe pried byinelehmsalln, fitthree:rit
une,andtwerve months. The anangemost was not
out, and the plaintiff at the instance of his erediton, ex-
ecuted a d4ed of assignment of all his property is trust'
for his erodible'. Subsequently lb. *debit wee
declared a bankrupt at the indwell of the
defendants, the execution of the deed of assignment being
the act of bankruptcy relied ca. The Lards Justine, on
appeal annulled t bankruptcy, sthe ground that
the defendants having been momcr parties to the
li
deed could not afterwards rely upon as an set of
bankruptcy. The present adios was to receiver damages,
upon the ground that the defendants had acted maliaiously
in getting the plaintiff declared a bankrupt. It was said
that the plaintiff's nisei* object was to avoid bank-
ruptcy, sod that his bank:meg having beendeolared, and
his chop having been for some months in posmesion of the
messenger. the heehaws was Mr seriously injured.
Mr. Hawkins, Q.C., Dr. ransablY, CIAO, sad Mr.
Brindley appesred for the plaintiff ; and Yr. D. Keane,
Q.C., and Xi. Turner for the defendants.
The we occupied two days and a half, and ft involved
• 'complicated set of fasts. Another simsortance was
that it was a eeeoad trial, end the matter bad also been
before a Court of Error.
Nis lard** was three hours and be summing up, and
he left twelve serest. euselisme to the jury.
The kur, after candisrieg tbe .Sr=e der two hours
and a liaN, answers& some et the questions ; but mid
that there was so chasm dtheir agreeing as to the
others.
His lordship then varied the fens of some of the quer
liens ; but thb led to no better remit.
The jury, again retired ; but, after a time, they sent to
ray that, all and every argument is enhausted, and it is
utterly impossible to agree;' and thereupon they were
discharged without a verdict.

SECOND COURT.
(Sittings at Nisi Prins in Middlesex.—(Before Mr. Justice
Smith and a Common Jury.)
71100012 C. RICITH.-111Z/Xll 07 MOM= 07 11•111417,.
The plaintiff, Lonna Fromm, claimed damages from
the defendant, William Smith, upon
_the ground that he
bad promised to marry her, and had lead to pm-form his
promise. The defendant. by his Pleas, denied the pro-
mise ; and also amerted that he had been released from
its performance.
Mr. Huddleston, Q.C., and Mr. Coffins appeered
for the plaintiff ; and Mr. D. Keene, Q.C., and W. Day
for the defendant.
Mr. Huddleston said that this was not one of those ro-
mantic ewes in which the parties had agreed in hot
blood to marry, and in which the jury would be amused
by hearing fond but absurd letters read ; but it was a
substantial ease, and one which the plaintiff was fairly
entitled to bring into court. She had loin by the breach
of her contract with the defendant what was forhera very
considerable status in society, and probably the jury
would more consider a substaitial loss of this kind than
they would if they had to deal with the injured feelings
of young people. The plaintiff wasa widow, she had two
children, and she was a comely person, and about 40
years of age. It might be borne in mind that there was
high, nay even royal, authority for saying that there were
few more desirable women than than who were " fat,
fair, and forty." (A laugh.) The plaintiff lived at 88.
East-street, Manchester-square, where she carried on •
small business, and also let lodgings; and in this
way, since the death of her husband six or seven
years ago, she had earned a decent living for
herself aid her children. In 1865 the defendant, who
was about 66 years of age, went to live in her house, sad
there was a printed card in court in which he described
himself thus : . William Smith, widower and gentleman
—(laughter)—of North-street, Manchester-square, in the
borough of Marylebone, in the County of Middlesex ; eo
described in the -books of the Bank of England," and
there was added, " Money lender ; office, 6, Union-place,
Marylebone-road." The defendant remained in the plain-
tiff's house until May, 1867, andduring &imperial he paid
considerable attention to her. He was of a warm and
amorous nature, and though there might be some impedi-
ment in his gait there was none that affected his
.„,,,,„... ..,,,,,,,, ....Ai .............7 h.. * 1.....‘10. in fervid
an ready eloquence. In the early part of the preens'
year the defendant returned to the neighbourhood, sent
for the plaintiff, said that he woul I marry her, and gave
her 61. He also procured a marriage license and a ring.
He continued his attentions ouwitantly until July or
August, when be absented himself from the plaintiff, and
refused to perform his promise.
Mr. Geo. Morrell, who was deaf, said—l live in Wood-
fall-road. Harrow-read, and am a retired builder. I have
known the defendant 20 or 30 Tears, and have known
the plaintiff also for some time. •I
used to call upon the
defendant once or twice a week at the plaintifre. I
can't tell you all the defendant said about the plaintiff.
(A laugh.) He said many things; he said he intended
to marry her, and no one should prevent him. Ho said
be would mrry her in spite of me ar anybody able.
Mr. Collins—How came he to say that 1'
Witness—l told him I thought he was going to make an
old fool of himself. (laughter.) He said a hundred
times he would marry her. I have been with the defend-
ant two or three times to draw his dividends at the Bank
of Kerlin i. He told me that he had 4,632/. in the Bank.
He said he would settle 400!. upon the plaintiff. The de-
fendant put on the plaintiff's door a plate bearing his own
mine, "Smith," and he put a new knocker on as well.
(Laughter.) In April last I was with the defendant at
tie Wallace's Head, in Fast-street. He sent for the
plaintiff. She came, and he talked about hia marriage
matters. He gave her a gla,s or two of wine and a 5/.
note. I can't tell what be said, for I took little notice.
and I sat back towards the window. Afterwards they
were together every day. The defendant hired a cab for
every day at so much a day, and we went where we
liked— he and she and 1 and her little boy and girl.
Crass-examined—l slept every night at the defendant's
house. I did not pay him anything for this. I break-
fasted there, dined there, supped there, smoked there,
and clogged there. (A laugh. I also frequently dives
with him at public-houses, an went about in cabs at his
trIADDe.
Mr. Keane—Did you ever pay him any money for all
this

Witneee—l should ray T did not.
Mr. Beane—ls the Osintit in court ?
Witness—Yee.

The lady, at the request of the learned counsel, walked
into the body of the court. She seemed to be hardly of
the age which ber own advocate bad attributed to her.
The defendant was in a similar manner placed on view.
He was • very old and infirm man, be advanced with
difficulty • or two, and bad to be assisted in rising
and also in down again.
Mr. Keane— t do you think of him ?
Witnees—He looks • good deal worse then he did when
I was with him. He looks half gamed now, but I gave
him plenty to eat and drink. I should think the plaintiff
is about 40, and my old friend there (pointing to the de-
fendant) 73 or 74. Ido not think he is 76.
Mr. Keane—How long bee he been paralysed ?
Witness—Ever since I have known him. He got better
sometimes. We drank together. I did not dnak much
wine. The lady drank lemonade. The defendant gave
me money, but I never took SOL away from him. He
gave me 42/. when I went away, an:lrillatTve him 21!.
beck. He gave me the money for myspending my time
with him. I had to menet the defendan to bed, undress
him, and take him out of bed in the morning and dregs
him. I wag • sort of nurse. He was not fit to he* with-
out a nurse. He had not the use of his hand ; he could
not cut his own victim* and I had to cat it for him.
He bistros, enough. He was strong enough to tire me
out. The defendant ordered the card that has been read
to be printed. He was not drunk then; be might have
bad a glass or two. I was obliged to let him go where he
liked. I did not go with him to muaic.halls. The lady
went there with him. _ _