The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-12-18 00:00:00

THE ANTI POOR LAW LEAGUE.

The Clerk then read a communication from the anti-poor
law board league, established in London, for the object of
preventing the poor law board from interfering with parochial
self government in all matters relating to the poor, and also of
effecting, through the medium of parliament, a thorough
reformation of the law, governing the poor law board. The
following are some of the grounds urged for the
formation of the, league, namely, that the power
which the Poor Law Board assumes to possess, and
unfortunately too often exercises, of directing the mode of
workhouse management, without regard to the opinions of the
directors, guardians, or parishioners, also of dismissing or re-
taining officers of the workhouse, irrespective, and frequently
in defiance of the wishes of such directors, whose servants
such officers are, is, to say the least of it, extremely repulsive
to that feeling of independent and free action which Englishmen
cherish so dearly; and moreover, it causes gentlemen to wi'h-
draw their usual services from that sphere of action where they
can, under such circumstances, only figure as the unpaid and
lightly esteemed servants of a central board.
At the request of the board, the chairman was requested to
read the circular at his leisure, and give his opinion on the
subject at a future meeting.

MISS HOBBS'S SALARY.
In accordance with a notice given last week, Mr. Abrahams
moved that Miss Hobbs's salary be increased from £4O to £5O
per annum. He pointed out the great additional labour and
responsil;ility that had devolved upon her, from the increase in
the number of patients in the hospital, they having raised from
25 to 95, and expressed it as his opinion, that for her faithful
services she deserved that acknowledgment.
Mr. Whitty seconded the motion.

After a brief discussion, tho board divided, when the
motion was negat:ved.

Some routine business having been transacted; the board
adjourned.

DEPOSITS IN SECURITY FOR. Gas.—A. practice has long
continued in Greenock, we believe, is in operation elsewhere,
for the manager of the gas works to demand and receive,
from parties proposing to consume gas, sums of money to
remain in his hands as security for payment of gas they
may consume. Fer some time past a feeling of disatisfac.
tion has prevailed hero on account of deposits being exacted
in this way to a la,ge extent ; and we understand that the
magistrates (the gas works here are corporated property)
have been led to make encitery into the practice, and that
in cases in which they found that consumers, who were
depositors, had, for a series of years, made regular payments,
they gave orders for their deposits being returned to them.
Francis Davidson, a grocer in Crawfordsdyke, has been a
depositor to the extent of 15s for the last two years. Lately
he had his account for gas rendered him, amounting to 14s
which iheluded 2s for the use of a meter till May, 1857.
Mr. Davidson, considering that he wos as well entitled to
repayment of his deposit money as others, desired the
manager to pay the 14s out of the 15s already in his hands
as a deposit, and return him the balance with interest.
This the manager refused to do, and, on the plea that-the
account was not paid, cut off his supply. Mr. Davidson
appealed to the Gas Committee. and, after some discussion
they agreed to return the deposit money, but before restor-
ing the gas, insisted upon Davidson either purchasing the
meter be had, or find security for it. Mr. Davidson
urged that he had already paid for the use of the
meter up till May next, and was thus not entitled to give
any security. The Committee would make no further
concession, and Mr. Davidson presented a summary appli-
cation to the Sheriff to ordain that the gas be restored.
The Sheriff granted warrant in the usual way, appointing
a copy of the petition to he served upon the Town Clerk
as representing the Magistrates and Gas Committee, and
ordering compearanee to be lodged within 48 hours. The
querion is ocenpving some attention with the public...-
Glasgow rail!, Mail,

LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

LIVERPOOL.
BEFORE ➢IR. MAN,,FIELD.

CONFLICT ON BOARD SIIIP IN THE RIVER.—A case that
attracted much attention, came on at the morning sittings,
when James Beattie, the mate of the ship Eliza Ann Bright, was
brought up on two warrants, charging him with having violently f
assaulted two sailors, named Alfred Weber and Flanagan,
with intent to do them grievous bodily harm. The prisoner was
brought up by Detective-officer Sullivan, who said he went
along with four officers in a boat to arrest the prisoner, when
he threatened to swamp the boat and drown them. They,
however, succeeded in arresting him on the charge, which will
be found in the following evidence. The Complainants were
covered with blood, end had their heads and faces bandaged
up. Mr. Bluck defended the piisdntr. The complainant
Weber said, he shipped in the vessel, and Wtint on board
as she was going out of dock on Tuesday. Without any pro—
vocation, the mate struck him eix heavy blows of a " sling
shot" on the hind. He first tore the witnesses coat, and
shoved him about; and then knocked him down. That's
all he had to say. (A voice : " Quito enough.")
Cross examined by Mr. Bluck : It was about half past one, and
we were vein; to sea; I was sohrr, as I don't drink. I chipped
as able seaman. I was not quarrelling with any one. I was
standing for a few moments doing nothing. The mate caught
me by the coat, and told me to haul on the hawser. It does
not take half an hour to get out of the gates with a steamboat.
My coat was not off. I did not call him ill names, nor did
say I would not go to work for him. I did not use any
insulting expression to him. I did not strike him, nor did I
get a cleaver to do so, for I was knocked down, and was struck
six times on the heal with a sling shot by the prisoner. I did
not see the mate down at all. Do you mean to say ho struck
you without any provocation ? Ido ; and that's my version of
it. Flanagan, another sailor, was examined : His nose
was covered with sticking plaister, and the front of his clothes
covered with blood, This witness gave evidence as to the
assault on Weber, and also as to the assault on himself by the
prisoner. Ihe witness was cross examined by Mr. Block, but
there iwas nothing material elicited. Thomas M'Vie fully
proved the assault on Weber by the mate. I❑ reply to Mr
Bluck, the witness said he happened to be on board seeing a
friend off, and that was what brought him on board. The vessel
was out in the stream at the time. Did you not go on board
for the purpose of kicking up a row ? Certainly not, I went
to see off my friend. Weber did not refuse to do his duty.
The c,ptain said it was all the fault of liquor, and that it would
be all right when they got out. Did not see the captain or
mate struck by any one. James M'Cann, another sailor, was
examined, and he also proved the assault. IVIr. Bluck : Was
there not a row? Yes, the mate kicked up all the row.
(Loud laughter.) The witness persisted iu saying that
the mate was not struck by any one, but that he
struck the men on all hands first. Surgeon
Garnet, of the Southern Hospital, said Flanagan's nose
was broken by the injuries he received; and the hones would
ultimately come away, and the man would be disfigured for
life. The other ma❑ was very much injured in tire head, and
fainted when he was brought to the hospital. Mr. B uck said
he was instructed to call witnesses in the case, but if his
worship had made up his mind on the subject, he would not
call them. His worship said as to the extent of the injuries
received by the men he was decided, but he would hear
evidence as to the origin of the transaction. Mr. Bluck then
addressed the bench, and called David Davie, the pilot who
was on board, and who had charge of the ship at the time, and
the amount of his evidence was that Weber was drunk, and
had his coat on ; that he refused to obey the mate's orders, and
called him vile names. There was a general commotion on
board, but he did not see the assault. Daniel Whitmore, the
carpenter of the ship, was examined, and his evidence was as
to a general row. He said Weber was drunk, and tumbled
off the rail once or twice, and fell on his head and shoulders.
Weber denied this statement. A person named Faulk stated
that Weber was as drunk as a lord. (Laughter). He stated
that Weber used very bad language, and that both complainants
struck the prisoner. Mr. Heard, who was going a passenger
on board, said Weber was drunk at the time, and was quar-
reling with another man, and said that four or five of the men
pitched into the mato and knocked him down. He got great
provocation, and his orders were disobeyed. Captain J. Olive,
the master of the ship, was examined, and said the mate's
erclers were not obeyed, and Weber was quite drune. The
mato was with him nine mouths, and he is quite satisfied
with him. He is a little hasty at times. Nine or ten of the
men were on the mate, and Weber wae the ringleader of all. The
master rigger of the ship was examined, and gave general evidence
as to a row, and said Weber used bad language, and said, if he
got the mate on shore, he would give him the length of his
knife. Mr. Mansfield reviewed the evidence in the case of
Weber, and passed a high compliment on Mr. Block, whom
he designated an able and most experienced advocate, and who
had conducted the case with great ability. If the evidence on
the part of Weber had been borne out, he would have sent the
prisoner for trial, but the; evidence for the defence, which was
disinterested, had materially altered the case, but under all the
circumstances, he would fine the prisoner .£5 for the assault on
Weber, and would adjourn the other case for an hour. The
fine was paid and the prisoner discharged, but when the hour
expired he was not forthcoming, and another warrant for his
arrest was applied for.
A DRUNKEN HU3BAND.—A man named Wallace, a, rigger
by trade, was charged with assaulting his wife. The prisoner
and his family live in Robert street, and though ho has been
in the receipt of £2 a week wages for some time back, yet,
for the last three weeks, he only allowed his wife and family
13e. for their support. Their position at last became so dis-
tressed that she had to apply to the parish for relief. On
Tuesday night he returned to his home, and then not only
brutally assaulted his wife, but wantonly smashed all their
household furniture. Ho is an habitual drunkard. The
bench commented on the abominable conduct pursued by the
prisoner towards his family, and ordered him to pay a fine of
405., or bo imprisoned for a week.

Among the parties brought up, charged with having been
drunk and booked for eafety, was a woman of middle age.
When found insensible i❑ the streets, she had an infant in her
arms, and though the poor little child was almost convulsed
during the night for want of suck, its mother was in such a
brutal state that she could not place the child to her breast.
She was discharged.

CURIOUS EFFECTS OF THE LATE STORM.--The inhabitants
of Stephen-street have been greatly annoyed by the incursiin
of an immense number of rats, who have made their way
up through the large sewers which have connexion with the
river. A regular crusade has been waged against them, but
up to the present, we believe, the rats have gained the day.
They are of large size, and great ferocity.--Waterford
Mail.

TnE Loss or THE CLLRENDON.—In our paper of
, Monday we gave some particulars of the loss of this vessel,
which we copied from the Carlisle Patriot, and which con-
eluded with a charge that the Captain of the Clarendon
had been " humbugged" by the Captain of a Liverpool
tug-boat. The following paragraph should have been
added :—" Had he not been depending on the tug to be
towed in, he could have taken his vessel into the harbour
himself with only the foresail. Those who saw the whole
of the circumstances, however, are of opinion that no
blame whatever appertains to the Captain of the tug, and
state that if Captain Noyes had kept sail on his ship she
would have came in in safety. This is borne out by the
fact that the brig Transit, timber laden, made the harbour
without the least difficulty within half an hour of the
Clarendon going on shore. But nautical men not only
blame Captain Noyes for taking in sail, but for not letting
go his anchors when requested to do so by both the Captain
of the tug and the men in the harbour-boat. There is no
doubt that if he had done so, his ship would have ridden
out the gale, even if no assistance had been sent out to him.
—Cumberland Pacquet.
JUSTICE WILLES ON THE TICKET. OF-LE AVE SYSTEM.—At
the Derby assizes, on Monday, Mr. Justice Willes, in
sentencing a man named John Thompson, for burglary,
made the following remarks bearing upon the ticket-of-
leave system :—Men, like you, break into houses in the
night time, and if the inhabitants attempt to defend their
property, you attack them violently. There does not
appear to have been any violence to the person in this case;
but such is of too frequent occurrence. It ought to be
known that persons whose houses are so broken into, are
entitled to put burglars to death. Burglars destroy the
peace and quietness of people, as well as steal their property,
and these are most serious offences. It appeals you were,
at Liverpool assizes, in August, 1853, convicted of a like
offence to this, and sentenced to be transported for seven
years. Had that sentence been carried into effect, the
country would have got rid of your depredations un it
August, 1860—that is, instead of your committing these
fresh offences in August, 1856, you would have been con-
fined till August, 1860. But you were liberated frcm
custody, having on the sth of August in this year received
a ticket of Lave, by which you were thrown upon the
country instead of being transported. By some transforma-
tion which I have never been able to understand in these
cases, you were thought a proper person to be let out after
having been confined three years. Ido not myself under-
stand the reason of this. The clemency of her M. Fsty
having been extended to you in .August. 1856, I find you
12 days afterwards, viz., on the 17th of August, committing
a burglary at the house of J-seph Shard ; then, on the
26th of August, nine days later, you committed another
burglary at the house of John Robinson ; and then, on the
26th of August, 21 days after your liberation, yon committed
a third burglary, viz., at the house of George Farnsnorth.
You were let out by royal clemency, on the sth of August
—whether that 'clemency was just or not I do not say—and
in the same month you commit three burglaries. if I
followed my own inclination I should pass upon you a more
severe sentence than the one I am about to pass , but,
following the example of others, the sentence of the court
is that you be transported for 20 years. That you were let
out before is not my fault.

COMMITTAL OF TWO PRISONERS FOR THE
GARROTTE ROBBERY AT BIRKENHEAD.

BIRKENHEAD POLICE.
BEFORE J. C. JACKSON, ESQ.

- -
Yesterday morning this court wee very much crowded to
hear the particulars of this robbery, in which three partics
were implicated; and at eleven o'clock Francis Jones and
James Little (who goes by the nickname of Latherhem),
were placed at the bar. They were both vou 1g men, of
decent appearance, and it was stated that Liles had occa-
sionally been employed at the Albert Dock Warehoes.s,
and Little was known as an associate of thieves. Mr.
Robert Singlehurst having been assisted into court, end
sworn, stated that he was a merchant, and resided at No.
29, Lord street, Birkenheadi and had al ,o an office in Crown
Chambers, R3dcross street, Liverpol. On the 6-,h of the
present month he left his office and crossed to Voodside
ferry. On going up the slip he obs3rved that it was near
six o'clock, and proceeded on his road home by way of
liimilton street and Canning street. When he arrived
about the middle of Leicester terrace he was suddenly seized
by some person from behind, who put his arms round his
neck, and crossing them in front of his throat, pros ed him
very tightly, so as to lift him off his feet at the same time;
another seized his hands in front of him, while the third
rifled his packets of a £lO Bank of England no`e, £4 10s.
in gold, about 10, in silver, and a gold watch and appendages,
At the time he had not strength to call out. After the
completion of the robbery they threw him down, and ran
away, leaving him quite insensible, and when he came to
himself he was lying in the middle of the street. That he
immediately gave an alarm, and was picked up and taken
to hislresidence. The prisoner Jones was the man who
held his hands, as he saw his face at the time he was
attacked; he hal no opportunity of seeing the one who
held him from behind, but ho believe from what he saw of
him, that Little was the man who rifled his pockets. At
the time he was attacked he was on the parapet, about
midway between two gas lamps, and it was also moonlight.
Mr. Daggers, who appeared for the prisoners, caoss examined
Mr. Singlehurst, who, in reply to his questions, stated that
he was 77 years of age, but that his sight was not bad, and
he only wore glasses when reading, and not In the street.
(Mr. Singlehurst was here shown the handbill offering the
reward, and giving a description of the robbery, and was
asked the number of his watch he said was in the bill, and
he read it without the aid of glasses)—and that he had not
called anywhere on his way from the office. The
evidence of the detective officers, Povey and M'Culloch,
was to the effect that they apprehended the prisoners from
the description they had received; that they both denied any
knowledge of the robbery; and that, on the 9da instant,
they took them to Birkenhead, and having placed them
among some other prisoners, in the station-house;' Mr.
Singlehurst (who had not seen them before), was brought
in to where they were, and in half a minute picked out
Jones as the man who had held his hands. Mr. Daggers
urged that there was not a sufficient identity of the prisoners
for the magistrates to commit them to take their trials
for the offence, and that they ought to be discharged. Mr.
Jackson said, he thought the evidence quite sufficient to
send them before a jury, and he should commit them for
trial at the next assizes. The prisoners, who, in answer to
the charge, said they should reserve their defence, were then
committed to Chester Castle. Nene of the property has
been recovered.

The executive committee of the United Kingdom Alliance
for the suppression of the liquor traffic have sent an address
to every elector in the borough of Southampton. calling
upon them to make the publican or no-publican question
the test of candidates at the forthcoming election.
GIAMORGAIISHIRE BOROUGHS.—It being understood that
Mr. Coffin, the present member for the united boroughs of
Cardiff, Cowbridge, and Llantrisaint, will not off?.r himself
for re-election, but is about to retire into private life, Mr.
J. F. D. Crichton Stuart, a gentleman who is connected by
family with the county, has offered himself for election in
his stead. Mr. Stuart has issued an address, in which he
says: " It will be my earnest desire to impart all well
matured measures calculated to provide for an enlarged
system of education for the children of our poorer brethren ;
the ex-ension of the elective franchise in full proportion to
the increased numbers and the enlightened progress of oar
fellow-countrymen ; the relief of those who conscientiously
object to the burden of church rates, and the reform of our
civil, miiitary, and ❑aval administrations with a view to the
full development of educational tests and personal qualifi-
cations in the several services of the state. As I believe
that no minister of the crown has more ably vindicated the
honour and power of England than Lord Palmerston, I am
prepared to give a hearty support to his foreign policy, cal-
culated as it is to insure the progress of free trade principles
in our intercourse with other nations."

A DEFAULTIMG POOR RATE COLLECTOR AT HUDDER9-
FIELD.-At the Huddersfield Gal Mall, on Tuesday last,
Mr. Alieklothwaite, birristcr, and poor law auditcr for the
Weft Yorkshire district, sued Jonathan Frost, late assistant
overseer and poor rate collector for the township of Lock-
wood, for the sum of £154 93. I Id., for which, after having
collected, he had failed to account. This sum the auditor
had certified to be due, at his audit on the 3rd of November
last. In consequence of this defalcation, Frost had been
suspended from his duties as collector by the board of guar
dians, and failing to pay the sum deficient the present
proceedings had been instituted. Mr. Leadbeater, who
appeared on behalf of Frost, admitted the sum to be due,
and asked for an adjournment of the case to see if some
arrangement could not be made for the payment of the
money, The Auditor pointed out that the proper mode
would be to issue a distress warrant for the amount, and in
default of this realising the required sum, order the
defendant to be committed for three mouths, the latter
not to be put in force if the defendant made some
arrangement for the payment of money due. The bench
adopted the course suggested, issuing a distress warrant
for the amount claimed, with costs, £2 123., and in default
committed the defendant for three months. The defendant
entered into his own recegnisances in £2O, to surrender
when called upon.

REVIVAL OF THE TEMPEUANCE MOVEMENT IN IRELAND.—
On Monday evening a numerously attended public meeting
of the friends of the temperance cause was held at the lec-
ture hall of the Young Miens' Christian Association, Alders-
g ite street, London, for the purpose of hearing an address
I om the Rev, Hugh Allen, A.M., incumbent of St. Jude'e,
Whitechapel, on this subject. Mr. Samuel Carter Halt
presided, and in opening the proceedings he made some
remarks eulogistic of the deceased Father Mathew. The
Rev. H. Allen then addressed the meeting, and prefaced his
observations by an allusion to the political importance of
Ireland to this country, and by endorsing the eulogium of
the chairman on Father Mathew. From his mission to
Ireland, he could state that the cause of temperance there
was in a more prosperous condition than some journals
represented. It was said that a reaction had taken place in
reference to the movement ; but that was not to be consi•
dered, either as a matter to excite surprise or inspire dis-
trust as to its permanent success, for reactions in degree
might always be expected in social or political revolutions.
The famine in Ireland was per se sufficient net only to
retard the progress of the movement, but to destroy it
altogether ; and its surviving that fearful ordeal was a
proof of its strength. When he visited Ireland about three
years ago, he perceived in the south a great improvement
with respect to the habits of the people as regarded temper-
ance, and the result of his recent visit to the north of the
country satisfied him that there the cause was pro'pering.
In Belfast, and other important places, the movement was
evidently progressing, and clergymen of the Wesleyan,
Independent, and Presbyterian bodies used their enemy,
zeal, and chivalry, towards promoting its prosperity. The
reverend gentleman mentioned the names of several rising
and distinguished members of the clergy, and amongst the
Dissenting community, as well as influential members of
the laity,who had taken a part in promoting the temperance
cause in Ireland, and concluded an eloquent and earnest
address by reiterating his conviction that the cause of tem-
perance in Ireland would not retrograde, but must ultimately
prove triumphant.

helimree ree;or for
against
3v. ry , but
- LIABILITY OF A SHERIFF OFFICER.—A decision was
pronounced by Mr. Sheriff Dyce the other day in the Small
Debt Court, Glasgow, which a cotemporary has freely
3 a odds,
parbtyeining
commented on as one of hardship to the public, without,
however, stating the real point ou which the case turned.
The case is one of some interest, as calculated to remove
the prevalent but erroneous notion of the extent of a sheriff
officer's duties and responsibilities. It was an action at the
instance of Mr. Turnbull, accountant, Glasgow, against Mr
contents
sC
messengerhof
had
a small
jtf
,I oa
iehn na Cu
crokn,
not been recovered in consequence, as was libelled, of his
be
e ill l
neglect of duty as an officer. The defender proved—indeed
it was not attempted to be denied—that the debtor was in
as
etdne tb armstt o decree
sach poor circumstances that nothing could be made of
him by proceedings under the decree. This he intimated
to the pursuer at the time, at the same time submitting
for his consideration a proposal made for liquidation of the
debt by weekly instalments, to be retained by the debtor's
employer off his wages. A number of letters were
afterwards written by the pursuer to the defender inquiring
as to the progress of matters, to which no answer was
returned, till an action havirg been threatened against
the defendant and his cautioners, he returned the decree,
explaining that the debtor had failed to get his master to
enter into the arrangement, and that nothing had been
recovered, on which the pursuer raised the present action
The Sheriff held that the only ground on which the pursuer
rested his claim against the defender, viz., his neglect of
duty as an officer, had not been established, and stated
that, in deciding the case, he kept altogether out of view,
what occurred subsequent to the pursuer entertaining the
offer of an extrajudicial settlement, it being no part of the
duty of the defender, as an officer of court, to obtain
payment of debts extrajudicially. He therefore assolized
the defender.