The Express.
London, England, 1857-10-07 00:00:00

CONFLICT OF AUTHORITY BET WIEN CORONERS
AND MAGISTRATES.

Yesterday afternoon Mr. G. S. Brent, the deputy-
coroner for West bliddlMes, re-sammbled for the fourth
time the jury, in the came of Bridget Kav oagb,who mends
committed to NevrWe by the police msgiitrate on the
charge of wilful murder, by poisoning her infant.

The deputy-coroner stated to the jury that in answer to
their wish at the last sitting he had made an application for a
writ of habeas corpus, in order, U possible, to have Bridget
Kavanagh brought before them at that inquest. On Tues&y
last he went before a judge at chambers, when the deposi-
tions were pieced in Mr. Baron Channell's hands, and counsel
was heard in support of the application, The
Judge said that he had looked very carefully over the
affidavit, and had determined that the writ should not issue.
Such being the case, the deputy-coroner had recommended the
jury to adjourn until after the trial at the Old Bailey, for should
the grand jury ignore the bill against her, the coruner's
ffi ocer would arreet her sgain, and if the jury returned her
guilty on the inquisition, she must be tried for the offence,
without the intervention of the grand jury at all,
The room was then cleared, and after about three-quarters
of an hour's discussion, the following resolution was unani-
mously agreed to, when the jury adjourned "The jury
lament that from there being no preeedents in favour of the
production of a person in custody by a writ of habeas myna
before the coroner's court, and that from the hostility that
appears to exist in certain quarters against the due perform-
: ance of their functions by the coreneep jury, they have been
unable to have the person of Bridget Kavanagh, now in
custody, brought before them to be identified, and to give
evidence, and thus to enable them to fultit their duties in
accordance with the oaths they have taken. The jury also de-
precate the 'venire manner in which the Secretary of State has
refused to interfere to cause Bridget Kavanagh aforesaid to
be produced before them, se they du the resolution of the
magistrates of Middlesex, in their report of the 28th of
February 1853, by which the magistrates have gratuitously
thrown obstacles m the way of the coroners court, when
they might, with • proper regard to the ancient institutions
of this country, have readily obviated difficulties which exist
in the metropolitan police act now in tone."
The above remlution was signed by the foreman on behalf
of the jury, and banded to the coroner.

PROGRESS OP CHURCH RATE ABOLITION.—Tho
columns of the Liberator for the present month furnish evi-
dence of the encores which is attending the efforts of the
church rate abolitionists, who en working as hard in the
Parishes es though the government had made no promise to
Introduce • bill. Ratelhave been refused at Tottenham,
Beccles, Bispham, Gillingham, Oxford, Tiverton, and
Eland-cum-Greet; while voluntary subscriptions hare been
agreed to at Langham, Droitwicb, and Blandford. At Wor-
cester the rate wart carried by • majority of vote., but not of
voters. At °numbest, these was a majority of only 16, on a
poll of more than 1,000 vote. Wsithanastmw, Wells, and
Southaimpton, are the only places recorded as having made
rates legally. At Woodstock, where the Duke of Marlbo-
rough put on the screw, the following fact wes stated . "AU
the vast demesne of Blenheim, tendert close up to our
town, and stretching for miles around us, pay nothing to
poor rates or church rates ; and yet the noble duke and hie
establishment at the palette are teipdar attottlaate at the
ektureh." . .

SIN RE JOHN TOWNSEND, M.P.—We notice in
the Gazette of last evening that the bankruptcy of Mr. John
Townsend, M.P. for the borough of Greenwich, has been
superseded ; and we Sr. also informed that such has been
etYected by the co-operation of several gentlemen (electors)
who sappoeted him at the last general election.
SURREY CONSUMERS' GAS COMPANT.—The half.
yearly general meeting of this company was bald yesterday
at the Bridge Hours Hotel, London-bridge ; Mr. Pocock in
the chair. The report stated that a sum of 8,3751. Ils. Id.
had been added to the capital account during the last six
months, the principal items of expenditure consisting of the
outlay in making some additions and improvements to the
work', and the law charge.. The net profit realised
de•ing the last half year amounted to 4,9321. 14s. 5d., out of
which the directors proposed that the dividend should be at
the rate of 8 per cent. per annum, without deducting income
tax, which would leave a surplus of 144/.95. to be added to
the balance of unappropi 'mod profits. The works were in a
satisfactory state. The balance sheet contained an item of
20,8781. for the purchase of the Deptford Gas Works, which
amount, as explained by the chairman, had been settled by
arbitration. Ihe amount of law clime.. was 2,0701. 3a Bd.,
the main part of which bad been incurred in reference to the
pur, base of the Deptford Works. The report was unani-
mously agreed to, and a dividend of 8 per cent. declared
accordingly. _ _ _ .

- , -
A gentleman, named de Beaujour, some time ago
bequeathed a sum of money to the municipality of Idar•eilles
for a prim of 5,000 francs to be given every five years for
the beet Meaths on the commerce of that city. ha • sum of
20,000 francs has now accumulated, the mmicipality him re-
solved that in 1860 • prise of 10,000 franca shall be offered
' for such an essay; and It hopes that Ale writers on statis-
tical and commercial subjects may be tempted by the large-
' nose of the sum to compete for it.
TnE RUSSIANS IN THE BLACK SEA.—A Constan-
tinople letter of 23rd ult., in the Simaphore of Marseilles,
contains the following In announcing the arrival in this
port of three Russian screw corvette, from Cronstadt, on
their way to the Black See, I was not swore of the precise
object of their coming. It now appears that it is to establish
a rigid system of blockade on the oast of Cir.:oasis, in order
to prevent the mountaineers front nceiving arms, ammuni-
tion, and • thousand other things w Lich they no., receive
by merchant vessel", all coming more or less directly from
England, and which proceed to Circaa,ia in virtue of the
neutralisation of the Black Sea. The RU1144•111., in their turn,
apply this principle in the defence of their interests. Two
liussian gunboats have also arrived here, 04 their way to
take up their station la the Danube."