The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-03-28 00:00:00

THE MEDICAL OFFICERS REPORT.

Th.P medical officer reported that the returns of deaths
for the week ending Saturday last, showed a higher mor-
tality than for many previous weeks. The deaths, which
in the preceding week were 210, rose last week to 251, or
10 more than the average of the same week during the
previous eight years, corrected for increase of population.
Of the 251 deaths, 161 were in the parish, and 85 in the
out-townships. The increase last week was owing in a
great measure to an increase in the number of fatal
affections or the lungs, and partly also to the greater
mortality from scarlatina. From diseases of the lungs,
there were 96 deaths, against 75 in the previous week.
From zymotic diseases the deaths were 66, and of these
22, ne one-third, were for scarlatina (a greater number
than in aoy week of the previous two months), 13 from
hooping cough, 8 diarrhoea, 7 measles, 6 croup, 4 typhus
fever, 3 syphilis, and none from small-pox. A. fatal case of
gout was registered at the age of 66. The deaths of 8
males-and ffemiles, were registered from the infirmities
of age. The mean temperature of the week had been,
about the average, 44 degrees.
CONTRACTS FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE NIGHT SOIL, &C.

The following tenders were the only ones offered for the
removal of the night soil, and refuse in the various dis-
tricts named :

14001. K'dale. E'ton. W. Derby. Tcx P. Refase.
Mr. Rose £1,500 £5OO £1,200 £1,700 £2,100 £lOO
Ellison

Pickering 3OO 440 70
The lowest tenders were accepted, namely, Mr. Rose's
for Liverpool ; and for Kirkdale, Mr. Pickering's ; for
Everton, Mr. Pickering's ; for West Derby, Mr. Elli-
son's ; for the Park, Mr. Rose's ; for the market refuse,
Mr. Ellison's.

The following were tenders for the removal of street
sweepings and sewer refuse : in No. 1 and 2 districts, of
the whole town distinguished respectively, as:south and
north of Dale-street.
Name. Sweepings. Refuse.
Mr. Ellison's, No. 1.
Do. No. 2 1.900
Mr. Riding 1.377
Mr. Rose
Mr. Pickering
Mr. Ellison's being thelonly tender for No. 1 district,
(South of Dale-street), was accepted ; and Mr. Riding's
tender was accepted for No. 2 district.
UNHEALTHINESS OF THE COUNCIL CHAMBER-PROPOSED

ENLARGEMENT.

The sub-committee on this subject submitted a report
recommending that the chamber be enlarged by taking in
the ante-room and passage on the south side, thus making
the room 39 feet square, and giving a full council 370
cubic feet of air to each member, instead of 260 feet as at
present. The proposed change would involve the re-
modelling of the ceiling, the conversion of a portion of the
lobby, adjoining the keeper's room, into an ante-room, and
other alterations.

Mr. Robertson Gladstone moved the adoption of the
report, observing that he felt convinced that people out
of doors would not find fault with those representatives
who did their duty for going to the expense of altering the
room in which they assembled ; it were strictly necessary,
in order to render it a healthy apartment.
Mr. Beckwith seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimouly.
THE CLOSING OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCHYARD AS A BURIAL-

SOUTH LANCASHIRE ASSIZES

CROWN COURT.-YESTERDAY
(BEFORE MR. BARON MARTIN.)

MANSLAUGHTER OF A CHILD BY HER STEPMOTILER.-.
Elizabeth Siddall, 32, housekeeper, was charged with the
manslaughter of her step-chill, Ann Siddali, four years old,
at Manchester. Mr. Blair prosecuted ; the prisoner was
undefended. Thomas Siddall, a bay of fourteen, a brother
of the deceased child, deposed that he remembered on one
Sunday night the prisoner beat the child with a walking
stick, in the presence of her father, because she was crying.
His father got up, knocked the prisoner down, and took
the stick from her. The prisoner afterwards kicked the
child. Six or seven weeks after this took place he missed
the child altozether. He had frequently seen his step-
mother beat the child, though he was not much at home
after six o'clock in the morning. Margaret Delahoyd, an
elderly Irishwoman, deposed that she lived with the Siddalls
eight months previous to the Ist of March. The deceased
scorned to be a healthy child when she went there. About
a month after she went there she saw the prisoner strip
the child and lay it down upon the bed-room floor, and
place one foot upon the child's head, pressing it down. The
child's nose bled after this treatment. The prisoner beat
the child after that many a time, by thumping her hands on
the chest and belly of the deceased. She used also to put
one hand round the child's neck, and the other over her
nose and face, and strike her, as she said, " to stop her
bawling." She made its nese bleed with that treatment.
The chill afterwards had the measles, and while she was
marked with the pock of the measles, the prisoner took her
down into the cellar, and dipped her into a tub of water.
It was very cold weather when she did this. One day she
took the poker to strike the child, but witness interposed,
and the poker struck her (witness's) wrist instead of the
child, and bruised it severely. The child never had sufficient
food ; it was continually picking up crumbs or what
it could get hold of. His Lordship : Have you had
any quarrel with this woman ? Witness : No, I never
quarrelled with her. His Lordship : Why did you
not tell the father all this? Witness : I told the son (rhe
previous witness) to tell his father that if it was not taken
away it would be killed. His Lordship : Was he (the
father) fond of the child ? Witness : He seemed fond of it
when be saw it, but he did not take mud, notice of it.
Mazy Eyres stated that she stayed a week at the prisoner's
house, in May, 1854, while out of place, with an acquaint-.
ance who was servant there. She often saw the prisoner
punish the child by jumping upon it ! Once she dragged it
out of bed and said, "You stupid devil, you sleep your
senses away," and then she beat it. Mr. James Taylor,
chief constable of Salford, said, that in consequence of
having been informed by her neighbours that the prisoner
was in the habit of ill-treating her stepchild, he went to her
house and asked her about it. Another person was present
at the time, and he asked her also. The prisoner replied.
" I am not on my oath, and I shan't spy anything about it."
Emma Harris; a very old woman, deposed that the prisoner's
husband brought the child to her cellar, on the 2nd of
March, saying that the prisoner neglected ber. The child
was very sickly-looking, and afterwards died. The house
surgeon of the Manchester Infirmary said he had made a
post mortem examination of the body. There was a livid
mark on the forehead, as if from a blow. Internally he
found the cheat healthy, except the lungs. There were
tubercles on the lungs, and other evidences of consumption.
He could not tell how long these symptoms had existed, but
they ,had been very rapidly accelerated, recently, before
death. The want of proper food, and being dipped in cold
water, would have accelerated the disease. The prisoner
in her defence said that what had been stated
by the first two female witnesses was totally
untrue. The child had been very delicate
before ever she saw it. Mrs Harris being re-called said,
in answer to his lordship, that the prisoner had been married
two years. His Lo, dship, in summing up, told the jury t
divest from their minds all prejudices thee had been raised
against the prisoner, by what they had heard. It seemed
an omission, on the part of the prosecution, that none of the
neighbours had been called to speak to the ill-treatment, as
one would have thought they must have witnessed it, if it
had been so continual as deposed to by the witnesses. It
was strange that the woman, Delahoyd, should have lived
in the house for eiLlit months, without mentior.ing it to the
police, or somebody e'se. However, they had the evidence
of the surgeon before them, and the only question for them
to decide was, whether the death of the child had been
wilfully accelerated by the conduct of the prisoner. The
jury retired to consider their verdict, and, after an absence
of a quarter of an hour, returned into court with a verdict of
guilty. Sentence deferred.
EMBEZZLEMENT BY A CLERK. —3 oseph Kearns, 44, a
man of respectable appearance, described in the calendar as
a clerk, was indicted on a charge of embezzling the sum of
9s 4d, the property of James Radley, his employ( r. Mr.
Radloy is a colliery proprietor, at Eccleston, near St.
Helens, and the prisoner was employed by him as machine
clerk. On the Ist of February, the prisoner received 93 4d
on his master's account, which he had not accounted for. The
prisoner was defended by Mr. Simon, who called several
witnesses as to his previous excellent character. The jury
returned a verdict of guilty, but added a strong recommen-
dation to mercy. His Lordship sentenced the prisoner to
one month's confinement in gaol, remarking that the dis-
grace of his being placed at the bar oa such a charge, was
far worse punishment to a man in his position than could
be any term of imprisonment.
Bffiamv. —M,rgarct Clarke, a stout middle-aged woman,
surrendered from her bail to stand her trial on a charge of
bigamy. A witness from Inverness stated that he was
present on the 9th Nov, 1836, when the prisoner was
married to John Clarke, by the Rev. Mr. Macpherson,
Presbyterian minister, They afterwards lived together. He
produced a copy of the marriage register. Il had seen
Clarke alive last December, at the police court in this town.
Cross-examined by the prisoner : Was I married according
to the laws of Scotland ? Witness : Yes you were, as far
as 1 know. (Laughter.) Prisoner : Wt ra you married that
way yourself ? (Laughter.) Witness (cautiously) :
I believe I was, but I'm not so sure, though. (Roars of
laughter.) Margaret Willis, wife of a seaman in this town,
deposed that she was daughter of the prisoner by her hus-
band John Clarke. Cross.examined by the prisoner ;Do
you know he left me without bed or blanket ? (I aughter.)
Witness : Yes. His Lordship : For how long ? Winess
Four years. (Laughter.) In answer to further questions
from the prisoner, the witness replied that her father left the
prisoner once or twice. The last time he left her he sold
all her furniture before going away. A letter came a day
or two afterwards to say that he was drowned in the Cale-
donian canal. He, however, came back himself two or
three days after, and was seen by the prisoner. Mr. Riley,
a liceneed victualler of this town, deposed that he was pre-
sent at St. Martin's church, Liverpool, on the
26th June, 1854, when the prisoner was
married to James Ferguson. The Rev. Mr. Forfar,
Presbyterian minister, gave evidence as to the custom of
marrying in private houses in Scotland. This was the evi-
dence for the prosecution. The prisoner then said she was
sorry for what she had done, and threw herself upon his
lordship's mercy. The jury returned a verdict of guilty,
but recommended the prisoner to mercy. His Lordship : I
really want to know who got up this prosecution ? Mr.
Henry Walters (the prosecuting officer) : The information
was given by the man Clarke, my lord. His Lordship ; It
appears this woman was deserted by leer husband, and
supported herself and four children, for years, by her own
industry. He never went near her until he made this charge.
I don't think it is a case for punshment at all. The
sentence of the court is, that you be imprisoned for five
I days.

MANSLAUGHTER.—Mmy Ann Doyle, a woman about 21
years of age, was indicted for the manslaughter of Ellen
Kelly, at Manchester. It appeared that in an affray in a
public house, on the 13th of December last, the deceased
had been stabbed in the neck by the prisoner. She was
taken to the infirmary, where She died on the 30th December.
In the interval before the death of deceased, prisoner had been
triad at the Manchester S(ssions for the assault, convicted, and
sentenced to six mouths' imprisonment, the term of which
is yet unexpired. Mr. Cobbett prosecuted. His Lordship
asked if he ever remembered an instance in which a person
had been indicted for an offence for which a previous con-
viction had been obtained ? Mr. Cobbett admitted that he
did not recollect any such case. The evidence then pro-
ceeded, and the jury returned a verdict of guilty. Sentence
deferred.

STABBlNG.—Christopher Bradley, 24, a tailor, was
indicted for stabbing Mr. Makin, a collier, at Parr. Mr.
Windle and Mr. Loresche prosecuted. Mr. Tindal Atkinson
defended the prisoner. The prosecutor stated, that on the night
of Saturday, the 9:1 of February, he was at a public houso
at Parr. The prisoner, whom he had never seen before,
was there too. About half-past eleven he (prosecutor)
went outside, and while standing with his trowsers
unfastened, the prisoner came out, seized him by the thigh,
and made a stab at him. His trowsers and shirt were cut
through, bat his leg was not pierced. Ike fell down from the
force of the blow, however, and immediately felt blood
flowing copiously from hi,:wrist. lie was helped to rise, and
he ran after and caught his assailant. On cross-examination
by Mr. Atkinson, the prosecutor admitted that he had been
three times before the magistrates, once for theft. Other

witnesses were called for the prosecution. For the defence
it was contended that the prosecutor had grossly provoked
the piison_r in the house, and that a general scuffle took
place, in which the prisoner him,elf was also stabbed in the
leg. 4 verdict of Guilty was returned. Sentence
deferred. _

STABBING.—Parker Whitehead, 28, a coloured seaman,
was charged with having, at Liverpool, on 23rd December,
stabbed Gilbert Sere ent, with intent to do him grievous
bodily harm; and also with stabbibg Jeffrey Jackson, with
intent to murder him. From the evidence, it appeared that
Sergent, who is also a coloured man, a cooper on bard the
4na;crican ship Progress, on the day named, went in company
with a man named Hubbard to a boarding house in Gas.
coigne street, to see Jeffrey Jackson, who' is also a eolotired
seaman. Hubbard and the prisoner were on bad terms,
having quarrelled a few days previously, In the court near
the boarding house, Sergent and Hubbard met the prisoner,
and some words took place between the latter and Hubbard.
Jackson was also present. Sergent tried to induce Hubbard
to go away, and while
he was talking, the prisoner
`came up and struck him in the shoulder with a
dirk, a two bladed instrument six or seven inches

in length. Sergent turned round and made a blow at the
prisoner, but it did not strike him. Jackson then came up
and seized the prisoner by the coat collar, upon which the
latter turned round, stabbed him twice in the breast, and
then ran away. He was pursued, and caught about fifty
yards from the spot. '1 be prisoner was found guilty. His
Lordship said it was perfectly unjustifiable for any person
to carry, and far worse to use, such an instrument as that
produced in court, and he hoped that the sentence he was
about to pass would show sailors that they could not be
allowed lo make use of such weapons. His Lordship
then sentenced the prisoner to undergo six years penal
servitude.

STREET ROBBERY AT BOLTON.—John Sanderson, 28,
cabinetmaker, and Richard Stafford, 21, factory worker,
were indicted for assaulting Roger Walsh on the night of
the 15th September last, at Bolton, and stealing 15s. from
his person. Sanderson was brought up at the last assize=,
but as Walsh did not then appear, he was remanded.
Mr. Wheeler defended Stafford. Both pri.mers
were found guilty, and then commenced crimi-
nating each other. A previous conviction for
felony was proved against Sanderson. Sentence was
deterred. ELI reference to this case, Sanderson's brother, a
publican at Bolton, stands indicted on a charge of keeping
Walsh out of the way dining the last assizes.]
RUBBERY WITH VIOLENCE.-George M•Dawell, 21, and
Patrick Irvin, 22, both porters, were indicted
Copperas:hill,_ Liverpool, about half pit t

for having, in

night of the 15th December la, t, violentor _
Alderson, put him in bodily fear, and ,itolen from him a
tobacco b:)x, a knife, a bunch of keys, and 6d, his property
The prosecutor had picked out the two prisoners
amo❑g several other men, at the police office, as the persons
who had robbed him. About three hours after the robbery
the prisoners were apprehended together in a brothel in
Oak-street, and M`Dowell had the prosecutor's tobacco box
in his pocket. Two women from this house were called to
prove an alibi on the part of M`Dowell, who accounted for
the pesssession of the box by saying that it bad been given to
him in that house by the prosecutor. Two witnesses to
character were also called in his behalf. Both prisoners were
found guilty. Sentence deferred.
Martha Midgeley, who was convicted on Wednesday of
bigamy, under peculiar circumstances, was brought up
again before the court rose last night. His Lordship said
he found that she had scarcely lived with her first husband
at all, and that he himself, moreover, had stated that he had
taken another woman to live with him, by whom he had a
child twelve years old. Under these circumstances he
would pass a very light sentence—that she be imprisoned
for three days. She was then discharged, the imprisonment
counting from the commencement of the assizes.