The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-12-30 00:00:00

BEFORE MR. G. HOLT.

EXTENSIVE ROBBERY OF WHEAT.-Bernard M'lntire,
and Thomas Murphy (described as a weigher for Messrs.
Smith & Co., Garee), were brought up by cfficers Sulli-
van and Carlyle. on a charge of having stolen 30 sacks
of white American wheat, value £54, and Vincent
Denham was charged with having received the same
knowing it to have been stolen. Mr. Block defended
M'lntire and Denham, and Mr. Chilton defended
Murphy. A history of the case, the hearing of which
occupied nearly three hours, will convey a better idea
of it than a detail of the evidence. It appeared that on
Tuesday last, Murphy and M'lntire engaged a cart, No.
3,827, to take a quantity of 30 bags of wheat from the
ship Emerald isle, in the Bramley Moore Dock, to some
place. The son of the owner of the cart was the person
engaged to cart away the corn, and it appeared that the
wheat belonged to Messrs. M'Henry & Co. Previnis to
this, the prisoner Denham had called on a Mr. Grant,
a dealer in flour, and offered him samples of wheat to
purchase. He refused at first, and subsequently Denham
called on him with other samples, and then Mr. Grant,
who is a flour dealer, refused to have anything to do with
the wheat, unless he knew it was all right, Denham
assured him it was, for if not, he would have nothing to
say to it. He agreed to take it, and gave D nham an
order to have it sent to Mr. Hull's mill, where
he used to deal, and get the wheat ground. The
corn was delivered at Mr. Hull's by Den-
ham. Subsequently, it was found that Murphy had
engaged the carter to take the wheat, and
that M'lntire wes the weigher on board the ship when
the wheat was being discharged. The police having got
a clue, want to Mr. Hull's mill, and whilst there, the
wife of Denham came in for the thirty empty sacks that
contained the whe It. Denham keeps a small baker
shop in Limekiln lane, and it appeared that he was the
party who sold the wheat to Grant, but, as he alleged, he
did so on a commission from the other prisoners, and
was quite innocent. Several witnesses were examined
to prove the facts, and although the prisoners were most
ably defended by Mr. Block and Mr. Chilton, who
exhibited much ability and legal tact for their respective
clients, yet the magistrates thought the case was quite
clear, and were about to commit the prisoners for trial,
when Mr. Clough asked for a remand, stating that he
would make the case stronger, by the production of the
boy who drove the vehicle that contained the corn
from the dock. Mr. Holt said, although he had no
doubt of the whole case, and was resolved to commit
them all for trial, the case being a very serious one,
yet he would remand the prisoners for further evidence,
although he did not think further testimony was neces-
sary. The prisoners were remanded to this day.
. .

tl)ev " MR. GENTLEMEN" BAILIFF'S ACT.--:A. bailiff
well known to the police, whose name appeared as
Robert Russell, together with Anne Russell, his wife,
and Emma Russell, his daughter, were charged for having
committed a felony, by stealing a large quantity of boots
and shoes and other property, under the following
circumstances. Mr. Aspinall, barrister, appeared for
the prosecution. The facts of the case were these :—lt
was shown that Mr. Clayton had an extensive boot and
shoe shop, at 17, Elliot street, and that a bill of sale of
the place and goods had been given to a Mr. Harrison.
Some dispute arose between the parties in reference to
the property, when Messrs. Squary & Co., the highly
respectable solicitors, had to assert the rights of their
client, Mr. Harrison. The prisoner, Russell, was sent
in as a bailiff to take care of the property, and it appeared
that such good care did he take of it, that on Sunday
night, when his wife and daughter came to visit him,
he packed up a large and valuable quantity of boots
and shoes, and gave them to the females to carry
away. A policeman, who was looking in through the
shutters at the whole proceeding, watched the women
going away, and found a large quantity of boots and
shoes in their possession. His Worship was about to
commit the prisoners for trial, when it was asked to
remand them, as other charges woulne brought forward
against Russell, who is well known to the police. The
prisoners were remanded.
THE LOST NOTES.—William Riley and James Mortimer,
charged with having stolen £45 in notes, the money
of Air. Sharp of the Goree, were brought up on final
remand. The facts of this strange case have already
been published on two former occasions in our journal
within the last fortnight, so that it is needless to
reiterate them. The charge against each of the
prisoners being established, they were committed.

A LIVING SKELETON.—On Sunday, December 14, there
arrived at Rugby Station, by a train from Liverpool, a
human being in sailor's clothes, so thoroughly reduced in
substance as to leave room for doubt whether or not he
belonged to the human species, and apparently in a dying
state. Perceiving his deplorable condition, the officials bad
him removed from the train, and called in medical aid. He
was afterwards taken to the Graziers' Arms Inn, where, by
great care and kindness, he so far rallied as to allow his
removal to the station on the f)llowing day, where he
excited the commisseration of every beholder. Hot water
bottles were provided for la's use, suitable refreshment was
supplied, and every thing was done for his comfort which
humanity could suggest, and, cushioned in a first class
carriage, he was forwarded to London, with the hope that
he would reach his friends Jive. From his statement, it
appeared that some fourteen months ago he entered as a
sailor on board a ship which was bound for China, and that
soon afterwards he and four others mntinied ; in conse-
quence of which he was put in irons by the captain's order,
and placed in the hold of the vessel, where he had subsisted
In- the last nice months upon no other food than one pound
of biscuit and a pint of water daily. His emaciation was
so thorough and extraordinary the, from the date of his
going abroad, he had been reduced in weight from fourteen
stone four pounds to about four stones. Fifteen months
ago he was an athletic man, between twenty and thirty years
of age, now he strongly resembles a decrepid sire of ninety;
and it is nece,sary to carry him about like an infant of so
many days. We are not sufficiently aware of the extent of
his crime to enable us to form an opinion as to whether the
punishment was warrantable.

THE FREE LIBRARY AND MUSEU.II.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES.

Sir,—Having for Warded the enclosed protest &c ,
to various members of the Library and Museum
Committee, I herewith transmit a copy for insertion
in your paper, should you think proper to do so.
—I am, sir, your obedient servant,
London, Dec: 26,1,856. THOMAS ALLOM.

FREE LIBRARY, LIVERPOOL
November 19, 1356.
To the Chiirnvin and Coo2;nittee of the Free Library and

fu sewn

Gentlemen,—ln accordance with your wis'aes, I have
now to lay before you such evidence of my professional
ability as shall prove that I am the most proper person to
be entrusted with the ex:cation of my own designs.
But it is necessary before speaking of such documents, as
in my absence from London I have been able to collect,
that I should clear up two points that appear to act pre_
judicially to my interests, and upon which there is certainly
some misapprehension : I allude, first, to the impression
evidently existing with a few members of the Committee,
that I have in some way been discreditably mixed up with
the Industrial Schools ; and,. in the second place, that
from certain works having been published some years back
in my name, I therefore cannot be a practical architect.
I think I can prove,_ with little difficulty, that so far
from these circumstances telling against me, they ought, if
properly explained and rightly understood, to give addi-
tional evidence in my favour, as in one instance I sacrificed
pecuniary benefits to principle, and, in the other, a portion
of the early period of life to complete experience in my
profession.
In regard to the Industrial Schools, my (then) partner,
Mr. Lockwood, residing in Hull, undertook all basieess at
Liverpool ; and in the course of that business, I think it
will be in the recollection of some of your members, that I
eppeared at Liverpool, and at all hazards protested in tbo
strongest manner against the way in which the works were
to be carried out. I did this at very considerable expense
to myself, without the prospect of one shilling advantage;
and having done that, which I looked upon strictly as a
duty, I immediately dissolved partnership. It will not be a
matter of surprise, therefore, when I say that I never
erected the Industrial Schools, and am, therefore, in no way
responsible for anything that may be deemed imperfect in
those buildings.
Allusion having been made to my published works, I of
course cannot deny them ; but the fact of my having been
actively engaged for eight years in my profession before
entering on a course of travel that opened a wider field for
its study, must surely exonerate me from the character of
an unpractised pretender.
I might here bring forward many names that have shed
a lustre on my profession by the combination of knowledge
in the principles of art with that of c mstruction, but for its
apparent egotism; but being myself convinced that the study
of art is in no way incompatih'e with the knowledge that
almost any mechanic can acquire, I embraced the means of
visiting all the most celebrated productions of every age.
The success of my efforts, in which I never had one hour's
instruction, certainly led me further than I at first intended;
my only cause of regret being, it may be supposed I pretend
to a profession in which I was not regularly educated.
Among the early buildings on which I have been engaged
are—Manchester Town Hall ; Derby County Prisons ;
Hulme Church, near Manchester ; Trinity Church. Borcles-
ley, Birmingham ; West Bromwich Church, near Birming-
ham ; Church at Burton-upon-Trent ; Kidderminster
Church ; and Walsall Church.
I am recriiroff by a member of your committee to name
some building that I have erected equal to St. George's
Hall. This is not an easy task for any one, as there are
few such buildings in the world ; but my practical
experience is far greater than that of my lamented friend
Elmer, as among the later works that I have executed are—
The Kensington Park Estate, £l5O to £200,000 ; St. Peter
Church, £7.000 ; Cambridge Asylum, £5,000 ; Highbury
Church, £7,000 ; the Kensington Workhcuse, £22,000 ;
cemetery for Kensington chap lodges, catacombs,
£13,000 ; sewers for ditto, laying out ground, planting,
&c., £2,500 ; Calne Union, £7,000 ; beside many other
private buildings
Accompanying the above there are numerous
testimonials, • the length of which precludes our
publishing them, and in reference to which Mr.
Allom writes to Mr. Picton, as follows :-
103, St. Martin's-lane, Trafalgar-square, London.
December 26, 1856.
Museum and Library.
Sir,—The originals of the enclosed testimonials, &c,
having been obtiined at the desire of the building com-
mittee, I am surprised that no official communication re-
garding them has reached me. But lam informed through
the pnblic journals that my designs are placed in the hands
of your town surveyor, to make certain modifications, and
they are then to be erected under his directions. I must,
if this be true, protest against such a proceeding as injurious
to my professional character, and at the same time directly
contrary to the spirit of your printed engagements, as well
as your subsequent instructions.—l am, Sir, yoar obedient
servant. THOMAS ALLOM.
To. J. A. Picton, Esq.

RUSSIAN PUNISHMENT OF SAILORS.—A letter from Nice
states that some of the crew of the Russian corvette sta-
tioned at Villafranche having left the ship without permis-
sion, to drink in a wine shop, the captain, on their return,
commanded that they should receive each twenty five
blows of a stick, and the leader one hundred. The latter
died while undergoing the punishment, and his body was
thrown into the sea.
Opium FOR HOME CONSUMPTION.— From an cffiaial
document just published, it appears that in the eleven
months ended the 30th ult., the quantity of opium
imported was 62,054 lbs., of which 39,997 lbs. were entered
for " home consumption."
FATAL OCCURRENCE CaNNECTED WITH THE PISTOL WITH
waren HUGH MILLER SHOT HIMSELF. —A most distressing
occurrence, closely connected with the melancholy circum-
stances under which Mr. li. Miller came by his death, took
place on Friday afternoon, in the shop of Mr. Thomson,
gunmaker, 16 Union Place, Edinburgh, Professor Miller
called there shortly before two o'clock, with the pistol
which was found lying beside the body of Mr. Miller, on
Wednesday morning last for the purpose of having it ex-
amined, The pistol was a revolving chamber one (size of
ball, 92 to the pound), and it had been purchased at the
same shop in July 1855. Mr. Thomson had gone to
dinner, but the foreman was informed by the Professor that
the weapo❑ was that with which Mr. Miller had been shot,
and was requested to examine it to see how many charges
remained. The Professor added, " Mind its loaded." In
making his examination, the foreman should have remove .l
the chamber or breech ; but, instead of doing so, he had
lifted the hammer with his fingers, and turned the chamber,
In this act the pistol, exploded, the hammer having slipped
from his fingers ; and, the barrel being tnrned to his own
head, the ball entered the angle of the right eye, and lodged
in the brain, killing him almost instantaneously. He stood
for a moment before falling; and Professor Miller thinkinz
he was unhurt, observed, " That was a narrow escape."
The pistol had been dropped by Mr. Hugh Miller into a
bath, where it remained for several hours ; and the know-
ledge of this fact by the foreman may account for his incau-
tious handling of it. The pistol was a bolted one, and
could be carried loaded in the poeket with perfect safety ;
but its immersion in the water had probably rusted the
bolt and stopped its action. The deceased, Thomas Leslie,
was 52 years of age, and has left a widow and eight child
ren to lament his untimely end. Ile was a very steady and
trustworthy man, an excellent workman, and had been for
2i years in Mr. Thomson's employment.
ATTEMPT TO MURDER A POLICEMAN.—A man, whose
name turns out to be Thomas Bramley, is in custody, at
Leicester, on a charge of attempting to murder a polio: man
near the town. On the evening in question, the policeman,
whose name is Parkes, was returning from Leicester to
Enderby, and when near Mr. Tilley's, of Braun,tene, he
mgt two men, whom he believed from their appearance to
be thieves. He accosted them, and asked what was in the
basket carried by one of them. They answered " Nothing,"
and he tapped it and heard a sound something Hee that
which would be produced by a bottle. He then asked them
to go over into Mr. Tilley's, that the basket might be
examined. When they reached the middle of the road, one
of them started off, and ran towards Leicester. Parkes
pursued and seized him, and a severe struggle of some
duration followed, in which Prisoner kicked at the policeman
repeatedly. At length, finding he could not get loose, the
man drew a pistol from his pocket, and fired at his captor,
close against his ear. Parkes still bravely held his man,
and the latter called upon his companion to "come and
give him another," but the fellow thinking it more prudent
o sheer off, did so. The cries of Parkes brought assistance
from Mr. Tilley'e, and the prisoner was taken there. Oa
toeing searched; six bullets, some powder, caps, bullet
moulds, and pistol, were found upon him. The basket also
contained the bottle which had been stolen. The prisoner
refused give his name, and was taken by Parkes to the
county police office. Oa Nikes taking off his great coat
there the bullet dropped out, and it was then found how
providential had been his escape, as the bullet had passed
through his great coat collar, taken off the top of the crown
on his coat collar, and only been stopped by his stock from
inflicting, in all probability, a mortal wound. On Saturday
morning, the prisoner, while undergoing a term of punish-
ment for a burglary, was identified as the Thomas Bramley
who so daringly escaped from the borough gaol some time
ago, having then only a short time to serve. If this is the
case, it is very likely prisoner will be charged with a crime
of even a more serious character, which was committed in
the same locality about two years ago.