The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-06-19 00:00:00

BEFORE MR. MANSFIELD,

ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE.—John Seed, a ship carpenter,
of rather respectable appearance, was charged by police-
constable 102, with attempting to drown himself in
the King's Dock. The officer said the man was on board
a schooner in the dock, and whilst in a state of intoxica-
tion, he tied a rope about his legs and attempted to
throw himself into the dock. In reply to his Worship,
the prisoner said he was in great trouble lately, in con-
sequence of the death of his wife. The sister of the
prisoner, who seemed a respectable person, said she
would take care of him in future. He was then given
up to her, and cautioned as to his future conduct.

VIOLENT ASSAI7LTB

Mary Anne Powell, the keeper of an impro-
per house, in Pennington-street, was charged
with having committed a murderous assault on Jane
Rothwell, who keeps a small shop in Copperas hill.
The complainant said on Monday evening about eight
o'clock, the prisoner called at her house, and asked her
to come to the door, which she did, and when there, the
prisoner struck her a violent blow on the head with a
decanter, which cut her dangerously ; she was knocked
down, and then the prisoner kicked her violently. This
statement was corroborated by a young man and young
woman who saw the transaction, and described it as a
brutal assault. In reply to His Worship, the complain-
ant said she had not given any provocation, except that
she refused to give credit to some females of bad repute,
who were friends of the prisoner. In reply to the charge,
the prisoner said she was insulted grossly by the com-
plainant, who followed her into the street, and she
admitted having struck her with the decanter, which
she had in her hand. The prisoner was sentenced to
a fine of £lO, or to be imprisoned for three months' with
hard labour.

William Lewis, and Maria Lewis, his aunt, with
Michael Walsh, were charged with having assaulted
police-constables 201, and 953, in a violent manner, in
Smithdown-lane. The prisoners were drinking in •a
public house, where they behaved improperly, and were
turned out, and then they commenced fighting in the
street. The police interfered, when the prisoners fell
on them, and but for the assistance of several gentle-
men, the officers would have been more severely beaten.
The male prisoners were fined £5, or in default of pay-
ment three months' imprisonment with hard labour,
and the woman was sentenced to pay a fine of £2, or one
month's imprisonment.
Robert Williams was charged with having assaulted
Mrs. Mary Holmes, who resides in a court off Falkland
street. The prisoner went to the complainant's house,
and from the evidence, it appeared that without
any provocation he knocked her down, and was pro..
ceeding to use further violence when he was given into
custody. The complainant said the only thing she
knew about the prisoner was that she understood his
mother lived in the same court. The prisoner was sent
to gaol for three months with hard labour, in default of
paying £2. fine.

-A
female, named Catherine Gallagher, charged a
sailor, named Bailly, with having assaulted her. The
woman went into a publichouse in Price-street, on
some business, and saw the prisoner there ; he spoke to
her in an insulting manner, when she repulsed him,
and thereon he struck her several blows in the face, and
inflicted severe contused wounds on her. The prisoner
was sent for trial at the sessions.

INTERESTING TO ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS.—Mr.
James Hay, architect, appeared to answer the informa-
tions laid against him by the Building Surveyor, Mr.
Rushton, for having fixed joists in the floor of the St.
Peter's schools, now in course of construction in Sack-
ville-street, Everton, from 12L- to 13 inches apart, in
place of 11 inches, as required by Schedule B. in the
Building Act. Mr. M'Gowan, Deputy Town clerk,
appeared in support of the information, and Mr. Bell
for the defendant. Mr. S. Holme was also on the
bench, but we observed that he sat there as a spectaror
in what we considered to be a very interesting and
important case, and that as a relative of his was one of
the builders of the schools, he could not give the'aid of
his professional experience to Mr. Mansfield in express-
ing an opinion in the matter. From the statements of
the learned gentlemen in the case and the evidence
adduced, it appeared that Mr. Hay is the architect of
the building, and that it is being erected under his
superintendence by Messrs. Holme and Nicol, builders.
It was not denied that the joists were wider apart than
the act allowed, but it was contended, and we believe
admitted on the other side, that they were of more than
ordinary strength, and would sustain the structure
raised on them as securely as weaker joists placed nearer
to each other. And this being the case, it was con-
tended that as the act simply sought the safe and stable
construction of all buildings, its provisions were in this
instance virtually, though not technically, complied with.
Considerable discussion took place as to whether the
architect could be held liable under the wording of the
act, and eventually Mr. Mansfield expressed it as his
opinion that the informations could not lie
against him, but against the builders. Mr.
M,Gowan remarked, that the owner of the property
was the real defendant, and that the Health Committee
had always a difficulty in saddling the offence under the
act on the proper party. He suggested that, as Mr.
Nicol was present, the names of the builders should be
substituted for that of Mr. Hay in the informations, and
the case then tried on its own merits. Mr. Bell objected,
and, ns the informations could not be sustained against
Mr. Hay, they were dismissed.

NEGLECT OF OWNERS OF COTTAGE PROPERTY.—A large
number of informations were laid by the officers of the
Health Committee, against owners of cottage property,
for neglec.ing to keep their houses in a proper sanitary
condition. This neglect was shown to have been well
nigh criminal, as in the quarter where it was noticed,
No. 4 court, Kitchen street, typhus fever raged very
lately with great violence, and carried off many victims
in a short space of time. Both Mr. Mansfield and
Mr. Holme declared such neglect to be unpardonable,
and regretted that the fine which the law empowered
them to inflict was inadequate punishment for an
offence so serious and pernicious. A fine of 40s. and
costs was inflicted in nearly every instance.
(BEFORE 51R I. CROSTIIWAITE).

ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE, AND BY THE USE Or CHLORO-
FORM.—Two masculine looking women, named Jane and
Ann Taylor, sisters, were placed in the dock and charged
under the following circumstances :—lt appeared that
on Thursday night last a man named John Young was
proceeding along Cases-street, when he was accosted by
a female, who asked him to treat her. He had
scarcely replied to her request, when she threw
a handkerchief saturated with chloroform over
his face, and at the same time he was
seized from behind by two men, who firmly held him
in their grasp. When left to himself he found that his
watch had been stolen from him, and when Jane Taylor,
who was arrested by the police, was placed before him,
he said that she was the woman by whom he had been
accosted. Subsequently, however, when more collected,
he identified Anne Taylor as the woman, and now
supported his statement on oath. The magistrate was
about to send the case to the sessions, but at the solicita-
tion of Mr. Bludk, who appeared for the prisoners he
summarily disposed of it. Anne Taylor was committed
for three months, and her sister Jane—who a short time
since was accused of robbing a Crimean hero of £2O,
and acquitted because of her " good character,"—for one
month, on account of her disorderly conduct while in
the dock.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE

HAMPTON RACES.-YESTERDAY.
STAND PLATE.

Swalcl ffe 1 I Westminst r
SURREY AND MIDDLESEX STAKES.

Winkfield,

~. 1 I Redemption
Seven ran.

.. 2 I Smithmeor 3

1 I Prince Plausible..
Seven ran.
GOLBORNE STAKES.