The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-25 00:00:00

OUTPORTS.

Queenstown , Jan. 24.—Arrived—Heetor, S yra—Gecrgina,
—Spray. Paraiba—Olive, Ca,lao—Bre‘, er,:New York.
Greenock, Jan. 24.—Arrived—Margaret Smith. Trinidad. Sailed,
Jan. 23. Gwdlio, Malta—Archibald M'Millan. Demerara. Trieste

HEALTH COMMITTEE.-YESTERDAY

-..,,--_

The usual weekly meeting of this committee was held at
half past two o'clock yesterday, in the Council Chamber,
Town hall, Mr. Lacgsdale i❑ the chair.

Other members present—Messrs. Beckwith, Godfrey,
Robertson Gladstone, M‘Guffie, Dover, Hodson, Haydock,
Tinne, J. Holme, Halhead, Johnson, Sheil, Crosthwaite,
and Fleming.

HEALTH OF THE TOWN,

The medical officer of health reported an increase of
mortality for the week ending on Saturday the 19th, as a
consequence of the cold weather, which prevailed from the
9th to the 16th inst. The deaths from all causes, which in
the previous week were 228, rose last week to 252, the
corrected average of the same week of former years being
24 less than the mortality of last week. The deaths recorded
in the parish were 167, and the out-townships S 5. The
whole increase of mortality is accounted for by the increased
number of deaths from diseases of the lungs, which were 98,
against 66 in the previous week. 72 deaths were registered
from zymotic diseases, the same number ac in the previous
week. Of these 24 were from scarlatina, 22 from hooping-
cough, 7 from measles, 7 from typhus. An adult died from
small-pox, having been vaccinated in infancy. During the
quarter ending on the 29th December, 3,231 deaths were
registered in the borough, including 157 on which inquests
had been held. This number is 100 less than the average
of the same quarter of the preceding eight years, corrected
from an increase of population. The deaths from zymotic
diseases during the quarter were 1,093, being about 200
more than the average, owing to the prevalence of scarlatina
throughout the entire period. The deaths from that disease
were 447 ; from measles, 153 ; hooping-cough, 152 :
diarrbeea, 112 ; typhus, 96 ; croup, 43 ; syphilis, 24 ; and
small-pox, 15. No deaths were registered from cholera,
being the second quarter in which that has occurred during
the last eight years. Diseases of the lungs caused 871
deaths, being 285 more than in the preceding quarter, but
rather below the average of the corresponding period of
former years.

The borough engineer, building surveyor, and inspector
of nuisances, reported various particulars of the operations
in their several departments during the week, from which it
appeared that 74 nuisances complained of by inhabitants
bad been inspected, and means taken to remedy them. 748
houses in the unhealthiest districts, containing 2,734 apart-
ments, and 408 cellars, had been. put under examination.
with the view of improving their sanatory condition, and 57
lodging-houses had also been examined and reported upon.

THE SLAUGHTER-HOUSE NUISANCE,

A numerous deputation waited on the committee to com-
plain of the nuisance created by dr. Clarke's slaughter-
house in Plumb-street. The slaughter-house was licensed
by the council in 1852. The statements of the deputation
were very strong as to the nuisance, but, on the other hand,
it was equally positively denied by Mr. Clarke, who was in
attendance.

After the deputation withdrew,
Mr. Robertson Gladstone said that in this case a license
had been granted by the council, and that therefore any
remarks on it should apply as much to it as to Mr. Clarke.
But he thought there was a much more serious question at
stake, which was that of the entire removal of every
slaughter-house within the borough to some spot or other at
some distance from the town. (Hear, hear.) The ramifi-
cations in the consideration of the subject, bearing on the
social comfort of the people were most numerous, and how
could they expect that the poor working man should fail to
go to the public house when his own house abutted on a
slaughter-house. (Hear, hear ) This.was an evil which he
contended ought to have been dealt with long ago, and he
was not yet able to discover how, in the face of several pro-
tests, so far as he could gather, the corporation or the health
committee of the day, ever permitted a slaughter-house to
be built in such a situation. As regarded Mr. Clarke, he
believed him to be a very respectable man, conducting his
business as every other butcher did, and that the fault did
not rest with him but with the public authorities. He trusted
that some member of the committee would bring the subject
prominently before the council, in order that some decision
might be come to in it, and a proper site provided for
slaughter-houses. (Hear, bear.)
Mr. Hodson concurred with Mr. Gladstone, but thought
that if the subject were at all taken up, it should be con-
sidered as a whole, and not in isolated cases.

Mr. Beckwith said that he had been against the license
being granted in this instance, but at the same time he
thought it right to state that until the present time no
complaint was made Of the place.
Mr. ilaydock gave notice that at the next meeting he
would move that the license be withdrawn.

Mr. Tinne moved that the permission granted to a per-
son, to use a portion of the public highway in Alfred-street,
for the construction of an area, ba withdrawn, on the
ground that it was a dangerous precedent, and that the
like privilege had been refused to several other parties. The
majority of the committee considered that in this instance
it was for the public advantage to grant the permission, and
accordingly negatived the motion on a division.

MR. ALDERMAN TODLMIN AND TYE CO3IMITTEE---.

WHO TOLD THE LIE ?

Hr. Beckwith brought under the notice of the committee
the letter which Mr. Alderman Toulmin published in the
NORTHERN TIMES, and other local papers, denying the
truth of the statement made by him (Mr. Beckwith:) at
the last meeting. He declared that the report, as it ap-
peared in the papers was correct, and further that
every statement in it in reference to Mr. Toulmin
was literally true. He was prepared to prove that it was
so, and he did think that the town clerk, when writing the
letter which Mr. Toulmin published in connection with his
own, might have stated that he was not the person alluded
to in the statement, but that it was the deputy town clerk,
Mr. M'Gowan. Mr. Toulmin imagined that he would ride
off on that letter, and deceive the public by it as to the real
state of the case, hut the evidence which he (Mr. Beckwith)
would produce that day in the matter, would render the
attempt anything but successful. At the same time, he
should say that the tone of Mr. Toulmin, in speaking of the
deputy clerk and the treasurer, reflected discredit on him,
and still more, the letter which he afterwards sent to Mr.
Ashlin, and which beginning, as no letter to a gentleman
ever began, offensively, ended with these words, "You had
better place the receipts in the hands of the party holding
the money, or make whatever use you like of them.—Thomas
Toulmin." He (Mr. Beckwith) would consider himself
disgraced if he were to address any of their servants in such
language—(hear, hear)—and he knew not how any man
having pretension to the position and character of a gentle-
man could use it. (Hear, hear.) The deputy town clerk,
Mr. M'Gowan, was a gentleman by profession and conduct,
and as no man could more satisfactorily discharge
his duties, so no man had more readily pro-
gressed in the esteem and confidence of the committee,
than he had. (Hear, hear.) With regard to Mr. Ashlin ,
he did not think he need say a word as to his posi7,ion. His
long and faithful services, his integrity, and his upright
conduct bad been such that they had justly earned for him
the esteem and respect of the whole community of Liver-
vol, and established his right to be considered and treated
as a gentleman. (Hear, hear.) His character was too well
known to need any word of praise from him (Mr. Beck-
with), and in saying that, he believed he expressed the
sentiment of the committee. (Hear, hear.) All the officers
of Cornwallis-street were in attendance, and they would
prove the correctness of his statement in reference to Mr.
Toulmin.

Mr. M'Gowan said, that on the 10th of January sum-
monses were issued against all persons who had entered into
composition for rates but had not paid it. Several persons
were summoned, and among them was Mr. Alderman
Toulmin. The usual evidence was submitted on oath to the
presiding magistrate, Mr. Anderson, and he, being satisfied
that the requisite formalities had been complied with, made
an order in all the cases for the sums to be paid, with costs.
In a few hours after returning to Cornwallis-street, Mr.
Toulmin came in and complained of the whole proceedings
being irregular, and declared that he should take measures
to set himself right. He (Mr. M'Gowan) expressed regret
that he had not attended before the magistiates at the
appointed time, and observed that, , if there had been an
error no mischief was done, as the inquiry had been private,
and that they would be very happy to rectify it if it
were pointed out. Mr. Toulmin first objected that
he did not sign the composition paper, and
that therefore he ought not to pay. The paper was pro-
duced, and he then denied that his clerk Webster, whose
signature it bore, had signed it for him. Upon that he
(Mr. M'Gowan) told him that the committee could not
distinguish in the matter, as Webster had signed for
other property on which the composition was paid, but
remarked that if the clerk had no authority to sign there
had been no composition at all, and that it would be
therefore for Mr. Toulmin to pay the full rates, and not
one-half. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Thereupon Mr.
Toulmin said he would admit that the clerk bad the
authority to sign (laughter), but declared that he had
received no bill, nor any intimation that the summonses
would be issued. The collector was then called in, and
it was shown that the bill had been sent, and 'that he
had been sent the letter, forwarded to all parties, that if he
did not pay w'thin a certain date proceedings would be
taken against him. He declared that he had never re-
ceived it, and made little of the oath of the clerk that it
bad been sent, and went away declaring that he would
bring the matter before the council, and seek a re-hearing.
When Mr. Toulmin left, fearing that there might have
been some error, he (Mr. M'Gowan) carefully went over all
the proceedings, and found that after the summonses had
been issued, a clerk came from Mr. Toulmin's office, and
offered to pay the money if the costs were waived. (Laugh-
ter.) He felt it his duty to tell the sub-committee that
fact; and when he was giving a history of the matter to
them, Mr. Toulmin interrupted him with the scurrilous
expression of " You lie, and you know it is a lie."
Mr. Gladstone : Are you quite confident as to this
language ?
Mr. M'Gowan replied that be was positive as in the
words,_ and that they were heard both by the members of
the sub-committee, and Mr. Newlands, and Mr. Rishton.
Mr. Johnson corroborated Mr. M'Gowan's statement as
to the language used, and observed that as chairman he had
called on Mr. Toulmin to withdraw the language, when he
replied that he had nothing to withdraw.
Mr. M'Gowan : The committee immediately took the

language up, and called on him to withdraw the expressions,
and after a fashion he did withdraw them, for while the
words were warm on his lips, he declared that ho did not
utter them.

Mr. Newlands said that as he entered the room he heard
Mr. Toulmin, in an excited manner, say, " you lie,
and you know it is a lie !" whereupon he thought he was
one too many, and retired. (Laughter.)
Mr. Rishton said that he heard Mr. Toulmin make use
of the language, and on hearing it adopted the prudent
course taken by the borough engineer.
Mr. Haydock also testified to it.

Mr. M'Guffie asked if Mr. Toulmin had received any
intimation that the matter would be brought before the
committee that day ?

Mr. Robertson Gladstone said that he had recommended
Mr. Toulmin to attend.

Mr. Tyson, Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Crosthwaite, and Mr.
Owens, clerks at the Cornwallis-street offices, testified to
Mr. Toulmin's clerk offering to pay the money if the cost of
the summonses were taken off, and to the incorrectness of
the statements in Mr. Toulmin's letters.

Mr. Beckwith said 17e would there let the matter rest,
thinking that Mr. Toulmin would gain little by " his
motion."

The Chairman : He says that he did not call me a liar,
but that I told a lie. Now, if that is not a distinction with-
out a difference, Ido not know what is. (Hear, hear, and
laughter•)
The matter then dropped, and the committee adjourned.

DOCK COMMITTEE.-YESTERDAY

-411.----

The usual weekly meeting of the dock committee took
place at one o'clock yesterday. Mr. Charles Turner
occupied the chair, and the other members present were,
Messrs. Shand, Palmer, Robinson, Gregson, Chaloner,
Rounthwaite, Smith, Robertson Gladstone, Lockett,
Barber, Mondell, Holden, Langsdale, Anderson, Hub-
back, Rathbone, James Holme, and Evans.
The death of Mr. C. Edwards, second master of the
Crosby light-ship, was reported, and some changes
made in consequence of the promotions necessarily
following.

It was agreed that the offer of Messrs. Conway and
Co., to supply clothing for the piermasters and dock
gatemen, and that of Messrs. Henry Gibson and Co., for
hats and badges for the same, be accepted.

ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH COMMUNICATION WITH HOLYHEAD-

MIL MONDRLL'S MOTION

The Chairman said the next business was Mr. Mon-
dell's motion for the establishing of electric telegraph
communication by the dock committee with Holyhead.

Mr. Mondell said, he wished to say a few words upon
the motion, in order to urge the matter upon the com-
mittee. It was necessary for his purpose, that he should
just allude to the construction of the present line of
telegraph. The act for its construction was
obtained in the year 1825, the 6th of George the
IV., and it was carried out in the year 1326,
and in operation in 1827. There were eleven
stations, including Liverpool, and the whole were
reorganised at a considerable expense, and improved in
1839. The system which was then adopted was, per-
haps, the most perfect extant in that day, and sufficed
very we!l during clear weather, and whilst there was
daylight, but it was totally useless in thick or hazy
weather, or during the hours of darkness, and therefore
he considered it quite inadequate for its purpose. If
the dock committee 30 years ago felt themselves empow-
ered to carry out a system of telegraph which had been
maintained at a cost of about £1,500 to £l,BOO per
annum ever since a time when the shipping of the entire
port was less than 10,000 per annum, and the tonnage
1,200,000, he did not think it was too much to ask the
dock committee that they should now keep pace with
the times, and that they should improve their mode of
communication with Holyhead. This question was
before the committee in the early part of last year.
There was a little discussion, and the subject was
referred to the marine:committee who endeavoured to
make an arrangement with the electric telegraph com-
pany for supplying two messages per diem. The terms
which the telegraph company asked were extremely high,
and such as this committee refused to accede to. In
thinking over the question, he had thought at first of
recommending a renewal of negociations with the
telegraph company, but the more he thought
of it, and of its importance, the less he was inclined to
treat with anybody, but to have established by the dock
committee, along the coast, an electric wire of their
own. He thought this was due to the commercial com-
munity of Liverpool, which that body represented.
When he spoke of the commercial community, he did
not mean the underwriters, or the shipowners, or the
merchants only, but he also included, with them, the
seamen, the mariners who frequented this port, their
pilots who conducted their ships in and out, and the
passengers and emigrants who sailed from the port of
Liverpool and entered it. Those classes of persons, he
thought, had even a greater interest in the question
than the merchants and shipowners had. He thought,
therefore, it was a matter of vital importance that they
should have a communication which should be certain,
and for the purpose of indicating the state of the weather
during thick and hazy periods, when the present tele-
graph was useless. During the last year there were
sixty-odd days during which they had no communica-
tion, in consequence of the fog. In the month of
December last, there were ten days. In the twenty-four
days of the present year which had elapsed, there were
sixteen or eighteen days when they had no commuica-
tion from the fog. The wind was very favourable,
generally, during thick and hazy weather, for the
departure of ships from that port. It might
be from the southward, with rain, and ships
took their departure frequently from this port, when
if they had had communication with Holyhead he was
sure good men would not do so, Within the last forty-
eight hours they had had very serious weather at sea,
of which they did not know the result yet. They would
also recollect that on Tuesday they had a very fine day,
the wind from the eastward. In the evening it com-
menced to blow a gale of wind, south east—a very heavy
gale of wind indeed, which continued until four o'clock
in the morning. At eight o'clock it was fine, from the
opposite point. About two or three o'clock on Wednes-
day afternoon there was a telegraphic communication,
which indicated that the barometer at Holyhead stood
28.23, a point which the mercury seldom reaches, unless
in a hurricane. A large fleet of vessels sailed on Wednesday
morning. That night, as might be expected, it blew a
hurricane again from the south until three or four o'clock
next morning, when the wind again shifted. The effects
of that they did not yet know, but he alluded to it now
to show that no prudent seaman would have put to sea
yesterday, if he had known that the barometer stood at
that:point. He believed it was in such weather as he
had spoken of that the Tayleur had sailed—indeed
he was certain that it was. Now there was another reason
why he should wish to have this proposal carried out. The
Dock trust maintained a life boat establishment, perhaps
scarcely equalled in the world for efficiency, well manned,
and maintained at a cost of something like £2,000 a year.
The men of these boats were ready and willing at any
time to put to sea to save life whenever an accident
occurred so close to the shore that they could receive
information of it in time, but if the accident was not
communicated to them, they might slumber on in
happy ignorance. Let them take the case of the
Ocean Monarch as an illustration of this. . That vessel
took fire with emigrants on board out at sea, and
within sight of Ormes-head. She was consumed by
fire. If that accident had been promptly communi-
cated, as it might have been if telegraphic communi-
cation such as he urged had then existed, there would
no doubt have been a fleet of steamers out from this
port, and lifeboats, which would have saved the two
hundred lives that were lost on that occasion. (Hear,
hear.) He thought there was a vessel called the
Rothesay Castle in similar distress from the time of
her leaving the north-west light until she got to the
entrance of Beaumaris, where, as they would all recol-
lect, many souls perished. Had an electric telegraph
been along that line of coast, assistance of an effectual
character could have been rendered to that ship before
she got to Beaumaris. There was another question to
be considered. The committee were, perhaps, not
aware that the Admiralty was now about
to issue a new code of signals far in
advance of anything which existed, or had been
produced as yet, and if the dock committee continued
their present semaphore communication, they must of
necessity revise and alter their Holyhead code, which
would then be perfectly useless. Tois alteration would
be attended with considerable expense. To show the
inefficiency of the present code, he would first allude to
a circumstance which occurred within the last five days.
On Sunday, to those who frequented the newsroom, there
was a telegraphic communication made, "yesterday, at
nine o'clock certain ships passed Point Lynas." This
was known to most of the merchants on Monday morn-
ing, as they went to the newsroom. But on the follow-
ing day, a semaphore communication had been received
advising that certain ships had passed Point Lynas at
nine o'clock the previous morning. He questioned the
keeper, who told him that he had been telegraphed off
Point Lynes and also off Ormes-head ; that the re-
sponses were made, but that the communication was cut
off, either by the Menai Straits or by the river Dee.
There was another argument which he would adduce.
He thought, if they took into consideration the various
stations which would be superseded, the line would be
a very paying line. There was, as they were all aware,
a large harbour being constructed at Holyhead.
It would shortly be perfected, and, he supposed, ships
'would' frequent it in case of fog, and even, probably,
call for orders. He knew,himself, of a case where the

orders were put on board a pilot boat for a vessel to gm
to Glasgow, and in that case the ship would have to pay
half the pilotage, whether she entered the port or not.
It would have been better if she had gone into Holyhead,
where she might have been certain of receiving orders.
He therefore thought that if the telegraph were com-
pleted, sundry messages would pass along the line, and
at the usual tariff there would be a large sum received
for the use of the wires in communicating intelligence
of ships. These were the arguments he would use la
urging upon the dock committee the improvement of
communication along the coast, and at Holyhead.
When it was made, a method of signals might be
adopted for night service. There was no difficulty about.
it. The necessary signals of danger and distress were'
very few, and a code of night signals might be made,.
and signals to transmit intelligence in case of fogs-
Intelligence might be communicated by a number of.
guns fired at intervals. He thought these were argu-.
ments to show that they should not any longer stand
still, but that they should progress. He believed they'
would effect a large saving in their present expenditure,
He therefore would beg to move a resolution somewhat'
different from the motion which he first brought for-
ward, if he might be allowed to do so. The motion be'
would now propose was—" That it is now expedient'
that a system of electric telegraphic communication
along the line of coast to Holyhead be established ; that.
the same be carried out under the direction and at the
cost of the dock trustees, and that a sub-committee be
appointed to receive estimates."
Mr. Smith had much pleasure in seconding the mo-
tion. He thought Mr. Mondell had made out a very
strong case indeed. On Tuesday, as it might be in the
recollection of the committee, had the state of the wea-
ther at Holyhead been known, it was probable a great
number of the ships which went to sea would not haves
done so. He asked if Mr. Mondell had turned his atten-
tion to the question of expense, and ascertained what the
amount of the cost would be ?

Mr. Mondell said, if the board thought proper, he
could tell them the result of the investigation then. But
if they were going to refer the matter to a sub-committee*
it would perhaps be better to wait.
The Chairman said the question had been before tile
committee several times, and they decided that it was;
not expedient to proceed with the undertaking. They'
found that very few of the stations now existing could
be dispensed with. The expense of the existing sema
phore would be about the same as it was now, even after,
they had adopted the electric telegraph, if they decided.
upon doing so. As regarded the question of weather,.
the marine committee recommended that there should be'
two messages a day, and proposed to give about £5O a
year to the company for the purpose. They found diffi-
culties put in their way by the company, and
arrangement was concluded. As regards the pilots,
mariners, and seamen, of course, information as regarded
the state of the weather, was the only thing which would
be of value to them. With respect to vessels calling at
Holyhead harbour, he fancied that very few vessels
would go into it, the dangers of going in and getting out
were so considerable. He did not think the case of the
Rothsay Castle was a case in point at all. If a vessel
was in distress at the north-west lightship. and yet chose
to go on to Beaumaris, he did not think she would be
likely to take advantage of a steam tug, which might go
out to her. He did not quite recollect the circumstances
of the Ocean Monarch, and, therefore, could not say
whether the circumstances with regard to that vessel
were quite correctly stated or not. But, inasmuch as
the marine committee, of which Mr. Mondell was a very
able anti valued member, had had the whole of the sub-
ject under their charge, and as Mr. Brocklebank was
not present, who took a very great interest in the sub-
ject, and was also a very able member of that committee"
he would suggest that it would be very desirable to refer
the question to the marine committee.
Mr. Lockett was also decidedly of opinion, that lt•
would be better to refer the subject to the marine com-
mittee. Mr. Mondell had brought forward a wholly nor
subject. As far as regarded the communication with'
Holyhead for ships putting in there, they all knew that
already there was a telegraphic communication, if parties'
wished to avail of it.

Mr. Mondell : I would have no objection to it being
referred to any committee which I could consider a comp!'
tent committee, but as the marine committee is now constt•
tuted, I cannot say that it is a competent committee to take
this question in hand.

The Chairman : Three of the largest shipowners in the
port are upon that committee, yourself, Mr. Lockett, and
Mr. Brocklebank. Ido not think there are any three MO
more competent to take charge of the subject.
Mr. Mendell : I am very glad to see Mr. Lockett restored.
He bas not attended fur the last fortnight. I have been the
marine committee myself for the last fortnight, and, °f
course, I would be unanimous upon the subject. (Laughter,/
You pay to the steam-tug company £4OO per annum,
condition that they have a steam-tug ready at all times,
tow out your lifeboats to vessels in distress. you cantle'
continue to pay this sum and not adopt the electric telegraPb:
The time lost in communicating intelligence from a ship
distress to this port, is more than twice the time which 1
would take a steamer to go out.
The Chairman : But, how far does a steamer take out
lifeboat ?

Mr. Mondell : To the extreme edge of the banks.
The Chairman : Not to Holyhead ?
Mr. Mondell : No, sir.
The Chairman : Then that does not bear upon the
Holyhead question ?
Mr. Mondell : But, suppose an accident were to occur et
Ormeshead, the steamers would go out from this to Orgies"
head, in such a case as that of the Ocean Monarch, r
satisfied, without fee or reward.

Mr. Shand said there was no objection whatever to hio
the subject fully discussed.

The Chairman : Certainly, none whatever.
Mr. Mondell : Let it be freely discussed, then. If it 0
proved that it would be a loss to the estate, abandon it.
Mr. Barber did not understand whether Mr. Mondell
posed that the dock committee should charge for delivering(
messages, and thus, in fact, establish rival wires to those
the telegraph comrany. Merchants might have a mes=age
on the state of the weather from Holyhead in half an hour
at present, if they wished to avail themselves of the existing
means. -

The Chairman suggested that the question should b 6
referred to the marine committee, with the names of ?41
Gladstone and Mr. Evans added.
Mr. Rathbone thought it hardly fair to refer a thing bael
to a committee who had already reported against it twicea
over. He suggested that Mr. Mondell's should be refer
to the marine committee, with the addition of 10
Hubback and Mr. Smith.
The Chairman thought it hardly fair to add the names of
two gentlemen who had declared in favour of the proposal,
inasmuch as Mr. Smith had seconded the motion, and 10
Hubback had offered to second it.
et
Mr. Holme did not think the committee had ever
considered what would be the cost:of laying down a line °
their own. If it cost .£lO,OOO, the interest upon that
amount would be £5OO a year.
The chairman : But we must keep up the present tole'
graph also.
Mr. Smith : I do not see why that should be necessary.
Mr. Mondell : I know something of signalling at se*
and I do not think it would be necessary.
Finally, Mr. Mondell consented to leave the question to
t
the marine committee, with the addition of the names $1
Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Hubback, to report to the board.
This was accordingly agreed to.
The general business then concluded.

BIRKENHEAD POLICE COURT.—YEsTERDO"

(BEFORE MAJOR-GENERAL THE HON. SIR EDWARD CVO.,

AND MR. BARTON.)

TRAism ER E POLICE. —Two 'powerful-looking tlie..l
named Robert and James Williams, were summon
before the bench by police-constable Wright, under tlit,
following circumstances. He stated that on Sunday nighog
he was on duty about half-past twelve o'clock, and N't
accompanied by two other constables, Griffith 013 to
Williams, when the defendant James Williams came up 0
them, and threatened to "lick the whole three of the%
and that subsequently, his brother struck him (Wright's,
blow in the face, which knocked him down. In his eroSt,
examination, he said that the affair took place on the
Paul's-road, near to Killett's public-house, and he admitt6
that he had heard Griffith call James Williams a drunle,
scoundrel, and that Williams (policeman) had said 50a1.,0
thing about spies. Williams was next called, but he gait
rather a different version of the affair, for he denied Olio
together when the defendant 0,1;0
he had called the defendant a spy, but said he and 0,„6
brother officers were
up to them, threw down his cap and coat, and tri,
threatened "to lick the whole lot.' They told him not i:0
make a blackguard of himself, but to go quietly home.,
his cross-examination, he denied that he struck the delekhe
dant with his stick. He had seen one of the brothers '''ot
day after, and he had told him that he should 11,.0.
summons him, but should summons his brother ;.,6
being drunk. He also denied the statement that he and
his brother officers were drunk. Griffith was called, 1"
he corroborated the statement of officer Williams. -y
Bretherton addressed the bench cor the defendants, c-omt9
tending that no reliance was to be placed on the statereeto
made by the police, as it was clear they had told pall/3,10
falsehoods in the matter. Mr. Bretherton then called be
two defendants, who stated that they were outside 00
public-house door when they saw the three policemen co
out. That then it was that the officer Williams 0,70
defendant James a spy, which caused a little dispute ; '„ot
Williams came up and endeavoured to get James home,.vey,
in consequence of his receiving some blows with a st:i
is
and being called a drunken scamp, he rushed back, an ere
so doing, knocked Wright down. Other witnesses WO
called who spoke to the policemen all being drunk aetheca,
time, but that was denied by the Inspector, who saw 'hoe;
shortly after the affair. The magistrates, after a most
consultation, dismissed the defendants, observing
,s 0
there had been some most gross false swearing, and it "
hard for them to say on which side. .

osi°l9
Printed and Published by CHARLES WILLIVIER. of 21.
street, it his General Printing and Stationery Establia°
South John-street, Liverpool.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, ISM