The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-19 00:00:00

BRUTAL MURDER.

An inquest was held on Friday at the Convict
Depot, Philipstown, County Kerry, Ireland, by James
Dillon, Esq , senior coroner, on the body of Robert Johnston,
a convict, who was murdered by another convict, under the
following circumstances : —lt appeared from the evidence that
there wore a lot of convicts turning manure in the back part
of the prison yard, in charge of warder Flynn. The manure
was in a pit six or seven yards under the surface, the warder
standing near them on the bank. No altercation whatever
appeared to attract his attention. A warder at a distance, as
is usual, called to him to pass a gang, who were then going in
his roar. Ho just turned his position on the same apt for
about one minute, and coming again to his former front over
those immediately in his charge, he saw Johnston, the deceased
convict, lying on the ground under convict Patrick DowneS,
who had, given him while down two dis'inct-blows with a shovel
or spade on the head, as quickly and with as much force
as he could. Flynn leaped down into the pit, at the same
time Canino' on Warder Colgan, who was then con-
venient, and who followed him. Ou Flynn getting
down, convict Downes turned on him in a menacing
manner with the spade, when he was seized by Warder
Colgan, who took him to the cells, whilst the wounded
man was conveyed by Warder Myna to the hospital, bleeding
profusely from the wounds on his head. Under these wounds
the skull was fractured in two places. Chief warder Meares
spoke to convict Downes on the enormity of his offence.
stating that if Johnston died of his wounds, he (Downes)
might lose his life too. Downes said, "He did not cdro a
button ; he had it in for Johnston a long time, as lie was
the first to report him to Warder Donohoe at Mounloy
Prison, and were it not for that, be still would have a
good character." Doctors Corr and Glover described
the wounds inflicted on the deceased, and gave it as their
opinion that they were the cause of death. They had been in
constant attendance on the deceased, from a few minutes after
he was attacked till death ensued. The Coroner seamed up
the evidence, and the jury (twenty-three in number) unhesi-
tatingly and unanimously recorded a verdict of wilful murder
from malice aforethought. Sub-inspector Watkins, 'Nitwit core,
attended the inquest, after which tho Coroner handed over the
prisoner Downes to the police, and the warrant to tho sub-
inspector for the prisoner's transmission to TUllatnoare Gaol,
where he was lodged that evening. He will be tried at the
approaching assizes. -

It is said in the green rooms, and we (Athenceum)
imagine with good foundation—that Mrs. Nisbett's return
to the stage may be shortly looked for.
REDEMPTION OF HRE.EDITA.RY PENSIONS.-1418t year,
the sum of £304,358 was paid by the government for the
redemption of hereditary pensions.
Mr. Sergeant O'Brien has been appointed to the First
Commissionership of the Irish Encumbered Estates Court,
in place of Baron Richards. This appointment will create
a vacancy in the reorecentation of the City of Limerick,
and in the office of Second Sergeant in Ireland,
A GOOD EXAMPLE.—Among the contributions to the
poor.box at the hfaysion-house was the fullowin.,::—" The
Lord Mayor is requested to r.ccept L 5 for the p :or-box,
being a consideration agreed to betwan two parties to
aettle a diepufe, and to avoid litigation on a matter of
business."

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND HIGHWAY ROBBERY. IN SUR-
REY.—Mr. °vendee, we are glad to be Welt) state, is not
dead. He is progressing well, never having had an unfavour-
able symptom. The min was not riding with Mr. Ovendon,
but was lying on the side of the road, pretending to be ill,
and he asked Mr. Ovendon to stop and help him up, which
that gentleman did. The fellow then immediately asked
for his money, and in the struggle shot him. The publica-
tion of the method used may lead to the fellow's apprehen-
sion. The pistol was not found; it was a small one.
AN An MATSON'S? SMOKED OUT.—The people Of
Madison county, Florida, discovering that they had an
Abolitionist among them, George Eaton Colson by name,
called a meeting to consider his. case. Evidence being
produced under oath that he was, by his own confession,
an Abolitionist of the Greeley, perhaps even of the
Garrison stamp, the meeting resolved to give him notice
to quit. This was done, on penalty of 39 lashes in case of
his refusal, to be repeated in double dose in case of further
refusal. He left. His family was assisted by the citizens
with means to enable them to fallow him—Savannah
Georgian, Nov. 21, 1856.
FREE SPEECH IN VIRGINIA.—Another case has Just
occurred that shows that even white men are slaves at the
South. The Roy. C. H. Malcom has been dismissed from
the pastoral office of the 'Baptist Church in 'Moeller,
upon the written charge brought against him : "In con
sequence of certain remarks in your report to the Board,
leading to the belief that you intend to teach abolition
sentiments, in connection with the pastorate of said
church ;" and for refusing "to promote the cause of
Christ in harmony with Southern institutions." It is a
little singular that Mr. Malcom's father, the Rev. Dr.
Malcom, President of Lewisburg Uaiveraity, was exiled
from Kentucky, some years ace, for being unfavourab'e to
the " peculiar institution."—Liberator, October 31, 1856.
FRIGHTFUL ACM ,;NT. —A MOTHER'S LOVE.—A frightfu 1
accident took place on the london and South Western
Railway, near the Barnes station; on Monday,' which it s
feared will terminate fatally. It appear that the wife of
the switchman noticed her child upon the line just as the
wh's le of a goods train was sounded, and which was
making rapid progress towards the station. The anxious
mother rushed across the rails to save her child, • which she
succeeded in doing, but before she could gain the platform
she was caught by the train, thrown down upon the line,
and her legs nearly severed from her body by the wheels
of the carriages. The poor creature was placed in a train,
removed to the Waterloo terminus, and afterwards taken
to St. Thomas's Hospital, but little, if any, hopes can be
entertained of her recovery.
CHEAP CURATES —A striking instance of the unequal
distribution of clerical "loaves and fishes" has just come
before the Ross County Court. The curate of,IITe Mansell,
a small country parish in Herefordshire, appeared to answer
to.a summons after judgment for non payment of an account
for groceries and provisions. The reverend defendant
b'gged the mercy of his creditor with tears in his eyes,
stating that he had a wife and eight children to maintain
with cue limited
_stipend of 801. per annum, and that he
really was unable to do this, and at the same time keep up
a respectable appearance. His Honour expressed his deep
sympathy for defendant's trying position, and made en
order for payment of It. per month, advising the rev, de-
faulter to avail himself of the protection of an insolvent
debtor.

MORE SURVIVORS OF THE LYONNAIS.—A report has been
made by two men, named Tougar, a stoker, and Codas, a
passenger, on board the unfortunate steamer Lyonnais,
before the French Consul at Rio, at which port they were
lauded by the American ship Essex, which had pickei them
up at sea. They relate their adventures at sea, and the loss
of the comrades who were with them in the boat. Oa being
asked to furnish information as to the probable fate of the
other persons embarked on board the Lyonnais, the man
declared that he had seen on the raft Richard-and Voisin,
the two principal stokers ; Remeur, the coalman, a yonn.
-French girl, who had embarked at New York as femme de
chambre to the passengers, and three American lady pas-
sengers, one a young girl from ten to twelve years of age.
These women had been picked up, after the less of one of
the boats. The man further affirmed that he saw on board
the vessel during the last night the two coalmen (Brimot
and Louis), and the first stoker (Romain), Cayolle, the
head cook, and some others.