Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-11-19 00:00:00

KENTUCKY FUGITIVE SL IVES

At the Southwark Policceeourt, on Tuesday, two very
fine-looking Colour, d girls, about 18 and 20 years old, who
are called in the slave states quadroons, were brought
before Mr. -Burcham for further examination, charged
with begging in the public streets. The prisoners, who
were welt conducted, and appareutly of good education,
were seen on Saturday evening walking along the side of
the kerb in Blacknoore.street, dressed in white. One of
them carried a box, and the other a placard, on which
was written " Fugitive Slaves?' Constable 85 M seeing
several persons put copper money into their box, took
them into custody for begging; and when before Mr.
Combe on Saturday evening, he remanded them until
to-day, in order that inquiries might be made about them.
The elder prisoner, an intelligent and good-looking female,
said they were fugitives from Kentucky. They were
born and brought up on a plantation, and about twelve
months ago their father died. Their mother was sold
to a distant planter, and they were about to be parted
and sold also, when they succeeded in getting away to
Philadelphia. There they were taken care of by a bene-
volent individual, and through the kindness of some free
coloured Persons there, their passage was paid to Green-
ock, where they arrived last spring. They tried to get
into domestic service, but being unable to obtain situations
there, they made their way to London. Here they were
equally unfortunate, and at the present time they were
without the means of subsistence. They had lately lived
along with a labourer and his wife, named Glynn, in a
courtin Bishepsgate-street, and gained a few pence by
selling tracts. Mr. Burchano asked whether inquiries
had been made as to the truth of the story ? The
constable replied that they had, and he had reason to
believe that it was true. Two officers of the Mendieity
Society who were in attendance, also informed his Wore hip
that they were not known as beggars. Mr. Burcham
asked them what they could do for a living ? The elder
girl replied that they were both domestic servants, but
people objected to them in such situations in this country
owing to their colours. They were able to knit gloves.
Mr. Burcham told them that knitting gloves would be
much better than begging, which was not allowed in this
country. He would advise them to knit some, and sell
them. The cold weather was coming, and no doubt they
would get a ready sale for them. The poor girls forthwith
ex iTessed their willingness to do so, provided they had I he
means to obtain the wool. Mr. Burcham told them, that
if their story was true, there was some commisseration for
them, and he did not think they were actual beggars. As
they seemed willing to obtain their livelihood by their
own labour, ho would assist them in purchasing tools. A
shilling was found on them, and he would direct four
shillings to be added to it from the poor box, and he hoped
with that they would be able to earn their own subsis
tence. He earnestly exhorted them not to be led away by
bad women, and to avoid the streets of London. Tile
poor girls, who listened attentively to His Worship,
promised to comply, and thanked him earnestly for the
assistance he had so kindly rendered them in a strange
country. They thought they would be able to gain a
good living by glove making.

TUE FRENCH' AND RUSSIAN EMBASSIES TO CHINA.—
By a cl,spatch from Trieste, dated Nov. 15, we are
informed that the French Emlrsq had arrived at Singa-
pore. The Embassy from _Russia had net been received
at Pekin.
It is said that the arrangement b 7 the Cunard steamer
Africa, to call at Cape Race, bas been defeated by the
Admiralty agent not having attempted to send the requisite
authority to her commander until two hours after the
vessel had sailed.
A Irrucoaa FALLACY.—There is a vulgar fallacy at the
bottom of the assumption that no consii,erahle political
measure can be brought forward without a great public
agitation—without some elamourous demand. Push the
fallacy to its extreme, and it amounts to a recognition of
what M. Ledru Bonin calls direct legislaion—that ic,
legislation by the mob in person. It may not he literally
true that "the great b9dy of the nation" is at the present
moment pressing a specific demand for improvements of
our representative system ; it is certain that no large change
is just now urged upon government or legislature ; but it
is as obvious that all persons who possess a leading position
are either actively expressing dissatisfaction with the de-
fects of the existing electoral arrangements, or, where they
are of the most Conservative stamp, are admitting defects
to be remedied. If improvements are to be made, if faults
are to be cured in the most deliberate and judicious manner,
the best season would not be une of a great spCcial
agitation, but precisely the opposite, when plans of
improvement can be arranged, discussed, and fettled on
their merits.—Spectator,

ATTEMPT TO SHOOT MR. WILLIAM MADDEN,

OF LONDON-ROAD.

Yesterday, we gave a short account of an attempt made
on Tuesday night, by a man named Pattick Hughes, to
shoot Mr. William Madden, a respectable and extensive
cattle dealer and victualler in London-road. Yesterday
morning, at the police court, the case came on for hearing,
before Mr. ?Mansfield, when Patrick Hughes, who resides
at 12, Key-street, and described as a butcher, we; put to
the bar, charged with an attempt to shoot Mr. Madden.
The latter was accompanied by a considerable number of
cattle salesmen, provision merchants, &c., who seemed
to take a deep interest in the case, and who congratulated
him on his fortunate escape. Mr. Goodere conducted the
case fur the prosecution, and Mr. pluck defended the
prisoner. Mr. Goodere, in opening the case, said his client
was very extensively engaged in the import cattle trade of
Liverpool, and also kept an establishment iu Londoe-road.
Same time since, the prisoner- was taken into partnership
by Me. Madden, who had a kindly feeling towards him,
and wished to do him a service, althpagh he had no capi-
tal. A short time since, however, Mr. Madden, in conse-
quence of having discovered some large mistakes; and
other affairs, refused to have anything to do with the pri-
soner for the future. There might be a sum of some eight
or nine pounds between them, although Mr. Madden con-
sidered he Vies at a loss of from £l6O to £2OO by the effor.
The previous day the prisoner cited three rimes at Mr.
Madden's shop, Lendon.road. The third time was at night,
when he saw Mr—Madden, and said he had come o settle
the accounts between them. Mr. Madden, seeiug the man
was excited, very properly said he would not enter into the
matter then; but if the prisoner called in the morning,
he would settle with him. Prisoner cooly remarked " Per-
haps you will net live till morning," and drew a double-
barrel rifle pistol from his breast pocket; it was capped, and
loaded with powder and ball, and he levelled it deliberately
at,Mr. Madden's head, and swore an awful oath that he
would blow his brains out. Mr. Madden was, however,
not to be frightened, IT he wits a man of great personal
end moral caurage, and he sprang on his asssilant, and
knocked him down ; at the same instant that the prisoner
fell on the floor of the. shop, Mr. Msdden placed one of his
feet en the wrist of the prisoner Ore hard in which the
prisoner held the pis,o), and, seizing him by the neck, he
held him fast until assistance came. The prisoner, a 0 the
time, held the pistol, with deadly grasp, and it was only
after a great struggle that it was ;got out of his hand, Mr.
Madden was then cel!ed, and proved the above facts
eenerally, and stated teat his loss by the prisoner lea; con-
siderable. He was only in partnership with him so far as
beef was concerned, bet not in other branches of his tra'..e.
A boy, who is in the employment of Mr. Madden, proved
that he had just gorse out of the shop, wbeu he heard a
scaffle, and, on going into the shop again, he saw the
prisoner on the floor with- a pistol in his hand, and his
master holding hire down. Re could see the caps on the
pistol, so that it mast hare been at least at half, if not et
whole cock ; bat he was so frightened he could not tell
which it was in the eanfusion. He helped to wrench the
pistol from the prisoner, and gave it to officer 559. A
gaesion arose as to whether the pistol was leaded with ball
or not, nod, in reply to His Worship, the officer said he
could not tell if there was a ball in the pistol. Mr.
Mansfold : Why can't you tell if there was a ball in it?
Officer : Why, the charge vtas not drawn, sir. Mr.
Mansfield : Not drawn ; why not ? Offirier : Because it was
fired away. Mr. Mansfield : Fired away ! Where ? At
the statioe house, sir. Mr. Mansfield : By whom 2 By a
police officer named Smith, a turnecol. Mr. Mansfield :
Hon did such a thing happen ? Officer : Whilst we were
engaged booking the prisoner, he took the pistol up arid
•ran out with it, saying he would prevent any more acci-
, dents, and he fired it off before we knew he had done so.
Mr. Mansfield : I n ,ver heard the like of this. I think,
Mr; Clough, that this man ought, at least, to get a very
severe rewiruand, to say the least of i , f,:r his extreme
folly. Mr. Moffat, the keeper of Prescoa-street bets: a veil,
was called, and said, whilst he and the others were engseed
abut taking the ehareo against the pdsener, the effieer
Smith, unknown to him, ran out with the pistol and fired
it off. Mr. Block asked officer 559 if there was a ball in
the piwol, and he replied he could not tell, b it c:rtainly
there wee powder, for he heard tie report.. Mr. Block:
Will you swear there was even waddin•-; in i ? No, for I
did not see it. Mr. Black : What did :he prisoner say ?
He said there was only powder in the pistol. Pnilip
Skinner, a person in the employment of Mr. Madder,
corn b irated the evidence generally about the prisoner
going.to the shop, &c., but he could not tell if the
pistol was on _volt, although he helped to wretch
h. from the prisoner, whilst he was held down by
Ma Madden: He, however, saw the cans plainly on it.
M . Black contended that the charge of felony failed
altogether, as there was no proof that there was a hall in
"the pistol. Indeed, his client told him that there was
nothing but p,.wtler in the -pistol. The unfortunate man
had been drinking heavily fur the last ten days, and really '
was- qtri`e excited, hot new that he bad coaled down, and
ass naible, Le was extremel3 sorry for what he had done,
'lllt,i,ougn he pact no int:mann waatever to no air. semen
any injury. Mi.. Madden : Way, he told the officer, iu the
prese.oce of seve.al persons, that if be did not shoot me
then, he would do se another time, when he got out. Mr.
Black : It is a very unfortunate and painful case, but at
most, it is only a case to hold the prisoner to bail, as it
stands at present. Mr. Martsfi•dd said, it the prisoner had
a difference with Mr, M.ditn about accounts, he should
have gone to a rPsprnable at•orney, and settled the affair
in the County Curt, and not resort to a pistol. Mr.
Bina said his client Ville very sorry, indeed, for what had
taken place, and wean promise , not to go near Mr.
Madden any mere. Mr. Madden : He nosy come behind
me atm wares, awl sh• of ma whet I am nut prepared to
meet him. I have ne protection from such a man, Mr.
Mhorsfiel,-1: Yes, I will give you protection ; I will bind
shims if ie a sum of £lO, and two sureties in £25 each, to
keep tile peace. Mr. Malden then left with his friends.