Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-09-23 00:00:00

'HEALTH COMMITTEE.

The ustall weekly 'meeting of the:,-Hesath . Committee
Was held yesterday, in the council room of the Town-
hall, MT. Alderman Dover in the chair ; the other
gentlemen present were—Messrs. R.: Sheil, Crellin;
Hodson, °Haydock,Nernon, Beckwith, R. Gladstone,
Anthony, Bowring, Baritiu, Stitt, and Crosthwaite._ _

07 7 7
The boroughenginieer, building surveyor, and in,
Spector of nuisances, reported various particulars of the
operations in theifseveral departments during the.week,
from -which it appeared that, 139 nuisances complained
of by:the inhabitants had hem inspected; and means
taken to remedy them;, 1;152 houses in the unhealthiest
districts, containing 3,593 apart vents, and 692 cellars,
had been put under examination, with a view of int-
proving their sanitary condition ; and 235 lodging-houses
nad also been eidinuied, and reported upon.
Dr. DiceAx, thexiedical officer of. health, reported
that the deathS registeied in LiVerpoOl, in the week
ending Saturday, 17th September, were 190, against a
corrected average of 261 in the corresponding week 'of
the preceding nine years, excluding cholera from the
calculatiOn. The mortality was thus 71 below the ave-
rage. In the parish, the deaths were 139 ; in the out-
townshipS 51. The zymotic diseases caused 46 deaths,
being less than half ,the average mortality. . Of these
16 were froth diarrhoea, (the average being 44,) 7 frOm
scarlatina, 7 from typhus, &c., 2 from Diphtheri, 2 froth
hooping cough, 2, from syphilis,
^1 from measles, and 1

... . - .
frorn.qiiinsey. From diseases of the lungs the deaths
were 48, including 27 from consumption.
Mr. STITT said was a very gratifying state of Mat:-
ters to find that mortality was so low.

In the proceedings of the joint sub-committee, the
appointnient of several clerks for the treasurer's office
was recommended, and the names of the sureties for each

were given

Mr: BECKWITH said he thought it would be well to
inquire as to who those sureties were, and if they were
fit and responsible men.
Mr. ANTHONY remarked that they were all good men.
Mr. BECKWITH asked if a member of the council
could become a surety ?

Mr. STITT said it was thought undesirable by the
sub-committee that men connected with the council
shduld be sureties for any of the corporation servants.
For, in case of any impropriety, which was not an un-
frequent occurrence, and there should be cause of inves-
tigation, the sureties would themselves be invest:- -

~.,t gating
the Case of those for whom they had become surety.

Mr. BECKWITH did not think it was right, "on princi-
ple, that memberi of the council should get men, into
situationsunder the corporation, and then become their
sureties. He thought there was something rotton in
the principle. He. understood Mr. W. P. Jeffreys had
recommended one, and was to become his surety.

Mr. GLIDSTONE said, if such things were allowed, they
would be back to the days of the old rotton corporation.

ie wou:

not sit there and see the

council broug

disgrace by its members becoming security for their own
servants. It was one of the most absurd things he ever

heard of

Mr. Bicx.wrrx said he believed it was, wrong in
principle, and he begged to move that no security be
taken from members of the council for a servant of the

Sir. GLADSTONE seconded the motion.
The CHAIRMAN said they would refer it back to the
sub-committee.

Mr. BECXWITII said, in that case, he would move that
tEiy inquire into the whole matter on Tuesday next, at
the meeting of the sub-committee.

THE BROTHEL "CENTS

Mr. M‘GowA.N read the following report on this
subject :

In reference to the property acquired by the Council under
the Liverpool Improvement Act, 1858, the treasurer reports as
follows : The number of houses of which possession has been
obtained is 235, the first on the 27th of January, 1859, and the
last on the sth of September, 1859. In some cases the premises
were occupied under a, tenancy from Tear to year, and the
tenure can ouly be determined in the usual way; in every other
instance, where practicable, the parties have been made to
acknowledge a weekly holding. Since the property came

into the hands of the council, only a few places ha'ye teen let.
to new tenants, and in no case to disreputable persons ; the
remainder of the tenants are people who were found in pos-
session when the property was handed over. Ia the course of
collecting the rents, it has been from time to time ascertained
that thirty-two houses were occupied by persons of question-
able character ; and as soon as they could be properly turned
out, the houses were bricked up, or otherwise effectually closed,
and still remain so. Thus, upwards of thirteen per cent: of the

premises
tenants.

hut up in order to get rid of o

jection,

The collector, When spoken to on the subject of the
remarks made at the Health Committee on Thursday last,
stated that he had no knowledge of any of the houses in
hand being used for improper purposes., Your treasurer has,
however, caused a careful inquiry to be made upon the subject,
and he finds there are several houses which are described by
the neighbours as being inhabited by bad characters, though
the collector states that 'whenever be calls for his rents every-
thing

pears to be orderly, or he would have reported the
The remainder of the people appear to be exceedingly
poor and dirty, but no other objection is found to exist. These
persons express great anxiety that they may not be summarily
ejected, as they will have to look out for fresh dwellings within
the scope of their means.

THOMAS WHITE

Publie-offices, Cornwallis-street,
Liverpool, Sept. 20, 1859.

Mr. VERNON said that the report omitted to say that
those houses belong to the corporation, and that they
were in the habit of receiving rents from such houses—
from brothels. The report said that the inhabitants of
the neighbourhood complained of improper persons
being admitted into those houses. That report had
been written by one of their officers, and if the report
was coloured at all it had been on the right side, and to
save himself ; for if such was the state of things some
months ago, it was his duty to acquaint them
of the matter - some -time back. If, however, the
report had been written by another person, he had no
doubt they would have had a different statement. He
would ask that committee how they were to interfere
with the owners of pi operty who let their houses for
brothels and how could they. punish these prostitutes,
when they were participating in the guilt and in receipt
of the guilty lucre ? He did not think they should
receive the rents.
Mr. ANTHONY said that, as soon as they knew of any
such state of things, they took means to expel the tenant.

The CIiAIRMAI,i wished to call the attention of Mr.
Vernon to the report of the collector, who stated that
when he called for the -rents everything was perfectly
orderly. He (the chairman) could not see what more
the collector could c.o.
Mr.' ORELLIN said, if Mr. Vernon could show that by
giving houses rent free that it would lessen the evil, he

would go with him in all he had said ; but till then; he
could not.

Mr. VERNON replied that it was one thing to stop
the evil, and another thing to participate in the guilt.
His only object was to avoid participation in the, evil.
Mr. Surr thought there were very few men less
acquainted with 'the fact, till a letter appeared in the
papers. He found that they had got possession of
235 houses, and out of that number they had shut up
thirty-two. He would like to know if the houses were
as they were said to be in the letter ; because, if a man
found things in order when he called, that was no
reason why it should be said that they were always in
order. They knew the facilities that these wretched
individuals had of concealing their guilt. As the mat-
ter was, could the public understand from that report,
that the committee were determined to get pos-
session of the houses as soon as they could, and so
soon as they knew that these houses were used
for such purposes, they were willing to take measures- to
get rid of the inhabitants ? He believed that the, com-
mittee had a "public duty to perform, and believed, by
allowing those parties to remain, they • were exposing
themselves to censure.

Mr. Slim, said, after the speeches of Mr. Vernon
and Mr. Stitt on morality, he wished to say a word.
He thought it would have been a much better way of
performing their public duty if these gentlemen had
come there with some practical mode of stopping the
evil. He thought it was as much the duty of these
gentlemen to find out remedies for preventing the evil,
as it was the duty of any other member. of the com-
mittee. He thought it would have been better for the
town if they had come forward with the means of infor-
mation to remedy the cause of complaint.
Mt. STITT said he had thrown no blame en the com-
mittee, and he was willing to take his share of the work.
He wanted the committee to get possession of the houses
by legal means.
Mr. BECKWITH remarked that, at the last meeting of
the committee held on Tuesday, it was agreed that
every step should be instantly taken to have
them removed out of the houses. He appealed
to Mr. Stitt and Mr. Vernon, could they have
done more if. they had been there ? They were
aware that it took a great deal more trouble to get rid
of bad characters when they got into a house, than it did
to get rid of decent people. He assured them that there
was no wish on the part of the committee to retaia these
tenants. They had bought the property, and they did
not buy it for such people.

Mr. 'llonsoN asied where they were to drive these
people to ? If they were driven from one place, they
would be obliged to go to another ; and to say that the
Corpofation was not to receive the rent, was a piece of

tl ee greatest absurdity. (Hear, hear.) The Cotporati:n
would not receive the rents, but force them out of the
houses ; and the chances were that they would go to a
worse locality, and by that the committee were doing
more harm than good.
Mr. BOWRING thought that Mr. Hodson had spoken
wide of the mark. He believed neither the Sub
Committee nor the Health Committee knew that these
people were what they were said to be.. From what he
gathered from the report, they knew that as soon as the
house was provod to be disorderly, it was immediately
ejected of its tenant. -
Mr. VERNON 'said he would take his share of the
work, but he believed the matter was being considered
by a sub-committee. He was sure that the sub-cord-
mittee would deal with it fairly. He thought the
ought to eject the tenants.
Mr. HODSON—Where will you put them ?
Mr. BECKWITH thought it would be well, and more
to the satisfaction of Mr. Vernon, if that gentleman's
name was placed on the sub-committee.. He could then
have no excuse. _

Mr. GLADSTOX said it ought to be borne in mind
that, whatever the character of the tenants might be,
they were not placed there by the corporation. A
portion of the property was purchased from Mr. Cross,
and the possession was only received last month. All
that could be expected was, that they should take such
means as might be in their power to turn these people
---`

The report was then adopted.
Mr. BECXWITH said he saw upon the minutes that the
Town-clerk was to write a letter to Messrs. Woods and
Co., expressing their disapprobation of the conduct of
Mr. Woods in giving a sovereign to an inspector, who
was a paid officer, and a public servant.
Mr. M'Gowarr said a letter ,had been written, but no
answer was received.

Mr. STxrr observed that he had seen a paragraph in
the papers with reference to the new road near the
Zoological Gardens, on the West Derby-road. They
were now come to a dead stand at a field where they
had got to. lie wished to ask the borough engineer
what was the reason that they were subjected to such
delays ?

Mr. NEWLANDS replied that the field was the pro-
perty of the late Mr. Molyneux, who held a lease of it
under the Marquis of Salisbury. The arrangements
were complete with Mr. Molyneux, but the marquis said
he would not allow, him to make a road through the
land. He (Mr. Newlands), however, understood that
the executors of Mr. Molyneux had taken steps to com-
pel his lordship to allow the road to go on.
This concluded the business.

EXTRAORDINARY EXHIBITION AT THE
BIRKENHEAD• POLICE-COURT.

"AN INDEPENDENT GENTLEMAN" SUM-
MONED FOR POOR RATES.
Yesterday, at the Birkenhead Police-court, before
Major-General Sir Edward Cust, and John Jackson,
Esq., Mr. John Day, of Great Neston, a person of pro-
perty, appeared in answer to a summons issued against
him by Mr. Samuel Walley, assistant-overseer of Great
Neston, for the non-payment of poor rates, amounting
to 15s. sd. The case having been stated on the part of
the overseers, the defendant was asked by Sir Edward
Cust, why he had not paid the rate ?
Mr. Day, who was labouring under feelings of con-
siderable excitement, said he had told the assistant-
overseer that he would be ready to pay him the rate on
the Ist October, and he knew very well. that he had
always paid him before ; but the truth was, that the
summons had been issued against him from spite, and
he would show the bench that it was so.
Sir Edward Cust—ln what business are you en-

I am an

gaged, sir ?
11fr. Day—l am engaged in no business
independent gentleman, Sir Edward. The fact is, sir,
I told the overseer that I was waiting for my broker in
Liverpool paying me a dividend on some shares which
I have, and I said to him that I should be ready for
him on the Ist of October' and therefore I think his
° bringinm me here is very hard indeed. He has only
done it, and put me to the expense of coming here,
because he wants to annoy me. It is a vindictive
feeling, gentlemen, on the part of this man. The
summons is 4s. 6d. ; and why should I be put to the
expense of it ? Why, the rate was only made in August,
and now it is bat September. I think it is a most
rascally proceeding, gentlemen •, rascally.
Sir Edward Cus—Well, well, sir, do not make use
of such strong expressions. It is highly improper, and
disrespectful to the bench. You ought not—
Mr. Day—Well, if I have done so, I apologize to
you, Sir Edward ; but really it is too bad, for this man
has brought me here out of spite.
The Clerk—Have Toil really summoned the defendant
here from any vindictive feeling ?
Mr. Walley—Not at all ; but we are obliged to col-
lect the money, and he has often told me that he would
pay when he liked.
Sir Edward Cust—l see that this rate was made on
the 11th of August, and is for something more than
£3OO. How much of it have you collected ?
Mr. Walley—About £l2O.
Sir Edward Cust—Well, I think it is rather quick
work to issue a summons. Have you summoned any
other parties ?
Mr. Walley—Yes, several. But Mr. Day has fre-
quently told me that he would pay me just when he
liked, and laughed at me, and we had reasons to believe
that he was going away, and therefore we—
Mr. Day—What do you mean, sir, by saying I am
going away ? I am a gentleman, sir, with a family,
and lam n.-A going to leave.
Sir Edward Cust—Are you aware that this gentleman
has money paid to him at a particular time of the year ?
Has he ever given you to understand that this is so ?
Mr. Walley—No, he has not.
Mr. Day—Oh,:that is most infamous. I hare told
him so.

Sir Edward Cust—Do not be violent. I think
that

Mr. Day (to Mr. Walley)—l should like to know
who made you ? (Laughter.)
Mr. Walley—God made me, I wish, with reverence,

Mi. Day—You ! why you are an ignorant brute.
You can't spell your own name.
Sir Edward Cust—Your conduct is unpardonable,
sir. You may be an independent gentleman, but your
deportment here shows that you are exceedingly violent.
Had you been more discreet in your language,
you might have received lenity from the bench.
As it! is, we -believe that you are very likely to have
given considerable trouble to the overseers, and you
must pay-the rate and expenses.
Mr. Day—Not the summons, Sir Edward.
Sir Edward Cust—Certainly ; the expenses of the
summons as well.
Mr. Day—But I think that very hard, indeed.
Sir Edward Cust—That is our decision.
Mr. Day—Well, I consider it very hard. Is there
any act under which you can make such an order ? Will
you allow the case to stand over until I can consult my
solicitor ? What local act can you be proceeding upon ?
Mr. Jackson—lt is the law, sir, and you had better
at once submit.
Mr. Day—Well, really, it is most disgraceful.
Sir Edward Cust—lf you feel yourself aggrieved, you
can avail yourself of the remedy which you have sug-
gested. The decision of the bench is that which I have
already given. Sir Edward here left the bench, on
which
Mr. Day, in a loud voice, said—Good day, sir.
The Clerk of the Court at this point calculated the
expenses, including the overseer's railway and omnibus
fare from and to•Neston, and on the sum of one shilling
and tenpence being named as the omnibus fare to
Neston, the defendant objected to it as an overcharge.
The Clerk—Perhaps you will take him home in your
git?
.uefendant—With all the pleasure in the world, if he
will stand something on the road. (Laughter.)
The Clerk—The total expenses are 11s. sd.
Defendant—And how much will that be altogether ?
The Clerk—lt will be £1 6s. 10d. The rate is 15s.
sd.

Defendant, handing in the money, said—Well, I pay
it under protest.
The Clerk—Anything you like.
Defendant.—lt is a curious parish that of mine.
When I got this summons, I wanted to see the overseers,
but nobody knew who they were. I went to the parish
clerk, and he did'nt know, and then. I went to the parson
of the parish, and he didn't know. Nobody could tell
me. This person, you know, is only the deputy. It is
a curious parish this of mine. Are you going my way ?
[addressing Mr. Walley, the overseer.]
Mr. Walley.—No. I prefer going by another route.
Defendant.—Well, good morning, gentlemen, —'A is,
indeed, a carious parish
The defendant here left the court, entered his gig, and
drove off towards Neston.

SEPTtliditEfi *- 1859.

LIVERPOOL POLICE COURT.LYEsTER.DAY,

[Before Mr. MANSFIELD.]
ASSAULTING • THE' POLICE. George Loughranev
Daniel Murphy, and Thomas Doherty, were charged
with assaulting two police-offirrrs, Jones (326), and
Milner (277). Froth the evidence of the officers, it
appeared that about one o'clock that morning, Milner
heard a great noise in Dalrymple-street. On reaching
the-spot, he found four men fighting the three prisoner&
Loughrane, whets he saw the officer, threw a stone at
him, which struck him on the head, and the other
prisoners set upon him and knocked him down. Jones,
now made his appearance, when he was also attacked,
and kicked severely about the legs. The damage done
to the officers' clothing amounted to about 28s. The.
officers s Lid the reason why they were attacked was, that
Dawson used to keep a beer-house in Scotland-road,
and the officers had had him fined. The prisoners were.
fined in 40s. and costs, or, in default, to 'suffer two
months' imprisonment.

ATTEMPT TO • GARROTTE AN ELDERLY LADY.-JOhlt
Hamilton, a powerful and ruffianly-looking fellow, about
thirty years of age, was charged with the following dis-
graceful attack upon an elderly lady, named Thompson,
residing in Bootle :—About half-past eight o'clock, on
Wednesday evening, Mrs. Thompson was going along
Newport-street, in the North End, when the prisoner
accosted her, and mad' some indecent overtures. She
ordered him off, still he followed her ; and at last she
complained to two policemen, but the ruffiain said he
was her husband, and the officeis did not interfere.
When she reached the end of Newport-street, Hathilton
caught her round the waist, took her up an entry, caught
her by the throat, attempted to rob. her, and tore a
shawl she had on at the time almost to atoms. She
screamed out " murder," and Hamilton made off. A
gentleman who was passing at the time, followed ,the
prisoner, and succeeded in capturing him. The iirisoner,
in defence, most unblushingly accused the prosecutor of
making, overtures to him, and stated_ that she had the
black eyes she now exhibited -before he spoke to
her. Mr. Mansfield said that the prisoner had committed
a most ruffianly .outrage. He had trumped up_ a most
ridiculous story, and attempted to cast a stain on the
prosecutor's character. in conclusion, the magistrate
sentenced him to be imprisoned for six months.
THE ROBBERY AT Mn. CAmEnoN's.--Peter Baxwell,
a very intelligent and sharp-looking lad, of about 13 or
14 years of age, was brought up on remand, charged
with stealing same silver out of the till of the shop oc-
cupied by Mr. Cameron, also two gold watches. The
details of the case have already appeared in our publica-
tion. The prisoner was sent to jail, and ordered to be
well whipped.

CHARGE OF ROBBERY. ON BOARD AN IRISIC
STEAMER.—Mary M'Ghee, a respectable-looking young
married woman, was charged with robbing one James
Lightbody of 305., on board the Belfast steamer, on her
passage to this port. The prosecutor' appeared to be
rather weak in his intellect, and his story was some-
what rambling. lie said that, on the passage from
Belfast, he fell in with the prisoner, and they were
drinking together, when "she "took some 30s. from him.
There was only lls. 41d. on her when searched ; and the
evidence not being sufficient to eonvict, the prisoner was

discharg

(Before

Messrs. CASTELLAIN and CHA_LONER.)

SEAMEN'S WAGES.—WHAT IS DESERTION ?—Captain
Atkins, master of the steam-ship Imperador, was sum-
moned by Edward Kennedy and Thomas Hutchison, for
wages due to them. The former claimed £24 16s. 6d.,
and the latter £l3 15s. The complainants were fire-
men on board the steamer, and were on their return to
Liverpool from the Red Sea. The steamer being short•
of coals, put into Table Bay. Hutchison was sent ashore
to tally the coals as they were receivtd—that is, to see that
they were correctly weighed. The last load of coals on
the 4th of hay left the wharf at two o'clock. Hutchison
did not return as he ought to have done, neither did he
do so on the following day. Kennedy was sent on shore
with the other men's dinners on the 4th July, and he ought
to have been on beard on that afternoon. Yet,wh en the ship
sailed in the afternoon of the sth July, they were both
missing. The plaintiffs alleged that they were quite
ready. and willing to go on board, but that there were
no boats belonging to the ship to take them ; and as they
had no money, they could not pay for a. boat for them-
selves. The.lmperador sailed from Table Bay on the
sth of July, and the Imperatrice; another steamer
belonging to the same owners, arrived at that port on
the 9th July. They reported themselves, and were
brought to Liverpool, werkino• as they would have done
on board the Imperador. On their arrival in Liverpool,
they went on board the Imperador, and asked for their
clothes. The chief engineer said he would give up the
clothes, if they signed a rebose to the ship, as they were
posted at the Sailors' Home as deserters. This they
refused to do, and they brought the present action for
their wages for the whole of the voyage put to the Red
Sea and home. Mr. Campbell appeared for the plain-
tiff, and Mr. Cobb for the defendant. Captain Atkins
and Mr. Reed, the chief engineer, were examined at
length. Their evidence went to show that the plaintiff
ought to have returned on board on the evening of the
4th July ; that they had, many opportunities of doing '
so on the following day, as a boat was sent ashorefor
them, and it waited at the wharf two hours. Every'
exertion was made to hunt up the men, but without
avail. The captain was put to much trouble, and one
man was engaged on the wharf, the ship sailing short
of one hand. The magistrates said that, in their
opinion, men could not strictly be called deserters, and
they—the magistrates—would take the case under the
second section of the 243rd section of the act. They
would deduct six days' wages for every day the plaintiff
was on shore, viz., from the 4th to the Sth of July
twenty-four days each, which would amount to
£3 12s. 6d. each man, their wages to be calculated from
their leaving Liverpool to the time of the ship arriving
in Table Bay. The captain and Mr. Campbell retired.
to arrange the accounts between the contending parties.
ASSAULT UPON A GIRL. EY HER FATHER.—Edicard
Bray was charged with assaulting his danghter, Ann
Jane Bray. Mr. Cobb appeared for the plaintiff, and
stated that, on the 14th September, between- nine and
ten o'clock in the evening, complainant and another-
young girl were at the top of Brownlow-hill, looking at
the fire then raging in Lawton-street, when defendant
came up to complainant and spat in her face, kicked her
on the thigh, and threw her into the street. He slao
called her foul names. The defendant stated that he
has, for the past two years, been in a state of anxiety-
and dread from his wife and daughters, who are living
apart from him. That, about a fortnight, ago he went to
the Isle of Man, when the complainant and her mother"
stripped his house of all his effects. Mr. Cobb—"Oh
never mind that, they did it in accordance with my
structions ; I am quite willing to be responsible.
Defendant proceeded to enter further into family affairlt
when he was stopped by the bench.. He then denied
that he had struck or even spat upon the daughter. TO
witnesses, however, proved the contrary, and the de-
fendant was bound in his own recognisance of £lO, t°
keep the peace for six months.