The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-20 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

• , LIVERPOOL.
.BEFORE MR. 7SANSFIELp.
PROPER PUNISHMENT —A mechanic, named Samuel
Price, was cha,gred with having committed a violent
assault on a girl named Martha Minna. • Mr. Bluck
defended. It appeared that on Saturday night, the wife
of the prisoner had a quarrel with another woman in,
Croishall street, where the complainant
,happended to be
when the, prisoner caught her, thinking she had assaulted
his wife. He knocked her__ don n, kicked her most
,barbarously, and otherwise ill-treated her. A surgeon
deposed to the injuries received by the girl, but he did
not apprehend any immediate -danger, although she
was much injured. Mr. Bluck, urged, that the case
might be dealt with in a surnM try m miler. Mr. Mans-
field characterised the conluet of the prisoner as
brutal, but; in • consequence or, t=ie evidence of the sur-
geon, fie wculd not send;hitn for trial, but:infliet a fine
of £lO, or in default of payment, three months' hard
labour.

HARLEQUIN " GRIPPED" BY A P JLICE CLOWN.—The
following would not be a bad scene to introduce into the
pantomime. On the night of the 6th, two fellows, named
William Jordan, alias " William the Third." alias
" Dahlia Bill," alias the Prince of Stoneybatter,"
(Dublin) with about two dozen other aliases of a slang
description, and Jas. Irvine were charged with stealing a
ring, valuue Bs, out of a shandry belonging to Mr, John
Peters of Gateacre. The chief point in the case was,
that when the prisoners were brought to the central
police office on the night of the robbery, they were
standing inside the counter, in charge . of. the police,
when the " Prince of StOney, Batter," with a harlequin
twist, darted from cinder the officer's arm, flew like a
bird over the counter, sprung like a young antelope into
the street, and made his escape. His comrade attempted
to play the clown by getting after him, but the magnet..
ism of a policeman's fist •prevented him. " Billy the
Third," succeeded in escaping until Sunday night, when
Thompson, one of the detectives fell across his path and
prevented his harlequin gambols for some time to come.
In reply to the charge, the prisoners referred to some
mysterious thing ,called " the child unborn," and said
they were asAnuocent as that " baby." Not believing
that story, his worship sent them for trial at sessions,
as they are old acquaintances of Gilbert Henderson, Esq.,
the Recorder—in his official capacity. •
Rornseay BY A SBRVANT.—Mary Sheridan, late a
servant in the employment of :Miss Monkhouse, 33
Clarence Street, was brought up on remand, charged with
stealing a piece of silk, the property, of a gentleman who
lodged in the house. The facts of the 'case appeared in
our paper a few days ago. In reply to his Worship, Miss
Monkhouse said she ,took the prisoner on a note, which
she received from Mr. Daggers, an attorney. , Mr.
Mansfield, was it a character ? Miss Monkhouse—No,
it was a' note stating that she had been charged for
stealing a sovereign, and that he had brought an action
and recovered damages for her, and ou that she was
engaged, as it was considered she was honest. She had,
however, discovered since, that she had been in two
other places, charged for stealing. By the records of
the court, it appeared that she was charged for stealing
a coat in June last. She pleaded guilty to stealing the
silk, and was sent to jail for three months with hard
labour.

FURIOUS Datmo.— A car driver, named Francis
Harvey, was charged by Police officer 600, who said, at
six o❑ Saturday evening, he was driving most furiously
down Church street, when he drove over an old woman,
named Nancy Murphy, and injured her. The officer
followed him to the pier head stand, and found him
very drunk, not able to stir. Mr. Block was for the
defence, and said it was purely accidental, and that he
had witnesses to prove it so, and also that the prisoner
was soher at the time. The bridewell keeper said the
prisoner was drunk. Mr. Bluck said after that he would
not call evidence on that point ; but his client pressed
him to do so. He produced a witness, who swore the
prisoner was quite sober when the officer arrested him at
the stand. The officer said the prisoner was quite drunk
and lying in the car, when he came to take him off the
stand. The witness, whoa" name is James Farrell,
denied this, and Mr. Mansfield ordered his evidence to
.be taken down, and told the witness if he found his
evidence false, he would certainly have him prosecuted
for wilful and corrupt perjury. The bridewell keeper
and the booking clerk at the station both swore that the,
prisoner was quite drunk. Mr. Black said he would
not have called any witn"ss, but his client insisted on
his doing so. Mr. Mansfield said there was no doubt
whatever that the witness for the prisoner had perjured
himself, and he was glad he had ordered his words to be
taken down. He ordered the prisoner to pay ten
shillings compensation to the old woman, and to pay
costs also, and to be deprived of his license in future.

SAVAGE ASSAULT By FEMALES.--Mary Price, Catherine
M'Dermott, and Ellen Davis, were brought up on
remand, charged with having committed a savage assault
on Ellen Burke, in a court off Frederick street, on the
night of the 11th inst. Mr. Black defended the prisoner
Price. It appeared, that on the night in question, the
parties had a fight in the court, when the prisoner Delis
actually bit the greater portion of the complainant's
nose off, and the other two prisoners, it was alleged,
kicked her. Surgeon Garnett stated, that the greater
portion of the woman's nose was bitten off, and she was
totally disfigured for life. Two witnesses were examined
to prove the case. Mr. Bluck addressed the court for
his client, when his worship decided on sending Davis
for trial, and committed the other two prisoners for six
months, with hard labour.

SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A BEERFIOUSE KEEPER
Elizabeth Jones, an elderly looking female, dressed in
black, who keeps a beerhouse in Fairclough lane, was
brought up in custody of detectives Thompson, Scaife,
and Povey, on the following serious charge of receiving
stolen pmpery. A few days ago we reported the
details of an extensive robbery, committed at Mr.
Earp'a extensive tailoring establishment, Lord street, and
for which a man and his wife named Mitchell have been
committed for trial. Thompson slid, on Saturday, in
consequence of information which the police received,
he, with the other officers, went to the house of the
prisoner, where they found some coats which had been
stolen from Mr. Earp, and, were identified by theana-
nager as a portion of the stolen articles. They also got
some shawls and trowers that were identified as property
stolen from other houses. They got several pawn tickets
referring to property that bad been stolen from Mr. Earp,
and other places, and on the pawnbrokers producing the
articles referred to in the tickets, the owners of the pro-
perty recognised it as havin7 been stolen. Mr. Bluck
appeared for the prisoner, and elicited from the witnesses
that up to the present time she bore a good character,
and that she formerly kept a nublic house. She told
them (the officers) that she had purchased the-tickets and
property .from persons whom she did not know,
but who were respectable in appearance, and who
gavellier reference. They further said that they ,went to
her house, in consequence of information received that
thieves were in the habit of selling stolen goods to the
prisoner. They. however, found her respectable up to
the'present. Mr. Bluck s ,id in this stage of the pro-
ceedings he would not offer any defence, but would
reserve it for another place. He asked his worship if he
would accept of bail, as his client would procure sub-
stantial bail for her appearance ? It was agreed to
accept of two sureties of £5O each for the appearance of
the prisoner at sessions, to which she was committed
for trial.

°MARGE or MANSLAUGHTEIL—A few.days ago we gave
an account of the death of a boy; named John Hughes,
aged ten years, whose death it was alleged was caused
by another lad, named John Rochford, aged fourteen
years. Yesterday, the boy Rocliford-samendered to his
bail, and Mr. Cobb app ared 'for him. The chief
additional points in the case were these :—Dr. Gilder-
sleeves said he made a post mortem examination of the
body of deceased, and he found death was the result Of
inflammation of the heart, with effusion of matter
The deceased had an injury of the shoulder, hnt
he would not give an opinion if that would have
caused' disease of the heart. Evan Thomas (said
the witness) said ,the ,arm of deceased was broken,
but, it was not ,broken. To Mr. Cobb : The witness
said, the injury on the shoulder might have been caused
by a fall. Surgeon Garnett said the deceased was brought
to him on the Sunday, (he affair took place on the
Saturday) and he pronounced his arm not to be broken.
He was then taken to the last witness, who gave a similar
opinion ; and then the lad was taken to Even Thomas,
who said the arm was broken, He agreed with the last
witness As to the cause of death. Mr. Gilder sleeves, in
reply to Mr. Mansfield, said'it would be quite impossible
to say whether the disease of the heart had been set u p
by the injury on the shoulder or not. Mr. Cobb argued
that .under these circumstances the boy must be 'dis-
charged. Mr. Mansfield said it would be useless to send
the boy for trial after such evidence. He would therefore
discharge him. (The boy was subsequently brought
before the coroner's jury, where he was also discharged.
See report of that, court.)

BIRKENHEAD.
BEFORE R. BRYANS, ESQ.

DISHONEST SERVANTS.—Geeorge Clempet, Peter Tay-
lor, and Charles Taylor, three vvprkmen.in the employ
of Mr. George Holbrook Williams, boot and shoemaker,,
Chester street, Birkenhead, were charged with stealing
a quantify of material for making boots. The evidence,,
which was of rather a complicated nature, went to show
that eight pairs of women's boots had been sold by the
prisoner Charles Taylor to Mr. Kenning, another boot
and shoe maker, residing in Market street, the tops of

-LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY.

which boots had been stolen from Mr. Williams' stock'
whose foreman distinctly swore to them, and that they
had. never been, given out to be made; and -a; pawn
ticket for a pair of men's boots was proved to have been
sold by the prisoner Peter Taylor, to a labouring man,
named James Manyon, and, who afterwards redeemed
them. The boots bore Mr. Williams'_ mark, and were
proved never to have been sold. The prisoners all
worked en Mr., ;W.'s prebuiiies, and when in the shop,
waiting for materials to makeup, must have taken the
opportunity of ',purloining those now i produced. The,
evidenee not being quite clear lagainst clenwet, he was
discharged. The other two were, committed for trial.
DISORDERLY PROSTITITTES,—Mary Gorman and Mary
Johnson, va o prostitutes, the former having previously
been in curody ino less than 15 times, and suffered: 23
months' imprisonment ; and the latter 16 times, and
suffered nearly 20 months' imprisonment ; together
with Bridget , Quinn and Bridget. M'Bride, both of
whom had also, previously been in custody ; were
all charged with riotous and disorderly behaviour
at Woodside Ferry, between one and two o'clock
on Sunday morning. Inspector Gunning said, that he
went to the ferry, at the time mentioned, and found the
prisoners and others of the same class together, with
some of their bullies, creating a great disturbance, some
of them being in, a state of intoxication, he told them all
to go home, one or two did so by crossing in the ferry-
boat ; the prisoners, however, persisted in ,staying, and
continuing to make A disturbance, be was obliged to lock
them up., Gorman and Johnson were sent for three
months each, M' Bride two, months, and , Quinn one
month to linutsford h use of correction.

OBSTRUCTING Via POLICB.-7SLllith Raby, described as
an engineer, and who said he was in the employ of a Mr.
Taylor, at Birkenhead, was charged with obstructing
Inspec'or Gunning while he had two :of the previous
prisoners in custody. It appeared, from the Inspector's
statement,• that the prisoner_ wished to take the par; of
the girl Gorman, who was very disorderly after she was
in custody. The prisoner, . however, thought Oaf
violence was being used, and went pp to the .officer
telling him that he did not use her properly, and that
'he (the officer) ought
.to be well thraAed with the stick he
had in. his hand, The officer seeing that the prisoner was
drunk, advised him to„go home,
.which he refused to,
and contipued following, using very
.strong language.
Finding that he would not take good advice, they were
obliged to lock ,him up also. Prisoner admitted that
he told the officer he ought to be th;ashed, as he thought
the girt was being roughly handled. The magistrate
told him it was a very serious offence to interfere with
the police, and under the Birkenhead Act, he could send
him for trial, or fine him £5, he would, however, this
time, show him a little, leniency in the hope that .he
would not repeat the offence, but he must pay 10s and
• •
costs, or fourteen dogs imprlspnment.

MUTINY ON BOARD AN AMERICAN VESSEL

IN THE RIVER.

Yesterday the chief mate of the J. L. Bagott, an
American vessel, now lying in the Mersey, was brought
to the Northern Hospital, suffering IfrOm a severe scalp
wound, and a stab on the left breast, received In -
conflict.with some of the crew of the move-vessel. 'The
name of , the injured man is Charles ,O'Thurby. Wei
understand that several other persons are, more .or less,
injured—the conflict between the crew arid,the officers ,
of the ship being most severe. When the mate was
brought to the hospital he had a 'pistol and brass
knuckles on his person. The Americah Consul, with a
detachment of the LiyerpOOl police, immediately went
on board the vessel, and it is expected ihe offenders will
be brought before the magistrates this morning (Tuesday).

A DIALOGUE ON TAE INCOME TAX.

SCENE—An apartment in Downing street, with blue books,
writijg materials, papers, and red tape. The Chancollor
of te Exchequer is discovered, absorbed in anx ions

_
thought.
ENTERS, rising from the ground, the Spirit of Cocker.

Spirit of Cocker : What meddlesome medium has sum-
moned me from my resting place ?
Chancellor of the Exchequer : Forgive, illustrious shade,
the unwarrantable intrusion upon your-
. . .

Sp.: Speak, I pray you, with brevity—my time is short, at
cockcrow I depart speak also with sincerity, we deal not in
soft sawder in the spirit world. Who are you ? What do you
want with me ?

Ch. of Ex. : I am the Chancellor of her Majesty's
Exchequer, an office of peculiar difficulty and

Sp. (aside and interjectively): Bosh !
Ch. of Ex.: And knowing well the kindness of your
heart--

Sp. (impatiently) : Spirits have no heart ; confine yourself
to facts, and avoid metaphor. Feelings I pnssess—do not
trifle with them.

Ch. of Ex.: I humbly crave pardon. I was about to say
that, being aware of the kindliness of your disposition, I
thought you might be willing to assist me in a difficulty which
oppresses me greatly, and I took the liberty of calling you from
the 'region of shades to solicit a word of your invaluable
counsel.

Sp. : You have my works ; I left them for the guidance of
such as you.

Ch. of Ex. : I think I have a copy in my library of your
invaluable work on the Science of Figures.
Sp.: Don't attempt any deception. You may possess a
copy of my groat work, but it is clear you have never consulted
it. It would have been more respectful had you done so
before disturbing my repose. What is it you want ?
Ch. of Ex.: I was desirous, sir, of consulting you respect-
ing the " unreasoning impatience of taxation" on the part of
many who have raised an outcry against the continuance of
the property and income tax.

Sp. (angrily) : No such tax exists.
Ch. of Ex. : Pardo❑ me, respected shade of departed arith-
metical accuracy, if I presume to question -
Sp. : Read me the title of the Act of Parliament.

Ch: of Ex. (taking up Act from table, reads) : " An Act
for granting to her Majesty Duties ,on Profits arising from
Property, Professions, Trades, and Offices," &c.
Sp. : A tax is granted to her Majesty upon certain profits ;
certainly not upon property, as you very well know.
Ch. of Ex. : I stand corrected ; but we call it a property and
income tax.

Sp.: I care ❑ot what you call it ; you may throw dust in
the public eyes, but you cannot in mine—spirits have none.
Ch. of Es.: But, sir, " what's in a name ? a rose," you
know, " by any other name will smell as sweet."

,
Sp.: You will never make your tax sweet, call it by what
name you will ;it stinks in the public nostrils. But let that
pass; only we will, if you please, call it by its right name, a
" Tax on Profits."

Ch. of Ex. : But is it not in fact a property tax ?
Sp.: No, sir. Is your brain property? Is ingenuity pro-
perty? Professional skill, literary excellence, plodding well
directed industry, are these property ?
Ch. of Ex.: No, sir, not in a commerc'al sense; but we tax
property also.

Sp.: You do, the profits arising from property, but very
gingerly. You lay burthens, heavy and grievous to be borne,
on the profits of industry, but property hardly touches them
with one of its fingers.

Ch. of Ex—Will you explain to me how the property
and i❑—f mean, tax on profits does this ?

Sp.: Listen then, and I will instruct you. The income
tax, as you call it, is a masterpiece of statecraft, originally
invented by the late William Pitt; it is a contrivance of sur-
passing ingenuity for extracting the largest possible proportion
of money from the pockets of the industrious and intelligent
creators of wealth, in order that a proportionate immunity
from taxation may be enjoyed by the possessors of wealth ;
it is a tax upon the working bees of the social hive for the
relief of the drones. The deep ingenuity of the contrivance
consists in two things : First, the artfulness by which it
deludes its victims into the belief that they are taxed equally
or proportionately with other classes of society ; and, secondly,
the facility with which it extracts the money from the pockets
of various classes in precisely the iuveise rat oof the amount
of property possessed. In these respects, I can only compare
it to a bat which travellers wrote of in my day as infesting
some Southern climes, which lightly fanned with its wings
into a soothing sense of security and repose the unconscious
object float whom it extracted in full streams the current of
life.

(The Chancellor exhibits signs of impatience and dissent.)
Sp. (continuing): Do you posses the works of my
distinguished cotemporaly and present coadjutor, Adam
Smith ?

Ch. of Ex. : I have his works, and frequently consult
them.

Sp.: Then turn to the Fifth Book, part 11., of his " Wealth
of Nations," under the head " Of Taxes," and read what you
find there written.

Ch. of Ex. (reading) : " I. The subjects of every State
ought to contribute towards the support of the Government,
as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective
abilities. The expense of government to the individuals of a
nation is like the expense of management to the joint tenants
of a great estate, who are all obliged to contribute in propor-
tion to their respective interests in the estate. In the
observation or neglect of this maxim consists what is called
the equality or inequality of taxation."
Sp.: Very good. Now answer me; is your tax on profits
levied in accordance with the equitable and politic dictum of
Adam Smith ?

Ch. of Ex.: We, that is, my respected predecessors and
myself have anxiously considered the subject, with the view of
rendering the operation of the tax as equitable as possible, and
finding the subject surrounded with difficulties, we—ahem--

Sp: (interrupting) : Shirked it upon the House of Com-
mons.

Ch. of E. : In one sense we did so ; that is to say, we
moved the appointment of a Select Committee of that honour-
able Muse, which resulted in--

Sp... I know--a blue book, and an outlay of £l,OOO in
printing,
Ch. of Ex.: The committee reported the evidence, and that
it was extremely difficult, indeed impossible, to levy the tax
more equitably.

Sp. (with indignation) I'll simplify the matter for them
before I have done with it.

Ch. of Ex.: I must admit, Sir, that the tax is not strictly
a property tax ; but how do you prove that the burthea falls
in the inverse ratio of equity and fairness ?

Sp, : I shall make you prove that. Get me down a copy of
my Rudiments of Arithmetic.

-Ch. of Ex. (producing a dusty volume)—Here, sir, is a copy
of your invaluable treatise.

Sp. (sarcastically) : Yes ; "invaluable treatise," indeed !
you may work a sum in the dust upon the cover !
Ch. of Ex.: I must plead guilty of neglect of the science
which derived additional lustre from your—
Sp. (interrupting impatiently) : Can you find the present
value of an annual sum ?

Ch. of Ex.: I think I can, aided by your useful manual.
Sp.: Then find me the present value of £l5O per annum for
three years, interest at £4 per cent.
(The Chancellor of the Exchequer works laboriously while
Shade of Cocker arrives at the result, by mental arithmetic, of
course.
Ch. of Ex. : I make it £416.

Sp.: That is right, nearly. Now sit down and find me
also the present value of £l5O per annum for 5,7, 10, 15, 20,
23, 30, and 50 years, and in perpetuity; and place tha values,
when found, in tabular j axtaposition.
Ch. of Ex. (after a considerable pause) : Here are the results,
sir, its a tabulated form.