Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-15 00:00:00

THE LIBERATION OF BPOLLEN..

On Wednesday morning, about eleven o'clock, Spollen
(who had been formally discharged from custody soon
after the crowds assembled in Green-street and its im-
mediate vicinity on the previous evening in the expecta-
tion of the verdict, had dispersed) proceeded in a covered
car, followed by a large mob, to the Broadstone, where he
entered a cottage occupied by the Canal lock-keeper, and
in which his son James has been remaining since his
father's committal. Sergeant Craven, of the G Division,
was stationed at the Terminus, for the purpose of pre-
venting Spollen from obtaining access to any portion of the
railway premises, so that he did not attempt to do so,
whether- such had been his intention in visiting the
neighbourhood or not. He sent a messenger, however,
with a request to his wle that she would send him his
breakfast, and also desired it to be stated to her that he
did not blame her for what she had done, that he
entertained no ill feelings towards her on that account,
and that it was his desire that the same amicable relseilns
which had subsisted between them prior to his arrest
should be resumed. Notwithstanding the friendly nature
of this message, its bearer was not permitted by Sergeant
Craven to communicate with Mrs. Spollen. It may be
proper to observe here that this unhappy woman is said
to feel deeply aggrieved by the iniputaions cast upon her
by the learned counsel who so successfully conducted the
defence of her husband. After a delay of some hours at
the Brosdstone—a considerable number of persons hav-
ing congregated in the neighbourhood—Spollen, accom-
panied by his eldest son visited the office of Mr. Charles
Fitzgerald, in Stafford-street, where he requested that
Mr. Kane would put his name at the head of asubscription
list for his benefit, to which a sympathetic public would
subsequently be invited to contribe'e. There is reason for
believing that the request was not complied with, and that
it was intimated pretty strongly to Mr. Spollen that the
sooner he took himself off the better. This was no easy
matter, however—an immense throng having assembled
outside the office dcor, through which it was impossible
for him to obtain favourable access, and accordingly it was
found necessary to get him off the premises by a back pas-
sage leading into Britain street. It is said he states himself
to be a "lucky dog," and that he regrets not having in his
speech from the dock ",lone justice to his friend Sidney,"
(one of the able counsel engaged in his defence,) but that
he intends writing to the Press, requesting it to do so on
his behalf. It is considered doubtful whether Mr. Fidney
entertains any regret for the omission referred to in the
address of his ci divant client, or whether he would feel at
all complimented by a public tribute from that parson
to his unqaestionahle forensic ability.—Dublin Daily
Express.

EXTRIORDINARY CIiiRGE OF INDECENT

ASSAULT.

At the Southwark police court, on Thursday, Wm. Henry
Wyld, a sworn broker, carrying on business in Lambeth,
was brought before Mr. Barcham, charged with indecently
assaulting Maria Morpeth, a respectable-lo g young
female eighteen years of age, with latent. The prosecu-
trix, who gave her evidence in a very straightforward
manner, stated that she lived with her parents in Salutation-
street, Stamford-street, and her father was a compositor.
shortly after two o'clock on the afternoon of the 12th inst.,
the prisoner came to their house, and put in a distress for
£2 194 61, rant due to the landlord. She was at home with
her elder brothee, sister (fourteen years of age), and sister
(twelve years old.) The former left the house to g ) for
their mother. As soon as he was gone, the prisoner and h s
man commenced taking an invento•y, when the prisoner
came towards her, and said he had better g) up stairs and
tee what was there, at the same time asking her to follow
him. She did so, and her little brother and sis►ter wanted
to come up after them, but the prisoner told them to go
back as they were not wanted, as he was going to see if
they could not put some of the things away. When they
got into the top room he sat on the bed and took an inven-
tory of the things there. While he was deing so,he jumped up
and locked the door. Witness was looking out of the win-
dow then, hut she asked him what he had done that for.
He made no reply, but caught hold of her, and attempted to
pull her on the bed, at the same time acting very improperly
towards her. He exposed himself also, and pulled out a
purse, from which he took a shilling and offered it to her,
saying that she would want it before Saturday, as she
would then be starved. She struggled hard, and got away
from him, indignantly repulsing has insults, and then she
found the door, unlocked it, and ran down stairs.
There was no one there then but the man in possession
and her little brother and sister, whom she did not like to
tell what had happened. The latter, however, asked her
what was the reason the door was locked, and the cause of
the noise in the room. Shortly after her elder brother
entered the house, and she told him how the prisoner had
treated her, and afterwa ds he was given into custody. The
prosecutrix was subjected to a cross-examination by
Mr Solomon, who appeared for tie defence ; but,her
statement was not in the least shaken. Walter Mor-
peth, the witness's ()iciest brother, twenty years of age',
said that when she told him the manner the prisoner
had treated her, he went out and asked the advice of a
neighbour, who returned with him to the house. He then
fetched a constable, and at that time his mother came in,
and then the prisoner was given into custody. Witness
informed his worship all that his sister had told him, and
that was corroborative of her testimony. Mr. Solomon,
for the accused, said he was instructed to say that he was
a respectable married man. Being married, and having
a large family of children, whom he brought up in the
paths of virtue and honesty, he denied moat emphatically
the charges made against him, and assured him (Ir.
Solomon) that they were tramped up with the view of
preventing him from making his levy on her father's
goods He called the landlord of the house to speak to
his moral character, and the man in possession said the
latter knew nothing of what occurred at the top of the
house. Mr. Burcham said that, as he denied the charge, he
must send him to the sessions for trial, as there was nothing
to contradict the girl's evidence. It was a bailable offence ;
therefore he would accept two sureties for his appearance
at the sessions.

EMBARKATION OF TLIE ROYAL MARINE FOUCE

FOR CHINA.

WOOLWICH, Thursday Night —This afternoon, at half-
past three o'clock, the Royal Marine Force at Woolwich,
under orders for China, assembled on parade for inspection,
previous to embarkation on board the screw steam vessel
Adelaide, at the Royal Arsenal pier. Three companies of
the Royal Marine Light Infantry, numbering 300 officers
and men, and 50 supernumeraries, for service in the gun-
boats and other vesse's in the Chinese waters, complete
the force now under orders; and these, with a detachment
of the 3rd Company, Gzh Battalion, Royal Artillery,
for Hong Kong, formed in marching order at four
o'clock, and proceeded to the Royal Arsenal pier for em-
barkation. The troops were headed by the two splendid
bands of the Royal Artillery and the Royal Marine Light
Infantry, Colonel Bloomfield, Acting Commandant of the
Royal Artillery ; Garrison Captain Freeth, Depny-
Aqiistant Quartermaster-General of the same corps;
Colonel Brown, Commandant of the Woolwich Division of
R oyal. Marines ; and other officers of b oth regiments.
The march from the Royal Marine Barracks to the pier
was a most interesting and excitirg scene The streets
were crowded with people, who incessantly cheered the
troops, and the latter responded in a most hearty
manaer, numbers of the men enthusiastically waving their
caps on the point of their sword scabbards. On arriving
at the Royal Arsenal pier, the troops immediately embarked
on board the noble iron screw vessel named (which has
bsen fitted up in a very excellent manner), the bands
playing the pop filar air of " Cheer, boys, cheer."

DESTRITCTIVE FIRES AND GRE.4.T LOSS OF

PROPERTY IN LONDON.

On Thursday morning, about a quarter to three o'clock,
considerable alarm was caused in the immediate vicinity of
Turnham g nen, in consequence of a fire of a fierce
character breaking out in the extensive range of premises
belonging to Mr. George West, cabinet-maker and
upholsterer, 12, gaeen's-row, Turnhamgreen. The flames
originated, from some unknown cause, in the back fic,ory,
aad they rapidly extended to the front building, and did a
great deal of mischief. The flames could not be subdued
until the workshops, at the back, were destroyed, and the
ground floor, and also the fl nor over, were seriously
damaged by fire, &c.
Also, on Thursday morning, shortly before four o'clock,
a fire, which was nearly attended with fatal consequences,
happened in the premises to Mr. P. J. Matthews, tabac-
conist, 37, Hackney-road. The Royal Society's escapes
and the engines of the parish and London brigades were
promptly in attendance, and the firemen, under the direc-
tion of Mr Fogo and Mr. Bridges, went to work in an
admirable manner, and eventually g ot the fire extinguished,
but not until the whole stock-in-trade was consumed and
the building severely damaged.
A fire likewise took place about the same time on the
premises belonging to Mr. George Simpson, grocer and
cheesemonger, 20, Romney-terrace, Horseforry-road.
The Royal Society's fire escape and the engines were soon
in attendance, but the fire wad not subdued until consider
able damage was dam,