Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-19 00:00:00

AN AMERICAN WAY OF DETECTING MURDER.

The- astonishing and intensely interesting fact was
recently announced in the English papers of a discovery
that the last image formed on the retina of the eye of
a dying person remains impressed upon it, at ou a.
daguerrean plate. Thus, it was alleged that if the last
object seen by a murdered person was his murderer, the
portrait drawn urn the eye would remain a fearful witness
in death, to detect the guilty and lead to his conviction.
A series of experiments have recent), been made by Dr.
Pollock, of Chicago, as we learn from the Democratic
Press, to test the correctness of this statement. In each
experiment that D P. has made, he has found that
an examination of the retina of the eye with a micro-
scope reveals a wonderful as well as a beautiful sight, and
that in almost every instance here was a clear, clistinc ,
and marked impression. Wo pat these facts upon record,
in the hope of wakening an interest„in the subject, that
others may be induced to enter upon: these interesting ex-
periments, and the cause of science advanced. The recent
examination of the eye of J. H Beardsley, who was
murdered in Auburn, conducted by Dr. t_s`andford, cor-
responds with those Made elsewhere. The fall awing is the
published account of the examination :—At first we sug-
gested the saturation of the eye in a weak solution of
atrophine, which evidently produced an enlarged state of
the pupil. On ob.erving this we touched the end of the
optic nerve with the extract, when the eye ins antly
became protuberant. We now applied a powerful lens,
and discovered in the pup'', the rude, worn away
figure of a man, with a light coa-, besides whom was a
roan I stone standing or suspended in the air, with a small
handle stuck as it were in the earth. The remainder was
debris, evidently lost from the destruction of the optic, and
its separation from the mother br. in. Had we performed
this operation when the eye was entire in the socket, with
all its powerful connecion with the brain, there is not the
least doubt but that we should have detected the last idea
and impression made on the mind and eye of the unfor-
tunate man. The thing would evidently be entire ; and
perhaps we should have had the contour, or better stilt,
the exact figure of the murderer. Tne last impression
before death is always more terrible on the brain from fear
than from any other cause ; and figures impressed on the
pupil more distinct, which we attribute to the largeness of
the optic nerve, and its free communication with the brain.
ew York Observer. .

A " DISZINUUII3IIICD FOttEIGNES" IN
DIFFICULTIES.

A Hindoo, who called himself Mahameolli,
is better knownttc,t/he police as John Frederic Brown,
was charged at Bow-street police court, on Saturday,
with obtaining goods arid money from various tradesmen,
by representing himself as agent to the Queen of Oude,
and also with stealing a check book from Grindley and
Co.'s bank, The prisoner, who was elegantly dressed,
and who spoke • English with rem Arkable fluency and
accuracy, though with'a slight accent, :presented himself,
on the 6th of August, at Messrs. Grindley's bank. in St.
Martin's-lane, and told the clerk (Mr. Royle) he was one
of the'suite of the Queen of Oude, and wished, to transfer
a sum of money to a London- bank from that of Hodgson
and Baker; at Liverpool, and he understood they did
such business.. He then made out an order 'on the firm
above mentioned for X 3,763 lOs 51, and requested him to
get the money transferred from Liverpool. He said he
should want part of the money for his expenses in London.
but he should want the remainder .when he returned
to India. He then inquire:l how he should draw
the money when they had received it, and Mr. Royle
explained that he. would have to draw checks for
explaining the.nature of those documonts, and showing
him a check-book. He then asked for a glass of water,
and was shown intoa.room, where he was supplied with
that refreshment. When he came •out•• Mr. Royle was
eagaged with a custom,r; he (the prisoner) passed by
the table on which the check book lay, and after he was
gene it was missed. The prisoner next called at Messrs.
Silk and Co.'s, the coachmakers, in Lene,-acre, and
making the same representations as to his connections
With the establishment of the Queen of Oude, made a
bargain for the purchase of a carriage for .elo6,.stipulating
for some alterations to suit it for the Indiats climate, and
agreeing to deposit £5O, for. which amount he then drew
a cheek, ia.a check-book of Messrs. Grindley. Ile then
entered into a conversation with Mr. Stik about the mode
of packing the carriage for the sea voyage, and inspected
the arrangements already made' for packing one which
was about to be sent to America, of all which he was
pleased to' express his approval.. He ultimately
asked Mr. Silk to cash a sin ill check for him, and
proceeded to draw one for £5. Mr. Sitk said he would be
happy to'cash the check for him, but he Must first send
for some cash, as he was out "ofit ; but, as it happened,
he was just about to send to his bankers. Mr. Salk then
drew a check for £20.. calle I his servant, and desired him
to go•to the bankers and get change of bothehecks, and
on his return'to give .e 5 to that gentleman." The prisoner,
betrayer, declined to await the return of the messenger,
and went away, saying he would call again for the cash.
However, he did not return. The same day be called at
Messrs. Moses's tailoring establishment in Hart-street,
Bloomsbnry, stating that he was "aide de camp" to the
Queen of Oule,and purchased an entire suit of clothing,
eluding hat, boots, under-linen &c.; which he said he

.wanted io take away with him. Ile was then shown into
a room, where he put on the new things. • He made out a
cheek for the amount, and a messenger was sent with it
to Messrs. Grindley's, while the assistant detained the
prisoner in conversation. The prisoner, however, soon
became aniciouS.tcr go, and when told that until the mes-
senger returned he would not be allowed to leave with the
clothes, he said, Then I will take them off again, tor I
must be at Harley House at three, and it only wants five
minutes." While he was taking off the new clothes, and.
putting his own on again, the messenger returned with
Mr. Moyle, who insisted on his giving up the stolen check
book. He was then given in charge Upon so much
evidence Mr. Henry had remanded him, and in the mean-
while the police had traced out a multitude. of other cases
in which the prisoner had attempted, 'aometitnes with
success, to obtain property and money on the pretence of
being the agent of the Q teen of Gude. His plan in each
instance was to order a large quantity o gJois to be seat
t> Harley House, and then to say he wante l a small
quantity to take with him, or give a paper professing to
be an order for payment of a round sum, taking the
change in cash. It was found that he was not known at
Harley House, and that there was no such bankers at
Liverpool as he had named. So r.e difficulty having
arisen about proving the former fact, for which it was
thought the Queen herself would have to be requested to
attend, the prisoner told the inspector that, rather than
give unnecessary trouble, he would admit he was not
known there. 'lt was now proved that he had obtained
an opera glass and six tickets at Jullien's, giving the
shopman a paper with some scrawl ,upon it, which he
said was an order in Hindestance 2a the Queen of Oude.
lie was committed Ihr trial.

ITEMS FROM THE INDIA PAPERS.

A LOYAL RAJAH. —The .11.1jah of Bendwar has been
promised a small force by the government as soon as the
reinforcements arrive.

RUMOURED DAM OF T/IR KING or DiLut—The
Englishman states that a report was in circulation of the
death of the King of Delhi, which is not unlikely, either
from violence or from natural causes.

Is IT A FAcr 2—Here is a fact which we have not seen

mentioned before.

When the disaffection first showed

itself in the 'Maud 34th regiments, Lard Cannitig pro-
posed to iha Court:of Directors to disband 40,000 native
troops, and supply their place with 20,000 Europeaus.
The reply of the Court of Directors has just reached this
country, and its tenor may easily be guessed.—Phcenix•
NATIVE EDITORS PROSECUTED.--lhe editors of tour
native newspapers, the Bltaskhur, the Sultani ut Akhbar,
the Doorbin, and the Sund Archar Soodarbhassur, were yes-
terday prosecuted by the Government for treasonable

publieations. Mr. Cecil 13eadou appeared against then
on behalf of Government. They were all committed for
trial at the next Criminal Sessions, and bound over in
heavy recognisauces, personal and otherwise, to appear .
and stand tneir trial.—Hurkaru, June 18.
CoLoriEL Fisuea.—Tne death of Colonel Fisher, of the

15th Irregular Cavalry, is confirmed. He went to speak to
the polce corps, after his own had shown symptoms of
mutiny, and when he turned his back to the poiice corps,
was shot through the body. Gibbons, the second in corn-
menu, had a dozen men atter him, who speared and cut
him down. Black and Stroyen, civihans, took refuge in a.
native house, but were turned out and a►se cut down.
A SmALL EXPEDITION.-0a the 23rd,. a detachment,
under Major Gaussen, proceeded from Muttown to dis-
lodge a party om Boodites, occupying a post about eight

miles distant, whicell was a loss of two sepoys
killed and two wounded. An aceident occurred iniblowing
up the:(gate, and some of the bastions subsequently, by
wiiich Ensign Speirs lost his life, and Lieutenant Wit-
lourhby sustained a fracture of the right thigh-bone. close
to the knee joint, but is doing well.
DANGER AT 131.1AUGLPORE---A. letter says :—" There is
no doubt that we are in great danger here ; the sth Irre-
gulars and the Native Infantry are looked upon with
great suspicion. The ladiei and children have been sent
away to the station, and you may faney how great the
occasion was when a lady, who had only been contiued a
tew hours, was put on board the steamer along with the
others, so that mutiny is spreading daily. The native
troops at Berhainpere, after what we have seen, cannot
well be trusted. A rise is expected ; if the retaking of
Delhi becomes generally known, it may be the means of
preventing many more regiments from rising."
SECRET AIEETINGS.—Tnern is a rumour now current in
the suburbs that. a certain Nawab, now living in Luta:ly,
a holding, night after night, private meetings, in, which.
several of the principal Mahamedau inhabitants of the
24 Perguunahs assemble, besides several of the, wealthy
alahomedans of this city. The assembly lasts. till day-
light at times. None but Mahomedans are allowed to
enter, nar will his retainers reply to any questions asked.
This looks rather suspicious. The Da.rogahs of Totally
have, Ixe learn, been informed of it, but no measures
seem yet to have been taken to check these proceedings.
, NATIVE. PAPERS.—We learn that instructions. have beau
given to the Past-office authorities to stop, any native
papers that may be attempted to be despatched by dawk.
In connection with this we may state that the editor of
the Persian paper sailed the Sultani ilki/bLar, intends, of
his own accord, to stop his paper for a couple of months.
The editor of the Dvorbeen, from what we learn, appears
to have made a narrow escape. He was called up and
searchingly examined by some of the fudges of the Sudden
Court. His statement was sent to government, and
orders were asked, whether the erring editor should be
made over to the military authorities or the police; but
the Governor-General had bowels of comdassion towards
him, and let off the delinquent, who got off'vvith a severe
reprimand and a great fright.—Phoenix
A. CALCU.TTA, CONSPIRAM—The following has been
placed at our disposal :—" I hasten to communicate to
you the following. During Monday last the authorities
managed to get possession of several important docu-
ments, including a sketch of the city, apparently drawn
no by influentiat Mahomedans. The Map' has,been so
sketched as to divide the whole of the town into. sections.
A general rise was planned to take place on the 23rd
instant the anniversary of the battle of Plass.y—the city
taken, and the ' Feringhee If„nufers ' all massacred. Imme-
diately this was accotnplistiedparties who swore on the
Koran, and joined in the butchery; 84-%, would have a
certain section of the town made over to. them for.their
sole use and benefit.. A, nabob residing not a hundred
marches of Celcutta prom:l34Nl to furai,3ll ten thousand
men to aid and abet in the affair, and who, it is stated, Is
seriously mixed up, in the business. 'the authorities have
determined to make a prisoner of him. and have him
aemoved to Fort William without less of time."—liankarat.
Tax PIIE6S "1) THE Iterour.—Since the commence-
ment of the unhappy disturbance which now agitate this
land, from East to West, and from North to.Sauth, the
European press has exhibited ;nought nut the purest
patriotism. It is true that naw and again jlurnals may
have been momeutarily misled by their correspondents,
from the
a
latoo°itf4noteelaittlho single
' er sedition
tutuseonvtee:riuue:
re,,,,hfi,teinheenrtegoiu ybwengewoDaviireadrtn:
sruncettaedot
or treason. Here in Bombay all our little rivalries and
differeuces have been submerged in the grand desire to
support the government. During the last ten days we
have again and aga,in suppressed many communications
calculated to throw odium upon
,the authorities, and all
the reward which wa, have received for our forbearance is
to be :compelled to submit to au edict which not only
deprives us of independence, but ads, in fact, as a bar to
honourabLe ennikupalent.