Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-17 00:00:00

ETRA.ORDINARY, CASE. ear: POLYGAIW.,

At. Lambeth pollee-court, en Tuesday, John Wilkir_sOn Ann.
Wilkinson. alias Alexander, and Ilicheed Thomas Alexarede,-, Were
placed at the bar for final excealnatione each being charged with
bigamy. From the testimony of, a number of.witeesses. iteappeared
that in the year 1e33, the prisoner Wi had been married to
renences Wilkinson, who is now, living at Flury, St. Edmund's, in
&silent, and that some four or five: glare after he took up, with the
female prisoner, his wife, se•it- was. alleged, having goce,•,to live with
another snaz.., since. transported. The parties continued to live
together, except at interuals,when his wife, shed to visit Wilkinson,
and in lie !a were married at, St. Mary's Church,. Baddington, the
second wife giviag her maiden 11=B of Ann Sullivan. Some menthe
ago Wilkinson discarded his semi d wife, and took bcme his first, and,
this led the second wife to givohim into custody onn.charge of bigamy.
When before the magistrates the defence set op was that the second
wife herself was guiity of bigamy in intermarrying with Wilkinson, well
knowing that his wife and her own husband, Richard Thomas
Alexander. were both alive; and at the second exarnin.ai ion Alexander
himself attended, sad. admitted that he had been marred to Ana
Wilkinson, as she called herself, abeeat eigateen:yesrs before, la St-
Andre_w's Church, lielbcen. 'lbis led to rise female being pl seetLie,
the deck alongside her aszond husband, ant the publicity given to,
the singular case of double bigamy, broeght oat the startling feet
that the man. Alexander had been married, areFateosham, in Kent. on
the Bth of May,. /850, to a young woman aamad Rebecca Sears, and
h., in his tarn, was, taken into cnstodg. TOliee-conetahle Stephen
Booth, PA, L, w:o, had apprehended Alt the parties, and had the
management of the case, erodueed the eerti,Sc tes of marriage in each
case, and the neceesa, y witnesses, so an. to complete the prosecution.
istr.3em selt,idesthehaet the
was well
an a w
aleoantestihdee
e
tyrtel%wa'itilihkhiehn 4,4 a wife Wive. This, however,
of
timel n
hLm
they defence,w e: equallyaxtheparrigrsnioeine dl
the female denied, and said she thought Alexander w.as de id when
she married Wilkinson, Alexander, in reply to th,e chug% sail that .
ober:ly after his marriage, he traced his wife to a house of ill-fame,
where she was in the habit of sneetine a gent man.' For this he
discarded her, and soon after he, found her living with Wi klaseets
whom she subsequently aceprnpanied to An rice. Knovrine her
were cheap
ipurotphe,,nsi
Unitestyfr drink,states, ahned
ekeneeezi,hanegd, aslhsea,wthaaltatep never
return, and heari_ng nothing whatever of her. he concluded s
Elliott
he wasdead, and under this conviction got married, agaia. Mr.
committed, all the ttxen to take their tgial at-the Centra.l, Cri snag
Court.•

TUX Law tx4tu.N.—The atterapts to launch the Leviathan
were again renewed on Taoadity, but the ship made no
pros;ress whatever.
Cliaatcut of MußDsg.—Philip Clare, 30, a butty collier
was tried on Tuesday, for the murder (4 Eleabeth Hopley,
at Bradley, near Bilaton, on the 291 of April. The body
of the deceased was found in- the canal at an early boor
one morning, and the prisoner was suspected and appre-:-
'tended in consequence of the improbable statements he
made respecting the death of" the deceased. For the
defence it was urged that there was no proof that the
woman was murdered, and that prisoner's statement was
so incoherent and extraordinary that it could not be de—
pended upon.--d verdiot of Not guAlty". was returned?

WEST DERBY BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

The weekly meeting of this Board was held yesterday'
in the Board Room, at the Workhouse, Henry Edwards, Esq.,
in the chair. The other Guardians present were Messrs.
Pitt, Ledger, Roscoe. Abraham, I. Edwards, Morris,
Shaw, Lunt, Metcalf, Perkin, Edwards, Green, Mawdsley,
Richmond, Whizby, Wensley, and Sagar. The number
in the Hospi al last week were 122 ; admitted, 11; dis-
charged, 9 ; died, 1. This week, 123 ; corresponding
week last year, 120 ; from Toxtet'a park 35. Tne Work-
house numbers for last meek were as follows : —To'al,
685 ; admitted, 36 ; born, 1 ; diec'eaeged, 22 ; died, 4
This week 696 ; corresponding week last year, 672 ; from
Toxteth-park, 4'6, The cheques for out door relief were
granted as fo lows : —Mr. Potts, £l2O ; Mr. Olney, £3-1;
and Mr. Lythgoe, £23.
After the edmission of paupers, and the usual routine
business was disposed of,
Mr. Abraham said it was usual, at this time of the year,
to treat the inmates of the Workhouse to a dinner of
bee.' and plum podding. He would, therefor', move that
the usual quantity be given this year for a Chrietneae
dinner, and to he un'er the management of the Superin-
tendent of the Fever Hospital.
The Chairman put to the Board the motion, which was
unanimously carried.
Mr. Ledger rose to bring under the notice of the Board
a matter which he considered of importance; a resolution
had been passed by that board some time ago in reference
teethe relieving officers, Allen and Brlam, requesting
them to be in attendance :,t the workhouse from 9 o'clock
in the morning to 9 o'clock in the evening, and that a book
should be kept in which they should enter their names
earning in and going out, in order to facilitate the business
of the house. And that they (the board) might know
when and where to find them. A short time since he
made come inquiries, but could not find any
such book in existence, and consequently their names
were not entered. Last week he celled at the
office to see that this should be attended
to. He called again this morning, and he was told by Mr.
Kennedy that their names had never been entered. He
asked the reason, and he was told that they came in at
another gate. Now this was a specific resolution, and
had been wilfully disobeyed. It now remained for the
Board to say whether they would vindicate their authority
in this matter.
It was then moved and carried that the officers be
called before the Board. The officers ware consequently
brought in, when the chairman asked the reason of their
non-compliance with the resolution
Mr. Allen rep'ied that he was about to make an appli-
cation to the Board for the purpose of having that
motion rescinded. He had been now about twelve years
an officer, and he never knew of such an order in that or
any other Board, and if the Board did not rescind it, be
would bring it before the Poor law Beard. He considered
it a reflection cast ncein him.
The Chairman : What has the Poor Law Board to do
with it ? There is no reflection in the matter.
Mr. Ledger said that when he first spoke to Mr. Allen
on the subject. there was no such objection made. There
was no reflection meant. It was in order to give facilities
to the guardians when they wanted to see him, or where
they could find him, for nothing else but to facilitate
beeiness,
Mr. Allen said ha could net time himself, his du ies
were so uncertain.
Mr. Pitts intimated that paupers ware kept waiting
about the workhouse for many hours looking for relief.
Mr. Cleaver said that this was a cotnplaint that had
been made for several years past, and he thought it should
be put an end to in some way.
Mr. Ledger did not see why he ehould obj-c',:. to have
his name put down, while their's (the Guardians) were
entered.
The Chairman : This Board has a right to make such
resolutions as it thinks fit and proper. We are net putting
any further chnies on you, and you have no right to com-
plain of it.
Mr. Allen said he thought if the Board did not doubt
their attendance, they would not enforce that resolution.
The Chairman : So we do doubt it in many cases, I may
tell you ; but that is not the only object of the resolution.
You may retire.
Mr. Wensley considered it would be a great benefit for
the paupers to know when the Relieving Officers were
to bs found at the Workhouse.
It was arranged that a Isoard should be painted and
put up for this purpose.
Mr. Parkin moved that the Clerk be instructed to write
to the' Health Committee respecting the sanitary state of
a street close by the Workhouse. There was a very
noxious effinv:a arising from it.
The motion was adopted unanimously.
Mr. Whitby complained of proper notices not being
given when m tters of importance came before the Board,
such as advance of salaries, &c. He thought notice should
be given by circulars.
The Clerk said everything done was usual, and read the
law on the subject. They might make bye-laws, however.
Mr. Whitby then moved that:circulars be sent to each
guardian when any matter out of the usual business of the
Board is to be brought forward.
Mr I. Edwards seconded the motion, which was entered
on the notice book.
Mr. Lunt observed that, if such had been the case, Dr.
Nevins would not have got the advance he did. (Laughter )
He heard two or three gentlemen express their astonish-
ment at what had appeared in the papers.
The following letter was then read :
Vicarage. Walton-on-the bill, Liverpool,
- December 12th, 1857.
Sir,—l havereceived the letter which you have addressed
to me, by direction of the Board of Guardians of th r West
Derby Union (the first communication, I would observe,
which they have directed you to make to me) enclosing a
letter from the Bishop of Chester. A few days ago I re-
ceived a copy of that letter from his lordship. In reply I
stated to him that the extract from the table of fees,
hanging in the vestry of Walton Church, which you had
sent him, was correct, but that it required explanation ;
that I had caused it to be explained to the Board of
Guardians, and I further explained it to his lordship. In
his letter to me he expressed his hope that the point is
question may be settled amicably and promptly between
me and the Board of Guardians. lam ready, on any
convenient occasion, to meet the Board of Guardians, or
to receive a deputtaion from the Board, when I hope the
matter in dispute between us may be arranged to our
mutual satisfaction.—l remain, sir, your obedien servant,
THOMAS HORN BT.

After some conversation on this matter, it was arranged
that the chairman, Mr. Whitby, and Mr. Ledger, should
wait as a deputation on the Vicar.
A. letter from the Poor Law Board was read, acknow-
ledging the receipt of the report of the proceedings of the
guardians at their meeting on the 9.h ult., which was held
for the purpose 'of investigating a charge against Mr.
Gough, their master, preferred by Margaret Clarke, of
being the father of a child which she gave birth to in
November, 185 G.
Mr. Shaw moved, !hat the que.qion7of the desirability
of having the lunatie3 there, be referred to the Fieanc.,.
Committee, to consider the expenses and matters generally.
The expease3 were very heavy indeeil.
Mr. Abraham seconded the motion, which was carried,
without dissent.
This was the only business b3fore the Board possessing
any public interest.

If tl,oi bast a ?nitering servant, Beni burn on thine
errand just before dinner.

A Nriav " Tonzico QuesTr..w."—Theimportant qnes!ion
of the possibility of poito.;ing by cigars impregnated with
arsenic has been raised by the recent death, in France, of
a priest, named Bottaro, supnostd to have been posonel
by another priest. An investigation has been undertaken
to ascertain whether it be passible or probable that arseri-
eated cigars can cause death by the inspiration of their
smolce impregnated with volatilise] arservc ; or by is
admission in the saliva without such change. And very
important are the conclusions arrived at. " There are
four ways," rematked the investigators, " in which the
introduction of arsenic into Vie animal economy may be
effected through the medium of cigars ; by impregnation
with a pwerful solution of the poi,on,hy its introducti(at
into the candescent end, or as an impalpable powder int
the buccal end, so that it may reach and mix with fie saliva
during smoking, or finally, in larger quantity hidden in
the central part of the cigar. Poisoning is hardly possible
in the first or second cases. In the third instance it is
inconceivable. It migl:t occur by a combination of two
or three of these method?. The question of the formation
of araenioretted hydrogen is not settlel." In reading this
report, we seam to be transported to the days of the
Borgias, when the poisoned taper, falsely bearing the
motto " aliis inserviendo consumer," destroyed other
existeeces in sacrificing is own ; and when the flowers of
the ballroom were scented with alien and lethal perfumes.
It is well to be Essur-d that these fabled horrors a-e also
impossibilities. The mere suggestion of this most " dele-
terious sophistication " of tobacco must C rry alarm and
discomfort to the soul of any rich uncle in the habit of
smoking his favourite nephew's cigars; whilst, for our
modern blowers of anti-blasts to tobacco, it furnishes a
patent and effective insinuation. This report, however,
practically negatives the possibility of such a crime being
successfully perpretrated ; since it is oily in those cases
where the impalpable powder is made to mix with the
saliva, in other words, where detection is almost, inevitable,
that this detestable expedient could be effectively em-
ploy ed.—The Lancet.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE -YE ,TERDAY.

LIVERPOOL.
BEFORE MR. MANSFIELD,

AN Acore.teereace—" RELIEF."—Anne Hindley, a well-
dressed girl, was charged with having stolen a purse
containing £2O from Mr. Edward Bunker, the master of
the ship Catherine Anne, now in the Brunswick Dock.
On the evening of the 28th November, the complainant
met the prisoner at the corner cf Nelson-street, and as he
had (he said) often relieved her before, she, is return for
his kindness, managed to .‘ relieve" him, in a second or two
of his purse, which contained a ten, and a five pound note
and over .E 5 in !, with which she got clear off, and was
not seen until the previous eight, when he gave her into
custody. She was sent for trial.
THE £752 ROBBERY —REcovErLY OF THE M ONEY.
Margaret M'Cormick, the old woman who stood remanded
on a charge of being concerned in the robbery of the
above sum of money—as fully reported in our paper of
yesterday—was brought up for further examination. In
addition to the evidence given on Tuesday, it appeared that
the prosecutor, whose nano is George Ransom, came to
this country from America, and he described himself as an
United States merchant, an i that a day or two since he
arrived hare from Cambridge, and went to stop at the
Stork Hotel, Queen-square: On Monday night, whilst in
a state of " utter drunkenness," he drove in a cab, with a
female, from Queen square to the prisoners house in
Clement-street. It seemed that the girl, who has not
since been seen, got off with his pocket-book and purse,
the latter containing twelve sovereigns, the former a
cheque for £7OO and £4O in Bank of England notes. It
further appeared that the girl must not have examined
the contents of the pocket book, or perhaps had not known
the value. Some time about one o'clock in the morning,
Mr Patrick Doyle, the mate of a steamer called the Trou-
badora, was passing at the rare of Clement-street, when
ho picked up a pocketbook. It was an old greasy
looking affair, and very unlikely to contain 1.7-10, and so
little aid he think about it, that he was gOing to fling it
away. Howerer, he took 'it home, and in the
morning he examined ia and found it contained a
cheque for £7OO, and £4O in Bank of England notes. He
at once proceeded to the Central Police-office, Dale-street,
and gave up the book and its contents to Mr. Clough.
This was subsequent to the prisoner being brought up on
Tuesday. Mr. Clough said he had caused a full enquiry
to be made into the character and position of Mr. Doyle,
and found him to be a highly respectable man, and indeed
his conduct had proved the fact; for if he had chosen,
said Mr. Clongh. he could have used the £4O with impunity,
as there was
.no way of detecting it. The owner of the
money —who did not seam to he altogether recovered from
the effect ,of his " booze "—identified his cash. He
appeared very chary of telling anything about himself,
and the only thing ha said was that he Was an United
States merchant, or an " emigrant." He was handed
his money, when Mr Clough addrested him, aud raid—
I tell you now, as I told you before, that you ought to
reward Mr. Doyle. Mr. George Ransom, the emigrant,
or United States merchant, at present stopping at the Stork
Hotel, replied, " Yes, I would, if had :got any change in
silver about me !" Mr. Clough : I will manage that for you.
Here the parties left the sour-, and as our reporter subse-
quently learned, Mr. Doyle was offered a sovereign, which
ha indignantly refused, but wag subsequently induced to
accept of two by the intreaty of Mr. Clough, who had a
good deal to do to bring the magnanimous " merchant of
the United States" (?) or the " emigrant," to believe that
Mr. Doyle had done him any service whatever. [Our own
opinion is, that a real United States merchant would have
done beter, at(' we say so in order to protect that res-
pectable class from any apparent want of gratitude—a
thing known only by name to a real Brother Jonathan.]
THE COFFEE AND "POT" AFFAlR.—Stephen Gibson and
William Cato, who were remanded on a charge of having
stolen some coffee and metal pots from one of the dock
quays, were brought up. Mr. Bluck defended. The
details of this case were published in our paper of yester-
day. In addition.to the evidence given on Tuesday it
was proved that 350 pots were missed, but the witnesses
said perhaps there was some mistake in the mint of the
articles. Mr. Bluck trusted that his Worship would dal
summarily with the prisoners, as in a case of not being
able to account for possession of the property, as the
prisoners had families depending on them for support
He would advise them to plead guilty. The prisoners
refused to do so. His Worship said, as the prisoners had
refused to abide by the very judicious and prudent advice
of their able advocate, the only course left open to him
(Mr. Mansfield) was to send them for trial. They were
accordingly committed.
William Dickinson, a boy, was sent to gaol for two
months, for stealing some brasses from the steamer Bryan
Bhrome, in one of the docks.