The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-06 00:00:00

BARBAROUS OUTRAGE.

The Connaught Watchman has the following account
of an occurrence, which took place near Crossiriolina :
A woman who, with her three children, lived in a
lonely situation, had received 301. from her husband
in America. One night she was awoke by a loud
knocking at the door, to which replied that no one
should be admitted at that time ofnight. Being entreated,
however, for the sake of the Almighty, she con-
ssnted to give a live coal to warm the weary traveller.
No sooner did she open the door than a man rushed
in, and placing a pistol to her breast, commanded her
to bring her money to him if she would avoid instant
death. Terror-struck, the woman came and placed
101. in the robber's hands. Not satisfied, he demanded
more, and obtained another 101. This was not yet suf-
ficient. 'You have yet ten,' said he, ' bring them or you
must now die.' The woman parted with all rather than
her life. With the treasure the villain decamped, but
fearing that he was recognised, immediately returned,
and telling the woman that die she must, he ordered
her to chose one of three, death by shooting,
hanging, or burning. The. poor woman fell down
insensible, and the wretch proceeded to adjust a
rope to the woman's neck and the house beam.
Fearin,, however, that this might not be able to bear
the load, he reached up both hands to test the beam,
and was instantly fastened there—whether by sudden
paralysis !or otherwise is not known—and remained
hanging by the hands to the roof tree of the cabin.
Meanwhile the two brothers of the woman, living at
seine distance, troubled by dreams about their sister,
' were compelled to rise and proceed at once to her dwel-
ling, where they found their sister in a swoon, and her
intended murderer suspended as above described. As-
sistance being procured the wretch was secured, with part
of the beam in his hands, and safely conveyed to the gaol
of Castlebar, where he now lies awaiting trial. He was
at once recognised as the woman's nearest neighbour,
though blackened and disguised.

ANOTIIIVIZ NEW FINANCIAL MEASURE.

ST. PETERSBURG, Dec. 25.—As a general rule, the
Russian journals are strictly prohibited from publish.
ing any personal news about any of the members of the
imperial family. In all cases of births, deaths, and
marriages, it is the Czar himself who acquaints his
loving subjects with the news by means of a manifesto
to the nation. Under these circumstances it is not to
be wondered at that the newspapers here have not dared
to say a word about the alarming illness of the Empress ;
but to-day it has slipped out for the first time in rather
a startling manner. In communicating the fact of the
arrival, the day before yesterday, of the Grand Dukes
Nicholas and Michael from the army in the Crimea,
" on a visit to their sick mother," it goes on to add,
" the health of the Empress is improving ;" from which
it appears that she is still unwell. It is privately cir-
culated here, in well-informed circles, that her illness
is more is disease of the mind than the body, and mainly
brought on from her intense anxiety to prevent a rup•
tore between the Czar and King Clicquot.
Another new financial measure just published shows
the desperate state of the Russian treasury, and also to
what straits the Czar is put to find money for carrying
on the war, It appears in the shape of an Imperial
ukase, and levies an annual tax of 500 silver roubles
(nearly 801.) on all manufactories of tobacco aid cigars,
and in order to restrict such fabrications from being
carried on as hitherto in private houses for their domestic
consumption, a tax of 300 silver roubles is imposed on
such private establishments. It must be gratifying to
the Russians to get an official insight into the mysteries
of their Government exchequer from the following pre•
amble to the ukase :

"In consequence of the imperative necessity of im•
proving our finances in the present critical state of affairs
by imposing new taxes on our liege subjests, we, Ni•
cholas," &c.