The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-05 00:00:00

MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND LINCOLN.

SHIRE.
The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on
Friday, at the Palatine Hotel, Manchester ; the Right
Hon. the Earl of Yarborough presiding.
The half-yearly reports and accounts have already ap-
peared in The Sun.
Tho CHAIRMAN congratulated the meeting on having
to receive from the directors a more favourable report
than hal been presented to them on some previous oc-
casions. The revenue of the railways of this company
for tae past half-year showed an increase of 29,7251. on
the corresponding half-year of 1853, and of 1461. on the
canals ; and the increase of net revenue was 27,4001.
The railway increase included the London and North-
Western guarantee, but he was happy to say that
it hal been a very install amount this half-year, the
amicable arrangements which had been entered into
having aided this company in so increasing its traffic
as to bring it ishuo*t up to the proportion secured
under the agreement with their ally. The gross reve-
nue from all sources for the year 1854 amounted to
510,9161. against 458,7061. in the previous year ;_the
net revenue being 217,1351. in the year 1854 against
182,958/. in the previous year. The increase of passen-
gers in the past half year had been 87,807 ; and the
company had carried 499,576 tons of goods' including
95,136 tons on toll over short distances of the line.
Deduct no this, tke increase in merchandise traffic pro-
per was 33,892 tons, or 15,116/. in money receipt.
Whilst the revenue had increased in this degree, the
total expenditure on the railways and canals had been
149,2591. in the past half-year, against 146,8071. in the
corresponding half of 1853, showing an increase of only
2,452/. He thought the company had made very satis-
factory progress, all things considered ; but now, when
they seemed to have turned the corner on the road to
prosperity, he regretted to see that there were diffe-
rences of opinion as to the disposal of the available sur-
plus. There was a disposable balance of 131,1851., and after
taking the opinion of the members of the late preference
arrears' committee, and of Mr. Buller, the eminent
counsel, the directors had recommended that, after pay-
ing the interest and dividend on the 61. shares, deferred
dividend warrants should be issued for half a year's
dividend, at 71 per cent. on the 101. shares, and of 2s.
6d. per 1001. stock on the No.l Quarters and old shares.
But an ex parte iejunction bad boon obtained, restrain-
ing them from carrying this recommendation into effect,
and the directors would therefore propose, after dispos-
ing of the other business before them, that this meeting
should be adjourned till the 4th April, by which time
the result of the application would be seen. The direc-
tors of this company bad had very important discussions
with the Lancashire and Yorkshire, and North-Eastern
Companies, with a view of putting an end to duplicate
expenses and needless competition ; and an agreement
was in the main settled for a division of traffic. The
directors had under consideration the practicability of
reducing the heavy engineering and permanent way ex-
penditure, and he believed the result of their delibera-
tions would be eatisfaCtory to the shareholders.
The report having been moved and seconded,
Mr. Wows moved an amendment to the effect that
the paragraph in the report, referring to the hiring and
chartering of vessels, be erased. He said that, by the
powers now sought by the company, they would become
a steam-shipping company as well as a railway com-
pany.
Mr. JoEDINE seconded the amendment.

The CHAIRMAN explained that they did not seek to
purchase, only to hire vessels, and considerink the diffi-
culty of obtaining vessels at the present time he thought
it was necessary they should possess these powers after
the money they had already spent in their docks.
The amendment was negatived by an overwhelming
majority.

Mr. CARR, of Stockport, then proposed successive
amendments for the erasure of paragraphs in the rep3rt
in favour of the capitalisation of arrears on preference
shares.

The amendments were negatived, and the report
adopted, with only three dissentients.
The remaining business was uninteresting in detail.
The dividend on the 61. Preference shares was declared ;
a number of shares forfeited on which arrears were
owing ; Messrs. Chapman and Turner were re-elected
directors ; Messrs. C. Hindley, M.P., and Shand (of
Liverpool) were elected directors in place of Messrs.
Peto and Geach ; Mr. Edward Unwin was re-elected
auditor ; and the meeting then aljourned to the 4th
April.

LEEDS, BRADFORD, AND HALIFAX JUNC-

TION.

The eighth general meeting of the shareholders in the
Leeds,was held
Bradfordo, and Halifax Junction Railway Com-
panyn
Friday,
at the new station in-Adol-
phus-street, Bradford. The attendance was numerous.
fn the absence of the chairman (Edw. Akroyd, Esq., of
Der.ton Park, in consequence of indisposition), Win.
Walker, Esq., of Bowling Hall, Raiford, presided. Ho
raid, that though the busing-s was of a formal daracter,
yet it might be proper t expres4 the satisfaction whit':
they felt with regard to the progress of the works of
their railway generally. With the exception of the
Bradford i-tatien, the :everts! stations and the wg.rahouses
on the Hoe were alt in a very for .card state, and would
shortly be Tiit.c completed. lie believed that the general
working of the line was now becoming very satisfactory
to the public.
The.repurt of the directors stated that the following
directors retired that day—Edward Akroyd, Esq., C.
Akroyd, Eq., S. Waterhouse, Esq., and J. Heaton,
Esq. ; that the delay in the construction of the intended
new station at Bradford had prevented its being used
the total
for passenger traffic • but the progress of the work is
now being accelerated ; and that the directors have the
be commenced
of the engineer that the goods traffic may now
rreceipts
pwts of
ith there.na pil ta The accounts
l nn t
h e showed
main thatand
branch lines had been 264,7551., all of which had been

expended with the exception of 7,2731. deposits for '
valuations of Jam], 6,10.51. debts.duo to the company,
tnd.s7/. clsli in. hand. 'The Ardsley Extension account
showed 6,3581. receipts, 3,7671. Parliamentary expenses,
2,525/. balance in bank, 631. debts due to the company.
The report was carried unanimously.
Edward Alcroyd, Mg., C. Akroyd, Esq., Samuel
',Faterhouse, Esq., and John Heaton, Esq., were re-
alected directors for the ensuing year.
The thanks of the meeting were pre-isuted to the re-
tiring auditors, James Dixon, Esq., and S. Anderton,
Esq., and they were re-elected.
The CHAIRMAN stated that as the accounts had not
been returned from the clearing-house, they were that
day unable to declare a dividend. This difficulty would
he obviated in future by holding the meetings in the last
Friday in February inilead of the, first. The present
ineeting would also have to be adjourned to another day,
in order to declare a dividend.

A vote of thanks to the chairman closad the proceed-

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—Feb, 3.

Thomas Elliott was charged with having attempted to
steal a coat from the door of a large clothier's estab-
lishment in Aidgate. The case excited some merriment.

Mr. Taylor, foreman to the firm, said—The prisoner,
who is con9tvatly in the habit of stealing coats from our
concern, tried to pull away one which was banging at
the door ; but I had been on the watch for him for some
time, and I stepped round and captured him. He had
a pal, who was watching at the other side of the door,
and he cut away.
The Lord Mayor—You say be has been in the habit
of stealing coats at your establishment. Have you never
caught him before ?

Witness—Never. He has whippad away as many as
six or seven coats within a short time from us ; but we
have three doors to the shop, and when he sees me at
one door he cuts round to one of the others, and whips
down a coat, and off ha slips with it, followed by his
pal. (f.aug,hter.)
The Lord Mayor—This is a very extraordinary state-
ment. Have you seen him steal a coat from your pre-
mises ?
Witness—Certainly, I- have.

The Lord Alayor—And why have you never give*
him into custody
Witness—l never could capture him till this time. I
have been always watching him ;• it is almost my whole
business. When lam at tea lam obliged to have a man
outside to keep an eyo upon him. (Laughter.)
The prisoner—Why, if I am always robbing, have you
not given me into custody ! Why, if I took the coats
in such quantities, I might roll down in my cerriage to
Brewer's-quay, where I work every day, at the rate of
4d. an hour.
Witness—l assure your lordship that he is about our
place night and day.
The Lord Mayor— Do any of the police know this
man !
The policeman who took the prisoner into custody,
said—l have seen him at work about Brewer's-quay,
lout I know nothing against him.
Witness—l know hun as well as I know my A B C.
So sure as I see him about the place I miss a coat.
(Laughter.)
The prisoner—My lord, I am obliged to pass his door
every morning in going to my work, and he bounced
•ut upon me upon this occasion, struck me violently in
the face, and covered me with blood.
Witness—l couldn't keep my hands off him when I
got hold of him at last. I have pointed him out to my
employer as the fellow who stole the coats.
The Lord Mayor said it was necessary to have other
evidence before he could think of committing the pri-
soner.
The prisoner was then discharged.

BO W-STREET.—Joseph Davis, a young constable of
the M division of police, was placed at the bar before
Mr. Henry, charged with forgery.
Captain Haines, R.N., of Bilderstone, Suffolk, de-
posed that he was the first lieutenant of the Victor,
which was paid off in April, 1839, and he well remem-
bered that one of his shipmates was Mr. Harris, who was
paymaster of the ship. On the 23d of January last
witness received a letter by post, purporting to come
from his old friend Harris, as follows:
" Beckenham, near Bromley, Kent, Jan. 22, 1355.

" Dear Sir,—Although many years have elapsed since
I had first the honour of your acquaintance, I am jet in
hopes the very peculiar circumstances under which I
now most reluctantly address you will slightly plead an
apology for the iatrusion. It will probably be still in
your recollection I had the pleasure to serve with you
when senior lieutenant of the ship Victor, I baying been
purser of that ship • and it is with deep regret I have
to state that I am placed in a situation of extreme diffi-
culty and embarrassment. Some time ago, in an un-
guarded moment, I was induced to become joint secu-
rity for a friend, who, soon after dying insolvent, I
was unexpectedly called upon to pay a sum of money
much beyond my limited means to command. Law
proceedings were in consequence instituted, and ex-
penses quickly incurred, so that, to get clear of the
affair, I was under the necessity of entering into
an agreement to pay my portion of the liability
and expenses--a part down, and the residue by quarterly
instalments. In carrying out this arrangement, my own
domestic pecuniary matters became in some measure ne-
glected, and my landlord, to whom I am indebted, has
placed a distress in my house for arrears of rent. The
former unfortunate business not only absorbed all my
slender resources, lsut obliged me to draw largely on the
kindness of my friends for assistance to enable me to
settle it in the manner described—leaving me in the
present dilemma, without any available fund to meet
this demand, so harshly enforced, and which, if not ar-
ranged in a very few days, the consequences to my
family will be most distressing. In this emergency,
presuming on old recollections, I venture to solicit your
assistance with the loan of 51. fora few months, in which
time I hope to surmount my difficulty, and be enabled
to repay you. I enclose a copy of the distress alluded
to, which I beg may be returned with your answer;
and as it is most probable I shall be under the necessity
of removing my family from 'hence before I can receive
your kind reply, please address me, Post-office,'
Beckenham,, Kent,' waiting which I remain, dear sir,
your obliged old shipmate,

Wm. ADAMS HARRIS.

beg to apologise for being compelled to get
my nephew to write this letter, as I am suffering from a
severe attack-of the rheumatic gout.'
Witness, on receiving this letter, rensarked to Mrs.
Haines that although there were two or three sentences
in it that did not look such like a shipmate's style of
writing, yet his dear, good-natured, old friend Harris
was jui-t the sort of wan to get into a scrape of this
kind ; and therefore he had no doubt it was a genuine
letter, and at once despatched a reply, in which he ex-
pressed his sympathy with him in hie present misfor-
tune, reminded bite of his having been always too care-
less in money matters, and finally gave him an order
upon his agents, Messrs. Stillwell, for the payment of the
51. requested. He roeurned the distrois 'warrant, as re-
questel, in the same letter, which Ile directed according
to the instructions given ix his friend's supposed com-
munication. Witness had no idea how his fermer con-
nexion with Mr. Harris become known to the prisoner,
although the Navy List, of course, would show it.
Mr. Henry—lt is very cleverly done, no doubt.
Capt. Wood, of the Mendicity Society, said it was an
" old dodge," and he held in his hand at least a hundred
similar letters, couched almost in the same words, and
addressed from one shipmate to another, the information
being always procured from the Navy List.
Mr. Stillwell, navy agent, of Arundel-street, Strand,
and one of his clerks, proved that on the 27th of Jan.
the prisoner called at the office and produced the letter
of Capt. Haines, addressed to Mr. Harris, and also a
short note purporting to be written by the latter gentle-
man, and authorising Messrs. Stillwell to pay the sum
mentioned to the bearer (the prisoner): The prisoner
was requited to sign a receipt for the money, which he
showed great reluctance in doing, stating that he did
not know if he was doing right. His signature greatly
resembled the pretended letter from Mr. Harris, and Mr.
Stillwell having a suspicion that there was some fraud
in the transactions, sent for a policeman. He then paid
the prisoner five sovereiene, arid gave him into the cus-
tody of police-constable E 144, from whom he afterwards
tried to escape, by running away.
Mr. W. Adams Harris, of Howard-terrace, Stoke
Newington, formerly the purser of the ship Victor, was
called to prove that the letters written in his name were
forgeries, and Cie whole story of his "misfortune" ab-
surdly false.
The prisoner—l admit that I wrote the letters.
Police-constable M 9 stated that the prisoner was in
the same division a* the time of this occurrence, his
number being 100. He knew the prisoner's handwrit-
ing, and could say that the letters produced were written
by him.
Superintendent Haynes stated that the prisoner was
admitted into the 0 division of the police force in
January, 1853. Subsequently he was transferred to the
L division at his own request, from which he was re-
qnired to resign in April, 1354. In November last,
however, he was admitted into the M division. He had
no authority to go out in plain clothes, and had done so
contrary to orders.
Captain Wood said if it was material ho could produce
other letters written by the prisoner to the officers of
other ships. Ile had one in his hand, addressed to the
lieutenant of the Inconstant in the same way. He could
also prove that the prisoner had been the constant asso-
ciate of impostor!? but always in private clothes.
The prisoner, m his defence, said—ln the month of
September last I was sitting in a public-house in St.
Martin's-lane, when a man came and sat by my side, and
said my writing was so much like his clerk's, who was
ill, that he should like me to copy letters for him at le. 61
a piece. I censented, and wrote 20, the names of the
officers and ships being different in each letter, as sup-
plied by him. The letter I copied them from was dated
1851. Being in the police, I told him I should not do
any more for him, but he said I must, as its could eery
soon get me out of the police, if I refused. He said I
naust do him nine more, and I did.
Mr. Henry—Then the letters were all the same, ex-
cept as to the names of the ships and the officers. Well,
go on.

The priseuer—Where did I leave off?
The prisoner, on beinc, informed, proceeded to finish
his statement, which was to the effect that he had con •
tinued to work for the same person, meeting hina at
times in the Old Kent-road, where he waited for the
Beckenham carrier. He Eprisoner)i at first refused to
go and get the 51. fur this ntan, but ultimately con-
sented, on the understanding that it should be the last
transaction between then,. The man went by the name
of Stokes, and lived at Greenwich, but he could not
find him.

The prisoner, who said he was 27 years of age, waq
then committed for trial at the Old Bailey sessions.

• .
MAR LEOROUGH-STREET. --George FitzwiWarn.,
a private in the 31 troop of Life Guaris, was charged
With assault and wilful damage.
Yausef 13,1 Ihraham, keeper of a cigar divan in the
Haymarket, said on Friday morning, about two o'clock,
defendant and two women came iu drunk. He refused
to scrvie then, and in attempting to put defendant out,
the pri,oner wi,fully broke china cups, vase-•, viu,,res
of glasi, valued at 'll. 45., and also a largo picr
glass worth OS/.

••
The defendant was ordered to pay the datua;re of
Vas", CUPS, &C , and mas fined 150 e. for the assault,
which he paid, and complainant was refeired to the
County Court for payment of the looking-glair.

„MRS. GORE'S NEW NOVEL—MIDIIION Ott, THE
lIARDSHIPS OF AN HEIRESS.---'This may be truly called
a remarkable book, and is more a novel of character than
of plot or passion ; but the story, though simple, is ro
naturally worked out, and the leading characters are
finished with such careful study, that it is impossible not
to pronounce it ono of Alm Gore's best productions,

INSURANCE COMPANIES.
Dividend Amount
Name of Company. per of Paid. Price.
Annum. Share.
£ s. d. £ s. d.
Albion .......... - _ St. 10s. 500 0 0 50 0 0 -
Alliance Brit. and For. 71. 14s Gd.bs. 100 0 0 11 0 0 19
Ditto Marine ....... 61. p.c. & he. 100 0 0 25 0 0 -
Anchor .............. 6 per cent, 5 0 1 0 0 -
Atlas
..
xrgue Life ......... • • 41. per cent. 100 0 0 25 0 0 22
British Commercial .. 7s. 6d. 50 0 0 5 0 0 7
Clericl.Med.&Gen.Life spr ct. & bs. 100 0 0 10 0 0 -
County ...... _ _ .... 4/. 100 0 0 10 0 0 ' 125
Crown - .•• • •• 17s. 0.1 50 0 0 50 0 17L
Eagle .
- • •• Os. 50 0 0 6 0 0 -
Equity and Law...-. 454 per cent. 100 0 0 6 0 0 53,E
European Life ...... ... . IL 20 0 0 all _
General. ........ ..... 6/. 5 0 0 .. sy,
Globe •• •• .... 61. per cent. Stock. .. 127%
Guardian ............ 5/. per cent. 100 0 0 45 0 0 5514
Imperial Fire......... 121. per cent 500 0 0 50 0 0 330
Imperial Life
Indemnity Marine-. IJ. Sc & 31. 100 0 0 20 0 0 65
Law Fire ....
Law Life.•. •... - .... - 100 0 0 10 0 0 66
Legal and General Life - 50 0 0 2 0 0 6%
London
London ',hip.. •. -10 s. & be. 25 0 0 12 10 0 -
Marine... • • .......... 183. per share 100 0 0 18 0 0 25
Med. Invlid & Gen. Life 4% r. per ct. 50 0 0 2 0 0 3%
Minerva •• .......... sp. ct. & be. 20 0 0 2 0 0 5%
Monarch .• •• •... ;. _ - 6 0 0 1 0 0 -
National Loan Fund.. 51. per cent. 20 0 0 210 0 -
Palladium Life ... -
Pelican ....•• •• •••••• - - - -
Phcenix - - - -
Professional L1fe.....• 51, per cent. 5 0 010 • 34
Provident Life........ 11. Is. & be. 100 0 0 10 0 0 -
Itock Life.. -.._ .. _ ss. 6 $ 0 010 0 7%
Royal Exchange ...... Gl. p ct. & bs. Stock. all -
Sun Fire. 6l 10s. - ~ -
Ditto Life ..... 1/ 10s. - 573
United Kingdom .... IL p. et & be. 20 0 0 4 'el 0 4%
Universal Life •. -
Victoria Life - 412 6 5%
MISCELLANEOUS.
' Dividend Amount
Name of Company. per of Paid. Price.
Annum. Share.
£ S. d. £ s. d.
Assam Tea ••..•• .. •• U. 50 0 0 20 0 0 IS3(
itictien Mart 2IA per cent. 60 0 0 - -
lustralian Avriculturl 11. Is. 100 0 0 17 10 0 36
Australian Trust •• - 25 0 0 -
Australian Royal Mail 5/. 10 0 0 . all 43%
kngio.Mexican Mint lt. 101. 10 0 • all -
British American Land 15s. - 40 0 0 -
Ca
61. per. art. 100 0 0 32 10 0 -
5/. per cent. - -
rl aod as ...
rep .•
cent .. B ..
dn 0• . .9
Ditto, 6 per cent. - 61. per vent, - - 110
City Navigation Bonds - - _ -
Electric Telegraph (A) 7pa ' cert. 25 0 0 21 0 0 1$
Ditto,. •• •• •• •• (4) - 25 0 0 15 0 0
Equitable Levers o-ary 51 pe. teat. 100 0 0 100 0 0 -
Ditto New .• •••. • • - 50 0 0 17 10 0 -
Oen. Revers. & Invest. 6p.c. & bs, 100 0 0 ;00 0 0 -
Gen.geamNavigation 10 pct. 15 0 0 14 0 0 -
Iludson'b Bay •• •• •• •• - Stock. , - -
Hungerford .. •••••• • • 21. ss. 100 0 0 'lOO 0 II -
London Institution - _ - -
London Reversionary .9,4 per cent. 15 0 0 all -
Russell institution _ - ;1210 0 -
Price's Patent Cand. Co 10/. per cent. 20 0 ojl7 10 0 25%
Reversionary Int. Soc. 4%1. pr cent. 100 0 0 ;100 0 0 -
Royal Mail :-..terun•• .• 4/. p. share. 100 0 0 60 0 0
South Australian... •• 6/. per cent. 25 0 0 all 38
Trust and Loan Comp.
Upper Canada -
-.------_____..-_-. - - - -
LIST OF SCOTTISa COMPANIES' PRICE 3.
Dividenc, Amount
Name of Company, per of Paid. Price.
Annum. Share.
--- -
£ s. 0. £ a. d.
Bank of Scotland .... 7i. per cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 177/10
British Linen Company 5!. per cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 201110
Caledonian Bank .. ... 8/. per rest. 10 0 0 210 0 3'. 17s
City of ,lasgow Bank 5/. per tent. 10 0 0 10 ~ 0 'oll3s
Clyde:dale Bank .... ti!..;/. p cent ,00 0 0 10 0 0 11 ISs
•'. ininereial Batik .. 71. per cent 5 0 0 0 ,00 0 0 202/ s
Eastern Bank .....• .. 6/. per cent. 25 0 0 10 0 0 10/ ins
Edith & Clasgow .... 33c,1. p cent. 6 0 0 5 0 0 41.14 s
Exchativ Bid; of Scot.. - - - -
National Ban% ..... ',3 per cent 100 0 O 0 0 0 165/03
Xo'llibf - cot'and It.ink 51 per cent ;_0 0 0 210 e it. 1s
I:o.t'al Bank of 4cotl. .. At. per cent "10 0 0 100 0 0 124(1'
thlion Bank oc Scot. - Al. per ceni .;C ) 10 0 50 1 0 90/ Os
Western Bank •• .. .... 71. per cent. 50 0 0 AO 0 0 '5: Os
Alliance Fire and Life.. 4 1. pr cent. 100 0 0 11 0 0 191 Os
British Guarantee .... 41. par cent. 10 0 0 2 0 0 11. 33
Cztledonlan Fire Incur . 10/. per cont. IGO 0 0 10 0 0 211 Cs
City of Glasgow Lite . 81. per cent. 25 0 0 2 0 0 4/. lls
Colonial Life ......... fa. per cent. 50 0 0 1 0 0 5/. 5,
Edinburgh Life Incur. 61. percent. 100 0 0 15 0 0 '251103
Eng. & Scot, Las, Life sLper ccmt. 50 0 0 4 5 0 J4l. 7s
Life t ssoc. of Ac3i..and 6Lper cent. 10 0 0 110 0 's'. Os
National Fire and Life GI. per cent. 10 0 0 1 0 0 I/. 17e
North British Incur .. 71. per cent. •.:00 0 0 20 0 0
.341 Os
Scottish Union Itisrne. 7%1. prcent. 20 0 0 1 0 0 ;1/. 10s
Standard Life .. •... -5/. per cent. 50 0 0 7 0 0 jl7l Cs
United Dep. Assurance Si. per cent. 10 0 0 1 0 0 ' -