The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-01 00:00:00

Extraordinary Case of Mistaken Identity.

One of the most singular cases of mistaken identity that
has been recorded of late years was the subject of a magis-
terial investigation at the Melksham Petty Sessions on
Tuesday last, having ham adjourned from a previous day
A respectable man, named Henry Colbourne, was charged
with assaulting a young man named Leo and his mother,
about 10 o'clock on the night of Aug. 24, in the yard of
the Royal Oak Inn, Melksham. There was some dispute
b3tween the assailant and the assailed respecting the pas-
sage to the yard being blocked up by the vehicle of the
latter, the former being thereby prevented from driving
through. From words they came to blows, and the
assailant used his whip and whip handle very freely on
young Lee, and also struck his mother, finally driving
away. The assault was witnessed by a large number
of persons, some of whom had intimately known Mr. ,
Colborne for terms of 20 years, 18 years, 29 years, and
10 years respectively. These and several other witnesses,
swore positively to the identity of Mr Colbourn@ as the
assailant, and described how they called to him by name,
during the progress of the assault to desist. No evidence
could have been stronger or more consistent.
On the part of the defence there were called Mr George
Prit.thard , yeoman—Mr John Thomas, yeoman—Mr
Samuel Moore, yeoman—Mr David Clarke, yeoman-31r
John Gunetone, builder—and Eli Camery, who clearly
proved and accounted for Mr ,Colb urne's presence from
nine o'clock p,m., un til:a quarter to eleven on the night of
the assault, giving particulars which it was impossible to
dispute.
These wi'nestes were severely cross-examined, but their
evidence was not in the least shaken or impaired.
Mr Smith, who appeared for the defendant, then put a
singular witness into the box, a Mr G. J. Day, and re-
quested him to tell tho magistrate what he knew of the
matter. Mr Day then proceeded to say—About ten
o'clock on the night in question I came into the town in
my trap and drove into Mr Whale's yard at the Oak. As
I went into the yard some man took my horse by the head
and begaa striking it. I asked him what he did it for, and
told him to get out of the way. I gave him a cut with the
whip. He pulled off his coat and offered to fight. I up
with my fist and knocked him down. Robert Carpenter
came up and said, "Cousin Colbourne, if you strike that
man again I will knock your brains out." The parties then
went down the yard towards the house, and I went with
my trap into the upper yard. I staid a little time, and then
left. Mr Colbourne was not there. No one struck a blow
but myself. I have come forward vo:untarily, that an
innocent man should not suffer for what I did myself. I
had no rest about it, and I came and told Mr Colbourne
this morning that I was the man who did it.
The bench and bar having sufficiently marvelled at the
extraordinary nature of the case, the summons agaiast Mr
Colbourne was dismissed.

THE CROPS IN AMERICA,—A mass of informa-
tion as to the crops of the Northern and Western
States and the Canadas, has been collected. On the whole,

there are good crops the country through. The dry season
has had its effect, but not to the extent of destroying har-
vests in many places, nor even of reducing them below the
average. In New York State, for instance, the crop of wheat
is estimated at from one sixth to one half less than usual in
eight or ten counties, while in the remainder it is a full
average crop or more. Corn is much worse in proportion—
the proportions in fact being about reversed, so that in
not more than eleven counties does the yield come up to
the average. In one, Chautauqua, it is one fifth more,
In all the rest, it is from one tenth to two thirds less
than the average. Oats, again, do even worse than this,
but their deficiency is partly balanced by a full average crop
of rye. Hay is at least one third less than usual. Penn-
sylvania reports 42 counties, in which the yieLi. of wheat is
from one sixth to one half less than usual ; the quality, bows
ever, even where the crop is small, being for the moat part
good. Corn is about the same, oats much better, rye almost
everywhere an average crop. The West, while it does not
rejoice in one of those magnificent harvest s which exceed all
estimate and expectation, yields so bountifully as to put at
rest all apprehension of anything like a abort crop, and of
scarcity even for the unusual needs of such a year as this.
The great diminution of labour, and the general drought of
three months duration, have not sufficed to reduce the crop
below a fair average. In Illinois, wheat varies a good deal of
different counties—in some is a fourth larger than usual,
in a few is less, in many is about as usual. "In the
southern part of the state," says the report, " winter wheat
looks good; spring wheat throughout the state is a little
below the average. Corn promises well all over the state
until it reaches points 200 miles south of Chicago. Crop of
oats larger." In Ohio, wheat is below the average; corn
rather better ; oats decidedly a better crop than usual. In
Michigan it is known that many crops were burned, so that
the average yield is considerably reduced. lowa has suffered
less from drouth than most of the states. Not a single county
is reported as growing a less than average crop of cheat,
corn, oats, or rye, while in many the yield is very large in-
deed, and the quality also frequently beyond the usual stan-
dard. Potatoes, in this state, have done not quite so well, but
hay is in no case below, and in many countries is above, the
ordinary crop. In Indiana, wheat is one fourth less than
usual in Allen county, but everywhere else is stated to be
up to or beyond the average. _Corn does not quite so well,
nor the other crops. Kentucky has half a crop of wheat,
full average of corn, and oats and hay. " Tobacco has suf-
fered in Southern Kentucky, owing to disturbances, but
along the Ohio River the crop will be more than last year.
Dealers estimate the whole crop of the state from one quar-
ter to one halt that of last year; but much depends on sub-
sequent weather before its nnturity." Wisconsin has pretty
fair crops throughout—something below the average, but
of good and often extra quality, though the drouth seems
to have prevailed unremittingly.—New York Daunts.
A CHILD.CARRIED OFF BY A PIG.--The Cromarty
correspondent of the John o'Groat Journal statts
that on Tuesday last a pig, droves of which are continually
roaming about the Fishertown of Cromarty, attacked a
child of about two years of age, and, catching its left
hand in its mouth, made off, dragging the child along
after it. Hearing the little creature's screams, two men
bolted in pursuit, and, laying hold of the pig, they found
it necessary to administer a series of kicks before the brute
would let go. Fortunately tlo cuild wail Rot seriously
hurt.

PUGILISM.

(From Bell's Life.)
JOE COBURN AND JEM MACE.

We are now on the eve of this important match, which,
as our readers are aware, is fixed to come off on Tuesday,
October 4, in Ireland, within 100 miles of Dublin, for £1,000;
and as it is now known that both men are in the Emerald
Isle and close handy to the starting place, the doubts long
existing as to the probabilities of a mill appear to have
vanished, and the encounter is beginning to excite some-
thing like genuine interest. The toss for choice of place we
stated in our last was won by Mr E. James, of the 11-eu,
York Clipper, on behalf of Joe Coburn, and it was tlnn
arranged that Joe Ehotod send a notice yesterday, sep,sl,-
ber 30, to Jem Mace, at Mr Woodruffu's, Carob:idge Arms,
Inland Bridge, of the appointed rend, zvous. this condi-
tion was duly complied with, Jem sending a trust-
worthy agent to receive the necessary office, not deem-
ing it prudent t> show himself publicly is the Irish capital.
The secret was of course only imparted to Jem's agent, and
will not be publicly known until the latest minute on Mon -
day, Oct. 3. for reasons best known to those acquainted
with the activity of the Irish constabulary. We shall net
be transgressing the rules of caution, however, by stating
that the soart will be an unusually early one—that thejour-
ney will extend as nearly as possible to the full 100 miles—
and that due care will be taken by the managers of the
trip to secure the comfort and convenience of travellers.
Joe Coburn has been training under the watchful eye of
Cusack, a few miles from his native town of Limerick, and
is represented by his friends to be wall up to the mark,
and, although making no outward demonstrations of con-
fidence, seems to regard the forthcoming mill with an
amount of sang froid that shows he is not fearful of
disgracing his country, We have, of course, heard many
rumours that he has taken no great amount of work, and has
not put that restraint upon his appetite that is reqoired for
fit training ; but to these we have turned a deaf ear, treat-
ing them as the idle gossip of those who N% ish to shine out as
more knowing than their neighbours. Joe's own friends
assure us they are satisfied, and that is sufficient for us.
His weight, we are told, will be very little over eleven
stone. In age he will have the advantage of Mace, being
still under thirty, while the ex-Champion is thirty-four.
We do not suppose he will appear in Dublin at all previous
to the mill, and this course Mace informs us will also
be adopted by him, so as to avoid all unnecessary risk.
Jem Mace has been under the care of Alf Milner of
Sheffield, first at Newmarket and subsequently near
Liverpool, from whence ho paid a flying visit to Doncaster,
and, as we are credibly informed, disposed of no less than
300 colours, receiving the quid pro quo on the spot, instead
of, as is the custom, giving the handkerchief on the usual
terms—viz., a guinea if he won, or nothing if he lost. If
this be the case, Master Jem may be congratulated on having
done a very fair stroke of business, and that, too, without
any risk of interfering with his training, which his backers
inform us he never neglected for a day. In the early part
of the present week he and his Mentor went to Holyhead,
and thence on Wednesday they proceeded to Ireland, taking
up their quarters at an hotel a few miles from Dublin, where
Jem has been putting on the finishing touch. He writes
word that ho never felt so well in his life, and has no fears
as to the result. His weight at present he says is list 51b,
some 51b more than ho ever weighed before when fully
trained. This we should say is rather too heavy, but doubt.
less his trainer is the best judge. We have heard but little
betting in this country, and so far as we can learn, apecu.
lation is equally dull on the other side. £7O to £lO on Mace
was offered at Newmarket on Thursday in the Rooms, but
the offers did not elicit a rase. Similar odds have been offered
in Dubin with a like result. As to the ways and means of
getting to the fight, we advise our friends to leave at the
latest by the ‘• Wild Irish Express," as it is called, on Mon-
day morning, and arrive in Dublin the same evening, where
they can obtain the requisite tip at MrWoodrufL's,Cambrid ge
Arms, Island Bridge, or e, a benefit at the Prince of Wales
Theatre, advertised by Nat Langham in another column.
Harry Brunton, of the George and Dragon, Beech-street,
Barbican, and Nat Langham, of the Mitre, St. Martin's-
lane, have promised to telegraph the fixture to their respec-
tive houses, as has also Alfred Milner, of the Punch Bawl,
Spring-street, Sheffield (Mace's trainer), but of course they
can only afford similar information to that now tendered,
As touohing any arrangements for ring keeping we can
hold out no hopes of assistance. It would be impossible to
take over a number of members of the Association on spec,
as their expenses would have to be defrayed out of the funds,
and the chances of recouping the amount so expended
would be small indeed, and we can only hope that those
members of the P. R who may bo present w:11, for the
sake of their own body and for their own reputation,
use their personal influence to promote order and fair
play. The usages of the P.R. are almost unknown in the
sister isle, and it cannot therefore be supposed that the
inner ring will bo respected without some exertion being
made by the habitues to ensure such a result. This alone
can be attained by persuas:on and remonstrance, violence
and threats being utterly out of the question. Paddy, when
he sees a thing in the right way, has quite as great a love
of fair play and manliness as any one else, and we feel
assured that on this occasion there is every disposition to
have the contest fairly fought out. Joe Coburn has thrown
himself into the hands of his countrymen in search of fair
play, and Jan Mace is not behind hand in showing
confidence in those from whom on all previous occasions
he has received nothing but kindness.
The latest intelligence we have received from Dublin is
to the effect that a place of fighting has been satisfactorily
arranged, and that the conveyance thereto will be of a
special nature, which, as we have above stated, will not be
made known till late on Monday. The only point now to
be got over is the selection of a referee—a task which, we
fear, will be attended with some difff ulty. The articles pro-
vide that the men or their representatives are to meet on
Monday to agree mutually on some person to undertake
this unwelcome office—but unfortunately no provision
is made for his selection should the meeting to agree termi-
nate in an agreement to differ. As to this let us Lope for
the best, and trust that, should harmony be established,
the person honoured with selection will prove competent
to his duties, and discharge them fearlessly, will full re •
Bard to the rules of the Ring, and without favour ar affec-
don towards either side.

Railway Traffic Returns for the Week.

[ways.

Miles Opened. Receipts.
1864. 1863.
2,129 2.0 1
732 C 29
1,065 1,,M7
7,2)1 1,05 J
20,05 t 17.82 L
1,c'21 1,5U9

121 i
1:62i

390 372
174 2,4
4. 5 432
1,701 1.8k2

'3
3 314
1,518 1,461
1,661 1,621
271 120
2,843 2,233
3,135 2,854
9,04 8,451
31,5`:9 33,616
36,641. 34,50
3,718 1,614
5,2 723
10,703 10,3::8
72,81? 66,818

374
1,741 1,599
;2,101 Lao
1,607 1,614
2,930 139
40,328 56,780
295 Z,3
260 2 3
C2l 6:9
112,133 166,8.9
1,977 1,105
27,433 23,1,73
23,211 20,111
7,667 Cl9l
2,150 1,3.0
18, 50 17 663
1,661 1,125
1,417 1,3;9
2,270 1,713
49,412 16,720
4,883 4,829
1,656 1.660
2,670 2,761

23;04 21,944
64,584 58,710
3,16)
9,110 8,372:
925 9:4
6,813 6,069
5,629 6,598
919 75)
4,251 3,953
30,436 29,b88
5,510 5,992
2,392 2,275
224 222
2,773 2.409
bag 442
1,502 IA 6
919 910
6,007 4.881

570 (52
3,012 9t9
920 sel

10,283 30,170
311
360 &Si
1,511 1,6 1
6,608 4,116
6,618 5,1163
1,312 1,416
7D,208 66,768

25,5(6 ' 93
5,K50 -
7,551 4,221
5,034 4.041.
481. 551
13,(37 12,50
i,,32 4. 25
20,200 21,332
1,23 1,2, 2
83,444 81,480
1,426 1,174

481
17t3
1401
77i
105
I,WI
080
105

143,719 116,631
74,899 72,413
677 472

t 5,041 57,973
3 ~251 33,373
7,699 8,31 V