The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-20 00:00:00

IRE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 20, 1864.

LAW INTELLIGENCE,—This Day,

COURT OF DIVO EWE.
(Before the Judge Ordinary.)

CODRINGTON V. CODRINGTON AND ANDERSON.

This case came on to-day upon the question of costs.
- -

Mr Bovill, Q.C,, asked that the costs, except those against
Lieut. Mildmay, be paid by Col. Anderson, the co-respon-
dent.

Mr Price, Q C., for Colonel Anderson, opposed the ap-
plication,

The case was proceeding when we went to press.

LORD MAYOR'S COURT.
(Before the Recorder and a Common Jury.)

SINGULAR PLEA OF INFANCY.— IMPORTANT RULING
ANDVERDICT.—SYMONS V. Ross.—This was an action to
recover a balance of account, to which defendant pleaded
infancy, Plaintiff averred that there was a ratification of
the contract after defendant came of age, and defendant
replied that he was still an infant at the time of such rati-
fication,

Mr Henry James and Mr Morgan Howard appeared for
the plaintiff, Mr Kemp representing defendant.
Mr James having opened the case, called a witness
named Grub, who said that in November, 186.3, defendant
declared himself of age, the goods now sued for having
been delivered since then, the ratification being in the fol-
lowing July.

Mr Kemp said that his client would prove satisfactorily
that he was an infant by the production of the baptismal
certificate and evidence of his grandmother.
Mary Ann Nayler, the grandmother, said she was pre-
sent at the birth of defendant on Nov. 23, 1843. In cross-
examination she said she thought the second child, who was
three years younger than the defendant, was born in Jan.,
1848.

His lordship said the witness must be mistaken.

Defendant said he obtained the certificate from Somerset
House. In cross-examination he said he had tendered an
amount of £6 8s 6d, which he considered to be due, but he
decidedly refused to pay even that now. He did not deny
having told the witness Grub that he was of age in Nov.,
1863.

Mr Kemp said he was not disposed to uphold the morality
of the plea, but as it was a legal plea nothing could be said
against it.

Mr James was proceeding to comment on the evidence
of the defendant and his grandmother, when his lordship
said it was clear that the certificate was not evidence ae
against third parties.

Mr James agreed that it clearly was not, and as to the
other evidence the old lady who had been called was not at
all certain upon dates. If the jury were not quite satisfied
that the plea had been proved, the plaintiff was entitled to
the verdict.

His Lordship, in summing up to the jury, said they must
net strain the law against the defendant. If they considered
the plea proved and the grandmother spoke positively, the
defendant was entitled to the verdict; but it should not be
said that the certificate proved the age at all.
The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

MARLBOROUGH.STREET.

THE EFFECT REFORMATORIES HAVE UPON SOME BOYS.
.—ROBBERY BY A SHOEBLACK.—John King, a shoeblack
lad, was charged, before Mr Tyrwhitt, with stealing 47
yards of tweed cloaking, of the value of .613 17s. 6d., the
property of Mr Scott Adi 3, Scotch tweed warehouseman,
Regent-street.

Mr Samuel Sage, assistant to Mr Scott Adie, said that
while in the shop about five o'clock the previous afternoon,
he saw the prisoner enter by the side door in Vigo-street,
and afterwards leave it with a piece of tweed 47 yards in
length, and of the value of £l3 17s. Gd. He followed the
prisoner, who dropped the tweed, and after a sharp run
secured him and took him back to the shop, where he was
given into custody.

Police-constable Henry Palmer, 323 A, said that on
receiving the prisoner into his custody, and asking him how
he came to steal the tweed, he replied " I cant grumble. I
have had a pretty good run, but I suppose my luck is out."
At the station the prisoner gave the name of King, but he
had since ascertained that his real name was Phillip
INlTann, and that he had been in a reformatory.
The prisoner asked the magistrate to settle the matter,
and he would plead guilty. •

Mr Tyrwhitt said he was sorry reformatories should have
such little effect. They seemed to make some boys more
sharp and cunning. He should commit the prisoner for
three months with hard labour.

As the prisoner was leaving the court he exclaimed—
Here's luck. I can do that on my head,

THAMES.

MURDEROUS OUTRAGE ON A WOMAN.—Dennis Dris-
coll, a notorious thief and brother of a ticket-of-leave con-
vict lately returned from Portland Prison, was brought up
on a warrant charged with violently assaulting Margaret
Gibbons, a woman about 30 years of age.
The complainant stated that on the 15th of October last,
at a quarter before 12 o'clock,she was leaving the Half-moon
and Seven Stare publichouse, in Rate Ml-highway, when
the prisoner, who was in the street, called her an informer,
to which she replied " You never knew me to be locked up
for stealing a pig's head," He then swore at her, and
used most foul language, and knocked her down by a blow
with his fist on the face, and when she was down he kicked
her on the back of the head, She got up and retreated to a
side street and was knocked down again• The prisoner
kicked her again until she was quite insensible. When she
came to her senses she was in the London Hospital, where
she remained under medical treatment for five weeks. She
was now a pauper, and had left the workhouse of St
George-in-the-East to give evidence.
In answer to questions by Mr Paget, the witness sail she
wont to the station-house in King David-lane, Shadwell,
one night, and gave information to Police-sergeant Suther-
land, 46 K, that several police constables were being at-
tacked and beaten in Ratcliff• highway, and he sent other
officers to their assistance. The prisoner had been in cus-
tody for stealing a pig's head.

John Holley, police-constable, No. 501 A, said he found
the woman Gibbons in the passage of a house in Bluegate-
fields, Shadwell, on the night in question. She was bleed-
ing copiously from wounds on tho head, and quite insen-
sible. He caused her to be conveyed to the hospital. Her
life was in danger for several days. The prisoner was
sought after until yesterday and then apprehended.
John Stimpson, police sergeant, No. 21 li., said the pro-
secutrix gave useful information to the police of a serious
outrage. Several constables were severely maltreated, and
one of the constables, named Kenny, was stabbed on the
eye with a penknife. A man named Macarthy, a ticket-
of leave convict, was tried and convicted and sentenced to
seven years' penal servitude. His two sisters Julia and
Margaret Macarthy were convicted at the same time. Julia
was sentenced to 4 months and her sister to 18 months'
imprisonment. Two others were tried, convicted, and sen-
tenced to 6 months' imprisonment each.
Mr Paget—Was the prisoner concerned in that outrage,
which I well recollect ?

Stimpson could not say, but his brother returned from
transportation with the convict Macarthy.
The prisoner, a morose and impudent ruffian, said he only
brushed the woman, and that he was not a thief but a hard
working man.

Mr Paget said the prisoner had committed a most savage
and dastardly assault on a woman who had done good ser-
vice to the public. The prisoner had narrowly escaped
penal servitude for life. If the woman had died of the in-
juries received the prisoner would have been tried for murder,
and in the event of a conviction his life would have been
forfeited. He sentenced the prisoner to be imprisoned for
six months and kept to hard labour, and further to find bail
to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three
months longer, The sureties required would be two
householders in £25 each, and the prisoner's own personal
recognisance in £5O. The imprisonment would amount in
all to nine months unless sureties were provided.

MARKETS—This Day,

HAY MARKETS.

SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, £4 43 to £6 6s Od ; clover,
63 to £6 Os Od ; and straw, £1 Cs to £1 10s per load.
Trade firm.

CUMRBRLAND—Meadow hay, £4 4s to £5 7s 6d; clover,
£5 es to £6 6s Od ; and straw, £1 68 to 10s per load,
Supply short.
WIEITECHAPEL,—Meadow hay, £4 4s to £5 5s Od ; clover,
5s to £6 6s Od ; and straw, £1 68 to £1 108 per load.
A steady demand.

The Distress in Lancashire.

A meeting of the Central Executive Committee was held
yesterday in the Manchester Town Hall, the High Sheriff
(Sir J. K. Shuttleworth, Bart.) in the chair.
Mr Maclure, honorary secretary, reported that £273 4s Gd
had been received during the last three weeks, and that the
balance in the bank was £78,611 10s 2d. He also reported
on the circumstances which had led to a defalcation of £2,041
in tho moneys entrusted to Mr Paine, the treasurer of the
Hulme relief fund. A letter was also read from the secre-
tary of the Hulme relief fund, in which the following state-
ment was made : The ;genets made by the Central Executive
and the Mansion-house Committees, ate.,have been regularly
paid into the bank, the embezzlements being in sundry
donations and subscriptions which, instead of paying into
the bank, Mr Paine appropriated to his own purposes. The
amounts thus embezzled were subscribed by members of
the general committee. The committee have resolved to pro-
secute Mr Paine, and aro acting under legal advice. At a
meeting of the general committee, held on Thursday 1 at,
the committee pledged themselves to use every effort to
raise the amount deficient, As this will be a work of some
weeks, I em reqaested to apply for a grant for the relief of
the distress in the township in the meantime. It was re-
solved, " That a letter be sent expressing the satisfaction of
this committee as to the resolution of the Hulme i elief com-
mittee to make up by fresh subscription the amount of the
defalcations in the funds confided to the late treasurer."
Mr E. Ashworth inquired if the large reduction in the
amount of pauperism in Ashton-under-Lyne during the
past week arose from increased employment in the milli or
from additional men being engaged upon public works. Mr
H. Mason said it arose from both these causes. There was
a reduction of 330 in the number of unemployed cotton ope-
ratives in the town of Ashton, and of 292 in the borough
of Stalybridge; and there were also fewer of this class un-
employed in bloesley, In addition to this the expenditure
from the rates and relief committees' funds had been light •
ened by the entire families of several hundreds of men en-
gaged on the waterworks, &c., being cut off from relief,
The Hon. Secretary, in reply to a question from Major E.
Leigh, stated that, from a report received from the office of
the Public Works Act in Manchester, he found that on the
26th ult. there were engaged on public works in Manches-
ter (including the townships of Manchester, Ardwick, Chorl-
ton, Cheetham, an 1 Hulme) 339 skilled workmen and 208
factory operatives. The committee adjourned for a month.

SHAiisrERE RELICS.— We recorded last week, the
discovery in Birmingham of some ancient deeds re-
lating to properties adjoining Shakspere's birthplace in
Henley-street. We are now enabled to give some partici'+
lass of the documents thus recovered, and which it will be
observed are particularly interesting to Birmingham Shake-
pereens, from the fact of one of the properties dealt with
being possessed for a period of 67 years by families resident
in the outskirts of our town. The deeds are as follows :
August 28, 15th Elizabeth, 1573.—Grant William Wedg-
wood, cf Stratford-upon-Avon, to Richard Hornebye, of
Stratford-upon-Avon, smith, of a piece of land at back of
tenement belonging to said Horneby, fronting Henley.
streete. The seal in this deed bears the initials W.S„ and
the sealing was witnessed by John Shaxper and other. 45
Elizabeth, 1602.—Lease of tenement last mentioned with
the land at the back, Richard Hornbye, Anne his wife, and
Thomas, his son and heire, to Frauncis Horneby. April 16,
1614, 12th James.—Conveyance by Thomas Horneby to
Thomas Jelffe, of Old Stratford, yeoman. March 12, 1620,
17th James.—Conveyance Thomas Jelfe to Thomas Nasshe
of LYncolnes-inn, gentn., of tenement adjoining the Bell of
Thomas Bragden. The above property is bequeathed in the
will of Thomas Nash, of 1642, to his cousin, Edward Nash,
but is not included in the Chancery proceedings between
Edward Nash and Shakspere's granddaughter, Elizabeth
Nash. 20th September, 17 Elizh., 1575.—Grant William
Wedgwood to Edward Wyllies, of King's Norton, yeoman,
of two tenements in Henlye-streete, adjoining the tenement
of Richard Hornbye, and the tenement of John Shakespr.,
yeoman. The sealing of this deed is witnessed by John
Shaxpr. and others, but the seal is gone. 20th July, 1609,
7 James I.—Conveyance, Edward Willys to Osborn and
Austyne, Trustees, for Edward Wyllies and Thomas
Wyllies, of Handsworth, of a tenement (formerly two),
known by the signe of the Bell, adjoining the tenement late
William Shakspere. The word "late" is interlined in this
deed. April. 1611, 9 James I.—Conveyance, Edward Willis
to Wastell and Willies, as Trustees for Symon Wastell, of
Astor, of small piece of land, 17 footes square, behind the
Bell, and adjoyning the freeholdo of ono John Shakespere.
This piece of land was purchased from John Shakespere
about 1589, but the conveyance, is lost. January 22,1613,
10th James.—Grant. Edward Wyliss to Edward Willys,
Mary, his wife, and Thomas, his son, of the Bell, occupied
by Robt. Brooks, adjoining tenement, late William Shake-
spere. December, 1613, 11th James 1.--Conveyance of
Edward Willis to Symon Wastell, of land 17 footes square.
April 24, 1615, 13th James I.—Alice Bragden, widow of
Thomas Bragden, release of dower on the Bell, occupied by
Thomas Rumney, to Eld. Willis. March 5, 1637, 12th
Charles I.—Grant of: annuity, Thos. Willis and Son to
Henry Osborn, of Perry Barr, in favour of Anne Willies, on
rho Bell, occupied by Joyce Rumney, widow. February 18,
1639, 14th Ch. I.—Conveyance, Allen Wastell, of Saltley,
to Thos.Willis, of land 17 footes square,adjoining tenements
late Willm. Shakspere. It of March, the 22d of Ch. I.—
Conveyance T. Willis and Wife, and Nash, of Stratford,
and Osborn, of Great Barr, farmer, to Thomas Nasb, of the
Bell, adjoining premises occupied by John Rutter (the
Maydenhead). The above property is not included in the
will of Thos. Nash (being purchased only one month before
his death), and therefore passed to Edward Nash, his cousin
as heir-at. law, The 14th of Ch. 11., 1633. Lease. Edward
Nash, citizen of London, to James Strayner, of the Bell,
adjoining the Maydenhead, then occupied by John Tomes.
The witnesses to the above documents comprise, besides
John Shakspere, Frauncis Collyns, the executors and witness
of, and a legatee under, the poet's will, George Nashe, John
Nash, J. Green, Thomas Greene, &c. Both the properties
are described as bounded on the north by the Gillpitts or
Guyldpytts. To the first mentioned deed of 1573 is affixed
a ea,
n bearing
d bearing h
a close
e
knot,
resemblance
to the engraved signet
gpreserved n h
Birthplace Museum as a relic of
ring
t i e initials
t
Shakespeare ; so much so that Mr J. 0. Halliwell, upon
visiting Birmingham recently to inspected the deeds, believed
it to he impressed from the ring seal, but he since writes—
" The seals are not identical ; in fact, the letters on the
sealing wax are very much smaller than those on the ring."
The discovery, however, of a seal so similar to the signet
ring is very remarkable, and will doubtless lead to investi-
gation as to whose seal it really was, the greatest proba-
bility being that it belonged to Mr John Shakespeare, the
principal witness to the deed, and the only one present
whoseit being necessary at that period
f
present when the seal was affixed.
Theor
h h
—EWE) been presented, through Mr
Halliwell, to the National Aluseutn in the birthplace of the
twe initial
witnessesole
of letterth
to
deeds wasb S h
poet.—Birmingham Daily
!pose.
says—Authorities writer in the Times
mean-
ing of the term "billion." b
IirHATISA BILLri
Arespecting the
..ome dictionaries define it as a
thousand millions ; others,'a million of millions. Entick,
that most perverse of lexicographers, has, s, Billions, two or
twice millions." Elementary Works on arithmetic are equally
at variance, on this point. That published by the Commis-
sioners of National Education in Ireland teaches that a
billion is a thousand millions ; a trillion a thousand billions ;
and so on. Butler's " Tutor's Assistant," on the other hand,
defines a billion a million of millions. If, as I suppose,
the latter definition is correct, it is 9 matter of surprise and
regret that the Commissioners to whose superintendence is
intrusted the enlistment of the rising generation should
have failed in the first step ft,
the ladder of abstract scienoe,
and endorse an error involving the entire system of nume•
ration. By the latest telegrams of the News Association
Mr Lincoln is reported to have said that on the Ist of July
last the Public Debt of America amounted to one billion
seven hundred and forty thousand millions one hundred
and ninety thousand dollars, Is this a mistake of the Pre-
sident or of the telegraph? If it were correct there would
be nothing but " the sand which is upon the sea shore'
fitted to convoy an idea of the number of dollars owed by
the Northern States. Omnta saqlorate.

SINGULAR AND FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—
A young man, named Henry Wilkinson, residing
at Grimsargh, son of Mr Robert Wilkinson, limeburner, of
Chipping, died last week from injuries he received on the
Longridge Railway. The deceased took a ticket on the
evening before his death at Longridge for Grimsargh. The
train which he had to go down in started at the proper time,
but on its arrival at Grimsargh the guard, who had noticed
Wilkinson at Longridge, could see nothing of him. Appre-
hending soma mishap, the guard and others proceeded to
make inquiries about Wilkinson, and a messenger was sent
back to Longridge. All was quiet there—no one seemed to
know anything about the missing young man ; but while a
search was being made about the line some blood was ob-
served on the ground, and eutsequently Wilkinson, in a
terribly mutilated and very exhausted state, was found in an
old carriage shed on the opposite side of the station. From
what has since transpired it seems that Wilkinson missed
the footboard while attempting to get into one of the car-
riages at the Longridge station, that he fell down by the side
of the platform, which is very deep, in front of the station,
was run over by the latter portion of the trade. and then
managed to crawl on hie hands and knees to the shed where
he was found. One of his legs was completely cut off, and
the other terribly injured. Medical assistance was obtained
as speedily as possible, but the unfortunate young man died
at an early hour on the following morning. The deceased,
we regret to add, has left a widow and three or four children.
—Preston Chronicle.

The Memorial Diplornatique says :—The state-
ment that the next legislative session in France will open
about the middle of January next is premature. We have
reason to know that the Council of Ministers has decided
on not assembling the Chambers until about the middle of
February, in order to enable the Government to present the
budget at the opening of the session. The day is not yet
fixed, but there is every reason to think that it will follow
very closely after the convocation of the English Parlia-
ment, which takes place on the Bth_Feb."
The Liepsig University in the present term con-
tains 952 students, of whotn 664 are waives of Saxony, and
318 foreigners,

Sherman's March,

The 1i ex has issued the following interesting letter re-
specting the march of Sherman, under the impression that
it is a thoroughly reliable account of the state of affairs up
to date, and that it will throw much light on the news
brought by the next two or three mails :
Washington, Dec. 2, 1864.

I think that the Government will be perfectly satisfied if
Sherman manages to reach a point of safety with but half
his army. Finding that Grant intends to keep quiet, every
energy of the Confederacy has been concentrated for Sher-
man's defeat. The remarkable skill with which they have
managed is just showing itself. Sherman's raid is already
defeated, and now the only question is whether he will
get off in safety. Hood and Breckinridge have no little
part in the great campaign of the South-west. Breckin-
ridge has shown great ability. He defeated Gillem, and
all the Federal troops in East Tennessee, so badly that
they could neither invade South-western Virginia
during his absence, nor leave Knoxville to help the garrison
at Nashville. All Gillem could do was to keep quiet at
Knoxville. Breckenridge then sent a small force, making
a great show, north to Cumberland G ip. At once Burbridge
collected every available regiment in Kentucky, and rushed
off to that remote quarter of the State to defend the Gap.
Burbridge was thus proveated from aiding the Federal
troops, either at Knoxville or Nashville, As soon as the
Confederate force sent to Cumberland Gap was well on its
way, Breckinridge with his main body started on a swift
march due south into Georgia to assist in opposing Sher•
man. He would have to go about 140 miles before reaching
Sherman's line of march against Augusta. He started on
Nov. 10. By Nov. 28, at the rate at which he would move,
he coull easily be ia a position to operate against Sherman.
Hood, too, has done well. It was long thought that he
was nowhere within reach of Nashville, and that Forrest
led that portion of the Confederate army. But Hood was
there, and by his quick movements has shut up Thomas
in Nashville—cut off communication with Chattanooga—
compelled the abandonment of nearly all country south of
Nashville—and by destroying the railroads has made it im-
possible for Thomas, even if unmolested, to give any aid to
Sherman. These things being secure, Beauregard at an
early date began his arrangements for the direct opposition
to Sherman. As quickly as possible he loaded his army on
the cars at Corinth, Mississippi. Ho moved the trains to
Atlanta by two routes, one through Mobile, the other
through Selma. A small force was sent overland by
way of Rome to watch the Federal rear. Wheeler
with the advance of the main army from Corinth, reached
Macon on November 18. From that time until the 22d
troops were continually arriving, and on that day Beaure-
gard himself reached Macon. Wheeler, with all the forces
he could gather, and Howell Cobb and Gustavus Smith, in-
trenched themselves 20 miles north of Macon. Slocum's
Federal column, after au almost uninterrupted progress
from Atlanta, was checked by these troops, and Slocum
encamped until the 20th, getting his troops up, and appar-
ently not very certain what he would do. Kilpatrick came
down with his Federal cavalry to a point 12 miles east of
Macon, captured Milledgeville, but made no attempt on
Macon. Suddenly Slocum decamped. He moved eastward
and on Nov. 21 began his march towards Howard's column,
which had been sent+ from Atlanta against Augusta. Kil-
patrick moved on the same day. crossed the conee,
abandoned Milledgeville, and on Nov. 22 he and Slocum
were reported 30 miles east of Macon, moving north-east as
fast as they could go. A Confederate reconnaissance went
on that day to Griffin, 30 miles south of Atlanta, and found
no Federal troops; they had all gone east of that line.
Macon was safe ; every one breathed freely; gold went up;
and Beaurt gard and all his army started in pursuit. He
was following Slocum when last heard from, and harassing
his rear.

Equally skilful were the Confederate movements in oppo-
sition to Sherman's other column. Howard had gone
many miles east from Atlanta on the direct road to Augusta
when he was suddenly brought up bX a large Confe-
derate force posted in a strongly defended position 40 miles
west of Augusta. The Confederates had taken care of this
part of Sherman's expedition. From Florida, Charleston,
Savannah, and Wilmington, large numbers of regulars had
been Bent to Augusta. Gen. Ewell, it is said, left Lee's
army with his corps, and reached Augusta before Nov. 22.
Howard halted; the Confederate force in front of him was
very strong, and he began at once to entrench. Sherman
seeing the successful opposition made to both his columns,
appears to have changed his plan. Instead of hoping to
capture Macon and Augusta, he gave up the expeditions
against both. Slocum was sent for to march with all pos-
sible celerity to reinforce Howard, and there is every indi-
cation that Howard has turned aside from his 'ath, and
that now Augusta is safe. No effort has been made, so far
as is known, to cross the Savannah River, so that Charleston
is not the next point that Sherman will hope to reach.
Slocum and Howard probably effected a juuction about
Nov. 30. They then no doubt turned southward to try
and get to Savannah. Fatigued, and to a certain extent
broken up by the long marches, Sherman's army would
then have had but a poor chance of doing anything.
Beauregard and Forrest from Macon, Bragg and Ewell
from Augusta, would follow him down to the seacoast, and
you as easily as I can tell his plight upon reaching it.
Sherman's raid bas done its worst, and now the only ques-
tion is whether Sherman can save himself.

SINGULAR MURDER IN SCOTLAND.—The county
of Sutherland, the most remarkable in Great Bri-
Om for the lightness of its criminal calendar, has for the
first time in many years been disgraced by the perpetration
of a murder rivalling in atrocity most of those that have of
late been committed. The foul deed, committed on the per-
son of a respectable and aged female, was done at Dornoch,
without the slightest provocation or justification, and is
almost without a parallel in the history of the crimes of
blood. The following are the leading facts of the case :
Between two and three o'clock on Saturday morning, a
young unmarried man, named Alexander Ross, a native of
Dornoch, while in a state of intoxication, went to the house
in the burgh occupied by Mr Sutherland and others, and
alarmed the inmates by drawing up the lower sash of the
window in the house. In the room occupied by Mrs
Sutherland there were two persons sleeping, Mrs Suther-
land and a young girl, the latter of whom escaped by a back
window in her nightdress on hearing the noise, and run-
ning to the next house, alarmed the inmates, who had
only recently gone to bed. While raising the alarm the girl
observed a light in another house, and running there, she
obtained entrance, and apprised the inmates that a man
had entered the house of Mrs Sutherland, and was then in
it. For some unexplained reason no one went to Mrs
Sutherland's assistance, nor was the girl allowed to go to
the house till nearly 6 o'clock in the morning, the hour of
the north mail's arrival, when the master of the house to
which the girl ran went and informed a relative of Mrs
Sutherland's of the girl's statement, Both then went to the
house, and forcing open the door, they entered the room and
found Mrs Sutherland lying on the floor in her night dress
dead, and Ross lying and sleeping by her side. The police
constable's house being next door, Ross wase immediately
taken in charge, and he has since been committed to prison.
Ho gives no intelligible account of himself, but it is believed
that, while under the influence of drink, and ignorant of the
hour, he had gone to the house to visit the girl, with whom
he had some previous acquaintance. The body afterwards
underwent a post-mortem examination by Drs. Ellison, of
Tain, and Souter, of Golspie, who have reported that Mrs
Sutherland, who is 72 years of age, died from violence, and
there is no reason to doubt that a foul murder was commit-
ted. Mrs Sutherland was mother of Mrs Gunn, of the
Dornoch Inn, and was a native of Caithness. Ross is a
1 slater by trade, and has hitherto borne a good character.

CONVICT NOTABILITIES IN WESTERN Aus-
TRALIA.—At Fremantle the visitor is sure to fall in
with Redpath—now on his ticket of leave—a tall man of
good address, living on the proceeds of small shipments of
fancy goods consigned to him by English friends. JAedpath
has always maintained a position above the ordinary class
of ticketers. Even in prison he never wade his own bed nor
cleaned out his, cell. These menial offices were performed
by some obsequious convict, anxious for the reward of the
great man's smile—a reward not unfrequently but judi-
ciously bestowed. Now that he is at large, ticketers touch
their hats to their distinguished brother, who promenades
the street, writes clever letters under a nom de guerre to
the local press, i■ the founder and honorary secretary of
the Working Men's Association, and is specially shunned
by the free classes, who profess to regard him as a social
agitator. At Fremantle, also, there resides a remarkable
individual, who found it necessary in ,England to dissolve
his marriage by the simple operation of cutting off his
wife's head. Ile now fills a highly respectable situation.
Not deterred by his matrimonial mishap, he has taken to
himself a second wife, to console him during his long
sojourn in the land, and he is now bringing up a nume-
rous family. Robson, who is also at large, does not receive
at all a good character. He lost one or two situations at
Perth through his own misconduct. Atter this he went
into business as a photographer—and he now keeps an
academy—while the colonial Mrs Robson assists him with a
preparatory school. Next to dissipation, Robson's principal
recreation seems to be poetical effusions, whioh duly obtain
publicity through the medium of the Perth newspapers. In
these productions he lays Byron and Gray under heavy
contributions—in fact, is guilty of an unblushing appro-
priation of their verses. As Byron and Gray do not ap-
pear to be " familiar as household words" in Western
Australia, Robson enjoys a great reputation as an utterer
of " thoughts that breathe and words that burn."—llfel-
bourne Argus. _

__....._ _
The committee charged:with superintending the
erection of the monument to M. Billault last week
held its sittings in the museum at Nantes for the
purpose of examining the designs presented by 29
competitors. They gave the preference in the fol-
lowing order—to tour designs sent in by M. Cheva-
lier, of Paris; by M. Menard, of Nantes; and by
Beaujault and M. Frison, both of Paris. The
committee then decided that these four artists
should be requested to compete again between them•
selves, and to send in their sketches by March 10,
on a scale twice the size of the first. Each of the
four competitors is to receive an equal indemnity
for the four new designs.