The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-19 00:00:00

THE SITN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 19, 1864.

T 11,3 Alleged Child Murder at Limehouse,

COMMITTAL OF THE AIOTIIER..
Yeeterday forenoon :Mr. H. Raft's WElthew, the
deputy coroner, resumed, at the Victoria Tavern,
Three Colt-lane, Limehouse, the inquiry respecting

.he death of the male child of Rebecca Porter, said

:o Nava bean murdered cn Christmas-day.

Me prisoner, Rebecca Porter, a respectable look-

,ng middle-aged woman, was brought up in the cus-
tody of Inspector Beare, under a warrant obtained

Tom the Secretary of State.
It will be remembered that the accused had been

for a period of five months in the service of the
keeper of an eating-house in Hales-terrace, Lime-
hduse, and that, as she wore an immense crinoline,
the suspicions of her mistress were at one time ex-
cited. The accused, however, indignantly denied
the imputation, and gave notice that she would leave
rather than leave off wearing crinoline. On Christ-
mas-day, while playing cards with the other ser-
vants, she was noticed to be ill, and, though she
denied having given birth to a child, the deceased
was found in a box.

Mrs. J. Harris, 2, Hales-terrace, West India-
road, was re-called, and she stated that she did not
know that the accused had prepared any baby•linen.
Witness never saw any. Rebecca Porter used to sit
at work in her room in the evenings for nearly the
whole time. She was in service ; but witness saw
her make no preparation for a child. She worked

for herself as well as for witness. When, on Christ-
mas-day, witness taxed her with having given birth
to a child, she denied it for half an hour. She after-
wards showed the child to witness in her box, whieh
was under her bed. She asked witness to allow her

to bury the child, and to take her again into her
service, but that could not be done. _

George Cronk, 330 K, said that on Christmas-day
he was sent for by Mr. Harris. By the inspector's
orders he then accompanied Mr. Brownfield, the
divisional surgeon, to Mr. Harris's house. He saw
the child in the box of the accused. There was a

hassock in the box, and one or two other things,
but no baby clothes.

The prisoner said she had no questions to put to
;he witnesses.

The coroner then cautioned the accused in the
usual manner, and asked her if she wished to make
any statement.
The prisoner merely replied, No, sir."
Mrs. Harris, recalled, stated that she had been
informed by the sister of the prisoner, that the pri-
soner had been married and had given birth to two
children; These children were dead. Witness did
not inquire what was the cause of their deaths.
The coroner then read over the depositions at

length, and said that all the circumstances were of
such a character as seemed to render a verdict of
wilful murder inevitable. The medical man exa-
mined in the case indeed said that, though the child
had fully breathed he could not conclusively say
that the child had been fully born alive. But the
other facts should not be overlooked—the deter-
mined persistence in concealing her condition by
means of a large crinoline—no clothes being pro-
vided for the child, although the accused must have
known that she had gone her full time—the denial
for half an hour that she had given birth to any
child—the concealment of the dead body in a box—
and the marks of violence on the throat, which
were plainly visible—all seemed to show a settled
intention to make away with the child, and doubt-
less to deposit it in the street eta convenient oppor-
tunity.
The jury, after a long deliberation, returned a
verdict of wilful murder against Rebecca Porter,
but stated, in tendering their verdict, that had the
law given them an option they would have brought
in a verdict of manslaughter in preference, as they
believed that there could have been no malice
against the deceased, but that the mother had de-
prived it of life in an attempt to conceal the fact
of its birth in order to avoid the shame of detection.
The coroner then made out the warrant for the
committal of the mother to Newgate for trial at the
Central Criminal Court.

Farewell Soiree to Mr, George Thompson,

- - ~..,.,

At Redley's Hotel, on Saturday evening, a farewell
soi, held under the auspices of the Emancipation So-
ciety, was given to Mr. George Thompson, who will sail
for the United _States on Saturday next. There was a
very numerous attendance. Mr. William Evans, chairman
of the society, presided on the occasion.
The CHAIRMAN having opened the Proceedings,
Mr. W. W. CuussoN, the hon. secretary, read the fol-
lowing letter :
FROM M. BRIGHT, M.P.
Rochdale, Jan. 14.
Dear Sir,--I cannot be in London on Saturday, and can-
not therefore be present at the proposed farewell meeting
to Mr. Thompson. I should like to shako him by the hand
and to give him my good wishes before he sails for the
United States.
I remember his visit to this town, 30 years ago, on his
mission on behalf of the slave in the English colonies. I
remember his speech, and the effect it produced upon me.
I have heard as many speeches as most men since then, in
and out of Parliament; but I have never since heard a
speech so moving in its eloquence and so grand in its
object as that which he delivered in this town. I have
always considered Mr, Thompson as the real liberator of
the slaves in the English colonies ; for without his com-
manding eloquence, made irresistible by the blessedness of
his cause, I do not think all the other agencies then at
work would have produced their freedom.
And now, 30 years later, Mr. Thompson will have the
opportunity of seeing with his own eyes the process of libe-
ration in America—not a peaceable process as ours was,
because with us slaves were comparatively few, and the
power of the slaveownera small, but liberation through the
process of a desperate war, intended by the slaveowners to
make slavery perpetual. Whilst he will grieve over the
calamities of the war he will look through them to the esta-
blishment of freedom over the whole of the North American
continent, and he may see in the not distant future the
abolition of slavery in Cuba and in Brazil, for I am per.
suaded that when the United States are free from slavery
as England is, the united opinion of the two nations will
do much to destroy the evil in every professing Christian
I have not spcountry,
oken of Mr. Thompson's labours in other
causes besides that of the destruction of slavery ; they are
known to most of those who will be with you on Saturday
evening. 1 can say honestly, and I say it with pleasure,
that during the last 30 years there has been no movement
on behalf of any good cause, and there has been no victory
in this country to freedom and the people, in which he has
not borne an honourable part.
I wish him all success in everything to which he may
devote himself, and that he may witness more and more
the growth and the fruit of the great principles which he has
done so much to impress upon the minds of men. Re-
gretting much that I cannot be with you.—l am, very truly
yours, (Signed) JOHN BRIGHT.
F. W. Chesson, Esq.
Letters from several other gentlemen of distinction, ex-
pressing regret that they could not be present, were also read
to the meeting.
The address to Mr. Thompson was as follows :
To GEORGE THOMPSON, Es Q,
You have twice visited the United States in the service
of negro emancipation—a cause dear to freedom and philan-
thropy. On your first visit, nearly 30 years ago, you were
attended by the admiration and good wishes of a vast majo-
rity of your countrymen, rejoicing in that great triumph of
justice and Lumanity—the abolition of British colonial
slavery—which your ardent eloquence had immensely aided.
At the time of your second visit, 15 years later, you wore
the representative in the House of Commons of one of the
largest of English constituencies—a dignity conferred upon
you with unexampled enthusiasm in recognition of your
labours for every form of freedom and progress. You have
since received abundant evidence that the heart of your old
constituents and of the British people is faithful to the
principle of universal freedom—faithful to the claims of the
negro to be regarded as a man and a brother—faithful to
the champions of his cause—and faithful to the Govern-
ment that has dared to incur the utmost perils which can
threaten a commonwealth, rather than abandon the enslaved
to perpetual bondage and degradation. Now, on the eve of
your third voyage in the track of the Pilgrim Fathers, we
bid you God speed to the great and goodly land which they
opened up to the adventures and hopes of humanity—we
bid you God speed as a fellowlabourer beloved and honoured
—and we charge you with a message of friendship, congra-
tulation, and encouragement to our brethren of the Ameri-
can Republic.
" It is as members and friends of the London Emancipa-
tion Society we offer you these words of temporary farewell.
Associated together at a crisis in the history of both coun-
tries—organised for the special purpose of informing the
British public, and of comforting with their sympathy our
Amerian kinsmen—we owe more to you than to any man of
our number. With unwearied zeal, with unfailing eloquence,
with a perect knowledge of the great theme, with unequal-
' led powers of instruction and persuasion—you have toiled
with us and with kindred associations at a sacrifice of health
end comfort which demands our cordial gratitude. We are
glad to be able to spare you--as we could not have done 12
reonths since. Then there was widespread error as to the is-
sues involved in the civil war, which we know to be the death
struggle of the slave power. Though not fora moment did
the heart of the British people hesitate between the negro and
his master, there was much hesitation to believe tho Go-
vernment and loyal people of the United States engaged in
a war of emancipation. Happily it ia so no longer. Events
have proved stronger than the strongest prejudices and
doubts. But among those events we rank high the speeches
by which acts of legislation and of war have been inter-
preted. Words are deeds, when bravely spoken in the right
cause at the right moment. Such words have been aelirs.
They have been sharp to convince and strong to move. They
have greatly helped to set the heart and mind of England,
wholly and firmly, on the side of the Free States fighting
for freedona--on the side of Abraham Lincoln, the first Pre-
sident of the American Republic who has ruled in the spirit
of the American Declaration, All men are by nature free
and equal.'
" Tell hire, we pray yen, that the people of England
honour him for the wisdom, the courage, and the constancy
ho has displayed, that they thank the God who raised him
commonwealth. Tell Mr. Seward and the statesmen of the
people and to purify a polluted
up to deliver an oppressed
Republic that England will honour them in proportion as
they are faithful to the proclamation of freedom. Tell the
Sumners and Greelys to preach by tongue and pen conti-
nually that England will be the firm friend of America
through whatever misunderstanding or estrangement may
arise. Above all, tell Garrison and Philipps—the New,
England Abolitionists—the old guard of the emancipation
army—that the taother country holds their services in the
warmest remembrance as the very worthiest off,pring of our
common ancestry. These messages you will be free to speak.
At your first going to America, even Boston refused you a
heariug. Atyour second, New York was unprepared to re-
ceive you. Nov, Washington itself will give you a welcome.
The Republic will bail you as a faithful friend. We confide
ye u to its keeping. We pray God to guard you by His pro-
vidence. We shall look for your return bearing the trophies
of happy victory in a holy war—the glad tidings that the
Union has been restored, slavery utterly abolished, peace
and freedom ruling securely over all the vast domain which
oppression tried to wrest by civil war from the possession or
the hopes of civilised mankind. In the hope that you will
return thus rewarded for the labour and the perils of your
anti-slavery weer, sao bid you affectionate farewell."
Mr. 11. VINCENT, in an eloquent speech, moved the
adoe‘ion of the address.
M. VICTOR SCHCELCHER,Uncier Minister of Marine in the
Provisional Government of 1343,and thestatesman by whom
the Act of Emancipation in the French colonies was ori-
ginated and carried out, seconded the motion, which was
supported by the Hon. F. li. Morse, the American Consul
in London ; Mr. 111. D. Conway, of Virginia ; and the Rev.
Sella Martin, formerly a slave in Kentucky.
The address having been unanimously adopted,
Mr. G. THOMPSON replied at considerable length, and
expressed the pleasure with which he was about to return
to the United States to witness the altered state of things in
that country; and he hoped that as ho was present when
revolution was in its cradle born, or rather when the aboli-
tion principle was first inaugurated, he might be privileged
to see that principle triumphant and slavery overthrown
while he was there. (Cheers.)
Addresses having been delivered by the Rev. Dr. 111Asstw
and Mr. MAS)N JONES, the proceedings terminated with a
I vote of thanks to the chairman.
at 1--

WILD Powri IN THE FIRTH.—The frost has
driven immense flocks of ducks, divers, widgeons
curlews, and golden plovers up the Firth, and during the'
of Inverness. On clear nights it is noFaunonracalooyumwem.aosnoextahtrsi
past fortnight numbers have been shot in the neighbourhood
g to
fir-
danyd, aitbocuotnased;ennegouonfs
lactet,hKe Lan
en an ue
ly
difficult to naTigate, and many poor birds, tamed by the
intense cold, nounted these icy rafts, and suffered them-
selves to float about in the tideway, until they fell an easy
prey. Seagulls appear to suffer greatly from the frost. On
Saturday they might have been taken with the hand along
the banks of the river. They sat immovable for hours
together, but ro sooner did the thaw of Sunday set in than
they all depart3d inland in search of food. On Monday
afternoon there was only one gull to be seen at the shore,
in spite of the hundreds that were there two days previously.
We understand there is a flock of solan geese near Rose-
markie, hut that it is next to an impossibility to get within
gunshot.--Inverness Courier.
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RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

MELBOURNE AND HOBSON'S BAX.
The report of the clirectot s of this compeny congrataletei,
the propiietors on the traffic receipts of the S Indeidge and
St. Kilda lines presenting satisfactory results. During the
greater portion of the last six months the company's 'pier
has been fully occupied by vessels, including the largest
ships which enter the bay. Tho portion of the pier origi-
nally constructed on sunken ships will shortly be completed
and made equal in strength and durability to any other
portion of the pier. Tho coal traffic is also increasing at
the pier considerably, and a further extension of that
traffic may be fairly anticipated, while from the recent
arrangements made for the reception of wool at the new
sheds at Sandridge, far shipment to the company's pier,
a much larger quantity of that important article of export
will be forwarded by the Sandridge line than hereto-
fore. The traffic receipts for the past six months show a
gross profit, after the deduction of interest on debentures
and payment of workieg expenses, of £19,251. This amount
is more than equivalent to 91 per cent. per annum on the
capital stock of the company, and had the weather not been
so very unpropitious for travelling and sea-bathing during
the last month of the half-year, a dividend at the rate of 10
per cent. could easily have been declared. The directors,
therefore, recommend that a dividend at the rate of 9 per
cent, per annum be declared, leaving a balance of £1,2 il.
The engineer reports that the whole of the permanent way
is in excellent order, and that the locomotives and other
rolling stock of the company are always kept in the highest
state of efficiency. The capital account shows that the total
expenditure on the main line and works to Oct, 31, 1863,
amounts to £387,800, and on the St. Kilda branch to
£113,885, together £501,685. The revenue account for the
six months ending Oct. 31 last shows that £35,546 hadbeen
received, and £12,713, or 3516 per cent., expended, leaving
a balance of £22,833. From this is deducted £3,512 for in-
terest on loans, leaving a balance of £19,251 available for
dividend. The receipts per train mile amount to 10s 4d, and
the expenses to 3s 811, leaving the profit on the working Gs
ild per train mile.