The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-08 00:00:00

ATTEMPTE

TRANS

VIC TS.

The annual reports from Bermuda and Gibraltar
have been laid before Parliament. At Bermuda
the system of administration has been greatly im-
proved, and with satisfactory resin mss, but in view
of the approaching dissolution of the establishment
Governor Ord has reported., briefly, stating, how-
ever, that the year's ext:erienee has confirmed his
opinion of the Practicability of maintaining a prison
establishment at Bermuda in equal condition to,
and at no greater comparative cost than, a borne
prison; and that there are circumstances which,
under proper organisation and management, might
be made to impress it with a different character in
the eyes of the criminal class, so that, while it would
have an equal chance of reforming criminals, it
ought to have a far greater effect in deterring them
from crime. From Gibraltar,to which we sent 150
convicts last year, and received back 152, the Con-
troller reports favourably. The men have been
engaged on drainage and other public works, profit-
able to the public and advantageous to the convicts
by teaching them the means of earning a liveli-
hood. The number of hours on the public works
is limited to eight, but the whole day is devoted
either to industrial, moral, or religious training.
The quantity of food allowed is described as con-
siderably less than in the prisons of England, but
yet found to maintain the prisoners in good health
and condition. It comprises, in the course of the
week, for men hard at work, 30 ounces of fresh
meat and 10 of salt meat (without bone), 51b, of
potatoes, 81Ib. of bread, 7 pints of soup, 7 of cocoa,
and 7of tea. Against the judgment of the Con-
troller, the privilege of smoking tobacco for half an
hour, morning and evening, is allowed to men of the
very best character in the higher stages of penal
servitude. Differences in degree of diet and indul-
gences are so apportioned as to make a positive and
well-defined demarcation between the various classes
and stages into which the men are divided according
to their conduct. The value of the labour of the
convicts averaged in 1862 £3l 14s. 9d. per man,
and the net expenses of the establishment £35 13s.
4d. per man. The Comptroller states that the pri-
eaners are not allowed to suppose that they are en-
titled to be released on ticket-of- leave, as a matter
of course, at the expiration of the prescribed mini.
mum period of probation ; he says, on the contrary,
that the greatest possible care is taken in selecting
for release none but such as have evinced, after some
years of watchful observation, such good evidence of
amendment as may rationally lead to the hopo that
good conduct may be expected to become the rule
outside, as it has been inside, the prison walls. The
chaplain states that attention to religious duties
cannot be rendered in the hope of obtaining a miti-
gation of punishment, as it is not the practice at
Gibraltar to require the chaplain's opinion in re-
commending prisoners for a ticket-of-leave. ll-
considers that few, comparatively, manifest a de
tided purpose to enter upon a new and better course ;
but that the remedial agencies under which the con
victs are brought must have a restraining operation
upon them. Some there are, he says, without con-
science and without feeling in regard to Divine or
human duties and obligations, and who have been
trained and prepared not only to commit crimes
and offences, but to believe that it is right to do so
whenever they deem it necessary to their present
pleasure or profit. The Controller adds that it is
difficult to obtain correct information with regard
to the conduct of the prisoners who have been dis.
charged, but that it is known that many are lead-
ing honest and respectable lives, both in England
and in foreign countries, and some are maintaining
themselves and their families in comfort by trades
and occupations the knowledge of which they
acquired in prison.

me, and then I'll leave you.'

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS.

The chances of a naval war are now the topic of
warm discussion. The Governor-General of Fin-
land in his report speaks of a growing restlessness
of the people and of their Scandinavian tendencies,
and urges the Government to increase the
Russian forces in the Grand Duchy. In the mean-
time 12 vessels of war, mostly steamers, are being
armed. Three vessels ale already cruising, and
six more will shortly leave Cronstadt.
In a note to the Governor-General of Moscow,
the Emperor thanks the capital, which he calls the
" dearly beloved city of his birth," for the address
conveying the expression of their loyal sentiments.
In his rerly to the deputation by whom the ad-
dress was presented, the Emperor said—" I still
have hope that we may avoid a general war. If,
however, war should be our destiny, I am convinced
we shall knew how to de:end the boundaries of
the empire and the countries which are inseparably
connected with it."

The order of St. Vladimir of the first class has
been conferred upon the promoters of the address.

A special reward has been instituted and confer-
red upon al: high officials who co-operated in the
emancipation of the serfs.

WOLF-HTJNTING IN FRANCE.

This experiment, in which the Duke of Beaufort
has shown so much enterprise and perseverance, has
now been brought to a close. His grace has much
reason to be satisfied with the sport he has obtained,
and with the warm welcome he has obtained at the
hands of our neighbours. His famous pack have
proved themselves in every respect worthy of their
great fame. The result of the expedition has proved
quite successful, inasmuch as it has elicited the fact
that the duke's foxhounds would face and kill any-
thing when called upon. It was no small trial to
ask the dogs to encounter so new and strange a
quarry as a wolf ; and the duke has every reason
to be proud of the ready pluck of his Badminton
pack. We have received the following account o
the last day's hunt :

'D SUICIDE.

On Wednesday evening one of the most appalling
and desperate attempts at murder and suicide which
have been perpetrated in Nottingham for many
years past was committed in Narrow-marsh (a low
part of the town). A man named John %Vheeldon,
a sawyer, purchased two small pistols on Monddy,
at the shop of Mr. Woodhouse, pawnbroker, Clum
ber-street. About 5 o'clock on Wednesday evening
Wheeldon was in Narrow-marsh, and seeing his
wife passing, called her. She went to him and ac-
companied him into the house of a man named Mit-
chell, where their child was. A conversation took
place, characterised by bitterness on both sides, and
at its close the woman heard the click of a pistol
trigger. She rushed towards her husband to wrest
the pistol from his hand or throw up his arm, but
before she reached him he fired, and the bullet took
effect between the eyes, entering the head. There
were three men present, but they either had nut
presence of mind, or Wheeldon was too quick for
them, and had discharged the pistol before they
could prevent him. The woman fell speechless, but
soon arose and staggered into the street,where, after
having walked a few paces, she would have fallen
had not a butcher named Calch caught her in his
arms.Wheeldon followed his wife into the street,and
walked along until he came opposite to the Wheat-
sheaf beer-house, in which he lodged. Here he took
another pistol out of his pocket, and pointing at his
right ear, fired. The ball took effect, and ho fell
on the footway. A cab was sent for, and Sergeant
Hopkinson, with four constables, came up. The
woman was placed in the cab, with a constable in
charge, and conveyed to the General Hospi-
tal. The bullets in both cases remained in. The
man sustained a fractured jaw-bone. At about nine
o'clock he became speechless, and deaf in one ear ;
it is supposed the bullet must have injured the base
of the brain. The woman was bleeding profusely,
and in her case it is supposed the bullet must have
taken a down ward direction and lodged in the neck.
The statement made by the unfortunate woman
after she was removed to the hospital was to the
following effect :—" John Wheeldon is my hus-
band. We have been living apart about a fort-
night, when he sold my home up. Between 4d and
5 this (Wednesday) afternoon I was going down
Narrow-marsh alone, when I heard my husband
call me and say ' Come here.' I turned round and
went with him into Mitchell's house in I:.iarrow

marsh. My husband followed into Mitchell's house

Mr. Mitchell and two other men were there. My
husband said to me, ' God help you, you look a poor

creature.' I said 'Yes, and you don't look much
better. You're paying 128. a week for your board

now, but when you was with me you were not con-
tented.' Ha said, don't feel contented now. Do
you want any money ?' I said, No; you may take
it to the Scotobwoman that fetched the warrant for
me.' He said, The warrant will do you no harm
now. I'll pay any money for you.' He told me to

Kiss my child which was then in the room. I kissed
my child. Ile said, Will you take the child ?' I

said, 'No, I cin't. I can't maintain it. You've
taken the bread out of my mouth, or I could have

done it ; but if the Lord spares me I will get a

living now' He said, ' Yes, my wench, you
won;d2 He said, ' Have one glass with

I said, ' No,

never while I live. You have scandalized me to

.he utmost, and I can think of you no more. I will
ake a little house, and try to manage the best way
I can.' He said, ' You know I won't let you live in
chat way.' I said, I will get a protection paper.'
I then heard him draw a trigger. Mitchell looked
round, and I said, Oh! he's got a pistol.' I ran
towards my husband, who shot me on the faca. I
fell on the floor, and tried to speak, but could not.
I then got up, and ran into the street. I was shortly
afterwards taken to the hospital." The man's case
is hopeless; the woman also lies in a most dan-
ST. PETERSBURG, MAY 2. I gerous state.