The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY 15, 1863.

LAW INTELLIGENCE--This Day.

SECONDARIES COURT.
(Before Mr. Potter and a Common Jury.)
PETERS V. GORDON.
This was an action sent down from one of the superior
courts to recover arrears of money alleged to be due for an
illegitimate child,
Mr. Clarke, of Stanley-place, Paddington-green, for the
plaintiff, said he should prove such facts in this case as
would satisfactorily prove that the defendant had acted in
a most heartless way to his client, and he called Amelia
Peters, who said—
lam the plaintiff. In 1861, at Easter, I lived at Red-
hill. Defendant also resided there. Defendant's father is
a grocer, and he keeps the post-office. I came up to Lon-
don by a cheap train at Easter, 1861, and defendant came
also. We did not come by the same train, but met
at London.bridge. We spent all our time together, and
he induced me to sleep with him. The child I have in my
arms is the result of our intercourse. When the child was
born he gave me money to come to London, so that his
family might not know of it. I paid the nurse, but Gordon
gave me the money. After I had been in London a short
time, I told defendant I must have some arrangement. I
said that if he did not do something for me, I must affiliate
the child. He begged of me not to do so, as it would come
to his father's ears, and he might be turned out of doors.
He then allowed me ss. per week. This sum he paid for
some time, but finally discontinued, I am unable to go
to service.

Cross-examined by Mr. Palmer—l have never had any
improper connexion with a person named Younger.
The learned Secondary did not think the question ought
to be put.
Mr. Clarke—lf the girl's character is to be traduced, pray
go on.
The Learned Secondary—And besides, it is not material.
Plaintiff—The money was paid to me for the support of
the child.

Mr. Palmer did not think plaintiff was in a position to
recover upon the mere promise to pay.

Mr Clarke urged that theta was plenty of consideration
for the promise. There was something very material in
the agreement not to expose defendant to his family. There
was more than one case in the books which ruled a case of
this kind.

Mr. Palmer then said the woman was not to be be-
lieved, and he regretted that he had not witnesses here to
prove it.
Mr. Clarke—Then it ought not to be said.
Defendant was then called, and said—l am a grocer, li
living with my father at Redhill. I met the young woman
at London-bridge at Easter, 1861. I was with her all day.
I did not sleep with her that night, or any night. I never
promised to pay plaintiff ss. a week. I never went to the
house where she stopped in London. I never saw the
house. I never told her to go to London. I never asked
her not to expose me. I know Younger, and I have never
sent money by him to the plaintiff. I did not meet her
about any arrangement. I did not meet her, because it was
not likely any one would promise to pay ss. when he could
get off for 2s. 6d, I saw her, and said I could not do any-
thing for her. Younger is here.
Plaintiff recalled—l know Younger, who is a friend of
Gordon's, and he has paid me money for Gordon. Gordon
himself has paid me money.
Mr. Clarke—The defence is a most impudent and
cowardly one. The first blow levelled at the character of
the plaintiff was as to her connection with Younger. She
has indignantly denied it, and she has proved most fairly
that defendant paid her money, and that he has not kept
up his payments. I put it to the jury that plaintiff has
fairly made her case out, and I confidently ask your verdict.
The learned Secondary having summed up, the jury
found for the plaintiff without a moment's hesitation, The
learned Secondary granted a certificate.
Verdict for plaintiff.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT—This Day.

OLD COURT.
(Before the Lord Chief Baron;)
THE FATAL FIGHT AT HAMMERSMITH.

Joseph West surrendered to take his trial upon the coro-
ner's inquisition of manslaughter.
The deceased and the prisoner were labouring men in the
neighbourhood of Hammersmith, and on the evening of the
6th June they were in a public-house called the Seven
Stars with a number of their companions, and they were
both somewhat intoxicated, the deceased being the worst.
lt did not appear that any cplarrel took place between them,
but the prisoner said he was the better man of the two, and
he would stake a sovereign and fight him for that amount,
Collins at first refused saying hehad nomoney, but ultimately
they went out to fight, and after they had been so engaged
they both fell down, and the deceased's head came in con-
tact with the ground, and soon afterwards he was observed
to be bleeding. After several rounds Collins gave in, and
they both went in to the public-house together, had some
beer, and shook hands. Collins went to work for several
days after, and about the 27th of June he was taken ill. A
surgeon was sent for, and on his arrival he found the de-
ceased in a semi-unconscious state, and on examination a
large wound waa at.onstered on the top of his head, which
had been strapped up. The man got worse, and eventually
died on the 30th of June. On a post mor tem examination
it was found that an abscess had formed on the brain,
which produced death.
The jury returned a verdiet of acquittal.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

IMPERIAL PARIAIAZENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—This Day.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 25 minutes past 12
o'clock, the fult.compliment of members—forty—not having
been obtained before that time.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Rumney and Brecon and Merthyr Tydvil junction
Railways bill was read a third time.
THE INDIAN BUDGET.

Mr. BAZLEY intimated that to-morrow he should ask
the Secretary of State for India, when he intended to make
his anLual financial statement.
KITCHEN AND REFRESHMENT-ROOMS.—
ADJOURNED DEBATE.

Sir DE LACY EVANS, in the absence of the hon, and
gallant member for Roscommon (Colonel French), proposed
the following motion :—" That in the opinion of this house
the enlargement of the dining rooms proposed by the com-
mittee on the kitchen and refreshment rooms should be
carried into execution." The proposed alteration was indis-
pensable for the comfort and convenience of the members.
Lord HOTHAM. opposed the motion, because the pro-
. •
posed alterations would interfere with the division lobbies,
and would be a waste of public money. The fact was that
some hon. members desired to assimilate the refreshment
room of the House of Commons to the coffee•rooms of the
Clubs, which he considered an objectionable step. One of
the coffee-rooms was open to the public. If, therefore,
hon. members required more accommodation this room
could be kept entirely for them. It was proposed to allow
the manager of the rooms £2OO a year, in order to obtain
better viands and wines. He objected to the expenditure
of the public money on any such purpose, because it would
be akin to paying wages to members of Parliament. Let
hon members pay for what they had.
Sir P. O'BRIEN supported the proposed change.
Sir J. TRELAWNY deprecated the expenditure of
public money on members' dinnei s. Such a suggestion
made in public made his blood boil. (Laughter.) If they
acceded to such an allowance they would greatly lower the
dignity of the house.
Mr. BASS considered that an ample allowance should
be allowed to the caterer.
Mr. OSBORNE was surprised at a financial reformer
like the hon. member (Mr. Bass) supporting this motion.
Mr. BASS—No, no.
Mr. OSBORNE understood that he sat for Derby on
financial reform principles.
Mr. BASS—Nothing of the kind.
Mr. OSBORNE said the house was so defectively con-
structed, even at a cost of £3,000,000, that neither that
house nor any part of it was properly constructed. The
committee who drew up the report on the proposed alrera-
tions not only desired a sumptuous dining room, but cel-
lars where some eminent wine merchants who had been
selected could deposit stocks of wines. If this were
permitted, the Speaker would often find himself alone in
the chair, and the hon. member for Derby and the others
who had signed the report would spend their days and
nights in drinking. (Roars of laughter.) The debates
were never better conducted than in the old days of mutton
and chops at Bellamey's.
Col. WHITE explained that the cellars were already
constructed. The comnitttee, in making their recommen-
dations, s;mply desired to promote the comfort and conve-
nience of the members. Mr. Steers supplied wine at a very
reasonable price.
Mr. BENTINCK supported the motion.
Mr. COWPER said the house ought to be much obliged
to the committee for the trouble they had taken in this
matter. It would be well to try and discover whether better
accommodation could not be made without the proposed
expenditure of £5,000. (Hear, hear.) He advised the hon.
and gallant member to withdraw his motion and defer the
matter until next session.
After a few words from Mr. DELAYN,
Sir DE LACY EVANS withdrew the motion.
PARTNERSHIP LAW AMENDMENT BILL.
This bill was recommitted, in order to introduce some
amendments.
Mr. HUBBARD moved that the chairman leave the
chair. He considered that the bill in the present form
would prove utterly valueless to the commercial commu-

nity.
Mr. CAVE, whilst he considered the principle of
"limited liability" incited the people to embark in
hazardous speculations, yet he should support the
bill, though based somewhat on that system, because it
would merely use it in its very mildest and harmless sense.
Mr. GOSCHEN warmly supported the bill.
(LEFT SITTING.)

WASHINGTON IRVING'S characteristic was quie
humour ; mild enough, but quaint ; as when he said
to a gentleman who, in a thunder-storm, declined to take
shelter under a tree, having promised to his father, who had
been once hit, never to do so,—" Oh, that makes all the
difference in the world. If it is hereditary, and lightning
runs in your family, you are wise."
ROGERS'S ANECDOTE ABOUT LORD ABERDEEN'S
SEA-SICKNESS.—WhiIe I was in Paris, in driving
out, one day, with my niece in the Champs Elysees, we
nearly ran over my old friend Rogers. We stopped and
took him in. He was in one of his yearly epicurean visits to
Parrs, LU toujvy Law aouxces
of pleasure. The hand of age begins to bow him down, but
his intellect is clear as ever, and his talents and taste for
society in full vigour. He breakfasted with us several
times, and I have never known him more delightful. He
would sit for two or three hours continually conversing,
and giving anecdotes of all the conspicuous persons who
have figured within the last sixty years, with most
of whom he has been on terms of intimacy. He has
refined upon the art of telling a story, until he has
brought it to the most perfect simplicity, where there is not
a word too much or too little, and where every word has its
effect. His manner, too, is the most quiet, natural, and
unpretending that can be imagined. I was very much
amused by an anecdote he gave us of little Queen Victoria
and her nautical vagaries. Lord Aberdeen has had to
attend her in her cruisings, very much against his will, or,
at least, against his stomach. You know he is one of the
gravest and most laconic men in the world, The Queen,
one day, undertook to reconcile him to his fate. I believe,
my lord,' said she, graciously, ' you are not often sea-sick.'
—' _always, madam,' was the grave reply.—' But,' still
more graciously, not very sea-sick.'—With profounder
gravity, VERY, madam l'—Lord Aberdeen declares, that
if her Majesty persists in her cruisings, he will have to
resign."
HEALTH OF LONDON.—The deaths in London in
the week that ended on Saturday wore 1,287. This
return exhibits an increase of 100 deaths on that of the pre-
vious week ; and it is also higher than any weekly number
returned since the end of May. The average number
derived from corresponding weeks (1853.62), and corrected
for increase of population, is 1,170 ; and the deaths
in last week are therefore more by 117 than they would
have been if the average rate of mortality had prevailed.
At the present time ssarlatina is the most fatal of all the
epidemic diseases, and the deaths from it in the week rose
to 113, while those from diphtheria declined to seven. Five
deaths from scarlatina occurred in the Kensington Town
sub-district, six in the 'rectory sub-district of Marylebone,
five in Islington east: It prevails to a considerable ex•
tent in the east division. Small-pox was returned in 55
cases, 19 of which occurred in the west districts. There
were nine deaths from this disease in the Westminster dis-
trict, four in the Berwick-street sub-district, four in St. An-
drew eastern. Seven of the 55 deaths are stated to have
occurred to persons who had been vaccinated, but it fre-
quently happens in such cases that the evidence of success-
ful performance of the operation is not much to be de-
pended on. Diarrhoea has been increasing lately, as is
usual in the summer months ; and last week the deaths

from it rose to 91. There were also 10 from cholera,
chiefly "cholera infantum." A widow died at the age of
99 years. Last week the births of 989 boys and 994 girls,
in all 1,983 children, were registered in London. In the
ten corresponding weeks of the years 1853-62 the average
number (corrected) was 1,777.
CHASING A HIPPOPOTAMUS. A hippopotomus
which was being conveyed in a steamer on the
Detroit river a few weeks ago jumped overboard and swam
for the shore. A boat was lowered and started in pursuit.
Ali, the Egyptian keeper of the brute, commenced calling
him by familiar names, and at the sound of his voice the
monster stopped, looked around, and seemed to wait for the
boat to near him ; but just as he approached within reach-
ing distance the hippopotamus gave a plunge and once
more disappeared, leaving a whirlpool of seething water to
mark the spot where he had gone down, Nothing was
seen of him now for a long time, and they were about
giving him up for lost when he suddenly made his appear-
ance about 100 yards off, but nearer the shore than at
first. Ali again rowed towards him, calling to him as be-
fore, but again the beast dodged him, and dived to the
bottom of the river. Ali now made a large circuit with his
boat, in hopes of taking him by surprise as he came up to
breathe ; but, as if aware of his intentions, the hippopotamus
rose at a long distance off. For the third time Ali started in
pursuit with a result similar'to that which had attended his
other attempts to re-capture his pet. When he went down
the third time Ali paused, evidently completely nonplussed,
and seemingly overcome by grief and despair. In a second,
however, he seized the oars and rowed toward the steamer.
" Try de tog I" he shouted, as he came alongside ; " gib me
de tog !" A largo mastiff, which has been trained to sleep in
the cage of the hippopotamus, and for whom he had evinced
r much affection,had been keeping up a continued howling from
the time his companion had escaped, was now loosened, and
he instantly plunged into the river and swam after Ali as he
moved off. In about a minute the hippopotamus again
a ark
struck som-
t
stuck his huge head out of the water, and, on seeing him
the dog gave a wild bark and swam in his direction '
ve
rapidly, Ali accompanying him in the boat. At last ,
c ot theuy
"
reached‘lthe
nmgornosunt e rd,
tand,h e
awn
ri tmha
asne i efisn o
du
ro er svn c e d
for the shore, the hippopotamus following.. '
excited by this scene was intense, which he interest
crease until the dog and the hippopotamus
to in.
American shore in safety. Ali w, mus reached the
was not ion",b
animal was no sooner ou terra after, and the
armed with a small rawhide, which ha had taken with him,
a tham. the Egyptian,
jumped on the beach, and, going to the animal, spoke a few
words, gave him a few smarts cuts
with the rawhide, and drove him over his ponderous rump
to a
place
of
safety,
where without further difficulty
he Was at once secured.