The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-13 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE--Feb. 12.

HAMMERSMITH.—THE MURDER AT ACTON.
—APPREHENSION OF THE WITNESS JANE LAKE.
—Jutt before the closing of the Court Inspector
Searle, of the T division, who has had the manage-
ment of the case of the murder of Police-constable
Davey, at Petherton Villa, Acton, brought before
Mr. Dayman the young woman Jane Lake, who
gave important evidence against her affianced hus-
band Joseph Brooks, and charged her with being an
accessory after the murder.
Mr. Treherne conducted the case for the prosecu-
tion on behalf of the police, as in the case against
the other prisoners. Mr. Martin said he would
watch the case voluntarily for the poor girl, as he
thought some one should defend her.
Charlotte Walter, the wife of a labourer, living
at No. 9, Chapel-place, Turnhatn-green, deposed to
the effect that she knew the prisoner Jane Lake.
She saw her on Wednesday, the 21st of Jan., the
day after the other prisoners had been remanded.
Witness was in bed, as she was ill, and the prisoner
came to her room between ten and eleven o'clock.
Witness said she was very sorry things had hap-
pened as they had, meaning the prisoner's disap-
pointment at not being married to Joseph Brooks
in consequence of the charge against them. She
told the prisoner that it was a good job she was
not married to Joseph, for if she had she would
have been dragged from him a week afterwards.
The prisoner replied that it was. She called on
witness in the evening of the day of the second re-
mand, and she asked the prisoner who it was that
spoke about hitting the man on the head with the
gun, and she said she did. She also said that they
were not the words Joseph used. The witness then
detailed the exact words the prisoner said Joseph
used when he returned home with the gun, and
they consisted of several bad expressions. The words
were to the effect that if he had the man there he
would strike him on the head with the butt-end of
the gun.
The prisoner here said it was false, but Mr. Mar-
tin requested her to remain silent.
The witness added that on the morning after the
first remand the prisoner told her that she pulled
Joseph's hat to pieces and burnt it, and that they
could not find it. She did not say where she burnt
the hat. She also told witness that both Joseph
and Isaac were out together on the Monday night
(the night of the murder), and that they returned
home together. She said that when Joseph re-
turned he was in a perspiration, and that she wiped
his face with her apron and combed his hair. He
trembled like a leaf, and she told him he must have
done something wrong, and he replied, "No, my
girl, not anything." She further said that Isaac
was very restless, first sitting on one side of the
fire and then on the other, and that he gave two or
three groans. On Tuesday witness communicated
to Sergeant Rogers as to the conversation with the
prisoner, and she came to her and asked whether
she had informed Inspector Searle what she had
said about burning the hat, and she told her that
she had. The prisoner then stated that what she
had said was that she was going to burn the hat,
not that she had burnt it. She cried very much.
She had not spoken to witness since.
Catherine Powell, the wife of a baker, living at
7, Chapel place, said she heard some of the conver-
sation. She was not in the room all the time on
the first occasion the prisoner was there. Witness
might have said that it was a bad job which had
happened to the Brookses. The prisoner said it was,
and that she was very sorry for it. Witness did
not hear her say anything about the hat. The wit-
ness then corroborated the evidence of the other
witness as to the statement of the prisoner about
the other prisoners returning home on the Monday
night, and wiping Joseph's Lace. The witness also
confirmed that past of the conversation after the
second remand, and added, that the prisoner said
she did not like to make use of the expressions
Joseph made in the court, and she thought the
words she used were better.

The witness Walter was recalled, and she said
the prisoner did not state what kind of hat it was.
Inspector Searle said ho was present at that
court on the 27th of January, when the prisoner
was examined against the two men. She stated
that she had been sent by Joseph on the Monday
night, in company with Isaac's wife, to Hammer-
smith, to redeem a gun. They took a piir of
Joseph's trousers to redeem the gun. It was 20
minutes past 7 o'clock when they left Chapel-place,
that they ran nearly all the way, and returned
about 20 minutes to eight o'clock. They gave the
gun to Joseph, who was dressed in his working
clothes, and he went out with the gun, and returned
with it about eight o'clock.
Mr. Andrew, the clerk, referred to the minutes,
and said that the prisoner in her evidence stated
that Joseph was absent about 20 minutes, that they
returned at 20 minutes to eight o'clock, and Joseph
went out in a few minutes afterwards.

Inspector Searle said the prisoner stated that
Joseph went out alone, and that Isaac was at home
the whole evening. She further said that when he
returned with the gun, he laid it down and said,
" God bless the man, if I had got him here I would
hit him." She also identified the dark coat wit-
ness produced as Joseph's property.
In cross-examination she said she thought the
observations of Joseph referred to the man to whom
he intended to sell the gun.
Mr. Treherne said that was all the evidence he
intended to lay before his worship that day, and he
asked for a remand for her to be brought up with
the other prisoners.
Mr. Martin submitted that there was not a tittle
of evidence against the prisoner.
Mr. Dayman thought there was evidence as to
the destruction of the hat after the charge had been
made.
Mr. Martin said the whole of the evidence con-
sisted of something she told two women.
Dr. Dayman thought it was quite sufficient for a
remind, as she had disposed of something which
was supposed to have been worn by one of the
parties, after the charge had been made.
Mr. Treherne observed that at the time she gave
evidence she was aware of the circumstance respect-
ing the hat.
Mr. Dayman said that if the police had been
aware of the circumstance at the time she gave evi-
dence, he should have thought it rather severe on
their part to have taken her into custody, but it
did not come to their knowledge until two days
ago.
The prisoner was then remanded until Saturday,
to be brought up with the other prisoners.

:THE BAR AND THE BENCIEL—A deputation of the
Quebec Bar have represented to the Government that by
reason of advanced age Chief Justice Bowen is no longer
able to discharge the active duties of his office, and that
thereby very great loss and inconvenience are constantly
suffered. The Ministerial of gen at Quebec remarks that
Chief Justice Bowen is not the only Canadian judge whom
the infirmities of age should have warned into retirement
uefore now.

AFFIRMATION IN LIEU OF OATH.--Yesterday a
bill in the Commons was printed to substitute affirmations
for oath for persons who are unwilling to be sworn, and for
ethers who object from defect or want of religious know-
ledge. The latter class, as well as children, are to be per-
mitted simply to make an. affirmation to speak the truth,
and are t'. be liable to pumahment for false statements.

The Duke of Somerset, as First Lord of the Ad-
miralty, held his first Levee yesterday afternoon at
the Admiralty, Whitehall, at which the undermen-
tioned officers attended :—Admiral Sir Stephen
Lushington, Vice-Admiral Collier, Vice• Admiral
Carter, Rear-Admiral Hallows, Capt. W. G, Luard,
Capt. C. B. Hamilton, Capt. J. E. Commerall, Capt.
S. Grenfell, Capt. C. C. Forsyth, Capt. S. G. Cress-
well, Capt. E.B. Rice, Capt. J. B. Marsh, Capt. W.
J. S. Pullen, Capt. F.A,, Campbell, Capt. J. A.
Paynter, Capt. C. O. Heyse, Commander A. B.
Owen, Commander 11. Phelps, Commander P. H.
Dyke, Commander the Hon. M. H. Nelson, Com-
mander W. Grabble, Commander Shaw, Commander
W. H. Hood, Commander W. F. Ruxten,Comman-
der J. Ward (b), Commander E. Fisher, Lieut. G.
D. Fitzroy, Lieut. J. Burgess, and Mr. J. N. De
Vries.
VALETTA, Feb. 7.—Her Majesty's screw frigate
Liffey, 39, Capt. G, Parker, arrived on the 3d inst.
from the Pirus and Kalanaki. The latter place
was in rather a disturbed state, and the Queen, 74,
screw line-of-battle ship, Capt. C. F. Hillyar, was
in consequence about to pay it a visit. The Liffey
left Malta again on the 6th for Naples. Her Ma-
jesty's paddlewheel frigate Magicienne, 16, Captain
his Serene Highness the Prince ..of Leiningen,
arrived on the sth inst. from Carfki and Messina,
and will leave at the end of next week for Naples.
Site is to convey Prince Alfred to Marseilles, after
his Royal Highness has passed his examination on
the 16th inst. for a lieutenant. The Prince of
Leiningen will go home on leave with Prince
Alfred, to attend the marriage of the Prince of
Wales. The Magicienne will return immediately
from Marseilles to Malta,in charge of the first-heut.
The M eanee, screw line-of-battle ship, 60, Captain
G. Wodehouse, left on the sth instant for Naples.
She will refit at Baja before returning to Malta
The Phoebe, screw frigate, 35, Captain T, 1). A.
Fortescue, left on the 6th, for Corfu. The Tra-
falgar, screw line-of-battle ship, 70, Captain the
Hon. T. Baillie, has been at Cephalonia.
While at Argostoli she got aground, but she floated
off again without sustaining damage. The Icarus,
screw sloop, 11, Commander N. Salmon, V.C., is
shortly expected home here from Corfu. The Tri-
dent, iron paddlewheel sloop, is also expected here
from Constantinople, after visiting the different
islands in the Archipelago, The Psyche, despatch-
vessel, paddle, 2, Lieut.-Com. Stern, left Malta to
relieve the latter vessel, calling at Corfu on her way
to Constantinople. Tne Chanticleer screw sloop, 17,
Commander C. Stirling, had gone from Corfu to
Dragomestri. The Foxhound, screw gunboat, 4,
Commander the Hon. A. Hobart, has returned to the
Pit-teas from visiting all the islands of the Archi-
pelago in search of pirates. She arrived at the Pi-
rmas on Jan. 25. Orders have been despatched for
the Malacca, screw corvette, 17, Capt. G. Napier,
now at Beyrout, to proceed to Alexandria, on a visit
of ceremony after the death of the late Pasha of
Egypt, and thence to return to the coast of Syria.
Letters from Smyrna of Jan. 27 mention that her
Majesty's steam sloop Pelican, 17, Commander P.
Brock, has been ashore at Vourlah, and that in at-
tempting to get her off four lives were lost. The
Pelican left Smyrna Jan. 20 on a cruise to Vourlah,
for the purpose of practising and watering there.
She was to have weighed anchor and returned to
Smyrna in time to catch the mail of the 24th, but
the wind having veered round to N.N.E. and fresh-
ened into a gale prevented her leaving. The wind
afterwards moderated and went round to a point to
the northward. It was then conceived practicable
to weigh anchor and cast in shore, in doing which
the ship touched the bank on the lee .bow to the
southward of the watering-place, and hung on it.
Sail was immediately shortened, the large kedge
run out on the weather quarter, and the bower
anchor laid out as soon as possible on the same
quarter for heaving her off. Preparations were made
to lay out the small bower at a greater angle on the
quarter to secure her for the night if she did not
come off by another trial astern. The first-lieute-
nant and master left in the pinnace to perform
this service, the men working well and cheer-
fully. The night was very dark, and, owing to there
being a heavy toss of a sea, the pinnace was buoyed
with water casks to enable her to carry the anchor,
and a cutter was srcur( d to windward of her as a
breakwater and an additional support, the other
cutter being also sent to attend on her in case of ac
cident. As preparations were being made to clear
away the cable prior to heaving the anchor clear,
some one cut the lashings of the spar across the
boats, and the pinnace immediate-1y commenced fill-
ing. The anchor was cleared away, the men were
in the cutter, the lieutenant being the last to leave
the pinnace when she swamped, and eras followed
by the cutter, which it seems ret' ained attached to
her by the b rw, the lashings there having been ne-
glected to be cut away. Some of the crew of tne
attending boat instead of picking up the men threw
teem their oars. Three men and a boy were drowned,
the others were saved. When the ship went on
shore the second-lieut. was sent to Smyrna for as-
sistance, and the next day the French despatch-
boat Mouette arrived and anchored on the Pelican's
quarter, and with her assistance the vessel was
floated at the first heave at 5.30 p.lll. She fortu-
nately sustained no material damage, having
touched on a sandy bottom, and remained on an
even keel, though it blew a double-reefed top-
sail breeze at times. After recovering anchors,
boats, &c., and getting guns in, the Pelican
returned to Smyrna, taking in tow a Turkish
man-of-war brig, with the Turkish Governor of
Smyrna on board, which had come to her assist-
ance on hearing of the accident. Great praise is
due to Capt. Maurion, of the Mouette, for the
readiness with which he hastened to the help of
the Pelican, and the valuable assistance afforded by
him, his officers, and men in getting her off. The
Swedish corvette Nayaden left Malta on the 31st
ult., for Leghorn.

The large steam war-ram Hector, built and en-
gined by the Mes:rs. Napier, of Glasgow, made a
trial of her engines on Wednesday, with a success
that surpassed the most ardent expectation. She
ran the distance between the lights in the Clyde-
-13.666 knots—in 58 minutes; being equal to 161
miles per hour—a speed about two miles per hour
greater than that accomplished by the Black Prince.
Her engines made sixty revolutions per minute, with
twenty pounds pre6sure of steam.

The arrival of the flotilla conveying the Princess
Alexandra and suite at the Nore is to be made the
occasion of a grand naval display, orders having
been received at Chatham for the Formidable, 84,
Capt. Luard, flagship of Vice-Admiral of the Red
Sir W. J. Hope Johnstone, K.C.8., Commander-in-
Chief; the Cumberland, 70, Capt. Thompson, guard-
ship of the Chatham steam reserve in the Medway;
and the Leander, 51, 500 horse power, attached to
the first division of the steam reserve, to proceed
out to the Note on Thursday, March 5, to salute the
steam vessel containing the illustriouit Princess on
her arrival from the Continent. At present only
the above ships have been detailed for this service,
but it is expected that some others may also be se-
lected from the steam reserve, in order to make the
display as imposing as possible. The Formidable
and the Cumberland are both at present only jury-
rigged, but they will bi at once taken in hand in
order to be ready for the occasion. The manoeuvring
of two sailing line-of-battle ships under canvas at
the Nore will be a novelty in these days of steam.
Her Majesty's despatch vessel Caradoc, Lieut.
Commander Wilkinson, before leaving Woolwich
for her destination in the Mediterranean, ran down
the measured mile in the liver on a trial of her
engines. As a Government despatch boat her speed
was considered very unsatisfactory, only realis-
ing about 10 knots per hour, or an average work-
ing speed calculated to attain, when on her
being
station, lor 8 knots at the utmost. Before

purchased by the Admiralty her speed was well
known to reach 14 and 16 knots per hour. Now,
when registered under Admiralty supervision
and with new engines, her draught is made nearly
double that whizh her builders designed her for,
and her speed has been reduced nearly one half.
When steaming at full speed in the Lower Hope,
the Caradoe's cutter with 13 men in it was lowered
with perfect ease by Commander Wilkinson in :a
few seconds by means of Clifford's system of boat
lowering.

The Emerald, 34, screw frigate, Capt. A. Cum-
ming, has returned to Spithead from her anchorage
off Osborne. On the 17th inst. she will go into
Portsmouth harbour, and be placed in dock to pre-
pare for a series of experimental trials with various
forms of screw propellers at the measured mile in
Stokes Bay. Eight distinct trials of the screws
were carried out with the Shannon frigate, but the
closing trials with the Griffiths propeller were not
commenced, owing to the Shannon's departure for
the Mediterranean. The employment of another
ship on the trials will, of course, render it necessary
to repeat with the Emerald those carried out with
the Shannon.

The Admiralty paddle yacht Enchantress has
undergone her water-pressure trial in the steam
basin at Portsmouth with satisfactory results, pre-
vious to being finally accepted in her engineering
department by the Government official from the
hands of the contractors. In our notice of the speed
trial of this vessel at the measured mile, in The
Sun of the 7th inst., we omitted to state that her
machinery was supplied by Messrs. John Penn and
Son, of Greenwich.

The Royal yachts Fairy, screw, Master-Com-
mander Welch, and Elfin, paddle, Master-Com-
mander Balliston, have been placed in No. 1 dock
at Portsmouth, to undergo a thorough renovation,
in readiness for further service after the marriage
of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.
One of the most important events yet connected
with the construction of the Royal Sovereign turret
ship, at Portsmouth, took place yesterday, when a
commencement was made in clothing her with her
armour, by getting two of her si-inch side armour-
plates in position in the lower tier on the star-
board side amidships, in readiness for bolting
through. The plates, which were from the works
of Messrs. John Brown and Co., Sheffield, were
bent by the hot process, drilled, and their edges
and butts planed in the new workshop which has
lately been erected for such purposes in Ports-
mouth Dockyard.
The official inspection of the Himalaya screw
troopship, Capt. E. Lacy, has been made at Ports-
mouth by the military, naval, and medical authori-
ties, and the customary report forwarded to the Ad-
miralty. The heavy baggage of the 97th Regi-
ment will be sent on board to-morrow, the regi-
ment will leave its present quarters at Shorncliffe
and embark on board the following morning, and
the Himalaya will sail for the Cape of Good Hope,
where the 97th are to be stationed, on Monday
morning, giving the troops, women and children a
clear day between embarking and sailing to settle
down comfortably into their berths.
The members of the United Service Club are about
to give a complimentary banquet, at their Club-
house in Pall-mall, to Rear-Admiral Sir James
Hope, K.C.8., in recognition of his meritorious
services while Commander-in-Chief in the East
Indies and China.

The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Commander the Hon. H. W.
Chetwynd, to be inspecting commander of the Coast
Guard, vice Commander King, whose period of ser-
vice has expired; Lieut. E. W. Shirley, to the Vi-
gilant ; Lieut. the Hon. Albert D. S. Denison to
the Asia; Lieut. S. F. L. P. Maclear, to the Excel-
lent; Richard C. Beale, paymaster, to the Vigilant;
S. A. Lodge, engineer, to the Fisgard, as supernu-
merary ; William Tempest, in the Fisgard, for the
Bann, and George Murray, supernumerary in the
Asia, are promoted to first class assist. engineers ;
W. H. Brimfield, acting first class assist.-engineer,
to the Fisgard, as supernumerary ; J. A. Cawlay,
second class assist.-engineer, to the Cumberland, as
supernumerary; A. M. Boumage, J. W. Haves, G.
J. Weeks, W. T. Pover, and G. H. Barnes, acting
second class assist.-engineers, to the Asia, as super-
numeraries; and S. J. Rock, acting second class
assist.-engineer, to the Narcissus.
The following appointment has been made in the
Royal Naval Reserve :—To be Lieut., Jas, Mitchell.