The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-18 00:00:00

LAW INT

--This Day.

The Burning of the Ship Wi

illiam Nelson.

The Greenock correspondent of the North British
Mail writes :—The fine barque Meteor, belonging
to the well known firm of J. and W. Stewart, of
Greenock, and commanded by Captain Hart, which
arrived here on Friday last from Porto Rico, reports
having picked up 30 passengers of the ill-fated ship
William Nelson, the destruction of which by fire
we narrated a few days ago. Captain Hart reports
that at 3 o'clock a.m. on June 28, weather calm,
when in latitude 41 58 N., longitude 51 48 W.,
he heard a noise to windward, as of people scream-
ing. Bore down towards it, and found and picked
up nine females and twenty nine males, forming
part of the passengers of the ship William Nelson.
They were floating upon spars, pieces of wood, hen-
coops, &c., up to the waist in water, and were
almost in a state of nakedness. Eight of the females
were seated astride the lost ship's mainmast. The
ninth was found floating on a spar about two miles
apart from the rest. At first this female was thought
to be dead, but efforts to restore her were success-
ful. These passengers were all Germans, and their
language could only be understood by some of the
seamen of the Meteor, who were foreigners.
After picking up these sufferers, who had been
knocking about in this condition for two days
and two nights without food or water, the
Meteor kept backing and filling about till
10 a.m., looking out for more of the
lost passengers, but could find none, though several
dead bodies were seen floating about. The rescued
passengers, who were all suffering more or less from
burns, reported that the William Nelson had 482
adults and 70 children on board as passengers,
bound from Antwerp to New York. They believed
that the greater number of the passengers were
destroyed by the fire, and that a great many went
down with the ship. They said that on the fire
taking place the captain and his officers and crew
manned the boats and put off from the burn-
ing ship, leaving the passengers to perish. That
a number of the passengers jumped over the
ship's side into the sea, and endeavoured to
get into the boats, seizing upon the gunwale with
this intention, but that the officers and crew
struck their heads and hands with the oars and billets of
wood, and left them to perish. They stated that on the
27th, while floating about on the fragments of wreck,
they sighted an American ship which evidently saw them,
but passed without giving them any aid. Captain Hart
and his officers and crew gave the most humane attention
to these poor rescued people, dressed their burns and
wounds, had the females accommodated in the cabin,
clothed them as best-they could, and in doing so turning
some male attire to the best possible account. After
getting under weigh, the Meteor sighted a large ship
backing and filling, as if hovering about the scene of
the disaster, but could not learn whether she had picked
up any of the William Nelson's people or not. Captain
Hart, finding that he had not sufficient provisions on board
to supply his*Crew and the 30 people on the passage across
to Britain, and that he was 320 miles south of St. John's,
Newfoundland, made for that port, where he landed the
passengers in safety ; and on the night of the 30th pro-
ceeded on his voyage. One of the passengers picked up
had lost 2,700 francs, and another 1,500 francs. Another,
an elderly man, who seemed to be an artist, and spoke
of painting a view of the burning of the William
Nelson, had a good large sum of money with him,
attached to a belt round his waist, and had managed
to save it intact. The rescued passengers expressed a
strong belief that the burning of the ship was intentional,
and said that two vessels of which the same mate had been
chief officer had been burned at sea. They said that some
of the officers and the carpenter went below, drove all the
passengers on deck, and after plundering the chests of the

COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE.
(Before Sir J. P. Wilde).
POWER V. POWER-JUDGMENT.
Tho learned judge in delivering judgment in this case
this day said that a few days ago an earnest appeal had
been made to the Court on behalf of the respondent. That
appeal was founded, not on a denial of the adultery in the
facts alleged in the petition, bitt on the ground of
the respondent's youth, but after what had been
proved no reliance could be placed on his promises, which
had been frequently tried and without success. Of the
adultery nothing oould be said, for it appeared that it
commenced at an early period, and was carried on with
women of the town, and the only excuse for the respon-
dent's conduct in this respect was that he was in a habi-
tual state of drunkenness. In the present case there was
an aggregate of acts of cruelty, including blows and
bruises, and in one instance the respondent attempted
to cut his wife's throat, but having used the back
of the knife she escaped. He might have carried
out his intentions, but the wife escaped by stratagem.
There could be no security that the petitioner would be
happy with a person of the intemperate character of the
respondent, and he must therefore make the decree 'dd.
COUSINS V. COUSINS.-JUDGMENT.
This was a suit by the wife for the dissolution of the
marriage on the ground of her husband's adultery and
cruelty. The parties were married in April, 1861, and
separated in May, 1862.
His Lordship, in delivering judgment, said that the
Court was called on to pronounce that the respondent
had been guilty of legal cruelty on the ground that he was
in the habit of isolating himself from his and was
wanting in affection to her. The only question was whe-
ther these facts amounted •to legal cruelty, which, it was
contended, they did, taken•in connection with the adultery
committed by the respondent, which was committed in his
own house. The learned Judge having cited the dictum
of Lord Stowell to show that that learned jurist did not
consider adultery, when committed with a servant under
the roof of the 'parties, amounted to legal cruelty, he
could not, therefore,' dissolve the marriage, but would
grant judicial separation if the petitioner applied to the
court.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
. ' (Before Mr. Registrar Winslow.)
A CLERK IN TILE BOARD OF WORKS.-IN RE CANTRILL.

This bankrupt was described as a clerk in the Woods and
Forests-office, and his debts are £l,lOO, to-day being ap-
pointed for the order of discharge.
Mr. Reed, for the assignees, asked that an account should
be filed showing the nature of the bankrupt's expenditure.
Mr. Griffiths, for the bankrupt, said his client had only
£l6O per annum. His duty was to look after the National
Gallery and other public places at the West-end, and, in
common with the rest of the clerks in the Woods and
Forests,liad a district assigned to him. He was willing
now to set aside £3O per annum for his creditors.

Mr. Reed pressed for the accounts, and Mr. Longtaffe,
for large creditors, complained of the mode in which his
clients had been treated.
His Honour said that the case must be adjotrned for the
accounts, which Mr. Reed required on behalf of the
assignees.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

passengers, set fire to the ship. Of course this statement
is not likely to pass uncontradioted. Captain Hart, his
officers, and crew, deserve great credit for their humane

efforts in saving so many lives, and we hope to see their

efforts recognised in a way that may encourage others to

!ollow their example when placed in like circumstances,

lfa Ry.
closesuCK S T
the° N-morrothweactlrVeedin-
dE'
seasonS BEN BENEFIT.--To-morrow T, —To
little
the
the Haymarket," and Mr. J. B. Buckstone, the lessee,
n e s
announces it also as his annual benefit. It will also be the
occasion of other "last words," namely, the last and 49th
night of 'Brother Sam,' and of Mr. Sothern's performances ;
also of "The Miller's daughter," and of " Our Mary Anne."
And last, not least, Mr. Buckstone himself will bid fare-
well to the public and his patrons, in one of those addresses
which are always looked for as an event of the close of the
season.
AN ODD SCENE AND AN ODD LAW.—A curious
scene took place two evenings back on the Boule-
vard Beaumarchais. Monsieur B—, an advocate, walking
out accompanied by his dog, an Italian greyhound of great
beauty, suddenly missed the animal, and retracing his steps
overtook a man of decent appearance with the dog in his
arms. The thief had already removed the collar with the
owner's name and address, and was endeavouring to stifle
its cries. Being a man of great muscular power, M. 13--
soon mastered the delinquent, and then offered hini the
choice either of. being consigned to the police or of kneeling
down in the street and kissing the dog. The thief, after
some little hesitation, chose the latter alternative, and per-
formed the ceremony in the midst of the laughter and jeers
of the bystanders. Satisfaction being thus given given,
M. B— was willing to allow the defendant to depart in
peace, but some sergents
de vile coming up insisted on
taking him before the commissary of police of the quar-
ter. M. B---- accompanied the party to the office, and
when there explained to the-commissary that ho had
acted in virtue of an old law of the Burgun-
dian Parliament never yet abrogated, containing
(Title x. cap. 8, art. 9)
a disposition thus worded :
"If any man has stolen a greyhound (voltrahum), or a
segusiave (seguteum), a particular sort of hound used by
the Gauls for hunting the boar, or a lurcher (petrunculum),
we ordain that the guilty party be obliged either to kiss
the animal before the whole people or to pay five sols of
gold to the master of the dog and two sols as fine." The
advocate concluded by interceding for the culprit, on the
ground that he had satisfied the conditions of the law, but
the commissary, recognising the man as an old offender,
sent him to the Prefecture.—Galignani.
UNINTENTIONAL INFANTICIDE.—Mr. John Simon,
medical officer of the Privy Council, in his evidence
before the Select Committee on the Chemists and Druggists'
Bills, mentioned some startling facts as to the unintentional
destruction of infant life by opium. " There are some
country districts of England," said, "whore child
imumanuisfame
tounrisntrao udsis t
riEcvthe,rywohneereknmoowt
hs
ethat
ri no
skilomliengofbythoep
employed and children are neglected, the mortality of
infants is twice or thrice what one would call the
nominal rate of dying, and that a considerable share of
this undue mortality is caused by dosing with prepara-
tions of opium. But it is not equally well known that in
certain country districts the same amount of mortality
of infants is to be observed; and when the particulars
of this aro inquired into, it appears that the conditions
aro very similar to those which operate in the manufac-
turing districts, and that even a greater proportion of the
mortality is caused by the domestic administration of opium."
" I should not like you," Mr. Simon continued, " to suppose
that I think much of it is intentional. Ido not think that,
but there is a carelessness as to the result that is hideous.
On this subject the committee would find the facts given
in m) last annual report, and especially with reference to
the marsh districts of England. The Women work in
gangs, and travel about the country, lading often a very
reckless and rollicking life, leaving their children a great
deal to chance as they travel about. The children fare
very badly, as the children do in manufacturing towns.
To be kept quiet They are drugged with opium. The pea-
santry have a tradition that opium is useful in their ague,
and have got so familiar with it that many of the adults
ters
are opium-ea • Having this local knowledge of opium,
r often t o bs very reckless whether the
(namely, the agricultural
they use it to children very largely, the children dying
The children are an encumbrance
to them."
childrengang monstrously.-wora )
li oarpTdphiesa e mothers
.

ATTEMPTED MURDER AT WARIVI C .—Yesterday,
at the Warwick Borough Police Court, George
London was charged with attempting to murder William
Coates, by shooting at him with a gun. Between twelve
and one o'clock on Sunday morning, the prisoner, who does
not bear a very good character, went to a house in Mount-
street, where he knew Coates was, and said that he would
shoot him if ho came out. Coates went out, and the pri-
soner instantly discharged a loaded gun at him. Provi-
dentially Coates turned sideways, and the greater portion
of the charge entered the door and walls, but several of the
shots lodged in the man's shoulder, inflicting a serious
wound. The prisoner then decamped, but was appre-
hended shortly afterwards in bed. A quantity of percus-
sion caps, powder, and shot were found upon him; and an
open knife was laid on the bed by his side. He did not
make any defence, and was remanded for the attendance
of the injured man. Jealousy of a woman with whom he
has for years cohabited, and who has recently shown a
preference for Coates, is assumed to be the cause of the ill

--- feeling.
RAILWAY DISASTER.—THREE MEN KILLED._
On Saturday afternoon a fatall accident happened
on the new railway from Sudbury to Bury St. Edmunds,
Clare, Haverhill, &c. Some of the workmen from Clare
who had been employed at the station were returning to
their homes when, on reaching a part of the line about two
miles from Sudbury, the engine and trucks ran off the lino,
and three of the men were killed on the spot, and a fourth
so much injured that his life is despaired of. The accident
is said to ha,ve arisen from an incompetent person laying
the points. The line has not yet been opened for traffic.

niE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 18, 18G5

THIRD EDMOI.