The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-11 00:00:00

TILE SUN, LONDON, TIIMISDAY EVENING, SEPTEIVIBER 11, 1862

'1 HE DECIMAL SYSTEM OF TVEIGH7S

AND NBA SU RES.

The report of the select committee appointed to
consider the practicability of adopting a simple and
uniform system of weights and measures is pub-
lished. The following recore .mendations are laid
before the house, together with a great mass of evi-
dence and tabular appendices ; :-
1. That the use of the met ric system be rendered
legal. No compulsory meas'dres should be resorted
to until they are sanctioned by the general convic-
tic n of the public,
2. That a Department of Weights and Measures
i be established in connexion.with the Board of Trade.
It would thus become subordinate to the Govern-
ment and responsible to Parliament. To it should
be entrusted the conservation and verification of
the standards, the superintendence of inspectors,
and the general duties incident to such a depart-
ment. It should also take such measures as may
from time to time promote the use and extend the
knowledge of the metric system in the departments
of Government and among the people.

;3. The government should sanction the use of
the metric system (together with our present one)
in the levying of the customs duties ; thus familiar-
ising it among our merchants and manufacturers,
and giving facilities to foreign traders in their
de mlings with this country. Its use, combined with
that of our own system in government contracts,
bats also been suggested.
4. The matric system should form one of the sub-
jects of examination in the competitive examina-
tions of the civil service.
5. The gramme should be used as a weight for

foreign letters and books at the Post-office.
6. The Committee of Council on Education should
require the metric system to be taught (as might
easily be done by means of tables and diagrams) in
all schools receiving grants of public money.

-
7. In the public statistics of the country quanti-

ties should be expressed in terms of the metric spa-
tem in juxta-position with those of our own, as
suggested by the International Statistical Congress.
8. In private bills before parliament the use of
the metric system should be allowed.
9. The only weights and measures in use should
be the metric and imperial, until the metric has
been generally adopted.
10. The proviso in the sth and 6th Wm. IV.,
chap. 63, clause 6, allowing the use of " local and
customary measures" in cases where the vessel em-
ployed "is not represented as containing any
amount of imperial measure or of any fixed local or
customary measure heretofore in 11.5. e," should be
repealed, as giving facilities to evade the statute.
11. The department which it is proposed to ap-
point should make an annual report to parliament.

THE SHEEP PDX ORDERS IN COUNCIL,

:From the London Gazette Extraordinary of last night.:

At the Council Chamber, Whitehall, the 10th
day of September, 1832, by the Lords of her Ma-
jesty's Most Honourable Privy Council. Present

Duke of Somerset, Viscount Palmerston, Sir Chas.
Wood, Bart. Whereas by an act passed in the
session of Parliament, held in the eleventh and
twelfth years of her Majesty's reign, intituled " An

Act to prevent, until the first day of September, one
thousand eight hundred and fifty, and to the end of

the then session of Parliament, the spreading of
contagious or infectious disorders among sheep,
cattle, and other animals" (which act has since been
extended and continued in force until the first day
of August, one thousand eight hundred and sixty -
three, and to the end of the then next session of
Parliament), after reciting that " a contagious or

infectious disorder known or described as the sheep

pox or variola ovine, now prevails among the sheep
in some parts of the United Kingdom, and it is ne-

cessary to take measures to prevent such disorder
from spreading ;" it was and is enacted (amongst

other things) as follows, namely :—" In case any
sheep or lambs infected with or labouring under
the said disorder, or any disorder of the like nature
be exposed or offered for sale, or be brought or at-
tempted to be brought for the purpose of being so
exposed or offered for sale in any market, fair, or

other open or public place where other animals are
commonly exposed for sale, then in any such case
it shall be lawful for any clerk or inspector or other
officer of such fair or market, or for any constable
or policeman, or for any other person authorised by
the mayor, or by any two justices of the peace
having jurisdiction in the place, or for any per-
son authorised or appointed by her Majesty
in Council, to seize the same, and to report
such seizure to the mayor or any justice of the
peace having jurisdiction in the place; and it
shall be lawful for such mayor or justice either to
restore the same, or to cause the same, together
with any pens, hurdles, troughs, litter, hay, straw,
or other articles which he may judge likely to have
been infected thereby, to be forthwith destroyed or
otherwise disposed of in such manner as he shall
deem proper, or as may be directed in manner here-
inafter provided ; and any person bringing or at-
tempting to bring any sheep, lambs, oxen, bulls,
cows, calves, or other horned cattle, into any such
market, fair, or open or public place as aforesaid,
knowing such sheep, lambs, or cattle to be infected
with or labouring under either of such disorders as
aforesaid, shall, upon conviction thereof, forfeit and
pay for each and every such offence a sum not ex-
ceeding £20."
And whereas in and by the said act it was and is
further enacted as follows, that is to say :
" If any person turn out, keep, or depasturo any
sheep or lambs infected with or labouring under
the said disorder, in or upon any forest, chase,
wood, moor, marsh, heath, common, waste land,
open field, roadside, or other undivided or unenclosed
land, such person shall, on conviction thereof, for-
feit and pay any sum not exceeding £20."
And whereas in and by the said act it was and
is further enacted (for the more effectually prevent-
ing the spreading of contagious or infectious
disease) as follows, that is to say :
" It shall be lawful for the Lords and others of
her Majesty's Privy Council, or any two or more of
them, from time to time to make such orders and
regulations as to them may seem necessary for the
purpose of prohibiting or regulating the removal
to or from sash parts or places as they may desig-
nate in such order or orders, of sheep, cattle,
horses, swine, or other animals, or of meat, skins,
hides, horns, hoofs, or other parts of any ani-
mals, or of hay, straw, fodder, or other
articles likely to propagate infection ; and
also for the purpose of purifying any
yard, stable, outhouse, or other place, or any wag-
gons, carts, carriages, or other vehicles ; and also
for the purpose of directing how any animals dying
in a diseased state, or any animals, or other things,
seized under the provisions of this act, are to be
disposed of; and also for the purpose of causing
notices to be given of the appearance of any dis-
order among sheep, cattle, or other animals, and to
make any other orders or regulations for the purpose
of giving effectto the provisions of this act,and again
to revoke, alter, or vary any such orders or regula-
tions; and all provisions for any of the purposes
aforesaid,
in any such order or orders contained,
shad halldbhienaevgne
against
itnhseerl it ke
det 1 fl
eoi rnsc
aetmha
eins
sdhaaeclf effect
ra anesda
ci
haf i
althe
eersysa
eomrn
yes
offen
offence forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding £2O,
1 or such smaller sum as the said Lords or others of
her Majesty's Privy Council may in any case by
such (seder direct."
And whereas a contagious or infectious disorder,
known or described as the sheep pox, or variola
ovine, now prevails among the sheep iu some parts
of the Unified Kingdom, and it...is expedient to take
measures for preventing such disorder from spread-
ing, now, therefore, the Lords of her Majesty's
cise of the powers so vested in them, as aforesaid,
Privy Council do hereby, in purenanee and exer-
m-1.:- and ordain the several orders and regulations
following; that is to say—
It shall not be lawful for any person to remove
following, all lying and being
any sheep or lambs to or from any or either of the
parishes or tythings
in the County of Wilts, and near to the town of
Devizes, that is to say,
Devi-
Horton
sheep or
, Bishop's Canniugs, -
Alleannings, Etehil-
1, , -
hamPton, and Allington, or to drive or conduct an.,
the pariohes or tythings of'
lambs through or by way .•1
,f such parishes
Or tythings, or any or either of then], unless the

person so removing, driving, or conducting
such sheep or lambs shall first have obtained
a certificate, in writing, signed by some person who
may have been authorised by two or more justices
of the said county of Wilts, to seize sheep or lambs
infected with or labouring under the said disorders,
under the Ist section of the said act, that such re-
moval, driving, or conducting may take place with-
out danger of spreading the said disease.
All sheep and lambs dying in any of the stages
of the said disease, wheresoever such death or deaths
shall or may occur, shall forthwith be buried by
the person or persons in whose possession such
sheep or lambs may be at the time of death, with
their skins on, in pits of not less than five feet in
depth, and the carcases so buried shall be covered
with quicklime.
All sheds and places whatsoever, and allrrailway
trucks and other vehicles which may or shall have
been used or occupied by sheep or iambs affected
by the said disease, shall forthwith, after having
been so used, be thoroughly cleansed with water,
and immediately afterwards purified with chloride
of lime by the person or persons in possession of
such sheds, places, trucks, and vehicles respectively.
Every person in possession of any sheep or lambs
in or amongst which the said disease shall manifest
itself, shall forthwith give notice in writing of the
fact to the chief constable or superintendent of
police of the county or borough in which such
sheep or lambs may be.
And it is further ordered that this order shall
continue in force for three calendar months from
and after the date hereof.

ARTHUR HELPS.

HORRIBLE FRATRICIDE IN CARMAR-

11LENSHIRE.

LLANELLY, TUESDAY.
On Sunday afternoon the village of Llanon was
hrown into a state of considerable excitement,

caused by the announcement that a young man
named Llewellan Edwards, son of a respectable
farmer at Dwrcla.wdd-fach, had shot his brother,
Sommcrsley Edwards. The police immediately
went in search, and succeeded the same afternoon in
apprehending the alleged murderer at a place called
Pontardulais ; and, having conveyed him to the
lock-up of this town, he was brought up yesterday
and examined before Mr. G. 11. Rees and Mr. R. G.
Thomas, jun., two of the magistrates for Carmar-

thenshire.
The Town-hall was densely crowded when the
prisoner, a gentlemanly-looking young man, dressed
in naval uniform, was charged with the crime of
wilful murder. His age was stated to be 21. The
magistrates having first considered it expedient to
retire into a private room, they proceeded to ex-
amine the witnesses in the prisoner's presence.
Police-constable James John deposed that he had
apprehended the prisoner. On informing him that
he was charged with having shot his brother, he
replied, "It is true. I have shot my brother." On
the way to Llanelly he said he had been commanded
to do it by the Lord. On searching him nothing
was found except a pocket-handkerchief and a
tobacco-pouch.
David Price, another police-constable, also sta-
tioned at Poetardulais, stated that on going to the
farmhouse, where the murder had been committed,
on Sunday evening, he found the door locked, and
that until he mentioned who he was he was unable
to obtain admittance. When he went in he asked
to see the deceased, and the body was shown to him.
It was in the front room, lying on a board. The de-
ceased had been shot in the head. There were cuts on
the upper part of the forehead. The whole of the
brains were gone, and the scalp had been cut off.
He inquired how the murder had been committed,
when a hook was brought by some person in the house,
and on it was part of the brains. It was a farmer of
the name of Michael who brought him the hook, any
who told him at the same time that he had found it in
the deceased's hand. Witness was of opinion that
the wounds upon the deceased could not have been
self-inflicted, and that they could not have been
produced by falling upon any sharp substance. On
examining the yard he found a good deal of blood
and brains, and also a part of the scalp. More of
the brains were scattered about the walk. 'Witness
made inquiry as to whether any gun had been dis-
covered, but was unable to obtain any intelligence
on that subject. He had heard, however, that the
prisoner was seen with a gun in his possession
about a quarter of a mile from the farmhouse. The
murder was committed about three o'clock in the
afternoon, and witness had not yet ascertained
whether anyone had witnessed the deed.
The prisoner, having been duly cautioned, made
the following statement :—My father is a solicitor
at Daventry, in Northamptonshire, and is now
living there. He took a farm in Llanon, called
Dwrclawdd-facb, in November last, where my
mother and brother resided. My sister is married
to a clergyman, named Edward Montford, of Fore-
mark-hall, near Derby. My father is now at
Daventry. On the 27th of July last I was getting
up at seven in the morning, to join some young
men, when two angels appeared to me, and asked
me if I knew what day of the week it was ? It
was Sunday. I then remained in my bed chamber
for six weeks. Yesterday I received a communi-
cation from the Lord to shoot my brother, who had
broken every commandment. I found the gun
loaded in the kitchen, prepared for me. It was a
double-barrelled gun. I found my brother in the
yard with a sickle in his hand. I raised the gun.
He said he was my only brother. I obeyed the
Lord's command. I did not tell him that I was
going to shoot him. I was about six feet from him.
He put his hand to his head. I fired, and he fell
dead. I did not touch him with the sickle. Nobody
but the Lord was present when I shot him. I have
been a master's assistant in the navy. lam twenty-
one years of age, and retired from the navy about
three years ago. I had been wounded in 1859 by
the son of a clergyman, named Nicholas Dewys, in
South America. I was on board the ship Wasp,
sloop-of-war. He (Dewys) fired a revolver pistol
at me, thinking it was not loaded. The ball entered
my right groin. I had an attack of epilepsy from
the effcts of the wound, and was invalided in coa-
-1 sequence, and left the navy.
This statement the prisoner signed with a firm
I hand. He afterwards wrote a letter to his mother
to lend him some clothing ; and he expressed a wish
to be released from custody.
The examination was adjc,urned until a future
day, when Dr. Thomas, of Llanelly, and other medi-
cal gentlemen, will give evidence as to the prisoners'
state of mind. Meanwhile, he has been committed
to Carmarthen gaol, on his own confession, on the
charge of murder.

HORRID MURDER A 7 Trig' PORTLAND
CONVICT ESTABLISHMENT.

An inquest was, on Tuesday, held at the Portland
convict establishment, before Mr, F. C. Steggall, on
the body of Charles Evans, aged 39, the master
shoemaker, and a warder in the prison.
It appeared that it is usual for the convicts to eat
their meals separately in their several cells. Their
dinners are given them in a can, and after they are
locked, a knife, for the purpose of enabling them to
cut their meat, is placed under each of their doors.
After they have been locked up an hour their cans
and knives are collected. On Monday the one o'clock
bell was rung as usual, when Warder Evans, the
deceased, took three of the convicts to collect the
cans and knives in No. 1 Ward, E Hall. They
had collected from four or five wards when they
came to that where a convict of the name of Alfred
Preedy was confined. The warder unlocked the
door, and Preedy presented himself with his
can and knife, but instead of placing
his can in the tray which two of the convicts were
taking round to receive it, he dropped it on the floor.
The third convict who was with the warder then
held out his hand for the knife, when Preedy pushed
him on ono side, seized the warder by the neck with
his left arm, and with the knife in his right hand
cut a deep gash under the warder's right ear, sever-
ie g the jugular vein, the carotid artery, and the
great nerve of the neck. The two convicts carrying
the tray immediately seized him, and compelled him
to let go his hold of Evans and to drop the knife.
They both said that when the knife was in Evans's
neck, Preedy moved his hand as if he was twisting
the knife round. Evans, when released, ran forward
several
rm a ry,
paces,
wherea Tl dh was v
ml
adtoewl
ynto a room
expired.
rea-
son ea-. be assigned why the act was committed.
None of the witness-es examined had ever heard that
any dispute or altercation had taken place between
No ino
the
i infirmary,
deceased and his murderer. Preedy, who is 21
years of age, was, we understand, formerly a drum-
mer in the 84th Regiment, but at Christmas, 1859,
was sentenced to 3 years' penal servitude for lar-
ceny, and had consequently only between 3 and 4
months longer to serve. Evans, the deceased, had
been a warder at Portland 8 veers, and was greatly
respnied, not only by the officers of the prison, but
also by the well -conducted convicts. He has left a
widow
and three children.
The jury, having heard the evidence, returned eL
verdict of wilful murder against Preedy, and the
coroner issued his warrant for his committal toDor-
cheeter fir trial.

_ ---
TUE LATE D UTIIERLAND.—The uKE 6F S.=
me-
morial church to the late Duke of Sutherland, at St. George,
Shropshire, will be consecrated by the Bishop of Lichfield
....,
on Friday, the 10th of October. The church, which is
situate on a hill
can be seen for many wiles in every di-
rection,

POLICE IMELLIGENCE.—Sept. 10.

CLEBKENWELL.—DISGRACEFUL AND CRIMI-
NAL ASSAULT BY AN OLD MAN.—John Buckley, a
dirty-looking old man, who described himself as a
labourer, residing at Portpool-lane, St. Andrew's,
was charged with violently assaulting Elizabeth
Burke under the following circumstances:—
Mr. T. Wakeling. solicitor, appeared for the pri-
soner ; and Mr. H. Allen, prosecuting officer of
the Associate Institute for the Protection of
Women, prosecuted.
Elizabeth Burke said—l live at No. 5, Portpool-
lane, Holborn. lam fifteen years of age. I have
been at place at 2, Half Moon-court, where the
prisoner lodges, and I know him. On the 22d ult.,
between ten and eleven in the morning, I was in
the parlour sitting on a chair; he, too, was in the
room. He came behind me, took hold of me, and
threw me on the floor. The witness then proceeded
to detail the facts of the assault, which left no
doubt but that the offence was committed.
In cross-examination the witness stated that she
screamed, but no one came to her assistance. She
fetched an errand for the prisoner, and then went
home and told her mother.
Mr. Taylor, surgeon, of 59, St. John-street-road,
having proved that he examined the girl,
Police-constable William Stockwell, 110 G, said
that he took the prisoner into custody. When he
told him the charge he said, " So help me God, I
never did it."
Mr. Wakeling contended that the case was not
made out, but said, as the magistrate had expressed
his determination to send the case for trial, his client
would reserve his defence.
Mr. Barker fully committed the prisoner to New-
gate for trial, and refused bail.
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE THROUGH DISTRESS.—
Charlotte Randall, a woman who has been at work
in a dust-yard, was charged with attempting to
commitsuicide in the Regent's Canal.
From the evidence of one of the witnesses, of the
name of Shepherd, it appeared that yesterday the
defendant came to the dust-yard and complained of
the harsh manner in which she had been treated at
the workhouse, she at the same time stating that
she had been kept lying on the pavement. She had
a fit come on her, and she went and threw herself
into the eanal. She was got out, and she then filled
her apron with iron, and said she was so tired of her
life in consequence of the harsh conduct of the work-
house officials, that she. determined to kill herself.
The defendant was not fit to be out in the streets at
large, as she was subject to fits. She ought to be in
the workhouse, but they would not keep her there.
Mr. Barker inquired if the defendant had been
to the workhouse.
The defendant said that she had, but they would
not admit her. They said that she was an impos-
tor, and was not subject to fits. That was simply.
Vecause the night or two that she was in the work-
house she had not hid a fit. The gate-porter re-
fused to admit her to the workhouse. She had laid
on the stones for four nights.
Mr. Barker remanded the prisoner for the atten-
dance of the workhouse authorities, and in the
course of the day Mr. Clark, the relieving overseer
of St. Pancras, attended, end said be had not pre-
viously heard anything of the case. He would at
once take her to the workhouse and make the neces-
sary inquiries about her.
Mr. Barker said that would be the best course to
adopt, and allowed the defendant to be taken to the
workhouse.

SOUTHWARK.—EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF
STEALING A BILL OF EXCHANGE FOR £2OO.—A.
tall, respectable-looking man, named Henry John-
son, alias W. H. Norrington, alias W. H. Morton,
who described himself as an agent residing in
Prior-street, Greenwich, was placed in the dock
before Mr. Burcham, charged with stealing a bill
of exhange for £2OO, the property of Henry William
Hayes.
The presecutor said he was agent to a gentleman
named Clark, for whom he had to pay at times
large sums of money. About a month ago he had a
bill of exchange accepted by Mr. Clark for £2OO,
which he was requested to get discounted for the
purpose of paying off several accounts. Shortly
after the bill was drawn the prisoner was intro-
duced to him in the city as a discounter, and, believ-
ing he was a respectable man, he asked him if he
could get the bill for £2OO discounted. The prisoner
said he could, and, after examining the bill, put it
into his pocket, promising either to return it or the
money in a few days. The prisoner then ]eft him
with the bill, and he never saw anything more of
him until he gave information to the police.
Mr. Burcham asked where the bill was.
Witness replied that he could not exactly say, but
he believed that the prisoner had negotiated it and
converted the proceeds to his own use. In fact he had
been informed that the prisoner had raised money
on it.
Mr. Burcham asked if he had ever had any pre-
vious money transactions with the prisoner.
Witness replied in the negative, but when intro-
duced to the prisoner he believed him to be a re-
spectable man, and thought that the bill was safe.
Since then he had received information that he was
a bad character, and that be had appropriated sums
of money to his own use, the proceeds of bills of
exchange entrusted to him.
Mr. Alex. Bishop said he had known the prisoner
10 or 12 years. He was sorry to say that he was a
bad character. He generally represented himself
to be a bill discounter. In 1850 he was convicted
for fraudulently obtaining money the property of
the widow of the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Onslow.
Mr. Burcham--What address has the prisoner
given ?
Witness -. No. 13, Bouverie-street, Fleet-street.
Mr. Burcham asked what profession 'witness fol-
lowed.
Witness replied that he was a clergyman of the
Church of England.
Other evidence was gone into, implicating the
names of our leading nobility, and
Mr. Burcham remanded the accused until Monday
next.

WORSHIP-STREET.—MORE INDECENT As •
SAULTS UPON CHILDREN.—A dissipated-looking
young fellow, who gave the name of Thomas Hand,
was placed at the bar before Mr. Leigh charged with
having committed a series of indecent assaults upon
four young girls of the respective ages of 9, 12, 13,
and 9 years.
Caroline Coates, the eldest, and her sister, and
Emily Hurren and her younger sister, all deposed
that they were playing on Hackney- downs, at the
hour of mid-day, when the prisoner first accosted
them, and having coaxed them by all sorts of pro-
mises into a retired part of the downs, he there
commenced a course of conduct toward them too in-
decent and disgusting to be described. Their evi-
dence was however conclusive as to the fact that the
prisoner had committed a criminal assault upon
each of them.
Geo. Wright, a bricklayer, proved having watched
the prisoner at various parts of the downs with the
children, and the commission of grossly indecent
acts with them. Witness spoke to him about it, and
he replied, " Can't I do what I like with my own
cousins ?" Witness, however, took him to Inspector
Stacey ; and the girls, when questioned, gave such
testimony as justified the present charge.
Mr. Williamson surgeon, of Mildmay-park, said
he had examined tile children and found that con-
siderable injuries had been inflicted upon the sisters
Hurren, but those upon the sisters Coates were not
of so serious a character.
Inspector Stacey said when he received the pri-
soner from the witness Wright he (prisoner) admit-
ted he was guity of the charges preferred against
him.
Mr. Leigh ordered the prisoner for trial.

WESTMINSTER,—Ester Harmes, a young
woman 21 years of age, servant to Capt. Balfourd,
8, Oakley-street, Chelsea, was charged with attempt-
ing to commit suicide under the following circum- '
stances.
James Pells, horse-hair dresser, 7, Ann-street,
Globe-fields, Mile-end, said he and some other
young men had been out on the river for a row on
Tuesday, and were returning about 8 in the evening
when they put in near Cremorne Gardens to get
some refreshment, and on rowing to the stairs there
observed the prisoner standing upon the edge of
them. As he and his companions rowed up she
jumped into the water, e non which he folio need her
and dragged her out. When he had placed her in
safety upon the bank she began to cry, and a police-
man coming up a few minutes afterwards, took her
into custody.
Prisoner, a young woman of prepossessing ap-
pearance, who was in tears, said she was extremely
sorry for what she clone.
Mr. Arnold said he should remand her till Tues-
day next, not so much with a view to her being
punished, but because he was sure the chaplain of
the House of Detention would put her in a much
better frame of mind than she appeared to be at
present.
After the poor girl's removal to the cells,
Inspector Tarleton, V division, said he had been
speaking with the
girl's master with a view to his
receiving her back into his service, but he did not
seem disposed to do so; the poor girl was an orphan,
without, he understood, a single relative living, and
he was fearful she would be thrown upon the streets.
The master observed
take her back, as ho se be did not think it right to
I
as afraid she would make an-
other attempt upon her life.
Mr. Arnold did not think turning her out of her
situation was calculated to make her less prone to
repeat the offence. He hoped Capt. Balfourd would
Collsitier the matter.
Inspector Tarleton said he hoped her rnp,§ter