The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-02 00:00:00

rag suN:2II4ONDON, ratiltsi)Ay EVIINN(3-, ocroBER, 2, 1862.

711 E NAVY.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—..Oct. 1.

The screw line-of-battle ship Edgar, 90, arrived
at Portland from Spithead at 6 30 p.m. yesterday,
and anchored for the night. This morning the
squadron, consisting of the Edgar, 90, Liffey, 50,
the iron-plated ships Warrior, 40, and Black Prince,
40, left the harbour for Lisbon.
Rear-Admiral Sir T. S. Pasley went from Hamoze
on Monday into Plymouth Sound and inspected the
crew of the Exmouth, 86, just returned from the
Mediterranean. On Tuesday she steamed into har-
bour, and was placed alongside the Devonport dock
yard, where she will be dismantled and then put
out of commission.

MANSION-HOUSE.—FATAL CASE OF WIFE
BEATlNG.—Stephen Keefe, 40, and described as a
musician residing at 32, Rose-alley, Bishopsgate-
street, was placed at the bar before the Lord Mayor
charged on suspicion with causing the death of his
wife, Eliza Keefe, by kicking her in the abdomen.
Police-sergeant Wreford said he met Mr. Case,
the ward beadle, on Tuesday morning., and from in-
formation which he received from him, he went to
the house 12, Rose-alley, Bishopsgate-street, and
there found the prisoner's wife dead. He had known
her before. She lay on her back in bed covered with
a sheet. He thought she was dressed, but was not
sure. The prisoner was not then in the room. Two
sisters of deceased were present, and from what they
said he went into the Flying Horse yard, Half moon
street, where some blind men resided, and there he
found the prisoner in a house on the first floor.
Addressing him as " Steve," that being the name
by which the prisoner went, witness told him he
must go with him to the police-station. Ho did
not charge him with having caused the death of his
wife, but he asked him how he was going to bury
the body, adding that it was a serious case. The
prisoner replied he did not care what became of her,
and was very glad she was dead. No further con-
versation took place.
Mary Ann M'Sweeny, wife of John M'Sweeny,
living at 13, Rose-alley, Bishopsgate-street—l
knew the prisoner's wife ; she was my sister, and
her name was Elizabeth Keefe. She had been
married to the prisoner about 12 or 13 years. She
was 40 years of age. They lived in one room with
three children. The prisoner is blind, and earns a
living as a street-musician. My sister was in the
family-way, and gave birth in my presence to a
dead child, on the night of Sunday last. Mr.
Fowler, the parish surgeon, attended her, as did
also a midwife named Lewis. On Friday last she
was in good health all the day. I left her at her own
room at eight o'clock that night. I had been out and
in seeing her during the day, for we were expecting
her confinement. Her house and mine are only
divided by a wooden partition. About two o'clock
on Saturday morning I was in bed and hearing
screams which I thought came from her room I
listened. The prisoner had been in the habit of
ill-using her. Presently I heard a heavy fall and
more screams, and knowing the voice was that of
my sister I ran down stairs and found her lying in
the passage with her feet towards the door. The
outer door, which was never closed at nights, was
oaen. My sister was dressed when I found her.
She said, putting her hand on the right side of her
abdomen, " Mary Ann, I'm done."
The prisoner, interposing, demanded to have the
witness put upon her oath, alleging that she was
telling lies.
The Lord Mayor told him she had been sworn,
and that as he would have an opportunity of de-
fending himself, he must not then interrupt her.
Witness—The prisoner was standing just inside
his own door with a stick in his hand, and he
rushed out to make another kick at her. I put
my hand out to save her, upon which he gave me
a blow on the right arm, and said ho would serve
me the same. He then caught hold of me by the
neck of ray chemise, and tore it down the back. I
still tried to protect my sister, and to prevent him
going out. The children were screaming inside the
house. Some scavengers were then washing the
court, and I called out " Murder" and " Police."
The scavengers seeing me in my night-dress, laughed
and began to squirt water on me. Nobody came to
my assistance just then. The deceased told me to
put some clothes on, and I left to do so. The prisoner
went into the house and fastened the door inside.
On my return the scavengers were standing at the
prisoner's door. A lamp opposite the door showed
a light into the passage. The door was still fastened.
I asked my sister if her baby was born, She said it
was not, and opened the door. She had some bread
and meat in her apron. The prisoner, speaking from
his own room, said we were two -- and he would
finish us. My sister explained that the prisoner had
given her a shilling to go out and bring home sup-
per, that she went out for that purpose, to Fleur-de-
lis-street, that on her return he complained thatshe
had been a long time away, called her by a vulgar
name, and said he supposed she had drunk the shil-
ling. She pointed to the bread and meat in her
apron, and said she had spent every farthing of the
money in that way. I lifted her upon the stairs,
and she remained there all night until the morning.
I went backward and forward to see her during the
night, until about six o'clock in the morning. She
appeared ill, and complained of soreness in the side.
She had no labour pains; only a soreness. The pri-
soner was in his own room in bed all this time.
About 6 o'clock in the morning one of the children
inside unfastened the room door, and my sister went
in. She walked in without any help. I could see
from the door that prisoner and two of the children
were in bed. One of them, afraid to speak, beckoned
to her mother to come in, and not let the father
hear her as she did so. He had been iu the habit
of ill-using the children as well as the mother.
The mother went into the room, and sitting
down, told her little girl to light a fire and boil
the kettle as soon as possible, so that she
might make herself a cup of tea. I then left her in
the room. The prisoner, hearing her voice, began
to scold her, and got up and dressed himself. She
made him no answer. That was on the Saturday
morning. He was going that day to the Blind
Asylum to receive some money, and reminding her
of that, asked her to get him a shirt, calling her by
an offensive name. She got him a shirt, and he
dressed himself and went away, taking his little
girl with him. I did not see him again until five
o'clock in tile evening. On his return then he told
his wife to get herself ready and go out with him.
She excused herself by saying she had not a shawl
to go in, and that he knew very well she had
pawned a little shawl the day before. He gave his
little girl some money, and sent her for the shawl.
His wife got herself ready in the meantime, and
then went out with him to buy some tea and sugar.
I saw no more of them until about 10 o'clock.
Shortly afterwards the prisoner went out again,
taking the pipes cn which he played in the streets
and his little girl, and returned some time on Sun-
day morning. The baby was born on the Sunday
night. On the Sunday morning my sister did not
seem ill. She went about the house preparing din-
ner. About 1 o'clock on Sunday the prisoner went
out with other two blind men with whom he was
acquainted, and who had called upon him. On their
leaving I went and saw my sister. About 8 o'clock
on Sunday evening she sent for me, saying she was
very ill. I found her in the room alone, except her
two children, who were in bed. I remained with
her until she was confined, shortly after 11 that
night. I had gone about 10 o'clock for Mrs. Lewis,
the midwife, who came directly. She advised me
to go for Mr. Fowler, and I did so. The child was
still-born. The prisoner returned home on Sunday
night, and was told by Mr. Fowler that he could
not be admitted then. My sister lingered until
about 12 o'clock on Monday night, when she died.
The prisoner did not come back until Monday even-
ing.
The prisoner, interrupting, said he was in the
house about an hour before she died.
Witness, resuming—The prisoner made his way
towards the bedside of his wife, upon which a Mrs.
Bishop, who was in the room, told him his wife had
been confined that the child was dead, and that he
was to make no row or bother. " Oh, yes," said he,
" the doctor and her sister have killed them." I
said to him she was not dead, thank God, upon
which he took hold of her hand and asked if she
would have anything to drink. She at first said
she would have some pump water, but afterwards
asked for beer, upon which he gave me 6d. to go for
a pot of beer. I did so and she drank some of it,
the prisoner having first given it to Mrs. Bishop to
take the chill off it. He then went out and did not
return until Tuesday morning.
By the Court—lt was on the Friday night that
my sister said " Mary Ann, I'm done. She then
complained of a pain in her stomach. I did not see
the prisoner strike or kick her.
The prisoner, who had occasionally interrupted
the witness to say she was telling lies, asked if she
was aware that his wife came to him shortly before
3 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, at the Magpie public
house, and had share of a pot of beer with him.
Witness replied she was not.
The prisoner said his wife walked to a bakehouse
in Widegateestreet, for her dinner on Sunday.
Police-sergeant Wreford said neither Mr. Fowler,
the surgeon, nor the midwife, were then in attend-
ance to give evidence, nor had an inquest been yet
held on the deceased. Upon the evidence, as it
stood, ho asked to have the prisoner remanded.
The prisoner appeared desirous to make a state-
ment, but the Lord Mayor told him the proper time
for that had not arrived—that he was about to re-
mand him for a few days, and that he had better
reserve until then what he had to say.
The prisoner was then remanded accordingly.
to
rise CAPTAINjap
box, and, in rather an excited manner, which gra-
dually waxed still more so, asked
permission
to
address the Lord Mayor. He was accompanied by
the American Ir •With that
Glee A few days TsAtespptehde
iCnotourtthwe Was about
Allan whose appearance,
of the past become
ENweete COLLEGE DISCIPLINE.-- „ captain himself, has for years
ago two • driven out of
pensioners, eighty years of age, were familiar in the streets of London and also at public
the gates
of our hospital by order of the governing meetings. His Indian • whom he called
authorities. The • "g stated to be p 2 otege,
cause of their expulsion Peter B and wore a crim-
asket, was well dressed,
their having ab fe days without
round the waist,
sented themselves fo: ason sash above his frock coat,
leave. As the will, of
Poor men have no pens.- gave they
which gave him a military air. The Lord Mayor
course, be d. taxation.—
an additional wei, P havinge replied, apparently
entish Mercury, let to our Rice asked whohe was,
impatient I ;
tne interruption,
lie was Captain
Importing - Aekerley, and was in the commission of the peace
on 1.-
vents the Chinese passing off Worcester and Middlesex.
e''r the counties of
usual kinds. Hornirua ' the
inferior leaves as ,; said he had bad that Indian
in ng to Peter, he
u 8 Tea uncoloured, therefore p •
always good alike. Sold in and did not know what
'cis for 11 year,
Packets by 2,280 Agents, on his hu,

The Prussian training corvette Niobe, 26 (re-
cently purchased from the British Government),
having, been supplied with masts at the Devonport
dockyard, was towed on Monday from Hamoaze to
Plymouth, where she will be rigged at a private
yard.

The paddlewheel steamsloop Geyser, having em-
barked supernumeraries, left Plymouth on Monday
for Spithead ; she will probably call at Portland.
Thomas M'Carthy, acting boatswain of the Ajax,
was tried by court-martial at Plymouth on Satur-
day, for having on Sept. 1, while in charge of her
tender, the Racer, abstracted rum from the spirit-
room with a false key, and for having become drunk
therewith. Prisoner pleaded guilty. He was sen-
tenced to 12 months' imprisonment, and dismissed
from the service.

Capt, Fortescue on Monday heisted his pennant
on board the screw steamsloop Perseus, 17, at Ply-
mouth ; she is to have a complement of 175 men.
Instructions have been received at Chatham dock-
yard for another large target to be constructed at
Shoeburyness, to replace that destroyed during the
recent experiments before the Ordnance Select
Committee. The new target is to be constructed
by the mechanics at Sheerness dockyard, a number
of whom have proceeded to Shoeburyness for that
purpose. The new target is to be similar in all
respects to the Warrior target just destroyed.
The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty : Capt. R. A. Powell, C. 8., to the
Britannia, vice Capt. Harris, whose period of service
has expired ; Capt. A. Phillimore, to the Defence,
vice Powell ; Lieut. F. S. Clayton, to the Perseus ;
Lieut. W. D. M. Dolben, to the Galatea; G. Gilpin,
master additional, to the Cumberland, for the Lean-
der ; the Rev. C. J. Armister, chaplain, to the Pem-
broke ; C. Dickson, chief engineer, to the Fisgard,
for tho Hector ; and A. W. Chimms, paymaster, to
the Barrosa.

to do with him. Then, with great volubility he
proceeded to relate the particulars of an alleged
grievance under which he said his friend laboured,
and for which he had in rain sought redress from
successive Governments. The pith of his story, so
far as it was intelligible, appeared to be that Peter
Basket at one time was at the head of the consta-
bulary in North America, in which capacity he had
charge of the Ordnance stores sent out there from
the Tower of London ; that he was eventually re-
lieved of that charge, came to this country to seek
redress or compensation, which he had failed to ob-
tain, and was without means to return to Canada.
From a bundle of papers the captain produced and
read a letter he had received from Sir J. Pakington
in 1852, then Colonial Secretary, in which the right
hon. gentleman flatly declined to hold any further
correspondsnce with him on the subject, consider-
ing as he -did that the claim set up by Peter Basket
on the British Government was entirely without
foundation. He next addressed a letter, he said,
to the Treasury, and received a similar reply.
The Lord Mayor, interposing, asked Captain
Acgerley -what he wished him to do.
The captain replied, to summon before his lord-
ship Mr. King, of the Ordnance Department at the
Tower.

The Lord Mayor said if that was all, his juris-
diction did not extend over the Tower of London,

The Captain thereupon became very angry and
incoherent, talked wildly about the Holy Alliance,
and about being himself " a Montague" and a magis-
trate of London; that he (Mr. Cubitt) was not Lord
Mayor of London, seeing that there was a flaw in
his election. (A laugh.) He proceeded to say he
had expended £1,600 from first to last in sup-
porting Peter in this country, and was now with-
out money, As the Lord Mayor was a trustee
of the Peabody fund—
The Loid Mayor said he was not, adding that
he should have been glad if he could have as-
sisted him, but he had no jurisdiction over the
Tower.

Ackerley, unfolding a small red banner and
speaking at the top of his voice, said,—Here is
the Papal flag, which you represent in this city.
If you represent the Pope, for God's sake let us
have Papal justice, if not—Protestant. (A laugh.)
What is to be done with this man ? If you give
me any advice, I shall be delighted. If you don't
assist me, as bearing the " Michaelmas chains of
office," I shall be a martyr, and this poor fellow
will die.

The Lord Mayor said his advice, since it had
been asked, was that Captain Ackerley should
make up his mind that he had done all he could do
to establish the rights of Peter Basquet, and that it
was totally beyond his power to do more for him.
The Captain, turning on his friend a look of com-
miseration, said, " Ab, Peter, you see they won't
adjudicate upon your case. Never mind; Provi-
dence is with you."
Peter shrugged his shoulders, and, accompanied
by the captain, withdrew from the court.

THAMES. EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF
SWINDLING AND CONSPIRACY.—As Mr. Woolrych
was about to leave the court, Esther Bags, aged 20,
of No. 23, Richard-street, Limehouse, laundress;
Eliza Townshend, 33, of No. 12, Mercer-street,
Long-acre, widow; Peter Paul, 30, of 12, Cecil-
court; Patrick Day, 22, of No. 10, Baldwin's-gar-
dens, Gray's Inn-lane, bill poster; and Jas. Smith,
32, of Sussex-chambers, Bouverie-street, Fleet-
street, commission agent, were brought up, and
charged with conspiring to swindle a great number
of persons of money.
Mr. James Griffin, inspector of the K division,
said the persons who had been defrauded of their
money were dwelling in Cornwall, Wiltshire,
Somersetahire, Devonshire, Wales, Ireland, and
Scotland, and he believed, if the prisoners were
remanded, a great many of their dupes would come
forward to give evidence against them. The opera-
tions of the gang had been going on for about 18
months, and in October last Stubbs's Fortnightly
Gazette warned the public against them. They were
thy trading as R. Bevan and Co., and advertised
mobey to lend. Numerous complaints had been
made to the commissioners at the head office, and
also at the Stepney station-house, adjoining the
Thames Police-court, by persons who had been
swindled of their money by means of specious
advertisements inserted in the country newspapers,
and well got-up and business-looking circulars. He
charged the prisoners with having obtained, by
false and fraudulent pretences, £3 15s. of Mr.. Reu-
ben Clark, of Winteralow, near Salisbury, and
various sums of a Major Campbell, Mr. Coster, and
others, residing in different part =of the United
Kingdom. The advertisement issued by the gang,
and inserted in many provincial journals, was to
the following effect. The inspector read from the
Salisbury and Winchester journals and General Ad-
vertiser of Saturday, Aug. 9, 1862, as follows :

" Money, money, money, money.—lmportant notice.—
£2O to £5OO immediately advanced at a low rate of interest
for long or short terms, repayable by instalments or other-
wise. Every facility is afforded to persons desirous of
procuring cash accommodation on their own personal secu-
rity, with the certainty of not being troubled with the cus-
tomary needless expense or delay; this being strictly a bona
fide announcement, all classes aro invited to apply in per-
fect confidence to Mr, R. H, Twining, 23,, Richard-street,
1 London, E."

Inspector Griffin said the house in Richard-street,
Limehouse, to which place the letters and applica-
tions for loans were directed, was a small dirty and
dilapidated one of four rooms and a wash-house at
the back. Police-sergeant Bridon and a constable
named Venables had been watching the house conti-
nnally for the last month, and had seen all the pri-
soners pass in and out. The postman of the district
had delivered a great number of letters every morn-
ing at the house. Some were registered letters, and
many contained remittances and Post-office orders.
The woman Bags had charge of the house and took
in the letters. No loans had ever been advanced,
and not one of the gang had anycapital. The swindle
was carried on in the name of Richard Hall Twin-
ing, or R. H. Twining, and the letters and Post-
office orders were directed to him. Sometimes the
prisoner Smith,of Sussex-chambers,Bouverie-street,
at other times Paul, who carried on a disgusting
trade in Cecil-court, and occasionally another man,
not in custody, represented Twining.
Mr. Griffin then put in circulars, signed R. H.
Twining, 23, Richard-street, and a variety of other
papers and forms. To show the modus operandi of
the gang, it will be only necessary, in addition to
the advertisement above given, to insert the follow-
ing :

"Registered No. 9,188, W. Private and Confidential.
Folio A, Ledger 179. Advance granted £4O.
" 23, Richard-street, London E., Sept. 24, 1862.
"My dear Sir,—l have the pleasure to inform you that
the proprietors of the Richards Estate Fund Association,
having received a very highly satisfactory testimonial from
your referee, at an adjourned meeting this day unanimously
resolved to grant your application for an advance of £4O
sterling, and accordingly I beg to hand a promissory note
for your very good acceptance, which you will return duly
signed, together with the first year's interest in advance,
say £3, value of stamp 6d., together £3 N. 6d. The esta-
blished post-office order for £3 to be made payable to the
treasurer, Mr. Samuel Gilbert, and drawn on ‘the Strand
money-order office."
- -

Inspector Griffin said a post-office order for £3
Os. 6d. was duly forwarded in this and in a multi-
tude of other cases; but no loans were advanced.
The postmaster at nearly every money-order office
in London had cash orders for the gang. To
another dupe, a letter of which the following is a
copy was forwarded :

" Private and Confidential, 23, Richard Street,
London, E., Sept. 22, 1862.
" Dear Sir,--Mr. John Brown, carpenter, of Pitton, near
Salisbury, having mentioned your name, will you kindly
favour me with your valuable testimonial regarding his
general practice end conduct. Reply, by return of post,
will be esteemed by, dear sir, very truly yours, for R. H.
Twining, AM., Richards Estate Fund Association."

Inspector Griffin said that after taking Esther
Bags into custody at her wretched dwelling in
Richard-street, he searched the house thoroughly,
but could not find any letters whatever. There
was very little furniture in the house.
Police-sergeant Bridon, 4 K, said that he had
been watching the tenement 23, Richard-street, for
a month. He had seen the postman deliver 50, 80,
and 90 letters per day there. Mrs. Bags received
them all, and gave receipts for the registered letters
containing money. All the letters were addressed
R. H. Twining, Esq., 23, Richard-street, E, except
one, which was addressed " R. H. Twining, Esq.,
swindler." (A laugh.) Thelittie woman Townshend
called at the house one morning with a small bag
and took away about 100 letters which the post-
man delivered the same morning. He followed
her from the house over London-bridge to the
Bricklayers' Arms Tavern, Old Kent-road, where
she was met by Smith, to whom she handed the
letters. He had seen Townshend go to 12, Cecil-
court, St. Martin's-lane, and deliver letters there,
He had seen all the prisoners, at 23, Richard-street.
Venables, a detective police-constable, gave evi-
dence of the apprehension of Day while he was ob-
taining cash for a money-order directed to R. H.
Twining, Esq., 23, Richard-street.
Mr. Griffin gave other evidence connecting all the
prisoners, and a man not in custody, with the con-
spiracy, and asked if he would be authorised in
opening any letters directed to the sham Twining,
of 23, Richard-street.
Mr. Woolrych said be could not give any autho-
rity to the inspector to open letters coming through
the post-office. He must act on his own respell-
sibility-
Mr. Livingston, the chief usher, acting as clerk
pro tern., advised Inspector Griffin to make an ap-
plication to the Postmaster-General for • •
kil
iermlson
to open letters addressed to 23, Richard-street. The
Postmaster-General could give the required permis-
sion under the circumstances of the case.
Mr. Woolrych then remanded all the prisoners
for a week. _ _ _

Smith demanded the restoration of £3 taken from

him hi the police. He wanted the money to o't dein
legal ass stance.
Mr. GriOn—The £3 is the produce of a post-
office order rE neived this day, and sent trot). l the
West of Englant.l.
Mr. Woolrych— j shall give no directions to the
police about the monCY• The inspector will retain.
it at present.

WANDSWORTII,--THE LATE CASE OF SHOO-
ING- IN BATTERSEA FIELDS.-
0, orge Robt. Kilsby
was again brought before Mr. Inght.i'm on the charge
of shooting Henry Cook, a grocer, in Battersea.-
fields.
Inspector Lovelace handed in the followi eg medi-
cal certificate :—" I certify th it Mr. If. Cook has
improved during the past week, but the Nnunds
have produced serious results in the form of pneu-
monia and pleurisy, likely to prolong the case for
many weeks, and rendering the issue still clan ,‘)tful.
John C. Richardson, Police surgeon, &c.—Bat,ket-
sea, Sept. 30, 1862."
Mr. Lewis, jun., again appeared for the prisoner,
and urged his Worship to send the case for trial,
as it mig•ht be many months before the injured man
could attend. He also said that if the man died
the prisoner could be tried for murder, and he cited
the case of the murder in the Queen's Bench prison,
as a precedent, as a guidance for his worship.
Mr. Ingham said he had th'ought of the matter
ever since the last remand, and he considered it
would not be a fair trial without the presence of
the injured man. He therefore should wait the
issue, to see whether the injured man died, or could
attend as a witness. He also said that it would be
of great importance to the defence that the man
should be present to be cross-examined. He could
not imagine that justice could be fairly done with-
out it. Besides, it could not make any difference
to the prisoner.
Mr. Lewis said it would not make any difference,
but his client was desirous of being brought to trial.
Mr. Ingham said he believed that so long as the
prosecutor was alive no judge would try the prisoner.
He (Mr. Ingham) thought it would not be right to
send the prisoner for trial until there was some re-
sult, either the death or recovery of the injured man.
The prisoner, whose health and appearance seemed
to have improved, was again remanded for another
week.

COUN2.RI MA REE2frS.

-

NEWARK-WEDNESDAY.

To-day wheat came freely to hand, and prices were is to
2s per qr lower. Other kinds of grain were the same price
as last week.
White wheat new, 50s to 55s i Barley, grinding.. 28s to 30s
Red do. 49s to 52s Oats, old, .. 27s to 30s
Old white s6s to 56s j New do 24s to 27s
Red do. 52s to 53s I
Beans. 45s to 46s
Barleymalting.... 36s to 40s Beans, new —s.to --s
Peas, ....37s to 395.

BOSTON—
The following prices may
morning :
White wheat..•..4Bs to 52s Barley 33s to 37s
Red 47s to 50s Oats, new, 2ls to 24s
Beans ....43s to 45s Peas 40s to 50s

VEDNESDAY.
)e quoted at our market this