The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-26 00:00:00

ATLANTIC AND GREAT WESTERN.

MADRAS IRRIGATION AND CANAL.
The report of the directors states that since the
half-yearly meeting of the company, held in No-
vember last, the general operations in India have
been prosecuted with great energy by the chief
engineer and his executive officers. The Anicut
across the Toobuddra at Soonkasala. and the
main canal therm to the Hindry at Kurnool, a
distance of 174- miles, with its head sluices of
masonry, are so nearly completed as to justify
a belief that irrigation will be supplied to some
portions of the adjacent land in the course of
the coming month of July. The sufficiency of the
original rough estimate of £1,000,000, made by
the chief engineer, as the cost of that section of the
company's project which commences at Soonkasala
and terminates at or near to Kistnapatam, on the
east coast, has been practically coLfirmed by the
actual cost of the work hitherto executed, and by
the fact that contractors readily come forward to
undertake, at the rates upon which that estimate
was founded, the whole of the further portions of
the works, and this even in anticipation of the
sanction of Government being given to the plans
and estimates. The supply of labour has been and
promises to be ample for all purposes. The local
population have shown themselves keenly alive to
the advantages they may derive from the works,
the landholders in the vicinity of Kurnool having
made already preparations to receive the water ex-
pected soon to be available for the irrigation cf
their lands. The price or rate to be paid by the
cultivators is now under the consideration of the
Madras Government, and the directors have ground
for a reasonable hope that a satisfactory arrange-
ment will be speedily arrived at upon this most im-
portant question. The usual audited accounts of
receipts and expenditure up to Dec. 31 last, show
that £591,327 had been then received, and £105,786
expended, leaving a balance of £485,541 in hand.

THE THAMES EMBANKMENT.—On Friday Mr.
Pennethorne, the architect, was examined by the
committee on behalf of the Crown lessees, Sir R.
Peel, Mr. Horsman, and others, the occupiers of
houses and lands in Whitehall-gardens and Rich-
mond-place abutting on the route of the proposed
embankment, and which they allege will interfere
with their hitherto free access to the river, deprive
them of their privacy, and be a nuisance to the
neighbourhood, without any corresponding public
advantage. The Duke of Buccleuch was examined
in support of the allegation against the embank-
ment as affecting his property, and the Hon. C.
Gore upon the question generally. Mr. Tite, M.P.,
gave evidence in favour of the embankment, and
was of opinion that the Metropolitan Board of
Works were perfectly competent to carry out its
construction, having to deal with works of equal
magnitude. The question was mainly one of money.
He had to suggest, as president of the Institute of
British Architects, that architectural features and
arrangements might be combined with the embank-
ment that would greatly conduce to its beauty and
usefulness as a national work.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-21lay 24.

MANSION. HOUSE.—Jane Wood and Rebecca
Isaacs were brought before the Lord Mayor, charged
with stealing twelve shawls and mantles, together
of the value of about £l4 or £l5, from the shop of
Messrs. Morgan and Scott, 82, Bishopsgate•street
Without.
The prisoners, who both refused to give their
address, were exceedingly well dressed, both wear-
ing immense cloaks and crinolines, by the aid of
which they nearly succeeded in escaping detection.
Mr. Thomas Scott said—The prisoners came into
my shop on Friday afternoon, between three and
four o'clock, and asked to be shown some lace
shawls. I gave them a seat near the counter, and
the parcel of twelve shawls produced was on the
counter near where they were sitting. The prisoner
Wood reached over the parcel to look at some mus-
lins, and when she withdrew her arm I immediately
missed the shawls. I showed them some black lace
shawls, and then went to the window to get some
more. I observed that Isaacs looked rather agitated,
and I looked at them through the back of the
window, and observed that they were looking at
some mantles, and when I brought the shawls to
them they objected to them, and Wood then
asked to see some mantles. Isaacs got up and
walked out of the shop, and I observed to Wood
that her friend was going away, and she said,
" Oh, she's only going to see if she can see a
mantle in the window that she would like." I said
I would go with her, and if she saw one that she
fancied I would take it out of the window for her.
I followed her, bui, as soon as she got outside the
door she crossed the road. I went after her and
stopped her, and she immediately gave me two
mantles and said, " Here's your property, take it."
I took the mantles in one hand, and with the other
I laid hold of the prisoner, and took her into an-
other shop of Mr. Morgan's, and she there dropped
the parcel of 12 shawls from under her crinoline.
An officer was sent for, and she was given into cus-
tody. I then went back to the prisoner Wood,
whom I found still in the shop, and told her her
friend wished to speak to her, and took her to Mr.
Morgan's shop, and she there dropped a shawl,
which was my property; the value together is abou
£l4.

Charles Ratcliffe, police-constable 635, said—l
was called to the shop of Mr. Morgan yesterday
afternoon, and saw the prisoner Isaacs there. Wood
was afterwards brought in, and I saw her drop a
mantle from under her clothes. I picked up this
bundle of shawls from under the clothing of Isaacs;
they were partly out when I saw theni. They both
refused to give their address.
The Lord Mayor then asked the prisoners if they
wished to say anytiling.

The prisoners both replied that they did not; and
His Lordship intimated his intention to commit
hem for trial.

The prisoners, upon hearing this, both dropped
down upon their knees, and implored him, amidst
a profusion of tears, to dispose of the case summa-
rily.
His Lordship, however, said it was too serious an
offence for him to deal with, and he should not be
furthering the ends of justice if ho did not send the
case before a jury.
The prisoners were then removed from the bar,
shrieking, and imploring that the case might be
settled at once.

GUILDHALL.—POVERTY TREATED AS A CRIAIE
AT THE WEST LONDON UNioN.--Margaret Long,
a young woman, who has been an inmate of the
West London Union, and whose children are at the
Hanwell Schools, was brought up in custody before
Alderman Abbiss, the Chairman of the City of
London Union ; Alderman Copeland, and Alderman
Phillips, charged with deserting her children under
the following circumstances :
Beckett,
the relieving officer of the West London
Union,
said—A van was hired on Friday for the
feinalescPhoaoursearst
iHnatiahleveUnn.ionl
to purposee
eo th oe
if r takingchiid the r
children
nat
the
had them in my charge,
Alderman Copeland— t
Copeland--What Were
they do you mean ? We
they prisoners ?
Beckett—No, sir ; but they were p
care to bring them all back laced under my
together, eo that none e

The receipts an this company's line for the month
of April amounted on 60 miles of railway to 2,514
dols. for passengers and mails, and 7,850 dols. for
freight—total, 10,394 dols. ; making with the pre-
ceding returns the total receipts for the first four
months of the present year 61,388 dols.

. _
of them should get drunk. When we got back the
prioner was missing, and she did not return until
&bout thme hours after.
Alderman Copeland—What did you give her into
custody for ?
Beckett—For deserting her children, whereby
they became chargeable to the Union.
Alderman Copeland—But if I understand your
evidence the children were already in the Union.
Beckett—They were at the schools.
Alderman Copeland—Wnat sort of place was she
locked up in ?
Prisoner—l was locked up all night in a cell at
the police-station, sir.
Alderman Copeland—What inspector took such
a charge ?
Mr. Martin (the chief clerk)—l am informed by
the inspector that he refused to take the charge;
but that Beckett attended and insisted on the pri-
soner being locked up.
Beckett—Yes, sir; but that was for disorderly
conduct as well.

Mr. Martin—This is the first you have said about
disorderly conduct, and there is no such charge be-
fore the court.

Alderman Phillips—lt is shameful.
Alderman Copeland—Most disgraceful. It is
treating poverty as a crime, and I will take care
that such unwarrantable conduct is properly repre-
sented to the Poor-law Board.
Beckett—l have only acted in accordance with
my instructions from the Poor••law Board.
Alderman Abbiss—l have been sitting at this
court all the week, and I am bound to say that this
is not the only complaint by several which I have
heard with reference to the West London Union.
Mr. Rose (the summoning officer).—Here is a poor
woman who complains that Beckett has refused to
take her into the house.
Alderman Copeland—Let her be sworn. We will
take her complaint on oath, and act upon it.
Beckett said—l have relieved the woman with
bread and groceries during the last three weeks,
and have offered to take her into the house ; but she
will not come in.

Ellen Harley said—My husband, who has used
me most brutally, has left me, and I could get my
own living, but that I have lost the use of my right
thumb at present through breaking a needle in it.
I have had a little bread and groceries from the re-
lieving officer, and on Saturday I asked to be taken
into the house and he would not admit me. On
Tuesday last he said he would give me nothing, and
told me to go and find my husband.
Beckett—She knows where her husband is.
Alderman Copeland—lf this poor woman is desti-
tute you are bound to support her, and bring the
husband before the magistrates for neglecting to
maintain her.
Beckett—The board of guardians have given
orders that no proceedings shall be taken against •
any but the husbands of those women who are in-
mates of the house.

Alderman Copeland—But the law says that you
must maintain the wife, and take out a warrant
against the husband.
Beckett—l have not refused to take her in, and
I will admit her now if she likes.
Alderman Copeland—That is all she wants.
Applicant—l declare to you gentlemen on my
oath that I asked him this morning to take me in
and he refused.

Alderman Copeland—Very well, go down to the
Union now and I have now doubt you will be ad-
mitted. With regard to the other poor woman who
has been locked up all night in a police cell like a
criminal. I can only say that I have not the slightest
hesitation in dismissing the charge, and I will not
fail to have a proper representation of the matter
made to the Poor-law Commissioners.
Alderman Abbiss said—l quite concur in the re-
marks of Alderman Copeland and Alderman Phillips
with reference to the extraordinary proceedings of
locking a woman up for deserting her children un-
der such circumstances. It is quite clear that she
could have had no such intention, and I therefore
discharge her.