The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-12 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 12, 1862

members of the house present, and as he objected to a bill
of this importance being considered when there was such a
small attendance, he would move that the chairman report
progress.

The house divided, and the numbers were—
Forisetulasisesichairman reporting progress 7
Again'
t
iaojn tookorit y
••• -22
Some d
place on clause 14, which gave the
assessment committee the power of valuation of property,
and the right of appeal by the parties who considered they
Were unduly rated.
Mr. VILLIERS said that the bill did not propose to
remedy all the defects of the existing system, but to do
away with some of them by the introduction of an improved
machinery. The measure contained provision giving
assessment committees the power to make a uniform
rating in their respective parishes, and the powers of
appeal to those who considered themselves aggrieved. He
contended that the object of the bill was to prevent litiga-
tion and expense on parishioners, and would, if carried out,
go a considerable way to remove the present inequalities in
the rating.
Mr. HENLEY argued that the power of appeal given
was not an open and proper one, and was not calculated to
give satisfaction. In the case of parishes in different coun-
ties which were included in our union, much injustice
would be inflicted as regarded the right of appeal.
Mr. W. MARTIN defended the clause.
Mr. AYRTON considered that a Herbal alteration in
the clause would meet the objections urged against it, and
moved an amendment embodying his views, which he said
would secure uniform rating in the parishes of any parti-
cular union.
Mr, VILLIERS had no objection to any amendment
which would render the clause more effective, but he
thought the alteration proposed would be more appropriate
in clause 16.

The amendment proposed by Mr. AYRTON was agreed to
after some discussion, and some other amendments were
also agreed to.
The clause as amended was then adopted, as well as
clause 15 with some amendments. _ _ _

The other clauses up to 23 were agreed to, with verbal
amendments.

Sir G. GREY said he should proceed with the bill on
Tuesday next.
The house then adjourned, and resumed at six o'clock.
Mr, HEYGATE inquired what progress had been made
in the negotiations for the long Tromised commercial treaty
between Belgium and this country.
Mr. LAYARD replied that negotiations were still pend-
ing, but he entertained the hope that they would speedily
be brought to a conclusion.
In answer to a question by Mr. POWELL,
Sir G. GREY stated that it was intended to proceed
with the Corrupt Practices at Elections Bill in the present
session.

Lord BURGHLEY asked the Under Secretary for Fo-
reign Affairs whether his attention had been drawn to the
accounts which had appeared in the public journals of the
horrible atrocities perpetrated by the Chinese upon the Tae-
ping prisoners who had been given up for execution into
the hands of mandarins by the English and French autho-
rities ; and whether the Government had received any offi-
cial intelligence on the subject.
Mr. LAYARD said that the statements referred to were
grossly exaggerated, and carried upon their face evidence
of untruth. Instructions, however, had been sent out to
her Majesty's agents in China for the purpose of ascertain,
ing the facts of the case.
In reply to Mr. ADDERLEY,
Lord PALMERSTON stated that there was no inten-
tion to withdraw the troops now in Canada, and that in the
event of any emergency occurring, there would be as many
men ready to take arms as might be required.

In answer to Mr. C. BENTINCK,
Lord PALMERSTON observed that the correspondence
between the Governments of Russia, France, and. Italy,
relative to the recognition of the Italian kingdom by the
first-named power had not been communicated to her Ma-
jesty's Government.
Mr. S. FITZGERALD asked whether the capture of
the Bermuda by United States cruisers, and the question if
the transaction had taken place in British waters, had
been referred for their opinion to the law officers of the
Crown.

Mr. GREGORY inquired whether despatches had been
received from the Governor of the Bahamas relating to the
capture by United States cruisers of vessels sailing under
the British flag, and whether any complaints had been
made by the Governor of the Bahamas of the blockade by
United States cruisers of the port of Nassau.
Mr. C. FORTESCUE said that despatches had been re-
ceived from the Governor of the Bahamas on the subject,
and been submitted to the law officers of the Crown. He
believed that amongst the cases referred to in those papers
was that of the capture of the Bermuda. There was no
blockade of Nassau, as had been represented, though Ame-
rican cruisers had stopped British vessels off that port,
which they suspected of a design to run the blockade of the
Southern ports.
On the order for going into committee of supply,
Mr. CAIRD made a statement regarding the prospects of
the harvest, and the probable supply of food in the coming
autumn and winter, and asked whether it was the intention
of the Government to mature a plan for obtaining agricul-
tural statistics.

Sir G. GREY admitted the importance and advantage of
procurin,-, such information ; and he was happy to say that
the prejudice against making the returns had considerably
abated, especially amongst the owners of land. There was
still, however, an apprehension existing on the part of many
tenant farmers that the collection of agricultural statistics
might lead to an increase of rent. He had recently been in
communication with the Registrar-General on the subject,
and if the House of Commons would provide the necessary
funds, he had no doubt that by means of the machinery of
the Registrar-General's department, the desired information
might be secured.
Mr. FREELAND having called attention to the state of
our relations with Austria, and to the present state of the
Venetian provinces, as a source of danger to the peace of
Europe, asked whether any communications had been re
ceived rom our diplomatic or consular agents in Austria or
Italy with reference to the present state and proposed in-
crease of taxation in the Venetian provinces, and with re-
ference to the number of emigres from those provinces, and
to the:sentences of illegal emigration which had been noti-
fied in the usual manner by the Austrian Government.
The hon. member was in the act of addressing the house,
when a second motion to count out was made, and forty
members not being present, the house adjourned at five
minutes past eight o'clock.

the Terror (flagship), and three invalids (naval)
from the Bermuda Hospital.
The Edgar, 89, screw, was commissioned at
Portsmouth yesterday by Capt. the Hon. Fitzgerald
A. Foley.

THE GREAT NA7IONAL RIFLE CONTEST

The proceedings of the National Rifle. Association
drawing to a close, it was but natural that an in-
creasing interest should be directed to those contests
which remained to be drcided, although we cannot
but consider that the elncil have made a mistake
in altering the arrangements which were adoped,
and, we believe, not without due consideration, on
former occasions. When the National Rifle Asso-
ciation was inaugurated by Lord Elcho and a great
number of equally ardent adherents of the Volun-
teer movement, at a meeting of which the lamented
Lord Herbert of Lea presided at Willis's Rooms, on
the model of the Tir-Cantonal and the Tir-Federal
of Switzerland, one of the great arguments used by
Lord Elcho in moving the first resolution was, that
this association would become the great handmaid
of the Volunteer movement, as, by holding out an
encouragement to those who might obtain a pro-
ficiency in the use of the weapon placed in their
hands, it would prevent, by the prizes which it
offered, the fears which Were entertained by some
for thick almultaneous Anti enthusiastic movement
from becoming realised, and leaving a great patriotic
movement of the time only as a memento of the past.
One of the principal arguments used by Lord Elcho
was, that to make the rifle movement effective, it
should become perpetual,and this viewhas been since
unanimously adopted by the members of the coun-
cil, who bad emblazoned on its motto, " Sit Perpe-
tuam," in conjunction with the great object that it
had in view, which was " Defence, not defiance:,
To forward the great principles here enunciated has
ever been the great object of the association, and,
with a view of tarring on and even intensifying
the interest until it arrived at the culminating
point. The final stage, which should decide who
should be the possessor of the Queen's prize and
the gold medal of the association, was left open
to the last moment, thereby prolonging the interest
in the chief prize up to the close of the meeting.
This year it is with considerable regret we find that
a change has taken place—the great climax which
was sought to be arrived at, and in which the hopes
and aspirations of the representatives of the diffe-
rent members of the corps were centred, was brought
to a premature close on Tuesday last. The Queen's
prize was then disposed of, and although there has
since been the international match between England
and Scotland, which elicited some of the best and
finest shooting ever witnessed, yet it failed to excite
the same amount of interest which so naturally at-
tached to the winner of the Queen's prize. This is
a subject which has not failed to interest the atten-
tion of the council, and last night, at a meeting
called by Lord Elcho, which was held at the camp
fire of the Victoria Rifles, this subject, amongst
many others, was discussed, and it was the general
opinion of those who spoke upon the subject that
the original arrangement should be adhered to, and
that the Queen's prize should be the climax of the
meeting;

The great subject to be decided by the council
yesterday morning was the protest which had been
sent in by Lord Grosvenor, of the Queen's West-
minster ; Sergeant Pixley, of the Victoria Rifles ;
and Ensign Sprott, of the Liverpool Rifle Brigade,
against Mr. Formby, also of the Liverpool Rifle
Brigade, receiving this prize, on the ground that
he had not used a rest in shooting for this prize.
This appeared to be at first sight a really frivolous
objection, inasmuch as Mr. Formby, in giving up the
use of a rest, had been supposed to surrender an
advantage which it was considered to confer. Such,
however, did not appear to be the view taken by
other parties, and as the protest had been formally
lodged, the council were, under the circumstances,
unable to determine what should be done, and to
decide what was the real intention of the noble
duke who instituted the prize. As this could only
be settled by reference to the noble duke himself, a
messenger, at an early hour yesterday morning,
was despatched by Lord Elcho putting before his
grace the points which were really in dispute upon
the question. The Duke of Wellington, wa believe,
in his reply, stated that his intention was that,
while it allowed the use of a rest, it should not
exclude any one who did not use it, and as Mr.
Formby had preferred to shoot without the aid of
the rest he was honourably entitled to the prize,
and he should so decide. The consequence was that
the gentleman who had gained the highest score,
Mr. Formby, will be entitled to the prize.
The great and new prize for the day was Earl
Dudley's prize of £5O, either in a cup or money,
open to winners only of prizes at Wimbledon dur-
ing the meeting. Five shots at 500 yards and
seven at 700 yards. This prize excited a good deal
of competition amongst the various prizeholders of
the meeting, and Lord Bury distinguished himself
by making five bulls' eyes in five consecutive shots ;
and Mr. Marten Smith, of the Victoria Rifles, at
the same range, made four bulls' eyes and a centre.
Sergeant Muir, of the 6th Kirkcudbright, also made
three bulls' eyes; and Sergeant Kemp, who made
such excellent shooting at the great metropolitan
contest at Wormwood Scrubbs, and stood first on
the list for the Metropolitan Prize at the present
meeting, maintained their former reputation. The
following are the official scores made for the prin-
cipal matches :

SATURDAY REVIEW PRIZE.
Cade, Victories, winner .. 38
LORD VERNON'S PRIZE.
Halford, Ist Leicester, winner of the first prize.
Gill, 4th "West York, winner of the second prize.
ASSOCIATION CUP.
Major Moir Stirling, winner.
RIFLE DERBY.
Gross Total.
Ross, Cambridge University.. 56 Winner of first prize.
Halford, Ist Leicester........ 54 Winner of second prize.
Astley, School of Musketry... 54 Winner of third prize.
Halford won in shooting cif the tie,

MR. HENRY'S PRIZE FOR HIGHT;ST SCORE MADE AT THE
RUNNING DEER.

Y .... 13 First prize.
E.
H. Ross, Cambridge
6CtahmllbriindcgLiULiv.er.s.i.t ...... 11 Second prize.
At half-past 2 o'clock the picked shots of the
country, represented by those who had won prizes
at the present meeting, assembled to compete for
Lord Dudley's prize of £5O. The following were
the highest scores obtained at the two ranges fired
at :

500 yards. 800 yards. Gross
pts. hits.
Lord Dud 1° e .......... 12 6 P V 3,: hits. total.
Lord Bury ..........15 5 7 40
15 7
42
Captain Heaton...... 13 6
14 6
Major Halford ...... 7 4 38
18 7 36
Marriner ............ 10 5 14 7 36
Dillon .............. 13 5 14 5 37
Potter .......... 11 5
13 7
36
Moir.. ... 10 5
15 7
37
E. Ross, Cambridge .. 13 5
13 7 38
Astley .............. 11 5 13 7
36
Cade l4 5
14 6
39
Pixley ........ 8 3
18 7 36
Rose .......... 10 5 16 7 38
Cunliffe ............ 13 5 16 7
41
Capt. Williams, 19th
Middlesex ........ 15 5 15 7 12
Morris .............. 11 5 17 7
40
Gibbs . ...... 12 5 15 7
39
Brooks 9 5
18 7 39

After Lord Bury's last shot it required the com-
petitor nearest to him to make a bull's eye to place
himself on a footing of equality with him, and
Lord Bury's success seemed assured. But Capt.
Williams succeeded in getting that bull's-eye, and
the tie had therefore to be shot off. Captain Wil-
liams shot first and made another bull's-eye, but as
Lord Bury was equally successful, the contest had
to be renewed. Captain Williams shot again, and,
contrary to general expectation, made a third bull's-
eye. Lord Bury followed amid breathless silence,
and made a centre, only two inches below the
bull's-eye, and directly in a line with it, but still

only a centre. The victory therefore remained with
Captain Williams.

This exciting match, with the exception of strag-
gling shots at pool and sighting targets, which con-
tinued till gun-fire, closed the Wimbledon Prize
Meeting of 1862.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.-July 11.

COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE.
(Before the Judge Ordinary.)
TURNER V. TURNER-SPECIAL JURY.

This strange case was resumed this morning,
when Mr. Sergeant Shea addressed the jury on be-
half of the respondent, contending that the charges
against Mr. Turner were wholly without founda-
tion. He called

Mr. Henry Haines Walton, of Brook-street, sur-
geon, who said he had been in the habit of visiting
the parties. He thought Mr. Turner's conduct was
very kind and forbearing.
Mr. Macaulay, Q.C., for the petitioner—Did you
never try to kiss Mrs. Turner ? (Laughter.)
Witness (very earnestly)—Never.
Mrs. Turner (with a satirical laugh)—Oh, didn't
you!

- Mr. Win. Towers Smith, partner to the respon-
dent, had known Mr. Turner for several years, but
had never seen him other wise than kind to the peti-
tioner. Mrs. Turner used to speak disrespectfully
of him. Once she offered to part witness's back
hair for him, remarking, "I always do Mr. Wedge-
wood's." She then tuok a comb, and parted Mr.
Wedgewood's hair before witness. (Laughter.;
The day before Ascot races she brought him some
scarves, and asked him to select one for himself.
Cross-examined—She used to complain that Mr_
Turner neglected her. Had attended the petitioner
professionally. She said she did not put any trust
in her husband.

Re-examined—She told witness that her husband
had trodden on her finger and broken it ; but,
having seen the finger, witness did not believe that
the injury was the result of a fracture.
The Judge here interfered and suggested that
there was no necessity to carry the case further.
There was evidence that whatever had been done
had been condoned, and there was thus no object in
inquiring what had taken place 10 years ago.
Mr. Sergeant Shee said his client was most
anxious to have an opportunity of vindicating him-
self from the charge of cruelty.
Sir C. Cresswell—Very well ; if I don't hear this
case I must some other, and this is no doubt as in •
teresting as any likely to come before the court.
Mr. James William Turner—When I married the
petitioner she was heavily in debt. She owed
£l,OOO. We jointly borrowed the sum of £2,500
from her trustee, which I devoted in the first place
to paying her liabilities. That was before I made
her my wife. In 1851 and 1852 I had frequent
altercations with her. She would burst into the
room while I was seeing patients and ask, " What
is that person doing here ?" I made the best ex-
cuse I could; and my patients would sometimes
say, " We were not aware you kept insane
people in the house." She would accuse me of
intimacy with my patients, and would question
my coachman how long I had been at each
place. She would prevent my going out on my
professional business. She would put her back to the
door, and would not allow me to pass, even when I
had received four or five urgent messages. She
would pull off my spectacles, break my hat, tear
my coat, or damage me in any way she could, so
that I should not be able to go out. She has broken
my spectacles twice ; she has thrown a poker
at me, and attempted to stab me. In 1851
I accidentally stepped on her finger. I had
gone up into her bedroom to wish her goodbye
before I went out in the morning. Some altercation
ensued, and she struck me with her hair brush. I
struck at her again with my hand. She drew back
and fell down. I fell forward, and she said I had
trodden on her finger. I heard no more about that
finger. Two years afterwards she consulted me
about a swelling on her finger, but I believe it was
on the other band. The swelling seemed to me to
be a gouty inflammation of the joint. I could show
50 such cases and worse amongst my own patients_
I have punished lon twice in my lire, but not with
any indiscretion. Once was when I was teaching
him to read words of one syllable. For an hour he
would not say what "r a t " spelt ; so I gave him
two or three taps with a cane, and then he said
"rat" fast enough. (Laughter.) The other occasion
was for destroying a toy goat which I had given
him. His mother did not object to his being punished,
nor had I ever any quarrel with her on the subject.
I paid for his education. His commission and out-
fit cost me £7OO. I never knocked Mrs. Turner
down in her life. Owing to her infirmity, the least
disturbance of her balance would cause her to fall,
and she would scream—she was very clever at that.
As she felt herself falling she gave a piercing shriek
which would bring all the household up, and then
she would say I had knocked her down I never
beat her with a riding whip or stick. Ido not re-
collect her ever leaving my house till she left it
altogether in Oct. 1861. Never heard of a police-
man being brought to the garden gate. When we
were at the Priory Farm, Earl's-court, Kensington,
we had frequent altercations. She would allow her
son to go to Cremorne, which I did not like. We
quarrelled about her extravagant dress, and about
her taking a dislike to the people I employed. On
those occasions I never struck her. I remember the
quarrel in the hay field. She had sent my assistant
to tell a patient that I had stated she was insane. I
told her that it was an abominable thing to send
such a message when I had only said at the break-
fast table that the lady's messages were remark-
able. I may have raised my stick, because I was
excited, and I may have gesticulated, but I never
had an intention to strike her. I never struck
her at our house 31, Phillimore-place, Kensington.
I can conscientiously say that except on the occa-
sion when I stepped on her finger I never laid a
hand upon her. In 1859 I found it necessary to
reduce my expenditure, having become surety for a
defaulting tax collector. Up to that time Mrs.
Turner had used every night to clear my pockets of
my fees, leaving me a pound for myself. I had
allowed it willingly, but having at length taken a
partner, and being responsible for all the moneys
received—finding that I had less money to put in
the bank than formerly, and being met on asking
for an account with a furious outburst of abuse, I
determined on keeping my money myself, and giv-
ing her cheques for the household expenses. I
always gave her what she wanted except on two
occasions when she wanted more than usual and
refused to tell me what it was for. Since the sepa-
ration I have paid hundreds of pounds to settle
balances of accounts which she had had outstanding
unknown to me. These accounts were for dresses,
jewellery, charms, lace, pug dogs, and the like. I
have defended one or two actions, and my attorney
will be able to tell you better the amount. On the
3d of October last I wanted some silver saltcellars ,
part of a set which had been presented to me, to give
to a patient of mine to engrave. She said she did not
want to be bothered, and that it was time for me to
be off. I said I did not wish to trouble her, and
began to look for them. She said they were in the
plate chest. At first the key was missing ; but it
was ultimately found, and I went up with the
housemaid. Just as we were opening the chest my
wife came up stairs and said, " There! thank God,
you've found it out !" I asked her what had be
of my plate, and she said " Pawned, to be
sure." A good deal of it had belonged to her be-
fore she was married, but I had bought a good deal.
I desired the housemaid to fetch me every
of plate for which she was responsible, and_to..
particle t _
her husband (the coachman) to get a cab.thilnot.n
ofn
ransacked the drawers, and put
value into the plate chest. I toldev;rhrsYe.
In the
and coachman to take it down stsln_ng
room
cabman
meantime I went down into thrie
whicheh
I be-
to get my wife's writing desk, in
probably kept.
thought me the pawn tickets
_werere
She rushed into the room b.tefo seized the
desk, clung spasmodically to
ttake and retreated with
it from her, but
it into a corner. I tried to
I desisted. Having
not wishing to have a,
areturned home. I had been
taken the plate away,
gone three-quarters of an hour, and on my return
I found that she had lefte or threaten her on that
the house. I did not
thrust my fist in her face
I was not f
alone with her during the
occasion.
afterwards went with a constable
to Little Ryder-street, aossessa
whole time. nd took -
en of the
desk. I merely said to her
thatP her fraud and
had induced me to make that visit ; other-
wise lifinever spoke to her. She threw a letter into
the fire in my presence, and I rescued it. It was
only slightly,
.injured. I found the scrap of paper
in a drawer after Mrs. Turner had left. I did not
examine the papers in the desk during the alterca-
tion on the 3d of October. I never hid her cork
leg. [Witness, who had not been present during
his wite's evidence, seemed very much astonished
at the question.] I was very much struck at the
Exhibition of 1851 by a beautiful mechanical leg
shown by en American named Palmer. I invited
Mr. Palmer's agent to my house and onlered three
legs of him. (A laugh.) I detained hie agent In