The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-03 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS.

Sharpe's London Magazine contains the continu-
ation of Mrs. S. C. Hall's story of " Helen Lynd-
sey," and of "Immeritus Reclivivus," by the author
of " Mary Powell." There is also the well-known
tradition of the unknown architect of Cologne
Cathedral, in a new form. The two engravings
represent a Hindoo Woman and the Fan-leaf Palm.
—The British Journal has its usual variety of tales
and sketches.—Chambers's London Journal gives
us Lectures on Gold' and Ideas about the
Diggings.' " A Visit to Banwell Caverns " de-
scribes two caverns known as the Bone and Stalac-
tite, situated in the Mendip Hills.—Le Follet pre-
sents three elegant plates, one of which shows a
group of children. The chief feature in this num-
ber is the continuation of an Irish story.—The
Charm has its usual instruction and entertainment
variety for juvenile readers. There is a picture of
the Hippopotamus, and o f the Hotel de Ville,
Brussels.—The Picture Pleasure-Book contains up-
wards of sixty wood engravings, of a very superior
kind to those generally intended for children. The
first volume is completed, and the second is now
commenced. It is a great acquisition to the ju-
venile picture-gallery.

THE SEWER QUESTION.—The existence of the fatal
epidemic at Croydon, termed " the sewer fever," has
given rise to a considerable discussion in Southampton,
where a complete net-work of sewerage is being con-
structed on a precisely similar plan to that in operation
at Croydon. The subject was introduced at a meeting
of the town council on Tuesday, when a resolution w.vs
brought forward to delay the works now in progress (.1
construction, until the cause of the epidemic at Croydon.
was clearly and positively ascertained, Mr. Ranger's
plan being considered .as a most expensive experiment
on the ratepayers. A discussion of considerable length
terminated with a resolution to continue with as much
expedition as possible the construction of the sewer/
under his plan.
SCARCITY OF LABOUR IN MANCHESTER.— One of the
local trade circulars states that a great scarcity of hands
is complained of, and many new looms are idle from this
cause. This scarcity does not arise from emigration,
but the great extension of our productive mechanism ;
the drain from our labouring population in other quar-
ters may be found preventing that influx which higher
wages might otherwise tempt here, as they have done on
former occasions. It is a matter of gratulation that our
workpeople are well employed, contented and prosperous.
We have no stocks of any importance either in first or
second hands, and the chief difficulty experienced by
merchants is in obtaining early deliveries, owing to the,
great extent to which the fabrics in most general demand
are pre-engaged by contracts.

Jr_ lisbytt

SUN OFFICE, Six o'clock.

TATTERSALL'S.

(THIS EVENING.)

METROPOLITAN HANDICAP,
6 to 1 agst Contentment.
20 to 1 agst Grapeshot.
20 to 1 agst Lampedo.
25 to 1 agst Snowdon Dunhill.

CHESTER CUP.
20 to 1 agst Lady Evelyn.
20 to 1 agst Contentment.
25 to 1 agst Trifle.
50 to 1 agst Little Jack.
50 to 1 agst St. Michael.

TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES
4to 1 asst Sittingbourne.

NOTTINGHAM HANDICAP.
4 to 1 agst Bold Davie.
5 to 1 agst Tha Bishop.

NOTTINGHAM TWO YEAR OLD STAKES,
3to 1 agst Bridesmaid.
3to 1 agst The Jewess.

DERBY.
10 to 1 agst West Australian.
15 to 1 agst Pharos.
15 to 1 agst Cineas.
16 to 1 agst Sittingbourne.
35 to 1 agst Contentment.
16 to 1 agst Orestes.

LIVERPOOL STEEP LECHASE.
Bto 1 agst Miss Mowbray.
Bto 1 agst Oscar.
12 to 1 agst Half-and-Half.
16 to 1 agst Sir Peter Laurie.

THE LONDON AND COUNTY JOINT-STOCK
BANKING COMPANY.

The annual general meeting of the proprietors was
held this day at the London Tavern, John Sadleir, Esq.,
chairman, presiding. The report stated that the direc-
tors had more than ordinary pleasure in submitting to
the proprietors a general statement of the affairs of the
company, and the result of the half-year's accounts end-
ing the 31st December, 1852. In June last they
decided, that the large and steady advance in the busi-
ness of. the Company made it desirable to increase the
capital from 300,0001. to 400,0001. In carrying out this
mettsure, they offered to the proprietors the option of
the new capital at a premium of 31. 10s. per share, and
they had the satisfaction to state that the whole amount
was at once taken up. The sum of 17,5001., arising from
the premium, had enabled the directors to ex-
tinguish the dead weight of 17,0001., arising from
the preliminary expenses which had accrued from the year
1836, in establishing the various branches of the company.
(Cheers.) During the past year they had opened branches at
Colchester, High Wycombe, Richmond, and Uxbridge.
The marked improvement in the progress of the Bank
has enabled them to give expression to their entire ap-
prc,val of the uniform zeal and integrity of the numerous
of.icers employed in London, and at the country branches,
/ay presenting to each officer a gratuity of 10 per cent.
on the amount of his salary. The net profits of the half-
year ending the 31st December, 1852, after reserving an
ample sum for bad and doubtful debts, amounted
to 14,2991. 7s. 2d. They recommend that a dividend
at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum, and a bonus of
2 per cent. (equal to 8 per cent. on the year), both free
from income tax, should be declared. This, if approved
by the proprietors, would leave 4,6741. 19s. 4d. to be
carried to the guarantee fund, which would then be in-
creased to 44,3251. 7s. (Hear.) They had great gra-
tification in stating that their respected chairman, John
Sadleir, Esq., had laid the foundation of a provident
fund, for the relief of officers who, from misfortune, sick-
ness, or superannuation, might become incapable of pro-
viding for themselves and their families. (Cheers.) They
had thought that the most acceptable return they could
offer to Mr. Sadleir would be some general measure, by
which this provident fund might be systematically en-
larged, for the benefit of the officers. They had given
to this object their most mature consideration, and had
established a graduated scale of guarantee among the
officers, which combined the advantage of mutual watch-
falness and control over their fidelity and good conduct,
with a regular contribution by each officer, to the in-
crease of the provident fund. The directors anticipated
that the result of this plan will, in the course of a few
years, give an extended and efficient aid to the benevo-
lent views of the Chairman. The directors retiring by
rotation were—John Wheelton, John Griffith Frith, and
Richard' Springett, Esquires—who had respectively given
notice of their intention to become candidates for re-elec-
tion. The balance-sheet, up to the 31st December,
1852, was as follows :

To capital
To reserved fund

To customers' balances, &c
To profit and loss balance brought for-
ward from last account
To net profit for the half-year, after
payment of gratuity to officers, and
13,4121. 19s. 2d. for interest to cus-
tomers

360,670 0 0
39,650 7 8
3,281,603 14 4

7,246 14

14,299 7 2

£3,703,470 3 9

£ s. d.
581,810 2 9

Cr,
137 cash in hand and at call
By Government and other securities,
discounted bills, &c 3,088,356 14 8
By bank premises, freehold and lease-
hold

30,303 6 4

£3,703,470 3 9

PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT.
T(1 half-year's dividend at 6 per cent. per
annum £10,122 13 7
To bonus of 2 per cent 6,748 8 10
To balance carried to guarantee fund 4,674 19 4

By balance from last account.
By net profit for the half-year

£21,546 1 9

.. £7,246 14 7
.. 14,299 7 2

£21,546 1 9
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
observed that since he became the chairman of the bank,
it had enjoyed such uninterrupted prosperity that it had
been found necessary on two distinct occasions to increase
the paid-up capital. In allusion to the paragraph in the
report respecting the provident fund, he said the direc-
tors had determined to substitute for the old practice of
taking from the officers of the bank private bonds, or the
bonds of guarantee societies, as a security for their
fidelity, a system of individual contribution, according
to an established scale, the maximum amount of the
„'Fiarantee fund being fixed at 3,0001. It was
their intention to carry the surplus above that amount
to the provident fund, which they believed would also
be considerably augmented by voluntary contributions.
The directors had expressed their sense of the excellent
manner in which the officers had performed their duties,
by presenting each gentleman with a gift equivalent to
10 per cent. on his salary, and they had taken this step
in consequence of their unparalleled prosperity, in which
they thought it was but right their servants, who had
contributed to it, should to some extent participate.
The motion was then agreed to ; and after the decla-
ration of a dividend of 6 per cent. for the half-year, to-
gether ~Rith a bonus of 2 per cent., clear of income tax,
the re-election of the directors and auditors, the meeting
terminated with votes of thanks to the directors, chair-
'liar, secretary, and officers.

THE SWINDLERS OF AIISTRALIA.—Some surprise was
yesterday felt in the cheque department of the Bank of
England by the presentation for payment of an old
. patched-up cancelled cheque, which had been drawn by
a customer in the year 1834, and purported to be an
order for 617/. 7s. 9d. The piece of dirty paper had
been pasted to another piece of paper, and presented an
appearance likely to excite the suspicion of the most
ignorant. It was offered at the counter by two sea-
men, who stated that they had been at the "gings,"
accompanied by the captain, who had agreed toil
ay the
vessel up for a few weeks, and try whether they could
not recompense themselves for the delay by labouring in
nold field ; that they had accordingly gone to work,
-vad in seven weeks accumulated a considerable quantity
'of gold dust, and that at Melbourne, the two applicants,
being anxious to get home to their families, sold their
share of the valuable article to one of the gold dealers,
named Stevenson, at the current price, amounting to 6174
7s. 9d., which they were assured would he paid Ito them
at the Bank of England the moment they showed the
ay.thority. In answer to questions put to them by one
f the officers in attendance at the Bank the seamen said
they had sold five ounces on the day before to Mr. Ste-
venson, who paid them in dollars, with a readiness which
prevented them from suspecting his intention to rob
them, and that they had their register tickets, and could
Trove by the admission of their captain that there had
Leen no desertion or irregularity of any kind upon their
Part. Upon being asked whether they intended to
riturn to Australia, they said they had already paid for
tl,eir passage back, and they declared that they would
follr,w the advice of the officer and look out for Mr.
'..i.!.venson, and compel him to make restitution.
yCHILD FOUND DEAP.—Yesterday the parochial nutho
ties of St. Mary's, Islington, issued a bill offering a
r ward of Si. for the apprehension of the parties con-
e* rued in the desertion of a new-born male child, found
in a garden, situate in River-lane, Lower-street, Isling-
t When discovered the body was enclosed in a paper
considerably burned.
GREAT CITIES.—The area of Babylon was 225 square
!.Liles, that of Nineveh 216. square miles, while that of
London and its environs is but 114 square miles.
SCOTTISEI CENTRAL RAILWAY.—Traffio return for the
.............. 8 3
tr,;(3k ending Jan. 30, 1853
corresponding week last year ................. 1,517 6 3

ALLEGED MURDER OF A GENTLEMAN OF

FORTUNE.

Yesterday, Elizabeth. Vickerss a middle-aged, and well
dressed female, was placed at the bar before Mr. Elliott,
at Lambeth Police-court, charged with having, by vio-
lence, caused the death of Mr. William Jones, an aged
gentleman of considerable property, on the night of Sun-
day, the Bth of last month.
On the discovery of the death of the deceased, who was
upwards of 83 years old, strong suspicions were enter-
tained by many of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood
that it had been caused by unfair means, and this opinion
became strengthened upon the fact being disclosed, that
his housekeeper (the prisoner) became entitled, by his
will, to the great bulk of his large property, to the ex-
clusion of his immediate relatives and friends. Mr.
Lund, the superintendent of the P division, assisted by
one of his sergeants (Quinnear), collected sufficient dvi-
deuce to justify them in apprehending the prisoner. The
task, however, was not a very easy one, as the accused,
who is a very powerful woman, and not at all unlike the
notorious murderer Mrs. Manning, made a most deter-
mined resistance, and Mr. Lund declares that a more
desperate woman he never encountered.
Mr. Scudding, an attorney, attended on the part of
the nephew and friends of the deceased to prosecute,
and Mr. Solomon, who defended Mrs. Manning, appeared
for the accused.
The first witness called was Mr. David Key, a surgeon
of Brixton, who said—l knew Mr. William Jones, who
lived at Springfield Cottage, Acre-lane, Brixton, for 18
or 19 years, and attended him occasionally during the
I whole of that time. I also know the prisoner. She had
lived with Mr. Jones, as his housekeeper, for 12 or 14
years. On the 12th of January I was called to Mr.
Jones's, about half-past five or six o'clock in the morn-
ing, by a man of the name of Evans. I went there a
little after eight, and I found Mr. Jones dead, lying
upon a sofa in the back parlour. He was dressed as
usual, I believe, but I am not sure whether he had
his coat on or not. He was lying on a blanket, which
was wrapped round him. The prisoner was in the room
at the time, and I asked her how long he had been lying
there ? She said she could not get him up to bed the
night before ; that he asked her for a little water, which
she gave him, and then he died at half-past three o'clock
in the morning. She said she could not get him up stalls
because he was helpless, and that he had expressed a
wish that she should sit up with him. I asked her what
time he was down on the Sunday, the day before, and
she said she could not tell me the exact time, but that
he had dined up stairs, and after that he came down.
I asked her if he had had any spirits, and she said he had
a little gin and water, but could not tell the exact quan-
tity he had. She said he had been on the sofa from the
time he came down until he died. I asked her if he had
made any snoring noise, and she said "No." I asked
her if he was insensible, and, she said "No ;" he died
directly after taking the water. I asked her if he had
swallowed any of it, and she said she was not certain
whether he had swallowed any. It appeared to me to
be a very confused account that she gave. I then ex-
amined the body, and found several wounds on the fore-
head ; two of them were cut wounds, and had been done
some little time. They were in the course of healing.
I should think they had been there about a fortnight.
I think these wounds might have been inflicted by a
blunt weapon or by a fall. They did not appear to be
incised wounds. There was no bruise then to be seen.
There was a crust formed over the wounds. They were
on the forehead—one on the centre and one on the left
side. There. were four or five other wounds on the
head, some on the side, some on the back, and some on
the top. All these wounds were trivial as to affecting
liTe. I found dried blood on the hair. These wounds
were covered over with dried blood. On washing, the
blood came off and the wounds appeared. There was a
severe bruise on the right temple—a Revere contused
wound—but the skin was not broken. It was merely a
swelling, larger than a crown piece, and it was slightly
discoloured, and it appeared to have been recently inflicted.
It might have been done five or six days, not more—
it might have been done much less time. There were
one or two scratches and bruises on the face. There
was another severe bruise on the back part of the head,
towards the top. There was a swelling, and I think it
had been done about the same time. The lower carti-
lage of the nose, called the septum, was broken, though
there was no bruise perceptible on the nose itself, but
the cartilage might have been broken by a fall or a blow.
On the right knee was a discolouration avisinii from a
blow or fall, but the skin was not broken. Theire was a
wound on the left knee, which appeared to me to be a
bruise. I did not see any other bruises. I spoke to the
prisoner about the bruises, and she said he had fallen
upon the stairs, and had then hurt his nose, and that it
was some little time ago, but she would not tell me when.
She said, also, that he had had a fall in the garden, but
did not say when it was. I have attended Mr. Jones
medically for eighteen years, and I think it must have
been two months before this happened' that I had seen
him alive. He was very well then. He was subject to
gout. I have not attended him medically these last two
years, but have now and then sent him plasters for his
feet. He did not complain of anything then, nor did
I observe any marks of violence on him at that time.
He was nearly 84 years of age, and was rather infirm
from his years ; but, except the gout, I believe he
was a perfectly healthy man. It would be uncertain
whether death caused by such means as I found would
be sudden or not. I cannot say whether those injuries
were caused by a fall or a blow ; but there was certainly
great violence, whatever it was. A person receiving
such a blow as that which I found on the temple, for
instance, would be rendered insensible for a time, but
might not die immediately. The marks I saw on the
head would not have been produced by one fall. I do
not think a mere fall upon the ground could have
caused such a bruise as I found on the temple or the
side of the head, unless he had fallen upon a large stone.
The blow on the back of the head might have been
received by his falling backward on the ground, if he had
fallen on something hard. I have been to see the
deceased several times when I could not get in, but not

for a month or two before his death. I saw him once in
August last. He had then two black eyes and a slight
scratch or two upon the nose, and likewise upon the chin.
The prisoner was present at the time, and I asked him,
in her presence, if he had fallen down stairs ? He made
no answer, but the prisoner, before he had time to do so,
exclaimed, " Don't answer," and he did not. The pri-
soner then began abusing me, and said, " Well, I have
got the money, and you told Mr. Jones not to do it,"
and then she continued to abuse me for an hour for
interfering between her and her master, who wanted to
transfer some money to her. No other person lived in
the house but the prisoner and the deceased.
In cross-examination by Mr. Solomon, the witness
said that an inquest had been held on the body of the
deceased. At that inquest the witness had given evi-
dence similar to that which he gave on +he present occa-
sion, yet the jury returned a verdict that the deceased
had died from the effects of an accidental fall.

Miss Susan Allen was next sworn, and deposed as fol-
lows :—I have lived at No. 5, Springfield Cottages,
Acre-lane, Brixton, for 14 years, and during the whole
of that time the deceased resided next door to me. About
13 years ago the prisoner came to live with Mr. Jones
as his housekeeper, and resided with him up to the time
of his death. About a week before his death—on New
Year's-day—Mr. Jones came to the fence of the garden
and spoke t. me. He was then in excellent health and
very cheerful; but he had a very large bruise, as big as
a walnut, on the right side of his head, near the temple,
and a large bruise above that, as large as a moderate

sized tea-cup, on the right side of his head. The bruise
on the temple was as big as a walnut, but the other was
coagulated blood, and blood was issuing from it. He
had his night-cap on at the time, and it was much stained
with blood. It was put on so as not to cover the in-
juries, so that she could plainly see them. I have fre-
quently seen bruises on him before this, and he has com-
plained to me about them. I have seen the prisoner
heat him• violently, and pull him about by his grey hair.
I have seen her pull him from the garden fence to his
own house by the hair, beating him on the head and
shoulders with her clenched fists. I have seen . her
beat him with both her fists about the head ; that
was in the course of last spring. I have seen violence
used by her in the autumn before. She pulled him in
then by the hair of the head, and beat him with her
fists on his head, and she said then she would make him
remember going out, as she had desired him not, while
she was out. For the last twelve months not a week
ad passed without my hearing her beat him. I can
ear it from outside the house. I had listened at his
The prisoner frequently came home ititoxi-
I believe she has not been sober for ar i entire

request,

cated.

------ -
day, except Sundays, for a year. She told me th:tt Mr.
Jones had made over 1,0001. in' their joint names—his
name and hers—and she wished it in her own n ame ;

but Mr. Key had persuaded Mr. Jones not to, but; she
would make him remember going from his promi3e as
long as he lived—that she would let him know that she
was a lion resolved, and as he called upon Mr. Keg un-
known to her, he should never go out of the how ;e by
himself again, and if Mr. Key came there she should kick
him out. It was last spring she said so. She said that
Mr. Key persuaded him that if he did not transfer the
money to a trustee for her benefit, It would be a bona i fide

gift, and some young man might come and marry her,
and then he should lose his servant. On the Sun-
day following, Mr. Jones came to me, and showed
me bruises on his head. His eyes were blackened,

and his head bruised and bleeding, I have repeatedly
heard her drive him up-stairs and lock him up, then
go out and come home drunk. On the Friday night,
before he died, at about eleven o'clock, the prisoner
came home drunk, and lay on the ground out side
the door for about three-quarters of an hour abusing
Mr. Key, and calling out, " Old Jones, come and let
me in." Then the door opened, but was shut again, for
the policeman was there with her. When the police-
man
went away the prisoner went in and shut the door,
and in two minutes after I heard a heavy fall in the pas-
sage or on the stairs. It appeared to me that the pri-
soner had fallen on Mr. Jones at the door. I went in-
side then and went to bed. The next morning, at seven
•'clock, heard the door of the house shut. At• nine
o'clock I found the shutters still closed. At one o'clock
in the day I saw the prisoner, and was going to speak
to her about Mr. Jones, but she shunned me. I listened
the whole of that day and night, but could not hear Mr.
Jones. Ile had a cough, which I heard generally, but
on that day I could not hear it. On the Sunday morn-
ing I looked for the prisoner, but could not see or hear
anything of her, and at eleven o'clock I went to church.
When I returned at one o'clock I still found the shutters
closed. I then looked at Mr. Jones's window, and saw
the blind up, and the prisoner stood at the side of
the window. She looked very agitated, and I
nodded to her, but she did not return it, and
seemed much confused. I repeated my nod to her, ,
but she did not return it, and I then went to
the back of the house and found it fastened. I
watched the house, but saw no one go out. About five
o'clock I heard a cab. drive away from the gate, and
some person speaking. At that moment the prisoner
came out and picked up the papers that had been thrown
into the garden by the postman at nine o'clock in the
morning, and had been lying there all day. I watched
the house all day, and saw no light or heard no person
until the Monday, when I saw Mr. Key come with the
undertaker. On the New Year's day, when she came
home in the evening, the prisoner beat him, and threat-
ened that if he showed himself out again she would kick
'his life out. I distinctly heard the prisoner say, "I'll
tear your eyes out, you damned old devil ;" and then I
heard blows, and a sound as if a stick was being used.
The deceased fell on the floor and cried and groaned.
She beat him so violently that I think he was past doing
anything. While she was beating him, he said, " Your
conduct makes you look like a w-, and that he must
turn his back upon her, as her conduct was so loose in
going out drinking." The prisoner replied, "You call
me a w- ; I'll tear your eyes out." She then beat him
and made him lie on the sofa. She said she should
leave him, and he begged her not to do so. She went
out at half-past six, locking him up, and then she was
intoxicated.

Mrs. Annie Gray, a respectable married female, said
—The house I lived in was next door to the late Mr.
Jones's, but that house was left on the 6th of December
last. I knew Mr. Jones well, but never had a conver-
sation with him but twice. The first time, in July, I
told him I was sorry to see him so poorly and infirm,
and added that it was a pity to see him in the state he
was in. His reply to me then was, "lam a miserable
man." I told him that if he wanted anything, and
tapped at the wall, I should render him all the assist-
ance in my power. I have often heard cries in the
house of the deceased. Mr. Jones and the prisoner
used to have serious disputes about money matters. I
have heard the latter say, " Give me the money, and
let me go." At other times I heard her beat the old
man. The deceased used to say to her " Don't leave
me." I distinctly heard the sound of a slap on the face
which the prisoner gave the deceased. I have fre-
quently heard them quarrel, and heard the deceased
utter the cries of " Murder " on two or three occasions.
The first time I heard these cries was in the month
of July, I think, and on that occasion my husband
heard them as well as myself, and he spoke to a
policeman about it. The next time I heard the
cries of "Murder " was in the latter end of Novem-
ber. About that time they were quarrelling almost
daily, and I have then heard the sound of blows.
In one of the quarrels I heard the prisoner say,
" Give me the money, and let me go," and his re-
ply was, " Don't leave me ; I cannot lose you." She
then asked him how he dared to go to Mr. Key's. . The
old man not answering her, I heard several blows and
groans, as if they came from a person in intense agony.
On one Saturday night there was a very serious quar-
relling, and I heard the deceased groaning as if danger-
ously hurt, and I spoke to a policeman about it, but he
refused to interfere or pull the bell, saying that Mr. Jones
on a former occasion had refused to apply for a summons
or warrant against the prisoner. In the month of July
the deceased had the mark of a violent blow on the left
eye, so that his eye could not be seen from the swelling.
I have never entered the house myself, but I have seen
gentlemen apply for admission, and refused. I have let
gentlemen over the wall of my garden, on their telling
me that the prisoner would not let them in, though I
knew she was in at the time. This was in the month of
October. They rang the bell, and Mr. Jones came out
to speak to them,- and said he could not admit them.
They were nephews of the deceased, and said they parti-
cularly wished to take Mr. Jones away, as they under-
stood his life was in danger.
Miss Maria Hammond, who also lived next door to the
deceased, detailed at some length the particulars of what
she saw and heard of the prisoner and the deceased. She
said that on the night on which Mr. Jones died, she
was much disturbed by the quarrelling between the
prisoner and the deceased. In the course of the night
she was awoke by one of these quarrels. From the
voices she could distinctly tell that there wore only the
prisoner and the deceased in the room (the back parlour)
at the time. Distinctly heard the prisoner talk angrily,
and heard the deceased say, "Oh, what do you say ?"
Immediately after this she beard a heavy fall on the
floor, herefaercta
hdreeaatltih-liinkge
silence,o
which was
followed
witness
didby not p
or a whisper. This was broken by the prisoner opening
the door, and admitting, as witness believed, some per-
sons to her assistance, as she could distinctly hear seve-
ral voices, an
the noises from the room were must unpleasint.
Mr. Elliott—What did the noises resemble I—Wit-
ness—The scratching or scraping of the floor with a

shovel.
Mr. William Jones, 155, Tottenham-court-road, said
—The deceased, Mr. William Jones, was my uncle, and
was in the 84th year of his age., The prisoner had lived
with him about fourteen years as his houskeeper. In
the month of August last I visited him at his late resi-
dence, and on thy entering the house I found him shav-
ing himself, and could see that he had marks of serious
violence on his face. I asked him how he received
them, upon which he exclaimed, " Hush, hush, she's
in the next room ; I can't tell you now, but will pre-
sently." The door of the next room was opened, and the
prisoner, who must have heard my question, entered the
room where we were, and my uncle seemed so nervous
about it that I did not press the question alsecond time,
as the prisoner took care not to leave ns alone or give us
an opportunity. I have made four or five attempts to
see my uncle, but could not, as the prisoner would not
admit me inside his house or to his presence.
Mr. Elliott—What were the marks that you perceived
on your uncle's face T—Mr. Jones--There were several
marks of discoloration, evidently produced by violence,
The next time I saw my uncle was on the Wednesday
after his death, when I called at his house, and the pri-
soner took me into they oom where he lay. I then
and
re-
marked that there was great swelling on the face,
a cut underneath the nose, and asked the prisoner how
this happened ; but she made no reply, nor did she give
any explanation in my presence. My uncle had two
watches, and these, as well as his trinkets, are missing ;
and I have no doubt that various property has been
removed from the house since his death.
Mr. John Lund, the superintendent of the P division
of police said—ln consequence of what came to my
knowledge in reference to the death
witnesses,
different of the deceased,
I had an interview with the
and from what I gathered from t hem, I
Wit had h mades
up my mind to apprehend the prisoner. thi
view I went towards the residence of the late Mr.
Jones, accompanied by Sergeant Quinnear. After
waiting in front of the house a short
togatme, I saw the
prisoner come out, and give a bottle
purpose of getting some gin. 'While she stood at the
gate with her bonnet en, I approached and asked if her
name was Vickers ; and she replied not. At this time,
however, Mr. Jones,
she started from the
the nephew of the deceased, came
up, and identified her ; upon which
gate, and endeavourel to reach the house
laid hold. I followed
as fast as I could, and, jt as she of the
knocker, I managed to get between her nd
a a the doo
dr-
.
I instantly found thyself in her grasp, and more e
termined resistance I never encounteed in all my life ;
in fact I was as nothing in her hands,rfor a more power-
ful woman it would be difficult to find, and had it not
been for the assist once of Sergeant Quinnear, she, cer-
tainly would have sr. cceeded at that time at all events
in getting away fre.m me. I then told her who I was,
and that I should take her into custody on a, charge of
having caused the deF ath other late master, Mr. Jones, and

that if she had anything to say she might do so. After a
minute or two's consideration she replied, " I shall say
nothing." I then proceeded to search the house, and on
examining some clothes in a basket the prisoner said,
" There is no use looking at those things, there is no
blood there, that has already been searched." In a small
box, which the prisoner acknowledged to be hers, I found
a duplicate relating to a watch and trinkets pawned on
the 13th of January, in name of E. Vickers for 31.
I also found in a drawer, which the prisoner said was
hers, the certificate of transfer dated on the 20th No.
vember, 1851, of 1,0001. Three-and-a-Quarter Stock to
the joint names of the deceased and the prisoner.
This valuable document the prisoner snatched out
of my hands, saying it was hers and that she had a right
to have it, and I had some difficulty in getting it back
again.

Sergeant Quinnear corroborated much of Mr.
Lund's statement. After which he produced two
sheets, several towels, shirts, and other articles
deeply stained with blood, though it was quite ap-
parent that the marks of gore were endeavoured to
be removed by waling. The shirts particularly pre-
sented a most suspicious appearance, as they seemed
to be only half washed, the object being evidently that
of removing the blood stains. A. handkerchief was pro-
duced which supplied a strong piece of evidence. This
article was stained in different parts with blood, but in
one part was a clot of dried coagulated blood, to which
were adhering several grey hairs. The officer also pro-
duced a wooden mallet, of modern make and shape,
which he conceived, he said, to be a somewhat unusual
article in tip house of an aged gentleman.
This being the whole of the evidence, the prisoner was
asked in the usual way if she had anything to say why
she should not be committed to take her trial for the
wilful murder of her late master.

Mr. Solomon, her attorney, replied, and said that, ob-
serving it to be the intention of his worship to send the
case before a jury, he should, on the part of the pri-
soner, reserve his defence until then. In the meantime,
he had to request a remand to a future day, lest the pri-
soner might, in the event of being then sent to the Old
Bailey, run the risk of being put on her trial at the pre-
sent session, a course which he (Mr. Solomon) was not
prepared for.

Mr. Elliott admitted that it would not be quite fair to
hurry the prisoner in a case of so serious a character
before a jury, and therefore he had no objection to accede
to Mr. Solomon's request, and should remand the pri-
soner for a week. At the same time, he wished that the
witnesses present should be bound overt in the usual re_
cog,nisanees to, prosecute, so that they might not be put
to the trouble of attending on a future day.
This was done, and the prisoner, who seemed to treat
the matter with a nonchalance amounting to levity, was
removed from the bar.

SHOCKING MURDER OF A SOLDIER'S WIFE.

At the Guildhall, Bath, on Wednesday, the Mayor
(Mr. F. T. Allan) and a full bench of magistrates, were
engaged for some hours in investigating the charge of
murder, preferred by Mr. Hughes, the chief of police,
against Lewis Perran, who was suspected of having
caused the death of an Irish woman, named Honora
Hanaford, who was following her husband to the Win-
chester barracks, but who (as the medical evidence at
the inquest left little doubt) had been murdered on the
night of the 11th of January.
The particulars of the finding of the body in the river
Avon, and also of the first examination of Perran, were
given in the The San last week.

From the medical evidence, it was clear that a wound
upon the crown of tho head had been inflicted during
lifetime, and little doubt remained that the unfortunate
creature had met her death by foul means. The jury
accordingly returned an open verdict.
Two other prisoners were also arraigned with Perran
—Bennett, who was again apprehended, and James.
Webb, both charged with being concerned in the mur-
der. The only new evidence was that of
Eliza Jarvis, who deposed that between 11 and 12
• clock on the night of the 11th of January, as she was
at her door in Avon-street, she saw Bennett come back,
after having seen him leave with the woman. Perran
came back about a quarter of an hour after, and ran
into her passage. His clothes were covered with mud,
and witness caught him by the collar, and said, " Where
have you been to get into such a mess I What have you
done with that poor Irishwoman I" He said, " Drowned
for what I know,!', z, •
Perran exclaimed : God Almighty forgive you. said
no such thing.
Witness continued—Perran then tried to get into the
kitchen, but witness said, "If you do not tell me where she
is, I'll call my mother." He said, "She is in the sand
pit ; we both fell in together." The next morning wit-
ness went to Mrs. Champion's, where Perran lodged,
and the parties present began talking about the woman's
death. Mrs. Champion said to Perran, "You were
not satisfied with ravishing the poor woman, and taking
what she had got, but you must take her life, and throw
stones at her." Perran replied, "I did not, so help me
God ; I only flung a lump of clay." Perran's girl, Sarah
Trotman, who was there, looked up, and said, "If so,
that is two you have murdered." Perran tried to strike
the girl, but witness and Mrs. Champion prevented him.
The following day Ellerton and Bennett were at wit-
ness's house, and Bennett said Eilerton had sworn falsely,
and added, " I ca.ntspeak if I am wanted to speak."
Mr. Hughes, the chief of police, here handed in a note
from Mr. Brown, the surgeon, who examined the body
after it was taken from the water, to the Mayor, who
read it, and handed it over to Mr. Slack, observing that
it contained more than he was before aware of.
Mr. Slack having addressed the Wildh for his client,
His Worship said the magistrates would discharge
Bennett and Webb, as the evidence did not implicate
them, but they had decided upon committing Perran for
trial on the charge of murder • but he would be brought
up again on Saturday, to have the depositions com-
pleted.
RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.

-
THE GREAT NORTHERN RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for
the week ending Jan. 23, 1853 (2851 miles) £13,055 0 1
Corresponding week last year (2414 miles) 10,608 310
LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAlLWAY.—Traffic re-
turn or the week ending Jan. 30, 1853 £17,119 10 3
Corresponding week last year.., 15,111 9 4
CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for
railway and steam-boats or the week ending
Jrn. 30, 1853
Corresponding week last year
Increase in 1853 £7o3 9 10

GLASGOW ♦ND SOUTH-WBSTERN RAlLWAY.—Traffic re-
tura for the week ending Jan. 29, 1853 £3,928 12 11
Corresponding week last year 3,618 6 4

Increase in 1853 £3lo 6 7
CORK AND BANDON ItAlLWAY.—Traffic return for the
week ending Jan. 29, 1853 £l6O 9 11
Corresponding week last year 96 0 10

STOREKEEPING AT BENDIGO DIGGINGS.—The fol-
lowing particulars are extracted from a letter received
by a gentleman in Liverpool from a spirited young
Scotchman, who left Ayrshire for the diggings up-
wards of a year ago, and who is now prosperously
pursuing the career of a storekeeper in Peg Leg Gully,
Bendigo Diggings will take it for granted
that you have heard of my prosperity in the won-
derful land of gold. The date of this will show you that
I am still in the diggings, and there, too, have I every
chance to remain for a year or two longer, by the end
of which time I hope to be in a position to return to the
dear auld toun.' -Up to the present time I have been
most fortunate in my new business—storekeeping—
having cleared for my own share something to the tune
of 1,0001. or 1,200/. ; so you see I have no reason to
regret leaving home, but rather the contrary. My
partner is a Mr. T., belonging to Campbeltown, who
came out in the same ship as myself—a fine steady lad
he is, too. We have now two. stores. He attends
one and I the other ; and in these we sell all sorts of
goods, as you may guess, at rather handsome profits.
Not altogether clear of the hat trade, either. We sell
lots of these Jim Crow ones, only here get 10s. for one
that at No. 27, High-street, would hardly have brought
two bob ! Certainly, it is wonderful to see so much
gold Amide oot the gran', more like what we read of
in story-books, when we were boys, than a substantial
reality. To think that a man has only to sink a hole
some 10 or 15 feet deep, out of which he might get
501 b. weight of gold ! I know some ' claims' that have
produced upwards of 100 lb. weight in a few days, and
that, perhaps, taken out by a couple of men Who
were never possessed of a five-pound note in their life-
time before. Of course, many are unsuccessful, but the
generality of those who are industrious can't fail to
earn from 5011. to 1,000/. per year at digging. The
quantity of gold that has been dug out of this district
during the past 11 months—something like 70 or 80
tons' weight- is a proof of the correctness of my state-
ment ; because at no time has there been more men ac-
tually at work in the mines than 40,000. To be sure,
there are thousands of others who keep stores and bakers'
stalls, also women and children, who swell the number
10,000 more ; but, to go to the outside, say 50,000 dig-
gers. Reckon 70 tons of gold at 3/. per ounce, and see
the average that each man must have earned. Verily
there never were such chances for the labouring
man. I expect that every poor o'erlaboured Wight' in
the old country will make a struggle to come out here ;
and so they ought, too, because there is room enough
for all. Man ! money here is as plentiful as black- ,
berries on the Barrack hills in harvest time. No grind-
ing
of soul and body for a scanty subsistence ! Lot
artisans of all classes come in thousands ; they will
find plenty to do, apart from digging, and be well paid
for doing it. The profession of a compositor pays well.
something to the tune of is. 6d. per thousand."—Liver-
pool
Standard.

THE BURGLARY AT RAVENSWORTII CASTLE.--On
Tuesday, Henry Norris, valet to the lion. Thomas
Liddell, was again brought up before the Durham county
magistrates, at the Police Court, Gateshead, on sus-
picion of being concerned in the burglary committed at
Ravensworth Castle on the morning of the 31st of De-
cember last. The bench decided that the prisoner had
been remanded long enough, and that as no material
evidence hail been added to that of the previous exami-
nation, the prisoner must be discharged. It is currently
rumoured that all the servants at the Castle are about to
leave, in consequence of the unpleasantness created by
these proceedings.