The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-18 00:00:00

BARNSTAPLE.

This committee resumed this morning at half-past
eleven, when the examination of witnesses was proceeded
with.

A Buckingham—Was a freeman of Barnstaple. Was
canvassed for his vote by Sir William Frazer and Mr.
Bremridge. Mr. Marsh and Mr. Evans were with
them. Was canvassed at his own house. Did not re-
member if he promised his vote at that time. I knew
Mr. Marsh's house in Barnstaple. Went to Marsh's
house several times before the election. Went to the
house of a man named Williams on the polling day. Was
told to go there by Charles Parkins. Went to Williams's
to get something to drink. Believed he also meant to
try and get a little money for his vote. Went
into a bedroom at William's, where he saw several
voters. There were refreshments there. There was
some talk about money for votes. Went from William's
house to the poll. Had heard that he might get 6/. for
his vote. After voting went back to William's house.
Saw 61. in a room there. Took the money up. Wil.
Rams was in the room at the time. Saw other voters go
into the same room.

(This witness was under examination when our re-
port left.)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.-(THIS DAY.)

CHARGE AGAINST A LICENSED VICTUALLER.

Mr. Walter Charles Cross, the landlord of the Black
Horse Tavern, Oxendon-street, was brought before Mr.
Bingham, charged with being drunk, and obstructing
police-constable Bendall, 148 C, while in the execution
of his duty.

The officer stated that about 11 o'clock on Saturday
night, he was en duty in Oxendon-street, when he saw
an omnibus at the door of the defendant's house. Both
the driver and conductor were in the house. Witness
remained there for about two or three minutes, when
the defendant, who was drunk, came out of his house,
and asked him whether he (witness) had received any
particular orders to remove carriages from the door
of his house, and supposed complainant was one
of those fast gentlemen who wanted to take
the bread out of everybody's mouth, but he
would see whether witness had a right to interfere.
Witness desired him not to obstruct him in taking the
number of the "'bus," when he said if he persisted in
taking the number he (defendant) would go to the sta-
tion and see Mr. Otway and Inspector Whall, and would
see if such an animal as witness remained in the force.
Complainant told him if he had any complaint to make
against him he had better go to the station and see the
Inspector. Witness then took out his pocket-book for
the purpose of taking the number, when defendant
pushed against him a second time ; and as he persisted
in interfering with him in his duty, he (witness) took
him into custody and conveyed him to the station.
In reply to the charge, the defendant said about half-
past ten, on Saturday night, a Brentford omnibus which,
for the last six years, had been in the habit of stopping
at his house, drove up his door, and the conductor and
driver came in for their usual refreshment. While at
the bar the men said they were not to stop there any
more. Defendant said he was sorry for that, and would
go out and speak to the constable on duty about it. He
did so, and when the latter told him he was going to
take the number of the omnibus, he (defendant) said
" Surely you are not going to take bread out of my
mouth." The constable then pushed him away, and
be (defendant) certainly did get a little excited,
and told him he would complain of him to the inspector.
The constable then, without more to do, laid hold of
him, and took him to the station, where he was pushed
into a cell, where he remained for three hours without
his coat. He denied being drunk.
Mr. Bingham said defendant ought not to have inter-
fered with the officer in the execution of his duty—if the
latter had taken the number of the omnibus, a summons
would have been taken out, when defendant could have
attended here and stated any complaint he had to make
against the officer. He (Mr. Bingham) thought de-
fendant had been very indiscreet, and he considered it
necessary to impose a small fine of 55., for improperly
interfering with the constable.

STATE VISIT OF THE JUDGES TO ST. PAUL'S. —On
Sunday afternoon, the judges, according to annual
custom, attended divine service in St. Paul's Church,
to celebrate the first Sunday in Easter Term. The sacred
edifice was crowded, and an eloquent sermon was de-
livered, which was listened to with great attention by
all present. The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, the
sheriffs, several aldermen, and Common Council mem-
bers arrived at an early hour, and at the conclusion of
the service the judges formed in procession, passed
through the cathedral, and took their departure in their
carriages.

ASTLEY'S AMPHITHEATRE.—The entertainments pro-
duced this week at the above highly popular establish-
ment, under the direction of the enterprising lessee Mr.
W. Cooke, have been numerously and fashionably at-
tended. Among the many families of distinction were
those of the Duchess of St. Albans, the Earl of Yar-
borough, &c. &c. The new spectacle of Amakosa, or
Scenes in Kafir Warfare, has been crowned with com-
plete success, and the arena presents a brilliant phalanx
of attraction. _ _ _

' -----
THE PRANKS OF A LtrNATic.—On Saturday after-
noon, a man, apparently labouring under some intense
excitement, commenced stripping himself of his clothes
in front of the Royal Exchange. When stark naked he
danced upon the pavement for some minutes, the by-
standers apparently petrified, and not interfering.
There was no police. After some time he darted off at
full speed up Cheapside, to the great consternation of
the passengers of this crowded thoroughfare. The poor
fellow, in al probalility, had made his escape from a
lunatic asylum.
THE ST. CROSS HOSPITAL CONTROVERSY.—The
churchwardens of the parish of St. Faith, Winchester,
in which the celebrated hospital of St. Cross is situated,
have exercised jurisdiction in the beautiful church of St.
Cross, as their parish church. They have also taken
formal possession of the churchyard of St. Cross, by
affixing a chain and padlock on its gates. All this has
been done in direct opposition to the Rev. Earl of
Guildford, the master of St. Cross.

FESTIVAL OF THE THREE CHOIRS.—The triennial meet-
ing of the three choirs of Worcester, Hereford, and Glo-
cester will be held this year at Glocester, and the pre-
liminary arrangements have been so far carried out that
the following noblemen and gentlemen have undertaken
the duties of stewards of the festival :—The Right Hon.
Lord Leigh, the Hon. Ashley Ponsonby, M.P., Sir
William Russell, Bart., Mr. Nigel Kingscote, M.P.,
Mr. Mullings, M.P., Mr. W. P. Price, M.P. Mr. W.
H. H. Hartley, late High Sheriff of Glocesterslire, Mr.
C. J. Monk, son of the Bishop of Glocester and Bristol,
Mr. R. P. Davies, Mr. J. Ford, sen., the Rev. H. A.
S. Atwood, the Rev. B. S. Claxson, D.D., the Rev. L.
B. Clutterbuck, the Rev. T. Evans, D.D., the Rev. H.
B. Evans, and the Rev. C. G. Hutchinson. It is under-
stood that the first talent available will be secured, and
the meeting, it is expected, will be held in the second
week in September.

Saturday
FlRE.—About a quarter to 12 o'clock on
night a fire of a very alarming nature broke
out in the house of Mr. Purssell, the large confectioner,
29, Ludgate-hill, which at one time threatened not only
the destruction of the extensive establishment where it
originated, but the houses in its immediate vicinity.
The flames were first seen to issue from the shop win-
dows ; they then ascended with fearful rapidity to the
drawing-room, and in a very short time the devouring
element rushed rapidly through every portion of the
house. An alarm had, in the meantime, been given at
the fire station in Farringdon-street, and in a short space
of time engines from that and other fire stations were
quickly on the spot. A plentiful supply of water being
at hand, the firemen set to work, and their energies
were so well directed that the progress of the fire was
considerably arrested. It was evident from the first
that Mr. Purssell's house must suffer severely from the
effects of the fire, and the great object of the firemen
was to prevent the flames from spreading to the adjoin-
houses. In this they were quite successful, and by half-
past 12 o'clock the fire was completely extinguished, but
not before the interior of Mr. Purssell's establishment
was completely gutted.