The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-27 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

Mr. Cooper, for the prosecution, said that he did not
know who had instituted the prosecution ; but those by
whom he had been instructed did not wish, after the re-
marks his lordship had made, to proceed with the case,
if the jury were of opinion that it hal not been estab-
lished by the evidence adduced.
Chief Baron—l cannot help thinking that there has
been some very improper misconduct in this affair. A.
pretended•sacrifice to justice has been made, for the pro-
tection of the public from the danger arising from the
want of due care and caution on the part of railway-
officers, and this offering has been made by putting for-
ward persons who are the wrong people to try. I don't
know what opinion the jury may entertain of the case.
The jury turned round for a momedt or so, and re-
turned a verdict of Not Guilty against both of the de-
fendants. A similar verdict was taken in the other
cases. The results elicited considerable applause in the
court, which was with difficulty suppressed.
BARBAROUS MURDER AND ROBBERY—SENTENCE OF
DEATH.
William Thompson, aged 21, was indicted for the
wilful murder of Lorenz Beha, an Italian, a travelling
jeweller, and stealing from his person two 51. notes, and
divers other monies, of the value of 151.
The murder was one of a most atrocious character.
The deceased resided in Norwich, where he kept a
watchmakers' and jewellers' shop. He was in the habit
of travelling the country with a box of watches, trinkets,
&c., &c. On Monday, the 14th of November, he left
Norwich, on one of his monthly journeys. The last
time he was seen alive was on Friday, the 18th of No-
vember, about half-past twelve, when he called upon a
person at Wellingham. A little after three that same
afternoon, a person passing along the road from Welling-
ham to Tittleshall, observed a pool of blood. He fol-
lowed the track to a place in the fence by the side of the
road, where something appeared to have been dragged
through. He went over the fence, and on the other
side found the dead body of Beha. Near the body he
found an axe, which had blood upon it and a very
small portion of hair. The body was examined, and
a deep wound was noticed on the back of the head,
as if inflicted by an axe, and which was sufficient to
account for death. On the body being turned over,
three similar wounds were seen in the face, any
of which would Drove fatal. The pockets of the
deceased had been turned out and were empty. His
box of jewellery was lying by his side, but it had not
been broken open. It would appear that the murder
had been committed between half-past twelve and half-
past three on the Friday afternoon. Inquiries were
then instituted, and it was ascertained that the prisoner,
who is a labouring man, living with his father at Tittles-
hall, was seen near the spot between twelve and one,
and that he had an axe under his arm. He was again
seen about half-past one coming from the road where
the murder was committed ; he appeared hot, as 'if he
had been walking fast, and he had no axe under his arm.
Later in the day he paid two sums of money, and he
was noticed to be dressed different to what he was in the
morning. That same night he was apprehended, and
by his bedside were found a pair of trowsers, which were
spotted with blood from the knee to the bottom of the
legs. The slop (smock frock) he wore was stained with
blood, as also the trowsers' pocket. On the following
morning a watch was found in an old oven in the cottage
where the prisoner lived, and the deceased's purse under
the roof of an outhouse. In the purse were found
two watches, two 51. notes, and about 51. in gold and
silver. It was learned that the deceased had recently
given change for two 51. notes, which were proved to
be those in the purse. Much circumstantial and con-
firmatory evidence was adduced as to the prisoner's excited
demeanour at the period of the murder, and the axe
found near the body was said to resemble one which
belonged to his father, and a few days after he had been
committed to Norwich Castle he sent for Mr. Peirson,
the governor, and made a long rambling statement, to
the effect, that as he was walking along he saw a large
pool of blood by the side of the road, and observed the
track of it to the fence, where something had been
dragged through. He looked over into the ditch, and
saw a man standing over the body. He was the same
man he had seen in a plantation just before. His hands
were wet and covered with blood. He said he would go
and tell somebody, and the man caught hold of his
trousers and daubed his legs, and swore he would chop
him down if he said anything about it. He told him he
would not. The man then took out the deceased's purse
and gave it to him, and told him to go. The man was
blind with one eye, and wore a Tom and Jerry hat, and
said his name was Walter Edding.
The jury found the prisoner guilty.
His lordship then put on the black cap, and in the
usual terms left the convict for execution.

TI3E PRESTON STRIKE.

PRESTON, March 25.—The arrest and committal of the
delegates is the all-absorbing topic of conversation here.
The town, however, is remarkably quiet, the excitement
which existed among the unemployed up to Thursday
evening having now wholly subsided. Immediately
after the result of the magisterial inquiry was known, a
number of tradesmen and others met together, and it
was unanimously resolved that a "Delegatea' Defence
Fund" be forthwith organised. A treasurer was ap-
pointed, and considerable sums have been collected, pub-
lic sympathy being aroused on behalf of the committed
delegates. A special levy of 2d. is to be made at Black-
burn in aid of the object in view, and this example is
being followed by other towns in the district.
The iaiportation of hands is still going forward on an
extensive scale, about 400 having been brought in dur-
ing the week. It is stated, however, that little more
than half of these are likely to be available as workers.
25 hands, imported by the associated masters, have re-
cently been sent back again, in consequence of their
being dissatisfied with the prices offered them. In a
circular issued by the committee of the Masters' Defence
Association, it is said :—" The number of operatives re-
turning to work is daily On the increase, notwithstanding
the efforts which are put forth to prevent it. The ar-
rangements which, in previous announcements, the com-
mittee have stated as being in progress for the removal
of operatives from other localities have been attended
with perfect success ; and, in addition to the hands who
have already arrived, large numbers are now ready to be
removed as soon as the necessary preliminaries for their
reception can be completed."
This afternoon a meeting of the unemployed was held
in a field on the Lancaster-road, about a mile and a half
from the town. Four of the committed delegates, viz.,
Messrs. Cowell, Grimshaw, Waddington, and Lang
presented themselves before the assembly and were
warmly cheered. It was, however, deemed prudent
that they should not address the meeting. The speakers
were Messrs. Rhodes, of Stockport ; Brown, of
Blackburn ; Beever, of Brooksbottom ; Smith, of
Oldham ; and Lawless, of Warrington. The chief topic
descanted upon was the apprehension of the delegates.
One of the speakers remarked, that the approaching
trial at Livetpool would show whether there was one
law for the rich and another for the poor. If the men
who had been committed this week were guilt
con-
spiracy, then were the manufacturers a yof
hundredfold
more guilty—an illustration of which was found in the
intimidation alleged to have been practised by the asso-
ciation towards Mr. John Swainson, in requiring him
either to forfeit 5,0001. or lock out his hands again, after
lie had arranged with them upon satisfactory terms.
According to custom, the proceedings closed with a
round of cheering.
To-morrow there is to be a ten-per-cent. camp meeting
in Qs neighbourhood of liwiliogdon. ,

NORFOLK CIRCUIT.—NORWICH, MARCH 24.
(Before the Lord Chief Baron.)
THE FATAL CATASTROPHE IN THE LATE SNOW STORM ON
THE EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY—TRIAL OF MICSSRS.
ASHCROFT AND LATHAM.
Mr. Pete; Ashcroft, the superintendent of the perma-
nent way, or resident engineer of the Eastern Counties
Railway, and John. Latham, one of the inspectors, were
charged with the manslaughter of Thomas Ellison, who,
with the Rev. Joseph Belt and four others, were killed
by :a collision on the above line during the heavy fall of
snow in January last.
Mr.'Serjeant Ryles submitted that there was no case
to go to the jury.
Chief Baron—l do not understand how there has been,
what certainly appears to me, as nearly as may be, a
mockery of justice. Ido not know who is responsible
for it, and I should very much like to know. leertainly
think that somebody is deeply responsible for this pre-
tence of prosecuting for the death of these men, and not
fixing the blame where it appears to me to attach. It
is quite clear that Howard travelled on the wrong line,
and at a greater speed than four miles an hour, and with-
out having man with a signal before him, and without
having left an order in writing at the station. It is
Howard that is responsible for these deaths, though it
might have been a question for the jury to say to what
extent other persons might have been responsible with
him.

We are pleased to n otioe that Mr. Macgrego w, in ire-
tiring from the office of managing director, " assuPeo
the shareholders of his unabated desire to pron tote the
best interests of the eoLnpany."—Morning Vd.

LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERA
We have been requester, t to publish the follow i ng corm
respondence

" London and South-Western Rails ray,
Secretary's Office, Fork-road, March 24, 1854.
" Sir,—Your letter of the 1 lth inst. was laid be. fore the
court of directors at their meet, in... yesterday.
" In reply to the various que% lions put by you I de-
sired to give the following explane.tion "On the arrival of the excursiom 'Bt3 in the docks, was
represented to some of the directory of the company, 1 who
were present on the occasion, that it Would be a great e 'on-
venience and accommodation to the party, but partied* rly
to those who were members of the Hon'se of Commons ,if
they could return to London at an earlier hour than • the
one originally advertised.
"It being understood that this was the general wish of
the whole party, with the exception of a few, who pre ferr ed
remaining later, and whose tickets were =irked 94 th% sir
request permitting them to return by any train during tJ he
evening, the earlier return of the train was ,arrang‘ad Lc-
cord ingly.
"I am desired to express, on the part of the three )rits
their great regret that through any cause this alteTatioa iin
the arrangement should not have been niade knows, to 3 on,
or the otherparties to whom you refer, and that you shot ild
have experienced any inconvenience in consequence:
"I am to add that no danger could arise to the excnrsi on
train in consequence of the change of the hour, the us' (al
notice of the special train having been sent to all intern ie•
diate stations of the altered hour of starting it.
" I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
" J. S. Pakington, Esq., 10, "
E L. Czomniz, Secretary.
aton-terrace."

" 10, Eaton-terrace, March 25, 1854.
" Sir,—l beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letl ,er
of yesterday's date, written on behalf of the directors of
the London and South-Western Railway Company, in. I ►n-
swer to mine of the 11th inst., and to express my sens. s of
the courteous terms in which their explanation is e ,on•
voyed.

"I have the honour to remain, Sir,
" Very faithfully yours,
"J. SLANEY YABINGTO IL

"L. Crombie, Esq.," &c.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENC Ir.

CUSTOM HOUSE, MARCH 25.

ENTERED INWARDS.—The Carl Richard, from -Wok% st
Wilbelmine, Stettin ; Jane and Mary, do. ; Ferdinand,
Helsingborg ; Antoinette, Hamburgh ; Maria, Brenton t ;
Ha.abet, Dram ; Hermanos, Christiania ; Echo, Dram ;
Clio, Christiania ; Minerva, Nykjobing ; Betsy, Teri a
Nova ; Atalante, Aarhuus ; Trine, do. ; Hildegard •
Schwarterjer, 4
Stralsund ; Hedwig, Bogense ; Wilhelmins
Hamburgh ; Hernia Sudwesthorn ; Aberdonian, Arob --
angel ; Proven, Aalborg ; Experance, Loken ; Tre Brodea
Stromstad ; Otilia, Krageroe ; Soerideren, Gothenburg.
ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR LOADING.—The Furldoverei
for Copenhagen ; Andes Minde, do. ; Anne Margaret' u 4
do. ; Spencer, Antwerp ; Engelina, Hamburgh ; 'Tu./ v 4
Launceston ; Ivanhoe, Bombay ; Secret, Malta ; Math i. is
Catherine, Gothenburgh ; Ida Charlotta, Stockhol'tx ;
Rangoon, Madras ; City of the Sultan, Constantinople.
CLEARED OUTWARDS WITH CARGO.— The Chanticl der,
for Newfoundland ; Cole, St. Malo ; Hilding, Marstr and
and Gothenburg ; llnion, Altona ; Cornelia, Holland and
Amsterdam ; Supply, Leghorn ; Osprey, Messina and
Palermo.

LIVERPOOL, March 25.—The Dreadnought (steam-i lu
has arrived from Wexford with wrecked
goods ex / fia-
g)
gara, from Liverpool io New York, wrecked on Bla
water.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

HADDINGTON—MARau 24.

---- ---
The supplies of all kinds of grain was smaller than in
last market. Sales dull. Wheat, top is down. 'Data t
the top is 6d down. Barley on the top price 4s 6d door a.
Beans on the top 2s down.
The following are the prices of grain at our n "ark. t
to-day :

WIISAT. BARLEY. OATS. IMO 111..
First Bls Od 43s 6d 39s Od 504 Od
Second 713 9d i 40s 9d 32s 5d 445. fal
Third s3s Od I 36s 6d 28s Od 395: 6d
Total quantity of wheat in market, 128 qrs., 114 a kid
PP Pl barley „ 381 qrs., 323 a ild
SP PP SP
oats 403 qrs., 348 a )1d
PP SP PP
beans 121 qrs., 121 a old
Average of wheat .£3 11 9 0-12ths
Ditto of Barley -12ths
Ditto of Oats
Ditto of Beans . ........... ..... ... 2 4 6 2-12 the

DALKE ITH GRAIN MARKET—Maxim 24.
Wheat on the top same as last market, current price 4e
down, and the lowest lOs down. Oats on the top 18 4a.
down, current price 2s down, and the lowest is 8d down_
Barley on the top 6d down, current price is up, and the
lowest is Od up. Peas and beans on the top 2s down, cur-
rent price 6d down, and the lowest 3d up.
Qrs. Best. Current. Inferior
173 Wheat 80s Od
223 Barley 43s 6d 3Bs 6d
56 Peas & beans 50s Od 4Bs 9d
Average of wheat, 3/. 8s 9jd.

ABERDEEN—MA nc H 24.
The prices of grain are—Old oats, 28s Qd to 28s 6d ;;
401bs per Lushel; new oats, 00s Od to 00s Od, 401bs per. bushel ; bere, 35s 6d to 36s 6d, 531bs per bushel ; barley,.
35s Od to 35a 6d, 531bs per bushel ; wheat, red, 60s Od
62s Od, 621bs per bushel ; wheat, white, 70s Od to 721 Od,.
621bs per bushel ; oatmeal, 23s Od. to 24s Od per boll ;
flour, 58s Od to 59s Od per sack. Provisions—Beef, per lb„
6(1 to 7d ; mutton, ditto, Gd to 7d ; veal, ditto, 5d to 7d ; ;
pork, per lb, Os 5d to Os 7d ; salmon, per lb, 24 Od to Os Od ;-
rabbits, each, Od to Od ; tallow, per stone, 5s 9(1 to Os Od •
potatoes, per peck, 12d to Os Od; butter, per lb, 10d to lld
eggs, per doz, Os 61 to Os 8(1 ; hens, per pair, 2s 6(1 to.
3s 0(1; chickens, ditto, 2s at to 2s 6d ; ducks, ditto, 2s 6d.
to 3s 0 1 ; ducklings, ditto, 2s Gd to Os Od ; turkeys,
each, 3s 61 to 4s Od ; geese, ditto, 3s Od to 4a Od ; butter
for exportation (present cure), per cwt, 82s to 841 Od ;
ditto (summer cured), 00s to 00s Od ; eggs, wholesale price ,
per dozen, 6d to Od ; 41b loaf, 8d ; 21b loaf, 4d ; pork 4
fine small, Os Od to Os Od ; pork, large, Os Od to Os Od ;
lamb, per qr., 10s Od to Od ; cheese, per imperial :don,
5s 6d to 7s.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCT.

SOUTH-EASTERN.
We published in our impression of Saturda the fact
that the recent vote of the shareholders at' the half-
yearly meeting had resulted in the remova 1 of Mr.
Macgregor from the office of chairman of )znpany,
and that he had resigned his duties as t nanaging
director.
The very skilful policy which has ch aractei !Timed Mr.
Macgregor's conduct in the various Parliamentary con-
tests, in whicq the best interests have beon so seriously
and frequently jeopardised, is admitted by all 'rho have
paid attention to the progress of our raa,lwa; r system,
and the ability he has displayed in his man agi "neat of
the financial affairs of the undertaking and tl lel traffic
of the line is equally unquestionable. Few Oath, er rail-
way companies have had to contend against suc 1t is nfluen-
tial oppositions as have assailed the South-Eas tes la pro-
prietors ; and we believe we are correct in sayil ig that
there is scarcely any railway man in the kingdo who
could have so energetically met and so succ‘n ;dully
overcome them as did Mr. Macgregor. But f. or years
past Mr. Macgregor has been obnoxious to a s .ection
of the shareholders, who felt themselves aggri Jed at
what they deemed his dictatorial treatment, n ,o t only
of their own friends at the board; but, as they e leclared,
of every member of the direction. The oppot ;Rion of
many of this section has been of the most pers( Ina' and
per,•eering character, and although it has, o a many
occas.. cms.
been singularly unsuccessful in its results,
yet the
new directors who were voted in at the late
half-yearly. meeting, may be fairly said to ova -e, in a great
measure, thoir seats to the long-continued • and witupe-
rative opposhtion waged against Mr. Macgri Tor ray the
section of shark Molders alluded to, and amen& *.st u thorn,
could find several railway h 'env .irs-on
we believe, we
whose railway amtecedents are not associated v' ith a t very'
large amount of disinterestedness. At the s.l me time,
we beg to observe .that we do not, in the ren cote st de-
gree, impute any connection between the new dire .store
and the section of ell areholders to whom we have al-
luded.