The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-02 00:00:00

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.

GREAT NORTHERN RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for the
week ending Oct. 22, 1854 £22,050 8 4
Corresponding week last year 18,773 16 1

LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAlLWAY.—Traffic re-
turn for the week ending Oct. 9, 1854 £19,107 10 6
Corresponding week last year 17,599 3 11

• - - -
CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for
the week ending Oct. 29, 1854 £5,015 9 11
Corresponding week last year 4,387 0 7

---
Increase in 1854 £62B 9 4
CORK AND BANDON RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for the
week ending Oct. 28, 1854 £2oo 8 7
Corresponding week last year 2lB 12 5
GLASGOW AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.--Traffic re-
turn for the week ending Oct. 28, 1854 £5,579 011
corresponding week last year 4 ,856 13 6
Increase in 1854 £722 7 5

SCHOOL OF MINES FOR CORNWALL.—The scheme
which was set on foot a short time since for the estab-
lishment of Government schools of mines in Cornwall,
likely to be shortly brought to a -successful issue.
CHARGE AGAINST A ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST.—At
the Blackburn county petty sessions, on Wednesday
last, a very serious charge was preferred at the instance
of three girls, named Susannah Bennett (11), Ellen
Martin (12), and Eliza Martin (9), against the Rev. Jo-
sephl Bond, of Preston, a priest of the Roman Catholic
church. Mr. Barkhouse was for the complainants,te
instructed by Mr. Charles Stall, of Accrington ;
rev. gentleman there appeared Mr. Knowles, barrister,
Mr. the
rev.
Mr. W. Segar, and Mr. Banks, solicitor, Preston. M.
Barkhouse stated that the proceedings were taken out
under the Vagrant Act, the defendant being
with indecent exposure. The girl Rennettmwahich she said
d charged
ea detailed
statement referring to an act of exposure
took place on Oct. 9, and the two Martins deposed to two
similar acts, each witnessed by both on the following day.
Mr. Knowles addressed the bench for the defendant in
reference to the first case, and said he had no evidence
committhtaet_d, child. Shortly
the Rev. Mr.
to oppose to the statement ma
de by
before the alleged offence
was
Bond left Preston
t°nrYehurst, where he enjoyed
active duties of his pro-
fession. Whilst there, a
some relaxation fromfotrhe So
more
°OD the day mentioned, he had
indulged in walks in
the immediate neighbourhood of
the college. In
that neighbourhood the feeling between
Protestants and Roman Catholics was very strong, and
many rumours had been set afloat with respect to the
B
priesthood. By some
means or other the mind of that
child _.
had been filled
with the story she had told. The
case was one which it was evidently impossible to pre-
pare a defence, but the rev. gentleman for whom he
appeared solemnly and indignantly denied the charge
whichhad so unexpectedly been made. He hoped
the magistrates would dismiss the case, but at the same
time that their indignation should be vented against
those parties who had dared to make so foul and impro-
bable a charge. Mr. Knowles afterwards dwelt upon
the discrepancies discoverable in the evidence of the
Martins, after which the magistrates retired to consult.
They were only about five minutes. On returning into
court, Mr. D. Thwaites said--The magistrates are una-
nimously of opinion that from the contradictions in the
evidence, and the improbabilities of the statements made,'
the charges against the Rev. Mr. Bond are not proved.
We dismin tlacsae.—Beiton Clwomicle.
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