The Sun.
London, England, 1838-12-10 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1838.

~a
~-

XRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

The leading articles of the Morning Papers to-day
consist principally of details of the news from C:Thada.

DR2A-DFUL MURDEF., AND ARSON
AT THE NEWCASTLE SAVINGS' BANK.

(From the IVewcastre Courant of Dec. 7.)
Courant Office, Friday Morning, Three o'Clock.
This morning, shortly before two o'clock, a fire was
discovered in the waiting-room of the Savings' Banks
situated at the south-west end of the Arcade, in this
town. It speedily destroyed the chairs and other
furniture in the room, and two of the large window,
vrhich look into Manor-street, as well as the entrance
doro from the Royal Arcade. By great exertions, how-
ever, on the part of the firemen of the Newcastle and North
British offices, the flames were got under in a short time ;
but no sooner were they so far subdued as to admit of the
Savings' Bank being entered, than a most appalling spectacle
was presented ; for it was found that some desperate at-
tempt at robbery, as was supposed, had been made, and that
life bad been sacrificed in some terrible struggle which had
taken place. The dead body of a man was discovered in the
first instance, with his face and head so dreadfully cut and
broken as to prevent all chance of recognizing the features ;
and then that of Mr. Bolam, actuary of the bank, with his
throat cut, and insensible, but still alive, in the south-west
Fortier of the room. Being near the annual meeting of the
institution, it is conjectured that Mr. B. had remained
late at the office, engaged with his banking-books ;
and that some person or persons had entered with a
view to robbery. Finding Mr. Bolam there, an at-
tempt seems to have been made to murder him, and
he had probably used a poker in self-defence, one having
been found on the floor, much bent, and besmeared with
blood and human hair.—We had written tlus far, when in-
formation reached us that it was suspected the dead body
was that of Mr. Millie, an assistant to Mr. Bolam. If this
should be the case, the horrible character of the transaction
is fearfully increased—robbery, murder, and arson, being
mixed up in one appalling whole, and forming a body of
crime rarely paralleled in the worst page of our criminal his-
tory.—A messenger has this moment arrived, who knew
Mr. Millie well, and, notwithstanding the disfigured state of
the features, he expresses little doubt that it is the body of
the unfortunate assistant.

(From the Second Edition.)
We have now ascertained such particulars as leave
no doubt that the deceased was Mr. Mellie ; and no-
thing can be more awful to look upon than the cruel
mangling which his head and face have undergone
from the bands of his assassin. Mr. Armstrong, of
this office, who is cashier of the bank, was the first to
enter the premises after the fire had been overcome,
in company with Sub-inspector Bell, and while en-
gaged in examining what mischief had been done, he was
suddenly alarmed at striking his foot against the body
of a man. Lights having been procured, they per-
ceived the body was lying face downwards, and on
turning it over a sickening spectacle presented itseT
to the view. The features were knocked on one side, evi-
dently with a heavy blow ; the left jaw was broken, two
cuts were on the forehead, and at the back part of
the bead the skull was laid bare. On further ex-
amination, they found what they considered the dead
body of Mr. Bolam lying near the south-west
corner of the bank ; but on being lifted up they ob-
served signs of life. Mr. P. Glenton, surgeon, was
immediately sent for ; and under his direction Mr. B. was
conveyed to Mr. Glenton's residence, where Messrs.
Nesham and Walker, surgeons, were also speedily in
attendance. Mr. Ald. Dunn and Mr. William Woods
were likewke soon at the house, anxiously waiting Mr.
Bolam's expected recovery, in order to learn some correct
partice.lars of what had taken place up to the time he
had lost his senses.
'Between three and four in the morning, Mr. Bolan' was
so far recovered as to be able to give some account of the
transaction, and we gathered the following, at intervals,
from his lips :
I have lately bad two or three anonymous letters, threat •
ening to do me harm ; and one was put under the door of
the saving hank last evening after dark, saying that some-
thing would happen to me at home. In consequence of
this, though I generally get my tea at the bank, I
went home, the other clerk, Millie, having previously
gone to his tea. I returned about half-past seven
o'clock in the evening, and finding the door locked as I
had left it, I opened it, and put the key into my pocket.
When I got into the bank, I saw Millie lying on the rug,
and I thought he had fallen asleep. He also has a key,
and sometimes locked himself in. I then went towards my
desk, intending immediately to go and speak to Millie, but
while I was about to open my desk, I thought I heard
some one coming behind, and was in the act of turning
round when I received a blow on my right temple from a
man in disguise, with his face blackened. I immediately
started up, and ran shouting towards the window, intend-
ing to give an alarm, on which the man followed me, and
said if I stirred, or made the least noise, be would serve
me as he had served the other man. He struck me again,
when I was near the window ; and when I was down, I
felt a knife at my throat. Shortly after this I became in-
sensible for a while; but afterwards my recollection seemed
to return, and I heard somebody in the other office, as
I supposed, going about and making a noise. I dared not
make the least outcry. I burnt the threatening letters
which I had previously received. The one which I found
last night under the waiting-room door, I left upon my
desk. I cannot well describe the man, excepting that I
think he was under the middle size, and spoke roughly, but
apparently in a feigned voice. I had a few shillings in my
pocket, and I think V. 10s. in my desk, which was left by
Mr. Airey to deposit on Saturday. In the inner safe I had
a further sum of 801. of my own, which I kept to meet
current expenses.
Further than this Mr. Bolam had no recollection of
what took place, and there can be little doubt that his
senses would soon leave him from the loss of blood, and
suffocation caused by the fire.
The poor unfortunate Millie (whose body remains
at the bank, awaiting the inquest) after having been
on probation for some time, was only fully appointed
to the office of assistant clerk of the Savings' Bank at
the Meeting of the Directors on Tuesday last. He
was a well disposed man, and greatly respected ; he was
about 50 years of age, and a widower, with several children.
He was formerly a hardwareman in South Shields, having
succeeded his father, who was in the same business.
We understand the fire was discovered by police-
man Nathan Golding at twenty minutes to two
o'clock ; and other policemen having been collected,
they were very active, under the direction of their
Superintendent, in giving the alarm to the firemen
and turn-cocks, who promptly repaired to the spot. At
this moment, two of the large windows fronting into
Manor-street were demolished, and the glow inside the
waiting-room was so intense as to threaten the upper
part of the building (celebrated for its architectural
beauty) with destruction. The Newcastle engine was
the first to reach the place, and without losing a mo-
ment's time began to play upon the doors from the in-
side of the Arcade. The North British followed al-
most immediately, and quickly reduced the flames in
Manor-street, the demolished windows allowing the
Water free access into the interior of the building. By
the joint exertions of the firemen and policemen, the fire
was fortunately confined to the waiting-room in which it
originated. Mr. Green, architect, occupies offices imme-
diately above the Bank ; and above his offices, again,
apartments were occupied by Mr. Robson, dealer in
lace, the greater portion of whose valuable stock of
kiss was removed from the corner shop of the Arcade
by the police, and others, to the residence of Mr. Parsons,
hair-dresser, where several individuals were readily ac-
commodated. Another family, who occupied rooms above
the Newcastle and NOrth of England Joint Stock Bank,
on the opposite side of the Arcade, took shelter in our
office.

What the design of the party implicated in this frightful
business could be, it is difficult to conceive.was a rule
that
that no money should ever be kept in the bank, it being
deposited in the bank of Sir M. W. Ridley and as
soon Ls received ; though of course this might Co.,not
be generally known, and the premises may have been
entered with a view to plunder. The threatening let-
ters sent to Mr. Bolam, also, are inexplicable in so far
as any attempt at robbery is concerned, for they ap-
pear to have been directed against himself, and to have
had little or no connexion with the affairs of the bank.
As to the condition in which the premises were found
after the fire, it can only as yet be stated that Mr.
Bolam's keys were in the desk, the lock of which was
open ; the door of the stone safe was also open, but
the inner iron safe was locked, although the key, which
Mr. B. said was in his desk, has not been found.
The papers and books in the Savings' Bank itself
are uninjured ; but those in the stone safe, consisting
principally of old account books, are partially burnt.
It cannot, however, be as yet positively stated what
has suffered from the fire ; but it is expected that nothing
is lost which will interrupt the business of the bank further
than this dreadful occurrence may itself occasion.
In concluding this hasty account of an event which,
in a neighbourhood like this—unmarked as the popu-
lation is by any disposition to commit crimes of a
sanguinary nature, almost paralyzes our conceptions of
the reality of the occurrence—we cannot but express
an earnest hope that the murderer will speedily be
discovered, and brought to justice. Committed in the
heart of a populous town, almost immediately after night-
fall, and in premises surrounded by shops, &c., on all
sides, the reckless daring displayed by the perpetrator, is
only to be exceeded by the enormity of the deed itself.
T We gave the above particulars in a Second Edition of

The Sun on Saturday. To-day we have received the Neu!.
castle Jourraii, which contains a similar account to that
we copied from i
~.Intenvoraty; the Courant. The
tg
Journal, hovZ-Ver, in Atlit;eu tentaina a detailed Statement
of the evidence adduced heforc the Coroner on Friday after-
noon ; but it differs in no essential particular from the pre-
ceding report. Amongst other persons whose deposition
was taken before the Coroner, on Friday afternoon, was
that of Mr. Archibald B darn, the Actuary of the Savings'
Bank, who—after the inquest had been adjourned till Wed-
nesday, in order to allow time for further investigation—was
taken into custody, awl is at present confined in the gaol.]

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, Dxc. 8.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL V. LONDON AND SOUTHAMPTON

RAILWAY COMPANY.

An injunction was moved fur to restrain the Company
from interfering with the turnpike road between Reading
and Basingstoke, at the point where the line of the railway
crosses the road on the side of 'l'otterdown Hill, near Ba-
singtoke, until they should have made another road in its
stead, as convenient for passengers and carriages as the
present road. And that the ascent of the bridge or arch
by which the diverted road should be carried over the rail-
way should not exceed one foot in thirty feet, nor should
be more steep than the inclin:ition of the present road.
His HoNouß observed, in the course of the argument, on
the obscurity so often found in the language of Acts of
Parliament, in the penning of which all the common rules
of grammar were frequently disregarded. If he found an
Act of Parliament dtclared that the steepness of a road
should have certain limits, h., was bound to declare that a
road more steep than those limits was not a beneficial road,
and comparing the average steepness of the subtituted road
with that of the road intended to be forsaken, he did not
think the Company were acting .within the limits of their
authority. He should, therefore, grant the injunction.

MONEY AND CITY NEWS•

(FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAT.)
CHRONICLE.—The intelligence from Canada re-
ceived by the Great Western steam-vessel, has given the
utmost satisfaction in the City, and has dispelled the
alarms of those who put faith in the recent acCotints of
the affair at Prescott, and looked forward to a long and
sanguinary warfare in our Canadian possessions. The
present news is regarded as leaving no doubt that it is all
over with the " Patriots," and the manner in which the
American authorities on the borders have arrested persons
concerned in rendering assistance to the Canadian rebels,
i,; looked upon as affording strong grounds for hoping that
the province will soon be completely tranquillised. Not-
vithstanding the intelligence arrived rather late, and occur-
ng on a Saturday, which is generally regarded as a sort of
holiday at the Stock Exchange, Consols. soon became
buoyant, and advanced per cent., leaving off firm at
934 tog for the opening, and, indeed, with every appear-
ance of a further improvement. Exchequer Bills remain
:it 645. to 665. premium.
In Foreign Stocks business is really so limited, that the
variations in the prices are quite unimportant. Spanish
Active left off at 16i to s ; Portuguese Five per Cents.,
-291 to 30 ; ditto Three per Cents., 191 to 20 ; Dutch
Five per Cents., 1004 to g ; ditto Two and-a-Half per
Cents., 54i to ; Belgian, 1011 to 4 ; Brazilian, 77:1
to 774 ; Danish, 74 to 1 ; Colombian, 252 to 264 ; and
Mexican, 23 to A.
Shares generally were firmer to-day, and those of the
Southampton Railway undertaking, which have partaken
of the universal heaviness lately, have rallied considerably,
:he old being last marked at 444 to 451 per share, and the
new at 192 to 202 prem. Birmingham old closed at 77 to
79 prem. ; ditto, new, 234 to 241 prem, ; Great Western,
10 to 11 prem. ; Leeds and Manchester, 17 to 19 prem. ;
Birmingham and Derby, 10 to 8 dis. ; Brighton, 84 to 31
; Greenwich, 162 to 17 per share ; Blackwall, 2i o
dis. ; and Midland Counties, 15 to 14 dis.

The commercial accounts from the United States con-
tinue extremely satisfactory, and no doubt the altered tone
of the Government in respect to the Banks and the cur-
rency has tended materially to give new life and energy to
every branch of trade and commerce, more especially as the
signal and marked defeat which the candidates of the exe-
cutive have almost universally sustained in the late elections,
in consequence of their opinions being favourable to the' wild
set-Imes for a purely metallic currency, is a powerful gua-
rantee that no further paltry methods will be ventured upon
with a view of frustrating the enactments of the Legislature
on this subject.

HERALD.—A new feature in the mode of conducting
a portion of the business of the Bank of England has pre
sented itself to the notice of the monetary interests of the
metropolis, which has, within the past few days, created
considerable discussion. It appears that the Bank of
England direction for the first time have is3ued notices at
their branch banks, that they will grant loans upon certain
securities precisely in the same terms and form as hi-
'fierto Las only been adopted at the parent establish-
ment. There is no doubt expressed that the Bank direc-
tion, under the present Charter, is entitled to carry out
their metropolitan mode of business at their respective
branches ; but this new move, this attempt at pushing
business, only shows that the large Joint Stock Esta-
blishments in London must have materially affected the
monopoly of the Bank of England, else why this seek-
ing for new channels of employment for their authorised
paper circulation through mediums which, over and
over again, have been admitted to be next to profitless
to the parent establishment ? Should this attempt to ex-
tend the monopoly of the Bank of England be fully esta-
blished, it will have the effect of withdrawing a very large
amount of the general commercial discount business of the
country from the London market, and therefore has created,
as we have said before, not only much discussion, but also
i great deal of dissatisfaction amongst the bankers and lead-
ing discount brokers, who appear to view it as an innovation
npon long standing monetary customs and rights. We
need merely, for this occasion, add that the forthcoming
contest between the joint-stock banks and the Bank of Eng-
land, during the next Session of Parliament, will be oae of
very considerable interest in every class of this great com-
mercial community, and one that will require and exercise
all the talent and vigilant integrity that the Chancellor of
the Exchequer can bring to bear upon so very important
a question.

POST.—The interest created among our commercial
men to-day by the intelligence received from Canada, per
Great Western steamer, and which the Morning Post has
the merit of having been the first of the Journals to com-
municate to them, was of course very great. The import-
ant details obtained by this opportunity relative to the
progress of the civil war have, in fact, for the time being,
entirely superseded every other matter. The determina-
tion again expressed by the American Executive to
maintain the strictest neutrality in the present ease, and
to discountenance in every possible way the aggressive
interference of their citizens on the border, gives much
satisfaction ; and it is but due to the people of the
United States to admit, that what has been told us of
the " sympathisers" in that direction would appear
to have been shamefully exaggerated by the New York
Papers opposed to Mr. Van Buren. We have this morn-
ing heard it declared by a London merchant of the highest
respectability who came passenger by the Great Western,
that in a very recent journey from St. John's to Baltimore,
and from thence to Washington, he met with but one
single individual (a dissenting preacher) who showed the
slightest hostility to the British authorities, but that, on
the contrary, the Americans were everywhere decidedly
averse to the Papineau faction, and that the rebellion is
purely and exclusively Canadian.

TIMES.—One of the boldest and most singular projects
to which paper money making has ever given rise, has
lately been proposed in France, where it has been received
with a certain kind of favour by speculative theorists, if
not by the public at large, and if carried into effect may be
instrumental in creating a system of paper money on a scale
so gigantic as far to eclipse all that has been witnessed in
that way either here or in the United States. It is known
that the Post-office in France, as here to a certain extent,
charges itself with the remittance into all parts of the king-
dom, to the armies, the colonies, and even to various
stations out of it, such as Alexandria, Smyrna, and
Constantinople, of small sums of money paid in at
the principal or subordinate post-offices. For the
consideration of 5 per cent, a mandat, or post-office
order is delivered to the party requiring it, payable at
sight in any of the localities designated, providing the sum
does not exceed 100 francs ; otherwise a previous letter of
advice from the Post-office is necessary. The mandat can
neither be negotiated nor transferred ; the bearer cannot
demand payment after the expiration of two years dating
from delivery ; this term expired, the mandat is annulled
without prejudice to the rights of third parties, and saving
a renewal of the order. Should the amounts not be de-
manded for the space of eight years after date, they are for-
feited to the State. With such restrictions, it is but rarely
that recourse has been bad to the French Post-office for
the transmission of funds from one part to another, and in
any case only for insignificant sums. On this account, it is
said that representations have been frequently made against
the exorbitancy of the commission tax of 5 per cent. with
hick the service was charged.
Under these circumstances, it has been proposed to re-
duce the commission to a-half per cent., which would secure
to the Government, through the Post-office, the monopoly
of the transmission of funds from one part to another. This,
however, is the least important part of the scheme put
forward. It is further suggested that the mandats given
out should be allowed to circulate in the same manner as notes
to bearer ; to be payable on presentation in the chief towns of
departments ; when above 100 francs at one day's sight in the
chief towns of districts (arrondissements), and at two days'
sight in all other minor post-office establishments. The title or
mandat to be available during three years, and afterwards
only to be subject to a previous verification, without risk
of forfeiture at all. In this manner, it is observed,
that real bank-notes (veritable billets de banque) would
come to be established in a new shape. These notes it is as-
sumed would circulate everywhere, and soon replace the use
of coin or specie in the greater part of money and business
transactions. Supposing that this innovation could be intro-
cuccd with as much facility as the author ( M. de Lavergne)
takes for granted, the results, it is argued, are so manifestly
,idvantageous as not to be mistaken. France, as a Paris Jour-
oal rk.marks, is almost the only country in Europe where deep-
rooted prejudices have hitherto frustrated all attempts to create
a paper-money circulation placed on a solid basis ; without
speaking of England, almost almost all the German states, and
even Russia, have managed to substitute paper as an inter-
mediate agent of circulation fora large portion of specie qua_
lified as a "sterile agent," and thus by " signs" of value less
costly contribute directly to the " work of production." Itis ll
made
rathero
f franc
noi matterio silvero a
and gold complaint,
old singularly(abootl6oenough, that,ooo,ooo/. )
milliards
should be requisite in France for the regular routine of coin-
mercial affairs—an amount which might advantageously be re-
duced one half, and to which desirable consummation the pro-
ject in hand, it is said, might powerfully assist.
Such is the plan which is now occupying attention in
France, where, as has been shown on various occasions under
his head, banks and paper money are now of almost every day
creation. It may be doubted, after all, whether the combing_
tion thus put forth will be likely to excite the public ap-
petite in that country for paper money. The Post-office
being part of the machinery of Government, paper issued
by it, other than for direct realization by individuals,
must long be subject to the discredit or prejudice
still operating in the minds of the people against paper
money of any description, but how much more especially of
'hat which would he essentially a Government paper money,
mid therefore more immediately liable to all the odium still
remembered and felt against the Government a,signats of
former days? For the creation of a paper circulation as such,
reposing on the faith of the State, the most deeply-rooted
confidence is necessary in the stability of the Government

hat is, but in the face of the perpetual changes of forms of
igovernmenf and of dynasties for the last fiftyyears nearly, and
the 'comparative freshness of the one now at the head of the
fiat*, it seems oat of the question that any paper system upon
a national sdale could be founded. it would have for rival,
too, upon disadvantageous terms of comparison the Bank
of France, which, although iri some respects a State
Institution, pos.sesse4 th 6 far more weighty guarantee
in the public eye of large paid-up ac.oital, and a
body of wealthy shareholders ; and this without reference
other Joint stock Banks of more recent standing, hut esta-
blished upon something like the same principles, apart from
any +connexion with the State. It is fairly admitted besides,
that'could the project be brought to bear, it must cause a
complete revolution and consequent derangement in the Post- ,
office system. It may be assumed, that country post-masters
are no better instructed generally, or more capable in France
than here. From what is known of the class, therefore,
it will readily be conceived how entirely inadequate they would
be found to contend, in addition to all their ordinary duties,
with the complicated perplexities of money operations,
with the immense quantity of correspondence, besides ac-
counts growing out of them, the confusion arising from
which, in the hands of people so unpractised and ignorant,
would be interminable. To carry the system projected into
effect, it would, therefore, be indispensable to begin with a re-
construction from beginning to end of the Post-office itself, to
place in all the departments, both of town and country, persons
of experience in banking, and to convert every country post-
office into a branch bank.

In some of its features the present project bears a strong
resemblance to the sub-treasury system lately proposed in di-
United States, with this difference, that in the latter the
post-office was to be merely a fiscal agent for the ro-
ceipt and transfer of funds on account of the public
treasury from one part of the union to the other, with a view
to avoid tte former recourse to banks and bank paper money,
whilst the French project contemplates the establishment of
a State paper circulation through the action of the Post office
in commercial and money transactions of every description in
the shape of agency• Not the least embarrassing particular
of the scheme would be the accumulation of specie by this
means in the public treasury, and the sort of employment or
profit which the Government is to derive from the " sterile
agent," as it is called. It clearly might contribute to suggest
the most ambitious projects and wasteful expenditure.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FRANCE.

The provincial papers of France represent the country
as overrun by malefactors. The Gazette de Berri states
that robberies were daily committed in the farm houses of
that district, and the Reparateur de Lyons mentions that
all the towns of the adjoining departments were infested
with thieves and miscreants. The Memorial Bordelais of
the sth inst. announces that a gang of robbers existed in
the neighbourhood of Bordeaux, " whose numbers, already
considerable, would necessarily increase at the approach of
winter."

The Bons Sens states that King Louis Philippe having
asked M. Thiers his opinion on Spanish affairs, the latter,
after allowing his Majesty to expose his own personal views
of the question for upwards of an hour, returned this brief
reply :—" It was then too soon, it is now too late."
" The Ministry," observes the same Journal, " expect
no favourable intelligence from Mexico, for the opening
of session. The accounts which reached yesterday state
that the weather was frightful on the Mexican coast, and
that the yellow fever had raged with destructive inten-
sity on board the blockading squadron. It is reported
that France will consent to modify her ultimatum, and
refer the question of the pecuniary indemnity to the de-
cision of a mixed committee. This mode of adjusting the
difference by arbitration has been recommended by Eng-
land and the United States."

FRENCH FUNDS.—PAnts, DECEMBER 8
Five per Cents., 1101: sc. 10c. 15c. 20c. Latest Prices-110f. 35c.
Four per tents., 10.3 f. 50c.
i':,ree per Cents., 79E 83c. 80c. 83c Ditto 80E
Bank Actions, 2,715 f. 2,725 f Ditto 2,725 f.
Itente kie Naples, 99f. 65c.
Roman Five per Cents., 1015y.i.
Spanish Actives, 16%.
Belgian Five per Cents. 102.
Belgian Bank, 1,355 f. 1,3651. 1,390 f Ditto 1,380 f.
Haytian Loan, 405 f.
E tCHANGX ON LONDON.-9se month, parer, 25f. c. money,2sf. 25c.
ec months, paper, 25f. 17%c ; money. 2.5 f. 15c.