The Sun.
London, England, 1840-01-25 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM ELECTION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR—In your account of yesterday's proceedings at the
nomination for this borough, I observe that, whilst the abu-
sive language of Mr. Muntz is given at length, my short
address at the conclusion of the business is entirely omitted.
Your report represents me to have called upon the pre-
siding officers to demand from Mr. Muntz a withdrawal of
the offensive epithet, whereas my application was that I
should be permitted to reply. I was then informed that
such course could not be permitted until after the show of
hands. This error of your reporter is, however, excus-
able from the noise then prevailing.
On my subsequently renewing my claim, the privilege
was conceded me, and I addressed the audience to the fol-
lowing effect :—" I have become mixed up in the business
of this day through being engaged in the cause of huma-
nity—in an effurt to save the lives of three of our fellow-
creatures. Mr. Muntz now offers to sign the petition to
the Queen in their behalf—Joseph Sturge has already, and
without the slightest hesitation, headed the list of signa-
tures; and I think I can afford, and am bound, to make
some personal sacrifice at the shrine of so sacred a cause
as that in which lam engaged. If Mr. Muntz can forgive
himself, I can forgive and endeavour to forget his very un-
parliamentary language. I believe Mr. Muntz has but an
imperfect memory—thinking he recollects what did not
occur, and denying what my good memory enables me to
recollect. What I have stated is true—that he did refuse
to sign a petition properly worded, for the commutation of
the sentence of death upon Frost and others, and that he
assigned as a reason for such refusal his opinion that an
example was necessary. I have no earthly reason for mis-
representing what actually passed between us; and with
your knowledge of the large and unqualified denial of Mr.
Muntz in the first instance, and his subsequent admission
of my application to him, and his objection to sign, inas-
much as considerable consideration was necessary, with
the evidently defective memory of the lion. candidate as
to the evidence against Frost, I think I should be ill jus-
tified in detaining you by further comment."
I will only add, that my address was :eceived in perfect
silence by the asaembled thousands, and followed by a
general expression of approbation.
Requesting the justice of your early publication of this
necessary explanation,
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
Birmingham, Jan. 24. JAMES ACLAND.

WOODCOT MURDER, NEAR
HENLEY-ON-THAMES.

HENLEY, JAN. 24.
Our readers will recollect we were the first to announce
the particulars of this horrid deed in May last. Several
persons were at the time taken up and examined, but no
clue sufficient against any one person was obtained. A
very strong suspicion attached to a man named Charles
Morley, living in a cottage near that where the poor old
murdered widow (Fanny Phillips) resided. He was seve-
ral times brought before the County Magistrates at Hen-
ley; and although strong presumptive circumstances were
adduc.cl touching his criminality, sufficient evidence was
not elicited to warrant his committal for that act,
but he was committed for stealing a bag of carpen-
ters' .tools from the neighbourhood, part of which were
found on his premises, and part in the garden of the mur-
dered widow. For this offence he was tried at the Oxford
assizes, and sentenced to seven years' transportation. It
appears, after his conviction (having an idea he could not
be tried a second time) he told a fellow-prisoner that the
old woman's money was hid in the thatch of his cottage.
He said when he entered the bed-room she knew him,
and her knowledge of his person led him to commit
the deed. Stephens, the Henley policeman, 'in con-
quence of this, searched the thatch, and on telling
Morley's wife his errand, she advised him to look
near a certain spot, where were found two bags
(since sworn to as belonging to the murdered widow),
containing in guineas, sovereigns, and other gold coin,
upwards of 2501. Steps were immediately taken by the
Magistrates to stay his departure to New South Wales,
and a communication was made to the Secretary of State
to that of oct totaccordingly Morley was brought here to-
day in custody of Stephens, when an investigation of
nearly seven hours took place before the county Magis-
trates. About twenty witnesses were examined, and from
the disclosures made he was fully committed to gaol to
take his trial for the murder at the Oxford Assizes, the
end of next month.