The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-02 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL TENANT-RIGHT EXECUTION OF PLATTS, THE
A BILL [as amended by the Select Committee] for the MURDERER.
Improvement of Agricultural Tenant-Right in At twelve o'clock yesterday, at Derby, Platte paid the
England and Wales. last penalty of the law for the murder of Collis, at Ches•.
[N.B. The Clause marked (A) was added by the Com- terfield. The concourse of people was immense. Early
mitten.] in the week he made a written confession, the correct.
Whereas it is expedient for the greater improvement ness of which he persisted in asserting to the last. He
of land, and for the consequent increase of produce was very firm until he arrived at the pinioning room,
therefrom, as well as of employment for farm-labourers, when he began to tremble violently, and continued to do
to enlarge and extend the custom of agricultural tenant- so until the bolt was shot. He struggled violently for
right in accordance with the modern advance of hus- about two minutes, though loaded with irons. It will
bandry ; be it therefore enacted, by the Queen's most be seen that his confession is not reconcileable with the
Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent evidence. His conduct in gaol was good, and he expressed
of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in a firm hope of a joyful resurrection.
this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority PLANTS' WRITTEN CONFESSION.
of the same, that every tenant under any holding for a " Morley and I laid the plan before dinner, after the
term of years commencing after the passing of this Act, people were gone into church; he said he had been with
and every tenant under any yearly holding, on the deter- --, and they had laid a plan to make away with Collis.
mination of his tenancy of any farm, by effiuxion of They fixed to meet at the New Inn (Betteson's), at
time, notice, death, bankruptcy, insolvency, or eviction Brampton. Collis was to come to them there in the
by reason of defect of title of the le-sor, shall be entitled, afternoon, and they were all to come down to Chester-
subject as after provided, to receive from the incoming field, to the Wheatsheaf (David Britt's), and they
tenant on behalf of the landlord, or from the landlord, were to wait there until night. Collis told Morley he
compensation for any outlay effectually and properly in- wanted to see me; Morley told him I would be at Frank's
curred by the said tenant after the passing of this Act, at night, at the bell ringing; if I was not there, he would
In the temporary improvement of the said farm, by the tell him where I was to be found. Morley told Collis
purchase of artificial manures, or the purchase of that if he did not find me there, that I would be out with
oil-cake or linseed for cattle or sheep; Hannah walking; and that he would be sure to meet me
Or in the durable improvement of the said farm, by at night, because he had to see me about going to mar-
draining, marling, chalking, cluing, or otherwise ket at Rotherham. They remained at Brampton some
amending the soil; time after this conversation. Morley told me before his
Or the permanent improvement thereof, by forming or death that they left the Wheatsheaf about half-past six
constructing new fences, water meadows, roads, or or a quarter to seven o'clock, He also told me the way
suitable buildings thereon, he got Collis to the stable ; he told him I was there, and
The said compensation to be estimated as follows: that we should all go together to settle there, on which
first, by ascertaining the cost of such improvements ; Collis, Morley, and - went down to the stable. When
then by determining the several periods within which they got Collis to the door, he (Collis) tried to get away
every such kind of improvement may be expected to when he found I was not there. Morley and be began
reimburse a tenant for such outlay, and distributing the to scuffle; the door was open. Morley put his hand
costs over such periods respectively ; and then deter- inside the stable door, where he had previously placed
mining what is due to the tenant, if anything, by the spade for the purpose of murdering Collis. He struck
deducting from such periods the time during which the him with it, and knocked him senseless, and he fell
tenant shall have had the benefit of such improvements: against the door of the stable; and then he dragged him
provided always, that the expenses incurred in the in, and struck him again, for fear of him making a noise;
ordinary course of good and clean husbandry, or in pur- then he came to fetch me. - was on the way, a com.
nuance of any special contract other than the special panion of Morley's, but Ido not know whether he said
agreement hereinafter provided, or which the landlord anything to him then or not. I was looking through the
and tenant shall have agreed to share, shall not be club-room window, and I saw Morley and standing
reckoned as expenses of improvements for which the at the bottom of the yard. Morley called to me, and
tenant is to be compensated under the provisions of this told me to come, and I went to Morley, and we went
Act. to the stable ; then he told me he had done the job.
When he got there, he showed me into the stable and
fastened the door with an iron bolt, and Collis
gave a great groan out of him ; then Morley struck
him again with the spade, I think over the head, but. I
could not see, it being dark in the stable. After this
blow was struck - said he must go ; but before he
went we planned to meet again between nine and ten
o'clock the same night, but I drove it too late. When I
left the stable I went to the shop to lie down. I was
distracted with the thoughts of it ; and in getting the
tilt cloth down to lie upon, I fell backwards and knocked
the lantern down, and with trying to catch it I cut my
hand. I pitched with my head on the block when I fell
backwards. That was when they heard the roans
when I sat me down. Mr. Kirk gave me something to
drink when I had left the shop, and joked me about
Hannah and said I had been with her in the shop. I

And be it enacted, that no tenant, except a tenant for
a term of years having more than five years to run of
his holding, shall be entitled to claim compensation
under this Act for any durable improvement, nor any
tenant whatever for any permanent improvement, except
under any special contract already existing or hereafter
to be made, or under any custom, unless he shall fur-
nish beforehand to his landlord a statement in writing
of the work to be done and the estimated cost thereof,
and unless the said landlord shall agree in writing to the
execution of such work; nor shall any tenant be entitled
to compensation for any improvement whatever which
shall be executed after he shall have given or received
notice to quit, or in the last year of a holding for years,
unless the same shall have been executed with the con-
sent, in writing, of the landlord, or in pursuance of some
contract or custom.

And be it enacted, that no tenant shall be entitled to any
compensation in respect of any permanent improvement
aforesaid, when the same shall not be in good and suffi-
cient. repair or condition at the time of the determination
of his tenancy, unless the valuers hereinafter mentioned
shall think fit to allow the same, and then the cost of
putting the same in repair shall be taken into account.
And be it enacted, that if any tenant, from and after
the passing of this Act, shall erect any detached farm-
building, not being a dwelling-house, without the con-
sent of the landlord, such building shall not be deemed
a fixture.
And be it enacted, that any tenant entitled to claim
compensation under this Act for any outlay in respect
of such improvements as aforesaid, shall, five calendar
months before the determination of his tenancy, if the
nature of the case shall admit, or in case of thedeter-
mination of his tenancy by efiluxion of time, notice,
death, bankruptcy, insolvency, or eviction by reason of
defect of title of the lessor, the tenant or his representa-
tives shall, within one calendar month after the same,
deliver to his landlord a statement in writing, setting
forth the amount and nature of his claim, and an account
of all disbursements in respect of such improvements as
aforesaid, and, if required, produce the necessary vouchers
to support the same.
And be it enacted, that if within five calendar months
from the delivery of such statement the said amount of
compensation to be paid for such claim shall not be
agreed upon, then it shall be referred to valuers to as-
certain and determine if any compensation is due to the
tenant, and the amount thereof ; and the tenant shall
appoint one valuer, the landlord another, and the two
valuers shall appoint a third (each valuer to be appointed
in writing, and the landlord or tenant to appoint a valuer
within fourteen days after he shall have been required
by the other party ; and the two valuers to appoint the
third valuer in writing within seven days after either
landlord or tenant shall require them so to do), and the
award in writing of any two of the said valuers shall be
binding on all parties ; and if either party should refuse
to appoint a valuer, or the said valuers should refuse to
appoint a third, or if the said valuers, or two of them,
should, within one calendar month from the appointment
of a third valuer, refuse or omit, or be incapable of mak-
ing an award, or if by any reason whatever such valuers,
er any of them, sho'ild not be appointed or such award
shall not be made by any reason whatsoever, then either
the landlord or tenant, or the representative of either,
may apply to the Inclosure Commissioners, who shall on
such application appoint a person as a valuer, who shall
proceed in the said valuation, and whose award in
writirg shall be binding on all parties: provided always,
that it shall not be necessary to appoint three valuers,
but the matter aforesaid may be referred, as the landlord
and tenant may agree on, to one valuer or to two valuers,
with power to appoint a third valuer to act as arbitrator
in case of disagreement, and their decision in the pre-
mises shall be as binding as if the matter had been re-
ferred to three valuers appointed as aforesaid.
And be it enacted, that every award of such valuers
shall state the nature of the several improvements in re-
spect of which compensation is awarded, the number of
years allowed for the same respectively, either in the
opinion of the valuers, or in pursuance of any existing
contract, and the time to be deducted in respect of the
period during which the tenant shall have had the bene-
fit thereof, and the amount of the costs of such improve-
ments respectively, as shown by the vouchers or other
evidence produce to the satisfaction of the valuers, or of
the price agreed upon under any special contract ; and
the costs of any such valuation as aforesaid shall be paid
by the parties in such propartions as the valuers shall
direct ; and any monies directed to be paid to any
tenant or his representatives may be recovered by such
tenant or his representatives at any time after one calen-
dar month from the date of any such award : provided
always, that when it shall be made to appear to the sa-
tisfaction of the valuers that the vouchers have been
lost or destroyed, then the valuers may, if they think fit,
admit such other evidence of any expenditure in respect
of such improvements as aforesaid as they may consider
sufficient.
And be it enacted, that any owner of a farm, either
absolutely entitled or as trustee or feoffee or mortgagee
in possession, or entitled in tail, or for life, or for a term
of years whereof not less than twenty-two shall be unex
pired, and whether subject to any rent or otherwise, and
whether entitled at law or in equity, and any corpora-
tion sole or aggregate, whether lay or ecclesiastical, may,
if they shall so think fit, and they are hereby empow-
ered to contract with their tenant as to the number of
years which shall be taken as the full period of compen-
sation under any or each head of claim for such seve-
ral improvements as aforesaid, and as to the allowance
in money to be made for the same, and also as to any
other matters touching the said improvements, which
agreement shall be binding upon the before-mentioned
valuers, and also on the persons for the time being enti-
tled to the farm.
(A). And be it enacted, that every owner as afore-
said may, if he shall so think fit, and he is hereby em-
powered to agree with his tenant holding under any'
lease or agreement for a term of years, commencing
before the passing of this Act, that the provisions of
this Act shall apply to such landlord and tenant in all
respects as if the said lease or agreement had been
made after the passing of this Act ; and such agree:
ment may be made by indorsement on the instrument
by which the tenant holds, or by a separate writing.
Provided also, and be it enacted, that no owner of a
farm having a limited interest therein as aforesaid shall
consent to such farm being charged in respect of im-
provements under this Act for any term exceeding
twenty-two years, nor for the purposes of building with
any sum exceeding in the whole amount of charge for
such purpose the amount of one year's rent paid for the
same, ekt,cel, in ttso once of a farm which shall, at the
incurred,
have of any outlay for building having been
have consisted mainly of waste and unimproved land.
And be it enacted, That if any incoming occupier,
tether as tenant or otherwise, shall pay the amount
of compensation awarded for improvements under this
Act, the sum so advanced by the said incoming occupier,
or any part thereof, shall, in the absence of any special
agreement to the contrary, be recoverable under the pro-
visions of this Act, as if the said incoming occupier had
himself effected the improvements in respect of which
such compensation had been paid, due allowance being
made in manner hereinbefore provided for the period
during which such incoming occupier shall have had the
benefit of such improvements.
Provided nevertheless, and be it enacted, that nothing
in this Act contained, shall alter or affect the rights of
landlords or of outgoing or incoming tenants, under any
agreement or custom, unless as hereinbefore provided
nor prevetis luny H.( r
tenant exempting themselves irons the operation of this
Act. reement between arty ana
And be it enacted, that the word " farm" shall in-
clude all land used for the purpose of husbandry, and
all buildings thereon or held therewith, with their ap-
purtenances, for the purpose of agricultural occupation;
and that the word " landlord" shall mean the party
entitled to the land immediately expectant on the de-
termination of the interest of the tenant ; and that the
word " tenant" shall mean any person in possession of
land, as tenant under any lease or agreement, or a tenant
from year to year, or as holding over on the terms of
any lease or agreement ; and the singular number shall
extend to the plural, and the plural shall extend to the
singular, and the masculine to the feminine.
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said I had not, and would fetch her to let them see she
was safe when church was over, and I did so. On
Monday morning we were to meet between four and five
o'clock. I did not go on Monday morning, I had to
go out of the town : we met on Tuesday morning. I
saw Morley on Monday night, and arranged to meet
on Tuesday morning : we did so. When I got
there, Morley had got all the things ready, and
Collis was put into the barrow, ready to be wheeled
across the yard by Morley ; he wheeled him, and
I stood in the yard to watch. The body of Collis
was covered over with straw. Morley turned the barrow
over and threw the body into the cesspool, The large
substance that was carried out from the end of the sham-
bles was not the body of Collis, for he never was in the
shop that night; and if he had been in Morle)'s shop, it
was before I went to them, for he was not killed in ahy
shop; be was killed in the stable, and by the hand of
Morley; neither did I see the first blow given, but I saw
the last, and heard it, and saw him put into the cess-
pool. The body was not cut up, it was thrown in whole.
There was nothing taken off but his boots. Morley put
the barrow into the stable until night, then he took it to
Limb's coal yard. It was Limb's barrow, and had some
coals fetched in it for himself, on Monday, for the pur-
pose of conveying the body away. I received the watch
and boots a short time after. Previous to the murder he
told me I should have the watch, and told me to say I
bought them of Lanky Bill.' * * * * * Morley
got the money, Ido not know how much there was. I
gave him 21. 105. the day before. I believe Morley killed
Collis because he owed him (Collis) for half a beast and
some sheep, and I agreed to murder him because I owed
him money. I believe Morley strangled Collis at last
with a bleeding cord. This was planned between us
previous to the murder. Morley was to strike the blow,
because he was the strongest man, and and I
were to assist in strangling him. The first agreement
was on Sunday morning, in Morley's shop, after it was
closed.
" I certify, as standing in the presence of God, where
I shall have to appear in a few hours, that the above
statement is true. (Signed) "JOHN PLATTS.
Wednesday e
over sday
to
Evening,
March
Governor, the 3st
Mr.l Bs4i7m. —s
Fo
I t has
been r
his kindness since I have been in prison I feel much
"r
em
obliged. the
" J. P."
[We have omitted the name of the third party for
obvious reasons. We have also omitted two lines
which refer to the disposal of Collis's box.]

STATE OF THE CORN MARKET

IN FRANCE.

Accounts received to-day (Wednesday) announce that
the downward movement is continuing; comparatively
few markets arrive at present with a rise, and those are
principally in the east and west, and some parts of the
south ; the north, north-west, and centre, are all lower.
Large arri‘als are announced at Havre, both from the
United States and England; prices are lower, 1,000
barrels having been sold on Tuesday at 501. the barrel,
and buyers are rare at that price. In Champagne prices
are giving way, though only slightly. The last accounts
from Bar-sur-Aube speak of a fall of 1f: the hectolitre.
The following list of places from which intelligence
has been received to-day shows the actual state of
things:—

ADVANCE.-Chalons•sur-Sione. 75a. to lf. 25c.; Cha-
teauroux, 41. 10c.; Hennebout, 80c. to lf. 32c.
FALL.-Arpajon,2l.soc.; Brie-Comte-R0bert,31.34c.•
Blois, 13f. to 75c.; Biere, If. to if. 50c.; Beaugency, 51:
to sf. 50c.; Condom, 21. 50c._; Chateau-Thierry, 75c. to
If.; Dreux, lf. to lf. 25c.; Dole, 50c.;
Orbec, Douai, 21. 50c.;
Gonesse, 21.; Lisieux, 3f. 20c. ; Le Mans, If. 50c. • Mon-
targis, 51. 80c.; Noyon, 2f. 50c. to 31.; Niort, lf. 85c.;
~
Treguier, 2f. to 3f.
•31..; Pithiviers, 6f. 60c • Thouars, 51. 50c. to 7f.;
At the Halle aux 1316:, on Tuesday, towards the close
of business, some purehases were made which rather
checked the fall. It would seem that country buyers
had come in, being tempted by the lower prices. The
quotations varied from 1081. and 105 f. to 100 f. the 157
kil. This day (Wednesday) the market was calm, and
prices remain as they were.

ETHER OPERATION.—On Thursday, the 18th inst.,
a very painful operation was performed at Saltash, by
Mr. Harrison, surgeon, of Davenport, on a lad who,
having been struck by a marble in the eye, was obliged
to have it removed. Ile was perfectly unconscious of
any pain. The instrument used was one of Mr. Croy-
don's,— West Draws.