The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-28 00:00:00

vote of thanks had been carried to the Chairman and
directors, the meeting separated.

DIRECT LONDON AND PORTS-

MOUTH RAILWAY.

The third ordinary meeting of the shareholders of
this company was yesterday held at the London
Tavern.

The chair was taken at one o'clock by W. A.
Wilkinson, Esq., chairman of the company.
The usual preliminaries having been disposed of
the SECRETARY proceeded to read the report, in
which the directors strongly recommended to the
proprietors the immediate commencement of the
works under the conviction that the line would not
only confer a great extent of local advantage, but would
prove a profitable commercial investment, commanding,
as it must, the carrying trade to Portsea and Ports-
mouth, and the large pleasure traffic which would
ensue from cheap, quick, and frequent trains between
the metropolis and the Isle of Wright. But the di-
rectors were fully impressed with the necessity for
caution in the present depressed state of the money
market, and they trusted that the proprietors would
repose confidence in them that they would only call
upon the shareholders at such time, and in such
manner, as might be most conducive to their interest
under all the circumstances of the case. The four
directors who retired from office were—Benjamin
Baines,: James Robinson Greig, John Laurie, and
James Whiskin, Esq., but they were eligible for re-
election, and the board recommended their re-election
accordingly.
From the statement of receipts and disbursements of
the company, from the period of its formation up to
the 30th of June, 1847, it appeared that the total
amount of the former on deposits and calls had been
109,331/. 75.; the total sum expended had been
74,1661. 16s. ld., leaving a balance in the hands of the
company of 35,164/.los. 11d.
The CHAIRMAN said, that in moving the adoption of
the report, he would briefly refer to the position of the
company. About twelve months since the share-
holders gave their consent to the terms of agreement
of the proposed amalgamation of this company with
the London and Brighton Railway. The Bill
authorising that amalgamation had, however,
been thrown out in the House of Commons.
The same circumstances which previously were con-
sidered as strong reasons for an alliance with the
Brighton Company still existed with equal force.
He thought that it was yet within the possibility of
events to recover the moneys already spent in the
concern, or to make some arrangement by which the
line would be made profitable to the shareholders. If
the line was not made there was no doubt but that
all the moneys hitherto expended would be lost,
and unless they could make up their minds
to complete it the concern must at once be abandoned.
Now, there was no doubt but that the line, if made,
would prove a paying one ; there was also a very
strong feeling in the county in favour of the line on
the part of the landholders through whose property
the line would pass. He had received a requisition
signed by upwards of 800 landholders, urging the
directors to make the line. To that requisition he
would, however, take the opportunity of answering,
that if they wished to have the line made, they must,
of course, come forward and render some assistance
in making it. In the present position of the com-
pany the utmost reduction had been made in the estab-
lishment, and Mr. Cubitt and his son, the civil en-
gineers, had most handsomely promised to give their
services gratuitously. He would therefore conclude
by moving the adoption of the report.
In answer to a question put by a SHAREHOLDER,
Mr. CUBITT said that the line could be worked well
as a locomotive line, and could be constructed at a
cost of about 1,100,000/.

,
The report was carried unanimously, an amend-
ment which had been proposed having been with-
drawn.

A resolution authorising the the re-election of
Benjamin Baines, James Robinson Greig, John
Laurie, and James Whiskin, Esqs., was then una-
nimously agreed to.
A SHAREHOLDER then moved, as an amendment,
that the vacancy in the direction should not be
filled up.
JOHN LAURIE, Esq., one of the directors, seconded
the amendment, which, having► been put, was declared
to be lost.

Some discussion then arose upon the re-election of
Mr. Greig, one of the directors, on the ground of his
being a holder of land through which the line would
pass, but ultimately the original motion was agreed
to by a large majority.
A vote of thanks was then given to the Chairman,
and the meeting broke up.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HOUSE.
Yesterday John Ovenston, who attempted to assas-
sinate Mr. Crawley, the wine-merchant in Mark-lane,
was brought from Guy's Hospital to the Mansion-
house, in the custody of Edmonds and Strickland,
City policemen, for the purpose of undergoing an
examination. Mr. Crawley, who is under the care
of the surgeons in St. Thomas's Hospital, was not
able to attend. The prisoner was placed in a chair at
the bar.
Mr. John Yates said—l am clerk to Mr. George
Crawley, of 12, Mark-lane, wine-merchant. On Sa-
turday, the 14th of August last, at about ten minutes
to four o'clock, I was in Mr. Crawley's counting-house
in Mark-lane, when the prisoner came in. Without
hearing any observations from him, I asked him
to take a seat for a short time, knowing that he wished
to see Mr. Crawley. Mr. Crawley was then in the
neighbourhood. I went to a wine-merchant's in
Mark-lane to fetch Mr. Crawley. In about half a
minute Mr. Crawley came in. The prisoner was then
sitting in a chair in the counting-house and Mr.
Crawley addressing him said, " Step inside." The
prisoner then went into Mr. Crawley's room, and
Mr. Crawley followed him. No one was in that
room but Mr. Crawley and the prisoner. The room
adjoins the counting-house. Mr. Crawley closed
the door after him, but the door was not fastened. I
then resumed my seat, and almost immediately I
heard the report of a pistol. Shortly afterwards
I heard Mr. Crawley's cries of " Murder." I
then ran towards the door with the intention of going
in, and the door was thrown open, and Mr. Crawley
staggered out and ran into the street, and I ran out
after him, and closed and locked the counting-house
door upon the prisoner ; and as I was turning the
key of the door I heard a second report from the same
room. In about a minute a policeman came up, and I
went back into the counting-houSe with him. I went
into the inner room, where I saw the prisoner sitting
on a chair, against a writing-desk, with one elbow on
the desk. lie was bleeding from the mouth, and I
observed a small pistol lying on the desk. The pri-
soner observed that it was Mr. Crawley's own fault,
or words to that effect.
John Strickland, City policeman 582, said, on Sa-
turday the 14th of August I was on duty in Mark-
lane. At about half-past three o'clock in the after-
noon I was called to Mr. Crawley's counting-house.
I got the key from Mr. Yates and went in with him,
and saw the prisoner sitting on a chair in the inner
room, one arm resting on a desk and his head resting
on both hands. He was bleeding from the mouth.
On the desk I found a pistol stained with blood and
quite warm. My brother officer, Edmonds, then
came to my assistance. Mr. Harris, of Fenchurch-
street, surgeon, also came. I observed the second
pistol lying on the chair on whieh the prisoner was
sitting. Mr. Harris directed me to take the prisoner
in a cab to !Guy's Hospital, which I did. After I
found the second pistol the prisoner said, " Good God,
it was I who did it, and it was that d---d villian
Crawley who caused me to do it." The prisoner said
he had always got a living in an honest way, and to
be ruined in that way he could not bear. He then
inquired how Mr. Crawley was. There were two
gentlemen in the room at the time. I conveyed him
to Guy's Hospital in a cab. Going along he repeated
that it was that " d—d villian Crawley" who
caused it, and he was sorry the ball had not gone
through his brain. Edmonds was in the cab with us.
I delivered the prisoner into the care of Mr. Cox, the
house-surgeon. On searching the prisoner I ound
the paper I produce.
Here the witness produced a paper, of which the
following is a copy, with the exception of some names
and allusions, which under the present circumstances
it is necessary to keep from the public eye :
"Mr has the painting of Jairus's daughter,' in
security of the money I had on loan from him, which I
wish to be settled, and intended doing so as soon as I
got settled with Dr. --, but Mr. Sheard says he will
try and claim the statute of limitations. This will show
that he is a villian at heart if he does so, and ought to
be exposed to the world at large. See to this particu-
larly. There are debts owing to me much greater than
I owe, which can be collected, and every one paid that I
justly owe, and then there will be a surplus, which will
belong to you both, Mary and Beatrice.
"The disgrace which has been brought upon me by that
villain Crawley, is from my not consenting with him and
to get possession of the Inn, which I could
not do, and I saw there was something underhand going
on between them and --, when -- requested me to
let him send id some articles to the -- Inn . he said
that it might come to about 301., but he and Crawley
have made a difforent affair of it ; but it will end in no
good to either of them. One must go for an example, to
deter other such wretches from doing the like. Death
is far more preferable than the disgraceful situation this
villain Crawley has placed me in, and driven me to do
that which I never would have contemplated. This ac-
tion will, no doubt, cause a great deal of grief to you all,
but you must forgive it, as you could never expect that
I could ever know happiness again in this world after
this villain Crawley's conduct towards me, and to see me
pine away day after day I know would break you hearts.
Therefore, console yourselves in the best manner you
can, and I trust you will meet with kind-hearted friends
who will assist and console with you in your affliction,
and time wiil wear smooth that which may now appear
so rough and rugged to your views and feelings. Re-
member me to poor old Mr. Jacobs. I hope that Mrs.
D— will keep her promise, and get your nephew Johnny