The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-17 00:00:00

Mr. MARK PHILLIPS moved that the words " For
establishing forthwith a bishopric be left out."
Mr. NEVILLE opposed the amendment.
Mr. T. I)UNCOMBE wished to know why it was
that the Noble Lord at the head of the Government had
given the city of Manchester an enfranchisement under
the Reform Bill, if he paid no attention to the voice of
the people of Manchester. They declared against a new
bishop, and he did not reply to their petition.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that although the people of
Manchester might not now appreciate the benefits of a
bishopric established among them, yet they would, no
doubt, at some other time, understand the benefits.

After some remarks from Mr. HUME and Mr. M.
PHILIPS,

Mr. ROEBUCK moved that the Chairman leave the
chair and report progress, and ask leave to sit again.
A desultory discussion followed, when the House
divided, and there appeared—

For the motion - 18
Against it 129
--111
Mr. B. OSBORNE would put it to the Noble L.,rd to
say whether 113 n. Members who attended in the House
at three o'clock, and sat till that hour without dinner,
w,ere to go on till some later hour in the morning.
Lord J RUSSELL said that he having; to attend to
bosiness, was as much inconvenienced as any Hon
Member in that House. He should now therefore move•
that the chairman report progress, and a,k leave to sit
to-morrow (this day).
Mr. HUME moved that the House adjourn till
Monday. _ _

Several Hon. Members opposed this proposition.
The gallery was ordered to be cleared, but although
the reporters were kept out a considerable time, no divi-
sion took place. On our re-admittance,
Mr. J COLLETT said that most assuredly he should
move, that on the third reading of this Bill, this House
be called.

Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said that if the Bill were perse-
vered in, he should, when the order of the day was again
moved for, call the attention of the House to the state of
the administration, the violation of their pledges, the
principles on which they had proceeded, and the princi-
ples on which the administration was to be conducted
hereafter. He would prevent the recurrence of the
thing, for that evening, by moving that the House do
now adjourn.
After some observations from several Members, _

Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that he had no desire to
press a sitting on Saturday (this day), if Hon. Mem-
bers would promise fairly to discuss the preamble and
the clauses, clause by clause.
After some turther observations strangers were or •
dered to withdraw. It was arranged, however, (without
any division), that the discussion on this Bill should be
taken on Monday at three o'clock, and that unopposed
busine: a should be taken at twelve on Saturday (to-day.)
The other orders of the day were then agreed to, and
the House adjourned at Half-past One o'clock.

THE CHESTERFIELD MURDER.
APPREHENSION AND COMMITTAL OF A
TRADESMAN OF CHESTERFIELD.
No little surprise was manifested in Chesterfield,
Derby, and Belper, on Monday night, on its becom-
ing known that Mr. Robert Statham, a respectable
master butcher, of the Market-place, Chesterfield,
had been apprehended on the charge of aiding and
abetting John Platts in the execution of the murder
of George Collis, and for which Platts was convicted,
and suffered the extreme sentence of the law. As is
usual, rumour, with her thousand tongues, was busy,
and the most absurd and alarming reports were im-
mediately circulated all over the town and neigh-
bourhood, and the greatest excitement prevailed
throughout this generally dull and quiet town. The
following, however, will, we believe, turn out to be
correct, the authenticity of which may be relied on.
It may be within the recollection of our readers,
that Platts when apprehended by Inspector Cotteral
on the charge of murder, loudly proclaimed his in-
nocence, and which he stoutly maintaine'l up to the
hour of his conviction. The prisoner Statham came
forward in the most zealous manner on behalf of the
murderer, and confidently predicted that Platts
would be acquitted, he also afforded Platts great as-
sistance during the period of his incarceration in
Derby gaol, and furnished the principal part of the
funds for the defence. Statham on various occasions
'et fall several remarkable expressions relative to the
d, butmurder,
it was
whichwoefrteertwhaorudgshattnothing of atis
wthaermpteh.
in endeavouring to defend Platts, whom he had
known from a child, from so foul a charge. Platts
had also been in the service of Statham.
After the conviction of Platts, the convict
made a long rambling statement to the chap-
lain and visiting magistrates, which he styled
a confession, but which was regarded by the pri.
son authorities as a tissue of falsehoOds, and which
turned out to be the case, for before the expiration of
twelve hours, the convict contradicted that statement,
and made another totally at variance with the former
one, and in which he stated that three persons were
concerned in the murder; but as far as the actual
deed went, he declared he had no hand in the affair,
but admitted he was present in the shop when it was
planned on Sunday morning, during the period of
Divine service. Platts implicated Morley, who died
at Chesterfield shortly after the murder of a brain
fever, and a man known by the cognomen of " Lanky
Bill." Shortly before his execution, Platts made
another confession ; but as the greater part of it was
inconsistent with the truth, the prison authorities
placed no confidence in the contents, and it was wholly
discredited in Chesterfield, as being totally at variance
with the evidence at the trial, for had the confession
been true, the testimony of several witnesses must have
been false. Sufficient, however, was gleaned from
the convict to induce the magistrates to pursue the

investigation, which was carried on after the execu-
tion of Batts in a most determined, but exceedingly
quiet manner. So secret was the matter managed,
that not the slightest suspicion was excited, and it
was generally thought by all parties, except two or
three persons, that the affair hail altogether dropped,
until about a fortnight ago, when Antony Lint was
arrested on the charge of aiding in the murder, for
which he now awaits his trial. On Friday last the
police, who have been most active in their endeavours
to bring other parties to justice, obtained some most
important information, and also were successful in
obtaining a connecting link in this dreadful deed,
which had been long wanting. The result of their in-
quiries deeply implicated Mr. Statham, and the evidence
was at once laid before E. G. Maynard, Esq., Mayor,
who is also a county magistrate. No farther step was
taken until Monday, when further testimony relative to
Statham's movements and conduct was laid beore the
Mayor, who at once issued a warrant for his appre-
hension, and he was lodged in the Chesterfield lock-up
the same night, and on Tuesday underwent a long
and searching examination before the Mayor. The
prisoner appeared deeply agitated, but denied his
guilt.
Mr. Maynard said that there was sufficient
evidence to warrant his committal as an accessory be-
fore the fact, and on application of the prisoner's soli-
citor, his worship refused bail, which was offered to
any amount, it being understood by the police that
further most important evidence would be produced
at the trial. It is also said that Lant, since his com-
mittal, has made some revelations which casts further
light on the affair, and goes to prove that the confes-
sion of Platts could not possibly be true. Statham
was lodged in Derby gaol on Tuesday ; he was ex-
ceedingly dejected in the train, and merely observed
that it was a hard thing for an innocent man to suffer
for so dreadful a charge. Statham up to this period
has always been considered a most respectable man,
was highly esteemed by his fellow-townsmen, carried
on a very lucrative business, and was considered to be
in very comfortable circumstances. The circumstance
of the prisoner being charged as being directly im-
plicated in the above revolting murder, has caused a
far greater sensation than when the murder was first
committed, and has since Monday been the all-ab-
sorbing topic of conversation.

FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE MANCHESTER AND BOL•
TON RAILWAY..—A frightfUl accident occurred on this
line on Saturday night. About twenty-five minutes past
eleven o'clock the luggage train, consisting of thirty-six
waggons and a luggage van, left Bolton. On arriving
near the coal pit at Kearsley, between Stone Clough and
Dixon Fold, Clifton, the engineer (George Quick) ob-
served something lying across the rails. It was a dark
might, and he could not see it till close upon it. The
engine struck it, and, as it appeared to him, dragged it
four or five yards, when the engine gave a jerk and
proceeded without further interruption. When the train
reached Pendleton, the engineer had occasion to stop it,.
and on examining the engine, he saw upon the guard in
front a small quantity of hair and a piece of bone. He
passed on with the train to Salford, and there found that
the three waggons next the engine were bespattered with
blood and flesh. Accompanied by the fireman and
breakrnen, be then returned with the engine to the place
where the shock took place, and there found the upper
part of a human body on the outside of the rails, and
about three yards further, within the rails, lay the re-
mainder of the body. A police officer was sent for, and
the mutilated remains were discovered to be those of the
body of a man named Kay Collier, a watchman in the
employ of the trustees of the late Mr. Fletcher, Clifton.
From the evidence elicited at the inquest, held yesterday
before Mr. Rutter, coroner, it appeared that the de-
ceased, at eleven o'clock, lett a beer house about a
quarter of a mile from the spot where he was found,
forward in liquor, in company with his wife. lie said
he had to keep watch at the coal pit, and his wife then
left him and went home He must have got over a fence
to get upon the line, arid that was a nearer way to the
place he was going to. It was well known that when
had a lade drink he would lie down, and resist every
effort to raise him; and it appears that he had lain down
in this humour arid most probably fallen asleep, when
the accident occurred whi h terminat,d his lite in so
shocking a manner.
The jury returned a verdict of—
" Accidental death."—Manchester Examiner.
Shocks of an earthquake were felt in the depart-
ment of the Seine- Inferieure, at about eleven o'clock on
the night co the 10th.
NAVIGATION LAwS.—The Committee appointed
to inquire into the above laws, were to have assembled
for the last time yesterday, to hear the evidence of Mr.
Aylwin in favour of the maintenance of ttp se laws; but,
after waiting until two o'clock, and there being only Sir
Howard Douglas present, they could not form a quorum,
and ac,-:ordieulyiproceedings terminated for this