The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-23 00:00:00

THAMES-OFFICE.

DREADFUL MURDER AT SEA.—Richard Henry Lang.
,ey, a tall and gentlemanly-looking man, late second mate
or the shin Leopoldina Rosa, on her voyage froiii Monte
Video to Havre de Grace, was brought before Mr. Erode-
rip, charged with being accessory to the wilful murder. of
James Dixon, an English seaman, on the 16th of May
last, on the high seas, within the jurisdiction of the Ad-
miralty of England.
The circumstances•relating to the murder of Dixon
have excited great interest both at Havre and London,
and it is a melancholy fact that the principal and one
of the accessories are not in custody, and are likely
to escape punishment altogether, the authorities at
Havre refusing to take any cognizance of the transac-
lion. This is the more extraordinary as the ship
is reported to have sailed from Monte Video under
the protection of the French flag,, and was com-
manded by a Frenchman. One of the accessories was an
American, named William Suadus, the chief-mate of
the ship, and the authorities at Havre refused to detain
him, but allowed the British Consul to send Langley, the
second mate, also charged as an accessory, to London, he
lying a-British subject. The prisoner arrived -in the
Thames by the City of Londonderry steamer, on Friday
ev,ning,, and was delivered into the custody of the new
police. Twelve witnesses came over in the same steamer,
by direction of the British Consul. The prisoner was
brought over to England in the custodyof Francois Nicolas
Don ne,brigadier de police du Havre, accompanied by Fidele
de Warlincourt, appariteur de poli% The presence of these
two agents of the French police in their military uni-
forms, swords and accoutrements, created much curiosity.
and- it was, some time before the people, who crowded
the Court and the avenues leading to it, could believe
they were .poiic-officers, so much did they appear like
regular troops of the line. They are two remarkably
well-behaved and intelligent men, and were present
during the. whole investigation. Their expenses are
guaranteed by the British Consul at Havre, who in this
instance, we understand, has spared neither pains nor
expense to bring all the parties concerned in the murder
to justice.
At twelve, o'clock, after the disposal of the night
charges, the-Trisoner was placed at the bar, and Mr.
Pelham, the solicitor, attended as his professional adviser.
-James Hunter was the first witness called, and he
stated that he was a seaman on board the Leo_p_oldina
Rosa, and 611.1 be!oli6ed to tlio State of Monte Video ;

::;~.,,.

•
KENSINGTON POLICE COURT.
CARDIGAN'S BLACK BOTTLER.—On Saturday W illiam
Bennett, -a private of the 11th Hussars,. or Prince Albert's
Own, was brought before G. Clive, Esq., the Sitting
Magistrate, on a charge of assault under the following
circumstances :
Hugh Percy Holden, a person of respeCtable appear-
ance, who had just before appeared at the same bar as a
defendant, and been fines. ss. for drunkenness, deposed
that about a quarter paSt 12 o'clock that morning, as he
was proceeding towards town along the high road at Ken-
sington-gore, when near the residence of the Countess
of Blessington, he met the defendant and another private
of the same regiment, and as he passed them he made
use of. the _expression " The black bottles," when he'was
immediately knocked down and struck repeatediy by
both the soldiers while'down, the effects of which were
plainly visible on hi 3 face.. No person witnessed the oc•
currence but two females of the pave, who were not in
attendance.

By Mr. OLIVE—Could not swear that the defendant
was the first soldier who struck him. Had no intention
of creating a turmoil, or of using the term " black bot-
tles" offensively, and was very sorry that he had used
the expression.
Inspector Smith, T division, said that while at the
station-house the complainant did all in his power to ex-
cite the soldier, which was the reason that he had de-
tained the complainant for drunkenness. The defendant
told him immediately that he had knocked the com-
plainant down. because he had called hires and his com-
rade "Prince Albert's black bottles."—The defendant.
in answer to the charge, acknowledged he had knocked
the complainant down. The coMplainant 'had not- only
insulted him and his comrade, but:nlsci a sergeant and
all other soldiers of the regiment he met on the road, by-
callin " Cardigarea.' black -bOttl-6,"- and " Prince
Albert's black bottles."
Thelcorporablnajor, who was present, said the soldiers
of that regiment were subject to daily annoyance by be-
ing called after whenever they appeared on the public
streets and roads, " There goes one of Cardigan's black
bottles," or " there goes Prince Albert's cherry bums,"
alluding to the regimental crimson trousers. The de-
feudant bore a most excellent character in the regiment,
and he was confident. would not. be guilty of an unmanly
action.
Mr. Clive said the provocation the defendant had re-
ceived had certainly -been very great,- still he had no
right to take the law into his own hands. A conviction
must, therefore, take place,:but he should mitigate the
fine to 3s. The fine was immediately paid.

HART-STREET .SCHOOLS.—Friday evening the
examination of the boys -Cif those schools took place at
the institution, Hart-street, before the Rev. G. H. BoWer,
Rector of St. Paurg,Vent-garden, and a large number
of its supporters,. • The answering and general appear•
mice of the boys elicited general admiration. It op..
peared, from the statement of the Rev. President, that
there were. 370.b0ys in the school, and that the institu-
tion was upwards'of 100/. in debt,. incurred by the recent
enlargement of the schools, for the admission of 420
children. The ReV. Mr. Bower made a strong and feel-
ing appeal on behalf of the -funds of the charity.
It is singular...that, while we have experienced
such constant rains in. this neighbourhood, the weather
in Skye and the other western islands (usually so very
wet), has been remarkably dry and fine. So favourable
a season has not been witnessed there for many years ;
and one farmer (Mr. Smith, at Sconser) had the rare
good fortune to cut,. winnow, and stack an excellent
crop of hay, without one-drop Of rain.—lnverness Courier.
" JAMES ,HATFIELD, .AND THE BEAUTY OF
BuTTEumErtE."--,After manyfruitless conjectures on the
part of the curious reader, as to the authorship of this Sin-
gularand interestingproducti" which has been ascribed to
various individuals, from the writers of "EugeneA ram" and
" Paul Clifford," to those of " Oliver Twist" and "Jack
Sheppard," the real autistic has at length come forward,
and avowed hiinself in the person of the son of Sir Ed-
mnnd Carrington, Bart., giving another proof, so appa-
re* t in the present' clay, of the. frequent combination of
high literary talent with aristocratic distinetion.
In consequence 'of the great inconvenience felt,
attended with, injurious effects, to persons' eye-sight in the country,
by their not being enabled to be properly suited with Spectacles,
&e., and which have come under the notice (to some extant) of the
Messrs. S. and B. SolOmons, Opticians, &c., 39, Albemarle-strcet,
.Piccadilly, opposite the York llctel, and 73, King William-street,
City ; they have contrived a mode by which individuals at the most
remote part of the globe ran be suited with their Newly-invented
Spectacles, as correct as if the person were ;resent; by those who
have never made use of Spectacles, stating the number of inches they
can see moderate sized print from the eye, and those who are making
use of Spectacles by sending them, and inking the same statement
when in use. Immediately the Newly Invented Spectacles are
placed before imperfect vision that mist and dullness which appear
before the eyes is at once ren ovod ; every object becomes'clear and
d.stinct, so that the most aged imperfect sight becomes bright and
brilliant, and istirooeu to its youthful, natural, and original State.
Their Sound Magnifiers Invisible Voice Conductors, will enable
persons at an advanced age, and of 40 and 50 years' standing of
extreme deafness to join in general conversation, and to catch the
sound of a distant low speaker at a public assembly; they qe in the least ti,reeptible, nor more uncomfortable, thau having a
small piece of fine wool in its place. The Sound Magnifiers, 1 nil.
Bible Voice Conductors apd Spectacles, are sent daily (by past) lc
varloes parts of the country. Ajbemarle.street, Piccadilly, cp..
posite• the York Hotel, and 76, Xing William-street, City;—No
connection with persons of the saute name,

'• -

Dixon was an able seaman •on board. On the 16th of
May, south of the line, on the pa.ssaze from Mont,.,
Video to. Havre, the s.;i,.,ulJ !Gate

to do, aurl Dixee feeepielfeel eleeu. it. 'fele eeeene.
mate used a great deal of abusive language,: and he
called Dixon, who was in the head of the ship, to
his work. Dixon asked the Captain if it was by his orders
he was worked up so, but he did not hear that'himself.
He did not hear- what passed between the Captain and
Dixon, and went below into the forecastle. Shortly af-
terwards Dixon came down, and he was standing with
his hands on one of the beams, and resting his head upon
it, when the Captain came below with a drawn sword in
his hand, and asked where that d•-11 scoundrel Dixon
was ? The Captain spoke English eery well, and he was
quite sure he used the word- d—n. Dixon tried to
get away from him round the forebits ; but before
could get round, the Captain passed the sword right
through his beds,. JO' got out of bed and lifted the
deceased on to the forecastle deck. The Captain left
the forecastle directly. after he had run the sword through
Dixon's body, and the second mate sung out ffo:n above
to bring the scoundrel (meaning Dixon) upon deck.
He and others sung out that they were not able to send
him up, as his entrails were coining out. The second
mate called out, -" Put a tackle on the forestay, and hoist
him up ; up with him." He was not hoisted up in that
way, but presently afterwards two or three of his shie•
mates carried him upon deck. He saw Dixon again be-
fore he died on the half-thick, but did not gee the Captain
again till they were going to bury Dixon. _The man died
some time between nitre at night and four in the morning,
and was buried at the latter hour. • '
Thomas Evans, a 'seeman, after confirming part of the
foregoing evidence, said Dixon was in the same watch as
witness, and when he was relieved -at the wheel he went
to the head, and the second mate told.him directly he
left there to clap on a fall. Dixon came from the head
fastening his trowsers, and the mate again said " bear
a hand, clap on a fall." Dixon said he would go to
the Captain and ask him if he was to be humbugged
in that sort of manner. Dixon went off to the Cap-
tain, who was lying down on the hen-coops, and
spoke to him, and the Captain replied, " You must
obey my officers the same as myself; and pushed him
from the skylight over the cabin to the mainmast, and
struck him. Dixon returned the blow, and as soon as ever
the second mate saw that, he took up a capstan bar and hit
'one of the two, but which he ..could not say. The
captain went down into his eabin, and came up in a
few minutes with- •two pistols 'and
.• a. sword by his
side. eHe saw the
.captain go to the hencoop, pull
off his slippers arid cock the two pistols, after which
he ran forward with Out enything onhis feet but his
socks. ,The first and second mate- 'followed the captaie,
who exclaimed as he went forward, `; Where'sDixoreyou
d—d b—r come on deck." He same nil more till Dixon
was brought on deck.' bfthree Mere,- bleeding, aud his
bowels. coming out to the extent of fire or six inches.
He. saw Dixon undressed and laid down in the half-deck.
The doctor was then with him ; and the second mate,
who was standing over the hatchway, said the doctor
should do nothing . for him, and sun.. out " he shall die
like a dog." All hands. were called down into the cabin
to see the captain's wound, and he said it was done with
a knife. He looked at the captain's head, and saw he
had a wound on the forehead, which did not appear to
have been done with a knife, but with some blunt in-
strument.

William Brown deposed to the Captain stabbing Dixon
1 two or three times, and to the conduct of the prisoner,
who would not give witness time to bind up the wounds,
but urged them to send him up. They got the wounded
man on deck with great difficulty,. and as they went to
the half 'deck with him, and while he was bleeding pro •
fusely and his bowels coming out, the Captain struck
him three or four times with the flat of the sword,
while the two mates threatened to shoot any one who
spoke a word. The doctor Was about to attend on Dixon.
bat the captain and second mate would not let him do
anything for him.
Cross-examined by Mr. Pelham—Dixon carried a
sheath knife, but he did not have it with him that night.
The second mate did not prop up Dixon's head with a
blanket, and would not allow the boy to take him down
a blanket. The second mate signed the ship's articles as
an American, but le told the English Consul at Havre
he was an Englishman.
Mouseand Hinaca, a Spanish seaman, was next exa-
amined through the medium of an interpreter, and con-
firmed the evidence of the rest of the watch.
Mr. BRODERIP said he felt it to be his duty to remand'
the prisoner. He was charged as an accessory, and
stood above at the forecastle hatchway while the captain
was killing the man below. Though not actually,pre-.
sent when the fatal wounds were inflicted, he could be
charged as an accessory. The wrathy Magistrate then
referred to several cases in . the books, and particularly •
to Captain Goodyer's case, as analogous to this.
Mr. Pelham said the question was whether the Magis-
trate could interfere at ail. He would just explain
how things stood :—The ship belonged to two per-
sons of Monte Video, citizens of the " Oriental Re-
public," and was chartered by them for a voyage to
Havre, with hides, hoofs, horns, &c. The vessel dis-
charged her cargo at Havre, and was chartered to pro-
e3sd
to Bayonne, there to take in passengers, and
proceed back to Monte Video. The Captain, Charles
Frugale, of Bordeaux, was a Frenchman ; the chief mate,
William Sandus, was an American ; and the second mate,
now a prisoner, named Richard Henry Langley, repre-
sented to be a British subject, was also an American, and
he was not amenable to our laws.
Mr. BRODEMP—Do you mean to contend he is not'a
British subject ? Mr.-Pelham—Most certainly I do.
Mr. BrtonEnu, thought otherwise, and said he should
not part with, the prisoner. yet. He should treat the
soner as a British subject at present., at all events, and
remand him to prison, fur further examination,- until
Wednesday next.