The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY MORNING, JUNE 14, 1870,

NED WRIGHT TO THE "RESPECTABLE

CLASSES:"

Mr. Wright, the " Ned Wright" of the thieves' suppers
in the New-cut, appeared on Sunday as special preacher
at one of a series of Sunday services for working men which
are being held week by week in the Agricultural Hall Con-
cert Room, Islington. The Daily News has an article on
his preaching. An immense congregation of between two
and three thousand persons assembled. They were to all
appearance
it is
the very poor or presumably irreligious
classes, which is the aim of such services and such
preachers to attract. They were women, men, and chil-
dren, the former being two to three of the entire number,
who might from their more than comfortable
appearance describe themselves as people repre-
senting the elite of the artisan population,
or the humbler of middle-class shopkeepers. Mr. Wright's
influence amongst such hearers is probably not so great
as in the mission which he has to a great extent made his
own amongst the thieves and roughs of Lambeth. Mr.
Wright, we should fancy, felt that he was not thoroughly
at home. True, this may have resulted from the illness
which he pleaded at the commencement of his discourse,
but there were few signs of the rapt attention of spell-
bound listeners. Mr. Wright's preaching tells with
great power upon minds that do not possess the critical
faculty. Ordinary church and chapel-goers, are, though
perhaps involuntarily, more or less critical, and
we can easily believe that a considerable proportion
of the adult persons in the Concert-hall on Sunday would
listen more with the thought that they were doing a good
work by encouraging a deserving man, than receiving in-
struction or exhortation from him. Mr. Wright's honesty
and enthusiasm, however, are stronger than anything else,
and his single purpose may well outweigh the repeated
references to himself as " poor Ned Wright," and the
prominent manner in which he produces passages
from the blackest side of his own personal career.
It is doubtful whether his pointed allusion to his
own little girl upon the platform, whom he used
to " drag about by the hair of her head, and
then sling her into the garden," would be thought by the
particular class of congregation around him to be neces-
sary to prove that after his " conversion at Astley's,
seven years ago last Easter. Sunday," he was a changed
character. However, Mr. Wright is the least ob-
jectionable of the Revivalists who have from time
to time been before the public. If he wore no collar
he did not, as we have seen others do, osten-
tatiously remove his neckcloth, take off his coat,
and tuck up his shirt-sleeves previous to announcing
his text. Indeed, he had no text. He spoke for about
half an hour in simple, unpretending, vigorous, and un-
questionably earnest language, to each sex and age, but
from exactly the same point of view as when addressing
gatherings of disreputables at the New-cut. As on pre-
vious occasions, he referred to his experience when a man-
of-war's man and as a prizefighter, recalling the time
when he was under a challenge to fight Jack So-and-so,
of So-and-so, for so much a side. A characteristic of
the man and his singularly impressionable nature
appeared in a little incident he narrated. He was
afloat in the Channel when the fleet, of which his
ship was the despatch-boat, was scattered in a storm.
The little vessel was in such danger that the crew, de-
spairing of weathering it, began lashing themselves to the
rigging and spars. He observed the seamen taking their
desperate precautions, reflected, and said to himself, " No,
no ; you have made hell your home, Ned, and you
may as well go there now as later on." Under this
singular conviction he remained unlashed until the gale
abated. The address closed with an earnest appeal to all
present.. The service did not last an hour.

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

AT HOME.

Another week of unexampled dryness has been added
to the period of the long-continued drought, and has
rendered the aspect of affairs somewhat critical, espe-
cially as regards all descriptions of Spring corn. The
condition of the wheat plant, however, with the excep-
tion of its being very backward for the time of year, is
not such as to cause alarm as to its ultimate safety ; in
fact, appearances are not adverse to the realisation of a
good crop. On light lands there is a general complaint
of a want of moisture ; but on heavy soils and in low-
lying districts the plant is not unfavourably spoken of.
Such, however, is not the case with either barley or
oats, both of which will turn out badly, unless' some
heavy soaking rains fall in all parts of the country-
Beans and peas, also, will doubtless yield a very miser-
able return to the farmer. As regards hay, the crop may
be regarded as one of the lightest on record. The supply
of grass is limited in the extreme, and, in many places,
it will barely pay for the labour of cutting. But clover
will probably yield a fair return. Potatoes look well in
all districts, and are almost entirely free from all symp-
toms of disease. In respect to the root crops, the issue
is rather uncertain, inasmuch as, although got in in fine
order, they are still liable to attacks from the pestilential
fly in the absence of rain.—The Magnet.
The prolonged drought is causing much anxiety in the
neighbourhood of Stamford. There has been scarcely any
rain for nearly three months. Wheat at present looks
pretty well, but both barley and oats must prove light
crops. There also great complaints in the district round
Kettering, in North Northamptonshire. At Thrapston,
in the same county, the grass has a stunted and dried-up
appearance, although the wheats are still looking tole-
rably well
The crops in Meath and Westmeath are progressing
favourably, the only want being a down pour of rain,
which is much needed. The wheat, barley, oats, &c.,
have exhibited a forward appearance. Potatoes planted
in February have long since received their second cover-
ing, and have exhibited up to this a fine prospect. We
expect to see early potatoes in market at the end of this
month. The pastures and meadows are luxuriant. The
turnips have been sown, and the farmers cannot complain
that they had not fine weather for that purpose.—Corres-
pondent Freeman's Journal.
The Sligo Independent of Saturday says :—We have had
during the week a turn of real summer, and, we might
say, real wintry weather. Up to Tuesday the heat was
oppressive, but Thursday and yesterday were as cold as
two March days. The crops look remarkably well. New
potatoes are begun to be sold in our market. The hay
crop promises to be a most luxuriant one. The oat and
wheat crop look well, and fruit of all kinds promises to be
plentiful.

CHARGE OF LIBELLING A CLERICAL
MAGISTRATE.

Yesterday, in the Court of Queen's Bench, the Solicitor-
General applied for a rule for a criminal informa-
tion against the publisher of the Newcastle
Chronicle, for having made alleged libelous charges
against the Rev. Canon Greenwell, a Durham
county justice. The Solicitor-General read' the comments
on Mr. Canon Greenwell, which appeared in the New-
castle Chronicle of May 23 and May 30. It appeared
that a man named Wran had been imprisoned in Durham
Gaol for fourteen days for running over a man in the
Market Place, Bishop Auckland, but on his becoming
very unruly and assaulting the officers of the prison, Mr.
Canon Greenwell, as a justice of the peace, was called in
by the governor of the gaol to determine upon the punish-
ment to be inflicted upon the prisoner. He was sentenced
by the rev. canon to twenty-four lashes. The Chronicle
stigmatised, in its issue of May 23, the treatment of the
prisoner as " brutal," and though they " granted that the
prisoner's conduct was violent and unruly, it was not to be
tolerated that he should behalf-killed under the authority of a
secret tribunal composed of a single parson." It concluded
thus :—"Clerical magistrates were amongst the most
severe and merciless administrators of law, and as a class
they had shewn themselves the least fit of any class for
the discharge of judicial functions." In the Chronicle of
May 30 it was stated that Wran was suffering from
delirium tremens when the punishment was inflicted upon
him, that the sentence of Canon Greenwell was illegal,
inasmuch as the rev, gentlemen was not a visiting
justice, and further, that that must have been
known to the officials. The Solicitor-General read the
affidavits of Mr. Canon Greenwell, the governor of the
gaol, and other officials, and a newspaper reporter. From
these it appeared that the prisoner had acted most vio-
lently, and contrary to the rules of the prison; and that after
being repeatedly warned by the governor, he still conti-
nued his unruly course. The Rev. Canon Greenwell was
called upon by the governor of the gaol because of the
absence of visiting justices ; and he reluctantly officiated
upon the occasion. The learned counsel read the Prison
Discipline Act to shew that the rev. gentleman was
acting within his jurisdiction. He submitted that the
writer of these articles had exceeded fair comment ; and
he ought to be brought up to shew cause why a criminal
information should not be filed against him.
The Lord Chief Justice, in delivering the judgment of
the court, who had deliberated for some time, said :—We
think we ought to grant this rule, but it ought to be dis-
tinctly understood that it is not on the assumption that
the severity of punishment inflicted through the order
either by a judge or a magistrate in similar circumstances
is not a matter that is not open to the fullest publicity and
discussion. But there are expressions used here which
certainly go beyond the limit of reasonable or fair discus-
sion. There is a reference to the man having been suffer-
ing from delirium tremens at the time sentence was passed
upon him • and there is a further statement that
he was half killed. These are statements of fact which
ought not to be introduced unless the writer is clear
that what he says is substantially correct. We think
that this article goes too far, and certainly affected not
only the magisterial, but personal character of the appli-
cant, charting him with having punished a prisoner under
sentence, and under such circumstances as those now under
discuision. We learn from the affidavits that the
man was not suffering from delirium tremens, and that
the effect of the sentence was not to leave the man half
killed, as alleged. There may be circumstances which
materially affect the character of the proceedings,
but we think under the circumstances we ought to grant
a rule. The rule was granted accordingly. The effect of
it will be to call the publisher of the Chronicle before the
Court of Queen's Bench to shew cause why a criminal
information should not be filed against him.

THE MEN IN WOMEN'S CLOTHES.

Yesterday an application was made in Judges
Chambers for summonses calling on the prosecution to
shew cause why the defendant in this case, Louis Charles
Hurt, should not be admitted to bail in the matter, and
the indictment for misdemeanor found against him.
Mr. Justice Byles asked if the prosecutor appeared. Mr.
Abrams replied in the negative, but handed in an affidavit
made by Hurt. This dedument set forth that the defen-
dant was a clerk in the employ of her Majesty's Post-
master-General at Edinburgh, where he had been for
the last six years ; that he had hitherto borne an
irreproachable character, no charge of any kind
having ever hitherto been made against him.
It also stated that he obtained leave of absence three
weeks ago, and came to London to give evidence in the
case of Boulton and Park, if considered advisable, and
that since the warrant had been served against him he had
not left London, nor had he any intention of doing so.
After asserting his entire innocence, the applicant stated
the necessity of his being admitted to bail for the purpose
of obtaining the necessary. evidence and information for
his defence at the ensuing. Central Criminal Court.
Mr. Abrams said he was not now applying for the defen-
dant to be admitted to bail, but to ask for a summons,
to be returnable to-morrow, to shew cause why he should
not be admitted to bail. Mr. Justice Byles—Yes, you can
have that, and let the prosecutor attend, and you be
here also with a reasonable amount of bail. Not extra-
vagant bail, for that would be contrary to the Bill of
Rights, but a reasonable amount of bail.—The summons
was accordingly granted.
Later in the day Mr. Maddock, solicitor, of 15, Ser-
jeants' Inn, Fleet-street, applied for a like summons on
behalf of John Safford Fisk, and it was granted.

THE LAW RELATING TO PAWNBROKERS
The select committee upon the subject of the law re-
lating to pawnbrokers met yesterday afternoon for the
first time—the Right Hon. Mr. Ayrton in the
chair. A considerable number of pawnbrokers were
in attendance. Mr. Haraker, a gentleman connected
with the business for upwards of 24 years, and who
is the Chairman of this association, said that he was
acquainted with the Acts relating to the regulation of this
business. The 39th and 40th Geo. contained the regula-
tion as to charges. By that Act the rate of profit which
the pawnbrokers were allowed to charge was a halfpenny
for every half-crown per month, and for all
pledges over £2 and under £lO, they were allowed
to charge at the rate of 3d. in the pound. At the
time of the passing of that Act the usury laws were in
force, and it was a privilege to them to be allowed to
charge so high. He did not believe those charges were
ever exceeded, but he complained that under the other
clauses of the Act regulating the charge for sums
lent between £2 and £lO pro rata did not
work out to any definite coinage, but always to
some fractional parts. Thus for 40s. they would be charged
61 and 16-20ths per month ; for £2 4s. it would be 6i and
8-20ths ; for £2 55., 8, for £2 95., 7i and a fraction, for
£2105., 7 per cent. He should propose that there should
be a simple charge of a halfpenny per month. He would,
for instance, recommend a halfpenny per month for every
2s. lent up to £2. He also suggested that the days of grace
should be extended, and that where the article remained
in pawn, say for a month and ten or twelve days, two
months' interest should be charged. He was ready to
give seven days extra at the beginning of every month,
making it fourteen days, and then, if not redeemed in
that time, the two monshs' interest should be charged.
The present rate was not understood by the customer. It
was not compulsory on them to take things of an incon-
venient size. In the country the act was- constantly
evaded. In Liverpool it was frequently evaded. He was
not aware that the police took any steps. He had him-
self evaded it in self-defence. In the country the prac-
tice was to charge two months' interest after a month or
seven days. The 3rd clause of the Act gave them
power to subdivide the interest according to
the sum lent. The evasion he spoke of was with respect to
the charge of a farthing interest. In Ireland three days'
grace was allowed, and no more. A publication known
as " The Scale of Pawnbrokers' Charges " was recognised
by the trade, and in that scale the interest on 10s. was
2d. per month. According to Clause 3, any intermediate
sum between 2s. 6d. and 40s. was to be charged at the rate
of 4d. per 20s. There was no objection to an amendment
of the law by which the pawnbroker should enter the
name and address of the pledger in a book, but at the
same time it was a very common practice for persons who
came to pawn things to give a wrong name and
address, not because the articles proposed to be pawned
; were improperly come by, but because many were very
reluctant that the pawnbrowker himself should know
: their right name.
After some other evidence the committee adjourned.

THE RECENT CONFESSION OF MURDER.

The Melbourne Argus says it is believed that something
decisive will result from the investigations which- the
police are making with the view of ascertaining the truth
of the confession made in London by the man Dyer of the
murder by him of his mate George Wilson, at the Mia-mia
Creek, Newstead, in 1857. Wilson's remains which had
been interred in the Campbell's Creek Cemetery, near
Castlemain, were exhumed on the 4th inst., and
Dr. Norman Gow, who held the post-mortem ex-
amination on the murdered man,. had no difficulty
in identifying the skull, which he said he
could have picked out among a thousand. The
records of the cemetery told that on the 9th day of
January, 1858, a body had been found in the Mia-mia
Creek, parish of Tarrengower, and that on the 11th of the
same month it was buried in compartment B, No. 242.
The age was set down at twenty:six, the name unknown.
After clearing away the earth adhering to the skull, two
holes were perfectly distinct, as if made by the point of a
pick. There were two depressions fracturing the skull, as
if made by the same instrument. A warrant was granted
by the Castlemain Bench for the apprehension of George
Dyer, in England, as the murderer of Wilson.

PROSECUTION OF THE MONARCH
INSURANCE DIRECTORS.

The Hon. A. G. Jocelyn, Mr. G. E. Bulmer, Major J
W. Carnegie, and Mr. Joseph Taylor, directors of the
Monarch Insurance Company, were brought up for exami-
nation yesterday, on the charge of conspiring to defraud
the public of a large sum of money. Mr. Henry George
Ashurst, Chairman of the English Assurance Company,
gave evidence as to the disposal of the fire branch of that
company to the Monarch on the representation
of Mr. Hodges, the manager, that the shareholders' list,
shewing that the capital to be paid up to August 1869
amounted to upwards 'of £19,000, was correct, and that
£lO,OOO had been received, including sums paid in advance
of calls. Mr. Hodges said the position of the company was
at that time 24,000 shareg absolutely allotted, and 26,000
conditionally. Witness had then no suspicion that
the directors had not paid anything on their shares.
On the faith of the representations made to
him he entered into a provisional arrangement for the
sale of the fire business to the Monarch. The loss of the
English Assurance Company in consequence of this agree-
ment was £lO,OOO. A sum of £3,000 was to have been
paid by the Monarch, and there were renewals of policies
about £4,000 or £5,000. The English Company has had
to pay other losses besides. Mr. William Tatlock, jun.,
underwriter, proved having effected insurances in the
Monarch on the faith of the prospectus and subscription
list. After some further evidence in the same direction
the examination was adjourned until to-day.