The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-26 00:00:00

WORSHIP-STREET.

MURDEROUS ASSAULT AT A FUNERAL.— Yester-
day Samuel Smith, a powerful ruffianly-looking
fellow, was re-examined before Mr. Hammill, charged
with violently assaulting his brother-in-law, George
Hawkins, a gas fitter, residing in Bacon-street,
Bethnal-green.
The complainant, it appeared, buried his wife on
Sunday last, and was just retiring from the grave
with the other mourners, when he received several
terrible blows on the back of the head, and exclaimed
that he was killed, and fell into the arms of one of
the assistants. The prisoner, who had attacked him
with an iron instrument, was disarmed by one of the
bearers, and being asked what could have induced
him to commit such an outrage, said the complainant
had not allowed him to see his sister when she was
dying, and he wished he had killed the --. Two
of the men attempted to take him, but he set them
both at defiance, using the most revolting language,
and Rearly strangled one of them, sal was only se-
cured after a desperate struggle.
The prisoner, in his defence, said he considered it
very hard that he had not been allowed to see his
sister, and as she died after only three days' illness,
he thought the complainant might have given her
" some stuff."

The complainant explained that it was by the de-
sire of his deceased wife herself that the prisoner had
bee❑ prevented from seeing and disturbing her during
her last illness.

Mr. HAmAtILL considered the case too serious to be
disposed of summarily, and committed the prisoner
for trial.

ROBBERY BY A SERYANT.—MrS. Isabella Haw-
kins, a respectable-looking person, whose husband
was stated to be a mercantile clerk in the City, was
charged with feloniously receiving a quantity of pro-
perty belonging to Mr. Freestone, a straw bonnet
manufacturer, in Shoreditch, and stolen from him by
Maria Bowman, his servant, the prisoner's niece, who
was on Tuesday remanded for the robbery.
The prosecutor, after having given the servant into
custody, went with Holland, the police officer, to the
residence of the prisoner, her aunt, and after some
denial, found and searched two boxes, containing an
immense quantity of ribbons, caps, &c., and in her
bedroom a parcel containing other goods, all of them
belonging to him.
The prisoner was remanded on bail.
CLERKEN WELL.

Yesterday ten omnibus drivers were summoned by
Inspector Thatcher, of the N division, for causing a
nuisance in King-street, Islington.
It appeared from the evidence of Sergeant Martin,
N, that for some time past opposition omnibuses had
started for less prices for short distances, which gave
rise to jealousies, quarrels, and dangerous stratagems
by the drivers and conductors, and not only the pas-
sengers in their vehicles were insulted and annoyed,
but ladies and gentlemen who were passing along, in
order to force them to ride with them. They also re-
mained fcr seven or fourteen minutes in the above
street at a time, to the annoyance and interruption of
the neighbourhood. Numerous complaints had been
made by respectable inhabitants, and the inspector, in
the performance of his duty, instituted the present
proceeding.
Mr. Sidney, the solicitor, at some length urged that
there ought to be a time appointed and specified for
them to stand for the purpose complained of.
Mr. Bliss also agreed in this view.
Mr. COMAE concurred, and said that he would not
decide upon the case that day, but adjourn it for one
week, in order that the Commissiiners of Police might
be consulted on the subject in reference to regulating
and appointing a time for omnibuses to remain to take
up passengers, &c., and in the event of infringement to
be liable to punisment.
The case excited considerable interest, and the court
was excessively crowded by omnibus proprietors, &c.

The ROYAL NAvv.—From a return moved for by
Mr. Hume, M.P., it appears that the total number of
promotions in the Royal Navy since the 15th of May,
1843, from the rank of midshipman to that of admiral
inclusive, amounts to 1,204, viz., 1 from the rank of
admiral to that of admiral of the fleet, 14 from that of
vice-admiral to admiral, 30 from that of rear to vice-
admiral, 31 from that of captain to rear-admiral, 53 from
that of captain to " retired" rear-admiral, 135 from that
of captain to " retired" captain, 126 from that of
commander to captain, 176 from that of lieutenant to
commander, and 341 from that of mate to lieutenant.
The total number of sea officers on " sea-pay" on the
Ist of January, 1848, amounted to 830; the total amount
of such sea-pay being 223,9341., and the number of
officers on half-pay on the said Ist of January, 1848, to
3,284, the amount of such half.pay being 548,5271. The
total number of officers in the Royal Navy on the Ist of
January, 1848, was as follows, viz.:-1 admiral of the
fleet, 30 admirals, 45 vice-admirals, 75 rear-admirals, 48
retired rear-admirals, 131 retired captains, 551 captains,
50 retired captains; 1840, 877 commanders, 308 retired
commanders, and 2,357 lieutenants. In 1847, the
number was as follows, viz.-2 admirals of the fleet, 30
admirals, 45 vice admirals, 80 rear-admirals, 53 retired
rear-admirals, 127 retired captains, 570 captains, 49 re-
tired captains; 1840, 889 commanders, 295 retired com-
manders, and 2,448 lieutenants.
BRITISH LYING-IN HOSPITAL, BROWNLOW- STREET,
LONG-ACRE.—From a report issued by the committee of
the above charity, it appears that " in consequence of
the dilapidated state of the buildings of the late hospital,
it was found imperatively 'necessary to take measures
for the erection of a new institution," which is now being
built in Endell-street, and certainly appears to be excel-
lently adapted to its purpose. The design !of the archi-
tect is in the Tudor style, and when completed the hos-
pital will decidedly form no unimportant addition to the
improvements of the neighbourhood, while its benefits
and its blessings will be conferred to a greatly increased
number of patients, who are the wives of distressed
housekeepers, tradesmen, &c. The amount already ex-
pended reaches nearly 6,0001.; and in so good a cause,
undoubtedly, the co-operation of the benevolent will be
adequate to its merits and its requirements.
Two CASES OF ASIATIC CHOLERA IN MILIIANK
PENITENTIARY.—Yesterday, Mr. Bedford, the coroner,
held two inquests at the Milbank Penitentiary, and in
each case it was found that the immediate cause of death
was Asiatic cholera, the symptoms being distinctly
marked, and the disease most rapid in its fatal progress,
Dr. 13a1y, Physician to the Penitentiary, proved that the
deceased persons died from Asiatic cholera, and a verdict
was returned accordingly. In consequence of the disease
having made its appearance amongst the inmates of the
institution, another medical officer has been appointed to
waist in the duty.