The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-14 00:00:00

A CURIOUS CASE.

The Court of Queen's Bench has been occupied
during the whole of its sitting by the trial of the case
of Catch v. Shaen, which presents many curious
features. The action is brought by the late master
• of Lambeth Workhouse against a solicitor residing
in• the parish for the publication of pamphlets
•chaPging him with ill using the'paupers. Mr. Catch
had been originally in the police force, and later
on was porter in a workhouse. He subsequently
obtained the post of master at the Strand workhouse,
where he did not agree with the medical officer.
He was then appointed master at Newington,
where a complaint was ,made that he locked
a refractory pauper up • all night in a
book closet. He was called upon to
resign, but was afterwards appointed master of Lam-
beth Workhouse, the situation which ho held When
Mr. Simon made the charges against him. The
plaintiff's friends admitted t►rut be had introduced a
chance of

stem, as a more ~evere disciphrie wits
ne,.iled of the turbulence of the inmates.
[is opp•e.,-iiis ui tintai,,ed that, the turbuleiwe com-
plained (:t was partly caused by his own
lnirshneo. One particular charge against him
was "of locking up • a girl who 'escaped
from tlib refractory ward," as it was called,
in one of the"cells all night. Another ground of
compllint was that the friends of dying paupers were
not allowed to be sent Ibr during the. night, or to
stay with them if there. A great deal of evidence

87L

has been heard on both sides, and the Lord Chief
Justice .finds it advisable to defer his summing up.

MR. MACGIIEGOII, IEN EGYPT.

Mr. Macgregor, of Rob Roy Celetritp has been
enlightening the citizens of Birmingham respecting
his recent adventures in Egypt. The Suez Canal
he found to be drying up somewhat, in consequence of
the French being unable to carry out the system!,
of dredging. In pursuing his journey' up the
Nilo the traveller found it advisable to suit his
clothing to the character of the tribes he passed
through. Among unfriendly people he dressed in
gray, beet in friendly districts he assumed gayer and,
more attractive clothing. He invented a bed fin!
himself, to serve in the daytime as a protection from
the heat of the sun, which was very intense in his.
canoe. At the close of his lecture, be gave the
audiende a practical illustration of "going to bed
in his canoe, to their great amusement. Ile gave an,
animated account of his eXpthidned of the papyrus. •
country, where 'he was imprisoned for a time, and
of his following the course of
,the . Jordan, tracing;
the current, and endeavouring to improve the
geography of Palestine. Some of the tribes Were.
very unfriendly, and amused themselves by throwing
things at him "in clouds." When the Arabs got
their guns out to fire at him, they were fortunately
alwaj's very deliberate about it, as an Arab is never
in a hurry to fire off gun, thinking it an ex-
pensive luxury which should be made the most
of. " When he darted about his canoe the
Arabs darted about with their guns, when he was
quiet the Arabs settled down leisurely to take aim,
when he moved the Arabs again rose and followed,
still aiming." Under these circumstances it is not'
surprising that the popular lecturer escaped the
threatened danger, andsurvived to entertain Birming-
ham.