The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-30 00:00:00

MURDER OF A HUSBAND BY HIS
WIFE. •

SUDBURY, SATURDAY NIGHT.—The discovery of a
mysterious case of poisoning in the village of Acton, a
short distance from this town, within the last few days,
has created the greatest sensation in this part of the
county of Suffolk. The circumstances conneeted with it
are of a very complicated character:—About a month
ago a healthy looking young man, named John Foster,
24 years of age, was married to Catherine Morley, aged
18, the daughter of a widow residing in the village. For
three weeks they lived with the mother, apparently:on
good:terms, when, on the afternoon of the 17th inst., he
complained of heartburn and sickness, and in less than
twenty-four hours expired. The sudden nature of the
death having been communicated to Mr. Harry Way-
man, the Coroner for the county, an inquest was opened
at the Crown Inn, in the village, on Saturday, the 21st
instant.
There being no suspicion entertained at this period
that the death of the deceased was produced by poison,
the young widow, Catherine Fostor, was called an, and
examined as to the circumstances attending her hus-
band's demise. She stated that she had been married
to the deceased exactly three weeks on the day of
his death. lie had been complaining of pains in his
head ever since their marriage. He told her that about
a fortnight after their wedding he had slipped off a load
of hay, and had hurt himself very much in the back.
On Sunday, the 15th inst., he complained much of the
pain, and said he thought he must go to bed. On
the following Tuesday night he spoke of being affected
with heartburn, and was exceedingly sick. On Wed-
nesday morning he was too ill to get up, and she went
to Mr. Jones, the surgeon, about him. She ought to
have stated that at about nine o'clock on Tuesday night
he vomited and was purged, and during Wednesday he
continued in the same state until within an hour of his
death, which took place at four o'clock in the afternoon.
It was after he had returned from his work on Tuesday
evening that he complained of sickness. He had supper
with her and her brother. They had potatoes and hot
dumpling. They had it about seven o'clock, and he
first complained as he was drinking his last cup of tea.
He went to bed between seven and eight o'clock, and in
the course of an hour he became sick. On Wednesday
he complained of a pain in his right side. All he had
on that day was some tea. Mr. Jones did not see him
until the afternoon. He gave her two powders for him
but only one was given. Before he died she had occa.
sion to remove him from the bed. Whilst doing so he
fell on his knees ; she put him in a chair, and he died a
few minutes afterwards. Her mother lived with her, but
on the Tuesday she was out washing.
Very important disclosures, it appears, were here
made to the Coroner by the surgeons, to the effect that
the deceased had died from the effects of poison. Mr.
Wayman, the coroner, accordingly adjourned the in-
quiry till the 24th instant, so as to enable a post mortem
examination of the body, and an analysis of the con-
tents of the stomach, to be made.
On the resumption of the investigation, the coroner
having been apprised of the probability of the deceased's
death being found to have resulted from arsenic, Mr.
Wayman desired the widow to be called in, and after
cautioning her in the usual way, read the evidence which
she had previously given, to which she put her mark as
being correct. She then voluntarily stated, that after
the last day's proceedings she recollected her husband
saying about a week before his death that he had raised
blood. There was but one dumpling for supper on the
Tuesday night before her husband's death. On that day
she had been dining at her husband's mother's house;
it was five o'clock before she got home, and it was after
that when she made the dumpling. The flour with
which it was made was kept in a kneading-trough, and
part of the same flour was still in it. She had not used
any of the flour since. When her husband was sick he
vomited. She and her mother emptied it in a ditch in
the yard. On the following Saturday three of their hens
died; she did not know from what. She saw them all
alive on the Friday.
Maria Morley, the mother of the wife, was then called
and examined. She deposed that her daughter and her
husband lived at her house; he went out to work early
in the morning, and returned at night to supper. On
Tuesday, the 17th, she was out washing. She returned
home shortly after seven o'clock, and found the deceased
in bed. He said he had the heartburn, and was very sick.
She sent her daughter for sixpennyworth of brandy, and
put a part of it in some oatmeal gruel. Deceased took
about two spoonsful of it, but could not keep it down.
This was before eight o'clock. Before this he had been
sick in a handbasin, but she did not notice what he threw
up. After he was sick she emptied the handbasin on
the dunghill in her yard. He vomited frequently during
the night. She went to bed :that night between 11 and
12 o'clock. Her daughter slept in the same room with
her in another bed. The deceased was in a room by
himself on the ground floor. Between three and four
o'clock he called for some tea, and she made him some
peppermint tea, and he drank three cups of it. After
taking it he was very sick. She did not go to bed again,
and at about ten o'clock she went to Sudbury, and re-
turned about an hour before his death• She did not sup
at home on Tuesday night. The deceased had known
her daughter three years. The short time they were
married they appeared to live very happy.
William Steed 'deposed that the deceased was his
fellow-labourer. He saw him on the afternoon of
Tuesday, the 17th, when he seemed quite well. About
a fortnight ago he saw the deceased slip from a waggon,
but he did not say he was much hurt. He had known
deceased ten years, and he always seemed a healthy man.
Elizabeth Fester stated that the deceased was her son.
She had not seen him for two or three weeks before his
death. His wife visited her. on Tuesday, the 17th, and
had dined with her. She left before four o'clock. She
said her husband had been very poorly all the night be-
fore. As she went out she said she must make haste
home, as that was pudding night. Witness asked her if
she made a puddinr, every night. She replied that she
did not, but she should make her husband one that even-
ing. On the following day (Wednesday) witness called
at her house. She cried and said she did not think he
was so bad as he was. She said she was alone with him
and did not like to leave him.

Thomas Morley, a boy eight years of age, brother of
the deceased's wife, corroborated his mother's testimony.
He ate some of the dumpling, and was not unwell. His
sister, wife of the deceased, made the tea and sugared it.
When the deceased came in for his supper he appeared
in a very healthy state and ate heartily. His sister
helped everything. She served the deceased with three
cups of tea. He saw her put the sugar in it.
The analysis of the contents of the stomach being
understood not to be completed, the proceedings:were
again adjourned till yesterday (Friday), when they
were resumed at twelve o'clock, at the Crown Inn, be-
fore the same jury. During the day the body was ex-
humed in order that it might undergo a close exami-
nation by the medical gentleman engaged in the inquiry.
.Tames Pleasant, a labourer, deposed to the sound and
healthy state of the deceased when he left work on the
evening prior to his death. He seemed in the best spirits
and sang as he went along.
Mr. William Edmund Image, surgeon, :of Bury St.
Edmunds, on being sworn said, that on Monday last he
assisted at the analysis of a stomach and its contents,
produced to him at his house by Mr. Jones. He under-
stood it to have been taken from the body of the de-
ceased. Mr. Newham, of the Suffolk Hospital, was with
them. With a view of dotecting the presence of poison,
they applied Renish's test, by which they clearly dis-
covered arsenic, but nothing else. It was applied to
some of the fluid in the stomach, and was considered a
very conclusive test. Marsh's test was also applied to a
portion of the same fluid, with the like result. Ile had
no doubt whatever that the death of the person from
whose stomach the fluid so tested was taken must have
resulted from the effects of arsenic. He detected no
other poison in the stomach. He had that day examined
the body of a man exhumed in Acton churchyard; it
had been previously opened. They first examined the
kidneys; both were very red, but one more so than the
other. The mucous membrane of the intestines was
in many parts covered with thick bloody mucous, and
there were congestive patches in the left ventricle of
,the heart. Assuming that the stomach and its con-
tents belonged to this body, he had no doubt what-
ever that these appearances denoted death by poison.
That day he had been shown by Mr. Jones a por-
tion of the t'ena cava, he found a perforation and one
or two other morbid appearances in it, but without
knowing whether any blood or what quantity of blood
exuded from it, he could not say whether the death of
the person to whom the vena cava belonged was occa-
sioned by the perforation and morbid diseases. The
deceased appeared to be a particularly healthy subject.
The first consequence which ensued on taking arsenic
was the sensation of heartburn and sickness. These
symptoms would come on in a very few minutes after it
was taken. He considered it utterly impossible that a
person could take a dose of arsenic sufficient to cause
death, and afterwards eat heartily before he was taken
ill. Directly the arsenic takes effect nothing can be
retained on the stomach. He had heard the statement
of Catherine Foster, and the evidence of Maria Morley;
they showed the symptoms of a person labouring under
the effects of poison. A person labouring under the
effects of arsenic for so many hours as in the present case
would endure great agony.
Mr. S. Newham, of the Suffolk Hospital, and Mr. R.
Jones, surgeon, of Mefferd, confirmed Mr. Image's tes-
timony. The latter gentleman stated that on the morn-
ing of the day on which the deceased died, his wife
called upon him and said that her husband had a bowel
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ceased dead in bed. He asked several questions, which
the wife answered in a satisfactory manner. The wife
andsicknessmothertoladnd a bowelhimthattheoemdepclaeain.setd had been suffering
f
After much other evidence had been adduced,
The Learned CORONER addressed the jury at some
length, and having drawn their attention to the material
points of the evidence, they consulted together, and re-
turned a verdict of " Wilful Murder " against Catherine
Foster, the wife of the deceased, who was then committed
to the county gaol at Bury St. Edmunds for trial at the
ensuing assizes.

DEATH OF A LITERARY LADT.—MY. Mills held
an inquest on Saturday, at the Coronation, Seymour-
stied, Euston-square, on the body of Mrs. Agnes Hall,
Seymour-
ate seventy, of No. 5, Chai:les-street. Miss Agnes Hall,
daughter of the deceased, said, that her mother was the
relict of a medical army officer, and had been an authoress
for forty years. When Dr. Aiken edited the Old Monthly
Magazine she wrote very largely for it. She wrote for
it latterly, for Fraser's Magazine, and for some of Mr. C.
Knight's publications. Deceased was attending to her
literary occupations up to Tuesday last, when she died
suddenly, whilst taking some beef tea. Deceased was
not in want of the necessaries of life. Dr. Kennedy, of
Tavistock-square, saw deceased both before and after
her death, and told her daughter that it resulted from
natural causes.—Verdict, " Natural death."
Nine more condemned malefactors stood on the
pillory, on Thursday, in the Place du basis de Justice.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
LIVERPOOL, NoVEMBER 28.
STOCK Excriaxox.-The sales are-Chester and Birken-
head, 201. Shares, % p.-Lancaster and Preston, Quarters, 14
-London and North-Western, 192%-Ditto, Quarters, New,
13% P.-London and South- Western, Tenths, 5%7-Manches-
ter and Leeds, Quarters, 4 p.-Ditto, Extension, 1 p.-
Ditto (late Manchester, Bolton, and Bury), Fifths, 514 1).-
Midland, 124%-Ditto, New, 4'3/4 p.-North British, Thirds,
p.-Sheffield and Manchester, Quarters, No. 3, % dis.-
York and Newcastle, Preference, 5% p.-York and Selby
(East and West Riding Extension), Preference, 9% p.-East
Lancashire, 3% p.-New, I%_p.-Great Grimsby and Shef-
field Extension, 28s. 9d. dis.-Huddersfield Canal and Rail-
way, 5% p.-Leeds and Dewsbury, 22 p. Leeds and Thirsk,
76 dis.-Ditto, New, % P.-Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and
Chester, 1% dis.-Ambergate and Eastern Junction, p.
Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction, 1% p.--
Birmingham and Oxford Junction, 6% p.-Glasgow and
Dumfries, 3s. 9d. p.-Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle
Junction, % dis.-London and York, Direct Northern %
dis.-Newry and Warrenpoint, 23A p.-North Staffordshire,
3% p.-North-Western, % p.-Shrewsbury and Hereford,
dis.-Shrewsbury and Birmingham (A), 41s. 3d.-Shrop-
shire Union' Railway and Canal, 3s. 9d. dis.-West Riding
Union, 1% p.-Dutch Rhenish, 1 dis.
MANCHESTER, NOVEMBER 28.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Ambergate, Notting-
ham, and Boston, par-Birmingham and Oxford Junction,
63/4 p.-East Lancashire, No. 1, New, 414 p.-Huddersfield
and Manchester Railway and Canal, :51i p.-Leeds and
Thirsk, 11 dis.-Ditto, New, % p.-Leeds, Dewsbury, and
Manchester, 12 p.-Ditto, Extension (green ), p.-Lon-
don, Manchester, and Birmingham, Quarters (B), 7 p.-Lan-
caster and Preston, New, 6% p.-Manchester and South-
ampton, 9-16 dis.-North Staffordshire, 334 p.-North-West-
em, 9-16 p.-Sheffield and Lincolnshire, 13-16 dis.-Shrews-
bury and Birmingham (A), 2 p.
LEEDS, NOVEMBER 28.
STOCK Excnamm-There was a decided decline on the
Share Markets, with its attendant consequences, during the
early part of the week. Midlands, London and North-
Westerns, York and North Midlands, and South •Westerns,
were considerably reduced in value, and most others partook
of the decline. The aspect of affairs has now materially
changed for the better, and the markets all show decided
symptoms of improvement, with much business doing. The
sales are-East Lancashire, 5 p.-Ditto, No. 2 (late Liverpool,
Ormskirk, &c.), c. p.-East and West Yorkshire, 17s.
6d. dis.-Huddersfield and Manchester, ,6 p.-Leeds and
Dewsbury, 12 p.-Ditto, Branches (blue), 714 p.-Ditto, Ex-
tensions (green), 31s. 6d. p.-Leeds and Thirsk, 14 p.-
Ditto New, % p.-Malton and Driffield Junction, 14s. n. p.-
Manchester and Leeds, Fifths, 5% n. p.-Midland, Prefer-
ence, 3% p.-North British, Thirds, 2% p.-Ditto, Exten-
sion (scrip), 20s. p.-North Staffordshire, 31. 16s. 3d. n. p.-
Shrewsbury and Birmingham, 1% p.-York and Newcastle,
Preference, 5%-Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland, 15s. s. dis.
-North-Western, lls. 6d. p.-Sheffield, Rotherham, and
Goole, 12s. 6d. p.-West Riding Union, 3%.
HULL, NOVEMBER 28.
Srocx EXCHANGIC. -Our market to-day has worn a
i_more healthy appearance than it has done for some days
past, and although but a small business is doing, our quota-
tions are improved upon those of yesterday. The sales are-
North British, Quarters, 78s. 6d.-Ditto, New Quarters,
scrip, 21s. p.-Ditto, Thirds, 2% p.-Ambergate, Notting-
ham, and Boston, 23A -Ipswich and Bury, Extension, Nor-
wich, 23A-ShropshiraUnion, % dis.-West Riding Union, 3%.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, NOVEMBER 28.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Edinburgh and North-
ern (Newport), 83s. 6d. p.-Huddersfield and Manchester
Thirds, 1% p.-Leeds and Thirsk, New, par-Liverpool
Manchester, and Newcastle Junction, 1% dis.-Manchester
and Leeds Extension, 20s. p.-Newcastle and Carlisle, 113
ex n.-Newcastle and Berwick, 13% p.-North British, 13
p. cum thirds-Ditto, Thirds, 1% p. ex thirds-Ditto, Quar-
ters, 2% p. cum thirds-Ditto, Extension, 19s. p.
SHEFFIELD, NOVEMBER 28.
STocx EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Great Grimsby and
Sheffield, Extensions, 295. 6d. dis.-Ditto, Quarter Shares,
dis.-Huddersfield and Manchester, 5% p.-Ditto, Thirds,
% p.-London and South Coast, 59-Manchester, Buxton,
Matlock, and Midland, 1 p.-North British, Thirds, 2/. 11s. p.
-North-Western, % p.-Sheffield and Lincoln, 314 c. dis.-
Sheffield, Rotherham, and Goole, 6s. p.-Manchester and
Southampton, lls.
YORK, NOVEMBER 28.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Eastern Counties,
York Extension, 3%-Ipswich and Bury, 12%-Leicester
and Bedford, 15s. 6d.-London and York, 21. 3s. 6d.-Ditto,
Half Shares, 1%-Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Mid-
land, 3/. 3s. 6d.-Newcastle and Berwick, 333/, -North Bri-
tish, Half Shares, 164-Ditto, Quarters, 3/. 175.-Ditto,
Extension, 25'-North Staffordshire, 53A-North-Western,
1/. 125.-Sheffield, Rotherham, &c., 3L _6s. 3d.-York and
Newcastle, Preference, 71. Is. 6d.-York and North Midland
(East and West Riding), 16%-Ditto, Preference, 113%.
EDINBURGH, NovEMBER 27.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Aberdeen, 184 12s. 6d.
I -Airdrie and Bathgate, 4/. Bs.-Arbroath and Forfar, 281.-
' Ditto, Halves, 151. 55.-Armagh and Portrush, 6s. 6d.-Ayr
end Galloway, IL Bs. 6d.-Belfast and County Down, 35.-
British and Irish Union, 2/. 35.-Caledonian, 23/. 155.-
Ditto, New, 2/. 45.-Caledonian and Dumbartonshire, 1/. 19s.
-Clydesdale Junction, 341.-Cornwall and Devon Central, U.
155.-Deeside Railway, 34-Direct Northern, 1/. 17s. 6d.=
Dundee and Arbroath, 391. 10s.-Ditto, New, 271.-Dundee
and Perth, 25/.-Ditto, New, 10/. 2s. 6d.-East Indian Rail-
way, 12s. 3d.-East of Fife, 1/. 10s. 6d.-Edinburgh and
Bathgate, 2/. 155.-Edinburgh and Glasgow, 761:-Ditto,
Halves, 21/.-Ditto, Quarters, 194-Edinburgh, Leith, and
Granton, 20/. 10s.-Ditto, Preference, 211.-Edinburgh and
Northern, 151. 7s. 6d.-Ditto, Newport, 41. Os. 6d.-Edin-
burgh and Perth, 1/. 155.-Glasgow and Ayrshire, 691.-
Ditto, New Stock, 381.-Ditto, Quarters, 17/. 7s. 6d.-
Ditto, Halves, 81.-Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, 21. 13a.
---Glasgow and Dundee Junction, 1/. 165.-Glasgow and
Garnkirk, 414-Glasgow General Terminus, 12/. 155.-Glas-
gow and Greenock, 171.-Ditto New Stock, 8/. Ss.-Ditto,
Preference, 8/. 55.-Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan, 11.
135.-Great North of Scotland, 1/. 195.-London, Bristol,
and South Wales, 1/. 3s. 61-London and York, 2/. 7s. 6d.-
Ditto, Halves, 11. 17s. 6d.-Midland and Eastern Counties,
155.-Newcastle and Berwick, 341. 10s.-North British, 351.
10s.-Ditto, Halves, 151. IN.-Ditto, Thirds, 31. 12s. 6d.-
Ditto, Quarters, 31.-Ditto, ditto, New, scrip, 1/. 11s.-Ditto,
Fifths, 6/. lls. 6d.-North Staffordshire, 51. 7s. 6d.-North
Wales Mineral, 19/.-Ditto, New, 10/. -Scottish Central,
19/. 55.-Ditto, New, 91. IN.-Scottish Grand Junction, 15s.
-Scottish Midland, 13l 155.-Shrewsbury and Hereford,
lls. 3d.-Shrewsbury, Osvrestry, and Chester, 61. MT..-
Stirling and Dunfermline, 31.-Stirling and Midland, 21.
10s.-Strathern Junction, 3/. 185.-Wishaw and Coltness,
4812 10s.

GLASGOW, NOVEMBER 27.

STOCK EXCH.& NGE.—The sales are—Caledonian, New, 435.
6d.—Caledonian and Dumbartonshire, 375. 3d.—Direct Bom-
bay and Madras, 6s.—Dundee and Arbroath, 39%—Eastern
Counties, 22%—Ditto, York Extension, 725. 6d.—East of
Fife, 29s.—East Indian Railway, 11 s. 9d.—Edinburgh and
Northern, 15%—Edinburgh and Perth, 35s.—Glasgow Ge-
neral Terminus, 12%—Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr,
Halves, 71. 17s.—Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, 51s.—
Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan, 32s.—Glasgow, Air-
drie, and Monkland Junction, 39s.—Great North of India,
4s. ad.—Great Southern of Madras, Bs. 9d. —Madras, Nellore,
and Arcot, 3s. 6d.—Manchester and Southampton, 28s. 6d.—
Midland, Halves, 61.2s.—North British, New Quarters (scrip),
325. 6d.—Paisley, Barrhead, and Hurlet, 555. 6d..—Stirling-
shire, and Midland Junction, 50s. 6d.—Strathern Junction,
765. —York and Newcastle, Preference, 7%.

THE LATE AWFUL MINE:ACCI-

DENT AT OLDBITRY.

A meeting of the inhabitants of Oldbury was held on
Friday last, the 27th inst., in the Court House Room,
to take into consideration the best means of affording
immediate relief to the widows and orphans (between 50
and 60 in number) of those who lost their lives by the
late lamentable explosion at Mr. George Parker's pit
near Oldbury. The meeting (a very spirited one) at its
rising was adjourned till Tuesday, the Bth December, to
be held at the Talbot Hotel, Oldbury, at twelve o'clock.
A Committee was formed for the purpose of taking the
necessary steps to render that meeting worthy of the
important object in question, and commensurate with the
needful exigencies of the case. The subscriptions raised
at the meeting amounted to upwards of 1004
The following are the names of the gentlemen who
have so cheerfully contributed:—
Messrs. Philip Williams and Sons ... .£25 0 0
Messrs. Joseph and William Bennett... ... 15 0 0
Messrs. J. and S. Hunt ... ... 20 0 0
The Radnallfield Colliery Company ... 10 0 0
Anthony Parker, Esq.... ... 15 0 0
Levi Parker; Esq.... ... ... 15 0 0
Mr. Joseph Jones Gregory... ... ... 5 0 0
Rev. R. Prickett, Incumbent of Oldbury ... 2 2 0
Sundry small sums collected by Rev. R.
Prickett
Messrs. Chambers and Marsh

Mr. Joseph Parkes ... ...
Mr. J. R. Cooper

Mr. W. Underhill..

3 13 10i
3 3 0
2 2 0
1 1 0
1 1 0
1 1 0
1 1 0
1 1 0

Mr. W. Millington
Mr. Joseph Hintett
Mr. Joseph Collins
Collection after a Sermon on Pitt Bank by
the Rev. R. Leeke ... 610 Of

William Bennett, Esq., Portway Hall, near Oldbury,
Messrs. J. li.. Cooper and John Chambers, Oldbury,
were appointed Secretaries, to whom all subscriptions
and communications are requested to be sent.

THE MENAI STRAITS' TUBULAR

BRIDGE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

The interesting experiments noticed at various times
in your columns, relative to the intended bridge over
the Menai Straits, appear principally to have been
directed to determine the capabilities of the iron tube to
sustain the weight of the trains intended to pass over it.
No experiment having been reported showing it equal
to resisting the action of the wind when blowing a hurri-
cane from 31•7501b5. to 4613751b5., or probably up to
52•0831b5. to the superficial foot. In the autumn of last
year I was engaged on the sections of the then intended
London and Holyhead direct railway, and I particu-
larly noticed at various places the immense masses of
rock that had been blown by storms from the mountains,
and several in the Snowdon Pass from a most terrific
height ; one of which, by measurement, weighed 710
tons. I always remarked that the beautiful suspension
bridge over the Straits (about 10 chains from the intended
tunnel, and near the same level), designed by the late
eminent engineer, Telford, had been injured by the
vibration of the chains and roadway in the many storms
it has withstood ' • and crossbraces had been fixed to the
chains, rendered necessary to prevent the piers being
further injured, the very small surface exposed to the
action of the wind being sufficient to cause injury to such
a stupendous structure. The immense surface of
the
intended tunnel,reexpoof the tube),sed atthe
to h
same levelte action of h
(say 110 feette
high in the centre
tremendous storms that rage in the Straits, demands the
greatest caution as to the tubularmreaiofo, armbzing adopted.

J. ROEBUCK.

Inspector of Works, Ihiddersfield and
Manchester Railway, Nov: 10.

DARING BURGLARY AT Yorm.—On. Wednesday
morning last, at one o'clock, four men entered the house
of Mr. Wilson, of West Cottage, which is situated about
a mile and a half from this city, on the Boroughbridge-
road, by taking out a window at the back of the pre-
mises. The thieves went up stairs, covered the inmates
overhead with the bedclothes, and threatened that if
they afterwards said anything abqut the matter they
should all be murdered. After the robbers had remained
about an hour in the house, they decamped, taking away
with them a quantity of wearing apparel, a sovereign,
and 9kin silver.—Yorkshtreman.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, Nov. 23.-
REEVE V. DAYRRLL.

The defendant is one of the sheriffs of Buckingham,
and the action was brought against him by the plaintiff,
Mr. Reeve, a cloth dealer, carrying on business in Snow-
hill, for furnishing a false return to a writ of fi. fa. with
respect to the goods and chattels of a tailor named
Pater, at Stony Stratford. A distress was levied on
the effects of Pater at the instance of the plaintiff; and
the sheriff returned a reply to the writ that he had no
effects. A few articles of furniture were on
his premises, but it appeared they had been
transferred to his brother-in-law by a bill of
sale, for a sum of money which he had advanced
to him. This was not proved to the satisfaction of the
jury, and they found a verdict for the plaintiff for
191. 165., believing the bill of sale to be a fraudulent one,

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, Nov. 28.
POOLEY v. TAYLOR AND ANOTHER.-TEE WESTERN GAS

COMPANY.
This was an action brought by Mr. Pooley, patent
weighing machine maker, of Liverpool, to recover
23L 17s. 6d. for a weighing machine furnished to the
London Western Gaslight Company, of which the de-
fendants were directors. The machine had been ordered
by Mr. Radley, who was employed by the company to
perform some chemical experiments, and who had re-
ferred plaintiff to the secretary for payment. When the
bill was sent in, the officers of the company denied that
they had authorised Radley to give the order, and the
present action was in consequence brought.
The evidence as to the authority of Radley to order
the machine was of a somewhat conflicting character.
The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff for 231.
17s. 6d., the amount claimed.

This verdict involves several other claims which are
made against the company.

ELECTION OF A NEW BISHOP
FOR ARGYLL AND THE ISLES.
(From the Edinburgh Chronicle.) •
In obedience to a mandate from the PrimUs, the
clergy of Argyll and-the Isles met at Oban, on the 14th
inst., to elect a new Bishop. There were present the
Very Reverend James Paterson, M.A., Dean of Ar-
gyll and. the Isles, the Reverends Samuel Hood, of
Rothsay ; M'Lennan, of Fort William ; D. M'Kenzie,
of Portnacroish ; and H. Montgomery Moore, of Stor-
noway (Lewis). The Reverend Samuel Hood, of
Rothsay, opened the proceedings, and at considerable
length pointed out the necessity of electing a pious and
good man, and at the same time one who was a gentle-
man in habits and connexions, and who would carry with
him, and exercise an influence and respect worthy of his
high station both in the church and in the world, and, if
possible, one who had the means of properly sustaining
himself, and, at the same time, of aiding and assisting
his poorer brother. He admitted it was desirable that
the individual should possess a competent knowledge of
Gaelic, but a person thus qualified was not to be found
among themselves, and when they . considered the
circumstances under which they were assembled, it
became them to consider whether a knowledge of Gaelic
on the present occasion was absolutely indispensable.
They were aware that the Right Reverend Bishop Low
intended to assign the whole of his income as Bishop of
Moray, and Argyll, and the Isles, as a present provision
for their new bishop, and that at his (Bishop Low's)
death, he meant to give the sum of 8,0001. to the diocese
of Argyll and the Isles, as a permanent endowment; and
in making this munificent intention known, he had at the
same time recommended the Rev. Alexander Ewing, of
Forres, as his successor. Mr. Hood asked whether they
were not bound to take such circumstances into their
serious consideration, and decide (perfectly free as they
were to act, even without such a recommendation)
,whether there were any serious objections to Mr. Ewing
which ought to induce them to reject him. He was well
spoken of in the Church and out of the Church as a good
man—as a gentleman, with ample means, as far as
regarded this world, to be useful. As to his knowledge
of Gaelic, what was to prevent his acquiring as much as
was needful for his public ministrations? The present
Bishop of St. David's in two years after his consecration
acquired a sufficient knowledge of the Welsh language
to enable him to preach to the people in Welsh—and,
there was no reason why Mr. Ewing should not do as
much. But suppose he might not make such progress as
Dr. Thirlwall in -the acquisition of a language, would
such a supposition, if they had no other objection against
him, justify them in refusing to elect him as their bishop?
Mr. Hook certainly thought not.
The Very Reverend Dean PATERSON next rose, and
said he could not but concur with what Mr. Hood had
said; and, after a few remarks upon the subject, he
proposed that they should elect the Rev. Alexander
Ewing as their Bishop.
Mr. HOOD seconded the motion; and, after a good deal
of subsequent discussion, Mr. Ewing was elected as the
Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, and the meeting was
then dis Solved.
The reverend gentlemen afterwards dined together at
the Caledonian Hotel in the greatest harmony.
The new Bishop, we understand, is likely to build a
church, and make Oban his permanent residence. This
will diffuse quite a new spirit in the place and the
immediate neighbourhood, and v e have no doubt will
prove a public benefit.

COTTON IN

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