The Sun.
London, England, 1869-02-05 00:00:00

ELECTION PETITIONS.

Some grumbling is expressed at the decision of Mr.
Baron Martin in the Warrington election case. The facts
as proved, were, that an incompetent poll-clerk was ap-
pointed, that a large number of votes were tendered but
not accepted. Mr. Baron Martin construed this into
confusion arising from an incompetent poll-clerk. lle
did not think such confusion would vitiate an election.
It appeared that instead of giving their names as usual to
the poll-clerk, the voters tendered cards. This was a mis-
take on the part of the voters. It would be a great in-
justice if all the votes which were duly recorded were to
be set aside because one or two votes were not
properly recorded. The case of bribery and intimidation
was abandoned on the part of the petitioners because
there was a recriminatory charge hanging over. The
sitting member, Mr. Eylands, was then declared dul,•
elected.

At Westbury the respondent, Mr. Phipps, M.P., denied
that any of the persons who had been guilty of intimida-
tion or bribery were his agents. The election had only
cost him R 350, and no claim had been made on him for a
further amount.

Wallingford seemed to have been steeped in beer during
the election. The witnesses who come up tell one long
tale of beer and spirits at various public-houses. Some
men who have been summoned seem to be keeping out of
the way.

LAW AND POLICE.

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A SUBTERRANEAN DISASTER.—In the Exchequer Chain.
ber an appeal was heard from a decision in the Court of
Common Pleas. The Metropolitan Board of Works
claimed £lB,OOO from the Metropolitan Railway Company
for injury done to their works by the Underground Rail-
way, which had been constructed under the main sewer.
The Court of Common Pleas gave judgment for the
railway company, and the Exchequer Chamber confirmed
the decision.

THE DENDY WILL CASE.—The long-pending will case
has been brought to a conclusion. On Thursday the trial
of Mr. Harris for perjury was announced. It w ill be remem-
bered that the question at issue was whether a young lady
named Alicia Jane Dendy, who died in the year 18GC, leaving
a considerable amount of property,was competent to snake
her will. The charge against Mr. Harris was founded on
his having sworn at the Probate Court that she was so
competent, After a good deal of evidence had been
heard, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and Mr.
Justice Hayes ordered that the prosecutor should pay Mr.
Harris's costs.
THE SILK MERCHANT'S CAsE.--Edwarcl Simpson, tor•
rnerly a silk merchant in Cheapside, was charged, on
remand, at the Mansion House, with obtaining goods worth
.1-000 on credit within three months of his bankruptcy,
with intent to defraud. Alderman Sir B. Phillips com-
mitted him for trial, accepting bail, himself in £l,OOO, and
two sureties in £5OO each.

The Bishop of London and the Lord Chancellor
have been chosen as Governors of Charterhouse School,
in the places of the late Lord Cranworth and the late
Archbishop of Canterbury.

THE NAVAL ESTIMATES.—We understand that
Mr. Childers has appointed a civil coniroission consisting
of Dr. Murchison, Mr. Holmes, and Mr. Robert Ellis, to
visit and inspect the naval hospitals at Chatham Ply-
mouth, and Haslar, and to report upon their administra-
tive expenses. With a view to the inclusion of any result-
ing economies of salary in the current estimates, the
inspections are to be made forthwith ; the main conclusions
are to be transmitted to the First Lord within a fortnight.
—British Medical Journal.

A NEW FOG-BELL BUOY. A description i!
going the rounds of a new fog-bell buoy which is being
tried at Portsmouth. In the old buoy the striking of the
bell is caused by the motion of the water giving the buoy
sufficient oscillation to bring the single ordinary clapper
with which the bell is fitted with force against the side of
the bell in proportion to the disturbance of the water
where it is moored. It always requires considerable motion
of the water to strike its bell, and at times when there is
fog and little or no motion of the water, the bell gives out
no warning sound. The arrangement of the fog-bell and
its clappers on the new Shewell buoy effectually disposes of
this objectionable feature, a succession of rapid blows being
kept up on the sides of the bell by the very slightest move-
ment of the water. This is effected by hanging a bell
without a clapper close down on the table-face of the buoy,
where four metal balls move in as many covered grooves,
equi-distantly fixed round the outer circumference of the
bell. There are thus four clappers in constant motion and
striking against the bell, with the important advantage
over a bell struck in the ordinary way, that the instant the
blow has been struck the ball flies off from the side of the
bell, and the latter gives a sound much more clear and
diatiNtlagiA would Y h 9.1 d _l4ollod of itrikiag.