The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-11 00:00:00

THE ORDER OF " MENDICANTS."

The charge against Michael Gannon and James Carey,
remanded a few days since, was brought forward at the
police-court yesterday afternoon, before Messrs. Crosthwaite
and Hutchinson, for further investigation.
It will be recollected that the prisoners were on Tuesday
last brought before Mr. Alderman Holme on a charge of
begging from house to house. They admitted they had
done so, but stated it was for the object of defraying their
expenses to America; that they were members of the Fran-
ciscan Monastery at Drogheda, but being unable to pay
their passage from Ireland to Loretta House, in Pennsyl-
vania, they had, through ignorance, solicited alms for that
purpcse in Liverpool. Since the case has been made
public, the fullowing letter has appeared in one of the Irish
journals :

"Flan'jscan Ginvent, Drug Lula, Aug. 4, 1858.

" Dear raw in this day's Frersina►t a report of the
arrest in Liverpool of tin ee men who call themselves monks
of the Franciscan Order, and say that they were connected
with the Franciscan Convent of Drogheda. It therefore
became my duty to write to the Liverpool magistrate who
presided at the investigation, in order to correct some inac-
curacies, and to state as much as I knew of these men.
These men resided in the west of Ireland, in different houses,
which are called Franciscan Monasteries, but are nut con-
nected with the Franciscan Friars. Each of them got per-
sons to recommend them to me, as competent to discharge
the offices of cook, sacristan, &c. One of them served iu this
convent as cook for. three months, another remained two
months, and the last bad been but three weeks, when they
all told me that they would not remain another week unless
I would promise to permit them to make solemn vows, and
to become thus perpetual members of the Franciscan Order.
I refused, and they left for Liverpool on the 26i.b, saying
that they were going to a convent of Redemptionist Friars
in England. I told them that they must not beg, and gave
to each of them more than sufficient for travelling expenses.
I wish it to be made known that these men are not reli-
gious, and left because they had no hope of being professed
as members of the Franciscan Order.—l am, the editor's
obedient servant, "ANTHONY DARDIS."

Inspector Kelme was charged to make inquiries into the
statements of the prisoners, and at the police-court
the following letter wa-, handed to the presiding magis-
trate :

" Drogheda, Aug. 5, 1858.

"With reference to the annexed, I beg to state that the
two prisoners, Cannon and Carey, lived as servants, the
former three months, the latter three weeks; also a third,
named Michael Byrne, for two months in the Franciscan
Convent in this town. They are all natives of the west of
Ireland ; consequently are not known here unless for the
short period they stopped in the convent. It appears they
left. the convent about a fortnight ago, as the superior, the
Rev. A. N. Dardis, would not permit them to make per-
petual vows, and on their departure he gave them 50s. to
defray their expenses to a religious house in some part of
England. Thither they intended to go. They had no per-
mission to ask alms, but, on the contrary, the Rev. Mr.
Dardis told them not to beg. In the absence of the S. 1.,
" P. MURTAGH, the Superintendent at Liverpool."
The following is a communication, signed by Mr. Dardis,
of Drogheda, in reference to the prisoner Gannon :
" Franciscan Convent, July 25, 1858.
" Michael Gannon, who made the vow of a religious in •
monastery in the archdiocese of Tuam, and is now called
Brother Joseph, resided in this convent for the last three
months, and during that time he faithfully discharged the
duties of cook and market man. On his arrival at this cow'
vent be handed me a letter from the Archbishop of Twat
in which it was stated that ho was released from obedience
to his grace. "A. N. DARDIS."

Mr. Cobb appeared for the prisoners, and urged that such
documents as the above could not be brought as evidence is
a court of justice.

Mr. Clough, superintendent of police, said they clearli
showed the prisoners were soliciting subscriptions without
authority.

The Court ruled that they could not be received.

Mr. Cohb then addressed the beneh, urging that the9l
men had been guilty of no misrepresentation; they bad told
the truth as to their names and objects, and although
begging was an offence against the laws of England, It
was allowed in Ireland. These poor men had been ignorant
of the law, and no doubt had been guilty of a great indie
cretion ; still, it was not a case for the bench to deal will,
them as rogues and vagabonds, under the Vagrant Act, an,
he asked the magistrate to discharge them and they would
leave the town.

The superintendent said they could not be called imps:
tors, as all their statements, upon inquiry, were fowls
correct.
..

Alter some inquiries, Mr. Crosthwaite said he would dis-
charge them if they promised to leave the town, which they
unhesitatingly agreed to do, and were at once dismissed.
A large number of Roman Catholics were present during
the investigation, and much interest was excited by 1110
proceedings.

LAW INTELLIGENCE-(THIS DAY.)

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Goulburn.)
IN RE WM. TOWNSEND.

This bankrupt wasdescribedasaliorisi;&c., at Notting'
hill, and to-day came up for his certificate.
The accounts, prepared by Messrs. Weston and Orford!
Moorgate-street, showed debtor to creditors about £700; but
almost the whole of the property, valued at £4OO, had bees
swept away for rent, anu sold at a great loss.
The report of Mr. Pennell was generally unfavourable, as
it showed that the bankrupt had once previously been be'
fore this court, and had subsequently applied under the la-
solvency Act, but his petition was dismissed. He had not
kept any books which would explain the real state of affairs,
and the cash-book had not been brought down to the time
of the bankruptcy with that regularity which would hays
enabled him (Mr. Pennell) to test the accuracy of the
accounts.

Mr. Wells, for the assignees, did not offer any opposition.
Mr. Sturgeon urged that great allowance ought to be
made for the bankrupt as to the book-keeping, looking IL
the peculiar nature of the business, as the first bankruptcy'.
had been superseded; the creditors having been settled
with, and the application to de Insolvent Court had on
l
been refused in consequence of the absurd law which did
not allow a trader to petition if he owed more than .o°C°l
or he would have had protection, and the property woulu
not have been sacrificed.
ea
His Honour said, notwithstanding what had been urged
he considered the bankrupt very blameable, and he had Mee
doubt this was a friendly bankruptcy ; he, however, was not
,1
o
'
so satisfied on that point as to refuse the certificate all
leave the bankrupt to apply to the Lords' Justices, but wool
suspend the certificate for six months, with protection for
three, to be renewed, unless opposed by any creditor.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE-(THIS DAY.)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.—CRUELTY TO A HOBO 5,
—NIGHT CABS.—Thoinas Baker, driver of cab 2,41r2,
57, Burton-crescent, was charged by Mr. William Love'
chief constable of the Royal Society for the Prevention
Cruelty to Animals, with using a horse in a condition tots&
unfit for use.

From the evidence of Heifer, one of the society's officer!!
it appeared that at eight o'clock in the morning of the 4th
August, the defendant was driving the horse in a cab along
Cocksper-street, when he called to him to stop, and, after
swearing at the officer, and flourishing his whip in a WO"
cing manner, he did so. Heifer then examined the horse'
and found a large raw place on one shoulder, a swollen
knee, and the horse to be in a shockingly poor and miserable
condition.
Seaman, another officer of the society, said the horse
was a miserable object. It was one of those horses that cab'
men brought out of a night, as they were ashamed to
let them be seen its the day time, and the practice was much
on the increase. On moving the collar he found a large
sore.
200 C said he was present when the driver was stopped'
and he was very abusive. The horse was in a very bad e 011"
dition.

Defendant, who displayed great loquacity of speech, andi.
began by saying he had a great many remarks to make D'
answer to the charge, entered into a long rigmarole, acchart
ing everybody of having committed perjury ; saying tu'd
the horse was greatly improved since he had had it, anis.
that he had been summoned on a former occasion by the
society but discharged.
Mr. Love said it wi.s true be was discharged, but it wag
only on condition that he had the horse hutuedistelY
slaughtered.
A witness was called for the defendant, who said he old
the horse to the defendant because he knew his "be°
Mr. Beadon, having inspected the horse, cautioned the
defendant, and told him he had better not use it for swag
time.
The defendant, having made the promise, was fined 55'
and costs.

THAMES.—MURDEROUS ASSAULT.—Henry Barrett,
a dark and dirty-looking fellow, was brought before g 1:
Selfe, chareed with committing a violent assault
Catherine Sullivan.

The complainant, a dissipated-looking woman, said slre
bad been cohabiting with the prisoner for three years, on
he had frequently beaten and kicked her. He was once
committed for four mouths by one of the magistrates
Worship-street for " jobbing" a pipe into her eye, the sight
rt
of which was nearly lust. Last night she had just brouga,
home food for her two children, when the prisoner cane
home drunk, and beat and kicked her. He threw oet
down, and, endeavoured to strangle her. He hit her o°e
the head and face, and she was covered with blood when
police came in and interfered. She really balieved the
sorer would murder her if he was not restrained, but s
did not wish to punish him.
Mr. Selfe—l won't consult your wishes.
The prisoner in defence said that be and his "wife" were
both drunk yesterday, and that they always fought wh,.e.
they were in that state. His " wife" had sent him to t. 9:
hospital several times, and a few week's since she broke In:
arm. He came out of the hospital only a few weeks age
with his arm broken.
Mr. Selfe read a certificate put in by the prisoner, on
said he had not been treated for a broken arm.
Sharper, police-constable 450 K, said he found the wool',
,
Sullivan weltering In her blood. She had been terribly
punished. The man was drunk, the woman was sober. d
Mr. Selfe said a more wretched and unhappy couple hoe
never come before him. He sentenced the prisoner to thre
mouths' imprisonment and hard labour.

HOP INTELLIGENCE.--We learn from the South Eastern Gazette that the reports from the Kent hop Pita";
tations generally agree in stating that the plants are
on favourably, and the burr developing itself into hops ve„"0
fast with the flue weather has lately prevailed. ,
grcunds, however, still bear unmistakable tokens of the 11.1 b
high winds. It is universally believed that the crop, whien.e"
is principally what is called a "top crop," cannot be so 1014
as was a few weeks ago anticipated. The long drottgi",
affected the whole of the plantations more or le,s; and !.,
lateral branches have not grown to above half their ordi
nary length from the poles. The planters,
consequently,
consider that the assumed duty, as quoted in the BoroOtt.,.
is considerably overset. From Sussex and Surrey the 111,
tethgncecorfesponds generally with the accounts from the
Kentish districts, except that in one or two places we MI,
derstand that the Mine is looking worse than it did a steel'
ago, owing to the continued dry weather. In Fttruhap!
Alton, and country districts, the plantations have not prc
pressed so favourably during the last fortnight as wig!i).
have been expected from the high temperature; There Is.
still a great deal of short bine, and we do not imagine that
the district will pay more than half last year's duty, unless
we get a large quantity drain within a few days.