The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-18 00:00:00

THE ALTON MURDER

On Wednesday Professor Taylor, of Guy's Hos-
pital, to whom the knives, clothes, and other articles
belonging to the prisonerßakerwere sent, completed
his analysis. It will be remembered that traces of that
which was presumed to be blood were found on some
of the prisoner's clothes and on one of the knives in
his possession. After a very minute examination
extending over a month, Professor Taylor has made
his report of the experiments made in the matter
to the Chief Constable of Hampshire, wherein he
states that it is human blood upon the knife and
clothes. Doubts were entertained at first as to
whether the knives found on the prisoner were
capable of mutilating the body in the way it was
done, owing to their smallness. A large number of
police under the authority of Superintendent Chey-
ney have, since the magisterial investigation,minutely
searched a large circle round the scene of the mur-
der, including the river Wey, which rises near the
spot; but after 16 days diligent search failed to ob-
tain any knife, or the part of the little victim's body
which is still missing. The county surveyor, aided
by a staff of assistants, has just completed a plan on
a large scale of the hop field and the surrounding
neighbourhood, to be produced for the information
of the court on the trial of the prisoner in December
next.

The prisoner's conduct since his committal to
Winchester Gaol has been anything but reserved.
He is very talkative to the warders, but more espe-
cially to the chaplain, and is attentive to his re-
ligious duties. He seldom complains. Once when
he did so, at not having sufficient exercise, he was
told to walk faster, which he acted upon, but made
no reply. Ile frequently refers to the murder, and
observes that his own conscience is quite clear. He
wonders who the guilty party was, and expresses a
hope that whoever the guilty party was he will be
found out. He possesses an excellent appetite, and
sleeps well, which is rather remarkable, considering
that while under arrest at Alton awaiting the magis,
terial investigation he shuddered at the sight of
meat in any shape, and was very disturbed in his
sleep. So strange was his conduct that a strict
watch was placed over him as a precaution against
his committing suicide.
The subscription on behalf of the parents of the
poor little victim, who are in humble circumstances
in life, for the purpose of assisting them to meet
various expenses which have been entailed upon
them, has been fairly responded to.

Attempt to Rescue a Prisoner in Clerkenwell.

At a general meeting of the magistrates of the
county of Middlesex, held yesterday at the Sessions-
house, Clerkenwell-green, for the transaction of the
usual county business—Mr. Henry Pownall, chair-
man of the bench, presiding—a report was brought
up from the Committee of Accounts and General
Purposes, and it contained the following passages
in consequence of the late attempt at the rescue of
a prisoner, and suggestions for guarding against any
attempt of the kind for the future. It said-4' On
the county day of the last quarter session the sub-
ject of the existing arrangements for the trial of
prisoners at the Sessions-house, Clerkenwell, and
for their conveyance to and from the prisons, was
referred to your commiteee for them to consider and
report thereon. At their first meeting they had the
advantage of the presence of the Assistant-Judge,
and at his suggestion the county surveyor was
directed to report as to the practicability of erect-
ing cells in the open space in front of the Sessions-
house, and of making way at the back of the build-
ing for the entrance of the prison-vans ; or, if that
suggestion should be found unadvisable, whether
an enclosed portico could be erected under which
the vans could be driven. Of the two suggestions
upon which the surveyor accordingly reported, the
one which most approved itself to your committee
consisted in the formation of a courtyard at the rear
of the Sessions-house, enclosed by a screen wall
some lift. high, into and from which the prison-
vans could conveniently drive, delivering the pri-
soners with closed gates either at the present public
entrance in rear, or at a new doorway which might
be formed at the south-west angle of the building,
to effect which it would have been necessary to
acquire about seventy square yards at present
forming a part of the public roadway ; and appli-
cation was made for that purpose to the local
authorities, who, however, declined to accede
to the committee power to reduce the width
of the roadway. Subsequently, another plan
was suggested by the architect for removing
the foot pavement on the south side of the
Sessions-house, from the magistrates' entrance
to the south-west corner, to enable the vans being
driven close up to the building, and for erecting a
gate to be opened as a screen against the present
entrance for prisoners, upon thebringing prisoners to
or removing them from the Sessions-house ; and as
this plan appears to your committee to be likely to
obviate in a great measure, if carried into effect—
w hich it may at a small cost—the disgraceful scenes
of disorder and violence constantly arising during the
sessions on the removal of prisoners, your committee
recommend its adoption by the court dependent
upon the permission of the vestry, with whom the
county surveyor is in communication on the subject,
being obtained to the removal of the foot pavement to
the extent required, and the erection of the iron gate
to open outwards." Mr. Kemshea,d moved, and the

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Assistant-Judge seconded, the adoption of the re.
commendation of the committee, which was put and
carried unanimously.

FENIAN ALARMS.

The four men charged with illegal drilling at
Crowe, on the Bth inst., namely, John llassitt,
shoemaker; Daniel Gunning, engine-fitter; Joseph
Ambroze Murdoch, schoolmaster ; and Bernard
Lynagh, clerk at CreweWorks, were brought up for
ex.imination at Nantwich Police-court, on Tuesday.
Police-constable Williamson, stationed at Crewe,
gave evidence as to his having seen the prisoners,
with some eight or ten others, put through their
"facings" by Lynagh, who is a member of the
Crewe Rifle Corps. The Bench, at the suggestion
of Captain Smith, chief constable, expressed a wish
that the information should not be made public at
this stage of the inquiry. The prisoners were re-
manded until Tuesday next. They applied to be
admitted to bail, but the application was refused.
[lassitt, who is represented as a local " head centre,"
said they had a complete answer to the charge.
The two troops of the 15th Hussars stationed in
Ipswich Barracks have received orders to proceed
en route for the northern districts to " aid the civil
power." Three persons at Hereford, concerned in
a mischievous hoax, are likely to expiate their
foolish act by affording a wholesome. warning to
others who may he inclined to amuse themselves
after this incendiary fashion. It seems that the
three Hereford wags sent to Ross and Ledbury tele-
graphic news to the following effect :—" Several
low Irish—suspicious-looking individuals—lurking
about here ; supposed disguised Fenians ; look to
the armoury; we are prepared here." To stamp
with importance and apparent authenticity thr,ir
false tidings, they used the name of Superintendent
Wilson, the head of the county police. The natural
consequence of the message was to alarm the police
and volunteers, who got ready for the expected
attack. One of the practical jokers has been ar-
rested and locked up, pending instructions from the
Home Office. It is said that the chief constable of
Herefordshire intends to prosecute.
In consequence of a private telegram received in
Sheffield late on Wednesday night, stating that
some depots had been attacked by Fenians, and
that fears were entertained of a general rising, it
was deemed advisable to have a guard at each of the
Volunteer depots for the protection of the arms and
ammunition. Accordingly a number of men re-
mained on guard during the whole of the night,
and were in readiness to resist any attack that
might be made. It is said to be in contemplation
to remove the arms of the Volunteer corps to the
police station for greater safety.

Fenian sympathisers in London are raising money
by benefit concerts at low public-homes, for the aid
of friends "in trouble." Four such entertainments
took place simultaneously last Saturday night, the
several neighbourhoods being Lambeth, West-
minster, Whitechapel, and Marylebone. In Leman-
street, Whitechapel, the concert-room, capable of
holding some hundreds of people, was pretty nearly
filled. In the midst of the singing, which was of a
" patriotic" character, an inspector and a sergeant
of police, attached to the station close at hand in
the same street, visited the room and received any-
thing but a friendly welcome, being met with cries
of "Go home !" " Take advice, and go home !"
" Leave the room, or put down your money for the
poor women and children whose husbands aro in
gaol !" The officers did not long remain, and on
their departure " the harmony of the evening" was
renewed. The four " benefits" realised £9O, which
has been, or will be, sent to the families of the men
sent for trial at Manchester.

The Glasgow Herald of yesterday reports that th e
authorities of that place have made arrangements
for the protection of the Volunteer armoury, and to
secure, in the event of an outbreak, efficient aid from
the military in a very short time. The police have
an ample supply of six-shooter revolvers, ball car-
tridges, and cutlasses. A number of the men in the
force are well instructed in the use of these weapons
from previous service in the army.

The Loss of the Royal Mail Steamer Wolf.

The second edition of the Northern TVhig of Wed-
nesday contains the following :—" The Wolf left
Belfast last night with 122 steerage and 44 cabin pas-
sengers. In consequence of the fog she anchored near
Carrickfergus. The fog clearing away about six this
morning she started at full speed, and had not been
more than three minutes in motion until the man at
the look-out saw a light immediately before him.
There was no time for any precaution to avert the ccl-
lision. The Prince Arthur came on at full speed, and
struck the 'Wolf on the broadside near the bow. The
place was about the worst in which she could have
been struck. She began to fill immediately. The pas-
sengers rushed on deck and began to climb into the
Prince Arthur, the crew of which exerted themselves
to the utmost to save lives. The Countess of Eglinton ,
Ardrossan steamer, came up almost immediately and
gave every assistance. The passengers were trans-
ferred to her, and she brought them up to the quays.
The Prince Arthur is greatly damaged, her bows stove
in, and only her bulkheads apparently prevented her
sinking. It was reported that a child was drowned,
but we are informed that every passenger has been
duly accounted for. The excitement has greatly
abated, owing to the gratifying assurance that no
lives have been lost. The Weasel will be despatched
with passengers at 3 p.m. to-day. This is the first
accident that has occurred with this splendid line of
steamers, of which the Wolf was perhaps the finest.
Mr. Charley and Mr. Harland went down the Lough
at once on hearing of the accident, and have sent up
the following telegram :—"fhe Wolf started last
night at 8 o'clock. She anchored opposite Carrick-
fergus on account of the fog. She started about 6
o'clock, and was run into by the Prince Arthur about
five minutes after. She went down with mails and
cargo. Passengers all saved. Expect to get her up
in a few tides.' Mr. Harland has sent another tele-
gram to the effect that he hoped to be able to raise
the Wolf in the course of three tides. The local
agents of the Prince Arthur say that she was under
weigh. The official report is as follows :—" This
morning, about half-past 5 o'clock, a collision took
place off Carrickfergus between the steamers Prince
Arthur, inward bound from Fleetwood, and Wolf,
outward bound for Glasgow. The Wolf had come
to anchor, owing to the dense fog, about half-past 9
last night, and was just getting under weigh when
the Prince Arthur came up and struck the Wolf,
stem on, cutting her down to the keel. The Wolf
sank half an hour after the collision upon Carrick-
fergus Bank in 4 fathoms water. The Prince Arthur
has received some injury, but was got safe up to the
quay. Providentially there are no lives lost, nor any
one hurt. It is expected that the Wolf will be raised
in a few tides."

Another journal gives the following additional
particulars :—" It is expected that the ill-fated
steamer Wolf will bo raised in two or three tides. All
the Scotch mails from Ireland were lost, but divers
will be sent down to search for them. No lives have
been lost. The Ardrossan steamer, which was pass-
ing immediately after the collision, went along-
side the Wolf and took off the passengers, who
were unable to save any of their luggage, and
brought them safely to Belfast. There were nearly
150 head of cattle on board the Wolf, and not
more than 50 were saved. One cow was tied by
the horns in the Wolf, and one of them was
wrenched out of her head. Many carcases of cows
and bales.of goods, See., have been washed ashore at
and about Carrickfergus and Kilrush, which have
been taken charge of by the coastguards.
" The fog was so great in Belfast on Tuesday
night that people walking the streets could not at
ono lamp-post see the next lamp-post. It may bo
remarked that the shock of the collision was so sud-
den and severe that the deepest consternation was
excited among the passengers, and many thought
the Wolf was immediately going down. Some pre-
pared to jump into the water, and one woman
caught her child in her teeth so that she might make
exertions to save both herself and it. The Prince
Arthur, however, remained close by until all the
passengers were safely on board."

The report which appeared in our issue yester-
day of a Feuian attach upon the armoury at It3eplron,
was—we are glad to say—without foundation. A mis-
chievous teleg►;am, mado plausible by the name of a corre-
spondent, caused us to regard the news as genuiue.-
-Taeoraph.

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