The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-14 00:00:00

IDIPERIAL PAR. LIAIYIENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS—LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at a quarter past twelve
o'clock.

LAW or LIBEL BILL.

Sir C. O'LOGHLEN moved the second reading of this
bill. He said the bill was substantially the same as the
one he introduced in the year 1865. It was founded on
justice; it wits quite sufficient to meet the exigencies of
the case, and ought to receive the -sanction of the
house. Various attempts had been made to improve the
state of the law in the years 1833-4-5, but without suc-
cess. In the year 1843 a committee was appointed by the
House of Lords, the result of which led to the intro-
duction of a bill by Lord Campbell, which received the
assent of Parliament. That bill allowed defendants to plead
an apology, to lodge money in court, and to plead justifi-
cation ; but valuable as were the privileges conferred by
that measure, they did not effect the entire removal of
those liabilities which he thought proprietors of newspapers
ought not labour under. In the year 1858 the attention of
Parliament was again called to the state of the law of libel
by an action buiug tried, in which although the damages
only amounted to one shilling, the costs incurred by the
defendant amounted to over .£400.. From that time down
to the present the law had been allowed to remain
without alteration. The bill ho had now the honour
to propose to the house dealt with reports, of
public meetings, the practice in libel cases, indict-
ments for libel, and other -general matters, ,lie iro-
pz.neddertournttearkeed,spbeeackaeurses
wathpeunbalipec rnrseoenti,n4sniltioahaleta.foere.tiatougy
knowing well that his words would be taken dow by he
reporters present and published, he ought to be held as
h(1 themsuch himself.ei reum
circum-
stances ocenssiabsleiffohretlhieadstwatreinitteenntsanndiapeue underblis
The bill also set forth that it should be a good defence to
any action for libel, provided the inatterevias truly and
correctly reported, and that the newspaper had published
an explanation or contradiction of the libelous matter
furnished by the party complaining, if required so to do.
This latter provision was taken from the French law, in
which country there were very few actions for libel. The
second part of the bill applied not only to actions brought
against newspapers, but to libels of all sorts, and more
especially to the question of costs. In this country there
were no costs, providing the damages awarded did not
amount to 40s.,but in Ireland, if a verdict was returned giving
id., it carried costs with it ; and he proposed in the present
bill to assimilate the law in the two countries, and to set
down £5 as the sum which should carry costs against the
party losing the suit. Another provision was that a
plaintiff should be called upon to give security, for costs,
because the law requires every newspaper proprietor to
give security for costs for any action that might be brought
against him. He did not see why one party should be
allowed to play on velvet, whilst the other stood only on the
position to pay costs, supposing a verdict to go against
him, whilst if the matter was decided in his favour he
had to pay his own costs, because the person proceeding
against hint was a man of straw, or one totally unable to pay
fur the trouble and expense he had incurred in carrying
on a speculative action for libel. The bill enacted that no
actiOn fOr libel should be commenced without the sanction
of the Attorney or Solicitor-General. The measure, how-
ever, did not extend to Scotland.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said ho thought the bill
a very good one, but it would require some alteration in
committee to prevent its being wrecked in its future stages
in another place.
Ur. NEWDEGATE suggested that after the reading of
the bill a second time it should be referred to a select com-
mittee, but he looked with great jealousy in leaving it to

Government to say when a verdict for libel rais-ht bin,
7- t
stituted.

Mr. BUXTON supported the motion for the second,
reading.

Mr. CHAMBERS agreed with the- latter provision of
the bill, but he thought the greatest consideration should
be given to the first proposal before any of the present
safeguards were relaxed.

Mr. ROEBUCK thought the really honest man would
adopt the course laid down in the bill, and for those who
did not come under that denomination he did not think it
proper to keep up protection. The bill was a good one
fcr the really honest man, and therefore he should give it
his support.

Mr. BAINES thought the bill founded on strict jtistioe,
and one that would fix the Ponaby on the right party iu
',tree ot what was now the system Of punishing the wrong
ploy. 110 felt emelt pleasure in hearing tile Solicitoe-
General's approval of the bill, because it gave hint the
greatest hope that the absurd injustice done to the news-
pa IN" r press would be removed.
Sir G. BOWYER, thought that utterers of slanderous
statements at public ru,:etings should be liable for their
statements; but he did not think that' newspaper pro-
prietors should he absolved from all .and every litiniiity
they might incur by publishing such statements.
Mr. HENLEY had no objections to the first part of the
clause, but he was inclined to Withhold his opinion for the
second. part, because he was not yet prepared to say-that a
man might be liable to an action for libel for wordsspoken.
They all knew something of standing on the hustings, and
that strong language was usid there, but he was not pre-
pared to go the length of saying that for such language a
man should be open to an action for libel.

Mr. WALPOLE thought the hon. and learned gentle--
man would best attain his object by allowing the bill to G
to a select committee, where the proper objection; which
appeared to relate, to the first two clauses, could be fully
dealt with.

Sir C. O'LOGITLEN adopted the suggestion, after
which the bill• was read a second time.

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS (IRELAND) BILL.

The O'CONNOR -DON moved the second reading of
:his bill.

Mr. DAWSON objected to the measure. He moved
that the bill be read a second time that day six months.
After a short discussion the amendment was withdrawn
and the bill read a second time.

The other orders of the day-were then disposed of and,
,he house adjourned.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

THE WAY CHILDREN ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMMIT
ROBBERIES. —John Gilb ,rt, a boy about 12 years of age,
was charged, before Mr. Knox, with stealing some articles
belenging to his stepmother, Mrs. Sarah Gilbert, of No.
12, Chapel-street, Tottenham-court-road ; and Mary Carr,
the keeper of a clothes shopat 22, Market. street, Fitzroy-
square, was charged with receiving the articles with a
guilty knowledge.
The prosecutrix stated that she ,was a, widow, and the
boy her stepson. She went out to work on Tuesday morn-
ing, and when she returned in the evening found some of
her boxes broken open, and several articles, including some
cloth and a shirt, taken away. She ascertained from the
prisoner's sister that he had left at two o'clock in the
afternoon under the pretence of going to school, but she
saw no more of him till yesterday evening, when on re-
turning home she found the boy there, when he ad-
mitted having broken open the boxes, taken the article;
and sold them for 3d. She then gave the boy, who had
once before been in custody, in charge.
Police-constable Thaxter, 176 E, said that the boy
having told him where he sold the articles he took him to
Carr's shop, and the boy pointed out a petticoat as one of
the articles ho sold Carr, stating that Carr had only given
him 3d. for the things. He afterwards took Carr into cus-
tody, when she said that she gave ls. 3d. for the articles.
In answer to Mr. Knox, the prosecutrix stated that she
had never sent tho boy to the shop to sell things, and
Carr was an entire stranger to her.
After being cautioned by Mr. Knox, the prisoner Carr
said that when the boy came to the shop he said his.
mother sent him to sell the things, and that he had a
sister lying dead. Believing his story, she gave him ls. 3d
for them.

The boy said he asked 6d. for the petticoat, and Carr
took up all the things and said, " 6d. for the lot," and ho
took it.

Mr. Knox committed the prisoner for trial, and told tho
prosecutria to inform the judge that the boy had been in
custody before.

THAMES.

MURDEROUS ASSAULT.—Benjamin Luds, a stout heavy
man, was brought before Mr. Partridge, charged with
violently assaulting Charles James Westwood, a cab pro-
prietor, whose head was bound pith a surgical bandage.
The complainant said he lived at No. 11(1, Grundy-street,
Poplar New-town. Last night, at 12 o'clock, he set down
a fare in High-street, Poplar, and picked up another job,
a sailor, w'Jom he drove to Gerrard-street, Poplar. The
sailor knocked at the door. aud was admitted, and he asked
the prisoner to lend him a shilling to pay the fare. The
prisoner refused to do so. He was about to leave tho house,
and the prisoner knocked •him down. He got up again,
and received several other blows about the head and face.
He was knocked down again, and when on the ground was
repeatedly kicked. lie received many severe contusions.
Prisoner—Did you strike me before I struck you ?

Wituess—l never struck you at all.
John P: Becker, a German Ixtker,•confirmed the state-
ment of the complainant.

James Pousford, 260 K, heard the cries of "help" and
.4police," and saw the complainant on the ground and the
prisoner kicking and trampling upon him.
The prisoner, in defence, said he was an Englishman,
and the second mate of the John Fyfe, an American ship,
in the London Dock. He heard a fearful noise last night,
and saw a mariner who demand. 4d the loan of a shilling of
him, and on his refusal to lend him one caught him round
the neck and struck him on the pit of the stomach. He
then shoved the sailor away, and he fell, dragging the cab
driver with him.

Mr. Partridge—But the police constable saw you kick-
ing the man while he was on the ground.
The prisoner said ho had no recollection of that, and
that he could produce witnesses to alter the whole com-
plexion of the case set up on the other side.
Mr. Partridge said he would adjourn the case until Sa-
turday, and called upon the prisoner to find bail, himself
in £4O and one surety in £2O.
Mr. Meggett, ship smith, Naval-row, Poplar, offered
himself as surety. His bail was accepted, and the prisoner
was liberated.

WESTMINSTER.
DISGRACEFUL CONDUCT OF A MOTHER.—Mary ViTil6ol2,
woman of dissipated appearance, w.ts charged with being
drunk and incapable of taking care of herself.
John Andrews, 65 13, said that at a little after twelve
last night he found the defendant lying on the pavement
in York-street, Westminster,
in a helpless state of drunken-
ness. She was incapable of taking care of her infant child,
who was with her at the time, and whose condition created
much commiseration.
Mr. Arnold—Where was the child ?
Constable—Lying in the middle of the gutter.
Mr. Arnold—What was the ago of the child?
Constable—Two and a half years. The poor little tbing
was naked to the waist, and the enon., was falling very fast
at the time. She had pulled the, child down when she
herself fell.
Mr. Arnold—Where is the child now?
Constable—I took it to the workhouse last night, and
they have not brought it here this morning.
Mr. Arnold—This is the most disgraceful case of the
kind I ever heard. What have you to say for yourself,
defendant ?

Defendant—l walked a long way and took a little drink,
and it got the better of me. I am a good mother, your
worship.

Mr. Arnold—Good mother indeed ! You ought to be
ashamed of yourself. Your child might lose its life through
your drunkenness.

Constable —I have inquired at her lodgings about her,
and I find the poor child is locked in a room day after day
while she is getting drunk. It is shockingly neglected.
Mr. Arnold— I shall remand her for a week to se
whether the child has sustained any injury. If a caso of
neglect at other times was made out, the parish officers
will consider the matter.

11CA1LKE 6. this day.

METROPOLITAN CATTLE.

Although the supply of beasts on sale here to-day was
very moderato all breeds moved off slowly at Monday's
currency. The top figure was ss. 21. per 81bs. We were
rather scantily supplied with sheep, yet tho sale for them
was inactive at late rates. Prime Downs and half-brads,
in the wool, sold at ss. 101 to 6s. 2d. per 81bs. The few
lambs on sale realised Bs. per Sibs. Calves were in short
supply and sluggish request on former terms. The highest
price was ss. Bil. per Sibs. The sale for pigs was heavy at
Monday's quotations.
Per Blb to sink the offal.
dad
s dn d
Crse Si inf. beasts... 3 4 3 6 Pme crs-wool sheep 5 4 5
Second quality do ..3 8 4 4 Prime -,•thdown Go 5 10 6 2
['rime large. oxen ..4 64 10 Lake ooarse calve. 4 (,)4
GPrrsiem.eanSacletst,. 00 e 1
223 2 3 6
Second quality do ..4 45 0 swat! porkers 38 4 2
Lamb....os od to 0 01
Lame horn
small do.. 5
Ana quarter-old store pigs, 23s
082Lkling °styes, 201 top2e;
each

Head of stook on sale.
Total supply. Foreign supply.
Beasts ..
Cows.... .
Sheep sal 1 uth,
Cares 1 .-1)
Pigs

Beasts 6lO
tows ....
42(1 ...... 4.8 0
Calves ............... • 9
SO
rids .................

230

MEAT.

NENTGATS AND LZADENHALL.—These markets are fairly
supplied with meat, which moves off slowly at the following
prices. Bsof, 38 2d to- 4s 8d ; mutton, 3s Gd to 4s 10d ;
'veal, 4s Od to 53 4d; pork; 3s 2d to 4s 41 per 81bs by the
Carats°.