The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-24 00:00:00

GOVFRNOIL OF THE CAPE. OF'GOOD HOPE, &C

" May it please your Excellency,— •
" We, the undersigned, inhabitants of the town and divi-
sion of Beaufort, beg most respectfully, but heartily, to
welcome your Excellency among us while journeying to
the countries lying beyond the Orange River, and to assure
your Excellency that *e- have 'the-greatest confidence in
your Judgment and tried ability when dealing with the
flitEcult opd complicated questions arising out 9i the die-

putes between tho Free State and Moshesh, now pending
and awaiting your Excellency's decision.
" We wish your Excellency complete success in your
mediation, and at the same time feel sure that in whatever
may be done the interests of the colony and its inhabitants
will not be overlooked.
"We beg to tender your Excellency our best thanks fur
the attention which has during the period of your Excel-
lency's administration-of the government been paid to the
requirements of this division, among which we may parti-
cularly mention the creating of three additional civil corn-
inissionerships and seats of magistracy—viz., Prince Albert,
Victoria, and Fraserburg ; the improvement of the Main
road from Cape Town and adjacent districts through the
Karoo ; the opening of the important mountain pass ' Meir-
ing's Poort ' and the repairs now in progress on the lately '
declared main road from Mossel Bay ; all which, together
with the survey now going on under the direction of the
Divisional Council, and intended sale of large tracts of
Government lands, are now exercising, and will continue to
exercise, an immense beneficial influence over the prospe-
rity of the division.
" This town will also, through its municipality, be much
benefited by the late sale of erven (the proceed-Sl° be4g7
voted to the erection of a town-hall and library), so rea
assented to by, your Excellency. The erection of a new gaol
and respectable public offices having been decided upon will,
we doubt not, soon be proceeded with, and supply two press-
ing wants.
" We trust that your Excellency may long continue so
ably to preside over the affairs of this colony, and that, with
the aid afforded by its free institutions, you may be enabled
to guide and direct its courses to the advancement of all that
constitutes civilisationassured as we are of the deep in-
terest you take in all that regards South Africa.
" Wishing your Excellency a prosperous journey and safe
return, we beg to subscribe ourselves your Excellency's
most obedient humble Servants," _ _

[Signed by the inhabitants of the town and such country
residents as happened to be there.]
And to which his Excellency returned the following
reply :
" o THE GENTLEMEN SIGNING THE ADDRESS ON BEHALF

OF TILE INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN AND DIVISION OF
BEALTFORT.
" Gentlemen,—lt is with great pleasure that I find myself
once more among the inhabitants of Beaufort, for I have
often recurred in memory to the few happy days which
upon a former occasion I spent with. you ; and my pleasure
is to-day heightened by your once more meeting me with
such friendly and encouraging words.
" I am very glad that you are so gratified at the attention
which during my government has been paid to the require-
ments
,of your division. It is but little that I can really do
for you. The funds and- energy by which great public im-
provements are carried out are supplied by yourselves. I
can only strive to use well the powers with which I am
entrusted, of watching how the public funds are applied,
while at the same time I can Alice to rouse and keep alive
your energies, and to direct them into useful channels.
Trifling as these services are, it has at once_been my pride
and pleasure 'to exert fny every effort to render them faith-
fully and honestly to the inhabitants of this country, and I
am amply rewarded in seeing happiness and contentment
prevail, and in hearing such warm expressions of approval
uttered as those which you have now addressed to me.
" I thank you for the wishes you have expressed for
the success of the mission upon which I am now proceeding.
I trust that, as my- object is to promote peace and goodwill,
Divine Providence may extend its blessings to myexertions,
and that when I again visit the town of Beaufort you may
be able, in welcoming me, to thank me for having done that
in the duty on which I am now engaged which became me
alike as your Governor and theman to whom you had given
such friendly wishes for his success.
"Beaufort, Aug. 4. " G. GREY."
During the afternoon the Governor walked through the
town with the Civil Commissioners, members of the
Divisional Council, and others of the inhabitants, and in-
spected the proposed site for a new gaol, town-hall, and
library (a plan of the gaol had only arrived per post the
day before). Subsequently he was present on the race-
course, and witnessed a shooting match between the Rifles
and Burghers. In the evening the Civil Commissioner,
Clerk of the Peace, Commandant of the Burghers, and two
ex-members of Parliament dined with the Governor.
In the meantime exertions were,being made to get some
of the mules and horses shod, and generally to execute
everything necessary to insure an early start the next day.
On Thursday it was announced that the Governor would
leave for Graaff-Reinet, via the Sneeuwberg, at 12 o'clock,
and similar preparations to those ou his arrival were made
for the purpose of escorting him out of the town. About 1
o'clock the waggons left, and shortly afterwards the Go-
vernor, on horseback, with 31r. Rivers, accompanied by the
Burghers, Rifles, &c., in the same order as on his arrival.
The Rifles, being on foot, only went to the top of the town,
where they were addressed by the Governor. The Burghers,
however, on horseback, and a number of the principal in-
habitants, in vehicles, accompanied him for about six miles,
when there was a halt, and the Governor addressed the

Burghers, through their commandant, in a complimentary
manner, adding that he should much like to witness a

general'muster—of the whole Burgher force of the division,
and that if such a muster was to take place he would come
expressly for the purpose of witnessing it, alluding, at the
same time, to the muster of volunteers at Stollenbosch last
year. After another volley from the Burghers, and great
cheering from all present, the Governor rode off, carrying
with him the good wishes of all, his kind and affable manner
on both his visits to this town having secured the esteem
and go:4)d will of all classes.
ARRIVAL OF THE GOVERNOR AT MURRAYS-
BURG.

MURRAYSBURG, AUG. 7.
His Excellency the Governor and suite arrived here this
afternoon about five o'clock. As an intimation had not been
received that he would pass this way, it had naturally been
supposed that he would take the more direct route from
Beaufort to Richmond, and consequently scarcely any pre-
parations had been made for receiving him. During the
afternoon the news came, and the sounding of the bugle
and firing of guns soon brought a number of the inha-
bitants together, on horeback and in vehicles, who, form-
ing a cortege, headed by the justices of the peace, Messrs.
J. A. Burger and H. Mosenthal, set off at once to escort
his Excellency into town. Almost immediately after
leaving the cry was raised, " They are coining," but what
was " coming" turned out to be the waggons of the train,
while the Governor was yet some distance behind. The
procession was formed again, and after proceeding about

two miles further met his Excellency near the farm-" Mid-
dlekop." Sir George left his waggon, and the two justices
of the peace, together with two or three other gentlemen,
dismounted to greet him. Mr. Mosenthal then read a short
address, of which I enclose a copy, which was received by
Sir George with a few gracious words, and a written reply
promised. Three hearty cheers followed, and the cortege
returned to town, preceded by his Excellency on horseback.
A room had been prepared in the new parsonage building,
as well as it could be. done on such short notice, but Sir
George preferred encamping in his tents, which had mean •
while been pitched on the Church-square. He will remain
here until Monday morning and attend divine service in the
newly-finished church to-morrow, the Rev. Chas. Murray
having arrived here yesterday on a pastoral visit. As far
as I have been able to learn, it is yet uncertain whether his
Excellency will proceed from here to Graaf-Reinet or
Richmond, but most likely the latter. At both places pre-
parations are made for his reception, and one of them will
be sadly disappointed. I understand that his Excellency
expressed great satisfaction at the rapid growth of this vil-
lage, and promised the speedy appointment Of a resident
magistrate, a consummation devoutly to be wished. I shall
send further particulars next week, the post being just
about to close.

COMMERCIAL.

As is usual at this season of the year, there is little ani-
mation in our markets. The demand for most staples is
not very active, arising principally from the want of com -
munication with the interior districts. Stocks continue
moderate, with the exception of deals, which are now scant ;
but arrivals being anticipated, the demand will shortly be
met. Cotlee—Stocks moderate ; nq advance upon prices
given in our summary of last month. Rice—Stocks con-
siderable of both white and brown. No change in prices.
Sugars—The stock of low quality sugars is considerable,
and dull of sale. A light stock of yellows and crystallised
saleable at from 30s. to 425. per 1001 b. gross.

DRAINAGE OF THE METROPOLIS.

The following has been addressed to the chairman
and members of the Metropolitan Board of Works
by Mr. Bidder, one of the three engineers employed
by that body to draw up a plan for the main drain-
age.
of London :
"IV further Letter from the Government Re-
ferees (Capt. D. Galton and Mr. J. Simpson) relat-
ing to the Main Drainage of the Metropol:s,' has
been addressed to her Majesty's First Commissioner
of Works. It is a letter expressive of regret for
oversights' (p. 5), and of ' apology for omissions' (p.
13); a letter endeavouring to explain away past mis-
takes, and to build up new theories upon essentially
new formulm (p. 3). It embodies an elaborate defence
of the now exploded fallacies of the government re-
ferees respecting their sewer gaugings, and a renewed
attack upon the plan adopted by your board for
carrying out the main drainage of the metropolis.
" There would be no difficulty_in replying to all
the observations of the referees, were it necessary
to do so.• But there is little in their letter that .is
new, and the little that is new is neither important
nor correct. The argument upon details has already
been placed beyond the limit of controversy by the
decision of your board upon the matters of principle.;
and it would as ill become me as it ill becomes the
government referees to endeavour to distract and
divert your attention from the great :work in Which
you are about to engage, by prolonged conflict on
details which have aready been sufficiently dis-
cussed.

" There is one point, however, in the letter in
question to which it appears to be necessary to ad-
vert. Various references to the so-called ' erroneous
assumptions of Mr. Bazalgette' (p. 4), the errors
into which he has fallen' (p. 9), &c., are the pre-
hide to a new proposal of the government referees
for the main drainage of the metropolis on what
they call a reduced plan' (p. 13). The flimsy dis-
guise of a letter in reply to our Observations' has,
therefore, been adopted with a view to disparage
and injure, and shake your confidence in your ow n
engineer, and to induce you, even at the twelfth
hour, to transfer the execution of the main drainage
works to the engineers who acted as the referees
of government.

'1 That your board, having detected the object,
should have declined to consider the letter of the
government referees, was only consistent with that
sense of honour which actuates all public bodies in
Our country. But Ido not think it the less neces-
sery to enter a public protest against a proceeding
so unprofessional in its character, and so unworthy
gent knien acting avowedly on Government in, true-
tiops—a Trocceding for which I am glad to b_ll2ve
that there :s no :.utficient precedent, and which not
even the -vexations of defeat, or • the bitterness of
disappointment, can sufficiently excuse.
it: The reduced plan,' which the Government
referees have thus propounded, is .based upon the
principle of ,(Fscharging the entire metropolitan
drainage
la FILe
by outfall channel on the north side
O
(instead of by channels on each side).
tite
altvthaoi this
southern object s
eiNtvisagneoawn
da inrecommendedfioNv should
tThoe
at the most convenient
carried across the Thames

point into the northern outfall channel, through
which it should be discharged at Sea Reach.' The
cost of this crossing is estimated at £250,000, and
the total cost of the ' reduced' plan at £4,000,000
(four millions sterling).
"It is not my duty to examine this reduced
plan' of the Government referees. It is, indeed,
unnecessary to do; for they have already condemned
their own plan by anticipation. A plan for con-
veyinc, the southern drainage to the northern side
of the Thames by a tube or tunnel was originally
proposed to them by Mr. M'Clean, C.E. (to whom
the referees have now omitted to assign the merit),
but upon whose plan they reported in their
original report (pp. 31, 32), declaring, inter
alia, that the proposal to pump the whole of the
sewage on the south side is undesirable, because it
entails great risk of floods, and an expense which
would be considerable at the present time, and one
likely, to increase.'
" In our report to your board of April last, it
was shown that between July 31, 1857, and Feb. 4,
1858, the Government referees had recommended
no less than four different schemes for the main
drainage of the metropolis :
" I. They first recommended open and partially
tidal sewers on each side of the Thames, commen-
cing respectively at Plaistow and the Ravensbourne.
(July 31, 1857.)
" 11. Their first plan having been universally
condemned, they next recommended covered and
wholly tidal sewers, commencing at Channel-Sea
Island and the East Greenwich Marshes. (Nov. 12,
1857.)
" 111. This plan having been referred to us, and
it being obvious that it would not bear the test of
examination, the plan of the original report was
abandoned, and a third, or amended plan,' was
sent in to us, which proposed sewers altered in size
and shape, tide-locked, with inverts lowered, and
passing in an entirely new direction through the
country to new points of outfall. (Jan. 8, 1858.)
" IV. On the meeting of Parliament, a copy of
the last-mentioned paper was communicated to the
House of Commons, together with an explanatory
appendix (not previously communicated to us), in
whch such modifications were made in the amended
plan (the previous plans having all been based on
quantities calculated in error for too large a storm-
flow') as amounted almost to a new plan. (This
paper bears date 4th February, 1858.)
" V. The Government referees have now aban-
doned all the foregoing plans, and have proposed
the reduced plan' above referred to, proposing to
carry all the sewage from the south to the north
side of the Thames, by a tube or tunnel under or
over the river, and to discharge it altogether from
the north side of the metropolis by one channel
ending at Sea Reach. (August 16, 1858.)
" Their original report was issued at a cast to the
country of nearly £lO,OOO. At the very outset of
thatreport it was stated bythe Government referees
to have been adopted after a minute personal in-
spection of every part of the metropolitan area, a
careful consideration of every plan submitted, and
communications with many persons of practical ex-
perience on the subject.' Yet within five months
the conclusions of that elaborate and most costly
document were ignored by its authors, who, within
little more than twelve months, have proposed no
less than five distinct plans, the last of which, whilst
it sufficiently acknowledges the impracticability of
the first, -Would prove still more impracticable, ob-
jectionable, and costly than the others.
" But if the plans of the Government referees
have throughout been ill-considered, their estimates
have been still more so. _ _ _

For their first plan their estimate was .. £5,437,300
For their second plan 5,987,300
For their third plan, a wholly different
plan from the others, their estimate,
strange tosay, was identical with the
second, viz. 5,987,300
For their fourth plan there was no esti-
mated cost, but it was stated that the
result would be a saving of £300,000
on Plan No 3.
For the fifth, or Reduced plan,' it is
stated the estimate will not exceed .. 4,000,000
" Our estimates for the cost of the several works,
on corrected quantities, and on Mr. John Oakley's
report, as to the value of the land and buildings to
be passed through were :
For their first plan £11,000,000
For their second plan
For their third plan 7,000,000

Our estimates for our own plan, upon the same
quantities and valuations (which the Government
referees • have been unable to impugn*) being
£2,300,000.
" The discrepancies between our estimates and
the estimates of the referees were remarkable ; the
more so as it distinctly appeared that the plan they
estimated as the least costly must prove the most
so. In our report we therefore discussed and con-
sidered this part of the question most minutely.
Under separate items we exhibited in detail the
various deficiencies in the estimates of the re-
ferees, the errors in their quantities, the heavy
omissions, and the large discrepancies. The
facts drove us to the conclusion, as we expressed
in our report, that the government referees, never
had had time to master, arrange, or harmonise the
results of the vast inquiry on which they had en-
tered,' and that they had reported without making
their calculations with anything approaching de-
tai4led accuracy.
" In these conclusions we are more than confirmed
by the last letter of the government referes. The
new proposals which conclude that letter—the en-
tire abandonment of the plan of their original re-
port—the suggestion of a reduced plan '—the
adopted proposal to carry all the sewage of the
.south sid: of London by a tube or tunnel under or
over the Thames to the north of London, a plan
condemned in their first report—and the further
revision of their estimates—all these things confirm
the conviction that the original reports'of the go-
vernment referees, issued at a cost to the nation of
£lO,OOO, and abandoned in principle and detail
within one short year after their date, and much
less than a year after their publication, dLen title
them to any confidence whatever.

" It is, indeed, impossible not to reflect upon the
embarrassed position in which the Metropolitan
Board and ratepayers of the metropolis would
have been placed had they adopted, implicity
and without examination, the original report of the
government rekrees. Having prepared plans this,
time last year for carrying into effect the project No.
1, they would have found themselves, in Nov., 1857,
obliged to set aside such documents, and to prepare
new and costly plans for the execution of the
amended works proposed by No. 2. By Christmas
last contracts would probably have been made for
the purchases of lands and buildings and. the exe-
cution of the works under that plan, which must
all have been stt aside in January, when plan No.
3 was proposed with an entirely new form of sewer,
sizes, levels, routes, and points of outfall. had any-_
thing been done under that amended' project there
must have been further changeS and expenses in
February; whilst now, only one year from the
publication of their first report, new arrangements
would have had to be made (under-
,the authority of
the Government-engineers) for an entire abandon-
ment of the southern outfall channel, and fir the
construction of a tunnel under the Thames upon a

reduced' plan, together with sewers of altered
sizes and shapes upon the north side to carry off
the double quantity of sewage.
" Surely such changes and their consequent ex-
penses.would have been fair subject for complaint
alike on the part of the board, their officers, and
the ratepayers; and surely it may be .fairly urged
that. professional-gentlemen instructed by *Govern-
ment to consider and report upon matters of such
consequence, should better consider their proposal,
and should not run the risk of involving the pub-
lic in the tedium of protracted delays and in the
enormous additional expenditure requisite to
enable the engineers of the Metropolitan Board to
follow the vacillating plans. of Government re-
ferees. - -

"I can only rejoice that the course taken by your
board has saved the public this infliction and ex-
pense. The inquiry instituted under your direction
gave opportunity for more careful investigation
and thoughtful deliberation. The original conclu-
sions of our report have been amply confirmed by sub-
sequent examination and discussion, and we have
seen no occasion to vary, in any way, our original
designs or estimates. Your board may proceed with
the execution of the plan before them for the main
drainage of the metropolis without any undue
anxiety as to the results.—l have the honour to
remain, your very faithful servant,
" G. P. BIDDER.
" 24, Great George-street, Westminster,
• _ September 20, 1858..
" N.B.—My late colleagues, Mr. Hawksley and.
Mr. Bazalgette, being, the one in the north of Eng-
land and -the other wholly occupi:d upon your
works, mid being myself upon the point of imme-
diate departure for Denmark, I am under the neces-
sity of making this'communication without refer-
ence to them. .1 f2el assured, however, that they
would entirely concur in all I have expressed."

" The only point on which the Government referees
have ca►llcd in quesi ion the figures in our estimate rch►tes to
the price of land, as to which they say that we have charged
them at the rate of £1,300 per acre for the land they re-
quired, only valuing our own land at £3OO per acre. 'Phis
is an illustration of their recklessness of assertion. Mr.
Oakley's estimate of £1,300 per acre was not alone for land,
but included buildings in Greenwich, Woolwich, Graves-
end, and the other towns and villages. The £3OO per acre
assumed by the referees nowhere occurs in our report ; it is
an item the referees have imagined or invented ; and the
fact is that-instead of £3OO per acre, we have estimated.the
cost of the land, .&e. (without buildings) at an average of
no less than £1,503 per• acre, exceeding by £2OO per acre
the average price at which the referees -state ue have esti-
, mated for their plans."

MINIM

HORRIBLE CHARGE OF WIFE MURDER
IN MANCHESTER.

MANCHESTER, THURSDAY.

This morning the neighbourhood of Lever-street,
Manchester, was thrown into a state of great ex-
citement in consequence of a rumour that Henry
Reid, a carter, living in that street, had murdered
his wife. Many persons were soon on the spot,
the alarm being given by the sister of the deceased.
Ultimately the man was apprehended on the charge
of murder, and Mr. E Herford, the city coroner,
held an inquest on the body of the deceased this
afternoon. The evidence showed that, on that
morning, the deceased's sister, on going to the
house, was unable to obtain admission, anti on look-
ing through the window, she saw deceased lying at
the bottom of the stairs. She forced an entrance,
and found her sister was dead. She called out to
the prisoner, deceased's husband, who was in bed,
Henry, what have you done 9" and he answered,
She has hung herself from the balustrade of the
stairs." On being taken into custody he repeated
the same assertion. _

Ann Holden said—The prisoner and deceased
lived at the back of her house, and at three o'clock
this morning she heard a great noise in their house.
Something heavy appeared to be thrown down
stairs. I heard the sound as if it fell three times.
The falls appeared to be about a minute after one
another. I heard a female voice say, " Oh, dear,
oh dear !" and there was a reply, but I could not
tell what was said. I and my daughter sleep
together. After the noise we lay awake about half
an hour, then all was quite still. We have often
heard them quarrelling and fighting.
John Elliott, jun., house surgeon at the Royal
Infirmary, 'said—The deceased was taken there this
morninc, about-half-past ten o'clock. I examined
the body, and found above the right eye a lacerated
wedge-shaped wound, from which a quantity of
blood had flowed. On dissecting the integuments
I found the tissues infiltrated with coagulated blood.
The wound penetrated to the skull, and was about
an inch across. The wound, I think, would be
caused by some blunt instrument, or by falling
against a hard corner. The skull was not fractured
or indented. On the right cheek there was a recent
bruise ; and she also had the remains of a black
eye. I found this cord (produced) tied very tight
round the neck. There was a mark upon the chin,
which had been made by the cord. In front of the
angle of the jaw there were corresponding livid
marks, as if the force upon the ends of the rope
had come from behind. If she had suspended her-
self the noose must have slipped from where I
found it. On opening the windpipe I found a corres-
ponding indentation on it with the mark outside.
If Ale had hung herself the head would have fallen
back, and the weight of the body would have pushed
the noose up closer under the chin ; and the marks
I saw on the jaws would have been in another posi-
tion. The mark round the throat was longitudinally
parallel. The liver presented the appearanee of a
person who drank a good deal. Deceased was
about five montlis' advanced in pregnancy. The
cause of death was undoubtedly strangulation.
The subsequent evidence was unimportant, and
finally the jury brought in a verdict of wilful
murder.

The prisoner is a returned convict, who had re-
ceived a ticket of leave in May last.

TRAGICAL OCCURRENCE AT IVOL-
VERHAMPTOX.

Yesterday, at the Old Bush Inn, Wolverhampton,
Mr. T. M. Phillips, coroner, held an inquest on the
bodies of •two persons, named respectively Jane
Bowdler and John Bebee, who met with their
deaths near that town under the extraordinary
circumstances detailed in the following evidence:—
W. Handley, a miner, deposed that at 5 o'clock
on Monday evening he went with the deceased
Bebee, and another companion named Cook, to
Bilston, where, at a publichouse on the road from
Bilston to Wolverhampton, they remained drink-
ing till about midnight. At that hour information
was brought to the last-named house that a girl
had drowned herself. Witness and Bebee went
towards Gibbett Turnpike-gate on their way back
to Wolverhampton, and then turned on to the coal-
fields near there, by which Bowdler's house was
situated. They saw a youth, named Joseph Smith,
following the deceased, 3vho was running away from
her father's house towards a pool of water. Smith
overtook her and brought her back towards her
father's house, but she escaped from him again
several times. After a quarter of an hour, how-
ever, Smith knocked up the girl's father, put her
into the house, and asked him to lock the door.
The father did not lock the door. Smith then
joined witness and Bebee, and all of them watched
the house for about 10 minutes. After that time
, the girl opened the door, came out of the house,
and again ran off towards the pool down a train-
. way Lelonging to a neighbouring ironworks.
Bebee called to her and asked her where she was
going? She stopped, and replied that she was
going to a cottage, and John Bebee might go with
her if he liked. Witness understood Bebee to say
that he would go with her where she went, and he
went after her. Jane Bowdler then recommenced
running. Smith and witness followed the two
deceased, keeping theta in sight. At about a mile
from her father's house Bowdler came to the water
and jumped into it. As she was jumping into the
water Bebee caught hold of her dress and was
pulled in himself. Both went in over head. They
came up again, and Bowdler then had hold of
13ebee's hair. They were struggling together when
Smith went into the water and tried to reach them
with one hand, while with the other he laid hold of
witness's hand, who remained on the bank. They
sank again. Upon seeing this witness and Smith
ran to the engine-house' 100 yards away, where
there was a watchman. They told the watchman
what had happened, and he immediately went down
to the pool. The deceased were not then to be
seen. Witness and Smith then told the circum-
stance to the girl's father, and thin at the police
station at Bilston, whence three policemen came
with a drag. At half-past 5 o'clock both the de-
ceased were brought to the surface, each locked in
the other's embrace. When, however, they came
to the :urface the bodies separated, and it was six
o'clock before Bebee was brought out. Smith kept
company with the girl, but he did not appear vexed
when Bebee followed her, nor did lie leave witness
from the time Jane Bowdler last ran from her
father's house till her body was recovered the next
morning. When Bebee was in the water he twice
shouted, " Will !" meaning witness.
Thomas Bowdler, the girl's father, deposed that
she was 17 years of age, and was a milliner and
dressmaker, working at home. At noon on Mon-
day she was at the house of Smith's father. In the
evening at seven witness met her coining out of his
house, when, in reply to him, she said that she was
Woing to Bilston to do some errands for herself.
itness did not see her again until midnight, when,
she rapped at the door. He got up and opened
it, when he saw Smith standing at the gate. Wit-
ness, as he admitted his daughter, wished Smith
" Good night." Witness then barred the door. No
other conversation took place between witness and
Smith. When the girl came in he told her to come
to bed. She commenced to unlace her boots, and
said she would come immediately. She slept in the
same room with him and his wife, her mother.
After being in bed ten minutes he again called to
her to come to bed. The kitchen was on the same
floor as the bedroom. When Ahe did not reply he
went to the front door, called his daughter by her
name, but received no reply. He could see no one at
that time. Witness returned to bed, ,and his wife
got up and went round the house. In about three
quarters of an hour Smith and another young.
m.
an came to his house and said, " Oh, Lord, she is
dt owned, down in the bole of water ;" adding,
" There are two of them ; John Bebee jumped in to
try to save her and they both went down." Wit-
ness went down to the pool, led by Smith and an-
other young man. Deceased was not in the habit
of remaining; out late at night. On the previous
Saturday night, however, he complained to her for
that
tigs iie h
outlaadteizunweapt'i,nlg f
2 o'clock,oi
. when she said
she had for some time lcept . Witness
only told her that she must learn to keep better
with whom
Loin... He did not scold her. His daughter used
to work for Smith's parents, who remunerated her
with new clothes. He had heard that she had
passed a house on'the Bilston-road at half-past ten
towards home.
Joseph Smith was then sworn, and after being
cautioned by the coroner to say nothing that might
criminate himself, deposed that.he was 20 years of
age, and lived at New-village, in the parish of Bil-
ston, with his father, Avl to kept a horse and cart.
He had kept company with the deceased about six
months. lie had not promised to marry her. Last
Wolverhampton races he stayed out with her all
night, and took her home in the morning. He was
out with her on Saturday night. They were toge-
ther at the White Lion till a quarter to ten. Ile
was with her again on Sunday afternoon, at Penn-
common, till half-past ten at night, at the public-
house M i t 11 the man of the Barley Mow. On Mon-
'day he met with her at noon at Coldthorn-hill
waterworks by accident. She was then in cam- •
pany with a young man, a stranger, and when she
saw witness she left that person and came towards
him. -Witness then asked her where she had been 9
She said "to her uncle's, on to road to Wom-
bourne, to fetch him." I told her that I did not
think that was a cousin of hers, or else he would
not walk away like that without speaking. I then
told her to go home, and she went aft( r the young
man, the stranger, and witness went with-liis com-
panions to seek for blackberries on Penn-common,

where he and his' companions had three quarts
of ale. About tight o'clock that night wit-
ness again met the girl near to her house,
going towards Bilston. In reply to the
witness she said she was going to the doctor's,
at Bilston. • He said he would go with her. She
went to a doctor's shop in the Market-place, in
Bilston, and witness stopped at the door. She had
often gone there before. -Witness did not know
what she had bought. They went to a liquor-shop
opposite the Leopard, and had two pints of ale. A
little after 10 they went straight home along the
turnpike-road to the house of the girl's father. The
inmates were gone to bed. She aroused them.
The father struck a light, let her in, and invited
him in. He refused, wished the girl good night,
and the door was shut. 'Witness did not go home,
but hid himself under the wall which surrounded
the house. He did not go home, because she had
said that she wanted to go down the tramway to
see a young woman. He did not go with her when
she said so because he wanted to get home. After
he had been secreted some time the deceased Jane
Bowdler came out of the house, jumped over the
wall and the pigstye, and ran off towards the pits.
'Witness followed, - overtook her, and with force
took her to her father's house and told him to lock
her in. Her father was up and had a lighted candle
with him. He asked witness what was the meaning
of her running out ? Witness replied that he did
not know ; all he knew was that she said she
*anted to go down the tramway to a young woman.
Witness then came away from the house, but did
not leave it, because the girl said that her father
would thrash her if he (witness) was not there ;
nevertheless she had wished him to go home. Again
the girl came out of the house, leaped over the wall
and the pigstye, and ran off. Again he overtook
her and took her back to her father's house, telling
him to lock the door, as he (witness) was afraid,
from what his mother and sister had said, that she
wished to "make herself away." All that the girl
had said to his mother and sister was to wish them
" Good bye," which she had never before done. Wit-
ness again remained about the house, and deceased
came out the third time. For the third time wit-
ness pursued her, after a chase of 300 or 400 yards
overtook and took her back, again telling her father
to lock the door, but he did not. Each time that
he overtook the girl she laughed at him as though
she was delirious. Witness, after taking her to her
father the third time, was coming away and over-
took the deceased Bebee: and the witness Handley.
They said, " where's Jane ?" and told him that they
had heard of her going to injure herself. While
they were talking Bebee said, " There she is, Joe!"
The girl had come again out of the house and was
running away. Bebee and witness then ran after
her. Bebee got near to her, and witness was about
12 yards from them when they went into the pool.
Witness went in up to his knees, but could not
reach them. They came up and the girl had bold.
of Bebee's hair. They came up three or four times.
The Coroner (to the jury)—This is a very strange
affair, gentlemen, to say the least of it.
Eliza Smith, the mother of the last witness, and
a girl named Ball, who had lived with the Bowdlers,
both deposed that the deceased girl had threatened
to destroy herself several times because her parents
were cross with her.

A policeman deposed to the finding of the body
after which

The Jury found a verdict to the effect " That Be-
bee was drowned while attempting to save the life
of the other deceased, but they required a post mot--
tern examination of the body of the girl."

THE LATE ACCIDENT AT THE SIIEF-
FIELD• MUSIC-HALL.

Yesterday morning, at the Town-hall, Sheffield,
the inquiry into the cause of the accident at the
Surrey Music-hall, which resulted in the deaths of
five persons, was resumed before T. Badger, Esq.,
coroner.

Mr. A. C. Branson appeared to watch the pro-
ceedings on behalf of Mr. Youdan, proprietor of the
hall ; Mr. Broadbent appeared for Mr. Flint.
John Maxwell, silver polisher, said—l was at the
.Surrey Music-hall on Monday evening, Sept. 13th.
I was sitting in the middle of the pit. About a
quarter past eight I was looking up to the gallery,
watching a young man and woman in their non-
sense, when I saw a man with a pistol on the edge
of the gallery. I saw him place it on the top of
the board in front of him. As soon as he had got
the pistol on the top he fired, and the lass of the
chandelier fell on the stage. Mr. Youdan came on
the stage with his arms outspread, and requested
the people to keep their seats. Then a cry of
" Fire !" came from about the place where the
pistol had been fired. That was about ten minutes
afterwards. I told the gas man on Monday even-
ing that it was a pistol that had been fired. I have
always said so. I was too far off to say what sort
of a man he was. I told the constable he looked an
elderly man. I could not swear to his dress. I
can't say whether he had a hat or cap on.
Frederick Ward, in the service of the Midland
Railway Company as a shunter, said—About a
quarter past eight I was looking across the gallery
to a friend of mine, when I saw a man in the
second seat, as I thought, with a pistol in his hand,
about two seats before me. The man was dressed
in a white jacket or slop. He appeared about 26
years of age, or from that to 30. He had black
hair and whiskers. I saw the pistol fired. I saw
an explosion, but I could not tell whether it was
from a pistol or not. I think it was from a pistol.
I told a policeman I saw the explosion, but that I
could not swear it was from a pistol. I cannot say
that I smelt anything. I smelt no gas. I cannot
say I smelt any powder. I saw the flash, the
smoke, and the wadding as well. The wadding
flew over the pit. I cannot swear what it was that
cane out of the pistol. It was something like
burnt paper. The pistol was directed to the left
corner of the stage. The burnt paper dropped in
the pit. The smoke I did not take particular notice
of. It might be a minute after the explosion before
people began to go out.
Madame Eliza Marietta said—While I was sing-
ing on the stage I saw a flash come between two
women's shoulders. I heard a report of a pistol or
gun ; I cannot say which, as I did not see them.
I have not said that I saw a pistol. I did not smell
any gunpowder. I cannot say that it was a gun
or a pistol, or either. It was like a pistol shot. I
think it was not a report of gas explosion. I had
not smelt gas. Directly after I heard this report I
heard a cry of fire. Something fell immediately
after the report, but I cannot say what it was. I
was not hurt. I was alarmed, and was taken off
the stage. What passed afterwards Ido not know.
Other witnesses were then examined; two of
whom stated that they saw a man fire a pistol, and
two others that they heard the report of a pistol.
Charles Duke, 30, Furnival's-lane, was present
on the night in question, and sat beside the young
man Greaves. Smelt a strong smell of gas under a
ledge where the glasses are laid. We told a gasman,
but he took no notice of us. Greaves then took out
a cigar from his pocket, and said he would have a
smoke. Before this a man puttied the chandelier,
but this did not stop the smell of gas. Greaves
struck a match to light his cigar. Witness then
heard a report from the place complained of, and
also a cry of fire. I did not see a pistol. The gas
went off when Greaves struck his match. Did not
smell any powder, but saw a flash. The report was
not so loud as that of a pistol.

James Elli-, ironmonier and gasfitter, George-
street, made an examination of the gas fittings of
the hall on the 15th inst., and could not find the
least escape of gas from any portion of the pipes,
and came to the conclusion that no explosion of gas
had taken place. He was assured that the gas fit-
tings were exactly in the same state in which they
were on Monday night. If there had been a leak-
age of pas on Monday night there was time to have
it repaired, but I could not fail to have discovered
the repair.

Tlioinas Frederick Cashin, C.E., was employed
by Mr. Flint, gasfitter, to examine the fittings, and
found the piping all perfect. In his opinion there
could have been no explosion of gas, there being no
leakage whatever.

Thos. Davenport, manufacturer, was in the boxes
and heard an explosion. His first impression was
that it was from a pistol, but his after impression
was that it was an explosion of gas. He went up
to Mr. Youdan and told him he thought a pistol
had been fired off. He heard a cry of fire in the
gallary. Ile did not smell gas or gunpowder, and
did not see any smoke. He saw a flash, but not the
white smoke that usually accompanies the firing of
gunpowder. The flash was much too large and
broad for a pistol.
Sarah Aug Beatson sat next to the young man
("weaves. -Complaint was made that the gas was
escaping, and a man came to see after it. He tried
the piping over the chandelier, and there was a
little blaze. He brought what seemed white-lead.
About half an hour afterwards there was an explo-
sion. She could not say what it was that went off.
She thought it was gas at the time. All the people
around complained of the gas escaping. She did
not see any pistol.
Mary Ann Richardson was sitting beside Sarah
Ann Beatson. The gas smelt very bad. About
half an hour after an explosion took place. The
flash took her eyesight... A gas man came and said
there was no leakage:
Several other-witnesses were examined.
• Mr. Youdan said he felt no smell of burning Jilt
after the cry of `‘ Fire !" He ran round to the gal_
lery stairs and found. a Velvet mantle smouldering.
Mary Fitz-Simons identified the mantle, and
said she lost it in the rush downstairs. She could not
say how it got on fire, or whether it had been
caught by one, of the gas brackets on the stairs.
Flint, a gas fitter, said that in connuence -of

complaint made to him before the explosion, he
examined the gallery front, but found no trace of
gas escape from piping, though there was a slight
escape from the joints of the chandelier. He had
not interferred with the gas-fittings after the
explosion.
At eight o'clock the jury adjourned till to-morrow.

SORCERY IN THE 19TH CENTURY.

Yesterday Wilhelm Steinthal, an astrologer, for-
tune-teller, letter-writer, and commission agent, of
Cable-street, Wellclose-square, was brought up on
remand before Mr. Yardley at the Thames Police-
court, charged with obtaining £lB by false and
fraudulent pretences of Andreas Mag, a baker, of
106, Lucas-street, St. George's-in-the-East.
Mr. Strauss, landlord of the Crown publichcine,
Rupert-street, Whitechapel, was again sworn to in-
terpret the evidence. He said that Steinthal and
Mag were both Prussians and well educated.

INlag said he had nothing to add to his evidence,
on which the prisoner said he had a number of
questions to put to him.
The prisoner then put his questions in German,
and first asked Alag, did I ever receive money for
laying out the cards ? Did I make a trade of it or
not ?

Mag—l don't know whether you carry it on as a
trade or not. I know you laid out the cards and
said the Frankfort lottery ticket would turn cut a
prize. I paid you 3s. for laying out the cards.
The Prisoner—Did you play in the German lot-
teries before you knew me ?
Mag—Yes, I did.
The Prisoner—When you came to me the first
time, and told me you had played in the lottery did
I not tell you I had a little book from my father
which told how to win areat prize? (A laugh.)
Mag—No, you did not tell me so in the first in-
stance.

The Prisoner Was it the first or second time
you came to me that I told you my father had won
a great prize ?
Mag—Yes. You told me that I was to pay you
£2 in different coins, from a sovereign to a half-
farthing, that each coin was to be put into a sepa-
rate piece of paper and deposited in a midwife's
bosom and turned about (roars of laughter), and
that in that way a man had won a great prize.
Mr. Yardley—Did you understand in what way
the cards were dealt ?
Mag—No, I did not.
Mr. Yardley—Why did you give the prisoner
the whole of the £lB ?

Mag—Because he told me, and I believed it, that
if I brought him the different sums of money and
helped him to work the spell, I should be fortu-
nate and become very rich.

Mr. Yardley—How and in what way ? By deal-
ing the cards ?
Mag—Ycs, and by spells, paying him in different
coins, burying the money in the earth, saying the
Lord's Prayer, throwing earth on a Bible, and
walking up and down a hedge. By doing that
I believed I should get a lucky number. (Laughter.)
Mr. Yardley—Part of the £lB was to pay for the
lottery ticket ?
Mag—Yes, it was.
Mr. Yardley—A whole ticket, or a quarter ?
Mag—There was a whole ticket. I only paid
for one quarter.
Mr. Yardley—What was the price of a quarter ?
Mag—.£2.
_ _ _

Theprisoner—He saw the ticket.
Mr. Yardley—Yes, he saw what was represented
to be a ticket.

The Prisoner---Are you not quite sure it was a
regular lottery ticket ?
Mag—l am not quite sure it was a lottery. ticket.
I do not know French, and the ticket was in that
language.

Mr. Strauss—All German lottery tickets are in
the German language.
The Prisoner—l have to ask Herr Mag again
whether the money was not tied up and sealed with
his own seal
Mag—Yes, sometimes.

Mr. Yardley—With whom was the money left
after it was sealed up and the incantations had
taken place ?

Mag—With the prisoner.
The Prisoner—lf he was not convinced and did
not believe in all I did he could not obtain► the great
prize. I believed myself I should get the lucky
number. (Laughter.)
Mr. Yardley—No, I do not think you believed
anything of the kind.
The prisoner then asked Mag if they had not
both the same interest in the lottery ticket ?
Mag—No _; I can't tell.
Mr. Yardley—Was Mag to divide the profits of
the lucky number with the prisoner ?
Mag—No, the prisoner was to have 5 per cent.
Prisoner—Did I not wait with as much anxiety
for the money in the parcel and the working of the
spell as you
Mag—You appeared as anxious as me ; but I
don't know whether you were so or not. You said
if we had a great prize we could marry two sisters
with large fortunes, have families, both boys and
girls—(immense laughter)—and carry on a most
extensive trade with all parts of the world.
The Prisoner—You said so ; not I.
Mr. Yardley—How is that ? Did the prosecutor
reckon on a wife with a fortune, large family, and
extensive trade, or not ?
Mag—The prisoner said so.
James Macdonald, police constable 102 H, said
that he took the prisoner into custody on Monday
night, and upon informing him that he was charged
with fortune-telling and defrauding one of his coun-
trymen of £lB, he said," How can that be ? it was
only last night he said I was the best man he ever
met with."

Mr. Yardley asked Mag how long he had known
the prisoner and who told him he was a conjuror;
to which Mag replied that he had known the pri-
soner a year, and that a German midwife introduced
the prisoner to him as a conjuror.
Mr. Strauss was then sworn and said he had
visited the prisoner in the cell behind the court
that morning, and asked him if he intended to make
the prosecutor any recompense, to which he replied
that he would pay him £1 per month. Mr. Strauss
added that the prisoner was a man of very superior
education, and by his exercise of the black art had
defrauded many simple Germans of their money.
The interpreter then translated a letter written
by the prisoner in the German language, and ad-
dressed to Mag. It was as follows :
" House of Detention, Clerkenwell, Sept 22.
" You have heard what the magistrate has said, that it
would be better if we settled the matter amicably ; therefore
when you come. to-morrow to the police-court, ask for a
policeman 10211 Tell him that you wish to see me ; then
he will bring you to me and we can then see how we can
agree. You must know how to act best. If we can agree
we can devise means how to procure money again. If we
cannot agree we smst then leave it to the judge whether ho
punishes me, and should I get punished then there is no
prospect for you whatever to obtain a penny ; therefore
pause and consider, and come to me before we go before the
magistrate. " WILHELM.
" P.S.—lf you cannot find me, then ask for the police-
man, and should he not meet you see the interpreter."
The prosecutor said he had read the letter. He
could read and write well. All Prussians were
educated.

Mr. Yardley—To read and write and be well
educated is no security against a belief in necro-
mancy and conjuration.
The Prisoner—When Mag came to me the first
time he said nothing about a lottery, but five months
afterwards he told me he wished the experiment
with the cards and money to be tried.
Mag—A German midwife brought me to you.
Mr. Yardley—Did you go to the midwife and
ask her to take you to the prisoner ?
Mag—Yes ; I asked the midwife to take me to
the prisoner, and she did so. •
Eliza Watts, a German, the midwife who assisted
at some of the mysterious ceremonies with the par-
cels of money, said she came from the same part of
Prussia as the prosecutor, and at his request intro-
duced him to the prisoner to lay out the cards and
find a lucky number for the Frankfort lottery ticket.
In answer to a question from the prisoner the
witness said she had taken more persons to another
German con uror.
Mr. Yardley—So there are o,theeis., ptheerrseonasre
.who”
carry on this conjuration ?
The witness laughed and said, "Yes,
The prisoner made a long defence, and endea-
voured to make it appear that he had performed
the ceremonies and incantations with the prose-
cutor's money and his own to get a lucky number
at Mag's earnest request; that he had lost his own
money to the amount of £8 ss. ld , and that
he only acted in accordance with the. directions
contained in a little book for which his father
by the
paid 150 Prussian dollars.
book,His father obtained
a lucky number
hewe n
tcould i c
toobrtia4 also. and he believed
arOkneand buried the money, and
when he went for it again it was
£8 Ss. id. of his
,ocyn
Mr. Yardley— g(Aonel.augThh.ere wasile
money. in the parcel.
Yardley—'There is only your bare word for
that.

The Prisoner—Did not Mag see the packet of
money every day, and was it not always in the
same state ?
Mag—l saw a parcel daily. I could not tell
what was in it.
Mr. Strauss said when the parties went to the
Victoria-park to bury the parcel which the pri-
soner said contained the money the Lord's Prayer
was repeated by Mag, and a Bible was carried by
the prisoner and mould was thrown over it. Then the paiool 'vas put behind a hedge, and the pH-
-40141: bud Mag walked 300 yards iu a straight di-

section, and when they came back all the money
was gone, and the luck was gone too. (Laughter.)
The Prisoner—All was done according to tho
book. I did it out of friendship.
Mr. Yardley—The prosecutor . has lost £lB by
your friendship.
The Prisoner—But I lost £8 ss. Id. too.

Mr. Yardley—Which I don't believe.
The Prisoner—The 9th of October is to be the
lucky day for the lucky number. (Laughter.)
Mr. Yardley said the prisoner was putting on
an air of simplicity, and trying to make the Court
believe he had been deceived, but no one would
believe the prisoner had ever put any faith in
necromancy and conjuration.
The Prisoner—Mag saw me put the money in
the hole in Victoria-park.
Mr. Yardley—But the prosecutor did not see you
take it out again. When the prisoner was before
him the other day he said he knew the Act of Par-
liament well, but the prisoner, who was a foreigner,
could not have understood what he (the Magistrate)
said. He would now explain to him that there
was an Act of Parliament to protect simple
people from such practices as these. Hi was
firmly convinced there was no truth in the
prisoner's statement that he had lost money.
Mag was the only loser, and as an example
to others the prisoner must be punished. It
was most extraordinary that people were to be
found who were foolish enough to believe in
fortune telling, laying out the cards, wrapping
up different coins in separate pieces of paper, and
other tricks. Here was a man, a Prussian, belonging
to a country where every. man was educated, with
wit enough to be industrious and frugal and to save
money, yet foolish enough to consult a pretended
fortune-teller. The man was eager to be rich, and,
not satisfied with getting money by legitimate
means, he went to the prisoner and commisi:oned
him to buy a ticket in a lottery and perform charms
and incantations to make it lucky. (Laughter.)
The whole proceeding was very absurd, and, though
he expected order to be kept in the court, he was
not surprised at people laughing at such gross ab-
surdities—such folly on the one side and wicked-
ness: and cunning on the other. The prosecutor
was a fool and the prisoner a knave. Laws were
passed to protect fools against knaves. The pri-
soner's offence was within the terms of the Vagrant
Act. The prisoner had practised subtle craft on
the prosecutor, and he hoped this would be a cau-
tion to Mag not to attempt to get money unfairly
by conjuration. He would make some allowance
for the prisoner being a foreigner, and not pass
upon him the extreme sentence of the law, but that
was a piece of gratuitous generosity towards a bad
man. He sentenced the prisoner to six weeks'
imprisonment and hard labour in the House of
Correction.

• There were many dupes of the prisoner's in court,
but they were ashamed to make their cases known.
One German who lost £2O by the prisoner's arts
will prosecute him on his liberation from gaol.

COUNTRY MARKET&