The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-01 00:00:00

The St. Helen's Murder.

(From flu Registrar-General's Return.)
In the week that ended on Saturday, July 27,
the births registered in London and 12 other large
towns of the United Kingdom were 4,451 ; the
deaths registered, 2,816. The annual rate of mor-
tality was 21 per 1,000 persons living.
In Loudon the births of 1,107 boys and 1,056
girls, in all 2,163 children, were registered in the
week. In the corresponding weeks of the ten years
1857-66 the average number, corrected for increase
of population, is 2,008.
The deaths registered in London during the week
were 1,347. It was the 30th week of the year, and
atheaveragcorrectione
numforberr
eoasf
edeathsofo
pf our,
atthi
oe
nw, k45i33,. withT he
deaths in the present return are less by 106 than
the estimated number.
The deaths in the metropolis from diarrhoea have
rapidly increased since the week which ended June
22, when 16 persons died from the disease ; in the
four following weeks the numbers were 48, 54, 115,
170. Last week 196 deaths from diarrhoea were
registered ; 39 of these cases occurred in the west,
50 in the north, 22 in the central, 52 in the east,
and 33 in the south districts. Twelve children and
3 adults died from cholera or choleraic diarrhcea.
In the corresponding week of last year (1866) the
deaths from diarrhcea were 319, and from cholera
904. The daughter of a timekeeeper, aged five
years, died on the 4th of July at 1, Brown's-yard,
Worship-street, Shoreditch, of typhoid fever with
purpurea (6 days), convulsions (two days)." The
daughter of a painter, aged 13 years, died on the
16th of July, at 1, York-grove, Carlton-road, Peck-
ham, of hydrophobia ; she was bitten by a dog two
months since. (Inquest.)
Kensington (Town).—At 4, New-court, on the
22d of July, the son of a labourer, aged two
months, cholera infantum. In the same sub-
district, at 15, Campden-place, on the 26th of July,
the daughter of a china-mender, aged 11 months,
cholera infantum. In the same district, at 4, Farm-
street, on the 23d of July, the son of a carpenter,
aged 13 months, choleraic diarrhoea. Westminster,
St. John.—At 40, Ponsonby-place, Milbank, on
the 19th of July, the daughter of a carpenter, aged
five months, infantile cholera (two days). Mary-
lebone, Rectory.—At 3, Grafton-court, on the 23d
of .July, the son of a labourer, aged four months,
choleraic diarrhoea (two days). In same sub-district,
at 2, Grafton-court, on the 25th July, the daughter
of a labourer, aged six weeks, choleraic diarrhcea.
I Pancras, 'Tottenham-court.—At 24, Stephen-street,
on the 27th July, the daughter of a painter, aged
nine months, choleraic diarrhcea (20 hours). Pan-
cras (Somers-town).—At 17, Churchway, on the
21st July, the son of a labourer, aged 10 months,
cholera infantum (five days), convulsions. Isling-
ton (West).—At 178, Caledonian-road, on the 22d
July, the daughter of a greengrocer, aged five
months, choleraic diarrhcea (one week), erysipelas
of head and face (three days). In the same sub-
district, at 12, Roman-read, on the 27th July, the
daughter of a solicitor, aged five months, choleraic
diarrhoea. Holborn (St. Andrew Eastern).—At 28,
Verulam-street, on the 22dJuly, the son of a general
dealer, aged three months, choleraic diarrhoea (three
days). Clerkenwell (St. James).—At 165, St.
John-street, on the 19th July, the widow of a
draper's warehouseman, aged 70 years, choleraic
diarrhcea, exhaustion. In the same sub-district, at
4, Jerusalem-passage, on the 24th July, a fish-
monger, aged 65 years, English cholera (two days).
Shoreditch (Hoxton Old-town).--At 10, Bridport-
place, on the 25th July, the daughter of a cab-
driver, aged five months, choleraic diarrhcea. St.
Olave, Southwark ; St. John.—At 54, Fair-street,
on the 22d July, the widow of a corn runner, aged
70 years, cholera (4 days), collapse (1 day).
The deaths of six persons who were killed by
horses or carriages in the streets were registered.
It appears by Dr. Franklancl's analysis that
100,000 tons of the water supplied by the London
companies contained extraneous substances in various
quantities, ranging from 24 to 39 tons ; the quantity
in the Glasgow waters being only three tons. The
Kent water taken at the works in Deptford was the
hardest, and altogether the most impure.
The annual rate of mortality last week was 23 per
1,000 in London, and 23 in Edinburgh, and 23 in
Dublin ; 22 in Bristol, 21 in Birmingham, 27 in
Liverpool, 34 in Manchester, 27 in Salford, 21 in
Sheffield, 24 in Leeds, 20 in Hull, 26 in Newcastle-
upon-Tyne, and 23 in Glasgow. The rate in Vienna
was 23 per 1,000 during the week ending the 10th
inst., when the mean temperature was 8.6 deg.
Fahrenheit higher than in the same week in London,
where the rate was 21.
At the Iloyal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 29.592 in.
The barometrical reading increased from 29.42 in.
on Friday, July 26, to 29.93 in. by the end of the
week. The mean temperature of the air iu the week
was 59.2 deg., which is 2.5 deg. below the average
of the same week in 50 years (as determined by
Mr. GlAisher.) The highest day temperature was
74.1 deg. on Sunday, July 21. The lowest
night temperature was 45.8 deg., on Thursday,
July 25. The entire range of temperature in the
week was therefore 28.3 deg. The mean of the
highest temperatures of the water of the Thames
was 63.8 deg. ; that of the lowest was 61.9 deg.
The difference between the mean-dew point tem-
perature and air temperature was 7.5 deg. The
mean degree of humidity of the air was 77, com-
plete saturation being represented by 100. Rain
fell to the amount of 3.73 in., of which 3.67 in. fell
on Friday, July 26. The general direction of the
wind was S.W. On July 25, at midnight, rain
commenced failing heavily, and fell without cessation
until 10 a.m. on the 26th. During these ten hours
the rainfall amounted to 3-18 in., an amount un-
precedentedly large for this locality. About 1.40
p.m. rain ag .in began to fail, and fell more or less
heavily till 10 p.m., giving an additional fall of
0.19 in., and a total fall for the day of 3-67 in.—a
greater amount than has ever been recorded in 24
hours at the Royal Observatory. As far as can be
at present ascertained this remarkable rainfall was
confined to a raoies of about ten miles from Green-
wich ; it extended to Crossness, where it was 3 31in.
It will be seen that the largest fall measured in any
of the other English towns furnishing weekly re-
turns was I.oBin. in Newcastle, while it did not
amount to half an inch in any of the others. In
Edinburgh, however, it was 3.70 in., or nearly the
same as at Greenwich ; and in Glasgow 2.09 in.
According to a return furnished by the engineer
of the BletroAtaz Board of Works, the average

The inquest on the body of Adam Mather, who
was murdered at Greenleach, wasresumed on Tues-

day, at the Town Hall, St. Helen's, before Mr.

Duffield, the deputy county coroner. The court
was densely crowded. Sergeant Whiteside, who

was the first witness examined, said that about one
o'clock on Sunday morning the 21st, he went to
the house of Mather. On his arrival, he found

Mather lying on a bed in a room adjoinino. the

kitcien, dead, and with his throat cut. On the

floor he found a razor case and cap saturated with
blood, and on an examination of the garden he dis-

covered foot prints and a pair of clogs. Witness
also noticed in the road footprints of a person who

had passed along without shoes on, anti these prints
were traced across several fields until they were

gradually lost in the main road.—Mr. Arthur
Jamieson, surgeon, said he was called to see the de-

ceased about 1 30 a.m. on the 21st, and found him
dead. He found a wound extending from the back
of the left car, following the line of the lower jaw
to within two inches of the right ear. The wound

was very deep on the left side, extending as far as
the spine, and dividing in its course all the chief
bloodvessels of that side of the neck. Any instru-
ment y sharp would have inflicted such
a wound.
exceedingly
deceased could not have enxdc.
d morewound than Tinhgel
minutes. There was
th e r
chin extending to the jaw
o n thet wen t y
ano

bone. He had examined a shirt which was stained
with blood on the outside. There were stains of
blood on it. He had examined a cap and pair of
trousers belonging to the prisoner and bad found
blood stains upon them. The pair of clogs found
in the garden exactly fitted the prisoner. The stock-
ings of the prisoner were covered with mud. The
texture of the stockings exactly corresponded to
pieces found in the clogs. There were sores on the
elbow which must have been recently inflicted.
James Ludlam, superintendent of the St. Helen's
police, said that about five o'clock on the morning
of the murder, he searched the neighbourhood of
Mather's cottage. The prisoner was brought from
Prescot. Witness charged bim on suspicion with
having murdered Adam Mather in his own cot-
tage at Greenleach, and the prisoner replied,
" God forbid that I should ever be guilty of such
a thing." When witness took prisoner's clothes
from him the prisoner said, " Now, there is no
blood on those trousers, for the doctor has
examined them." Sergeant Brown, who took
the prisoner into custody, stated that he placed
himself in a position to watch the St. Helen's and
Rainhill Roads. He had not been on the watch

long before the prisoner came down the road lead-
ing from St. Helen's. When prisoner saw witness he
hesitated to come forward, but perceiving he was
noticed ne advanced. Prisoner crossed the street,
went up against a blank wall, put a pipe in his
mouth, and struck a match. Witness turned round
and appeared not to be taking any notice, and the
prisoner then commenced to walk forward again, in
the direction of Liverpool, and crossed the road.
Witness followed him, and the prisoner turned to
look over his shoulder. Prisoner took a sharp turn
up Tea-street, Prescot, and was about to enter a
lodging house when he was apprehended. Witness
asked him where he came from, and he said St.
Helen's. When asked where his coat was prisoner
said, " What's that to you?" Witness said he would
have to answer the question, and prisoner was re-
moved to the police station. The shirt, stockings,
and cap produced were taken from the prisoner.
Superintendent Fowler stated that when he at-
tempted to take off Smith's shirt the prisoner trem-
bled so violently and turned so pale and unwell
that he would have fallen to the ground had not
the officers supported him. The prisoner asked
given
Nev3nslatter, and why
fNovritanedssrianskkeodf
hiNt
nvatwerh,atwwhaicshth
lx,; trembled, and the prisoner replied, " You would
shake if you had as much drink in you as I have
had." James Birchall, employed in one of the glass
works, deposed to having met the prisoner in Tun-
stall's public-house at eight o'clock, and purchased
a shirt from him. Witness was there again at one
o'clock, and heard him barter with an old man for
his clogs, but the old man would not have them
' because he said they were cut away at the ankles.
Richard Lee, glassblower, proved that he had ex-
changed the cap found in Mather's house for one
which the prisoner had. George Ashton said he saw
the prisoner about five minutes to 12 o'clock on
of deceased's house. The
eight,
te
at t
directionthe
top of Coal Pit Lane, and he
Swaatsurgdotitnygniing
jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against
Smith.

EXCITING SCENE A 7 A iIIENAGERIE.

(From the Liverpool Mercury.)

Some weeks ago a group of eight American
rattlesnakes which had been landed at Liverpool
were purchased by Mr. William Manders, and were
first exhibited by that gentleman at Northampton.
As the box in which the snakes had been brought
over was to a certain extent unsafe, Mr. Manders
had a stout case expressly manufactured for their
reception, and the poisonous reptiles were installed
in their new quarters. The new case had a thick
plate-glass front and top, hot-water cisterns under-
neath, and a small door fastened by a spring latch
on one side. This case fitted in a massive oak box,
in which it was placed when the snakes were not on
exhibition, every possible precaution being taken to
prevent an accident. Mr. Manders arrived with his
menagerie at Tunbridge Wells, on Friday morning
last," set" the caravans he
left
for an
a London,ssoon a
to superintend
s u i.w hadrin
tend the debarkation of
t he
three giraffes which he had purchased, and which
were then on board a steamer in Blackwall
detained in London
Saturday, and when he
Runetaicl summoned
mllmlorn.
eAdlatondreetrusrnwoasn
did reach the menagerie again he was dismayed at
omrneitnilgistheyeeskeeper who attends the
tohnessaigthurtdwayhicnah It appeared that early
menagerie had put a large
reptile f departmentwator
n of
the c
nt
kh
ee
fire which stands in the
centre of the enclosure, so that he might be enabled
to fill the cisterns with hot water. During the time
the saucepan was heating
the man proceeded with
his work, and at length he took the case containing
the rattlesnakes out of the box, and commenced
cleaning the exterior. While he was so engaged the
spring latch of the door at the side of the case be-
came detached, and the door dropped down. At
this moment the water in the pan boiled over, and
the keeper rushed to the fire to remove the pan, in-
cautiously leaving open the door of the rattlesnake
case. On his return to resume his work he saw that
one of the largest of the snakes had escaped from
the case, and was
peering about, hissing in a terrible
manner, and shaking its fearful rattle. The man
closed the open door of the case, and then warned
his companions, who were cleaning up the menagerie
previous to its opening for a morning exhibition.
A panic seized the men, and with the greatest dif-
ficulty an elderly man named Frank Godfrey pre-
vailed on some of them to remain in the enclosure,
and endeavour to recapture the fearful reptile.
Arming themselves with shovels, forks, scrapers,
brooms,
Go'_lfrey, proceeded towards the snake. The Bcc., the keepers, under the direction of
rep-
tile, during these preparations, remained perfectly
quiet, but on the approach of the keepers—which
was heralded by a large sack being attempted to be
thrown over him—the reptile leisurely proceeded up
the centre of the enclosure, hissing fearfully all the
time. It did not appear to notice any of the occu-
pants of the numerous cages and dens until it came
to the caravan containing the bonassus, a species of
buffalo—an immense animal,
weighing upwards of
two tons. This caravan is what is technically termed
a " well" caravan, the centre portion between the
front and hind wheels nearly touching the ground.
On arriving opposite this caravan the rattlesnake
paused for a moment, and then made a spring, fas-
tened on the bonassus, and bit it in the left nostril.
The reptile then let go its
grip, and, shaking its
rattles, glided through an opening between two of
the caravans, where some of Mr. Manders' grooms
were fillinc, a cart with stravt. To this cart was at-
taelled on; pl the finest horses i)eloligiDg to Dir.