The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 28, 1866;

LAW INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.

(Sittings at Nisi Prius, Guildhall, before Lord Chia
Justice Erie and a Special Jury.)
. _

MYERS Y. THE LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST RAIL

WAY COMPANY.

Mr. M. Chambers, Q.C., and Mr. H. James appeared for
tho plaintiff, and Mr. Harrison for the defendant.
This was an action brought to recover damages for in-
juries sustained through the alleged neglect of the de-
fendants' servants, to which a plea of not guilty was en-

tered.
The plaintiff is a commercial traveller, and had been for
some years employed by a firm in the City, and wasalso en-
gaged in business on his own account. lle was examined at
length, and stated that on Nov. Gth last he was pro-
ceeding in a northerly direction towards Fore-street, when
ho perceived a large van approaching him at the wrong
side of the road. lie attempted to avoid it, but before he
could get on the pavement the wheel of the van struck a
boy who was in front of him a violent blow, and the corner
of a box which the boy was carrying was driven into
his groin. lie remained for some time jammed
between the wheel of the van and the box, and
he had not recovered from the effects of his injuries.
Prior to the accident he was in receipt of , a good salary,
and was doing very well on his own account, but since
then he was unable to get up and down stairs without pain,
and his duties were consequently materially interfered

with.
The evidence was conflicting, and the jury found a ver-
dict for the defendant.
His -Lordship, on the application of counsel for the
plaintiff, stayed execution until next term.

MR. BENEDICT'S CONMT.

The great concert—we perhaps ought to say the
great musical festival of the season—was given yes-
terday morning at 'St. James's Hall, by Mr. Bene-
dict, and often as we have had the extreme pleasure
of attending the great musical treat, we never
recollect witnessing a more brilliant or fashionable
audience. The extraordinary . temperature of the
atmosphere (the thermometer standing at 75 in the
shade), it might be thought was disadvantageous
as far as attendance of company was concerned,
but the wonderful programme issued by Mr. Bene-
dict, embracing, as it did, the names of all the stars
of Her Majesty's Theatre and the Royal Italian
Opera, combined with the greatest musical celebri-
ties, both vocal and instrumental, in the world, was
more than sufficient to attract an overflowing
audience, which, for exquisite toilette, rivalled iu
beauty the grand displays at Longchamps. The
programme consisted of no less than 47 pieces of
music ; and amongst the names of the vocal per-
formers were Mdlle. Titiens, Mdlle. Pauline Lucca,
Mdlle. Biancolini, Mme. Maria Vilda, Mme. Parepa,
Mdlle. Artot, Mdlle. Enequist, Mdlle. Liebhart,
Mme. Irebelli Bettini, Miss Wynn, Signor Fancelli,
Mr. Santley, Mr. Sims Reeves, M. Faure, Mr.
Tom Hohler, Signor Gardoni, Signor Farranti,
Dr. Gunz, Signor Garcia, Master Coker, Signor
Bettini, and Signor Bossi. The principal instru-
mentalists were Mr. Benedict, Mr. Lindsay
Sloper, Mr. John Thomas, M. Wieniawaski,
Sig. Piatti, Herr Ludwig Strauss, and Madame
Arabella Goddard. In addition to the above emi-
nently gifted artistes there was a perfect crowd of,
other names familiar to concert visitors, but space
prevents us giving a longer list than the selection
we have made. The concert commenced precisely
at half-past one, and the whole of the programme,
with a trifling exception, was performed by a quarter
past six, during which time, a space of nearly five
hours, the greater part of the audience however
retained their seats, and left the hall at the con-
clusion of the concert without the slightest appear-
ance of fatigue. The great secret of the concert
retaining its charm to, the last piece on
the programme, was owing to the excellent
manner in which the pieces were arranged. Unlike
many great concerts, Mr. Benedict's is not confined
to the Italian language; he judiciously places in his
programme English songs by English artistes, and

thus additional charm is given to his entertainment,
and the hours fleet by with remarkable speed. It
would be impossible for us to remark separately
upon each of the pieces of music performed, although
each deserved the highest commendation. Such a
task would involve upon us, single handed, a five
hours' labour; therefore we content ourselves with
briefly mentioning the chief pieces in the pro-
gramme which created greatest enthusiasm, and
called forth the most rapturous applause. Mdllo.
Biancolini sang Mercadante's aria "Ah ! s'estinto,"
with faultless expression. After which Master
Richard Coker gave Verdi's aria from " I Lombardi"
"Non fu sogno" with remarkable power and
effect. Mr. Santley perfectly charmed his audi-
ence by his rendering of Schubert's " Wan-
derer," and for his new song " On Parting," the
words by Lord Byron, and the music by
the Patti, he secured a great success. M. Faure
sang " Oh, lioto di," from L'Etoile du Nord, in the
most artistic manner, and Mr. Tom Hohler, must
have perfectly charmed the majority of the ladies
present by his beautiful rendering of Balfe's Ro-
mance "Si to savais." Mme. Titiens sang in her
own unapproachable style the scena from Der Frey-
schutz, " Softly sighs," and Mdlle. Pauline Lucca
called forth great applause by the manner in which
she sang Auber's air from " Fra Diavolo," " Quell'
uomo." Tho piece, however, that produced the
most rapturous applause was the duct by Madame
Parepa and Signor Farranti, from "Don Pasquili,"
" Signorina in tanta fretta ;" it was most hu-
morously executed, and pleased the audience
beyond measure. Mr. Sims Reeves, of course, secured
an encore for the seem, " The Laly Ilildeed," but
to our taste he could very easily have selected
something more worthy of his talent. The great
instrumental piece of the evening was the duo con-
certant for two pianofortes, by Mr. Benedict
and Mr. .L;ndoeby 131uper,- anti certainly two
finer performers on the instrument have
not yet been produced. Tho elastic touch
and vigorous treatment by the spirited composition
of both gentlemen was beyond all praise—it was
perfection of execution, and the applause it elicited
was universal and enthusiastic. As both gentlemen
rose after its performance they were again loudly
cheered, and certainly applause was never more hon-
ourably won or deservedly bestowed. There were
various other items in the programme that wo had
intended to notice, but we must content ourselves
with those we have already mentioned, and close
our remarks upon this interesting concert with a
word of praise to Mr. Nimmo, who for many
years has had the control of the " audi-
torium." Nothing could be more perfect than
his arrangements, as during the entire concert not
the slightest confusion occurred, although there
must have been between two and three thousand
persons present.

Remarkable Case of Mistaken Identity.

(From the New York Time.t.) •
Among the many cases of mistaken identity which have
occurred in the police annals, none have been published
presenting more singular features than the one we are
about to relate. Although the main incidents occurred
several years ago, the explanations which served to clear
up the mystery have been but recently made. The affair
at the time was widely canvassed, the newspapers giving
every publicity to the case in its various stages ; and while
some of our readers will doubtless remember the interest
excited, they will be glad to learn the facts whioll will
disperse the mystery which then surrounded the entire
matter. Several years ago Inspector Leonard, then a cap-
tain of police, received a telegraphic despatch from the
police authorities of Providence, lthode Island, requesting
him to arrest John M. Cookson, master of a small coasting
schooner plying between Providence and Norfolk, Vir-
ginia. The accused was charged with having murdered
his wife at the little town of Seaconk, near Providence.
Capt. Leonard at once sot about the task required of Lim,
and in a very short time ascertained that Capt. Cookson's
schooner was
.then lying in this harbour. Ho at once
boarded the vessel, and on inquiring for the master, Capt.
Cookson appeared in person. The officer notified him of
the charges against him and of his purpose to arrest him.
Cookson turned pale, stammered, wfukconfused, and in fact
showed all those signs of embarrassment which aro gene-
rally interpreted as evidences of guilt, but may also be the
effect of surprise and virtuous indignation. He, how-
ever, submitted quietly to the arrest, protesting in the
most solemn manner his innocence, and declaring that
he knew nothing of the whereabouts of Lis wife, if she
was not at home. The officer conveyed his prisoner at
once to Seaconk, and there learned the facts which led
to the arrest. It appeared that Cookson lived in the
outskirts of the village with his wife, with whom ho was
not on the bestof terms. Quarrels frequently arose between
them, but no violence on Lis part had ever been observed.
On a certain morning Cookson and his wife were overheard
by the neighbours quarrelling violently. Shortly after-
wahls Cookson started for Providence, and immediately
for Norfolk with his schooner. His wife was not seen dur-
ing that day nor the following, but no attention had been
paid to that fact. On the third day some children, who
were picking blackberries near the village, were attracted
by the unusual movements of a dog which accompanied
them to a spot where ho was pawing up the earth in a
frantic manner, and barking violently. On reaching the
spot the children wore horror-stricken on beholding the
face of a tided woman exposed to view where the dog was
scratching. Tho citizens having been notified of the fact
hastened to the scene, and in a short time had uncovered
the body of a woman, over whose remains an inch or two
of dirt had been scattered. It was found that the body was
frightfully mutilated, and had been sprinkled with quick-
lime to aid in its decomposition previous to being covered
with earth. Tho body was conveyed to the village, and there
identified as the remains of Mrs. Cookson. The mother
and sister of that lady positively identified the body, not
only by its general appearance, but by certain marks.
Mrs. Cookson's hair was somewhat singular in its colour,
and her manner of wearing it was peculiar. She had lost
one of her front teeth, and another had been filled with
composition. These marks all appeared on the body of the
dead person; and the mother and eider were not only
positive on those points, but also identified the clothing
with which the oorpso was covered. The fact of the
quarrel between Cookson and his wife became known,
and the dead body of the woman found in the woods
being recognised as that of Mrs. Cookson, led to the
belief that that lady had fallen a victim to her husband's
violence. The despatch to Captain Leonard and the
arrest of Cookson followed. When the prisoner arrived
at Seaconk the indignation of the citizens against him was
'most intense, and for a short time it was feared that lynch
law would be called into requisition. Good t onse, how-
ever, guided the citizens, and the prisoner was confined in
gaol to await the action of the grand jury. This body soon
mot, and with little delay found an indictment against
John M. Cookson for the murder of Lis wife. Additional
evidence of a circumstantial nature was adduced, calcu-
lated to remove all shadow of doubt as to the guilt of the
accused. It was shown that after the quarrel with his
wife the accused had come down to Providence and there
purchased a barrel of lime, which had been sent on board
his schooner. From this time ho was lost sight of for
several hours, and the next that was known of him was
that he had boarded his schooner at an unreasonable hour
and suddenly put to sea. The prisoner explained that he
certainly did quarrel with his wife, and, leaving her in
anger, had determined to start upon his voyage as speedily
as possible. As ho was going to a southern climate in hot
weather, he had purchased the limo to be used as a disin-
fectant on board his schooner. lie could suggest no pos-
sible place where his wife could have concealed herself,
and, indeed, had no doubt that tho body found was her re-

mains. Ills explanations, of course, were disbelieved, and

Lis fate was considered settled. The prisoner himself

thought that thoro was no possiblo way by which to
establish his innocence—the ovidenco against him ap-

pcared conclusive, and the only opposition to it he could
interpose was his unsupported statement. He abandoned
himself to despair, and as the day for his trial approached
all hope had fled from his bosom. Arrangements for his
trial wore completed, the day was fixed, counsel Lad
volunteered to defend to the extent of their ability the
seemingly doomed man, when, the day before the trial
was to commence, Mrs. Cookson, alive and well, appeared

upon the scene and claimed her husband. Of course the

prison doors were opened, and ho who had so long stood
beneath tho shadow of the gallows was restored

to socioty with an unblemished reputation. Mrs. Cook-

son accounted for her absence by stating that after
the quarrel with her husband aad his departure for Nor-
folk she had departed quite as hastily for Now Hampshire,

where she had been visiting some friends. Being an un-

educated woman, she had held no communication with her
relatives, and they had been in utter ignorance of her
whereabouts. She returned at tho critical time she did,
supposing her husband would have completed his voyage,
but not knowing that ho was imprisoned on a charge of
having murdered her. Tho question then arose, "Who is

tho woman who has been thus murdered ?" But no satis-

factory answer could be given, and although the police
long devoted their energies to unravelling the mystery, no

solution to it could be obtained, and the affair was for-
gotten. Tho unfortunate woman slept in the graveyard at
Seaconk ; no friond visited her grave, and no one could
tell her story. Her sad fate and her remarkable resem-
blance to another had secured for her Christain burial, and
that was all that was known of her. A short time siuee,
Inspector Leonard had in custody a noted burglar, who
had long boon known to the authorities as being ono of tho
most skilful of his class. This man gave the inspector a
solution of the Seaconk mystery, which has never been
printed. Ll 6 said that tho murdered woman was the wife
of an export English burglar named Collins, who is now
dead. Collins had long followed his nefarious profession,
from the pursuit of which his wife had endoavoured to
wean him. She was awale of many of the secrets of the
gang to which Collins belonged, and particularly of all
tho facts connected with a burglary perpetrated at Provi-
dence shortly previous to her death. The gang had be •
comp suspicious of her, and, fearing that she might expose
them, had rosolvod upon her death. She was accordingly
most brutally murdorod by her husband and his associates,
and her body disposed of in the manner described. Col-

lins immediately left the scone, and shortly afterwards
died in prison. The burglar who related these facts know
_ _

nothing regarding the history of the unfortunato woman,
save that she was born in England and was Collins's wife.

Tho old adage that " murder will out" seldom fail; al-
though its exploitation may sometimesbe dolayod until the

perpotrator has answered the charge before a court from
which there is no appeal.

MARKETS.---This Day.

METROPOLITAN CATTLE.

To-day's market was very moderately supplied with
beasts iu only:middling condition. Owing to the heat of
the weather sales progressed slowly in all breech., at
Monday's currency. The general top price was 5s 8d per
81bs. Sheep were in moderato supply and slow request,
at Monday's currency. Prime Downs and half-breeds
changed hands at 6s. per 81bs. Lambs were in but mode-
rato supply, and all breeds moved off steadilyat full prices,
viz., at from 6s 4d to 8s per 81bs. Tho demand for calves
ruled inactive on former terms. Pigs were in slow request,
at late rates.

Per 81b to sink the offal.

ds d
Crse. & inf. beasts... 3 10 4 2
Second quality do ..4 4 4 10
Prime large oxen ..5 0 5 4
Primo Scots. &,0....5 0 5 8
Crse. and inf. sheep. 3 8 4 2
Second quality do ..4 4 5 0

s did
Pme ors-wool sheep 5 2 5 S
Prime b'thdown d 0.5 0 d 0
Large coarse calves 4 8 5 4
Prime small do 5 6 5 10
Large hogs ....4 0 4 4
Small porkers. t 6 5 2

Lamb.... 68 ld to 88 3d.
Suckling calves, 21s to 238; and quarter-old store pigs, 30s
to 335 each. _ _

Head of stock on sale.
Total supply. Foreign supply.
Beasts BOO Beasts 291
Cows lO5 Cows.
Sheep dud lambs 8,300 Sheep and I nib i
Calves 2;O Lia yes.. lll
figs 250 rigs —