The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-27 00:00:00

'Jrfrlu.

•

MATCHES FOR MARCH.
2, 3—Oxford University Athletic Sports.
3—Cooper and Collinson—to run 440 yards, £lO a side,
St. Thomas's Grounds, Stanningley.
3—Hodgson and Booth—to run 651 yards, £5O a side,
Royal Oak Grounds, Manchester.
3—Stewart and Todd—to run 50 yards, £2O a side, Fen-
ham-park Grounds, Newcastle.
3, s—Lowe and Taylor's 150 Yards Handicap, £25 in
prizes, Borough Grounds, Wigan.
3,5, 6—Cambridge University Athletic Sports.
3, 10—Wearden's All-England 200 Yards Handicap,
various prizes, City Grounds, Bradford.

The Late Spoz ting Trial at Gui-dhall

(From the Morning Ilerald.)
Legitimate sport is ono of the boasts of the country ; it
increases year by year, and is supported by the highest in
the land. We are essentially a sporting people, strongly
attached to the turf, and tolerant of some of its vices for
the sake of its wholesome' advantages. But on the edge
of what we may call decent society—on the confines of the
reputable sporting world—there are the hangers-on, the
keen, unprincipled rogues who profess to do business like
millionaires upon a capital of nothing, and perhaps an un-
known quantity of debt and embarrassment. These men
are mostly the scum of society. They have somehow at-
tached themselves to the turf by plausible pretences, and
with a book and pencil on the racecourse or "behind the
brewery," or in the park, the lane, or the "ruins," or by
the simpler form of a circular and an advertisement, they
entrap unwary speculators foolish enough to give them the
"commission," or to bet with them individually. As far
as the dangerous privileges of Lynch law allow, the evil is
cured in the betting ring by a summary process, only in-
terrupted by the police. The "welsher " is stripped o
ducked or pitched over the rails and hurried down the
course. But when the rascal hides behind the shelter of a
post-office, a false name, and a delusive circular, and does
not appear bodily in the presence of his victims, they have
no remedy, the law declining to interfere in what it looks
upon as illegitimate speculation. The only way, then, to
deal with this evil is for the press to expose it when flag-
rant cases arise, and where the rogue in ambush can snap
his fingers at the fool ho has cheated of his money. But
this is dangerous at times, for the predatory classes of the
sporting world are remarkably tender of their lame when
there is a chance of obtaining damages for slander. They
come to court as though they were above suspicion, and
with all the effrontery in the world ask to have their
characters cleared, and their outraged feelings solaced by a
verdict for the plaintiff. Happily they are much more
likely to ask for damages than to obtain them. Juries be-
gin to understand the system, and to see that if the press
is not at liberty to expose cases of downright roguery its
functions as a social reformer are sadly circumscribed.
They see that the unprincipled tipster who "executes com-
missions" is scarcely to be reached by law; that he can defy
the simpleton who has confided money to him ; and that
he only comes well out into the light when another little
bit of business is thought possible in a civil court. The
idea of compensating a man for aspersions upon his "char-
acter" when he has no character to lose, unless it be a bad
one which he cannot get rid of, is so ridiculous that only a
very Irish jury could contemplate it for a moment. If A
has robbed B, and C comments on the transaction in severe
terms, it is more than likely that a jury will hold C harm-
less, and that the public will consider the comment in the
light of a just and wholesome piece of castigation.

LAW INTELLIGENCE—(This Day.)

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.

Sittings at Nisi Prius, before the Lord Chief Justice and
a Special Jury.)
BISHOP V. ACCIDENTAL DEATH INSURANCE COMPANY.

This was an action to recover compensation from the
defendants for injuries which he sustained, and tho de-
fendants paid £36 into Court as full amount of the plain-
tiffs legal claim.

Mr. H. James and another learned gentleman appeared
for the plaintiff ; and Mr. Coleridge, Q.C., and Mr.
Brown, Q.C., for the defendant.

Mr. James stated the case at some length. The plaintiff,
Mr. Charles Bishop, had formerly beon conno cted with
Cremorno .Gardens, and was at present the lesee of the
gardens at North Woolwich, and the proprietor of a large
publichouse in Holborn. He had effected a policy with the
defendants who covenanted to pay £l,OOO in case of
death or told disablement by accident, and £6 a week
during the period of temporary disablement. Early last June
he was driving in a cab in Holborn, which came suddenly
into collision with an omnibus, and the result of the accident
was that the plaintiff was very seriously injured, two of
his ribs being fractured. Ho was conveyed to his house,
in Holborn, where be was confined to his bed for six days,
and then removed, by the advice of his medical attendant,
to North 'Woolwich.
After some further evidence

Tho jury found in favour of the defendant on the ground
that the money paid into court fairly represented his claim
against the company, the term of his total disablemcn
from business not exceeding six weeks.

Liverpool Cotton Market. —TLis Day.

The market opens very strong, at a 4 over
Friday's rates. Sales probably 12,000 bales or
more.

MARKETS.---This Day.

COLONIAL.

TEA.— Only a moderate amount of business has been
transacted, a small quantity will be offered at public sale
to-day, when late prices aro expected to be realised.
SUGAR.—A steady demand has prevailed for West India
and superior qualities fully maintain former prices. In the
refined market there is a moderate inquiry at steady rates
COFFEE.. -There has been a very limited inquiry
although prices, in most instances, are well maintained,
particularly for good colony sorts of Plan'ation Ceylon.
BlCE.—Basiness has been very dull without any mate-
rial change in value.
TALLow.—The demand on speculative account has been
active, and enhanced prices are current, especially for for-
ward delivery. P.Y.C. on the spot and March is quoted
48s 6d; April to June, 49s 3d ; and last three months, 51s
6d per cwt.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

NORTHAMPTON-FEB. 24.

New white wheat, 43s to 475 ; new red, 39s to 46s ; old
white, 48s to 50s; old red, 45s to 47s per 36 stone. Barley
for malting, 37s to 40s per. qr. ; grinding, 26s to 37s per 30
stone. Oats, old, 30s to 34s ; new, 20s to 28s per 24 stone.
Beans, old, 46s to 50s ; new, 36s to 40s per 38 stone. Peas,
34s to 39s per 36 stone.