The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-14 00:00:00

DISFRANCHISEMENT OF DOCKYARD LABOURERS.

Mr. STONE gave notice that, on going into com-
mittee on the bill proposed by the Secretary for the
Admiralty, he should move the rejection of the
clause which disfranchised !labourers employed in
Government dockyards. (Hear, bear.)
COUNTY INFIRMARIES (IRELAND) BILL.
Mr. POLLARD URQUHART moved the second read-
ing of this bill, which was to increase the utility of
these infirmaries in Ireland. The authorities
were empowered to raise a considerable sum
for the support of these establishments, and
therefore they ought to be • made to meet the
requirements of the present time. The bill also
proposed to lower the qualification to vote, as
governors and life governors respectively, from £3
to £l, and from £2O to £lO, which he had no doubt
would produce a greater amount of public support
than at present existed. The bill also proposed to
make the presentments of grand juries compulsory.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for Ireland opposedg the
latter portion of the bill, and advised the hon.
member not to persevere with the measure.
After a short discussion the bill was negatived
without a division.

RAILWAY TRAVELLING (IRELAND) BILL.
Sir C. O'LOGHLEN moved the second reading of
this bill, the object of which was to deprive railway
companies in Ireland of the power of shutting up
railway communication in districts in which they
may have lines, and also for making better provi-
sions for third class passengers. He could not but
think that his last attempt had been defeated by the
combination of Scotch members, who objected to
railway travelling on Sundays. The people of Ire-
land were in favour of running trains, and he did
not see why their wishes should in any way be in-
terfered. The Waterford and Limerick Railway
had abolished Sunday trains, and the result was
that every person living in the district of this line
was greatly inconvenienced, as communication from
Clare, for instance, was entirely shut up from four
o'clock on Saturday afternoon until eight o'clock on
Monday morning. The bill enacted that these
railway companies should run one train each way
on Sundays, which he did not think was a very
serious hardship. It had been said, when he
brought the matter forward last year, that the
average of Sunday passengers on the Waterford
and Limerick Railway was only about three or
four, of which he (Sir C. O'Loghlen) was one.
He had in his possession Parliamentary returns,
which showed most incontestibly that the statement
was altogether unfounded, and that in place of three
or four the Sunday travellers averaged between
50 and 60, and that the fares paid were
quite sufficient to amply remunerate the
railway company. The opposition to the bill
had been got up by the Sabbatarians, and not Irish
people at large, and therefore he asked the house to
read the bill a second time. _

Mr. BLAKE opposed the motion, and moved the
bill be read a second time that day six months. He
said the object sought by his hon. and learned friend
was unjust and unnecessary ; there being no demand
for Sunday traffic to warrant compulsory legislation
in that direction, involving, as it did, the employ-
ment of a large number of railway servants without
an .adequate purpose.

[LEFT SITTING.]

The Extraordinary Charge of Forging the
Countess of Bellew's Will.

Mrs. Anne Casse, a lady, 80 years of age, resid-
ing at Winterton House, St. John's-wood, appeared
at the Westminster Police-court this day in dis-
charge of her personal recoguisances of £l,OOO to
answer the charge of feloniously forging the signa-
ture of the late Caroline, Countess Bellew, to her
will or deed of gift; further, with forging the sig-
nature, " E. Simmons," as an attesting witness to
the same document ; and further, with feloniously
uttering the same as a genuine document, with in-
tent to defraud, &c. Joseph Verlander also was
surrendered by his two sureties of £lOO to answer
the charge of having committed wilful and corrupt
perjury in a certain judicial proceeding in the Court
of Probate, before Sir J. P. Wilde, " Bellew v.
Bellew," relating to a will, with forging which the
aforesaid Anne Casse stands charged as above.
Mr. Piffard, barrister, again prosecuted, and Mr.
James Lewis, of Ely-place, with whom was Mr.
Jennings, proctor of Doctors' Commons, defended
Mrs. Casse. Mr. W. D. Smyth, solicitor, of Ro-
chester-row, again appeared for Verlander.
Mr. Piffard said that illness was keeping the pro-
secutrix, Miss Frances Bellew, from attending.
Over exeitement kept her at home.
Mr. Smyth asked that the case for Verlander be
further adjourned, and argued that the case of per-
jury against Verlander must be proved by two
credible witnesses, and where were those witnesses
to be found. He could call Mrs. Casse to prove that
the name of E. Simmons was written by E. Sim-
mons, and it was quite a matter of opinion as to
whether the signatures were forgeries, for he could
call 12 witnesses, in whose opinion the signatures
were genuine.

Mr. Arnold said it would be a very difficult mat-
ter to .prove perjury against Verlander. If he
committed Mrs. Casse then Verlander must be also,
and vice versa.

The recognizances of Verlander were extended.

Fanny Simmons--I live at Kingwood, Oxford-
shire. I had a mother named Esther Simmons.
She died while in Mrs. Casse's service. I received
this letter from Mrs. Casse, and sent it to my bro-
ther. He went to see Mrs. Casse. The other let-
ters are to different persons. I know my mother's
handwriting. This is not my mother's handwriting,
and never was (looking at the signature to the will.)
I know Mrs. Casse's handwriting. I have written
letters to my mother, and received answers from
her at Winterton-house, St. John's-wood, Regent's-
park.

By Mr. Arnold—She sometimes signed her names
"Hester" and " Esther," sometimes " and
sometimes " E."

Cross-examined by Mr. Lewis—That is not like
my mother's handwriting. I have never seen it
before to my knowledge.
Mr. Lewis—Look at it--whose writing is it ?
Witness—It is my own.
Mr. Lewis—Look at this.

Witness—To the best of my belief that writing is
my mother's (No. 1.) To the best of my belief that
is my mother's (No. 2). I can't swear to my own
handwriting so well as my
mother's. My mother
never differed in her writing, and I do sometimes.
My mother came to Reading in 1862 or 1863 and
wrote to my father. I saw her write and fold up
the letter. I mean to swear that from the year
'59 when my mother went to Mrs. Casse, I saw her
in'62 or '63. My mother sometimes signed in full.
They were not on good terms, my father and mother.
(The case was not concluded when we went to
press.)

SHIPPING INTELLIGE NOB. This Day.

--o--

LONDON, March 14.—Wind this day at noon—North-
Wosterly ; moderate breeze, and fine weather, but rather
cloudy. _ _ .

QUEENSTOWN, March 14.—Wind N.—Arrived—Oceans,
screw steamer, from New York. Sailed—Falcon, for
llambr g.
_ _

CLYDE; March 13.—Wind S.W.—Sailed—Rock Light,
for Callao.

POOLE, March 12.—Wind S.W.—Arrived.—Jano Eliza-
beth, from Zeiniclusee.

PORTSMOUTH, March 13.—Wind N.E.—Arrived—Scotia's
Queen, from Odessa.

SCILLY, March 12.—Wind N.W.—Sailed—Restless, for

PLYMOUTH, March 13.—Wind to N.E.—Arrived—Atlas,
screw steamer, from Trieste ; A. L. Palmer, from London
for Buenos Ayres.

PILL, March 13.—Wind SM.—Arrived—Favourite,
from Odessa, &c., for Gloucester. Sailed—Carborite, for
Bahia.

SWANSEA, March 13.—Wind N.W.—Arrived—Breeze,
from Antwerp. Sailed—Owen, screw steamer, for Bar-
celona.

LIVERPOOL, March 13.—Wiud E.—Arrived—Europa,
steamer, from Boston. March 14—Arrived—Delaware,
screw steamer, from Philadelphia ; Atlantic, steamer,
from Alexandria.

LEY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 1

GRAVESEND, Wednesday Morning.

Arrived, March 14.—Orion, Batavier and Heron, screw
steamers, from Rottexlam ; Leo, screw steamer, from Ant-
werp ; Magnet, screw steamer, from Aalborg.
DEAL, Wednesday Morning.
Passed—Queen of the Clippers, from London, for St.
Michael's ; Anne Boyden (in tow), from Calcutta ;
screwsteamer, from Santander; Alexaidrina (in tow), from
Shanghai ; Mermaid, of London, from the west—all for
London.