The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-28 00:00:00

THE .StiN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 28, 1P66,

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

Extraordinary Charge of Elopement and

Robbery.

At the Greenwich police court yesterday Charles
Lairsier Dubois, about 40 years of age, of 6, Somer-
set-place, Rotherhithe, was placed in the dock be-
fore Mr. Trail!, charged with stealing a quantity of
articles of household furniture, value £25, the pro-
perty of Mr. J. W. S. Slocombe, druggist, of Scho-
field-place, Schofield-street, Birmingham.
The case excited considerable interest, the wife of
the prosecutor, who had eloped with the prisoner
being present in court, with her three children.
During the examination she appeared greatly in-
censed against her husband, and frequently smiled
to the prisoner, for whom Mr. Cockle, solicitor, ap-
peared, a clerk from the office of Messrs. Morgan,
Humphrey and Morgan attending for the pro-
secution.

Mr. John William Sampson Slocombe said—
In August of last year he was a passenger, with his
wife and family, on board the City of London
steamer, from New York. The prisoner was also a
passenger on board the same steamer, and was re-
presented on the voyage to England as being a poli-
tical refugee from the Southern States of America,
and in a very destitute condition. He (prosecutor)
had married his wife in South America, and had
left England for the purpose of bringing her and
his family home. They had taken great interest
in the prisoner, and after their arrival at Liverpool
the prisoner had called upon them, by invitation, at
their temporary lodging, 10, St. Paul's-square. The
prisoner then ascertained that they were about going
to Birmingham to live, and afterwards found them
out at an hotel at which they were staying in that
town, subsequently becoming an inmate of the house
he took in Schofield-place, Schofield-street, Bir-
mingham. About a fortnight since he came to
London to receive some money from his solicitors,
which he gave to his wife, who arrived in London
three days after him. He gave her the money (a
cheque for £160) on her returning to Birmingham,
she desiring him to remain in London and seek a
business. Four days afterwards he returned to
Birmingham, and was surprised to find his house
closed, his .wife and children absent, and the furni-
ture removed. From inquiries he ascertained that
the goods had been taken away in a railway van,
his wife and the prisoner assisting in their removal.
He had since seen a portion of the property (pro-
duced in court) taken from a house in Rotherhithe,
where he found his wife and children.

inspector Warren, B division, said from informa-
tion given by the prosecutor the prisoner was ap-
prehended on the Deptford-road, Rotherhithe, while
out walking. Whilst the prisoner was being taken
to the station witness went to the house, 6, Somer-
set-place, Rotherhithe. He there saw the prosecu-
tor's wife, and inquired of her whether Mrs. Parker
repliedhe told her her name was
" Yes," and asking if
she
e dw
at there e
Mrs.? S
Phaerk l.
Slocombe, that Mr. Parker (the name prisoner
went by) was in the custody of the police, and
e
that he had come after the proceeds of the cheque
for £l6O which her husband had given her. The
wife replied that the money was nearly all spent.
Witness noticing a large trunk in the parlour went
to it, and asked what it contained, when she re-
plied that the trunk belonged to some one in Ame-
rica. She afterwards took the keys of the trunk
out of her pocket, opened it, and put her hand
into a corner. He then took hold of her hand,
and from it he took a purse containing a Bank
England note for £lOO and four half-sovereigns,
as also an agreement between the landlord of the
house and Mr. Parker, and some pawnbrokers'
duplicates.

The prosecutor, in answer to the magistrate, said
the trunk in question belonged to him, in which his
wife kept her clothes.
Mr. Frost, house agent, of Rotherhithe, deposed
to the prisoner, in company of a female, whom he
new recognised as the wife of the prosecutor, coming
to him respecting renting a house, and he agreed to
let him the house 6, Somerset-place, providing that
the landlord signed an agreement. The prisoner
inquired if the locality was healthy, saying he wanted
the house for his wife and family. Some goods
were afterwards brought to the house in one of
Pickford's vans.

It was here stated that this was all the evidence
that could then be produced, but that at the next
examination witnesses would be produced from Bir-
mingham who would prove the removal of the fur-
liiturebytitetopgriestohneerr., and that he and the wife and
children left

Mr. Traill having ordered the prisoner to be re-
manded,

The Prosecutor inquired whether he could not
claim the custody of the children, as he considered
his wife a most improper person to have charge of
them.

Mr. Traill said there could be no doubt the pro-
secutor had a legal right to take charge of the chil-
dren.

The prosecutor's wife here became so violent in
her language, declaring that the children should
not be taken from her, that by order of the magi-
strate she was removed from the court.
Inspector Warren said the wife was a most vio-
lent woman, and had taken up a poker to attack
him and her husband, but the poker was wrested
from her.

The prisoner was th en removed in custody.

KEW GARDENS. —Of all the public pleasure-
grounds belonging to the capital towns of Europe we
know not one which for beauty and variety comes up to our
own at Kew. To those long pont in the most populous and
murkiest of cities this delectable land offers the means of en-
joying within a small space country pleasures suited to all
tastes. Those who prefer dressy gardens find here stately
gravelled walks, ample smooth-shaven lawns, odoriferous
beds of gorgeous flowers, orangeries, ferneries, and palm-
houses, giving a glimpse of the vegetation of the tropics.
Others may saunter by the river under the shade of noble
trees, and paths so secluded that the squirrel
(last of the fern naturca left us in the metropoli-
tan regions) disports himself there in ease and safety.
many who cannot spare the time or money to leave
their business in London for any long period, but
can command the few shillings necessary for the transit,
show their appreciation of these delights by thronging the
gardens with their families on Sunday afternoons, and im-
patiently awaiting the unclosing of the gates on every fine
summer holiday. It is pleasant to see it thus enjoyed, and
wore this the whole aim and object of the establishment
of the Royal Botanic Garden one would admit it was
fulfilled But is there nothing more to be done?
Apart from its importance in a scientific point of
view we cannot but think that one reason for keep-
ing up this magnificent garden is, or ought to be, to spread
and encourage, and give facilities for the practice of horti-
culture in all classes. Is this done at Kew ? On the con-
trary, the greatest jealousyis evinced in guarding its
treasures from all but the eyes of neighbours and frequenters
of the garden. Millions of cuttings, slips, and seeds are every
them. Heaps of lovely
with, rather than the
bloomsyear
public
should
wantonlyand fro ni badusar nnwyt h woicr ah) n wag deo
etu
laadltvcay
heer many a sick room
and humble home are recklessly consigned to the manure
pit. It is obvious that rules must be made and rigidly en-
forced to prevent that which is the property of all becom-
ing a prey to the covetousness of a few; and every moans
must be used to hinder the gardeners from trafficing either
openly or surreptitiously in the plants or flowers
thepublic to profit a little more than
establishment for which they pay.
under their charge. But some method might easily be
tdioievyisnedowfo.cranby a
allowing n
Applications might bo received at certain seasons by an
officer appointed for the purpose, and tickets of permission
to purchase issued by him ; or notices put up on the gates
when any surplus plants or seeds were to be disposed
of. The extra trouble and expense would surely be
more than compensated by the payments of a flower-
loving community like our own, and the bad moral effect
of such an example of churlish and wanton waste would
be done away with. A nursery gardener whose object it
is to keep up their price by rendering his new plants
scarce may act thus, but it is unworthy of a great national
establishment.—Pull-mall Gazette.

PROHIBITION OF COURSING IN THE HOME-PARK,
HAMPTON.—The Master of the Queen's Horse (the Duko
of Beaufort•) has signified his intention to exclude coursing
in Hampton Court-park during the next season, in conse-
quence of the scarcity of hares on this demesne. It must
have been patent to all who have attended late meetings
in this park that the hares were being used up, as there is
no cover or refuge for "pussy" to escape from the grey-
hounds, and 15 out of 20 hares coursed are killed. The
patrons of coursing, however, contemplate meeting the
difficulty by an offer to turn down a large number of hares
in the park.

THE MEDICAL OFFICERS OF THE FOOT GUARDS.—
The vexed question as to the promotion of medical officers
of the Brigade of Guards has, it is understood, been deter-
mined on by the authorities and received her Majesty's
approval.

FATAL ACCIDENT ON MONT BLANC

TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—l regret to inform you that a sag accident
occurred yesterday, whereby another life has been

sacrificed.

Sir George Young, with two brothers and cousin,
successfully reached the summit of Mont Blanc
(without guides) yesterday at 10 a.m.,• and were
descending to the grand plateau, when a mass of
snow gave way, precipitating the younger brother
down a frightful slope of snow. The brothers de-
scended to the Grand Mulets to despatch a mes-
senger to Chamonix for assistance, but the accident
having been witnessed by a gentleman (Ur. Duf-
fourd) at Chamonix, who immediately informed the
chef de guide, a party of 11 guides and the doctor
immediately left for the Grand Mulets.
A letter was sent down this morning by Sir
George, informing us of the sad loss of his brother,
and this morning at 10.30 the guides, with Sir
George, reached the fatal spot. They will bring
the body down, and are expected to arrive late this
evening.—I am, sir, yours truly,

EDWIN A. PETTITT.
Hotel du Mont Blanc, Chamonix, Savoie,
Aug. 24.

The Inventor of the Needle Gun.

A correspondent of the Temps gives the follow-
ing details concerning M. de Dreyse, the inventor
of the needle gun :—" He is now 79 years of age,
he is not a Prussian by origin, but has become
one by right of conquest. At the period of his birth
the small town of Scemmerda, his native place, be-
longed to the Prince-Bishop of Mayence. From
1806 to 1813 he was a subject of King Jerome, and
consequently a Frenchman of the second class,
during the seven years of his long existence. May this
biographical detail aid in consoling those of my coun-
trymen who are in despair at not being able to trace
to France the honour of having invented the needle-
gun ! Notwithstanding the de before his name, M.
de Dreyse does not belong to a noble family. Far
from that, he is a pure plebeian. His father was
a locksmith by trade; he farmed a few acres of
land, and sometimes brewed beer. It was quite a
holiday in the village when the locksmith suspended
over his door a goblet decorated with moss, which
was a sign that a new brewing was on sale. The
neighbours hastened with their jugs, and many a
time has the future inventor of the needle-gun been
seen serving his father's customers. From morning
till night the young apprentice worked in the lock-
smith's shop singing his native ballads, to which
he beat time with the blows of the hammer.
About 1811 he started, knapsack on back, to
make his tour of Germany. Teu years later De
Dreyse was at the head of a small manufactory of
arms at Scemmerda. The inhabitants had given M.
de Dreyse the name of der Pariser (the Parisian).
The most extraordinary things were related con-
cerning him. He was said to have brought back
from his travels the model of a gun of an exceed-
ingly singular form which was discharged without
the aid of a flint, and by means of a simple blow
with a hammer. There was some truth in the village
gossip, as M. de Dreyse had introdu3ed the inven-
tion of the piston as applied to firearms. With bor-
rowed capital he extended his manufactory under
the name of Dreyse and Kollenbusch. His business
prospered, and he was soon in easy circumstances,
and subsequently became a wealthy man. While,
however, occupied in building up his fortune, his
mind was engaged with the idea of endowing his
country with an exceptional firearm which would
assure to the Prussians in that respect supre-
macy over .all other nations. After years of con-
stant experiment he invented the needle-gun, and
then by a long persistency succeeded in getting it
adopted by the committee of artillery. He was
not, however, yet at the end of his troubles. On
several occasions he had reason to fear that the
Minister of War might abandon the use of his gun
in consequence of the pretended defects which
every one was endeavouring to discover in it. M.
de Dreyse in the end surmounted all opposition,
and remedied all the inconveniences pointed out.
The needle-gun, as used in Bohemia, is the fruit of
25 years' experiments. The Prussian Governmeit
afterwards founded a manufactory of firearms at
Scemmerda, of which the direction was confided to
the inventor of the needle-gun. M. de Dreyse still
occupies that post, and is said to be now busied i❑
completing his work by the manufacture of a needle
cannon. The life of M. de Dreyse has been long
and laborious. It has been that of an honest work-
man who has attained fortune and honours by in-
dustry, order, and patriotism."

MARKETS.—This Day.

HAY.

SMITHFIELD.--Old meadow hay, £4 5s to £5 Os; new
do., £2 Os to £4 5s ; old clover, £4 15s Od to £6 Os Od ; new
do., £3 Os to £5 Os ; and straw, £1 16s to £2 5s per load.
Trade slow.

CUMBERLAND.—OId meadow hay, £4 108 to £5 5s Od;
new do., £2 lOs to £4 lOs ; old clover, £4 15s to £6 Os Od ;
new do., £3 Os to £5 Os ; and straw, £1 18s to £2 6s per
load. A moderate demand.

WHITECHAPEL.—OId meadow hay, £4 5s to £5 Os Od;
new do., £2 Os to £4 5s ; old clown, £5 Os Oct to £6 5s Od ;
new do., £3 lOs to £5 lOs ; and straw, £1 las to £2 5s per
load. Inquiry heavy.