The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-01 00:00:00

THAMES.

A MOST 'UNLIKELY STORY.—A poor woman, named
Sarah Smith, dwelling in Poplar, came before Mr. Yardley
and stated that, owing to the inclemency of the weather,
and to her husband being out of employ, she was in great
distress, and upon applying to one of the relieving-officers
of the Poplar Union he refused to relieve her and her
family.

Mr. Yardley—Upon what grounds did he refuse!
Applicant—He said there were too many of us.
Mr. Yardley—How many children have you.
Applicant—Seven, sir. .Tho eldest is 15 years old, and
the youngest 11 months old.

Mr. Yardley could hardly believe that any relieving-
.officer would assign as a reason for refusing relief the
number of a family. It was a most unlikely story, indeed.
If the relieving-officer had given as a reason for not reliev-
ing a man and his family that they were nine in number,
he was a most inconsistent and unreasonable person. It
was the first time he had ever heard of relief being denied
to a man and woman in distress because they had a large
family. That was an additional reason, in addition to the
ordinary ones, of administering relief. He would write a
letter to Mr. Jeffreys, the principal relieving-officer of the
Poplar Union, calling' attention to the case, and he was
quite sure, if the family were deserving and the parents
were persons of good repute, that they would be promptly
and effectually relieved. If the family were in want he
would give them something from the poor box fund.
♦pplicant—l am in want, and my children have no food
to eat.

Mr. Yardley—Give her 25., Livingston.
The woman roceired the money with thankfulness, and
left the court with the letter..

James Stanton, an infirm Irishman, who said he was in
great distress, complained to Mr. Yardley, that on apply-
ing at the relieving-office in Poplar, he was ordered to go
about his business, and one of the officers refused to take
his name down or to bring his case beforo the Board of
Guardians for their consideration.

Mr. Yardley—l will write to Mr. Jeffreys about your
case.

The above applications created much surprise in court,
for Mr. Jeffreys has always been distinguished for his
humanity and attention to thepoor, and has the reputation
of being a very intelligent, careful, and kind-hearted man.

I•°XECUTIOIY AT WINCILESTER.—(This bay.)

The execution of James Johnson, the soldier condemned
at the recent Winchester Assizes for the double murder at
Aldershot—where, on the 29th September, he shot Serjeait
Chips and Corporal Coles—took place this morning, over
the area gateway of the county gaol. Since his condem-
nation Johnson enjoyed his meals and sleep regularly,
and abandoned all further attempts at the simulation of
insanity. Johnson is the sixth culprit who has undergone
capital punishment at the new gaol. The others were
Abraham Baker, who shot his sweetheart, in 1855, at
Southampton ; Jones, the convict, who murdered Dr. Hope
at Portsmouth in 1856; and the three Italians, Logan,
Barbalano, and Pettrick, convicted in the same year °
murder on the high seas.

A; sum of £44,000 in bar gold was withdraWn
from the Bank yesterday afternoon. It is believed to have
been taken for transmission to Spain. There are rumours
in the market that other and more extended operations are
about to take place.

THE TEA TRADE, Dec. 31, 1860.—The deliveries
in London, estimated for the week were 454,7521 b., which
is a decrease of 370,99511), compares), with tilo previous
statexaent.