The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-03 00:00:00

MURDER AT LANCA&TER.

Much excitement has prevailed during the past
week in the usually quiet town of Lancaster in con-
sequence of the discovery on Sunday morning, the
22d ult., of the body of a man named John Cragg
in au unused stone quarry, abouthalf a mile from the
town. The deceased was a warehouseman in the
employ of Messrs. Charnley and Co., ironmongers,
and was seen alive by different persons in several
parts of the town shortly after the midnight of
Saturday, being at the time a little " the worse for
drink." He was traced in the direction of his own
home, in a hamlet about a mile east of the town,
called " Golgotha," and was seen in the company
of two men up to a certain distance in his home-
ward road. Cragg's body, when found acciden'ally
by an old man who lives at a small house in the
so-called " Scotch" quarry, was lying at the case
of an escarpment 68 feet high, protect d above by
a six-feet wall of loose rubble stone. His pockets
had not been rifled, and the only suppositions
which remained to account for his unhappy
death were either suicide, the having mistaken his
path home, or foul play. A most mortem exami-
nation, undertaken by Mr. Hare, surgeon, disco-
vered that the liver was doubly ruptured ; the heart
ruptured at the apex of the right ventricle, and an
external wound ou the left temple, corresponding
with an internal depression of the bone..beneath.
The brain and abdominal viscera were perfectly
healthy, but a fracture of the skull, extending from
the wound on the temple across the base of the

temporal bone, nearly separa.' ed it into two pars.
The indefatigable exertions of Mr. Wright, the
borough superintendent of police, led, in the course-
of Sunday, to the apprehension of two men who had
been last seen with the deceased. Much evidence of
an inculpatory character was adduced before Mr.
R. Hinde, the Mayor, and a bench of borough
magistrates at three examinations held on Monday,
Tuesday, and Thursday. The character and extent of
the evidence may be gathered from a brief summary.
The two men were heard quarrelling with Cragg,
and one of them speaking to him in a threatening
manner on his way home. A prostitute deposed
that she overheard that night the other prisoner
vowing vengeance against some one whose name
she could not catch. The two prisoners were found
by a labourer in a barn on a farm called Highfield,
about half a mile from the quarry, early next morn-
ing, and one of them began a conversation about
Cragg, with whom he said he had hal a quarrel
the night before. Added to this, the other pri-
soner had been repeatedly known to express ani-
mosity towards the unfortunate man for the share
he had had in his apprehension and conviction for
burglary in 1852. The discovery of the poor man's
cap a few hundred yards from the place where
his body was found, marks thereof n heavy substance
being dragged across the footpath, the deceased's
clothes being covered with mud, a breach in the pro-
tecting wall of the quarry larger and differing in the
position and character of the marks on it and of
the thrown off stones from those which could have
been made by one man, sounds of contention heard
by three or four inmates of the workhouse hard by
about the time when Cragg was last seen, and when
he would be two-thirds of the distance towards his
own house, and a great amount of minor collateral
evidence, all seemed to fix grave suspicion on tho
prisoners, while the locality of the quarry precluded
the probability of Cragg's having either committed
suicide or mistaken his way in the bewilderment of
intoxication. The prisoners were remanded till
next Thursday, but pending the inquiry before the
magistrates the jury at the coroner's inquest on
Friday night found a verdict of " Wilful Murder"
against the two men, Nelson and Leach. The for-
mer, as we have already stated, was sentenced five
years ago to transportation, and received a ticket of
leave a few months since. The latter is well known
to the local police as a poacher and man of dissolute
habits.

The adj turned debate on China was resumed by
Dr. PHILLIMORE, who addressed the house at con
siderable length on the ,gal bearing of the question, in
the course of which he argued that under no statute
or international law could this lorcha be considered a
British ship. Assuming that the lorcha was a British
ship, as contended by the Government, he called on the
house to look at the hideous difference between
the grievance complained of and the chastisement given.
A. middle course was open, that of reprisals, and that
should have been adopted. He considered that the Chi-
nese gave full satisfaction for what they did, and that it
was not lawful, on any principle of law, justice, or
humanfor thiety
rt.);
rmy aktehawt a rb
had
punishmentc
tetao aannda t
tin ohe
i
reparation made. In conclusion, he said that
he was led, by the plain dictates of corn,
mon sense--by the principles of reason—by the laws o
his own country—by the international law—
and on the foundation of the eternal principles
of justice written by the finger of God on all
men whether English or Chinese—to pronounce the war
to be unjustifiable in its origin and unblessed in iii
continuance. (Hear.)
Sir G. GREY said that he was perfectly content to
rest the legal portion of the case on the arguments of his
THE boo. aud learned fliend the Attorney-General. (Hear,
hear.) He did not think it necessary to occupy any time
MAILS.—SOuTHAMProN, Monday—The Royal
Mail Company's steamship Atrato, Captain Woolley,
sailed to-day, with the West Indian, M. xican, and Pa- in combatting the opinions expressed by the hon. and
cific mails, 77 passengers, 54,0001. in specie, jewellery learned gentleman who had just sat down, respecting the
value 7,0001., and a full cargo. Among the passenget,s proceedings of a body in the other house of Parliament.
are Mr. T. H. Worrell (tbe bearer of despatches for her LI
Majesty's Government to Mexico), Major Murray, Dr. e hon. and learned member, who boasted of being a
Caffaro, &c. strong supporter of the Church, had referred to the pro-
CANADIAN—It appears from ceedings there in a mannerwhich in his (Sir G.
DEMAND FOR LABOUR.
the report of Mr. Buchanan, Chief Government Del- opinion was most • • 'rile noble
grafi= Agent at Quebec, to the Governor-General of indelicate and uncalled for,
Greys)
Canada, dated Dec. 31, 1856, that the prospects of emi- earl who had brought forward his motion in the e.ther
grants during the ensuing season will be favourable. Mr. house had himself at the conclusion of his address made
ve
Buchanan says that the demand for labour in West a most powerful appeal to the episcopal
Canada throughout the season has been considerably in him their majority of those right rev.
support, but a
advance of the supply, their votes
prelates, after hearing the debate, had givea
bench to gi

in a manner which hail evidently caused great dissatis.
faction to the hon. and learned member. (Loud cheers.)
So far as the facts of this case of the Arrow, they
had been presented to the house in a very inaccurate
point of view, and as though it was a mere accidental
eccurrence on the part of the Chinese that they had
boarded a British ship without knowing it to be such.
Now, these lorchas were clearly and exclusively foreign,
and not Chinese ships. It had been said too that this
was a piratical vessel ; what foundation was there for
this assertion I It was clearly shown by the evidence
of Commissioner Yell that the lorcha was rot a piratical
vessel, and the right hon. gentleman read extracts from
the depositions of some
,of the persons who had male
several trading voyages in the "hip. (Hear.) It had
been said that Mr Consul Parkes was engaged in
screening pirates. This was a charge in direct opposi
Lion to the facts disclosed in the papers, and several
passages were read from the despatches to show how
utterly ground ss was such a statement. (Cheers.) He
contended that it this insult bad been submitted to, the
,flect would have been most fatal to the interests of
our trade, the honour of our flag, and the interests
of all the foreign vessels trading in those ports.
The bonouratle member for the West Riding bad
read in the EIOUq a portion of a letter from Mr. Cook,
a gentleman connected with the American conenlate at
Canton. Now, the hoe. member for the West Riding
said be looked with suspicion on extracts—there were
others also who looked with suspicion upon extracts,and
among others this Mr. Cook himself, who had written a
letter to the public journals complaining of the manner
in which extracts had been made from his letter. The hon
member said that he had received a communication from
an American gentleman, Rho Lft Canton on Nov. 11
last, and was one of those who entered within the walls
of that town in the rear of our forces. His tame, he said
is Cook; he lived at Whampoa, where be has been for 4
years, holding the pc sition of United States Marshal, and
therefore having jurisdiction over the flag of his own
country. In course of conversation Mr. Cook, in answer
to his inquiries, stated many cases in which British ships,
with the British flag, were engaged in smuggling trans-
actions, and he mentioned one in particular of so very
glaring a nature that he asked him to put it on paper.
' The hon. member also said he confessed he listened with
some humiliation to what he heard of the doings of ships
carrying our flag; and when so much was asserted about
our flag being insulted, he could not help feeling that it
was such transactions as these which dishonoured and
insulted our flag. The member for the West Riding had
nad only a portion of Mr. Cook's letter, and that gen-
tleman accordingly wrote to the public journals this

Letter :

" Sir—ln Mr. Cobden's speech he made reference to
a letter from me in answer to one from him, giving part
of its contents, and I beg to enclose a copy of the said
letter, which please publish, to prevent my liability to
the charge of inconsistency among those who perfectly
understand my views on the matters in question, to
which, of course, the hon. member can have no objec-
tion. In regard to the office of United States Marshal,
which he refers to, ib is entirely a subordinate one, and
the orders from Government were not to allow the use
of the flag except by vessels regularly regitered.
"By an insertion you will greatly oblige,
Yours, &c., "JAMES P. COOK.
" Morley's Hotel, Feu. 28."
(Cheers and laughter.) He (Sir Geo. Grey) would read
the whole of that letter, and would sired the attention
of the house to that portion of it which the hon. member
bad not read. (A. laugh.)
Mr. COBDEN said that he had read all the parts in
the letter which referred to the case he was bringing
under the notice ofthe house. ("Hear, hear," and cries
of " oh, oh.")
Sir G. GREY—Just so: The hon. member read just
as much as it suited his purpose to read. (Renewed
cheers and laughter.) Mr. Caok in his letter says—and
this part was read by the Lon. member :
" Morley's Hotel, Feb. 25.
"Sir,—ln answer to your query whether I have
any objection to the use of my name regarding our
conversation on China matters, I Fay most cer-
tainly not, and I will give you the facts in
regard to the seizure of the lorchas, as near as
possible from memory, having no data to refer to.
During the summer of 1855, in June or July, there
lad near our chop, which is close to her Britannic Majes-
ty's Tice-Consulate at Whampoa, from 10 to 15 lorchas
engaged in smuggling salt, and eight or ten of this num-
ber hoisted British flags during the day, the salt being
discharged at night.. The number of vessels was thus
!arge at that time, in consequence of the mandarin boats
having been sent above Canton to repulse the rebels ; but
the Government could not keep ignorant of so bold a
matter long, and 12 or 15 mandarin boats, each contain-
ing upwards of 60 men, made their appearance one morn-
tog soon after sunrise and captured the whole fleet, five
or six of which had British flags flying at the time, the
Europeans (general a captain) as welt as the Chinese
jumping overboard and swimming to the different ves-
sels for safety, several of whom came on board of our
vessel. The mandarin force took the captured fleet to
Canton, and the parties having the right to fly the flag
subsequently claimed their vessels, which were even•
tually returned, and the remainder retained for the
Government. This is by no means an isolated case as
regards the illegal use of the flag, as you have only to
refer to the Hong Kong papers to find plenty of cases
where the right was questioned to grant the flag, as it
had been done by the Hong Kong authorities."
The portion not read by the hon. member was this
(cheers and laughter) :

" But as regards the present troubles to prevent any
misunderstanding of my views, I wish to express my
opinion that the duty of the home Government to sup-
port the servants of the Crown engaged in China to the
fullest extent should not be called in question for a mo-
ment, or until a satisfactory termination of the present
difficulties at least ; for in case of a suspension of hosti-
lities by the Government it would be an impossibility
for Europeans to live in the vicinity of Canton, and no
amount of negotiations could alter it for the better.
Any one who has lived among the Chinese can testify
to the continuad insults and injuries heaped upon
foreigners whenever an opportunity offers, and the
studied contempt shown on all occasions, superin-
inced by fetliugs of superiority entertained b y the
Cantonese in contrauistinction to ad the other ports in
China, all of which has been brought about by the previ-
ous settlement made upon them ; or, in other words, the
want of an application of physical power to convince
them of their position ; and although we are pecuniary
sufferers to a very great extent in consequence of these
troubles, we should prefer to suffer still more than see
any settlement which did not involve the necessity of the
Chinese realising their position and a sufficient guarantee
for the liberty and safety of foreign residents whileamong
them. My particular reit-ons- for these views have been
,cquired by a long and very close intimacy with them,
and of course cannot be condensed in a note of this kind.
—I am yours very truly, 6` J. P. Coos.
" tie could
ulCdonbodteangc Eee'qw"itgh hPe" Lstat°en n
mdantjust now made by
the hon. memberfor the West Riding, that instating that
%Ir. Cook was anti-Chinese in feeling, that he had said
all that it was possible for Mr. Cook to say, or that it
conveyed a fell impression of the deliberate views and
opinions of Mr. Cook founded on great experience, and
after a lengthened residence in Canton. (Hear.) The
non, gentleman had brought two charges against the
Government: one was, that the Government had en-
deavoured to play off a trick upon the house by endea-
vouring to mystify simple-minded country gentlemen on
the other side of the house, with reference to the pro-
duction of the blue-book a few days before the commence-
emit of the debate on his motion. (Ilear, and cheers.)
No doubt that statement was made in, perfectabeodnetisitayt
thoseand simple-
it lemen to whom it was addressed,
.ninded country gent
ion. (Cheers and
sod who cheered him on the
aisnrcescrei tiyv received belief
perfect ctth the
simplicity tbye.
all't his
and research, bad failed todiscover was
iiligence • .
reference to Chinese insults was
g:c:talescaa nw
the
that the blue-book in
laughter.) The honourable.
presented her place a noble earl who
inform him. In another to the house, but he (Sir G. Grey) would
t
generally agreed with the hon. memberha most Pincer°
for the West
Riding, and who was actuated v
lesire and with a thorough conviction to benefit the
public service (he meant Earl Grey), moved for copies or
extracts of 'any reports, despatches, &c., made to tar
to
Majesty's Government complaining of insults offered
the English residents at Canton by the Chinese since the
ent, thinklig they were not justified in
thrroheoaekiGywooavfselriBan4imd2
withholding it from this house, laid it on the table of the
house, and then the hon. member finding its contents do
not answer his purposes, turns round and says that the
Government threw it on the table just before the dis-
cussion commenced, in order to mystify simple-minded
country gentlemen on the other side (laughter); but be
(Sir George Grey) thought he had shown the
houseon that
ralet
the mystification was on the side of the
h"(Cheebrs
gentleman the member for the West
Beidfeirnetce to the
and laughter.) The next charge
Government's appointment of Me .h.
and experience
Canton, and the character, ability's, subject of attack both
of that gentleman had been
the
ember forthe West Hiding
from the hon. gentleman the in radarkres as consul at
°'om There who had addressed the,
and almost every hoc. ru:ao„,. There had also been a
tendency to tun doof the emvery house in support person officially connected
'their services had been, and to hal
however estimable they were, cr
valuableeule, sarcasm, and scorn. The correspon•
them up to ridi
Parkes was contrasted by the hen. gentle-
ience
qvhoitwhetvleierse
of °I.. member for the West Riding with that of Coin-
an the
dhe had described Mr. Parkes as a
-sreb, 1113
/DM
• sioner
without experience and wanting In discre-
proceediwgns,
man
Young gentleman had said that Mr. Parkes was
take The hon.
oe. -
tn out of au office and placed in a place of trust for
which he was totally unfit. He (Sir G.
much ruplOYMent of
hon. member who was an advocate for the 3
surprised to hear such sentiments expressed by the
talent, and
young and energetic ince,advancing
gce of consul,
as a proof of Mr. Parkes's fitness_
eo
was
first attached
be (Sir G. Grey) stated thastieeb
in 1842 to China
to :;;;" Pottinger'siht
"'bison. member meant when h
(perhaps tilat was wbab. and off ard vtahne
Veen ;ken out of an office), and
said Mr. Parkes bad *r China,
at Shanghai Amoy, and
his continuAtion