The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-09 00:00:00

THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

From the miscellaneous commercial advices from
New York this week it appears that the hope which
was entertained by a large class of respectable
traders in that city that a sudden caprice of the
majority might before long lead to a compromise
and termination of the war has been greatly damped
by the total disavowal, on the part of the Federal
Cabinet, of the proceedings of General Fremont.
When that officer issued his Abolition proclamation
it was assumed that the Northern States, with the
exception of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and
Rhode Island, where alone the Slavery question is
made a real element of the present struggle, would
be aroused to a common feeling of alarm at the con-
sequences to be expected from indiscriminate eman-
cipation, which might lead them even in the face
of the repressive measures of the Government to
demand a change of Administration. The Govern-
ment, however, by anticipating this contingency,
and publishing an immediate censure on General
Fremont, have escaped the danger, and brought
the contest again to its simple revolutionary form,
the Anti-Slavery fiction evidently being discarded
by common consent. The only passions left at play,
therefore, are those excited in an unmixed struggle
for supremacy, and, as the tremendous expenditure
of the Government scatters bribes to all the specu-
lators and idlers engaged in keeping up the storm,
there is considered now to be little prospect of
peace, except as the result of a financial convulsion.
That such a convulsion must take place, and that a
depreciated currency and national bankruptcy twill,
supposing the war to be continued, be witnessed
before the lapse of many months, is stated to be the
firm conviction of leading American bankers. If
this consummation presents the only means by
which the ferocity and folly of the people are likely
to be stayed, every friend of the country must
earnestly desire its speedy arrival. Times City
Article.

HEALTH OF LONDON _DURING THE WEEK.

(From the BegzstrarrGeneral's Weekly .Return.)

In the week that ended last Saturday 1,147 deaths
were registered in London. The average number
for corresponding weeks in the ten previous years,
corrected, is 1167; but if 411 deaths from cholera
in the first week of October, 1854, are excluded
from the data of which the calculation is made, it
will be found that the rate of mortality that pre-
vailed last week was not below the average.
Measles was fatal in the week in only 7 cases, a
return unusually low. There were 99 deaths from
scarlatina, besides 21 from diphtheria. Of 9 deaths
from all causes in the sub-district of Woolwich
dockyard, 3 were from diptheria, and 2 from scar-
latina. A woman and a child died at 1, Harring-
ton-terrace, Woolwich, of diphtheria. Four
children died from scarlatina in the sub-district of
Waterloo-road, second part, in the poor portion of
which the registrar, Mr. Daws, states that this
disease is extremely prevalent. He adds that the
mortality of his district has been higher last
quarter, than in any corresponding period of the
last twelve years, excepting the time when cholera.
prevailed. A man, aged 19 years, died in Bath-
street, City-road, of" epistaxis (3 weeks) ;" and the
daughter of a surgeon in the King's-road, Holborn,
aged 14 years, died on the 29th September of sun-
stroke after three weeks' illness •

Last week the births of 923 boys and 895 girls,
in all 1818 Children, were registered in London. In
the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1851.60
the average number was 1506.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 29.816
inches. The readings fell to 29.57 inches on Tues-
day, the Ist inst., and rose to 30.02 inches on Thurs-
day. The mean temperature of the air in the week
was 59.3 deg., which is 5.9 deg. above the average
of the same week in 43 years (as determined by Mr.
Glaisher). The mean daily temperature was above
the average throughout the week, and on Tuesday
the excess was as much as 10.8 deg. The highest
day temperature was 74 deg. on Monday ; the
lowest night temperature was 48.3 deg. on Thurs-
day. The range of temperature was therefore 25.7
deg. The mean daily range was 18.5 deg. The
difference between the mean dew-point temperature
and air temperature was 4.6 deg. The mean degree
of humidity of the air was 86, complete saturation
being represented by 100, which point was almost
attained on Saturday. The wind was chiefly in the
south-west and south-east, from which latter point
it blew on the last three days. The amount of rain
was 018 inches. The mean temperature of the
Thames was 58.3 deg. There was thunder and
lightning on the evening of Tuesday:

In the thirteen weeks that ended Saturday, Sept.
28, the total number of deaths registered in London
was 14,932. It exceeded by 2,000 the number re-
turned in the same period of last year, when the
weather was both cold and wet, and therefore less
favourable to the development of summer cholera.
In the three summer months of this year the mean
temperature of the air was 60.4 deg., whereas in
corresponding period of the those of 1860 it was 56.8 deg. Diarrhoea and
cholera were fatal in that ungenial season in only
rosepre-
sent
tyear,
2,009. when
of Londonthis
latterenjoyed
numberfine
788 cases; in the
Whofroopmin lessho ef rw, thh
thanwhom
1,776 occurred to young persons, nearlwyneaaeltl
forinfants.
deaths
fwaetarel,Whooping-cough
complaint pwlaaientailnsothemtowreo
corresponding quarters of 1860-61 were respec-
tively 350 and 633. Croup rose from 105 to 177,
diphtheria from 71 to 168, and typhus from 311 to
429. But scarlatina exhibited no increase, while,
small-pox and measles showed a very material de-
cline. The facts seem to indicate that diphtheria
is more dependent on those local or atmospheric
causes that develop or intensify whooping-cough
and croup than on those by which the scarlatinal
poison is quickened into action ; but this is a point
to be settled by more extended observation. In the
three corresponding quarters of 1859, 1860, 1861,
deaths from small-pox were 287, 99, and 44. Both
bronchitis, which was fatal in 681 cases, and
o:pneu-
monia, fatal in 562, were attended by a higher mr
tality than is usual in the summer quarter.
revailed
Scarlatina and diarrhoea appear to have
Thep former
most in some of the southern districts.
complaint was the cause of i
32 deathsn the two
sub-districts of Waterloo-road, and of 17in the west
sub-district of Greenwich:e
The latter (diarrhcea)
t h e s üb-d of St.
was recorded in 29 easesni
24 i in thatistrict of Leather
Saviour's, Southw k_
arlle ter, Walworth ; 38 in St.
?Market; 28 in St.8
4 in Lambeth Church sub-dis-
Waterloo-roadt;
St. Paul, Deptford ; 34 in Greenwich,
tricts ;38 in •-• • PI tead On
lwich, 26 in ums . the north
32 in woo
River, Islington returned 113 deaths
se of the
from diarrhoea.

LiycthinesamsPioAnsLAoCnEr.—ayOmllenetSwheirleliintsg3l:,
DE,y,—Yester-
tickets, 855; total visitors, 2,686, do, by season

TEE ARMSTRONG GUN.

(From the Mechanics' Magazine.)
_ .

We beg once more to refer to this subject. Our
readers will remember that, since the first intro.
duction of the Armstrong gun to the public, we
have endeavoured to supply a fair and impartial
criticism on the merits or demerits of the Arm-
'strong system. In former articles we have pointed
out specifically wherein lay its inherents defects ;
and we urged, by every means in our power, that
the authorities should take proper steps to secure
the very highest opinion on the causes that led to
the numerous failings of the gun which incapaci-
tated it for remaining a permanent portion of the
national armament.

On information received, we suppose from the
departments, the Under-Secretary of War, Mr.
Bar-
ing, stated in the House of Commons that our in-
formation relative to the failure of the Armstrong
gun in China and elsewhere was not founded on
facts, and that the despatches to which we alluded
had not been received by the War Department.
What What will Mr. Baring's successor say now in pal-
liation of his statements? Not only have recent
events fully demonstrated the rectitude of our state-
ments, but they have placed the defects of the Arm-
strong gun in still more prominent colours. After
much urging, and at the request of the Admiralty,
the War Department at last consented that the
larger size Armstrong gun should be put to some-
thing like a severe trial. For this purpose a certain
number of 40 pounders and 100 pounders were
placed on board the Trusty and Excellent, and
other guns were forwarded to Shoeburyness and
Woolwich marshes for trials of rapid firing. Our
readers must understand the significance of the
phrase—rapid firing. Heavy artillery, if fired with
deliberation, so that the gun never becomes heated,
and every care of skilled artificers be taken, is the
one condition under which the Armstrong gun has
been tried. But the effect of rapid firing—that is,
as rapid as the necessities of actual warfare demand
—is very different. In the latter case heat is
rapidly transmitted to the mass of the gun, the de-
licate screw arrangements and breech-pieces (or
the "gimcrackery," as Sir William Armstrong
termed them at one of the meetings of the In-
stitution of Civil Engineers) no longer fit the one
into the other, and the consequence is that an
enormous escape of gas takes place invariably
before the 20th round, and the gun is rendered
hors de combat before the 30th shot. We subjoin
a wood-engraving which shows the effect of fir-
ing 30 rounds from a 100 pounder Armstrong gun.
Figures 1 and 2 exhibit the front and side view of
the gun prior to firing. Figure 3 shows the front
view of the vent-piece after firing 30 rounds. Figure
4 represents the breech-screw. It will be seen that
figure 3 represents an oblate or oval form as the
effect of firing. This arises from causes to which
we have on previous occasions alluded. The vent-
piece shown in figures 1 and 2 is supported at the
rear by the annular surface of the closing screw of
figures 4. The diameter of the internal space is i in.,
and the pressure of the gas on the vent-piece at the
discharge of the gun is so enormous that it exceeds
the cohesive strength of any known material,
whether it be steel, wrought iron, or any combina-
tion of them. Hence the results are precisely as we
indicated. The vent-pieces, if made of steel, are
broken and driven through the breech screw ; or, if
mad© of wrought iron, they are bent up into an
oval form, as shown in figure 6, and jammed tight
into the annular surface of the closing screw. It
is with mnch regret that we have once more been
compelled to draw attention to this subject ; but we
feel that we should not be discharging our duty to
the nation at large did we not place the most reli-
able information on these points before the public.
We have other equally demonstrative facts to
confirm the truthfulness of our original statements.
During the experiments on board the Trusty with
Captain Cole's circular shield, no less than nine vent-
pieces were destroyed from one gun, and the gun,
as a matter of course, was rendered unserviceable
until repaired by skilful artificers. Under the direc-
tion of the Select Committee the heavy Armstrong
gun has recently been tested by rapid firing, and
similar disastrous results were obtained. As many
as four vent-pieces were destroyed from one gun
during 50 rounds ; and the time consumed in firing
these 50 rounds, with the assistance of skilled
artificers, was something like eight hours. Facts
like these require little or no comment.
We beg to draw attention once more to another
point of the Armstrong system. We have on smsral
occasions alluded to the principle in the construc-
tion of the shot and shell. We have shown that by a
delightfully ingenious arrangement every projec-
tile was nothing more or less than a voltaic pile.
Mark the result ! On the arsenal wharf at Woolwich
are stored some 40,000 shells. These are the pro-
ducts of the Elswick and Woolwich establishments,
and they have never yet left the Woolwich. stores.
Let any gentleman possessing the slightest chymi-
cal or mechanical knowledge examine these shells,
and he will find the lead exfoliating from the iron,
demonstrating that this description of projectile can
neither be kept in store, nor transported without
essential injury, nor used over troops without seri-
ous danger of casualties arising as they did in China.
It will be seen in an extract we gave from the
Times in our last number, that the Ordnance Select
Committee, presided over by Colonel St. George,
C. 8., have decided to make "some important altera-
tions" in all future constructions of the 12-pounder
Armstrong guns. "The breech tangent sight has to
be altered from steel to gun-metal," and " from a
rectangular to an hexagonal form ; the "upper por-
tion being at the same time completely remodelled,
including the leaf, cross-head, horizontal and verti-
cal derniers, elevating and deflecting screws. The
ratchet has undergone considerable improvement ;"
" the trunnion-sight has been remodelled, while at
the same time it is secured to the gun, instead of
being let through the body of the trunnion. " Con-
siderable improvement has been made in the dispart
sight." " A change has been effected in the elevat-
ing eye." " The lever and tuppet-pins have been
altered." " The cartridges are in future to be made
up with lubricating wad inside, and the shell plugs
fitted with strong loops." The 12-pounder Arm-
strong gun is, in fact, to be regenerated, and the
inventor, in a short time, will scarcely be able to
recognise his own offapring. It will be like Sydney
Smith's carriage which the rev. wit christened the
" Immortal." This carriage first had a new pair of
wheels, then new shafts, then new springs, then a
new body, and afterwards new fittings; and in the
course of time all the various parts of the carriage
were renewed.

But reconstructing the Armstrong 12-pounder is
a small question compared to the importance of the
subject we have just discussed. Let us in all seri-
ousness ask to whom are we to appeal ? We have
solicited the departments to undertake a stout
inquiry into this matter, and we have met
with a denial. Our accuracy has been impugned,
and our facts questioned. We now confidently
appear before the public with our facts supported
and our reasonable predictions verified. Let us
ask,--Is there no master-mind to control those de-
partments ? Is it beneath the dignity of the Prime
Minister to take this matter in hand? Will he
calmly look on while our soldiers and sailors struggle
under disadvantages too great for any valour to
overcome ? Are we tamely to pay any amount of
money for that on which we cannot rely ? And is
the honour of dear Old England to be unneces-
sarily trifled with ? These are questions we
address to the public, feeling assured that to its
solution, the necessity having been demonstrated,
the best energies of the nation, from the meanest
peasant to the highest in social position, will be
given with one accord.

(From the Times.)
In another part of our columns will be found
scnale remarks upon a subject to which the attention
of our authorities ought to be immediately given,
caonnacienrnweah.ichltthie interests of the public are deeply
a publics maintained,v as will be seen, ill the
pages of
nicalscienee,thatatC especially
devoted to mecha-
are ention as is
so SUccesqul an inv 4
kr.mstrong gun is by no means
Its "defects' generally believed.
" failings" as ~ nurneTken of as "inherent," its
and its faults altogether
as sufficiently serious t'OesEqsinialify it for permanent
use in the service.
how much has
powers,i ow large
b ?en spent upon this un, anuder,ling
is now placed upon itsa reliance
uneasy at the questions whictilve uuty well feel
e
artment.
manufacture of this species of artitire 'lf
da ai bs es
do; b s The a l l
the resources of' a costly and elaboratiiproeld,
Armstrong guns now form the staple
Woolwich.; Armstrong guns are mounted on of
our
fortifications, distributed among our ships, and
served out to our field batteries. It is not
too
much to say that we depend upon this invention
fur much of the efficacy of our national defences,
For the last year or two we have been accustomed
to think that we have the most formidable artillery,
in the world. If this gun, in short, is substan-
tially a failure, not only have we sacrificed a vast
amount of money, but an important element of our
national strength will quiddity disappear. These
considerations, however, only make it the more in-
cumbent upon us to investigate the facts without
hesitation or delay. We cannot mend the matter
by evading the question or postponing the inquiry.
On the contrary, it' we shut our eyes to doubt we
shall bo worse off than ever. By resolutely grap-
pling with the case we shall gain one of two advan-
tages. If the gun should be found really effective
and valuable in spite of all said against it, hall
confidence; i .f.
recover Our it we
s
should be found un-
trustworthy,
we can at once look about for a sub-
stitute.
Tho allegatio
nA
take a distinct and oinst the Armstrong cannon
vin not
eific form. Of the gun itself
it is said that it n not bear rapid firinn• Its per-
0.

formances are satisfactory enough at formal and
I leisurely trials, when it is discharged only at mode-
rate intervals of time, carefully handled, and skil-
fully superintended. This, however, is not such
practice as would take place in actual warfare. In
tie heat of battle the firing would be quick and con-
stant, and under these conaitions it is said the Arm-
strong gun is found to fail. The metal becomes
heated, and the delicate machinery at the breech of
the piece is deranged. The component parts no
longer fit into each other, gas escapes at each dis-
charge, the vent-piece is presently blown out, and
the gun becomes utterly unserviceable until it has
been repaired. We are referred to the actu
sults of experiments as establishing these eh
It is alleged that four vent-pieces were destio
before one gun could be fired 50 rounds, and tha
any Armstrong gun tried by rapid firing would be
rendered useless before the thirtieth shot. Of the
shell, again, it is said that the leaden casing which
keeps the contents together has a tendency to ex-
foliate and detach itself, and that the projectiles
can neither be safely stored nor safely dis-
charged over any troops within range of their
flight. These are the assertions advanced. For
the solution of the question, then, we require first a
careful, fair, and fearless examination conducted
without prepossession or bias; next a certificate of
the remediable or irremediable character of the de-
fects which may be ascertained ; and finally, an
estimate of the extent to which the defects proved
to be irremediable would disqualify the gun for
service. Possibly the allegations advanced in the
Mechanics' Magazine cannot be entirely substan
tiated ; possibly the faults can be remedied ; and
possibly, again, the gun may still be as good as any
other gun, or even better, notwithstanding its ad-
mitted imperfections.
We attach little weight to the argument based on
the numerous alterations ta which the Armstrong
gun has already been subjecterl, When our contem-
porary remarks that Sir Wiliiam would hardly be
able to recognise his own invention after its nume-
rous improvements, the observation carries with it
but little disparagement. It has been the same with
all inventions. Nobody supposed that Sir 'William
Armstrong's gun was produced once for all in a con-
' dition of absolute perfection. We can hardly pre-
tend to enter into an exact analysis of the modifi-
cations enumerated by our contemporary as having
been introduced into the original pattern, but they
certainly do not appear to us to trench upon the
essence of the discovery. We can imagine all these
changes being adopted without much impeachment
of the original Armstrong gun. The vent-piece
appears to be a weak point, undoubtedly, for if we
are to assume, as we suppose we must, that rapid
firing cannot be dispensed with even in Armstrong
batteries, it is clear that a gun which requires re-
, pair after some ten minutes' use can never be a good
gun for service. But is it certain that, after the
difficulties of the machine itself have been sur-
mounted, a little more of the same skill and patience
which achieved the invention will not find out a
proper vent-piece ?
There is another point also to which it is best to
allude. Without casting any imputation upon the
spirit of the article which we transcribe, and which
we are bound, indeed, to receive as an impartial
expression of scientific opinion, we must remind the
reader that this question has been entangled with
animosities and recriminations innumerable. Engi-
neers are as irritable as poets, and as jealous as rival
beauties. When rifled ordnance first came into
favour a dozen competitors were fighting for pre-
ference, and two or three names became distin-
guished enough to divide the notice of the public
with that of Sir William Armstrong. At this mo-
ment more than one inventor is fully persuaded
that his gun, and not Sir William's, should be the
gun used in her Majesty's army, and every one of
these inventions has its own advocates and believers.
We make these remarks, not as depreciating the
criticism to which the Armstrong gun may be ex-
posed, but simply to remind the reader that the
question must turn, after all, upon a comparison of
merits and demerits. For ourselves, we confess to
a suspicion that any other gun elevated, instead of
the Armstrong gun, to the place of honour, would
soon be attacked with as much vehemence as the
present favourite. No man likes to see his own
invention unnoticed while the invention of another
brings him office and renown. It is not in the least
degree probable that we shall ever get a gun which
every school of mechanics will acknowledge to be
superior to all other guns, and we must expect, in
any event, to have our faith occasionally assailed
by complaints and warnings. These considerations,
however, do not touch the essence of the question
Row before us. We do not see how it can be de-
nied that the present dissentients have made out a
case for inquiry, and that inquiry ought to be
neither delayed nor stifled. It is of the utmost im-
portance to us that we should know the whole
truth about the Armstrong gun, and this truth we
shall never know until the gun has been subjected
to every necessary test without prejudice, favour,
or reserve.

THE NEWCAS2LE MURDER.

EXAMINATION OF THE PRISONER.
NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, OCt. 8.
George Clark, the man who so barbarously mur-
dered Mr. Frater, in Blackett-street, in this town,
last Tuesday morning, was this morning brought
up at the police-court, on remand, charged with
that crime. Very little additional evidence has•
been obtained since the coroner's inquest was held
on Mr. Frater's body on Wednesday evening. The
facts of the case are indeed so conclusive and so pal-
pable that the only question now to be decided is
the sanity of the prisoner at the time he com-
mitted the deed. When first apprehended his
demeanour betokened an imperturbable coolness
rather than anything else, and there seemed at that
time to be no reason whatever for susa&ting his
perfect sanity. Since his apprehension, however,
he has conducted himself in such a manner as to
prove that he is either a madman, or desires to be
supposed so. His conduct during the whole of
Tuesday was characterised by an excessive levity,
and he seemed quite unable to realise the position
in which he was placed. At the inquest, on Wed-
nesday evening, as has been already reported, he
became exceedingly impertinent. His manner was
quite calm, and he listened to everything that went
on with great attention, but he uttered the most
absurd remarks during the course of the in-
quiry, and at the very moment that a former
lellow-shopman was was giving most impor-
tant evidence, in reference to the sharpening of
the knife, and his previous threats on Mr. Fra-
ter's life, he took occasion to remark that the
coroner was " nothing but an old wife,"
and to tell his old mate, in the kindest pcar,ible
tone, to sit down, and not trouble himself any
more about the mutter, being evidently unconscious
that the man was at the time offering fatal evidence
against him. With regard to his previous habits
it appears that be has often threatened the lives of
persons before, for fancied wrongs, and some of
those who were thus threatened have no hesitation
in expressing their decided conviction that the pri-
soner is insane, and in corroboration of this, that
ho is always worse when the moon changes—this
proving him to be a lunatic in the literal sense of
the word. With reference to his threats on Mr.
Frater's life, it seems that whenever he alluded to
that gentleman, in the presence of his fellow-work-
men, he informed them that the Queen had been
communicated with on the subject, and that she
heal said that he would be quite right to kill his
victim. They, however, paid no attention to this
talk, as they considered nothing more than a
harmless imbecile. There; are other circumstances
which will be brought forward at his trial, and
which show, to say the least, a diseased state of
mind in the prisoner.
This morning the police-court at the Manors was
crammed to excess, and all the leading thorough-
fares were crowded by persons anxious to catch a
glimpse of the prisoner's appearance.
The sitting magistrates were the Mayor, I.
Blackwell, R. Dodds, J. L. Bell, G. C. Atkinson,
and C. F. Hamond, Esqrs.
The prisoner was brought up as soon as the
business of the court commenced.
Mr. Frater's remains were interred on Friday at
Jcsmond Cemetery, Newcastle. A considerable
number of the friends of the deceased attended, to
pay a last tribute of respect to his memory. Many
of the spectators appeared to be deeply affected by
the impressive scene. The Rev. J. A. Charlton,
ALA., curate of Gosforth, was the officiating clergy-
man, and the corpse was interred ou the south side
of the cemetery, adjoining the grave of Mrs. Frater,
the first wife of the deceased.
At the meeting of the local board of guardians
the same afternoon, the followin resolution was
unanimously adopted :—" pathising with the
Mr. Mark Frater familyin the Th7s board,g deeply syna•
i raen;clarraehltaetilie-esss
tohfetyherhltee
sustained, desire to record their high sense of his
uprightness and sterling worth, both as a private
citizen and as a member of this board. They can-
also, from expressing their ileep and.
not refrain,
heartfelt sorrow at the I clilnu -which pro-
common .with
duced his death. Whilst jetl7".
irAlarbeTta'.nlls of this town,
the entire body of the
pray that the consolathros o
ththisesadho of desolation,
Divine wisdom may
be given the family ir.
sustained by them under
fearful °Weal through
which they are called 'to pass."
The witnesses examined 1.
before -
- 1.. he Coroner were
recalled, and gave exactly testimony.
Mr. Main, solicitor,
affender% to prosecute.
At the conclusion of Mr
TJalrymple's (the first
witness) evidence the prisonr•
was present, and receiving
„„
AIM WM' in the affir-
aiilaatreci if the Mayer
=dive, he proceeded
rambling man-
ner to inist upo,.
of two teat with
the produetiwi.
a wild and

whom he had heen employed at Easton's, Pilgrim-
street. _ _

The witnesses, chair-makers, named M'Donald
and Dodds, were sell* for, and the case proceeded.
Thomas Hand, inusicseller, who was unable to
attend at the Coroner's inquiry, was now called and
deposed to seeing the prisoner come up from be-
hind and thrust a knife into Mr. Frater's neck.

The prisoner, who had been standing with his
back to the Court, suddenly turned round and said,
—Gentlemen, in olden times, when we used to put
a knife into any man, the blood ran down his
clothes. Now, he says it spirted up, and I want to
,m,sk him that.

W.he Mayor—He did not say anything about that.
riscrPr—You've nothing to do with it, m:,- good
an. (Uproar.)
Mr. Blackwell (to witness)—You never saw any
man stabbed before ?
Witness—No.
The prisoner repeated his question. -
The Bench—He gives no opinion upon it.
Witness (to prisoner)—l will not answer you.
Prisoner—Then you go out. (To Bench)—You
must mark him out of the roll.

The Mayor—He will be dealt with.
Prisoner (turning to the court)—What are those
persons whispering to him for ?
The Mayor—You will have an opportunity of
examining him.
Prisoner—Hold your tongue, you old wife. Do
you imagine I am a fool because I've working
clothes upon my back. (Sensation.)
Dr. Septimus W. Rayne was then called, and
reiterated the evidence given by him before the
coroner. Upon stating that Mr. Frater expired
about seven minutes after the wound was inflicted,
The prisoner remarked, Hear, hear—go on Mr.
Rayne, you are doing very well."
Mr. Main—Do you think the deceased could have
been saved by any aid whatever ?
Witness—No, sir, not if everything had been
upon the spot.
The Mayor interrupted him, and observed that
the questions were irrelevant to the case.
The magistrates committed him for trial at the
next assizes, on a charge of wilful murder.
Prisoner—Decidedly. Of course I appoint as
well as you. _ _ _

He was then removed, and on making his ap-
pearance in the street was received with a perfect
ovation of hissses.

THE CONFESSION OF THE WOOD-

LANDS MURDER.

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES.
FROME, TUESDAY.
This morning the soldier, Joseph Seer, was again
brought up at the police-court for re-examination
on the charge, on his own confession, of having, in
September, 1851, murdered Sarah Watts.
It having been announced that evidence of a
very important nature would be forthcoming, con-
siderable excitement was manifested in the town.
Long before the arrival of the prisoner groups lined
the road to the station, and the court-room was
filled quite an hour before noon.
The prisoner was brought from Stephen Mallet
Gaol in the custody of Police-constable Watts. He
appeared somewhat paler than on Tuesday last,
otherwise there was no alteration in his demeanour.
The magistrates present were the Earl of Cork
(chairman), Dr. Harrison, and Mr. Sinkins. The
chief constable of the county was present.
Superintendent Deggan said—Since the Ist inst.
I have made further inquiry into the case, and I am
now in a position to produce evidence which will
lead to the identification of the prisoner, and to his
having been in this town at the time of the murder.
James Payne, an old man, said—l live in Broad-
street, Frome, and am a cooper. I know the prisoner
Seer from his childhood. I well remember the mur-
der of Sarah Watts. I knew the prisoner when he
was a baby. I knew him in childhood, and I knew
him in manhood. I lived near him—a quarter of a
mile off. When he was about seven years old he
lived in a lane called Birched-lane, in a house built
by Samuel King. After he was seven years of age
I missed him for some years. I saw him and knew
him at different times during his life, but I cannot
mind when it exactly was. The last time I saw him
beforo the murder was in Badcox (Frome), where
he wished me " Good morning." That was about
three weeks before the Woodlands murder took
place—between the Ship and the Sun. I should not
have known him if he had not spoken. I looked
round and wished him the same. I then said to
him, " That's Seer." I said, " How are you, Seer P"
He said, "I am pretty well; I hope you are the
same." I did not see him again—the murder was
done on a Wednesday—till the Saturday week
after. I went into the Castle Inn, Frome, that
evening, to find my wife. I found my wife there
selling some lace—she was a lacemaker by trade.
When I found she was there, I saw she was selling
some lace to a girl I called Maria Staff. I never
knew her name. At that time Seer came into the
room. He brought in a pint of beer. He was quite
intoxicated in beer. My wife and Maria Staff were
talking about the murder that took place in the
Woodlands. Seer then, after hearing this discourse,
stood up and said he had done all he could do with
the woman, and then he murdered her because he
should never be found out. Well, I should have told
of it at the time, but my wife persuaded me that I
should be murdered if ever I should tell of it. I
said to Seer, " If ever I should see you in Frome
any more, I shall have you taken up if you don't
give yourself up ;" but he gave himself up, for I
saw him. My wife has been dead two years coming
December. I wish she was living, Immediately
after this took place I left the Castle Inn, and told
Seer I would go out and get a constable. My wife
then ran after me, and caught me three or lour
yards before I came to Mr. Nicholl's who was at
that time a constable. My wife said, "If so as you
do tell of it, you will bo murdered as sure as you be
born."
By the Bench—l did net know the girl's name.
She travelled about with her mother buying lace.
I have seen her several times since. I saw her three
years come Christmas. I called her Maria Staff,
because she came from Staffordshire. She always
stopped at my house when she came to Frome. Her
mother did not stop at my house. I cannot men-
tion one in Frome who knew the girl. I did not
think the people at the Castle knew her. My wife
was a lacemaker and used to sell lace to this girl.
There was no one in the room besides this girl, her
mother, my wife, Seer, and myself. No waiter
was there at the time. This was between six
and seven o'clock, and the house was not then full.
I do not know, I cannot say, that any one of my
wife's acquaintance knew the girl, for she did not
stop:at my home more than one night at a time.
The Chairman—Do you wish to ask the witness
any question. Seer ?
Prisoner (touching his forelock)—No, sir.
The Chairman (to the witness)—You have lived
in Frome many years, and you knew that there were
persons tried for this murder.
Witness—l have lived in lfrome 40 years. I told
my wife when Frome Bob was taken up that I
would tell about it. She told me if I did she would
murder me. I never knew that Promo Bob was
tried for it.

During the examination of the witnesses, the
prisoner frequently smiied, but made no other mani-
festation.

Mrs. Edgell said—l live at Prospect-buildings,
Bath, and remember the time of the Woodlands
murder. Some days after the murder—before
I had heard of it—a man came to my house
to ask for assistance. He appeared very agitated.
His thumb was scratched, and) he had a scratch
on the left side of his forehead. He said he came
from Frame, and had been to Bri„ol to try to got
a ship, and was going to London to try to gut em-
ployment or go for a soldier. He appeared to have
been drinking, but was not tipsy. I cannot say
that the prisoner is the man. The man was stouter,
and his hair was lighter, but he he was about the
same height as the prisoner. I observed that his
thumb was bound up. I asked him what was the
matter with it. He seemed in great agitation, and
said he had hurt it. Ido not say the prisoner is not
the man. I gave him some relief. Ido not exactly re-
member how he was dressed, but he had on either a
dirty white jacket or a smock-frock and a cap. If
I had heard of the murder I certainly should have
had the man taken up en suspicion. We were living
thou at 13, Friar's Bellevue, Bath. He was about
the height of the prisoner, with round features
—not unlike the prisoner. It was between six
and seven o'clock in the evening, and it was
light. The scratch on his forehead was two or
three days old, I remember. I am not able to
identify the prisoner as the man, but I am not
satisfied that he is not.

The Superintendent said—With regard to the
thumb, I wish to state that at the time of the mur-
der a bloody thumb-mark was found on the wall.

The priso-ner said he had no question to ask the
witness.

Robert Hurd, alias "Promo Bob," here volunteered
to give
theivee clerk,
evidence.
communicatedAtthesuggest to theionofM
r.Crut.t
superin-
tendent what he had to say.
The Superintendent said what Hurd had to say
would not be evidence now, but it might lead to im-
portant results.
James Vallis said—l am a shoemaker, living at
Keyford. I know the prisoner. I saw him three
weeks ago. I saw him several years ago. I cannot
say bow many—it may be five or more years ago.
He spoke to me, and asked to know where his
uncle lived. I directed him to Woodlands. Mr.
Hunt, of Keyford, spoke to him.
This witness appeared very reluctant to say any-
_ _ _

Hur,t here stepped forward—lt was fiye years

next December the prisoner came to me. He is
distantly related to me. I had not seen him till
that time since he was taken to London after his
mother ran away and left him.
There being bo further evidence to be produced,
the chief constable applied fora remand.

After Eome consultation, the prisoner was re-
manded till Saturday next.

211 E BILSTON TRAGEDY.

The adjourned inquest was held yesterday in the
Bilston police-court, before Mr. W. H. Philips,
deputy coroner.
Eliza Rownes identified a pair of trousers, a coat,
a waistcoat, a pocket-handkerchief, and other pro-
perty as belonging to the deceased. The coat had
been worn ; the hankerchief had also been used.
Both were deceased's, She also identified other
handkerchiefs that belonged to the deceased. They
had been kept upstairs in the drawers. She also
identified a box of studs that at deceased's request
she took upstairs a fortnight before the murder, and
other wearing apparel that had been worn by him.
She saw a portion of it on a chair in his bedroom
the day before his death. [This second bundle the
police said had been found in a different place from
that in which the first bundle was found.] The
other goods were new, but bore the shop mark, to
which she could depose.
Police-constable John Harrison deposed that he
was stationed at Bradley about a quarter past 4 on
the morning of the murder. He was watching the
house of Brandrick's father upon instructions from
Sergeant M'Crea. He obtained these instructions
because he had told the sergeant that ho had seen
Brandrick come towards Bilston at 10 at night
wearing a dress he had never before seen hint in—
viz,, a flannel jacket with the collar turned up. The
door was left so that Brandrick could easily get in.
Afterwards as he lay watching he heard footsteps
coming along the back road from Bilston. There
were three men ; Brandrick was one. A man on the
right hand of Brandrick was carrying now clothes
on his arm. He tried to arrest the man with the
clothes on his arm. One attic three men was Jones.
The man who was carrying the bundle threw the
clothes down and run with Brandrick in the direc-
tion of Coseley. -Witness returned to the spot where
the clothes were thrown down. The person who
was carrying them was a short man, but he could
not identify him. The clothes consisted of a coat, a
pair of trousers, and a waistcoat. (These were the
articles which Mrs. Rownes identified in the first
bundle.) In the pocket of the coat was a pair of
kid gloves. After picking up the bundle he went
to Brandrick's house, but he was not there. He
returned to his hiding place, and saw Jones coming
from Bilston towards Coseley. Witness arrested
him. He said his name was William Jones, of
Canal-street, Tipton, but he believed that that was
not his right name. Prisoner asked what the charge
was ? Witness said, " Stealing these clothes" (pro-
ducing the clothes which he had picked up.) Pri-
soner said, " You did not see me carrying them."
His hair was wet with perspiration, and when they
were about to go from Market street to Stafford-
street he refused to go that way. He said, " I
shan't go up that street ; I will go by the Castle
and have a glass of drink," which was a circuitous
way ; but on passing the Castle he did not stop at
it. Witness did not know of the robbery at Ba-
gott's till after the prisoner was locked up At the
station the studs produced were found upon the pri-
soner. _ _

Mrs. Rownes here identified the studs as the same
that she had before identified as the deceased's.
Witness continued—He asked the prisoner how
he accounted for having the studs. He said " I
don't know." He found three half-crowns, a six-
pence, and some coppers on him, and his right hand
was black—nearly as black as a man's coat. He also
saw that the knees of his trousers were wet and
dirty. He wore corduroy trousers, of a small pat-
tern. .

Police-constable Potts, the reserve man at the
station, deposed to having found on the prisoner
Jones the studs and money of which the last wit-
ness spoke.
William Littlehale,s pearl button maker, who
lives at the back of No. 24, Guest-street, Bir-
mingham, identified the studs before referred to.
He bought them from Mr. Page, of Wolverhamp-
ton. This was the only set of that pattern he
bought. He sold them to Mr. Bagott three weeks
ago next Saturday. Mr. Bagott gave him ls. for
the studs. They were not a common pattern. They
were a convex, and had a fancy border. He never
saw a set like them, and at Mr. Page's he did not
see any others of the same pattern. They were
pearl' studs.
Frederick Griffiths, a drover, of Bilston, deposed
that he know the deceased. On the night before
the murder ho saw Jukes in Mr. Bagott's shop, and
saw Mr. Bagott jump over tho counter. Lilley also
was outside. This was about half-past 11 at night.
He knew Jukes well, for about a week before he
threatened to take witness's life. Afterwards he
saw a man disputing with Mr. Bagott about the
price of a suit of clothes. At that time also Lilley
was there.

William Matthews, a miner, deposed that at one
o'clock on the Sunday morning in question he saw
Brandrick, Maddocks, Mullighan, Jukes, Webb,
and Lilley standing at the corner of the Bprry-
yard. Maddocks said, " Now, lads, stick stout,
like lions." Maddocks at the same time produced
a pistol and said, "Let fly at the first who comes,
policeman, or constable, or any one else. Lads,
who will carry this ?" Neither of the men took the
weapon. Witness was talking to a man named
Pitt at the time.

The inquest was proceeding when our report left