The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-18 00:00:00

CITY COURT OF SEWERS.

Yesterday the weekly meeting of the Commis-
sioners of Sewers was held at Guildhall ; Mr.
Deputy CHRISTIE in the chair.
Mr. Deputy HARRISON presented a memorial,
signed by the inhabitants of Throgmorton-street,
praying that an improvement be made, by widen-
ing the west end of the street; and moved that it
be referred to the General Improvements Committee
for negotiation.
Mr. YOUNG seconded the motion, which was
carried.
Mr. Alderman WILSON made an application to
the court on the part of the City justices, in refer-
ence to the " Sale of Gas" Act. He said the justices
in 1860 had the subject referred to them, and had
appointed an inspector under the provisions of the
act, and that that court had refused to pay the
salery of the inspector. He moved that it be referred
to the General Purposes Committee, and that they
ould meet the justices on the subject.
Mr. Deputy FARRAR seconded the motion.
Dr. ABRAHAM said he thought it was a very sin-
pile! act. It gave the power of appointment to the
justices; but the payment of the salary fell upon
that court.

The motion was carried, and the matter was re-
ferred to the General Purposes Committee.

THE ADVANCE IN THE PRICE OF GAS.

Dr. ABRAHAM moved,"Thiiii be referred to
the General Purposes Committee to consider (with
special reference to the provisions of the Great
Central Gas Consumers Act of 1851) the letter
dated September, 1861, signed by the chairman of
the three City gas companies, giving notice to the
gas consumers of the City, that on and after
Michaelmas next the charge will bo at the rate of
4s. 6d. per 1,000 feet for the ordinary coal gas; and
likewise to consider whether the interests of the gas
consumers are sufficiently protected by the Metro-
politan Gas Act, and if not, whether it is desirable
to apply to Parliament for more efficient means to
remedy complaints as to the quantity and purity
of the gas supplied, and for authority to test
the illuminating power and purity of the gas at
the places of consumption, instead of 1,000 yards
from the works, and report thereon forthwith to
the commission." He said the circular issued by
the companies alleged that the Act of Parliament
passed in 1830, under the provisions of which the
companies supplying the City were about to
come, imposed upon them the necessity of sup-
plying gas of a higher illuminating power and of
greater purity than that which they had hitherto
supplied. He said that, referring to the reports of
Dr. Letheby, he found that such was not the case,
for during the last nine years the gas supplied by
the Great Central Gas Company had been equal to
thirteen sperm candles, whereas the new act only
imposed a standard of twelve sperm candles. The
Great Central Gas Company, he said, was established
for the purpose of protecting the consumers ; but it
appeared that they had entered into a confederacy
with the other companies prejudicial to the public
interests. He then commented at great length upon
the provisions of the Metropolis Gas Act.
Mr. Alderman DAMN seconded the motion, which
was then put and carried unanimously.
Dr. ABRAHAM then moved that Mr. Deputy Har-
rison, Mr. Deputy Farrar, Mr. Henry Lowman Tay-
lor, Mr. Henry De Jersey, Dr. Ross, and Mr. Walter
be added to the General Purposes Committee, to
consider the whole question of the supply of gas to
this City.
Mr. Deputy HARRISON remarked that the Gene-
ral Purposes Committee would shortly be changing,
and he thought it would inconvenient if the ques-
tion were referred to a changing committee, and
suggested that it should be referred to a special
committee formed on purpose.
Mr. Deputy FARRAR thought if it were referred
to a special committee, the members ought to have
nothing to do with gas shares.
Dr. Ross thought the objection a very proper
one, and thought it ought to go to a special com-
mittee, so that they might be able to remain on the
committee until the inquiry was finished.
A special committee was accordingly appointed,
consisting of twelve members, viz.: Mr. Deputy
Farrar, Mr. Henry Lowman Taylor, Mr. De Jer-
sey, Dr. Ross, Mr. Walter, Alderman Rose, Dr.
Abraham, Mr. Waterlow, fr. Deputy Lott, Mr.
Houghton, and Mr. Deputy White.
Dr. ABRAHAM then moved " That it be referred
to the General Purposes Committee to cause every I
house and building in New Broad-street to be
marked or numbered in such manner as they shall
judge most proper for distinguishing the same."
Mr. Deputy HARRISON moved as an amendment
"That it should be referred to the General Pur-
poses Committee to consider if it were desirable to
cause every house and building in New Broad-
street to be numbered, &c."

The amendment was ultimately carried,
THE SANITARY CONDITION OF THE CITY.

Dr. LETHEBY, the medical officer, reported on the
state of 184 houses which had been inspected dur-
ing the week, and he submitted a list of 44 places
for sanitary improvements.
All the markets and slaughter-houses had been
duly inspected, and the officers had seized 39.51b5.
of meat as unfit for human food, 601bs. of which
were diseased, 1051bs. putrid, and the rest was from
animals that had died from natural causes.

The mortality returns for the week were greatly
below the average, showing a favourable condition
of public health. Only 38 deaths were registered
during the week, instead of 45, which is the average
for the corresponding week of the last five years ;
19 of the deaths were among children of less than
five years of age, and four among old persons of 60
and upwards. The deaths were chiefly from dis.
eases of a chronic character ; six of them were from
phthisis, and six from mesenteric diseases of in-
fancy. There were only four deaths from inflam-
matory affections of the lungs, viz., three from
pneumonia and one from bronchitis. Of the zymotic
class of maladies there were the following :—Con-
tinned fever, 2 ; scarlet fever, 1 ; whooping-cough,
2 ; croup, 1 ; and the diarrhoea of infants, 3
making together but 9 deaths from these diseases.

There were 66 births registered during the week,
of which 43 were boys and 23 girls.

CONFESSION 0 F A HURD ER COMMIT-

TED TEN YEARS AGO.

In August, 1851, a girl of 16, named Sarah Watts,
was barbarously murdered at Woodlands, near
Frome. Her father had left her at home alone,
while he went to market, and on his return he
found her mangled body in the dairy, and the house
ransacked. Subsequent examination showed that
the girl had been outraged and probably drowned
in the milk-pail. Three bad characters, named
Maggs, Sparrow, and "Frome Bob," were appre•
hended, and the evidence against them appeared
so strong that they were committed for trial
on the capital charge, but a jury acquitted them.
Suspicion also fell upon a young man named Joseph
Seer, who lived near the Woodlands, but shortly
after the murder he left the neighbourhood, and en-
listed into the army. Within the last few days he
has returned to Frome, being invalided. Yesterday
morning he went to the police-station in order to
get his remittance form filled up, and whilst there
he made a voluntary confession that he was guilty
of the crime of murdering Sarah Watts. At the
conclusion of the other business, the prisoner was
placed; in the dock. He is short in stature, and
was attired in the uniform of an infantry soldier.
His appearance was that of a sullen, pre-occupied
man. He was, however, quite composed, exhibit-
ing not the slightest degree of excitement.
Mr. Turner, the assistant magistrates' clerk, read
the prisoner's confession, which he had taken clown
at his request. It was as follows :—" I murdered
Sarah Watts. I hope the God above will let me
live to see her again in another world. I have it
on my mind a long time ; I have been very unhappy
ever since. I went away, I was so unhappy. I hope
that God will wash away our sins. I done it for love.
It was on a market day. I asked her to go up to
Birch Hill-lane and pick some water-tresses. She
wouldn't go. I asked her to go up on a Sunday,
and then she wouldn't go. I often played with
her. It was in August it happened. About 3
o'clock in the afternoon, I went to the house. I
thought he was worth some money, and she
wouldn't tell where it was. I told her to tell me
where it was and I would marry her and take her
to America. I was very fond of her, then we would
live happy together. She said, The money don't
belong to you.' I said, 'lf you don't tell where
it is, I will be the death of you.' I took hold of
her by the neck. I had a poker in my hand, and I
hit her in the head with it. I said I would have to
suffer for it either in heaven or in hell. I struck her
in the kitchen, and dragged her into the dairy. I
caught her hold by the feet, and put her head first
into the milk pail, and left her in the dairy, dead.
I took two shillings out of a cup on the mantelpiece.
I went upstairs and searched about, and took some
clothes, and went my way and went to sea. I
had connection with her in the settle before I
au d knocked
enlisted
her d
uo down. I
soldier
geta outed for i t
of
t haet the time,
way.
have never got it off my mind. I killed her for love.
I was very fond of her."
_ _

Mr. F: D superintendentth_ prisoner came to
of the police,
Deg
said—On Tuesday morningmy office to get a form filled up. I took him to
Mr. Turner's office to get him the form.
orm I
said
, While
there the prisoner appeared very agitated.
then, " What's the matter ; you appear to be very
unhappy in your mind ?" I also said, "Is it the
Woodlands murder makes you unhappy p,,
Dr. Harrison—What made you say that?
Witness—l had heard he was suspected. He said
"Yes; and I cannot live down there." I then took

him down stairs to my office, in company with Mr.
Turner, and he then made a voluntary confession in
my presence. I then took him into custody.
The prisoner was remanded for a week.