The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-28 00:00:00

WHITECHAPEL.

The supplies of meat are only moderate. Generally
speaking, the demand is inactive, as follows :
Beef, from 2s 8d to 4s 4d ; mutton, 3s 2d to 4s 6d ;
lamb, Os Od to Os Od ; veal, 3s 8d to 4s 4d ; and pork, 3s
6d to 4s 10(1 per 81b., by the carcase, _

Mr. DAVID M'LAREN seconded the Motion. He
said that the railway interest was becoming so
powerful in Parlitment that the general interests
of the public were scarcely regarded, and the rail-
way companies themselves had a sort of parliament
to which their leading men were sent, where they
united their interests as against the public ; and he
believed the time was not distant when a league
would have to be formed in order to protect the
interests of the private citizen and trader against
this combined monopoly, with which it was quite
useless for individuals to contend. He held that
railway power had "increased, was incrcasing,and
ought to be diminished."
Mr. T. G. STEVENSON hoped a strenuous oppo-
sition would be given to the amalgamation, for if
it succeeded he believed they would not only have
-to pay double fares, but the rates for goods would
be immediately raised.
The 111 ASTER said—The object of the amalgama-
tion bill was substantially to produce efficiency and
economy in the working of the different companies,
and if means were taken to secure that the interests
of the trading community would not be injuriously
affected. If they should see that there was no mate-
rial raising of the rates proposed, or that clauses
could be introduced for the peotection of trade, he
thought the question was well worthy of their con-
sideration in that view. The Chamber of Com-
merce had agreed to consider any representation
that might be made to them by the railway com-
panies for the purpose of protecting their interests,
but he did not think it the least likely that the
railway companies would come to them. It was for
the mercantile bodies, having seen the bill, which
was now printed, and a copy of which had been
sent to him, to put themselves in communication
with the railway companies if they felt themselves
aggrieved. If they were altogether opposed to the
amalgamation and would not go into details', he
could understand them ; 'but he thought it would
be very foolish, considering the enormous power of
these companies and the great funds at their dis-
posal—(hear' hear)—to enter into any contest with.
them. He thought at least they would do them-
selves no harm by seeking an interchange of views
with the railway companies. He admitted that
under the proposed bill, which he had not expected,
several of the rates were considerably raised, and se
far the mercantile community might have good
cause for remonstrance and representation ; but
at the same time they would allow him to say
this, that all the railways were-monopolies in
the district which they served, with the ex-
ception, perhaps, of the termini. Take
the case of the Landon and North Western,
which was an immense series and aggregate of
amalgamations extending from London to Carlisle,
and they had on that railway the most moderate
rates, and he had never heard a whisper of dissatis-
faction with these amalgamations. _

Mr. DUNCAR M'LAREN asked Mr. Cowan if he
would state what was the difference in the rates for
goods and passengers on the Edinburgh and Glas-
gow as compared with the North-Western ?
Mr. COWAN said that the London and • North '
Western rates for passengers were 21d.. 2d., and
Id. By the proposed Amalgamation Bill they
would be iespectirely 3d., 2d., and lid. For
coals the London and North Western charged 1/d. '
per mile per ton for less than fifty miles, and Id.
for over fifty miles. By the proposed amalgama-
tion the rates would be 21d. for twelve miles, and
2d. for fifty miles.
Mr. J. F. MACFARLAN urged the most decided
opposition to the amalgamation.
Mr. D. NPLAREN said the policy which the com-
pany had all along pursued in reference to the pro-
posed amalgamation had been amply justified by
the information which they had now received as to
the increase of rates to take place on the conveyance
of goods between Edinburgh and Glasgow. The
statement made at the meeting of the Chamber of
Commerce was to the effect that if they would
meet with the railway directors, the latter were
prepared to concede a good deal in the way of
lowering the-rates. The chamber taok the I,iberty
of doubting the correctness of that opinion : and
the wisdom of that course had been confirmed by
what the chairman had stated. (Hear, hear.)
They had been favoured with very accurate
tables of the rates charged by the London and
North Western, the present rates of the Edinburgh
and Glasgow, and the rates proposed to be charged
by the latter under the Consolidation Bill. These
tables showed a proposed increase in almost every
particular on the already comparatively high rates
charged by the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway.
Take, for instance, bar iron ; the rate per ton was to
be raised from 21d. to 3d. per mile, while the charge
upon the London and North Western was only lad.
under fifty miles, and ld. a mile for fifty miles
and upwards; so that the Edinburgh and Glasgow
rates were not only much higher at present, but
they were to bo further increased. A similar increase
was, he saw, to•take place in other articles. For ex-
ample, the rate for sugar on the London and North-
Western was 23d. and 2d., under and above 50 miles;
on the Edinburgh and Glasgow line it was at pre-
,sent ncl., but it was to be increased under the Con-
solidation Bill to 3d.; then the rate for cotton,
which was at present 21d. and 30., was to be in-
creased to 4d.; and so on with regard to other arti-
cles. These were some of the fruits promised already
by that amalgamation which the chairman had
hoped would have tended to lower instead of increas-
ing the rates. He thought the information now pro-
duced amply justified the chamber in opposing the
proposed measure. (Hear.) Another thing which
had been stated was that the effect of the amalga-
mation that had taken place in connection with the
London and North-Western lines had been noteto
increase the prices, but the reverse. But it ought
to be remembered that the amalgamations on those
lines were altogether of a different character from
those proposed in the present case. They were all
of the nature of elongating the line, or taking in
new branches; and instead of the London and North-
Western getting a monopoly of the trade to the
principal towns along its extended line, as was the
object hero, the very opposite result took place, and
it met with new competitors both to Manchester
and Liverpool. The Great Northern had now an
entrance into Manchester, and the Great Western
into Liverpool, to both which towns the London
and North Western had the exclusive entrance till
within the last few years. Inshort, the progress
and tendency of the railway amalgamation in the
south was to break up monopoly and introduce free
trade in railway communication ; but the very cell-
verse was what was proposed here ; we had free
trade already, and it was proposed that we should
give it up for a monopoly.. Under these circum-
stances, and for the reasons so ably adyaneed by-
Mr. Livingston, he thought there should be no
hesitation as to the company, and the inhabitants of
Edinburgh generally, giving this amalganiation
scheme their most determined opposition. (Cheers.)
Mr. Livingston's motion was then unanimously
adupted.

A movement is on foot for a submarine cable
aetosi the 30 miles bdiveen-Land's-end and the Scilly
Islands, which would then be the best pc;frof'&l/1 for 'ships
arriving at the Channel for orders. As an advanced wes-
tern station the point would also be one of great advantage
at any time for a naval rendezvous. The expense would
be altogether insignificant, and a subsidy for the purpose is
being sought from the Government on national grounds.

fourth of a mile from the depot. Oa. Thanksgiving-
day, 'Wright and his. family had visited at his
father's, distant between 1 and. 2. miles. The fol-
lowing day, with hiswife and sister. 'he walked over
to Wells River, less-than a mile, and after Making
some purchases, they returned together soon after
noon; talking pleasantly. Soon after reaching home
he stepped out of the kitchen into an adjoining bed-
room, and lay down on the bed. About 3 o'clock
he arose, and coming out, tbld his sister to leave the
house forthwith, although he had previously asked
her to remain all night. She immediately put on
her cloak, while Wright ordered his wife's brother,
who chanced to be present, to be off, and directly
sprang upon his wife, as she stood leaning over the
stove, attending to the stewing of a few apples.
Holding a butcher knife in one hand he seized
her with the other, and crushed her down upon the
floor as she imploringly exclaimed, " Why, Frank,
what do you mean ?" while her brother, sadly de-
ficient in courage and presence of mind, ran for the
neighbours. right stood astride hiS prostrate
wife thrusting at her repeatedly with the knife,
regardless of the screams of his two youngest chil-
dren, twin girls of two years; and as his sister started
for the door he bounded after her and struck her vio-
lently upon the hack, nearly knocking her down,
and cutting through her cloak and all her under
.clothing wounded her slightly, although the blade
Was very dull, especially near th e point: She escaped
him; however, and fled towards Wells River, giving
the alarm as she went. The . assassin meanwhile
burst into the apartment occupied by the family
of Mr. Deming, the male members of which were
absent, no one being present except. Mrs. Deming
and her daughter Mary, the former of whom ran
for assistance, and the latter went into an adjoining
room and fastened the door. Wright attempted no
' open it, calling on her to let him in, but did not
succeed in forcing the door. It would seem that he
had then returned to his own rooms, and after
restoring the fatal knife to its accustomed place in
the cupboard, he went into his bedroom and
'fried to shoot himself with a gun, snapping
the cap, but missing fire. Soon the neighbours,
in breathless haste, came gathering round the
house, and, villagers from Wells River, but
all feared- to ;•;o in, knowing the desperate cha-
racter of the man, and believing him to have fire-
arms within, and that he would shoot any one who
should dare to enter. On the arrival of. Mr. Slack,
of the " Coossuck House," guards were stationed
around the building, and four or five men, armed
with axes and pitchforks, went into the kitchen.
There the murdered woman
.was lying on the
floor, with her feet drawn under her, and her
head resting against a door. Her clothes were
saturated With blood, and dark pools -covered the
floor about her. . Her countenance had a mild and
pleasant expression. The men then proceeded to
the bedroom, where Wright was found lying cross-
wise on the bed, with his gun beside him. He was
instantly seized and the gun taken care of. A knife
was found in one' of. his pockets, anti a bottle -of
spirits. His captors bound him' with a rope., Ho
offered no resistance, and assured them that there
was no necessity for confining him, as he did not
wish to escape. He confessed his crime, express-
ing Much, regret, and stated as a reason for the
deed that his wife had been criminally intimate
with' his elder brother 'William, remarking, " I
should like to have got one grip at Bill's throat."
At various times he had aenversed with his friends
in relation to his domestic troubles, stating that he
had caught his wife and brother 'William together
several times, and said he had talked with William,
and told him to keep away, and he had promised to
do so. It is a matter of notoriety that William
seldom visited his brother's house' except when in-
toxicated, and on one occasion he had aroused his
brother's diger to. such a degree that he threaten'ed
to kill him. He had offered-similar threats of vio-
lence to his wife, saying one night that he would
have her life before morning. It• is known that he
had a conversatibn with his brother upon this sub-
ject some three weeks before the tine of the murder.
The citizens, nest awaiting the process of arrest, had
substituted handcuffs in, place of the rope upon his
wrists, and three men took him in charge, and plac-
ing him in a carriage with 'themselves, started for
Haverhill Gaol just at dusk. As they were passing
along, the culprit.reitesated his statements concern-
ing his wife's infidelity with much positiveness,
sa,:ng he had last seen her in the act about three
weeks before. At the.same time he manifested much
sorrow on account of his fatal deed, weeping and
moaning bitterly. The unhappy wife fold Mary
Deming a few days since that Frank was jealous of
her, and she seemed to resent it as an indignity. On
the other hand, some persons think that the pri-
soner's statements statements cohcerning his wife's
inconstancy were merely fabricated for effect. It is
said that Mrs. Wright maintained' an unblemished
reputation during her residence in Bradford, while
her husband is thought to have transferred his affec-
tions from his wife to another woman, after which
he tried to obtain a divorce, but was frustrated
mainly by the efforts- of .his sister. Upon a poSt-
modem examination three wounds were found upon
the person of the deceased. The fatal wound was in
the left breast; the blade of the knife used was
seven inches long, and one and a-half inches in
width. It entered just below the nipple, sever-
ing two ribs, thence elan tingdown ward tOthe heart,
making an incision in the side of it two and a-half
inches long at the base, -and with a maximum
depth of one and a half inches. Her dedth must
have been instantaneous. The fu:netal service oc-
curred. on Sunday, and was largely attended. The
prisoner was born in Reigate, Vt.,: and is a shoe-
maker by trade. He is a rather sMall,- thick-set
man, very healthy' and muscular, and has alwayS
prided himself- very muele Upon his. strength and
prowess in hand-to-hand fights. He has the repu-
tation of a hard drinker, and for eight or ten days
preceding the murder he was almost constantly
under the influence of intoxiCatin.g, liquor. His
disposition is savage, morose, and 'Vindictive, as his
appearance indicates. He was not very indus-
trious, and has no property for the' support of his
-four young children--the two eldest boys, of seven
and four respectively, and the two youngest twins,
as before stated. At present they find a home
with. their father's brother, JameS. The public
feeling against the prisoner was so strong that
mady persons proposed lynching him, instead of
sending hini to gaol; the betteropinion prevailed,
however, and on Saturday a warrant was issued,
and, after examination, he was committed to await
his trial next spring.

" WHAT IS A QUARTER AT SCHOOL P"--At the
Wakefield County Conrt on Wednesday last, the Rev. Jas.
Taylor, Head Master of Qaeon Elizabeth's Grammar
fitthoel, sued a' Mr. Hall for 'the amount incurred by a quar-
ter's tuition of his two sons, and a quarter's notice. The
time for opening the school after the Christmas vacation
was on the 21st of January. Mr. hall had given notice to
Mr: Taylor at Christmas that, his Fen would leave at the end
of the ensuing quarter. The eldest boy left the school
on the sth of April in the present year ; the youngest
on the 21st of April. Mr. Taylor said his quarter ended
on the 25th of March, and, the boys having remained
at the school till the middle of April, he now claimed
for a quarter up to Midsummer, and also for a
quarter's notice. The Judge said he thought Mr. Taylor
wauld not be able to sustain WS claim. People did not
always send their boys to school to a given' day. If he had
given notice for Midsummer, and his boy did not come home
till the Ist of August, he should not expect to pay for another
half-year. The Judge (to Mr. Taylor).—Did you ever in-
form Mr. Hall when your quarter ended ? Mr. Taylor.—l
should have felt it as necessary to inform him that Saturday
was the end of the week. (A laugh.) He had been a
schoolmaster 30 years, and all that time his bills had been
made to terminate the quarter on the 25th of March. The
Judge.—Do you make any deductions where the boys
are sent to school ,beyond the quarter-day : Mr.
Taylor.—No ; he never made any deductions. He
never charged but for the quarter. Mr. WeAtmoreland
(who appeared for the defendant)—You see, your Honour,
thereciprocity is all on one side. ' (A laugh.) Mr. Taylor
said there was no school in the kingdom where the 25th of
March . was not understood to be the end of the quarter.
Mr. Westmoreland—There is no school in the kingdom
where the mastvr would insist on such 7a claim !..except in
Wakefield. The Judge—ilo you make any distinction in
your charges between the 'lorig and the short
,quarters ?
Mr. Taylor—No. The Judge—Then you take the long
with the short ; it acts both ways ? Mr. Taylor said he
considered it a great injustice that he should be compelled
to talc'e a boy Irma Christmas to the infddie:a&'April as one
quarter. II i s,II ennui. considered that. the plaintiff had not
mule out his nice, :Ind raN'i-; a. verlict fox the defendant,
with costs.--4;ceds.l22tellige22o2% -

URYIN 0 AN EMPrY CoFfiN.--rA curious circum-
stance occurred at Sandgate last'wcek. It appeals that a
body was found ashore, and interment, ordered by the co-
roner. The'coffin was 'supplied and put in the shed near
to where the corpse lay. • '['he. sexton, a discreet and care-
ful man, took the hearse fur the corpse, and on inquiry was
referred to. the shed; where he (saw the coffin, and, with
assistance, put it in the hearse and conveyed it to the ceme-
tery; the clergyman read, the service over it, and all was
thought to- be-finished; in -the evening, however, Mr.
Graves sent to the sexton to know when he was cooling for
the corpse. The worthy sexton at once saw his mistEke—
he had buried the coffin only. The coffin was quickly dug
up, and the corpse properly interred on the next day.
,South-Eastern Gazette.