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

ARRIVALS THIS WEEK

Wheat. Barley Malt. Oats.
English 'B6o i 2,890 I 250 1 1,250 i
Irish
Foreign .. 620 i 12,450 1 . 4,870 1
I 1

150 sks
980 ills.

BOROUGH HOP.
Although very little business is doing in our market
prices generally are well supported.

IVIIITECIIAPEL.

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 4a 4d ; and pork, 3e
6d to 4e 10d per 81b., by the carcase.

THE SCOTCH RAILWAY AMALGAMA.-

TIOIV QUESTION.

A special meeting of the Merchant Company was
•held on Friday, in Edinburgh, for the purpose of
considering a motion, of which notice had been
given by Mr. Josiah Livingston, to the following
effect That a special committee be appointed
for the purpose of co-operating with other public
bodies in concerting and carrying out the most
strenuous opposition to the proposed amalgamation
of the Caledonian, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and
Scottish Central' Railways." Mr. Charles Cowan,
Master, presided.
Mr. JOSIAH LIVINGSTON at some length proposed
the above resolution. Ile referred to the successful
opposition made to a similar scheme in 1853, and
said the *cost of that battle to the public bodies in
Edinburgh was £2,400. But let them look at the
matter in the shape of a debtor and creditor account.
He found that the ordinary rate on goods between
Edinburgh and Glasgow while the amalgamation
was contemplated was lls. Bd. per ton ; but in 1854
after the amalgamation scheme was defeated, it fell
to Bs. 10d. per ton, being a difference of 25 per cent.
The traffic in 1852-53 averaged £4,500 per week,
so that the gain to the public (not the loss to the
railway) was at the rate of £1,125 per week, or
£58,500 per annum, certainly a very satisfactory
return for the capital expended. Now, he would
suppose that the railways got this bill carried
through, and what would the consequence be in a
pecuniary shape ? He believed it was not a very ex-
travagant supposition to make, that the rates
would be raised at least ten per cent. The amount
of traffic on the Edinburgh and Glasgow last
week was £5,648-ten per cent. on this -would be
£562 per week, £2,248 per month, £29,224 per
unnum, taken from the pockets of the public.
Taken from the public but not pocketed by the
railway companies, for they would always find
that a rise of rates was not a rise of returns. The
traffic fell off in nearly an equal proportion, but it
was no less on that account taken from the public ;
it was taken from them either in money or in
money's worth—in money if they had to pay the
increased rate, in money's worth if they were
thereby deprived of the accommodation which, by
taking advantage of it at the lower rate, they had
shown to be worth that rate to them. In other
words, if they allowed this bill to pass ;-for the
grudging of £2,400, which the opposition cost -them
before, they should even on this most' moderate
calculation be mulcted of this sum every month.
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 increasing, 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 MASTER 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, haling 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, ho
could understand them ; bat 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 es
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 ease of the Landon and North Western,
which was an immense series and aggregate of
amalgamations extending from London to Carlisle,
aid they had on that railway the most moderate
rates, and he had never heard a whisper of dissatis-
faction with these amalgamations.

Mr. DUNCAR ITLARIN 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

ld. By the proposed Amalgamation Bill they
would be respectively 3d., 2d., and I.ld. For
coals the London and North Western charged
per mile per ton for less than fifty miles, and Id.
for over fifty miles. By the proposed amalgama-
tion the rates would be 215 d. for twelve miles, and
2d. for fifty miles.
Mr. J. F. MACFATtLAN urged the most decided
opposition to the amalgamation.
Mr. D. M‘LAREN 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 took the liberty
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 be 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 20., but it was to be increased under the Con-
solidation Bill to 3d. ; then the. rate for cotton,
which was at present 21d. and 33d., 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 not to
increase the prices, but the reverse. But it ought
to be remembered that the amalgamations on those
lines were altogether of a different charactwereer
fr
om
those proposed in the present case.
all
of the nature of elongating the leinned,eoerantaakNinegrthin.
new branches; and instead of the L
edthlienet,raade to the
s was the
Wystern gteewttninsgalaeng monopolyits
principal ex t e of
both to Manchester
object here, the very opposite result took place, and
it met with new competitors
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. In short, 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 con-
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 advanced by
Mr. Livingston, he thought there should be no
hesitation as to the company, and the inhabitants of
Edinburgh generally, giving this amalgamation
scheme their most determined opposition. (Cheers.)
Mr. Livingston's motion was then unanimously
adopted.

A movement is on foot for a submarine cable
across the 30 miles between Land's-end and the Scilly
Islands, which would then be the best port of call for ships
arriving at the Channel for orders. Is 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.

WIFE MURDER IN AMERICA.

(From the New York Tribune.)

On the afternoon of Friday last the inhabitants
of Wells River, Vt., and vicinity, were thrown into
a state of wild excitement by the committal of a
dreadful murder. The scene was the little village
; of \Voodsville, in the northern part of Haverhill,
N.H., just opposite Wells River (Vt.) Village. The
victim was a beautiful woman, some twenty-four
years of age, the wife of Franklin S. Wright, and
the murderer her own husband. It is but a few
years since they. were married at Wells River,
not long after which they went to Bradford,
Vt., where they lived six years. In the early
part of last September they removed to Woods-
vine, and in connection with another family,
by the name of Deming, occupied an
old, unpainted, two-storey house, about one-
fourth of a mile from the depot. On Thanksgiving-
day, Wright and his Wilily had visited at his
father's, distant between 1 and 2 miles. The fol-
lowing lay, with his wife and sister. he walked over
to Wells River, less than a mile, and after making
some purchases, they returned together semi 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, told his sister to leave the
house fythwith, although he had. previously asked
hor 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. 'Wright 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 back, neari.y knocking her down,
'and cutting through her cloak and all her under
clothing wounded her slightly, although the blade
WAS very dull, especially near the 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 to
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
tried 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 go 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
door 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, and a bottle of
spirits. His captors bound him with a rope. He
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 conversed with his friends
in relation to his domestic troubles, stating that he
had caught his wife and brother William together
several times, and said lie 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 lie had aroused his
brother's anger to such a degree that he threatened
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 lie
had a conversation with his brother upon this sub-
ject some three weeks before the time of the murder.
The citizens, not awaiting the process of arrest, had
1 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 reiterated his statements concern-
ing his wife's infidelity with much positiveness,
sa..ing lie 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 told 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 concerning 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 husbt.nd is thought to have transfc.rred 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-
mortem 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 slanting downward to the 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 death must
have been instantaneous. The funeral 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 much 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 intoxicating 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 him to gaol; the better opinion 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 ?"—At the
Wakefield County Court on Wednesday last, the Rev. Jas.
Taylor, Head Master of Queen Elisabeth's Grammar
pool, 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 son would leave at the end
of the ensuing quarter. The eldest boy left the school
on the 6th 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. Ihe Judge said he thought Mr. Taylor
wauld not be able to sustain his claim. People did tut
always send their boys to school to a given day. It he lad
given notice for Midsummer, and his boy did not come hone
till the Ist of August, ho should not expect to pay for anoher
half-year. The Judge (to Mr. Taylor).—Did you eve. in-
form Mr. Hall when your quarter ended ? Mr. Taylc.—l
should have felt it us necessary to inform hint that Satirday
was the end of the week. (A laugh.) He had ken a
schoolmaster 30 years, and all that time his bills hd been
made to terminate the quarter on .the 25th o 1 Marc:. The
Judge.—Do you make any deductions where be boys
are sent to school beyond the quarter-day? Mr.
Taylor.—No •, he never made any deductiots. Ho
never charged but for the quarter. Mr. Wesmoreland
(who appeared for the defendant)—You see, your Honour,
the reciprocity is all on one side. (A laugh.) M. Taylor
said there was no school in the kingdom where do 25th of
March was not understood to be the end of the quarter.
Mr. Westmoreland—There is no school in the Imgdom
where the master would insist on such a claim o•cept
in
Wakefield. The Judge—Do you make any distitetion iR
your charges between the long and the short oaarters ?
Mr. Taylor—No. The Judge—Then you take "the long
with the short ; it acts both ways ? Mr. Tayor said he
considered it a great injustice that he should 1e compelled
to take a boy from Christmas to the middle of Arril as one
quarter. His Honour considered that the plaintiff had not
made out his case, and gave a verdict for the defendant,
with costs.—Leeds Intelligencer.
BURYING AN EMPTY COFFIN.—A curious circum-
stance occurred at Sandgate last week. It sppaats that a
body 'Mut found ashore, and interment ordered by the co-
roner. The coffin was supplied and put in the shed near
to where the corpse lay. The sexton, a discreet and care-
ful man, took the hearse for the corpse, and on inquiry was
refereed to the shed, where he saw the coffin, and, with
aseistance, 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 coming for
the corpse. The worthy sexton at once saw his mistake—
he had buried the coffin only. The coffin was quickly dug
Up, and the corpse properly interred on the next day.-
4Youth-.Eastern Gazetfe,