The Sun.
London, England, 1859-11-21 00:00:00

MR. DISRAELI'S REPLY.

Torquay, Nov. 15, 1859.
Dear Sir,—l return you the printed paper
I regret that an absurd statement, which has been
disclaimed by its pretended author, should have
occasioned you to be misrepresented by your con-
stituents.

It is true that, at the assembling of the present
Parliament, yourself, and many other independent
members, were unwilling ;that the late Ministry
should be displaced by a motion which might have
the appearance of faction, provided you were as-
sured that the Government intended, in due season,
to deal with the question of Parliamentary Reform.
They, and you among them, were assured, on
authority, that such was our intention ; and that,
in passing the measure, we should not hold our-
selves hampered by the bill recently rejected, but
should deem ourselves free to make such a proposi-
tion as the requirements of the country, with a due
consideration of the recent expression of public
opinion, might fairly warrant.
You were frankly informed that the intended
measure could not be introduced during the present
year.
Throughout this communication your conduct was
open, honourable, and straightforward; it was ac-
tuated, I believe, entirely by public spirit, never
for a moment impugned your independence, and
would have been sanctioned by every candid mind
acquainted with the circumstances.—l have the
honour to remain, dear sir, very faithfully yours,
W. S. Lindsay, Esq., M.P. B. DISRAELI.

ALLEGED MURDER OF A PUBLICAN

IN A BROTHEL.

On Friday, Frederick Johnson, a respectable-
looking young man, residing with his mother, who
keeps a brothel in Templar•street, was charged at
the Town Hall, Leeds, with the murder of John
Fletcher, the landlord of the Hole-in-the-Wall
public-house, Briggate. The case has been some
days under investigation before Mr, Blackburn, the
borough coroner, but in consequence of the perjury
of one of the principal witnesses, at the instigation
of Johnson's mother, the jury failed to unravel the
mystery, and after two days' examination of wit-
nesses found it necessary to again adjourn for further
inquiry. According to the evidence given before
the coroner, the deceased was taken home by a dis-
reputable woman named Elizabeth Rhodes, in a cab,
on the Saturday afternoon previous in a state of in-
sensibility, and on Mr. Price, surgeon, being called
in, he was cold, pulseless, and unable to swallow—

in fact dying.' The statement of the girl Rhodes
was that the deceased had been found dead drunk
in Templar-street, early that morning, opposite Mrs.
Johnson's door ; that they had taken him in, laid
him on the hearth-rug, covered him over, and left
him there until the following morning, when they
found him still insensible. Thinking that ho
would rally, they did nothing until noon, when
his continued stupor excited their alarm, and
she (Rhodes) was ordered to take him home. Mr.
Price called again at seven o'clock, but Fletcher
was then dead. Subsequently Mr. English, the
pchriiseofnaecnordnosoitibattbahle:e, received some important informa-
tion,ni obtaining
charge
aw warrant,
murder.ant he
Theapprehended
case
cameth e
before the-sitting magistrates accordingly on Friday
morning, on an application for remand.
Annie Green was sworn. She had not been be-
fore the jury. The witness said—On Friday night,
about half-past 11, I called in at Mr. Long's tap,
Templar-street, and found Mr. Fletcher there. I
knew him, and he asked me to take a glass. I
stayed until 12 o'clock, when we both left. I was
going down Templar-street, and he asked me where
I was going. I said I was going to call on Mrs.
Johnson's, and he replied, " I will go in with you, I
know hen". He went with me, and when he got in
he sat down, and was asked to send for something
to drink. He did not say he would not. At that
time Frederick Johnson was having some words
with his mother, and he turned round and told the
deceased to go. Fletcher wouldn't, upon which
Johnson took him by the shoulders and pushed hint
out of the door. I said, "Oh Frederick you have
hurt him—you had better bring him in again."
Mrs. Johnson said, " Yes, you had better do so—l
know him." He was brought in, and I left, and I
heard nothing more of him until Monday night,
when I was told he was dead.
Elizabeth Rhodes was also called, and said—l
was in the house, but I cannot exactly tell what
time it was. I saw Frederick Johnson take him up
in his arms, after telling him to go twice, and push
him right out of the door. He was not long out
before we brought him in again.
Mr. Blackburn bald that Rhodes had repeatedly
contradicted herself during her examination, though
cautioned, and swore positively that on leaving
Fletcher in the street she knew nothing more until
deceased was found outside the door. This being
so, and, some disinterested witnesses speaking to
seeing the deceased and another man drunk in the
street, the impression produced on his mind was
that Fletcher had fallen down drunk, and that the
Johnsons, supposing him simply to be drunk, had
taken him in and treated him accordingly. There
was no evidence of violence, and so far as the girl
Rhodes was concerned she swore just the contrary
of her present statement.
Elizabeth Rhodes—l did so because Mrs. John-
son said if I did not I should have to go to prison.
The prisoner was remanded until this day, whei,
he will be brought before the coroner.
The deceased had been on the spree all day, and
at noon be had two or three sovereigns. He went
to the Templars' Inn at' night, and there he met
with the women, as previously stated, and accom-
panied Green to Johnson's.
*When he was taken
home all his money was gone.

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY, EXETER-HALL.—
Spohr's Gratorio, " The Last Judgment," and Mozart's
" Requiem," will be performed on Friday next, as a tribute
of respect to the memory of the late Dr. Louis Spohr.
TILE REFORM BILL.—On Saturday a committee
of the Cabinet assembled at two o'clock, at the official resi-
dence of the Premier, in Downing-street. From the meet-
ing being composed of the Cabinet ministers who are mem-
bers of the Lower House it is conjectured that the new Re-
form Bill was probably the subject of their protracted de-
libe: ation.—Observer.

NEW NATIONAL ARSENAL.—Perhaps we could
desire no better proof of the earnestness and determination
with which Government are now applying themselves to
the work of putting our national defences into an efficient
state, than is furnished by the fact, announced by the Morn-
ing Post on Saturday last, that they have resolved on forth-
with erecting a new national arsenal, in the place of that
at Woolwich. The latter, it is ascertained, instead of being
a protection to us, in the event of a foreign army approach-
ing the metropolis, would only facilitate the sucee a of the
enemy, as the whole arsenal might be shivered to pieces by
means of a shell thrown into it. Two reports are in circu-
lation as to the locality of the new arsenal. Milford Haven
has been named, because of the many peculiar advantages
it possesses, but the chances are that Weedon will be the
place
selected, or, perhaps, we might say with more pro-
, priety, is the place which Ministers have already selected
for the purpose.—Morning Advertiser.

CHOLERA AT ORAN.—ALGIERS, NOV. 15.—We
have it on the authority of a gentleman who has just left
Oran that the appearance of that place is that of a complete
sepulchre ; that the number lately reported, 1500, as having
fallen victims to cholera from among the French troops was
very much under the sad reality, for that 3000 must be
below the number fallen in this Morocco expedition from
cholera. Not a word appears in the Algiors or French
newspapers on the subject.
A LUCKY FELLOW.—We are credibly informed
that the wife of Mr. George Fearn, of Clay Cross, now
working as a plasterer's labourer in that place, has become
the fortunate legatee of a sum amounting to £6,000, through
the death of a second uncle.—Derbyshire Courisr.
It is said that Mr. Gilpin, Secretary of the Poor-
law Board, is prevented from attending to his official duties
by severe indisposition,