The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-28 00:00:00

SUPPLY.-PACKET SERVICE.

The house went into committee of supply on the civil
estimates.

Mr. PEEL explained that he only meant to ask for a vote
on account of the packet service. This was the last night
upon which the money could be granted so as to make it
available for the purpose required. He asked for n 50,000.
The vote was agreed to, and the house resumed.
HIGHWAYS BILL.
The committee was postponed until Thursday next.
COURTS OF JUSTICE BUILDING BILL.
On the order for the third reading,

Mr. LYGON complained that they were about to sanction
the expenditure of a million and a hslf of money for build-
ing these concentrates law courts without having as yet de-
cided on the site. Practically the commission had decided
in favour of ground the property of the Incorporated Law
Society ; but two other sites had been submitted, one within
the precincts of Lincoln's- inn, and the other in Lincoln's-
inn-fields. He thought that these two latter should have
fair consideration. Lincoln's-inn-fields belonged to private
proprietors, who proposed that if their land were taken the
proceeds should be devoted to the improvement of the
neighbourhood. He thought that proposal was entitled to
serious consideration, and therefore ho moved that the bill
be recommitted and the order discharged.
Mr. COWPER said that the question had received full
consideration. Lincoln's-inn-fields had been approved of in
1842 by Sir C. Barry, but in subsequent years down to 1859
Sir C. Barry gave the preference to the site now proposed.
The great objection to Lincoln's-inn-fields was that the
ground offered was only three acres, whilst the land now
offered contained seven acres. There could not be concen-
tration in Lincoln's-inn- fields, especially as the demands for
space had greatly increased since 1842, when Sir C. Barry
gave his first opinion. They required now an office for the
registration of wills, a matter which was not thought of in
1812, but which was now greatly pressed on the public.
Being partly a private bill, it must be passed then, or it
could not go up to the House of Lords this session. The
house would have an opnortunity for discussion on the
Courts of Justice Money Bill.
A1(191131041 cOVELAND said that in ;.812 proprietwo

of Lincoln's-inn-fields had offered five acres. He believed
that the site now proposed could not be purchased for less
than two millions.

Mr. SELWYN said the Government were pressing the
bill forward in a manner calculated to stifle all discussion.
If the house were hastily to pass the bill, they would pre-
vent the adoption, even the consideration, of a speedy, easy,
and inexpensive plan for the accommodation of the Courts of
Equity. In 1859 the Society of Lincoln's-inn offered to pro-
vide from their own funds, upon their own land, sufficient
accommodation for the Courts of Equity, in return for which
all they asked was 4 per cent. upon the money actually ex-
pended by them, the sum so paid to them not to exceed,
under any circumstances, £4,000 a year. The plans had
been prepared and approved by all the equity judges, and
they would have been carried out long ago but for this
gigant'c and visionary scheme of the Government, which
would cost at least £2,000,000. He maintained, moreover,
that the Suitors' Fund should be applied to other purpo,'es
than those of building courts of common law. The present
Lord Chancellor was of the same opinion, and there
could be no doubt, in fact, that the scheme of the Govern-
ment virtually amounted to a confiscation of the Suitors
Fund. If the Bill were recommitted, he should propose
the adoption of the plan submitted by the Society of Lin-
coln's-inn in 1859, and therefore he hoped the house would
agree to the amendment of the hon. member for Tewkes-
bury.
Sir W. JOLLIFFE said that if the Government were to
give the house an assurance that the question of site would
be reconsidered, he should advise his hon. friend to with-
draw his amendment.

Lord PALMERSTON believed it was the general opinion
of the legal profession that it would be an enormous advan-
tage to the public if the plan now proposed were carried out.
There were insurmountable objections <to building the
Courts in Lincoln's-inn-fields. If the Courts were erected
there they would occupy a vacant space in a part of the town
where a vacant space was much needed. He doubted,
moreover, whether Lincoln's-inn-fields would be large
enough for the purpose. The loss of time and of money
arising from the present scattered position of the Courts was
well known, and he really hoped the house would not object
to the passing of this bill. If the money bill, which was
the bill that would determine the matter, should not pass,
the whole scheme must fall to the ground ; but the present
bill was necessary in order to ensble the Government to
carry out the arrangements provided by the other measure.
The money was to come out of the Suitors' Fund, and it
was only a contingent liability to the public—a liability,
moreover, which ho hoped would never be practically felt.
Mr. LYGON said that if the Money Bill were referred to
a select committee, with an instruction to consider the ques •
tion of site, he should have no objection to withdraw his
amendment.

Mr. COWPER stated that a select committee had
already agreed upon a site. He did not know whether the
Money Bill was so drawn that the question of site would
properly come within the order of reference ; but, for his
own part, he should have no objection to the reconsidera..
tion of that matter.

Mr. LYGON said there might be a special preference,
and upon that understanding he begged to withdraw his
amendment.

The amendment was accordingly withdrawn, and the
bill was read a third time and passed.
COURTS OF JUSTICE BUILDING ACT (MONEY)

BILL.

After a conversation, the further proceedings on this bill
were postponed until Monday next, with the view of refer-
ring the question of site to a select committee.
I'UBLIC-HOUSES (SCOTLAND) BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
GOVERNMENT OF THE NAVY BILL.

This bill was read a second time.
LO CAL GOVERNMENT ACT AMENDMENT,
AND SUPPLEMENTAL BILLS.
These bills passed through committee.
LABOURERS' COTTAGES BILL.

The remaining clauses of this bill were passed through
committee.
PIERS AND HARBOURS BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
CHURCH ENDOWMENT ACT AMENDMENT
BILL.
On the order for the committee,
Sir G. C. LEWIS moved the postponement of the bill
until Tuesday next.
Agreed to.
The other business on the paper having been disposed of,
the house adjourned at five minutes past two o'clock.

THE CASE OF POISONING AT SOMERS

TOWN.

EXAMINATION OF THE PRISONER.

Yesterday, at the Clerkenwell Police-court, Jane
Palethorpe, a decently•attired female between 35
and 40 years of age, described on the charge-sheet
as a needlewoman, residing at 15, Northaropton-
street, King's-cross, was brought up in the custody
of Inspector Stokes, of the S division of police,
charged with the wilful murder of Thomas Pale-
thorpe, aged four years, by administering to him a
quantity of laudanum. The prisoner was also
further charged with administering a certain poison
—to wit, laudanum—to John Richard Palethorpe,
aged eight years, and Hamul Palethorpe, aged two
years, with intent to kill ; and further, with at-
tempting to commit suicide by taking poison, on
the 25th instant, at 15, Northampton.stroet, St.
Pancras.

The case excited a great deal of interest, and it
having beeu stated that the unfortunate woman
would be brought up in the course of the day,
caused a large mob to assemble in the front of the
court. The prisoner was brought to the court in
the course of the afternoon, and although great
praise is due to Mr. Inspector Stokes for the unos-
tentatious way in which he brought the prisoner to
the court, still, in the course of the way down, she
was recognised and was loudly hissed. The belief
that this is not the first case of the kind in which
the prisoner has been engaged, appears to gain
ground, and it was publicly stated that while the
prisoner was residing in the St. Pancras-road, one
of her children died under very peculiar circum•
stances, and that an open verdict was returned by
the coroner's jury. The prisoner, although poor,
has, it would seem, appeared to the lodger in the
house to be very fond of her children, and has to
the best of her ability kept them clean and comfort-
able. Owing to the weakness of the prisoner she
was allowed to be seated while the evidence was
being taken. During the examination she fre-
quently shed tears, and she appeared to feel her
position acutely.
Mr. Fryer, solicitor, of Gray's Inn-square, at-
tended to watch the case on behalf of the prisoner.
Mrs. Elizabeth Folkner, 15, Northampton-street,
the wife of Henry Folkner, said—The prisoner
lodged in the same house as I do—she lodging in
the back room of the first floor. The prisoner
lived there with three children. On Wednesday,
about a quarter after four, everything being quiet,
she (witness) felt alarmed, and knocked at the door
for the purpose of paying the prisoner a penny she
owed her. She knocked three times, and did not
hear any answer. She then told her landlady, and
knocked again and did not then receive any answer.
When her husband came home she told him the
facts, but he said there was no occasion for alarm.
While her husband was at tea she again knocked,
and the eldest boy said "Mother, here is Mrs.
Folkner." She then asked if anything was the
matter, and the boy, in a faint voice, said his mother
was ill, and so was his brother. She asked him to
open the door, and he did so. When she went in
she found them all looking very ill. She spoke to
the mother, who was in bed, twice, but did not re-
ceive any answer. She saw the boy who is dead
very pale, and gasping for breath. She was
then aware that something was wrong.
On the Monday night the prisoner spoke
to her, and seeing that her eyes looked very in-
different, she asked her what was the matter.
She said she had been crying, and that she
was in great trouble, and that she would take the
life of herself and her children some time or other,
for her troubles were more than she could bear. She
told the prisoner that we all had troubles, and that
she must bear up against them ; it was no use her
giving way.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—ls that the first time you have
heard her say that she was tired of her life?
Witness—l have heard her say, on more than
one occasion, that she was tired of her life, and
would destroy her children and herself.
Cross-examined—l have lived in the house 18
months, but I have not seen the prisoner's husband.
When the prisoner said that she would take the
lives of her children she was quite sober, and did
not appear to be suffering from any narcotic.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Did she appear to be suffering
from any stimulant.
Witness—No. She appeared to be much the
same as usual. I have not seen her the worse for
drink.

Mr. D'Eynenurt—How did the prisoner get her
living ?
Witness—By slop-work. She appeared to be
very poor.
Cross-examination continued—She had seen a
letter from the prisoner's husband, who is abroad.
The prisoner had been crying, her eyes being very
red and swollen. She had frequently seen her
weeping, and had heard her say her life was a
burden to her.

Mr. Henry Sutheris, surgeon, of the St. Pancras-
road, deposed—l was called by the landlord of 15,
Northampton-street, about half-past six in the
evening, to go to the house, ho saying that one
of his lodgers had poisoned herself. I found the
prisoner lying• in the bed insensible. A child,
which is now dead, was almost lifeless. Two
other children were sitting up, one being able to
talk, and the other in a very drowsy state. There
was a bottle on the mantel-piece labelled " poison,"
and in another part of the room was found another
bottle, with the label scratched off, which contained
luedauum, but only a few drops, [The bottles were

produced, and are ounce phials.] I then attempted
to restore animation, and sent off for further assist-
ance. I managed to rouse the prisoner, and after
some time she opened her eyes. I then asked what
she had taken, and what she had given to the chil-
dren, and she said laudanum. SE then attempted to
rouse the children. The pupils of the eyes of the
child which is dead were contracted, the pulse was
almost senseless, and though every restorative was
applied, the child died in about 20 minutes after-
wards. I applied: restoratives to the infant, and it
vomited and ultimately recovered. I spoke to the
elder child, which, although a little drowsy, was
not very bad.
Mr. D'Eyncourt inquired if it had been ascertained
where the poison had been purchased ?
Inspector Stokes replied in the affirmative, but
remarked that the person who sold the poisonous
drug was not in attendance.
Mr. Sutherin, in his cross-examination, said that
he had attended the child that was dead some weeks
since, and it was then a very healthy child. He
four.d that one of the children had vomited.

Mr. D'Eyncourt—When you asked the prisoner
what she had given to the child, was she in a con-
scious state ?

Witness—Perfectly, and well knew what she was
saying.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—What did she say ?
Witness—She merely said, " Laudanum."
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Do you know what the cause
of death is ?

Witness—l should say asphyxia, but I cannot say
positively. I have opened the body, but not the
stomach. I cannot say that it smelt of laudanum.
The stomach I have preserved, for the purpose of
having the contents analysed.
Mr. Fryer—Did you caution the prisoner before
she made the statement about the laudanum ?

Mr. Sutherin—No ; I only asked her what she
had taken and given her children, so that I should
know what restoratives to apply. I had no inten-
tion of inducing her to say anything against her-
self.

Mr. Fryer remarked that such statements ought
not to have been used in evidence, as the prisoner
was not cautioned, and labouring as she was from
illness and excitement, it was unfair to make her
words evidence against her. He hoped, for the sake
of the unfortunate woman, that it would not be made
evidence, as it would go forth to the public and
might mislead them, and thereby injure her.
Mr. D'Eyncourt remarked that all that had been
stated was fair evidence. It often happened that in
a preliminary inquiry many things were stated
which were not returned on the depositions.
Mr. Skinner, the assistant-surgeon of the St.
Pancras Infirmary, said he assisted the last wit-
ness. He applied the stomach pump, and took
from the prisoner a quantity of matter, and in it he
found unmistakable symptoms of morphia. The
prisoner had remained in the infirmary under his
care, and in charge of a constable until she was
brought to this court.
Mr. Stokes, in answer to the magistrate, said that
at present no inquest had been held. Information
had been forwarded to the coroner, and the inquest
will, it is stated, be held in the course of a few days.
Police-constable Keeble, 121 S, said he had
searched the prisoner's apartment; and, on the table,
' found in an envelope the following letter :
"June 24, 1861.

"Dear Friend,—l hope you will take my goods
and pay for the bread. Ido not know how much it
is. I hope you will keep the two children. I can't
bear my trouble no longer.
"Please write to Palethorpe's father, but send it
in private.

" J. PALETHORPE.

" P.S.—Take my work in."
On a separate piece of paper was the following
address ;—" John Palethorpe. No. 39, Salop street,
Caverley-hill, Bank, Leeds, Yorkshire."
Inspector Stokes here asked for a remand. The
prisoner had only really been taken into custody that
day, and he required further time to collect the
evidence.

Mr. Fryer said he should offer no objection to a
remand. It had been stated in the public prints of
that morning that the unfortunate female had sup-
ported herself and children by slopwork, for which,
at the utmost, she ,derived a miserable pittance of
about ss. a week from a slop seller in Somers Town.
He, on the part of the gentleman, who instructed
him, might remark that the work she had was given
her out of charity, she being unable to do the work
properly or regularly from ill-health.
Mr. D'Eyncourt remanded the prisoner for a
week.

Mr. Fryer applied that, as the poor woman was
so ill, the commitment might be so made out that,
instead of being put in the cell, she might, till she
had sufficiently recovered, be placed in the infirmary.
While she had been in the workhouse she had been
very kindly treated. ,
Mr. D'Eynconrt at once acceded to the application.
The prisoner was then removed by Turner, the
gaoler.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—June 27.

CLERKENWELL.—MURDEROUS ASSAULT ON
THE POLICE—COMMITTAL FOR TRIAL. Thomas
Tracey, a powerfully-built young fellow, who is
described as "the terror of Golden-lane," and who
has been in custody more than a dozen times for
assaults on the police, was brought up on a warrant
by police-constable James Hughesman, 163 G, one of
the warrant officers of this court, charged with un-
lawfully assaulting police-constable Lapthorn, 70 G,
in the execution of his duty.
The prisoner was apprehended that morning, as he
was leaving the House of Correction, where he had
been confined on a charge of robbery. The assault
complained of took place as far back as the 24th of
March last, The prisoner was making a disturbance
in Golden-lane, and a large mob had assembled.
Police-constable Lapthorn, with the assistance of
Police-constable Thomas Knott, succeeded in clear-
ing away the mob, and when Lapthorn asked the
prisoner to go away he refused, struck him a violent
blow in the face and knocked him down. While
the constable was on the ground he was savagely
kicked, as was also the other constable. The result
of the kicks on Lapthorn was very serious, he being
dreadfully ruptured and on the sick list for two
months; and in fact he is now unwell, and will be
ruptured for life. The prisoner at the time managed
to escape, but two men who took part in the affray
were apprehended and committed for trial, one of
them being sentenced to nine months and the other
to three months imprisonment, with hard labour.
The prisoner has been several times in custody for
assaults on the police and women, and also for
robbery..
The prisoner said he was not the man who as-
saulted the police, but he should reserve his defence.

Mr. D'Eyncourt said it was a very bad assault,
and committed the prisoner to the sessions for trial.

MARYLEBONE.—A PREACHER IN HIS CUPS.
—A man, who gave his name John Anderson, was
charged with begging, and also with being drunk at
the time.

MG witness in the case was police-constable Stan-
combe, 289 S.
Mr. Mansfield (to prisoner)—What have you to
say to this ?
Prisoner—l was not begging, your worship, as
the constable has stated. lam an educated and
strictly pious man, and when the constable inter-
fered with me, improperly as I consider, I was
merely addressing passers-by in a truly Christian
spirit, my object beingthat of doing all in my power
to bring sinners to repentance. I have laboured
hard to do so for many years.
The magistrate gave him to understand that a
drunken preacher of the Gospel was not likely to
have the effect of converting others from the error
of their ways, and considering that the charge of
begging had not been clearly made out, inflicted a
penalty of ss. for drunkenness, or in default seven
days imprisonment.

LAMBETH.—John Smith, a middle-aged man,
of respectable appearance, was charged before the
Hon. G. C. Norton with being found in the act of
working an illicit distillery.
Mr. F. Pergiter, an officer of Inland Revenue,
deposed that on that morning, about 9 o'clock, he
went, accompanied by the supervisor of the district,
to the house No. 1, Morton-place, Lambeth-road. He
effected an entrance by the back way, and on pro-
ceeding to the first floor they found the prisoner
there, and a still of about 30 gallons in full work,
and charged with molasses wash. There was also on
the same floor all the necessary utensils for carrying
on distillation, and from the scantiness of the fur-
niture, and there being no bed there, he (witness)
had no doubt it had been taken for the sole purpose
of carrying on a private distillery. Witness told
the prisoner on seeing him that he was an officer
of excise, and he must therefore consider himtelf
in custody on a charge of working a private still,
upon which he said he should make no resistance,
and that he was working the still for another
party, but should not say who that party was.
The Supervisor of the district corroborated the
testimony of the last witness, and said the house
in which the still was found was not entered as a
place for distillation, and the prisoner was con-
victed in a penalty of £3O or three months' im-
prisonment.

SOUTHWARK.—THE DIAMOND RING AND
THE CABDRIVER.—Thomas Ball, a cab proprietor
and driver, was brought up in custody of Sergeant
Gardner, 25 M, charged with the unlawful pos-
session of a valuable diamond ring, and attempting
to dispose of the same at Mr. Benson's, watch-
maker and jeweller, Ludgate-hill.
Sergeant Gardner said that he received informa-
tion that Mr, Wilson, the contractor and builder

of Suffolk-street, had lost a diamond ring, on
Friday last, in a cab, which he :traced to the
prisoner, whom he apprehended on Wednesday
morning. He should be able to show that he
offered it for sale at Mr. Benson's, the day after
it was lost, with the view of converting the proceeds
to his own use.

John Cousins, assistant to Mr. Benson, jeweller,
&c., Ludgate-hill, said that the prisoner brought
a diamond, set in a circle of gold, so that it could
be used either as a pin or finger ring, which he
offered to sell for £lO. Witness at once saw that
it was very valuable, and he detained it, telling
him to call in the evening. After the prisoner
left he showed the diamond to Mr. Benson, who
desired him not to part with it until further in-
quiries were instituted. Since then Mr. -Wilson
had seen the diamond, and identified it as his pro-
perty.
Mr. Burcham asked if Mr. Wilson was in at-
tendance.

Mr. Wilson's son informed his worship that his
father was not able to attend that day.
Mr. Burnham remanded the prisoner until Mon-
day, for the attendance of Mr. Wilson, sen.; and
admitted him to bail.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

13IRMINGHAINI-JUNE 27.

At to-day's market there was a short supply of Eng-
lish wheat from the farmers, but no reduction submitted
to; and the sales made of ordinary foreign were again
is to 2s lower. Barley and beans ls, peas 2s, and oats 6d
per qr lower.