The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAI( EVENING, JULY 17, 1861.

CREAT WESTERN RAILWAIY.
CHEAP EXCURSION to BATH and BRISTOL.
On SUNDAY, July 21, an EXCURSION TRAIN will leave
Paddington at 7.45 a.m., and Reading at 8.50 a.m., for
CHIPPENHAM and BATH (9s. and 55.), and BRIbTOL
(10s. and Gs.), returning the same day. _ -

CRYSTAL PALACE.—On SATURDAY, July
J 20, 1801. ROYAL DRAMATIC COLLEGE. GRAND
FETE and FANCY FAIR. The Council have the honour to
announce that they have made arrangements with the Direc-
tors of the. Crystal Palace for the Annual Fete and Fancy
Fair in aid of the Funds of the Dramatic College, for the
above date. The Fancy Fair, Fairy Post-office, and Wheels
of Fortune will be presided over by the following Ladies,
who have kindly tendered their services : .
Mrs. Stirling, Miss Kate Kelly,
Miss Fanny Stirling, Miss Johnstone,
Mrs. H. Roddell, Miss Fanny Hunt,
Miss Button, Miss Amy Sedgwick.
Miss Kate Carson, Mrs. Charles Mathews,
Miss Hudspeth, Mrs. E. Fitzwilliam,
Miss Fanny Josephs, Mrs. Frank Matthews,
Mrs. Alfred Mellon (late Miss Katharine Hickson,
Miss Woolgar), Miss M. Oliver,
Mrs. Billington, Mrs. Charles Young,
Miss Emily Thorne, Miss Alice Evans,
Miss H. Simms, and
Miss Laidlaw, Miss Talbot.
AUNT SALLY, CHEAP JOHN, PUNCH, TENT OF
MYSTERY, PEEPSHOW, &c., under the direction of
Mr. J. B. Buckstone, Mr. W. Gomersal,
Mr. Frank Matthews, Mr. J. B. Johnstone,
Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. Dalton,
Mr. Paul Pedford, Mr. Joseph Robins,
Mr. R. Phillips, Mr. W. li. Eburne,
Mr. Clark (Haymarket), Mr. W. Shirley,
Mr. Barrett, Mr. Conway,
Mr. John Neville, Mr. Conway, jun.,
Mr. W. Smith, Mr. Charles Sloman,
Mr. H. Widdicombe, Mr. Alexander,
Mr. J. Clarke (Strand), Mr. Paul Herring,
Mr. Addison, Mr. Morelli,
Mr. Lewis Ball, Mr. J. Francis,
Mr. W. Worboys, and
Mr. John Povey, The Alexander Family.
Mr. W. R. Cranford,
The Council have also the gratification to announce that
the following Artists have most generously given their aid
for a VOCAL and INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT :—Mdme.
Weiss and Miss Palmer, Mr. Swift, Mr. Santley, Mr. George
Perren, and Mr. Weiss. Conductors—Messrs. Jules Benedict,
A. Manns, and Alfred Mellon.
ROYAL DRAMATIC COLLEGE QUADRILLE, com-
posed expressly for this occasion by Mr. Alfred Mellon.
An ACROSTIC, by J. J. Stainton, Esq., "The Royal Dra-
matic College," will be spoken by Bonjamin Webster, Esq.,
Master.
The original Burlesque of VALENTINE AND ORSON,
written by Messrs. Planche, Talfourd, Byron, Halliday, L.
Buckingham, and W. Brough, recently performed for a
1 charitable object with great success at the Lyceum. Charac-
ters by the members of the Savage Club and other gentle-
men connected with literature and art. Leader of the Band

—Mr. Isaacson.
A thrilling Melodrama of the good old Bartlemy Fair times,
by Nelson Lee the Younger, illustrated by the real players,
metropolitan members of the profession, at Richardson's
Theatrical Show.
BLONDIN OUTDONE by Mr. J. L. Toole, who will carry
Mr. Paul Bedford (immensely elevated) across the Falls of
Niagara.
The Band of the Grenadier Guards, under the direction of
Mr. D. Godfrey, by permission of Colonel Lewis.
The Band of the Crystal Palace Company.
For numerous other attractions and arrangement of pro-
gramme see future announcements.
Admission, 2s. 6d.; Children, Is. ; Reserved Seats (num-
bered) for Concert, 2s. 6d. Change can be had at the Fancy
Fair, close to the stalls.
Tickets of admission to the Palace and to the Reserved
Seats for. Concert may be had of Mr. J. W. Anson, at the
Office of the Col'ege, No. 15, Bedford-street, Covent-garden;
Mr. Sams, Royal Library, No. 1, St. James's-street ; Mr.
Mitchell, 33, Old Bond-street ; Messrs. Keith, Prowse, and
Co., Cheapside ; at the Crystal Palace Office, 2, Exeter Hall,
Strand ; and of the usual agents.

MR. W. S. WOODIN'S 175th NIGHT with
his highly-successful NEW ENTER f KINMENT,
the CABINET of CURIOSITIES, POLY GRAPHIC HALL,
King Wiliam-street, Charing-cross, TO-NIGHT, and
EVERY EVENING (except Saturday), at Eight. Private
boxes, £1 ls. ; Stalls and box stalls, 3s. ; area, 2s. ; amphi-
theatre, is. -A plan of the stalls may be -een, and seats
secured (without extra charge), at the Box-office, from 10
till 4 Morning Performance, Saturday next, at 3.

A RGYLL ROOMS. - GRAND MUSICAL
ENTERTAINMENT,
with the Celebrated BAND, Forty in number (established
eleven years), chosen from the Philharmonic Concerts, Royal
Italian Operas, and the Household Troops. Conducted by
Mons. Lamotte. Cornet-a-piston, M. Boulcourt.—Dancin,g
at Nine o'clock.-18. admission.

2,017, or 0.53 per cent. An. increase in the num-
ber of families has taken place in the towns of
Belfast and Carrickfergus, thst3 City of Dublin, and
the counties of Dublin, Antrim, Armagh, London-
derry, and Sligo.
The average number of pe, •sons to a family was
5.54 in the year 1841, in 1851+. it was 544, and in
1861 it is 5.10. In the metropolitan city, while
the population has decreased by 8,636 persons, the
number of inhabited houses .has increased by 514,
and the proportion of persons constituting a family
has, in .proportion, decreased from 4.51 in the
former to 4.26 in the later .period. In the town
of Belfast, the average number of persons to a
family is 4.79 and in the rtiral district of Done-
gal, 5.31.

THE SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST THE

BARON DE VIDII.

Yesterday Inspector Thornton waited on Mr.
Corrie, at the Bow-street Police-court, and informed
him that the young man Rivers, an important wit-
ness in this case, was suffering so severely from
illness that it was not expected he would live.
Under these circumstances, the Inspector submitted
that it would be desirable to have his depositions
taken at once. It appeared that Rivers had burst
a blood-vessel.

Mr. Corrie inquired what evidence Rivers would
be able to give.

Inspector Thornton—He states that he saw the
Baron striking his son with a riding-whip.
Mr. Corrie observed that it would be necessary
that the Baron should be present when the deposi-
tion was made.
Mr. Burnaby observed that it would also be neces-
sary that the young man (M. de Vidil) should be
present, in order that the witness might be en-
abled to indicate him as the person who had been
assaulted. There might be some difficulty about
that, from his unwillingness to appear against
his father.
Inspector Thornton said he had no doubt the
young man would come. •
Mr. Corrie—No doubt you can bring him there,
but you can't make him speak.
Inspector Thornton said that young M. de Vidil
was at Ware, but would probably arrive in town
shortly, a telegraphic message having been for-
warded to him early that m3rning, requesting his
immediate attendance here.

Mr. Corrie said that, if necessary, he and Mr.
Burnaby would go down to Twickenham at the
same time that the officers conveyed the Baron and
his son thither, and the deposition could be taken
by Mr. Burnaby before him (Mr. Corrie). But it
would answer the purpose equally well, he should
think, if it were taken before a local magistrate.
Inspector Thornton said there would be no diffi-
culty in finding a magistrate on the spot, Mr.
Burnaby could take the deposition before any ma-
gistrate.
Subsequently the Baron was brought to the
court, to await his son's arrival. IE3 solicitor, Mr.
Wontner, was in attendance, having received notice
of this proceeding from the police.
Mr. Wontner requested to see the information,
which was as follows :

The deposition of Alfred John de Vidil live
at No. 40, Duke-street, Westminster. lam the law-
ful son of Alfred Louis Pons de Vidil, commonly
called the Baron de Vidil. On Friday, the 28th of
June last, I was invited by my father to go with
him on that day to Claremont to visit the ex-Queen
of the French. I went on the said 28th day of
June to the Clarendon Hotel, in Bond-street, where
I met my father, and from thence went with him
to the Waterloo Railway station, and arrived by
train at Twickenham, where two saddle-horses were
awaiting us. We went and made the call at Clare-
mont. On our return, just before we came to a
public-house where a side road leads to the left, he
said, " I shall ask which will be the best road,"
which astonished me, as he knew the road perfectly
well. He did not ask, but, without saying a word
took the left. I said " I can't understand your
coming here." He gave me to understand that he
was suffering from bowel complaint. I said,
" Won't you turn back and go to the inn ' The
lane was quite empty when we entered it, but
afterwards a woman appeared at the end. He
said, " Will you hold my horse ?" I said, " How
shall I hold it ?" meaning was I to remain on my
own horse or get down. He said, " Oh, never
mind." The woman was at the end of the lane. We
walked back into the main road. In passing the inn
I urged him to take some brandy there. He said,
" No no, thank you—it does not look a very nice
place." When in the lane he told me'of his stomach-
ache. I said, "If I had known that, I would have
dined at Hampton, as you asked me to." He said,
" That is very kind." On returning to the main
road he said he should go to the Duke d'Aumale's,
which astonished me after his saying that he had
the stomach-ache. The road to the D uke d'Aumale's
is by a lane leading to the river side. There are
several other lanes also leading to the river. The
Baron took me down the first of these, and on my
expressing some surprise he said he did not know
whether there was a road at the end of it or not.
There was no road at the end of it. We returned
to the main road. The Baron took me down the
second lane, which we both knew did not lead to
the Duke d'Aumale's. We then went on to the
lane leading down to the Duke d'Aumale's, but to
my great surprise he did not go into the house, but
went on along the lane which turns to the left, the
end of which is parallel to the road. It turns again
to the left into the main road. I made some remark
as to his not going into the Duke d'Aumale's. I had
just got a little way up the lane leading to the main
road, when he said we had made a mistake and must
turn back. I turned back without saying word. It
is very shady in that corner. I saw no one near. I
got a little ahead of the Baron, he being on the
right. I had gone a pace or two when I felt a vio-
lent blow on my head. I turned round, being all
right in the saddle, and saw the Baron's hand up-
lifted with something in it. With this he struck
me another blow, and again raised his arm, when I
hurried on my horse, and having got on a little way
I got down quietly, putting my leg over as usual,
and ran on to where a woman and man were stand-
ing. I caught hold of the woman's dress and clung
to her, praying her to protect me. The Baron soon
arrived on foot, very red. He got over a
gate on the left, and as I afterwards discovered,
hurt his hand in doing so. The man who was
standing with the woman took me by the hand to
lead me to a public-house. He would not let me
take his hand, as he was dripping with blood. I
said to the woman I had knocked my head against
the wall, which was not true, and which I said out
of fear of my father. I dared not say he had done
it. When I got to the public-house I was taken in
and my head bathed with water. The Baron
offered to bathe me, and often asked how I was. I
could not answer him, and begged him not to touch
me, for I was very tender. Mr. Clarke came and
saw me with his assistant. He tied up the two
wounds—one on the front of my forehead, and the
other on the side of my head. The Baron occasion-
ally left the room. In some of these intervals I
managed to tell Mr. Clarke that I had not fallen,
or knocked against the wall; but that he had done
it. I entreated him to go with me to town. He
sent his assistant, who accompanied me. I men-
tioned in the public-house that my money would
have gone to my aunts and cousin. I have never
been married. If I were to die without lawful
issue, and without making a will, my father would
succeed to about £30,000. I believe that my father
wounded me with intent to murder me. _

(Signed)

ALFRED JOHN DE VIDIL.

EXAMINATION OF RIVERS AT TWICK-

ENHAM.

Intimation having been received that the son of
the Baron de Vidil would be in London by about
four o'clock, the officers who have the charge of the
Baron at once proceeded with their prisoner, by
the South-Western line, to Twickenham, there to
await the arrival of the son. They were soon fol-
lowed by Mr. C. Pollock, the counsel for the pro-
secution ; Mr. Ellis, solicitor ; Mr. Sleigh, the
prisoner's counsel; Mr. Wontner, and Mr. Burnaby,
the chief olerk at Bow-street.
The son of the Baron, in company with his uncle,
Mr. Parker, of Waro Park, Herts, reached the
police-station at about half-past five, by which time
the villagers began to assemble in large numbers,
eager to ascertain the cause of the unusual com-
motion.
An unexpected difficulty, however, here arose.
No local magistrate could be obtained. Messengers
were despatched in two directions, but they re-
turned unaccompanied by the necessary official. One
gentleman had gone out to dine, another had been
attending the marriage of his daughter, and had
not yet returned home. It was now half-past six,
and again the officers started in quest of a magis-
trate. At length, to the great relief of all concerned,
Colonel Donnethorne role up to the police-station,
and the prisoner was immediately conveyed to the
residence of the apparently dying man, whose
evidence was deemed as essential to the prosecution.
Here, in one of two little tenements, called Zion-
cottages, within a short distance of the lane in
which the alleged attack was made, and near the
riverside, lay poor John Rivers, a young labouring
man, in the last stage of decline. His bedroom was
small, but very clean, and in the front upper room
adjoining, his little children, both under three
years of age, apparently, were lying upon a bed, the
oldest restless and ill, the youngest for some time
asleep, but presently waking up and compelling its
afflicted mother to leave the bed-side, where she had
been watching the effect of the examination upon
the sick man with natural anxiety. Mr. Sparks,
the medical attendant upon Rivers, was present,
and soon after the proceedings commenced Captain
Murray, another magistrate of the county, arrived..
About a dozen persons were admitted into the room,
the window of which was thrown open, and the