The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-20 00:00:00

CLERKEN WELL.-(THIS DAY.)

A fierce-looking lad, named James Fitzgerald, Was
placed at the bar before Mr. Tyrwhitt, charged with
brutally ill-using and maltreating a cat.
Mr. Thomas attended to watch the case on behalf of
the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
A little girl, named Fanny Glover, who lives with her
parents in Waters-court, Islington, said on Friday fort-
night she saw the defendant run up the court after the
cat and seize hold of it by the neck, and then lift it up
and apply a piece of lighted paper to its tail. The poor
creature struggled and writhed severely from pain and
fright, and at length succeeded in escaping from her
assailant, but he followed her and beat her so unmerci-
fully with a stick that she shortly afterwards died.
Mrs. Phillips, who also lived in the purlieus of Waters-
court, corroborated the testimony of the preceding wit-
ness, and added that the cat, which was a strange one,
had taken refuge in her house, and that when she re-
monstrated with the defendant about his cruelty, he told
her he would kill fifty cats and her too if she did not
take care. She attributed the conduct of the defendant
to some ill-will which his family had against her, be-
cause she appeared as a witness against his mother,
who was charged several years ago with breaking open
a person's head. Ever since then she''had been in hot
water with them.

MAGISTRATE—Why don't you leave the neighbour-
hood? Witness—Not because I like it; your Worship.
It is no very beautiful place, I assurtryou; but my bread
lies there.—(A laugh.)
The defendant did not deny the charge, but said the
cat was in a rabid state, and that he had been requested
by the neighbours to kill it.
MAGISTRATE (to witness)—Was the cat rabid or mad?
Witness—Mad! oh no, sir. It could eat its victuals as
well as you or I.—(Laughter.)
The MAGISTRATE said the case was a very cruel one,
and he should order the defendant to pay a fine of 205.,
or be imprisoned fur a month.
The defendant was then removed. '

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
LATEST BETTING AT THE WEST-END.

DERBY.
5 to 1 agst Lord Airlie's Clincher—take 11 to 2
6 to 1 agst Mr. W. Edwards na Bolingbroke—taken
to 3,000/.
9to 1 agat Mr. Gratwicke's The Nigger—t freely
9 to 1 agst Mr. Hill's Pitsford—taken
9 to 1 agst Mr. Bastard's Mildew
14 to 1 agst Lord Zealand's Voltigeur
20 to 1 agst Mr. Meiklam's The Italian—taken to 300/.
20 to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's Mayors—taken to 3001.
30 to 1 aget Mr—Gannon's Deicoon—taken
33 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Ghillie Callum
33 to 1 agst Mr. Dixon's Blarney
35 to 1 agst Mr. Greville's Cariboo—taken to 2001.
50 to 1 agat Sir G. Heathcote's Lady Geraldine colt
—taken freely
50 to 1 agst Mr. Merrys Brennus—taken freely
50 to 1 agst Major Martyn's The Swede
4,000 to 60 agst Mr. Disney's Captain Grant—taken
1,000 to 15 agst Mr. Thomas's Royal Hart—taken
2,000 to 20 agst Mr. Breton's Pyton—taken

THE OAKS.
7 to 1 agst Captain Delme's Gillyflower
12 to 1 agst Mr. Gratwicke's Countess
15 to 1 agst Sir J. Hawley's Tingle—taken

ALLEGED MURDER.—Considerable excitement has
been created in the neighbourhood of Newport and Berkeley,
Gloucestershire, within the last few days by an alleged mur-
der, said to have been committed on the person of Mr. Daniel
Knight, a small farmer residing at Woodford, near Newport.
On Friday an inquiry into the circumstances attending his
death was entered into before Mr. W. Joyner Ellis, the co-
roner for the eastern division of the county, which resulted
in the committal of three men, named William Trethery,
John Nelmes, and William Lovell, to take their trial for
manslaughter at the next ensuing Gloucestershire assizes.
The facts elicited are briefly these : It seems that the un-
fortunate deceased had an idiot daughter, named Elizabeth
Knight, who on Monday last attended some festivities which
are annually customary at Berkeley, and although her father
told her he wished her to be at home, she persisted in dancing
till a very late hour, when he took her forcibly away, and it
is stated that on their way home he chastised her somewhat
severely with a whip. This act, it appears, was witnessed by
the three prisoners abovementioned, and it so exasperated
tAem that they waylaid the deceased, beat him most unmer-
cifully about the head, and left him for dead en the spot. He
was there found by the Berkeley police with his skull dread-
fully fractured ; he lingered till Wednesday, but was unable
during the intervening period to articulate a distinct sylla-
ble. The medical evidence adduced at the inquest clearly
showed that death resulted from the wounds on the head of
the deceased. In addition to the three prisoners committed
for trial, two others were charged before the jury, but they
were acquitted.
- -

•
ASHTONOUNDER,•LYNE, MAY 17.--This morning an
event of an extraordinary and melancholy description took
place in the parish church. The Venerable Archdeacon
Rushton held his annual court in the church for the admis-
sion of churchwardens and sidesmen, elected at the recent
Easter vestries. Amongst the wardens presenting them-
selves for admission were those from a chapel of ease in the
parish, known as Cocker-hill chapel. The congregation and
office-bearers of the church and their pastor, the Rev. Mr.
France, had long been estranged. It appears that this year
there was a contest again for churchwardens, the rate-
payers electing one and the pastor another. This brought
Mr. France to the Archdeacon's Court this morning. The
circumstances of the double election were stated, when the
Archdeacon decided in favour of admitting the minister's
warden, and Mr. France thus triumphed over his opponents.
The triumph of the unfortunate gentleman, however, was
but of momentary duration ; the instant after the Archdeacon
had announced his decision, Mr. France sank down on the
floor of the church, and expired before any assistance could
be obtained. The cause of death is supposed to have been
apoplexy.
COURAGEOUS CONDUCT OF A CLERGYMAN: As
the Rev. Thomas Bull, of Corby, was driving between liar-
borough and Farndon on Tuesday evening last, he observed
in a field adjoining the road a ring formed and two men en-
gaged in a pitched battle. Alone and unattended, he, leav-
ing his horse and gig under the care of a person in the road,
immediately made his way up to the assembled crowd,rushed
through the ring formed and separated the combatants,
keeping them from each other at arm's length, and calling
upon them to desist from such a disgraceful proceeding. To
this the men _actually engaged Seemed disposed to acquiesce,