The Sun.
London, England, 1868-09-18 00:00:00

LAW AND POLICE.

SUPPOSED MURDER IN THE Min.—Robert Hall,
labourer, has been charged at the Southwark Police-court
with the murder of William Johnson. A policeman gave
evidence that he had seen the prisoner struggling with a
man, who had taken the clasp-knife from him with which
he had stabbed the deceased. Several other witnesses were
called, and the dying man's depositions were put in. From
these it appears he was stabbed in a scuffle. The prisoner
declined to say anything in defence, and was committed
to Newgate for trial.
A MAN KILLING HIS BROTHER FOR THE SAKE OF
HALE A CROWN.-At the Liverpool Police-court, a man
named John Birmingham was brought up, on the
charge of having caused the death of his brother, William
Birmingham. The prisoner, while under the influence of
drink, went to the house of the deceased and asked for
half a crown. This he refused to give, when the
prisoner aimed a blow at him with a heavy iron ship-
scraper. This was wrested from him by a bystander,
but, running to his own house, he got another scraper,
and with it struck his brother a violent blow on the head,
inflicting an injury which resulted in his death. When
he was apprehended the prisoner said, " I'm very sorry ;
it was all about half a crown." He was remanded until
after the inquest had been held.
CHARGE OF FORGERY AND HIGHWAY ROBBERY WITH
VIOLENCE.-At the Taunton Pplice-court a serious charge
of forgery and highway robbery with violence has been
preferred against Mr. William Matthews, hitherto looked
upon as a respectable butcher, residing at Trull, near
Taunton. The prisoner was indebted in the sum of £llO
to Mr. Archibald Reeves, a solicitor, at Taunton, for the
security of the payment of which he held a bill of sale on
Matthews's property. On Saturday evening Mr. Reeves
distrained upon Matthews's household goods, and placed
two bailiffs in possession, leaving in the custody of one,
Charles Lake, the bill of sale. It was alleged that
Matthews left the house, as he said, for the purpose of
settling the matter with Mr. Reeves, and shortly returned,
bringing a note purporting to be written by Mr. Reeves to
the bailiffs, requesting them to leave the house. Previous to
leaving, Matthews gave Lake some gin-and-water, which
he believes to have been drugged. As they were going
home Matthews followed them, felled Lake to the ground,
and rendered him insensible. On consciousness returning
he found that the bill of sale had baen stolen from the
breast-pocket of his coat. Mr. Reeves denies that he
wrote the note Matthews gave the bailiffs, and alleges that
it was written by Matthews himself to get the bailiffs out
of possession. Hence the charge of forgory. The pri-
soner was rein an,led.

The Pall Mall Gaxette is informed that the Mar-
quis of Bute has formally joined the Roman CzAho
Church.
THE PRINCE OF WALES.—His Royal Highness
the Prince of Wales has accepted an invitation from the
civic representatives of Glasgow and the University Council
to lay the foundation-stone of the new college of Glasgow.
The ceremony is expected to take place about the ith of
October.

DEATH FROM AN ARROW.—A little girl,- named
Clara Louisa Bingham, while lying on the grass during
the Foresters' Fête in Vintners Park, near Maidstone, was
struck by a stray arrow, shot from the -bow of a lady,
inflicting a severe wound. The little girl was taken to the
West Kent General Hospital, where she was an in-patient
for some time, but was afterwards removed home, and she
Las since died from the effects of the wound. She was the
only child of poor parents.

A DEFENDER OF THE IRISH CHURCH AT BLACK-
LEY. —A correspondent informs us that the Rev. S. G.
:Potter, one of the lecturers engaged in the defence of the
Trish Church Establishment, in a sermon preached at
Blackley parish church on Sunday last, after calling
the English " a dishonourable and treaty - breaking
nation," said that when the future Chancellor or
keeper of the Queen's conscience called the coronation
oath all bosh and moonshine, the angels might well weep
in heaven, and Christ look down in misery. He con-
cluded by saying that it was not the " expectation " of
him and his few brother clergymen who have come over
here lecturing that they will be able to turn the tide of
public opinion, but they hoped to rally a chosen band to
fight through blood and wounds to death.

PRESENTS FOR AN AFRICAN SULTAN. - The
presents which the King of Prusiia is sending to the
Yeultan of Burnu (Central Africa) consist of a throne in
embroidered velvet, a repeater, a dozen other watches of
the ordinary kind in gold and silver, six needle-guns, twelve
revolvers, six burnous worked with gold thread, six plain
ones, several dozen of fez caps, coral necklaces, and
perfumes. His African Majesty had manifested a desire
to receive a carriage, but the difficulty of forwarding it
was too great. It would have had to be taken to pieces
and transported on the backs of camels across the whole of
the Sahara, and as there are no coachbuilders at Burnu,
men wou:d have had to be sent from Europe to reconstruct
the disjointed vehicle. Besides, this monarch already
employs in a very curious fashion a canche which Queen
Victoria gave him. On solemn occasions his Majesty has
the equigage drawn by the grandees of his Court, he him-
self marching on foot by the ide.

FENIAN DISCOVERIES IN BIR3IINGIIAM.—A dis-
covery of important Fenian documents has been made
in Birmingham. On Sunday afternoon last a house in
Park-street, which is chiefly inhabited by Irish people,
suddenly fell to the ground, the inmates sustaining rather
severe bruise?, and some of them having a narrow escape
with their lives. While some workmen were engaged
in removing the debris of this fallen building, they
came upon some curiously-written papers, which, from
their nature, were at once banded over to the police. The
documents, on examination, proved to be a detailed list of
instructions isued for the guidance of the members of the
Fenian brotherhood. Minute directions are given as to
I, the raising and drilling of men, and the organisation of a
I system of secret police to circumvent the Government,
together with instructions as to conducting correspondence,
and how to act in certain emergencies. The authorities
are making inquiries into the matter.
MATRIMONY UNDER DIFFICULTIES. -At St.
Mary's Church, Weymouth, an unsuccessful attempt to
unite a couple in the bonds of marriage was made by the
Rev. A. Davidson. The bridegroom had been fortifying
himself for the ordeal with powerful stimulants, and had
rather exceeded the bounds of prudence. Ile got on verywell
with the service as far as the momentous " I will," but there
his comprehension seems to have failed. He was desired
to repeat after the clergyman, who recited " I, William, &c.,
rtake thee, &e." "All right, sir," said the aspiring Benedict,
" Repeat after me," was reiterated. " All right, sir." " I,
William," was again attempted. " Right, sir ; that's me."
This went on for some time, Van the clerk handed him
the book. He managed then to spell " of," but gave it
up as a bad job, observing that "he was no scholar."
The minister was at last obliged to desist, saying he could
not go on with such a mockery any longer. The bride-
groom cheerfully assented, with " You're right, sir; it is
a regular mucker." The parties then left the church ; but
a more successful attempt was made the next da7,--Dyreet
.70tirita CArQuitle.