The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-13 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

SHAMMING FITS.--Mary Follett, a stout, fair-
haired woman, of dissipated appearance, was charged
under the following circumstances.
Police-constable James, 290 B, said he was on
duty in College-street, Chelsea, last evening, when
he was attracted by a crowd of persons. On going
to the spot he found the defendant sitting on a step,
surrounded by a number of persons who were at-
tending upon her.
Mr. Arnold—What was the matter with her ?
Constable—She was in a fit, at least so it was
supposed, and the people were rubbing her hands
and bathing her with vinegar and water. She ap-
peared quite insensible, and while this was going on
a medical gentleman came up, and he kindly said
he would look to ber. lle took hold of her hand,
and when he had done so and examined her, he said
that she was in no fit but was shamming, and
directly he said this she jumped and swore
at him, and began abusing him. I told her
if that was the sort of fit she was in she had better
go away, but she refused, and turning round pulled
off one of her shoes and threw it at me. She then
became so violent that I was obliged to hold her
down upon the ground. She was drunk, and her
language all the way to the station was as bad as
I ever heard in my life.

?Jr. Arnold (to defendant)—What have you to
say to this ?
Defendant—Nothing.

Mr. Arnold—Your conduct is as disgraceful as
can well be conceived. You are committed to the
House of-Correction for 7 days.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

WEST SOMERSET MINERAL.

A special general meeting of this company was
held yesterday at the City Terminus Hotel ; Mr.
Robinson in the chair.

The CHAIRMAN said the object of the meeting
was to consider an application from the directors
of the Ebbw Vale Company, who had a lease of
the line, for a release of that agreement, and to ac-
cept, in substitution, an agreement for the remain-
der of the term of years from the Ebbw Vale Iron
and Steel Company (Limited). The Ebbw Vale
Company had reduced its liabilities on shares from
£5O to £35 per share. Ile considered the security
of the West Somerset Company was not in any
degree lessened. In fact, he thought the security
was as good as 3 per Cent. Consols. A doubt
had been thrown upon the validity of the agree-
ment with the Ebbw Vale Company. The direc-
tors would take the opinion of Mr. Lloyd, and, if
necessary, the company would go to Parliament for
power to confirm the same. He moved a resolution
releasing the Ebbw Vale Company from the agree-
ment, and substituting a similar one from the Ebbw
Vale Iron and Steel Company.

Mr. QUILTER, in seconding the motion, said he
had a very large interest in the West Somerset
Mineral Company ; aud, taking all things into con-
sideration, a satisfactory arrangement had been
conic to with the directors of the two companies re-
ferred to.

The resolution was carried and the meeting
separated.

RAILWAY BILLS.

Yesterday, in the House of Lords, hi Lord Re-
desdale's Committee, their lordships passed the
Cork and Macroom (Direct) Railway Bills, with
amendments, and the Waterford . and Kilkenny
Railway Bill, without amendments. In the House
of Commons, in Mr. Dodson's Committtee, the fol-
lowing Bills were passed :—Glastonbury and Street
Tramway, the Clonmel, Lismore, and Dungarvan
Railway, the Wolverhampton and Walsall Rail-
way, the North British Railway (General Powers),
and the Midland and London and North-Western
Railway Companies Bills. In the group upon
Metropolitan Gas Bills, it was; announced that the
parties would not proceed with the (No. 2) Impe-
rial Gas Bill. In Groups G and H, the Maryport
District and Harbour, and the Maryport Improve-
ment and Harbour Bills were proceeded with, and
the other bills in the group were adjourned. In
Group No. 1, the committee commenced the consi-
deration of the East London Railway Bill, which
was proceeded with. The Great Eastern Railway.
the Metropolitan and St. John's-wood-road Rail-
way, the London and Blackwall Railway, the
Bishop's Stortford, Diinmow, and Braintree Rail-
way, and the Metropolitan Railway Bills were pro-
ceeded with and adjourned.

BREWERS AND RETAILER OF BEER.—In the year
ending with September, 1867, there were in the Uhited
Kingdom 96,421 licensed victuallers. In England the num-
ber was 68,395 ; and there were in England 46,510 persons
licensed to sell beer to be drunk on the premises, and 3,21 L
persons licensed to sell beer not drunk on the premises.
In the London collection there were 4,990 licensed vic-
tuallers, 2,644 beorshop-keepers, and 99 persons licensed
to sell beer not to be drunk on the premises. A large num-
ber of licensed victuallers and retailers of beer brew their
own beer; and in the year ending with September, 1867,
37,110 persons in the United Kingdom paid for licenses as
common brewers, the duty amounting in the whole to
£376,061. As in 1866, so in 1867, two brew ers paid licence
duty for brewing more than 600,000 barrels, paying be-
tween them more than £lB,OOO fur license duty. Three
others more than £5,000 each, brewing between 400,000 and
500,000 barrels.