The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-17 00:00:00

LAW AND POLICE.

THREATENING TO MURDER LORD HOWE AND
PAMILY.—At the Leicestershire Assizes, held before Mr.
Justice Byles, an elderly man, named John Hill, has been
zbarged with sending a threatening letter to Lord Howe.
The accused had previously caused annoyance to the
Family. The present charge appears to have arisen from
excitement created by the elections in progress at the
period when he sent the letter. The prisoner was found
not guilty on the ground of insanity, and was ordered to be
confined during her Majesty's pleasure.
A BURGLAR GOT RID OF FOR TEN YEARS.-011
Tuesday, at the Manchester Assizes, John Kenworthy
and Samuel Worrall were indicted for having burglariously
entered the house of George Simmons, at Ashton-under-
Lyne, and stolen a quilt, a rug, a pair of blankets, and
a pair of sheets. The prosecutor's house had been broken
into and robbed, and the prisoners were afterwards found
in possession of the property, and trying to dispose of it.
The evidence against Worrall was slight, and he was
acquitted, but Kenworthy was found guilty, and (having
been four times previously convicted), sentenced to ten
years' penal servitude. _ _

GALLOWS' MRDs.—A daring highway robbery by boys
cook place a few days ago in the borough of Southwark.
lad,named Rigg,had been to the bank for his employers,
and was returning about half-past four o'clock with £l4
worth of silver, in a bag, when he was set on by several
boys, knocked down, and the money carried off. Rigg
having particularly noticed one of his assailants, a youth
of 17, gave such information to the police as led to the
spprehension of Richard Welch. On being brought
before the magistrates, Welch denied all knowledge of
the robbery, but was remanded for further inquiries.

TILE RAPE OF THE Loci.—At the Bloomsbury County
Court a lady has brought an action against a hairdresser
of Camden Town, to recover £lO as compensation for the
loss of some locks of hair, cut off, as she alleged, on tv, o
occasions by one of the defendant's assistants. The de-
fence consisted in an unqualified denial of the allegation.
The jury were unable to decide between the two conflicting
statements, and were discharged without coming to a
verdict.

TIIE BALLOT SOCIETY.—At the weekly meeting
of the committee, held at their offices, 61, Cheapside, on
Tuesday last, it was resolved to hold in London, at an
early date, a public meeting of the friends of the Ballot,
and the secretary was instructed to invite several members
of Parliament to take part in the proceedings. It was also
resolved to urge upon the friends of the Ballot throughout
the country the importance of memorialising Mr. Glad.
stone, and of petitioning both Houses of Parliament in
favour of the Ballot.

"WIDOWS OF INDIAN OFFICERS.—The late Secre-
tary of State for India, just before going out of office, gave
Us decision in the case of daughters of Indian officers,
;aiming on the Madras Military Fund. Sir S. Northcotc
expresses to the home committee of the fund his regret that,
without cancelling concessions already made, there exists
no surplus of the fund from which provision can be made
for allowing daughters of officers on becoming widows to
revert to their former pensions. This decision will dash
the hopes of many necessitous ladies, widows of Indian
nfficers resident in this country.

ANOTHER CASE OP HYDROPHOBIA AT HALIFAX.
- Three or four weeks ago a lad, named Ramsden, about
years of age, living in Range Bank, Halifax, was
shockingly worried on the neck, mouth, and cheek by a
mad dog. For some days past he has appeared to be
recovering, under the medical care of Mr. M` Williams,
but symptoms of hydrophobia have set in, and the poor
lad is not expected to recover. A medical consultation
was held on the case on Tuesday. Three deaths from
hydrophobia have occurred within a brief time iu the
borough arising from the attacks of dogs.
THE HOUSES OF CAMPBELL AND PERCY.—•
According to the North British Daily Mail, great prepara-
ions aro at present going on in London and elsewhere to
:elebrate the nuptials of Earl Percy and Lady Edith
Campbell, eldest daughter of the Duke of Argyll. The
marriage is to take place in the metropolis on the 22nd
inst., and the rejoicings are to be on a scale of splendour
and magnitude commensurate with the dignity of the
;Teat families whose fortunes are thus to be united.
Earl Percy came of age only two years ago, and is heir
the princely estates of Northumberland, The event is
:o be celebrated by a grand banquet at Northumberland
House, in the Strand, which is being fitted up for the
:ccasion in a style of great magnificence.

DEATH OF GENERAL E. M. G. SHOWERS, ROYAL
tiORSE ARTILLERY. -- We have to record the death of
3eneral Edward M. G. Showers, colonel commandant of
;he Brigade of Royal Horse Artillery (Madras), which
)ccurred on the 13th inst., in his 81th year. He entered
he East India Company's service in 1793, and was placed
n the Madras establishment. The late general was
,resent in the campaign with General Stewart's grand
Lrmy, also at Muggerall, Western Pallanirs, with Colonel
Nioneypenny's force, and in the campaign under General
!tlalcolm. His commissions bore date as follow :
',,ieutenant, April 12, 18A ; captain, April 21, 1804 ;
:aajor, June 4, 1814 ; lieutenant-colonel, May 1, 1824 ;
;olonel, June 5, 18:.L9 ; m j )r-ge eral, June 28. 1838 ;
'eutenaut-general, November 11, 1851 ; general, March,
I, 1858.

SUSPECTED MURDER NEAR BLACKBURN.—A good
teal of excitement has been caused in Blackburn and
icinity owing to a rumour having gained currency that
murder had been perpetrated in the neighbourhood, and
man had been apprehended upon suspicion. The facts
Lre these: About eleven on Tuesday night the police at
Dinckley, a village a few miles from Blackburn, were
nformed that a man named James Cumpstey, a weaver,
)ad been found murdered in his own house. A constable
went to the house, awl found the man on the bed
vitlx his throat cut in a fearful manner, and he was
!lute dead and cold. Ilis head was hanging from the
ide cf the bed, and the floor was covered with blood. A
short distance from the body, but to the left of it, was
ound a razor, also covered with blood, and the appear-
oace of the body indicated that a murder had been com-
nitted. Two boxes in the room belonging to the deceased
lad the appearance of having been broken open. Cump-
tey lodged with a man named Clayton, but he could not
)e found, having left the place, and suspicion attached to
Early on Wednesdly morning the . constabulary
apr-retended him at Ribchester, in a state of intoxi-
:atiln, and charged him with the n.ureee, Iv:len he In: de
lo reply. The bo y awaits a coroner's ingneit,