The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-31 00:00:00

THAMES.

On Monday last a woman named Bridget Donovan
was charged with being unlawfully possessed of a 501.
note, of which, after having changed it at the Ship, in
High-street, Poplar, she gave such unsatisfactory ac-
counts, that she was remanded to allow further time
for inquiry. The publicity given to the fact through
the medium of this journal led to the apprehension of
Catherine Fitzgerald, sister to Bridget Donovan, who
was brought upyesterday by Sergeant Milstead, 12 K,
who stated that seeing the report of the case he made
inquiries in the neighbourhood of Barking, where the
prisoner's sister was stated to have lived, and ascer-
tained that Mr. Samuel Vaines, a butcher, residing
there, had lost a note to that amount, but had not
missed it until Sunday last.
Mr. YARDLEY—Have you him here? Milstead—
No, sir; he is an ailing man, 80 years of age, and
cannot attend to-day. He said he suspected his ser-
vant, who was sister to the person who had uttered a
501. note at Poplar. That about three weeks ago his
servant's brother and sister had called to see her. It
was Sunday, and he went to church leaving the key
in his box, and he suspected that the note must have
been stolen at that time. When witness told the pri-
soner (Fitzgerald) the charge for which she was taken,
she said at first that she knew nothing about it, but
on being searched at the station-house, she said there
was another woman and a girl cleaning the place at
the time, and they perhaps had taken it and lost it, and
her brother perhaps picked it up afterwards.
Prisoner—Oh, you wicked man, I did not say that.

Mr. YARDLEY-LI believe the woman -Donova❑ is
remanded till to -morrow. Has the prisoner anything
to say ? Prisoner—Yes. There was another woman
charring with me. Master trusted her with the keys,
and young master said he was sure it was she that
did it.
Mr. YARDLEY—When the woman Donovan was
brought up, some constable stated that he bad seen her
in communication with a fellow to whom some suspi-
cion attached previously to the_note being changed
at the Ship. That person, I suppose, is her brother,
and I presume you are on the look out fur him.

Milstead—Fie is easily found, Sir.
Mr. YARDLEY—Strictly following up this strange
case, the prosecutor ought to be here in person. Does
he know the number of the note ? Milstead—No,
Sir. But he knows the person from whom he re-
ceived it in payment of meat.
Mr. YARDLEY—WeII, you must have him here
when the other woman is brought up, and the case can
be rendered more entire.

The prisoner, who made no further defence, was
accordingly remanded.

THE FIRE AT GRAVESEND.

GRAVESEND, OcT. 30.—This day the prisoner
Samuel Marder (not Marden, as he gave his name on
Monday), was brought up on remand, charged on
suspicion of having set fire to the house No. 5, which
he had occupied, as it appeared for some years, in the
Crescent, at the top of Harmer-street, in the name of
Lunn.

This day Mr. Francis Southgate, solicitor, attended
to
Thedefend e v theien
evidence
o
accused.policefofretia n
to
the constable
Robert Aitkins,Corporationkhamfiarendo
Wic
en-
gines, was recapitulated. NVickham was closely cross-
examined by Mr. Southgate, butwithout
shaking in
the least his evidence as given on Monday.
The fact of finding the all but burnt box, or
rather the remnants of the embers of the box and its
combustible contents, with the candlestick as it was
found imbedded in it, was again
proved; and Mr.
Southgate admitted that it was
a most supicious cir-
cumstance, but might be accounted
for by the ad-
mission of the policeman kh
lc am that he had thrown
such a quantity of water (some
six or seven buckets),
as might have, from its forcible action, thrown the
candlestick and its burning candle into the bottom of
the box where it was found, and now lay as produced
before the bench.
Mr. H. Newman, agent to the Phoenix Insurance
Company, was re-examined, and in reply to Mr.
Southgate, stated that on the sth of the present month,
when he, as agent to the company, made the in-
surance, he bad made a survey of the furniture of Mr.
Marder on which the insurance was effected, and be-
lieved he was fully justified from such survey in esti-
mating its value at the amount insured—namely, 2501.
He also on the same day, when Mr. Marder applied
for insurance of his stock in trade for 2501, went into
the shop, and said, on viewing it, to Mr. Marder,
‘, You surely have not stock in trade here to justify
me in insuring you for the amount you claim—that
is 2501." Mr. Marder then told him (witness) that
the boxes on the shelves in the shop contained a quan-
tity of lace highly valuable, and greatly beyond the
amount of insurance—namely, the 2501. Upon this
statement he (Mr. Newman) made no further objec-
tion, but gave Mr. Warder the receipt for the premium
of insurance 500/., not including fixtures or anything
on the premises but the stock in trade and the furni-
ture. The witness on taking a cursory survey of the
furniture in the different apartments in the house on
the sth inst. believed the value to justify is making,
as agent for the office, an insurance on them to the
amount (2501.) for which they were assured. The
stock in trade in the shop he did not examine, resting
upon the assertion of Mr. Marder that the boxes in
the shop contained a quantity of lace at least equal to
2501. The stock in trade was insured on the sth.
To Mr. Oakes—Examined the furniture and stock
in trade on Monday evening last—the day after the
discovery of the fire and the investigation into it before
the magistrates. Found the rooms scantily furnished,
as compared to the first survey he made, when about
to effect the insurance. Found in the bedroom the
wardrobes he had seen on the sth instant, but there
was nothing in the drawers. Found in the shop two
bits of lace—a sort of bordering apparently for a
woman's dress, but could not state the value. It was
so insignificant in value that he could not take upon
himself to say what it was worth.
To Mr. Tickner—There certainly was no property
in the shop, nor yet in the rooms as furniture, to jus-
tify the amount insured ; still, there was no material
difference in the appearance of that quality of furni-
ture to justify him in saying .
that he could have dis-
covered the removal of any article. At the same time
it appeared to him, on the examination he male on
Monday last, that there was a great scantiness of
furniture as compared with when he surveyed it and
made the insurance for Mr. Marder, on the sth inst.
The receipt he gave for the premium of 1/. paid to
him by Mr. Warder was binding on the Phoenix
Company. On all insurance companies he believed
such receipt would be equally binding. There would

he no dispute about the payment of the insurance.
In this case, as there'. was no clsim, no insured pro-
perty having been destroyed, the Phcanix-office would
not prosecute. They were satisfied with leaving it
in the hands sof the magistrates and police of
Gravesend.

Mr. Southgate said, that although he could not get
over the suspicious facts as proved before the Bench,
yet he felt bound to tell them that he had evidence to
show that Mr. Marder did not set fire to his house.
Mr. Marder ovviA a half-year's rent, which it was not
convenient to him to pay, and he was determined " to
bolt." He had removed on the Saturday night a
portion of his stock in trade, which chiefly belonged
to his house of business in London, and intended to
remove the remainder on Sunday night, when the
fire occurred, which frustrated his intention.

Mr. Oakes—Yes, Mr. Southgate, but how can you
account for the position of that candlestick in that
box ? And again, how can you account for the fact
of the insurance of the furniture and stock in trade a
few days before this, as you call it, accidental fire--
admitting your own statement in defence of your
client, that he was surreptitiously leaving the town to
avoid payment of his rent ?
Mr. Southgate—l admit that the whole evidence
at present against Mr. Marder. I will refrain from
entering into rebutting it at present, and confine my-
self to asking you to admit this poor, aged, and un-
healthy man to bail.
The Magistrates, after a moment's consultation,
decllred that they could not accept bail for the pri-
soner; and having expressed their intention to com-
mit him for trial, agreed to have him again brought
up on Friday morning to perfect the depositions
against him on a charge of arson.
The court was crowded during the inquiry, the
municipal members of the town and several of the
gentry of the surrounding country being present.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
DEMERARA.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was held
yesterday at the London Tavern, Mr. M'Chlery in
the chair.

The report stated that, notwithstanding the delays
occasioned by the recurrence of the rainy season (which
from its severity caused a total cessation of all out-
door work for some weeks), the line has been pushed
on to Porter's Hope, and that in eight weeks more,
or by the close of the year, the important station of
Victoria would be reached. The engineer's report is
highly satisfactory as to the condition of the works,
the embankments, the bridges, and the railway plant
generally. The committee of management at Deme-
rara state that the line as far as Porter's Hope station
would be opened for public traffic on the 7th of this
month, when also additional carriages for third-class
passengers would commence running regularly. The
committee had occasionally been much embarrassed
from want of funds, which at times threatened to
stop altogether the progress of the works. Official
notification was sent to the Governor of British
Guiana some months ago of the confirmation by her
Majesty of the ordinance granting a loan of 50,000/.
for the advancement of this undertaking ; but at the
same time, the necessary authority was not given
to Governor Barkly to negotiate bills for
any part of that amount, so that at the
present moment this loan, with the exception of the
17,0001. originally advanced, has not been made
availiable to the company. The directors understand
that the packet appointed to sail on the 2d proximo
will carry out instructions from the authorities on the
subject, and in the meantime they have every confi-
dence that the Governor, who has always evinced a
strong desire to promote the success of the under-
taking, will continue to make such temporary advances
from the Colonial treasury as will remove any ob-
stacles to the advancement of the works. The sum of
9,5111. has been received for the conveyance of goods
and passengers by the railway—an amount which the
directors believe to be sufficiently encouraging, con-
sidering that the line has only been open to a mode-
rate extent, and at the same time the process of con-
struction has been going on. The directors anticipate
with continued confidence that these returns will stea-
dily increase as the line progresses, and the peculiar
advantages of railway communication become more
apparent, and that they will ultimately be amply re-
munerative, especially as various modifications of the
existing goods tariff are about to be adopted with the
view of insuring to this company the entire carrying
trade of the east coast district of this colony. Since the
last meeting 5501. has been received on account
of outstanding arrears. The number of forfeited
shares now amounts to 1,005, upon which 3,7751.
has been received by the company. The report of
Mr. Manifold, the engineer, stated that the works
during the past six months have been impeded by the
severe weather and enormous amount of rain which
fell during the months of April and May. In the
course of two months, if the weather continue favour-
able, the line will he compl.eted to the village of Vic-
toria. The bridges (now numbering nearly 100) are
in good order; in one or two instances pitch-pine
timbers have been removed and greenheart substi-
tuted. The embankments are in all respects substan-
tial, and the permanent way is in good order, as is also
the rolling stock. Several of the new trucks in course
of construction have been completed. The stock of
pitch-pine sleepers has been exhausted; more sleepers
are being laid down, and will make a more substan-
tial and lasting permanent way. The general state-
ment of accounts to the Ist of October, 1850, showed
that 193,2441. had been received, including 3.519/. for
goods-traffic, and 5,9921. for passenger, traffic ; that
190,700 f. bad been expended, leaving a balance of
2,544/. at the bankers' in the hands of the Demerara
committee.

The CHAIRMAN said he would be happy to answer
any questions ; and in reply to Mr. Ridgway, stated
that the line from the terminus at Georgetown to the
station at Porter's Hope, was 13 miles in length, and
to Victoria 15 miles ; the latter being two miles from
the former place. It was a question whether they
would go beyond Victoria, because when they got to
Victoria they would have the greater portion of the
traffic.

Mr. RIDG WAY considered the report very satisfac-
tory; lie believed that their traffic would improve
considerably, and that the undertaking would prove
successful. He would be glad to see the line extended
to Mahaica, which place was about five miles beyond
Victoria. He concluded by moving the reception and
adoption of the report.
Colonel WARREN, on seconding the motion, ex-
pressed his surprise that pitch-pine had been used on
their works, for he thought that no person having any
knowledge of that material would use it in outdoor
work.

The CHAIRMAN said, they were in the hands of
their engineer; the pitch-pine sleepers were brought
ready made from the United States, where they were
found to answer very well. Tne greenheart was
much more expensive, and so far as they had gone
he had heard no complaint of the pitch-pine sleepers.
The report was unanimously adopted, and after a
cordial vote of thanks to the chairman and directors
the meeting separated.

LONDON AND BLACKWALL.—The Fenchurch-street
station of this railway has recently undergone con-
siderable alteration, to admit of the increased traffic
attending the opening of the East and West India
Dock and Birmingham Junction Railway, which
joins the line at Stepney, and proceeds to Bow,
Hackney, and Islington, the line being only com-
pleted to the last place. The north side of the London
station is exclusively devoted to the Black wall traffic,
and the south side to that of the Birmingham Junc-
tion. There are 224 trains running in and out of the
station during the day—viz., from eight in the morn-
ing till ten at night, the trains running for both lines
every quarter of an hour. These do not include the
luggage trains.
WHITE HAVEN AND FURNESS JUNCTION.—The re-
maining portion of this railway, extending from
Bootle to the junction of the Furness line, near
Broughton, in Furness, will be opened for general
traffic to-morrow, the Ist of November.
BIRKENHEAD, LANCASHIRE, AND CHESHIRE.—On
Tuesday the Government Inspector went over the
further extension of this company's line from Chester
to Warrington, about twenty miles in length, con-
necting the town and docks at Birkenhead with Man-
chester, Chester, and Wales. The new line, com-
mencing at Chester, joins the London and North-
Western at Warrington, over which it runs to Man-
chester. The new route, besides abbreviating the
journey to these points by cutting off the existing
circuit at 'Crewe, will offer an outlet for the free
transit of goods to and from the port of Birkenhead,
for the trs 'visit of raw material to the manufacturing
and agricultural districts. The stations at the towns
accommodated are Durham, Frodshain, Moore, Nor-
ton, and Warrington. The line will provide a direct
route from Birkenhead and Chester via Holyhead to
Dublin, and the opening train starts from Birkenhead
this day (Thursday) at ten o'clock.
GREA T WESTERN EXCURSION TRAINS.—This com-
pany's excursion train on Sunday took 750 persons
out of London to various parts of the West of Eng-
land. The excursion train from Bath and Bristol on
Tuesda v, and which returned with them last night,
took abc ,ut 300. It is observed that a larger number
of excur zionists avail themselves of these trains from
Bath, Cheltenham, and other places, where public
meetings have been held against them, than from other
towns ori the route where no meetings have been held.