The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-09 00:00:00

LAW AND POLICE.

THE CHARGE AGAINST THE EARL OF SHAFTESBURY'S
STEWARD.—In the Central Criminal Court an application
was made on behalf of the defendant, Mr. Short Waters, that
the indictments preferred against him by the Earl of Shaftes-
bury for embezzlement should be disposed of at the next
cessions of the court. The application was resisted on
behalf of the prosecution, on the ground that the Chancery
proceedings were not yet concluded. Mr. Justice Shee,
however, expressed an opinion that such serious charges
should not be kept hanging over the head of the defendant
for an indefinite period, and he directed that the trial
should take place at the April session.

THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A FATHER.—The shoe-
maker, named Ballisat, charged with attempting to murder
his father, was also brought before Justice Smith, at the
Old Bailey. He pleaded guilty. A question was raised
its to the sanity of the prisoner, but Dr. Gibson, the sur-
geon of Newgate, having deposed that there was nothing
in his demeanour in prison to indicate that his mind was
affected, his plea of guilty was received. He was sen.
tented to six years' penal servitude.
UNPROVOKED ASSAULT.—Mr. Justice Smith disposed,
-*sides, of the case of James Blake, who was charged with
unlawfully wounding. It appeared that while the prosecutor
was accompanying his cousin, Mrs. Wren, a cripple,
towards Woolwich, the prisoner set on him, beat him,
kicked him, and, taking away Mrs. Wren's crutch, broke
It over him. The defence was that prosecutor was assault-
ing Mrs. Wren, but this was shewn not to be the case,
and prisoner was found guilty, and sentenced to six months'
hard labour.

ANNOYING A ROMAN CATHOLIC CONGREGATION.—At
the Blackburn County Petty Sessions four boys have beer
charged with annoying the congregation at the Itomal
Catholic chapel at Great Harwood. It appeared'that on
the day in question the four defendants went into the
Roman Catholic Chapel at Great Harwood, near Black
hurn, and during the time the officiating priest was cate
chising children at the altar they made use of blasphemoub
language, and in loud terms accused the priest of forni-
cation, and otherwise annoyed the congregation.
These were disgraceful proceedings, and had arisen out
of the lectures given by Mr. Murphy in the neighbour-
hood. The Bench was asked to inflict the highest penalty.
The prisoners pleaded guilty to the charge, and asked t
sa o
he dealt with leniently, as they had been incited by Mr.
Murphy. The Bench, after some consideration, id it
was one of those disgraceful cases that must be put down
with a strong hand. Each of the prisoners must go to
prison for one month.
ACTING STAGE PLAYS WITHOUT A LICENSE.—At the
South Shields Petty Sessions, Messrs. Banal and Blakey,
proprietors of the Alhambra Music Hall, of that town,
were summoned at the instance of the proprietor of *th(
theatre for performing stage plays without a license.
Several persons who had seen the " spectacle " said thert
was a plot, and the affair was much like the acting in f,
theatre. The magistrates inflicted a mitigated fine of £2l
wad costs.

THE BEGGING STSTEM IN THE PROVINCES. - At tb.
Clifton Police-court an instructive exposure of the systen
of professional begging has been made. George and R,ober
Harrison, father and son, were charged with begging b
means of a petition. The complainant was Major-Genera
Kelley, and it appeared that a few days ago a printed cir
cular in verse, was left at his house, headed, " The Ai
peal of the Unemployed ! " Not feeling sure that it wa
genuine, he made inquiries, and found that his house an
that a his neighbours had all of. them been marke-I iii
peculiar manner. Further inquiries resulted in Vie dis
covery of a perfect system of professional begging. Havin
obtained a clue to the marks, he found that a small squill.,
signified " Unfavourable ; mind the dog !" A circle with
dot in the centre, " Dangerous ; sure of a month's prison.'
A. circle with a cross in the centre, " Religious, but ticl3
on the whole." A mark like the prongs of a pitchfork
"Go this direction, there's nothing the other way." 1
diamond-shaped mark meant " Good." A triangle
" Spoilt by too many tramps ;" while a plain cross signi
fled " No good ; too poor, and too knowing." His owl
door had the last-mentioned mark. He waited till th(
prisoners called for the circular again,
andancl thethen hadcour court dis
apprehended. They pleaded guilty,
charging the boy, 104@ 1 p1a.94 i2thiirtoeu days

fn
the absence of a second candidate, .
they, second son of Colonel Lowther, has
succeed his father in the representation
Mr. LOWTHER,'").II returning thanks
said that for the last twenty-five years he
tached to the diplomatic service, and had resit
appointment to the post of her Majesty's Minister at
Buenos Ayres in order to become a candidate for West-
moreland, and he had now receive] his reward in his elec-
tion that day. The first question which would probably
engage Parliament next session would be that of Ireland.
He was glad to find that Fenianism had exe:t the
general disgust which he heard expressed every where in
Westmoreland. ),If the Fenians had any wrongs, the course
they were pursuing was not the right one to rethess them.
(Cheers.) Any measures which the Government might
propose for the suppression of their lawless pro-
ceedings should have his best support. It might be
that severe measures would be necessary, for severe
maladies require severe remedies. The next question
would be that of education. That question must he dealt
with unless England would consent to be behind its Conti-
nental neighbours. His long residence in Prussic, where
he had spent nineteen years of his life, had made him
familiar with the Prussian system of education, of which
he spoke very highly. There was no hardship in le com-
pulsory system adopted there, and to their system of edu-
cation he attributed, and the Prussians themselves at-
tributed, the Prussian success in the war of
18G6. The Prussian army consisted of 300,000 men,
of whom there were only ten that could not read
and write. He hoped to see established in England
before long technical schools, such as they have in Prus-
sia ; but primary education was the question which must
first engage the attention of the Legislature, and he
should support any measure which he considered would
advance that object. He was glad the Reform question
was disposed of ; and as to foreign affairs, he did not take
such a gloomy view. He had been behind the scenes, and
the thunder which they heard from the clouds which were
said to be hanging on the political horizon was only theatri-
4-.6under. (Laughter.) The cloud was only a bit of
finanvas, and as soon as it had served its purpose
here would be a bright slay. .(Chars.)

An ELECTOR asked whether-the hoa.mornber would sup.-
port the Alliance Permissive Bill, .t wikhlie replied that
he did not think it would be. fair for two-thirds (Av.-parish
to " sit on " the other third.

Thanks were given to the Sheriff, and the proceedings
closed.

TEE REFORM LEAGUE.

The Council of the Reform League held a meeting last
evening at the offices, Adelphi-terrace. Mr. Beaks,
who took the chair, said he trusted they were pre-
pared to carry on their labours during the present year
with the same sober spirit and judgment which had
hitherto distinguished them. The year before them pro-
mised to be one of very great importance. In the first
place, it was necessary that they should insist upon a
large reform of the Reform Act. The Irish question
must be settled to the satisfaction of the Irish people.
The true cure for Fenianism was not the suppression of
the Constitution, but the removal of that social disease
which had sbewn itself by virulent outrages. He then
referred to the suspension of the Irish Reform League,
and said they could not carry on their meetings in a
constitutional manner because the constitution was
suspended in Ireland. He went on to state that, he
had received a letter from Mr. Keevit, of the Irish
Reform League, and that letter had evidently been
opened and read. The Reform Lea,gue was as open
as the light of day. It feared no foe and no investiga-
tion, but it was resolutely determined that the people of
Ireland as well as the people of England should have
their just rights. Mr. Acland moved : " That this
Council desires to express to Mr. Keevit and the other
members of the Irish "Worm League its deep sympathy
with them under the circumstances which have led to the
temporary suspension of the meetings and proceedings of
their League, and pledges itself to support by all legal
and constitutional means in its power every effort that
shall be made by Irishmen and their friends in this
country to press upou the Legislature the speedy adoption
of all such full measures of Reform with regard to the
Irish Church and land questions,Tadd other matters in
Church and State, as shall be calculated to remove all
just grounds of discontent from the minds of the Irish
people, and put them in possession; of all such rights and
liberties as are enjoyed by the people of England."
Guedalla believed that nothing would satisfy
Ireland but a Parliament sitting on College-green, and he
trusted that they would assist Ireland to get a, repeal
of the Union. After a discus,sion, the chairman said
lie did not pledge himself to support the repeal of the
Union. He thought it would be extremely prejudicial
for the League to come to a decision on the subject.
The motion was carried.— Mr. Odger moved a resolution
:hat an opportunity be afforded the Irish people to vote,
by manhood suffrage, the kind of government they would
wish for the happiness and prosperity of their country.—
Mr. Cromer opposed the resolution. He believed it was
not a question of liberty with that race, but one of creed.
If England went over to Catholicism, Ireland would hug
her chains. Ireland, owing to her geographical position,
was the key of the British Empire, and Ireland in the
hands of a foe would endanger the existence of the empire.
As an English Democrat, he was compelled to oppose the
resolution.---After some discussion, an amendment was
moved that the question be deferred till another meeting,
and it was carried.—Mr. Osborne said the Home Office had
no power to interfere with the right of public meeting, but
the Middlesex magistrates had. The police having
threatened the landlords of four public-houses where
branch meetings had been held with the withdrawal of
licenses if Reform meetings were allowed, he suggested
that the Council should guarantee the rent of a room for
three months. The subject was referred to the executive
committee, and a vote of thanks to the chairman closed
the proceedings.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Sole I essee and Manageress, Mrs. Swanborough.
THIS EVENING, at 7, KIND TO A FAULT.
After which will be produced a Grand Christmas Operatic
Oriental Extravaganza " THE CALIPH OF BAGDAD " Messrs.
Thorne, James, Turner, Murray; Mesdames A. Swanborough,
Johnstone, Harland, Holt, i\ ewton,
To conclude with OUR DOMESTICS.