The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-19 00:00:00

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
tlO/1 THE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.
GLOBE.—Mr. Cobden mentioned last night, at the
weekly meeting of the Ailti-Corn-law League, the
line of conduct which that body had abalkfad out for
itself, as regards elections :—" Ladies and Gentlemen,
since we last met there have been changes in po-
litical life, owing to ' a certain death, which will
involve electoral changes in certain towns. I
cannot say that the chapter of accidents has
been very favourable to us.; for if we had chosen the
battle-field, we should not have gene to Horsham, to
Huntingdon, or is Woodstock.—(Cheers.) I believe
that in every instance where a vacancy occurs, a contest
will be faight,, if a local man can be found to be put up
by his own voters, even if he shall poll only 20 votes.
We have been charged with dictating to the consti-
tuencies, whereas we only profess to co-operate with
constittiatteieL We go to offer our co-operation to the
local members: of the League in the borough to which
we go. if, therefore° our friends hear that a contest
passes b 7, without a League candidate, they may con-
clude it is because the League Council will not interfere
with the local free-traders, and that they have
deferred' to- their express wish that there should
not at present be any contest, but the borough
should be left •to future organisation. In the
case of Exeter there is a contest. I have the
happiness to say that General Briggs, an officer who has
served well in India, and who is distinguished for
his philanthropy and public spirit in every form, will
be put in nomination as a candidate for Exeter—
(Cheers) —and whatever may be the result of this con-
test, I am satisfied that in a borough of 30,000 inhabi-
tants, if we . fight one battle and lose it upon princi-
ple, when we fight the next battle we shall win."
There has always been a pretty strong anti-corn
law feeling lurking in Exeter, which has displayed it-
self when any occasion has called it forth; and which
seems to be coming forth now. The Chronicle corres-
pondent from that town, April 16th, says,—" The meet-
ing of the free traders last evening was attended by
about twelve hundred persons, the Great Subscription
Room being densely crowded. The attendance was
chiefly confined to the working classes ; but the
steam is so decidedly up already, that the con-
test which has been determined upon will be a de-
cided one—sufficient to annoy, if not seriously to
embarrass, Sir W. Follett's friends." The present Go-
vernment has taken its stand in defence of the principle
of landed monopoly ; and as landed monopoly is pre-
cisely the monopoly which an increasing commercial
population can least endure, there is a broad ground of
conflict with Government candidates, whenever they stand
for large towns. This is a conflict which arises out of the na-
ture of things; the Anti-Corn-law League may be blamed,
by those whom it embarrasses—for existing at all (and they
may- thonkahemselves), but it is superfluous to blame it
for appearing on an arena like that of Exeter. It comes
to the same thing as blaming the Catholic Association for
starting its candidate in Clare. If the repeal of the
corn-laws is the cause of the towns, their upholders
will be driven to the pocket-boroughs ; and Schedule
B will be a half-way house on their journey to
- Schedule A. Their metropolitan candidate exchanges
City turtle feasts for a Sandwich at Huntingdon ;
and, their crack"-lawyer is eonfronted at Exeter by a
military champion of the Anti-Corn-law League.
It may be expected that we should add a few words to
our late observations on the rule by which it appeared to
us a body like the League should limit its intervention
at elections. We have been asked rather impetuously
by an anonymous correspondent,—" Is it possible that
you can know so little of the plans to which the League
are sOlemily pledged, after the most mature conside-
ration ; or that you have so poor an opinion of their
sinCerity, as to suppose them capable of acting on the
non-interference principle you would wish to inculcate?
Haying again and again pledged themselves that every
borough constituency shall have n candidate for whom
to record their Votes, who is in favour of ' Total and im-
mediate Repeal,' and having already got three fourths
of 'the 100;000/. they 'asked for, on purpose to carry
out this pledge, do you suppose they can now turn
roand, and, lest they should endanger the return of some
reo4erate fixed-duty Whig, recede from the contest?"
To, thi4 we have only to reply, that Mr. Cobden's
statement of the view: of the body he represents ere
mare in aczordatiee with Ours than with those of cur
above-cited Correspondent. For he, disclaims interfer-
ence, when the local free-traders of any place do not
desire it. This is a very different thing from a pledge
to 'provide a candidate, wi-tethet desired or no. Mr.
Colalens statement, in fact, leaves the initiative, where
it .shetill be, in the constituencies ; and we are con-
touted, in like Manner, to leave our recommendations to
their due weight with them. .
S FANDARD.—CoIoneI Torrens has addressed hi
Lord Ashley a letter upon the Ten Hours' Bill. This
letter is like ail that Col. Torreus writes—temperate,
gentlemanlike, and acute ; but we must add, like all
Lite arguments that we have ever seen based
upon the .prints yes of political economy, weak
and fAllaciuu.. Col. Torrens seems to maintain two
propositions th it are manifestly repugnant. The
first is, that a Ten Hours' Bill would cripple British
nninufaetures in the competition of fareign markets.
Secondly,- that it could cause an important reduction
of tioe,t. Surely it cannot do both. If the Ten Hours'
cans-a British manufacturers to demand a higher
price, it must be because the 11111 will for.ie the mill
owner,: to give the same wages for less work ; but
this plainly is not consistent with a reduction oh
wages. One or other, position must be given up, and
WQ believe that it is now generally admitted, that
if a Teo Hours' Bill operate any change in either
respect, the change will, be in the shape of a reduction
of wages, though a very light and a merely temporary
reduction. The manufacturing labourers have declared
themselves quite willing to take the Bill upon these terms,
end they are right ; one eff,!ct of the Bill must be, to
cause the factory work to be more equally distributed
over the year, and this, if the number of labourers is to
remain the same, will cause the reduction of daily
wages to be no reduction •of yearly wages. Another
effect may be to caves a greater number of hands to be
employed—but the demalti for new hands always tends
to support the rate Of, wages, and if the new hands
Me called in they will necessarily come chiefly
from the families already employed, so as with-
out diminishing., the family funds to distribute
the labour of earning. its support more equally
iii every family. It: is .not without reason then
that the factory labourers feel that a reduction of
Wages, such as a Ten Hours' Bill might produce, would
involve really, no pecuniary loss, while on the other side
it would afford an opportunity for much additional gain,
as well as some enjoyment. An intelligent workman can
always earn more than one who la not intelligent, but
what can be learned by one working 12 hours,' and impri-
esoried 14 hours in the beyond that manual skill
,which is acquired in a few weeks' Practice ? The two
'hours- abstracted from him are, in fact, the only part of
Ilia life in which he could read, reflect, or think, so as to
watse him above the condition- of a.mere animal. Grant-
-lii2; he would not, as indeed he ought not, to give the
*hole two hours to study, one hour a day reading for, a
taigi6 year would give him more knowledge than all the
taWoweers of Manchester put together. One hour a day
reailing, at 30 average octavo pages the hour, gives
at least twenty-five oc vo
ta volumes, in the 313 working
ea.ys of the year ; and we should like to know what
Manchester raillowner has in his whole life read as much.
IPeaides this, there are a thousand ways in which a man
/can employ a little time freely at his own disposal, to
tiiiakemore money, or to save more money, or to provide
'ahose.ccnnforts, for the obtaining of ,which only money
o Worth anything.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
BAIL COURT, April 18.
(Before Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN.)
un QtrBON AND THE COMMISSIONERS OF SEWERS OF
THE TOWER HAMLETS.
Mr; Michael Scales, addressing Mr. Justice Wight-
:min, said that, during the last term, the Court had
granted him a rule nisi against the Commissioners of
,Sewers for. the Tower Hamlets, which was made return-
able on the first day of the present term. Since that
rule had been granted, the Commissioners had allowed
.hint to examine their accounts,-and he had done so most
.carefully. He now Sought permission from the Court
to file an additional affidavit, containing some further
most important information and with it a copy
of the accounts. No part of this information, or of
• the accounts was in his (Mr. Scales's) possession when
,he was last before the Court. He also applied to have
tlie rule enlarged for Buell reasonable time as, under the
.circumstances -he had stated, the Court might think
&roper. •
Mr. Justice To'„ ionr-gAN—The Court, Mr. Scales, can-
mot allow an affidavit to be filed after a rule has been
.dated. The rule of Court is not to allow supplemental
fa ffi d a v its-. .
14r. Seales-,-.But, my Lord, I was not in possession of
- this information. when -I obtained the rule, and it is moot
, •desirablethat it should be brought under the cognisance
,of the Court. It consists ofoug
the accounts I have exa-
=fried, and of 'which I have nowif the copy
-
in my hand.
Mr: Justice'Justice'WlGHTMAN you
application
oa your old in-
sfeo
rto a
newaba abandon
the rule,'' and make , a fresh
founded upon your new information n
formationcombined, you can do so. Discharge your old
rule, and try, under the Hew and old matter, for another
rule ; there can be no objection to that.
...Mr. Scales--With all deference to the Court I think
- 'it would be better to allow this additional affidavit to be
- filed. It is very nece'ssa'ry these accounts should be
'brought into the consideration of the matter, for a
?greater fraud 'levy wii practised upon the public.
Mr. Justice WICOFITMA.N—The rule is inflexible, Mr.
ou in the way I have pointed out.
- %ales. I can only help y
Arr. Scales (in a very insinuating tone)—Could the
str• fall Court holp me: My Lord, if I applied there ?
Qtr
Mr. Justice WIGIITIIAN----NO. The rule is the game
as here.
Mr. Sea'es—Any of the other
Courts, lny Lord—do
,youithink I eould?.---(Laughtor.) and „, Scales
- The Learned Judge shook his hee.4, Mr:
retired. In a few minutes, however, he pitnrned, and it
'teas then arranged that the rule nisi alreAdy obtained
•-i tid be discharvd on payment of costs by Mr. Scales,
ant til:( at on a tuture day he should Stpply fax another
rt.tle,-roinded on the old affidavit and the new ose coin-
inuod. ...

•
• T
A SMAIXT" V.yrra.—The gaggerstow n °W,
4-41.1i4 the following The best political joke that we have
• lftard, of f some time citmeoff at this. place ou Wednesdiv
1114. A W him and a. Democrat were engaged in digging a
• Well, the Whig above, working the windlass, and the De-
: moerat helow, filliwg the bucket. They had agreed that at
!.5 o'clock they together would go and deposit their ballots,
eaeh lot his respective party. But when the hour ap-
iproached, the Wing quietly drew up the bucket, set it to
one side, and went to deposit his ballot, leaving the poor
Democrat at the bottom of the well, without a possibility of
escape, Ilis chagrin may be imagined, when, on the return
of the Whig, he found the polls had closed, and he had lost
his vote. This is a warning to all politilians to keep out of
lobo ceeleitikn dtty.

THE WILLS FORGERIES•

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
OLD COURT.
Mr. WrLEZIS (in continuation from our Afternoon ELlition of
yesterday) Said—All the documentary evidence against Barber
came from his own office. He had never been seen at the house
in Francis-street. The supposed Miss Slack was introduced to
hi at his own office. He told the people at the Bank that
shem was Miss Slack, because Fletcher told him so, as Phil-
pott identified her from the representation of Barber. The
Learned Gentlemen then referred again to the evidence of
Mr. Freshfield, which he read over at length. He com-
mented in strong language on the suppression of the fact
that Mr. Barber felt very indignant when Mr. Freshfield
told him he was himself suspected. If Mr. Barber
felt a consciousness of guilt he would have acted
like a guilty man, and made his way to the
nearest railway station to go to a foreign country. But no,
truth and honesty were bold. He remained ; and the very
documents referring to this transaction were found tied up
in a professional manner, were found in his office after he was
taken to the Mansion house. It was quite consistent also
that he should refuse the name. of the person who instructed
him, because he knew what was due from a professional man
to his client. He had now gone through the whole evi-
dence ; and, in conchision, he begged of them to reflect
what were the advantages and privileges they derived from
society, in order that they might well weigh the
verdict they were to give. He entreated them not to listen
to public clamour, and to give a verdict according to reason,
and truth, and justice.
The Learned Gentleman occupied more than four hours in
addressing the Jury.
Mr. GREAVES then addressed the jury in hlf of the pri-
soner Fletcher. After begging the jury to discard from their
minds the verdict in the former case, he sought to impress on
the jury that there was not sufficient evidence to
identify Fletcher with this transaction. The principal
evidence against him was that of Mr. Apslev and his wife,
who deposed to the inquiries he made at. Ring's Langley
respecting Miss Slack; but there was nothing unreasonable
in supposing that under the circumstances they were mis-
taken, especially as they did not seem to be very certain
respecting his identity. There was no evidence to show that
either Mrs. Dorey or Mrs. Saunders knew Fletcher before
this transaction. It had not been clearly proved that the
notes came into the possession of Mr. Fletcher, and upon this
point ho contended that the case for the prosecution had en-
tirely failed. Fletcher had not been apprehended till after
this transaction was disclosed, and he was attending at the
Mansion-house as a witness when he was arrested.
There was no evidence that his client ever knew anything
of a will, and he submitted it would be going further than
the evidence warranted, if they found that his client ever
forged this will. Ths evidence was much too doubtful and
uncertain to warrant them in finding a verdict against his

client.
Mr. STONE was about to address the jury for William
Saunders and Lydia Saunders, when,
Mr. Justice WILLIAMS said that though he did not think
there was no evidence to go to the jury with regard to William
Saunders, yet it was for them to say, before the Learned
Counsel addressed them, whether there was such evidence
against him as was worthy of their serious consideration.
There was not the least evidence that he had any
knowledge of the uttering of the forged will—supposing it
to be forged—which was necessary, in point of law, to make
him guilty. They would therefore consider whether they
would think it necessary for the Learned Counsel to address
them for William Saunders. -
The jury did not think there was, any evidence against
him, and they accordingly brought in a verdict of Not Guilty.
Mr. Sroxa then addressed the jury for Lydia Saunders.
She was charged with a guilty knowledge before the fact,
and with inciting Barber to forge the-will and. to alter it.
The first evidence against Lydia Saunders was that of Martha
Anne Neville. She had not seen her for a year. His client was
was never seen by the witness without her bonnet. She said
she had flaxen ringlets, but there was black hair found in
the hair brush. It was sworn that Mrs. Dorey was in the
habit of calling there, and was there anything improbable in
slipposing that the black hair was hers. -The mother was a
person of bad sight, and all she could. say:was, that she be-
lieved the prisoner was the person why • lodged with her.
Could they be satisfied that she was.the person who came with
Mr. Barber to Mr. Wills? Mr. Wills had not seen her for
more than live minutes, and he had no distinct recollection
ahout the person .of the woman who called upon
him. • The - most important evidence they could ad-
duce was to establish . a similittule • between the
handwriting to the will and the ordinary writing of , Mrs.
Saunders; but they had nottried to establish anything of the
kind. The Learned Gentleman then commented on Ole -evi-
lencaef Mr. Ho:t and Mr. lihilpott; and beg,ged of. the jury
to consider how unlikely it was the.t they e.ailtirecolleet the
person of .Mrs. Saunders, who must have gone to , them as
ouch disguised as poSsible, when, upon cross-examination,
they, admitted that they would not be able to identify any.of
the enter nu nie rotes, person.; who trausseted business with
There was nethia,, the:l;W identify the prisoner as
connected with this will. Mrs. Dorev, who was a guilty
person from her own confession, raigm have been the periOn.
file note which • had been spoken of was never seen in the
possession of Mrs. Saunders, nor *as :lief Writing upon it.
The witness Gorsuch stated thA he sac her•get• into an om-
nibus, and that it went in the direction-Of the City, and from
this they were Called on to :conclude that she went to the
Bank in Order to get the.gold. said that . she carne in
with •a bag,. and that when she laid it en. the 'counter there
was a jingle, as if of gold. Was it likely that she would lay
it on the counter, or that she would take such a sum as
1,000/., 'which must Weigh about 21 lbs:,• in One 'l,lalnl, as
:41:e was represented to do? There was nothing -le the- evi-
dence to satisfy- diem'that her identity wee- clearly
established, and he entreated them to give the benefit of the
doubt to his.elient, if they Were not fully satisfied upon the
evidence that she was the per Son who committed the fraud.
The .same ev=idence which was given in thaermer case as
to. the character of Mr. Barber was given before- the present
jury. They all stated that-Mr. Barber was a person of re-
spectability and honour.
It being now past five. o'clock the Court a.(73 surned till this
morning, when Mr. Erle is to reply.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(YESTERDAY.) -
MANSION-HOUSE.
A woman, named Mary Walters, was brought before
the Lord Mayor by the authorities of Bishopsgate, upon
the charge of having abandoned her settlement in Glou-
cestershire, to which she and her four children had been
regularly passed from St. Botolph, Bishopsgate, and re-
turned to 'the latter, to which she and four of her
children became thus a serious burden.
Mr. Thomas Lifford Smart, Vestry-clerk to the parish
of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate, stated that the woman, who
was a widow, and her family, had been some time ago
chargeable to that parish, and had been duly sent home
to Gloucestershire, where it was proved beyond the
slightest doubt her husband had had a birth settlement.
For a short time they remained in the Lodbury Union,
in the parish of Westerby, in Gloucestershire, but to the
surprise of the London authorities, she appeared with
four of. her children at the workhouse-gate in Bishops-
gate, and craved admission. Upon being admitted, she"
declared that she had been turned out with her children
by the Board of Guardians of Lodbury ; that although
they received her into the house, as if she had an es-
tablished claim upon the funds of the, parish by virtue of
her husband's settlement, they' subsequently denied all
knowledge of her husband, and actually thrust her out
to run the chance of oceasional charity. Upon receiving
this extraordinary intelligence the parochial authorities
of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate, caused a letter to be written
to them at Lodbury, requiring an explanation, and the
answer they received was that the statement of Mary
Walters was totally untrue, and that' she had thought
proper to discharge herself, a power which every depen-
dent upon parochial bounty enjoyed, and her children
had io remove frorn the union althoUgh her claim for
support was undeniable. -
The LORD MAYOR—WeII, defendant, what have you
to say in answer to the utter denial to the truth of that
statement you made to the vestry-clerk?—The defendant
said that she had not discharged herself from the parish.
That although she and her children had been apparently
received into the union as real claimants, they had been
turned out soon afterwards, and told that they might
beg their way home to London again, and that she had
in vain requested that the gentlemen of the Board would
give her, for pity's sake, twopence or threepence a piece
to enable her to convey her children to London.
. The LORD MAYOR—I have here a letter from the
authorities of Lodbury, asserting that all you have said
is false--that they
.willingly admitted you, and that you
insisted upon leaving them,, and that as a matter of
course they could not detain you against your will.
Mr. Smart said that the woman had represented her
condition in such a manner as was calculated to affect
all ordinary hearers. He had, been at great trouble in
establishing the settlement, but he had succeeded upon
the evidence of the sister of the defendant's deceased
husband, and the parish to which she and her children
had been removed had paid all the expenses claimed by
St. Botolph, Bishopsgate, a strong proof that the settle-
ment had been legally made out.
The LORD MAYOR said that, he should deal with all
cases of the kind with a severity which, he trusted,
would much diminish the expenses to which the London
parishes were put by. impostors.
Mr. Smart said the inconvenience and annoyance and
expense occasioned by persons who acted as the defend-
ant had acted was inconceivable. If the parish in Glou-
cestershire chose they might reject the order which
would be given without the production of the witnesses,
and every tittle of the legal evidence which had been
already given. The difficulty in cases of this sort be-
came, in fact, overwhelmingly great, and if there ap-
peared to be the slightest defect in legal proof back the
claimants were thrown upon the City, with all the ex -

penses.
The defendant said she was willing to work for her
children, and she did not want to be a dependent at all
The LORD MAYOR —I sentence you to imprisonrr
in Bridewell for a month. The next offence of the kind
you commit will subject you to imprisonment fur three

months.
_ The defendant was then committed. Her children
imve been sent to be taken care of At Norwood.
An old wretch named John Budnwre whose age was
. Theprisone.
slatatete,d44l the. list to be 65, was charged with haying vio-
lated two blsterS Dr very tender years.
ing meeting-houta
r was gad tote the pew-opener of a Dissents-
in Spitt4eld.s. One of the children
prisoner went down 444 ilser .
sister
stated that when she
witi,;..4. he undressed himsel'flasnicrwes joined them,
sraTit into bed the
The se€4;ed child was too ill to attend thePex"larM''ed,tislaafonter,
And the prisoner w 3,3 remanwdaesdofor several days.
A. gentleman of tte kwkr brought before the Lord
M.
le ,do e' had been driving
to '• - his cab along
Cheapside in the morning, at a moderate
b9y, about foArteen years of ag VV e, RS seen 'r', when a
tall .61, 1,1) e
horse's feet, MIA thb wiled or the cab passed Over
*pital ins
,bead. The poor 'boy wes trlsee to ;the It •
. ( in a state
tqf ,i;,tsensibility, and the s,urgoolf.s ge,rti:ficatv. ,represented
dist it.. 43 Was in extreme dangor.
It wits ijoite evident that tlieitcPideAkt "Itg.PT, oaused
by neglect or v,rant of proper ca x_ll ,on the ,pari4,o the
'defendant, who was immediately discharged upon ba,
CLE.RKEN WELL.
Five labourers,' four of them) named White, and one
Pearson; were charged with an assault of a very savage
nature on Messrs. Dennis and Price, extensive builders,
1 residing in Twyford-villa Caledonia-road, .Tilington.
John Hely White was
boy named Hughes. further charged with assaulting a
Mr. Bolton conducted the prosecution, and Mr.Horry,
the barrister, defended the prisoners.