The Sun.
London, England, 1868-10-13 00:00:00

ELECTION RIOTS AT BLACKBURN.

The election riots at Blackburn appear to have been
really serious. The Liberal procession was set upon,
and a general row, with fatal consequences, took place.
When the procession reached that part of the town
chiefly inhabited by the workpeople of the Con-
servative member, Mr. Hornby, several fights took
place. Early in the afternoon, as a portion of
the procession was passing along King William-
street, a lad riding on a pony clown the street, carrying out
meat, was set upon by a number of Irishmen because he
displayed a little orange and blue ribbon on his pony. He
and his pony were beaten with bludgeons, with which the
Irish were armed, and the lad was seriously injured. This
was the signal for a general row. One man was picked
up in the streets quite dead, and another was taken to the
police-ofrice with his leg broken and other parts of
his body injured. A little boy was nearly trampled to
death in the crowd, and he lies in a precarious state.
When the crowd had been driven away by the police, and
while the procession was still in the streets, a band of some
2,000 roughs paraded, armed with sticks, and marched to
some of the branch Reform clubs and smashed in the
windows. The windows of several private houses wen
also smashed when it was known that the occupants were
sympathisers with the Radicals. Several of the borougl•
police are seriously injured, having been struck wit}
sticks and stones. The scenes in the principal streets were
in most instances disgraceful. A number of rough-looking
men did their utmost to cause irritation amongst those
in the procession by shaking in their faces pieces of blue
and orange-coloured paper, and snatching at the rosettes
worn by the processionists. The policemen who were
near, two or three in number, were immediately set
upon by the roughs, who were interfering with the pro-
cession, and a serious conflict took place. One man,
dressed in light-coloured clothing, not unlike a labourer,
belaboured the head of a policeman with the handle of a
thick walking•stick. Five or six roughs set upon the
policeman at the same time, and, being completely help-
less, he was compelled to submit to the blows whilst he
was whistling for assistance, which, fortunately, was soon
at hand. The policemen drew their staves, although appa!
rently with some reluctance, but the rioters disappeared
quickls into the crowd when they saw that they were likely
to be overmatched. A little further on a man named Pres-
ton, who it was said had not been for some time in good
health, and who, it is believed, had been suffering from
heart disease, became so excited by the disturbances that
it increased his illness, and he dropped dead in the street.
He was at once carried into a public-house near at hand,
and the cry spread like wildfire that a man had been
killed. Another old man was found lying in the street
in a state of insensibility, he having been injured, it
Was supposed, by a fall. He was removed at once to
the infirmary, but he was so incoherent in his speech
that it was not known how he was hurt. His leg was
found to be broken. Another disturbance of a serious
nature occurred while a contingent was passing over the
canal bridge. The processionists were set upon by a
number of men, who had collected a cartful of stones with
which to pelt the Liberals. Two of their banners were
dragged into the mud, and several persons were kicked
and otherwise maltreated in a brutal manner. Further
on in the evening a number of men smashed the windows
of one of the working men's Reform clubs, and succeeded
in making away with four handsome silk banners. Two
persons are in custody for breaking the windows, along
with several others for breaking the peace and assaultini
the Liberals. No doubt several more persons will be
apprehended, for the police, knowing some of the rioters,
used their endeavours to prevent loss of life, and reserved
for another occasion the apprehension of some of those
they recognised. Till late on Saturday evening fighting
was going on in almost every part of the town, and many
persons have been wounded by stones and other missiles
and blows from sticks.

At the Barnet Sessions on Monday, before Mr.
E. C. Stapylton, the batch of foreigners charged with a'
series of daring burglaries were brought up for final
examination, and committed for trial.
Messrs. Bailey, Jacob Bright, and Ernest Jones
on Saturday attended the first of a series of meetings
with the trades' unionists of Manchester. After an explana-
tion of the views of the three Literal candidates for Man-
chester on the labour question, the hon. gentlemen received
a unanimous vote of thanks and a promise of support from
the raeetir g.

THE DERWENTWATER ESTATES.—On Saturday
and Sunday large numbers of people visited the tent in
which Lady Amelia Ratcliffe is at present staying,
Her ladyship's health, instead of improving, has become/
worse, and she has, very wisely, refused to see any visitors
except those whom it is absolutely necessary that she
should see. She received a notification on Saturday fron3
Mr. Grey, that the tarpaulin, which projects over they
hedge into a field belonging to the estate, would have to
be taken away. This step will no doubt cause her lady-
ship much suffering, as the tarpaulin, in its present posi-
tion, prevents the rain falling on the roadside, and
causing dampness in the tent. Her ladyship still reite-
rates her wish that she might be allowed to inhabit the
chapel, which is roofed in, till such time as her claims are
disposed of.—Northern Daily Express.
A SINGULAR MARRIAGE. —We understand that
a couple are to be united in marriage this evening, in this
city, who have never yet seen each other. The bride-
groom, who is a man of talent and considerable wealth,
came from his home, hundreds of miles west of the Missis-
sippi River, to meet his betrothed for the first time. The
bride is a Boston lady, posseSsed of rare accomplishments,
and one greatly admired for her disciplined mind and pre-
possessing appearance. The engagement was brought
about in a manner partaking somewhat of the romantic.
The bridegroom, while in the army, advertised in a Boston
literary paper for a lady correspondent, stating it to be
his object only to enliven the dull hours of camp life,
Among the many answers to his request he selected one
from a lady in Boston, with:whom he kept up a correspon•
dence which continued after his departure to the West,
until it finally resulted in an engagement. Portraits were
interchanged, probably, but it is a fact in our own know-
ledge that the lady and gentleman have never seen each
other till today. From what we know of the parties we
are inclined to believe that the marriage will be a happy
one.—Boston Traveller, Sept. 25.
ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.—
An accident of a very alarming character happened at
Aslockton, on the above line, a few miles from Notting-
ham, by which one man lost his life and that of another
was placed in great jeopardy. Early in the morning a
coal train left Nottingham for Lincoln, and was followed
by an excursion train on the way to Hull for the October
fair. When the coal train reached Aslockton it was shunted
on to another line to allow the special to pass, and while
standing there a train of " empties" from Peterborough
came up. There was no time for the driver of the
empties to stop, so that a collision was the consequence,
and a large number of carriages were thrown off the line
and smashed to pieces. The driver of the Peterborough
train was killed on the spot, and the fireman so dreadfully
injured that he is not expected to recover. The men on
the coal train were also.much bruised and shaken. For
idng time tho line wad completely blocked up and traf#4.
, suspended

-~

POLICE 11V PELLIGEIV CE— This Day.

DOW-STREET.
ATTEMPITD SLTICIDE.--Selina Jcsson was placed
before Mr. Flowers charged with attempting to
destroy herself.

From the evidence it appeared that the prisoner
having possessed herself of a quantity of red pre-
cipitate, swallowed some, and soon began to feel:
the effects of the poison. A constable finding her
in a state of great suffering took her to the station)
and proper medical treatment having been ad-
ministered, she recovered.

The magistrate asked the prisoner how she be-
came possessed of the poison?

She said she bought it in Red Lion-square.
The in tgistrate said it ought to be generalll
known that chemists were now prohibited by the
Act of Parliament of last session from selling to
persons such as the prisoner poison of any descrip•

tion. The 'lnv act makes it imperative that the per'
son requiring it should be introduced to the chemist
by some person of known respectability, and then
having stated the purpose for which the poison vas
required, the particulars were to be entered in
book, which the person was required to sign. OF/
it appeared had not been done, and it was of the
utmost importance that so good an Act of Parliament
should not be evaded. Had the chemist who sold
the drug been in court he would have fined him £O,
the penalty authorised by the act for having done
so. For the future he would inflict the full Pe:
nalty on chemists who disregarded the provisions 0'
such a salutary act.
The prisoner was remanded.

WESTMINSTER.
SAVAGE AND SINGULAR ATTACK.--A powerful
fellow, of very forbidding appearance, who gale
the name of John Ransome, of New Oxford-street,
was charged under the following unusual circuol'
stances :

Police-constable Ross, 206 D, a detective officer'
said he was in Thurloe square, Brompton, last
evening, and saw the defendant. He was following
ladies and begging of them with pens in his liana'
Witness heard the ladies complain, and, VW°
up to him, told him he should take Mill
into custody. Defendant used the most filth/
language, and declared that if he touched him
would gouge his eyes cut with the steel pens he 113
in his hand. Witness showed him his authority'
and told him it was no good talking nonsense, be
must go with him. Defendant then flew upon biro
and jobbed the steel pens in his face and wounded
him above the eye. Witness felt the blood runniug
down his face and called upon a labourer who've
passing to assist him, which he immediately did.
Inspector M'Hugo—l have the pens here, so►ne
of which are broken, and marked with blood.
A labourer said that he was called upon by the
constable, who was certainly grossly ill-used by the
defendent. He saw the defendant job the pens into
his face.

The magistrate examined the pens, which Were
n stacks. Some of them were broken.
Defendant—l never begged at all. How W 0
o know he was an officer?

Complainant—l showed you my staff.
Defendant--I was knocked about very much i°
the station.

Inspector API-Ingo—lt is not true, your worshiPl
I was present.
Mr. Arnold--• Defendant, you have committed
most violent and dangerous assault. You are cool'
mitted for three months.