The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-26 00:00:00

LAW AND POLICE.

EXPENSES IN A PARLIAMENTARY CONTEST.—At the
Liverpool Assizes an action was brought by Messrs. Lace
and Co., Liverpool attorneys, against Messrs. Hayes and
others, who were prominent members of the Chamber of
Commerce, for charges incurred in conducting a parlia-
mentary contest. The defendants were greatly interested
in the speedy completion of the great bridge now in
course of construction by the London and North-Western
Railway Company over the River Mersey at Runcorn, and
had taken steps to raise an opposition to the bill by which
in 1866 that company sought to obtain a two years'
extension of the time for the completion of their works.
The petitioners were heard by counsel, but the preamble
was proved. The plaintiffs now sought to recover charges
amounting to £325. Mr. Falk was called for the defen-
dants, and stated that Mr. Dardswell, one of the members
of the Chamber of Commerce (who died in October 1866),
had expressly consented that the defendants should not
'neur any personal liability, and that the costs would be
got out of the London and North-Western Company.
DAMAGES FROM SMOKE.—At the same assizes an action
was brought by a nurseryman to recover damages for
injuries sustained by smoke falling on his fruit. The
plaintiff was a nurseryman at Newton-le-Willows, and the
works of the defendant were distant about three-quarters
of a mile from the gardens of the plaintiff. The jury gave
a verdict for £5O.

ATTEMPTED DOUBLE MURDER.-At the Leicester
Police-court, John Scampton was charged with shooting
Robert Parr, and Eleanor Parr Scampton with attempt
to murder them. Mrs. Parr, the mother-in-law of the
prisoner, said that the prisoner had been released"from
an asylum, but had lately lived with his wife. On
the 15th instant he brought home a carving-knife,
which circumstance so alarmed his wife that she left
the house and went home to her parents, where she
with her child had since been residing. Scampton had
several times requested his wife to return to him,
but she feared to do so, and remained with her father.
On Monday morning, having eluded the vigilance of his
keeper, Scampton went to the house of Mr. Parr and was
refused admission. He went away, but returned again
about half-past twelve and knocked at the door,. which
Mr. Parr went to open, but on perceiving who it was he
attempted to close it again. Scampton, however, placed his
foot against the door and kept it a little way open ; he
then thrust his arm through the aperture, having a six-
chambered revolver in his hand, five of which he fired off
in rapid succession. One of the bullets took effect in
Mr. Parr's left arm, which was broken in two places.
Another of the bullets struck Scampton's own child, a
little girl three years old, named Eleanor Parr Scampton,
the charge passing completely through the skull. Traces
of the other sluts were found on the walls and doors in the
passage ; one after striking the wall rebounded and passed
through a back door into the yard. Three bullets were
found in the passage, and another in the street imme-
diately in front of the house. The accused was remanded
for a few eays.

THE CASE OF MADAME RACHEL.—The solicitor of
Madame Rachel has given notice to the solicitors for the
prosecution that he means, on Friday next, to apply to a
judge in chambers to admit her to bail, and has tenderecc,
in the meantime, the names of four persons, two of whorii,
he will then propose as sureties. Before the recent trial
she had originally been admitted to bail, herself in £.1,000
and two sureties in £l,OOO each ; but at the sessions before
last, when it became necessary for her to enter into fresh
recognisances, the previous sureties having declined to
stand again, she was unable to find new ones to satisfy the
court, and she remained in custody nearly six weeks until
her trial.

What is the largest room in the world ?—The
room for improvement.

MR. BARON CLEASBY. —At the judges' chambers,
on Tuesday, the newly-appointed Baron of the Exchequer,
Mr. Cleasby, attended the hearing of summonses by Mr.
Justice Willes. Either the new baron, or Mr. Justice
Hamel', will be the only vacation judge in town.

NEW ACT ON PUBLIC DEPARTMENTS. —A very
beneficial Act was passed on the day of the prorogation to
enable public departments to pay sums not exceeding
gm to others than executors or administrators for civil
services. Hitherto such sums might be paid for "military
services," and persons deceased entitled for civil services
need not appoint executors for that purpose ; the law is
extended to them.

INFLUX OF HOP PICKERS.—During the present
week many thousands of hop pickers have been conveyed
from the metropolis by railway to the hop districts of
Kent and Sussex. The picking has already commenced,
and will be general during the week. Last year the first
train containing hop pickers did not leave London until
September 8. 'The recently-formed society for improving
the lodgings of hop pickers has proved most beneficial, as
it has prevented much of the misery which these poor
persons were formerly compelled to endure.
THE RAIN AND THE WINE CROPS IN FRANCE.—
After a long drought, rain has become general all over
France. In the neighbourhood of Lyons the wet, which
has come on at last, continues at intervals to the great
satisfaction of the farmers. The vines were losing their
leaves on some hill sides, and the grapes were being
burnt up by the sun. The present change will not
repair the harm that has been done, but it will prevent
a further extension. The moisture is softening the skins
of the fruit, and is favouring its ripening, which is
already advanced.

ERUPTION or VESUVIUS.—A communication from
Naples states that Vesuvius is again sheaving disquieting
symptoms. Deep rumbling sounds are followed by jets of
incandescent matter thrown to a great height. The lava
frequently appears at the brink of the crater, and then
stops. About three in the morning of the 17th instant
the spectacle became imposing. Columns of thick smoke
rose high in the air, followed by burning stones. After
shining for a moment, they fell and rolled still red-hct
down the aides of the mountain. At daybreak the fire