The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-07 00:00:00

MR. J. C. BELANEY.

We know of no similar case which has created such
a sensation in the public mind, as that of the trial
and acquittal of Mr. Belaney, for the murder of his
wife, the particulars of which we gave in our last
week's paper. Since that time, several articles have
appeared in the papers, remarking, with more or less
severity, on the conduct of the individual who has
been acquitted, and that of the jury, who, to the asto-
nishment of the public, gave so unexpected and ex-
traordinary a decision Immediately after the trial,
Mr. Belaney, accompanied by a friend belonging to
Newcastle, set off from London for North Sunder-
land, where they arrived early on the Saturday morn-
ing after the trial, and at which place Belaney, with
several friends, has been living since. During the
week, in addition to the particulars stated in the other
papers, there have been various exhibitions of the dis-
gust the inhabitants entertain of his witness, who gave
evidence directly contrary to what their friends and
neighbours anticipated ; from the fact of Belaney
bearing a very different character from that elicited
at the trial. The effigies of Belaney and his friend
were again burnt on Saturday evening, and the
hooting, hissing, and other marks of dissapproation
sufficiently indicate the feeling of those who are well
acquainted with this individual's behaviour to his re-
spected and amiable wife, and the degree of confidence
they attach to the evidence of the witnesses and the
decision of the metropolitan jury. The Rev. It. Be •
laney arrived at North Sunderland on Saturday last,
when he would witness the unto-da-fe of his brother
and friends. The letters of "G. S." and " Inqui,i-
tor," in the Times, have been reprinted in Alnwick,
and extensively circulated, with a few remarks ad-
dressed to the coroner and authorities, requesting
them " to institute an immediate and searching in-
quiry into all the circumstances connected with the
sudden death of Mrs. Skelly," in order to ascertain
whether either of the causes alleged by Belaney—a
" disease of the heart" (a family disease, too!) or
" bilious fever"--to have been the occasion of death,
was really the true one. The public also seem de-
sirous of knowing something about the " miscarriage"
in 184:3, and what became of the child, &c., in order
that the real facts of both cases may be properly
and fully investigated.—Correspondent of the Tyne
Mercury.

RAILWAY FROM BIRKENHEAD TO MANCHESTER.—
There are two plans of railways which may be said to
he now before the public for connecting Manchester u ith
B'rkenhead. The Grand Junction Railway Company,
with the object of effecting a communication between
Holyhead and Manchester, purpose running a line from
Chest,r and Crewe terminus, through Altringham, going
out somewhere near Stockport. The other plan is the
one in greatest favour at Birkenhead. It is to commence,
s at Preston Brook, cross the Wea-:er and Canal, and
enter the Liverpool and Manchester line six miles on
this side of the latter town ; from Prest, n Brook one
branch will proceed to Chester, facilitating the journey
to Holyhead, and another will join the Birkenhead and
Chester line at Sutton, and thereby render the; distance
between Manchester and Birkenhead within thirty-six
miles. The advantages of this latter plan are said to be
very great. The ground is a deal level ; no cutting,
very little bridging ; no inconvenient gradiants, no ex-
pensive stations. The cost is estimated not to exceed
12,000/ a mile, or total outlay 400,000/. Double that
sum, and still it would be a sate speculation. It is tn.-
necessary to refer to its influence on the Birkenhead
Docks. There are, however, potent interests involved
in both schemes.—Liverpool Journal.
MYSTERIOUS CASE.—The body of the young
woman lately found on the beach near Ardrossan, and
interred in the Saltcoats burying-ground, was exhumed
on Tuesday for the purpose of being identified by her
father, a weaver from Storey-street, Paisley. He was
accompanied by the fiscal and superintendent of police
from Greenock, and at once recognised the body to be
that of his daughter, Margaret Knight, from some mark
on her forehead. The manner of her death is at present
involved in mystery. She had left her father's house
some time previously, and had been residing in Greenock,
which place she left for Gour,ck on Saturday fortnight,
in company with another female, and a late steward of
the Invincible steamer. From that time till her body
was found on the shore all trace of her had been lost.—
Glasgow Argus.
THE PRINCE OF PRUSSIA'S VISIT TO GUILDHALL.
—On Thursday the Prince of Prussia arrived at Guild-
hall in one of her Majesty's carriages, and was con-
ducted over the principal apartments of the building by
Mr. Temple, the Hall. keeper. Ile had dined in the Hall
in 1814, when the Sovereigns were entertained there, and
he expreised surprise at seeing that there were no
galleries round the noble building, having no notion that
such splendid galleries as were erected on that occasion
could have .been merely temporary. He examined the
painting of the royal entertainment in the reading-
room with great curiosity, and showed that he had a
lively recollection of that brilliant scene. Having in-
spected the library, he wrote his name in the visitors'
book. As he was leaving. the Hall, about five o'clock,
the crowd assembled to witness the election proceedings
gave him an immense cheer.