The Sun.
London, England, 1826-04-07 00:00:00

THE SILK TRADE.

Yesterday a Meeting of the Journeymen Silk

Weavers residing in Spite Melds took place at Mr. MtErti z IE%
Chapel, Mile End New Town, for the purpose, as the requisi-
tion stated, of taking into consideration the report of the Com-
mittee on the business now before Parliament, respecting the
repeal of the prohibitory laws, and other matters connected
with the trade—Mr. MONK, Chairman.
_

The assemblage, and the discussion which took place, were
the most cheering we have witnessed for some time past, and
evinced that the persons connected with this important branch
of our manufacture begin to hope for a more improved trade,
and are not alone satisfied, but grateful, for the modifications
now in progress through Parliament, in the provisions of the
Act of 1824.

The business commenced by Messrs. JONES and WALLACE,
members of the Committee, giving an account of what had
been its operations since its appointment. They set out by
stating, that in pursuance of their instructions their petition
was presented to Parliament, praying that the Actof 1824
might, previous to its coming into force,: be referred to a
Committee, to ascertain how far it would injure the interests
of the silk manufacture. Their request, however, notwith-
standing the most unremitting exertions to procure suppor-
ters for it, in and out of Parliament, had not been complied
with, and Mr. Iluskisson bore them down with a most trium-
phant majority. On this defeat, which had almost the effect
of paralysis, they were about giving up all expectation of re-
ceiving any consideration from the Government, when their
spirits were revived by its being intimated by the Right
Honourable Charles Grant, Vice-President of the Board of
Trade, that his Majesty's Ministers were most anxious to do
every thing in their power to ameliorate their condition, and
that with this view a Bill would be introduced, making con-
siderable alterations in the mode of collecting the duties, which
they imagined would completely abolish the grievances now
complained of. That Bill, they said, had been since intro-
duced, read a second time, and printed, for the purpose (as
Mr. Grant informed them) of their digesting such alterations,
previous to its being passed into a law, as they might think
beneficial to the trade.

They (the Committee), however, Aid not offer any obser-
vations or suggest any improvements, not thinking them-
selves then authorized to do so, as they were exclusiv'ely ap-
pointed to conduct the business connected with the petition,
and no other. If, however, the journeymen should think fit
that they ought still to act for the trade (and their being
called together that day was for the purpose of considering its
propriety), they were willing to go forward in the task ; and the

. .
more particularly so, as they were of opinion that the Act which
they alluded to'did away with almost. all the objectionable and
destructive results which would arise from that of 1824, if car-
ried into execution.
The SECRETARY then proceeded to read to the Meeting
the Act as now proposed, anti which bears the title of " A
Table of Duties on Silk:Goods." This, it was observed, would
not alone be most beneficial to the trade, but would be also ex-
tremely productive to the revenue, inasmuch as it would pre-
vent the losses the latter must experience, either fm frau-
dulent invoices, which estimated the property arot a much
lower rate than it was virtually worth ; or from the ignorance
of Custom-house officers, who could not possibly know its va-
lue. The gentlemen of the Committee, after going though the
various favourable results which would ensue from the new
Bill, each of which they explained in .a clear' and satisfactory
manner, and acknowledging the kindness and attention they
had experienced from Mr. liteskisson, Mr. Grant, and the
other members of his Majesty's Ministry, reminded the Meet-
ing, that the present Act was For a definite period, extending
only to the Session after It when it would naturally expire;
whereas the one from whence they anticipated the total destruc-
tion of their trade would have beets perpetual. This was well
worthy of their attention ; fur at the end of that time, it' it did
not produce those benefits which they expected, a remedy might
Wobtalned, to devise which they would have the advantage of
experience.
A Journeyman asked it' the Committee had consulted the
manufacturers on the Bill which had been then read P
• Mr. JortEs replied that they had not. They were appointed
by the journeymen for another purpose; but lie had reason to
think OW they did approve of it.
It was then moved, seconded, and unanimously carried, that
the Committee be empowered to go forward until the business
in Parliament is fully settled. After which, thanks being voted
to the Committee and Chairman, the meeting broke up, under
the influence of happy and grateful feelings.

EQUITABLE LOAN BANK. COMPANY

A numerous body of the Shareholders of the
above Company assembled yesterday at the City of London
Tavern. The Meeting was advertised to take place at twelve
o'clock„ and at that hour a good number of gentlemen entered
the room. The attendance was increasing until one o'clock,
When a Mr. )(owls, a Shareholder, stepped forward, and in-
quired whether any gentleman was present who had convened
the Meeting? No reply being made, Mr. Vigors then said he
would read to the Meeting a ,short account of how he under-
mood the funds of the Company were circumstanced. It appear-
ed. the
_amount receivedits deposits on sharest_by Messrs.

Fry and Chapman, was 16,8101:, and by Messrs. 'SPOOner ant
Attwood 13,6001., and that the Shares allotted to Directors,
Auditors, and other Officers, were to the value of 9,0001. It
also appeared that there was 590/. worth not issued ; conse-
quently the deposits were not paid on 'them, making in the
whole 40,0001. The actual sum received from the public is
30,410/. Now how does this sum seem to be accounted for ?
At the bankers there appears to be a balance of 691.195., and for
the purchase of the College of Physicians they were entitled
to credit for 16,803/. Os. ; now the Shareholders were anxious
to ascertain what became of 13,5361. 15s. ; that is, assuming
that the purchase of the College of Physicians was made pro:.
Visors)
and under a correct delegated authority. He (51r.
Visors) considered one of the chief objects to which the at.,
tentton of the Shareholders ought to be directed was to in:
quire how the 13,5361,13 x. has 'been expended. It was rather
a novel circumstance in this concern, that instead of having a
our credit, the concern was in debt 2,892/.
and what formed a portion of that sum were the i2s. }arseubda„lance to
fol-
lowing extraordinary items ;—.515/, to the builders, 100 guineas
fo
to the
gleckinakcr ; even the clerks' salaries
were claimed by them ; nor are the coals paid
rplate not ,
paid-1336.
I_Bl,l2is
.
for, nor the share books; and
,yet there is due by the 30 Direc-
tors the deposits on their. ahares, which amount to 9,0001; how.
ever, he should not for the present touch upon.that, subject, as
it would become amatter,fur futtire c,onsideration. •
A SitanEitot.Ditn inquired whether, in the MOM. charged
for' the pinch:lse of the College of Physicians, the builder's pre-
sent claim is included.
Mr. VIGOKS said, it did not appear it was. Ile then said,
he would read the names of the Directors who had taken and
paid the deposits on their portion of the shares allotted to them ;
among whom were--Messrs. Lushington, Barrett, Dunstan,
Carr, Cresswell, Lory, Surtees, Attwood, Mud. &c. &c And
he would also read the names of those who had not taken theirs
.he then read the navies of Sir Richard Birnie; Knt. ; Alder-
men Drydges, Key and Garrett; Messrs. Brogden, klerries,
Holmes, Smyth, C. Glynn, &c. ; out of twenty-three Di.
rectors there were thirteen Itlembers of Parliament. It would
be reasonably presumed, that having such men as Directors
they would be anxious to come forward, and give every ex.
planation as to the affairs of the Company. Quite the con.
Araryi there did not seem to be the slightest disposition mani,
felted by those Gentlemen, though frequently applied 'to, both
professionally and personally, to call a meeting for the purpose.-
The last official document that appeared was a circular, which
seemed to come from the Chairman, Sir William Congreve.
The letter of Sir William Congreve, and the circular, having
been read,
Mr. Vicious said, he came to the meeting as the represen-
tative of several Shareholders, who held several thousand
Shares ; and he thought the best that could he done was to
appoint a Committee, to make arrangements for the calling of a
General Meeting of the Shareholders, to see and prevail on the
Directors to come forward, and give the shareholders some ac-
count of what became of their property.
flit Vi ors was then voted into the Chair, and a Reaolution
was passed, giving notice of a 111eeting to be convened for a
future day.—Thari'ks were then voted to the Chairtnant and the
Meeting separated.
It was stated at the Meeting, that John Smyth, Esq. M.P.
had declined acting as a Director; consequently he could not in
any Way be identified with the concerns of the Qom par.,

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

UNION-lIIILI..
CHARGE or Mu RDER..—Yesterday thiioffice VMS crowded
to excess, in consequence of the examination of a man who was

charged on suspicion of having murdered his wife. The pri-

Boner's name is James Keaton, an Irish labourer. He was
taken into custody the preceding night at his lodgings, in Uni-
corn-court, leadiniont of Kent-street; in which. place a great
number of the lower classeaof Ireland' reside. On being placed
at the bar, he did not evince the slightest degree of alarm or
agitation at the situation irr which he then stood—namely, that
of being the suspected murderer of his own -wife. The follow-
ing was the evidence taken against the accused, before the
Magistrates present, M. SWADEY, R. HEDGER, and D. KING,

Esqrs.:— •
George Alaisey, night-constable of St. George's, deposed as
follows .—On Wednesday night, between ten and eleven
o'clock, from information which was brought to me' at the
watch-house, I went, accompanied by Kirby, and another
constable, to a house occupied by the prisoner, in Unicorn-
court, in Kent-street, in the parish of St. Mary, Newiog=
ton, where 'I found the prisoner sitting in the front room,
down stairs, in company with several other persons, smok-
ing and drinking. I and Kirby asked him to go up stairs
with us, anti he followed us into the one pair of stairs
front room, and we there found from ten to a dozen men
and women in that room ; they appeared to be consulting
together. There was a bed in the room ; and upon the bed
we found the body of the prisoner's wife covered with a
blanket. Prisoner was present when I and Kirby examined
the body, and found that the deceased had received two despe-
rate blows over the left temple,
. apparently by some blunt in-
strument. The deceased's skull was dented in. She had re-
ceived another blow over the right temple, and on various parts
of her body marks of violence appeared. There was blood flow-
ing from her mouth, and the body was quite cold. I asked the
prisoner, in the presence and hearing of Kirby, how the de-
ceased came by the two blows on the left temple. Prisoner re-
plied that she had received the two blows on the left temple by
falling out of bed, and striking against the screws of the bed-
stead. I then examined the bedstead, and found there were no
screws against which she could have struck her head ; neither
could she have fallen out of bed, as described by the prisoner,
the bedstead being close to the wall, which was the side pointed
out by him, from which he said the deceased had rolled out.
Maisey added, that he instantly took the prisoner into custody ;
but before he took him away to the watch-house, he minutely
examined the apartment, in order, if possible, to discover the
instrument by which the wounds on the deceased's head ap-
peared to have been inflicted, but he found nothing at that time
that could have produced the two marks or wounds in her left
temple, both of which were not more than ,a quarter of an inch
asunder, and seemed to have penetrated the skull.
At the conclusion of the above statement, the prisoner ex-
pressing an anxiety to speak, the Magistrate recommended him
strongly not to say . any thing at the present stage of the in-
vestigation, intimating that should he not take the advice now
given him, whatever he said would be taken down, and
probably used against him at a future period. The prisoner
not appearing to understand what die whorthy Magistrate had
suggested to him, Mr. Staples, the chin' clerk, explained it to
him thoroughly, when the prisoner, notwithstanding the eau.
dots, said' he was determined on speaking, as he did not wish to
state any thing but the real truth.
Mr. SWAHEY —Then if you are determined on doing so
contrary to the advice that has been given you, it is certainly
my duty to hear you, and also direct that which you 'are about
to utter to be taken down.
Prisoner then, declaring that he meant to' speak nothing but
the truth, proceeded as follows :—On Tuesday night I. cane
home between nine and ten o'clock. I had been informed by
some of the neighbours in the court, that My wife-had been over
the water with a sailor for prize-money, and had drank.five or
six glasses of gin. l'hen I ,came home she was sitting in a
chair at the door, and the sailor was in bed in our room. lie
was a poor man, and 1 gave him liberty to sleep there. My
wife asked me if I would have any supper, and I had some,
and went to bed, and she went to bed also, and the next morn-
ing I got up at six.o'clock to go to my Work, and she wits then
lying in the bed upon her leftande. She was very ill, and heaving
out what she had had to drink. 1 said to her' It serves you
right—what do you drink so for ?" She made me no answer,
and I dressed myself immediately, and went off to the water-
works. I stopped there till very near eight o'clock, and then
went home to breakfast. The windows and the door being
shut, I knocked at the latter to get in, tipon which the woman
that lodges with us mite down stairs and let me in. She told
stairsu
n i myi
nutwosei
.f:
eal
n•
id room, asy rft.eyi
elwibrdaa;
ti.
lying;
plhe wai stairs,
an who aid
n.litr left shai
dsilnepte,l:l)ta‘klvlltieii. e
in teeth rersen:lntioaeei
and
rdPitlonhritedtuonder the bedstead against the wall. 1 to
she made me no answer, upon which I and the two women
lifted her up ; and a man who works in the. Dover road came
in to his breakfast and 1 desired him to -go directly and fetch a
doctor. I spoke to the deceased several times, but could get no
answer. She kept frothing at the mouth, and threw up.a great
quantity of liquor. , I stopped there until nine or half-past nine
o'clock with the two women. About a fortnigh, • before that,
my wife had a fit end fell out of bed, and hurt herself very
much, which the neighbours could prove, and which would ac-
count for the bruises on her body.
The prisoner having ended his statement, which was taken
down verbatim by the chief clerk, the Magistrate suggested
the absolute necessity of snaking still further search tor the
weapon dint was likely to have inflicted the wounds in the de-
ceased's temples.
Maisey, the constable, who is an efficient and intelligent
officer, having, as before stated, examined the premises mi-
nutely, hoit recollected that the wounds might have been
cause by violent kicks. He therefore proceedEntinto the slip
where the prisoner mood, and having taken the shoe off his
right foot, discovered two bob-nails with the heads projecting
out a considerable distance beyond the toes. Upon examining
the shoe, marks of blood were distinct on the stile between the
two nails spoken of.
The Magistrate immediately directed the constable to pro-
ceed to the prisoner's house, and ascertain whether it was
probable the two wounds on the deceased's left temple might
have been inflicted by a kick from a shoe, which, from its ap-
pearance, was calculated to give as mortal a wound as a ham-
mer. In the interval during the constable's absence, the pri-
soner manifested no apprehension of fear, and smiled at the idea
of its being supposed that there were marks of blood upon his
shoe. He said it was impossible, for he had never kicked any
one, let alone his wife.
On Maisey's return from Unicorn-court, he said that he had
compared the two nails hi the prisoners shoe with the wounds
on the deceased's temple. The beads of the nails and the dis-
tance between them exactly agreed, and he had not the slightest
doubt but that. they corresponded; and in fact directly.fitted
Into the wounds on her right and left temples. He added that
he had no doubt but that the deceased's death was occasioned
by violent kicks from the Shoe, the nails of which projecting
so far out at the toe-part, struck into her skull, and made the
marks which were so conspicuous on both her temples.
The shoe was produced. It was of amazing thickness. par-
ticularly the sole, and the two nails which were in the front part
of the sole projected considerable beyond the toe part.
The 31agistrate, on bearing the above facts, said, that the
case was made still stronger against the prisoner, who made rib
remark at the observation. Ile was then remanded for further
examination. •
It was with difficulty the prisoner was conveyed to Horse.
monger-lane gaol, in consequence of the immense multitudes
of his own country-people, who filled the street in front of the
office.
The deceased was the prisoner's third wife. His son, by a
former wile, was at the bead of a gang of thieves that infested
this district some timeago, and was tried, convicted, and stn.
tented to be hanged ; but the sentence was afterwards coni-
muted into transportation tbr life. The prisoner is represented
to have used all his wives with great cruelty.

Turner,
Richard
friari:
aLpl3oOrtßarOiUnGille-SsTerßvEiceElali..
upholsterer. in Bond-street, was brought to the office upon a
warrant, charged with an indecent exposure of his person.to a
young female, named Sarah Gunter, also in the service of 3lr.
Turner. The complainant described the nature and manner of
the offence as committed by theytisoner on Monday last. and
which she said was only a repetition of shnilar misconduct on
the part of the priioner towards her 3 years ago, which, how-
ever, at that time she overlooked, not wishing to appear upon
such a subject at a public office.' The, prisoner positively denied
the charge altogether, but was held to bail accordingly.

A WOMAN WHIPPED TO DEATH.— An Inquest
was heid in, Stafford county, Virginia, lat ly: on
the body of a negro woman, and a verdict was
returned that she came to her death by excessive
w p ping .—(diner kart Poper.)