The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-24 00:00:00

ALARMING AND DESTRUCTIVE
FIRE AT THE APOTHECARIES' HALL,
LIVERPOOL.
Liverpool has again been the scene of a dreadful
conflap-ation, which, if less disastrous in its results
than some of the extensive fires that occurred about
two years ago, was certainly more threatening in its
aspect during the short time it raged. It commenced
yesterday afternoon, between three and four o'clock,
in the manufactory or laboratory connected with
the Apothecaries' Hall, situated in Back Colquitt-
street. The Apothecaries' Hall itself, which
is one of the largest and most handsome
edifices in the town, is situate in Colquitt-street.
The building in which - the fire originated is
four stories high, at the corner of Wood-street, im-
mediately in the rear of the main structure, but
separated from it by Back Colquitt-street, which is
about eight yards wide. The fire was first observed
by a labouring man, named Dilston, about half-past
three o'clock. He was at work in the third story
when he observed a dense smoke in the room. A fire-
engine being kept upon the premises, he immediately
took steps to get it into play, with a view of putting
a stop to the flames, but, just at this time, police-oftl-
cer, No. 11, Anderson, who was leaving Seel-street
Station, observed, as he was passing along Colquitt-
, street, the flames bursting from one or two of the
stories. lie instantly gave the alarm, and proceeded
to the fire-station, where he found the horses had
scarcely a moment before been unharnessed after their
return from the fire in Lodge-lane. Of course no
time was lost by Mr. Hewitt in again attaching the
horses, and in a few minutes the engines were at the
scene of conflagration. Short as was the interval be-
tween the alarm being given and the arrival of the
engines, yet it was found utterly useless to attempt
to save the laboratory. In fact, it was completely en-
veloped in flames, which were bursting forth with
great intensity and fury across the street, threaten-
ing the destruction of the splendid building opposite
and the property surrounding it. The exertions of
the firemen were therefore judiciously directed in pro-
tecting the premises adjoining. Two hose from the
engines were passed into the interior of the Hall, and
water from these was poured upon the doors and
windows outside, and in front of the laboratory.
At the same time from both sides engines were
throwing water upon the large doors of the gateway,
and, although the woodwork was partially consumed,
and the cornice stones cracked by the intense heat,
thebuilding sustained no further injury, if we except
that consequent upon the introduction of the water
pipe and the flooding of the whole premises. Next to
the laboratory, in Wood-street, is a low building,
the public-house of Mr. George Cato. To the roof
of this a branch was passed, and a continual stream of
water dashed upon the walls, in order to prevent the
flames from proceeding further in that direction.
Whilst these arrangements were being made and
carried out for the preservation of the property the
premises adjoining the fire itself were burning with
unexampled fury. The story in which it broke out
was filled with an immense quantity of castor oil,
almond oil, and balsam of capivi, all highly inflam-
mable substances. In the top story there was a large
quantity of empty castor-oil packing-cases, whilst
the other stories contained a vast variety of chemicals
and drugs more or less inflammable. It need
scarcely be wondered then that the flames progressed
with the greatest rapidity and intensity. Parties
who saw the breaking out of the fire state, that
first there issued a dense black smoke, and then, as
if by a simultaneous movement, the flames
burst forth from every window. Almost in a second,
the whole building was in a blaze. Those who were
not on the spot will scarcely credit the effect of the
heat. The eyes of individuals who stood at least 40
yards from the building, and in a contrary direction
•to the wind, were severely scorched. A better idea
of a volcanic eruption, perhaps, could not be given.
The' roaring of the flames, as they ascended hundreds
of feet above the walls had a most overpowering
effect among the spectators, many of whom shrunk
back in terrror. About a quarter to five
o'clock there was a terrific explosion, as of
a thousand rockets, and the flames rose higher
than ever. Volumes of densely black smoke then
made their appearance. This was followed by a second
rush of brilliant red flame, and then a third, which
was succeeded by a discharge of light green vapour.
The flames on these occasions reached across Wood-
street and ignited the back of Bold-street premises,
which were at some distance. Ladders were imme-
diately raised to the walls by the exertions of the fire-
men, and in this direction the fire was soon subdued,
although a chimney of one of the houses which ap-
peared to have been ignited, by some of the flakes of
red hot fire which were floating about in the air,
continued to burn for some time. The roof stood
much lunger than could have been anticipated, and
the molten lead was seen running from it in large
quantities. 'I he warehouse was topped by large
heavy free-stone cornices. These, by the great heat,
were soon cracked, and they fell to the ground with
tremendous crashes, greatly endangering the lives of
the officers who were standing below.
The fire brigade worked with great faithfulness
and determination, and to their exertions alone must
be attributed the almost miraculous preservation of
the houses adjoining. Had the flames extended in
any direction, the consequences must have been ap-
palling. Next to the public-house of Mr. Cato was
the workshop of Mr. James S wallow, lathe and
' axletree-maker, and adjoining this was the soap and
candle manufactory of Messrs. Brown and Co., the
materials in which places would have been an easy
prey to the devouring element. Opposite the labs-
'. tory, in Back Colquitt-street, was the warehouse,
well stocked with drugs and other articles most
s susceptible of fire, whilst a cabinet-maker's shop
stood to the south. Nothing, therefore, had the fire
not been confined within its original limit, could, in
our opinion, have saved the whole of that part of the
town. Human exertions would have been used in
vain to stop the flames.
The Mayor, although not yet recovered from his
late severe illness, was early on the ground, and re•
inained until six o'clock, when all apprehensions that
the fire would spread were allayed. Amongst other
gentlemen present were Mr. Rushton, Mr. Alderman
Turner, Mr. J. Aspinall (who attracted some little
attention in consequence of his attempting to protect
himself from the flakes of the fire and the water from
the engines by means of an umbrella which he held
over his head), Mr. llarbord, Mr. Sheppard, Mr.
G. 11. Lawrence, &c. The head constable (Mr.
Dowling) was early in attendance, and exerted
himself in the most praiseworthy manner, as also,
ire need scarcely add, did Mr. Hewitt, Mr. M‘Fad-
zen, Superintendents Brown, Quick, and Leverett, and
in fact, the whole of the police force, officers and pri-
vates. Great emergencies like the present prove the
superiority of our fire-brigade and the talent and
energy of the force generally. The West of Eng-
. land fire-engine was on the ground, and the men,
under the direction of Mr. Kelly, exerted themselves
well.

der-seeker in the Grotto del Cane to the unknowing and A
silent suffering of the denizens of three-fourths of the
habitations of Europe, the want of a visible distinction
between the vital necessary, and the subtle poison,
alone seems to hare prevented a recognition of their
difference. Rooms, and houses, and towns, have for
ages been constructed wholly without reference to ven-
tilation. Food, a want more gross and palpable, but
no whit more pressing, has always been an object of
keen regard. It has often been hard to get ; and mul-
titudes have died of famine. But during its greatest
scarcity we do not hear of men having voluntarily and
largely mixed with their food articles not only unfitted
to nutrify, but especially adapted to disorganise and
destroy their bodies. Yet so have they invariably
dealt with the air they breathe. Of all the neces-
saries of life it is by far the most plentiful, and
most universally accessible ; and yet it is in-
dubitably that with which we are worst supplied.
As to the economy of towns in this respect, recent
investigations have established the fact that, under
ordinary circumstances, the population of a town
vitiates, or renders unfit for the purposes of respiration,
a stratum of air " sufficient to cover the entire surface
of the town to the depth of three feet." To this is to
be added " the changes caused by the products of com-
bustion from forges, furnaces, and other fires minsling
ith the atmosphere (to s.iy nothing of the enormous
quantity of gas, oil, and candles nightly consumed in
large towns), and by the escape of gaseous effluvia
from manufactories of different kinds." The expediency
of constantly changing the air, thus rendered unfit fee'
further breathing, is obvious enough. The vitiation
itself, so far as we have yet described it, cannot be
avoided. It is a necessary result of the congregation of
the people in towns. There are, however, many diffi-
culties in the way of a constant and complete change
being spontaneously, ar even easily made. The most
prominent feature of the alteration effected in atmo-
spheric air by its use in respiration and combustion is
the generation of carbonic acid gas. This, being heavier
then air, settles downwards, and so is easily confined
in narrow streets and in low districts. Again, much
of the foul air is pent up in close rooms and passages.
It stays there till it is driven out, and as no means are,
in general, taken to do this, its stay is commonly de-
pendent upon causes merely accidental, and is in almost
all cases very much longer than is consistent with the
health of those most nearly concerned. All this, how-
ever, merely concerns ventilation in its more general
point of view; it goes only to impeach the neglect of
the measures required for clearing the air of crowded
districts of impurities necessarily engendered in it.
But the peculiar class of atmospheric impurities
to which our attention is now mainly directed,
and of which the state of the Spa-field's burial-
ground furnishes so apt an illustration, involves
far more pressing considerations. The question, in this
department of the subject is, not whether we shall fold
our hands and leave untouched those sources of atmos-
pheric contamination consequent upon the mere existence
of towns constructed in ignorant disregard of the natural
laws affecting ventilation, but whether we shall continue
the barbarous and disgusting prrctice of slowly poison.
ing each generation with the gaseous effluvia from the
dead bodies of the preceding one.
STANDARD.—Mr. Morison's speech of Thursday,
on the subject of railroads, merits more attention than
can be claimed for his resolutions, with which, indeed,
the speech is at variance. The resolutions demand to fix
a maximum of railroad fares, than which we can imagine
nothing more foolish, or more likely to deprive the public
of the benefit of these improvements. This great
instrument of social improvement is as yet in its
infancy, and its prompt and successful operation,
must depend to a great extent, upon the perfect freedom
with which the experiment is permitted to be tried. We
are firmly convinced that the necessity for competition
(in eadern materia) to induce railroad proprietors to
lower their fares will not have arrived for many, very
many years to come, if it shall ever arrive. Judging
from the experience of the last few years, it
is plain to us that the lowering of fares will be
the true means of increasing profits, until all
the population shall have beome travellers. The pro-
prietors of railways may not, perhaps, have yet made
the discovery, or if they have, they may reasonably
enough think that it is as well not to apply it too
abruptly; but no less is it manifest to us, that before the
lapse of many years extreme cheapness will be the
rule in railroad travelling—dearness the exception.
It must be apparent, however, that at all times, in
the future as well as at present, some railroads must
have less traffic than others ; and therefore, to in-
sure remunerative profits, their owners must demand
higher fares. Any attempt, therefore, to fix a maximum
fare would be either unjust to the less popular, or useless
on the more popular lines, and would thus repress enter-
prise in every case, except where very great profits were
certain. As matters stand, the public surely has little
reason to complain, seeing, that on any one of the
principal lines a person can travel any given distance at
about half the expense, in from a third to a fifth of the
time ; and beyond all calculation more at his ease,
than ie could travel by coach ten years ago ; and as
respects expense, this is merely a beginning. Most,
if not all, of the lines commenced at their opening
with much higher fares than at present ; but,
uncompelled either by law or competition, they have
lowered their fares, and as they have lowered them
they have found their profits increase in a greater
proportion—and so it will proceed, fares descending
and profits rising, until the locomotive wants and
propensities of the whole thirty millions (probably
the number of the present population of the United
Kingdom) are exhausted—a term which we may con-
sider as indefinitely remote, when we reflect -upon the
multitude of new trades and pursuits which railway tra-
velling is creating, and the prodigious stimulus which
it supplies to old pursuits. Mr. Morison's allusion
to the improvement of the fisheries, among the rest,
is most interesting and most gratifying. An im-
provement which really makes provision for half
the food of the people, in case of necessity, is itself
an occasion for deep gratitude to the Giver of all good,
but in the low light, this must cause a great traffic
not merely of fish, but of fishermen, and of all
others concerned in the renewed trade. The same
must take place• in a greater or less degree with hun-
dreds of other trades and pursuits revived or
called into existence by railroads. " The iron
net," as Mr. Smythe poetically calls it, thrown
over the island, gathers the whole population into
one market—(the Greek word agora, " gathering,"
better describes the collection) and the whole of the
two islands will soon present the bustle and activity of a
market. Already, indeed, we have some specimen
of this bustle and activity at the railroad termini ;
but this is a very slight foretaste of what
may be looked for to occur in the lifetime of many now
living. We may mention in passing, that there is, as
regards the metropolis, at least one obstacle, the removal
of which will, we are persuaded, at a, stroke augment
the number of railway travellers twenty-five per cent.,
we mean the delay, expense, and turmoil of getting
at any railway, whether by omnibus, coach,
or cab. A man going to Oxford or Portsmouth,
thinks much more frequently of the stage to Pad-
dington or Nine Elms than of the rest of the
journey. We can answer for some who would have
visited both the one and the other of these places
half-a-dozen times within the last year, had it
not been for the delay ar.:i difficulty of getting at " the
London end" of the railway. Were it not for this diffi-
culty, multitudes who now confine themselves to
London, would consult their own health and the health
of their families, by residing at a distance, thus leaving
the City more airy, and therefore more healthy for those
who remained.

liobert TVlsite was again to have been tried to-day on
a second charge of robbery on the highway. He was
convicted on Tuesday last, and then sentenced to be
transported for fifteen years. The other indictment is
for robbing James Ackroyd, at Leeds, on the 2d of Ja-
nuary, the former charge referring to the 22d February.
He was therefore placed in to-day's arraignment, in con-
sequence of some particulars connected with the case of
Frederick Harrison, who was tried yesterday for a si-
milar offence, and received sentence. It is said that
White accuses the other man of being the person who
robbed Mr. Richardson, at Barwick-in •Elmet, near
Leeds, on the 22d of February. The verdict against
White upon that charge appeared, after the evidence, to
be satisfactory to those who witnessed the trial ; but it is
understood that there are facts in these cases which ren-
der it proper that the second case against White should
be now gone into.

Mr. OVEREND, the prisoner's counsel, applied to the
Learned Judge, however, to-day, to have the trial put
off until next assizeF. The reason stated was that there
were witnesses forthcoming for White who were not now
here, but could be brought forward on another occasion,
and these were material for his defence.

Mr. WILKINs, for the prosecution, observed that he
should offs no objection to this course. The prisoner
would, of course, be detained in custody in the mean-
while.

The other trial is accordingly postponed till the nex
assizcs.

The Crown business concluded to-ni,

NORFOLK ClRCUlT.—Cambridge, Murat 22.
The Courts both opened this morning at ten o'clock.
In the Civil Court there were ten common jury causes,
and one special jury. The calendar contains the names
of fifty prisoners, whose offences may be thus classed :
Manslaughter, 1 ; rape, 2 ; arson, 4 ; burglary, 2 ; high-
way robbery, 4 ; sheep stealing, 1 ' • house breaking, 2 ;
concealment of birth, 1 ; unnatural offence, 1 ; and the
remainder for larcenies.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice PATTEsom.)
Thomas Bowers, aged 20, was indicted for having un-
lawfully attempted to steal a bundle, containing clothes,
from Ann Hills.

The prosecntrix is a schoolmistress at Cottenham, and
resides in the house of the Rev. Mr. Frere, the rector.
On the 23d of December the prosecutrix left Cottenham
to pay her friends residing at Soham a visit, and was on
her way towards Landbeach to meet the omnibus run-
ning from Cambridge to Ely, and when half way between
Cottenham and Landbeach, she saw the prisoner in a
field by the side of the road, and shortly afterwards he
passed her and turned into the gateway of a field, and
just as the prosecutor was passing the gateway he turned
out and met her 'and seized hold of a bundle containing
some clothes which she was carrying in her hand, and
endeavoured to pull it forcibly from her - she resisted,
and the prisoner then took hold of one of her hands, held
it tight, and put his other hand over her shoulder and
threw her down upon the ground, and upon her strug-
gling and screaming out he knelt upon her, and lifted up
her head and knocked it twice violently on the ground,
and then on his hearing the noise of a cart coming to-
wards the place, he ran away, and the "fair" school-
mistress was shortly joined by two persons, to whom she
related her disagreeable adventure..
The prisoner pleaded guilty to the charge, and was
sentenced to one year's imprisonment and hard labour.
James Williams and Samuel Wilson were indicted for
having feloniously assaulted George Jeffs, and stealing
from his person one silver watch.
Mr..,Naylor appeared for the prosecution.
It appeared in evidence that on Sunday evening, the
2d of March, the prosecutor was at the Racehorse pub-
lic-house at Barnwell, and the prisoners and several
other persons were also there. The prosecutor left
about half-past seven, and was going towards his lodg-
ings at the Shakspeare public-house, near the line of the
Eastern Counties Railway. After proceeding some little
distance along the Newmarket-road, the prisoner Wil-
liams suddenly came behind him, and laid hold of him
by the throat and pulled him backwards and held him
down, whilst two other men took his watch from his
pocket. On the following day the two prisoners were
apprehended, and clearly identified by the prosecutor as
being two of the party who had robbed him; the third
man was also capturned, but unfortunately could not be
identified.

The jury found both prisoners Guilty, and they were
sentenced to fifteen years' transportation.
Mr. Justice PATTESON, in passing sentence, observed
that he held in his hand a letter from the High Con-
stable of Norwich, in which it was stated that the pri-
soner Wilson had been committed to gaol on various
charges 34 times.

_
Several parties, accused of very trifling offence•,
pleaded guilty, and were sentenced to different terms of
imprisonment.

There has been nothing on the civil side to-day of the
slightest public interest. The greater part of the day
was consumed in trying an action of trespass, which was
not finished when the Court rose.

WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Erecter, March 21.
This being Good Friday, the Learned Judges attended
Divine service in the Cathedral. The Courts, therefore,
were not opened for business till one o'clock.

STATE OF TRADE.

Alarmed by the appearance of the fire the poor
people in a fe,w of the small houses in Wood-street
removed their furniture, and we fear they will be con-
siderable losers thereby ; it is a matter of great satis-
faction, however, to be enabled to state that not the
slightest accident occurred to life or limb.
The loss is roughly estimated, including building,
stock, and machinery, there being a grinding-mill
and steam-engine on the ground floor, besides other
valuable pieces of machinery, at 50,0001., and we
understand that the greater portion is insured in the
Manchester, West of England, Phoenix, and another
office, the name of which we did not learn. In con-
sequence of some dispute, the Liverpool office, fortu-
nately for itself, as it now turns out, would not ac-
cept the risk at Christmas last.

ENGLISH WOOL TRADE.—LEEDS, MARCH 21.—We
hare not any alteration to teport in this market during
the present week. The manufacturers buy combing
wools sparingly, and for present use. Prices are about
the same as last week. There is a moderate demand for
clothing sorts. at recent rates.
LEEDS.—There has been less business done at our
halls this week, but this is in some measure accounted
for from the circumstance that considerable quantities of
goods have been delivered at the merchants' warehouses
direct from the manufacturers. The demand is, how-
ever, not so brisk for low goods as of late, but fine and
middle qualities are in pretty good demand. Prices are
steady, and stocks low. There has been a good business
doing in finished goods during the week.
HUDDERSFIELD MARKET, TUESDAY, MAncrt 18.—
The demand for new goods was again brisk to-day, and
anything of a novel description met with ready sale.
The business in the warehouses during the week has
been active. The fineness of the weather during the
latter part of the week has caused an influx of buyers to
the market. Wools are in steady demand, and prices re-
main firm.

CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice ERLE.)
Mary Hayes was indicted for having maliciously se
fire, on the 29th of January last, to a dwelling-house,
with intent to defraud John Pyke.
Mr. Kirkwich and Mr. Cornish prosecuted. The
prisoner was defended by Mr. White.
This proved a most singular and extraordinary case
in all its details. It appeared that the prisoner was a
servant to a person named Lashbrook, who was a farmer
renting and occupying a farm belonging to Captain Pyke.
On the Monday before the 20th of January last, the
farmhouse was on fire. The fire was extinguished. On
the following day the house was again on fire, which
was again put out. On the Wednesday, the day after,
the roof of the house was again seen to be on fire by one
of the workmen of Mr. Lashbrook, who was at work at
the time in the farm-yard. He mounted a ladder which
was standing by the house, and, seeing where the fire
was in the roof, he succeeded in putting it out. Whilst
thus engaged, he saw the prisoner, through a hole in the
ceiling of the room, which had been made the day before,
fling a quantity of lighted reed through this hole, under-
neath the thatched roof, and she told him that he was
not to touch it, but let it burn if it would, as her mistress
had given orders to that effect. It appeared that the
witness did let it burn, and the consequence was that the
entire house was consumed. Wheu the prisoner was
taken up she admitted that she had set fire to the house,
but added that it was by her mistress's express orders.
who had said that the sin would lie at her door, and that
it was quite right the old house should be burned, as she
had lived there thirty years, and nothing had been done
to it except nailing up a few boards to the stairs. She
also said that she would not care if old Pyke was on the
top of' it, as he refused to do anything to make them
comfortable.

The origin of the fire at present remains a mystery.
It is stated that, in the third story, where the smoke
was first observed, there had been no fire used that
day—nothing but the steam-pipes passing round the
building. Mr. Superintendent Levered saw the la-
boratory at twenty-five minutes after three, and then
there were no symptoms of fire. It appears to have
burst forth instantaneously.

BRADFORD MARKET, THURSDAY.—There is nothing
different in the market for combing wools, which for
some time past has been very dull ; yet, from the small
supply coming from the growers and country dealers,
there is no increase in stocks, n3r any material decline
in prices. The Yarn trade is still flat, and the prices de-
pressed to
,a point beyond precedent, with the raw mate-
rial at the present value. In Pieces we do not learn of
any amendment, and the business done to-day is very
similar to that for several weeks past.
TRADE Or MANCHESTER, THURSDAY
have had another dull and inactive. week, and as some
allege, on account of the continued frost ; at all events
our dyers are very slack as compared with their late busy
engagements. The calico printers, &c., complain heavily.
Cloth •is in consequence easier to buy. Twist, oa the
contrary, meets brisk sale, and commands very full
prices.
TRADE OF BARNSLEY.--The linen trade continues
steady, with a fair prospect for the Spring trade ; but
work is impeded by the continuance of a severe frost, on
account of the process of bleaching being obstructed, so
that many hands are waiting for want of bleached yarn,
which would otherwise be well employed.—Leeds
Ale, cu, y.

The four blackened walls are now the only remains
of :this fine building, if we except the tall cfiimney,
used for conveying the smoke from the furnace; and
the firemen, at the time we write, are still plying the
engines, and pouring water over the now mouldering
embers. There is not the slightest chance of any fur-
ther damage being done.—Liverpool Mercury.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
• FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF SATURDAY.
GLOBE.—The recent revelations touching the condi-
tion of the Spa-fields burial-ground, *revolting as they
.are, will yet be viewed with a feeling of satisfaction by
those who are aware of the extent to which the health of
every.town-population in the kingdom suffers from the to-
lerated nuisance of inter-mural interment. This is but a
.single instance, tied it is no worse, in reality, than hun-
dreds of others ; but it will probably serve to attract
public attention to the general subject ; and, in doing
this, will, we believe, remove one of the chief obstacles
to an amendment of our pres-nt system of interment.
Among those whose attention has been drawn to the
sanitary condition of our population, particularly in
connexion with the recent Parliamentary inquiries
into the causes affecting the health of the in-
habitants of teems and popular districts. there are
probably few who have not been painfully conscious of
the vast amount of physical suffering and moral degra-
dation whiCh is traceable directly to such causes as mere
indolence, ignorance, or prejudice on the part of the
chief sufferers. r:that men, being breathing animals, need
a constant supply of air, must, however vaguely, have
been practically recognised as a truth from the days of '
Adam downwards. But that the health or good condi-
tion of the breathing; body was dependent in any degree
upon the purity of the air supplied to it—that the pro-
cess of respiration was a chemical as well as a mecha-
nical one—appears to have been left kr the 19th century
to discover. For ages men have continued to immerse
themselves in collections of foul air, and die at once, or
gradually to accumulate it around them, and sicken slowly
to the same end, without any definite idea of what they
were doing. From the mute astonishment of the won-

Mr. WHITE addressed the jury for the prisoner, con-
tending that the prisfmer had acted under her mistress's
orders, without being at all aware of the consequences
of the act she was committing.
Mr. Justice EILLE summed up, telling the jury that a
party in the eye of the law are always taken to intend
the consequences which his acts were likely to produce.
After a long conversation, the jury returned a verdict
of Guilty.
The Learned JUDGE remarked, as there were very
peculiar circumstances in this case, he should not then
pais sentence, but consider as to what judgment he ought
to pronounce.

INCENDIARY FIRE AT WESTLETON.—About one
o'clock on Thursday morning, some sheds were set on
fire at an off-hand farm of Mr. Thomas Capon, at Westle-
ton, but fortunately were early discovered, or the
whole extensive premises must have been reduced to
ashes. The inhabitants showed 'praiseworthy-exertions,
and pulled down some_ part of the buildings, which was
the means of preventing much damage. A shed, a
load of hay, two fat hogs, all the fowls, and a quantity
of harness and implements, were destroyed; the damage
is supposed to be between 50/. and 60/. One or two
persons are in custody on suspicion.—Suffulk Chronicle ,
LYNN.—NOVEL POSITION.—On Monday last, the
ferry boat with four passengers, from West Lynn, was
set fast in the ice fur nearly two hours. Two boats'
crews went off to their assistance, but could not near
her ; afterwards a warp from the steam-tug was thrown
to the boat, and with which, after great difficulty, it was
extricated from the ice. It is certain that for a long
series of years, our harbour, during the month of March
has never been in such a terrible state as at present.—
Norfolh H'en's,

March 22.
CIVIL SIDE.
(Before Mr. Justice COLERIDGE and a Special Jury.)
BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.
COMMINS V. WILT ISFORD.
This was an action brought by the plaintiff to recover
compensation from the defendant for a breach of pro-
mise of marriage. The defendant pleaded that he did
not promise, with a second plea, which amounted in sub-
stance to a release.

Mr. Crowder, Mr. Cockburn, Mr. Butt, and Mr. Col-
lier, conducted the plaintiff's case; Mr. Sergeant King-
lake and Mr. Smith appeared for the defendant.
The facts proved on the part of the plaintiff were
shortly as follow:—Both the parties were natives of
Tavistock, in which place the father of the plaintiff
officiated as cashier and head clerk in the Tavistock
Bank, whilst the defendant's father had for many years
practised as an attorney there. Living in the sams
country town the young people were of course ac-

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MARCH3r24, 1845.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—York, March 20.
CROWN COURT.—(Btfore Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN.)
Thomas. Birkenshaw was indicted for having, on the
7th of December, at East Ardsley, feloniously stolen
sixty sovereigns, 109 half-sovereigns, and one note of
the value of 51., the property of William Fenton.
Mr. Ovcrend and Mr. Pickering appeared for the
prosecution, and Mr. Wilkins defended the prisoner.
The prosecutor, an elderly man with a wooden leg, is
a carrier, and ou the day in question went to Dewsbury
with his tilted cart, having his son along with him.
Fenton took the money with him for the purpose of de-
positing it in the Dewsbury Bank. But he arrived at
the bank too late; and therefore:brought the money back
in the cart at night, when the prisoner also was in his
company. The prosecutor sat on a low box at the fore
part of his cart, keeping the money, which was in a bag,
under his thigh. Something being amiss with the har-
ness, he got over the front of the cart to adjust it, leaving
the money where it had been so placed, on the inside
of the cart. It was at that time, he said, that his
money must. have been taken, as he shortly after-
wards missed it, and there was no means by
which it could have fallen out of the cart by
accident, the cart being perfectly close all round,
and the top of the box on which the money lay
being considerably lower than the board in front.
The money was never found. To confirm the case
against the man at the bar there were witnesses called
who had themselves been several times tried for felony,
and were now in gaol undergoing sentences for that
crime. One of them had been before tried on a charge
of street robbery, and the verdict of the jury was that of
guilty, though he escaped on a technical objection.
These witnesses detailed at great length the particulars
of statements which they had on several occasions heard
from the prisoner in the nature of admissions of his guilt.
It seemed, from them, that he had been confined in a
ward adjoining that in which the witnesses were em-
ployed at their prison labour, and while they were so
engaged the prisoner had several times come to them,
entered into conversation respecting the charge against
him, and openly related how the robbery was effected ;
it had been, he said, taken from the cart by him, and
afterwards buried in a field over a hedge, at the depth of
a yard under ground. These statements, they said, had
been communicated by them to an officer, and hence they
were brought as witnesses on the present trial.
After the speech of Mr. W inxxxs, in which he cau-
tioned the jury as to the danger of convicting upon the
strength of testimony so little to bo relied on, the jury
begged leave to retire. They remained out of Court
for several hours, and then returned with a verdict of
Acquittal.

years, was charged with having, on the 13th September,
1844, thrown stones at, and struck, a boy named Daniel
Jones, and that Daniel Jones died on the 14th of Sep-
tember, and that he (Evan Lloyd) feloniously and with
malice aforethought killed Daniel Jones.
The prisoner, a little boy with a downcast look, pleaded
not guilty.
Mr. Chilton, Q.C., and Mr. N. Carrie appeared for the
prosecution, and Mr. V. Williams defended the prisoner.
Mr. CHILTON, in stating the case to the jury, said that
in his long experience he had never had the misfortune
to meet with a case in any respect its parallel. The pri-
soner was a boy of the age of nine years, a son of
Thomas Lloyd, of the parish of Llanfihangel-ar-arth.
The father of the unfortunate deceased was a labourer,
named John Jones, residing in the same parish. The
bov who was murdered was a mere infant, three years
old, and certainly could have injured no one. That the
infant died on the 13th of last September would be placed
beyond all doubt, and that he died from the effects of
external injuries was equally certain. That these inju-
ries could not have been inflicted by the deceased him-
self, and that they were not the result of accident was
al:o certain. The child was found in a ditch, with a
number of stones lying about him. He had bled pro-
fusely, and the stones were covered with blood. The
jury would have two questions to determine ; first, whe-
ther the prisoner threw a stone and struek the deceased
with it ; and secondly, whether at the time he did so, he
had a guilty knowledge that he was doing wrong. Until
from circumstances the contrary was made to appear
every killing of a fellow creature was accounted by the
law to be murder. However, there could scarcely, he
would confess, be malice aforethought in a child like the
prisoner. Under seven years of age no proof whatever
could justify the conviction of a child of felony. Above
fourteen a child was subject to the same laws as those of
mature age. Between those ages the law said that an
infant should be deemed prinal facie incapable of com-
mitting a crime, unless the contrary should appear.
Malice, however, supplied the proof which is requisite,
that is the criminal intent. The presumption that the
child is incapable may be rebutted by strong and fre-
quent evidence of its capacity to do a guilty action.
There was no proof that the child's body had been hid-
den in the ditch, but after the child had been missed and
a search had been instituted, the prisoner had denied
any knowledge of him. Again, while the search for the
child was proceeding, and when the people were going
in the.direction where the body was afterwards feund,
the prisoner told them that that part of the field had
already been searched.
Mr. CHILTON then proceeded to call witnesses for the
prosecution :
John Jones—l live at Llanfihangel-ar-arth. I had a
little boy named Daniel Jones, who died on the 13th of
September, 1844. He was four years old wanting six
weeks. I saw him the day before he died on the boun
dary hedge between Coedlaney and my place. He was
playing with Evan Lloyd. I saw him next between six
and seven o'clock that night in my house. I was not in
the house when .he was brought in. He was covered
with blood.
Hannah Davies—l live at Llanfihangel-ar arth. I
heard that Jones's child was misting. Between tour and
five in the evening I was searching for him. I saw pri-
soner at the bar at the top of the field called Pan t3bro.
I found the child. Pantybro is the field I afterwards
found him in. It was a large field's breadth from the
place where I found the body that I met the prisoner. I
asked him if he saw the little boy of Danywaun. He
said " Yes." I asked him where be was playing with
him a little before dinner. Where did he go to after-
wards, I said. He said that he had sent him home. He
said that the boy went from him to sit by the side of his
father's house. I then went with the people to search.
Another woman, named Lydia Davis, saw the child first.
I saw her when she found him. The child was found in
the field of Pantybro-Gellyvelin. That was divided from
the one I met the • prisoner in by a road. He was all
over blood.. The blood that was not dry was on the
back of his head. It was bleeding then. I saw some
stones there. They were white stones ; from 1 fib. to
21b. in weight. I saw about six atones. Some were
stained with blood.- The stones were lying by the
child's side. Lydia Davis carried him home to his
mother. I showed Sarah Thomas the place where the
child was found.

quainted one with the other, and were in the constant
habit of seeing each other. In 1842 Cupid appears first
to have made an attack on the gallant defendant —for a
gallant gentleman he is, holding the rank of lieutenant in
her Majesty's 66th Regiment of Foot. He was then at
the very suscaptible age of twenty, and the fair plain-
tiff, a beautiful girl, at the bewitching age of seventeen.
He told " a flattering tale," and told it so well that it
found its way to the heart of the fair listener, and awoke
corresponding emotions there with those which flowed
in his own. The young people loved with all the fond-
ness and fervour with which young people alone can
love. But, alas ! they had fathers, and fathers never
will let those interesting matters alone, but are ever dis-
posed to interfere where their children the least desire
their aid or interference. Mr. Commins, the plaintiff's
father, was the first to find out the love that had stolen
into the heart of his daughter for the gallant defendant ;
and feeling assured that the match would not be approved
of by the defendant's father, he wrote that gentleman a
note, communicating the fact to him. Mr. Willisford,
sen., replied to that note, expressing his obligations to
Mr. Commins for the handsome manner in which he had
acted. An interview then took place between the old
gentlemen, the matter was talked over, and both ap-
peared agreed that the match was not, under all circum-
stances, a desirable one, and that it was, therefore, to be
interdicted. This consultation and its results were
communicated to the parties interested, and it was agreed
upon between them that the silent love of their hearts
must be extinguished. Time passed on, and, living in
the same town, they often saw each other. It is easy to
Command a heart not to love, but it is often very difficult
to get that heart to obey, especially when it is found
beating in the breast of a young man of 21, or a girl who
has about her all the warmth and fancy of 17. The
flame that had only been smouldered for a time, burst
out with renewed energy, and as the young people could
not meet at the houses of their parents, they enjoyed the
deliht of stolen interviews at the house of a married
sister of theplaintiff, who with sisterly affection contrived
this happiness for them. But a second interruption was
made to the lovers' dreams, and from some cause or inter-
ference, the exact nature of which did not transpire, a fresh
separation took place. The disconsolate fair one returned
the letters that had breathed of love and devotion to him
from whom they had come, and to whom she had given, in
all its warmth and purity, her virgin heart and affections.
She had deeply felt the first separation which had taken
place ; but this second was a blow which bid fair to
blanch her damasked cheek, and dull the lustre of her
lovely eye. Her health was impaired, to recover which
her father, with parental affection, sent her to London
for change of air and scene, and kept her there as a
parlour boarder for almost a year. In the meantime the
defendant had left the place, and gone to join his regi-
ment, which he entered as an ensign about this time.
Some time in 1842 the father of the defendant died, and
left the defendant about 4,000/. or 5,0001. After his
father's death, the defendant returned fer a time to Ta-
vistock. He had separated from that maiden who bad
awakened all his youthful fire, and at the desire of his
deceased parent had promised to give up all pretensions
to her love ; but as it appeared the shaft which had
been fixed in his heart had never been withdrawn, and
his heart was still beating with the warmest emotions
of love for the young and beautiful Eliza Ilillyard
Commins, the name of the fair plaintiff. He first met
her at a party, where it did not appear any communica-
tion took place between them. A few nights after he
again met her at a public ball, where his reserve was
broken and his resolution taken that she should be his
wife. He employed one of his sisters as Isis mediator,
and she confessed her task was not a difficult one. The
plaintiff lent a ready ear to the wish the defendant had
expressed, and the parties once more stood in the ro-
mantic and endearing relation of lovers. The defendant
at this time called on the plaintiff's father, declared that
his affection remained unabated for his daughter, and
requested his sanction and permission to renew and
continue his addresses. Mr. Commins replied, that
the death of the defendant's father had removed the
principal obstacle to his consent, and that if his in
tentions were pure and honourable he should not ob-
ject. " But," added he, " remember, there must be no
more breaking off the affair, if it is again commenced."
The defendant assured him that his intentions were
most honourable, that he had resolved on making her
his wife, and nothing would ever induce him to forget or
forsake his darling Hillyard. On this assurance Mr.
Commins gave his consent, and from that time the gal-
lant soldier was received in the plaintiff's family as her
affianced husband. A few days after this the defendant
was obliged to quitTavistock to join his regiment. Then
began the correspondence, extracts of which were read
to the Court, and which convulsed all present with
laughter. So hotly did the love of the gallant son of
Mars burn at this time, that he could not proceed fur-
ther than Exeter, before he found it necessary to ease
his over-charged heart by writing to his lady-love, from
whose arms he had just been torn away. He commenced
his letter, "My dearest ever-devoted Hillyard." He
then went on to depict the misery he had suffered from
the moment he had been torn from ber, and declared
that he had been crying almost every moment since. A
thousand loves and angels, dears and darlings, followed,
with a conclusion vowing eternal love and fidelity. The
next dayj the valiant ensign had got as far as Bristol.
Distance bad only increased his passion, and rendered
his misery more acute. He sat down and wrote another
letter. This commenced, "My dearest dear, dear, dear,
dearest dear;" and then, attempting to declare the effect
of his anguish, he declared it had so operated on him
that he had hardly a bit of hair left on his head. Al-
though he had thus in his anguish made himself bald, it
was necessary that he should proceed, and the next
letter was dated from Birmingham, where at that time
his regiment was lying. The correspondence continued,
and one might judge by the number of " dears"
" sweets," " angels," " pets," and " darlings," ,
the love
of the valiant ensign by no means decreased. On one
occasion he so far forgot his fair correspondent as to
write a word or two about himself. He writes thus :
" You don't think it, but I assure you the ladies fall very
much in love with me. You may think me an ugly fel-
low, but I am not so bad neither when rigged out in a
black coat, white waistcoat, and white •
look as
neat as a parson, and as modest as a judge, and am very
much the thing I assure You."—(Here there were roars
of laughter, in which the Learned Judge himself was
compelled to join.) At last the defendant wrote to say
that he gained his lieutenantcy without purchase, and
that he longed to have his beloved with him, and that
she must fix a day for their wedding. The answer was
not read, but at no great distance of time from this he
once more came to Tavistock. The happy day was fixed,
dresses were made, the bridesmaid chosen, friends In-
vited, cakes prepared. together with all the usual para-
phernalia of a wedding—when, lo and behold ! the false
son of Mars sought an interview with the plaintiff's
father, and informed him that he had found, from
ha com-
municatinghismewanitsh brother,
whoiusldnotbe
so
who lived in Tavistock,
good as he expected ;
and he therefore thought it was no use to marry. The
father expostulated, but in vain ; he had made up his
mind, and would not change. Under these circumstances
the plaintiff had gone into Court to seek that compensa-
tion for h: r wounded and insulted feelings which the
jury should determine her to be entitled to.
Mr. Sergeant KINGLARE addressed the jury for the
defendant, contending that what he had done was an act
of prudence, for which the plaintiff would have great
, therefore, ought not to be
Mr. Justice COLERIDGE summed up.
causevsi t
visited
d t o
w rejoice,th heavy and which.,
damageshi c.h
The jury then requested permission to leave the Conrt.
This they did, and were absent a considerable time. On
their return they gave their verdict for the plaintiff—
Damages 700 t
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice ERLE.)
Samuel Haydon was indicted for the murder of his in-
fant daughter, Mary Hayden, by giving her a quantity
of hartshorn.
Mr. Tyrrell and Mr. Kekewich prosecuted ; the pri-
soner was defended by Mr. Cox.
It appeared that the prisoner had lived at Bradninch,
in this county, and that in February last he had lost his
wife in giving birth to the child whom, by the indictment
on which he was arraigned, he was charged to have mur-
dered. The wife died about eleven days after the birth
of the child. He then made arrangements with his wife's
sister to take and keep the child, for which he was to pay
her 2s. 3d. per week. In consequence of this, she took
the child to her house, and commenced the duties of a
foster-mother to it, and up to the day of its death the
poor little thing appeared in good health. On the 17th
of February the prisoner's wife was buried. He had been
ill for some little time, and had kept his bed. He ex•
pressed a hope that his sister-in-law, who was coming to
the funeral, would bring his child with her, as he said he
very much wished to have her with him whilst they were
burying his wife. The child was brought and carried to
the prisoner, who was in bed. There it was left whilst
its foster-mother went down stairs and saw the funeral
depart. On her again taking the child she perceived
that its little mouth was very much swollen, and found
that it refused the breast. She mentioned this to the
prisoner, who did not say that he had given it anything,
but remarked that it had appeared to suck with difficulty
before. The child continued to moan, and appeared to
grow worse and worse. The woman took it to the house
of a medical man, whom she did not find at home, and
consequently she carried the child back to her own house,
without any medical advice. At four o'clock that morn-
ing the child was aeorpse. Suspicions were awakened. An
examination of the child took place, when the cause of its
death was discovered to be some irritant poison, which
had most dreadfully burnt and excoriated its south and
throat, from the effects of which it died. Evidence was
given that the father had, a few days before, purchased
a pennyworth of hartshorn, and a constable, on
searching his room, found concealed in a hole in the
floor of the room in which he slept a bottle, which, it
was proved, was the one in which the hartshorn bad
been fetched. The prisOner had been taken up and ex-
amined before the Coroner. When in custody he had
gated to the constable and the foreman of the Coroner's
jury that the child was crying and appeared ill, that he
bad been taking some hartshorn himself immediately
before, which had done him a great deal of good, and
that thinking it would benefit the child, he had given it
about half a teaspoonful ; that he had no idea it would
injure it, or he should not have given it, and that he
should not have given it at all, had he not been in such
distress of mind as not to know what he was about.
Medical men had stated that they had no doubt the
child had died from*.taking the hartshorn, which was a
poison if administered by itself and undiluted with
water. But they had never known a person killed by
hartshorn before; and it was constantly taken Mixed in
water by the peasants in that neighbourhood as a very
wholesome medicine.
It was proved by another witness that the prisoner
had, as he stated, taken some in water a few days before.
Mr. Cox addressed the jury for the prisoner.
Mr. Justice ERLE summed up, pointing out the rattily
circumstances in the case which tended to throw a doubt
on the guilt of the prisoner.
After a short consultation, the jury returned a verdict
of Not Guilty.

Cross-examined by Mr. V. WILLIAMS—The field
where I spoke to the prisoner was adjoining the field
where the body was found, only divided by a lane.
By the COURT—I found the child about seven o'clock.
Sarah Thomas—l live at Highgate, in the parish of
Llanfihangel-ar-arth. I was near the prisoner's father's
house on the 13th of September, reaping. I met the
prisoner at the bar about half-past six—he was coming
out of the field in which the child was found who had
received the injury ; it is called Pentybro-Gellyveliu.
He was coming out over the stones which filled the gap.
There was no gate. I asked him if he had seen the
child that was missing.. He said " No, I did not."
Hannah Davies showed me the spot where the child was
found next morning. That was within sight from where
I saw prisoner coming over the stones, about ten yards.
I met some people looking for the child.
Cross-examined—l did not know how far it was from
the gap. She told me ten yards. I showed William
Williams where I. stood, and where the prisoner came
out of the gap.
It was here.stated by Mr. Chilton that he would take
his Lordship's opinion as to whether the statements
of the prisoner to a policeman could be received as
evidence.

His LORDSHIP said that it appeared by the deposition
that the first statement made by the prisoner was to the
policeman, and he told the prisoner that it would be
better for him to tell the truth. Under these circum-
stances, the admission or confession could not be re-
ceived.

Mr. CHILTON said that he had no further evidence to
offer, and he would therefore decline proceeding to the
jury..

his LORDSHIP then directed the jury to acquit the
prisoner, and the boy was then ordered to be handed
over to his parents.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL.'
William Boggriss, aged 35, a respectably dressed
person, was charged with obtaining from Messrs. Ranken
and Co. of Honey-lane-market, a quantity of damask,
value 5/. 10s., in the name of Messrs. Cowper and Co.,
of St. Paul's Churchyard, and afterwards disposing of
the same without authority.
Mr. William Husband, a salesman, in the employ of
Ranken and Co., proved that, on Thursday- last, the pri-
soner obtained three packages, containing a dozen and a
half of table-cloths, of the value of 51. 10s., which were
delivered to him by witness. Knowing .that he had pre-
viously obtained goods for Cowper and Co., the invoice
was made out in the name of that firm by a fellow clerk
named Young,
Mr. H. Nash, 'of the firm of Cowper, and Co., St.
Paul's Churchyard, stated that the prisoner had been in
their employ as warehouseman for upwards of seven
years. On Thursday last a " corrected" invoice of the
above goods was sent from Messrs. Ranken and Co., with
a request that the one given to the prisoner might be re-
turned. The prisoner immediately said that the goods
were fur himself, but witness's suspicions being aroused
he proceeded to R inken and Co.'s warehouse, where he
was informed that the prisoner had obtained the goods,
whereupon the latter said he had purchased them for
Mr. Kidd, of Tottenham-court-road, who paid him
3/. 12s. for them.
Mr. Andrew. Kidd, of 120, Tottenham-court-road, was
then sworn.
Alderman FAREBROTHER thought it proper to caution
him against saying anything which might in the slight-
est degree criminate himself, as it was proved he had
purchased the goods at an extraordinary low price.
Mr. Kidd 'said he wished to tell all he knew of the
transaction. When the prisoner brought the goods to
his shop he stated that they belonged to his cousin, who
lived in Essex, and he wished to dispose of them, as he
was short of money. The goods were purchased for 3/. 128.
At the request of the solicitor who appeared on behalf
of the prosecution, the prisoner was remanded until
Saturday, when it is expected several other charges of a
like nature will be brought forward against him.
BO W-STREET.
Two men, named Boyd and Phillips, were charged
with having in their possession a quantity of cambric
handkerchiefs, alleged to have bet n smuggled.
It appeared from the evidence of a person named
Palmer, who described himself as a captain on half-pay,
that he met the prisoner Phillips in Holborn, and in
consequence of certain representations made by him, he
was induced to accompany him to a public-house in that
neighbourhood, where he found the other prisoner Boyd.
That some cambric handkerchiefs were then produced,
which the prisoners represented to be of foreign manu-
facture, and which witness was ultimately induced to
purchase at the price of one sovereign, but afterwards,
having reason to suspect that he had been imposed upon,
he made an excuse to leave the room, to which he after-
wards returned with a policeman, and gave the prisoners
into his custody. The prisoners, in order to convince
him that the articles were of foreign manufacture, gave
him a foreign bill of parcels for them, which they told
him he might keep for his own satisfaction.
Mr. Bayley, an officer of the Customs, attended, and
he stated that he had examined the articles, which were
undoubtedly of British manufacture. He then called the
attentiin of the Court to the Act of Parliament, which
stated that no person was justified in giving, any party
into custody for an offence of this description, unless he
was expressly authorised so to do by the Commissioners
of her Majesty's Customs.
Mr. JARDINE, on reference to the Act, found that
officers on full pay of her Majesty's army, navy, or
marine, had power to detain goods of this description, in
whatever possession they might find them, but all other
persons detecting an offence of the kind must proceed by
information, and subsequent summons, or in the Court
of Exchequer.
Mr. Bayley said he did not know anything of the pro.
secutor in the present case, and at all events he had not
the authority of the officer of Customs to give the pri-
soners into custody.
Mr. JARDINE said that under these circumstances the
prisoners could not be detained, and he ordered them to
be immediately discharged.

MA BLBOR- OUGH-STI?EET.
Margaret Dobson, an Irishwoman' living at No. 23,
Crown-street, Soho, was brought before Mr. Hardwick,
charged with stealing an infant four months old, and its
clothing.

When the prisoner was put to the bar, she had an
infant i❑ her arms. She hugged it and caressed it, evi-
dently with the intention of attracting notice towards
her extraordinary exhibition of fondness, and when the
real mother made her appearance she called out,
" You're the woman that wants my dear baby, but you'll
not get it ; you'll get my life first."
Caroline Swan, when sworn, said she was a brush-
maker, living at No. 11, Playhouse-yard, Whitecross-
street, and she got her living by going about the streets
selling her goods. On the 15th of last February she was
out selling her goods, when she " put in" at the Spot-
ted Dog public-hbuse, Goodge-street, Tottenham court-

- Carmarthen, March 20.
MURDER DY A BOY.—Evan Lloyd, a boy aged nine

road, to refresh herself with half a pint of ale. While
drinking the ale the prisoner came and sat alongside of
her, and began asking some questions about th child.
The prisoner looked at the child, and said it was a very
pretty boy, and then she told witness she was wait-
ing for her sister, who was about to leave her place, at
No. 15, London- street, Fitzroy-square. The prisoner
asked her to ca: ry a message for her to her sister's, to
say she (the prisoner) was waiting for her. The
prisoner said it would appear strange to take a baby
to a respectable hotere, especially as the lady was
very particular, and, therefore, she begged complainant
to leave the baby with her. The prisoner then took the
infant, and complainant went to London-street. She
had not been away more than two minutes, wken she
found, on her return, that the prisoner had gone and
taken the baby with her. Complainant made search
end inquiry, but could hear no tidings of the prisoner
until last Wednesday night, when she met the pi isoner
accidentally near St. Giles's Church. She had only
seen the prisoner once before, but recognised her imme-
diately, and the prisoner also knew her again, for she
instantly ran off towards Crown-street. Complainant
pursued her and said, "You wretch, you stole my baby."
The prisoner struggled to get away, and asked her
what she wanted with her. Complainant called " police,"
but no assistance came, and the prisoner broke away
from her and made her escape. Complainant at last as
certained who she was and where she lived, and went
with the constable to No. 23, Crown-street, and on going
upstairs and knockinzat the door of a back room, the
prisoner opened it, but on seeing complainant imme-
diately shut the door in her face. Complainant
got into the room, and saw her baby on the bed.
Mr. Hannwsex—Were any clothes found in the pri-
soner's room by which the infant can be more com-
pletely identified ?—Police-constable E 102 found a
child's shirt and bed-gown, which be now produced. .
The complainant said these articles were part of the
infant's clothing when the baby was stolen from her.
The constable further stated that when the prisoner
was accused of stealing the baby the protested it was her
°sin child, and that she had been delivered of it in the
house of a woman named Sullivan, living in Upper Gren.
ville-street, Somers-town.
Mr. HARDWICK (to the prisoner)—Where were you
,confined, and when ? Prisoner—l went on the 14th of
February to be confined at my • friend's place ; they
wanted me to go into St. Giles's Workhouse, but I would
not, and so I was confined.
Mr. HARDWICK—Then you were confined at this
woman's house ? Prisoner—No ; I was confined in the
street near the church. •
Mr. HARDWICK—Where did you take the baby? Pri-
soner— To Mrs. Sullivan's, and I stopped there some days.
A woman, named Sullivan, was called. She said she
recollected the prisoner, coming to her about nine c'clock
one night in the middle of last February. She had a
child with her, and she appeared very poorly. The
child had a cap and clothing on. It appeared dre-sed as
infants gerrerally. are. The prisoner was carrying the
child, and walking without assistance.
The chief clerk (Mr. Fitzpatrick) told the gaoler to
bring the infant to him, to give him an opportunity of
judging of its age. The prisoner banded him the child,
which was immediately given to its real mother.
The prisoner, seeing this. said, " Won't I get back my
baby ? then see how I'll die ;" at the same time setting
up a sort of a prolonged' cry, known as an " Irish howl,"
until lodged in the lock-up cell.
In addition to the evidence, the infant's clothes found
in the prisoner's room, and the identification of the in-
fant by its own mother, the constable found the dress
worn by the prison when she stole the child, in her
room, of which dress the complainant had given a de-
scription when she mentioned the loss of her child.
The prisoner was fully committed.
CR 0 YD ON.
Mr. Richard Messenger, a pawnbroker at Croydon,
was charged, upon information laid by Mr. Charles
Leigh' Hoskins Master, the Chairman of the Godstone
Board of • Guardians, with having taken certain
erticlei on pledge from one 'lames Herriett, and
with having neglected to make a proper entry of the
transaction in his book, and also neglecting to make the
proper inquiries of the person who pledged the property
as to whether he was a lodger -or housekeeper ; and
likewise with-neglecting to place the letter L. for the
former, or H. for the latter description of the person,
upon the ticket.
Mr. Richards attended on behalf of the Board of
Guardians of the G'odstone Union, by whym the pro-
ceeding was instituted, and Mr. R. Russell appeared for
the defendant.
It appeared that some time in March of last year a
Man named James Ilerriett, who was at the time an in-
mate of the Godstone Union. Workhduse, absconded
with some blankets and other articles, the property of
the guardians. Inquiry was set on foot, and it was at
length ascertained that Herriett had pledged the stolen
articles at Mr. Messenger's, and upon his being appre-
hended Mr. Messenger was requested to attend and give
evidence. He at first did not do so, but on the se-
cond examination he attended and produced a duplicate,
Which, upon being examined by the officers of the union,
did not appear to them to be in conformity with the re.
quirements of the Act of Parliament ; they, therefore,
directed the present proceeding to be adopted. Mr.
RlOhards observed, in opening the case to the bench,
that it was very important ,for the public that pawn-
brokers should be compelled to act up to the letter of the
Act of Parliament, and comply with all those regula-
tions which were necessary to prevent facilities being
given for the disposal of stolen property.
James Herriett, the prisoner alluded to in the infor-
mation, and who stated- that he had come from the
county gaol, where he was undergoing a sentence of im-
prisonment for unlawfully disposing of the articles in
question, was examined as a witness, and deposed that
on the 21st.of March, 1844, he pawned two blankets at
the defendant's shop for 45., andahe name he gave was
James Strep. He add, d, tat he did not recollect that
Mr. Messenger asked him any questions as to whether
he was a housekeeper or a lodger; but he said that all
he did was to give him a ticket and 4s. That ticket he
had since destroyed. •
Some discussion here took place as to whether parole
evidence could be given *of what appeared upon the du-
plicate produced by the defendant before the bench at
Godstone, and at length Mr. Ruisell said that to save
trouble 'upon the point, Mr. Messenger was ready to
produce his book, and also the duplicate.
-Mr. Messenger accordingly produced a duplicate, and
a book containing entries of pledges made in the month
in question. The duplicate and the entry appeared to
be both in the proper form, but Gower, the master of the
workhouse, who had• been summoned as a witness, ex-
pressed his opinion that the duplicate now produced was
not the sense that was brought to Godstone.
Mr. Messenger requested the witness *Gower to be
cautious in what he stated, for ulterior proceedings
would certainly
,be taken if he stated what was fal-e.
Mr. LUCAS told the witness that he was throwing a
very serious imputation-upon Mr. Messenger, and he
requested him to look at the duplicate again carefully,
and then say whether he persisted in his former state-
ment,.

Gewer having done so, declared his belief to be that
the duplicate now produced was entirely different from
the one he formerly saw in Mr. Messenger's possession.
Mr. Russell then addressed the Bench and submitted
that the charge against the defendant had altogether
failed in proof. Ile said that Mr. Messenger had been
long known in the town as a most respectable tradesman,
and far from his ever having given any facility in the
disposing of stolen property, he could, if it were neces-
sary, show by the evidence of the police that he had on
several occasions given them• valuable information and
assistance to discover offenders.

The Magistrates, after-a very short deliberation, ex
pressed their opinion that the evidence was not sufficien

- .
to support any of the charges against the defendant, and
:he information must therefore be dismissed.

THE CONVICT TAWELL.

AYLESBURY, SATURDAY.—The unfortunate Tawell is
said to be somewhat more composed and resigned to his
fate to-day than he has hitherto been. The authorities
of the gaol are as close as possible in regard to him,
and it is therefore with much difficulty that any inform.
ation can be obtained. He continues to be supplied
with dinner from the White Hart in the same way as he
used to be previously to the trial. It is remarked by
some, that this indulgence to him is such as most pro-
bably would not have been granted to a poorer man if
he was placed in the same position ; at least, such has
never been the case before. As it is, however, near nine
years since any one has been executed at Aylesbury,
and then, perhaps, the party under sentence might not
have been enabled to pay for a dinner sent to him from
an inn in the town, it is just possible that this inference
may be unpist. It is expected that his wife will pay him
another visit on Monday. She is in a dreadfully
depressed state, and seems even now to be
thoroughly impressed with a conviction of his innocence.
A petition has been got up in the town, to be
presented to the Secretary of State, praying that the
sentence may be transmuted to transportation for life.
The petition, however,goes more upon the general principle
of the impolicy of capital punishments than upon any
assumed probability of the verdict of the jury in Tawell's
case not being strictly in accordance with the truth.
The petition has been signed by about 120 persons ;
amongst these are the names of one Baptist minister (the
only clergyman who has signed it), and the foreman of
the jurywho found him guilty. In the town there ap-
pears to be a very general aversion to capital punish-
ments ; and many even who do not go so far as to say
that capital punishments ought in all cases to be abo-
lished, appear to think that executions ought not to be
public. It is said that on Friday next, when it is
fully expected that the execution will take place, the
shops will be closed. The general impression as to
the guilt of the unhappy man appears to increase.
The more calmly all parties are enabled to think upon the
subject, the more fully do they seem convinced that
the verdict of the jury is a proper one. Within the last
few days a circumstance has come to light which would
have been of material importance on the trial, and which
now has the effect of corroborating the impression of his
guilt. It is stated that in the omnibus, in which it will
be recollected lie travelled a short way after he had left
the deceased, Sarah Hart, an empty bottle was found,
having a label on it marked "Scheele's Prussic Acid."
This was found by the conductor, but some of Tawell's
friends got intelligence of the fact, and through their in-
fluence, backed, perhaps, with "substantial reasons," it
was kept " dark until the trial was over. It is supposed
that the unfortunate man must, in his confusion, have
dropped this in the omnibus.

Although the Quakers have expelled him from the
society, yet, with a strange inconsistency, many of their
body continue to visit him. Many religious tracts have
also been. forwarded to him by them, which, it is said, he,
reads with the greatest attention. The part of his con-
duct, since his conviction, which is considered to be the
most strange and unaccountable is the fact that he never
makes any allusion to the awful crime of which he has
been found guilty. Many, from this, are inclined to draw
conclusions unfavourable to him ; and it also tends to
strengthen the conjecture that he will not make, any con-,
le ssion.