The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-16 00:00:00

ALLEGED MURDER ON THE HIGH

SEAS.
The return of the ship Thomas Bennett to Liverpool,
on Wednesday, in consequence of the murder of the cap-
tain by the cook, was mentioned briefly in our paper
yesterday. The following are the painful details :
It appears that the Thomas Bennett, a fine American
ship, of 483 tons burden,: sailed from Liverpool for
Charleston on the 3d instant, with a general cargo, worth
about 30,000 L Her commander, Captain Halsey, who
was also a part owner, was an American, and a married
man of respectable family and connections. The cook,
John Kent, an able-bodied fellow, with fine blue eyes,
and rather well looking, is a native of Liverpool, and has
a wife residing at 27, Great Howard-street. The dread-
ful occurrence we are about to relate seems to have
taken place in the afternoon of the Bth :hist, five days
after the vessel had left Liverpool. She was at the time
in the Bay of Biscay ; and upon the eventful day in
question the captain, according to the account of
the crew, had swallowed no less than a pint and a half of
brandy, and had been more or less intoxicated from the
date of his departure from the Mersey. At the moment
of the occurrence, three o'clock on the Bth, they des-
cribe him to have been quite drunk, and very abusive
in his language, as well as violent in his demeanour.
The immediate cause of his irritation was either a delay
in getting his dinner ready, or some fault in cooking it.
He proceeded from the cabin to the cook-house on deck,
in which the steward and cook were employed in dress-
ing the victuals. The cook was in the act of peeling
potatoes, and had a large sheath knife in his hand for
that purpose. The captain, in the first instance, seems
to have abused the steward about the preparation of the
dinner, and then snatched a large table-knife out of the
steward's band, and ordered the latter out of the caboose.
He then seized the cook with his left hand by the throat,
and dragged him out upon the deck, What occurred at
this moment does not appear to have been exactly wit-
nessed by any of the crew ; and therefore we are unable
to corroborate that part of the rumour which goes to
say that the captain made an attempt, with his knife,
upon the cook's life. If, however, the attempt was
made, it must have been unsuccessful, for the cook es-
caped without having received the slightest injury.
There is no doubt, upon the other hand, but the cook
used his knife with a very effective and determined
purpose ; for scarcely had he been dragged upon the
deck when the captain fell at his feet a wounded, bleed-
ing, and mangled corpse. The mate had hardly time to
run from the after part of the vessel and lift up the cap-
tain's head, when life was completely extinct. The body
was then examined, and no fewer than nine deep stabs
were discovered. Three of those were on the breast ;
three others on the neck ; one on the jaw ; one on the
left side of the body ; and one on the shoulder. The
cook was immediately secured and placed in irons ; and
the mate, having taken charge of the vessel, deemed it
the most judicious course, as she was so much nearer to
Liverpool than to Charleston, to put her about and bring
her back to the former port. She accordingly arrived at
the Rock Lighthouse yesterday morning ; and was soon
boarded by several boats' crews, who brought the dis-
astrous intelligence to the police-office. In a short time
several constables were sent out in a pilot-boat, and they,
having taken the cook into custody, safely lodged him
in Bridewell. The remains of the captain were con-
veyed to the dead-house. In the course of the afternoon
the cook was brought before Mr. Rushton on the charge;
but as he alleged that he had no money to fee a solicitor,
wished to see his wife, and prayed for a postponement
until to-day, the hearing of the case was adjourned until
eleven o'clock this morning. The Coroner and a re-
spectable jury proceeded to view the body yesterday ;
and then the inquest was adjourned until one o'clock on
Thursday.

SUICIDE IN THE MILLBANK PRISON.—A SEVERE
SENTENCE.—Yesterday Mr. Higgs held an inquest in
the Millbank prison, on the body of Thomas Bentley,
aged thirty-two, an inmate. Mr. Hatchard, the deputy-
governor, stated that deceased was admitted on Monday
last from Stafford gaol, having been convicted at the last
July Stafford sessions of stealing rabbits, and sentenced
to seven years' transportation. The certificate of the
previous character of deceased was good, and it stated
that he had been a blacksmith, and worked for ten years
under the same master. When received into the prison
he did not seem depressed in spirits, and exhibited no
symptoms of insanity. Thomas Higgins, a prisoner,
said that the deceased had told him (they were both
tried for different offences at Stafford) that he was in-
nocent of the crime for which he was convicted, and
that it was committed by another man, who had been
only sentenced to six months imprisonment. Previ-
ous to the robbery of the rabbits, the man in ques-
tion had asked deceased, he said, to participate in
it with him, but he refused. Deceased first ap-
peared as a witness against the man, but something came
out during the trial which caused the chairman of the
sessions to tell deceased that he was the more guilty of
the two, and he was placed at the bar, tried, and sen-
tenced to seven years' transportation. Deceased also said
the principal evidence against him was a little blood and
some rabbits' fur found in the pocket of his jacket. He
likewise stated that he had been married but twomoonfthhiss
smonths,
and that circumstances, coupled with the severity
sentence, was enough to make him cut his throat.
He
rondo the above statement in Stafford gaol, and the
authorities having heard of it, he was not alloys ed to re-
main in a cell by himself. Mr. llatchard said if he had
known this he would not have
separate cell. William Treveltconfined deceased in a
, a night-guard of the
prison, proved finding deceased early on Wednesday
morning in his cell, suspended by the neck from a clothes
peg in the wall by means of his handkerchief. He was
cut down, and Mr. Sunman, the resident surgeon, was
called, who said he had been dead some hours. Verdict,
" Temporary Insanity."
The Duke of Rutland commenced grouse shooting
on Tuesday, at Longshawe Lodge, near Batewell, where
his Grace is entertaining a party of friends, including
the Earl of Jersey, Lord Forrester, Lord George Man-
ners, Mr. Thoroton, &c. The party bagged forty-five
and a half brace on the first day. His Grace will enter-
tain a succession of distinguished visitors at Longsbawe
during the ensuing month.

NEW INSOLVENT DEBTORS' ACT.
A PLEADER'S MISTAKE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sin,—About two years since I was a happy trades-
man, in a flourishing way of business at Southampton.
I had, however, the misfortune to give credit to an
individual calling himself a gentleman, who lived os-
ZJ:?tatiously in a splendidly-furnished house not far
- Ible at his banker's in
distant me. My account amounted to 451.
When I applies ,fe him for it he proposed in payment
a bill at three montng, pa.;
London, which suiting me as w5..11 as cash, I at once
accepted in liquidation of my debt. Time rolled on,
my debtor remained in his habitation, the bill was.
duly presented for payment, and returned dishonoured.
I took it up, although at that time it was a serious
inconvenience to me. I then instructed my attorney
to take the necessary legal steps, which he did, and I
obtained a verdict. One morning after this event my
attorney hurriedly entered my shop ; he came not
with his usual smile ; there was a darkness upon his
countenance which alarmed me. III:folding some
papers, he said, " I am sorry to inform you that in
the case we tried a day or two since, a rule has.
been obtained for leave to enter a nonsuit." lam not
quite sure, but I think these were the words he used
What for ? I eagerly demanded. "On the ground
of informality in the declaration." I clearly saw "that
forthcoming events cast their shadows before them."
In Hilary Term, 1842, the case was argued before
the Court, when my Lord Abinger said "he could
not look to the equity of the matter, but must keep
to the law ; he, however, regretted the Court Were
compelled, under the recent decision of Holies v
Johnson, to make the rule absolute for a nonsuit,
which was done accordingly. Here was " a change
o'er the spirit of my dream"—my house, home, and
family in jeopardy. Look to this, ye lawyers of
England, ye legislators of this free land! I had ob-
tained an execution against my debtor for goods and
chattels sold him ; he had now obtained an execution
against me for costs, and had also set my debt aside,
the pleader having omitted certain words in the de-
claration, or certain matter in the declaration not having
been proved. Yet I obtained a verdict ! The costa
of the nonsuit were taxed at 94/. ! Frantic with de-
spair, bewildered at my dreadful position (how the
tide had turned), I explained it to my landlord ; he
removed part of my goods, and my other cre- .
ditors took the remainder. With a kind and
endearing wife, and four helpless children, I
was wrecked on the shore of this inhos-
pitable world, without a solitary meal to comfort
us, or a torn rag to shield us from the chilly night
air; I was bereft of every means, and nought but the
workhouse stood before us. We were penniless, and
a prey to all the sad sensations that oppressed us. A
few days after my arrival in London, I was arrested
by my debtor!! and consigned to the Surrey County
Prison. The governor of that Englishman's grave
soothed my feelings. He saw my terrible excitement,
and begged I would keep myself quiet. It was mer-
ciful he did so, or I should have destroyed myself,
even in the presence of my family. I was, by the
kindness of some old friends, removed by habeas to
the Bench, where I have been for two years. The
day I entered Horsemonger-lane Gaol was the last I .
ever saw my unfortunate wife. In a few words, the
sudden change broke her heart ; she died, and how I
have since lived, the God of Heaven only knows—l am
not far removed from a madman. Be it known to th 6
world—be it known to the iron-heartstrings ofmydebtor!
—to the ruthless destroyer of my happiness—and to his
accursed attorney—that I implored, that I entreated
and beseeched, he would grant me the melancholy
consolation of following my devoted wife to the
grave.
He refused. Oh, God! that flesh and blood,
should be so cheap.
Forgive me, Sir, for trespassing so much on your
valuable space. Permit me to inquire, through the
medium of your columns, if my case does not come
within the meaning of the new Act, which recites
that where the sum recovered shall not exceed 201.

and COSTS, the parties shall be entitled to discharge ?
I am detained for nothing else but costs, and there is no

other debt.-IVith the greatest respect, your obliged
servant, A PRISONER.

IRELAND.

CATTLE SHOW OF THE ROYAL IRISH AGRI-
CULTURAL SOCIETY.

DUBLIN, AUG. 14.—The annual show of cattle, farm-
ing implements, &c., of this Society commenced to-day,
and was held in the Coburg-gardens, a field of nine
acres at the rear of St. Stephen's-green and Hai-court-
street, in this city. The quantity of all kinds of stock,
exceeded any similar exhibition ever held here, but upon
a close inspection, it appeared that a large portion of the
cattle was of an ordinary kind, the superior and first-
class animals being comparatively rare. But certainly
there were several very fine bulls, and many cows of the
primest kind.
The arrangements for the exhibition were on a scale
of great magnitude. The stalls for the cattle exhibited
ran round three sides of the ground, serving the purpose
of an inciosure, and the centre of the arel was literally
covered with farming implements, sheep-pens, &c. The
judges appointed to adjudicate the premiums in the
various classes and sections were :—Messrs. Booth, of
Killerley; Watson, of Keyler; Kirkaldy, Charge, Dud-
geon, Archbold, Roberts, &c.; and though these gen-
tlemen commenced the discharge of the difficult task
assigned them at an early hour this morning, they had
not completed their labours until long after one o'clock,
the hour at which the public were admitted. The con-
sequence of this was, that no one present, with the ex-
ception of the judges themselves, knew to what animals
the prizes were assigned. It was a very general remark
that the Irish breeding-stock was of the most superior
description. The prizes will not be declared until this
evening at the council dinner, but it is understood that
the following are amongst the successful competitors:—
Mr. Robert Borrowes was awarded the first prize of
thirty sovereigns for his short-horned bull Narcissus,
four years old, as the best of his class; and also the
challenge cup, given by Mr. Peter Purcell, as being the
best bull in any class.
The Hon. A. F. Nugent, of Pallas; Mr. John Camp-
bell, of Louth; Mr. Alexander Bannerman, of Lanca-
shire; Mr. Robert Borrowes, of Kilcullen, also obtained
prizes for the bulls entererd by them.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert's cow, of the Bake-
well breed, five years old, was assigned the first prize,.
as being the best in its class.
Mr. William Henry Carter, of Kilcullen ; Mr. Martin
Winder, Dunlavin ; Mr. Samuel Winter, Tullaghard,
Trim; Mr. William Garnet, Donover House, Moynalty;
and Dlr. Wade, also exhibited animals, which obtained
prizes. •
The show of horses, sheep, swine, poultry, &c., was
extremely good, but we were unable, for the reasons
above stated, to ascertain the names of the persons who
received premiums.
The Lord Lieutenant arrived at three o'clock, and,
attended by the Marquis of Downshire, and other mem-
bers of the council, went through the exhibition.
His Excellency seemed much struck by a Kerry bull,
one year old, named Paddy Blake, bred by the Rev. B.
O'Connor, parish priest of Miltown, the sire from the
Knight of Kerry's stock, the dam from that of the late
Maurice O'Connell, Esq., of Derrynane Abbey. This
animal, although a very fine specimen of the Kerry
breed, was not much larger than a good Newfouzd-
.

land dog.
The attendance of visitors throughout the day, not-
withstanding the heavy showers which fell at intervals,
was very numerous.
Among those present we observed:—The Marquis of
Downshire; the Earls of Clancarty, Charlemont, Erne,
and Mi!town; Lords Farnham and Castlemnine; Sir
Lucius O'Brien, Sir Joseph Copley (of Yorkshire), Sir
Arthur Brook, M.P.; Honourable henry Cole, M.P.;
Robert Archbold, Esq., M.P.; Archdeacon Torrens ;
William Rathbone, Esq.; John 11. Talbot, Esq.; William
D'Arcy, Esq.; J. Garnett, Esq.; Sir R. Langrishe, Sir
John Power, James Power, Esq., ALP.; Sir Robert
Bateson; Duckett, Esq.; Robert Bourke, Esq.;
George Woods, Esq.; Thomas Seymour, Esq.; Rev.
Henry Westby.
LANDLORD AND TENANT COMMISSION.
The Land Commissioners are about visiting this dis-
trict. They have fixed upon this day (Wednesday) for.
Birr, to-morrow fur Roscrea, and Friday for Nenagh.
With what extraordinary velocity do they not go through
their unaccountable movements, and what a libel is it
upon the common sense of the country
—Tipperary
,oippisnuevrpeapsrotylsge hti;int..,
the least possible
aanmdounnetceosfsagrioloyd
crude, investigation
anticipated
ofrfornthtt,hsee hurried,gentlem en Commissioners.
dicator.

THE KING VULTUR. - VULTURE PAPA.-TWO.
of these beautiful birds have recently been added to the
collection at the Royal Surrey Zoological G ardens.'f he gen -
tleman who imported them had three in his possession,
but on his arrival at Rio de Janerio he was induced to
part with one, to the Emperor of the Brazils, they being
considered the finest birds ever brought from the interior.
A very beautiful specimen of that rare and singular bird,
the Toucan, Rhamphastus Picatus, has also been placed
in these gardens ; the remarkable size of the bill and
the beauty of the plumage excites very great admira-
tion. Two splendid Emus, Struthio Casuanus, the
finest ever brought to this country, have been purchased
by the proprietor within a short time. In fact, by far
the largest proportion of valuable animals and birds ro-
cently imported have been purchased for these gardens,
which now boasts a collection second to none.

HARBOUR DUES.—The Treasury have called for a
return of the several dues and charges of every kind
levied on shipping at each port, harbour, or creek, in the
United Kingdom, stating the rates of the several dues
levied per ton on each vessel, and whether under autho-
rity of Acts of Parliament, and what Acts ; whether by
orders of municipal corporations, and of what date, or
whether by charter, consent, prescription, or any other
authority, so as to exhibit the entire charges of every
kind on vessels at each of the harbours, ports, and creeks
of the United Kingdom,-•distinguishiag the several
charges upon vessels taking" refuge in the harbour only,
from those upon vessels delivering the cargo in whole or
in part ; and also on vessels in the coasting or in the
foreign trade ; distinguishing also the charges levied for
local lights and beacons in each port (exclusive of those
of the Trinity House, the Irish Ballast Board, and the
Commissioners of Northern Lights), the charges for
pilotage into and out of each harbour, and the charge for
ballast, and whether under any and what Board the same
are levied.

The Earl of Roden and Viscount Jocelyn have left
town for Ireland, to attend the funeral of their lamented
relative at Powerscourt. The Countess of Gainshorouo
arrived in Dover-street yesterday, and will remain for a
ew days with her afilicted cist•r.