The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-05 00:00:00

Oltening

LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 1845.

The House of Lords met at Five o'clock.
Lord BROUGHAM presented two petitions from Tito-
MAS LUKIN and ANN WARD, who had been each com-

mitted to prison for a month, with hard labour, by the

" insane magistrates of Leicester," as the Noble and
Learned Lord denominated them, for non-payment of
the costs of a summons which had been issued against
them for non-payment of poor-rates. He had understood
that these magistrates had committed these poor per-
sons without a hearing. It was true Sir JAMES GRAHAM
had ordered their liberation ; but he would put it to his
Noble and Learned Friend on the woolsack whether it
was fit that such magistrates should be longer employed
in the administration of justice.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said that if he should find
that the conduct of the magistrates had been such as
had been represented, he should remove them from the
Commission of the Peace.
In answer to the Duke of RICHMOND,
The Noble and Learned Lord also stated tint the
parties aggrieved had a remedy against the magistrates
by action.
The Earl of CLARENDON then proceeded to draw the
attention of their Lordships to the Oregon question, and
concluded by saying, that he considered it was the dnty
of Government to maintain their rights westward of the
Rocky Mountains ; and if the question could not be
amicably settled, he trusted the Government would take
such steps as might be thought necessary for vindicating
the national honour of the country.

Lord ABERDEEN, if he followed his own inclination,
would at once lay all the papers relating to this matter
on their Lordship's table, and he was sure they
would give satisfaction to their Lordships and
the country. But the time, he thought, had
not yet arrived for adopting that course. He
thought the late PRESIDENT had gone somewhat
too far when he spoke so strongly of the amicable
spirit in which these negotiations had been conducted.
The inaugnral address of the new PRESIDENT had no
official authority, and as the twelve months' notice re-
quired for annulling the existing treaty could not be
given before December, there was no immediate neces
sky for the production of any papers. The Noble Lord
then proceeded to vindicate himself from the charges of
pusillanimity and neglect which had been brought
against him. He was fully aware of the blessings of
peace, and believed war to be the greatest crime and
the greatest folly that a country could commit. Fortu-
nately for this country we need not be so very sensitive in
the point of honour, a, some people appeared to be, but
with regard to Oregon he believed that we had rights
which were clear and indisputable. The Government
were quite ready to make every concession which would
avoid the necessity of any extreme course, but if the)
were compelled to take it, they were content to rest upon
these rights, and with the b.e stng of God and the as
sistance of their Lorchhip. he believed they were full.).
prepared and determined to maintain them.
The Earl of RIPON then mount the third reading of
the Income-tax Bill, and went into a long financial state-
ment, with little more than a repetition of the state-
ments already made in the other House by Sir H. PEEL
in justification of the measure.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE objected to the impo•
sition of an income-tax as a permanent impost.

Lord ASHBURTON regretted that so little attention
was paid to the state of the debt of the country. It was
the duty of every Government to do all they could tt,
relieve the country from that heavy load. He dislikes
the income-tax, because it was a tax upon capital, anu

any tax upon capital was a check upon improvement.
Lord STANLEY thought that his Noble Friend (Lord
ASHEURTON) had scarcely done justice to the effort:
which had been made by the present Government fox
the reduction of the debt.
Lord MONTEAGLE objected to the financial policy of
the Government, more especially as regarded the dutieb,
on corn, timber, and sugar.
The Duke of RICH3IOND did not object to the income-

tax s) much as to the manner in which the surplus reve-
nue derived from it was applied. That surplus shouldhave
been applied in effecting reductions from which the agri-
cultural interests would derive some benefit. The Noble
Duke complained much of the treatment which tke ag
rizultural interest had received from Sir R. PEEL, and
concluded by moving an amendment to the motion.
The House was also addressed by the Marquis of
NORMANBY and the Earl of RADNOR, after which the
amendment was put and negatived, and their Lord-
ships adjourned.
The House of Commons met at Four o'clock.
Mr. T. DUNCOMDE gave notice of a motion for Tues-
day, on the subject of the Railway Department of the
Board of Trade. _

In reply to Sir C. NAPLER, Sir J. GRAHAM said that
he did not intend to persevere in the accusation which
he had made against Mr. MAZZINI, on the subject of the
assassination at RODEZ, and had, therefore, withdrawn it.

Sir R. PEEL fixed Friday next for the second reading
of the Maynooth Bill.
Lord J. RUSSELL then entered into an explanation
relative to his statement on a former night, on the sub-
ject of the instructions he had sent out to Lord SIDES-
HAM relating to the Madawaska settlement, and said
that it was evident that Lord ASHBURTON had,
in animadverting upon his observations, fallen into
a mistake which he (Lord JOHN RUSSELL) could
hardly understand, for if these instructions had related
to diplomatic negotiations, they would have proceeded
frem the Foreign, and not from the Colonial Secretary.
He asked the Govcrument if they would produce copies
of the correspondence between Lord SYDENHAM sue
himself on the subject.
After a few words from Mr. Holm and Mr. HUME, the
latter of whom urged the production of all dispatches on
the subject,
Sir R. PEEL consented to produce such documents as i
could be produced without O. ttim,nt to the public ser-
vice, although he considered t, eft• production unneces-
sary, as the negotiations on the subfc, had terminated.
Lord PALMERSTON denied the right of Lord Ass-
euferoN to quote from any dispatches which had not
been laid before Parliament, unless Government had
given permission to do so, and, if permission had been
granted, it was contrary to Parliamentary rule not to
lay the documents before the House. The question in-
volved an accusation against a Member of Parliament
having made erroneous statements, and, therefore, was
of importance.
Sir R. PEEL replied that, if it were necessary, any
dispatches which had been produced before the other
House might be laid on the table.
In answer to Mr. M. GIBSON, Sir R. PEEL stated that
the Government made a proposal to the Government of
Brazil, for continuing to British subjects in that country
the privileges which they had enjoyed under the late
commercial treaty of disposing of their property by will,
and of enabling the British Consul to administer to the
effects of British subjects dying in that country.
Lord J. RUSSELL then rose to draw the attention of
the House to the state of the Oregon question. If it
had been left to be settled in the usual manner between
the Executive Government of this country and that of
the United States he should have waited in silence until the
close of the proceedings, but the new PRESIDENT of the
United States had adopted a course entirely new—a
course which, it Dot met by something decisive on the
part of this country, threatened to overthrow all the
ordinary intercourse which should exist between the
Ethxeedceuctii
decision
nGovernmentss
ooff
gtrheea t two
onnaatli oi
ron sp,
oarnt
ad leave
be decided,o nttoh e
theonepeople band by ;
and on
popular
ot
efrro,
by a
m t
Government
course which would put an end to all peace and amity.
The present course pursued by the Government of the
United
t
United States tended entirely to its own
territorial
aggrandisement, and was a direct contradiction of the
declarations made by Mr. WEBSTER. The Noble Lord
then went into a lengthened detail of the nature of the
rival claims to the Oregon territory, proving that
ieither by treaty nor by priority of discovery had the
United States any right to the possession of it
Efe might be told that the Oregon territory
Maimed by the United States was not of much
value, and that it did not matter much who
possessed it. " Yes, Sir," (said the Noble Lord),
but I say it does matter. A large territory
.;annot be a matter of indifference, particularly
where our age is better end japer, nog should

it be yielded under such circumstances to what might be
call the blustering announcement on the part of the
PRESIDENT of the United States." He should not have
interfered if the matter had been left to diplomatic ar-
rangement between Lord ABERDEEN and Mr. BUCHANAN,
but he felt that a Minister, from his poEition, could
not well introduce the matter ; and so he thought it
right to tell the House and the people of this country
what were their rights. With this statement he
would leave the matter in the hands of the Govern -
ment of the country, and he would not express the
smallest doubt that in all their proceedings they would
duly consult the interests of the country and ttis honour
of the Crown.

The Noble Lord sat down amidst loud cheering from
all parts of the House.
Sir R. PEEL was not surprised at, nor did he regret the
course the Noble Lord bad adopted, and he did not
think the Noble Lord responsible for any consequences
that might follow from it. As a Minister he must ne-
cessarily speak with reserve, but he felt it to be his duty
on the part of her Majesty's Government to state,
in language most temperate, but at the same time.
most determined, that they considered their rights, in
respect to the territory of Oregon, were clear and
unquestionable; that the) trusted still to effect an amicable
adjustment of their claims, but if, having exhausted
every effort to effect that, their rights were invaded, that
they were resolved and prepared to maintain them.
This announcement on the part of the Right Hon.
Baronet was received with the loudest cheering from all
prrts of the House.
The House was then briefly addressed by Lord PAL-
MERSTON, after which the subject dropped.
On the motion that the order of the day for the House
resolving itself into a Committee of Supply be read,

Mr. WAKLEY moved for a copy of the warrant of the
Secretary of State authorising the opening of Mr. T.
DUNCOMBE'S letters. The motion was opposed by Sir
J. GnAnAm, and after a short discussion the House
divided, and the motion was negatived by a majority
of 51.

After some observations by Mr. WILLIAits and Mr.
HUME upon the expense incurred in maintaining the
Horse and Foot Guards,
The House resolved itself into a Committee of Supply,
and the Army Estimates were proposed by Mr. S
HERBERT.

Several votes were objected to and discussed, but ulti-
mately the whole were agreed to, and the other orders
of the day having been disposed of, the House adjourned
at a quarter to One.

The House of Commons has at last spoken out about
the question of the Oregon territory, and with an
unanimity which can leave no doubt that all parties are
resolved, at every hazard, to maintain our indisputable
rights. These rights were admitted on all hands, and
the extravagant claims of the American Presi-
dent, made in his first inaugural address, and
made too in such insolent language, met
with universal reprobation. Lord JOHN RUSSELL
showed, that in whatever point of view the question was
looked at, our right to the greater [cation of the Oregon,
including the Columbia River, was unquestionable. It
tt rested on ancient discovery, England had a claim far
superior to that of the United States; if on treaty, the
United States had no claim whatever; and if on
modern discovery, the discovery of the Columbia, made
by regular officers of the British navy, and the subse-
quent settlement of the adjoining country by British
settlers, gave England a title which could not possibly
be displaced. Sir ROBERT PEEL was no less impressed
with the fact, and (a rare feature in the speech of a
Prime Minister) spoke his sentiments as openly
end as firmly as the leader of the Opposition.
I feel it my imperative duty," said the
Prime Minister of England, "on the part of her
MAJESTY'S Government, to state in language the most
temperate, but at the same time most decided, that we
consider we have rights respecting this territory of
Oregon which are clear and irresistible. We trust still
to arrive at an amicable adjustment—we desire to effect
an amicable adjustment of our claim ; but, having ex-
masted every effort to effect that settlement, if our
rights shall be invaded, we are resolved—and we are
prepared—to maintain them." This spirited announce-
ment was responded to by loud cheers from all
parts of the House. The language of Lord ABER-
DEEN in the other House was equally explicit and
determined, and when he asserted our rights, with
the unanimous resolution of the Government to
maintain them at all risks, the Peers cheered with
as much fervour as the more excitable Commons.
The question is now brought to a fair issue. The Ameri-
cans make claims incompatible with British rights: ne-
gotiations may be still going on, for since the accession
of Mr. POLK, our Government have received no intelli-
gence on the subject, but if they have been renewed, and
unfortunately should turn out unsuccessful, Great Britain
has only one alternative. We have submitted too long
to the vain boastings and warlike threats of American
senators ; we have even scarcely adverted to the hos-
tile pretensions of the late President, and treated
these, and the wild and rabid effusions of the statesmen
from the " Far West " with equal ceremony; but in
that respect England has only shown her moderation
and her power, and her enemies in r.ny part of the globe
will find that her " frighful silence has not lost
any of its terrors. But there is another Power
besides this country that has affairs of import-
ance to settle with the Americans. The occupation
of Texas is a flagrant breach of good faith. It is repro•
bated by all civilised States ; and Mexico, weak and
disorganised, will not fight her battles alone. Though
she has neither fleet nor army that could make any great
resistance, she can furnish letters of marque to the ships
of other nations, and neither brave hearts nor willing
hands will be wanting to curb a power dangerous
to every peaceable and well-governed State. We have
no wish to enter into the quarrel; we would avoid it, but
only with honour. " Our honour," said Lord ABER-
DEEN, is a substantial property, which we shall never
neglect, and fearlessly leave the judgment to
posterity." Even Mr. HUME, the watchful, the
trustworthy, and prudent guardian of the public
purse—an office which he has now filled for
little short of a quarter of a century—last night
cast economy to the winds, and with a patriotic spirit,
withdrew his motion for the reduction of the army. The
crisis is one of fearful importance, but it is not of our
seeking, and confident of the justice of our claims, and
the integrity of our purpose, we are prepared to meet it.

It is not the least of the many grave objections which
the experience of their operation every day establishes
against the Game-laws, that the taint of their original
institution affects their administration, even at the pre-
sent day. The Game-laws were, especially, a class-
made code for class objects ; and wherever country
juries are impannelled to try cases arising under them,
it but too often happens• that their verdicts appear to
have a class bias. The framers and affirmers of these
oppressive statutes were ever the great landed pro-
prietary, nobles and c.)mtnoners, directly interested in
providing for their favourite sports, and reckless of the
extravagantly penal consequences to which, in their
anxiety to protect and encourage and preserve for their
own use and pleasure the game upon their lands, they
subjected all persons who might be convicted of infrac
Lions upon their enactments--committed in the absence
of " qualifications" that could belong only to individuals
moving in classes of society elevated above those
of the poorer and lower sort. To classes, only,
equally fortunate, could the property in, and rights
over game, which were to be protected, belong.
Does this community of class interests stop here? We
doubt it. Country jurors who are to try indictments
for Game-law offences, sit, as it were, on glazed boxes.
They know well enough that their deliberations are
transparent. They seem to think themselves ever in the
presence of the great man, at the great house in the great
park. It is well known that they are returned on the
panel ; shall they be astute to eonnect the evidence
with the guilt of the accused? or shall they show rather
a disposition to give to the acts proved against the men
placed at the bar a construction, if possible, which shall
remove them out of the reach of these penal enactments?
The tendency to propitiate those above them by affect-
ing sympathy with their prejudices, pursuits, and modes
of thinking, in reference to such pursuits or prejudices,
is natural, in an advanced condition of society, to its in.
ferior sections, in all countries. But we believe it is
most decided as actuating the lower ranks of an agricul-
tural community to gratify the assumed expectations of
a landed aristocracy. We are far from imputing to
juries, thus composed, at country assizes, for example,
uannydearbasiolyluteeireiunintesntatinoeneso,r peunutrrparoyse of
to
uthgeiving a verdict,
irhuneatan
and
evairdeenacreguthinagt mfra,ylnhtahveeeb‘eeeryn
tceonndscerieendti
otesusthveiemws; ‘l))futthwee
impressions of such men—and the result of it—which is
day's experience of the unconscious bias acting en the
their practical, albeit unconscious, fallibility as jurymen.
Cases to exemplify—and, we must add, to corroborate
—our apprehensions on this score are of constant occur-
rence. Take, however, for a single and signal example
the case tried at the present Chester Assizes, where
some culprits were arraigned as reputed poachers for a
very formidable attack upon certain keepers in the em
ploy of a Mr. BROOK. The evidence, in this instance,
was much of the usual character in these cases. The
men were undoubtedly contemplating, under the usual
temptations, the commission of the usual offences of
Ptischwg) when they were interrupted by the vigillince

of the keepers. A fierce affray ensued, in whie4 either
side sustained serious injuries. The Learned Judge,
both in the course of the examination of witnesses, awl in
his summing up, directed their special attention to some
remarkable and important facts which clearly inferred
(his Lordship observed) that the first " blow, or tha:
provocation, out of which all the ensuing violence must
be considered to have flowed—had been given by one of
the party of the keepers, not of 13.1 Z poachers." His L.,rd-
ship intimated, in and very intelligible terms,
that if the jury saw this point in the same light with
',"limself, they would, of course, by their verdict, give the
prisoners the full benefit of so important a consideration.
What did the jury do? They threw overboard altogether
the suggestion which the Learned Judge bad thought
it his duty so emphatically to present to them, they re-
turned a dry and unqualified verdict of " Guilty ;" and
the Learned Judge, having no option under this verdict,
upon all the counts of the indictment they had to try,
sentenced the prisoners to about the highest penalty
which could be awarded against them under the existing
law—namely, transportation for fifteen years !
the. Game-laws, being clearly in the nature not of crimes
against the moral or Divine law, but offences against
mere municipal and conventional laws of artificial pro-
perty, are precisely those illegal offences to which the
accused are clearly entitled to plead—where they are in
a condition to do so—the prior and higher law of our
common nature in their defence—viz., the law of self-
preservation. The wise and benevolent Judge saw all
the force of the fact incidentally proved that the keepers
committed the first violence. The jury either could not
or would not recognise this all important fact in their
favour. Thanks to their verdict, the prisoners received
the same full measure of punishment as if their case had
been one of unmitigated atrocity. Did we need one ad-
ditional argument to those we have so often urged against
these iniquitous and unequal laws, we should find it in
this Chester poaching case. We now perceive that the
Game-laws, not only brutalise their victims by the des-
peration they excite, and unhumanise your preservers of
game by the premium they extend to the gratification of
tyrannic and irritable temperaments, but stultify and
obfuscate the rural solons who are called upon to admi-
nister them, whether as magistrates or jurors. When
will this moral and social nuisance be swept from the
' land by the long delayed besom of public indignation ?

The accounts from M.,drid are to the 28th ult. The
journals are chiefly occupied with particulars of the late
conspiracy, which, however, are contradictory. The
number arrested is said to be much greater than was at
first stated, and according to the Ho aldo, a Government
journal, the object of the parties was to bring back
ESPARTEIIO, and among persons of note implicated are
Senors DELGADO, PINTADO, HUERTOS, ARENAS, and
Tono.

Three per Cents., for cash 32i; for account, 34. Five
per Cents., for account, 25i.

The Paris journals announce painful intelligenc •
from Switzerland. Contrary to general expectation
the volunteers against Lucerne have muste red in con-
siderable force in several cantons, in opposition to the
Executive, and made every preparation to join a body of
about 4,000 men from Argau. c, insisting of volunteers
and refugees, who left that canton ou the Ist jest. to
invade Lucerne. Civil ear, in fact, has commenced, •
and unless the Jesuits and the Government of Lucerne
surrender at discretion, the result cannot fail to be of a
most serious character. All the neighbouring powers
are fully determined to interfere by firmed force, and
crush the civil war. The following is the latest particu-
lars furnished by the Journal des Debats of the 3d
inst.:—" We have received intelligence that on the Ist
inst. the free corps of Argau, reinforced by volunteers
from the Radical cantons, and the refugees from
Lucerne, amounting together to four thousand men,
had entered the canton of Lucerne. They had
advanced beyond Surzee, a small town five
leagues from Lucerne, near Lake Sempacher,
and prob;ibly had gained possession of the city itself,
which had only 2,000 men to defend it. At Bale, all
the men from 18 to 25 years of age had entered the
Burgher Guard, for the maintenance of order and the
protection of the city ; but at Berne, the proclamation
against the free corps, instead of arresting the movement,
had only excited the people the more. The agitation
began to extend to all parts of the canton. At Nidau
two cannon had been seized. In the canton of Soleure
the same effervescence prevailed. According to the ac-
counts we had previously received, Lucerne was but in-
sufficiently prepared to resist invasion ; but it was ex-
pected that the smaller cantons of Schwytz, Uri, and
Unterwalden would come to her aid, and thus render the
success of the Radicals at least doubtful. A letter of the
30th ult. from Argau says The Government of Lu-
cerne, instead of endeavouring to conciliate parties in its
canton, has redoubled its prosecutions. Fresh warrants
of arrest are daily issued, and consequently we have daily
arriving in this canton hundreds of fugitives, almost all
armed. Two days ago the number of these fugitives
amounted to nearly 2,000, of whom 1,500 at least are
armed, and a great many have uniforms. The news
they bring can only increase the irritation of the neigh-
bouring cantons, which are overburdened already with
emigrants. The different governments have taken all
the measures dictated by the conclusum of the Diet ;
but they already find themselves inundated, and the
Council of State of Argau would have been overthrown
had it ventured upon energetic measures; for these could
have ended in nothing, since the soldiery would have re •
fused to act. In this state of things it convoked the
Grand Council, which has this day sent to the Vorort a
request that the Diet may be immediately convoked.
Tnis convocation, it is feared, will come too late. As
soon as the news of the Government having put impedi-
ments in the way of the projects of the Lucerne refugees
was spread abroad, free corps were at once formed at every
point, and set out on the
i march, Even the more tai-taut
cantons have taken part n the movement. To-day nearly
fifty men have arrived from Schaffhausen, in post or
private carriages ; there are some also trem St. Gall, the
Grisons, an i Glaris ; others are coming from Zurich
and Berne ; Bale country is coming en masse; and in
Argau and Soleure there is not a village that dues not
send out at least ten fighting men. This evening all the
free corps will be united at Zefingue and its environs.
They will, no doubt, commence their operations in the
night, and to-morrow morning, or at least by mid-day,
will, in all probability, be at the gates of Lucerne. It
is not expected that they will meet with any resistance,
unless, indeed, the smaller cantons should come forward
In fact, they cannot sustain the assault ; but still
blood will be shed. If, on the contrary, the small cantons
do not come to the assi,tance of the Government of
Lucerne, it is to be presumed that all will be brought to
an end on Wednesday.' "
The Consft.zronnel also gives important information
to the effect theta number of officers and soldiers, called
under arms by the Government of Lucerne, had refused
to obey the call, and some .who had joined had deserted
to
greatlyth e f free corps.en s e
incensed
The
against ' be
majority
h of the inhabitants were
e Executive.
Since the previous account was in type, we regret to
state that intelligence of a still more distressing nature
has been received from Paris by express. The following
appears in a second edition of the Morning Herakl :
" BATTLE IN S%VITZERLAND.—GREAT
LOSS OF LIFE.

PARIS, FRIDAY.
" The Debats published this morning the following
most serious intelligence:—

somewhat
e' Fwhraotmcot
confused,
feu accountssed,
we havet
h a
tthe received,fre e which
corps
are
cowlleect
pre-
sented themselves before Lucerne upon the morning of
the Ist, and were received by a fire of musketry, and two
attempts to enter the town were repulsed. It is added
that the besiegers, believing in a capitulation, retired to
the Faubourgs, where they were received by a fire of
grape-shot so terrible, that from 800 to 1,000 were
killed. Notwithstanding this terrible loss, the free corps
mastered the town. On hearing of this loss, the Radicals
of the other cantons put themselves in movement against
Lucerne. Those of Bale Campagne left on the Ist. On
Bale Ville there was the greatest alarm, and at Bale
several incendiary attempts were made. On the other
hand, the Catholic party of Argovia had risen to go to
the aid of Lucerne, and the tocsin sounded throughout
the canton. The Vorort had convoked 17 battalions
and Berne 7; but it is not likely they can put down a
struggle began in a manner so bloody.'"
The domestic intelligence in the Paris papers is of
little interest. The Opposition journals, with the excep
tion of the Constautionnel, have articles on the discus-
sions in the Committees on the grant for arming the
fortifications of Paris, but we find no new argument,.
though much violence, against the measure. M. DE
LAMARTINE said the Chamber of Deputies must cease
to exist the moment they had to deliberate under Ow
thousand pieces of cannon. M. ARAGO and M. BAUROT
Could not say much, for the latter had voted in savour of
the fortifications, and els° the former under certain re-
strictions. General PAIXIIANS, for the contohttion, or
rather in ridicule of the Parisians, assured them that the
two thousand guns with which they were to be presented,
would not be more troublesome than the guns of Lille,
Strasburg, and Metz were to the inhabitants of those
towns.
The Three per Cents, closed on the Paris Bourse on
Thursday at 85f. 80e.; the Five per Cents. at 117 f. 80c ;
Orleans shares, 1,303 f. 75c.;
Rouen, 1,162 E 50e. ;Havre,
9721. 50o.; Avignon, 1,1301.; Basle, 341 f. 25e.; Belgian
Two and-a-Half per Cents., 621 50c. ; Spacish Actives'
40i ; Ditto Three per gents., 41i ; Dim passiyoo, 7i.

Tours and Nantes (Mackenzie), 20f. ; Paris and Lille
(Blunt), 50f. ; Paris and Lyons (Blunt), 50f. ; Ditto
(Cabin), sf. if. 50:!. ; Ditto Ganheron), 171. 50c. 20f.;
Paris and Strq4burg (Gunneron), 17 f. 50c. 20f. ; Paris
and St. Quentin, 101. ; Bordeaux and Cette (Espelette),
35f. 40f.

THE LATE MURDER IN
S3T. GILES'S.

BODY-STREET.-(THIS DAY.)
EX AMINATION OF THE SUPPOSED
MURDERER.
The exterior of the Police court in Bow•street presented
an exciting appearance this morning, for a crowd exceeding
at least two thousand persons had assembled before ten
o'clock, for the purpose of seeing the prisoner conveyed
from the station-house opposite. Their curiosity was, how-

ever, to remain unsatisfied, for with a wise foresight the au-
thorities had caused him to be taken into the Court as early

as half-past eight o'clock. The prisoner, who was kept till
the opening of the Court in an adjoining room, is a thin young
man, of middle height, perhaps five feet eight inches, with
an appearance of heaviness in his features which seems to
belie the existence of strong passions, such as the murderer
of the unfortunate female may be supposed to have possessed.
His complexion is very sallow, his nose unusually large, and
the lower part of the face far from pleasing. He was dressed
in a fustian jacket and corduroy trousers, and wore a silk
neckerchief. He seemed somewhat agitated while waiting
in the ante-room, but evidently laboured to conceal it.
His father is stated to be a respectable man, a working
silversmith in Belton-street, now Endell-street, Long-acre.

The prisoner was for some time a porter in Covent-garden
Market, and has been employed latterly as a plumber's la-
bourer, in High-street, St. Giles's, where he is well known to
many persons. Suspicion was aroused, we understand, by
his absenting himself from his work, and that, conjoined
with certain information received by Superintendent Pearce
of the F division, led to his arrest on the preceding night.
At half-past ten the magistrate, Mr. Jardine, having taken
his seat upon the bench, proceeded to dispose of the night
charges.

At half-past eleven the prisoner was brought into Court,
and placed in the dock.

He wag asked if his name was Joseph Connor, and he an-
swered in the affirmative.

The first witness called was Bridget Honan, better known
as " Irish Biddy." I know the prisoner, and saw him at
half-past nine o'clock on Monday night last. I have been
in the habit of seeing him once a week, and I saw him on the
Saturday night before that in George-street. I asked him
how he was, and he said, " I'm a good deal better." He said
he did not wish his father or any of his friends to know
that there was anything the matter with him.
Mr. JARDINE—WeII, there is nothing particular in that.
Go on, and tell when you saw him again.
Witness—l saw him again on Monday night, at half-past
nine, and he said he had been seeing the old b—, and blowing
her up, and then he pointed out the woman that was after-
wards murdered. I have not seen her since, but she was Mrs.

Tape. He then said " She will know me in these clothes ;
I'll go home and take off my hat and jacket, and put on my
cap and coat." He then left. He said he would serve her
out for giving him an infectious disease. He came back again
in ten minutes to the same piece, and said, putting his face
close to me, " Do you think that she would know me now ?"
I said, certainly she will know you, for you have been speak-
to her before. He said, " I've got someth ng at home that
will pepper her." A person was coming by that I knew, and
I went away. I was away about three-quarters of an hour,
and came back again, when I saw a crowd in George-street.
Mr. JARDINE—Was he there ? Witness—No, he was not
there.

Mr. JARDINE—It was in reference to this disease then that
you ask .d in the first place how he was ? Witness—Yes, sir.
Mr. JARDINE—Did he tell you his object in peppering this
woman, as you cl 11 it ? Witness—He said it was because she
had given him an infectious disease.
Mr. JARDINE—Did he tell you before this Saturday that
she had given him this disease ? Witness—Yes, sir.
Mr. Burnaby—Did you know that the prisoner was at the
hospital ? Witness—Yes, he told me so himself.
Mr. Burnaby—Who did he say had given it to him ?
Witness—Mrs. Tape. He said he would serve her out for
giving him an infectious disease.
Prisoner to the witness—l wish you would speak out, I
can't bear what you were saying.
Witness's examination continued—l was away about three-
quarters of an hour, and when I came back I saw a crowd
about No. 11, in George-street. He was not there. I heard
that a woman had been murdered in the house.
The prisoner then questioned the witness—Did you say
that I had something at home to pepper her with ? Wit-
ness—Yes, you said so. _ _ _

Prisoner-lit is quite false. I never said so. He had no
other question to ask.
Elizabeth Hall examined—l saw the prisoner on Monday,
evening in George-street and he asked how I was. I asked
him how he was ? H said, " Very queer. I have got the
-- from that old b— that walks in George-street and
Charlotte-street." I forgot to say that I saw him speaking
some time before that to the woman herself in Charlotte-
street. I heard her say, "I didn't give it to you ;" but what
it was about I don't know.
Witness, in answer to Mr. JARDINE—I know the prisoner,
and have seen him before. The first time I saw him on the
Monday night was at quarter past nine. That was close to
the chapel in Charlotte-street. I did not speak to him then,
and he went up and spoke to Mrs. Tape. the woman who was
murdered. He spoke to her but a very short time. He was
speaking angrily, and I heard her say, " I didn't." He had
a hat on him then. I saw him again in about a quarter of an hour,
at the corner of Vine-street. He then said to me, " Well,
old girl, how are you ?" I said, " Very well, I thank you,
how are you ?" He replied, " Rather queer ; the old woman
that walks in Charlotte-street has given me the —." I
understood that he meant by the old woman, Mrs. Tape. He
also said, " I've been home to put my cap on. I bad a hat
on when you first saw me." I then asked him for half a pint
of beer, and he put twopence into my hand. Then we sepa-
rated, and afterwards, in ten minutes, I met him at the
corner of the new street (New Oxford-street), near the
chapel. He had on a dark velveteen coat at the time and a
cap. I saw no more of him. It might be half an hour after
he went away that I heard Mrs. Tape was murdered. He
did not say at any part of the evening why he changed his
dress. I saw the people round the door of No. 11, George-
street, and I was told a woman was murdered.
The prisoner did not question the witness. He said, "It
is quite correct what she says."
Mary Palmer sworn—l work for Mrs. Hall, No. 11, George-
street. On Monday night last, about a quarter to eleven
o'clock, a man came to the door with a woman, and they
asked for a threepenny room. I gave the woman a candle
in the passage. The man was dressed in a velveteen coat,
and he had a cap on. The woman I think asked for the
room. I know that they called the woman by the name of
Mrs. Tape. Ido not know what her right name is. They
went into the middle room from the passage. I sat
down on the stairs, and iu about five minutes I heard
the cry of " murder" from the room. The woman it was who
cried out " murder." I got up and knocked at the door but
I got no answer. I knocked a second time and still received
no answer. Then I turned my back to the door and forced it
open. On entering I saw the woman sitting on the bedstead,
and the man was standing over her with his right arm up as
if in the act of striking her. I said, " For Goe's sake don't
beat the woman." With that he turned round and ran out
of the room. I caught him by the pocket, but he loosed my
hand, and pushed me over to the fire-place. He swung me
round the body. The place where he caught me and my
shawl was all bloody, so that his hands Must have
been all over blood. Before I could get down to the
door to call Mrs. Hall, the woman got up from the
bed, and came up close to the fire-place where I was. I
saw her smothered with blood, all covered with it, and it
was flowing from her. She never spoke, and when she came
to the fireplace she gave a bit of a stagger, and fell against the
fire .place. I ran out into the passage first, and the man was
then running out of the door. I called to Mrs. Hall, "for
God's sake stop that man; I think he has committed mur-
der." She got hold of him, but she is a little person, and
he forced himself from her and got away. I went back into
the room, and she was lying in the same place where she
fell. I knew her to be Mrs. Tape. I think she was dead
then. I saw the knife sticking in the back of her neck.
It was a large carving knife. Several persons came
into the room soon after the man left. They were
all women lodgers. Mrs. Hall was there also. At that
time, and before the police came, I saw the knife. I think
she was dead. I went out afterwards and called a police-
man. I did not take much notice of the man.
Mr. Barnaby (to prisoner)—Put on your cap. The pri-
soner did so.
Mr. JARDINE—Now look at the prisoner—is he the man?
Witness—The prisoner is like him, but I am not sure that
he is the man.
Mr. JARDINE (to prisoner)—Do you wish to ask any
question of this witness? Prisoner—l know nothing about it.
Mary Hall sworn—My husband keeps the house No. 11,

George-street, and I live there. On the Monday night,
about eleven o'clock, I was in the parlour, and heard Mrs.
Palmer call out " Mistress, mistress, there's murder." I ran
to her assistance, and the man rushed by me in the passage,
and pushed me on one side. I got hold of his coat, auei said,
"For God's sak.i, what have you been doing of 1" He made
me no answer, but he ran out of the front door into the
street. I ran to Mrs. Palmer's assistance in the middle room.
I saw the poor woman lying by the fire-place, with the
knife sticking in the back of her neck. I did not examine
her, I was so frightened. There was a great deal
of blood about, and she was covered with it. I then sent
Mrs. Palmer for the police, and they came immediately. I
have seen the woman before. She lodged with me six
month ago, and she was always called by the name of Tape.
When the man brushed past me I bad no light. The coat
felt like velveteen'. I could not see the man's face.
The prisoner declined to ask any questions, and, as before,
he said, " I don't know anything about it, Sir."
John Allen, 159 E—l was on the evening of Monday last
on duty at the station in George-street. I was at the en-
trance to the police-station just three doors below No. 11.
At a quarter to eleven Palmer came to me and said that a
woman was struck in No. 11, and in company with another
constable I went there. I found some women standing out-
side the door, and on entering the room. I saw the woman
lying on her sae, against the fire-place. I saw the knits in

her neck and drew it out. It has been in my possession
since. She slightly moaned when I drew the knife out. She
was covered with blood. I afterwards went for the surgeon,
Mr. Fitzgerald, of I I igh-street. About five or six minutes be-
fore the woman called me, I saw a man come from the house,
No. 11, George-street. lie passed me in the street, and
crossed over to the opposite side. He was dressed in a dark
velvet coat,and had a cap.-1 think a cloth one—on his head
I thought he was running to hear a noise at the bottom of.
George-street. I hare no doubt that that person is the p T ;softer ,
for I had seen him before several times.

Prisoner—Can you swear it was me? Witness—l will not
swear it, but I have no doubt of it.

Henry Oldham examined—l reside, at 10, High-street,
St. Giles's, and am a cuttler. On Monday last, about ten
minutes to ten, I sold the knife which is lying before me to a
man. I believe the isoner is the person to whom I sold it.
Ile said, on coming into the shop, what is the cheapest small
carving•knife you have ? I said I will show you mane
directly, I believe I've some second-hand ones. 1 then took
three old knives out of a drawer, and he selected this
one from the three. I said, " those are one shilling each.'
He put down the shilling and took it up. As he was going
away, I said, " Stop, I'll wrap it up for you." I then took it
from him, set the edge, and did it up in a bit of brown
paper. I think he had a hat on. He had on a coat—not a
a jacket. It might have been a velvet jacket. lam sure he
F had on a hat.

Prisoner—Can you say positively that I am the person
.hat bought the knife? Witness—To the best of my belief,

you are.

Prisoner—Can you swear it? Witness—l do swear it.
Emily Elizabeth Oldham—l was ten years old on the Bth
of last month. The last witness is my father. I was in the
shop on Monday night last, and remember a person coming
in to buy a small carving-knife.

Mr. JARDINE—Do yeu see that person now? Witness
;after looking for some time at the prisoner)—That looks
ike bim.

The prisoner did not ask her any question.
Michael Fitzgerald, of No. 57, High-street, St. George's,
surgeon, sworn—l was called to see this unfortunate woman
at No. 11, George. street. I was called by a police-constable.
When I arrived, about eleven o'clock, she was dead. I saw
her in a room on the ground-floor. She was doubled up
against the fire-place. Saw several wounds then about the
neck. I saw that there was no blood flowing, and I knew
she was dead. Since that time I have made a post mortem
examination. (The witness produced a sort of drawing of
the wounds upon the body.) There were sixteen wounds
upon the body—the first was five inches in length on the
lower part of the cheek, reaching to the centre of the neck.
It was a superficial incision. The second wound was five

inches and a half deep—a penetrating wound passing
over the edge of the first rib near the spine,
wounding the bone, and extending downwards between the
ribs and shoulder blade. There was no important part
divided there. The third was a penetrating wound,
one inch and a half long, on the left side
of the breast-bone, dividing the cartilages of
the second and third ribs, piercing the edge of the left lung
and the pericardium, and piercing the pulmonary artery
for about a quarter of an inch. There were about forty
ounces of blood, fluid and coagulated, by measure.
In the pericardium and parts surrounding the heart
there were six drachms of fluid blood. Number 4
penetrated the chest between the third and fourth ribs,
breaking off a piece of the fourth rib, and entered the left
lung to the depth of an inch. That would have been also a
mortal wound. The fifth was a penetrating wound, about an
inch and a half long, on the fore part of the left arm,
near the shoulder. The sixth was a wound three inches
below the last-named of smaller size. Both these wounds
communicated with the bone of the left arm, dividing it com-
pletely by a smooth clean cut, five inches in length. The
great blood-vessels and nerves of the arms were uninjured.
The seventh wound, an incised wound about an inch and a
half in length, about an inch and a ha:f above the right
collar-bone. The eighth, a penetrating wound on the back
part of the neck. The ninth, a superficial penetrating
wound. The tenth, an incised wound on the back
of the neck. The eleventh, an inched wound above

the left shoulder blade, about six inches long. The
twelfth was on the back part of the left hand, an inch
long. The thirteenth was an incised wound, extend-
ing from the first joint of the fore finger to the
end of the second joint of the left hand. The 14th, an in-
cised wound on the back of the right hand, three inches in
length. The 15th, a penetrating wound on the left arm-pit
an inch long, going towards the direction of the arm:
The 16th, and last, was a penetrating
_wound, in the left arm-
pit, about an inch from the other. He attributed death to
the wound on the pulmonary artery.
The prisoner had no question to ask Mr. Fitzgerald.
Medical evidence continued—There was no trace to show
that the deceased had recently suffered from disease. The
body was in a perfectly healthy state, ana free from all
disease.

Richard Partridge, 15, New-street, Spring-gardens—l am
professor of anatomy at King's College. The prisoner has
been an out-patient of that hospital. He applied on February
21, and subsequently on the 28th, and lastly, on the 18th of
March, and was treated for a disorder of two days' standing at
the period of his first application.
After the examination of several other witnesses, Mr.
Pearce said he had no wish to have the case remanded for
further evidence.
The depositions having been read, the prisoner was fully
committed, and the witnesses bound over to prosecute.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.
Their Lordships net this morning at Eleven o'Cloek

ROYAL COMMISSION.

There was a Commission for the purpose of giving
the Royal Assent to the Income.tax Bill. The Com-
missioners were, the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of
Buccleuch, and the Earl of Shaftesbury.
The Commissioners having taken their seats at the
foot of the throne, directed the Usher of the B.ack Rod
to summon the House of COiIiMOIIS to the bar of their
Lordship? House.
_

The SPEAKER, accompanied by several Members, then
appealed at the bar. The comwission was read, and
the Royal. Assent given to the Income-tax Bill in the
usual form ; atter which the Speaker and the Members
of the House of Commons withdrew.

The Commissioners haviniunr,:bed,
The LORD (.11ANCELLOR took his seat upon the Woo:
sack.

The Pudsey Gas Bill, the Birkenhead Company',
Dock Bill, the Birkenhead Commissioners' Dock Bill,
and the Duke of Arg) le's Estate Bill, were then seve-
rally read a second tiui; ; after which, their Lordship,
adjourned.