The Sun.
London, England, 1842-09-17 00:00:00

MURDER IN FRANCE.

A trial for murder, attended with a remarkable in-
cident, took place on the 3d inst., before the Court of
Assize of the Indre-et-Loire. A man, named Cathelin,
was charged with having poisoned a widow, named
Porcher, by mixing arsenic in ,her soup. The evi-
dence against the prisoner was circumstantial, but
very strong. The existence of a considerable quan-
tity of arsenic in the body of the deceased left no
doubt of the poison having been administered.
Cathelin, who had an interest in her death. as he had
to pay to her a life annuity for some property, was
alone in the house whilst the soup was preparing, he
was present with his wife and mother-in-law whilst
'the widow was dying, and his mother-in-law swore
that he had thrown away the remainder of the soup,
in which were, she said, grains of a substance like
broken sugar. He had applied to the Mayor of his
village for a certificate authorising him to purchase
arsenic to poison rats, which, however, the Mayor had
refused, and it was sworn by a witness that Cathelin,
in a conversation with him, had stated that he was
not troubled with rats. The only circumstance in his
favour, with the exception of the following incident,
was that the possession of arsenic could not be very
clearly traced to him. The evidence of the Cure de
Manthelan, who came forward on the behalf of the
prisoner, produced a deep impression. This eccle-
siastic stated that, a short time before the death of the
widow, who had a bad reputation, she had called on
him, and, after saying that she was very unhappy on
account of the number of her enemies, and
a charge of theft that had been made against her,
added that she was resolved to destroy herself. The
Cure remonstrated with her, hut without effect.
When he heard of her death, and that Cathelin was
accused, he went to the examining Magistrate of
Loches, who was charged to receive the depositions
in this affair, and stated the above fact, but the Ma-
gistrate refused to take down his deposition. Against
the probability that the deceased had poisoned herself,
was the declaration of several witnesses on the trial,
that, after having taken the soup, she said some body
had been guilty of a grande sottise, meaning that
some hurtful ingredient had certainly been put into
her soup, and recommending that what remained of it
should be carefully preserved. The statement of the
Cure, however, was considered so important by the
Jury, that, after a deliberation of only a quarter of
an hour, they returned a verdict of acquittal. In the
interval between the two days that the trial lasted,
the President of the Tribunal sent an express to the
examining magistrate, to inquire why he had refused
to receive the deposition of the Cure. The answer
communicated to the Court was, that the examining
magistrate did not consider that it bore upon the
case.

THE OPERATIVE PROTESTANT

ASSOCIATION.
Last night Mrs. Martin held a meeting at the
Assembly Rooms, Theobald's-road, for the purpose
of discussing the merits of the Protestant Operative
Association. She commenced her lecture by in-
forming her audience that if she would condemn any
religious association in London, it would be the
Protestant Operative Association, on account of its
intolerance ; and as Hugh Stowell was the main
abettor of that association, him :she would attack. In
describing the appearance of the meeting at Exeter-
hall, she said she need not inform her hearers that a
great portion of the audience consisted of those most
interested in the success of the association—the clergy.
Females formed the majority of the audience. There
were also certain persons there, employed ostensibly
to preserve order, but in reality to elicit applause.
Claqueurs were to he found in other places besides
theatres. She then proceeded at length to combat the
' opinions and assertions expressed by Mr. Stowell, but
her address was not of an argumentative character:
[t was indeed little more than a flat denial,
accompanied with some smart pleasantry, of the
most objectionable parts of Mr. Stowell's address.
She contented herself with asserting that if Catho-
licism were bad, as Hugh Stowell rcpresented it to he,
Protestantism was as bad—if the Catholics were
anxious about their money matters, the Protestants
were not neglectful of the loaves and fishes. If the
Catholics said, " No money, no Mass," so did Pro-
testants say "No money no christening, no money
no matrimony," and, as in the cane at St. Clement's
Danes, "no money no interment." On concluding she
-,xpressed the happiness she should experience in
hearing the opinions of any person present, whose
views differed from her own, or who was desirous of
,xculpating MO Stowell and his colleagues from
the charge of intolerance. None rose to reply, and
after a short pause she declared the meeting at an end.

We have . received the Muniteur Algerien of the
sth inst. The following is an extract :—" On the
30th ult. the whole of the tribe of Isser made its
submission. All the chiefs are come to Algiers,
with the Hurses of Gada, to receive investiture. This
is a desirable event for us, and for the tribes of Beth
Moussa and Krachna, to the East of the Metidja,
who had previously come in. These three tribes
united will be able to defeat any attempts that
may be made by the Ben Salems, and will be
further strengthened by the submissions that
will
be obtained by the column about to be
tmarched to the East. Our markets already begin
boanfeel the beneficial effects of the Issers joining our
:hi:
whariiflrieln the quantities of oil and other produce
the Government of
n ofthe whole T-berich and industrious tribe is bringing into
ti!:etnhastamlemonveahiasfrionndiullcleeddetahlel upon
the Government of Ben Salem has induced the sub-
man, of the powerful tribe of Beni Sli-
mansgnd swore
by Abd-el-Karer,llahi
of which we. had already gained several frac-
tions. Its A
Eldine, who was appointed
the Beni Slimans, came in person with 600 horse of
obedience to the King
to Medeah, whither
of the French. hasil sent his children as hostages
the grain in forty-twoe silos
engaged to send all
his Kalds to receive investiaty,
Kader, and will, without delay, come
to Alxi-el-
come to Algiers with
firure. Thus we are al-
most every day gaining 'a
1.50mr footing upon Ben
Salem, whose chief, with and a few foot,
fled to the desert ontlfe.--apprnwreof
our troops. The.
Beni Slimans declare that; . - —d4l4-,. •
• e(' as the • now are,'
they have nothing to-fear finny the ve -n Y-
eance. of - the
,-
'
Kalifa." - . • - ' - g •

NATIONAL COMPLETE SUF- •
FRAGE ASSOCIATION.
THE COUNCIL OF TILE NATIONAL COMPLETE SUFFRAGE
UNION TO POLITICAL REFORMERS OF ALL SHADES
OF OPINIONS.
We address you, fellow-countrymen, deeply im-
pressed with the moral obligations of men and citi-
zens, whose duties have been imposed on us by an
authority greater than princes or rulers, commanding
us to " do unto all men as we would wish others to do
unto us," consequently requiring us to lend that aid
which ourselves would desire, to extricate from their
condition the millions of our brethren who, by the op-
pression or neglect of rulers, are plunged in the lowest
depths of misery, groping in ignorance, and daily
sinking in crime.
Though we believe that that great Christian obliga -
tion calls upon all men to assist in freeing their
brethren from the power of the oppressor, yet, at
this crisis, we address ourselves especially to you, the
Reformers of the United Kingdom ; because it is for
you—the active and intelligent spirits of progres-
sion—you who desire to see justice established, where
injustice is enthroned; it is for you, in your energy,
union, and self-sacrificing resolution, to determine
whether our country shall rise in freedom, knowledge,
and happiness, or sink as a land of beggared serf's,
beneath the paralysing power of a corrupt and selfish
oligarchy.
In thus addressing you, we desire not to arouse
your passions, we would only awaken the nobler feel-
ings of justice, humanity, and Christian duty, con-
sidering our cause too sacred to be promoted by vio-
lence, or benefited by wrong.
To you we need not depict the wide-spread misery
of our country ; most of you are familiar with it in
all its sickening forms ; and vast numbers of you are
already its victims. But we ask Toil, with all the
sober earnestness of men and Christians, whether you
will unite with us in one general bond of brother-
hood ; and, by persevering, peaceful, energetic means,
resolve, at any personal sacrifice, to stay the progress
of our national debasement—to check the ravages of
starving poverty—to remove the drag-chains of mo-
nopoly, the over-burdening pressure of taxation, the
progress of crime, the race-destroying curse of war,
and, under the blessing of heaven, free our country
from the accumulating evils of corrupt and selfish
legislation ?
Fellow-countrymen, we are not desirous of interfer-
ing with your present local arrangements, but we call
upon you to meet us in the spirit of truth and justice,
to determine with singleness of purpose what is best
to be done to effect the political and social deliverance
of our country, and, having once determined, to concen-
trate all our energies to the accomplishment of such
a glorious consummation. This we think can be
done, without the amalgamation of societies between
whom differences of opinion and modes of action
exist; this can be done legally, constitutionally, and
effectively ; all that is necessary for its accomplish.
ment is union, energy, and self-sacrifice, on all points
of agreement, and forbearance, toleration, and Christian
charity, where differences of opinion exist.
But in the election of representatives to meet in
such a Conference, all party spirit must be excluded,
all efforts for forcing individual views through the
power of numbers must be avoided ; a victory ob-
tained by such intolerant, overbearing policy, would
be defeat to our object—that of having a fairly con-
stituted National Conference, a body in whom all
shades of Reformers among the middle and working
classes may place confidence, and under whose peace-
ful and legal guidance we may unitedly contend, till
we have secured the blessing and fruits of freedom.
We are also desirous that the ensuing Conference
shall be the means of effecting a better understanding
and closer union between the middle and working
classes than has hitherto existed ; feeling convinced,
that so long as the enemies of the people can keep
them divided, so long will they both be victimised by
a corrupt and liberty-hating aristocracy. We call,
therefore, upon the middle classes to send their re-
presentatives to confer with those of the working
classes, to see how far they can remove the cause of
animosity, apprehension, and disunion ; how far ar-
rangements may be made to secure our mutual ob-
jects speedily and peaceably, and thus free ourselves
from the grasping influence of faction, guard against
the storm of anarchy, be secure against military des-
potism, and, unitedly raising up the intelligence and
virtues of the democracy on the basis of free institu-
tions, hasten the consummation of that happy period,
when " our swords shall be beaten into plough-shares,
and our spears into pruning-hooks," and when every
man shall sit down in peace and security to enjoy the
fruits of honest industry.
Having been appointed to make arrangements for
the calling of a Conference to consider the details es-
sential for the carrying out of the principles on which
the National Complete Suffrage Union is founded ;
and as its paramount object is to effect a union be-
tween the middle and working classes, to obtain a full,
fair representation of the whole people, and to submit
such propositions for the consideration of the confer-
ence as may be best promotive of the end in view ;
we therefore submit the following propositions for
the consideration of the Conference, which we submit
to you, the Reformers of the United Kingdom :-
1. To determine on the essential details of an An-
nual Parliament necessary for securing the just repre-
sentation of the whole adult male population of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland ; such
Act to embrace the principles and details of complete
suffrage, equal electoral districts, vote by ballot, no
property qualification, payment of members, and an-
nual Parliaments, as adopted by the first complete
suffrage conference.
2. To determine what Members of Parliament shall
be appointed to introduce the said Act into the House
of Commons • and in what manner other Members of
the House shall be called upon to support it.
3. To endeavour to ascertain how far the friends of
unrestricted and absolute freedom of trade will unite
with us to obtain such an Act of Parliament, provided
we resolve to use our newly-acquired franchise in
favour of such freedom of trade, and to vote only for
such as will pledge themselves in its favour.
4. To devise the best means for maintaining compe-
tent Parliamentary candidates pledged to our princi-
ples ; the most effectual means by which assistance
may be rendered to them in all electoral contests ; and
also the best means for registering the electors and
non-electors throughout the kingdom, who may be
disposed to promote our objects.
5. To consider the propriety of calling upon the
municipal electors to adopt immediate measures for
securing the election of such men only to represent
them in their local governments as are known to be
favourable to the principles of complete suffrage.
6. To call upon our fellow-countrymen seriously
to consider the great extent to which, in various
ways, they willingly co-operate with their oppressors;
and ascertain how far they may be disposed to prove
their devotion to the cause of liberty, by refusing to
be used for the purposes of war, cruelty, and injus-
tice, and particularly by the disuse of intoxicating
articles.
7. To express their opinion as to the propriety of
the people giving their countenance and support to all
those who may sutler from espousing their cause.
8. To determine the best legal and constitutional
means for energetically and peaceably promoting the
above objects ; for checking all kinds of violence
.and
commotion, by which the enemy triumphs ; for the
dissemination of sound political knowledge, and for
spreading the principles of sobriety, peace, and tole-
ration, throughout the country, and, by every just and
virtuous means, preparing the people for the proper
exercise of their political and social rights.
• 9. To devise means for raising a national fund for
the purpose of promoting the above objects, as well
as to protect all persons who, in their peaceful prose-
cution of them, shall become victims of unjust laws or
despotic ordinances.
In order to convince the middle classes that the
working population have no - ulterior object inimical
to the general welfare of society, we advise that they
meet in the forthcoming Conference on terms of per-
fect equality to discuss these important propositions,
feeling convinced that our principles need no other
aid than their own intrinsic excellence ; having truth
for their basis, and the happiness of the, human family
for their end, and affording the best guarantee for the
security of private 'property, which we regard as sa-
cred and inviolable, equally in the poor man's labour
and the rich man's possession. We, therefore, advise
that public meetings he called by advertisement or
placard, of not less than four days, in every town
throughout the kingdom, inviting the inhabitants to
elect representatives to hold a National Conference at
Birmingham, on Tuesday, the 27th of December,
1842, for the purpose of deciding on an Act of Par-
liament for securing the just representation of the
whole "people; and for determining on such peaceful,
legal, and consitutional means as may cause it to be-
come the law of these realms.
That two representatives be sent from the smaller
towns and boroughs having less than 5,000 inhabi-
tants, and four from the larger ones, excepting that
London, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester, Glas-
gow, and Liverpool, may send six representatives, but
no more.
- That one-half of the representatives shall be ap-
pointed by the electors, and half by the non-electors.
The meetings for such purpose to be held separate, un-
less that both classes can agree in having all the re-
presentatives chosen at the meeting, which we ear-
nestly recommend ; but where they do not so agree,
the two classes are not to interfere with each other's
meetings, otherwise the election shall be declared void.
causenoenadtiinogn
men prevent e
of
ft
th
That, should the authorities interfere or trespass on
this constitutionalasse
right of public meeting, so as to
anye
plists to be made out, recommending their respective
sr shall
held, the
nomination
lists
notified, and left
lignatures of the in-
two meetingci from
cand
idates,
situations
suchtti ati o
n listss
to tr o e
e b
receive
vpeubl
the s
; habitants, those having the greatest number of sigma-
• -tUriis-to-}ie declared duly •eleeted, -
That the places sending representatives make
1 arrangements for defraying their expenses.