The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-30 00:00:00

Strasburg to 8a1e.....-..... 287 50 .. 290
Avignon to Marseilles...- ••1020 ..1020
Bordeaux to Testa •••••-• • • 210 .. 215

Orleans to Vierzort • . 820

.. 825

RAILWAYS' FOR THE ACCOUNT, MAT 3

St. Germain • ••••• . —.1065
Versailles, R. ••••••• 540
L. 8.. 345
Rouen •• • • .. •• .• • . • . ••1695
Rouen to Havre ......—• •• 915
Orleans ...................1220

t 065 :.1060 -1060
.. 540 .. 535 .. 536 26
•. 345 338 75 .. 338 75
..1095 ..1080 ..1083 75
~ 915 .. 895 .. 1195
..1232 50 ..1215 ..1225

Strasburg to Bale•• ••••• • • 290 .. 290 .. 286 25 .. 286 75
Avignon to Marseilles • ...1015 .. 1018 75 ..1010 ..1010

THIS DAY'S NEWS.

THE ST:. GILES'S MURDER.

ADJOURNEUO INQUEST-(TIIIS DAY.)
VERDICT.

Mr. Wa)(nay resumed the inquest on the body of Mary
Brothers this morniag, at the Angel Inn, High-street, St.
Giles's.
Before the reporte rs or the public were admitted, Connor's
father was called into the room, and stated, in answer to
questions put to him. by Mr. Wakley, that his sonliad three
witnesses who could prove an alibi. He named three persons,
and Harvey, the summoning officer, was directed to go for
them. In about ten minntes he returned With them, but
they were not examinod. _
Our readers will recollect that the inquiry was adjourned
for three weeks, in oriit u* to give Mr. Wakley an opportunity
of obtaining the opiniol aof counsel as to his power of a having
persons charged with I eurder before him, and bringing the
subject before the Queen's Bench.
Mr. WAKLEY said ft iey would recollect that the inquest
was adjourned at that:yoint where Bridget Ronan stated that
she knew the person .of the individual who had threatened
Mary Brothers perfectly well, but that she did not know his
name. She said she slt ould know him in that room among a
thousand, and that he could identify him twenty 3 ears
hence. The inquiry -was adjourned until this day that an
application might be an ads to the proper quarter for a writ of
habeas corpus to bring the suspected individual before them,
with a view to his idu sntification. In the same week a true
bill was found aga inst Connor, the suspected indi-
vidual, on which 13 e was arraigned, and to which
he pleaded " Not guilty." His trial therefore for the crime
of wilful murder was ;secured by a step taken after the last
adjournment of the in quest. The opinion of Mr. Fitzroy
Kelly, Q.C., Mr. Ro elouck, Q.C., and Mr. Petersdorff, was
;case,
yaseof opinion that, under the new
, were
cetaixrkpceulnaminsaetndadnteaoeftstehroemfeviehtrehy;t, hing that had taken place was clearly
an application to the Queen's
Bench for a writ of hatimas corpus ought not to be made, be-
cause they were strong ly of opinion that that Court would
refuse the application, and that because a refusal of it by the
Court must lead to an. inference, on the part of the public,
that the Coroner had iao right to have before him persons ac-
cused of murder or otanslaughter. He had submitted to
their opinion—that th R: finding of the bill by the grand jury
would prevent him f rom having the accused party before
him. But Mr. Kelly, the first man at the bar, and, perhaps,
the first lawyer in the country, entertained so strong an opi-
nion as to his right of b awing persons so accused before him,
that, he said, if another case of a similar nature should arise,
he would go before the;iudge at chambers, and move for the
fproductionn
toi fd
ea
apt ei
or
ns otiaco b s
b efore provedthat
bCeofourret ,
tf it
Hwea
was
na
se caelsssoa royf
opinion that the courso they bad pursued was strictly cor-
rect, and that they.hcbd been improperly obstructed in the
performance of their d'uties. He (Mr. Wakley) entertained
the same opinion that ,he did—that the course of justice had
been wantonly and will tinily interfered with by persons whom
he would not name. lire would leave it to them to say whe •
ther they would go on twith the inquiry, or return a verdict
at once against some pia son or persons unknown.
The foreman (Mr. Thigers) said they had advanced no
further than at the la, st meeting. They adjourned because
they were anxious to h eve the matter settled, and complained
that Mr. Wakley had n,ot applied to Lord Denman, instead of
referring the matter 1:o counsel. If he had applied to the
Court of Queen's Bend i, Lord Denman would have taken an
opportunity of stating what the law was, and what took that
caseitcbbgho eenieleni:
nnemrvoaeieui
nntodtetmeecot
committed,
nettaalyhosi
nn,evia,
tpoetoari
ohewt
they
aaschtulu lhlaeatt.
:lardaittethhaci
seoefivacleroraddsnw course.
publicl
that
sal
sufficient
soocftnwui
upon
niic3trl all, l
evidencel
have
murder
vhnueeo decision had
submittedrda toeu rb
jrtheoeaem djt. ibstntheHiei
afynne
tnd
thath e y
ts
hh
eo
3u, l
ad h go i
av ed ws ht
aatte thivehyy ctohnesyi dde
irdednao
tfai
pursuethful vtehred i ca
at , b
ja.
further.

Mr. WAKLEY said tl tat it was rather curious that the ap-
plication which was m. ale to the Central Criminal Court to
put off the trial of Cornier until the next session was on the
ground that a witness, NI ho could prove that he was not at
the spot at the time of e murder, could not be found. Since
he had held the office of Coroner he had never known a man
charged with the crime 4)f murder examined and committed
to Newgate in one day. By the adoption of such a course
no time was given to the man to obtain any evidence he
might have in his favour. Now, these persons could not be
bound over by the magistrate, and might purposely absent
themselves from the 01d Bailey.
Hervey, in answer to. 9. question from Mr. WAKLEY, said
he had no; evidence to prove who the person was that mur-
dered Mary Brothers.
The room was then cleared.
Daring our sojourn in an ante-room, Mr. MILLS, the
Deputy-Coroner, suppli ed the reporters with a written state-
ment' to the effect, that. Mr. WAKLEY wished to make a few
remarks with regard to an imputation attempted to be
thrown upon him by the foreman, that he had broken a
pledge which he had given to the jury, that he would
bring the matter beforet the Court of Queen's Bench. He
explained the cireuin stances which had occurred in his
consultations with counsel and the position in which he stood
now that a true bill had been found at the Old Bailey, and
the prisoner was sure to, be tried. These matters having
occurred at• chambers were altogether of a private nature
and not to be Qxplained in public. The result was that the
jury, with the excepth m of the foreman, declared their
unanimous opinion th tt the Coroner had done everything
that justice and sound I eason required towards accomplish-
ing the object the jury h ad in view in adjourning.
Mr. Rogers said he should adhere to the opinion he had
expressed.
On the admission of the public, after a consultation of half
an hour, during which Mr. Wakley was absent,
The foreman said the jury had come to the following ver-
dict :—" We find that the deceased Mary Brothers was wil-
fully murdered by some person to us unknown, and that we
have been prevented by pie conduct of the police autho-

ritica from pursuing the investigation in a more satisfactory
manner."
Mr. WAKLEY said it would not be long before the matter
would be set at rest. Considering that they had been wan-
tingly interfered with in the performance of their duties, the
verdict was a very moderate one.
A juryman said Mr. Wakley deserved the thanks of the
jury for what he had done at his own expense.—(Hear.)
Mr. WAKLEY thanked the jury, and said he should con-
tinue in the course he had taken until the matter was set at
rest. No such system as that to which he was opposed was
adopted in any other country in England. The inquiry then
terminated.

EX-CHEQUER.-(THIS DAY.)
TRIAL AT BAR.—THE GREAT DISTILLERY CASE.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL V. GEORGE SMITH.
The proceedings in this case were resumed at ten o'clock,
when
Mr. James Scott Smith was placed in the witness- box,
and examined by Mr. MARTIN—The rebuilding of the
rectifying-house was commenced in 1836, and finished in
1838. At that time it became necessary to uncover what is
called the blind pipe.
By the CHIEF BARON—The wall was finished in 1838.
By Mr. MANno—The pipe was exposed to view fur several
days. The foundation of the wall was a great deal lower
than the level of the pipe. Up to 1838 the water flowed
through the blind pipe and a connecting leaden pipe into the
rectifying-house. The leaden pipe was cut off at the build-
ing of the wall, as it was in the way of the builder.
By the CHIEF BARON—There was an opening about six
inches from the end of the blind pipe pointing towards the
rectifying-house wall, and to that opening the leaden pipe
was affixed.
By Mr. MARTIN—After the wall was built, the opening
which exposed the blind pipe was filled up. No water came
in that direction after Is3B. The connecting pipe was re-
moved in that year. The leaden pipe was continued
because it was supplied from the new pipes laid down in
1836. The wall was built solid where the orifice had formerly
been. The water, after the year 1838, was supplied by the
pipes laid down in 1836, and by the trough. On my solemn
oath I can say that not one drop of spirits was conveyed from
the one house to the other by that means, until the experi-
ment was made by the officers. It never entered our heads
that it could be done. I have, since 1813, personally super-
intended the business of the rectifying-house, and spirits
could not have been so introduced without my knowledge.
Spirits were since 1817 conveyed by waggon from the distil-
lery through its gates, along the public streets, and
then into the rectifying-house. The law requires that
the rectifier should give notice to the officer of Excise
that he has received so much spirit ; the permit is required to
be shown them, and one bung cannot be opened without the
officer's permission. There is a complete check on the spirits
brought into the rectifying-house. The stock of spirits can
be taken at any time within six weeks. The examinations
of the officers are conducted with great severity, the mea-
surements in the casks being sometimes taken by a four-
gallons cask. I pointed out to the officers before the ground
was broken up the road by which the pipe used to commu-
nicate with the rectifying-house. The pipe is unfit to convey
spirits, because it would corrode, and thereby give such a
taste to the spirits that they would be unfit for sale. If I
wanted to convey spirits by any pipes I should have
them of tin, copper, or pewter, the latter is the best.
Iron would be quite unfit for the conveyance of spirits.
The iron pipe in the distillery-yard is not laid with a regular
descent, it is what is technically termed " swags," or not
laid at a proper current, so that if spirits had been sent
through it, and water had afterwards been run, the water
would not thoroughly remove the taste of the spirits. I
tasted the water some four-days after the experiment made
by the officers, and found the taste of spirits very strong.
The water through this very pipe supplies the dwelling-
house, and while washing my hands I felt the smell of the
spirits very strong.. I was not present when the water was
offered to the horses. Ido not know how many gallons of
water were mixed with the spirits in the vat 17. The spirit
could only be separated by its being re-distilled. It would
take about two tons of coal to do so. The additional expense
p'r gallon would depend upon the produce of the spirits.
There is water supplied through this pipe to the room of the
officers of Excise, in the distillery.
The CHIEF BARON—Oh, it is quite evident, from the plan
furnished by the Crown, that such is the case.
By Mr. MARTIN—The water to the rectifying-house was,
from 1838 to 1844, supplied by this pipe. The men from the
rectifying-house used to go through the distillery for the
purpose of turning on the water. The same Excise officers
used to remain for a considerable time about the premises,
so that they would have ample opportunities of knowing the
men in both works. There are two engines on the premises,
one communicating with the rectifying-house by a shaft
through the wall. The pipe leading into the offices branches
off at about twenty-five feet distance on the main pipe, from
which it descends, and consequently if spirits were passed it
must have flown into that room.
Cross-examined by the SOLICITOR•GENERAL—MV brother
and myself are single men, and live together. "The men
employed in the manufacture are different in the one work
from the other, but the men employed to keep the machinery
in order are common to both. The horses and carts are
common to both of us. I believe there is no law against it.
In 1817 there were alterations made upon the premises. In
1814 the pipes were defective, and the iron pipe was laid
down instead. The leaden pipes in the rectifying-house
were connected with the iron pipe at the time it was laid
down. The still head prior to 1836 was supplied from a
branch from the main or leaden pipe which ran in front of the
still. The still head was supplied directly from branches as
they were erected. The connexion between the blind pipe
and leaden pipe was cut off in 1838. The trough has been
in existence for many years, and there is a pump required
for the purpose of forcing water to the still head, in the event
of the usual flow being discontinued. That pump has been
in existence since 1838; there used to be a handpump before.
There is a smailcistern there, and there is a bell to give notice
when the water is low, so that the supply may be
put in at once. The trader is bound to make a declaration
of the strength of the total spirits, and the Excise officer
says that he has a means of testing the truth of that declara-
tion. I think it impracticable to convey spirits by this pipe,
because, before it could be done, it would be necessary to
stop the works, in order to do so. There would be a greater
loss than gain by this procedure. Wash would be affected
by the corroded pipes in the same way that spirits would. I
have used lime in rectifying, but not for some years. There
wasno lime discovered in vat 17. What was found there was a
sediment from the spirits. The duty on a gallon of spirits is
7e. 10d. ; and. therefore, on 700 gallons the amount would be
260/., or more. The present price of malt spirits is about
10s. 2d. a gallon,. including duty. I decline saying what
the profit upon that may be, as it varies so much. I recol-
lect the officers on the premises about the 14th of October,
and having some conversation with them relating to the
water communication between the distillery and the rectify-
ing-house. I have no doubt that if they put impertinent
questions I might have told my brother of it. Ido not re-
member Cameron's saying, " Does not the water running
into :the troughs for the supply of the worm-tubs come
from Mr. George Smith's distillery." He asked me, pointing
to the wall between the rectifying-house and the distillery,
"Is there any other communication between the distillery and
the rectifying-house except this shoot." I answered," None."
I do not recollect saying that this mode of supplying the
rectifying-house with water was objectionable. Ido not re-
collect using the words "criminate myself." I recollect say-
ing something like this—that my father and myself called
upon the late Mr. Carr, solicitor to the Excise, and he per-
mitted us to use the pipe for gas and-water supplied from the
distillery as before. I dcf not recollect Cameron saying to
Frankish that he had asked me whether there was any other
communication with the distillery except the open trough.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL complained that his Learned
Friends who were engaged for the defence, and more parti-
cularly Mr. Watson, continually interrupted him in his cross-
examinations by their audible observations.
Mr. WATSON—If I had done my duty, I shonid have in-
terrupted you much oftener.—(Laughter.)
Cross-examination continued—When I said thsrg was no
other communication, I think either Fankisk 'or Cameron
said we think there is another communication.
Re-examined by Mr. MARTIN—I was introduced to the
officers by Mr. Drinkwater, and they, pointing to the direc-
tion of the trough, asked if there were any other communi-
cation than by that shoot. I said, " No," and then Cameron
or Frankish said, "I think there is." I said, "Point it out
then," and we went up to the top of the still-head, and
Cameron asked, " Where does this water flow from ?" I said,
" From the main." He asked again, " Does that not come
from the distillery. ?" I said, " Yes," and pointed out the
direction in which the pipe ran.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL objected to this mode of re-
examination.
The CHIEF BARON thought it would be better if the whole
conversation were given, and then the Learned Solicitor-
General be permitted to ask any question having reference
to any part of that conversation.
Mr. F. KELLY was perfectly willing to accede to this pro-
position.
Some discussion then took place between the. Counsel on
both sides and the Bench, as to whether, in re-examination,
it was competent to Mr. Martin to question the witness as to
parts of a conversation not referred to in the cross-exa-
mination.
The COURT decided that the re-examination might pro-
ceed as Mr. Martin was conducting it, for if there was any
direct matter of denial in the evidence, the Solicitor-General
could call witnesses to contradict.
Re-examination resumed—Witness did not hesitate to point
out the course of the pipe when the officers requested it.
Neither did he hesitate to allow the ground to be broken up
to expose that course. He could not recollect all the precise
words of the conversation. There were three officers, and
they were disputing the same questions in different ways, and
repeating his answers in altered terms, so much, that he was
obliged to say repeatedly to them : " I will not allow you to
put words in my mouth—you misrepresent me to myself."
He observed to them that there was nothing illegal in sup-
plying the rectifying house with water from the distillery. He
told them that Mr. Carr, the Excise solicitor, had consented
to the pipe being t laid down, and that the Act of Parliament
forbad only pipes for the transmission of worts, wash, or
spirits.
Here another long discussion arose as to whether aquestion
could be put relating to the date and circumstances of the
conversation with Mr. Carr referred to by witness in his
answer to the officers. The witness stated that it took place
in 1817, before the Act now in force had passed. But the
Court would not allow the answer to be received, deciding
that the question was irregular.
Mr. KELLY again claimed his right to put a question to
the witness, as to the conversation with Mr. Carr.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL again objected, and after a pro-
longed discussion,
The LORD CHIEF BA/tort said that it had already this day
been argued, discussed, and decided, that no question to the
witness as to the time, the place, the words, or even the
truth of the alleged conversation with the late Mr. Carr, was
admissible in this re-examination.
Mr. KELLY still pressed his argument with great perti-
nacity and ingenuity.
Their Lordships consulted for some time, and we certainly
understood the Lord Chief Baron to express the opinion of
the Court in favour of the admissibility of the question in the
form last urged by Mr. Kelly, but the Learned Gentleman
then merely requested their Lordships to take a note of his
question. The jury then retired for refreshMent.
Re-examination resumed—He pointed out to Frankish
and the other officers the direction of the pipe, and consented
to open the ground, but he could not tell on which occasion
he did so. Took a sample from the vat No. 17 before the ex-
periment was made, and found in it nothing but the sediment
always deposited in vessels which had held spirits and water
for a long time. To convey spirits through a pipe on the
principle of the syphon, it must be air-tight. The pipe in
question was certainly not so, nor intended to be.
The trial was proceeding when our report left.)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
(THIS DAY.)
THE KNIFE AGAIN.—SERIOUS CHARGE OF STABBING.—
Elizabeth Meads, a tall, powerful female, about thirty-five
years of age, was charged with stabbing Robert Murray, a
well-known pugilist, with whom she was cohabiting.
William Howard, police-constable, No. 94, of the F divi-
sion stated, that between ten and eleven o'clock last night,
he was called into the Fishmongers'. Arms, public-house, in
West-street, Seven Dials, and found the man Murray there,
bleeding profusely from a wound about an inch below the
collar-bone on the left side towards the shoulder. Having