The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-05-09 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL TOWN COUNCIL

LIE monthly and also the quarterly meeting of this
council was held on. Wednesday last, Mr. Alderman J. H.
Turner presiding,. in the absence of J. B. Lloyd, Esq.,
Mayor.

The first business proceeded with was the report on the
local rates, which recommended the imposition of the
following :—ln the District of the Parish of Liverpool:
Paving, 10d. • sewer, 2d.; water, ld.; general, 4d. ; total,
ls. sd. In the District of Kirkdale : Paving, 2s. ; sewer,
4d. ; water, ld. ; general. 4d.: total, 2s. 9d. In the Dis-
trict of Everton : Paving, Is. ; sewer, 5d.; water, ld. ;
general, 4d.: total is. 10d. In the District of West
Derby : Paving, 10d. ; sewer, 6t1.; water, ld. • general,
5d.: total, ls. 9d. llz the District of Toxteth-park :
Paving, ls. ; sewer, 4d.; water, ld.; general, 7d.: total, 2s.
The report also stated that the amounts now due and
those proposed to be borrowed on the sewer rates are as
follow :

Amount now due. Amount to be borrowed
Liverpool
Kirkdale
Everton 11,070
West Derby 14,520
Tosteth -park ... 20,380

£110,115

Total ..
Mr. Alderman L&NGSDALE explained that the increase
in the paving-rate from Bd. to 10d. arose from the increased
price of labour and material, and from the fact that last
year they started with a debt of £11,350, which they had
reduced to £2,000, and they were now proposing to do
£4,300 more work than they did last year, and £2,600
more in watering the streets, of which £1,700 was to be
laid out in Liverpool alone. They were very much under
what the borough engineer had stated, and they could not
manage under the additional 2d. for which they applied.
He first moved the appropriation of the usual sum of
£5,000 to the paving and sewering rate. A conversation
ensued, in which Aldermen Cooper and Parker took part.
It was ended by Mr. Alderman Langsdale moving seri-
atim the confirmation of the various rates for Liverpool ;
all of which were carried.

The proposed pavement rate on the township of Kirk-
dale, of 2s. in the pound, gave rise to a desultory discussion.
Mr. Alderman LANGSDALE stated that the cause of the ap•
parently excessive rate arose from the great expense
entailed in keeping Regent-street in repair. The traffic of
carts was becoming immense, owing to the formation of
the new north docks.—Mr. BIGRAM proposed that the
matter be referred to the committee, recommending that
Regent-street be paved with square sets, by a rate of 3d. in
the pound.—Mr. Alderman COOPER seconded the proposi-
tion.—Mr. LANGSDALE replied that the Borough Engineer
had said that 3d. would not be sufficient for the paving rate
of Kirkdale.—Mr. BIGIEAACS amendment, which was shap-
ed to the effect that the money be borrowed, and the rate
reduced from 2s. in the pound to ls. Bd., to pay the interest
and sinking fund provided for that purpose, was then put
to the vote, and lost by a majority of 29 to 17. For the
amendment :—Councillors Mellor„ Thomson, Bigham,
Woodruff, Bradley, Godfrey, Holden, Turner, Fernihough,
Tobin, Earle, Houghton, Stewart, Gregson ; and Aldermen
Cooper, Gardner, and Shand. Against :—Councillors
Aked, Moss, M`Guffie, Hornby, Avison, Banner, J. Glad-
stone, Mann, Jeffreys, Wagstaff, 3l`Nicoll, Shand, Fleming,
Brancker, Johnson, Hodson, Nicholson, Beckwith,, Hen-
derson, Robertson, Halhead ; and Aldermen Langsdale,
Bennett, Preston, Bold, Dover, Parkington, Robinson, and
Turner. The original proposition, that the paving rate
for Kirkdale, be 2s. in the pound, was confirmed.
The remaining rates recommended in the report were
confirmed, as was a fire-police rate of -id. in the pound, and
a watch-rate, the total assessment of which was £8,527
12s. ld., the proportion of Liverpool being a rate of one
penny and one hundred and ninety-one two-huudreths of
a penny in the pound.

The proceedings of the Finance Committee comprised,
recommendation to increase the salaries of the following
clerks in the surveyor's department : namely, Mr. William
Fox, from £250 to £2BO per annum ; Mr. G. H. Rollet,
from £l5O to £175 per annum, the consideration of which
was postponed at the last monthly Council, pursuant to
the standing orders ; recommendation to place the dock-
gatemen of the River Craft Dock on the same footing, as
respects wages and clothes, as the dockgatemen employed
by the Dock Trustees ; recommendation to purchase, for
a sum of £l,OOO, one freehold house in Duke-street, and
one freehold house in Henry-street ; recommendation to
appoint Mr. W. McDonald superintendent of the chain-
testing machine, at the salary of £lOO, with house, being
the salary and emolument of his predecessor, Mr. Cham-
berlain, resigned ; and recommendation to purchase pro-
perty on the south side of Breck-road, for the sum of £7O,
for the improvement of that street. The recommenda-
tions were passed seriatim, on the proposition of Mr.
HORNBY. -
Mr. GODFREY expressed a wish to know why the Fi-
nance Committee had given the contract for the erection
of cottages in connexion with the Borough. Gaol to Messrs.
Kilpin and Furniss ?—Mr. HORNBY replied that the com-
mittee, after again considering the question, had decided
that they could do no other than give the contract to
Messrs. Kilpin and Furniss, who had just performed a
very extensive work, and who, according to their own in-
terpretation of the agreement, were entitled to perform
the works—they have contracted to do "all the work in
and about the gaol." They contended these cottages
were " about the gaol." The Town-clerk, however, had
decided that they were not legally entitled to it, but the
committee had considered it desirable to place the work
in their hands.—Mr. GODFREY was sorry that Mr. Hornby
had not given more cogent reasons for the adoption of
this step, and moved that that portion of the report he
not confirmed, and that the contract be given to Mr. Mul-
len. —Mr. Alderman LANGSDALE seconded the amend-
ment. Mr. WOODRUFF supported the amendment,
believing that it was most essential that the tradesmen of
this town should have implicit conance, that when the
committee advertised for work to :-.(lone, and a compe-
tent person offered himself, with good and efficient
sureties, his tender would receive attention. (Hear, hear)
A scene ensued, in which Mr. THOMSON, Mr. BIGHAM,
Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. Alderman PARKER, and Mr. HENDER-
SON played conspicuous parts, after which the amendment
was put to the vote, and carried by a majority of 25 to 22.
For the amendment : —Councillors Thomson, Bighorn,
Woodruff, Bradley, Moss, M`Guffie, Godfrey, Holden, J.
Gladstone, Mann, Wagstaff, M`Nicoll, Shand, Fleming,
Johnson, Picton, Hodson, Beckwith, Horsfall, Robertson,
Halhead ; and Aldermen Langsdale, Bennett, Bold, and
Shand. Against :—Councillors Aked, Anderson, Tyrer,
Turner, Hornby, Holt, Banner, Fernihough, Jeffreys,
Brancker, Tobin, Earle, Houghton, Henderson, Stewart,
and Gregson ; and Aldernien Preston, Dover, Parker,
Cooper, Turner, and Toulmin. The contract will, there-
fore, be given to Mr. Mullen.
Mr. HORNBY then moved the confirmation of the whole
proceedings of the Finance Committee.
Mr. WOODRUFF drew attention to the filthy state of
the Sessions'-rooms, which presented the anomalous posi-
tion that, while persons were daily corrected in it for not
keeping their houses clean, the building in which they
were thus corrected was in a much filthier condition than
their own houses, for which they were being punished.
(Hear, hear.) It was stated that the matter should be
placed under the notice of the surveyor.
Mr. BIGUATIES, in regard to the Wavertree-house Estate,
moved the amendment of which he had given notice :
"That the surveyor be instructed, whilst levelling and
draining the Wavertree-hall Estate, to construct the re-
quisite walks, with a view to this property being opened
as a park for the recreation of the inhabitants at the
earliest possible period."—Mr. HORNBY signified the wil-
lingness of the Finance Committee to the adoption of this
course ; and the proposition was adopted. The Finance
Committee's proceedings were then confirmed.
Mr. Town having moved the confirmation of the pro-
ceedings of the Watch Committee, Mr. WOODRUFF, who
was out of the room, partaking of the Mayor's accustomed
monthly "hospitality," when the proceedings were read,
asked what course the committee were about to pursue
with reference to the fact that the borough engineer had
tested the quality of the gas supplied to the borough, and
found it inferior to the contract, and having referred to
the proceedings, blamed the committee for not attempting
to recover the penalties against the Gas Company, for
infringing the contract.
Mr. DOVER drew the attention of the Council to the
fact that Mrs. Mullens, who kept a respectable public-
house in Great Norfolk-street, had been fined by the
magistrates for refusing to admit a police-officer into her
house on Good Friday. He explained that the officer was
in plain clothing, that Mrs. Mullens did not recognize
him, and that, consequently, she considered it extremely
hard that she should have been convicted. Some discus-
sion ensued, in the course of which Mr. TOBIN justified
the general principle of the men making the inspections
of the public-houses, though he deprecated, and asserted
that the committee would severely punish, any attempt to
" entrap" publicans. The report of the Watch Committee
Was then confirmed. The proceedings of the Dock Com-
mittee were confirmed, on the proposition of Mr. Turner ;
and of the Improvement Committee, on the motion of
Mr. Alderman Bennett.
The proceedings of the Courts of Law and St. George's-
hall Committee comprised a recommendation to increase
the salary of Mr. W. H. Wordley, architectural draughts-
man at St. George's-hall, from £240 to £2BO per annum,
the consideration of which was postponed at the last
monthly Council, pursuant to the standing-orders. The
proceedings were confirmed.
Mr. Alderman COOPER moved the confirmation of the
proceedings relative to augmentation of salaries.—Mr.
81G111.31, as an amendment, moved—" That the conside-
ration of all applications f • crease of salaries, be *post-
poned, and that the Town ' be instructed to prepare
and lay before the Council a turn, showing the names,
ages, occupation, dates of appointment, salaries when
appointed, and present salaries of all the officers employed
or paid by the Corporation, with the names and salaries
of their predecessors, dividing the same under the various
departments ; also, a return, showing the present cost of
the constabulary force, with the number of men and
officers,. as contrasted with the years 1849-50, 1850-1,
1851-2, 1852-3; also, a return, in a tabular form, of the
names, occupations, and salaries of the various officers of
the Corporation for the past ten years."—Mr. Thomson
seconded the amendment, which, after some discussion,
was carried, nem. dis.
The proceedings of the Markets Committee-comprised a
recommendation to increase the salaries of the following
officers : namely, John Radcliffe and Thomas S. Tyrer,
collectors at St. John's Market, from £9O to £llO per
annum each ; Robert Tyrer, collector at the Fish Market,
from £7B to £9O per annum ; and William Appleton,
collector at Pownall-square Market, from 30s. to 335.
per week.
The proceedings of the Education Committee comprised
a recommendation to increase the salaries of Mr. John
Harris, master of the North Corporation School, and Mr.
James Riley, master of the South Corporation School,
from £llO to £l2O per annum each ; and the salary of
Mr. James Rigby, second master of the South School,
from £6O to £75 per annum, the consideration of which
was postponed at the last monthly Council, pursuant to
the standing-orders.—On the proposition of Mr. BANNER,
seconded by Mr. WAGSTAFF, the increase in the salaries
were allowed, and Mr. Robertson was appointed on the
committee, vice Mr. IVlolyneux, deceased.
The proceedings, resolutions, and reports of the Health
Committee comprised a recommendation to increase the
salary of Mr. James Lothean Ascroft, in the borough
engineer's department, from £52 to £7O per annum.—
Postponed, in accordance with Mr. Bighorn's propositions,
uen.touilnetilh.e—mretur.a, sp
rniGovedaxforst!)aytedhintih,
ei s
sparnettsteonrt:dßillt o
itilai
de
. gt

been read a third time in the House of Lords, and that it
now only required the royal sanction.

The reports of the Ga;den, Church Establishment, and-
Water Committees were confirmed.

The proceedings of the Library and Museum Committee
contained a recommendation to purchase, from Mr.
Augustus Harding, the Model of Ancient Liverpool, for
the sum of £100; but as the committee at which this re-
commendation was formed had been called for another,
and a special purpose, the proposition was declared by the
Town-clerk, in reply to Mr. Bigham, to be irregular, and
was withdrawn by Mr. Picton.—The coroner's account,
amounting to £l9 12s. 6d., was confirmed.—The Mayor's
communications comprised applications from the master
of and the men employed at the north landing-stage, for
increased salary and wages. Referred to the Finance
Committee.—A statement of accounts for the maintenance
of the prisoners in the borough gaol, amounting to £B7l
7s. Bd., was passed, and the Mayor authorized to forward
it to the treasurer.—The concluding business on the paper
was the following notice of motion, by Mr. Banner
"That the building and premises in Gill-street, now used
as a market, be appropriated for salt-water baths, under
the direction of the Baths Committee."—On this being
called on, the majority of the members rose and left the
room en masse.—The Council broke up at four o'clock,
having sat five hours.

_MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A SUP-
POSED ROMISH PRIEST.

AN inquest was held on Wednesday, before Mr. Curry,
the borough coroner, and a jury, on the body of a man
who died in the workhouse under singular circumstances.
From his dress and other circumstances, it is conjectured
he was a Romish priest. In his pockets were found a rosary
and a small figure of St. Peter, together with a memoran-
dum book, containing copies of letters apparently written
by the deceased to a friend, and entries of various sum%
of money received at different places, as if he had been
collecting for some special purpose. The letters com-
menced, " Dear Stephen," and requested that the writer's
ritual, scarf, stole, and other vestments usually worn by
priests at the altar, might be sent to him. One of the
letters contained a request that, whenever the friend ad-
dressed might appproach the altar dedicated to the Blessed.
Virgin, he would offer up three " Hail. Mary's," for the
salvation of the soul of the writer. The deceased had
been removed from a brothel in the Workhouse van,
which was sent for him, at the request of the surge=
called in to see the deceased, by inspector Horne. The
deceased represented himself to the surgeon as "Hugh
Haggarty," a different name from those which he gave to
other parties. The publication of the following note may
help (heivafter) to the discovery of the deceased's identity.
There is no date, and we give it verbatim :
Dear Sir,—Your trunks is addressed to Mr. P. Mahon,
Hotel, William-street, Liverpool.

Inspector Horne, ,of the police force, deposed that on
Thursday morning, about two o'clock, while be was on
duty in Hotham-street, officer 58 came up to him, and in—
formed him that a Mrs. Byrnes, who keeps a brothel at
17, Albion-street, wished to iee, him. On going there
Mrs.- Byrnes informed him that there was a man within
who appeared to be very ill, and who had been stopping
there since two o'clock on the previous Monday morning.
She added that he had been' brought to the house by two
of the girls, Betsy Thompson and Eliza Scott. He had
been drinking rum and wine, but she could not get hint
to take any food. He had only three fourpenny pieces
when brought to the house, but they pawned his waist-
coat for 9d., and bought wine with the money, of which
he had a glass. She stated that on Tuesday he gave her
a pawnticket, and requested her to go to Mr. Sheppard's
and get £1 more lent on his gold watch, giving her also a
note to tke pawnbroker, who advanced the money. She
brought fEe £1 to him, but he refused to take it, and she
gave a portion of it to the girl, keeping the remainder her-
self. The inspector went into the bed-room, and saw the.
man in bed. • He complained of a pain in his stomach.
On being asked if had any friends in this town, the man
replied that be had not, and subsequently stated that his
name was Coslett, and that he was a physician. A sur-
geon was sent for, and, after he had left, witness again
asked the man what he was, having some doubts about
him. The man then replied that he was "Anthony Cos-
lett," an attorney, from near Dublin. Witness told hint
that, as he had no friends, he must be sent to the work-
house; but the man wished to be left where he was, stating
that he would go to an hotel in the morning. On being
reminded that he had no money, he replied that he would
get a remittance from his brother Charles, who also lived-
near Dublin. The witness did not see him again alive.
The pawnticket for the watch was then produced, but
the first ticket was not forthcoming. From the note of
the deceased, which was signed "Alexander Clifford," it
would appear that the watch was first pledged by him in
that name, for £2. -
Mary Byrne, said : I keep a lodging-house. It is
brothel in Albion-street. Early on Monday morning
Eliza Scott came to my bedroom, and told me there was a
man up stairs in her room, and that he had no money-
I said, "Do the best you can, but get him out of the house,
as you brought him here," She wanted to pledge his coat,
hut I would not let her. She then took it away, and
returned again shortly afterwards, saying, "He has given
it to me himself." She got 6s. upon it, and then got drunk.
I went up stairs to him about nine o'clock, and asked hint
if he was married. He replied that he was not. He slept
so hard that you could scarcely wake him. I found the-
purse and beads (produced), and he said they were his.
His hat was much bruised.

Eliza Scott, one of the inmates of the house, deposed :
I met the deceased in Clayton-square, on Monday morning,
between twelve and one o'clock ; I was going home, and he
staggered against me. He was sober, and he asked me to
take him home, and wash his head. He said he had had am
awful fall. He had the appearance of a epntlemiin. I
took him home, and as he was undressing himself, I ob-
served that his head had a cut on the back of it. He did
not then say how be got it. I lay on the side of the bed.
He asked me for a glass of wine in the morning. He gave
me three fourpenny bits, and I got him the wine. I them
asked him if he would have a cup of tea, and he said he
wanted nothing to eat. I went to Mrs. Byrne about
twelve o'clock, and said the man appeared to be in the
horrors from drink. He said he would get up after he had
had a little sleep, and told me to pawn his waistcoat and
get him something to drink. I did so. The fourpenny
bits were in the steel purse, and also the beads. I also
found the book (memorandum book produced) and two
letters. I asked him what he was, but he would tell me
nothing, not even his name. He was taken to the Work-
house on Thursday, the 27th ult.
Francis Ayrton, M.D., being sworn, said :—I am one of`
the resident medical officers of the Workhouse. The de-
ceased was brought to the Workhouse on Thursday, the
27th of April, about three o'clock in the afternoon. He
was insensible. and appeared to be suffering from compres-
sion of the brain. He died about two o' clock on Saturday
morning. He was never able to speak. There was at
slight contused wound on the back of his head. The
cause of death was an effusion on the brain, the result of
natural causes. Ido not think the wound would occasion
his death. He had three false teeth, set in gold, fitting in
his upper jaw.

Carr, governor of the Workhouse, deposed to
the circumstances of the deceased being received into tha
Workhouse, and described the dress which he wore at the_
time, as follows :—A black coat, single-breasted, and with
a stand-up collar, having the appearance of a clerical coat,
black cloth trousers, Guernsey singlet, pair of drawer',
marked "A.C.," black satin stock, dark Oxford gray
woollen socks, a pair of patent leather dress shoes, a red
and white silk handkerchief, marked " A.C.," and a plain
black beaver hat, with a label inside, " Greig Brothers,
Trongate, Glasgow." The deceased appeared to be about
forty years of age, was 5 feet 8 inches in height, had a..
sallow complexion, with little trace of whiskers, and
black hair tinged with grey.
The police inspector, in reply to the jury, said defendant
did not complain to him of the treatment he got in the
house in Albion-street, but, on the contrary, he said the
people were very kind to him.
The jury then consulted for a short time, when twelve
returned a verdict of " Died from natural causes."