The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-04-12 00:00:00

eri, he said

utterance is, that Mrs. G. H. Horsfall may be a wife worthy
of her husband ; and if she is so, you will all admit that
she must indeed be a woman in a thousand; for I am sure,

with the detective police. The magistrates got I
and opened their doors to reporters to hear the el
all the members of the Council knew it had end

1 in no-

and you, too, are all well aware, that he is a man rarely thing. But when a charge was brought forward against
found—(hear, hear)—a man beloved not only by all who other members of the Council—himself for one—what did
come in immediate and almost every-day contact with him, the magistrates do ? Would it have been any condescen-
but who is known and esteemed throughout England. sion on the part of the magistrates to him, an alderman of
(Cheers.) When we assemble together, at any future this borough, to have written him a note to appear and
time, and when we know something more of the lady vindicate his character? No; but upon the evidence of
whom Mr. Horsfall has taken to be his partner in life.— a man whom he would bring before the Council by and
if we then have it in our power to say that she is a wife by, they appointed a select committee of three or four;
worthy of her husband, then indeed we shall have pro- the inquiry proceeded with closed doors, and a report was
nounced the most eloquent eulogium we can express of drawn up, containing a charge implicating him and others.
any woman. (Cheers.) The speaker concluded by pro. The whole of the proceedings of the Watch Committee
posing long life, health, and happiness to Mr. and Mrs. were or used to be regularly recorded. As a policeman,
Horsfall, which was responded to with great warmth and this man Kehoe must have known his duties in those days.
oafgicreeahtoe. stretchKehoofe liwisasmaemmoar:
of
fe
whose
ho
ou
snededhi
characters
cordiality. The practice was to record everything in the police-books i
Mr. SWAINSON said he should indeed be unworthy the against an individual. No record of it was found ; but by
e' charge.
return his best thanks for the cordial reception which Now he (Mr. Parker) must say a word upon the character
they had given to the last toast. He bad had the pleasure
friendship of Mr. Horsfall if he did not, on his behalf,
Council would hear more by and by. He was a man who,
of Mr. 'Horsfall's acquaintance for some time, and many
ears ago was a
travelling companion of his when far at the commencement of the magistrates' report, was
called " a man of unblemished character;" and when a
away from home. He therefore had an opportunity of
estimating man told him (Mr. Parker) over and over again how '
what
his real worth was.; and, whatever had
been said that evening, he felt that a great deal had been honest he was, be always suspected something ; but not
left unsaid. (Cheers.) With regard to his bride, they satisfied with what they said at the commencement of the
would all know that for a person possessing such qualities report, they brought Kehoe's character forward again at
as Mr. Horsfall, it would be a difficult task to find a part- the end. "Heis a man whose veracity entitles him to
ner equal in every respect to him ; but he believed that the confidence of the magistrates." This was reiterated
in Mrs. Horsfall she had been found—(cheers)—if she at the bottom. One might suppose that they did not do
were to be found on this side the grave. He felt sorry this without having some evidence of it; but they did not
that Mr. Horsfall was not present himself that evening, meke a single inquiry. He would not accuse them of
as he was sure that the sight of that gathering would wilful neglect of duty, but it was a gross neglect in not
have given him the greatest delight ; for it always was doing it. No man entertained more respect for the magis-
his pleasure not only to be happy himself, but also to trates than he did ; but when a man sank from the dig.
make those around him happy too. (Loud cheers.) nity of office, then he thought that the magisterial robes
The CHAIRMAN then introduced Mr. HUGHES, who were no protection to him. This Kehoe, it was said, was
read the following verses, written by him for the occasion, " a man of unblemished character." This was in 1842.
And which he delivered with taste and spirit :
In 1839, the Watch Committee of that day reduced Kehoe
Arise, sweet Muse, this festive day, for gross falsehoods. In December, 1839—that was a
Breathe joy and gladness in my lay ; short period before this man of veracity professed to found
" Raise the lovely smile of pleasure this charge against him—in 1839 he was accused of gross
" With an animated measure;" falsehoods before the committee, in having endeavoured
For on this day in wedlock's bands
There be united friendly hands, to injure the character of another man, and the punish-
And Hymen looks, with brow serene, ment inflicted upon him was one of the heaviest that
Happy—benignant—on the scene. could be given by the Watch Committee of that day ; he
Aurora bless, with all thy charms, was reduced from an acting bridewell-keeper at 28s. to an
And shield us from all dire alarms; acting constable at 16s. per week. He was put in the lowest
Deck the morn in pleasing brightness,
Let all nature put on lightness; situation that hecould be, not to be discharged from the force.
Lead on the sun's refulgent ray Mr. William Earle was on the committee at the time
To strengthen and advance the day, when this man Kehoe was visited with severe punishment
And cause the birds to warble sweet, —(hear, hear)—and the same Mr. William Earle, who
And thus our holiday they'll greet. had nothing like so retentive a memory as Mr. Kehoe,
Apollo, with tby rapt rows art, seemed to have forgot this circumstance. But when the
Inflame and kindle every heart,
eneral g question came on for discussion, gentlemen would
And let the song and mirth go round,
Or an Amphion here be found : be prepared with other evidence, but not quite so strong.
Wing'd Cupid, too, be at our feast, Kehoe recollected that in 1842 Mr. Parker interfered with
(We will not reckon thee the least,) him in the discharge of his duty, and he stated before the
For thou hest made a conquest here, magistrates that this interference had kept him in terro-
And so to us thou wilt be dear. rem in the discharge of his duty from 1842 to 1853. But
Come, let us toast the bridal day,
And own the blind god's potent sway, he would bring Kehoe to 1853, A fortnight ago, when he
Then let the wassail bowl go round, was an applicant for a situation, this same Kehoe, of
And make the welkin ring with sound unblemished character, in whom the magistrates had
;':7Of happy voices loud and long, unbounded confidence, was a candidate for an office
19or Oen' 'lnte
day we'll 'r song;,!:.,-, ., , , under the Watch Committee. The Watch Committee
And prove it by our harmony. inquired into his character. Why, when his character
But 'ere we part we would implore was read to the committee, there was not one member of
Of Heaven to grant, from its rich store, the committee of the present day who could say one word
The choicest blessings it can give for Kehoe, but the surprise was how a man of such disre-
To those we pray for : while they live,—
May joy,—long life,—prosperity,— putable character could have been so long kept in the
Continue to posterity, police force. (Hear, hear.) This was the man upon
And long may Horsfall's fame be known, whose evidence he (Mr. Parker) had been branded before
Let all be proud the name to own. (Cheers.) the public for the last fortnight as a man who had been
Mr. BENJAMIN EASTWOOD next gave " the health of interfering with the police force in the discharge of their
our worthy master, William Joseph Horsfall, Esq.," duty. And Kehoe petitioned the bench of magistrates
which was responded to by Mr. T. SIMPSON. It was with that he might be released from the arduous and onorous
feelings of no ordinary degree of pleasure that he rose to duty of reporting on the applications for marine-store
discharge the duty devolved upon him ; and he only re- dealers' licences. Now, at the very time he asked to be
gretted that he had not sufficient eloquence to do it released from that duty, this Kahoe was applying to Mr.
justice. He had known Mr. Horsfall as long perhaps as Tyson, in the Town-clerk's cffice, for some remuneration
any person in that room, with the exception of one or for doing it. The Council should have Mr. Tyson's re-
two ; and, as he reviewed the many years in which he had port :it was not what he (Mr. Parker) said—it was from
enjoyed his acquaintance, he felt that he could not speak facts alone that he argued. He must say a word or two
too highly of his character. He was sure Mr. Horsfall re- about the man named Thomas Wagden. He found this
gretted his inability to be with them that evening. In man out after a good deal of trouble. He now kept an
conclusion, he had only one wish to express, and that ironmonger's shop in Scotland-road. He was a man who
was that their worthy master, Mr. William Joseph Hors- paid 20s. in the pound, a burgess of this town ; and he
fall, might very soon follow the steps of his worthy was a man of unimpeachable character, and had a right to
brother, to commemorate whose marriage they had that protection if he needed it. His father was connected with
evening assembled. (Laughter and cheers.) paper•manufacturing. For fifteen years he was in the
Mr. JOHN CALLANDER said that the name of the rag line. He never had a charge brought against him,
Horsfalls was truly a savour of sweet smell. It was a and as an individual he was as respectable as any man on
name known not only in England, but in Africa's remotest the bench of magistrates. So much for Wagden, and so
nooks. They found, indeed, that from old Calabar the much for Kehoe. The first person in this drama was his
kings, or rather the chiefs, had addressed petitions, to (Mr. Parker's) humble self. He thought, from his posi-
obtain redress for their grievances, to Mr. Horsfall; and tion as an alderman of this borough, and the compliment
surely, if his name were known in old Calabar, it would which the Council had paid him by electing him an alder-
be still better known in Liverpool. The name of Mr. T. man, he was not called upon to say anything regarding
B. Horsfall was to him like that of his revered father. He himself. That circumstance, in order that he might not
recollected when, 28 years ago, his father was in the be accused of egotism, would make him refrain from say-
habit of visiting the Vauxhall foundry ; and, though he ing one word.
only knew him by sight, still he could never forget what Mr. WOODRUFF, who had been similarly charged with
to him was a cherished memory—the old man's ever interference by Inspector Kehoe, emphatically dented
pleasant look. He (Mr. Callender) sometimes thought it having in any improper manner interfered witbthe_
in-
would be better lithe workmen were to put on that pleasant Spector. He had upon one occasion gone to sfr. Dowling
look too. Were they to do so, what a happy workshop to make an inquiry into the reaason for the refusal of a
their's would be ! (Cheers.) The toast he was about to license. If such inquiries were not to be allowed, muni..
propose was the health of Mr. T. B. Horsfall, a gentleman cipal authority became altogether a farce. (Hear, hear.)
well worthy of their heartiest thanks. He was not only a The magistrates appeared to infer that members of
the
man of public spirit, but he was a benevolent and good- Council were, by this interference, going a begging for
hearted man, as his greatest pleasure was to give happiness votes. The gentlemen who drew up the
but he trusted report might
to the working man. (Loud cheers.) It well became have been one time guilty of such conduct;
them, therefore, to invite in hearty good wishes for his that it would be repudiated by every member of the Town
welfare. (Cbeere.) Council.
Mr. KIND said he had the heart to respond to the last Mr. TouLMIN thought it his duty to rise and answer
toast properly, though his tongue might fail to support the whichimputation had been cast upon his character.
he could have
him. He felt what he feared he could not say. He re. It was impossibleused the language im-
sponded most cordially to all that had been said by Mr. puted to . him by InspectorKehoe, and
dcontradiction slide
Colluder, They all felt a PIPQM latereet in his welfare I a most unqualified to every part of Kehoe's