The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-04-09 00:00:00

LOCAL NEWS

" Nathaniel Alexander, Esq., a near relative of Lord
O'Neill, a gentleman of high conservative principles, will, or
we are greatly mistaken, offer himself for the representation
of Antrim. Rumour mentiOns John M'Neile, Esq., the Belfast
banker, as likely to start ; but the rumour has not reached
us upon authority, and we therefore give it as we have it."—
Evening Packet.—[The latter gentleman is a brother of the
Rev. Hugh M'Neile, and would make a most excellent re-
presentative ; but there does not appear any probability of
his coming forward. There are already two conservative
candidates in the field.]

PRAISEWORTHY INTREPIDITY IN SAVING HUMAN LIFE•
—On Monday night last, about ten o'clock, a woman fell
overboard from a steamer going out of the Clarence Dock.
Captain Cleland, of the American mail steam ship Britan-
nia, being, by chance, on the quay at the time, and hearing
the screams, gallantly jumped into the water, fully dressed as
he was, and kept her afloat until he made a rope fast round
her, by which she was hauled on board the steamer again.
This is not less than the sixth individual whom the gallant
captain has saved from drowning, but he had very nearly sa-
crificed his own life in this last successful effort, having him-
self got entangled with a rope.
THE LATE OUTRAGE IN LIVERPOOL ROAD, MANCHES-
TER.—Frances Bostock, the unfortunate woman whose throat
was cut on the Bth ult. in Liverpool Road, by Wm. How-
son, with whom she was living as his wife, died in the In-
firmary on Monday last. Hampson, who was taken at the
time, is in custody; having, since the occurrence, been from
time to time remanded. _ _

POPISH COLLEGE OF MAYNooTn.—We understand that
the petition from Manchester, praying for an inquiry into
the system of education at this college, and a speedy with-
drawal of every kind of public support from that establish-
ment, was forwarded on Monday evening, for presentation
by J. C. Colquhoun, Esq., and contained 26,677 signatures,
being 5607 over that of last year, and 12,641 over that of
1839.

THEATRE-ROYAL.—Miss Delcy, of whom fame, trumpet-
tongued. speaks most loudly, will appear on Monday next,
at the Theatre-Royal. We had selected several notices from
the London papers, as well as our contemporaries in Man-
chester, to show what high estimation the lady is held in ;
but, so occupied have been our columns, that we have been
obliged to omit their publication. One and all highly com-
mend, nay extol her ; and from private sources—froth those
who are well qualified to express an opinion as musical men
and amateurs—we have been assured that no singer of equal
merit, talent, or indeed we may say genius, has appeared
since the debut of Mrs. Wood, Malibran, or any other can-
tatrice who has taken the town by sturm, and fascinated all,
from the sage to the silly, from the peer to the peasant. We
fully anticipate that a cordial welcome will be given to Miss
Delcy in the Theatre-Royal, as, let it be borne in mind,
Liverpool has the honour of claiming her as one of its fair
daughters, Miss Delcy having been born in our " ain town."
Miss Delcy is the rising star upon our musical horizon, and
let her be worshipped accordingly. As it is not likely that
the manager can plan-it that such a star can corn-it very
often to Liverpool, we ought to hail her appearance with
delight and satisfaction. Mr. R. Lacy, it will be perceived,
accompanies his daughter. Mr. Templeton will also appear,
beside the cast being strengthened by other aids. The mu-
sical folks have a great treat in reserve for them.

THE WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.—The twenty-
fourth annual meeting of the Liverpool Auxiliary to the
Wesleyan Missionary Society was held on Tuesday and
Wednesday evenings last : Richard Matthews, Esq., of
London, occupied the chair on the former evening ; and at
the adjourned meeting the post was ably filled by Thomas
Sands, Esq. The audiences were addressed by the Revs.
G. B. M`Donald, Seppington, Barton, Dixon, and others
belonging to the Methodist body, and by the Revs. Fielding
Ould and Dr. Byrth. The meetings were conducted through-
out in a manner highly gratifying to every lover of Chris-
tianity, and every friend to the dissemination of the gospel
amongst the benighted heathen. The following is a list of
the collections :

At Brunswick Chapel meeting, on Tuesday .... £l2O 10 6
At Pitt-street Chapel meeting, on Wednesday.. 147 2 3
At Brunswick Chapel sermon, on Sunday...... 49 8 0
At Great Homer-street ditto 16 3 10
At Pitt-street ditto 20 4 3
At Mount-pleasant ditto 21 10 7
At Stanhope-street ditto 26 2 10
At Pitt-street Monday 20 17 5

£421 19 8

- -
THE MURDER AT PEovEn.—We understand that, not-
withstanding the condemnation of Murray, and in defiance
of the exertions of his spiritual advisers, the convict still
persists in asserting his innocence of the murder.
SMUGGLING TOBACCO.—CAUTION. Henry Kennedy,
mate of the Sunflower, from Newfoundland, was on Monday
brought before Hugh Hornby, Esq., at the Police-court, on
a charge of bringing on shore, amongst some wearing appa-
rel, 731 b of negro-head tobacco. The case was proved, and
the prisoner was remanded until Thursday, in order that the
orders:of the board may be obtained respecting his case.
• -•

---
The public are aware, that the late Mr. Standish, of Dux-
bury-hall, bequeathed his valuable collection of paintings, to-
gether with his library, to the King of the French. Last
week, we understand, Baron Taylor arrived at Duxbury, to
take possession on the part of his Majesty, of this handsome
that he has acted in a truly generous and
In compliance with the deceased's will,
legacy; and we are happy to have to state, to the credit of
to accept the property so left him ; he
iLI
eo princelycu
could
Loins
dP
mhui
npt
opreee
f s
r%
has, however, signified his intention to replace all the princi-
pal pictures with others of equal value; and for this purpose
the frames have been left .behind, and filled with green baize,
in order to avoid, in the meantime, giving the walls an un-
sightly appearance. The apartments which contain the
choicest paintings are the drawing-room, dining-room, hall,
vestibule, and billiard-room : and it is to these that the ar-
rangement we have mentioned is intendedtp apply. Amongst
the pictures is a fine Ecce Homo, by IVlurillo, valued, we
believe, by the late proprietor, at £BOO. The presen,t Mrs.
production, the baron gallantly
Standish having. 'F in the presence of Baron Ttly..
master the honour of ae-
bloerg,gseodmtehaptasrht iealwi toyuflodr
dtoh
is
royal
cepting it. With respect to the library, his majesty means to
act with the same liberality. He declines taking any of the
French works, and he will supply the places of the others.
Mr. Standish, we have been informed, valued his paintings
at 232,000, and his books at £14,000.

SOUTH LANCASHIRE SPRING ASSIZES

CROWN COURT.

-TUESDAY

CONCLUSION OF THE TRIAL FOR MURDER AT ASHTON

Mr. Justice Maule took his seat exactly at nine o'clock ;
the names of the jury were immediately called over in the
Ashton murder case, adjourned from yesterday.
Mr. WILKINs then proceeded to address the jury. The
learned counsel delivered a powerful address which occupied
two hours and a half. He pointed out a number of discre-
pancies in the evidence of the apprOvers, and contended that
Davies was the man who had committed the crime, and that
he had accused the prisoners in order to save himself.
The learned JUDGE commenced his charge to the jury at
a quarter to twelve o'clock, and-continued with the greatest
minuteness and perspicuity to notice every point in .the evi-
dence, which occupied his lordship until half-past three ;
when the' jury, after a few inortientsl consultation, returned
a verdict of NOT GUILTY.

CHARGE OF RAPE AGAINST A SURGEON

Robert Hector, surgeon, was then indicted for a rape upon
the person of Ann Thistleton, on Sunday, the 28th of March.
Mr. Murphy was for the prosecution, and Mr. Wilkins
for the defence.

The evidence was totally unfit for publication. The jury
found the prisoner guilty.
The court adjourned at eight o'clock.

NISI PRIUS COURT.—TUESDAY.
JONES AND ANOTHER, ASSIGNEES, V. BEEN.
This was a Special Jury case, brought by the assignees of
Benjamin Wolf Frankland, a bankrupt, to recover from the
defendant, Mr. Keen, auctioneer, of this town, possession of
a life policy of Insurance for 1'999, which it was alleged had
been fraudulently obtained.

Mr. Cresswell, Mr. "Watson and Mr. Henderson, ap-
peared for the plaintiffs, and Mr:Alexander, and Mr. Cromp-
ton, for the defence. _ -

It appeared that the policy in question was effected by a
gentleman named Gaorge Laing, who lodged in Anson-street,
in this town. It was a policy on his life for the sum of £999,
for which a quarterly premium of £2l 10s. had to be paid.
This policy was on the 30th December, 1837, disposed of for
£45 to Mr. Benjamin Wolf Frankland, when an assignment
of it was made to him. In the year 1839, in the month of
June, a fiat of bankruptcy was issued against Mr. Frank-
land, when, the plaintiffs in this case, Mr. Jones and Mr.
Bardswell, were chosen assignees, and Messrs. Holden and
Clarke, solicitors, into whose possession came the policy, as-
signment, and other documents connected therewith. Mr.
John Longworth Clarke, one of the attorneys to the as-
signees, and of the firm of Holden and Clarke, caused the
policy to be advertised for sale twice, and paid the premium
upon it to Mr. Okill, of the firm of Okill and Cooke, share-
brokers and agents-to the Britannia Life Insurance Company.
A dividend was to be paid in the month of October, 1810,
and as the quarterly premium on the policy had to be paid,
the assignees were anxious to dispose of it. It was twice put
up to auction, by Mr. Benson : in the first occasion there was
no bidding, and on the second occasion there was but one.
bidder,. Mr. Laing, the insurer, himself, who offered only £5.
The policy was offered to the Britannia office, who refused to
have anything to do with it, on the ground that they never
took policies of less than six years' standing. On the 18th
of June, 1840, Mr. William Morris, clerk to Messrs. Holden
and Clarke, offered the policy for sale to Messrs. Okill and
Cooke, who said they would have nothing to do with it, as
Mr. Laiag's was a very good life. It was alleged, but did not
appear in evidence, that about this time or shortly afterwards,
Mr. Keen, the defendant, was making some inquiries as to
whether there were any life policies of insurance for sale in
the market. Mr. Laing was at this time 67 years old On the
17th and 18th August, Messrs. Okill and Cooke had called
upon Messrs. Holden and Clarke, and after inquiring if the
policy were still in the market, Mr. Keen was introduced as
a probable purchaser. Mr. Cooke (or Mr. Okill) was asked
what he thought it was worth. rThe reply was, " about three
quarters' purchase;' certainly not more." Mr. Clarke ob-
served that he thought not, as only £5 had been offered for it
by auction. Nothing was said at this time on the subject of
Mr. Laing's health, and it appeared generally that he had
been always considered a hale strong man. The sum above-
mentioned was offered for the policy, the terms were accepted,
and £63 were paid for it. The policy and the assignment to
Frankland were delivered up to Mr. Keen, on the payment of
the money. Mr. Cooke said he could probably prepare the
transfer himself; but the next morning he returned with the
assignment, and gave it to Mr. Holden, requesting that he
would prepare a transfer. Two days before, Mr. Cooke
railed upon him first to inquire about the policy. Mr.
Holden had seen Mr. Laing in the street, in perfect health,
watching two boys fighting, at which he was laughing very
heartily. Meanwhile, according to the proof offered, about
four o'clock in the afternoon of the 15th. of August, Mr.
Laing had called at the office of Messrs. Okill and Cooke,
when he was seized with a sudden illness, in the course of
which he vomited a good deal. Mr. Hector, surgeon, who
was intimate with Laing, and with Okill and Cooke, happened
to call in, and he administered some relief to Laing, who
walked home. According to the evidence of Mrs. Roberts,
with whom he lodged, he was very ill when he arrived at
home, but he nevertheless ate a good ainner, consisting of lob-
ster, mutton chops, potatoes, and a pint of ale. In the after-
noon he went to see his brother. When he returned home he
said he had taken a glass of gin and water with his brother,
and was much better. Next morning, however, he vomited
blood. Mr. Hector was sent for, and afterwards Dr. Baird
attended him. Mr. Laing gradually sunk till Wednesday,
when he died. Between the time when Mr. Laing took ill,
on the 15th August, to the time of his death, it was proved
that Mr. Hector had frequently called at Messrs. Okill and
Cooke's office, which it seems be was continually in the habit
of doing. On Thursday, the 20th of August, Mr. Keen
called upon Messrs. Holden and Clarke, who had meanwhile
heard of Mr. Laing's death. Mr. Keen did not say anything
about Mr. Laing's illness or death, he having called for the
assignment or transfer. Mr. Clarke told Mr. Keen that
Laing was ill at the time when the purchase was made, and
that Mr. Bardswell had told him that be had been offered
£2OO for the policy. Mr. Keen denied any knowledge of the
matter. Messrs. Holden and Clark refused to deliver up the
assignment, &c., and Mr. Keen said he would compel them
to fulfil their contract. Mr. Clarke told him that if it turned
out that he had the slightest knowledge of Laing's illness and
death, he should not have it. Mr. Bardswell an Mr. Morris
subsequently made'a tender of the purchase-money and in-
terest to the defendant, and demanded the policy. He re-
fused, saying he would have nothing to do with it. Mr.
Peter Morris, a director of the Britannia-office, was called,
and he stated that there was no objection on the part of the
' office to pay the amount of the' policy to the person who
showed the title.

The examinations of Messrs. Keen, Okill, and Cooke,
touching this affair, before the commissioners under the fiat
were put in. It appeared that Mr. Keen then said, that he
knew that the policy was for sale a few weeks before, and
that Messrs. Holden and Clark wanted £4O for it.
Mr. ALEXANDER spoke at some length in defence, con-
tending that this was a fair and business-like transaction on
the part of Mr. Keen, and that he had no knowledge of the
illness of Mr. Laing, which in point of fact was not expected
to terminate fatally. The learned gentleman did not call any
witnesses. _ _

His LORDSHIP charged the jury strongly in favour of the
Plaintiff, observing pointedly on the fact of Mr. Keen hav-
ing admitted that he knew of the policy being in the market
a few weeks before, when Messrs. Holden were willing to take
£4O for it, though he put off till the 18th August, when he
went at once and offered £63 for it. Several other points
in the examinations the learned judge animadverted upon,
quoting from Sir Walter Scott's Marmion two lines,
0 what a tangled web we weave,

When first we practise to deceive,
His lordship remarked upon the fact of the defendant having
declined to call witnesses, though he might have placed
Measrs. Okill and Cooke in the box to shew that he had no
knowledge of the illness of Mr. Laing, had such been the
fact. The damages were laid at £2,000. His lordship re-
commended the jury, if they concurred in his views, to re-
turn a verdict for damages to that amount, subject to be
reduced to one shilling on the delivery of the document.
The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, for the da-
mages claimed, with the stipulation suggested by his lord-
ship. ,