The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-10-22 00:00:00

QUESTION FOR THE FREE-TRADERS IN CORN

The ticklish state of our relations with the United States has
latterly given rise to some novel speculations, which, should
we happily escape from putting them to the test of experi-
ment, will not be altogether fruitless if they take the shape
hereafter of sober reflections. For instance, if a war with
the United States should be ultimately forced upon us, the
question has been mooted against what point it should be
offensively directed, in order to bring it to a speedy and
effective issue. The southern states are confessedly the most
vulnerable, not only from their accessibility to attack, but
from their liability to disorganisation ; but, on the other
hand, there is this inconvenience to restrain us—we depend
upon them for the staple of our principal manufacture, and
we cannot inflict a blow upon the cotton-planter there which
will not be felt by the cotton-spinner here. Whenit he storm
has blown over, it will behove us to reflect upon the disad-
vantage of this dependence on a country which of late years
has seemed disposed to give us no other proofs of its con-
sanguinity than by exemplifying the adage, that there is no
hatred like that of an envious relation ; and to consider whe-
ther we have not fellow-subjects—in India for instance—
whom it would be an act of justice, as well as; policy, to en-
courage and assist in the cultivation of an article with which
we cannot dispense, and which we can only procure now from

. .
a people upon a friendly intercourse, with whom so little
reliance can be placed. But a still more serious reflection
will not fall to strike every one who is not free-trade mad.
The free traders in corn tell us that nature bids us to regard
England as the " untiring workshop," and America as the
" inexhaustible granary " of the world, and that in growing
corn, instead of manufacturing cottons, we are thwarting
Providence, and warring against destiny l And very fine
this rhapsody would sound if we were about to realise the
millenium, when all human passions shall by one consent be
sgscarded, and all national jealousies be abandoned ; but un-
fortunately wars and rumours of wars are still permitted to
vex mankind • arid if we feel our hands tied by our depen-
dence upon America for cotton, how should we feel if we
depended upon it for food?
THREATENED BREACH OF THE PEACE. CURIOUS
CASE.—At the Police-court yesterday, Mr. John Griffin
Davies, formerly an inspector of police, and now employed
as clerk, &c., at Mr. Gorst's coach-building establishment,
preferred a complaint of a threatened breach of the peace
against a Mr. Henry Cromwell. Mr. Davenport appeared
for the complainant,, and Mr. Wardle for the defendant.
Mr. Davies stated, that shortly before seven o'clock he was at
the Railway-station, before starting for Manchester, when
Islse saw tins defendant there, and having formerly known him,
e
accosted him, therely saying, "how are von ?" Upon
which defendant said, " How dare you speak to me—you
• who have ruined me, and seduced my wife in-my absence?
1 will pursue you wherever you go, and I will take your life."
He afterwards looked into the window of the railway-carriage
in which complainant had taken his seat, and also opened
the floor, but said nothing. On cross-examination the
complainant admitted that his back door and that of the
defendant were immediately contiguous; that he had known
Mrs. Cromwell for four or five months; that he had taken
her with him to the theatre ; that he had also taken her to
Mrs. Stebbing's, the Amphitheatre Tavern, and to the Stork
Hotel; that he had given her money to go to Manchester
with, and made an arrangeMent to see her there. When he
went to Manchester he was on his way to Wigan and Ard-
sviek. He gave her 108., as she stated she must go to Man-
phester ur Chester. He lent her the money. He did not know
that her mother had turned her out in consequence of her ac-
quaintance with him. He peremptorily denied that she was
kept by him. To a luestion by Mr. Rushton, the complaisant
said he was a married man ; but his wife was not with him
when he went to the theatre with Mrs. Cromwell. He then
expressed a wish to explain the circumstances of his being
acquainted with and accompanyinz Mrs. Cromwell. He had
beep introduced to her in a company at the house of a friend
and having a ticket for the concert, which would admit him-
of 4.nd two or three friends, he had invited her to go, whicl
she agreed to. I-4 cNnected his wife to go, bpt she did not
come. They arrived before the performance commenced, and
he took Mrs. C. to Mrs. Stebbings, where they went up stairs
to look at the pictures. He did not see her again till she asked
• him to lend her the money.—Mr. Rushton here said that he
and his colleague would not enter into a case of eriin con :
they had only to do with the breach of the peace, Mrs.
Davies was then examined—She said Mr. Cromwell called at
their house, and inquired for Mr. Davies. She replied that
she believed he had gone to Manchester. The defendant
said, " I believe be has gone with my wife, and I will blow
his brains out." On cross-examination, she said she knew
that her husband and Mrs. Cromwell had been together at
theatre and that Mrs. Cromwell had apologized to her
for goin with him, she (witness) ,not being present,. as they
e
expected she would be. Mr. ars) d' said that the facts
were that his client had gone to London, and the complainant
took advantage of his (Mr. Cromwell s) wife in hiswr absence.rhrever
What his client had stated at the railway was,
you go I will follow you, and will punish you if. I find
you in any guilty act." He (Mr. W.) had also a letter
in his possession, showing that the sum the complain-
ant gave to Mrs. Cromwell was 255, not, as stated,
lOs. The provocation given to his client was such as could
not be borne by any married than of proper feeling. Mr.
ggslito said they were not to presume that a guilty
gonneetion lied taken place on the evidenpe given. Mr.
Cromwell then requested permission to speak, and it was
given him with an injunction to eonfine- himself to the
alleged threat, Mr. Cromwell said he had received infors.-
oration that Davies was going off to meet his (defendant')
wife by appointment, and when he saw him at the railway
• had been stated by his attorney. He had since AP plied
station, and was accosted by him, he replied as
to the coniplainant's master, and had learned from him
that he
_(eomplainant) had no business to transact in.,l)4anciles'
ter, and that he had gone off without paying the men's wages,
he taking the money with him.. In conclusion, he said,
" I am an injured man, and the guilty wretch who stands
there is the aggressor. I would not, however, offer him per-
sonal violence. I would, if 1 saw him in the street, cross
over, and avoid him as I would a mad dog." Mr. Rushton
the statement of the defendant to
said, that even supposing
• be true, Ile must look for redress in another court for the
alleged injury. What that court could take cognisance of
. was the threat only-; and as that was sworn to, he must find
'hail, himself in £5O, and two sureties in £25 each, to keep
the peace for twelve months, particularly to John Griffin
Davies. The bail required .was soon afterwards found, and
the prisoner was discharged.

itoßl3lit'il EXTRAORDINARY.,
ks GA GING A TAAVELLIVG COMPANION TO GO TO tahRICA

At the Police-court yesterday, a man with bushy Tight hair,
wearing a crab-coloured macfntosh coat, buttoned up, was
placed at the bar, charged with robbing a genteel-looking
young man, who had just arrived from America, of a con-
siderable sum of money, under circumstances of so novel a
nature and showing so much cunning effrontory on his part,
and so much simplicity on that of his dupe, that we furnish
the evidence of the principal witness nearly as it was given :
The complainant, Philip M'Evoy said,—l am a joiner, and
came to Liverpool yesterday, by the steamer Caledonia, from
America. We landed at the Coburg Dock about ten o'clock
yesterday ; I was on the quay, when a young man came and
asked me if I would accommodate him with an American
newspaper. I went on board the vessel, and procured one.
I went on shore with it and found the man. I said I had not
the pleasure of knowing his name. He said it was " Smith."
I then gave him the newspaper. Smith then invited me to
the Coburg Hotel (which is close to the dock), and called for
a glass of ale and a glass of wine. I drank the ale, and
Smith the wine. As we were drinking our glasses, the prisoner,
Michael Donnelly, and another roan, came into the same
room. It was the first time I had seen them. Smith and I
were talking about the newspaper. The prisoner said " I
should like to travel in America. I have lately had a property
of £9OOO left me in Liverpool, arid I will give you £lOO if
you will travel with me as a companion for twelve months."
I consented. Smith said, I will go bail with him for £5O,
though I have not seen him before. The prisoner then said
" Have you any money, to show that you are respectable ?"
I then produced six sovereigns and a half sovereign, and
laid them on the table. The prisoner said, "Is that all
you can show ?" I said, "No ; if you will remain at the
door of the hotel, I will go on board and get more money, if
that will make a person respectable." The prisoner agreed,
and I went on board the vessel, and got twenty sovereigns,
four guineas, and four half-sovereigns. I went on shore and
found Smith and the prisoner at the door. They agreed to
take a lunch. They whispered together, but I did not know
what they said. They then said, " Let us take a walk and
have lunch." I said, " Very well, as I have not taken
breakfast." Smith said, " Have you got it?" I said, " I
have, but I am not going to show it in the-street." He said,
" Let us walk on," and we went to the Union Hotel. in
Clayton-square. Smith ordered beef steaks for three. The
prisoner ordered some gin and bitters to increase the appe-
tite, which was brought and drunk. Smith called for pen,
ink, and paper, and said, " I will prepare a bond between
you for the due payment of £lOO, as your salary from Don-
nelly." It was afterwards agreed to put it off till after lunch.
We took lunch. Smith then proposed that we should go
with him to a friend of his, an attorney, to draw out the
md. I saw the prisoner pay for the lunch. He said, " I
shall be greatly offended if any one else offers to pay for it."
'Smith and I were about to put our bats on. Donnelly said,
" You are not going that way." Smith then produced his
purse and said, " Have you any doubts ?" and counted out
what he called thirty-five or thirty-six sovereigns, and placed
them on the table. When I saw that I took out my purse,
and counted my sovereigns, guineas, and half-sovereigns,
and laid them on the table. Donnelly took them and
put them into my purse, and placed it near him. and
said, " Now I am satisfied that you will come back." Smith
and I then left the house to go to the attorney's. When
we got about 100 yards from the hotel, Smith said, " Stop
here, until I see whether the attorney is in ; I think he will
be at dinner." I remained there about ten minutes. Smith
did not return. 1 went to the hotel. The prisoner was

gone. I made inquiry, and learned that he had left in two
or three minutes after us. I afterwards saw the landlord,
who informed me that I had been duped, and advised me to
go to the police, and I was taken to High-street. I was di-
rected to the railway: I went, and there saw constable
M`Whan. (No. 70) who stationed me in the yard, when I
would have a view of the offices. I waited about an hour,
and then saw the prisoner comino, out of the Manchester
booking-office. I went up to him and said, " Is that you ?"
He said " holloa! come this way, I want to speak to you."
I held him by the collar, and McWhan came and took him
into an office. McWhan searched him, and found on him
my purse, four guineas, 15 sovereigns, two half-sovereigns,
twelve shillings, 91d. in copper money, and a silver watch. I
went to Bridewell. The prisoner there said in a whisper—
" I have your money—don't condemn me." I left. the six
sovereigns and the half sovereign on the table at the Coburg
Hotel, while I went on board for my other money. It was
all taken.

Constable McWhan stated, that about half-past four on
Wednesday afternoon, Mr. McEvoy informed him of the
robbery ; that he placed him as stated in the yard of the
railway station ; and that on seeing McEvoy collar the pri-
soner, he went up, pushed him into au office, and found the
money and purse. He also found in the purse a£s flash
note, four dice, and a ticket of his as having paid his fare to
Manchester. The property was produced, and Mr. McEvoy
identified the purse, and said he believed the sovereigns it
contained, &c., including the four guineas, were his.
The prisoner put some questions to the complainant, who
said the guineas and the purse were his. The prisoner said
he had had the purse a long time, and requested the magis-
trate to look at the coin called guineas in the purse, and it
would be found that they were merely silver shillings which
he had got gilt for counters in playing a game at whist, by a
man named Corless, a publican and watch-gilder, in Church-
alley, near St. Peter's Church.

The coin (representing guineas) was accordingly looked at.
and were found to be in reality only silver shillings gilt. The
complainant said, that if they were not guineas, he had taken
them for such. He had changed some American money be-
fore he embarked. He referred to respectable parties who
could give him a good character. These facts were not taken
in evidence, and, as it appeared clear that the gilt shillings
bad been substituted for the guineas in the purse, the pri-
soner was ordered for trial at the sessions. On being finally
asked what he had to say, he said " Nothing," and refused
to sign the depositions.
The patties were then bound over, and the prisoner re-
moved from the bar.