The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-08 00:00:00

THE KIRBDALE SESSIONS were opened on Tuesday, by
the chairman, the Yen. Archdeacon Brooks, and W. Hall,
T. B. Horsfall, Gilbert Henderson, Thomas E. Moss, Thos.
Rodick, James Lawrence, J. W. Harden, J. A. Tinne, R.
Theakstoue, David Bromilow, J. Campbell, S. H. Thomp-
son, Robert Benn, J. S. T. Greene, J.W. Unsworth, Adam
Hodgson, and Joseph B. Yates, Esqrs., Magistrates. The
various reports were, as usual, voluminous, but contained
little matter of special interest.
CHILDWALL CHURCH BELLS.—On Friday these bells,
which have been in such a dangerous condition, owing to
the dilapidated state of the frame and hangings (havine,
been up 131 years), were again made to sound several
merry peals by the society of Childwall ringers, and by a
select company from Liverpool. The old frame and hang-
ings have been taken down and new ones put up by Mr.
William Thistlewood. In, the evening the ringers were
entertained to a sumptuous dinner at that noted hotel,
Childwall Abbey ; and after several peals had been rung
on the hand bells, and the usual loyal toasts, together with
those of the " Vicar," the " Curate," and the " Church-
wardens" had been drunk, the company departed, delighted
with the day's entertainment.
THE MANSLAUGHTER IN WOOD-STREET.—On Tuesday
last, an inquest was held by the borough coroner on the
body of Joseph Royles, who met his death on the previous
Saturday night, in Wood-street, in an assault:committed
on him by a man named Evan Hughes, the chief particu-
lars of which we gave last week. Several witnesses were
examined, and among others the surgeon, who gave it as
his opinion that the death of the unfortunate man had
been caused by the injuries which he had received in the
fall, and the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter
against Evan Hughes, who was then committed to take
his trial at the next assizes.

FEMALE ORPHAN SOCIETY.—The annual examination
was held on Wednesday, under the patronage of the
Mayor:S. Holme, Esq. The children recited several pas-
sages of Scripture, being afterwards examined on them by
the Rev. W. Hesketh and Mr. Banner. Their answers
were quickly given, and were invariably appropriate. The
remaining exercises comprised the reciting of " Teach a
little child to pray," " God is in Heaven," and other
hymns, and the reading of the 15th chapter of St. John's
Gospel. The children were examined by Mr. Banner in
the chronology of the first ages. The Mayor subsequently
examined them in the multiplication tables, and in mental
calculation, in English history, and in British geography,
the result being extremely satisfactory and gratifying.

NEW PUBLIC HALL INMANCHESTER.—The committee
appointed to secure the erection of a new public hall, in
Manchester, on the site of the present Free-trade Hall,
have purchased the land from Mr. Cobden, and the scene
of so many free-trade and other vst7gatherings will shortly
be razed to the ground. The capital for the erection of
the new building has been fixed at £25,000, and has been
raised by 2,5000 shares of £lO each ; most of the sub-
scribers taking 50 shares, and so becoming proprietors to
the extent of £5OO. Faeh proprietor of £lO or more paid-
up shares will be entitled to free admission to every con-
cert, meeting, &c., which takes place in the hall. The
conditions guarantee that the hall shall be available for
public purposes to all parties.
ACTION OF THE SEA. UPON THE BATTERT.—Captain
Westmacett, of the Royal Engineers, has communicated
with the Dock Committee upon this subject. He states
that, in the corner of the dock extension, north of the
site reserved for the new fort, the sea-wall has been con-
structed so as to project abruptly in a northwesterly
direction, considerably in advance of the previously ex-
isting wall prepared for the battery. Hence, when the
wind blew from the north and northwestward, the sea,
instead of coming to the face of the battery, was directed
into the angle of the north wails, and thrown upwards
and scattered around by the wind. This could not fail
to Have an effect upon the work when completed, in caus-
ing serious inconvenience to the inntates, tending also to
the accumulation of mud and silt in the angle. In answer
to Mr. Holme, Mr. Hartley said that the Ordnance were
consulted about the wall in every respect at the time of
putting in the foundation ; and the very thing they now
pointed out, he had shown them at the time would have
those objections. It was agreed to invite Captain West-
macott to meet the sub-committee of works, in the pre-
sence of the engineer, upon the subject.
DOCK COMMITTEE.—The weekly meeting was held on
Thursday, Mr. Francis Shand, deputy-chairman, pre-
siding. Messrs. Stitt and Son's tender for supplying 100
tons of pig iron, at 82s. 6d. per ton, was accepted.—Mr.
James Todd's tender for 'the supply of brushes was ac-
cepted.—The sub-committee recommended an allowance
of £2O to several of the harbour-masters of the different
docks, in consequence of their being obliged to remove
their houses.—The 'Warehouse Management Committee
reported the death of Mr. A. Gordon, landing clerk, and
requested authority to fill -up the vacancy.—A communi-
cation was read from six master porters, who having
learned that it was the intention of the committee to put
in force a certain advance in 'the rates, existing prior to
the Ist November last, for the landing of goods passing
through the Albert Dock .and Warehouses, begged to ask-
whether it was intended to advance the rates of goods
landed in the open docks and passing through the hands
of the master porters. Mr. Robinson thought it would
be better to refer the matter to the sub-committee. After
some conversation the subject dropped, and the memorial
was understood to be referred to the sub-committee. Mr.
Bigham again called attention to the case of two mien
who had been hurt while on duty. Mr. Robinson said the
men would not be precluded from making an application
afterwards for the amount of their full wages to be
allowed them. Mr. Bigham said that would answer his
purpose, and he had no objection to withdraw the motion,
on the understanding that on their making the applica-
tion it would be granted. The subject then dropped.—
Mr. Robertson Gladstone called the attention of the com-
mittee to the state of the quay at the west side of
George's Dock. The pavement was in a -most dangerous
state The clerk said it belonged to the corporation.
Mr. Gladstone wished some pkm•could be devised whereby
the whole of the paving about the docks might be placed
under the superintendence of the borough surveyor.
Ma LIVERPOOL SIIIPWRIGHTB.—A special meeting
of the Shipbuilders' Association was held on Tuesday, with
'the object of considering the -propriety of advertising' for
"strangers." Mr. John Wilson Green took the chair.
Mr. Grayson recommended them to delay taking so im-
portant a step as that mentioned in the circular, of ad-
-vertising for strangers, until other and more conciliatory
means had been fairly tried. He proposed that the
journeymen should be called upon to increase the present
number of shipwrights from 1,700 to at all events 2,000;
and, in consideration of that, the masters should permit
all apprentices in their sixth 'year at once to be made
journeymen ; such apprentices, and also such strangers
as might be admitted, making some payment to the funds
of the Shipwrights' Association. To .carry out this he
should suggest that, on a given-day, their own secretary,
the secretary of the Shipwrights' Association, and a third
independent person, selected by loth, should go round
and ask the masters how many men each was in want of.
This would put an end to all quibbling, and prove that
'the scarcity of men was undeniable. This being done, he
-would suggest the formation of ajoing committee of the
masters raid the men, being presided over as arbitrator by
some independent shipowner, to discuss and settle the
whole question. He urged the adqption of this course,
which would redound to the interest of all, and which was
called for alike by-reason, justice, arid religion. Mr. W.
B. Jones seconded the proposal. Mr. Clayton cordially
agreed with the bulk of Mr. Graysen's remarks, but re-
• commended the adoption of the piecework system, which
was carried out advantageously in other places, particu-
larly in London. Mr. W. B. Jones cptite,approved of the
piecework system, and had advocated a'book of prices at
the last meeting. Mr. Grayson thought this was a matter
of detail -which should be left to the committee.—lt was
then decided that a circular should be sent to the masters
asking them to supply, on Saturday, a list, of the average
number=of men they had been employing-that week, and
of the number they could have employed,—the committee
who collected these accounts to attend again at that room
on Monthly, to render the information, and ;when future
steps could be taken. An application for an-advance of
ls. per day, on the part of the ship-joiners, was •discussed,
and it was resolved to raise their wages to Ss. 6d. A con-
versation then took place with regard to an allegation that
some masters were paying Bs. a day at the Sandon
Graving-dock, but without result. Mr. Pope Wished to
know what allowances were paid to apprentices'by-other
masters, for his, who were not bound, had struck. Mr.
Grayson said that his firm allowed 9d. to old, and 6d. to
young apprentices, and they paid them ls. an hour aver-
time. This appeared to meet general approval.
MURDER OF A. POLICEDIA.N.—On Tuesday last, 9.-me-
lancholy and tragic event occurred in Scotland Ward, in
which a police-constable, named Richard Sunderland, was
barbarously murdered. The unfortunate event arose.out
of the municipal election for that ward, although it had
no necessary ,connexion with the contest or its result.
The facts briefly stated are as follow :—ln the course of
the day a crowd assembled round a public-house at the
corner of Scotland-road and Edgar-street, kept by Mrs.
Shaw, in wiaich several voters connected with the ward
had assembled. This crowd, composed chiefly of riotous
and disorderly characters, became more and more un-
ruly, demanding drink, and threatening violence to the
inmates of the house; until at a little before two o'clock
it was deemed necessary to call in the aid of the police.
Several police-constables, including the deceased, went
to restore order, and disperse the crowd, which consisted
principally of ten or twelve -"roughs," among whom was
Thomas Copeland, a youth, seemingly about 19 years of
age, who was notoriously the most active and violent of
the rioters. On being ordered to disperse, they generally
obeyed, but Copeland refused, and behaved in a very
riotous manner, threatening and striking at the police. He
was seized by Constable Walsh, to whose assistance Sun-
derland, the deceased, came. The prisoner, who resisted
very much, was held by Walsh by the left collar and left
wrist, while deceased held him by the right collar only,
leaving his right hand at liberty. At the mouth of the
court, leading from the public-house, as they were bring-
ing out the prisoner, Sunderland suddenly relinquished
his bold of the prisoner, and exclaimed, "I am destroyed,"
or words to that effect, and it was perceived he was
wounded near the groin, on the inner side of the left
thigh ; the blood rushing out in great profusion. Sun-
derland was immediately conveyed to the dispensary at
Rosehill, but expired within two or three minutes after
his arrival there, and not more than seven minutes
after it was perceived be had been wounded. The prisoner
was conveyed to bridewell, and on being searched, no knife
or other weapon was found in his possession ; but, from
the position in which he was relatively to the deceased, no
room exists for doubt that the wound was inflicted by
Copeland ; indeed it is said a girl saw him take a knife
out of his pocket and stab Sunderland with it. On Wed-
nesday, an inquest was held before the borough coroner,
at which numerous witnesses were examined, the prisoner
himself in an impudent and callous manner cross-
examining several of them. After a protracted inquiry,
thejury returned a verdict of " Wilful Murder" against
Copeland, who did not appear moved by the result, but
maintained the same sullen and impudent demeanor he
had exhibited throughout the day. He was under the
coroner's warrant committed to Kirkdale gaol for trial at
the assizes. At the conclusion of the proceedings, Mr.
Superintendent Ride stated that the prisoner's relations
had been threatening to take away the life of the mother
of one of the witnesses, Ann Turner, living in Bent-
street, if she permitted her daughter to give evidence.
The coroner, after requesting the police to take the neces-
sary precautions in such a case, observed that if any
persons attempted to carry out this threat, they would
place themselves in precisely the same position as the
prisoner, inasmuch as they would become what was termed
in law accessories after the fact. Deceased was a married
, and has left a widow and three children.