The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-11-10 00:00:00

APPOINTMENT OF THE WATCH COMMITTEE

Mr. THORNHILL read over the list of the whole committee
and of twenty-five'names which he intended to propose.
Mr. CASE hoped that the Council would allow him to
withdraw his name, that his health was so indifferent that he
could not attend.

Mr. SMITH proposed that
substituted instead of Mr. Case's.
Mr. H. LAWRENCE hoped that would be withdrawn, as
he should propose a gentleman who was supposed to be ob-
noxious, and let him take his fair chance. On the first
name being proposed, he should move an amendment, that
Mr. Isaac Holmes be substituted.
Mr. THORNHILL read the name of Sir Joshua Walmsley.
Mr. H. LAWRENCE said, Sir Joshua would understand
his motives for moving the amendment.
Mr.
BIRKErr seconded the amendment.

Alt.. Rigby's name should be

Mr. H. HORNBY said, the whole difficulty might be got
rid of if Mr. Holmes's name was substituted for Mr. Case.
Mr. H. LAWRENCE intimated that that would satisfy
him, and that he would make the proposition on Mr. Cases
name being read.

Mr. THORNHILL then read twenty-four of the names, and
was about to read the twenty-fifth and last, when
Mr. H. LAWRENCE protested that faith had not been
kept with him.

Mr. THORNHILL.—There are 24 names now, and I move
that Mr. Kilshaw be the 25th. (Uproar.)
Mr. GEORGE HOLT stated that Mr. Lawrence had an-
nounced that when Mr. Cases's name was called he should
propose that of Mr. Isaac Holmes.

Mr. LAWRENCE strongly complained of the breach of
faith towards him.

The MARO said his understanding of the matter certainly
was the same as Mr. Holt's.

Mr. COOPER spoke to the same effect, and Mr. THORNHILL
said he had omitted Mr. Case's name because the council had
excused him from serving.
Mr. SMITH and Mr. H. LAWRENCE sheer
position was groundless. (Great confusion

.d that this sup-

- Mr. 11 vex HORNBY said it was most desirable, as they
were sent there to perform the public business next year,
they should discharge it harmoniously. It must not be for-
gotten that the conservatives now formed a large portion of
the council, and it was quite absurd to expect to keep them
from their fair share of business. (Hear, hear.) Such was
not his intention, and he believed it was not the intention of
those with whom be acted. He was anxious that they should
have their share of duty. They had been sent there by their
constituents, and whatever might be the opinions of those
constituents the council were bound to respect them. (Hear)
With regard to the appointment of Mr. Isaac Holmes, which
appeared to be the love of contention, that gentleman had
been moved by Mr. Lawrence and seconded by Mr. Sands ;
and he (Mr. Hornby) put it to those with whom he acted
whether it would not be wise to consent to the proposal.
(Hear, hear.)

Mr. EARLE declared that he would not act in committee
with Mr. Isaac Holmes. He was not bound to state his
reasons there, but he would state them elsewhere if called
upon. (Great uproar.)
Much discussion followed of a very uproarious character,
in the midst of which, Mr. Rigby was proposed and se-
conded by Mr. BRIGHT and another, as the 25th member of
the committee. The MAYOR having decided that that mo-
tion must be put, an amendment was moved to the effect
that Mr. Rigby be allowed to retire, he having expressed a
wish for that purpose. The votes were taken on this question.
For Mr. Rigby's retirement, 43 ; against it, 15 ; majority, 28.
This being considered decisive of the main point, no further
opposition was offered to the appointment of Mr. Isaac
Holmes. The following is now the constitution of the Watch
Committee

Sir Joshua Walmsley, W. Earle, Jos. Cociper, Jas.
Mellor, Richard Harbord, J. Woolwright, C. Bushell,
R. V. Yates, Thos. Robinson, Geo. Quayle, Thos. Morecroft,
Jas. Lawrence, Wm. Slater, Thos. Coglan, Jas. Proctor,
Wm. Thornhill, Francis Jordan, G. H. Lawrence, Daniel
Mather, John Smith, Richard Bright, W. P. Freme, W.
Birkett, D. Hodgson, Isaac Holmes.

APPOINTMENT OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
Mr. H. HOENBY, in moving the appointment of thiscom-
mittee, regretted, independently of party considerations,
that the public had been deprived of the services of two of
its most able members, Mr. Blackburn aad Mr. Rathbone.
He was desirous that the committee, as well as others,
should have a fair number of conservatives upon it, because,
as they said they should have a majority in the council in the
course of another year, they ought to have an opportunity of
seeing the practical working of the system of education,
adopted in the schools. There was now no doubt or ques-
tion that it was the duty and the interest of all classes that
the children of the poor should have education, a moral and
religious education also; and he wished that the system now
followed in the corporation schools should be understood
practically as well as theoretically, by those gentlemen. On
this ground he ventured to propose the names of the com-
mittee, amongst which would be found some conservatives.
Mr. Hornby then read the following list :—H. Hornby, W.
Earle, C. H. Jones, R. Roskell, R. Sheil, T. Bulley, T. B.
Barclay, J. Priestley, R. V. Yates, W. M`Kee, Sir Joshua
Walmsley, G. H. Lawrence, T. Case, H. R. Sandbach, and
T. Sands.

Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE regretted that he should not have
had some notice of the intention to propose him as a mem-
ber. He disliked shrinking from the duties of any com-
mittee ; but this proposition to put him upon the Education
Committee placed him in a very serious and difficult posi-
tion. It was not from any apprehension of the toil that he
shrunk from serving, but because he had a conscientious ob-
jection to being a party to the system of education pursued
in the schools. So long as the Irish extracts were to go as
a substitute, or as a kind of compromise for the Bible, he
never could sanction it ; and if he should agree to serve, he
must be considered as not sanctioning or patronising the
system. If the Council would let it be understood that he
was as strongly opposed as ever to the system, as far as he
could understand it, he had no objection to join the com-
mittee ; but it must be on those terms, and those alone, that
he could consent to attend its meetings.
The MAYOR said there was no test here to administer.
Mr. H. HORNDY said, of course Mr. Lawrence would not
be considered as pledged to the system of instruction.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said there were grounds for his
objection, as this was something more than a mere difference
of opinion, it amounted to conscientious objection.
Mr. H. Hoß,Nny did not mean that Mr. Lawrence should
give in his adhesion to the system, but that he might have an
opportunity of seeing the workings of it.
Mr. HODGSON was particularly glad to hear the exposition
of Mr Lawrence, and he hoped that those gentlemen who were
put on the committee in opposition to the principles they had
espoused, would not consent to act without a similar express
declaration of their sentiments, so that no mistake might go
forth, or any impression, that they were sanctioning an un-
godly and an unchristian mode of education.
Mr. EARLE rose to order, and complained of the terms
" ungodly" and " unchristian."
Mr. HODGSON contended that he was in order, but he
would pay honour to the chair.

The M-AVMR confessed that the terms " unchristian" and
" ungodly" were unauthorised and improperly used, and he
trusted they would be withdrawn.
Mr. HonGsoN was ready to pay every deference to the
chairman, but there was a higher chairman whose will he
would obey, whether it pleased or displeased any man living.
He conceived it quite impossible for any gentleman to go
into those schools, professing the Christian religion in its
purity, and uphold a system directly opposed to it. He was
convinced that, whatever was the mode of conducting them,
the principle was wrong.
Mr. EAItLE said that was paying a very high compliment
to the corporation.
Mr. HoncsoN continued. He trusted that it would not
be very long—God send that it might be soon—when the
corporation would be in the hands of the conservatives, and
the schools conducted according to the system of the Pro-
testant establishment. There was nothing whatever taught
in those schools which could compensate for the want of sound
religious instruction, which ought to be the basis of all other
instruction.

Mr. EARLE defended the education committee, and said
that he had a lad in his service, who had been educated in
the corporation schools, and did honour to the instructions
he had there received, and which Mr. Hodgson might do
well to copy. He said, that although the schools had been
denounced from the pulpit of the church to which he be-
longed, the parties who so denounced them had never ex-
amined them.

Mr. H. HORNBY regretted the turn the discussion had
taken, but said that no member could charge him with hav-
ing commenced it. He then read the names of the proposed
committee over again, when

Mr. CASE said he had peculiar motives for objecting to
serve on that committee. He did not object to the educa-
tion of all classes, or to the corporation dispensing a portion
of its income fur that purpose ; but he objected to the educa-
tion of all classes together, because that was virtually the
exclusion of one certain party.
Mr. H. HORNBY said the question now was, not the merits
of the system, but the appointment of the committee.
Mr. CASE insisted on assigning his reasons for declining
to serve. He objected to the present system, because it was
unwise to educate all sects together, inasmuch as, by so
doing, you virtually excluded the ministers of the Established
Church, and many members of the establishment too, and he
believed that many parents would not send their children to
be, educated there for that reason.

Mr. EVANS said that, until education had become a party
question, the children were taught by scripture extracts with-
out notice, and that the facts which Mr. Case alleged for not
being on the committee were no facts at all, for the clergy of
the Church of England were not prevented from going to the
schools.

Mr. BIRKETT said that the rectors and the clergy ob-
jected to the schools, because the daily instruction did not
commence with prayer, and because there was the; ein taught
what one man believed to be idolatry and another blasphemy.
He did not wish to use any language which was too strong ;
but in his opinion, the system was little better than heathen-
ism. How, therefore, could any clergyman sanction such a
system ?

Mr. BUSHELL thought that this discussion was scarcely
warranted, as they were met for a special purpose named in
the paper.

The• MAYOR said that the merits of the schools were
hardly in question ; but he thought that some latitude might
be allowed, as the question related to their management.
Did the Council think the reasons stated by Mr. Case, for
wishing not to be on the committee, satisfactory?
Mr. CURRIE : Certainly not, for the reasons he (Mr. Case)
had given ; but he hoped he would reconsider the matter.
Mr. CASE said he was in the hands of the Council, and if
they would accept him with the reservation of opinion which
he had made, he would be willing to act.
Mr. SANDS said, that he was, on this occasion, placed in
somewhat singular circumstances. He was either in a situa-
tion to thank the committee for having done him the honour
of placing him upon it, or, he had a perfect right to quarrel
with them for having omitted his name on a former occasion.
Not that he felt it as far as he was personally concerned ; but,
because he felt, at the time, that it was an insult to the con-
stituency which he represented—one of the most intelligent,
respectable, and wealthy in the town—not to allow them to
have a fair representation upon the committees. He hoped,
however, that all this sort of conduct was at an end now;
and he further hoped, that his constituents would resent the
insult, as they had upon a late occasion, whenever they had
an opportunity.

After some further remarks the committee was constituted
according to the list read by Mr. Hornby.

APPOINTMENT OF MARKETS COMMITTEE.
Mr. H. HOLMES moved the appointment of this com-
mittee, whereon Mr. H. LAWRENCE said he should propose
an amendment to each name, because faith had not been
kept with him on a former occasion.
Several amendments were then prOposed, and much con-
fusion took place, in consequence of the efforts of the liberals
to exclude the conservatives; but eventually the committee
was constituted :—H. Holmes, W. Thornkill, E. Evans, F.
Jordan, W. M'Kee, J. Smith, and J. Kilsbaw.
Mr. AIKIN rose, amidst loud cries of " adjourn," and
required Mr. Bushell to state openly and fairly the grounds
upon which he had founded his charges against some of the
magistrates. (Great uproar.)
The MAYOR said, that however objectionable the words
might be, the time for taking them had gone past.
Mr. AIKIN attempted to renew the subject ; but the
Mayor declined hearing him.
Mr. SMITH then moved an adjournment till this morning,
at eleven o'clock.
Mr. HODGSON seconded the motion.
A scence of confusion ensued, which it would be difficult
to describe. One party cried out " Adjourn," whilst the
other shouted as loudly, if not louder, " No, no ;" both con-
fident in their numbers united in calling for the votes to be
taken. They were at length gratified when the numbers
were found to be—

For the adjournment, 28 ; Against it, 21. Majority, 7
The council therefore adjourned till this morning.

d' ..d.

CAPTURE OF A GANG OF HOUSEBREAKERS,
AND VIOLENT ASSAULT ON THE POLICE-
OFFICERS.

A company of thieves, who, as appears evident by the
quantity of plunder in their possession, have committed de-
predations to a considerable extent, were, on Friday last,
captured by the police-officers of this town, at a house in
Laurel-street. The case was partially investigated on Satur-
day, before Mr. Rushton. Sufficient evidence was produced
to show with certainty that the prisoners have been con-
cerned in one recent robbery, and that two of the police-officers
who went to apprehend them, had received very serious in-
juries in the course of the resistance which was made to them.
As these two officers are at present in the Infirmary, the sur-
geon of which has certified that they are in <Treat danger, no
evidence has been produced to show clearly by' what hand the
injuries were inflicted. Under these circumstanees, the pri-
soners stand remanded for a fortnight.
- The prisoners have given their names as Henry Stephen-
son, John Francis, Henry Mitchell, and Louisa Mitchell.
Stephenson is a middle-aged, broad-set, and rather respect-
able-looking man. His real name is Evans, and he has long
been known in Liverpool, as a locksmith and brazier, in which
line of business he once kept a shop in London-road, in this
town. The police have had their regards upon him for up-
wards of ten years, many circumstances havingexcited strong
'^ions that he was connected witt, fiiipyes. He has been

more than once in custody for havin
possession; but as he alleged that his

rendered it necessary that he should have
and as nothing decisive could be broueht
• . .

hitherto escaped everythin

firmly believed, that lie had fur

housebreaking implemt
and elsewhere, and tl

lcock, who was t

a young man, of

lecent appeara

o keys and othe
th
.in Liverpoc
with zanzs in

dressed in his best apparel. J He is son-
in-law to Stephenson. Henry and Louisa Mitchell, who, we
believe, pass for man and wife, were also decently attired,
and a casual spectator would have taken them for quiet re-
spectable people of the working class.
The circumstances which directed the police to the disco-
very were as follow :—The prisoners Henry and Louisa Mit-
chell had resided in Laurel-street about six or eight weeks.
Next door to them, at the corner, was a beer-house, kept by
a Mrs. Parkes, who became intimate with Mrs. Mitchell.
't short time since a robbery was committed on the premises
--•th, who resides in Grove-street, which r•
A number of valuable

'Jaurel-stree

Articles
shawl,

parallel with -
were stolen, amongst which were an Indian camel- hair
two cloth riding-habits, &c. At the beginning of last week
Mrs. Mitchell made Mrs. Parkes a present of sonic lace, and
a day or two afterwards she called upon her, and offered for
sale two riding-habits. Mrs. Parkes told her that she had
no use for such articles, and declined to purchase them.
They were, however, left in her possession. Mrs. Parkes
g heard of the robbery at Mr. Forsyth's house, had
some suspicions, which were perhaps not very definite, but
they induced her to go to Mrs. Forsyth, and ask her if she
had lost any property of that description. Mrs. Forsyth
immediately knew that the riding-habits were her's, and she
sent information to the police. Mr. Dowling sent officers
126, 173, and 512 to examine the prisoners. The two former
entered the house with Mrs. Parkes. Kirkham, one of the
officers, on entering, said, pointing to Mrs. Mitchell, " Is
that the woman who gave you the things ?" She replied in
the affirmative. There were three men present, but she was
unable to say who they were, as what followed gave her great
alarm. One of the men hearing the question, seized a ham-
mer, and raising it, exclaimed, " Do you mean to say that?"
He immediately aimed a violent blow ; but whether it was
intended for the woman or the policeman, Mrs. Parkes could
not say. It, however, fell upon the head of the officer, who
was immediately covered with blood. Mrs. Parkes conceiv-
ing that they would murder her if she remained, ran out of
the house and gave the alarm. As the policenien have not
yet been examined, there is, at present, no certainty in the
evidence as to what occurred within the house. A
and scuffle were heard by the persons outside, Francis rush-
ed out, pursued by Kirkham, who was bleeding profusely.
The former was stopped by a labourer and secured. Officer
No. 512, who was stationed at the back, saw Mitchell rush
out through the yard door, and at the same time saw Steven-
son on the wall, with a hammer in his hand. Stevenson was
secured, and Mitchell was subsequently found concealed in a
horse midden. Upon entering the house, it was found that
the other officer, Stevenson, had been beaten severely about
the head : and it appeared that the implements used were a
very heavy instrument, similar to what is denominated a life-
preserver, and the before-mentioned hammer : the latter was
covered with blood. The injured policemen were taken to
the Infirmary, and Dr. Brandreth, after examining their
wounds, certified that they were in considerable danger.
Mr. Dowling, having heard of these transactions, proceeded
to the house for the purpose of examining it. He found an
immense quantity of property, and a number of implements
for housebreaking, some of them of very ingenious construc-
tion. The following is an inventory of the mere articles of
jewellery found in the house :-42 gold brooches, 7 bracelets,
2 gold clasps, 17 links of beads, 46 gold rings, 11 gold pins,
8 gold lockets, 40 seal and brooch stones, 3 silver watches
and 1 gold watch, 1 watch-guard, 2 gold chains, 4 gold seals
3 gold watch hooks, 7 gold w,'
silver knives and fork-

great noise

keys, 107
.t.3ilver spoon

. .
57 forks, 3 pencil-cases, 3 vinai-
,ther vase, 1 silver coffee-pot, 2 silver thimbles, 3
) snuff-boxes, 26 foreign coins, 3 silver cream
•,..ar-tongs, 24 pocket knives, 6 silver
id tray.

gold eyeglasses

2 pairs of silver

candlesticks

The implements for the pursuiioi business are 107 skeleton
keys, 311 keys of various descriptions, 81 blank keys ready
to be made to fit, 17 latch keys, 41 files, 12 small saws, 25
punches, 2 vices, 7 centre-bits, 10 pick-locks, 3 crucibles for
melting metals, 49 pieces of piano-forte wire, 1 breast-plate
as a rest for a centre-bit, 1 pair of compasses, 1 plate for
cutting screws, and 1 plate for taking impressions of skeleton

There was also found an ingeniously-constructed machine
for forcing doors. This instrument, which works by a strong
screw, will noiselessly exert a force of several tons, and open
the strongest doors, It has been examined by Mr. Chubb,
of this town, a son and agent to the patentee of the cele-
brated detector-locks, and he states, that it is similar to a
machine called " Jack-in-a-box," formerly taken from a
notorious and successful housebreaker in London. The
machine was submitted to the inspection of Mr. Chubb, sen.,
and he took measures in the safes which he afterwards con-
structed to guard against its effects. The instrument is of
ao great size or weight, but it is beautifully fabricated and
strongly put together.

Mien the pilisoners were placed before the Stipendiary
Magistrate, on Saturday. a large chest of goods was produced,
which was stated to contain property stolen from the house
of Mr. Forsyth. Mrs. Forsyth was examined, and she gave
evidence touching the robbery, and afterwards identified the
camel-hair shawl, before-mentioned, and several other ar-
ticles. Mrs. Parkes also gave testimony which substantiated
the circumstances above related, so far as she was concerned
in them. She knew that Mitchell resided in the house, and
she swore that she had repeatedly seen Stevenson go in and
out of it. Evidence was also taken as to the dangerous state
of the two officers. Mr. Rushton asked the prisoners if they
had any questions to put to the witnesses.
Stevenson asked the witnesses generally, if they had seen
him at the house on Friday. Mrs. Parkes made the same
reply as before. She said she did not know that he was one
of the three men whom she saw, but she had frequently seen
him at the house. Poliee-officer 512 stated, he was sure he
saw the prisoner coming over the wall with the hammer. The
other prisoners declined saying any thing, and Mr. Rushton
remanded them all for a fortnight.

CORONER'S INQUESTS

(Before P. F. CURRY, Esq.)
An inquest was holden yesterday, on view of the body of
Anne Carroll, an infant five months old. It appeared from
the evidence that a disturbance had taken place in a court in
Newman-street, arising out of a quarrel between the father
of the deceased and a neighbour, on Friday evening last ;
and though no evidence was adduced which led to the sus-
picion of any violence being offered to the child in the con-
tusion, it exhibited, when taken to Mr. Harboard, the sur-
geon, on the following morning, several marks of external
injury, and died at noon the same day. The jury returned
a verdict of " Died from external injury, but by whom in-
flicted there was no evidence."

MELANCHOLY DEATH OF A GIRL BY A SHOT FROM A VERY
- _

SMALL CANNON, ON THE FIFTH NOVEMBER.
Yesterday an inquisition was taken on view of the body of
Martha Frewin, a fine young girl, who came to her death
under the extraordinary circumstances explained in the fol-
lowing evidence:—

William Lovatt, superintendent of police, being sworn,
said—On Thursday afternoon last, about minutes past four
o'clock, I was on duty in the neighbourhood of Ashton..
street, in Toxteth-park, when I was informed that a child
had been shot by a small cannon in that street. I imme-
diately went there, and proceeded to the house where the
child was lying, and found her quite dead. 'I made enquiries
whether any one had seen the cannon fired off, and a woman
of the name of Mary Morgan informed me that she had seen
the cannon fired, and could identify the boy who had fired
it, but she did not know his name. I was then told that I
would most probably find him at some stables in Parliament-
street. I went there, and found the boy now in custody, and
who calls himself Thomas Calligan. I asked him if he knew
who fired the cannon in Ashton-street, and he said it was a
boy named John Davis. [The cannon is a very small brass
one of about 3 inches long, and the bore would just admit
the handle of an ordinary steel pen. The jury and all pre-
sent were surprised that so small an instrument could have
produced so fatal an effect as that which will appear in the
sequel.] The witness continued—The boy told me he had
loaded the cannon with powder and paper only, and the way
he had charged it was by a wooden ramrod, and then pushed
it against the wall. I was soon after shown the place where
it was fired, and also the place where the deceased was shot.
I stepped it, to ascertain the distance, and found it to be
about 15 feet.

Mr. John Leach, surgeon, being called, said—l was called
to the deceased on Thursday afternoon about four o'clock,
and found her quite dead. There was a very small wound on
the nipple of the left breast. I did not make a particular
examination of the wound, as the child was quite dead. I
have since made a post morton examination of the body. I
found that some solid substance had penetrated both the
lobes of the left lung, pericardium, and heart, and had struck
against the eighth rib, behind, on the left side, and which
caused death. I made a very diligent search, and have not
been able to discover what made the penetration. It could
not have been a very large substance from the size of the
wound externally; the wadding of a pistol or small cannon
could not have produced it ; but a shot fired from the cannon
now produced might have caused such a wound.
This being all the evidence, the Coroner proceeded to com-
ment upon it. He said, that the manner in which the de-
ceased had died was clearly shown in the evidence before the
jury. She had just risen from her tea, and was going out of
the cellar, when the cannon was fired just at the moment her
breast was on a level with the street. One of the boys was
identified, and admitted that the cannon was his, but that
another boy had fired it. He then explained what consti-
tuted manslaughter in such cases, and illustrated his positions
by several cases in point, and decisions of the higher courts.
The deceased was shot through the heart, with some solid sub-
stance ; but that had not been found. Had it been found, the
case would have been complete, and the jury must have found
a verdict of manslaughter. A question might be raised as to
the moral responsibility of the prisoner, in consequence of
his youth ; but he must remind them, that that responsibi-
lity commences from the time a child can distinguish between
right and wrong,—as was exemplified in cases of pocket pick-
ing. Had a party of lads been firing the cannon, and it had
burst amongst them, it would not be manslaughter, inas-
much as all of them had taken a part in loading it and setting
it off. In the present case, the deceased was not amongsl
them and was going out, as it was to be presumed, on a law-
ful purpose. But as the shot or substance could not be found
by the surgeon, who could not discover what it was, he
thought they should find a verdict to the effect that a mortal
wound was received, but from what cause was unknown,
The jury then found a verdict to the effect that the de-
ceasee, while in the act of coming out of the cellar, received
a mortal wound in and upon the left breast, of which she
there and then instantly died ; but how or in what manner
the said wound was caused, no evidence appeared.

As Miss Watson, of Zoar-street, Trowbridge, was sitting
by the fire on Thursday afternoon last, with the front door of
her dwelling open, to her surprise she had a visitor of the
feathered tribe, in the person of a beautiful partridge, which
walked up to her with as much assurance as if domesticated.
The lady took up the bird, and while admiring its handsome
plumage, it suddenly died in her hand without a struggle.