The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-01-04 00:00:00

TIE LITIEPOOL STANDARD.

STEALING ROPES.—A boy, named James Nailor„ wa
yesterday charged before Mr. Rushton with stealing, on
the 31st ult., 201bs. of rope, belonging to a vessel called
The Royal Mint, lying in the Coburg Dock. He• was
committed for trial.

STEALING BUTTER.—A carter, named George Jones.,
was charged at the Police-court, yesterday, with stealing,
on the 9th December, a firkin of butter from the shop of
Mr. Moss, in Marybone. He put the keg into his cart
and made off. On being pursued and overtaken, he
threw the butter out of the cart, and escaped until Sun-
day, when he was apprehended. He was committed for
trial.

MINT CASE.—A woman, named Sarah Jenkins, was
yesterday charged before Mr. Rushton, with having passed
off, to more than one party, base shillings, in purchasing
small articles, by the old trick of first giving half a crown,
receiving nearly the whole amount back in change ; dis-
puting the same being correct, and on an apparent ad-
justment, offering a bad shilling for the one she had
received. She was committed for trial.

VIOLENT ASSAULT. -An Irishman, named James
Kelly, was charged before Mr. Rushton, with having, on
the 27th ultimo, most violently assaulted, without the
slightest provocation, Patrick O'Brien, in a public-house
in Vauxhall-road. The weapon used was apparently the
spoke of a wheel, and the complainant was carried insen-
sible to the Dispensary, and had since been dangerously
ill. The prisoner (who had worked with the complainant
in a coal-yard) was sent for trial at the sessions.

At the- Police-court yesterday, a young woman named
Ann Lynch, was charged by a woman named Eliza Leo-
nard, with having been concerned in severely assaulting
her, and making off with her bonnet and shawl. The
accused was committed for trial, but afterwards on her
statement being heard after the reading of the depositions,
and another police officer having stated some facts, she
was discharged, the complainant not being, it appeared,
worthy of belief.

BURIAL SOCIETY CASE. —A case'affecting a burial So-
ciety, which had before been partially heard, was resumed
yesterday at the Police-court. It appeared that a mem-
ber had made a claim upon the society for £5, in conse-
quence of the death of his daughter; and that this was
refused on the ground that he was a defaulter, he not hav-
ing paid up a week's subscription which was due. The
Secretary produced his books, and also the two cards,
when it appeared (as stated by applicant) that a number
of erasures had been made by that clerk, and other small
sums or cyphers had been introduced, and that in one in-
stance a sum had been credited in the book, and did not
appear at all on the card. Mr. Rushton highly repre-
hended the manner in which the books and accounts had
been kept, and peremptorily ordered the £5 to be paid to
the claimant.

OBTAINING MONEY UNDER FALSE PRETENCES.—Yes-
terday, a man named Wm. Shaw, and another named
Wm. Reynolds, were placed before Mr. Rushton on a
charge of obtaining £5 under false pretences. It appeared
that on the Ist instant, the prisoner Shaw had got a letter
for him purporting to be in the writing of Mr. Phillips,
baker and flour dealer, who has a shop in Brownlow-hill,
and addressed to Miss Taylor, who keeps Mr. Phillips'
other shop, in St. John's Market. This plausibly set
forth that Mr. P. wanted £5 for certain purposes, to be
sent by the bearer, and the money was paid to him ; but,
some suspicion arising in Miss T.'s mind, she sent after
the receiver the shop-boy, Lloyd, with instructions to
follow the man, and if he found that he did not take
the money to the other shop to have him apprehended.
The boy obeyed, and followed the prisoner tdrough several
streets, not leading direct to Browillow-hill. He accosted
the man, who endeavoured to bribe him by offering him
a treat to a show and a glass of wine, upon which the
youth (who is but 13 years of age) gave him into custody.
The letter was not written by or by direction of Mr.
Phillips. The writing was not clearly shown to be that
of Reynolds, and he was discharged. The prisoner Shaw,
who had received the money, said the other prisoner had
given him the letter to take. He was committed for
trial at the assizes.

DARING OUTRAGES NEAR LIVERPOOL.

HIGHWAY ROBBERY AT ALLERTON

Unfortunately, outrages of the most daring and atro-
cious character are becoming alarmingly frequent in this
neighbourhood. Yesterday week, at noonday, Mr. Frith,
a highly respectable gentleman belonging to Liverpool,
left his own house at Allerton, near this town, on foot,
with a view of coming to town to see his son, who, he
then understood, was seriously indisposed. He had not,
however, proceeded more than a few hundred yards from
his residence, when he was met by two men, having the
appearance of day labourers, one of whom stopped short
on the footpath, and the other walked on. Mr. Frith,
on seeing this movement, took, or appeared to take, no
notice of them, but pursued his way as before on the
footpath. On coming near to the roan, who still stood
before him, the ruffian drew from his breast a large pistol,
and ordered Mr. Frith to " stand and deliver!" Mr.
Frith immediately turned round with the intention of
retreating to his own house, but, to his surprise, when
he turned, there stood the companion of the first assail-
ant, with a large pistol also, which he cocked and pre-
sented at Mr. Frith's head, at the same time requiring,
as his comrade had done before, that gentleman to
" stand and deliver !" Mr. Frith, sc&ng the utter hope-
lessness of his case, immediately complied, and taking
his watch, guard, seals, and other appendages from his
neck, together with 30s. in silver from his pocket, he
quietly surrendered them, hcping thereby to escape fur-
ther attack. But the villains were not to be so easily
satisfied, for one of them, with an oath, called upon Mr.
Frith to " turn his 'lockets inside out," and " to give up
all his money, or else, by-, they would blow his brains
out." Mr. Frith then proceeded to obey their commands,
and gave them his purse containing five sovereigns, which
was all the money be had then in his possession. With
the most audacious c,olness the scoundrels then ordered
him to walk before them to his own house, as they were
resolved that lie sl.o.'ii not r7et to town to give any alarm
to the police, or to a •quairt any of his friends with what
had happened to him. Re-di-17 their pistols quietly on
their arms, they thus escorted their victim to the door of
his own house, where they left him.

ATTEMPT AT HIGHWAY ROBBERY NEAR UPPER
PARLIAMENT-STREET.
On Tuesday evening last, about Eix o'clock, Mr. John
B. Neilson, stock and share broker, of this town, left the
residence of his aunt in the Park, to return to his own
house in Falkner-squarz. After proceeding some distance
along Lord Sefton s new street, he turned up a narrow
lane, leading to Parliament-street, and when near the
end of it he was suddenly attacked by three men, one of
whom was armed with a cane-sword. The first intima-
tion of the attack was a desperate blow with this weapon,
which cut the crown of his hat in two. Mr. Neilson
being armed with a strut oak stick, loaded with lead at
one end, he instantly dealt the fellow with the sword
such a blow upon the arm as not only knocked him down,
but disabled him during the rest of the affray. It is be-
lieved, in fact, that be broke his arm, for it dropped
down on his side. Immediately on seeing their comrade
fall, one of the other tzvo— a tall athletic f2llO-T-9P;71.1

hy.the thra

li the view of do-
g upon him, and, perhaps, strangling him ; but fortu-
nately in this they were also foiled, for his stock giving
way with the strain upon it, which the pulling caused,
he retreated a step or sn from his assailant, and again
using his stick, he felled the rascal to the earth with a
blow on the head. Notwithstanding these " heavy blows
and great discouragements," the villains were not to be
foiled without further trials, for no sooner had Mr. Neil-
son knocked down the second fellow than the third dealt
him a blow on the head which brought him to the earth
instanter; however, he regained his feet with the utmost
despatch, and retreated fighting to a gap in the fence,
where he st -uck down the third man. The whole gang
had now been sufficiently punished, and did not attempt
any further attack. We are glad to say that Mr. Neilson
escaped without any material injury being done to him.
His left arm, with which he warded off the blows, is se-
verely bruised; but beyond this he has sustained no in-
jury, though his clothes were torn to pieces. We need
scarcely say that the police are actively engaged in tra-
cing the affair; anti it will be satisfactory to the public to
learn that there is reason to believe that the perpetrators
of this desperate outrage will yet be apprehended.

HOUSEBREAKING AND ROBBERY NEAR ORMSKIRK.
On the night of the 17th ultimo, as the family of Mr.
Hayes, of Simon's Wood. were about to retire to rest,
they were alarmed by hearing the noise of some persons
forcing an entrance into the house, by what is termed the
lower parlour window. Mr. Hayes himself being absent
at the time, some little delay occurred amongst the fe.
*1... *bo imo.sto. of tho he..., before any of
them dared to make inquiry as to the cause of the noise.
However, they were not long kept in suspense, for shortly
afterwards three men, armed with long guns, entered the
apartment, threatening to shoot the first who moved.
They then left a guard of two, whilst a fourth, who was
unarmed, proceeded in company with the third armed
man to ransack the house, which they did effectually,
taking away with them not only plate, clothes, money,
and all the moveably valuables which they could find,
but also two guns, and some other arms. So well ar-
ranged was this deliberate burglary, that the gang, con-
sisting of five altogether, left one of their members out-
side to act as sentinel, whilst the others were prosecuting
their plans inside. We are sorry to say that the whole
gang have so far escaped ;
.and as they were strangers to
the neighbourhood, their identification and apprehension
will be a matter of great difficulty.

as a gentleman
ANOTHER ATTEMPTED ROBBERY IN TorrErm—At
was half-past
walking
alongon Peel-street, Toxteth-park, towards his
Wednesday evening,
residence at the Elms, a fellow went up and violently
kicked him, throwing him down. He, however, recovered
himself, and struck the assailant a stunning blow with his
stick. Another fellow than came up, whom the gentleman
also knocked down, and both (apparently "navvies") after-
wards went off. The gentleman fainted after getting home.
He luckily preserved the money he had on his person.
ANOTHER STREET ROBBERY.-011 Saturday night,
gentleman was knocked down and severelv injured by
three ruffians in the neighbourhood of Crown-street.
They attempted to rob him, but on his calling out loudly
for the police they decamped. While he lay on the
ground the fore finger of his left hand was nearly severed
by some sharp instrument. . _

ALARM IN THE SUBURBS....-S 0 great is the fear enter-
tained by persons living in the suburbs of the town, from
the recent attacks, and many others not yet published, that
most gentlemen residing out of the borough, return home
before dusk, if possible, many of them armed with pistols,
sticks, &c. Fire-arms are also discharged at night from
many isolated residences to intimate to prowlers what they
may expect if they approach. A number of outrages have
taken place in a lane leading from Walton Ereck to Walton
Lane, within the last fortnight, and extra police have been
employed. Several women, lads, and others have been
knocked down and robbed of the little they had. The
houses of the inhabitants are closed before dusk, and even
during the day, females are alarmed in the absence of their
male relatives.

latstrirt peb)o.

On Thursday, a bunch of hawthorn in full leaf at the
lower part, and with buds about to burst forth and leaves
at the upper extremity, was plucked from a hedge at Pen-
dleton, near Manchester.

Hoc:crow HALL.—We regretto observe, from recent
proceedings in Chancery, that our popular neighbour, Sir
Wm. Massey Stanley, is in difficulties. A receiver of the
rents has been appointed.
DEATH FROM A SILLY WAGER.—On Wednesday last,
a private of the Ist Royals, named Robert Rogers, died
at Warrington, from the of of internal injury sus-
tained in nonsensically attempting to swallow a stick two
feet long, for a wager. He got the stick eighteen inches
down his throat, when he was choked.
It is not a little extraordinary, that while the accounts
from Manchester continue to announce an absence of
demand for cotton manufactured goods, and the conse-
quent rapid accumulation of stocks, that a number of the
millowners have set on foot an agitation for the purpose
of applying to parliament to repeal the Ten Hours Act
passed last session, and to replace it by an Eleven Hours
Bill.

THE DISSENTERS AND THE CHURCH. —Great exer-
tions are now making in Manchester and elsewhere, to
arouse dissenters to an agitation against the church.
Amongst the steps taken, with this object in view, is a
letter from Richard Potter, Esq., in the Manchester
Guardian last week, and as one reason for the movement
he says, " It has happened, fortunately for the cause of
constitutional reform, that Sir Robert Peel, and the more
enlightened leaders of the Conservative party, appreciated
the justice and the full strength of the anti-corn law
movement. They yielded in time to save the country
from the violence of a great party contest. The present
position of the Church of England, her relation to the
dissenters, is very much the same as was the position of
the landed interest to the commercial and manufacturing
classes in the earlier stages of the anti-corn law move-
ment, and before the organization of the league." We
always said that the anti-corn law agitation was only a
prelude to a move against the church, and here it is proved.
ABDUCTION.—The Manchester Guardian gives the fol-
lowing corrected account of an alleged " elopement "
from Bolton. The young gentleman in question was
not on a visit to the family, but on his return from Cam-
bridge, for the Christmas vacation, in company with a
college connexion, rather advanced in years, and who was
apparently the adviser and director of his youthful com-
panion. In passing through Bolton he called upon the
family, but did not see the young lady, and it was con-
cluded that he had proceeded homeward. On the even-
ing of Friday, however, the young lady was induced, by
the representations of one of the servants, to go to the
garden door, where the youth was waiting. She was then
immediately seized by him with the intention of forcing
her away. In this, however, he failed, owing to the
young lady's resistance, and he then called to his com-
panion, and by their united exertions she was forced into
a chaise and driven away, not through the town, but by a
circuitous route, with a view, evidently, of preventing pur-
suit. The young lady had not even a covering for her
head, nor any protection from the inclemency of one of
the most stormy nights of the season. It was the inten-
tion of the party to go upon the Manchester railway at
the first station out of town, but when there the young
lady attempted to call for assistance, when a handkerchief
was placed to her mouth, and the carriage was ordered to
be driven forward to Manchester. Considerable time
elapsed before any clue could be traced of the route of the
fugitives, and it was only ascertained on the return of the
chaise by which they were conveyed to Manchester. The
young lady's brother and a clergyman immediately pro-
ceeded after them, and succeeded in tracing them to the
Leigh Arms Hotel, at Newton, where they found the
young gentleman, his companion, and the young lady, in
a sitting room, waiting the arrival of the next train to the
north. The young lady was, of course, immediately res-
cued. The young gentleman is of a respectable family,
and well connected. On the following day, the young
gentleman and his companion were taken into custody,
when they gave bail in £2OO for their good behaviour for
twelve months.

NARROW ESCAPE.—At Manchester, on Monday, two
men, named William Hatfield and Mark Clegg, the former
an engine driver and the latter a fireman in the employ of
the London and North-Western Railway Company, were
brought up before the stipendiary magistrate, charged
with drunkenness and gross negligence in the discharge of
their duty. It appeared that the prisoners had charge of
the night mail from Liverpool to London on Saturday.
The number of carriages and passengers was not stated,
but the pointsman at the Warrington junction was sur-
prised to hear it coming at a very rapid rate. He had been
re pparing to turn the points, in order to shunt the train
on to the Warrington junction, but, anticipating great
danger if he should turn the points, he determined upon
letting the train take its course. Most fortunate was it
that he exercised so much judgment and sagacity ; for, in
consequence of the acuteness of the curve at the Warring-
ton junction, and the tremendous rate at which the train
was proceeding—not less than forty miles an hour, instead
of five, the regular speed—it does not appear that anything
could have prevented the train being overturned, and a
frightful sacrifice of human life. Meantime, the train
continued its frightful progress ; but the mail-guard per-
ce;_ving that it was going on towards Manchester, instead
of staying at the junction, signalled to the engine-driver
and fireman, but without effect. He, at very considerable
risk, passed over from carriage to carriage till he reached
the engine, where he found both the prisoners lying appa-
rently insensible, from the effects of liquor. He was
unable to bring them to a sense of their duty and their
peril until they were near to Patricroft, a distance of four-
teen miles from Warrington I This again appears to be
almost a miraculous circumstance; for, at the Patricroft
station, on the same line as that on tich the mail train
was running, was another train, containing a number of
passengers, who thus escaped the consequences of a colli-
ston. The prisoners were Immediately given into custody
and conveyed to the New Bailey prison, while other assist-
ance being obtained, the train was taken back again to the
Warrington junction. After some consultation, the bench
appearing to be of opinion that some negligence cad been
exhibited at the office in Liverpool. or the men would not
have been allowed to have left there in such a state of in-
toxication, sentenced both prisoners to two months hard
labour.

TEA.—On Tuesday, a meeting was held in the Town
Hall, Manchester, for the purpose of considering the
effects of the duty on tea. There were upwards of one
hundred gentlemen present interested in the welfare of
the district. The Mayor presided, and the meeting was
addressed, amongst others, by Wm. Rathbone, Esq., of
Liverpool; Thomas Bazley, Esq., Chairman of the Man-
chester Chamber of Commerce ; Aspinal Turner, Esq.,
Chairman of the Manchester Commercial Association;
Mr. Fielden, on behalf of the Blackburn Chamber of
Commerce; Robert Gardner, Esq., of Manchester; and
John Bright, Esq., M.P. The following with other reso-
lutions were unanimously adopted :—" That it is notorious
'' it the trade with China has been for some time in a
tisfactory position'—`that the result of our ex-
with that

to idea int.e.rcourse country A,as by no inLans
realised the just expectations which had been naturally
founded on a freer access to so magnificent a market'—
`that on a great proportion of the trade the loss, taken
both ways, i. e., on the manufactures sent out and on the
tea brought home in payment, may be fairly stated at
from thirty-five to forty per (ent.'—' that the difficulties
of the trade dg, not arise from any want of demand in
China for artli sof British manufacture or from the in-
creasing compe‘ition of other nations, but the sole diffi-
culty in providing a return.' That we must look to tea
mainly and to an increased consumption of tea for the
means of even maintaining, still more of extending, a
profitable trade with those vast regions, and that for such
an extended consumption we can only look to a reduction
of the duty, it being only throug't the duty that a reduc-
tion to the consumer can be effected sufficient to stimulate
consumption in so sensible a degree as to lead to a healthy
and extended trade. That while the duties on coffee and
cocoa have been repeatedly reduced since 1821—by which
the consumption of the former has been stimulated 500
per cent., and that of the latter by above 1,000 per cent.,
there has been no reduction on the duty on tea, and the
small increase which has taken place in the consump-
tion of that article is attributable to the reduction
in the bonded price, which has materially added to the
disastrous losses of the importers. That as the foregoing
resolutions are founded upon, and expressed mostly in
the very words of a Report of the Select Committee' ap-
pointed in the last session of Parliament to consider our
commercial relations with China,' a committee be ap-
pointed to arrange a deputation to the Chancellor of the
.B.chequer, and the Chairman of this meeting address the
Chanteltor with a copy or there resolutions,
him to fix an early day for receiving such deputation."