The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-02-20 00:00:00

LOCAL NEWS.

CHARGE OF MURDER.—The trial of Capt. M`Donald,
who was committed by Mr. Rushton, on the charge of
shooting Mr. Green, mate of the William Rathbone, of
this port, in Cameroon's River, came on on Tuesday last,
in London, and, after the examination of one witness,
the captain was acquitted.
DEATH INlihE PARK ROAD.—On Sunday morning
about half-past six o'clock, as a policeman was going off
duty along Park-road he discovered the body of a man
lying dead at the bottom of the cellar seeps belonging to
the Rev. Mr. Parker's house. Assistance was immedi-
ately procured, nd the deceased, whose name was Thomp-
son, and who has left a widow and three children, was
removed to his own house. It appears that the body pre-
sented an appalling aspect when discovered. The face
was dreadfully swollen ; the head was down ; and a
frothy substance was issuing from the mouth and nos-
trils. The deceased worked at a brewery in Park-road,
and when last seen alive, about twelve o'clock on Sa-
turday night, was, apparently sober. The precise man-
ner in which he met his death is, therefore, involved in
mystery.
HEROIC CONDUCT.—On Tuesday evening last, about
seven o'clock, Joseph Sturdy, a young man who is in the
service of Mr. R. H. Parkinson, house-agent, Argyle-
street, was at the Tranmere slip, about to proceed to
Liverpool, when he observed a gentleman fall into the
river. Sturdy saw the individual struggling in the water,
and immediately plunged in, and, with some difficulty,
brought him safe to land. The gentleman generously pre-
sented his preserver with sixpence, which the young man,
being very much exhausted, received in a fit of absence.
We are sorry to hear that Sturdy was, sometime after
his immersion, seized with a fit, in consequence of having
remained too long in his wet clothes. Ile now lies
dangerously ill. This young man, about five years ago,
bad the enviable fortune of saving the life of a child that
fell from the arms of its nurse into the Mersey, from
Egremont pier.
ANNUAL DINNER OF THE LIVERPOOL GUARDIAN
SOCIETY.—On Tuesday evening last the twenty-first an-
niversary of this excellent and useful society was celebrated
at the Adelphi Hotel, when about 120 of the members sat
down to a sumptuous entertainment, served up with that
taste and liberality which characterize all similar efforts
of the caterer, Mr. Radley. The president of the society,
Mr. Joseph Hickey, occupied the chair, supported by
Mr. Thomas Bage as vice-president. After dinner the
usual loyal and patriotic toasts were drunk with appro-
priate honours. The absence of the Mayor and Town-
clerk was apologised for, both these functionaries being
prevented from attending by business. The healths of
several officers and members were proposed and responded
to. The chairman, in returning thanks for his health
being drunk, referred to the opposition given during the
past year to the Gas Company's Bill, to the steps taken
and then abandoned as to surcharges under the income-
tax, to the endeavours made to bring about a change in
the Court of Requests, and to the support given to the
Water Bill. He also alluded to the want of a new in-
surance company for householders, to the want of a water
company, in order to reduce the present high rates for
water, and concluded by referring to the gas company,
which, he said, was almost formed, and in a most prospe-
rous state. Mr. Ferguson expressed a hope that they would
do all they could to reform the Court of Requests, that
the public might have confidence in that tribunal ; and
that the society would do all they could to upset the in-
come-tax when the period for which it was enacted had
expired. The company separated about eleven o'clock.

ALLEGED CASE OF SMUGGLING.—The steward of the
packet-ship Sheridan, who had only arrived from New
York on Friday night, was brought before Mr. Rushton
on Saturday, on a charge of having been detected in the
act of conveying 111bs. weight of foreign manufactured
tobacco from the aforesaid vessel, almost immediately
after she had cast anchor in the Mersey. It appeared,
from the evidence, that when the Sheridan reached the
port, a number of persons belonging to the several news-
paper offices put out to her in a boat, for the purpose of
getting the latest American papers, and that after they
got the files on board, the prisoner made his way into the
boat, and had a bag thrown down to him, which was
trirlrked as " the letter-bag of the packet-ship Sheridan."
When the boat returned to the quay, the hag was searched
by constable 110, and it was found to contain the 111bs.
weight of tobacco. The prisoner was ordered to be re-
manded. Shortly after, Captain Depeyster, the master
of the Sheridan, appeared in court, and said, the con-
signees and agents would use their utmost exertions to
have the prisoner exonerated, as the tobacco was not his
property, but that of a person on board, who had had it
for sale to the crew, and as he (the prisoner) was most
innocently led to be the bearer of it on shore.
SUICIDE.—O❑ Saturday an inquest was held before the
Borough Coroner, to inquire into the circumstances
touching the death of Jane Robinson, a female, 21 years
of age, who was found dead in bed with a dark silk hand.
kerchief tied tightly round her neck. The deceased
lodged in the house of an Irish labourer, named John
Whelan, in Back Portland-street, and she had repeatedly
informed one of her associates, Mary Wright, that, if
anything hefel her, it would be entirely owing to the im-
proper liberties which had been taken with her by Whelan,
during his wife's absence, about Christmas last. Mr.
Balfour, the beadle, stated, that the case was calculated
to excite suspicion, and that he had found a bottle con-
taining drops of laudanum, in a trunk belonging to the
deceased. Mr. Longbottom, surgeon, deposed, that he
had made a post mortem examination of the body, and
found that strangulation had been the cause of death, and
that the deceased had been three months enciente. The
Coroner, in summing up the case, said, that Whelan was
very reprehensible for having mis-conducted himself in
such a manner as to cause distress of mini, on the part
of the female, to an extent which, in all probability, in-
duced her to make a fatal attempt upon her own life.
The jury returned a verdict to the effect that strangula-
tion had been the cause of death, hut whether death had
been caused by herself or by others there was no evi-
dence to show. The inquest lasted four hours.

LIVERPOOL FIRE AND LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.
—On Thursday the eighth annual general meeting of the
proprietors of this company was held in the Clarendon
Rooms. Thomas Booth, Esq., chairman of the board of
directors occupied the chair, and in opening the business
said that although they commenced the year with some
heavy losses, they had closed it wish a larger surplus fund
than they commenced. Mr. Swinton Boult read the re-'
port of the directors, which was highly satisfactory. It
appeared that the premiums received during the year
amounted to £48,246 Bs. ld. ; the losses to £44,250 13s.
10d. The reserved fund, which last year was £27,481 3s.
10d., was this year increased to £35,369 9s. 6d. The re-
port, on the motion of Mr. Watson, seconded by
Low, was received and adopted. A dividend of 5
cent. was declared; thanks were voted to the directors
for their attention to the interest of the company. Mr.
Daniel James and Mr. T. B. Blackburn were appointed
auditors; £420 were placed at the disposal of the direc-
tors for their services, and Messrs. Thomas Booth, Rich-
ard Edwards, Nathan Cairns, James Mulleneux, John
Pennington, and Nicholas RoSkell, the retiring directors,
were re-elected, and Mr. Andrew Low added to the list
of directors. In reply to a question from Mr. Hender-
son, it was stated that the five per cent. would be paid
exclusive of the income tax. Some conversation arose
as to the reduction of the rates, when the chairman stated
it was the intention of the directors to reduce the rates of
assurance so soon as it was prudent to do•so. After a few
remarks as to the reduction of the rates on foreign risks,
during which Mr. George Holt said the directors were so
much alive to the interest of parties, that they would give
every attention to each separate proposal, although it
must be expected that foreign risks would be higher than
those at home. Thanks were voted to the chairman and
the meeting separated.

MEETING IN LIVERPOOL ON BEHALF OF THE SUNDAY
SCHOOL SOCIETY FOR IRELAND.-011 Tuesday evening
last, a meeting was held in the spacious school-room
connected with Christ Church, on behalf of this society.
At seven o'clock the Rev. Dr. Tattershall was called to
the chair. The meeting was opened with prayer by the
Rev. Fielding Ould, when the Chairman made a highly
suitable address, testifying to the value of the society,
and sustaining his assertion by reference to evidence pub-
lished by the Commissioners of Education, &c. He
pledged himself to give all the support be possibly could
to this society. The report was then read by George
O'Neille, Esq., the agent of the society, the chief fea-
tures of which appeared to be that 23,000 teachers (gra-
tuitous) and 240,000 scholars are connected with the so-
ciety, which has issued about 700,000 copies of the Holy
Scriptures, and more than one million of spelling-books.
The adoption of the report was ably moved by the Rev.
Mr. Cowan, and seconded by the Rev. Dr. Drew, of
Belfast, who attended as a deputation from Ireland. Dr.
Drew corroborated the statements of the respected chair-
man, and produced a copy of the report of the commis-
sioners, who, in 1825, gave high testimony in favour of
the society, one of these commissioners being a Roman
Catholic gentleman, the Right Hon. A. Blake. Dr.
Drew proceeded to lay before the meeting the claims of
the society. He pointed out two objects as worthy of
attention, as the very pillars of the society—namely, its
circulation and cherishing of the Word of God. and its
honouring the Holy Day of God. He shewed what bless-
ings had naturally flowed from its thus honouring the
word and day of God. He shewed also who was the pro-
per party in responsibility before God ; and the parent
being so, all were bound to supply such help as the parent
needed in bringing up his child in the nurture and admo-
nition of the Lord. None would suppose Birkenhead
unworthy of the sympathy of Liverpool, because a broad
and noble stream, the Mersey, ran between ; and if a
broader stream ran between England and Ireland, the
latter marked by God as the twin sister of the former,
should not be left to wither and perish beneath the oppo-
sition which was raised against it. Dr. Drew proceeded
to enlarge upon the benefits conferred in Ireland by va-
rious results incidental to Sunday schools, such as the
building of schoolhouses and even of churches, the esta-
blishment of libraries, dispensaries, and clothing socie-
ties ; he read extracts from letters received by him from
several clergymen, testifying to the numbers of young
persons supplied for confirmation, and for the Lord's
table, by means of Sunday schools. He concluded an
address of considerable length, and which was most fa-
vourably received, by recommending to their notice local
examples of Christian benevolence, and by entreating re-
newed exertions on behalf of the society. The Rev. A.
Hume, of the Collegiate Institution, and the Rev. Mr.
Wolfenden, also took part in the proceedings, and a most
feeling and powerful address was delivered by the Rev.
Mr. Ould, who enlisted the warmest sympathies of the
meeting on behalf of the society. At the conclusion of
the meeting many cards were taken, and the crowded
meeting dispersed in excellent order. Many had remained
standing to the close of the meeting, unable to procure
seats. We hope that, under the interest excited by this
meeting, an efficient result will be manifested in behalf of
one of the best societies in Ireland,

THE LALLES' CHARITY.—On Wednesday the general
annual meeting of the subscribers and friends of tnis in-
stitution was held at the Blue Coat Hospital, the Rev.
Rector. Brooks in the chair. It appeared from the report,
which was the 48th annual one, that owing to the increased
population of the town, and the extended boundaries of
the charity, the demands upon the funds were constantly
and seriously increasing. During the year, 2,532 patients
had received the benefit of the charity at their homes,
being an increase of 337 over the preceding year; and
1,639 infants had been vaccinated, being 429 over the
number vaccinated in 1812. Forty-eight patients had,
moreover, been admitted into the wards. The amount
expended during the past year, on account of the general
charity, had been £1,409. 3s. Bd., and on account of the
wards, £142. 18s. 5d., making a total of £1,552. 2s. Id.,
to meet which the income had been £l,OBB. 15s. sd. The
consequence was, that while there had been a balance in
favour of the charity of about £6OO at the close of 1842,
there remained in hand only about £l5O at the close of
the past year.

FIRES.—Two fires took place during the past week.
The first took place between the hours of one and two
o'clock on the morning of Tuesday last, in the shop of
Messrs. Marsden and Co., brush manufacturers, at the
bottom of Duke-street. The damage was not very mate-
rial, as the engines arrived speedily and were efficiently
worked. The second broke out about half-past four
o'clock on Thursday morning last, in the back parlour of
a house in Chatham-street, occupiedby Mr. Charles Will-
pier, news-agent. The flames ascended to the bed-room
in which Mr. Wilimer slept before the discovery took
place, and loss of life would, in all probability, have oc-
curred, had not the smoke and noise of the conflagration
wakened the occupant in sufficient time to enable him, his
wife, and his servant to effect their escape in their night
dresses, and to obtain refuge in the nest house. Furni-
ture of the value of about zeloo was entirely destroyed, but
Mr. Wilimer was fully insured. The landlord of the house
was uninsured, and a considerable sum will have to be ex-
pended for damage done to the floorings.
STRANGE STORY.—As a "strange gtory" mysteriously
narrated in the Mercury is no longer a secret, it is due
to all the parties to state the mere facts of the transac-
tion. In the latter end of last month, Miss Hill, a dis-
tant relation of Mr. Henry Dodd, paper-manufacturer.
of Bold-street, and employed as his shop-woman, took
suddenly ill. Owing to alterations in the house, then in
progress, there was no bed-room
i available, and, of ne-
cessity, she was placed on a sofa n the parlour. Two or
three recent deaths in the house had caused some alarm,
and Mr. Dodd wished to have her removed to her mo-
ther's house in Pitt-street. Before doing so, he sent for
three medical gentlemen, who told him that she could not
bear removal, but as she had not many hours to live he
might remove the body immediately after her decease.
They no doubt intended it to be placed in a coffin ; but
Mr. Dodd took their instructions literally, and did not
provide one, promising, however, to send a coffin like the
one in which his mother had been interred. The body
was placed in a car too carelessly, and without any at-
tendant inside, two persons, however, walking outside,
and, on its arrival in Pitt-street, it had fallen against the
seat, disfiguring the face. The mother and brothers of
the deceased felt greatly hurt; and one of the latter, who
holds a public situation in Monmouthshire, came to town
and vented his anger on Mr. Dodd in his own shop in the
form of a personal assault. The affair attracted a crowd,
and both combatants claim the victory. Nest day, Mr.
Dodd applied for a summons against Mr. Hill; but, as
the summons could not be served, the case did not of
course come before the magistrate. In the mean time,
some friend of the deceased had represented to the coroner
that au inquest ought to be held on the body, and Mr.
Currie had all the parties before him, the result of the
inquiry being, that there was no occasion for any further
proceeding.—Journal.