The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-08-01 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL •STANDARD

THE EXTRAORDINARY CASE INVOLVING
EXTENSIVE ROBBERIES OF BANK NOTES.

THE PRIZE ESSAY, of twenty guineas, of the Linen
Drapers' Society, upon the evils of the late hour system
of trade, has been awarded to Mr. J. W. Davis, a student
in Highbury College.

On Thursday afternoon, the prisoner John Anderson
was again placed at the bar of the Police-court, for re-
examination. The court (in the Sessions-house) was
again touch crowded, and several magistrates and other
gentlemen occupied the bench, along with Mr. Rushton.
Air. Dodd, solicitor, appeared on behalf of the prisoner.
Mr. Dowling, the commissioner of police, intimated
that, with reference to the case in which Jennings was
involved, he had now to bring forward some evidence
respecting the bank notes stolen at Preston during the
Guild.

PERFORMANCES AT THE AMPHITHEATRE.---We un-
derstand that a considerable portion of the funds received
at the Amphitheatre, during the present performances
there, are devoted to the purposes of the temperance as-
sociation.

CAUTION.—At the Police-court, on Friday, James Do-
nathy, a boy of not more than fourteen years of age,
though an old offender, was committed to the sessions for
having stolen a bundle of wearing apparel from the house
of Mrs. Woods, publican, of Cockspur-street, where he
bad gained admittance under the pretence of begging a
drink of water.
MR. JAMES ORME.—A number of the friends of this
gentleman have determined, as may be seen from an ad-
vertisement, to entertain him at a public dinner, in order
to testify their conviction of his innocence of the charge
in which it was sought to implicate him at the Sessions'
last week. This step must be peculiarly gratifying to Mr.
Orme ; and so convinced are we that not the slightest
stain rests on his character that we should not have the
slightest objection to make one of the party.
PROPOSED ERECTION OF A MONUMENT TO FATHER
MATHEW.—Yesterday evening a meeting was held at the
school-room connected with St. Anthony's Chapel, Scot-
land-road, for the purpose of considering the propriety of
erecting a monument " to hand," as one of the speakers
stated, " to future generations a memorial of the wonders
he had worked !" Amongst the rest, we presume, " the
miracle" recorded by our contemporary the Times.
Several resolutions were proposed—in particular one that
the assembly should put off their hats in reverence towards
the sacred person of the miracle worker—and the meet-
ing separated for the purpose of hooting homewards a poor
old woman who had incautiously let slip her opinion that
if the worthy father had effected any great good in Liver-
pool he had been tolerably well paid for it. The m eeting
barring the beautiful brogue of the various speakers, and
as flat as teetotal drink.
CHARGE OF BIGAMY.—On Monday last Joseph New-
ton, fishmonger, of St. John's Fish Market, who had been
remanded by the magistrates under a charge of bigamy,
was brought up for final examination. Elizabeth Wal-
dron testified to the prisoner having married her sister,
Mary Rolgerf in Dublin, on the 31st July, 1820. Martha,
the prisoner's second wife, who said her maiden name was
Robinson, deposed to having been married to him on the
30t July, 1832, and other proofs were brought forward
that the marriage ceremony was performed at St. Nicho-
las's Church, by the Rev. Oliver Ormrod. The pri-
soner was committed to take his trial at the next assizes.
Mr. Dodd applied to Mr. Rushton to allow the prisoner
to be held to bail. Mr. Rushton agreed to take bail for
the prisoner, himself in £3OO, and two sureties in £l5O
each ; but bail not being ready, the prisoner still remained
in custody. On Wednesday satisfactory bail was offered
and accepted, and Newton is now out of custody..

Mr. John Marquis, an elderly gentleman, was then
called and examined by Mr. Dowling and Mr. Rushton.
He said :—I reside in Accrington, in Cheshire. On the
sth September, 1842, I was in Preston at the Guild, and
I there lost the sum of £1999 in Bank of England notes.
I received them from Messrs. Cunliffe and Brooks,
bankers, Blackburn. I bad the notes in the inside
pocket of my coat, on the left side. They were enclosed
in a pocket-book. Two of them were for £5OO each.
One of these was numbered 15,419. (Witness produced
a printed, and also a written, list of the amounts and
numbers of all the notes, and was proceeding to read from
the latter, but, as it appeared that he had not himself
compared the numbers on the notes with those on the
list, but only a few of them, his evidence on this point
' w 's not available • and Mr. Rushton said the evidence of
the clerk who had paid them and made out the list would
be required.) Witness continued examined the
amounts and numbers of the two £5OO notes, and also
some of the others, but not all of them. I lost nine
£lOO notes. I counted them. They were all of the
Manchester Branch Bank of England. One person has
been convicted of the robbery—a female. She was ap-
prehended, in the first instance, in London. There was
one £lOO note found, which I identified on the trial. It
was found at Birkenhead, near Liverpool, on the 6th of
September, 1842—the day after the robbery.
Mr. Rushton repeated that they must have the banker's
clerk from Blackburn to identify the notes, and inquired
of Mr. Dowling if he was yet prepared with any further
evidence?

Mr. Dowling said he could not go further that day, and
suggested that the prisoner should be remanded.
Mr, Dodd said be hoped the court would not remand
him very long, as the assizes were drawing near, and there
would be but little time to prepare the defence.
Mr. Rushton said he would not remand 'for a longer
time than the ends of justice required. He should now
remand him till Saturday, and, should it be necessary,
from time to time, should it even be till the opening of,
the assizes.

The prisoner was then removed. Jennings was not
brought up.

The prisoner was again brought up on Saturday.
Mr. Wilson, clerk in Messrs. Cunliffe and Co.'s bank,
at Blackburn, deposed to paying money to Mr. Buck,
amounting to £5934 16s. 2d., and produced a memoran-
dum of the numbers and dates of the notes. _

Mr. George Stanfield, of the Burnley Bank, proved,
that he received, on the 19th of August, an account of Mr.
Charles Townley, from Mr. Eastwood, notes amounting
to £7OO. The £5OO note was M.A., 15,437, date Man-
chester, 16th July, 1841. The £lOO note was dated
March, 1842, The other £lOO note was marked Q.Y.,
01563, the same date as the last. The notes were remitted
the same day to Messrs. Barnett and Co., London.
Nicholas Mahs, a partner in the house of Schroeder and
Co. merchants, of Liverpool, paid to Captain Brand £450
on the 26th of November, 1842, in bank notes. Kept no
account of the notes. Received the money so paid from
the Bank of Liverpool. The money was brought from the
bank by Mr. Alfred Pickering.

THE SUMMER RESORTS ON THE CHESHIRE SHORE
OF THE MERSEY.—The bathing places in the peninsula
of Wirrall, opposite this town, have never before been
known to be so full of strangers as at present, and during
the last few weeks. Birkenhead, which has of late years
swelled into what may be called a considerable town, and
to which there are two direct ferries—we state this for the
information of strangers—has its numerous visitants.
The Royal Rock Ferry, higher up, has also become a fa-
shionable resort. Seacombe, lower down, has had a more
than usual accession of company, and the same may be
said of Egremont, and New Brighton. The strangers
comprise families and individuals, of the various stations
in society, from the elite of the land to those of the more
humble but respectable middle classes, all of whom appear
to enjoy themselves in the locality, which is second to
none in salubrity of climate, or in affording pleasing ex-
cursions on shore or afloat, as well as an ever changing
diversity of maritime objects and movements on our noble
river and its outward channels. Yesterday week, amongst
others who arrived at Seacombe Hotel, were no fewer
than about twenty-eight Roman Catholic priests, from
different parts of the country ; and who, so far as we could
learn, had met on a sort of convocation, as they had done
about three years ago. They remained until Wednesday
morning.

Mr. Crompton Ashley, clerk in the Bank of Liverpool,
referred to an entry on the 7th of November, and stated
that he paid £450 to Messrs. Schroeder and Co., in four
£lOO notes and a £5O. Our bank number is 439. (A
£lOO note was here handed to the witness, which had
been cancelled. The witness identified the note as one
that he had paid.)

William Fisher Sync', another clerk in the Bank of Li-
verpool, said, that one of the notes was numbered 439,
and that number corresponds with the number of the £lOO
now produced.
Francis Samuel Boncquet, a teller in the Branch Bank
of England, produced a book containing an entry of a
£lOO note, number 80,341, paid by Messrs. Steele and
Co. It would be the duty of Mr. Jennings to copy the
notes received from me. On receiving the money from
Steele and Co. I put it into the drawer. It was taken out
of my drawer by the Inspector.
The absence of a material witness, the Inspector of the
Branch Bank of England here stopped the case, and the
prisoner was ordered to be brought up again on Wednes-
day next.

CHARGE OF SETTING FIRE TO THE DUKE'S WARE.
HOUSES.—A young man named James Gay, who has the
appearance of a carter, was yesterday placed at the bar of
the police-court, to answer a charge of incendiarism,
brought against him by a man named John Drummond.
The complainant gave his evidence in the following man-
ner :-1 had occasion to go out for a midwife, on the 15th
of July, at half-past twelve in the morning. I was sent to
M'Gee's-buildings, in Tithebarn-street. The midwife
was engaged, and could not come to me for some few
minutes, so I stood at the bottom of the entry. Four
men soon afterwards came up, and, being the last night of
the races, I was rather shocked, and retired up the entry.
Three of the men drew off into the middle of the street,
and he (the prisoner) came up the entry, with his head a
little down, and said, "Is that you, Kelly ?" " Yes,"
says I. The fire-bell then gave the alarm, and he cursed
my soul, and asked me, " Whose lot is it to-night?" " I
don't know." says I. And then, says he, " Oh, God, no
one has raised such a blaze as 1 have." " Where was
that ?" I says. "At the Duke's warehouses," says he;
but, damn their souls for villians, they gave nothing for
it," " What did you get ? I says. " Fifteen shillings."
The midwife came to me, and I was very glad to retire.
Mr. Rushton : When didyou see him since ?" Complain-
ant : " Not till yesterday evening." Mr. Rushton : " Did
you see him distinctly ?" Complainant : " Yes, I had a
view of his face, and am sure it is the man." The pri-
soner was asked what he had to say. lie replied that he
rtirt nnf ltnnw 'whnf ho woo ohorgatl with, and that ho had
not beard what the witness had said. Drummond then
repeated his evidence in nearly the same words. The pri-
soner: " I never saw you before, and if you send up to
my mother or sister, they will tell you what time I wt,s in
bed." Mr Rustiton: " What are you?" Prisoner :
" A carter." Mr. Rushton (to complainant): " When
did you first tell this story ?" Complainant : " yesterday
week, first, to Hall, the policeman." Mr. Rushton:
" Why did you not tell it before then ?" Complainant :
" I was at Hall's house before, and would have told him,
but I could not find him." Mr. Rushton : "There was
the Commissioner of police." Complainant : " I was not
acquainted with any policemen, and I did not like to
speak to any one. I knew Hall. Besides, my wife had
occasion for my attendance, and I could not go out as I
would have done." Prisoner : " Where was the entry ?"
Complainant : " M'Gee's-buildings, Tithebarn-street."
Prisoner: " I was never there. 1 don't know the build-
ings, though I know the street. And I never knew what
I was brought up for." Mr. Rushton : " How is that?"
Mr. Parkinson : "He was drunk." Mr. Rushton : "Is
there a light in the entry ?" Police-officer No, 318 :
" Yes, sir, there is. The entry is about as long as this
room" (thenolice-court, in High-street). Complainant:
" I saw him distinctly." Mr. Rushton : " Let him be
remanded."

PUBLICANS, &c.—On Saturday, three publicans were
fined, at the police-court, £2, £3, and £4 respectively,
for various offences against the tenor of their licenses.
Two beer-sellers were fined £1 and £2.
CHARITY SERMONS.—On Sunday week a sermon was
preached by the Rev. John Tobin, M.A., at Egremont
Church, and a collection madein behalf of the Wallasey
Dispensary, amounting to £l5. Same day, at Wallasey
Church, by the Rev. Dr. Byrth, when £3O were collected
far the same laudable purpose.
THE LATE MR. T. W. HODGSON.—The following par-
ticulars respecting this gentleman, one of the sufferers on
board the Pegasus, are given in a private letter:—
" Another of the passengers drowned was Mr. Thomas
Walton Hodgson, brother of Mr. W. 13. Hodgson, secre-
tary of your Mechanics' Institution. He (Mr. T.W.H.)
had just been elected secretary-of the Leeds Mechanics'
Institution and Literary Society, and was on his way from
Edinburgh to take the post to which he had been ap-
pointed. He was twenty-six years of age, and had re-
ceived the highest prizes for proficiency in chemistry and
mathematics in Edinburgh University ; he had also made
very great attainments in natural philosophy and in clas-
sics ; and he possessed uncommon energy of mind, indus-
try, independence, and integrity."

INQUESTS—An inquest was •yesterday held before Mr,
Currie, borough coroner, on view of the body of Bridget
Turner, a girl of 12 years of age. On Thursday last,
about one o'clock, as three carts were going up Man-
chester-street, the deceased attempted to cross over be-
tween two of them, and just as she passed from behind
one of them, a car came up that was driving at a moderate
pace down the street, and she ran against the shaft, which
threw her down lengthways, when both the off wheels
scarred her side, but did not pass over her body. She
was taken up insensible and conveyed to the Infirmary,
where every attention was paid to her, but she died on the
same night. It was found, on an examination of the
body, that she had sustained a fracture of the right tem-
ple bone, which had ruptured one of the arteries, pro-
ducing effusion of blood on the brain, which caused her
death. The car driver was not :to blame, and pulled up
immediately. Verdict, " Accidental death."—Same day,
on view of the body of a boy unknown. A porter who
was passing the Goree Piazzas on Thursday night between
nine and ten o'clock, heard a scream as of some one in
distress. He ran to George's-dock opposite, and went
on board of a schooner lying there, where he saw some
men, who said a lad had fallen overboard. On looking
on the water he saw a cap floating, but nothing else. In
a quarter of an hour the body was got out with the
grappling irons, and was taken to the receiving-house,
where attempts were made to restore animation, but with-
out effect. Deceased was one of the hands belonging to
the schooner Pilot, but his name was not known to any of
the people on board, and none of them saw him fall into
the dock. Verdict, " Found drowned, but how he got
into the water there was no evidence to show."
OPENING OF THE NEW ORGAN AT THE MECHANICS'
INSTITUTION: THURSDAY EVENING'S CONCERT.—The
instrument now erected in the theatre of this institution,
and not yet quite finished, is more than sufficient in power,
has some very sweet notes, and was played by Dr. Gaunt-
lett with effect and feeling, well supporting the vocalists,
Miss C. Novello, Mr. Hobbs, and others. It strikes us
that a smaller organ would have answered the general
purposes of the institution : its size causes its tones to be
buried in, some argue, within the recess where it stands,
and where it occupies too much, we think, of the space of
the platform, so valuable for lectures where illustration
is required. Another result follows from this, too, that
the orchestra is crowded too much between the organ and
the sides of the recess, where the seats rising up to the
ceiling„,,cause the voices to be stifled along with the tones
of the instrument in this square-formed recess, the angles
of which, if rounded off, would lessen in some degree this
unpleasant " fix" of the music, by throwing out, from a
semi-circular or polygonal alcove, the reverberations of
the notes better into the body of the Hall. We could
not help remarking this defect painfully whenever the
chorusses struck up—the harshness being unpleasant to
the ear. We make this observation, not from a desire to
find out a fault, but only with a view to seeing a defect
remedied as far as may be practicable. It is useless to
speak of the execution of the vocal parts, so ably main-
tained by Miss Novello, Mr. Novello, and Mr. Hobbs,
as their style is of a high order; but if we may speak just
what we think, without wishing to offend, Miss Novello's
voice is more powerful in compass than sweet in modula-
tion—her style altogether is very mannered. Her head-
dress of roses, red and white, did not set her off, but the
contrary. Of course she differs with us, in this particu-
lar, and many may agree with her, but we shall stick to
our own opinion, and prefer the absence to the presence
of the garish wreath of roses : one rose simply entangled
in her fine dark hair would have looked natural and rose-
like—a cart load looks a shade meretricious ! She sang
" Bonnie Prince Charlie" in her best style, and it was
warmly encored. A passage of Haydn's Creation pleased
us exceedingly. Mr. Hobbs sang with great spirit and
feeling " The Heart's an untameable thing," accompany-
ing himself on the grand piano, which was rapturously
applauded and repeated.—FßlDAY EVENING'S CONCERT :
We have but little to add, as regards this occasion, to
our opinions of the merits of the principal performers.
Miss C. Novello's solo of "Tears such as gentle fathers
shed," was well executed and well received. In the ce-
lebrated " Una voce," the same lady was most felicitous,
albeit she threw iato it so many grace-notes, and volun-
tary runs or adornments, that we were sometimes in ap-
prehension that she would come down from the heavens
as would the aerial machine if short of steam ; but she
managed it admirably, and was enthusiastically applauded.
She afterwards sang a Spanish and two Scottish ballads
with great pathos, and was encored in both the last. The
Hallelujah Chorus was, we think, the best of the evening ;
but our former remark applies to the position of the
singers, many of whom were cooped or cupboarded up in
the two little recesses on each side of the organ. The
second part was more interesting than the first. The
ballad " Sweet lady love," by Mr. Francis, was neatly
and chastely sung. The glee " When winds breathe.'
soft," by the principal vocalists, was very effective ; and
Mr. Hobbs's " God bless Queen Victoria," which he ac-
companied on the piano, was loudly applauded. His
" Meeting of the waters" was also fine and pathetic. The
concert was well attended, and went off with great eclat

LIBERALITY OF EMPLOYERS.—A press of other matter
prevented us from noticing last week a praiseworthy in-
stance of liberality in the proprietors of our only cotton
manufactory to their workpeople ; but we the less regret
the postponement, as they have since followed it up by
other acts of kindness and consideration towards them,
which have fallen within our knowledge, and which we
have great, pleasure in recording, though, we may premise,
we have no personal acquaintance whatever with those
gentlemen.—On Wednesday se'nnight, the teachers and
pupils of the "North Shore Mill" assembled in the school-
room attached, and, according to previous arrangement,
walked in procession to George's Pier, where they em-
barked in two steamers provided for them, and proceeded
up the river to Eastham, one of the most picturesque
ferries on the Cheshire shore. The number in the pro-
cession exceeded, we believe, 600, and all of them—par-
ticularly the females—were well and neatly dressed. The
day was very fine. The procession was headed by two
national flags, behind which was carried a large Bible,
surmounted by a crown of decorative flowers, over which
floated a handsome silk banner bearing the inscription,
" North Shore Mills Day and Sunday Schools." A
number of ornamental garlands were also carried in the
procession, the effect of which was highly pleasing. After
embarking, a musical band,:composed of persons con-
nected with the mill, played many lively and popular airs.
On landing at Eastham the whole party walked to the
beautiful pleasure-grounds belonging to the hotel, which
had been previously engaged for their accommodation,
and, on the green, partook of an excellent and substan-
tial repast, consisting of sandwiches, currant bread, coffee,
&c. The men and boys afterwards went to " the marsh,"
And entered into various old English manly sports ; and
the 'girls and their leaders betook themselves to the fine
parks and woods behind the ferry, and diverted themselves
in gentler pastimes in these sylvan retreats. Mr. Turner,
of Manchester, Mr. North, Mr. Garstang, (the three
partners,) and several friends, were present,—as was Mr.
Wood, the conductor of the schools. The lady of Mr.
North, and Miss Nun, (niece of Mr. Garstang,) were also
on the ground ; and the whole entered with hearty good-
will into the joyous sports of the day. Dancing on the
green, in which the youths and men took part, was one
of the recreations afterwards resorted to ; and Mr. and
Mrs. North were the first to lead off the happy throng.
Some fine anthems, including " Gratitude," " Lord God
of Israel," &c., were sung at intervals in the alcove in the
centre, and with the band accompaniments, had a fine
effect echoing amongst the woodlands. About four
o'clock the assemblage again partook of refreshments, and
after singing several hymns, and also " Rule Britannia"
and " God save the Queen," they gave three cheers, and
one cheer more, for—" the Queen," " Prince Albert,"
"The Royal Family," "Queen Adelaide," and, finally,
"The Owners of the North Shore Mills." Amongst
other things provided on the ground was a boiler of 170
gallons, brought from the mill, to prepare the coffee,
200 lb. of coffee, 800 lb. of bread, 200 lb. of sugar, 900 lb.
of currants, and 20 gallons of milk. About six o'clock
the whole party re-embarked ; and on arriving at Liver-
pool again formed in procession and walked to the schools,
where they were kindly thanked by Mr. North for the
propriety of their conduct ; and after singing the " Even-
ing Hymn," they separated, highly delighted with the
treat which their liberal employers had afforded them.
The shrubberies were next day found to be quite unin-
jured.—On Wednesday last these gentlemen again evinced
their kind feeling to the scholars by treating them, to the
number of 200, to a sight of the exhibition at the Collegi-
ate Institution, with which they were much astonished
and delighted. On leaving with their teachers, a number
of the eldest amongst them, about forty, appearing to be
anxious to obtain a longer view of some of the rooms, Mr.
North, with the utmost alacrity, paid their way a second
time. When we mention that the mills have all the time
been and still are stopped, to make repairs, &c., in the
machinery, and that the proprietors, while the hands are
out, gratuitously supply them with soup and bread, to
keep the wolf from the door, we need attempt no comment
on their kindness and consideration. We would only say
'o evr " Go t'

very snillowner under such circumstances,
and do likewise!"

LIVERPOOL BOROUGH SESSIONS-SATURDAY

TitTAL AND ACQUITTAL OF MR. ORME, FOR FELONY.
James Orme, proprietor of the Rimrose Hotel, at Bootle,
was given in charge, at a quarter to three o'clock, for
having, on the afternoon of Saturday, the 17th ult., stolen
a pocket-book, containing bank of England notes to the
amount of £l7O, the property of Mrs. Alice Holden, the
landlady of the Crooked Billet, situate in Hackin's-hey
and Exchange-street East.

Mr. Arnold and Mr. Paget conducted the prosecution ;
and Mr. James and Mr. Drinkwater defended the priso-
ner. The case excited very considerable interest on the
part of a densely-crowded court.
The RECORDER said that he had received a letter in re-
ference to the case, but that he must, upon the present, as
well as upon all future occasions, respectfully decline to
pay any attention whatever to communications made to
him in so objectionable a form.
Mr. ARNOLD then proceeded to state the case, the par-
ticulars of which have already very recently appeared in
the local papers. He admitted that it was clearly an issue
of character between the prisoner and the principal wit-
ness, Mary Hornby, because either she, who had, upon her
solemn oath, stated, that she saw the prisoner take the
pocket-book, must be guilty of deliberate perjury, or the
prisoner must be guilty of the felony in question. If the
jury should be satisfied that there was any mistake on her
part as to the identification of the prisoner, or that she had
not told the truth, it would be their duty to acquq the
prisoner, but it would be equally their duty to convict him,
if they thonght the female was the witness of truth, who
told them what she positively saw on the occasion in ques-
tion,

Mr. Fox, a surveyor, produced a plan of the premises,
and described the situation of the bar and passages leading
thereto.

Mrs. Alice Holden deposed that she kept the Crooked
Billet, and that, about ten minutes to four o'clock on the
afternoon of the 17th ult., the prisoner, who had been in
the habit of frequenting her house, went into the snug
with a friend of his, a Mr. Fowler, where they each had a
glass of gin and porter. The prisoner then went away,
leaving his little boy in a chair in the bar, but returned
shortly after. In the meantime she took out her pocket-
book, which contained two £5O notes, three £2O notes,
and a £lO note, for the purpose of giving the latter note
to her son Oliver, in exchange for silver to that amount ;
•,ut Oliver having unexpectedly left, she returned the note
to the pocket-hook, which she placed upon the sideboard
in the bar. She then returned to the kitchen for a few
minutes, and, upon coming out, at about a quarter after
four o'clock, met the prisoner going along the lobby with
his son by the hand, and saw Mary in the passage. The
money was not missed until ten o'clock the same night,
and from that day to the present no trace of either the
book or the notes was discovered. The numbers of the
notes were unknown. Upon missing the book she ex-
claimed, " Oh ! dear, it's gone !" upon which Maly said,
" Ohl nothing of the kind : you 'll find it somewhere."
She then recollected that she had never seen it since she
took out the £lO note and placed it on the sideboard ;
and having told Mary so, the latter said she could safely
state that she had seen Mr. Orme take it and drop some
papers out of it upon the ground.

Mary Hornby deposed minutely and distinctly to the
manner in which the alleged robbery had been effected.
She said she saw the prisoner enter the bar and lay hold
of the pocket-book, drop two papers from it upon the
ground, pick them up and clasp the book as he was in the
act of retiring from the house. She stood close behind
him while he was in the bar, and he touched her as he
stooped for the papers and passed out.
This witness was cross-examined at great length by Mr.
JAMES. She stated, that she did not live with her hus-
band ; that she bad been separated from him for the last
fourteen years ; and that her box had been searched by
the police•ofiicers on the first, and again upon the second
day after the robbery.

Jane Parkinson, awaiter at the Crooked Billet, proved
that she saw the prisoner walking inside the bar at a little
after four o'clock on the day named in the indictment.

William Bond, the hostler of the Billet, proved that
the prisoner left in his shand ry at a little after four o'clock,
and that he was very much fluttered at the time.

Inspector Morley deposed, that, upon being taken into
custody, the prisoner denied that he had ever been in the
bar of the Billet on the day in question.
The case for the prosecution having here closed,
Mr. JAMES addressed the jury at some length in behalf
of the pri:oner. The question involved in the case was,
as Mr. Arnold had stated in opening, one of character :
the- character of Mary Hornby upon the one side, and
that of the prisoner upon the other. M. James then
proceeded to remark upon the fact of Mr. Fowler not
having been called into the witnesg-box ; and said that he
had not been examined because the prosecutors knew he
would not support their case. The learned counsel thought
it would have been difficult for Mary Hornby to have
eluded the suspicions which would be excited had she been
charged with the felony ' • had she been living with any one
but her aunt ; and had the case been different from what
it is at present, a question of the character of Mrs. Hol-
den and her family against the character of the prisoner
and his family. He contended, that the charge depended
wholly on the evidence of Mary Hornby, a widowed wife,
who had separated herself, for some unexplained cause or
other, from her husband's house, whose story had not
been believed in the first instance, and whose boxes were
searched on two occnsions, while the premises were never
searched.

PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS FROM GUN

POWDER

The Rev. Miles Formby, a clergyman of the Church of
England, and a magistrate, said, he had known the pri-
soner for eighteen years, and that his character for probity
had_ever stood very high.

The late terrible disaster on board the Camperdown
and its melancholy consequences forcibly remind us of an
invention which appears well calculated to prevent the
possibility of such occurrences, the value of which may
be estimated by the frequency of such accidents and by the
constant amount of danger wherever gunpowder is kept
in any quantity, whether on board vessels or ashore in
the port, in stores or in the hands of the dealers. We
really call earnestly upon our shipping and other friends
interested, npon our public functionaries and the govern-
ment itself, to investigate this matter, and to give the
public the protection which the invention affords against
these calamities. We allude to the fire-resisting princi-
ple of Messrs. Milner and Son, of this town, which con-
sists in inclosing all combustibles, gunpowder included,
in chambered vessels—the chamber being occupied by bad
conductors of heat, in which tubes are imbedded con-
taining fluid, which discharges itself in attaining the boil-
ing temperature, and steams the gunpowder, destroying
its explosive quality. Our attention was called to the
subject by Mr. Words's pamphlet " On the Preservation
of Documents from Fire; " in which (after detailing an
extraordinary experimental trial of a gunpowder safe, at
present to be seen amongst the articles at the Collegiate
Institution, kept in red beat for upwards of twelve hours)
he observes :—" Although not strictly within the subject
of this inquiry, a comment may be here permitted on the
very great advantage which such a magazine or safe pre-
sents, as a receptacle for gunpowder. The operation of
the principle adopted destroys its explosive power, and is
sure and simple. The steam preceding the inroads of the
fire, saturates the powder so completely as to render it
into a moist mass, which, on the fire reaching it, (in the
event of the magazine itself being ultimately burnt away,
a thing of next to impossible occurrence,) will quietly fuse
away. And thus, it used either in gunpowder stores, in
ships, or by retailers, many of those awful catastrophes
would be avoided, in which the loss of life or property is
but too frequently recorded. The inventors inform me it
is their intention to bring this subject under the notice of
the Government, and to institute a course of experiments
to elucidate the merits of their invention, for such a pur-
pose, preparatory to taking that step." A number of
experiments are detailed as having been made by, or in the
presence of, and attested by scientific men, all of the most
satisfactory character, in proof of its capabilities, and we
copy from the Sheffield Iris the following, of recent oc-
currence :—" A trial of the capabilities of these boxes to
resist the action of fire, was made on Thursday last, in the
entrance yard to the water works, in Divison-street, in the
presence of the master cutler, and a number of other res-
pectable parties. About half-past twelve a large fire was
made in the yard, and one of the patent fire-proof boxes
placed in the middle of it. At the same time one of the
powder magazines, partly filled with books and papers,
with half-a-pound of the best gunpowder placed in .the
middle of the contents, was also put into the fire. At four
o'clock the box was taken out of the fire, with the powder
magazine : when opened, the papers in it were found to
be as perfect as when deposited. The gunpowder in the
magazine had not exploded, but appeared to have been
steamed first and then hard baked. It certainly had not
exploded, but was exceedingly hot, and appeared to be
totally unfit for use, althoug:) it had been exposed to afire
equal to any furnace for four hours. The result was highly
satisfactory, and completely tested the value and safety of
Mr. Milner's boxes. As a proof of his confidence we may
state, that in three minutes after the magazine was taken
from the furnace, Mr. Milner sat down on the inner cell
of the magazine without the slightest inconvenience, it
being only slightly warm. The gunpowder was taken out
by the master cutler, and if in his possession. We shall
return to the subject." The magazines are so made as for
the outer cylinder to slide down like a telescope upon the
inner tell, so as to prevent any stray grains scattered out-
side from communicating fire to the interior while in a dry
state. We strongly commend this invention to the con-
sideration of the public guardians.

Mr. John Formby, a magistrate at Bootle; Mr. Hard-
man Earle, a magistrate for the borough of Liverpool;
Mr. Robert E. H a rvpy. another magistrate. Mr. Michael
Ashcroft, an extensive farmer under the Earl of Derby ;
Mr. Thomas Irlam, broker at Bootle; Mr. John Mac-
kerill, a joiner at Bootle; Mr. Shaw, a constable and
overseer of Everton ; and Mr. James Price," of the house
of Baring Brothers and Co., all spoke in the highest pos-
sible terms of the prisoner's character during the last
twenty years. _

At the close of this evidence, the Recorder was about
to charge the jury, when

The FOREMAN asked whether they could at that stage
of the proceedings return their verdict?

The. RECORDER replied in the affirmative, provided
they were agreed.

The FOREMAN said, they were quite unanimous in pro-
nouncing the prisoner not guilty.
A verdict to this effect was accordingly returned amid
loud and continued cheering and clapping of hands from
the multitude assembled at the rear of the court. It was
with much difficulty, on the part of the Recorder and the
officials in attendance, that those ebullitions of feeling
were at length repressed. The prisoner was ordered to
be discharged forthwith, and directions were given to In-
spector Morley to return him a £2O note which he had
given to that officer at the time of his arrest. The trial
terminated at five minutes to eight o'clock.

THE BENTINCK STEAMER.—This splendid steamer,
which left this port on Monday, the 17th ult., arrived at
Kingstown in the evening, and remained there till Thurs-
day, when she left for Southampton, where she arrived on
Saturday morning, having sailed a distance of 440 miles
in 35 hours 43 minutes. Her maximum speed on the
passage was twelve and a half knots, of forty-nine feet to
a fourteen-second glass, and that speed she made good by
the land two consecutive hours, without the aid of any
tide.

The Glasgow underwriters will suffer very severely by
the loss of the Columbia steamer, which was principally
insured in this city. We have heard the amount stated
at upwards of £40,000, underwritten by several of our
most influential brokers.—Glasgow Argus,

AN IMMENSE LOBSTER.—There is now on view at
Mr. Cole's fish-establishment, Basnett-street, a lobster
weighing 251 lb., which was brought over alive from the
state of Maine, by the steamer Hibernia. Twenty-three
other lobsters, some of even still more enormous dimen-
sions, were brought, packed up in ice, by the same vessel,
one being of the incredible weight of 381bs.,—but none
lived to reach this country except the one mentioned.
MANCHESTER AND LIVERPOOL DISTRICT BANK.—
The half-yearly meeting of the Manchester and Liverpool
District Bank was held in usual course on Thursday. A
dividend was declared of six shillings per share, which, on
the present paid-up capital of ten pounds per share, is
equal to six per cent. per annum. It was stated that after
paying the above dividend, and providing for the income
tax for this and the two preceding half-years, there re-
mained a surplus of profit, which would be transferred to
the guarantee fund.
There are at this time constructing in this town sixteen
or seventeen vessels of iron, but not one new ship of wood
is building on the stocks.—Albion.—[Our contemporary
has not displayed his usual caution in permitting the in-
sertion into his columns of the preceding paragraph. It
savors too much of a puff on the face of it, and must have
created no little astonishment in the minds of his readers,
who are in the habit of receiving all his dicta as the truths
of gospel. If our contemporary will take the trouble of
inquiring, he will find that there is at this time a large
number of " ships of wood" already " on the stocks,"
and some of them advancing towards completion.]

THE LATE EXPLOSION' ON BOABD H.M.S. CAMPER-
DOWN.—On Saturday evening another of the unfortunate
sufferers on this melancholy occasion, Miss Barton, a
young lady twenty-two years of age, died in consequence
of the injuries she had received. The deceased had been
spoken of as the daughter of Miles Barton, Esq., of this
town. This seems to be a mistake. At the inquest yester-
day week she was described as the daughter of a clergyman
of the Isle of Sheppy. She was of a very amiable charac-
ter, and beloved by all the inhabitants: The verdict was
his medical atvteearydaat bad
a, state,
it
appears
accidental death. Lieutenant Blackmore, of Camper-
down, who was most severely injured by the explosionsstill lies in a
and,
that fromh
the
i
of danger. astnaatetnyieenttouotf

ANCIENT CUSTOM IN THE BOROUGH OF LIVERPOOL.
—On Tuesday, at twelve o'clock, the Mayor and the
Town-clerk, in their robes of office, attended by the mace-
bearer, the sword-bearer, and other officers, appeared iu
front of the Town-hall, for the purpose of proclaiming the
the annual fair, and specifying the privileges, &c., of
persons frequenting the borough during its continuance.
Though there is no fair, properly speaking, held in Liver-
pool at present, yet it is deemed necessary to keep up the
custom so as to maintain the privilege, especially as,
during the fair, the corporation is entitled to double toll.
It is supposed that if the formality were to be neglected
the privilege would be forfeited. The following proclama-
tion was read by the Town-clerk :—" Robertson Glad-
ctnno, Ecrolire, 114.ynr of the CIPPII 'S 'Majesty's boroueh
and port town of Liverpool, and her Majesty's Lieutenant
within the same town and liberties thereof, giveth open
monition and notice, that all and every person and per-
sons that have any thing to do at this fayr may have quiet
and free egress and regress in and from the same, during
the accustomed time, without arrest or other molestation
by reason of any process or warrant issuing out of the
said Majesty's court that time. And further, the said
Mayor strictly chargeth and commandeth, in the Queen's
Majesty's name, all manner of persons to be assembled,
that they and every of them do keep her Majesty's peace,
and quietly and honestly, as good subjects ought to do,
carry and demean themselves, as they and every of them
will answer the contrary, and avoid such pains and
punishment as, by the law, may justly be inflicted upon
them for such their demerits and ill carriage. And
furthermore, the said Mayor willeth and requireth all
manner of persons that shall find themselves aggrieved
by reason of any wrong or offence done unto them, that
they forthwith repair to the said Mayor, who will readily
hear their grievances, and administer such speeedy and
due redress therein as shall be according to law and
practice.--God save the Queen, the worshipful Mr.
Mayor, and all the good people." It will be seen by the
above, that the good folks of our town have always, even
in periods remote, had an eye to the main chance; to the
encouragement of trade; and the attraction of strangers
to bring traffic, wealth, and double toll. Formerly, no
persons could be arrested during the fair; and to this day
a hand, signifying protection, is displayed during the fair
days at the Town-hall. Even now, we believe, there is
exemption from arrest under processes from the borough
court. It was curious to observe the astonishment of the
people at the display of Tuesday in front of the Town-
hall. The passers-by ran up in crowds, and endeavoured
in vain to catch, from the words of the Town-clerk, the
meaning of the proceeding. When, in a loud voice, at
the end of the proclamation, the crier exclaimed, " God
save the Queen, Mr. Mayor, and all the good people !
all the good people opened their eyes with the most
anxious curiosity to know what they could have done to
be so honoured. The Mayor, the Town-clerk, and others
who were present behind the scenes had some difficulty
in restraining their laughter at the astonishment indicated;
and when the anxious crowd was left to enjoy its wonder,
and to inquire in vain what was the meaning of the im-
posing ceremony, the functionaries gave tolerably free
vent to their merriment.
CASE OF STABBlNG.—arsOohenfh tieTthshlei,
au
a d:
Police-courts
sbdeeaaeymn last,arin re
svaaiooibndul asiacnl
charge
of
ehcffmaorenagene:
named Thomas Franklin, was brought in custody from
Henry
in
ffit
ohnree
tdißorougheapn rdd
i prisoner.
ecer. Gaol,a
Ht
the whichr
by
of having stabbed a ship-mate. Mr. Grocott appeared
that he had been on a voyage in the ship John Bibby,
from London to Calcutta, and thence to this port, where
the vessel arrived on Saturday last. The hands remained
on board, and some words, it appeared, took place on
Monday afternoon between the prisoner, who was cook of
the ship, and two or three of the crew. A kind of scuffle
ensued between one of them and the prisoner, and the
complainant went up and saw the prisoner throw some
hot water at the other. Immediately afterwards, while he
(complainant) was leaving the galley, the prisoner (he
said) rushed at him with a knife, while his back was
turned, and struck it into his left hip, severely wounding
him: On cross-examination, complainant said he had

THE SESSIONS—IMPORTANT PRESENTMENT OF THE not had any quarrel with the prisoner, and was not on
GRAND JURY.—The grand jury having, on Wednesda bad terms with him. He did not knob whether the blow
Y, might not possibly be intended for the man who was
finished their labours, were discharged with thanks from quarrelling with the prisoner, but would not admit that he
the Recorder. Prior to their discharge, Mr. Hobson, thought it might have bew an accident. He was taken to
their foreman, read and handed in the following pre- the Northern Hospital, %Mere he was still a patient. The
sentment :—" The grand jury hope they will not be prisoner was brought in custody from the ship by police
stepping beyond their proper province, if they beg re- constable Meredith. On being asked what he had to
spectfully to represent to the court and magistrates of the say, he entered into some details of the whole affair in
borough, that they have been deeply impressed by the very good English, to the effect that he had prepared some
novel and appalling statements made in a pamphlet re- salt beef for the men according to the mate's directions,
cently published by their respected and able townsman, the fresh provisions not having then come on board; that
Dr. W. H. Duncan, by which it appears that Liverpool, some fresh meat was afterwards got, a small part of which
so far from being one of the healthiest, as they had i he cooked for the butcher of the ship and one of the wit-
thought, is actually the most unhealthy town in England, nesses (Thompson,) but that Thompson did not get
owing to the extreme density in which the lower classes any of it, another of the crew having taken it ; that
of its population are crowded together in confined courts Thompson came and abused him for giving fresh meat
and cellars, constructed without due regard to ventilation to others and not to him ; that he informed him he
and drainage, and without adequate arrangements for the
had acted by the mate's orders, to whom he referred him ;
removal of filth. The grand jury hope that statements
from that words ensued, and another of the crew (Bowden) then
a respectable quarter, of evils of such magnitude, came and called him names, and struck him ; that he
pressing with peculiar weight on the poor and helpless,
will not be allowed to pass unheeded by the authorities, him
threw a panikin of hot water upon him to get
I him out of the galley; that one of those with him, who
whose duty it is to attend to the well-being of the town,in his band, in
and that, if well founded, no time will be lost in devising siezing
were abetting him, had an open knife
and effecting the fullest remedies that they have the cut, and seeing the blood flow from it, he took up the
power to apply, especially with regard to the streets and knife (produced) and threw it at his assailants, and
mee
which, to save himself, lie (prisoner) had his hand
courts now existing, to which the late act ' for the pro- stuck into Shelt's back. lie added, that theilants,
second mate
motion of the health of the inhabitants of Liverpool,' and another man bad also afterwards seecnrotslsieetn
d) to strike
however imperfect in some of its provisions, does not at the door of the galley (whiucth. he r
He wished these last to
on inquiry, that
extend. The grand jury, at the close of their duties, I
cannot separate without offering their most sincere con- be called as
the
witnesses, but it appeared,
port, and they had gone with lier:.—
gratulations to Gilbert Henderson, Esq,, on his being the ship. had left
denied that the knife was flung, alleging
appointed by her most gracious Majesty to the honour- The witnesses
with it,
d stabbed the an
prisoner ran
able office of Recorder for this borough ; and they most
the that the
him down dead if lie ca (e ft
The house surgeon of the hospital
leftsalq that he
complain-
sincerely wish that he may long
be
sparel' to
fill
Re- ;:,nutijd the complainant wounded on the hip. The
chair.—(Signed) S. T. HonsoN, Foreman. —The
inch in length and two-and-a•half in wound was one
h i ;depth, and caused much pain. It might have
been pro-
and kind wishes, and said he should n
- not
tateals with a view i duced by the knife shown in court, and must have been
presentment before the borough magistrates the eircum- the result of considerable force. The prisoner was corn-
to the adoption of such measures as, ,
corder thanked the grand jury for their y.o.7gtroaltauyla tins. I
1 nutted to take iris
stances, might be deemed desirable.
I