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

CHESTER ASSIZES.

The assizes for the county of Chester commenced yes-
terday morning in the Shire Hall, before Mr. Baron Gur-
ney, and Mr, Baron Rolfe. The judges took their seats
about half-past ten o'clock, when the courts were opened
with the usual formalities. Mr. Baron Rolfe presided in
the Crown court, and Mr. Baron Gurney sat at the Nisi
Prius.

In charging the Grand Jury, of which Sir Richard
Brooke, Bart., of Neston Priory, was foreman, Mr. Baron
Rolfe said he regretted to observe that the calendar pre-
sented a greater number of prisoners for trial than there
was when he was last there twelve months ago, but, on
looking over the depositions he did not observe, although
some of the persons were charged with serious offences,
that they were of a nature to require any lengthened
observations from him. The learned judge then referred
to two cases of murder, one at Stockport, and the other
at Macclesfield, and pointed out the legal distinctions
betwee❑ that crime and manslaughter. He then ad-
verted to several of the minor charges, in the course
of which he addressed the usual directions, and after
congratulating the county that there were no more of
those cases to come before them, which were remaining
after his last visit (the Chartists trials) he dismissed the
Grand Jury to their labours.
The trials commenced about noon, but nothing of
striking interest occurred during the day.—William
Brown, 38, indicted for the manslaughter of Martha
Broom, at Ashton-by-Badwortb, on the lith of May last,
was found guilty of a common assault, and sentenced to
six weeks imprisonment.—John Ryley, for forging a
ticket or order for three pints of ale. with intent to de-
fraud one George Bennet, at Hurdsfield, near Maccles-
field, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment.—John
Cartwright, for uttering base coin at Norbury, near
Stockport, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment.—
The eourt adjourned at half-past five o'clock.
The calendar contains the names of 1 prisoner for trial
on a charge of bigamy ; 13 for burglary ; 1 for concealing
of birth ; 2 for cutting and maiming ; 3 for embezzlement;
1 for forgery ; 6 for housebreaking ; 3 for manslaughter ;
2 for murder; 1 for perjury; 1 for stealing from the per-
son; 1 for unnatural crime; 1 for uttering base coin; and
9 for various offences of a minor charge.—Total, 45.

NISI PRIUS COURT.
The cause list contains 14 entries, of which the large
proportion of nine are to be tried before special juries.
The cases yesterday were totally uninteresting, being
merely actions for debt. The case (a new trial) of the
Corporation of Macclesfield against the butchers will,
probably, be tried this afternoon. The Solicitor-General
and Mr. Kelly are expected on Thursday.

PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT.—The third
grand full dress concert of this society will take place on
Monday next, at which, it will be seen by their advertise-
pent in another column, the committee have succeeded
in retaining the services of a host of talent, including
Madame Albertazzi, Mademoiselle Houson, and Mr.
Balfe, together with the unequalled violinist, Camillo
Sivori. A rich treat to the lovers of music may be ex-
pected.

THE HAPPY FAMILY.—Cats, mice, rats, birds, squir-
rels, monkeys, rabbits—all imaginable varieties of oppo-
site natures living together—constitute a sight worthy
indeed of seeing ! We recommend our readers who have
not visited Mr. Austin's collection to go at once: quar-
relsome people especially. who fall out with their own
selves or their shadows, or what is worse, with their
neighbours or families, ought to witness this curious
spectacle, and reflect upon what training can effect to
to controul not only temper but even nature!
FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE RIVER.-011 Friday even-
ing last, twelve men put off in a small fishing-boat from
the Coburg Pierhead, for the purpose of reaching a vessel
in the middle of the river. When about twenty yards
from the pier, and while they were in the act of hoisting
the sail, the Royal Rock Ferry packet, the " Cheshire
Witch," came rapidly upon them, and before the paddles
were reversed, struck the boat in the centre and stove her
in. The twelve men, who were for the most part seamen,
endeavoured by swimming to save their lives. Two boats
put off from the cockle slip to their assistance, and other
means were adopted for their preservation, and eleven
were brought safely to shore. One of the party was
rescied by a man of the name of Gurneil, who resolutely
jumped off the pierhead and seized him as he was in the
act of sinking. The remaining man was, we regret to
say, drowned.

FIRE AT THE " OLD SWAN."—Very early 011 Saturday
morning last, a stack of hay in a field near the Cattle
Market, a short distance from the Old Swan, and belong-
ing to Messrs. Adams and Banks, was discovered to be
on fire. A number of persons from the neighbourhood
were soon on the spot; two engines from the fire station
in Temple-street were also sent out with all possible dis-
patch on the alarm being received ; and by vigorous ex-
ertions a portion of the hay in the centre was saved, that
around it being cut off. Mr. Edward Hurst, superin-
tendent of Messrs. Jackson and Co.'s ropery, in the
vicinity, was extremely active on the occasion. The loss
was, however, very considerable. It has been stated in
one of the Saturday's papers, that " the fire was caused
by heating, the hay being put up in a damp state." This
was not the fact ; as the portion saved (in the centre) was
found to be perfectly dry ; and so clearly does it, more-
over, appear to have arisen from incendiarism, that a
reward of £5O is offered by the Liverpool Butchers'
Guardian Society for such information as may lead to the
conviction of the offender or offenders.

THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—The second grand gala
of the season took place at this delightful and deservedly
popular place of resort last evening, and went off with, if
possible, increased echit. The gardens, which are in the
tun num of summer verdure, were beautifully illuminated
by variegated lamps in oil and gas. The winding walks
and pleasure-grounds were crowded with company, who
before dusk enjoyed the rural beauties of the scene, or
contemplated the economy and habits of the numerous
animals, gentle and fierce, whose domiciles, forming
agreeable cottage adornments, diversify the ground.
Many parties " embarked " o❑ the centrifugal railway,
and wondered, at the end of their ride, how pleasantly
they turned a somerset in the air seated in the car. The
Bude light shone resplendently at the terminus. \Vhen
the shades of night gathered around, the Siege of Amoy
commenced. and the cannonading became terrific ; while
Madame Rossina again ascended and de-scended the rope
over the lake, to and from the castle—a perilous feat,
which fluttered the nerves of the young ladies who wit-
nessed it, but, from her dexterity and self-possession,
gave great delight to all. Amov being taken, the wheel
and other fireworks commenced in another part of the
grounds, and were most bright, varied, and beautiful.
The only regret was, that they did not last all night ; in
which case many of the fair and free would have suffered,
for we verily believe they would have remained long
enough to catch a cold. There were vast crowds outside,
who witnessed, without giving..a fee or reward, the ascent
of numberless beautiful rockets. Some of the wild birds
kept up a continued cawing or note of pleasure, " think-
ing " it was the advent of Aurora herself, arrayed in the
golden b.illiancy of the morn. The proprietor of the
gardens deserves well of the public for the liberality and
taste which he evinces in these displays.

DEATH, APPARENTLY FROM VIOLENCE.—An inquest
was yesterday held before Mr. Currie on view of the body
of Margaret Dillon, a woman of the town, who was 25
years of age. It appeared that a young man named John
Rollen (who was brought in custody into the court) had
on Saturday night gone into a house of ill fame in North-
street, kept byik couple named Dear ; and that after being
in bed all night, a dispute arose between the prisoner and
deceased, about six in the morning, when the prisoner
struck her with his open hands on both sides of the head.
Deceased then went and sat down on the side rail of an
unoccupied set of bedstocks, and fell backwards, striking
her head with great force against the floor. She died
almost instantly. A police-officer and a surgeon were
called, but nothing could he done for her. Mr. Percival,
surgeon, said, he found the deceased dead, when called in
on Sunday morning. He found a slight mark of violence
on one of the arms, but it did not appear to be recent.
He had since examined the body. He found effusions of
blood in the head in two or three places. These effusions
were not natural, and were likely to have been the result
of violence. There was the mark of an old apoplectic
effusion on the brain. There was also clotted blood ex-
tending down the spine. These effusions of blood were
the cause of death, and, he considered, the result of vio-
lence. A person sitting on the bedstocks, such as he saw
in the room, and falling backwards accidentally on to the
floor, could not possibly receive these injuries. She must
have been knocked down by force, and the blow or blows
must have been given on the head. He did not think
blows given with the open hands on each side of the head
could have inflicted the injuries, unless given with extra-
ordinary violence. The blows must have been severe to
have produced the external appearances. (The jury here
sent a requisition to the coroner requiring that another
surgeon should be called in.) Mr. Arnott, who had ex-
amined the body along with the last witness, was sent for,
and the inquest was meantime adjourned until this day.
REGULATIONS OF THEATRES.—A bill' for regulating
theatres has just been brought into the House of Com-
mons by Sir James Graham, Mr. Manners Sutton, and
Lord Mahon. The preamble states that it is expedient to
repeal the present laws regulating theatres and theatrical
performances, and to enact other provisions in their stead.
It proposes that all theatres, not being patent, within
London and Westminster and the metropolitan boroughs,
and also within places occasionally visited by her Majesty,
shall be licensed (under a penalty) by the Lord Chamber-
lain ; but licenses may be granted by justices of the peace
in every county, &c., in a particular month in each year,
at a special session, under the bands of four justices, with
fees to the Lord Chamberlain and justices. Shakspeare's
plays, or adaptations of them, are not to be played within
five miles of a patent theatre, while such theatre is open.
Securities are to be given by managers for the payment of
penalties they may incur :for breaches of the rules, which
are to be made, from time to time, by the Lord Chan-
cellor, a contravention of which will subject any house to
be deemed " unlicensed." Justices may also make rules
for the theatres they license, but these may be altered by
the Secretaries of State ; and no such license to be in force
within fourteen miles of the principal universities. Per-
sons performing without license to be subject to a penalty
of £lO a day. No new, or altered plays to be performed
without the Chamberlain's license, and fees to be paid
to him for their examination. £5O penalty for perform-
ing an unlicensed play. The burthen of proof of li-
cense is to lie with the accused party. Penalties to be
recovered in the courts of record in Westminster, in Scot-
land by action,. or in any part of the kingdom by summary
process before two justices in the locality—the amount to
be levied by distress. Appeal may be had at quarter ses-
sions. Penalties in London to go to the police fund ;
elsewhere to the parish funds, Proceedings must be taken
within 6 months, and the act is limited to Great Britain,
I and may be amended or repealed this session. The bill
has been read a second time and committed.