The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-05-07 00:00:00

LOCAL NEWS.

"THE QUEEN'S HOTEL,"—MANCHESTER.—Our well
known and esteemed t.,witsman, Mr. Towers, of the
Angel Hotel, has (as will be seen by an aivertisement)
commenced an establishment under this name, in Man-
chester. The opening dinner is fixed for Tuesday next.
and from past experience of " mine host's " taste and
judgement, as a providore, we need scarcely say that the
entertainment will be of the shoicest kind, whether as
regards viands or wines. We have seen the new hotel, it
is in Piccadilly, and is a superb and exceedingly spacious
stone building, apparently as large as the Adelphi, in this
town; elegantly fitted up, and unsurpassed in comfort and
convenience by any in the kingdom.

LIVERPOOL PORTER.—We have hitherto considered
the flavour of the London, Dublin, and Cork Porter
unapproachable, and have, in some way, been inclined
to think that Liverpool brdwed porter was greatly inferior
to that produced by its rival towns; but from the samples
we have been shown by Messrs. Cross and Metge, who
have opened extensive stores in Water-street, ve are now
lead to believe that Liverpool is about to compete with
these hitherto favoured places in the production of this
popular summer beverage. The flavour of this porter is
excellent, and it possesses those combined qualities of
strength and mildness so much desired. Those who are
about to lay in their summer stores would do well to try
the article.

FIRE IN CHAPEL-STREET.—About half-past se7en
o'clock yesterday evening, a fire was discovered on the
premises adjoining Adelaide Buildings, Chapel-street.
The ground floor is occupied by Mr. Graves, a merchant,
and the upper rooms are cecupiel by Messrs. T. and J.
Connah, Mr. Thos. Sleddon, and Messrs. Bournes and
Robinson, and in the office of the latter the fire originated,
but was fortunately discovered and arrested before any
material damage was effi cted. A large hole was burned
in the floor, and a number of files of bills, the Telegraph,
&c., consumed Mr. Miller, the chief superintendent, as
also Mr. Hewitt, were speedily on the spot. The fire was
first discovered by a man named Picker sgill, who rendered
efficient service in preventing its progress by a few buckets
of water.

THE LATE EXPLOSION OF GAS IN A DWELLING-
Houss.—We related a few weeks ago the particulars of
an extraordinary explosion of gas in n large (and then
luckily untenanted) dwelling-house in Islington, corner of
Salisbury .street, which greatly shattered the building,
blew out several of the windows, overturned the door
steps, and did other damage. It was afterwards found
necessary to remove the greater part of the walls, and
have them rebuilt, which is just accomplished. The front
wall to Islington is rebuilt almost entirely from the cel-
lars. The back wall to the yard had to be similarly re-
newed, and the frontage to Salisbury street (the largest)
to about half the same proportionate extent. The attics
had to be nearly all rebuilt. The only parts that appear
to have stood the shock were the lower angles or corners.
To effect the repairs, the floors and roof had to be sup-
ported with props all round ; and the building, thus opened
out, presented the appearance of two large open galleries
or verandas, one over the other. The cost to the, pro-
prietor must be very considerable, as the destruction
would not be made good by the insurance office.
THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—We know of no place of
summer recreation more worthy of the attendance of
those who have a few hours to spare than Mr. Atkins's
beautiful and picturesque gardens, which have all the ad-
vantages of rural air and brightness. though in the almost
immediate proximity of the town. Those who have visited
them will readily acknowledge that the comparatively
small space of ground which they occupy is so tastefully
and so scientifically laid out Ks to be almost interminable
in new charms and vistas, rising up at every step to those
who meander through the diversified walks, and along the
peopled lakes. Formed upon ground of uneven surface,
the spot, indeed, seems to be that from which Milton
derived his beautiful idea of diversity, when he penned the
lines,— _ _ _

" For earth has this variety from heaven
" 01 pleasure situate in hill and dale. "

In addition to the usual attractions of the gardens in
themselves, the proprietor mindful of past encouracement,
has in preparation on a scale of unprecedented splendour
a series of "Fetes d' Ete, of a most novel and striking
character which will shortly be completed, and of the com-
mencement of which due notice will be given. He has
also in order to obviate the inconvenience to which visi-
tors, and particularly ladies, have hitherto been liable by
viewing out-door exhibitions, after the dens of evening
have begun to rise, erected a spacious saloon, which will
be lighted by gas, and will afford a delightful promenade.
He has in fine spared no expense during " the recess to
render his little paradise more and more attractive; and
purposes to enliven the season by a succession of unique
and pleasing performances.

A FEIM ALE FOUND DEAD IN HER HOUSE.—Yesterday
an inquest was held before H. H. Statham, Esq., deputy
borough coroner, on view of the body of Dinah Graf,
aged 23, wife of Leopold Graf, formerly warehouseman to
Messrs. Wilson and Dawson, and now interpreter to one
of the partners on the continent. Police constable,
Samuel Kirkpatrick, while on duty on Saturday after-
noon was informed by a female, that the shop kept by the
deceased had been closed from Friday night up to that
time, and that her mistress wished to see him. Witness
went with her, and she stated that he was wanted about a
woman who had been in the habit of drinking. Witaess
went to the shop, No. 2, Crown-street, and found the
doors and windows all fast. He went through Dr. Nigh-
tingall's house in Elizabeth -street behind, and succeeded
i❑ opening the back window and then the door. Dr.
Nightingall accompanied him into the house, and they
first found an infant sitting in a bed up stairs, crying, and
in a state as if it had not been seen for some time. They
took the child to Dr. N's., where it was fed and attended to.
They afterwards found the deceased, lying on her back on
the floor of the cellar with her arms opened out, and her
legs on the stairs. She was quite dead and cold. She
had the handle of a jug in one hand and the remainder
scattered about. There was some blood at the back of her
head and on her shoulders. She was removed up stairs
and placed on the bed. The servant girl (before alluded
to) who lived in the neighbourhood, said that on Saturday
last, as the shop kept by the deceased had been closed all
day, her mistress sent her for the police-officer, as she
was afraid something was the matter. Witness after-
wards saw deceased dead. She had last seen her alive on
Friday night, when she called at the shop for bread, and
she then appeared to be in drink. Deceased had been ob-
served for some days frequently sending for drink to the
neighbouring public houses by girls and others passing.
Deceased was married about twelve months last Christ-
mas. Her husband went abroad about five weeks ago.
She was placed in the shop before be went. A servant
of Dr. Nightingall said deceased sent for her on Friday
night to put up the shop shutters. She went, and found
her in quite a confused and stupified state. Anthony
Bell, Joiner, said he knew deceased and her husband.
At the request of her husband, a little girl of his, two-and-
a-half years old had been with the deceased since the hus-
hand went abroad. This was the child found in the house.
The witness had often seen deceased during the last eigh-
teen months, and had never seen her otherwise than sober,
and never saw her take any drink in the house. He had
called every week except last week. Mr. Nightingall,
surgeon, corroborated the officer's evidence as to finding
the body. There was congealed blood about the bead,
which had come from the left ear. After an examination,
he found no external wounds. The scalp at the base of
the skull behind was contused; upon reflecting the scalp,
he fonnd an immence quantity of extrascated blood, and a
fracture of the occiputal hone. There were also other
injuries of that part of the head ; and all those would pro-
dnce instantaneous death. He afterwards found the liver
much diseased, no doubt the effect of ardent spirits. A
fall from the stairs to the flags below would produce the
effects stated. Verdict—" Died from the effects of the
wound, but how that was received there was no evidence
to show"

SINGULAR CASE OF BIGAMY : A WIFB LIVING WITS
TWO HUSBANDS.—On Thursday last, Margaret M'Neal,
with a child in her arms, was placed before Mr. Rushton,
when Mr. Dowling said the prisoner was charged with
bigamy under peculiar circumstances. She was living
with her husband about three years ago, and there was a
man lodging in the house at the same time. The man put
the banns up, and was marri-d to the prisoner at St.
Nicholas' Church, she being already married. The wo-
man still continued to live with her first husband, and the
second had also lived with them, as a lodger, ever since,
but the first marriage had only been discovered the day
before. Mr. Dowling said they bad obtained a certificate
of the second marriage, but had not been able to find the
witnesses. Under these circumstances, the prisoner, who
said she knew, nothing at all about it, was remanded. It
is said that the prisoner was married to her first husband, k
James M'Neal, about ten years ago, at the Old Church,
Manchester, and that, on the 10th April, 1843, she was
again married to Michael Devine, the lodger, at St.
Nicholas' Church, in this town. At both marriages she
gave her maiden name Margaret Hannah, and lately the
parties have resided together in Thompson-street, Tox-
teth-park. As it is somewhat singular that the second
marriage should have remained so long a secret, it may be
interesting to know how the fact was revealed. On Tues-
day morning the second husband gave the prisoner into
the custody of acting inspector Tuck for robbing him of
an I 0 U for £3, a coat and vest, and ss. 6(1. in money.
The officer,, on investigating the case, found there were
no grounds for the charge of felony, but during the time
he was in the house where the money was deposited, pri-
soner snatched a paper out of Michael Devine's band. On
so doing a fight took place between the parties. Tuck
interfered, and took the paper from them. This turned
out to be the certificate of the second marriage. The pri-
soner then said, "O, God, don't take that; it belongs to
him." The parties were then taken to Bridewell. On
the road thither Tuck met M'Neal, the first husband, and
having.asked him whether the prisoner was his wife, he
answered in the affirmative, and thus the whole matter
was brought to light.—Yesterday the prisoner was again
placed at the bar, and some further evidence was again
brought forward, though not yet final. William M'Neal
said he was preseht at the marriage of his brother James
to the prisoner, at the Collegiate Church, Manchester, on
the 22d July, 1834, Her previohs name was Margaret
Hannah. He produced a certificate of the marriage from
the.registry, and said that the prisoner had had six chil-
dren, five of whom were alive. John Lovett said he was
assistant to his uncle, registrar at St. Nicholas's Church,
in this town, and produced an extract from the registry,
to the effect that Michael Devine and Margaret Flannah
were there married, 10th April, 1813. John Madden,
the next witness, said that at the request of 'Device, whom
he knew, he had attended the marriage, but he could not
swear to the person of the prisoner as being the woman.
Some other persons were present in the church at the
time, as there were other marriages, but he did not know
them. This was ail the further 'evidence that could be
brought up, and Mr. Rushton said that some of the per-
sons married on the same day, or their friends who wr re
present, must he inquired for, and that in the meantime
the prisoner must to rmnanded. The probability appeb,rs
to be that the case will fail to the ground.