The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-06-24 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

style, capable of containing 3,000 persons. The portion
of the house intended for the public is a large elliptical
vaulted hall, 126 feet by 66 in surface, and about 55 in
altitude, with a ground floor, gallery, and two upper ones
for spectators. The stage, situated in a semi-circular re-
cess at the extremity of the transverse axis, encroaches
upon the pit in a circular curve, so that the whole stage
may be said to form a circle. The orchestra, instead of
being placed between the spectators and the actors, is sit-
uated in the upper portion of recess aforesaid, and is in-
visible to the public, though visible to the director of the
band, who is seated in front of the stage, where the promp-
ter generally sits. Besides this band, a second one,
equally invisible to the public, may occupy a circular gal-
lery surmounting the lustre, accessible by a winding stair-
case descending between iron bars from the vaulted ceiling
in the boldest way imaginable. This second
orchestra is calculated to produce singular acoustic effects,
hitherto unknown to the musical and theatrical world.
We were present when an experiment was made by an
ringer, who warbled some of his finest notes at
top of the gallery; and al hough, at exi2ress desire, he
sang in rather a subdued tone, the effect produced was far
superior to what can be obtained with much greater effort
in the ordinary theatres. The stage is raised 6 feet above
the pit ; the space allotted to the representation is 30 feet
broad and 48 feet deep. But the most singular part of
thelemy's contrivances consists in his curtains and
back scenes, which, owing to the form adopted for the
sage, are curvilinear also ; notwithstanding which, by
means of cylinders of a peculiar construction, they are
made to rise or drop as if they were flat. He has, more-
over, introduced transparent as well as opaque scenes, so
that extraordinary effects of perspective and distance are
produced by different strata of gauze intercepting the view.
'Vertical ES well as horizontal cylinders are used ; and the
powerful illusions created by the simultaneous rolling and
unrolling of partly opaque and partly transparent scenery
leave those of ordinary theatres far behind. These con-
trivances have, of course, called for important modifica-
tions in the system of lighting both the house and the
stage. There are no footlights, and the whole space is

of the hot

minent s

illuminated from above by an ingenious combination of
reflectors. The house is, besides, so constructed that
theatrical representations may be given by the sole aid
of daylight, transmitted through panes of coloured glass.
The Foyer is a large room under ground, occupying the
whole room of the pit and stage. It is to be well lighted.
and decorated with flowers and comfortable seats.—Gal-
ignani's Messenger.
THE MURDER IN BELGIUSI.—This trial which lasted
seventeen days has terminated. The Count de Bocarme
is convicted of the murder of his brother-in-law, Gus-
tave Fougnies, and sentenced to death. His wife, Lydia,
the sister of deceased, was indicted for participation in his
guilt. The case was extraordinary, but very repulsive.
The wife, who is 32 years old, is the daughter of a rich
grocer„ and the Count expected to get her father's wealth
in exchange for the rank he gave her. They were dis-
appointed, the money being bequeathed to her brother,
a sickly man, who had suffered amputation of a leg, yet
who lived too long for their covetous ambition. To spite
their envy the more, Gustave intended to marry, and his
money might thus have gone to his own children. His
wicked relatives tried to break off the match, by slander-
ous aspersions on the young lady he had chosen. The
anonymous letters by which they assailed her character,
have been clearly traced to the Countess's desk. These
practices failed, however, to turn aside the crippled young
man from his suit; and the Count then resolved to mur-
der him. He set himself to study the qualities and effects
of subtle poisons ; he cultivated deadly herbs, and made
chemical experiments, with this aim,—concealing his vile
operations carefully. He produced a quantity of nicotine,
distilled from tobacco, one of the most sure venoms,
and one which scarcely leaves a trace externally on the
human body by which it can he detected. Having proved
its efficacy on several animals, he invited his victim to
visit his chateau. Gustave came, breakfasted and dined with
his alleged murderers, but some circumstances aroused his
• uspicion. At dinner time they quarrelled ; he accused
them of treachery, and about dusk was going away—his
carriage being ordered to the door for that purpose. The
count knocked him down, the countess rushed out of the
room, cries were heard by the servants, and a few minutes
after the poor man was found dead. After his body was
discovered, the countess ordered a domestic to go and
inform those two coquines. Madame de Dudzeele and her
daughter, (whom the murdered man intended to marry,)
that he had died suddenly of apoplexy. But, on examina-
tion of the body, contusions and scratches were found ;
and on the cheek, the tongue, in the throat, and the
stomach, traces of a corrosive liquid were discovered. An
analysis of the contents of deceased's stomach proved
that he had been poisoned by means of nicotine. The
countess, on being questioned, formally accused her
husband of having caused the death of her brother,
and she has been acquited •, he sentenced to death.—ln
the sitting of the Court of Assizes at Mons, on Friday
week, M. de Paepe concluded his pleading on behalf of
the accused de Bocarme. De Bocarme then rose and
said—" Gentlemen of the jury, I swear to you before God
that lam innocent of the crime imputed to me. My ad-
vocate has clearly exposed the facts and I thank him."
Here he pressed the counsel's hand.—Mr. Toussaint then
addressed the jury for the Countess de Bocarme. The
learned gentleman concluded by declaring that his client
was innocent, and that she demanded. not mercy but
justice.—The court then adjourned till Saturday, when the
second counsel for Madame de Bocarme addressed the
jury in her behalf.—The President then put eight ques-
tions to the jury respecting M. de Bocarme and the
countess. At nine o'clock the jury retired. At half-past
ten the jury re-entered the jury box. Amidst deep si-
lence, and in a somewhat tremulous, yet firm voice, the
foreman said—" On my honour and on my conscience,
and in the presence of God and man, the reply of the jury
is On the first question—(the principal fact concern-
ing the accused, Bocarme,)—guilty. On the sth, 6th, 7th,
and Sili questions (concerning Madame de Bocarme)—
not guilty.' "—The President then ordered the accused to
be brought into court. His appearance was calm and
collected. Madame de Bocarme had her veil down, but
her step was firm. On hearing the verdict of guilty, a
slight flush passed over the count's face, but he evinced
no other sign of emotion. On hearing not guilty on his
wife, an expression of internal satisfaction animated his
features. He looked affectionately towards his wife, who
gave no visible signs of emotion. She left the dock with
a firm step, without speaking to her husband.—The Pro-
cureur du Roi having asked the prisoner if he had any-
thing to say, he replied—" No, except that I am per-
feltly innocent." He then entered calmly into conversa-
tion with his counsel. At eleven o'clock the court pro-
nounced sentence of death upon Hippolyte Visart de
Bocarme, and decreed that the execution should take
place in one of the public squares of Mons. The prisoner
left the court, under guard, with a firm step.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
--*--

NEWTON RACES.—These races commenced on Wed-
nesday. The Newton Trial Stakes, on the first day, was
won by Mr. Sherratt's Egret. beating Woolwich, Castel-
len, and Green Oaks • the Golborne Stakes was walked
over for by Mr. E. Buckley's Medlock ; the Manor Cap
was won by Mr. King's Abbess of Jerveaux, beating by
ten lengths Lady Evelyn, Achyranthes. Duxbury, and
Chantrey; and the Maiden Plate by Mr. Parr's Fusileer,
beating Milkboy and Shilmalier West. On Thursday the
sport was of a very meagre description, the day's races
consisting of four, of which two of the stakes were walked
over for, the St. Leger by Sister to Wanota, and the Bo-
rough Cup by Caurire: the Sweepstakes being won by
Administrator, and the Optional Selling Stakes, after four
heats, by Blister. On Friday the Newton Stakes were
won by Lady Speedy, the Selling Stakes by First-rate,
the Washington Handicap by Woolwich, the St. Helen's
Purse by Truth, and the Handicap of 100 sous. by Oxford
Blue.

Knutsford Races will be revived this year. Arrange-
ments are being made to hold them on the last Wednes-
day and Thursday in the ensuing month.
The Henley Regatta took place last week, when the
Oxford University, after a good contest, beat the Ca►n-
bridge crew in the race for the Grand Challenge Cup, for
eight-oared boats.

THE GREAT CHESS GAMES.—The second series of
games has terminated by Mr. Staunton placing Herr Hor-
witz hors de combat, the result of their play being that
Mr. taunton won four games, Herr Horwitz two, and
one finely contested game was drawn.