The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-06-06 00:00:00

Till; LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

BENEFITS OF ABOLISHING CELLAR HABITATIONS.—
Mr. W. Bennett of this town, in a letter to the Journal
of Public Health, says, " You will be pleased to learn
the following fact in connexion with the working of our
Sanitary Act. During the last few weeks, I have had
several hundred (tax defaulters) of our poor population
before me, who up to last year resided in cellars, from
which they have been driven by our officers into houses
liable to rates. These poor people, without a single ex-
ception, rejoice in the change, both as regards health and
comfort, and only complain of the additional rent and the
taxes ; many said they would not return to their cellars
on any terms, although, as you know, the houses to which
they have removed are wanting in many of the essentials
to health and comfort."
EXTRAORDINARY OCCURRENCE•--The following ex-
traordinary scene, we are informed, took place the other
day at the Clarence Dock :—A deserter, in charge of two
armed soldiers, had just disembarked from Ireland, and
was being marched in town when, taking advantage of the
crowded thoroughfare, he separatedhimself from his guar-
dians, and as they advanced to enclose him, he rushed on
one of them, whom he struck on the face with his whole
force ; being handcuffed, the blow was given with the
united force of both arms. The unfortunate soldier fell
to the ground, and it was afterwards found his jaw bone
was broken. His comrade immediately run his bayonet
into the body of the deserter. A policeman interfered,
and was about taking the soldier into custody, when he
received a hint that if he did not' keep his distance he
would also be treated to several inches of cold steel—a
treat which he appreciated.—Chronicle.
MELANCHOLY SUICIDE.—On Friday, an inquest was
held before Mr. Curry, the borough coroner, on view of
the body of Elizabeth Davies, a respectable female, who,
it will be remembered, thmw herself into the waters of the
Mersey on Saturday fortnight. It appeared from the
evidence that deceased, who was about 40 years of age,
bad for some years kept a standing in the Fish Market.
A witness named Mary Ann Stephenson, living in Oakes-
street, deposed as follows :—" Last Saturday week, I went
with the deceased to the pier-head. After I had got upon
the landing-stage, I lost sight of the deceased. In a few
minutes after, I heard an alarm, and saw deceased in the
water. Before any assistance could be given to her she
sunk. For some time back the deceased had been in a
very low state of mind, in consequence of being in debt,
and, (as stated by another witness) having a good deal of
money owing to her which she could not get in. Before
going down the steps leading to the stage, I asked the
officer on duty to stop her, as she was in a low way, and I-
was afraid she was going to make away with herself. His
answer was that, as I was a friend of hers, I could follow
her. I should not know the officer again. The deceased
was perfectly sober at the time." Deceased was a married
woman. Her body was found floating in the river on
Thursday morning, near the new north docks, and was
taken to the dead-house, where it was recognized by the
witness, whose testimony we have quoted. Mr. Cribbs, a
musician, said that, on the Saturday referred to, he was
on board of the Prince of Wales packed, plying to Bir-
kenhead, and saw deceased come on board apparently in
a great hurry. Just as she got on board, she walked past
witness and went to the side of the boat, and then jumped
into the river from the top of the rails. Under the cir-
camstances, the jury returned a verdict to the effect that
deceased destroyed herself while labouring under tem-
porary insanity.

SELECT VESTRY.—At the usual fortnightly meeting
the Rev. Rector Campbell presided. Mr. M'Taggart, of
Bold-street, was elected a member of the select vestry,
in the place of Mr. Bridson, who declined to serve.
Messrs. Whyte and Lea were elected relieving officers, at
a salary of £lOO each, in the room of Mr. Lamonby and
Mr. Courter.—Mr. Cafferata moved for the appropriation
of a room in the Workhouse, for the celebration of the
Roman Catholic worship at such hours as may ie re-
quired, and that a sacristy or vestry be provided f& the
sole use of, the officiating clergyman, and the safe custody
of the sacred utensils. After a very lengthened discus-
sion, the motion was rejected by a majority of 17 to 6.
WALLASEY COMMISSIONERS.—The monthly meeting
took place on Thursday night, Mr. H. Winch, in the
chair. The Improvement Committee recommended that
Mr. Thomas Deane. of Seacombe, should be recommended
to the Postmaster-General, for the vacant situation of
postmaster, at Seacombe. A report was read from the
committee appointed to oppose the Birkenhead Dock
Bills, which stated that the Crown had consented, with
the view of inducing the Commissioners to withdraw their
opposition, to make a carriage road and causeway for foot
passengers from the permanent embankment at Wallasey
Pool to Seacomb Ferry. The Law-clerk said he was
sorry, however, to say, that the bills had since been thrown
out, but this would form a portion of any arrangement
that was made, whether the Liverpool people or anybody
else got the docks. A plan of the road was submitted.
The estimated cost was £BOO, exclusive of the land, Mr.
Littledale said this parish ought to watch narrowly all
proceedings, for whoever got the docks, they would think
little of the parishioners of Wallasey. He regretted much
the crown did not get their bills. Mr. Littledale stated
that on Wednesday night some persons walked through
Mr. Maury's house and opened every lock in it. Placards
were ordered to be issued, offering a reward for the appre-
hension of the offenders. the Chairman did not know
any community so free from crime as Wallasey parish.
Mr. Meadows said if they had three or four more police-
men they would have fifty times more crime. The Birken-
head commissioners had a policeman in every boat and
robberies were daily committed, whereas in Mr. Wil-
loughby's boats, where there are no policemen, no rob-
beries occurred. Mr. Barton asked what had become of
the memorial from Mr. Bushel. The Law-clerk : The
matter had been deferred in consecuence of Mr. Mann
not having attended the committee since the subject was
referred to.