The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-12-24 00:00:00

ROVgR Mgß3gy

SUDDEN DEATH.—On Wednesday last, a servant, who
lived with Mr. Brownless, of Oliver-street, Birkenhead,
was sent to a druggist for some paint, when, on her re-
turn, she was taken suddenly ill, and being carried to a
milk-house in the neighbourhood, where medical aid was
procured, died in about twenty-two hours afterwards.
An inquest was held on Saturday, but in consequence of
the friends of the deceased having removed the body on
the previous evening, and interred it at Liverpool, the
inquiry was adjourned till Monday. By an order from
the Coroner, the body was disinterred, and brought back
on Monday, when a long investigation took place, which
resulted in a verdict to the effect that the deceased bad
died from a perforation of the intestines, but how pro-
duced thertt was no evidence to show.
PROFESSIONAL PEDANTRY.—The world, generally
speaking, gives professional gentlemen the credit of being
learned, and, therefore, it is that pedantry on their part
ought to be scouted by all right-minded individuals. A
medical man gets into the witness box in an assize court
to explain to twelve plain-going unprofessional jurymen,
in the presence of an unlettered prisoner, the nature of
certain wounds, and, instead of doing so in the simplest
manner possible, he begins as if he were addressing a
class of students, using every professional technicality.
Mr. Baron Gurney seems to have a profound contempt
for such " lingo.' During During the present assizes he has
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taken the opportunity of rebuking several of the profes-
ts
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being of a "crucial" form. On both occasions the shrewd
judge, looking at the counsel, said in a tone of voice which
conveyed far more meaning than the words he uttered,—
" Get him to speak English ; the jury wish to understand
him."
REGISTRY OF SEAMEN.—The commissioners of the
customs, with reference to their general order of the 19th
ultimo, for carrying into effect the provisions of the Act
7 and 8 Victoria, chap. 112, for amending the laws re-
lating to merchant seamen, have issued directions to the
collectors and comptrollers at the several outports of the
United Kingdom to keep an account of the expenses in-
curred in carrying into execution, distinct from all other
charges; introducing such payments in the charges of
management, under a manuscript head, at the foot of ex-
penses not connected with the collection of revenue. In
reference to this subject, it is important that it should be
generally known by seamen in the merchant service, that,
by this act, every seaman must be provided with a register
ticket, in pursuance of the directions contained in the act
of parliament above quoted, by the Ist of January next ;
and every master of a vessel who, after that date, takes a
man into his service without first calling on him to pro-
duce his ticket will be liable to a penalty of £lO for each
offence. The tickets are now being issued, and may be
had on application to the Registrar of the Merchant Sea-
man's-office in London, and at the custom-house of the
different outports, free of all charge.
PAVING AND SEWERAGE COMMISSIONERS.—At the
meeting on Thursday,—Mr. J. Holmes in the chair—
after some minor proceedings a report was read from the
Lighting, Sewerage, and Fire Police-offices, from which it
appeared, that for theyearending the 30th September, 1844,
the amount collected was £41,809 10s. 10s. ; the per
centage on the current year's rate, was £3256 Os. 2d.,
which, added to the former year's collection , gave £B2ls 10d.
per cent. on the rates of 1842. The reports of the col-
lectors from the various districts showed an increase of
1679 payments, and the rates received at the office amount-
ed to £7872 11s. 5d., or nearly one-fifth of the whole.
The number of persons who had been summoned to ap-
pear before the commissioners for rates exceeded two
thousand. A deputation from the Guardian Gas Com-
pany waited on the board, requesting their concurrence
in a renewed application to parliament for a new gas
company. They conceived it right to acquaint the board
as the measure would interfere with the pavement.
Some of the members considered it advisable to remain
neutral on the subject, Mr. Brancker said the Company
woald supply the public with gas at a cheaper rate, and
that the board ought to patronize the scheme. The chair-
man said that when they saw the bill they would be able
to give an opinion ; and the deputation withdrew. The
other business was financial, and consequently private.
THE CORPORATION SCHOOLS.—The half-yearly exa-
minations of the North Schools took place on Wednesday
last, before Dr. Tattershall, the Rev. G. Dover, Mr.
Alderman Molyneux, (chairman of the Educational Com-
mittee,) Ald. Hodgson, and a great number of the parents
of the children, The Rev. Doctor, assisted by Mr.
Isaac Holmes, the head master, examined the boys and
girls as to their knowledge of the scriptures, and their
acquirements in history, geography, grammar, and arith-
metic. At the conclusion the prizes were distributed,
and the Rev. Doctor expressed the great satisfaction he
felt at the readiness with which the children gave the
answers to the important questions which had been put to
them, their good conduct and behaviour, and their cleanly
and orderly appearance, and paid Mr. Holmes a high
and deserved compliment on the successful results of his
labours. He also dwelt with peculiar pleasure upon the
unvarying good conduct and regular attendance, during
five years, of one of the boys named Samuel Webster, to
whom a prize had been awarded, but had recently left
the school to be apprenticed to a lithographic printer, and
held out his career as an example for the emulation of
his fellows. He also expressed great delight at the nu-
merous attendance of the parents of the children, and re-
quested them to spread among their neighbours a desire
to send their children to be educated. The Rev. G.
Dover addressed the scholars, who afterwards sung " God
save the Queen." They were then dismissed for the
holidays, each being presented with a bun and an orange.
The examination of the South Schools took place on
Thursday, before' the Rev. Rector Campbell, the Re/.
Mr. Carpenter, and the Rev. Mr. Lawrence. The Rev.
Mr. Lawrence examined the infants, and the Rev. Mr.
Carpenter the elder boys and girls, after which Mr. Al-
derman Molyneux addressed the children, highly com-
mending the progress they had made. The prizes were
distributed and the children dismissed with the usual
presents of buns and oranges. These schools, which are
attended daily by upwards of fifteen hundred children,
will be re-opened on the 6th of January.

SETTING FIRE TO A WHEAT RlCK.—Thomas Baths,
aged fifteen, was, with two men, indicted, at the Exeter
assizes, on Wednesday last, for having set fire to a rick of
corn. It did not appear that the two men had been at all
concerned is the crime. Baths, when before the magis-
trates, made a statement, and, in consequence, he was
sworn and examined as a witness : but, as he afterwards
varied in his tale, he was prosecuted, and, it was now pro-
posed to read his statement. Mr. Baron Alderson, how-
ever, said he certainly should not allow it to be read. It
was improper to admit a man as a witness and then to turn
round and prosecute him. The administering an oath
was of itself giving a person reason to suppose it would
be better for him to speak the truth. We must, said his
lordship, with great emphasis, keep faith, even with abad
man. If he should be found guilty, Ido not know
whether I shall not recommend that he be pardoned.
The jury acquitted the two men and found Baths guilty.
Mr. Baron Alderson said the prisoner was an unfortunate
boy: he should place all the circumstances before her
Majesty, and he would not say what the punishment
would be. He should, however, at present, adjudge him
to be transported for fifteen years. The governor of the
gaol said the boy's parents were very respectable, and
resided at Liverpool or Manchester.
DOCK COMMITTEE—THURSDAY.--Present, Messrs.
Moore, (in the chair,) Molyneux, Henderson, Chilton,
Nicol, Wood, Horsfall, Moon, Aikin, Houghton, Evans,
Royden, Bold, Kendall. Sandbach, and Mann. It was
determined to make the width of the entrance of the new
dock east of Regent-road, 51 feet, being 34 feet wider
than the entrance to the Clarence Dock.—A conversation
took place relative to the bad state of the dock quays.
The Chairman said the Watch Committee bad formerly
a superintendent to look after them, but the Dock Com-
mittee bad been deprived of his services : if they had him
back, all would be right, and he believed the Watch
Committee would attend to it. Three lamps were or-
dered to be placed on Clarence Pier, in order, if possible,
to prevent cattle, landed there, fallin; into the river.
—The Chairman said the sub-committee recommended
that notices should be painted on the gates, intimating
which were for passengers exclusively, and which for cat-
tie.—lt was ordered that £5 should be demanded for the
injury done to the Albert light ship by the barque Daunt-
less.—A new life-boat was ordered for the Magazines
station, but the subject was referred again to the Sub-
committee to consider as to the best mode of construction.
—A letter was reed from the Dale-street Gas Co., de-
clining to give a contract for certain of the dock lamps,
on the ground that they had no mains laid where the
lights were required.—A letter was also read from the
New Gas and Coke Company, offering to light the lamps
for seven years at £4 12s. each lamp per annum. It was
stated that the late contract was only £4. Some conver-
sation then arose as to the desirability of the Dock estate
making its own gas, seeing the committee expended about
£2OOO per annum for that article alone, and, after a little
discussion, it was agreed to go on as they were for a short
time, inquiries to be made, in the meantime, to ascertain
at what cost the gas could be made.—A demand for £2
made by Mr. Hausburg for fitting-up a bude light at the
south mortar mills was refused, the committee having
nothing whatever to do with the matter.—Plans of the
intended docks at Tranmere Pool, submitted by Mr.
Chamberlain, were ordered to be returned in the most
courteous manner, the committee deeming it prudent not
to give any opinion upon them. The Chairman said the
committee would no doubt take the usual course ; they
would not volunteer any opposition, but they would
watch the proceedings.
THE MURDER OF A POLICE-OFFICER.—We last week
announced the death, on the previous evening, of a police
officer named Fairclough, in consequence of a wound re-
ceived from a man named William Jones. On Tuesday
last the prisoner was brought up before Mr. Rushton.
Police-officer Tegisson (367) said that as he was going
home on Sunday morning, about one o'clock, at the bot-
tom of Whitfield-street, he heard a scream, and some one
calling " police." He went up the street, and saw the pri-
soner and his sister standing at the bottom of a court, and
asked what was to do. The sister said, " I give this man
in charge for abusing me." Witness told them to go into
the house and be quiet. Prisoner said he would not, and
if witness offered to take him he would knock him down.
The sister insisted on his being taken up, and witness
knocked for assistance. Officers Fairclough and Price came
up, and they all advised the brother and sister to go in.
The sister said she was frightened to do so, and the priso-
ner went up the court and into the house. The two other
officers then told witness to go home to bed. He had not
got home when he heard a stick knock, ran back, and met
Price bleeding very much. Fairclough was also in the
street bleeding. Witness went into the house, and found
the prisoner within. He took Fairclough, who seemed
insensible, to the house of Mr. Hodgson, surgeon, and
afterwards took the prisoner into custody. The officer
Price, after corroborating the last witness, said, " After
Tegisson left, Fairclough and I remained a few minutes.
The prisoner, who had gone in, came out of the house with
an instrument in his hand. He got hold of it with his
two hands, and swung it round a many times. He dared
us to come near him. He used a deal of threatening lan-
guage, and then Fairclough made a spring at him, I was
close behind him. He struck Fairclough over the head
first, and he fell down. He struck him again, when he
was down, and then struck me. I received a blow on the
right temple, cutting through my hat. Saw Gregg pick
up a poker in the yard opposite the prisoner's door."--
Mr. Hodgson, surgeon, said deceased had a lacerated
wound on the front of the forehead, an inch and a half
long, and a still larger one on the right temporal bone.
The skull was fractured. He was removed to the hospi-
tal, where he died. At the prisoner's request his sister
was called. She said prisoner came home at 12 that morn-
ing in so violent a state that she asked him if he was going
mad. He broke every thing in the house, and she called
the police. The prisoner, who has frequently before been
in custody, was committed to take his trial for murder at
the neat assizes. On Sunday the remains of poor Fair-
dough were interred at St. Mary's, Kirkdale. The
funeral was attended by Mr. Commissioner Dowling, on
horseback. and about five hundred of the borough police
and fire-brigade, who walked five abreast.