The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-12-16 00:00:00

MURDEROUS ATTACK AND ATTEMPTED
SUICIDE.

About a quarter before 1 o'clock on Tuesday morning a
most determined, and, as it would appear, a long premedi-
tated attempt at murder, was perpetrated on a female named
Elizabeth Magnus, 40 years of age, barmaid at the Auction
Mart Tavern, Throgmorton-street, London, by the pot-man
at the same house, of the name of William Cannell, aged 21.
At the time above-mentioned loud screams of murder were
heard to issue from the area in front of the tavern, and on
policeman Chapman, 618. who was close at hand, proceeding
to ascertain the cause, he saw a female making her escape out
of one of the windows, who implored his assistance, saying
that murder had been committed in the house. He lost no
time, in company with a young man who was passing at the
instant, in climbing over the railings and forcing his way
into the house. They then proceeded up one flight of the
stairs, when they saw a female lying on the landing appa-
rently dead, and Cannell close by her in the act of cutting his
own throat. On the approach of the officer, the miscreant
was observed to put something into his pocket, which proved
to be a razor, he no doubt thinking that he had effected his
purpose. He also had a clasp-knife, which, as well as the
razor, was covered with blood, and had evidently first used
that, but finding it not answer his purpose had recourse to
the razor. The officer, however, seized him in time to pre-
vent the infliction of any mortal injury on himself, although
be had already made an incision in his throat from which a
great quantity of blood had flowed. It was then discovered
that prior to the attempt on his own life he had discharged a
pistol at the barmaid (Elizabeth Magnus), the ball of which had
entered her side. Cannell was taken to the station-house in
Bishopsgate-street, and a surgeon sent for, who dressed his
wounds, and he was then sent to St. Thomas's Hospital in
a very exhausted state from loss of blood. Other medical
gentlemen were called in to attend the unfortunate woman,
when it was found that the charge had penetrated her side,
just below the shoulder, and had passed out at the opposite
hip, fracturing a rib in its progress. On lifting her up the
bullet dropped on the floor She now lies with but little hope
of recovery.
The pistol with which the murderous act was committed
is a small pocket one, which the prisoner stated he had kept
.twat nim ivat,,l fu, vin vrclta east, tc,c,t6.a ti.ac. aLor
and knife above alluded to, and from the fact of having be-
fore held out vague threats to the barmaid, it would seem
that he had long contemplated his murderous intentions.
It appears that in the evening Mr. Baker, the landlord,
had gone to the theatre, leaving the house in charge of the
barmaid, with another female servant and Cannell. The
premises, as usual, were closed a little before 12 o'clock, and
they all three retired to a back parlour to await Mr. Baker's
return. They had been there but a few moments when the
prisoner began to accost Mrs. Magnus, but apparently in
good humour. She rebuked him for his folly, which seemed
to make a considerable impression on him, and he then went
along a passage to fasten a door, having done which, and
while in the act of turning away, the wretch discharged the
pistol at her (the report of which was heard by the policeman
before he entered the premises), and struck her as before
described. She then ran up stairs, and only proceeded to
the first landing before she fell, and the other female gave
the alarm. _ _ _ _

Mrs. Magnus, it is stated, is a widow, having a daughter
nearly as old as the prisoner. She was a handsome woman,
and of a lively disposition. She had held the situation of
confidential servant for a long time at the tavern, and was
much respected by every one who knew her. Her connexi-
ons also are respectable tradespeople in the city. Cannell
has been in his situation about six months, and was looked
upon as a very steady young man. Shortly after coming to
the place he appears to have imbibed an ardent attachment
to his intended victim, although nearly twice his age, and he
soon made her acquainted with his passion. No encourage-
ment, however, was given to him, but, on the contrary, he
met with repulses only ; and it is supposed, that while smart-
ing under this rejection, he first conceived his deadly inten-
tion. On Monday evening he took an opportunity again to
press his suit, when he met the same reception as before, and
then it was he determined upon carrying out his purpose.
On being taken to the station-house, Cannell at first resisted
the attempts of the surgeon to dress his wound, and appeared
quite inconsolable; but on being told that Mrs. Magnus was
still alive, he submitted, but afterwards attempted to remove
his bandages. A policeman remained with him all night in
the ward at St. Thomas's, where he frequently expressed his
regret for the cruelty he had shown to the woman he so much
loved.

FLATTERY OVERDONE.—The Commerce observes, that
" M. Thiers, the great planner of the Church of the Made-
leine, has carried his love of flattery so far as to decorate the
niches of the church with statues of saints, the patrons of the
numerous family of Orleans. At the gate are placed the
statues of St Louis and St. Philip, in the interior those of
St. Mary and St. Aurelia, patronesses of the Queen, and St.
Raphael, patron of the Duke de Nemours. If the temple of
the Madeleine has been elevated to the glory of God, it was
likewise intended not a little for the glory of the Orleans
family."
AMERICAN FLOWERS OF SPEECH.—The Union (demo-
cratic paper) attacks John Quincy Adams with great ferocity.
The formidable character of this attack may be inferred from
thelollowing, which is really the only strong passage in the
whole article of a column and a quarter :—" The poor old
"man this time sent forth his poisoned shaft from a bow which
he could no longer bend, and it was telum imbelle sine ictu—
mere impotent raving." This (says the Courier) has never
been surpassed, even by Mr. M'Kean's famous congressional
bull last session—" A shot sent without any aim took effect
exactly where it was intended.".—New York Express:
A REFORMED DRUNKARD'S STORY.—The following
story was lately told by a reformed inebriate, as an apology
for much of the folly of a drunkard :---A mouse ranging about
a brewery, happened to fall into one of the vats of beer, ap-
pealed to a cat to help him out. The cat replied, "It is a
foolish request, for as soon as I get you out 1 shall eat you 1"
The mouse pitiously replied, that that fate would be better
than to be drowned in beer. The cat lifted him out, but the
fumes of the beer caused puss to sneeze ; the mouse took re-
fuge in his hole. The cat called upon the mouse to come
out—" You rascal, did you not promise that I should eat
you ?" " Ali," replied the mouse, " but you know I was in
liquor at the time."
COMPASSION OF A JUDGE IN TEXAS.—A very learned
and compassionate judge in Texas, on passing sentence on
on one John Jones, who had been convicted of murder, con-
cluded his remarks as follows :—" The fact is, Jones, that
the Court did not intend to order you to be executed before
next springe, but the weather is very cold—our gaol, unfor-
tunately, is in a very bad condition—much of the glass in th•
windows is broken—the chimnies are in such a dilapidated
state that no fire can. be made to render your apartments
comfortable; besides, owing to the great number of prisoners,
not more than one blanket can be allowed to each—to sleep
soundly and comfortably, therefore, will be out of the ques-
tion. In consideration of these circumstances, and wishing
to lessen your sufferings as much as possible, the Court, in
exercise of its humanity and compassion, do hereby order
you to be executed to-morrow morning, as soon after break-
fast as may be convenient to the sheriff and agreeable to you."
Quebec Gazette.
CONSOLATORY ADVlCE.—Bernard Barton, the Quaker
poet, who, like Lamb, was tied down to the desk for many
hours a day, had, at one time, been complaining, we sup-
pose, of his liver, and of the consequences of sedentary oc-
cupations. Lamb administers consolation in this laughing
vein :—" I know many that are always ailing of it, and live
on to a good old age. I know a merry fellow (you partly
know him), who, when his medical adviser told him he had
drunk away all that part, congratulating himself (now his
liver was gone) that he should be the longest liver of the two.
The best way in these cases is to keep yourself as ignorant as
you can, as ignorant as the world was before Galen, of the
entire inner construction of the animal man ; not to be con-
scious of a midriff; to hold kidnies (save those of sheep and
swine) to be an agreeable fiction ; not to know whereabout
I the gall grows ; to account the circulation of the blood a mere
idle whim of Harvey's; to acknowledge no mechanism not
visible. For, once fix the seat of your disorder and your
fancies flux into it like so many bad humours. Those medi-
cal gentry choose each his favourite part : one takes the
lungs, another the aforesaid liver, and refers to that what-
ever in the animal economy is amiss. Above all, use exer-
cise. Believe the general sense of the mercantile world,
which holds that desks are not deadly. It is the mind, good
B. 8., and not the limbs, that taints by long sitting. Think
of the patience of tailors, think how long the Lord Chancel-
lor sits, think of the brooding hen."

" Last week Mr. Graham, younger of Douglaston, was
married to Miss Campbell of Skirving, a beautiful and vir-
tuous young lady. (Glasgow Courant of Feb. 9, 1747.)
" On Monday last, Dr. Robert Hamilton, Professor of
Anatomy and Botany in the University of Glasgow, was
married to Miss Mally Baird, a beautiful young lady with a
handsome fortune. (May 4, 1747.)
" On Monday last, Mr. James Johnstone, merchant in
this place, was married to Miss Peggy Newall, a young lady
of great merit and aforlune of £4,000. (Aug. 3. 1747.)"
Another advertisement, which sounds a little strangely to
a modern ear, is the following :
" James Hodge, who lives in the first close above the
Cross, on the west side of the street. Glasgow, continues to
sell burying Crapes ready made : and his wife's niece, who
lives with him, dresses dead Corpses at as cheap a rate as
was formerly done by her aunt, having been educated by
her, and perfected at Edinburgh, from whence she is lately
arrived, and has all the newest and best fashions."

With respect to politics, these ancient publications cannot
be said to have advocated any set of opinions. We are un-
able to discover what were the real sentiments of their con-
ductors on the subjects of legislation or government. They
are characterised by little unity of design, and appear to have
been simply mediums of intelligence, without any attempt
to guide or form the public mind on matters of general in-
terest.—Glasgow Citizen.

LLANDRINDOD WELLS.—The Cheltenham Looker-on,
after reciting the virtues of these wells, which require, inter
alia, to be accompanied with teetotalism, gives the following
anecdote of a visitor not passionately addicted to the prac-
tice :—" A worthy yeoman of a neighbouring county went
to Llandrindod, once on a time, merely to oblige his better
half, who promised that he should occasionally be indulged
with a glass of his favourite beverage—brandy and water.
One evening, the old toper was longing for a drop of com-
fort, but having had his allowance in the course of the after-
noon, he dare not ask his wife for any more ; he, however,
hit upon the following expedient to carry his point: He
asked a friend, who be knew never drank spirits, if he would
oblige him by having the stomach ache for ten minutes ?
His friend agreed, thinking that there was some joke in
embryo. Mr. M. rang the bell, and desired the servant•to
request his wife to come to him immediately. The good
woman soon made her appearance, and the husband said—
' My dear, poor Mr. Evans has drank so much of the aqua
pumpus, that it has given him a dreadful fit of cholie ; do,
my love, get him a glass of hot brandy and water.' During
this time, Mr. Evans was twisting and writhing in his chair,
as if in great pain, but ready to burst his sides with laugh-
ter. Mrs. M. marched into the room followed by the ser-
vant, bearing a tray with water, sugar, &c., the lady
carrying the brandy bottle. When old Silenus eyed the size
of the glass to nbler, he said—' This won't do at all ; go and
get the largest you can find ; such a thimble full of a thing
like this will do my worthy friend no good.' The servant
brought in a large goblet, and Mrs. M. mixed up a glorious
jorum ; then, most innocently recommended Mr. Evans to
drink it, as hot as he could. Go, my love (said M.) and
find a large piece of flannel for our afflicted friend, to wrap
around him when be goes to bed.' Iss, sure, in a minute,'
said the worthy dame—who had no sooner made her exit,
than the jolly nose' took up the brandy and water, and
drank it off to the speedy recovery of his friend."

LIVERPOOL CORN EXCHANGE, DECEMBER 13.
A few limited parcels of Irish and Canadian Wheat, to-
gether merely 2,420 quarters, comprise the whole arrivals of
this Grain into our port since Tuesday last. Of other. Grain
as well as Flour received Coastwise and from Ireland, the
supplies are also very moderate, but of Oatmeal liberal, and
of States and Canadian Flour 2,771 barrels.
At our market this morning the Wheat trade exhibited no
features of an interesting character, the millers still gene-
rally hesitating to purchase more than just to serve their
immediate purposes; and devoid at the same time of any
speculative indications, the transactions altogether were un-
important: holders, notwithstanding, were tolerably firm,
and we repeat, without alteration, the currency of this day
week for all descriptions of foreign ; fine parcels of new
Irish, however, in the present scarcity of supply, were rather
improved in value; in English no variation. Superior qua-
lities of States and Canadian Flour met some demand at 6d.
per barrel advance, and Irish was also in better request at
previous rates.
Malt, including all kinds of malting and grinding Barley,
continued to meet a very limited sale on the terms last noted.
Beans and Peas remaining unsaleable, were nominally rather
cheaper.
Oats and Oatmeal, restricted to a very moderate retail de-
mand, the former barely sustained the rates of Friday last,
and the latter declined 3d. per 240 lbs., leaving the extreme
quotation of prime Irish 21s. 6d.

PRICES OF TIMBER AT LIVERPOOL.