The Northern Daily Times. — 1856-11-22 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

JOHN LAIRD,  MURDER OF MR. LITTLE.  The portion of the canal which it bad been proposed to drain was nearly emptied yesterday, and several men were engaged in sifting the mud in the hope of discovering the instruments which were used in the commission of the murder. Throughout the day a large concourse of persons visited the locality and the greatest excitement seemed to prevail, which was augmented considerably a little after two o'clock p.m., by the discoveiy of a hammer that had evidently been thrown in an oblique direction into the harbour of the canal, nearly opposite to the deceased's office, as if by a person coming from the scene of the murder. A piece pf stick, which was at first suppossd to be the handle of a rake, was observed by Mr. Crofton and Mr. Kinnear, who directed attention to it. When taken up it turned out to belong to a hammer, similar in . every respect to those used by the fitters in the works of the company for rivetting purposes. The head of the hammer was quite new, but the handle, which had evidently been used betore, was thrust into the iron in a manner that betokened the fact of its not having been headed by. a tradesman, but in a rough way that had caused the wood to split, and in the crevice was discovered one hair, said to be similar in colour to that of Mr. Little. The iron bead also bore stains which were by some alleged to be those of blood, byt great doubt exists on this point ; and the instrument was seized and carried away with such rapidity by Hodgins, the superintendent of the railway police, that only those to whom it was entrusted had the slightest opportunity of examining it. From the variety of contradictory and groundless rumours afloat, it is a task of no ordinary difficulty to avoid giving circumstances other than those upon which strict reliance can be placed, more especially as it is almost impossible to obtain information in reference to details from certain of the railway officials, and the detectives are naturally and properly disposed to secrecy. It is stated, however, on good authority, that in consequence of the declaration recently made as to an occurrence at stoneybatter, some parties have been arrested between Kells and Navan, and ago now in charge of the constabulary ; little importanee, however, is attached to the circumstance, as but one sovereign and about Ss in eilver were found in their possession. It is further stated that the pocket-book and purse of the deceased are missing, and if they have been taken by the party or parties concerned in the murder this may be the means of leading to their arrest. Several labouring men have been employed to turn up the remain. der of the bed of the canal this morning. A lantern bearing the mark of the company, and greatly battered, was yesterday picked out of the r,aud, but it is not believed to have any connection with the recent sad event.—Saunders's News-Letter.  THE TALBOT CASE  TO THE EDITOR OF THE STANDARD  Sir,—ln common with many hundreds of your readers, I feel grateful to you for keeping public attention alive to the atrocities of this extraordinary case. The Liverpool AlbioN of the 17th inst. contains the following paragraph ;  " The case of Talbot v. Talbot' will not have been forgotten by our readers. We have now to add that Finnerty, the steward of the husband, and one of his Obedient creatoreqp ;.S dead—and died declaring the innocence of his mistress,—Gateshead Obsercer.!' Dpy not this, under Providence, afford a clue to unravel the darki windinga of this mystery of iniquity I rejoice to observe that not only your able. cotempo. rary the Horning Herald, but many provincial papers, amongst others the Waterford Mail, the Dliblin Advocate, and the NORTHERN TIMES have joined in the holy work, and republished the able articles which have appeared in the Standard, and the powerful and convincing letter of your correspondent " Cujus."—l am, sir, your obedient servant;