The Potteries Examiner : — 1878-12-28 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

SATURDAY.  Nearly twenty undefended snits were disposed of by tae President of the Divorce Court, on Friday. The various classes of oases that cause before the learned Judge, glee a striking instance of the utility of the Divorce Act. From persons ni comfortable positions to those in a very lower grade there were petitions, and the wrongs of the aggrieved parties have been settled in a time that wculd, under the eld form, have seemed incredible.  A London correspondent says the unqualified contradiction given to the statement that Mr Gladstone would contest the county of Edinburgh will probably prove, like the original report, to be premature. Mr. Gladstone has already stated that such negotiations as those which are now supposed to be peading are conducted by the whip of a party. The nuittcr, I believe, is now in the hands of Mr. Adam, and the result is not likely to be known till next week.  An aged couple, named Moreau, living at St. Cyrles-Colons, were murdered last September by their grandson, Perrot, 19 years of age, and his comrade, Barre, Aged 17. Tee murderers, who lived at Paris by larggiqg and pilfering, were hospitably entertained by their victien, avbem they murdered at night, stealing 100 f. and a silver watch. The two youths were convicted on Thursday, at Auxerre. Perrot wan condemned to death, while Barre, on account of his age and his subordinate part in the crime, was sentenced to hard labour for life.  In a message to the American Senate, President Hayes points out that the unprecedented balance in favour of the United State, arising from the general trade, prevents the overflow of gold, and protects public interests at home at a time when commercial security is indispensable. The President says that with tit,' resumption of America's financial (quality with other nations it is ino,t important that the present commercial condition of the country should be made poruninent, and the rapidly increasing export trade prevented from suffering for want of means of comniunication with other countries.  The German papers record a very painful ; dent, of which Wiirzburg has been the scene. A student of medicine on his way home from a meeting of his fellow students at which he had , been drinking freely, out red a guard-house and made himself in souse way offensive to the soldiers on duty there, lie was, in consequence, arrested; hut cn the way to the barracks succeeded in escap• iu , whereupon the under officer in charge firrd after him, and, whether intentionally or not, hit him. The ball penetrated the spine at the height of the lowest rib, and death was instantaneous. The , students of Wurzhnrg are in a state of great , excitement mid have been holding mass meetings, , at which a number of prorsssors have appeared, , to deliberate on the steps to ba taken. As each 1, student is provided with a card bearing his name , and eddress, supplied and stamped by the University. it was not even necessary to arrest the ! offending student, The production of his eArd, which he is obliged by la* t.O ti4iPPe iv 051 I demand to any authorized keeper of the peace, was all that was needful to prevent his estaips from punishment.