Widnes Examiner. — 1882-05-13 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

TOTE DOCTRINE OF RECENT POSSESSION.—T doctrine of " recent possession," on which men have often been convicted in the courts of law, received a rude shock at Liverpool the other day. A man was placed on his trial for stealing jewellery from a house. There was no proof that ho had committed the burglary, but a few days after the robbery he was found endeavouring to pawn some of the stolen property. His defence was that it had been given to him by a man who could not be produced. The prisoner had shown some "nervousness " about the matter by sending another man into the pawnbroker's shop to arrange as to the ph- dge. Mr. Justice Cave thought that the evidence was insufficient, and the jury acquitted the prisoner, who could scarcely have believed in his good fortune. The three men charged with the jewellery robbery in Hulme were tried before the same learned Judge. Two of thorn, who had been seen to come out of a place in which a large quantity of the stolen property was found immediately afterwards, were acquitted by direction of the Judge, who held that there was no evidence of minty knowledge. Nobody bad seen the prisoners place the property where it was found. The result of the cast recalls the famous decision—which we do not believe will be found in any law book—of a" lay" magistrate in the case of a man who was charged with stealing. "Six witnesses," said the prisoner's counsel, " have sworn that they saw my client steal the watch. I can bring one hundred and fifty who will swear that they did not see him steal it." "In that case," the magistrate is alleged to have said, "lot him be discharged at once."  The Pennsylvania Republicans have nominated Mr. James A. Beaver as the candidate for the Governorship of the tate A return of the Irish agrarian outrages during April gives the number as 462. This includes two cases of murder and 1701 firing into dwellings.  The lloY-al Mines Commissioners resumed experiments at Rhondda Valley on Thursday morning. It has been ascertained that South Wales gas is less explosive than that of the Lancashire coal fields.  As the result of the Board of Trade Inquiry in Liverpool respecting the loss of the steamship City of London, the court found there was no evidence to lead to any conclusion on the cause of the disaster.  The hearing of the action brought by Mr. Victor Emanuel St3vens, "diplomatist in private life," against Madame Patti for services rendered in " mitigating" tradesmen's bills, resulted on Thursday in a verdict for the defendant. On Thursday afternoon, Mr. J. C. Mooreville, of Smith'slane, King-street West, Manchester, was walking along Roebuck-lane, Sale, when he suddenly fell down unconscious. He was taken to a neighbouring house, where he shortly afterwards expired. Death is supposed to have resulted from apoplexy. The Press Association learns that Mr. Parnell has applied to the Home secretary for, and has obtained police protection, his friends feeling, in consequence of the rumours that are current and the threatening letters received, that he is a marked man.  Two more deaths have been added to the. long death list from the recent disastrous explosion at the' Baxterley Colliery, Amos Ball and Joseph Ball, two of the ill-fated exploring party, having succumbed during Wednesday night. This brings up the total, inclusive of the nine unfortunate men still entombed in the workings, to 27 deaths. Many others are in a dying state.  Among the i'ariiamentary papers issued on Thursday morning is a copy of the document sent to the Speaker in the action by Mr. Guerney, of Northampton, against Mr. B,adlaugh for illegally sitting and voting. In acknowledging receipt of the pleadings, the Speaker says that he sees no reason for interfering with the proceedings now pending.  It was reported on Thursday morning to the Glasgow police, on Wednesday night, Rose:Ann Mackie, or Hart, aged 56, residing in Coatbridge, was burned to death in the house of her son, in Glaagow. Whilst the son's wife was absent, the old woman approached too near the fire. Her clothes ignited, and she was at once enveloped in flames. When the daughter-in-law returned she threw water upon her,but the 01l woman immediately died. The nomination for the Border Burghs has been fixed for Wednesday next, and the polling, if any, for the following Monday. It is expected, however, that Mr. Trevelyan, whose appointment as Chief secretary • for Ireland in succession to Lord F. Cavendish has everywhere been so well received, will be re-elected without opposition. At the general election Mr. Trevelyan polled 3,518 votes against his opponent's 553. _  . .