The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1844-07-02 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

THE MORALITY OF THE TURF.—In the Court of Exchequer, on Tuesday last, an action for an assault was tried before Mr. Baron Rolfe. Mr. Wood, a sporting man, sought to recover damages for having been forcibly ejected from the Grand Stand at Doncaster, during the races last year. The action was brought against Leadbitter, the well known London police officer, but it was defended with the sanction of the jockey club, by tha Earl of Eglintoun, the steward of the races, under whose directions the ejection took place. It seems that the plaintiff purchased for a guinea a ticket to the Grand Stand, but shortly after he had been admitted he was desired to withdraw by Leadbitter, acting under the directions of Lord Eglintoun, and on the plaintiff's refusal he was gently handed out by the officer, which constituted the alleged assault. It appeared that the plaintiff was what is called a " defaulter" on the turf,.and before the Derby Race, in 1841, he had solicited authority from a person named Harker to bet for him on commission. That authority was given, and before the races plaintiff wrote to say that he bad backed Coronation in several heavy bets with some of the leading men on the turf; but when, contrary to his expectation, Coronation had won the race, he confessed that he had not made such bets. If Coronation had lost, the plaintiff would have pocketed a large sum without risk at the expense of Harker. The jury found a verdict for the defendant, on the plea °fiat' tification.  SUICIDE OF A COURIER OF THE KING OF HANG'I4" —Whilst the steam-ship Caledonia was on her last passage to Hanaburgh, the greatest sensation was produced amongst the passengers by the following melancholy occurrence :—On board was a Mr. T. lialphs, courier to his Hanoverian Majesty, the bearer of despatches from her Majesty to his royal master. He left St. James's Palace on the night of last Friday week, and proceeded on board, but owing to some unexplained cause he would never mi% with the chief cabin passengers, but preferred living and conversing with those in the forepart of the vessel. At nine o'clock in the evening the steamer anchored at the Stade, and shortly afterwards he partook of a glass of brandy and water with the steward. Soon after :two o'clock on the following morning the vessel got under weigh, and proceeded up the river on her way to Hamburgh, when the man was missed. The mate then went in search of him, and having gone to the door of the water-closet, and finding it locked on the inside, and receiYing no answer to his knocking, with the assistance of sailor, broke it open, and found Mr. lialphs a corpse, hie throat being frightfully cut in several places. The unhappy man had evidently first cut himself with his right hand, and finding the wound ineffectual, had int-Feted another gash on the other side of his throat, and death not follow: ing so speedily as he desired, it was apparent that he had sat down on the seat and bled to death. A piece of paper, on which the following was written, was found in his pockets :—" Take care of my child, for Thomas lialphs, his last request ; Frankland and Churchill have been the cause of this. God bless you all."