The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1886-11-24 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

REPORT. • not be recognisable. It might have been expected that one of the gentlemen, who by his The Chief Constable of the Borough (Major profession was legalised as a gentleman, Barker) has just issued his annual report from would have benefited more by rubbing shoal- which it appears that the number of crimes ders—though for the first time—with good committed is 303, being 18 more than last society. But Mr. Fred. Smith returned year. There were two cases of murder, one to his vituperation and abuse, even as being that of Ethens de Tomaxnee, a man of a dog returned to its vomit. (Applause.) Indian parentage, for causing the death of a But he would not deign to offer any married woman named Elizabeth Twist, by reply to snch as he; he would merely content an unlawful operation. He was acquitted at himself with asking the electors to compare the Assizes. He died shortly after. The the conduct of the two candidates and the other case was that of Robert Travis and two parties and vote accordingly. (Applause.) Elizabeth Platt for causing the death of a Dr. O'Reilly also supported the motion, married woman named Jane 31'Intyre. At which was carried unanimously. the assizes the prosecution offered no evidence Mr. J. Richards proposed a vote of thanks against the female prisoner and she was to the chairman, and said the difference be. discharged. The male prisoner was sentenced tween the candidates WWI as chalk and cheese, to capital punishment, which the Home He strongly advocated the introduction of Secretary afterwards commuted to penal new blood into the Council, which was now servitude for life. The attempt to murder composed mainly of a lot of old, theoretical, was the case of Mary Ann Grace, who atand extravagant do-nothings, tempted to commit suicide, and murder her Mr. Cochran seconded, and denounced the child at the same time, by jumping into the extravagance of the Council in the matter of river. She was sentenced, at the assizes, to street improvement, slaughter-houses, town six months' imprisonment. There have been hall, sinecure offices, and other matters. 235 indictable offences of larceny over 55., and The Chairman briefly responded, and the 315 offeuces disposed of summarily, making a meeting dispersed, total of 550 larcenies against 522 of last year; an increase of 28. 4,850 have been proceeded against by arrest and gammons, being 250 less than last year, and 948 less than the year before, notwithstanding there has been an increase this year of 2.64 School Attendance Committee summonses. The decrease is due ta 248 less offences under thegicensing Acts, and 268 under Local Acts. juvenile crime is about the same. The large number, 112 discharged, out of 210 charged, represents chiefly the discretion of the justices in giving up children to their parents, and not a failure of prosecution for want of evidence. 1,678 persons, being 269 less than last year, have been locked up in the various bridewells. The number of town informations has decreased from 1,425 last year to 1,048 this year, a reduction of 377. The Dock summonses have decreased from 185 last year to 115 this year, a redaction of 70. There are 303 houses in the borough, including all where intoxicating liquors are sold, and taking the Medical Officer of Health's estimate of the present population at 95,370, this will give one house to every 315 of the population. Drunkenness has decreased from 1,037 drunken persons in 1885 to 753 in 1886. A decrease of 284 drunken persons. Taking the population at 95,370, it gives one person in every 126 proceeded against for drunkenness. Last year the ratio was one in every 89, and ten years ago with an estimated population of 55,400 it was one in every 34 persons. Police Constable 104 (Fairhurst) has been rewarded with the Silver Medal and £1 is. by the Humane Society for jumping into the dock in uniform and saving the life of a drowning man; and six constables have been pecuniarily rewarded for assisting to save life. The advantages of the constables being instructed in the St. John's Ambulance Association is demonstrated more and more every year. In one instance it was brought to the notice of the Watch Committee by the surgeon of the Borough Hospital that an inspector and constable had so skilfully applied splints to a broken thigh bone that a serious complication had been prevented. 93 Constables have passed the examination by one of the St John's Ambulance Surgeon Examiners, and have received their certificates and wear the badge. A basket containing bandages, splints, and other simple surgical appliances are kept at all the Police Stations. There have been 992 days in which men were absent from duty on the sick list, of which 40 days were due to men hurt on duty. In consequence of several cases of canine rabies occurring in the Borough, the Conned put in force an order requiring all dogs at large to be kept under control from the 11th January till 25th March. A large number of ownerless dogs were cleared from the streets and the disease appears to have been eradicated. The force was inspected by Captain the Honourable C. G. Legge, Inspector of the constabulary, on 20th August, 1886. The "Great Eastern" steamship was moored in the river during the summer months, and the committee appointed two special constables to do duty on board at the expense of the proprietors. From a tabular statement it appeared that the force number 111 members, the cost of maintenance being £11,481 7s. lid., compared with £11.045 6s. 3cl last year, and £11,543 15s. 10d. in 1882. During the year 125 accidents occurred, 39 of which had a 1 fatal termination, and 121 inquests were held, compared with 145 last year and 150 in the preceding year. In 56 cases out of the 121 a verdict of "Natural cases" was returned. 1,498 doors, windows, (Itc., were found open during the year, and 52 pedlars' certificates and 11 chimney sweepers certificates had been issued. Of the 146 members of the force (including the dock officers) 78 are English, 41 Irish, 8 Scotch, 16 Welsh, I United States, and 1 Isle of Man, the oldest member being Superintendent Clarke, who joined in 1855. During the year 36 fires occurred, the damage amounting to £2,071 Bs. compared with £1,816 10s. last year. 105 hackney carriages were licensed in 1886, compared with 112 last year.