The Sun. — 1854-03-30 (London, England)

THE BATTERSEA PARK TAVERN,-IN RE SWALLOW.  A meeting was held under this estate, for the examination of witnesses touching the ,Park Tavern, &a. Mr. J. R. Chidley, Gresham-street, appeared for the assignee. Legal proceedings are pending, and the creditors are much interested in the examination, as it may lead to materially shortening the period of a Chancery suit.  SUBJECTS FOR THE LAW OF SETTLEMENT.  Though we hope Mr. Baines will succeed in his laud-. able attempt to get rid of the oppressive law of Removal, we hope that the following exceptions may be made in the abolition of Settlement : That all Settlement may not be got rid of until a regular settler has been administered to the Emperor of Russia. That the abolition of Settlement may not interfere with the right of any young lady of a certain uncertain age from getting herself comfortably settled. That if any tenant finds a decided case of Settlement in any portion of his house, the power of removal may not be taken away from him. That if a creditor finds himself in debt to all the tradesmen in the neighbourhood, he may be justified in suspending his own removal until he has effected a satisfactory Settlement. That the abolition of Settlement shall not extend to any marriage Settlement. That any Settlement at the bottom of any beer, wine, or other liquid, shall not be ipso facto illegal, but may, nevertheless, be subject to removal if it should be thought expedient.—Punch.  CITY OF LONDON GENERAL PENSION  SOCIETY.  Last evening the anniversary festival of this institu- I tion was celebrated at the London Tavern, under the presidency of Lord Stanley, M.P., who was supported by Mr. B. B. Cabbell, M.P. (High Sheriff of Norfolk), the Rev. Joseph Brown, the Rev. Mr. Lusignan, &c. In proposing the toast of the evening the noble chairman said the society was formed in 1818, three years after the late protracted war, when, from various circumstances, great national distress prevailed. The founder of the institution was the late Duke of Kent, the father of her present Majesty, who was now a patroness of the society. In the first year six persons were admitted pensioners; and in the second year that number was increased to nine. The society grew and flourished rapidly, and in its ninth year no less than 90 persons were admitted, and altogether 600 persons had participated in its benefits. This was in 1827-28, when the society appeared to have reached its culminating point, no less than 268 persons being admitted to the benefits of the society in 1828-9, and the sum give away amounting to 9,7001. From some cause or other, which it was difficult to ascertain, the funds of the society rapidly fell, and in 1840-41 they were obliged to reduce not only the number of their pensioners but the allowance to them. The funds, however, had since increased, and the full amount of the pensions had been restored, and their income now amounted to 1,0001. per annum, from which 44 persons received pensions. If that society was not so extensive as it had formerly been, it was satisfactory for them to reflect that it was the first of its class, and that numerous flourishing institutions had since been established on the same model. His lordship concluded by drinking " Success and Prosperity to the City of London General Pension Society." The toast was drunk with the greatest enthusiasm, and, at the close of the evening, subscriptions were announced amounting to 3001. The musical arrangements were under the direction of Mr. Genge, assisted by the Misses Wells, Mr. Smythson, and the Masters Sola and Williams. Mr. Harker was the toastmaster.  MURDER AND SUICIDE IN THE REGENT'S-PARK.—Yesterday a painful sensation was created throughout the Regent's-park district of St. Pancras by the discovery of a most shocking murder and suicide, at 47, Clarencegardens. The house was tenanted by James Martin, a shoemaker, about 57 year of age, who, with his wife, occupied the parlours, letting the remainder out in lodgings, one of the upper rooms to his married daughter and her husband. Shortly after eight o'clock yesterday morning Mrs. Whybrow, Martin's daughter, came down stairs, and, not finding either her father or mother up as usual, knocked several times at the front parlour door, occupied as their bedroom, but, receiving no answer, she effected an entrance, and then discovered the place deluged with blood, and the lifeless bodies of her parents lying across each other on the bed, with their throats cut in a shocking manner. Her screams immediately brought the other lodgers and neighbours to her assistance, and it was then discovered that the murderer and his victim were quite dead and cold. A shoemaker's knife, covered with blood, was found on the bed near the right hand of the former. Both Martin and his wife were in their ordinary night dress. On searching the room, a letter, now in the possession of the police, was found, and identified by the daughter as being in the handwriting of Martin, stating the circumstances which had led him to the commission of so horrible a crime. From this it would appear that Martin was in very embarrassed circumstances, and that he haa promised to pay his landlord half a year's rent, which was due him that day, but was unable to do so. He (Nlartin) was under an impression that his goods would be seized, and that be and his wife would have to go to the workhouse, to prevent which be resorted to this terrible alternative, 

Article type: Incident