The Aberystwith Observer

EXECUTION OF DR. CROSS. Dr. Philip Cross was executed on Tuesday at Cork Cotfffty Gaol for the murder, by poisoning, of his wife at Shandy Hall, near Dripsey, in June last. The con- demned man has been in a state of prostration during the past few days, but he appeared to meet his end with firmness and extraordinary coolness. He is stated not to have betrayed the slightest emotion. The executioner was Berry, who allowed a drop of about five feet and a half. Very little information was afforded by the officials as to the circumstances attending the execution, but it was stated that the neck of the culprit appeared to have been broken by the fall. Two clergymen accompanied him to the scaffold after he had attended the final service. The convict slept well on Monday night and rose before six o'clock on Tuesday morning, when he was visited by two chaplains, who remained ^th him. At half-past seven he partook of the .acrainerit in the church, and a few minutes before eight o'clock walked, unassisted, from his cell, with- out the slightest faltering, to the scaffold. He did not speak, and when the bolt was drawn death was instantaneous. Dr. Cross made no confession, but ceased to protest his innocence since the decision of the Lord-Lieutenant refusing a reprieve was made known on Saturday. In appearance, manners, and tastes, Dr. Cross, it is said, greatly resembled his father. Both were ardent sportsmen, and their wild extravagance in hunting and other pastimes procured for them the reputation of being eccentric. When the last will and testament Of Dr. Cross's father was proved, it is alleged to have contained a clause bequeathing his body to the hounds and his soul to the devil. As Surgeon Cross, the man hanged on Tuesday was for many years attached to the 53rd Regiment, and served in the Crimea, Canada, and on several foreign stations. He was not popular in the army, more than one letter during the progress Of the trial for murdering his wife from his former brother officers being received offering to be his executioner should he be convicted. Against these unfriendly epistles, however, letters have been re- ceived from other ex-members of the corps, speaking of his indomitable courage, his fearless bravery, and the reckless daring with which he repeatedly saved the lives of others at the imminent peril of his own. Though to an extent unpopular with commercial men and agriculturists connected with him, there were few people who possessed a more generous spirit, or whose hospitality was more lavishly dispensed. He was for some time boycotted, and while experiencing its inconveniences lie attended a coursing meeting, and when a crowd of roughs attacked him with stones to drive him off the ground he refused to leave, and laid about him with his riding-whip, with such good effect that his assailants slunk away, glad to discontinue the attack. ffu6 P.u^^c are familiar with the circumstances ° the crime for which Dr. Cross was hanged. He was married to the murdered woman, an English lady of position and a member of the well-known Marriott family, many years ago in London and had a family of boys and girls, who are now residing at Shandy all. Mrs. Cross went abroad with him when he was on military duty, and finally they settled down at ^^onnleS-^ence *n co' Cork- Thf- surgeon-major had j .■) with his wife, and was himself comfortably off. 1886 a Miss Skinner, who possessed great Personal attractions, left the house of a neigh- bouring lady, where she acted as governess, and went to live with the Cross family in a similar capacity. Soon after the doctor became indifferent to his wife, and there is reason to believe Miss mner's presence caused quarrels in the house, for she only remained three months. An intimacy had sprung up between Dr. Cross and the governess, with the result that they met in Dublin and London, ravelling and staying in hotels together as man and WIfe. From the time the young lady appeared at handy Hall Dr. Cross's demeanour changed towards his wife. After the intrigue in Dublin Dr. Cross returned to Shandy Hall, and there gradually mur- dered his wife by giving her doses of arsenic and strychnine. Being a medical man he attended the poor lady himself, and towards the end he excluded friends and inquirers after her health from the house. On the night Mrs. Cross died her husband was the only person present, and the event was announced by him to the other members of the household the following morn- ng, or five hours after death had taken place. Dr. oss proceeded to register his wife's death himself, mg up the certificate and stating the cause of death as typhoid fever. The deceased was buried on the second day after death, the funeral taking place at six o'clock in the morning. The only persons present were her husband, a local publican, and the driver of the hearse. Subsequently Dr. Cross made the follow- ing entry in a diary: "Mary Louise Cross departed this life. May she go to heaven is my prayer." He paid the undertaker five guineas for the funeral, and a few days after left for London, where he was quietly married to the late governess, Miss Skinner. This young lady was already in the way to become a mother, and she gave oirth to a child some days ago. Dr. Cross reappeared at Shandy Hall with his second wife three weeks after the death of the first Mrs. Cross, and this scandalous proceeding aroused suspicion, with the result that the body of the unhappy lady was exhumed, and strychnine and arsenic were found in the remains. Further in- vestigations produced discoveries which brought the charge of murder clearly home to the accused man, who was convicted and condemned at the recent Cork Dr. Cross, who was possessed of about >00, after his conviction made a will revoking a previous testament, and leaving £ 6000 to his second SI e',an(^ the rest to his sister and children. The nandy Hali property, being entailed, falls to his eldest Son on his coming of age.

A DUBLIN ROMANCE. fniT^e. Dublin Freeman''s Journal has published the ind^Pg fcxtraordinary story: "On Monday, and innof # °r.some days previously, certain coteries in the ashionable portion of the Rathmines township r._re. very much agitated by a sudden and unexpected elation that has created considerable confusion in the district. On Friday and Saturday the matter was Whispered about, but on Monday the fact which has seated this feeling became very generally known. In rief what has occurred is this: There resided, and still reside, in a fashionable part of Rathmines, a family consisting of a mother, who is a widow, two or three sons, and three young ladies, sisters-at all events they were supposed to be so. The family were held in vi highest respect and esteem, and until this incident occurred their household was undisturbed y any out-of-the-way occurrence. Two of the J^ng.f,la1dies. were prepossessing in appearance f. with many accomplishments. The third i™i we believe—was not devoid of good mnoiv an<* Possessed a certain amount of niXeroufl ? h was l,isl,la3v"1 effectively at asrs taT plrr! n t ™^ee^gt: ™ L -7 she moved. About a couplf o £ months ago it was announced that she was abnnt tn proceed to London to complete her studies in the south Kensington School of Art, and naturally the news caused some interest among her acquaint- ances. She came back at Christmas, and ladies who were acquainted with the family a ed at their house to see her. What was the astonishment of the visitors when the mother calmly tho ^UnCe^ fat her daughter' was a boy, and then mac^Ui°- m Miss entered the room dressed in charanf116 having completely abandoned the had h 0 or he—as we must now call him— gave f° g. assuming of a girl. The incident ances *vPe Perturbation among the acquaint- unpleasw faimly> and as a result no little the vnnt occurred- Those who knew astonishof as Miss are extremely find it fc? f r affairs have taken. They have e-nrm t eve ^at such a deception could teal cirrii °+ ?e-arS wlthout any suspicion of the has been The young man Went <r> i as a from his infancy. He dressed a/a £ I aS A,gir1' entered society as a girl, sudden announ™ ?e^a7.ecl as a Sirl» so that the has naturallv r true Position in society acquaintances of+ £ SOme commotion among the forms a subject nt 8 ^ounS man, while the incident the family and hav^i!™161^ to those who do not know 6 ec°me aware of the occurrence.'

Jyne Corporation, on\lo^v t*36 • °f the Newcastle-on amounting to £ 125 000 at ? !ssue additional stock £ LPS?»' the St of jL"°f.le8sth«3i Percent. ft000, and should the Corporation is about city will ex™Su .SS611 be 0bt!,i,'e<1

FATAL LANDSLIP. Another slip of earth, involving loss of life, has just occurred upon the portion of the Elham Valley Rail- way now in course of construction at Bridge, near Canterbury. The body of the deceased has been identified as that of Richard Harris, 39 years of age, single, and a native of Charlton. On Monday an inquest was held upon his remains by the East Kent coroner (Mr. R. M. Mercer). From the evidence of a navvy named Wells, it appeared that a number of landslips have recently occurred in the locality, and props for shoring up the sides of the cutting had been provided, but were not used. On the occasion in question witness, the deceased, and two other men (one named Elgar) were at the bottom of the cutting, filling a waggon. Witness heard a warn- ing shout, and with the others ran towards the head- ing. As they ran the earth came down from the top of the cutting, and witness was buried up to his chest, so that he could not move. Elgar escaped the fall, and he helped to get witness out, but he missed the other two men altogether. Frederick Baker stated that he was foreman of the gangs working on the spot in question. There was a fall of about nine tons of earth not long ago, and one day last week, just before dinner time, 12 more tons fell from the same side of the cutting. He ordered the men to dig out the earth. He had no extra men at the top of the cutting to examine the earth, but he looked about himself. Witness saw the last slip by which deceased was killed. He estimated that there were 50 or 60 tons of earth fell. Wells was caught up to his neck, but Elgar almost entirely escaped. Deceased and the other man (Marsh) were entirely buried. Deceased was got out first, and afterwards Marsh, who was alive and perfectly sensible. Other evidence having been adduced, the coroner said the contractors should be called upon to adopt additional precautions. Since the last fatal accident, the width of the top of the gullet had been increased from 18 to 24 feet, but something further appeared to be needed. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, and added a rider demanding the adoption of additional precautions, which, it was understood, would be forwarded to the Board of Trade.

A CROFTERS' RAID IN LEWIS. A Stornoway correspondent writes that a body of Highlanders, locally estimated at 1000 in number, marched on Monday at daybreak from Portnaguran and other places for Aignish sheep farm for the pur- pose of driving off the sheep. The entire body con- centrated at a spot three miles from Aignish, and then marched in formation of fours, preceded by musicians and flagbearers, for the scene of action. A force of the Royal Scots, Marines, and police came up with the Highlanders, who refused to disperse. Sheriff Fraser thereupon read the Riot Act, but the High- landers proceeded with their work, and succeeded, it is said, in clearing the entire stock off the farm. The rioters several times came into conflict with the police and military, and a number of them were wounded, but none fatally. Mr. John Ross, Procurator Fiscal, was struck with a heavy stick and badly wounded, and the officer in command of the Royal Scots and several policemen were wounded severely. Eleven of the raiders were arrested and taken into Stornoway at four o'clock under heavy escort; but the bulk of the Highlanders are reported to be still on Aignish farm, and to be threatening to leave not a single sheep in the whole district. The island is in a state of wild excitement, and a serious conflict is feared. A later telegram says that, after the 13 prisoners were lodged in gaol on Monday night, the Marines and military left town again for the Melbost and Aignish farms, in company with the Deputy Pro- curator-Fiscal, Sheriff Fraser, and the superintendent of police. After seeing the several members of these forces comfortably settled for the night, the Sheriff, Procurator, and superintendent returned to Stornoway at a late hour. They anticipated a renewal of the disturbance at several parts of the island on Tuesday and the following days as the people threatened a clearance of all the farms in Lewis at once. The crofters, on the military and police marching to town from Aignish with their prisoners, took charge of Mr. Newall's entire stock and drove them on to the extreme point of the Knock district, there to stray at their own sweet wills, and the stockman was in a state of entire ignorance on Monday night as to the whereabouts of his live stock. The names of those apprehended on Monday are Alexander M'Donald, fisherman, of Aird, aged 60 William M'Leod, fisherman, 63 Alexander M'Donald, sailor, 21; Donald M'Kenzie, fisherman, of Aird, 51; John M'Leod, ditto, 51; Donald M'Leod, ditto, 29; Colin Nicholson, ditto, of Bayble, 31; Allan M'Donald, sailor, of Newmarket, 32 Malcolm Mackenzie, ifsherman, of Aird, 43; Wm.Crichton Mason, of Knock, 28 John M'Leod, fisherman, of Knock, 30 William Macleod, sailor, of Aird, 26 and John Mac- kenzie, fisherman, of Knock. The cell accommoda- tion being limited in Storonoway, it was expected that they would be sent on to Dingwall or Inverness. The Sheriff and Fiscal, it is said, displayed great coolness and tact in the management of the whole expedition, without which, it is admitted on all hands, blood would have been shed. The police on Monday night were at Aignish under the control of that veteran officer, Sergeant Smith, of the Ross-shire police force. It was understood that the Government, recognising the inadequacy of the naval and military force in the island, would largely augment it without delay. On Tuesday a crowd of about 60 people, chiefly composed of young men from Coll township, marched in procession to Stornoway in order to have an inter- view with Lady Matheson's chamberlain, Mr. Mackay, with a view of having the land now forming the farm of Coll, tenanted by Mr. John Hunter, apportioned into crofts, and let to them at fair rents. The deputation first went to the chamberlain's office, but finding that that official was attending a parochial board meeting in Lochs they declined to pre- sent the petition to any of the other officials, notwith- standing that they were told that it would be duly considered. They re-formed fours and marched direct to the Castle, where they were courteously received by Lady Matheson, in the presence of Mr. M'Lennan and Mr. Gillander, both of the Chamberlain's office. Four of their number, who were elected by the main body, were ushered into the library of the Castle, and they there presented their petition to Lady Matheson, who, having cordially shaken hands with them, read the petition, and afterwards asked the representatives- three of whom were young men of about 22 or so, the fourth being about 35 years-if they had paid their present rent, to which they replied that they had not. Further inquiry elicited the fact that about 60 years ago-long before the late Sir James Matheson purchased the island-only 20 crofts were in Coll, but that through the increase of population and want of migration the increase is so great that almost four times that number are now in it. Lady Matheson in- quired how it was that squatting was permitted and encouraged by the people themselves, when they well knew that it was the means of impoverishing the tenants, while, if they educated and encouraged their children and grandchildren to emigrate or migrate, benefit would accrue to all concerned. The deputation replied that that was a question they would rather not answer, as it was one difficult for them to solve. The main complaint seemed, however, to be that their lands were now, from incessant cultivation, almost entirely run out, and they would like to get those lands now in the hands of tacksmen previous to any attempt on their part to emigrate. Lady Matheson having again shaken hands with the mem- bers of the deputation, they expressed themselves much obliged for the kindness of their reception and the frankness with which their circumstances were entered into, and then retired. On Wednesday matters resumed almost their ordinary character in Stornoway, and the authorities finished taking the declarations of the prisoners who were apprehended for their participation in the Aig- nish raid. They were all committed to prison, and Sheriff Fraser refused to liberate any of the men on bail pending the arrival of Sheriff Principal Cheyne from Edinburgh. The Jackal was to proceed with the prisoners to Stromeferry for their incarceration in Dingwall Gaol. Chief-constable Munro, who arrived on Tuesday night with a large body of police, received large reinforcements on Wed- nesday night, when nearly 100 additional men drafted from several counties in the south arrived by the Lochiel. On Wednesday Sheriff Fraser, Mr. Ross (Fiscal), and Chief Constable Munro visited Aignish farm to ascertain if the whole of the stock had yet returned. They reported that many of the cattle had returned, and also some sheep-many being maimed and mutilated. On Wednesday information was furnished to the Procurator-Fiscal from Barvas that a raid was intended to be made to-day upon the farm of Galson, and the stock to be driven on to the Castle grounds, about 20 miles distant. The crofters threatened this raid about three weeks ago, and the tacksman, Mr. Helm, intimated this to the authorities, holding the county and the Government liable in all loss and damage which he or his stock might sustain. Communications were passing on Wednesday be- tween the Scotch Office and the Admiralty in connec- tion with the augmentation of the military force in the island of Lewis. Her Majesty's ship Belleisle, guardship at Kingston, has been ordered to Holyhead, there to embark the remainder of the Royal Marines who have been on leave, and who number 60 men. After provisioning, she was to at once proceed to Stornoway, where she would land the marines, and probably some of her blue-jackets. Her Majesty's ship Ajax, guardship at Greenock, was also ordered to furnish a detachment of marines to proceed to Stornoway in the gunboat Forester. These reinforce- ments will bring the total of the troops engaged in the island up to about 250 men.

A CHINESE SOLOMON. The Chinese of Shanghai are lost in amazement at the wisdom of their district magistrate. A man brought before him charged with stealing a table denied the charge, alleging that he was so feeble from ill-health that it was physically impossible for him to commit such a crime The magistrate listened gravely to the tale, and professed his sympathy and sorrow for the poor man in his misfortune. Go home and get cured," said he kindly, and as you are very poor take that bag, which contains 10,000 cash, as a present from me." The prisoner made obeisance, threw the heavy bag of coin over his shoulder, and departed. He had not gone far before he was re- arrested, brought back and found guilty, the magis- trate remarking that a man who could carry off a heavy sack if cash could have no difficulty in stealing a light table.

REFUSING INSTRUCTIONS FROM GOVERNMENT. At Dungannon, before Sir Francis Brady, Q.C., County-court judge, an appeal has been heard against the decision given at a Crimes Act Court, by Messrs. French and Nagle, resident magistrates, on the 8th of November, when Patrick Kelly was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for, as it was alleged, taking illegal possession. Mr. Dickie, Crown solicitor, said his Worship had power, under the County-court Act, to issue a warrant for the arrest of Kelly, if convicted. The judge said he would consider the question when the case came on for hearing, but he would not take instructions from the Government in the matter. The defence was that a child was left in the house. His Worship decided that the law had not been properly carried out, and that the eviction was not complete, and reversed the decision of the Court below.

EPITOME OF NEWS. The vicar and churchwardens of Leyland parish church wished to erect a chancel screen, surmounted by a crucifix, flanked by figures of the Blessed Virgin and St. John in the parish church. The Chancellor of the diocese has effected a compromise, and granted a faculty for a design which substitutes a simple wooden cross, with figures of two angels for the crucifix and the figures of the Virgin and St. John. A labourer named Ward, of Bedford, felt aggrieved because he could not gain admission to the workhouse. Having a lucifer in his pocket he—to remove his annoy- ance-set fire to a straw rick, valued at £ 30. The man gave himself up. The death is announced of Mr. J. Byrne, who has been secretary to the Newspaper Press Fund for nearly 20 years. The Baptists of Wales possess 701 chapels which provide accommodation for 240,902 persons. The number of communicants is stated at 75,443. There are in connection with the chapels 8535 Sunday-school teachers and 77,817 scholars. The ordained pastors number 367. These figures do not include the conexional strength in Monmouthshire, where alone there are 103 churches, with a membership of 12,595. Mr. Edison keeps 400 electric lights burning all night about his house and grounds at Llewellyn Park, New Jersey, where he frequently sits till dawn experi- menting in his favourite line. The Royal Society of British Artists have granted the use of their rooms for the exhibition of the works contributed by artists in aid of the Sweny Relief Fund. Cardiff people are pleasurably excited over a scheme to erect no less than 11 cotton-mills in the suburbs of the town, which they estimate would employ from 2000 to 3000 persons. After all the circumstantial statements we have had, it is now said that there is no truth in the statement that the Duke of Norfolk is about to proceed to Rome as the bearer of a further communication to the Pope. A military society is to be formed at Aldershot, which will give officers of experience and knowledge an opportunity of expressing their views on current military topics. Letters from the Central African Bishop Sogaro, dated in November last, state that eight priests and nuns detained in Omdurman, opposite Khartoum, were still alive at the time he wrote. They were, however, in a deplorable condition. Sister Rudolpha, of the St. Joseph's Orphanage, Preston, was going down the Infirmary stairs, on Monday, when she fell, her head striking the corner of a step with great force. Her skull was fractured, and she died within half an hour. At the time the sister was showing a party of visitors over the institution. The crew of the Norwegian barque Kate, which was wrecked on the county Down coast, say that after they had saved a quantity of their effects, clothing, &c., a band of people collected and stole the greater part of them. The sailors were absolutely powerless, and un- able to offer any real resistance to the people, who ran off with the spoil. Some letters from Dhuleep Singh to a French Comte have been published, declaring himself a devoted subject of the Czar of Russia, and the future deliverer of India from British oppression. He bases his hopes on a prophecy written in the year 1725 by the last religious teacher of the Sikhs. W. Wells, huntsman to Mr. H. Gosling, M.F.H., was dangerously injured in the humting field on Satur- day at Hatfield Forest, where his horse threw him into the water at the bottom of a ditch, rolled on him, and in recovering itself violently kicked him in the region of the heart, fracturing two ribs. Wells was found totally unconscious, concussion of the brain having taken place. The members of the Tuam National League have called upon Colonel Nolan, M.P., in his capacity of Justice of the Peace, to immediately visit the political prisoners in Galway Gaol, and report upon their treat- ment. The Florence magistrate who seized documents at the French Consulate is to be removed to another post in sign of disgrace. This decision has been officially com- municated to the French Government. The Rebeccaites of this generation are milder-mannered men. Toll-gates in Monmouthshire have been generally abolished, but there is one solitary relic of the old impost left-at Sirhowy. But the people of Tredegar intend to remove it quietly, if they can. One of their number has driven through and refused to pay the toll. So now there is nothing for it but an appeal to that last dread arbitrament "-the law. By the extension of the Canadian Pacific Railway trains now pass through Canada for Boston, opening up the quickest freight and passenger route from the Mississippi to Great Britain. Albert Harding was again before the Marylebone magistrate, on Monday, charged with breaking into a house at Kilburn, stealing property worth £10, and assaulting the detective who captured him. A formal remand was granted, and it was intimated that on the next examination the prisoner would be committed for trial. Monday being the anniversary of the death of King Victor Emmanuel, the King and Queen of Italy and the other members of the Royal Family visited the tomb of the deceased monarch in the Pantheon at Rome. After their Majesties had left, a popular mani- festation of an imposing kind took place the Com- munal Junta and a number of popular and political associations arriving in procession with banners and bands, and placing splendid funeral wreaths on the tomb. The commemoration of the anniversary, which has also been observed in all the principal towns, is regarded this year as possessing especial significance, the popular demonstrations in honour of the founder of United Italy being construed as the reply of the Italian nation to the Papal Jubilee. Many Liberal associations and deputations from the provinces went to the Quirinal in the course of the afternoon to offer their salutations to King Humbert. During the Parliamentary recess additional accommo- dation, in the form of private rooms for Cabinet Ministers, has been provided at the House of Com- mons. The private cloister set apart for the carriages of members has also been provided with an iron and glass half roof running the entire length of the cor- ridor. This will be found of much benefit in wet weather. It has not been found necessary to do any- thing involving a great outlay of money upon the House itself, but the continuations of the new drainage works are being proceeded with. These, however, will be suspended shortly, to be resumed after next ses- sion, when it is hoped this costly undertaking may be brought to a conclusion. A considerable advance has been made with the interesting work known as the restoration of Westminster Hall. The plans of the architect have provided for a scheme of useful rooms, one of which, of considerable size, will be specially adapted for Grand Committees and extra-Parliamentary gatherings. On Monday evening a tea, followed by a public meet- ing, was held at the Metropolitan Tabernacle to welcome Mr. Spurgeon on his return from Mentone, and to cele- brate the publication of his two thousandth sermon. The meeting was addressed by Mr. Spurgeon, Mr. James Spurgeon, Dr. Sinclair Patterson, the Rev. Mr. Stolt, and other gentlemen. Under the Merchandise Marks Act quantities of imported hardware, clocks, toys, yarns, gloves, hats, tobacco, condensed milk, and other articles have been detained at the Port of London and at the outports, especially Hull, in order that the opinion of the Com- missioners may be taken as to their marks and brands. M. Waddington, French Ambassador in London, presided at the annual conference of the National Society of French Professors in England, held on Mon- day in the rooms of the Society of Arts, and in the course of a speech stated that the French Minister of Public Instruction had placed two gold medals at the disposal of the society to be competed for, one by boys and the other by girls. A letter was read from Lord Lytton wishing the Association success. On Tuesday the society was received at the University of Cambridge. Letters received from the British Channel Squadron at Lisbon show that serious affrays took place during Christmas leave between our sailors and the Lisbon police. The disturbances appear to have arisen through one of the Blue-jackets knocking down a Portuguese waiter, who, he complained, had insulted and swindled him. The saloon-keeper telephoned for the police, who soon arrived in considerable numbers, and without more ado attacked our seamen with drawn swords, striking right and left. The Blue-jackets pluckily defended themselves, and also in turn assailed the foemen. Taking off their jackets and rolling them round the left arm they presented a shield against the swords of the police, while the tars hit out desperately with the right hand. It was the men of the Sultan and Agincourt principally who were thus engaged, and they knocked down the police in considerable numbers. On the following day the police, without any provoca- tion, renewed the onslaught, and several men were in- jured. A large number of arrests were made. At Brighton, on Tuesday, a man named Isaac Turner was committed for trial at the assizes, charged with libelling a Brighton detective named Longley. The evidence was that the defendant drove about the town in a cart on which was a placard with the words "De- tective Longley is the companion of thieves." It was also stated that the defendant addressed a crowd of people, denouncing Longley. The Chief Constable and the Watch Committee stated that Longley had been 13 years in the force, and had an unblemished character. Defendant admitted the placard, and said he could prove the truth of the statements. The stipendiary said he could not call witnesses there to prove their truth. The Bradford Town Council was asked at Tuesday's meeting to order the payment of the quarterly precept of the School Board for £ 9500. The sum demanded is equal to a rate of lOd. in the pound. Great opposition was raised to the passing of the precept, and a most exciting and stormy scene resulted from the Town Clerk advising the Mayor to refuse to put any amend- ments, on the ground that the Council had no alterna- tive, and were simply making themselves ridiculous. Eventually, the resolution was negatived by a large majority. At a meeting of the Dover Corporation on Tuesday, it was agreed to make a representation to the Committee of Officers who will consider the plans for the Easter Monday Volunteer Field-day, to the effect that the Corporation and town generally are prepared to co- operate with the military authorities in providing not only the ground on which a field-day could be held, but all necessary local accommodation other than that afforded by the military for the comfort of the volun- teers. An inquest was held in Southwark on Tuesday on the body of Fanny Adlen, aged 69, a member of the sect called "Peculiar People." It is forbidden by the tenets of this community to call in medical aid, and although the deceased has been ill for several weeks no doctor was consulted. At the request of the jury, the coroner severely censured one of the elders of the sect, and urged him to abandon the iniquitous practice of relying solely on the laying on of hands in cases of sickness. Sales were conducted on Tuesday on five farms in the parish of Whitford, Fintshire, for tithes due to the Ec- clesiastical Commissioners and to the Clergy Defence Association. The emergency men, solicitors, and appraisers were guarded by fifty constables, drafted from Flintshire, Denbigshire, and Carnarvonshire, and also by a troop of the 13th Hussars, under the com- mand of Captain Williams and Lieutenants Grant and Neville, by order of the Home Office. The chief con- stables of Flintshire and Denbighshire were also pre- sent. The Irish emergency men were attired in dis- tinctive uniform, and brought a number of vehicles to cart away the haystacks distrained upon should the farmers decline to become purchasers. The proceed- ings, however, passed off very quietly, the hay being bought in. As a protest against the low appraisements the owners paid £191 to cover JE158 tithe due. Mr. T. Ellis, M.P., attended, and strongly denounced the sales. A movement is on foot for the development of an important British industry which deserves every en- couragement, the quarrying and manufacture of gypsum into a cement which will serve all the purposes of the now largely-imported plaster of Paris, besides being usable under conditions of great exposure to fire and severe weather. It is stated that there are over 60 million tons of the raw material on the seaboard about Whitehaven, the "getting" and preparing of which for builders' use might well occupy hundreds of the unemployed. The Council of the National Rifle Association have c decided that the annual prize meeting for this year shall commence at Wimbledon on Monday, July 9, and continue as usual till the end of the following week. We regret to announce the death of Mr. William Cole Beasley, Q.C., of the North-Eastern Circuit, and late Recorder of Hull, which took place on Tuesday morning, at his residence in London. The deceased. gentleman, who was the eldest son of Captain Beasley, of Surfleet, Lincoln, was born in July, 1816, and was educated at Lincoln College, Oxford, where he graduated M.A. in 1838. He was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1853, was elected a Bencher of his Inn in 1876, and was created a Queen's Counsel in 1880. He was appointed Recorder of Warwick in July, 1874, and in the following December he was transferred to the Recordership of Hull, which post he continued to hold until a few weeks ago, when he resigned on account of failing health. Mr. Beasley also held the appointment of senior counsel to her Majesty's Customs, and was previously, from 1859 to 1877, one of the counsel to the Treasury at the Central Criminal Court, and before that had been one of the counsel to the Board of Trade. The learned gentleman had given up practice for some time past. Mr. R. G. Webster, M.P., addressed a Conservative meeting in St. George's, Hanover-square, on Tuesday night, on the subject of metropolitan government, con- tending that the whole of London should be divided into areas containing not less than 100,000 inhabitants, each having an elective council, and that over these there should be a central council consisting of mem- bers nominated by the local bodies. At the annual meeting of the Royal Humane Society, on Tuesday, the Stanhope Gold Medal for the most meritorious case of saving life from drowning during the year was awarded to Mr. Hedley Hill. He rescued a girl who, in the darkness of the night, by mistake walked into the River Avon, at Bristol. The Duke of 'o Cambridge's Silver Medal for proficiency in swimming was obtained by a student of the Royal Naval School. Mr. Ritchie, the President of the Local Government Board, on Tuesday, received a deputation from the Lambeth Board of Guardians, who pleaded for scme mitigation in the punishment of their relieving officer, he having, by order of the Board, been called on to send in his resignation in consequence of alleged negligence. He had failed to visit an aged couple who were in receipt of outdoor relief, and who at last died of starvation. The right hon. gentleman commented in terms of in- dignation on the inadequacy of the allowance granted to the old people—3s. 6d. a week, out of which they had to pay 2s. for rent-and, as to the officer, observed that if the penalty was great so also was the offence. However, he promised to consider what had been urged in his behalf, and he only hoped that neither in Lambeth nor elsewhere would the public sense be shocked again by such an occurrence. A further private examination in the affairs of Messrs. Greenway, late bankers of Warwick and Leamington, took place on Tuesday, before the Registrar of the Warwick County Court. Mr. Joseph Shaw, formerly manager of Mr. Kelynge Greenway, Halloughton dairy farm, was questioned very closely with regard to general matters connected therewith, and next came Mr. Cowper, of Leamington, owner of an Australian bill for £ 12(X>, who said that when he lodged the bill at the Leamington branch of the bank he gave no specific instructions concerning it. Mr. Clarke was again examined particularly as to his personal connec- tion with the Kenilworth tannery, and produced a number of books showing the position of the concern from time to time. In the course of the day several large packages of goods, which were despatched from Halloughton Hall between the period of the bank stoppage and the filing of the bankrupt's petition, were received at Warwick, and taken possession of by Major Fosberry, the trustee of the bankrupts' estate. At Birmingham, on Tuesday, Mr. Alfred Peel, whole- sale jeweller, was summoned, under the Merchandise Marks Act, for having applied a false trade description to some trinkets purchased from him by another firm of jewellers in November. The trinkets were described by the defendant as composed of silver to the extent of 800 parts in a 1000 whereas their quality turned out, on assay, to be considerably below this standard. The defence was that the defendant supplied the goods under the belief that they were of the quality he repre- sented them to be, and that, making due allowance for the solder used in making up the articles, the quality was not materially deficient, which it must be for an offence under the Act to be made out. Further, an objection was raised that an invoice, which was the trade description that the prosecution argued to be false, was not a trade description applied to the goods within the meaning of the Act. The magistrate decided against the defendant on both these points, and fined him 20s. The case will be taken to a higher Court. The Emperor William is suffering from slight indis- position. An outbreak of pleuro-pneumonia at New Bridge Farm, near Manchester, has resulted in the slaughter of thirty head of cattle. The number of fever patients in the London hos- pitals continues steadily to diminish. Mr. Bradlaugh has written to the papers, stating that it is not true that in the declaration or statement of claim just delivered in the case of Peters v. Brad- laugh," Mr. Peters avers that Lord Salisbury has never sent him any cheque in his life and that he has never received money in any way directly or indirectly from his lordship. There is (says Mr. Bradlaugh) nothing to this effect, or in any way like it, alleged in the statement of claim. A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Ulster Loyalist Anti-Repeal Union was held at Belfast on Monday. Resolutions were adopted recording the approval of the action of Mr. Balfour and the Go- vernment in their firm and judicious application of the law for the suppression of outrage and intimidation in Ireland condemning in the strongest manner the encouragement afforded to lawlessness by certain Eng- lish members of Parliament in Ireland, and regarding their action as unpatriotic, wicked, and a positive evil to the best interests of Ireland and the Empire expressing satisfaction that law and order have been vindicated, and renewing their protest against the proposal to establish a statutory Parliament in Ireland. A Boston jury has decided that a cigar is a drug. and therefore, that a druggist can sell one on Sunday without violating the law. A tramp arrested at Kirkby Stephen on Saturday evening has been identified as the man who committed the outrage and robbery last week near Temple Sowerby. Great excitement prevails in the district, another robbery having been committed at a lonely farmhouse, a large sum of money having been stolen whilst the farmer and his family were at market. Walter William Neale, ex-Town Councillor and soli- citor, of Coventry, and now a convict undergoing twelve years' penal servitude for forgery, was publicly examined in the Bankruptcy Court on Monday. His deficiency was £20,000. The bankrupt could give no explanation of this beyond the statement that he had been borrow- ing money for years by mortgage and other ways, for which he was now being punished, to meet pressing claims for repayment of principal and interest. The Court presumed that at some time the bankrupt was solvent, but he replied that he did not know when. It had been for years and years a case of spending money and getting none. His difficulties were not due to ex- travagant household expenditure, because he was in volved before marriage and he had lest very little by- transactions on the Stock Exchange or betting on horses. Eventually the examination was adjourned sine die, no statement of affairs having been filed. The bankrupt said he hoped he should die if ever he had to come into the court again. He was in prison dress, covered with a large ulster. Two warders of Warwick Gaol had him in charge. John Mann, a Parcel Post driver in the service of the General Post Office, was charged at the London Guildhall Justice-room on Saturday with causing an obstruction to traffic in the City. Mr. Alderman Tyler fined the man 2s., whereupon the supervisor of the Post Office asked that the alderman would reoon- sider his decision, as the case was very important for that department. The magistrate replied that neither the Post Office vans nor any others must be permitted to obstruct traffic, but he dismissed the summons on a promise that the public service should be incommoded as little as possible. Nevada City is to have an electric light tower 100ft. high, with four 2000-candle-power lamps. Mr. J. S. Montefiore will be the Conservative can- didate for the South-West Division of Bethnal-green. 'L The pastorate of Regent's-park Baptist Church has been accepted by the Rev. F. B. Meyer, B.A., of Leicester. A burglary has just been effected at Easney Park, Ware, the residence of Mr. Thomas Fowell Buxton. The police report it to have taken place in the "usual" manner. Two ladders fastened together reached the bedroom window: the doors and gates were tied up on the outside, and "jemmies" were used. The booty carried off included a gold watch, gold locket set with onyx stones and enamelled, gold brooch set with garnets, plain gold brooch, round silver brooch embossed and studs en suite, and a purse containing zE4 10s. A reward of JS20 has been offered. The present is the tfii th Congress of the United States.. The Empress of Austria's health still requires great care. General Kauzler, formerly Commander of the Ponti- fical Army, is dead. Mr. Whittier received more than 500 letters on his 80th birthday. In Sydney there are said to be 3000 habitual and hopeless drunkards. A Kerry correspondent writes that Colonel Peyton, who has for the last 13 years rented some 60,000 acres of shooting in Kerry, was out shooting in the neigh- bourhood of Waterville a few days ago, when he was attacked by a man with a spade, who struck at him in the most ferocious manner. The colonel parried the blows with his gun, being reluctant to fire, and event- ually succeeded in making his way to the road and getting rid of his assailant. The colonel was only enabled to gain the road by retiring facing the man, and with his gun held within a yard of the man's head. Three days later, on another portion of his shooting, the colonel's keeper came upon two men with blackened faces, who were poaching, and on warning them off the ground was fired at by one of them at a distance of between 40 and 50 yards. A number of pellets entered the man's coat and one penetrated the eyelid, and it is feared the man may lose his sight. A solicitor named Hutchings, who has been three times Mayor of Devonport, was convicted on Saturday at the local sessions of having obtained money by fraud. He was sentenced to twelve months' imprison- ment without hard labour. Dr. Willey, Medical Officer of the Sheffield Borough Hospital, reports to his Committee that 176 cases of small-pox were admitted to the hospital in December, 42 of which were unvaccinated. One hundred and thirty-six remained in from the previous month, making the total number of cases treated in the month 312. There were 30 deaths—IS of them occurred among the unvae- cinated, and 12 among adults who had not been vac- cinated since infancy. The average age of the latter persons was 35. Only three of them were under 30, indicating that fatalities among those vaccinated in infancy occur only as adult life is reached, and as the original protection is gradually lost. During the month 117 convalescents were sent to Totley from the hospital, and 123 were discharged from that institution well. Altogether 156 patients recovered, and left'the two hospitals well, and 136 remain under treatment. The number of German emigrants last year, up to the end of November, was 97,247, or about 20,000 more than in 1886, but 7700 fewer than in 1885.

THE MARKETS. MARK-LANE. At Mark-lane a moderate business was done. The sales of home-grown wheat in the leading markets of England and Wales during the first 19 weeks of the season were 1,198,955 qrs., against 949,492 qrs. last year, at an average of 30s Od, against 31s 10d per qr. barley, 1,656,653 qrs., against 1,572,336 qrs., average 28s lOd, against 27s 2d and oats, 132,448 qrs., against 181,153 qrs., average 15s Od, against 17s 4d per qr. English wheat met a slow sale. Endeavours were made to realise full prices, but the tone was not strong. Foreign wheat was inactive at about late rates. The flour market was dull at previous prices. There was a steady trade for barley. Malting produce was quite as dear. Grinding realised 3d per qr. advance. About an average business was done in oats at full currencies. Maize was steady and quite as dear. Beans were 6d to Is per qr. cheaper, but peas 6d dearer. Egyptian beans, 28s to 30s 6d Smyrna and Morocco, 27s to 28s per 4801b. White Canadian peas, 29s to 29s 6d green Calcutta, 22s 9d to 24s. per 5041b. METROPOLITAN CATTLE. The cattle trade has been without any fresh feature. A quiet, slow business has been transacted, but prices have remained much about the same as on the last market. Beasts were in moderate supply from our own grazing districts. There was a want of animation, but prices were about on a par with last week. The best Scots and crosses changed hands at 4s 10d to 5s per 81b. Foreign beasts were in moderate supply and slow re- quest, the prices realised being about on a par with last week. In the sheep pens there have been fair sup- plies available. A slow business was transacted, and prices were not over strong. The best small 8st. to 8st. 71b. Downs made 5s to 5s 2d 9st. to 9st. 71b., 5s; lOst and lOst 71b., 4s lOd per 81b. Calves were quiet, at late rates. Pigs were dull on former terms Quotations Coarse and inferior beasts, 2s 4d to 3s second quality ditto, 3s to 4s prime large oxen, 4s 4d to 4s 8d ditto Scots, &c., 4s 10d to 5s; coarse and inferior sheep, 3s to 4s second quality ditto, 4s to 4s 6d prime coarse-woolled ditto, 4s 8d to 5s prime Southdown ditto, 5s to 5s 2d large coarse calves, 3s to 4s prime small ditto, 4s to 5s large hogs, 2s 4d to 3s; neat small porkers, 3s to 3s 8d per 81b to sink the offal. METROPOLITAN MEAT. The supply was larger and the trade slower, with a tendency to lower rates. The market was not cleared. Inferior beef, 2s Od to 2s 4d middling ditto, 3s Od to 3s 4d; prime ditto, 3s 8d to 4s Od Scotch ditto, 3s 10d to 4s 2d American, Liverpool killed, 3s 8d to 3s lOd ditto killed, hind-quarters, 3s 8d to 4s Od; ditto, ditto, fore-quarters, 2s 4d to 2s 8d; English veal, 3s 8d to 4s 4d Dutch ditto, 2s 4d to 3s 4d inferior mutton, 2s Od to 2s 8d; middling ditto, 3s to 3s 4d; prime ditto, 3s 8d to 4s 2d Scotch ditto, 4s Od to 4s 6d; New Zealand ditto, 2s Od to 2s 6d large pork, 2s 4d to 2s 8d; small ditto, 3s Od to 3s 6d per 81b. by the carcase. FISH. Good supply and fair demand. Prices:—Wholesale Cod, 2s to 7s each John Doreys, 2s to 3s each; brill, 8s per stone; turbot, lls per stone soles, 80s to 90s per box plaice, 20s per box fresh haddocks, 6s to 8s per box; whiting, 8s per box; live eels, 18s per draft; mackerel, 6s per score red mullets, 10s per dozen; lobsters, 25s per score; crabs, 25s per pad; bloaters, 3s to 4s per box; kippers, 3s 6d to 4s per box dried haddocks, 3s to 7s per dozen oysters, 4s to 15s per 100; shrimps, Is to 2s per gallon. Retail: Cod, 4d to 6d per lb.; brill, 9d per lb.; turbot, Is per lb. soles, Is 3d per lb. live eels, Is 2d per lb. fresh had- docks, 3d per lb. plaice, 6d to Is each; red mullets, Is each; John Doreys, 2s 6d to 4s Gd each mackerel, 4d each; whiting, 4d each; crabs, Is to 2s 6d each; lobsters, Is to 3s each dried haddocks, 4d to Is each; bloaters, 9d per dozen; kippers, Is per dozen oysters, 4d to 2s 6d per dozen. POTATO. There was a moderate supply of potatoes on sale. The trade was dull at the annexed prices: Magnum bonums, 70s to 100s Regents, 70s to 100s Hebrons, 80s to 110s and champions, 60s to 70s per ton.

MR. JOHN BRIGHT ON HOME RULE. Mr. Bright, writing to a gentleman at Birmingham, points out that if Mr. Gladstone's Home Rule Bill had been passed, Irish Cabinet Ministers and Privy Councillors would have been selected in great part from among the Irish members now in Parliament and he claims that in preventing this the Unionist Liberals have saved the nation from a great peril, and the Sovereign from the terrible indignity to which the passion of a statesman, aged and most eminent, and the credulity of a rash and unthinking party would have subjected her.