Welsh Newspapers
Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles
10 articles on this Page
--WIMBLKDON POISON r o CASE.…
WIMBLKDON POISON r o CASE. VERDICT OF WILFUL MURDER. Mr. Hail, coroner for West Surrey, resumed the adjourned in nest on the bodv of Percy Ma colm John (in connection with which death. Dr. Lamson now stands charged with murder) in Wimbledon Drill Hall, on the 1-cli instant. Dr. Stevenson was examined by Mr. St. John Wontner, who again represents the Publio Prosecutor. He said he received instruc- tions from the Home Office to analyse the contents of the stomach of Percy John, also some pills, powders, vomit, <fc3. He found that the cake, sherry, sugar capsultB, arid Wafers were free from poison. Some quinine pills Were also free from poison. He found poison in threequininepowders. Aconitiawas iu tbem. There was certainly sufficient to destroy life. He found the same substance in Some of the pilis, more than sufficient to destroy life. The stomach, viscera, and vomit also contained aconitia suffi- cieat to cause death. He also found aconitia in the urine. Dr. Dupre assisted him. By Mr. Gladstone: The smallest quantity of poison be had known to cause death was one- sixteenth of a grain. By the Coroner: Aconitia produced death by Paralysing the heart. It acted as a direct poison "Ball the 7aitrogeneous tissues. Dr. Dupre stated that he had assisted Dr. Ste- venson. He corroborated the evidence of Dr. Stevenson as to the finding of poison, &c. He had formed an opinion as to how much aconitia deceased took. He should say he must have taken considerably over a grain. By Mr. Gladstone: He judgea that deceased must have taken over a grain 0; aconitia, irre- spective of what was found in the urine. By a Juryman: In one powder they found enough aconitia to make eight fatal doses. The Coroner then briefly summed up the evi- dence, and the jury immediately returned a ver- dict of "Wilful murder" against Dr. Lamson, and expressed their regret with Mr. Bed rook that the death should have taken place in his establish- ment.
THE "PECULIAR PEOPLE" AND…
THE "PECULIAR PEOPLE" AND THE SMALLPOX. An inquest was held last week at Plumstead by Mr. Aruudel ( arttar, coroner for Kent, on the DOdy of Abraham Morby, aged eigh years, whose parents are members of the religious sect known M God's Pteuliar People.' The boy died of smallpox on Sunday last, and there being no medical attendant to sign a certificate of death, the case was reported to the coroner. The in- quiry created much intereist, and there was a large attendance of the Peculiar People, the "sifters" of the sect being especially prominent in their Quaker like garb. The body lay in the parish mortuary, where the jury, after protesting against the risk to which they were subjected, viewed it, most of them being satisfied by looking in at the open door. The foreman of the jury further com- plained, on returning to the inquest room, that they were endangered by being brought into contact with the witnesses fresh from a house reeking with infection;" but the Coroner, while sharing their objections, said there was no alternative but to proceed with their duty. —The first witness called was Rachel Morby] who said she waa the wife of John Morby' labourer, residing at 49, Orchard road, Plum- stead. Deceased, their son, was eight years and five months old, and had been a healthy boy until the 2/th of December, when he was taken ill with smallpox. She knew it was smallpox be. cause his elder brother James was taken with it three weeks or a month previously. Two others of the family had been attacked, and were now getting better. Deceased was no worse than the others until last Sunday, when her husband sent for the elders of the church, and one of them came, laid his hands upon the child, and prayed to the Lord to save his life, but the Lord thought fit to take him, and he died at four o'clock in the afternoon. The name of the elder was Thomas Hines. No doctor was called.—The Coroner: If your child broke his arm, would you not call a a,mrgeon to set it?-Wbile I put my trust in God DO' 8D^0r my child's arm to be broken.— While this disease has been raging in your house your husband and nephew have been out and about as usum ?-Yes,. (Sensation.) —Dr. Alfred Sharpe. police surgeon, said he had made a post-mortem examination of the body, and that the child had died of con- fluent smallpox. Ho would noo say that medical attendance would have saved the boy's life, but it would certainly have increased the probability of his recovery.—Charles Gilham, police-constable, stated that the father of deceased gave information of the death at the police station, as he was unable to obtain an order for burial. He represented that the child had died of smallpox, and had not been medically treated.—Thomas Hiues said he was one of the aiders of tha Peculiar People, and had seen the deceased three times during his illness. Last Sunday he laid hands upon him and prayed for his recovery, as directed in 5th chapter of the Epistle of James, verses 14 TTK! 15'tr and in many Other parts of the •i5 3 QOfc adviso mescal aid, as he con- sidered it superfluous while they had faith in God. In case of an accident a surgeon might be neces- sary, but accidents did not befall the faithful. God had promised that "not a bone of the righteous should be broken." He had himself been sent to the O!d Bailey for trial eight years ago on account of the death of one of his children from inflammation, and he was honourably ac- quitted. He respected the law of the land, but would not give np the Bible,-The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against John Morby, and he was committed for trial, but allowed at liberty on bail. J
[No title]
Dr. -vnffi. -Toues, of Ospatria, charged with criminally assaulting four girls under twelve, was, at ljarlisle Assizes, ordered to be detained during the Queen's pleasure, on the insanity plea. A fire broke out at Clongowea Wood College, on Jan. 12th in a building known as the OldlInfirmary. The students extinguished the tire before the engines from Maynooth arrived. The building is insured. The inquiry before Mr. AsDinall, Q.C., into the disputes between the ORwaldtwbtle Local Board Wiir^6 ^oldera fraudulent bonds issued by Jan li™i, mrleY' t^^iuated at Manchester on come tU f arhitrator advised the parties to At tl a ?aClfic 88ttlement. Fraser,^1^0""1, 0xf°rd, on Jan. 13, Hastings the assizes on waa committed to Lewis, to obtain £ <->ogf° consPiring, with James tent to defraud. The trufesm*n< with in- prisoner had given a cheque^n t^ft tll-e icitor, which, on being forwarded t! ramJ/ SOl\" Co., was returned endorsed, •• N0 ,• aud The prisoner had lately been chareed^^5' similar offence iu Loudon, where the charge was Wm. Bickford, tradesman, of Devonport, and Win. Trick, employed at the dockyard, 'have with bro° £ ht before the magistrates charged a robbery of Government stores. Bickford is autho*dealer, contracting with the dockyard to watcl08 for waste wood. Trick was detailed policeman S On the 13th instant, a laden, saw a*^i1,6 *he waggon was being out, and found} he ordered to be taken old metal. Bothcontain a large quantity ot fined £ 2; but the and each loss of the employment and n« m tbe Trick had been employed in theXlT five years. dockyard twenty- Before the borough magistrates ti t -i Town Hall, J.ne who looked very weak and infirm, was charoP(] with being drunk in the public streets. Polic^-r>m> stable Sherbon stated that on the 12th lnstn. t Jhe Prisoner lying "» Woodhouse lane clerk\ -ra. ~~Mr- Thornton (the magistrates- been the court that the prisoner had Leeds convicted of drunkenness iu tbe year-—The Mayor: The month's 4^s- and cost?, or in default one convicted Th° J"" WW mM aTd eta- where. their n! followmS Proposals: (1) To reduce to red passenger fares by 50 pe'r cent. (2\ goods by th» '• (3)' t0 uQjertake to carry agree to quickest routes. If the companies Works notiS M0n.d,tti0D9e t .6 Mlm?.ter of Public sents to fore2 tiiat^ tbe lts Pa". con- on the trafijp ^ues which itat present levies panies are wq2 £ S^ th? fTbec°^ to the fortD1^'a
THE EXTRAORDINARY CONFESSION.
THE EXTRAORDINARY CONFESSION. THE PRISONERS RELEASED. The imprisoned men, Clowes and Johnson, were j released from Chatham penitentiary on the 13th instant, and arrived at Burslem, North Staf- I fordshire, late that night, where they were the guests of Mr. Richard Clewes, of the Cross Keys Inn, Navigation road, having t arrived about 8.20. The released prisoners jour- neved on to their friends at Rushton early on Saturday, where they had a joyful reception. INTERVIEW WITH THE LIBERATED MEN. STOKE-UPON-TRENT, Sunday Night. The special representative of the Press Association witnessed the arrival at their homes of the liberated con- victs, Henry Johnson and Samuel Clowes. Both men, before conviction were not very extensive farmers, but on the whole lived comfortably under the same landlord, in the parish of Hoxton, near Leek, in North Staffordshire. Johnson was the tenant of an 130 acre farm, and pre- vious to bis conviction was prospering in the world. Clowes lived on a farm similar in extent, within a mile and three-quarters of his neighbour Johnson, but owing to the extent of his family was not, of course, so well to do. The deceased man, Isaac Brooks, though described as a farmer, stone mason, and contractor, had but a small holding, and anything but an extensive business as a contractor. The character of Johnson was that of a mild, ii) offensive, and respectable person, and at one time he was surveyor of the district highways. Clowes held no additional position to that of an agriculturist. He was a man of affable manners, and one who prided himself on his great physical strength. He is a man of good height and of stalwart proportions, and before entering prison he wore a dark, flowing beard. Endowed wiih great muscular power in his arms, it is said that a somewhat practical joke of his was to shake hands with a friend with such a grip as to cause the person so honoured to scream, and that, if necessary, he could cause the blood to flow. But this was no indication of the possession of a cruel disposition. The deceased Brooks was a light-built, dapper man, and bad the character of being a general liar in the extensive parish in which he resided. It will be remembered that it was on the 13th Dec., 1879. that the outrage was said to have been perpe- trated upon Brooks. When returning from the neigh- bourhood of Rushton he said that four men jumped over a hedge, threw a bag over his head, and mutilated him, as described at the trial. With much reluctance, Brooks, after considerable pressure, swore that John- son and Clowes were his principal assailants, but his demeanour and hesitancy generally caused his evidence to be doubted. That very night the liberated men had been paying their rent to the same landlord that Brooks had visited for the same purpose; and the fact that they had traversed the same road as Brooks, and his reluctant testimony, ware the only incriminating evidence against them. Mr. Justice Bowen, who presided at the trial, was clearly not satisfied with the evidence, but the jury were guided by Brooks's distinct affir- mation that he saw Johnson and Clowes among his assailants, and so found them both guilty, and they were accordingly sentenced each to 10 years' penal servitude. One circumstance, it was thought at the time by some persons in the locality, supplied a motive for wrong-doing in the case of at least Clowes, with whose sister Brooks had formed an improper intimacy, resulting in the birth of a child. Clowes's sister had died some time before the crime was said to have been committed, but he had exhibited no vengeful spirit against Brooks, nor had he spoken to him, for Johnson yesterday informed the Press Association's special representative that he never had any acquaintance whatever with his wrongful accuser, whom he had only previously seen two or three times in his life- Johnson and Clowes having been sentenced to penal servitude, Brooks, who had ceased to be regarded with friendly eyes, became melancholy, and apparently began to waste away under its influences. Strange to say, Brooks was again outraged on the same day of the same month of 1880, at the same hour and at the same spot. As on the first occasion, he refused to give any account of this second mutilation, which was effected in the same manner as before. This mysterious occurrence no doubt increased the belief that prevailed in the district as to the innocence of the men then undergoing penal servitude. Twelve months afterwards Brooks died, but before his decease he made a confes- sion, with which the public are now familiar. The inquiries instituted by the Home Secretary having re- sulted in convincing him of their innocence, the two men Johnson and Clowes were on Friday liberated from Chatham, and sent on in private clothes to Mill- bank Prison, where they remained until the following morning, and were finally discharged. Anything in the shape of confession published as having been made by them is mere invention, both men having, up to the time of the Press Association's representative interviewing them, preserved strict silence. He bad a. long interview with Mr. Johnson yesterday, his statement being similar to that of Mr. Clowes. Mr. Johnson was seen at his house, near Rudyard, which is distant seven miles from where Clowes lives, at a place called Riddalfal), their former residence having received new tenants since tbeir in- carceration. The household of Clowes was sold up, and his wife and eight children have been in receipt of six shillings a week from the parish. The half-way house, formerly occupied by Johnson, is m other hands. The unfortunate man has lost his all, and now, at the age of 41, has to begin the world over again. During his imprisonment, the wife, having only a grandson to maintain, has made headway against ad. versity, and it is with no little pride that she is able to receive her husband in a home, though it mav be humbler than their former one. It is but a small house. built of stone, in the centre of a field bordering on the village of Horton. Johnson was standing at the gate- way of his residence among some friends. He was easily discerned in the crowd on account of his close cropped head and shaven face. He wore a felt hat, a blue overcoat, and suit of grey, and was smok- ing his pipe. Without exaggeration, he may be de- scribed as good looking, with an intelligent face and well-shaped head. When he was sent to prison be was erect, and wore, as already stated, a fine beard, with- out a sign of advancing age; now he is grey and grizzled, his shoulders are bent, and his general appearance is that of a man over 60. While he stood there gossiping with his friend?, his brother and sister arrived from Manchester. The meeting was an affecting one, no words being spoken for a time. Johnson, evidently overcome, hastily retreated into his dwelling. He stated, in the course of the interview, that on Saturday morning he passed old neighbours, whom he bowed to, but they did not recognise him. Yesterday morning an old and intimate relation, a Mr. Corbishlev, who is the brother-in-law of Johnson, had been speaking to him for some time before being aware of the fact, so altered is he. Clowes is not so much changed in appearance, though he is, oi course, shorn of all his hair. He has been in the prison infirmary for the pasttive or s'x weeks suffering from a gathered foot, which he had hurt while working among the con- victs at Chatham. Johnson's story is substantially as folio-s:-I-le said he would not talk about the crime, because lie could not, having been wrongfully ac- cused, wrongfully imprisoned, and justly liberated. The charge, he said, came upon him as a thundercl-ap. He was overwhelmed, and could not look after his business as he ought to have done. The doctor called upon him on the Thursday before he went to Stafford to be tried. He asked me, "What about Brooks; he must be a queer fellow? and I replied, He must." I was unable to talk about the matter. I was so possessed with the horror of the charge that I bad not the heart or readiness to ques- tion the doctor, or ask his advice. Of course I know he bad called upon me for the purpose of hearing what I had to say about Brooks. I dare say you know quite as much as I can tell you. I was never in his company in my life any further than meeting him on rent day. Some people call him a contractor. I never knew him to have a contract in my life. I have suffered heavy losses by my imnrisonment. An entire horse, which was valued at £ 200, died just before a bargain was concluded to sell it for £ 150, and there being no one to iook after affairs on the farm as I could have done myself, things went all wrong. I have practically now to start the world afresh. Of course I knew nothing about a these things until I got home. I sometimes got letters, and my wife came to see me c nee times during my imprisonment. I know that tney call my house Schoolcroft, but that is all I know, lhe rooms are filled with friends who have come to ffe me' 1 about 14 stone weight when I went into toe prison, and was always counted a strong, healthy num. 1 have not had a doctor for one and twenty years. I w:,s ^t Stafford a month, and had to work tne treadmill three weeks, and pick oakum. I was 20 minutes on the treadmill and ten off. It was very hard labour to me, as I was then a fleshy man, and it was awkward too, for I would miss my footing and receive a severe scraping blow on the shins, which were barked. I was never fo^nd tault with either at Staf- ford or at the other prisons to which 1 was subsequently taken. Indeed, I must say that for a man who bad committed a great crime the punishment is not too bard, but for a man who is innocent it is very dreadful and degrading. It was my endeavour always to do what I could to obey the rules and to avoid punish- ment. I Was never whipped, but I have frequently card the screams of men who I suppose were being whirTi I also bad a spell at the crank, nf n,„ls Used in pumping water to serve the purposes pmnlovp^0- Clowes, while at Stafford, was Jn Picking oakum. From Stafford of n ?fchers, including Clowes, were taken in SXd lntTier' by train to Pentonville, where the btff™ rj taken off, and I was clad iu an oidina y s spit— woollen trousers, coat, and waistcoat, and a thick flannel or felt cap. 1 was at once taken to a cell. where I underwent solitary con- finement In the summer time. at Pentonville, 1 rose at five o clock in the morning, like the other convicts. It is the same through all the prisons-five in the Summer, and a little later m the winter, the time vary- ing according to tbe length of the days. 1 swept my cell and wrapped up my bed clothes. The bed was a mattress of coarse cloth, stuffed with oakum, and I bad a good thick blanket. I was wario enough at Pentonville. At Stafford I had to sleep on the bare boards. We had-breakfast every day at a quarter to seven. On the Monday we got for dinner a four ounce loaf, fib. of potatoes, and 3oz. of beef. On the Tuesday we got for dinner a pint-of soup, 4oz. of bread, ilb. potatoes. On Wednesday, mutton instead of beef, in the same quantity, and with the same accompaniment of bread and potatoes. On Thursday we got potatoes, bread, and pudding, that is plain pudding or dumplings. Friday was the same as Tuesday, and Saturday the same as Mondays. Breakfast was the same every day. On Sunday there was a difference in the dinner. I was allowed 4oz. of cheese and an lloz. loaf for dinner. There was no tea. I had supper every night. It consisted of three-parts of a pint of cocoa and an 8oz. loaf. After I had cleaned my cell I then did tailoting. I made bags for letters-I mean mail bags. I was about 20 when I was married, and I used to be a farm servant, and I then mended my own clothes and my own shoes, so you will see I was a bit of a shoemaker and a bit of a tailor. I did not know then how I was to be employed in my old age. I worked in the cell, but I was in despair the whole time, and it was thought that the confinement would kill me in three months. You see I had been used to the open air of the hills, and to an independent and respected life, and when I looked forward to ten years, and recollected that I was then in advanced years, I felt that I had nothing much to live for. Often at first, in the night and in the dark solitude of my cell, I have sobbed like a child. It was a despairing time, but I endeavoured to bear up and to make my bitter lot as pleasant as possible. The warders on their rounds peered through a cell wicket which they alone could open, but were not allowed to speak. It is silent and solitary confinement at Pentonville. The exercise was at different times of the day. All the convicts walked round the ring, which is a flagged space. Even then there was no opportunity of speak- ing to anyone; to be caught whispering was to run the risk of punishment. I see it has been stated m the newspapers that one of us picked up a scrap of I newspaper, which was secreted and read by the convicts. It is a falsehood. I never told anybody anything of the kind. Indeed, I have purposely ab- stained from speaking to any one until I had seen Mr. Harrison, to whom the confession was made, and to others who have interested themselves in my case. After the exercise I returned to the tailoring, and re- tired to bed every night at a quarter to eight, and at a quarter to seven on Sunday nights. Clowes was very downhearted. I could see. Did I never speak to him in a whisper? Well (laughing), we were not allowed to talk in prison. The solitary confinement bad the effect of injuring my sight, and the prison authorities provided me with a pair of spectacles. Since coming out I have been compelled to borrow a pair from the landlady of the Crown Inn, where we are now sitting. On Sundays I had nothing to do but sweep my cell, to attend exercise, and to go to chapel twice a day, fore- noon and afternoon. I was five months at Penton- vii.e, and then I went to Millbank. I liked Millbank best of all the gaols. There solitary confinement was not given to me, though the distinction between the usage in each was not very great. At Pentonville the door of the cell is always closed. At Millbank you are allowed to open the door and look through an iron grating which covers the whole space oifupIed by the door into the corridor. In this way you get more air than at Pentonville and the privilege of seeing the warders and officers pass. If visitors came to the goal we were not allowed to look at them. It was the rule to stand upright and turn your back to them. This may appear trifling, but it is a great punishment to a man lost to the world. I did tailoring at Millbank, and the rules there were similar to those of Pentonville. After I had undergone nine months of solitary confinement my allowance to breakfast was increased to an j 1 oz. loaf, with a pint of gruel, that being 3 oz. more. The other meals were as before stated. At Mi 1 mnk I was mostly engaged in making bags to carry mails in about London. On December 4th, 1881, I was removed from Millbank to Chatham, where I remained till I was set free. The work was very hard there. We laboured in gangs at the dock works, on what is called the island, Clowes came to Chatham about a week after me. He was employed in making cement and chopping wood for prison fires during the year. So was I during the first three months, but after that my task was barrow wheeling. In the summer time we got up at five, and after breakfast, about seven, were marched to work on the Island; which is a piece of waste land. I We never worked more than twelve hours a day, and in the winter our time was varied according to the length of the day. The work was very hard, and the quantity of the food quite inadequate. I had been at Chatham thirteen months when the glad news of my release came and overpowered me, not with joy, for 1 was in a sort of stupor at the, to in e, stupendous tidings. Clowes was overcome too, and he hardly yet realises, I believe, that he is a free man. We were brought to Millbank last Friday morning, having been each provided with a suit of clothes. At Chatham the Governor and a director received us and treated us like gentlemen. We never can be treated better. They gave us a breakfast (not gruel and lloz- of bread), but a mutton chop, sir, and tea or coffee, whichever we liked. They observed our clothes, and said, "You can't go home in these," so we each got a new suit, and after we bad a good dinner I bad another mutton chop. We were each given £6 and sent home. I was asked to look after Clowes, who, under tlie-glad- dening effects of his release, was qnable to pull himself together. We reached Burslew un Friday night. It was too late to get on home that night, and we staved at the Cross Keys in that town. I knew the landlord of the inn. The clothes of the convicts, I believe, are sold to a contractor, who takes the good with the bad at a certain sum per year.— Did you feel strange when using a knife and fork in the company of the governor?—Yes, for during two years 1 ate my food with a wooden spoon and tin knife. On Saturday morning I drove home, while Clowes went home by train. I can hardly yet realise my position. I eat very little, and that occa- sionally until I get used to ordinary food. I am not the man I was, nor do I hope ever to enjoy my former health to the full. Of the prison food I must in all candour say this that it is good enough if there were plenty of it.—Great numbers of people visited Horton to-day, some of them walking many miles in the hope of seeing Johnson. Clowes, too, received many visitors. There is talk of a subscription for them.
[No title]
The Quean has been pleased to appoint Lieut.- Colonel John Terence Nicolls O'Brien, C.M.G., to be governor and commander-in-chief of the island of Heligoland.—Gazette. At Burnley, on Saturday, J, Thompson was fined E25 and costs for illegally selling intoxicating drinks at the Accrington road Working Men's Club. The case against 16 others for abetting was adjourned to allow the club to be closed. An Old Whip," under whose anonymity it is probable Lord Wolverton hides himself, writes to suggest, as an alternative to the cloture, that the power of closing a debate should be vested in the Speaker. The Rev. Styleman Herring and Mr. John J. Jones, member of the School Board for London, intend proceeding to Canada in the ensuing April with a number of pauper children, for whom homes and employment are to be procured upon their arrival. At the Oxford Assizes on Saturday, the grand jury threw out the bill against Mr. Hastings Fraser, the son of a colonel, who was committed by the Oxford magistrates last week for conspiring to defraud a photographer of that city of £10 and £ 20 by means of cheques. The Morning Pott states that in consequence of his disapproval of the line adopted by Sir Edward Watkin for a tunnel under the Channel, Sir John Hawkshaw has retired from the office of consulting engineer of the South-Eastern Railway, which he has held for more than 20 years. On the 4th of February Chv.mbers's Journal will have completed its 50th year, and in commemora- tion of the event Dr. William Chambers, the senior conductor, will offer to his readers a retume entitled "Reminiscences of a Long and Busy Life." This summary of a long and active busi- ness career will appear in the part of the journal to be issued at the end of January. The result of the census in France is not vet definitively known, but tbe returns for Paris are already complete. The population of the French capital is now 2,225, SlO against 1,968,806 five years ago, when the previous census was taken, chtis showing an increase of 237,105 souls, llie total population of the department of the o, includ- ing Paris, is 2,752,810, showing an increase of 341,961. ,<7 Professor Nordenskjold is plannii?;^ a new Polar expedition to New Siberia. The arrangements, however, will not be finished before 18-34, as the vessel which is being especially constructed for the expedition cannot be got ready at an earlier date. King Oscar has promised to pay a third of the expenses. M. Oscar Dickson will contribute another third, while the remainder will be pro- bably defrayed by M. Sibiriakofi, or otherwise covered by subscriptions. A correspondent writes:—In connection with recent discussions upon the subject of female emigration to Canada, it may not be uninteresting to learn that a society has been formed in Mon- treal for the organisation and protection of such immigration. The honorary secretary is Mrs. Mussen, 8, Prince Arthur street, Montreal. The society, which will be extended to other dis- tricts of the Dominion, proposes to establish direct correspondence with associations and per- sons in Europe, with a view to facilitating the emigration of domestic servants; and;those brought out under their auspices will be provided for in the St. George's and St. Andrew's Homes until the society is in a position to provide its own accom- modation.
UPROARIOUS MEETING AT MANCHESTER.
UPROARIOUS MEETING AT MAN- CHESTER. One of the stormiest political meetings held in Manchester of recent years took place on Monday, on the occasion of the anniversary meeting with their constituents of the Liberal members for the borough, Mr. Jacob Bright and Mr. John Slagg. Mr. Robert Leake, M.P., presided, and a resolu- tion approving of the policy of the Government, and expressing confidence in the members, was moved and seconded.—Mr. Thomas Wright, a Radical, who has lately taken a prominent part in the association of the Irish party in tbe borough, came forward to move an amendment, protesting against coercion in Ireland and the barbarous practice of the Chief Secretary and his satellites, which were attributable entirely to her Majesty's Government, and also con- demning in the strongest possible manner the conduct of Mr. Slagg in supporting the coercion measure of the Government. For a long time Mr. Bright was unable to obtain a hearing, in spite of several appeals to the chair- man, and ultimately he was compelled to give up the effort. Dr. Bricksoni who seconded the amendment, was received with continued groans, and was unable to make himself heard save by the reporters. The amendment was rejected by an overwhelming majority, and Mr. Jacob Bright, in responding to the resolution, entered into some details in defence of his conduct in opposing tile Coercion Bill, and was subjected to several inter ruptions, but they were not of a serious character. Mr. Slagg, who followed, was, however, received with an evident determination on the part of a section of the audience that be should not be heard, and for over half an hour the hall was in a state of uproar, fighting taking place in several parts ot the building. For some time Mr. Slagg spoke only to the reporters, and it was not until a large number of people had been expelled that anything like order was restored. anything like order was restored.
ASSAULTS ON THE SALVATION…
ASSAULTS ON THE SALVATION ARMY. On Monday, at the Lambeth Police Court, Geo. Hawkes, 16, labourer, and John Curtis, 15, errand boy, were charged with throwing missiles (stones, mud, Ac.) in Beokway street, Walworth, to the common danger of the public, and acting in a disorderly manner, and using bad language.— Constable 30 PR said on Sunday a procession of the members of the Salvation Army was proceeding along Beckway street, Walworth. where upwards of 500 or 600 men, women. and lads were assembled. They followed the army hooting and shouting. Shortly afterwards the mob commenced a most cowardly attack on the army. Stones, rotten oranges, cabbage stalks, mud, &c., came upon the procession in showers. Several of the members were struck. The prisoner Hawkes was seen to throw rotten oranges, some of which struck members of the army. He tried to get away, but witness secured him. The mob continued to follow to the station, stones and mud being thrown, and a scene of the utmost dis- order took place.—Richard Tungay, a member of the army, said the first-named prisoner came deliberately up to him and threw a quan- tity of mud down his neck. Stones and filth came from all directions.—Another member of the army gave corroborative testimony, and Police-constable 17 PR said, outside the station, Curtis made use of very foul language, and the mob continued hooting for some time. Mr. Chance said how far it was prudent for the army to go in procession it was not for him to judge. The authorities allowed political processions and did not interfere in this matter. The object of the army doubtless was to do good, although everyone did not agree with the mode in which it was endeavoured to bring it about. Still, they were not to be stoned and illtreated in the manner described. Such disturbances were disgraceful. He fined Hawkes 5s., or five days, and ordered the father of the other prisoner to enter into bail for his good conduct in future. Sheffield was on Monday the scene of a disgrace- ful and altogether unexpected attack upon mem- bers of the Salvation Army. The holding of what the army calls A Council of War" brought ;to the town a considerable number of officers and soldiers from various parts of the country, with General Booth and Mrs. Booth at their head; and a series of meetings was arranged, beginning with a march and a 1, hosannah meeting on Satur- day night, and terminating with a service on Mon- day at the Albert Hall. Several meetings were held on Sunday. These commenced with one at half-past six o'clock in the morning at the Tbomas street Barracks, to which the brief but forcible designation of ammunition was given. Four hours later there was "a baptism of fire service in the same buildiug, and in the afternoon the army turned out in vast numbers, and marched in procession to the Albert Hall. There addresses were delivered by General and Mrs. Booth; and at night there was another meeting in the same hall, preceded by the march which the army seem to regard as an important feature of their pro- ceedings. At the bottom of Snighill Lieutenant Davison was struck on the head with a stick, and was rendered almost unconscious. Outside the hall there was an immense crowd, and many stones were thrown. At the meeting in the evening the Albert Hall was crowded; additional interest having been given to the proceedings by what had taken place in the former part of the day. General Booth presided, and in an opening prayer he made special allusion to Lieutenant Davison. Oh, Lord, he said, our brother, who is in hospital, has had many a fall in wrestling for the devil, and now he has had a fall in wrestling for thee. Ob, Lord, bring him up again! (Loud "Amens.') Bless our comrades who have been wounded. They are all over cuts and bruises, but Thou canst make them well. (Hallelujah! Amen!) Bless those who threw stones! Bless those who covered us with mud! Bless those who cursed us! Thank God, we can pray for our enemies! —(great shouts of "Victory")—and can love those who despitefully use us. (Amen!) Bless the Sheffield roughs; bless the Sheffield smooths: bless everybody! (Loud "Amens.") There was further singing and prayer. The Lord Mayor on Saturday expressed his amazement that such "very inoffensive people as the Salvation Army" should be so persistently annoyed by disorderly roughs, even when they are selling books at their headquarters in Queen Victoria street. "Can you tell me," he asked the inspector, why they were thus molested?" The inspector could not tell. Yet there is no difficulty at all in supplying the required information. It is because the colleagues of the Lord Mayor on the magistiates' bench so often lecture "the Army as if it were the guilty party, even when they are fining its assailants, and because when, as on Saturday, an aggravated case of per- sistent molestation is clearly proved, the presiding magistrate, instead of sending the ruffian to gaol without option of a fine, imposes a trivial penalty of ten shillings, and consoles his conscience by promising to act more severely next time. "Next time" the Lord Mayor may not be on the bench, or he may have changed his mind, and so the farce will go on until somebody is killed. They came very near it at Reading the other day, but the victim, who has been lying in horrible agony for a week, is still alive. What is wanted is that magistrates should enforce the law rigorously, and not merely promise to do so some other time.-Pafl Mall Gaze tte.
[No title]
Mr. Fawcett and Mr. Holms, the members for Hackney, have announced their intention to vote in favour of Mr. Bradlaugh being allowed to take bis seat in Parliament. A great religious gathering known as Magh Mela is now being held at the junction of the Ganges and the Jumna at Allahabad. It is par- ticularly crowded this year owing to its being what is called Khumb, or Twelfth year. The number of visitors is estimated at from 1,000,000 to 2,000,000. Some fear is entertained of an out- break of some pestilence among this vast multi- tude. EXTRAORDINARY SCENE AT A FUNERAL.—The funeral of Mr. J. Rea, who was for a great number of years manager of the printing works of the Great Eastern Railway Company at Stratford, took place on Saturday afternoon at the West Ham Cemetery. A short portion of the burial service was gone through at St. Paul's Church, Stratford New Town (the Rev. W. Spencer officiatingl, where deceased had for a long time acted as churchwarden. On leaving the church a proces- sion of 250 persons was formed, principally of those who were under the superintendence of the deceased. On the coffin being raised to the top of the grave it was found that it had not been dug broad and large enough. Two attempts were made, but unfortunately, to the disgust of all present, the coffin ha\l to be removed in order that a man might go nito the opening and make the grave larger. This operation occupied half- an-bour, and at its conclusion the coffin was suc- cessfully lowered, and the remaining portion of the service completed.
---IFARMERS' CULUMiN.
FARMERS' CULUMiN. THE CLOVER AND GRASS CROPS. We have now reached that period of the year when we can gain a pretty accurate idea of the yield ot grass and clover seeds, and the market prices of the same. We are informed that there has heen an unus-ually small and listless autumn trade, in spite of which prices of many articles have advanced, and all indications point to the higher level of prices generally than for the past few seasons. We strongly advocate the economy of clean seeds, and the farmer will do well to secure the finest and cleanest samples to sow, even though the price is high, as they will prove the most economical in the end. English Red Clover.—A deficient yield is again reported by those competent to judge, and the crop is of a lower grade of quality than for several years p-isf. For the boldest and best coloured seeds we have to look to the eastern counties for a supply, and from the most reliable information at command we are constrained to believe that good sampjes will be the exception. We are quits convinced that home-grown seed is much more economical for the farmer than foreign seed; but, having regard to the unfortunate financial posi- tion of the farming class generally, the present scarcity, and consequent high prices, is much to be regretted. Foreign Red Clover.—The best examples we have seen up to the present time are from Canada —very clean, fairly bold, and of a deep colour; some parcels from the North of France have come to hand, and, as the produce of the seed most nearly approaches our own in quantity of plants and hardiness, a considerable demand for the French produce may be looked for. The American seed is pale and small, and although some good sam- ples of the red clover may come from Germany, they are not much in favour in this country on j account of their weedy character, and they should never be sown till they have been subjected to a thorough process of machine cleaning. Cow Grass.—The above remarks apply equally to this article. White and alsike.-A larger quantity than usual of these was secured in this country during the fine weather of the early summer, but we shall still have to look to the continent for our main supply; and as both these articles are pro- duced over a wide range of country, we can hardly accurately state the extent of the crop until the cold weather sets in to allow of the thrashing and marketing of lots, but we expect there will be quite an average crop. Trefoil.—The English crop is again much below the average, but, fortunately, France will be able to send us some fairly good lots. French seed grown upon the chalk is hardly inferior to home- grown, and for years past large quantities of French seed in the cosh or husk have been sent over to this oountry, milled here, and sold as English. Lucerne.—Reported a short crop, but prices at present are not ruling high. Sanfoin.—The English crop of Giant sanfoin is quite a failure, but some common will be forth- coming from the southern counties. The French crop of Giant is a very small one; prices will be high throughout the season. Italian rye grass,-The French crop of Italian rye grass is not up to the average; the quality of the seed, however, is better than for several ssa- sons. Owing to the fact that nearly all yearling stocks have been cleared out, a considerable advance upon last year's prices has been esta- blished, and we may see it still higher. The English crop is the smallest for some years, and I is now entirely out of the farmers' hands. Perennial rye-grass is at about the highest price it has touched for many years. Following the entire clear out of stocks last season a great demand set in as soon as it was harvested, both from this country and from the continent, and as BO much has yet to be bought, we think these I" these high rates will be fully maintained. The lower weights may increase in value, as almost prohibitive prices are asked for the heavier ones, and the demand will naturally be for a cheaper I quality. Natural grasses are scarce, and generally above average prices, but are very good in quality. This applies to all kinds of grasses this season. White mustard.—The Cambridgeshire crop was again almost a failure; the breadth sown was un- usually small, and the produce much damaged by rain. Some good samples are upon the markei from Essex, and prices are not high. Rape.—Not a large crop, and rather below the average in quality. As the price is now low we may see an advance as the sowing season ap- proa.ches.-Land and Water. I THE LONDOM SUPPLY OF BBEADSTUFFS IN 1881.— Statistics relating to the grain trade of London show that the supply of native wheat to the Lon- I don market during the 52 weeks of 18Q1 consisted of 196,770 qrs. English, 100 qrs. Irish, and 555 qrs. Scotch, together 198,325 qrs.; against 173,%7 qrs. in 1880. The London supply of country 110 r has been 8G3,457 sacks, against 880,686 sacks in 1880. The receipts of English barley in London have been larger than in 1880, but those from Scotland have been less than half the quantity received in 1880. The supply of foreign breadstuffs to Lon don for the year have been 2,921,576 qrs. of wheat and-47,647 barrels 815,445 sacks of flour; against 2,868,430 qrs. of wheat, and 202,602 barrels 695,589 sacks of flour in 1880. The falling 0.:1 in the receipts of barrel flour is very maraed. INJURIOUS INSECTS AND FARM CHOPS IN 1881.—The year which has just passed bids fair to become an important one in the history of the injuries suffered by farm and garden crops from injurious insects. From the returns collected by Miss Ormerod, F.M.S., during the past few months from correspondents in every county in England and Wales, and from Ire'and and Scotland, and which are being prepared for publication, we gather many interesting facts. First and fore- most, the turnip crop has suffered heavily frcm various insect pests. The" fly" attack h >s proved a heavy visitation over a large area of both Erg- land and Scotland. In some parts of Scotland a small weevil, the Centorhynchus contractus. was quite as injurious as the fly," and in the south of Scotland this weevil and another closely allied joined forces wi:h the" fly," the result being a very heavy destruction. A ground cater- pillar, usually reported as grub, but where identi- fied proving to be the caterpillar of the turnip moth-Agrestis segetum, has also been very mis- chievous in Suffolk and Kent. Cabbage also suffered from "fly" in Kent and Essex. In many localities in Scotland the maggot of the cabbage fly (Anthomyia brar-sica, and possibly in some cases Anthomyia radicum) has been unusually and seriously injurious to garden crops of cabbage The beet fly (A. betae), which first appeared among us to any serious extent last year, still I holds its own. So far a-j reported, it is moving in a direct line from Dumfries and Cumber and down the western portion of England., Hops bav,) I suffered in several parts of Kent and at Alton, Hants, from the froghopper," or "cuckoo fly," I really the Euacanthus interruptus. Here, by the ingenuity of the planters round Alton who ma le a machine of tarred boards on which the creatures stuck when taking their tremendous leaps, the damage was checked. The Daddy LongUga attacks of 1880, which were so disastrous, were not reported last year, except in one or too iso- lated cases. Neither has much been sent in reference to any great injury to corn from the customary pests of wireworm, red maggot, or aphides. The most important facts of the year are that in one locality a wheat sawfly has male its appearance, and near Rochdale grass sawSies of some species of Dolorus have appeared in great numbers. Here it cannot be too strongly insisted upon that these pests should be kept well under supervision, and in case of reappearance should be stamped out, however rigorous the means re- quired. While they are confined to a small area this can very easily be done, but if allowed to get possession of a large area their destructive!!ess and power of multiplication will make them as great a scourge as the 11 fly," if not worse. In addition to these pests, the Oscinis frit, or frit fly, which is at times exceedingly destructive in Sweden, is in this country, and careful observa- tions are being made as to the amount of damage it is doing. Among the forest trees the oak has suffered in many places from the leaf rollers and other caterpillars. Sawfly caterpillars have been injurious to pines, and near Berwick a small beetle, Orchestes agi, has caused much damage to the beeoh leaves. Altogether the year may be said to have been remarkable for unusually severe attacks from some of our regular crop pests, and for either the first appearance or first observation of some kinds of insects of destructive habits never before reported among us.
[No title]
At a meeting convened by the Mayor in response to a requisition, at Manohester Town Hall, on Tuesday, resolutions were passed approving of the formation of a National Conservatoire of Music, and appointing a committee to caxrv out theobject. Forty-three wrecks were reported last week, of which 26 were British, making a total of 83 for the present year. The Russian Imperial Budget for 1882 shows aft estimated deficit of 4,000,000 roubles, which is to be met by savings in various departments. A man named Mildren, living at Porthallow, who had been blind from his birth, cut his throat last week, and died from the effects of the wounds on Sunday morning. The report of the death of King Thebaw, men- tioned last week, has been contradicted, and he is said to be recovering from his illness. He appears, however, to suffer from delirium tremens and to be aloogeiher in such a state of health that his death may occur at any moment.—Times. Whilst a football match was being played at Westhoughton on Saturday, between the 'West- houghton second and Horwich first teams, one of the Westhougbton players named William Hobbs, received a kick from one of his opponents, and it WL., afterwards found that one of his legs was bioken. The game was suspended. A fatal accident occurred on Monday on the Cork and Queenstown Railway. Mrs. Cleburn, a lady but recently married, whilst going over a level crossing at the Tivuli station, was caught by the incoming train, dragged a considerable distance, and subsequently iound mangled under a car- nage. She died a few hours later. James Munn, innkeeper, at Cavinbaan, near Lochgelphead, was charged on Monday, before herirt Campion, at Inverary, with murdering his wife on Saturday by stabbing her in the lower part of the abdomen. The prisoner denied the charge, and made certain explanations, which cannot yet be made public. He was committed for further examination. The body of the Rev. G. T. Pearson, incumbent in charge of Stanwick, was found in the mill dam adjoining the Tees at Piersebridge, near Darling- ton, on Sunday. The deceased s hat and coat were on the bank. Though when first seen he was struggling in the water, when got out life was extinct. He was about 55 years of age, and leaves a widow and young family. A few nights ago a young man named Henry Filmore, a carman, was going along the Victoria I Embankment, when he was set upon by a gang of men, who, after calling him a Lambeth man, knocked him down and kicked him, and left him dying on the roadway. Filmore has since expired in the Charing Cross Hospital, and the police are investigating the matter. The Prince of Wales has received at Marlborough House Prince Ghika, Roumanian Minister, who presented the Prince of Wales with the Order of the Star of lioumania. His Royal Highness on Monday received the Japanese Minister, and requested him to convey to the Mikado of Japan thanks for the cordial reception extended to the Princes Albert and George. At Bradford, on Monday, Caroline Jmith, aged 48, was sent to prison for one month for drunken- ness. It was stated that she was a pest to the town, having been 50 times convicted of drunken- ness and disorderly conduct. On leaving the dock she struggled violently, and said that she would h.ng herself in the cells. The Chief-Constable said she had several times tried to strangle herself whilst in prison. At Blackburn, on Monday, Thomas Peace, 24 carter, was charged with assaulting his wife. The prisoner had been in the habit of violently beating his wife, and when she went to a public hoase near his home for him n the 9th inst., he made a savage attack upon her, kicking her about the thighs, and striking her about the head with his fists. He was sentenced to six months' im- prisonment, with hard labour. Sir Erasmus Wilson has intimated his desire to found a Chair of Pathology in Aberdeen Univer- sity, and to endow it with a sum of £ 10,000. The Senatus have accepted the offer. Sir Erasmus intends the gift as a memorial of the fact that his father, a native of the county, received his medi- cal training at the university,and also as a recogni- tion of the honour done to himself by the Uni- versity conferring upon him tte degree of LL.D. A fat beast, which was being driven to the slaughter-house of Mr. Lester, butcher, at Henley, became frightened, and ran up the passage of & grocer's premises. It then walked upstairs into a bedroom. The butcher entered the room by a ladder placed against the window, and, passing a rope round -the animal's neck, the beast was dragged downstairs by a number of men. Beyond the furniture being disarranged, not much damage was done. An inquest was held on Monday upon the bodies of Mary Elizabeth Brenchley and John Tasmas Osborn, at Chatham. Evidence proved that Osborn, on the 1st, murdered Brenchley, of whom I he was jealous, and that he afterwards killed himself. There is no doubt he was suffering from insanity at. the time. A verdict of Wilful murder" against Osborn was returned, and the jury found he committed both acts whilst suffering from temporary insanity. Levi Booth, a barber, was charged at Longton, on Monday morning, with assaulting his child, nine years of age, by stripping him naked and fastening his feet together, placing a strap round bis shoulders, and attempting to force him head first down a water closet, the pipes of which were twelve inches in diameter and over four feet deep. The cries of the boy brought assistance. De- fendant, who said he wanted a pigeon which was in the closet, was fined 5s. and costs. On Saturday evening Mrs. Gladstone opened a cocoa house at Shotton, near Itawarden. Mrs. Gladstone, who arrived at Shotton at six o'clock, was greeted with loud cheers. The key 'of the coffee house was then handed to her by Mr. Huributt, and she gracefully performed the ceremony by declaring the house open. A number of ladies and gentlemen interested in the under- taking then inspected the premises, which are admirably adapted for the purpose of a village cocoa house. A conference was held at Westminster on Monday under the auBpices of the Land Nationalisation Society. Mr. A. Russell Wallace presided. The speakers were numerous, and included Miss Helen Taylor. Several resolutions were passed v it.sting against tLe monopoly of private pre; iity it; land as leading to bad cultivation, ciminishiig production, and checking permanent improvement, while, by depriving labourers of rights in the soil, it was one of the chief causes of pauperism, demoralisa- tion, and crime. The conference was adjourned until Tuesday fortnight. The New York Si-;r, commenting on Mr. Chamberlain's correspondence with the Rev. J. Page Hopps, says:—Mr. Chamberlain is the most instructive writer and speaker of the present Cabinet. For men in search-of the truth of politics jSir. Chamberlain is a very untrustworthy teacher; but for those who seek to understand the proxi- mate development of party tactics aLd forecast the measures which are likely to be pressed upon the nation, he is an advocate of unrivalled utility. It is weil that ail men, whatever they may think of Mr. Chamberlain's vie ws, should clearly under- stand that he is a man thoroughly in earnest, and very clearly acquainted alike with Nhat he wants to do and the mtaas he is prepared to employ for doing it. The cat was administered in Newgate Gaol, on Monday morning, to two meu, Thomas Dwyer and Patrick Roach, who were convicted last w2ek for robbery with violence. Tne prisoners W ,,0 weie sentenced to fi.e years penal servitude, were, in addition, each ordered to receive 20 strokes with the cat. The operation was per- formed in a room adjacent to the chapel yard, between 10 and 11 o clock, boach was Drst lei to the whipping post. He knew nothing as tO what was to take place until stripped. Both meu suffered considerably, and howled loudly at each stroke. The cat was administered by one of the gaolers, a poweriul man, who has done duty in this capacity before. Mark Twain had another purpose in going to Canada beyond making that luuuy speech on copyright. Having a slirewu notiou ihat, his last book, the "Prince and the Pauper," would be acceptable to the public, he determined to secure whatever of international coinrkht the present law gives to the author. The book was in the ordi- nary way published in the i nited States, through Chatto and Windus. Mark Twain simukaneonsiy put it here. and so secured the nghsh copyright. He next tried to fence about his rights in Canada, but here he was only partially n cessful. Having secured the copyright in the United States it ex- tended to all British possessions. rherefore no Canadian reprint of the work could be made, but it was quite possible to import into Canada foreign reprints, and it was against this that he struggled, by taking up his residence in Canada for a short time, and then claiming the Canadian copyright. But this litt'e arrangement was not accepted by the authorities, who are too familiar with Mark Twain's ordinary domicile, and hit well-meant effort failed.—London correspondent.