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Leader (1850-1860), 6th August 1853, Edition Country of 2, Page 9, CURIOSITIES OF JUSTICE. Some incidents o...

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      A Gauge Of Prosperity. The Social Statis...

      ceed those returned in previous years . The violent deaths , including a few from intemperance , want of breast-milk , and privation , in London , increased from 1296 in 1840 to 2140 in 1852 ; and in the last quarter the excess in .. deaths from violence alone over the deaths of 1852 was 131 . The increase of steam vessels , railways ; omnibuses , and new mechanical forces of every kind , as well as the obstructions of the streets , may partly account for this loss of life , as well as for the numerous injuries and mutilations not fatal—in the battle of every day . The mortality in the South-Eastern Counties has been above the average , and the greatest excess has occurred in Godstone , Croydon , Bromley , Dover , Eastbourne , Lewes , the Isle of Wight , and Alverstoke .

      Balancing the deaths and births , we find that the population has had a gross increase of 50 , 857 . But taking into account 115 , 959 emigrants who lef t the United Kingdom during the time , we find that the country has lost 36 , 139 inhabitants .

      August 6, 1853,] The Lea D E K, 753

      August 6 , 1853 , ] THE LEA D E K , 753

      The Von Beck Affatr Again. The Facts And...

      THE VON BECK AFFATR AGAIN . The facts and fictions of this case have been repeated before a Warwickshire jury . George Dawson , Mr . Tyndall , Mr . Peyton , and Mr . Ry land have been sued for damages by Constant Derra de Moroda , the secretary to the deceased woman . Some new evidence was produced . " Lieutenant Gorski" and " Deputy-Commissioner Kaszonyi" testified that Von Beck was really a recognised baroness in Hungary , and had been employed on political missions . On the contrary , Paul Hajnik , a Magyar noble , and Kossuth ' s Minister of Police , swore , that from his observance of the position in Hungary , and the personal manners of the woman , he was " sure she was in a subordinate position "—in fact , the servant of another spy . He saw her waiting in an ante-chamber while Kossuth transacted business with the lady to whom Von Beck was evidently a servant . " Her manners were those of an illiterate person ; " Tn their defensive statements , Mr . Tyndall and Mr . Dawson stated , that they acted with the advice of the magistrate , and had no malicious motives , and that , from Hajnik ' s testimony , they believed Von Beck and Derra de Moroda to be impostors . The judge charged clearly against ± he defendants . He dwelt , incidentally , on the harshness of their conduct towards the baroness , on the " prejudiced" character of Hajnik ' s evidence , and on the fact that Kossuth was not produced to testify that the woman was an impostor . The jury brought in a verdict of 800 ? . damages and costs . This decision might have gone among our " Curiosities of Justice . "

      Conspiracy To Kill Napoleon Iii. The Pri...

      CONSPIRACY TO KILL NAPOLEON III . The Prince de Joinville received two letters from Edouard Raynaud , a person unknown to him . In the first letter , after dwelling upon the interest which he took in the welfare and happiness of the prince ' s family , and the feeling of hatred which he entertained , in common with his oppressed countrymen , towards " Napoleon the Little , " who had deprived the prince and his family of their just rights to the throne of Franco , the writer proceeded to ay : — " I leave for Paris , My journey is for you , and for you alone . I swear it on the grave of my mother and father . My life is a burden to mo . I cannot suffer it , my prince . My wife , who is 17 years of ago , I wish to place under your protection . I have found an excuse for my voyage , and she consonts . But the poor child will bo the only victim of my project . I do not sloop . I must alone tako charge of the infamous wretch . He and his people must Eerish . It is a terriblo thing for me to bo an assassin , ut it must bo , if I sell my last shirt . I am now writing in the absonco of my poor wife . I must hasten to finish . May you read in my heart tho sentiments I have for you and your doar family . Adieu , my princo . All I desire is , that you may soon bo upon tho throne , making tho poople happier , and all Franco loving you . ( Signed ) " Rayitaup » k Qtri 5 TTEVii-TiK . " In tho second letter thoro is tho following passago : —

      "I again tako tho liberty of writing to you those fow linos provious to my departure I have collected tho littlo monoy duo to mo , but it will not suffice in carrying out my views . I alono undortako to blow up tho tyrant and his accomplices , and all thoso around him . I will give my best guarantees for tho advancos you might make mo . I loavo my furniture . I leave my wifo , who ia possessed of tho value of 12 , 000 fr ., besides hor venuo in a business . I employ several workmen . Your royal highnoss , it is money I require , but not a hoavy sum—I must havo 20 / . ; and I givo tho ri ght to any ono to slab mo anywhoro , whorovor I may bo , if I do not ohangp tho French GovOrnmont . " "' . " „ ¦

      Prinoo do . Toinvillo appoarcd in tho polico court on Wednesday to Htato that ho had roeoivod tho lotlors . llaynaud , who has boon arrostod , admitted tho authorship , and excused himnolf on tho ground of his intolleot being affected by ill health . Ho was committed for trial .

      Painful Scene At Niagara. Tin? Bittornoh...

      PAINFUL SCENE AT NIAGARA . Tin ? bittornoHs of waiting slowly in tho prenonco of ( loath was fearfully oxaggoratod in a late inoidont at Niagara . Three mon wont boating on tho rivor ; tho boat was swept owards tho falls , ovorturnod , and two wero whirled into ho surge Tho third , a man named Avery , caught on

      some rocks not far from the dreadful precipice of foam . A log of wood , apparently wedged tightly between the rocks , and crossed by another , still higher out of the water , was his resting place . Here he remained , half clinging to and half perching upon the log . from which lie would occasionally slip down and walk a little on the rocks , which were only a short distance under water . A few feet in advance was a small fall of about four or five , feet , and here and on each side of nim the waters rushed wildlyon at a speed of about forty miles an hour . A raft was constructed , formed of crossed timbers , strongly fastened in a square form , a hogshead being placed in the centre . The raft was strongly secured with ropes on each side , and was floated down to the rocks upon which Avery was stationed .

      As it approached the spot where he stood the rope got fast in the rocks and the raft became immovable . Avery then appeared to muster strength and courage , and descending from the log walked over the rocks to the place where the rope had caught , and laboured long and hard to disengage it from the rocks . After some time he succeeded , and then witlirenewed energy , inspired by thehope of rescue , he pulled manfully at the rope until he succeeded in bringing the raft from the current towards his fearful resting-place . Avery now got on to the raft , making himself fast thereto by means of ropes , which had been placed there for that purpose , and those on the land commenced drawing it towards the shore . It had approached within thirty feet of one of the small islands , towards which its course was

      directed , when suddenly it became stationary in the midst of the papids , the ropes having again caught in the rocks . All Endeavours to move it were found to be in vain , and much fear was entertained that the strain upon the ropes might break them , and occasion the poor fellow ' s loss . Various suggestions were now volunteered , and several attempts were made to reach him . One man went out in aT boat as far as he dared to venture , and asked biui if he would fasten a rope round his body , and trust to being drawn , in by that . The poor fellow , however , shook Ms head despondingly , as though he felt that he had not strength enbugn remaining to make himself secure to a rope . At length a boat was got ready—a lifeboatwhich had arrived from Buffalo—and was launched .

      , Seeing the preparations , Avery unloosed his fastenings , with the intention of being ready to spring into the boat . Borne on by the rushing waters , and amid the breathless suspense of the spectators , the boat approached the raft . A thrill ran through the crowd—the boat lived in the angry waves—it struck the raft—a shout of joy rang forth from the shore , for it was believed that he was savedwhen suddenly the hope that had been raised was again destroyed ; a moment ' s confusion followed the collision , and in the next the victim was seen in the midst of the watersseparated from his frail support , and struggling for

      , life . For a minute or two the poor fellow , striking out boldly , swam towards the island , and the cry echoed from shore to shore that he would yet be saved . But soon the fact became certain that he receded from the shore—his strength was evidently failing . Gradually he was borne back into the fiercest part of the current , slowly at first , then more rapidly . Swiftly and more swiftly he approached the brink of the fatal precipice , the waters had him at last their undisputed victim , and madly they whirled him on to death , as though enraged at his persevering efforts to escape their fury .

      A sickening feeling came over the spectators when , just on the brink of the precipice , the doomed man sprang up from the waters , clear from the surface , raising himself upright as a statue , his arms flung wildly aloft , and , with a piercing shriek tha ^ rang loudly above the mocking roar of the cataract , fell back again into tho foaming waves , and was hurled over tho brow of tho fatal precipice . The melancholy and awful fate of poor Avery will add another to tho many fearful local incidents already related by tho guides at tho Falls , and for years his critical situation , his hard struggles , his fearful death , will bo the thomo of many a harrowing talo . And visitors to tho mighty cataract will seek tho scene of tho terrible catastrophe with a shuddering curiosity , and tho timid and imaginat ivo will fancy , in the duak ' of tho ovoning , that they still hoar above the waters' roar the fearful shriek that preceded tho fatal plunge .

      Journal Of Railway Accidents. One Of Tho...

      JOURNAL OF RAILWAY ACCIDENTS . One of tho recent deaths by accident took placo in consoquonco of a special train unexpectedly running on tho lino , and kill ing Charles Cannon , ono of tho railway servants . Tho Hon . Mr . Scott , tho chairman of tho Company , and Mr . Bcattio , tho superintendent , woro in tho special train . Thocoroner's jurychargod thorn with manslaughter . On this thoy woro triod at tho lato Croydon Assizes , and acquitted . A railway accident shocked tho pasnengors from tho north to London on Friday of last week . Tho passenger train ran into a luggage train , and broke several of tho luggago vans . Both trains woro injured , and tho lino sufforod somo damage . Tlio passongors who hud calculated on reaching London at olovon o ' clock on Friday ovoning , woro kept until four o ' clock on Saturday morning . Tho causo of tho accident is as usual inscrutable , and as no lives woro lost , tho inquiry , wo presume , will bo slight and

      hurried . On tho South "Devon lino tho goods train , intjtoad of standing aside to lot tho express pans ,. stood , aftor tho Usual manner of railway engines , directly in tho way . Tho ordinary accident took placo : ilio exproHfl train smashed into tho goods train , and much damage wan dono . But " only ono person was seriously injured . " Tho injuries to tho others , like all railway acoidonta , woro , of course , comical and unaccountable . At Prowton rail way station tho gas hurst on tho approach of a light to a chandelier , and a ninn who was examining it was blown from tho laddor , his waistcoat , nhirt , and trousers net on firo , and liiw face and liarulu droadfully burnt . Tho explosion extended through tho whilion . Tho doors of tho waiting-room woro torn away , nhua < uwl in piocos , and flung aorons tho platform . Windows wovo einasUod through , tho framework scattered in bits , and the

      paper in several rooms was blackened with the flames . The luggage in one waiting-room was dashed against the door of another , and a deal-box was wheeled into the ladies waiting-room , and there left on fire . Several persons had hair-breadth escapes of serious injury , the whiskers of many gentlemen being scorched away . Stepping out while the _ carriages were in motion , a gentleman travelling on" the Brighton Railway was Crushed to death . lit the darkness of the night , He thought the train had stopped .

      Curiosities Of Justice. Some Incidents O...

      CURIOSITIES OF JUSTICE . Some incidents of the administration of justice throw light upon the working of our laws , and illustrate the domestic ¦ " manners and customs of the English . " We note a few , reported this week . Mrs . Waters , a married lady , had property of her own , and her husband asked her to allow it to be charged with security for one of his debts . She consented , and executed the assignment in about sixteen days after her confinement , when , however , the medical attendant said she had recovered , though she was still in her room . She now says she knew it was a security , but did not know the effect of what she had done , or that she was enabling anyone to sell her property , and she told the nurse , after executing the deed , that she did not know anything about it , any more than the child beside her , and this the nurse confirmed . The person , however , who witnessed the execution , said he proposed to read it over to her , but she refused , because , as he thought , she did not like to let the nurse hear it . A question has been therefore raised as to the validity of the deed . The Court said that it thought the lady was entitled to its protection , so far as to see that she was not imposed on , and particularly in a case where the loan was to the husband ; but she must as to this property be treated as a . feme sole , and " any one who knows anything of the world must be aware that giving property to the wife to her separate use , without an anticipation clause , is giving it to the husband . " But notwithstanding this , he could not permit the wife to avoid the deed in this case ; for , if he did so , he would be allowing her to do an injustice , instead of protecting her against one . That is , to prevent an " injustice" to her husband ' s creditor , a deed wrongful in itself must be maintained .

      The trial of insolvents before the Commissioners usually present a great variet y of-revelations . When creditors oppose the relief of an insolvent , all his offences ^ are " set in a note-book , conned by rote , and cast into his teeth . " In the case of Richard [ Dunn , the insane Irish barrister who persecuted Miss Coutts , we have a tiresome " storyof his stupid perseverance . The Commissioner truly testified of the annoyed lady that " she is one who goes about doing good without ostentation . " He has been ordered to remain in prison for ten months " from the vesting order . " A strait waistcoat would seem the only vesting order suitable for the man . In the case of Henry Wheeler , the insolvent fictitiously transferred his furniture to save it from the creditors . He subsequently offered it up , but that rigid

      Rhadamanthus , Commissioner Phillips , ordered him six months confinement . We have some pity for this man , a poor clerk , as the debt was incurred by becoming surety for his brother . In another case of fraud Mr . Phillips was lenient . The man had bought a piano without paying for it , and had pledged it . But he had a family in distress , and he was remanded for two months only . In the case of a newspaper proprietor , Mr . Phillips was also indulgent . Tho printer and publisher opposed , showing that tho newspaper had no probability of success ; but it was decided that they gave their goods and labour on tho usual trade risk ; and tho insolvent was liberated . Edward Moore Adams , the proprietor of the Tradesman ' s Journal ( another failure in publication ) ,

      became insolvent from a strange cause . " Ono of tho causes of his insolvency was tho death of his wife and seven children . " Why , in the case of tho piano-pledgor , tho living wife and family led to insolvency . We cannot see how tho elimination of " encumbrances" ( see advertisements ) could cause tho same . An Irish case , of appropriate magniloquence , appoars this week . Mr . Jasper Wheolor Rogers , an engineer , owes 17 , 866 £ ., and to meet it has assetu worth only 14 , 495 £ . But " tho Irish Amelioration Society " ( a society for making turf into a hard fuel as good as conl ) " owes him 70 , () 0 () J ., " which may bo true . But ho has been discharged , although wo do not goo that tho claim has boon expunged , tho report in tho morning papers being brief , and not clear . Probably some arrangomont , in view of tho establishment of tho claim , lias boon made .

      A postman in Bridgowater had original notions on the subject of tho poflt-ofueo . ( They might havo arisen from his very extraordinary salary of Is . per week . ) Ho walked along tho country road in a careless way , somo letters sticking out of his pockets , and others in his hand . Meeting some persons claiming letters , ho used to sit down on a grussy bank , sproad out all tho letters , and toll Iho claimants to select their own . Ono day ho oamo back to tho ortico , and a lottor was Boon sticking out of his pockots . Ho was asked why it was not doliverod , but could givo no

      oxouso . On searching him , sixteen other loMorn worn found on him , and for this gross offonco ho was " reprimanded . " In a low days after a young lady , walking nlong a country road , found ' ( to hor dplight , wo may imagine ) sovoral lottors scattered about tho road . Sho took thorn up , and found thorn mostly torn . Tho postman was indicted , for having torn thorn , but his counsel argued , that being unfit for hia duties ho had dropped tho lottors , which woro torn up by littlo boys . Tho mini was convicted , but tlio judgo , on tho ground that ho was an unfit person for' the situation , sontoncod him to tho light puniahmont of six

      months imprisonment . A decision in Chancery , on Wodnoaday , scorns strango in a Court of Equity . Tho point lay in tho disposal of property loft by a testator , and tho intention of tho testator was dispii ' ud . Tlio Lord Chancellor said that his decision won ! I , without doubt , dofoat tho will of tho Iohlator , but " consistently with tho authorities , " ho should givo it against tho persona to whom , tho property was

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 6, 1853, page 9, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_06081853/page/9/