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Leader (1850-1860), 16th August 1856, Edition 2 of 2, Page 5, The Foksakkn Indians. — Mr. Tcnlo, of Ca...

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      August 16, 1856.]

      August 16 , 1856 . ]

      T H E L E A I ) E B . <^_

      A Protest Against The Hanging Of Mdrdock...

      A PROTEST AGAINST THE HANGING OF MDRDOCK . Dr Charles Reade , of Magdalene College , Oxford , has sent the following letter to a contemporary : — " I claim the right of a good citizen to disown , before God and man , a wicked and insane act just committed in the name of the country , and therefore in mine unless I Dublicly dissent . An Englishman named Murdock was killed at Lewes by the ministers of the law , for a crime the law of England does not visit with death . The crime was manslaughter . It is not possible that even an English Judge could so mistake the law as really to take the man ' s crime for murder . It was dettitute , not of one , two , or three , but of all the features that the law requires in murder . On the other hand it had all the features that distinguish manslaughter . There was no murderous weapon-there was no weapon at all ; no premiditation , no personal malice . The act was done in the confusion , hurry , and agitation of a struggle , and that struggle was commenced , not by tue homicide , but the victim . As respects the animus at the time it is clear the violence was done aho intuitu ; the pr isoner was fighting , not to kill , but to escape ; and that he never from first to last aimed at killing appeared further by his remaining in the neighbourhood , and his surprise at and i gnorance of his victim ' s death . In a word , it was manslaughter in its mildest form . I have seen a boy of eighteen hanged for stealing a horse . It was a barbarous act , but it was the law . 1 have seen a forger hanged . It was cruel , but it was the law . But now , for the first time ( while murderers are constantly escaping the law ) , I have seen an English head fall by the executioner in defiance of the law . I wash this man ' s blood from my hands , and from my honourable name . I disown that illegal act , and the public will follow me . I cannot say to-day where the blame lies , and in what proportions ; but I will certainly find out ; and as certainly all those concerned in it populo respondibunt et mihi . "

      A Brawling Clergyman. The Rev. George Wi...

      A BRAWLING CLERGYMAN . The Rev . George Wilkins , the incumbent of Wix , in Essex , appeared before the Bishop of Rochester , at the Castle at Colchester , on Friday week , to answer a complaint of improper conduct in the church of Wix on Sunday , May 4 . The allegations were contained in a letter from Mr . Thomas Morris , of Wix Lodge , who , under date of June 14 ( until which time he delayed writing , in the hope that some of the Church authorities would take the matter up ) , wrote as follows to the Bishop : —" On a Sunday in the month of May last , the Rev . Mr . Wilkins , the incumbent of the parish , was in the church for the performance of Divine service , and , after the second lesson , abruptly terminated his reading and began an address to the congregation , commenting upon what he considered had been the immoral conduct of one of his parishioners , who was present . This provoked a reply from the party ( a Mr . Eagle ) , who rose , and in profane language accused Mr . Wilkins of falsehood ; when Mr . Wilkins rejoined in the most coarse and vehement manner , and an altercation ensued between them of a character which would disgrace the lowest public-house . I forbear at present to enter into the particulars , further than by adding that the service was thus ended , and that the congregation left the church , one by one , offended in the highest degree . " The present proceedings were taken in consequence of this letter . The Bishop having asked Mr . Wilkins what he had to say to the charge , the rev . gentleman admitted it , and threw himself on his lordship ' s mercy . He was then severely reprimanded by the Bishop , who nevertheless admitted that his conduct hitherto had been marked with the greatest propriety , that he had hitherto entertained great respect for him , and that hia parishioners ought to feel the same , on account of the zeal he hud shown for their spiritual welfare , though it was true that some of them harboured malicious feelings towards him . His lordship hoped that he would return to hia parishioners and enjoy once again that respect and attention which they had hitherto shown him , and ho ( the Bishop ) believed justly so . Still , there was no excuse for his recent conduct , for , though the demeanour of Mr Eagle seemed to have been very improper , Mr . Wilkina should have had his temper more under control . It is understood that proceedings will bo taken against Mr . Eagle .

      The Foksakkn Indians. — Mr. Tcnlo, Of Ca...

      The Foksakkn Indians . — Mr . Tcnlo , of Camden Town , again attended on Saturday at tlio Mansion House , to hear tho roault of tho Lord Mayor ' s application to tho Colonial Secretary on boluilf of the forsaken Indiana . It appeared that Mr . Labouehoro had written to tho effect that there were no funds at tho Colonial Office applicable to tho desired end ; but ho transmitted 5 / . from his own purse . To this the Lord Mayor added a similar sum . Monomania . —A flno of thirty-five shillings has been imposed on a Mr . Sampson Cooper , engineer , of Wulwortli , for breaking twelve ornamental lamps and two braes cocks , . the property of tho Surrey Gardens Coinpuny . Tho lumps were those placed on tho ground ulong the walks , and tho accused appears to have kicked them to pieces in the most wanton manner . Before tho magistrate , he said he was so drunk he knew not what

      he was doing ; but this was denied by several witnesses . The case seems to be one of monomania . Cesar vanquished bv a Woman . —A man with the classical name of Caesar , and the unclassical altos of Williams , was charged at the Middlesex Sessions , together with another man , named Robins , cdtas Franks , with stealing a gold watch from the person of Mrs . Bruce , an old lady . The men adopted the new contrivance of asking a direction , obtaining the booty , and then running awayf In cross-examination , the old lady was asfeed if she knew how the watch was taken . She replied she did not that was the prisoners' trade , not hers . 1 he heroic Csesar was , literally , stopped and arrested by a woman , one Charlotte Blessly , who thus narrated her achievements : —" I was on the opposite side of Storestreet , Bedford-square , on the 10 th of July , at the time in question , and I noticed the two prisoners in the middle of the street . I saw them go up to the prosecutrix and speak to her . I kept my eye on Caesar . Mrs . Bruce did not stand very steady , on account of her age . Cassar ' sidled' up to her , and I saw his right hand placed under her velvet mantle ; they both left her suddenly and ran away . I called out ' Thief ! ' and followed them . Cajsar took off his coat and gave it to Robins , and I heard him say , ' Take out the contents . ' After this , they ran a little further , and I then stopped Robins , who raised his fist to strike me . I said , ' You have got the lady ' s watch . ' He said , ' Not I . ' I said , ' You have got it in this coat-pocket , ' and snatched the coat from him . He then ran away , and I went after Caesar . He ran into Bedford-place , sat down on a door-step , and pretended to be asleep , holding his head on his hand . I took hold of him , and said , ' You are my prisoner . Whereupon he got up , and said he would knock me down . I told him he had stolen the lady ' s watch , and he struck at me , and sent his fist through my parasol . I held him till a gentleman came to my assistance . He struck the gentleman a violent blow on the face , and struggled with him desperately . A sweep came up , and I had it not been for his assistance the prisoner must have got away . He was making off as the sweep came up . He was then taken into custody . Robins got clear away . When Caesar struck at me , of course T . defended myself . ''' ' The watch was not recovered . Both men , who were well known to the police , were found Guilty , and sentenced to four years' penal servitude . When Cffisar beheld the approach of the sweep , who decided the fate of the day , he should have exclaimed , " Et tu , Brute ? Then fall , Caesar ! " The story will form a curious addition to the " Commentaries . " Hard Swearing . —Some bard swearing appears to have been resorted to in the course of a charge brought forward at the M ansion House , against a Mr . Ryan , a young man stopping at Mullins ' s Hotel , Ironmongerlnne , City . Mr . Mackle , the proprietor , swore that , owing to some disagreement , Mr . Ryan threatened him with a dagger . On the other side , it was contended that Mr . Mackie was raving drunk , and excessively violent—so much so that Mr . Kyan and a friend who was ¦ with him desired to leave the house , though it was late at night , but they were not allowed . A policeman was called in , and , when before tho Lord Mayor , he stated that Mr . Mackie was the worse for liquor ( an assertion emphatically denied by the person-in question ) , but he said there was no truth in thJIallegation of violence made against the hotel proprietor . Tho Lord Mayor finally ordered Mr . Ryan to enter into his own recognizances to keep the peace , and said that the dagger must be impounded . Middlesex Sessions . —Joseph Olry , a Frenchman , was found Guilty of indecently exposing himself in the Green Park . He was shown to be an old offender , and was sentenced to twelve months' hard labour . Sham Auctions . —A lady recently arrived from Australia stated on Monday to the Marlborough-street magistrate that she had made some purchases to the amount of GO / , at an auction-room where she believed tho transactions to bo bond fide ; that she paid a deposit of 10 / . ; but that when tho articles were sent homo she found the several items were augmented , so that the sum total was made out to be 100 / . On pointing this out , the dealers proposed to " rectify" tho matter by taking away a certain amount of goods , and then reducing the charge to GO / . ; but she refused to have any further transactions with them , and now desired to know whether

      sho could not get back her 10 / . deposit . Mr . Binghnm advised her to consult her aolicitor as to tho best way to

      proceed against tho parties . A Kboiclisss Vagabond . —A carman , named Dorrington , having refused to pay a woman who sells oysters in tho Milo Knd-road some small debt that was due to her , the woman aeized hold of tho reins and endeavoured to prevent hiH driving oft " . Tho man , however , flogged his horse , and urged it to a very violent pace , tho woman still clinging to tho shaft and the reins . The horao and cart wore at length driven on to tho footpath , when tho man wus remonstrated with , and tho woman was requested to leave go ; but sho refused , and tho man iigain drove on . Tho woman clung for a longtime to tho reins , hut at last foil , and tho wheel passed ovor ono of her logs . A police-sergeant then started in pursuit in another vehicle , and tho man was secured . He was lined twenty ahilings by tho Thames magistrate , before whom ho was brought . This wuu at once paid .

      Open-Air Preaching . —A Mr . George Lamb , a Methodist preacher , appeared on Monday at the Lambeth police-office , to answer a complaint of obstructing the thoroughfare near the IxKsk ' s-fields police-station by open-air preaching on the previous Sunday morning . Besides creating an obstruction , the minister and hia friends made a loud noise by means of singing psalms , and the night-constables at the station , who were then asleep , complained that they were disturbed . B £ r . Superintendent Lund therefore remonstrated with the godly gentleman , but could not induce him to desist , and he was ordered into custody . He was immediately bailed out by his friends , and then removed his congregation to an adjacent piece of waste land . Abont two hundred persons had assembled . Mr . Lamb said he was not given to understand that the night-policemen were disturbed in their rest , or he would at once have desisted . The magistrate , while pointing out to the rev . gentleman the impropriety of disturbing the policemen , advised him to ask permission of Sir Richard Mayne to preach at the spot in question . Mr . Lund said he should be compelled to oppose such permission , and observed that during the last week no less than six watch robberies took place at the Surrey Obelisk during the open-air preaching . Mr . Lamb having promised not to repeat his preaching and singing at the place objected to , at least for the present , was discharged , and left the court in company of a large number of friends . Cruelty to Animals . —William Perry , a drover , was charged , at the instance of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , with barbarity to a bullock , which he struck over the hocks with great violence , using a very thick stick , and without any apparent cause . The animal was being driven through Hoxton to the New Cattle Market at Islington ; and , for some time after the blow , the poor creature seemed quite paralvzert and unable to proceed . One of the Society ' s officers then took the man into custody , and for a little way he proceeded quietly ; but he then resisted , and brought some of his companions to the rescue . These men knocked the officer down , and held him , while Perry kicked his legs and body , and ultimately they all escaped . Perry was afterwards arrested by the police . He was sentenced to twenty-one days' imprisonment for the cruelty to the bullock , and to fourteen days' imprisonment , being unable to pay a fine of twenty shillings , for the assault on the constable . The inhabitants of the northern suburbs complain of the brutality of the drovers passing through those neighbourhoods on their way to the market . —A French gentleman and an English porter have been charged respectively at Bow-street and at Guildhall with maltreating dogs . In the case of the Frenchman , the animal was thrown over the parapet or Hungerford Suspension-bridge at a part where there was pavement below . The gentleman alleged that the dog bit him , and that , in his own country , he should have been obliged to do what he had done . He added that he did not know that there was pavement beneath that part of the bridge . The magistrate imposed a fine of 5 / . The Englishman had also thrown the dog , which he was charged with ill-using , violently from him , and had brutally kicked it . He made the same excuse as the Frenchman—that the dog had bitten him ; but this was disproved . He was fined twenty shillings . Assaults . —A case of assault committed by Daniel Olive , the conductor of a Peckham Rye omnibus , was investigated by Mr . Alderman Carter , at the Mansion House , on Tuesday . The outrage was committed as long ago as the 19 th of last June ; but the complainant , Mr . George Harris Child , a wine merchant in Marklane , was so severely injured that he had been confined to his bed ever since . From the statement he now made , it appeared that he hailed the omnibus in King William-street , City , on the day mentioned , but the conductor refused to admit him , though there was room . Mr . Child remonstrated with him , touching hislogs with an umbrella , to call his attention , when , the conductor abused him . On threatening to report his conduct , Olive dealt Mr . Child a heavy blow over the eye , which felled him , and , his head striking against tho kerb stone , he became unconscious . He was taken home ; but erysipelas set in , his head swelled to double its size , and his life had been in great danger . Tho defence was that Mr . Child was drunk , and that ho first assaulted tho conductor by striking him over the legs tor truuout

      with hia umbrella . Ohvo was commuted , liberated on buil . —Henry Beale , a labouring man , has been sentenced to six months' hard labour for a ferocious attack on his wife , committed while ho wus intoxicated . —John M'Cunliffe , alias Owen , and John Huffman , two rough-looking fellows , have been committed for trial on a charge of assaulting a policeman . They were making n disturbance , when tho constable interfered . He Was then knocked down , and kicked till ho was insensible . Hin injuries were of so serious a description that he had boon unable to go on duty since , and ho was ausistcd into court . Phisonicuh in Railway Caiuuaoes . —Some correspondents of tho Times have been calling attention to tho reprehensible habit of putting jnanaclcd prisoners , under the charge of policemen , into public railway carriage !? , for conveyance from ono town to another . KsoAi-is jmoM Oxfoiid Gaol . —A convict , named Priest , under sentence of six years' penal servitude ( says

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 16, 1856, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_16081856/page/5/