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Leader (1850-1860), 21st November 1857, Edition 2 of 2, Page 8, 1112 _______ THE LEADER.

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      Continental 2jotes. Fkaxce. The Funeral ...

      of Finland for the purpose . They found 1100 corpses in the interior of the vessel , so that 300 seem to have been on deck when the accident happened . The corpses were mostly found embracing each other , or clinging to the portions of the cabins ; decomposition , had already set in . So horrible was the spectacle that offered itself to the divers as'they went over the lower decks and cabins , that one of them felt himself , for some time , quite unable to make his report , and refused to go down anymore , preferring to leave again for England . The livid faces of the corpses , with their eyes opened ' and fixed , looked all the more frightful , as the glass in the diving bell and the diving helmets is so constructed as to magnify , and consequently to distort , the objects examined through it . Attempts to raise the vessel will probably not be made before next vear .

      . SPAIX . A conspiracy among the Absolutist party has been discovered in Catalonia . Mr . Dodge , the United States Minister at the Spanish Court , has sent hi his resignation , but he has done so from the state of health of his family , and from other private considerations .

      BEi-Girai . The King has dissolved the Chamber of Representatives . The elections are to commence on the 10 th of December . The Senate and Chamber of Representatives are convoked for the 15 th of December . M . Lebeau is appointed Minister of Justice . / ' - ¦ .. ' . ¦ . ' ¦ . ' ITALY . ¦ -. ¦¦ ' ¦ ' ¦ -.. ¦ '¦ . - . •¦' The Sardinian elections known as definitive at noon last Saturday , were fifty-three in number ; of whom thirty-eight were Liberals , fourteen belong to the Opposition of the extreme Right , . and one to the Left . At Turin , the Government has obtained an immense majority . Upwards-of four hundred persons implicated in a conspiracy have been arrested at Naples in a single night . ¦¦

      'The .-Milan' -Gazette " publishes a notification from the Prefect of Finance of Lombardy , announcing that for the year 1858 the direct taxes . are to be increased at the rate of five kreutzers for every florin of taxes ( the florin is about 2 f . 50 c , and contains 60 kreutzers ) .

      . ; ¦' . - . ' - ' . ¦ . ' TURKEY .. : ' ¦ - ' ' , ¦ ¦ , The question with respect to the Christians in Turkey still remains in an unsettled state . The Viceroy of " ¦ ¦ -. - . - . ¦ ¦ - . ¦» . r-y -, ,-, * . ... 1 Egypt nas comraumcatea to tne rraicn \ _ . imsui-vxeut : i » i the letter of the Turkish Grand . Vizier which \ vo mentioned in our last , and has accompanied it by some remarks , in which he points to the strangeness of such intolerance being exhibited by one body of Christians to another . The consul has sent for the priest of the

      chapel which was closed by his own orders , and proposed to him to reopen it with two iiltars— one for thoie who prefer the Gregorian calendar , and another for those who still cling to the older form of worship . The priest declined the proposition , and asked to be allowed the use of the chapel without any stipulations . He has also ¦ written to the Patriarch ( who is in . favour of the new calendar ) , to inform him of the consul ' s oner . The innovation is for the most part resisted by the Christians of Turkey .

      Nustem Bey , who had been sent to take the command of the Tripoli troops in the expedition against the insurgent tribes , has had a very sharp engagement with Gouma , the chief of the outbreak , who was severely ¦ wounded during the action . About forty Mussulmans of a low condition and three Imans have been arrested at Damascus on a charge of having formed a conspiracy for the destruction of an English establishment . The Mussulman population in general in that district are greatly irritated against the Europeans , owing partly to a number of workmen of that creed having been dismissed from the English manufactories , and partly to the sympathies manifested by the Sultan for the English in India .

      SBRVIA .. The Criminal Court at Belgrade has pronounced judgment on the prisoners accused of having planned the death of the reigning Prince . Seven have been sentenced to decapitation ; one to perpetual imprisonment . It is thought that the capital sentences will be commuted to imprisonment with hard labour .

      THE DANUBIAJN PKXNOIl'Al . ITIES . The Divans ad hoc , after some animated debates , have voted that all citizens are equal in the eye of the law . They have likewise voted the abolition of ull classes and privileges , and the liberty of public worahip , and will shortly consider the question of forced labour to which the peasants arc subjected . " The note already announced a . g having been presented by the Porte to the European Powers , " aayn the Timea Paris correspondent , "is not drawn up in the same form as the notes hitherto presented . The last contains extracts from various rcporta presented by the Kaimakans of Moldavia and . Walluchia , which represent those countries as completely disorganized and in a state of anarchy . Several facts are quoted in support of theso aoawtionB . "

      1112 _______ The Leader.

      1112 _______ THE LEADER .

      [ No . ^ OO , November 21 , 1857 .

      0 Uk Civilization. ¦ ¦ ¦ -. ' ¦ . ¦ . - ...

      0 UK CIVILIZATION . ¦ ¦ ¦ -. ' ¦ . ¦ . - —? --- ¦ . . . ¦ , ¦ . A ROMANCE OF RASCALITY . During the summer of 1850 , Mr , John Blair Wills , then a medical student , met a youug hvdy in an omnibus , with whom he was so much fascinated that he followed her to her residence , and by great perseverance discovered that her friends lived in Bath . He went down there , introduced himself to her mother , and made a formal proposal of marriage . This was refused by' tho mother , a Mrs .. Maxwell , on the ground that herdaughter was hardly thirteen j-ears old . Here the ' matter ended for the time ; but , by a . singular ¦ -fatality , Mr . ' . Wills again met the same young lady in 1855—this time in

      the Surrey Gardens . His former passion burst out afresh , and , the youug lady being now seventeen , the marriage took place , and was celebrated at Kennington Church on the 24 th of March . By . this period Mr . Wills had changed his former profession for that of architecture , and for some time he and his girl-wife lived happily together . But , shortly after the contiiiemeiit of Mrs . Wills , she had an attack of fever , which resulted in a temporary aberration of mind . She was there fore confined in Itetlileheiu Hospital , and remained there a . year , when the authorities intimated to her friends that she must be removed . Her husband , however ,.- ' took no notice of the summons , but ultimately , on the 3 rd of last

      August , her brother-in-law , Mr . James Feiiton Wills , renioved her to the residence of his mother . Here she remained several days without being able to hear a ' word about her husband and child . At length , her motherin-law handed her a letter from Mr . John lilair Wills , requesting , that .-she would meet him at a certain time and .-place iu . the City . She went there , saw her husband , and reproached him with the unkitidness of bis conduct . ¦ To this he replied that she need not give herself any trouble about him , as , in fact , she was no wife of his , owing to his being already married at the

      time he wiu united to her . The best thing you can do , " he addev 3 , "is to marry my brother Fiiiiton : he loves you , and will make you a good husband . "' A few days after this , James Fentoii Wills did , in . fact , make proposals of iriarriage to the poor creature , who , liar ing experienced some kindness at his hands , and being probably bewildered by the misery of her position , consented to become his wife . On the 21 st of August , the ceremony was performed at the Registrar of Marriages Office , Lambeth . All this was unknown to the mother of the -voumr ladv : but . the victim being under age , it

      was necessary to make a show of the marriage being with the consent of the parent . The ! -regular legal document setting forth this alleged consent was given to the Registrar by Fcuton Wills , by whom it was signed . The lady was described as a spinster , and it was stated , accoriling to the usual form , that there was no legal impedimvut to the marriage . As soon as Mrs . Maxwell hoard of these facts , she came up to town , made inquiries , and discovered that . Mr . Blair Wills ' a other marriage had taken place after that

      with her daughter . It was celebrated as late as last April ; and a warrant was therefore issued for his apprehension , but he has hitherto escaped the oilicers . In the meanwhile , James Fenton Wills deserted the poor girl , who , being far from well , was removed to Lambeth infirmary . Having thus become chargeable to the parish , the authorities , believing that Mr . Fenton Wills was liable for her maintenance , obtained a summons calling on that person to show cause why an order to that effect should not be made on him ; and last Saturday he appeared at the Lambeth police-office in answer to it .

      Mrs . Wills was examined by the magistrate , and emphatically declared that she had married Fenton Wills because she was asked by him to do so , and believed that ahe was not the legal wife of his brother . As it now appeared that the parish had no claim on the person summoned , his lawyer said he supposed the magistrate would at once put an end to the case . Mr . Elliott , however , . said that Air . Fenton Wills had committed a gross violation uf the law in falsely stating that ho had the consent of the mother to the marriage . This is au oilence equal to perjury ; and ho therefore ordered Wills to put in bail for his appearance on a future diiy , to answer the charge of misrepresentation .

      On tho case being called on again on Wednesday , Fenton Wills did not appear , nor any ona for him ; and the magistrate therefore ordered his recognizances to be estreated , and a warrant to he issued for his apprehension .

      Anotiuhi Stookwbil Ghost Cask.— A Case S...

      Anotiuhi Stookwbil Ghost Cask . — A case similar to that of the celebrated . Stocluvell ghost has led to somo proceedings nt tho Southwurk police-court . A working man named Baker , and hia wif « nnd daughter , occupied a Iiouho in the neighbourhood of London-street , Dockheud , and for some time paat the man and woman hnvo been alarmed by ningulav noises occurring iu various parts of the house , and by tliu breaking of crockery , glass , & . c , which were thrown about without any apparent cuuse . Baker and his wife were greatly scared by theao mysteries , and at length spoko to a gentleman connected with the District Visiting Society , who instituted inquiries and soon found out the truth oi the matter . The daughter , a girl of twelve , had fallen

      into bad habits , and , to prevent her wanderiue about T streets , she was confined to the house . s"f tl , PV revenged herself by breaking the crockery-ware ° S eftect which unperceived , she fastened thin htinto tt dishes , jugs , and glasses , and dexterousl y jerked thl down . She would do this in the presencer of her Lthl who was so much the victim of superstitionT eaS t £ she never perceived the cause of the effect "Rv himself , when giving evidence before the 'Liftffte ' said , that he mul his wife had been frMuWd 2 ' much . The girl sullenl y admitted what £ Zt don ? and . aid she intended to frighten her parents because they wouldn ' t let ^ her go out . She was sent to the ot Correction for fourteen davs . s

      A Stu . vxg ' k Cask . —A police sergeant , while on Hut in the Belvidere-road , Lambeth , early on Sunday rao ? S observe . da 2 . re . icl | manstaggering along tlie road , with Ins hands on Ins stomach . The officer went towards him , when he pointed to his stomach , and tw « holes were then observed iu his clothes , with blood llowing : from each . The sergeant took him to a surgeon s , and att « rwards to the Westminster Hospitaland , when the bleeding had been stopped , he said that he was accosted by a man in .. Trafalgar-square who persisted iu walking with him , though not encouraged

      . to do to ; ami that this man gave him two blows in the stomach at the foot of . Westminster 1 $ ridge , robbed him of between IS / , audit )/ ., and made onV At lirst , he said he was not aware that he had been stabbed , but ou walking- away , felt exhausted ,- and then found that blood was flowing from two -wounds .. ¦¦ ¦ The police have found in the man's pocket a kiiifu which tits the holes of the dross . ; ami this fact ' , ' coupled with certain prevarications , has induced a suspicion that the man inflicted the wounds on himself .

      Suvkky is- England . —Peter . Humph , a German , was charged at the Waketicld police-court on Monday , with , assaulting a countrywoman of his , named Marguerette lloyler . She was brought to England by Humph about six months ago , and ' bound ' to him for three years fur the . purpose , of playing a piano about the . streets , on the understanding that she was to receive '' 12 / . at the expiration of the time , and in the meanwhile to be supplied with food and clothing . It now appeared that the food consisted of nothing more than a miserable breakfast at seven o'clock in the morning , and a meal when- . the poor girl returned at midnight — the latter being conditional on a certain sum of money beiinr

      brought back . On the 6 th : ' of the present month , the girl did not bring home a sufficient sum ; on which . Eumph , according to his Usual custom , beat her savagely . He knocked her down , kicked her , threatened her " with a-knife , took away nearly all her clothes , and linally turned her out into the streets , almost naked . She went to another girl whom Kuinph had brought from Germany , but who had left him on account of his briUuUt ^ , and from her obtained some clothes . On the case being brought into court , several girls gave evidence against ltunipb , and said they had never received a halfpenny of the 12 / . he had promised them . He was lined li ., or a month ' s imprisonment in default .

      Death fiwm Destitution . —The attention of the police was directed on Monday night to the house of No . 5 , Eaton-street , Waekfriurs-road , where two persons were supposed to be dying of starvation . The door was broken open , and in a corner of tho room the dead body of a man , between eighty and ninety years of age , was discovered , with scarcely a rag covering it . Near him was a woman , his sister , all but dead . She was too weak to stir , but was convoyed to Lambeth workhouse , where she stated that her brother had died of hunger , and that she herself had been without food for three days . A Cabman ' s Conscience . — The charge against

      Edward Jackson , an oil and colourman m Leonard-street , Shoreditch , and his wife , of being concerned in the great , robbery at the Countess of Kllesmere ' s , is still under examination at Worship-street . During the inquiry on Tuesday , a cabman gave evidence with respect to moving a box , similar to one now in possession of the police , at the time of tho robbery , January , 1850 . Two men hired a cab , and one rode in it , and ultimately told the driver to . stop at a beer-shop , and have some beer . "I suspected something wrong , " said tho cabman in his evidence , " when I took the man up ; but liu allured to stand beer , and I than did 7 iot . " two

      Tun Muitmai at Kastmouhnk . —A week or ago , the body of a boy waa found in a box ; nt Langley Point , Eastbourne , near Brighton . It waa much emaciated , and there was the mark of a blow on the head . The corpse hus now been idcntilicd a . s that of James Colwcll , a youth of thirteen , tho son of Mm . Ann Muralcn by u former husband . Ho belonged to Sheffield , and lived with lm grandfather , llo was in the habit of absenting himself , and tho last time he left home it was reported that he hudotarted with three other boys , two of whom had turned buck , while- the third , it was said , haul gone to France . Colwcll was of a rather mil Ion disposition . The jury returned an open verdict . Tins Mx-umcit in IIkktfokobiiiuic . —The incmoat on the body of . John Starkins , tho Hertfordshire- policeman , has concluded with a verdict of Wilful Murder against Jeremiah Carpenter , tho man in custody . Carpenter waa finally examined before tho magistrates on Wed-

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 21, 1857, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_21111857/page/8/