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Leader (1850-1860), 20th August 1853, Edition Town of 2, Page 802, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      directing the men in charge of the railway engines , when , all of a sudden , some of the firemen shouted out for all to escape , as the cliff -was falling . Mr . Birkbeck and Mr . Birch , the chief clerk at the head station of the brigade , had barely sufficient time to run away , when a portion of the c liff fell , with a noise resembling 1 the discharge of a park of artillery , burying under it the hose of one of the engines , and several persons who were standing near . The amount of chalk from the cliff that fell was nearly fifty feet high , forty feet wide , and something like sixty-four feet deep , and it is estimated at 1500 tons' weight . The cause of the accident was the intense heat of the fire . One circumstance of the accident is notable . When the fire broke out a message was sent to London for assistance , and in two hours and a-balf the London fire-engines were on the spot . The property lost is estimated at 50 , 000 / .

      Untitled Article

      CURIOSITIES OP JUSTICE . The reputations of humble peop le seem of late to be highly valued by the owners , a token that refinement of feeling is ceasing to-be exclusive . Several late actions for slander have been by men and women in the lower walks of life . Wo have noted a few , but the general run of others has given to the late assizes a special characteristic . A Bristol surgeon , named Kelson , went to the local theatre , and got drunk . He went into the upper boxes , and there talked indecently . Mr . Wagg , a shopkeeper , overhearing the talk , and not liking his niece , who was with him , to hear it , also requested the doctor-to desist . Fired at the ^ rebuke the surgeon said , " You are a shopkeeper and I am a gentleman—dont talk to me ; you are a cloth robber , and connected with the cloth robbery . "

      This language had reference to a recent fraudulent trading in cloth known to all the town . Mr . Wagg very properly brought an action for slander , and after an apologetic defence the " gentleman" surgeon had to pay twenty pounds and costs . Another action for slander further shows what we notice above — the increased public Value of the character of humble persons . Mr . Dunn , draper , of Newcastle , had a claim for money against a Miss Wild , milliner in Manchester , and he sent his collector for it , informing him that Miss Wild was a " slippery customer , and that he had had her in charge for forgery six years ago . " The collector went to " Miss Wild , Manchester , ' and on her refusing to pay the debt he abused her , telling her before her pupils and in her own shop that she had been in .

      charge for forgery . " Miss Wild" was astounded and ranch hurt , for it turned out that the forger was another Miss Wild . The collector apologised , but not quickly enough ; he has been adjudged to pay One Hundred Pounds . The most striking characteristic of British -justice is its reverent regard for olden rights , so that some of the most antique institutions may influence modern , decisions . An instance presents itself this week . The barony of Drem in Scotland is in dispute between the Honourable Mrs . Moreton and Sir Norman Macdonald Lockhart . It appears that the barony consists of possessions which anciently belonged to the Knights Templars and Knights of St . John , of Jerusalem , thereafter to the Torphichen and

      Haddington families . The barony remained united till some time alter the commencement of tho present century , when it was parcelled off and sold in portions . The Honourable Mrs . Morcton is heritable proprieties , " duly mfeft and ficised , " in the Temple lands of Cumberland , and other lands , forming part of tho said barony of Drem , holding of tho Crown . The ancient titles of tho vassals produced and recovered in the course of tho litigation , go back to a very remote period . Sir Norman Macdonald Lockhart and other parties are alleged to be vassals of tho appellant , the . Honourable Mrs . Morcton , as vested in certain portions of the barony of Drem , and to have no right except to tho extant of ' tho feu rights held by them as in right of tho last entered vassal of and under tho Honourable Mrs .

      Moreton , as their over-lord or superior . It was in this situation of matters , as regards tho titles of tho parties , that tho present litigation arose . Sir Norman denied that tho lands were originally Templo lands , but Mrs . Moreton made a thorough investigation , in tho course of which Bhe recovered writs proving that tho lands in question had for several centuries been Temple hinds , anciently belonging to the Knights of St . John . Tho question was disputed through several Scotch courts , tho law terms of which Room strange to English observation . Thus wo havo a

      record that " tho Court below pronounced tho interlocutor of February 11 ) , 1851 , to tho cfl'oct that , ' in respect tho pursuer of'isnid reduction docs not now insist in tho reasons of reduction of tho titles called for , and sought to bo reduced against , tho defenders , repel tho reasons of reduction , HHsoilzio tho defenders , and decern . " On Monday a long litigation waged with such fearful words , wan brought to a clo " o , tho Lord Chancellor , " an was underntood below tho bar , " affirming' tho interlocutor of the Court below—that in , rofuHing to consider Mrs . Moroton " ovor-lord or miperior" of Sir Norman Macdonald , her " viihhuI . "

      The property of William Burko Kirwmi , tho artist , convicted of murdering hit ) wife , hart been converted to the use of Mio Crown . Kir \ van ' n mistress—Teresa Kennyattempted to obtain it , but her claim was disallowed . " To make nssurnneo doubly mire" as to tho falsehood of the claim for tho Smyth baronetcy the couiwi of evidence has boon jndien I ( '

      signed , wan not a doctor of divinity at . tho timo of the ^ alleged nuptials ; and tho governor of IleheHter guol to identify " Sir Richard Hugh Smyth" an his quondam prisoner . When " Smylh" broke < lown there remained fifty witjienm'H to be examined for the plaintiff , and eighty for the defence ! Tho untoward romilfc of tho trial Jrnfi been a nource of great mortification to numerous porflonn at Clifton and Bristol , who an " feelers" for futuro favours , and in tho assurance that ho would " go in and win , " havo been freely trusting the solf-stylod baronet with a Jinnduornoly furnished houso and abundant supplies of creature

      comforts . It is reported in circles likely to bo informed , that four keen Israelitish gentlemen in London have advanced 1000 ? . each upon the " worthy baronet ' s" undertaking , when his estates came into hand , to repay them severally by that amount per annum . [ Respecting the telegraph message by the London jeweller one thing seems to have been forgotten * The great discovery which led to the immediate disposal of the case has been attributed to the electric telegraph ; but without detracting from the . great service to be attributed to that agent , if the old system had been pursued of preventing the report of a trial being published until its termination , the engraver would not have known in time what had taken place ; and he stated that it was in consequence of what he read in the Times that he sent his telegraphic message . This shows the immense importance of a speedy publication of legal

      cases . The little French tailor accused of conspiring to kill Louis Napoleon has been acquitted , his ridiculous insanity being clearly proved . Some hints towards a reform of our Jury system , may be gleaned from the revelations we sometimes have of the mental calibre of jurors . At Liverpool Assizes a trial occupied more than along day and a half , and the jury were several hours deliberating on their verdict . During the

      interval they came into Court more than once to make inquiries of the judge . One juror handed in a written paper to the judge , which his lordship read . It was— " My lord , are we bound to return a verdict according to the evidence whether we believe it or not ? " ( Laughter . ) His Lordship : Oh no , gentlemen ; what you don't believe you must reject . Ultimately the jury said there was no chance of their agreeing , and requested his Lordship to discharge them . The foreman said it would come to a question of physical strength . The jury were discharged .

      Untitled Article

      CRIMINAL RECORD . The offences common in the Northern counties , as indicated by the present assizes , are chiefly burglaries and felonious assaults upon women , The punishments for both offences have been generally serious , ranging from transportation for seven years , to transportation for life . None of the trials are of particular interest , but they reveal the existence as much of ignorance as of vice among the lower classes . One-half the men convicted seemed to have sinned from literal " want of thought , as much as from want of heart . " In the metropolis , the assaults on women continue with unabated ruffianism . ¦ _ This week has produced an average number , particular- ' l-eeord _ which ( with colour of wound , and size of swelling , ) would seem more surgical than editorial . Assaults on the police , not now so seriously punishable as those on women , have also increased .

      Our offenders are advancing in invention- Mr . Sherbrooke Beecher , of Shakspeare-street , was walking in a field called FothergiU ' s-close , in the meadows , near the town , when two men came up and accosted him , asking him if he was aware that he was on trespass ? Mr . Beecher answered that he was not , and that he knew the owner of the field perfectly well . They then told him that he was ; stating that ho must go with them , either to the policeoffice at Nottingham , or to Lenton ( a villago near ) . Mr . Beecher said he would willingly go with them to the policeoffice . They , however , insisted upon him accompanying

      them to Lenton ; and not suspecting their intention—viz ., to get him further away from the town—ho walked with them a short distance . Suddenly one of tho men , who was walking behind , threw his arms round Mr . Bcecher ' s nec k , grasping him tightly by tho throat , and then exclaimed to his companion , " Jack , como on . " Mr . Bcechor was dragged to tho ground , and the second robber placed his knees upon his stomach and rifled his pockets , while the other held him down by tho throat . Having secured all tho money in the possession of Mr . Beecher , tho robbers decamped .

      Lord 1 ' almerston was petitioned to extend tho Royal mercy to Flack , the murderer of tho old woman at , Bacton , on tho ground that he was very ignorant . Tho Homo Secretary replied— " It requires no particular instruction to make a man feel that a barbarous murder is an atrocious crime . " Mrs . Jones mysteriously absented herself from her husband , and Mr . Jones consequently cut his throat ; being , as a Bristol jury found , " mentally deranged . " Six convicts were taken through Glasgow in a cab , each hanrl-cufled , all chained together , and tho polico ( sitting outside . Ono convict wrenched tho chain away , and ho separated tho six , who immediately darted out of tho cab , and run up tho streets , chased by the officers . Two wero caught ; and three escaped .

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      JOimNAL OF RAILWAY ACCIDENTS . Railway engines are ho many mechanical " Topsya , "—to their wiekednenN can wo alone attribute tho late accidents , it being now well known Mint ; directors , station-masters , drivers , stokers , nro " not to blame . " Thus , on last Friday , tho Yarmouth train dashes into tho Lowestoffc train quietly standing on the sumo lino ; " a tremendous collimon took place ; the passengers wero bruised ; and two ladies had novero cutu aeross tho eyelids and checks , which were sown up on the npot . " Thin brutal assault ; on women should eoiiie under Fitzroy ' n Act ; wo therefore record this with other eriinoN of tho week . Hero is another inexplicable occurreneo on tho York , NowenNtle , and Berwick Railway . A party of pitmen and Homo boys , who were on their way to work at ; a now colliery at Whitworth , occupied a kind of coal truck , which was being propelled by a light ; engine up tho branch line . The men were rather Into , and in order to arrive in time they travelled rather tauten- than unual . On nearing the Tudhoo Iron Works , and whilo pursuing thiH quick speed , they camo in contact ; with a heavily laden minors' train , which was coining down tho samo' lino of rails as they woro going up . In coiisoquonco of tho hazy character of tho morning , noithor train could bo observed until they

      were close upon each other , and they came in violent co tact . The wagon in which the poor fellows were bei in front of the engine , received the full force of t he ' shoclF It was knocked into many pieces , and the whole th unfortunate occupants , nine men and several boys wer injured more or less . Three were found dead . ' —~ , The express train from Dover overtook near ForestThiil another train on the same line . It dashed into it , -and waa severely shattered , two of its rear carriages bei ng se para ted from the rest . Several passengers were much injured- —a young lady named Clarke most severely . The whole of the lef t side of her face was fearfully crushed , and the car . tilage of the nose broken , in addition to which it is not un * likely-she may have received a concussion of the brain "

      although the fact may not be apparent for some days to come . " When taken from the carriage her clothes were saturated with blood . How the luggage-train came to be upon the up-line cannot be accounted for by any one ; the great " Railway Mystery" being utterly inscrutable . Railway companies are finding out that accidents are expensive . The Lancashire and Yorkshire has had to pay Mr . Davies 350 ? ., for damages done by a collision ; and the Sk Helen ' s has paid 170 ? . to a labouring man disarmed through an accident . There are several trials coming before the pendingjSouth Lancashire assizes at Liverpool arising out of the Dixon Fold accident , on the Lancashire

      and Yorkshire Railway , on the evening of the 4 th of March . The compensations in these cases are some of them very large , the principal one on the cause paper being that of the executors of the late Mr . Caratti , a Greek merchant at Glasgow , who lay the damages at 15 , 000 Z . Mr . Fitton , another of the unfortunate sufferers , who lost one of his legs , is a mill-owner at Royton , and his claim is for about 8000 ? . or 10 , 000 ? . Mr . Kay is eaid to lay his damages at 1500 ? ., Mr . and Miss Sofiano at about 500 ? ., and Mr . Pugh at 1500 ? . There are several other claims we have not heard the amount of , including a claim from the next of kin of the nurse in Mr . Barbour s family .

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      MISCELLANEOUS . The Queen , Prince Albert , and the Duchess of Kent , have been staying at Osborne . Her Majesty led the Spithead fleet on a cruise on . Thursday / Last week she visited the Russian Princess Katherine of Mecklenberg Strelitz . "" _

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      The Nemesis of Derbyite misdoings is unrelenting . The Grand Jury at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday found a true bill against the Eight Honourable William Beresford , two of the Messrs . Cox , of Derby , Melluish , an attorney there , and seven other parties , for conspiracy to bribe the electors-of Derby . " The Peterborough election committee have reported that George Hammond Whalley , having been declared by a Committee of the House of Commons to have been guilty of treating at the preceding election for the City of

      Peterborough , and that election for the said cit y having been avoided , was incapable of being returned at the election which took place in consequence of the said avoidance ; and that George H . Whalley is not duly elected a citizen to servo in this present Parliament for the city of Peterborough . " Twenty-four votes wero then struck off the poll , and Mr . Whalley ' s majority being 21 , the committee unanimously determined— " That Thomson Hankey , jun ., Esq ., is duly elocted , and ought to have been returned a citizen to serve in this present Parliament for the city of Peterborough . "

      Tho other Peterboroug h committee appointed to inquire into Lord Fitzwilliam's alleged interference with the freedom of election , has made a long report , tending to acquit Lord Fitzwilliam of any director palpable intervention , but pointing out that his position givos him an inevitable influence . Ho ejected tenants who voted against his interest , but ho allowed others to remain who had also voted against him . He had paid part of tho expenses of an election petition , but had not got up tho petition . Ho had taken part in consultations as to candidates , but his counsel was always sought . He had paid tho usual " crowns" to ecot

      and lot voters , distinguishing his own from other voters , but this was an old custom . Whilo thus acquitting Lord Fitzwilliam of activo impropriet j ' , tho report says : — "Ifc is established to tho satisfaction of your committee that there is a very general impression among tho electors and inhabitants of Peterborough , grounded on their knowledge of Lord Fitzwilliam ' s influenco upon tho householders and scot and lot voters , under tho circumstances ahovoreported , that any candidate would havo littlo chanco of buccchs who had not his approval ; and there is no doubt that this impression does soriouely interfere with tho freedom of flection in that city . "

      Tho Honourable 13 . It . Littleton has been quietly elected member for South Staffordshire , in room of Goiiortil Anson . II o is a supporter of tho present Ministry . Tho diplomatic corps and our Cabinot Ministers dined with Count , Walewnla , Fronch Ambassador , on Monday , in honour of tho ft'to of the Emperor Napoleon . After dinner Lord Aberdeen proposed tho health of tho Emperor ; and after porno other toantH Count ; Walowoki g'ivo aa n sentiment , " The continuance of peace . " Now writs havo been imhiumI , ibr Stamford and PHngarvan ; for tho former in tho ' room of tho Hon . J . ^ j llerrioN , who ' lias accepted the manor of Northstead , an " lor tho latter in tho room of Mr . J . F . Maguiro , who 1 'ftS accepted lhb . ChiH . orn Hundreds .

      The Commons Committoo on the National Gallery havo made a report . They are of opinion that tho site of tho present gallery in noi ; well ndaptod for tho construction <> t a new gallery , and they recommend that tho offor mado to the puhlio in the ontato of Kensington Gore , purehnficd jointly by the Royal Commissioners of 1851 and by gw ™' of Parliament , bo accepted . They havo considered tno vexed question of pioturo-eloaning , and made a number oi HURjrosfcions uh precautions for tho futuro . Thoy rocommen « j that a ByBtom of management by a board of trustees shou » bo continued , and that thoy should bo appointed py ta

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  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 20, 1853, page 802, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2000/page/10/