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    of the district , having received a written complaint from sevei-al of the dwellers in the neighbourhood , through an officer of the Board of Guardians , he went to examine Miss Rushton ' s premises . Having forciblyentered the house at the back , as he was unable to gain access any other way , he was sickened by the malaria of the place , and , on entering one of the back rooms , he found it full of cats . The animals were evidently in a wretched condition ; they appeared half-starved and affected with the mange . The whole house was infected as with a plague by the deposits of these animals , whicli appeared to be confined to the room in which they were found . On seeing the cats , the inspector called Miss Rushton into the room , and

    There can be no doubt that -this is known to the police , but I do not think they have any means of stopping it or interfering . I may also observe that the principal place where this traffic is . carried on ia Hull , from which Manchester and Liverpool are both supplied . " D . E Luxatioo . —The Rev . James Charles Ward has appeared before Mr . Henry at Bow-street , on a warrant alleging that he is a lunatic . He had addressed letters to Sir George Grey and Lord Palmerston , as well as to the Queen , complaining that certain grievances of his had not received due attention , and that for six years past he had been the victim of a system of persecution . His landlady was called to prove his handwriting , but professed her inability to do so . A detective police-officer -was then called ; but Mr . Ward , by means of a very long and ingenious crossexamination , showed that the officer had only seen him write a few words . It was therefore ruled that

    he could not be considered a competent judge . Mr . Yardley , clerk to the Commissioners of Police , said Mr . Ward had called on Sir Richard Mayne , and that his statements were very rambling . He was * remanded for a week ; during which , time he will be at liberty . Desperate Cojcners . —Pive well-known coiners have been examined at the Southwark police-office on a charge of manufacturing a large amount of counterfeit money . The police surrounded a house in Unicorn-court , Borough , and two of them entered . When on the stairs , they encountered three of the coiners , Jackson , Kitchen , and Brown , and a dreadful

    struggle ensued : Jackson was . extremely violent , kicking and knocking tie police inspector , and seriously injuring Mm . Brown in the endeavour to make his escape , jumped over the heads of the officers , and came in contact with Serjeant Brennan , who was running to _ their assistance , and they both rolled down the stairs . Another man was also seen to rush from the room , and he succeeded in mating Ms escape by jumping out of the window . A body of police was afterwards sent for from the Stone ' send station to secure the prisoners ; after which , several moulds and other materials for coining were discovered in the house . The whole five were committed for trial .

    Sharp Practice . —A Mr . Smith , a lawyer , brought an action at the Kingston Assizes against a farmer named Winder , to recover £ 1 , 500 , advanced upon a bond executed by Mr . Winder . The facts may be briefly stated thus : —Mr , William Winder , the defendant ' s son , had made arrangements some six yeara ago to purchase the Blue Posts public house in the Haymarket , London , for £ 1 , 500 . Finding he had not got the money , he applied to Mr . Smith , who is a solicitor in Chancery-lane , to advance that amount on property belonging to his wife . The lawyer consented , on Mr . William Wilder undertaking to give a mortgage . Shortly before the dav for uavment of

    tne money , Mr . Smith said he had not had time to prepare the necessary deeds , but added tha t he was read y to advance the amount if a bond were given him as security until th « mortgage was completed . A . bond was therefore drawn up , and executed by the elder Mr . Wilder , his sou , and a . friend . It appears nowever , from their own admissions , that they did not read over the document , and that they signed it on the representations of Mr- Smith ; but they ail understood that it was to be merely a temporary security until the mortgage should be ready . About two or tliree months

    afterwavds , a regular mortgage deed was executed ; but Mr . Smith uever gave up the bond . Mr . William Wilder subsequently became a baukrupt , and Mr . Smith took possession of his property under the mortgage deed , and is still in receipt of the routs . Nevertheless , he brought hut action agaAust the elder Mr . Wilder , on the strength of the bond , for the amount that had been advanced . Previously to tins , there had been a good many leRal 533 S » f . f ^ * " Pai < tio 8 ' on ° & Mr Smith a bills for costs amounted to £ 600 No wit nesses weie called for the defence , but i t ' was contended that the bond wim n » r-& >/ . <¦! ., i « i _ .. j .. Tien ^ ea wm . d » o bond was perfectllegaland the

    y , claim just . Mr . Baron Alderson , in Humming up , said it was a serious matter to destroy the effect of a solemn instrument snoh afl tho boud , and ho leant to a verdict in luvour of Mr . ' Smith ; but the jury , after some deliberation , said they found a verdict for the that tho mortgage deed had nob boon acted on . Tho judge deolmed to roooive this verdiofc , and told the jury they had better reconsider tho mattor % n I that they were not bound to givo any maous for thodoSaon they might couxo to . They therefore again rotu-ed and in about a quarter of m lour < 2 £ o into court a ecjooucl tamo , and gave a , YOrdiot for tho do

    A Oat Plaqujj . —MUs Ruahton , a lady Hvinje in th « neighbourhood of Lambeth , who ia aJid to pSsosa some property , was Hurnmonod at tho poliqo-wffleo to answer ft oluu-go of keying her houae in ao filthy a Btato ua to bo a , nuisiuww to the surrounding inhabi tints , and duugorou * to tho public hoalth . Shoap ponvext with a wretched , diueaaed cat under hor arms In tho course of a mUier long examination , it trans ' pirod that , in consequence of tho nuiaanoc-inspeotoi

    asked h « r how many of those animals she had got . She answered that she once had twenty , but had not then got above half that number . Mr . Willman informed the parish authorities , and also the pai-ochial medical officer of the occurrence , when the latter visited JOss Rushton ' s premises , but , being unable to learn anything satisfactory from the owner , who seemed unwilling to make communications , and who appeared to be of unsound miud , the inspector was advised by the parish to take out the present summons . Mr . Elliott said that humanity towards the unfortunate woman herself should lead to an immediate abatement of the nuisance complained of , and he therefore ordered it to be removed within a week .

    which his master prevented . The father afterwards gave the prisoner money , to enable him to leave , and Willes consented to go ; but , a few days afterwards , he was found in service in the neighbourhood , and he was therefore given into custody . The jury found £ Jm Guilty . The prosecutor then said that the prisoner had been a very respectable servant , and had conducted himself in a very proper manner until this occurrence ; he therefore begged to recommend him to mercy . However , lie was sentenced to six years ' penal servitude .

    An Insolvent Fire Insurance Office . —An action has been brought at Kingston by the Protestant Eire and Life Insurance Company against Mr . Beau mont , the managing director of the County Fire Office , to recover the sum of £ 2 , 300 upon two policies of fire insurance effected in the Protestant Office , and transferred to the County . It appeared that the former company issued fire as well as life insurances , but that they were in the habit of transferring the fire policies to other companies . Among those landed over to the County Office in November , 1854 , were the two in question , which were effected by a person named Middleton upon his stock-in-trade and a build * ing at Hull . The whole of this property was destroyed

    by fire on the 18 th of December last ; and it appeared that , upon Mr . Beaumont being called upon to pay the policies , as it was contended he was bound to do under his agreement , he declared that he was not liable . The present action was therefore brought to try the question . The agreement was contained in a letter written "by Mr . Beaumont , in which he consented to take the policies upon certain conditions ?; and it seems to have been afterwards understood thafc the arrangement should be- carried out . In the course of 1855 , several applications were made by Mr . Beaumont to the Protestant Office for the amount of th . e premiums that were due upon the policies transferred to the County . At that time * according to the

    admissions of Mr . Bam , one of the Board of Directorsj when cross-examined at the trial , the Protestant Lad verylittle money at their hankers ; but he said they had " as niuch as ; £ 50 . " Mr . Cundy , the solicitor to the County , had told them that , if the premiums were nofc paid , "the company would not accept any fresh , policies ; and he also threatened legal proceedings . Th . e fire at Mr . Middletoix ' s occurred , as stated , on the 18 th of December , 1855 ; and on the 21 st of that month , Mr . Bain sent to the County Office a cheque for £ 49 . When this was stated by Mr .. Bain on the trial , Mr . James , counsel for Mr . Beaumont , said : — " Now I ask you , upon your oath , sir- ^ -and I advise you to be cautious— "whether you sent that cheque

    until after you had heard of the fire ?" . Mr . Bain answered : — I had not seen any letter from Mr . Middleton , but I think I had heard of the fire before I sent the cheque for th . e amount of the premiums thafc were due . " ( He had just before asserted that he was not sure -whether the cheque -was sent before or after the fire . ) " I think I lieard the fire at Mr . Middleton ' s talkedjabout in the offi . ee ; but it was . not on account of the fire happening that I sent the cheque . The money ought to have been paid before ; but people do not always pay accounts the moment they are due , and thia was the only reason for the delay . The fire ^ at Mr . Middleton ' was mentioned in the office , and then it was proposed that I should send a cheque for £ 49

    to the County , It was my own private cheque , and the amount was paid out of my own funds , but I was the treasurer of the company as well as the chairman , and it was all the same thing . " In answer to further questions , he said tb-at he could not tell how much they had got at their banker ' s at tho time ; it was as much as £ 49 , but he could not Bay how much more . He " believed" fresh , policies had been issued within the last few daya ; but he could not say to what amount . At this point , Mr . Baron Alderson said it seemed to him that the examination was fast verging towards a criminal ctarge , and he therefore reminded Mr . Bain that he was not bound to answer any question that he thought might criminate himself . Mr ,

    Bain further said , in anBwer to Mr . James : — - " I know that an action was tried at York last week , in which Mr . Middleton sought to recover tho amount of liis policies from the company , but lam not aware that the company pleaded , that thoy had no money to pay him with . I havo lieard there was svioh a plea . I cannot say whether a claim for £ 12 , arising out of a firo at Plymouth , wan made upon the office , and tk&y wore unablo to pay ifc . I am not certain about it . Mr . Elderton , seorotoiry to tho Protestant Company , admitted in orosaexaminntion that he heard of the firo on tho 19 th of December : thnt the cheque was

    fiont on tho 21 st ; and that it w « a not until tho 24 th that ho Avrote to the County to inform them of the firo , and roq ueatod them to sond their surveyor to investigate tho matter , as it was owe of tb . o cases in whiah thoy Avero interested . In his speech for the defence , Mr . Jamoa showed by the deed of aettlonaont of the Protoatant Company that the County co > ald not legally cntor into such an agreement aa the one that had boon Buggostod , and that they had the opinion of a . high legal authority to that effect ; and Mr . Boauraont was called to prove that tUo peraona connected "with , the Protestant Company -were

    por-An Unnatueal Son . —Stephen Stone , a ruffianly youth , who has frequently been charged with felony , has been sent to prison for twenty-eight days for endeavouring to strangle his father , and for threatening to cub bis throat . The Murder at E ± exer . —The case of Mary Weeks , the young woman who was eouvicted at the recent " Assizes for the wilful murder of her illegitk mate child at Exeter , and whose execution was stayed in consequence of a jury of matrons having pronounced her " quick with child , " has excited much

    interest in the city of Exeter , and efforts are being made to obtain , a commutation of the sentence . The jury have . memorialised the Queen oa the subject , stating that they believed the culprit committed the crime -under the influence of Thomas Warren , the principal witness against her , and to whom , it will be remembered , she was about to be married ; and that sh « was labouring under so much excitement and trouble at the time that she was temporarily irresponsible fox her actions . An opinion prevails in Exeter that she will not be executed ,, but that her sentence will be commuted to transportations ot imprisonment

    for life . Child-Mtjeder . —EmmaMussett , a married woman , has been sentenced to death at the Norfolk Assizes for the murder of her newly-born infant . There seems to have absolutely no motive for the act . —Elizabeth Reddell has been fou . ud guilty at Liverpool , of the murder , by a course of brutal ill-usage , of her stepdaughter , aged four years . Sentence was deferred . Standing iir another Man ' s Shoks . —Two . labouring men , named Pierce and Kyffin , ha 4 a quarrel at a wedding at Llanfair T alhaiaru , a village in North Wales . Pierce subsequently disappeared ; and Kyffin asked some inen who were present if any one of them " would stand in Pierce ' s shoes . " A man named Williams said Pierce had behaved very well to him , and therefore he would . A fight then ensued , and

    Kyffln was killed , apparently from a kick . On the trial at the Derbyshire Assiaes , the jury found a vevdict of Not Guilty , the foreman adding that thoy considered " the deceased ' s neck was broken by the fall . " The Judge : " Do you believe , gentlemen , that his death wib caused by the fighting ? " Foreman : " Yes , it was ; but we think ho brought it ou , and that it was eutiroly his own fault . We think that the provocation the prisoner had is certainly something—" The Judgo : " If you believe that , then it is an untrue verdict . You . think death was caused by the fighting , and yet you find the prisoner not guilty . Ib seems to me that by such a verdict you aro violating your own oaths . " A second consultation , occupying a few minutos , only resulted in a confirmation of the original -verdiot . Hia Lordship then ordered Williams and tlie two secouds to be discharged .

    Thjb Muiudeu dx a Soldier in tiih Qkhman Lecuoh . —Hans Haasen has beon tried at the Bodmin assizes for tho rnurdai of Charles Jacobi under oivoumatunoos detailed in last week ' s Leader . Ho was found Guilty , and sentenced to death , A Boy Incendiary . —Fusedalo Blow Pope , a boy thirteen yoars of age , has boon committed for trial , ohargod with brooking open a cashbox , and Htealing a bundle of bills of oxohange to tho value of £ 10 , 000 , tho property of Mr . Paris Sinanidos , merchant of Colorawn-Btroot-builAings , his omployor . He was also charged with attempting to eat firo to the promises . A Plaoabuo Man . —John Willes has boon tried at Bodmin on a charge of criminally assaulting a little ffii'l six years of ago , tho daughter of his employer . When tho fixihor was informed of tho oiroumatauoo , he told Willoa that ho had committed an act that

    would transport him , but , as ho roapootod him , ho would forgivo tho offence if ho would leavo tho neighbourhood . Willoa eaid ho oould not go , and ahortly aftomvarda ho maclo nn attempt to cut hia throat

    Untitled Article

    March 29 , ISJEfoj « THJ LEAD ^ B . 293

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), March 29, 1856, page 293, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2134/page/5/