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Northern Star (1837-1852), 11th January 1845, Edition 2 of 4, Page 6, her handwriting. I: remember Saturday, N...

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      Remembesaturday Novemi January 11, 1845 ...

      January 11 , 1845 ¦ ¦ ¦ TtfB-iN :. Q . ^ ^^^~> - -- - : ¦ - - ¦ ¦ - •• ¦ - -- ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦¦ ' ' j * - "" —^——_ - ——fc ^ i ^„ ^ i ^^^^^^^^^^^ —¦ . . _¦ ¦¦¦ — . . , - r *

      The Chambers' Philosophy Refuted. Labour...

      THE CHAMBERS' PHILOSOPHY REFUTED . LABOUR PLEADING ITS OWN CAUSE . THE EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYED . A UIOLIAR DIALOGUE . —FART V . ( fid Robin and Eiehard Jackson visit Shoddy Hall by facial invitation , and are received by Mr . Smith m hi .- studu . „ x STuiih . —Well , Robin , I am glad to see you at Shc -V Hall . Sit down , y ou seem tired . I would wit' -gly liave sent the gig foryou . How do you ao , Jac ! . s ; in i Sit down . ., _ , , _ ,.,,, . .-KoVn . -Thank ye , Mr . Smith , I bee ' s a little stiffiih . l ] uivenHbeenasfaras-t -- COMifp ^ ' - for now twru-corevears . Aye , it ' more than that . Let me seeIt was't time when nch folk tnghtened poor folk

      . oui of their semes with "He ' s a coming ! " and " 'JVv'rc a coming 2 " > . mith . —Wlio is "he , " and who arc "thev , " Robin ? Rohm . —Why , God bless thy life ! don't thou know ? Why , Boncy and the French , to be sure . Well , that time , when rich folk frightened poor folk , and stole all the land—ocod , much the same as mesmerised like , andfn'k were expecting to be eat up every minute ; but tln-y let lords and squires tak' the land ; but , ecod , they'll na give it back again . This was all

      common , then , maister Smith . Common for poor folk i * Devil ' s Dost to keep cow on . But , ' ecod , squire Gambler represented the Riding then , and Billy Pitt was hard pushed to keep in wi'squire , a good dodger ; and folks say that when minister axed squire for vote , squire axed minister for " common ; " and , ecod , sure enough , minister got vote , and squire got common , and poor folks ' cows got't road , and poorfolk got't bag . Butay , Mr . Smith , it would take too long to tell thee all about the rows and riots about inclosure of common ; so , as Richard Jackson tells me that you and I be met to talk about combination and trades onions , we'll hare that first .

      Smith . —So , no , Robin . I ' m master of my time ; and if you and Jackson have nothing better to do , you'll stop and have a bit of dinner with me , aud , xipon my honour , I should like very much to hear all about the " common . " Where was the " common , " Robin ? Robin . —• 'Where was " common ! " Why , bless my life , here , maister Smith , here ; where thou callest "ShoddyHaH" Does ' ntknow " common ? " Why , I thought every child in Riding knew "common . " All reet and left , up away to hostile and barracks , was all common . And the folk in Devil ' s Dust would

      have a cow , or donkey , or horse , on common—and thcy'dplay cricket , and have running matches , and wrestling , and all sorts of games in summer time . Ay , bless my old limbs' I remember when lads and lasses would lose work in the evening , and meet at market-house to run up the common : ecod , but thou'd think that they were so many young stags : and old squire would be at top of the fiilL laughing rcadv to crack his sides ; and first lad as would put his hand on squire ' s right foot , he'd get a sixpence ; and first lass as would put her hand on left foot , would get another sixpence ; but , ecod , now folk think it a great thing topurchaseahit of park tolet folk walk m , after thev

      havestolc all'tlandthatfolkusedto goto andhadcows on . Bless my life , I never see such a change ! But I did stare this morning , when I seed at one turn of common , "Beware of dogs ; " then in another place , 11 Man traps and spring guns set here ; " and then , "Any person trespassing on these premises will be prosecuted according to law . " Ecod , trespassing on folks own land ! and " combination" of "dogs , " and "man traps , " and " spring guns" to frighten folk off ! Thatfs combination , maister Smith ! Be'nt that combination , and warcu't it combination © flaw and soldiers , —and parson was sent down here just at thattime , toprcachupobediencetothelaws , —thatincloscd common ?

      Smith . —Well , Robin , bullet ' s have common first , and combinnttcn after . llobin . —Ecod , thou shalt have both together . Combination inelosedcommon and , ecod , want of common made folks in Devil ' s Dutt combine to see how they ' re to get a substitute for loss of cow . And T tell thee more , maister Smith ; if it wem't for damned soldiers , and parson Skuulint , they'd never inclosed common i for every stone they'd lay at night would be down before morning : and then they built barrack at one end , and church at f other ; and when

      masons wouldn't build wall , soldiers took to building , and parish were taxed for building barracks and paving soldier- ;; and score after score was hung and transported and imprisoned : and at last almost all folk had to sell cow to pay lawyer Grind , and lawyer Squeeze that come over from " York and settled here as soon as ever the row began ; and , ecod , they broke our hearts and swallowed up eows aud all , and now ihe son of one of them is mayor , and t ' other owns all tolls of market , and is manager of bank . Aye , dearce me , nianys the honest man was hung and transported over't ould common .

      Smith . —Well but , llobin , just see the present fertile state of the old common , compared with what it must have been when people turned out their cows indiscriminately to brouse about . See now how much more it produces ? Kobin . —Ecod , but who has it now maister Smith ? What satisfaction is it to poor folk to see line field of corn that they can't touch , and to see fine field with other folks cows , and big board telling them not to trespass ? Smith . —Well now , Bobin , I ' ve heard all about the common and let us have a word about" combination' * and trades unions . " Robin . —Well , with all my heart , and thou'lt begin .

      Smith . —WclL Robin , my opinion of " combinatioiis" and "trade unions" is firstly , that they arc fllegaL and always end disastrously for the working classes . Secondly , that every failure but places thcrii more at the mercy of their masters . Thirdly , that they force persons to remain idle who would be willing to work if they were allowed ; aud now , if you ' ll give me leave , 1 * 11 read an article from Chambers' Edinburgh Journal entitled " Strikes—their Statistics , " in which an account is given of tlie rise , progress , result , and melancholy consequences of two of the greatest strikes on record—that of the Preston Spinners in 1 S 3 G—S 7 , aud of the Glasgow Cotton Spinners inlS 37 . Robin . —Thank ve , maister Smith , I ' ve read it all .

      __ Smith . —Well , llobin , I am glad to hear it , and that will considerably limit my exposure of the evil Consequences of "trades unions , " combinations , " and " strikes . Independently of my general objections before stated , 1 may urge that any attempt of the working classes to force up wages by strikes , or Otherwise , has the inevitable tendency of setting masters upon the improvement of macliinery and the invention of new machines as a subititue for manual labour . I may instance the " self-acting mule " in-Tented by Mr . Roberts , of Manchester , of the firm of Sharp , Roberts , and Co . ; an invention which resulted from a strike that took place in Manchester in the same year . Another objection that I have to " strikes , " as well as to all legal interference in questions of wages is , that no parties can possibly be as good judges of what can be paid as those who Lave to pay thcni . Again , they lead to idleness and

      dissolute habits , vrhich cannot be conquered or got rid of even after the struggle has terminated . I have many more objections which 1 shall reserve , if those that ! have already urged should fail to convince you of the impracticability , the folly , and indeed the wickedness of endeavouring to fly in the face of those upon whom alone the working classes must depend for the means of existence . And even if my arguments should fail to convince you , I am strengthened as well by the whole press of the country , I may say without a single exception , as by such patriots and philanthropists as the Messrs . Chambers '; of Edinburgh ; and the great O'Connell , who have in the dearest manner exposed the injustice of combination , and in the lioldest manner resisted its pernicious influence . Now , Robin , you see I am opposed to combinations of all sorts , and what have you say on their behalf ?

      Robin . —My , maister Smith , you are not opposed to all combinations . Smith . —Yea , but I am , Robin . Robin . —Well now , maister Smith , I'll show vou that the only lair combination in the whole world is a combination of the working classes to keep up the price of their labour ; and I'll show you more too , that if it wcrn't for all the illegal and cursed combinations of all other classes sectionally and unitedly to keep down wage , that there never would be such a

      thing heard of as a combination of the working classes to keep up wage . So you sec , maister Smith , that like everything else they ' re first drove to do the deed , and then , ecod , they ' re lashed for doing it . Smith . —Well , but , Robin , who drives them ? What combination ever was there , except the combination of workmen , \ o keep up wages ? Robin . —What combination ! Why , combination of all the devils out of hell to keep down wage of poor folk , and keep up their own wage . Smith . —Well , but who are they , Robin ?

      Bobin . —Who are they ? Why , just see here , maister Smith . What ' s all them there Kings of France , of Russia , of Saxony , and Belgium , and them there Carman Princes that swarms here like lice , and all as come over hsre to see our Queen ; ecod , it ' a not for love of her , but to sec how they can combine to keep wage up , by keeping poor folk ' s wage down . WJiatbe they but combination ? And , then , Trtat be all them there bishops and parsons , as call themselves tr uitees for their successors , and as' ' can't take lees" than such and such wage , because it ' s a duty they owe to them that come alter them to give

      them up all property unimpaired ? What ' s them ? and parsons that call themselves trustee * , and suck the bind out of poor folk , and swallow up all that ' s for poor folk to live upon , and take all that ' s to educate poor folk , and then call them buy , ignorant barbarians ? What ' s them there , but combinations of big devils to keep up their wage ? What ' s House of Lords , but combination of landlords to keep up their -Wage by making folk pay ; more for bread ? Smith . —Ay , ay , Robin ; there it is . That ' s the tax that presses upon you , and upon us all . . Robin . —Ecod , it ' s nowt of the sort . It ' s low wage , and too many looking for a job , that presses © anaall ; and folk taking and enclosing land that

      The Chambers' Philosophy Refuted. Labour...

      ™ intended for all . And ecod , maister . Smith , S 3 * pres 8 hard on thee , for thou bought conLon with them round thy neck . Then there ' s commons—what ' s them but combination ? lhen there ' s ministers—cabinet ministers—what bee ' s them but combination ? Then there bee ' s officers in the army and navy , and soldiers and sailors—what be them but combination ? Aye , ecod , and thou sayest that law can do nowt to keep up wages ; see how it regulates t'wagc of all them there . Aye , and how it regulates t ' price of soldiers and sailors' food and clothing ; aye , ecod , and gives them a retiring salary into the bargain , when they are too old for butchers . And then look at lawyers and barristers ; hain't they combination ? Aye , ecod , there was jpoor Jem Staveley offered maister Swindle a sovereign to defend him at sessions t'other day ; but he said he must have t ' other shilling , as brother barrister wouldn't dine wi' him , or speak to him , if he wrought under price . What lie that

      but combination , maister Smith ? And mightn't Swindle do poor folk ' s job just as well for a pound as a guinea ? Smith . —Well , Robin , that's very suspicious—that certainly does look like combination . Robin . —Well then , thcre ' smaister Quill tells a story —mind I don't believe it though—as how he sent in a bill of costs to maister Crust , baker , and how maister Crust objected , and how he sent it up to him they call taxing-officer in London , and how he put £ 26 odd on to Mr . Quill ' s bill , because it was charged under-rate , like . Ben ' t that combination ? Smith . —Well , go on , Robin . Robin . —Well , see poor devil as keptthe Greyhound atBoncaster , and see how whenhe put out a big board , telling folk that he'd post their carriages at Is . 3 d . a mile instead of Is . 6 d ., didn't all the innkeepers all along theline of road , meet , and give orders to postboys not to drive folk or stop at Greyhound ? And was ' nt landlord broke and sold up ? and warn't that combinationmaister Smith ?

      , .... Smith . —Upon my honour it looks very like it , Robin . ., _ ^ Robin . —Then look at bankers of Devd's Dust : if " Union" charges five per cent , on bills , "the National , " "the Provincial , " "theDistrict , " "the York County , " and , ecod , one and all jump up ; ben't that combination ? And then see masters of Devil ' s Dust ; thou say ' st they don't combine , but all for themselves see how they can reduce wage ; for they can manage better , and rob folk better , each for himself . But what dost thou call " quittance " ^ papers , and dismissals , for looking crooked , or being of any political society but their own ; branding _ a poor fellow and riviner him erood character like , wi' some damned

      Erivate mark that ' s down agin him i' every overseer ' s ook ; and when he goes for job , " 0 , thy master gives thee good character , hut there ' s no opening for thee ;" ben't that the rascalist and dcceitfulest combination that man can . think of ? And ben't it enough to force poor devil to take work at any wage folk please to offer ? Then see butchers , and bakers , and shopkeepers , and all folk ; be ' nt they combined ? And then see here , maister Smith , competition is a great word with thy order . 0 , thou sayest wage must be regulated by ' competition . Smith . ¦—" Well , what fairer mode of regulating wage , Robin ? llobin . —Well , but ben't it fair for all ? Smith . —Yes , to be sure , and all do compete .

      llobin . —Nay , nowt of sort . It ' s only the poor folk that ' s allowed to compete again each other . Why , God bless my life , look ye ; maister Swaddle has £ 500 a year for being clerk to Poor Law Guardians , and many ' s the better man i' Devil's Dust that would be glad to take the job for a hundred . And then look at Tory and Whig folk when they ' re in : they'll give , God knows howmuch , £ 14 , O 00 aycaiTm told , tothe Chancellor , and £ 6 , 000 a year to a Judge , and £ 2 , 000 and - £ 3 , 000 a year to folk * for doing nothing . And , ecod , if other folk wore allowed to compete , all jobs would be done for less than half of what the law gives thcni .

      And yet thou'lt say that the law can't interfere to keep up wage . I'll tell thee , maister Smith , if them there folk hadn't a slice of representation themselves , tlie law would let them compete too ; so the law combines for them . So as poor folic havn't a slice of tho representation , they ' re obliged to combine again law . Smith . —Well , upon my honour , Robin , upon the general principle of combination , you are most clear and lucid . I really never did sec the question in the same light before ! But then , Robin , how do you account in detail forthe many failures and the evil effects produced by the strikes originating from combination ?

      Robin . —Why , maister Smith , there ' s the rub . Ecod , the objection is not to the principle of strikes ; the objection is to tlieir failure . But is it wonderful that a combination of poor devils , with all living on theni and watching of them , and ready to pounce on them , should fail , when they are opposed by all them there combinations I ' ve mentioned ? Smith . —Well , really , Robin , ' pon my honour , there ' s much in what " you say . But now , to ceme closer to the question , what have you to offer in reply to the Messrs . Chambers' very clear and lucid illustration of the injustice of the strikes of Preston and Glasgow ?

      Robin . —Injustice ! why , God bless my life , just take up that there rubbish of Chambers ' , and only see how every one line in it gives lie to t ' other . Why . Mr . Smith , its all a pack of stuff , paid for b y maisters , to make working folk thankful like for whatcniployers choose to give ' em , and timid like in their own power to do owt for themselves . Why , what did spinners in Preston ax for , but same wage as men in Boulton hard by got for doing same work ? And then doesn't that damned fine Chambers prove the maisters wrong and the men reet ? Smith . —How so—how so , Robin ?

      Robin . —How so ! how so 2 ! Why didn't maisters offer men ten per cent , increase ; and yet it didn't come up to Bolton . So that for years these here luaistcrs i' Preston , that talk of rising and falling wi' the times , were robbing the bauds of sixteen per cent . ; wasn't ittimefor poor folic to look for justice for themselves ? And , ecod , maister Smith , if trade got a fall , wage would go wi' it , and there it would stay ; but when it got up , some maisters in other parts put on a bit ; but Preston maisters kept on't screw ; and thcn'Bolton maisters complained , and Ashton maisters complained , and maisters throughout complained , that they couldn't compete with them : so that Preston folk were left to fight the battle alone ; and the devil mend all the operatives of Lancashire for every reduction that ' s come sin ' , for if they'd stood by the poor fellows in Preston , that they put in front of't battle , there would have been no more reductions . A few days out , and good cheer coming in , a little from all to keep the heart up in the "turn-out , "

      and , ecod , labour would be conqueror . And that ' s the next twist workies will take ; if they be wiso they'll " fight the battle , " as't old Duke woidd say , with a small compact amiy ; and they'll draw supplies from every quarter of the labouring world . O , my God of heaven , if poor folk would only be wise as their oppressors , and just manage tactics like them , aud not all go scrambling , every one for himself , and one bidding against the other—aye , dearce me , dearee me , if all folic that never were " in work had supported that there dare-devil , lawyer Roberts , and his poor black colliers , ecod , we'd never have heard of another strike . And sec how them devils of maisters would cut maister Roberts ' throat because he fought the law agin' them . Aye , my God Almighty , if all trades in England would put themselves under that there chap , and just let the pride of England , our Yorkshire chap , the greatest fellow that ever went i ? ito the house for working men , young Duncombe , fight battle in the house , aye , my God , what a position they'd soon put trades

      Smith . —Well but , Robin , you re blinking Preston and Glasgow . Robin . —Nay , Mr . Smith , I showed thee thntPreston men were reet , and had justice on their side , and the maisters were tyrants ; and now I'll shew tliee that maisters do combine as a body : and I'll prove it out of Chambers' own mouth . When the hands returned , 200 of the best men in the trade were refused work again , because they stood out like Britons ^; and all the maisters entered into a combination to refuse work to any of the hands that couldn't pledge themselves never to belong to any union again . Wasn't that a combination ? and , agin ' , the laws , too , that sanctions combination . And then , maister Smith , tho' scores de ' ed of starvation , and workhouse was full , there was no violence , and a score of poor

      gills turned prostitutes ; and now tell me who killed folk ? Who made bad women of poor girls ? Aiid who robbed the poor , and the shopkeepers , and them that had to pay increased poor rates ? Who robbed them , I say , but the maisters ? That proved that they were wrong , and the men reet , when they offered them an increase of 3 s . 4 d . a week to go back to work . And then , maister Smith , you talk of" the inventive genius of Mr . Roberts , tliat forced him to make that there " self-acting mule ; " and you'd make folk believe that it was necessity that compelled the maisters to substitute that there thing for their labour . Ecod , you'd make angels of them , maister Smith ; but I tell thee , that if every man in England was at work for

      sixpence a day to-morrow , and no strikes or combinations , the inventive genius would still ff > on , to see how poor devils could lie made to work for five-pence . Kay , nay , maister Smith—it ' s not necessity—its avarice and love of gain—one cutting against tho other , and poor folk scrambling for owt they can getthat governs the labour market . And now , maister Smith , dost think I have answered maister Chambers upon't Preston strike , and shown that maisters were wrong , and that they entered into combination whentheygot upper hand of the poor devils . Smith . —Why , upon my honour , Robin , you really have put a new construction upon it . Robin . —Nay , nowt of the sort , I hare taken maister Chambers' own construction .

      Smith . —Well , Robin , what I mean is , that you have certainly put it in a new light to me , for assuredly you have convicted the masters and justified theaien .. And now what have you to say in justficatioa ofth <» Glasgow Cotton Spinners ? ^• j bin . —Why , maister Smith , if Preston men were re « . * i , Glasgow folk were twice as reet ; and now you shall hear why . Ecod , to read that there stuff of Chambers ' , one would think that operatives could live like princes , and that tliej * held out for seven-

      The Chambers' Philosophy Refuted. Labour...

      teen week for wages that maisters couldn't afford to P Smith . —Wdl , Robin , certainly that ' s the concluskm that any man must come to who reads Cham-^ obim—Nay , but , maister Smith , did ' st read the trial , and read the case put out by the committee of Glasgow Spinners ? . , ,., ¦ ¦ Smith .-No , Robin , I certainly did not Robin . —Well then , maister Smith , the Chambers saythatspinnerswere carning 32 s . aweek : andthemen prove that they were only earning 18 s . a week : and so far from thestrike being to keep up or . got . an advance of wa « e the strike were to resist a reduction ol 15 per cent ., or near three shillings a week m wage ; and when tho hands offered to come back at the end

      of twelve days , even for the reduction of 15 per cent ., maisters thought as they had them dovvn they d trample upon them ; and then they refused to take them back without a reduction of 35 , 40 , and even 50 per cent . ; and hands said tkey ^ would rather starve ; and they were reet and just . See here , maister Smith-mustn't maisters te wrong when they thought 15 per cent , was enoug h to take oft at ; first ; aud then in twelve days , when things had altered , and when they thought theytad . poor devils down , they wanted to rob them of 20 , 25 , and 35 per cent , besides the fifteen ? And then that there Sheriff Alison and his humbugging speech , that Chambers' speaks of—what does it all show , but that starvation made folk wicked ; and that he thinks that the bad trade and commercial panic , under which he says country were reeling , should be met by a reduction of wages . Ecod , maister Smith , poor folk were reeling from Danic as-well as rich folk .

      Andthensee , after a long trial , whatjury folks saidwhv seven out of fifteen said spinners were innocent , and eight in fifteen said they were guilty . But , ecod , that there Chambers is worse nor whole fifteen , judge , and Sheriff Alison into the bargain . And no wonder that judge , and sheriffs , and ail the press of country , and Chambers that writes , ecod , for what he calls " the honourable aristocracy of labour ; " and that there great O'Connell , ecod , the biggest enemy ever working man saw saw in this world . Smith . —What ! What do you mean , Robin ? I mean tho great Liberator . Robin . —Ecod , thou may ' st call him what thou likest—but I call him the damned ' st humbug that ever poor folk saw . Ecod , he'd put down Trades Unions , that folk might send all brass into his purse . Ecod , he ' s no friend to owt that will teach folk how to do good for themselves . Smith . —Well . Robin , you really astonish me .

      Robin . —Well but , maister Smith , thou see ' st now that all them there newspaper fellows , and sheriffs , and judges , and Chambers , and thatthere O'Connell , that live by talking for the middle olnssea , they must all back them , or they'll get sack . Bless my heart , they ' re just as much tools as my ould awl—aye , ecod , and like the ould awl , they must work for maister . Smith . —Well , llobin , upon my honour , you have given me quite an insight into the feelings and opinions of tlie working classes ; but I assure you I thought that those men wero your leaders . Robin . —Leaders be damned ! What we want is law to lead ourselves . And now , maister Smith , I think I have settled the question of tlie Glasgow

      strike ; and now just see how I deal with thy objections . Thou say ' st that strikes always fail . Ecod , and so will an army without arms always fail against an army with aims . And then thou say ' st that maisters are the only judges of wages that poor folks ought to get , as they pay them . Ecod ,, maister Smith , if thou go to shop and ax price of article , thou ' lt get it cheap as thou can , and if poor devil of shopkeeper is hard up for vent , he'll sell as cheap as lie can . I tell you , maister Smith , Scotch folks say , " get a thing as clieap as thou can , and if thou can get it for nothing so much the better . " Then , maister Smith , what I say is , let maisters get labour as cheap as they can—but let them not rob folk , and make them so poor that , ecod , they must work for

      whatever maisters like to give , or die of hunger , or go into the infernal bastiie , and leave home and family and all . Ecod , old as I am , I would rather go to America to-morrow , than go into the damned bastiie , built where my cow used to graze . Look ye here , maister Smith—damn it , I see it from thy window . There , maister Smith , close up by the barrack ; andlook ye here at t'other side , ecod , the parish church . O , my God ! to think of soldiers andparson taking't common , and poor folk put in bastiie built on their own land Ah , my God , I must go , maister Smith , I must go—I can't stand it . Ecod , but my old head reels when I think of olden times , when folk were cared for ,

      because they were worth summat : but , ecod , now , when machinery docs all folk ' s work , nobody cares nowt about them . Smith . —Well stay , Robin , stay . I confess that you have good reason to feel excited : but let us prosecute our inquiry ; and as the greatest things must have a beginning , perhaps your information may be the means of- originating that beginning , even upon the old common . Now , Robin , as to the question of law , how would you protect labour by law ? Don't you think that would be impossible ? Robin . —Yes , I do think that it would be impossible to expect that laws made "by masters could protect labour for poor folk that have nowt to do with laws but to obey them . " ( To be continued . )

      Gtoftrent?. &Lt;®Emceftr$Mme&&I &C

      gtoftrent ? . <® Emceftr $ mme && i & c

      The Game Laws.—It Appears From The Calen...

      The Game Laws . —It appears from the calendar laid before the magistrate at the quarter sessions for the county , thatthere are no fewer than forty-six persons Confined in the county gaol for poaching . The total number of males confined is but 175 , so that we find morethan one-fourth of the whole number now in prison are committed for offences againstthc most disgraceful of our penal laws . The magistrates have it in contemplation to enlarge the present gaols , or build new ones at an enormous expense to the county . Would it not be better to petition the Legislature to abolish tho Game Laws ? Remove from the county bridewell the prisoners committed under those horrible laws , and sufficient room would be then found for all that will in future be committed for other offences . It is far better , and would be a more satisfactory mode of procuring prison room , at least to the ratepayers , particularly the agricultural portion of them . —Hampshire Independent .

      The Accident on the Newcastle and Carlisle Railwat . —Through the active exertions of the committee of directors appointed to superintend the works in progress on the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway , seconded by the unremitting labour ofthe contractors and men employed , the tunnel at Corbridge , which fell in a few days ago , has been reopened , so that waggons drawn by horses are now enabled to pass through it . The enlargement of the tunnel is a work of considerable skill , a drift above it being to be driven , by which the wider arch is made before the old one is removed . In shifting some of the macliinery by the contractor ' s men a hole was unluckily made through the present roof before the new one was finished , which let down , some of the superincumbent earth , and stopped the passage .

      • Executio . v of Two Murderers at Liverpool . — Kirkdale , Saturday . —George Evans and Thomas Stew , the former twenty years , of age , and the latter twenty-one , have just terminated tlieir earthly career by an ignominious death upon the scaffold . Evans was the son of poor but honest and respectable parents , residing at Bristol . He was bred a mechanic . Bad company , however , and a roving disposition , led him from his father ' s house ; he gave himself up to loose habits , idleness , and intoxication , until at last he was prompted to commit , at Manchester , one of the foulest murders ever recorded . Of the other culprit , Thomas Stew , little is known . He was a native of Nantwich , in Cheshire , and bis parents are said to be decent working people . His education appears to have been very scanty . The

      crime for which he has suffered is the murder of Alicc Nolan , a young woman to whom he was engaged to be married . Manchester was also the scene of this tragedy . Both the prisoners made a voluntary confession of then- guilt to the chaplain several days before their execution , and on Friday afternoon each reiterated a declaration of its truth . That of Evans was very short . He said he had had a quarrel with Mrs . Millcn , the day before the murder , about 6 s ., which he owed her . He had written to his father for some money , and his letter had not been answered , and Mrs . Millen taunted him with it . But it was not that whicli made him kill her ; something came across his ' mind , and he killed her with several blows of the Ufe-preserver . Stew has given a more circumstantial account . "I , Thomas Stew

      , voluntarily make this statement to Mr . Appleton , the chaplain;—I courted Alice Nolan fora little more than four months . She was as decent a young woman as any one would wish-to keep company with , and I thought we should have lived comfortably together . About a month before her death I made her a promise to marry her in five weeks ( the wedding-day wns to have been the Sunday after tho day on which she died ); but could not keep my word in consequence of getting into bad company and spending all that I had . As , therefore , we could not live together on earth , I thought wc might be happy together in heaven . I borrowed a razor , as appeared on my trial to take her life and my own . With this razor in my pocket I took her on her way home as 1 had

      been in the habit of doing , and when we reached a bank , the name of which I forget , very near to her house , we stood to talk together as we had usually done before . She asked me if I was going to do what I had promised ( namel y , to marry her ) ? J answered , 'No , I cannot , for I have been drinking very hard ; I have left Stephen Bill ' s through drinkt ing on Saturdays , and not looking after my horses on Sundays ; but I got another place on Wednesday last ; but it does not suit me so well as Stephen's place , for it will not be so constant an . employ , ' She ssiid , 'Well , then , yon must do as well as you can . ' I then said , ' I am very badly vexed that I should have left the last place , and that I cannot put things forward as I could wish to do . ' She said , ' Give me a kiss / and I put my arm round her neck and gave

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      her one . She said , 'Shall we meet again at Sally s on Monday night ? ' meaning Mrs . Shepherds . I said , still with my arm round her neck , No , 1 hope we shall meet in heaven next . ' Then I drew the razor across her throat , upon which she exclauucd , ' Oh , ray love , Tom ! ' Then I left her , and walked at my usual pace across a corner of the bank , along George-street , and down Brewery-street , and so along the several streets to Mrs . Shepherd ' s . Down the entry , about half a yard from the door , I went down on my knees , and I said , ' I hope she is in heaven , and that I shall soon meet her there' I then drew the razor across my throat , after which I got up andfell against the door , which flew open , and I fell down into the house . Somebody picked

      me up , but I could not tell who , and put mem a chair , in which I sat with the blood pouring from my neck . I remembered no more until I saw my two brothers standing over my bed in the Manchester Infirmary . " ¦ On Friday morning , CaJcraft , the executioner from London , arrived , and dispelled every hope , if any still existed , of a remission of the sentence of death . During the whole of Friday night both prisoners were engaged in religious devotion . Towards morning , however , both the prisoners lay down for a couple of hours , and slept soundly . At seven o clock , at their own request , they attended the usual morning service in the chapel . After partaking of a slight breakfast , they repaired at eleven o ' clock to the chapel , where the sacrament was administered to them . The procession left the chapel precisely at twelve o ' clock . The chaplain , in his surplice , walked in front reading the funeral servicefollowed by the governor . Next cariio Stew ,

      , walking with a firm step , but with his face hid in a handkerchief . Evans followed , walking erect , his eyes closed , and apparently engaged in prayer ! he appeared to be not in the least discomposed . They ascended the stairs leading to the press-room in the same composed and firm manner , and took their scats in view of the scaffold . The process of pinioning having been performed by the executioner , he led Evans to the scaffold , where , after the rope was adjusted , Stew was also led . Not the least symptom of agitation was displayed by Evans . Stew was somewhat affected . The chaplain followed the culprits to the scaffold , and at the conclusion of the funeral serT vice the drop fell . Evans struggled convulsively for some time . Stew ceased to exist instantaneously . The wound in his neck burst open , and the blood trickled down upon his shirt . Blood also burst from the nose of Evans , and stained the cap which was drawn over his face .

      Melancholy Accident . —A most melancholy accident , attended with the loss of the lives of four children , took place on Saturday evening , about four o ' clock , at the little hamlet of Knockmaroon , which lies contiguous to the southern and western boundary wall of the Phoenix-park , and the low road ; tothe Strawberry-beds and Lucan , & c . The Commissioners of Woods and Forests , in their late extensive improvements in the Priamx-parki constructed a new road at the back of tho Royal Hibernian Military School , through what is familiarly known as the Furry-glen , about midway from the summit level of the ground to that of the valley alongside the river Liffey . The place was so romantically beautiful in its aspect that it was resolved to add to its aimearanco

      by forming the upper part of the glen into an artificial lake , nature having provided a supply of water b y a rivulet which ran along , emptying itself into the Liffey , and formed the boundary between the parishes of Chapel Izod and Gastlenock . The usual precaution for permitting the overflow of the lake to pass away was provided by means of a sewer . The boundary wall of the park was at the bottom of the glen , and about 100 yards from it were the houses , the inmates of which foil victims . It would appear that the masonary work ofthe sewer gave way , and the great body of water rapidly filled the lower gleu , as it is stated , to the height of seven or eight feet ; the opening in the wall being quite insufficient to let off the rush of water , its weight soon bore down about

      twenty or thirty feet of the wall , and an overwhelming flood swept into tho houses , and in ^ a few minutes , before any human help could be afforded , four children , and a cow , the chief support of one poor family , were drowned . In the strawberry garden , at the back of tho house , stood a rick of hay , and this was earned off into the culvert which crossed the Knockmaroon-i'oad , and served as tlie passage for tlie rivulet into the Liffey . The obstruction was so great that the water burst its way up into the road , breaking the arch of the culvert . An officer , whom wc understand to be Mr . De Lancy . of tlie 1 st Royal Dragoons , who was riding along the road , with

      intrapid humanity rode into the water and succeeded in rescuing an aged woman and three children from destruction . A poor helpless man named Mullen , by trade a smith , living on the bank ofthe Liffe y , at the opposite side ofthe road , had his house and furniture all wrecked and destroyed . A respectable tradesman named Butler had his furniture destroyed . It was to the courage , decision , and humanity of Mr . De Lancy that this man owes the preservation of his mother ' s aud children ' s lives . The furniture , bedclothes , store of potatoes , firing , drc ., were all destroyed belonging these poor people , and a scene of more unqualified misery than their wretched dwellings presented could not be imagined .

      Discovert of a Sui-fobed Murder . —During tho last fortnight an extraordinary degree of excitement lias prevailed throughout the extreme western and north-western portions ofthe county of Middlesex , in consequence of its having become known , that some information relative to the perpetrator of a murder committed under very mysterious circumstances about eight years since had been received by the local magistrates , who have ever since been activel y engaged in furthering the ends of justice , and entering into a searching investigation into the matter . The scene of the crime is situate in the rural and retired parish of Ruislip , about four miles north of the town of Uxbridge , the actual spot being a wood called " Young Wood , " which abuts on a crossroad leading from

      Uxbridge to the town of Rickmansworth , iu Hertfordshire , and about midway between those towns , which with another wood adjoining it , called " Mad Bessy , " consists of about 130 acres , the whole of which is covered b y a thick underwood about five feet high , through which there arc no paths , with tho exception of blind paths or hares' tracks , and which isaltogethor a place well adapted for the perpetration of any atrocious crime without the chance of immediate detection . Tho object for which tho murder was committed was ' at the time considered to have heen revenge , the unfortunate youth , who was only fifteen years of ago , having shortly before given evidence against a party of poachers , who were on that evidence ' eonvicted . The name of the murdered youth was

      John Brill , aud the circumstances as they appeared in evidence , were as follows : —John Brill was the son of a labouring man living in the village of Ruislip , and was in the employ of Mr . C . Churchill , an extensive farmer in that parish . Oil the morninar of Thursday , the 16 th of February , 1837 , Brill left " his father ' s house about a quarter past six o ' clock , and proceeded to work on the farm of . his master , who about ten o ' closk set him to fill up some gaps in the hedge of " Young Wood , " and directed that , after he had finished doing so he should then watch some poles whicli had been cut in the wood . Not returning to the farm in the evening , as was his custom , a search was in consequence instituted with lanterns in the wood , but no trace of him could be discovered .

      On Friday morning , the 17 th , Mr . Churchill ' s men were sent out in various directions , but they all returned without any intelligence respecting the unfortunate lad . On the Saturday the search was again renewed , but with no better success , and on Sunday morning a large body of villagers joined in the search , when , about noon , the ill-fated youth was discovered by a man named James Lavender ( the father of one of the men who it was alleged had threatened his life ) , in a hollow in a remote part ofthe wood , whore he was lying on his back quite dead . His clothes were in disorder , and his face was covered with dirt , as if he had been rolled in the decayed leaves with which tlie spot was covered . On examining the body tho mark of a severe blow was discovered under tho

      right ear , which was considerably swollen , and from which & quantity of blood had issued . About six yards behind him the billhook which he was using had been found , and on a hedge , just aliove him , was his cap , which had apparently been caught b y the furze as he fell . There were also marks on the leaves for five or six yards , as if ho had staggered as he fell . On lifting him up—although every joint of his body was stiff and rigid—his neck was found to be remarkably lax , and indicated every appearance of having been broken . The body was then conveyed to the Six Bells public-house , about 500 yards from tlie entrance of thc ^ wood , where , on the following Wednesday , an inquest was held on the body by Mr . T . Stirling , the late coroner for tho western division of

      Middlesex , when , after > lengthened investigation , tho jury returned a verdict of " Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown . " Charles Brav , Charles Lamb , and Thomas Lavender , jun ., labourers , were subsoquently apprehended on suspicion , but discharged after a lengthened investigation , in which nothing conclusive was proved against thorn . After tho prisoners were discharged and their handcuffs removed , Bray begged a favour of tho magistrates , which was , that be might be permitted to see the body of the murdered-youth , saying it would give him pleasure , as he had suffered a good deal through him . Most probably he demanded this test by wav of . impressing tho bystanders with a notion " of his innocence , there being a superstition anions the

      uneducated classes that the blood of the murdered person will burst out if the murderer approaches the bodv The request was granted . All the three prisoners were taken into the room in which the body was lyintr , and after looking at it for some minutes thev merely asserted their innocence and retired . From that time , notwithstanding every possible exertion has been used by the local authorities to trace the actual murderer , the matter has remained in abeyance until the present time without even any reward beinf offered in tho case . The intense interest excited at the time of the murder , has however been revived , by the receipt on the day before Christmas-day , by Sir W . Wiseman , Bart ., of a letter , from which we give the following extract : — " House of Correction , Coldbath-fields , Dec . 23 , 1844 . Sir , —A voluntary decla

      The Game Laws.—It Appears From The Calen...

      ration has this day been made to me by a prisoner named George Sibley , the ^ ourigev who was committed to this prison by you on the 14 th of October last , to the effect that Charles Lamb , also a pnaoncr , committed by you on the Hthof October last , had told him ( Sibley ) that about a fortnight before their committal , one afternoon between four andfive o clock , when on their read from Rickmansworth to Havetield , a few years since he ( Lamb ) had lulled a lad , named John Brill , in Mr . Churchill ' s wood at Ruislip ; that he struck the lad with a stick , and when he lay upon the ground he took the lad ' s cap and hung it on a tree , to make it appear that he had fallen out of the tree ; and that lie left the lad ' s billhook and glove iv !„ o- nnar tbe bndv . Sibley says , that Charles Lamb

      had warned him that if he said anything about it it should be the worse for him . Sibley made the same communication to the chief warder yesterday , asking him , if he gave the information , whether lie should get his liberty . " This letter brought to town Sir W . Wiseman , and Mr . Dagnall , magistrates , before whom , on the 28 th of December , an examination of Sibley took place in the House of Correction when he repeated the statement given in the above letter . Charles Lamb , who treated the matter with stoical indifference , on the deposition being completed , said , " All the statement made by George Sibley is untrue . Here the matter stands for the present ; but the magistrates of the county are taking every necessary means for tho prosecution of thisMnost important

      inquiry . Condemned Convicts at Statford . —Stafford , Saturday Morning . —Late last evening a respite was received by Mr . Brutton , the governor ofthe county gaol , from Sir James Graham , for the youthful convicts Downing and Pows , who were to have been executed this morning , at eight o ' clock , postponing the carrying out ofthe lawful sentence of death until Saturday , the-25 th instant . The cause of this official interference is said to bo some point of law connected with the trial ofthe convicts which is reserved for the consideration of the judges . Mr . Justice Coltman is of opinion that it cannot be sustained , and should not that be the case the extreme sentence will most certainly be carried into effect .

      Fires at Hacknet and Deftford . —Two fires happened on Sunday , at Hackney and Deptford . The former originated in the lower part of the premises of Mr . Eraser , cheesemonger , Oxford-place , Hackney-road , and scarcely was there time for the inmates to effect an escape before the whole house buret into flames ; , at one period , so far had the flames reached , that the destruction of the entire row of houses appeared inevitable . The loss is calculated at about £ 800 . The fire at Deptford consumed part of the dwelling-house attached to the Royal Admiral brewery , j belonging to Mr . Farr . Among the property destroyed were Bank of England notes to a considerable amount , aud , the numbers being unknown , they will be totally lost to tho owner .

      Most Deplorable Accident . —Yesterday evening a most disastrous accident occurred at Llanthony Bridge , near this city . As Mr . George Dover , coal merchant , Cheltenham , and Thomas Smith , who had charge of Mr . Dover ' s coal-wharf , at the Basin , were proceeding , about half-past six o ' clock , towards Lantliony Bridge , intending to cross it , owing to the darkness of tho night , they missed their way , and stepping to the one side , fell from the canal wall into tho water . A heavy plunge and a cry alarmed the nei g hbours , who promptly lent assistance , and , dark as it was , succeeded in rescuing Mr . Dover whilst in life , but his companion was not so fortunate . The drag had to be employed , and several minutes elapsed before the body was brought to laud , but too late to save the life of tho unfortunate man . He has left a wife and family to deplore their loss . —Gloucester Chronicle .

      Extensive Robbert at Stoke . — On Monday morning a rumour was circulated that a robbery had been committed at the shop of Mr . It . Lindlcy , bookseller and sub-distributor of stamps . Tho robbery was first discovered by Mr . Lindley ' s female servant , who , on coming down stairs , perceived the staple of the lock on the inner door ofthe shop had been wrenched off . She instantly called Mr . Lindlcy , who communicated with the police . Inspector Armstrong , and subsequently Major Macknight , inspected the premises . The grid under the front shop window had been removed , and the casement in the cellar window beneath the grid opened , for which purpose a pane opposite the handle had been taken out , as well as another pane opposite the bolt below . Tho wood had

      boon ohisollod away from the door-post ot the door on the cellar stairs , and the bolt pushed back . The box staple of the slwp _ inner door was also torn off , and the alarm-bell behind the front door had shared the same fate , and was lying on tho counter , the door itself being unfastened , ' so that it would appear the thief or thieves made their exit that way to the street . The shop drawers had tho appearance 5 f having been rummaged , and a quantity of paper had been abstracted from a table-drawer in the parlour , and thrown in confusion about the floor . In the course of the day a placard was issued , giving particulars of the property missing . It is stated to have consisted ol near £ 700 in money , and £ 115 worth ot * plate and jewellery . The description of cash is , "Half Bank

      of England notes to the amount of £ G 5 ; and a quantity of gold and silver coin and Bank of England notes—gold , £ 120 ; silver , about £ 2 10 s . ; and Bank of England notes to the amount of £ 500 " —making a total of more than £ 687 . The following is the list of plate and jewellery : — " A case containing seventeen valuable gold wedding rings , and thirty gentlemen ' s fancy ditto , bestudded with diamonds ; six steel chains , three German silver ditto , twenty-four German silver guards , ten large ditto , four solid gold ditto , six gilt ditto , twelve silver ditto ; thirteen silk cord purses , two silver knives , splendid jet necklace , with brooch and bottle ; two \< £ neck-chains , pair of bracelets , five dozen shawl pins , four dozen pair of coat links , two silver corals ; two dozen silver

      penholders , splendid dessert case with silver knife , fork , and spoon ; lady ' s companion , containing a silver thimble and scissors , with case , & c . ; eighteen silver thimbles , two silver butter knives , three fruit ditto , three silver pickle forks , three silver caddy shells ; a most valuable ^ assortment of silver pencil cases , desk seals , tooth-pieks , scissors and sheaths , vinogarets , watch-hooks , keys , buckles , studs , tops and bottoms of purses , hand pins , chains , and small pins ; gold brooches , and a great variety of bosom ditto ; gold cuff breguet chains and seals , studs , lockets , pins , microscope , eye-glasses , and a quantity of knives , & c ., " the whole valued at £ 115 cost price . The

      cashbox containing tho money had been left overnight in a compartment on the inner side of the shop counter ; the plate and jewellery in a show-glass on the counter , where they were usually kept , and which had been wrenched open . Notwithstanding the most active efforts of the police ., no clue has yet been discovered to the perpetrator or perpetrators of this serious robbery . The cash-box was found the same morning near some trees which sldri the carriage road from Stoke to Fenton Manor House , the residence of P B Broadc , Esq ., to whom it was taken , and by him ' restored to Mr . Lindlcy . The lock ofthe boxhadbeen forced . —North Staffordshire Mercury ,

      Singular Coach Accident . —On Monday last the Salopian ( from the Lion Inn , Shrewsbury ) met with a singular accident on its road between Shiffnaland Wolverhampton . The coach was proceeding at its usual pace , when the guard , who was scatccf outhc top of the luggage , speaking to the driver , heard a sudden crash , and on turning his head round he beheld , to his utter astonishment and dismav , about thirty yards distant , the hind seat of the coach in the middle ofthe road , with four of the passengers on the ground . One passenger ( Mr . Ward , of

      Crockton , near Shrewsbury ) was taken up insensible , and tlie other individuals were more cr less bruised fortunately at the time a medical gentleman , accompanied by his sons , was on his wavto a hunt mectinoand , passing by the spot , promptly rendered every assistance to Mr . Ward and his fellow-sufferers . The coach immediately drove on to Wolverhampton , and the guard dispatched without loss of time a clause tortlie tour passengers , who were carefully attended to , and wo arc happy to say are now doing well—Birminaham Journal .

      Ins Yarmouth Murder . —Last November an account of a barbarous murder at Yarmouth , of a respectable woman named Mrs . Candler , appeared in tho Star . Since then many parties hare been apprehended on suspicion of being the perpetrators , and almost daily examinations have liecn held before the magistrates , and ultimatel y sufficient evidence appeared to lie obtained against four men named Samuel larhsm , James Mapes , James Hall , and Robert Royal , all men of doubtful character , bclonffin-- to the town . On Friday last their final examinations were ncld before a full bench of magistrates at the gaol , and tho following evidence was given : —Willu'iu Johnson , police-constable , stated , that while on duty on iuesday , November 19 , he was trying the doors and window-shutters in Howard-street , and lie fbur-d Mrs . Candler s door unlocked . He went in , and observed that all the goods were in proper order- bo

      lappet on tlie counter and called , but no person answered . He looked about the premises for some time i and at length he saw the bod y of Mrs . Candler IviiH under the counter with her throat cut , quite dead He immediatel y gave the alarm , and the mayor , the coroner , and several other parties , were sent for . and soon arrived upon the spot . -Police-constable Waller corroborated the ev der . ee of the last witncss . -Sergeant WiUamont , who had r eceived information from the last ¦ witness , and went directlv to the spot described the situation ofthe bod y . Witness added ' that ho asked the prisoner Yarhani , who lived next door to the deceased , whether he had heard any noise in deceased ' s house . Yarham said he had not and-uhWl ; wasstva ^ cthat if uy rioi sc had telnSdo h had not heard it , for he was ilttine m > for hi , S „

      who was put , and could have heard the sli ghtest noise f made in Mrs . Candler ' s house . The witness fWil anient ) went on to sav that the deceased ' s bodvwas under thecounter mth her throat cut , a tebk-Vnife covered with blood y . ftCar and ; ^ ^ across her arms .-Lyaia Coans , servant to the I dercd woman , sad , on Thursday , Hth of Nov 1 saw Mrs . Candler put a quantity of pence and half pence into 5 s . papers . She tied them up , and wrote her name upon the papers . The one produced ! £

      The Game Laws.—It Appears From The Calen...

      , 16 . I was in the shop tiff eleven ociocfc at niguV Mrs . Candler shook some canary seed from the Xx < o now produced ,- The knife now produced . was her pr * pertv , and was used for the purpose of cutting jLi j and generally lay on a plate behind the counter . Sh ' ' had heard some noises on the Sunday night , and sun ! « , posed some persons had been m her shop . On Af 0 £ £ day morning Samuel Yarham ^ came m and ad ^ " Bid you hear any more of the noise ? " She \ \ j i she had not heard any move , but she had heard nioro ro than she liked ; she had heard footsteps m the liouse a and in the yard , and voices . She kept her gold and id silver in two purses , one shorter than the other . Other ' r witnesses having been examined , the prisoner Yarham made the following statement , durtng which ho w ^

      very pale : —On the 18 th of November last , I and njy j wife lived at Mr . Catckpole ' s . She was house > keeper . Mr . ' Catehpolc went out to dine that day ! at a public dinner . ( The prisoner , after stating some I particulars of no importance as to the tune he was s up stairs to see his wife , who was ill , and had gouft e to bed , went on to say ) : —When I camo down staii ^ g into the hall I heard as if there were two or threo o people walking in Mrs . Candler's shop . I thought it fc very unusual at that time of night . I put the caudle e down in the hall , and went to Mrs . Candler ' s door ' and knocked , but no one answered . Then 1 tried to i open it . I could see there was a light in the shop and that there was something against the fanli ght . {{ could sec the light at each end of it . I thought it t

      vei-v strange that nobody answered , as I was certain l I had heard somebody . I came from Mrs . Candler ' s i door through our passage into the yard . I could see s a light there . It was not in the back room , but ia t the shop . I could not reach Mrs . Candler ' s sitting . . room . I took a splint or stick from behind tho clock , with whicli I reached out and tapped at the > window , but nobody answered . I then came through i the passage te Mre . Candler ' s front door . I saw a i man going across the street , just off the pavement , , and I saw another man coming out of Mrs . Candler ' s i shop door , and he pulled the door to , but somcthuw ; prevented its shutting close , and he put his hand [ up to put something away to enable him to shut the i door . I saw the man was Royal . I said to kim , " It-ovaL what are you up to here ? " He then said , ,

      "Go you along , Jigger , " or some such a name , to a man who was going across tho street ; and he said to me , "B—t you , if you say anything , I'll serve you the same . " I said , " What do you mean ? TJw other man said he either had got or would be alter it . A man and woman were standing at the corner of Honehen ' s , the baker ' s shop , when Jigger went jm this row , and a man and woman followed . I asked Royal where the woman was ( meaning Mrs . Candler . ) lie said he had not seen her . I said , I thought she was not at home . He paused for a moment or two , and thou said he had knocked her down behind the counter , I said , " Good C 4 od ! you havo not killed the woman ? " He said , no , he did not think he had killed her . but he had left her there . He put his hand

      into his pocket , and offered me a sovereign . I told him I would not take it . He said , " Don't blow up an old plavfellow , and you shall have a share when we dole . " He then followed tho other party up flonchen's-row . It struck me that they had done something amiss , and I took my candle and went into Mrs . Candler ' s shop . I did not see anything . I looked over the right-hand side counter , and 1 saw nothing there . I went across the shop to the other counter , and looked over it , and there I saw the body lying or sitting , and I saw a wound hi her neck . I then came outof the shop , and when out ofthe shop I put my lig ht out . I pulled the door to , and finding it would not shut , I put my candlestick down on tlie stepping of Mrs . Candler ' s door , and put something awav that was across the top of the door . I pulled

      the door to , and I went again into my own house , This is all I know and have to say . It was entirely from Royal ' s intimidation that I- did not make it known before . I had not spoken to Royal for ten years before . The other man I didnot know at all . I don't know that I had ever seen hini before . That is all I have to say . Cross-examined by Mr . Prc ;> ton -. I have every reason to believe the prisoner Hall to be the man that Royal called "Jockey , or Jigger . " The man so called " had a bundle . lie was not dr essed as he is now . He had on a velveteen or fustian jacket . ( Here Hall was desired to put on his jacket and cap . ) Yarham then said , that is the

      jacket , and that is the man . He had a bundle under his arm when he went across the street , but I dnn'fc know if it was a handkerchief or not . The tlm-d man I don't know . He appeared to lie a man of mv own . height , but I do not know who lie was . —Royal ' s attorney called several witnesses to prove an tdibl , by showing that he ( Royal ) was in their company at a distant part of the town , from ten to one o ' clock on the night in question . A similar defence was made for Mapes and Hall . No witnesses were called for Yarham . The inquiry ended about five o ' clock on Friday evening , when the prisoners Royal , Hall , and Mapes wero committed for the murder , and Yarham as an accessory after the fact .

      . L-mi . Accident . —On Friday afternoon , abowt three o ' clock , an accident , which has proved fata ! , occurred to a shipwright named James Atchison , whilst employed at the stern of her Majesty's ship Comus , 18 guns , now fitting in the third dock s . Chatham . It appeal's that the unfortunate mau was standing on a stage suspended by ropes , which not hanging perpendicular at the time , caused the stage to tilt , whereby he fell into the dock , a depth of nearly thirty feet , his head coming in contact with theedge of the stone steps . Whea picked up he was insensible , and blood was flowing copiouslv from the head : the other parts of his body appeared

      to have received severe injury . He was immediately conveyed to the surgery , but owing to the extent of tho injuries , it was found necessary to forward him to . Melville Hospital . On the removal of the hair from the head the back was found to bo completely shattered , Dr . Rao ' extracting upwards of a down pieces of bone , leaving a piece of bone in the head of about four inches in diameter . The poor fellow ' s sufferings terminated at threo o ' clock on Saturday morning last . The deceased was about sixty years of age , and had been in the dockyard upwards of thirty years . He has left a widow and six children . The widow will receive £ 12 a-vear as a pension for life .

      Shocking Murder . —A man and his wife wcre tned at Cologne a few davs ago , on a charge oi having murdered a young girl , who had been coniulcd to them by her parents to work out a debt , which they had contracted to the man and woman in question . The poor girl having offended her employers , they attempted to burv her alive , but not having succeeded in the attempt beat her until she expired . The man was condemned to imprisonment with hard labour for life , the woman to two years ' imprisonment . Highway Robbery and Murder kbar Liverpool . — Liverpool , Saturday , Jam ; 4 . —Scarce have the two murderers condemned at our last assizes expiated by their deaths the dreadful crimes they committed than we are again horrified by the details of another and

      equally barbarous murder , committed in the vicinity of liockferry , Cheshire . It appears that tho unfor tunatc victim of this atrocitv , a Air . Thomas Pcacop , of tiie firm of T . and H . Golding and Co ., Rockferry , Icit Ins place of business at nine o ' clock on Tuesday night last , rather later than usual , for his lodgings , which arc situated at Beblngton Pasture , a small village , distent nearly half a mile , with the sum of eight pounds , consisting of two soverei gns , five pounds in silver wrapped up in paper , and about twentv-ono shillings tied up in a small bag , on his person . * The whole of the money lie placed in the same pocket . Mr . Peacop was known to bo in tho- habit of takinfi with him every night the proceeds of tho business ot the day , and on the night in question , on leaving his

      saop he ooserved a tall man , dressed in dark clothes , standing at the corner of the street . He was proceeding along a lonesome road , in the direction of his ¦ ed gings , when the same man joined him , and they walked side by side , for some little distance , together . When they had gone about 250 yards from iJerby-house , and were within 200 varus of Mr . . bcort ' s cottage , which leads into the Rock-park , two men suddenly jumped from a plantation and made their appearance on the foot path . The fellow who was accompanying Mr . Peacop gave a whistle , and msiantly the two others sprang upon Mr . Peacop , and felled him to the ground with a violent olow on the side of the head , from a heaw suck or cuib . While down thoy struck him noveid

      other blows , and rifled his pockets of the 21 s in silver which the little bag contained , but in their hurry and confusion left the remaining £ 7 behind , ' i ? "V- * *?? * % ** gentleman , named Kevzicr , who hves at the Pasture , was going home from tl » Roctaerry , and hearing the noise , he ran to the spot a . ci toimd Mr Pcacop weltering in his blood on tho fa ? ound , and two fellows over him , one in the act ol i ' l i J ? PNfcek . and the other attempting , as he . bought , to strangle him . Mr . Keyzicr immediately d j ut Ha 1 " * '• what are you up to ?" ' and attempted to drag one of the fcUows off „ but he had scarcely uttered the exclamation and made the at ; tempt when he received , from the hand of a third paity , who had hitherto remained concealed in tho

      • ed gC of the plantation , but who was , iu all probability , the same fellow who had accompanied Mr . Peacop up tho read , a violent blow on the right tempK S < ajwcd .-a deep wound and a profuse flow of Mood . Mi \ keyzier , notwithstanding the nature of cl ^ W' *™ 8 Sted resolutely with the fellow who ™ , to" ! the blow ; , but fearing that Mr . Fc & coP as by tins time strangled , and that , stogie-handed lo would have no chan ce in the hands of three buob daring ruffians , he made the best of his way to Butler s public-house , called tho Farmer ' s Inn , at the i asture , where he informed the inmates of what w «

      occurring . Instantl y Mr . Butler , together with his ostler , George Dcane , and a man named John Uu ! j * orth , armed with pokers and other weapons , sallie d down the road , but in the interim the follows 1 * inauu their escape . Mr . Peacop had received several fractures and injuries on the head , and breathed hiS last at half-past seven o ' clooic this morning . > ' ivemoLMs rapidly recovering . A man of . the nant f oi Jones was arrested on suspicion of having becfl concerned in the murder , but we believe the evidence against him is very trifling , and that the murderers have hitherto succeeded in eluding the vig ilance tf the police ,

      Her Handwriting. I: Remember Saturday, N...

      handwriting . I : remember Saturday , Novemi ,, ^ . " « ¦» - « i - T- nwiamlini * S * iT . in */ Ioir NT . ^ V ^

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 11, 1845, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_11011845/page/6/