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802 THE LEADER/ [Saturday ^
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CURIOSITIES OF JUSTICE. Thk reputations ...
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CRIMINAL BECORD. The offences common in ...
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JOURNAL OF It AIL WAY ACCIDENTS. Ratt/wa...
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MISCELLANEOUS. The Queen, Prince Albert,...
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The Nemesis of Derbyite misdoings is unr...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Great Fi1m0 At Dover. Uunkatu Dover Clif...
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 rim away , when a portion of the cliff fell , with a noise resembling the discharge of a park of artillery , burying under ifc 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-half the London fire-engines were on the spot . The property lost is estimated at 5 O , O 00 Z .
802 The Leader/ [Saturday ^
802 THE LEADER / [ Saturday ^
Curiosities Of Justice. Thk Reputations ...
CURIOSITIES OF JUSTICE . Thk 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 . We 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 tome ; 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 much hurt , for it turned out that the forger was another Miss Wild . The collector apologised , but-not quiekly 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 after the commencement of the present century , when it was parcelled off and sold in portions . The Honourable Mrs . Moreton is heritable proprietrix , " duly infeft and seised , " in the Temple lands of Cumberland , and other
hinds , forming part of the said barony of Prom , holding of the Crown . The ancient titles of tiie 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 bo vassals of tho appellant , the Honourable Mrs . Moroton , as vested in certain portions of tho barony of Drem , and to have no right except to tho extent of the 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 wns in this situation of matters , as regards tho titles of tho parties , that tho present litigation arose . Sir Norman denied that the lands were originally Temple lands , but Mrs . Moreton made a thorough investigation , in tho course of which sho recovered writs proving that the lands in question had for
several centuries been Templo lands , anciently belonging to the Knights of St . John . Tho question was disputed through several Scotch courts , tho law terms of which seam strange to English observation . Thus wo have n record that " tho Court below pronounced tho interlocutor of February 11 ) , 1851 , to tho effect that , 'in respect tho pursuer of said reduction docs not now insist in tho reasons of reduction of tho tides called for , and Bought to bo reduced against tho defenders , ropel tho reasons of reduction , nssoilzio the defenders , and deeern . " On Monday a long litigation waged with such fearful words , was brought to a cIoho , tho Lord Chancellor , " as was understood below the bar , " ndinning tho interlocutor of tho Court below—that jh , refusing to consider Mrs . Moroton " over-lord or suporior" of Sir Norman Miicdonuld , her " vassal . "
Tho property of William JJurko Kirwiui , tho artist , convioted of murdering his wile , has boon converted to the iihc of tho Crown . Kinvan ' s mistress—Teresa Kennyattempted to obtain it , but her claim was disallowed . "To malce assurance doubly suro" as to tho falsehood of the claim for tho Smyth baronetcy the course of evidence lius been indicated . The defendant woidd havo culled a chemist to provo t , \ ml the ink of tho deed was new ; a herald to , show that . tho armorial bearings wove wrong ; a bishop to swear that tho Rovorend " Verney Lovctt , I ) . !) ., " so i _ . __>¦¦ . . ¦ . *•¦*« fed ¦¦ nUhotinvoolthe
forts It is reported in circles likely to be informed , that four keen Israelitish gentlemen ift London have advanced 1000 Z . each upon the " worthy baronet's" undertaking , when his e states 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 h ? is 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 tho 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 wo 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 .
* HiKneil . wasjiotadocforol ' JDivinily ' alloged nuptials ; and tho governor of Jldiester gaol to identify ' Sir Richmd Hugh Smyth" ns his quondam prisoner . When " Smylh" broko flown there remained fifty witnesses to be ' examined for tho plaintiff , and eighty for tho defence ! The untoward result of tho trial hati been a source of great , mortification to numerous persons at Clifton and JtriHtol , who as " feelers" for future favours , and in the assurance that he would " go in and win , " havo been freely trusting the soli-styled baronet with a luinduomely furnished hou « o ami abundant oupplics of creature com-
Criminal Becord. The Offences Common In ...
CRIMINAL BECORD . 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 record of 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 Beccher , of Shakspeare-street , was walking in a field called FothergilFs-close , in tho meadows , near the town , when two men came up and accosted him , asking him if he was aware that he was on trespass ? Mr . Beccher answered that ho was not , and that ho knew tho owner of the field perfectly well . They then told him that ho was ; stating that ho must go with them , either to tho policeoffico 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 tho town—he walked with them a short distance . Suddenly one of the men , who was walking behind , threw his arms round Mr . Beccher ' s neck , grasping him tightly by tho throat , and then exclaimed to his companion , " Jack , come on . " Mr . Beecher was dragged to tho ground , and the second robber placed his knees upon his stomach and rifled his pockets , whilo the other held him down by tlio throat . Having secured all the money in the possession of Mr . Beccher , tho robbers decamped .
Lord Palmcrston was petitioned to extend' the Royal mercy to Flaek , the murderer of tho old woman at , Bact ' , on tho ground that he was very ignorant . Tho Homo Socrotary replied— " It requires' no particular instruction to make a man feel that a barbarous murder is an atrociouB crime . " Mrs . Jones mysteriously absented herself from her husband , and Mr . Jones consequently cut his throat ; being , as a Bristol jury found , " mentall y deranged . " Six convicts wero taken through Glasgow in a cab , each hand-etiffcd , all chained together , and tho police sitting outside . One convict wrenched tho chain away , and so separated tho six , who immediately darted out of tho cab , and ran up tho streets , chased by the officers . Two wero caught and three escaped .
Journal Of It Ail Way Accidents. Ratt/Wa...
JOURNAL OF It AIL WAY ACCIDENTS . Ratt / way engines arn so many mechanical "Topsys , "—lo their wiokednerm ean we alone attribute tho late accidents , it being now well known that directors , station-musters , drivers , stokers , aro " not to blame . " Thus , on last Friday , the Yarmouth train dashes into tho Lowestoft ; train quietly ( standing on the same line ; " a tremendous collision took pluco ; the pnKHCngers were bruised ; and two ladies had severe cuts across tho eyelids and cheeks , which wero sewn up on the spot . " Tins brutal assault on women shoul ^ tioino under Fitzmy ' s Act ; wo therefore record this with other crimes of the week .
Heroin another inexplicable occurrence on tho York , Newcastle , and Morvvick Railway , A party of pitmen and Homo boys , who wero on their way to work at a now colliery at Whit . worth , occupied a kind of coal truck , which was being propelled by a light , engine up tho branch line . Tho men wero rather into , and in order to arrivo in time they travelled rather faster than usual . On Hearing tho Tudhoo iron vVovIih , and whilo pursuing thin quick speed , they caino in contact , with a heavily ladon miners' train , which was coming do wn tho same' lino of rails an thoy wore going up . In conBoquonco of tho hazy character of < ho morning , neither train could bo observed until they
were close upon each other , and they came in violent con tact . The wagon in which the poor fellows were , beinp in front of the engine , received the full force of the ' shock It was knocked into many pieces , and the whole of the unfortunate occupd & ts , nine men and several boys , were injured more or less . Three were found dead . The express train from Dover overtook nea r'ForestT hill another train . on the same line . It dashed intoit , and w as severely shattered , two of its rear carriages being separated from the rest . Several passengers were much injured—a young lady named Clarke most severely . The whole of the left 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 wero saturated with blood . How the luggage-train came to bo upon the up-line cannot be accounted for by any one ; tho great " Railway Myjstery" 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 St . Helen ' s has paid 170 ? . to a labouring man disarmed through an accident . There are several trials coming before the pendingSouth 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 caus e paper being that of tho executors of the late Mr . Caratti , a Greek merchant at Glasgow , who lay the damages at 15 , 000 ? . Mr . Fitton , another of the unfortunate sufferers , who lost one of his legs , is a mill-owner at Royton , and his clai m is for about 8000 ? . or 10 , 000 ? . Mr . Kay is said 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 .
Miscellaneous. The Queen, Prince Albert,...
MISCELLANEOUS . The Queen , Prince Albert , and the Duchess of . Kent , have been staying at Osbome . Her Majesty led the Spithead fleet on a cruise on Thursday . Last week she visited the Russian Princess Katherine of Mecklenberg Strelitz .
The Nemesis Of Derbyite Misdoings Is Unr...
The Nemesis of Derbyite misdoings is unrelenting . Tho Grand Jury at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday found a true bill against the Right 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 Derbv . 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 tho City of
Peterborough , and that election for the said city having been avoided , was incapable of being returned at the election which took place in consequenco of tho said avoidance ; and that Georgo H . Whalley is not duly elected a citizen to serve in this- present Parliament for the city of Peter * borough . " Twenty-four votes were then struck off tho poll , and Mr . Whalley ' s majority being 21 , tho committeo unanimously determined— " That Thomson Hankey , jun ., Esq ., is duly elected , and ought to have been returned a citizen to servo in this present Parliament for the city of Peterborough . "
The other Peterborough commi t tee appointed to inquire into Lord Fitzwilliam ' s alleged interference with tho freedom of election , has made a long report , tending to acquit Lord Fitzwilliam of any direct or palpable intervention , but pointing out that his position gives him an inevitablo influence . He eiocted tenants who voted against his interest , but ho allowed others to remain who had also voted against him . Ho had paid part of the expenses of an election potition , but had not got up tho petition . Ho had taken part in consultations as to candidates , but his counsel wns always sought . He had paid tho usual " crowns" to ecot
and lot voters , distinguishing hia own from other voters , but this was an old custom . Whilo thus acquitting Lord Fitzwilliam of activo impropriety , the report says : — "It 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 abovo reported , that any candidate would havo little chance of success who had not his approval ; and there is no doubt that this impression does seriouuly interfere with tho freedom of election in that city . "
Tho Honourable 13 . R . Littleton has boon quiotly elected member for South Staffordshire , in room of General Anaon . He is a supporter of tho present Ministry . Tho diplomatic corps and our Cabinet Ministers dined with Count Wulewnki , French Ambassador , on Monday , in honour of thaft-Co of tho Emperor Napoleon . Aft er dinner Lord Aberdoon proposed the health of tho Emperor ; and after somo other toasts Count Wulowski gavo as ft Konthnont , " Tho continuance of pence . " Now writs have bom issued for Stamford and Dunffarvan ; for tho fonner iii tho room of tho Hon . J- v . 1 lorries , who has accepted tho manor of Northstoad , find for tho latter in the room of Mr . J . F . Maguiro , who h » uccoptod tho Chiltom Hundreds .
Tho Commons Committeo on tho National Gallery hnvo made a report . They aro" of opinion that tho sito of tho preHont gallery is not woll adapted for tho construction f a now gallery , and ( hoy recommend ( hat tho offer mado to tho publio in the estate- of Kensington Gore , purchase " jointly by tho Royal Commissioner of 1851 and by fir "" of Parliament , bo accepted . They have considered ill ° vexed question of picturo-deaning , and mado a number oj suggestions as precautions for tho futuro . Thoy re-common " that a system of management . by a board of truatocs h ' " bo continued , and that they should bo appointed by tiW
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 20, 1853, page 10, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_20081853/page/10/
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