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    113 . 6' THE LEADER. DSaturday,

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    DESTRUCTION OF A COLONY. A New Orleans p...

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    MORI)UK, IN NO.K.FOI.YK. A viiltY bnrbnr...

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    JOURNAL OF RAILWAY ACCIDENTS. TitcMlat/....

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    THE WIFE-BEATING MANIA. The severity of ...

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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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    The Strikes. The Operatives Of The North...

    Uvery case , as the Board have already stated , ought to be carefully investigated in all its circumstances ; and the Board confidently trust that the Guardians will make such investigation with patience and firmness , and in the calm and equitable spirit especially befitting such an inquiry . " By the existing relief oi'ders labour must be given for relief granted ; and the "¦ Guardians have resolved' "that in consequence of the Law not allowing relief to be given to the able-bodied without being set to work , that steps be taken by the Guardians , in accordance with such Law , to provide work for such ablebodied persons to be set to . "

    The Associated Spinners and Masters of Burnley have issued an address to the operatives . They state that to prevent severe destitution they are willing to re-open their mills even at a loss to themselves , on condition that no collection be made among their workpeople for the support of other turnouts . " We do not intend to exact any promise to that effect from any individual , but we plainly state , that we shall resist such a course by all the means in our power , even to again having recourse to the total stoppage of our mills . We cannot , without a great change in bur prospects , hold out the expectation of working full time , but so long as a

    reasonable spirit is manifested by the operatives , we have every wish to do what we can , to prevent distress and to promote their prosperity . We think every one must see that nothing is gained by these combinations and countercoinbinations , and we hope that mutual good understanding and enlightened views will lead both parties to rely solely on that system of individual arrangement which is indispensable to long-continued prosperity . This , we imagine , is the good which may be extracted from the evil , which we have all so much deplored . It is our intention , if our views are agreed to by a number of workpeople sufficient to carry on each department of employment , to open our mills on the 28 th instant . "

    On the other hand , the National Association of United Trades have issued an address , calling upon their members to s upport the Preston men with a national contribution . There is also a project on foot to organize a ' ' Labour Parliament , " the chief end of which shall be "to propound a means by which labour may be emancipated from the undue influence of capital , and become independent , self-employing , and remunerative , without the necessity ' of strikes . "

    113 . 6' The Leader. Dsaturday,

    113 . 6 ' THE LEADER . DSaturday ,

    Destruction Of A Colony. A New Orleans P...

    DESTRUCTION OF A COLONY . A New Orleans paper quotes an account of the destruction of the French colony at Jicaltepec , in Mexico , by a terrible hurricane , which occurred on the 28 th August . On that day , which was Sunday , at three o'clock in the afternoon , a norther commenced blowing , heavy clouds which hung above the horizon began to spread , and Hew over the sky with incredible swiftness . Then the rain commenced falling with extreme violence . The norther continued blowing all nig ht , till the following morning , without , however , having anything alarming about it , the rain continuing , in the meantime , to fall in torrents . At daybreak the wind changed its direction , veering round to the east , and suddenly commenced blowing with unparfdlolod impetuosity . In less than half an hour , the whole village , and tho residences in its environs , forming the French colony , were completely destroyed , tho houses falling as it were by enchantment ; , with a shocking crush . It in impossible to picture the general desolation which presented iiself to sight during the frightful rnging of the unchained elements . Distracted fnuiilics , finding themselves without shelter , saw themselves every moment threatened to bo crushed under the fallingmaterials which woro sent flying through t . lie air , or else to he thrown into the river by tho gusts of this terrible hurricane , the like of which has hover been seen in these parts . JNot only did it , not spare houNO . s , but rushing with fury over tho country and forests , it tore up everything in its passage—chocolate , corn , coffee , sugarcane , & e . —in such a manner that the eye n . few minutes al ' lorwardH could sen nothing but immense plains where virgin forests lmd stood . Tho largest trees , such as cedars , on Its , and fig-lra i n of immense nine , wore broken and torn branch fro in brunch . To add to tho miseries iliun caused , tlie ruin not having censed to pour down in torrents since tho previous evening , a hikIdon overflow of H . h banks by the river ensued , mid rising twent , y- ( ivo feet , above its natural level , it roswover t lie quay of . Jicaltepec , and entirely inundated the opposite hunk , and the greater pnrt of ( he I'Yench dwellings of the colony . Hounes , and tho few estates which tlie hurricane J . iu \ l Kpiirod , were tliu . s curried a way by the wnters . This was a moot ) trying and desolate moment for nil the fuinilioM of th (! colony . Without shelter , nnd dreading wit . li reason tho continuance of the inundation , some were obliged < o construct rnfts to provide for their safety , while others , endeavouring to gel , to a , neighbouring hill , found ( hein-HelveH constrained to traverse inundated low spol . s , Avhere tho water readied to tho \ vuint . -And there they were , -with the I ' ruit of twenty years' labour and perseverance deutroyvd , annihilated in less than an hour . TIuh destructive hurricane did not extend beyond fifty leagues on tho coast and thirty in the interior . Intolljgonoo of the disaster was prevented from boini ^ conveyed earlier in consequence , of conmiunicution being intercepted by tho fallen trees , Ac , and at length was only conveyed with groat , difficulty , machete in baud .

    Mori)Uk, In No.K.Foi.Yk. A Viilty Bnrbnr...

    MORI ) UK , IN NO . K . FOI . YK . A viiltY bnrbnroiiH murder lias been committed , on . Monday , between Wellinghnm and Tittlenhnll , Went , Norfolk . The victim wan a silversmith , named Lorenzo ' Helm , a nutivo of Hadon-Hadon , who , Homo years ago , settled in Norwich . Ho had two uHHistimtw in his « thoj > at Norwich , to whom ho loft tha t-ivro of him busiutw , whilo ha travelled

    through the country to obtain orders and to sell his jewel lery . He usually carried a box of jewellery , gold and silver watches , & c ., in a bag suspended from , a stick on his shoulders . He sold Ms goods to country peop le , and his custom was to take payment in small instalments . Among other places which he visited at regular intervals , were Wellingham and Tittleshall , villages two m iles apart , situate near Pakenham , in West Norfolk . Last Friday . Mr . Belia was walking from Wellingluan to Tittleshall , about one o ' clock in . the day , when he was last seen alive by two labourers who were ploughing in an adjoining field . He had at that time , according to the calculation of his assistants , about 30 Z , in money , which he usually carried in a double purse , besides his box of

    jewellery , and a few watches which he was accustomed to carry in his pockets . Midway between Wellingham and Tittleshall there is a plantation on each side of the road , and on one side the plantation ends on a common . Between , one and three o ' clock several persons passed along the road at this spot on their way to Dereham-market , and observed a quantity of blood in the middle of the road , but , haying no suspicion of a murder having been committed in the middle of the day , on a spot so much frequented , continued their journey without stopping to make any inquiry . At half-past three o ' clock , however , on the same afternoon , John Robinson , a butcher residing at Tittleshall , who had walked over to Wellingham , reached this spot on his way back , and his attention being arrested by the great quantity of blood on the road , he stopped to look at it . He observed

    that some portion of the blood had been partially covered by dirt and sand scraped from the road . Jusfc at this moment the sons of the Rev . Mr . Digby , of Tittleshall , came riding up on ponies , and two lanies : in a gig , Mrs .. Digby and Miss Sheppard . Tho whole party stopped , and their attention was directed to the blood . One of the young gentlemen observed that there was a trail of blood from , the road to the hedge , and the butcher , standing on the hedge , saw that the trail was continued through the fence into the ditch of Tittlesbau-conxrrion , on the other side , where a horrible spectacle was presented . The body of Mr . Belia was found with his legs towards the hedge , and the coat-collar up , as if the murdered man had been dragged by his coat-collar through-the fence . Beside the body lay Mr . Belia ' s bos of jewellery unopened , but taken out of the bag ; his stick and umbrella , and also a

    large hatchet , such as is used for felling timber . Tlie blade of the hatchet was covered with blood and hair , and it was evidently the weapon by which the unfortunate man had been murdered . The pockets of his trous < jrshad been turned inside out , and rifled ; but an account-book was found in his pocket , and in his waistcoat-pocket a watch , still going . His head had been nearly severed from his body by a blow at the back of the neck , and there were four deeply-cut wounds across the temples and face , any one of which would have caused death . The ri g ht eye was driven inwards to the depth of nearly an inch ; indeed , the poor man appeared to have been felled like an ox , and dragged into the ditch . Tho party of ladies and gentlemen returned to Tittleshall , and gave information of the murder

    to the rector , who sent a cart to the spot , and , with the assistance of the butcher , and two ploughmen before-mentioned , the bod y was conveyed to the Griffin Inn , Tittleshall . No suspicion was entertained as to the perpetrator of tho murder till late in the evening , when a man named William Webster , a butcher , who was driving in his cart from Tittleshall to Wellingham , about one o ' clock on the same day , said he saw a man in tho plantation adjoining the ditch where the body was found , and he observed that on his approach the man stooped down to hide himself . Webster mentioned this circumstance at Wollingham , as soon as ho heard of the murder , but he did not state that bo knew who the man was . At ten o'clock at night , however , he felt ; uneasy , and went to the house of John Hooks ,

    a parish constable , and gave information that the man ho had seen in the plantation was William Thompson , a labourer , residing with his father at Tittloshall , and who was frequently employed in felling timber . Mr . Hooks and Mr . Moore , another parish constable , immediately proceeded to Thompson's house ; they found him in bed , and ordered him to rise and dress himnelf . He did so , putting on different clothen from those he had worn during the day , with the exception of a slop . The constables found on the bed a pair of trousers , tins legs of which , and the left pocket , were soaked with blood . In tho lover room they found a pair of lnVhlows , with blood on the laceholes .

    J hey asked Thompson for bin hatchet , but ho could not produce it , and he made no utatoinent in explanation . Ho was apprehended and takento the Griffin Inn , at Tittleshall , there bring no police station nearer than Fukenhnm . On tlu : following day Webster identified the prisoner as tho fiiune man that he had seen in tho plantation just beforo the murder aviin committed , and two men named Jtoper , who were at work near the plantation , stated that , they mot tho prisoner coming from the direction of tlm place whom Mui body was found , lie seemed to be in groat husto , and perspired profusely . They nuked him what o'clock it , was . . II . ii pulled out , a hunting-watch from his trouHors ' -pookot , and Hiiid it was half-pant one o'clock .

    Various additional evidenecH lending to coiitirni the fit rong suspicion of his guilt have since been discovered at bin Iioiiho ; and tho coroner ' s jury have , returned a verdict , of " wilful niurder" against , him . '

    Journal Of Railway Accidents. Titcmlat/....

    JOURNAL OF RAILWAY ACCIDENTS . TitcMlat / . — Two accidents . The first , occurred near the Knottingiey Junction on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Kailwny . The Parliamentary train from Leeds , due at Knotthifiloy at , H . 'iO a . m ., arrived there of about , the proper time , and , the passenger carriajres having been attached to others from York , the united train wan proceeding <>» ils wny to . Doncanler , when , in erosHing tho junction with the up-lino to ( Joolo , about ' 2 ()(> or ;(()() yards' from Mio station , a ^ joods t rain from t hat town , which arrived at , the point of intersection at tho mime moment , ( limited through the iMiuuenger train , cutting it ia j , about tho middle , and : nocku »{ r otftUo body yf a third , clasn sarriturc , containing

    about twenty passengers . The vehicle rolled over on ita side , amid a terrible screaming from the persons in ifc while _ wheels and under part of the vehicle remained standing on the line . No one was seriously hurt , we are told . Ihe driver and stoker of the goods engine received no injury , although tliey remained on the engine ,- indeed they had no alternative in the matter , for the de nse fo e prevailing at the time prevented them from seeing the passenger train until they had run into it , and tie signals were totally invisible . The second accident was also duo to the fog . A passenger train from Doncaster dashed into a train of empty trucks near Conesbrough station . The passengers of course , -were " not muclihurt , " only bruised ! ' The fog , no doubt , prevented the light signals from working ; but why were the obstructions in the wav ?

    Wednesday . —As the guard of tho goods train from Derby to Birmingham was unhooking a van at Wooden Box station , whilst the train was in motion , owing to the frosty state of the buffer , he slipped off , and the . next carriage went over his thigh , and otherwise injured Ms body . He shortly after died . On the same day , a person attempted to cross the line to get to the platform at which an approaching train would stop . He leaped on to the platform , but fell back , and the train went over him .

    The Wife-Beating Mania. The Severity Of ...

    THE WIFE-BEATING MANIA . The severity of Lord Pahnerston ' s new law for the punish ment of aggravated assaults , does not seem to have operated as a check upon the propensity of the lower classes of London to beat their wives . It would indeed seem time that some medical inquiry into the circumstances should be instituted , and that the physician as well as the magistrate should look into the causes of these sickening phenomena . Between the 1 st and the 19 th of November no less than sixteen assaults of the worst character have been brought to light . We have recorded most of these in previous weeks , but the four latest came before the Courts on Monday . The worst of the new cases was that of William Curtis , a tailor , living in the unhealthy localit y of New-court , Gravel-lane . The story as told by the wife and a policeman who interfered is very striking .

    Emma Curtis said : On Sunday morning , between three and four o ' clock , he made me go to bed stark naked , and he ripped up my stays with a penknife , took the bone out of it , and beat me on the body with the bone till it broke in three pieces . -He was quite sober , and so was I , for I never drink . He had been out , and I was afraid to go to bed till he came home . After lie had broken the bone he beat me with my hair-brush . He then dragged me out of bed , made me make the bed three tunes , tried to strangle me with his hands , and with the large square cut stick tho policeman now has in his hand , struck mo several times . I did not call out , for ho said if I did he would dance upon my body . After having beaten me severely , he went ; down stairs and to the bottom of the court , but he immediately returned and began beating me again with the stick , and then the officers came into the room . The Lord Mayor : How often has this occurred ?

    Mrs . Curtis : Ever since we were married , in January last . A month ago he gave me two black eyes , and he has frequently Used that stick upon me . Ho has also tlirown boiling water from the tea-pot upon me . I am in tlio utmost danger , and I throw my life upon your lordship's hands , for I believe it is his intention to kill me . Policeman 28 : I was informed that a man had locked up his wife in the house No , 14 , in Now-court , and I went there with another officer , and upon listening in the passage I heard a noise of tremendous blows as if they wcro given with a kick upon tlie naked flesh . I heard the prisoner say , " If you halloo out , I'll dance your guts out . I then broko open tho door . Tho woman was naked on the bed , and the prisoner bad his shirt sleeves tucked up , and was in the position of a person who had been inflicting blows . \ immediately seized and dragged him away . Ho was perfectlsober at tho time \ JL fl / l /

    y . 11 ¦* . »* If \ yi M Vu V * T 1 ) 1 /^ 7 . s ir » A \ ' t / IAHA ^ M •—Tho Lord Mayor asked the complainant to what she ascribed this horrible treatment , P The complainant mud she had made an observation upon her husband ' s Inking < i young woman who had been working with them to apunlic-houNe , and he waa enraged at , the liberty she took m doing so ; but ho was in tho habit of knocking hoi ; about , without the least provocation . Curtis said his wilt ) was tho person most , in fault . Ho received tho full sonteneo of nix months' imprisonment . . James Wright , another tailor , living in a similarly unhealthy locality— Goodinan ' s-ficldn—wus charged wilii beating bin wife . i \ i Ann Wright , hi « wife , maid : — Yoittorday , ( Sunday , ) " <' riaid ho would bo hung for murdering me , as the man thai , t

    was sentenced to be hung this morning would Do n »» , j Ho hit me twice on tho head with tho sleevo-bourd , « i |( I out open my skull in two places . I bled very nnicli . J <' also struck mo with hiri tint in tho face , and continued to knock mo nbouli for three or four minutes . I called out for unfliHtancKj , mid people oanio , and I . went to a for . ' have my head droHHed . I have been married to u " prisoner three years , and ho him beaten mo every inonn since I married him . . , , p The Lord Mayor : Is there any t-auno for Uiini comiu <'' Mrs . Wright : Orink in tho cause , my lord . I behrvo in married mo in a wrong name , and 1 huvo asked turn marry me in hin right , name , i left him a month ago > iujoountof . it , and lie said ho hud alieady murdorod on woman , and that ; I should bo tho next , and 1 hnvo 11 > doubt of ( Jio offeot of hifl future violence , if 1 have no ]> i < tcction from your lordship . ., ., ( Tho police-niun who Unhc Wright into custody Hai . l : Hiiij when goinpr to the ntutio . r-houso , Wright said ho w « H a > for letting , »„ apprehend him ; mid swore that hh «< m » ^ h « nhouUfBot over this , bo would pinaslihw wilou ! " '""* ° TJio Lord Mayor Bontoncod him to hard Iftboiu' jn HottowAy prison tor o « cwlcndftv month *

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 26, 1853, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_26111853/page/8/