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Leader (1850-1860), 21st November 1857, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1112, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      of Finland for the purpose . They found 1100 corpses in the interior of the vessel , so that 300 seem to have been on deck when the accident happened . The corpses were mostly found embracing each other , or clinging to the portions of the cabins ; decomposition had already set in . So Itorribl ' e was the spectacle that offered itself to the divers as they went over the lower decks and cabins , that one of them felt himself , for sometime , quite unable to make his report , and refused to go down any more , preferring to leave again for England . The livid faces of the corpses , with their eyes opened and fixed , looked all the more frightful , as the glass in-the diving bell and the diving helmets is so constructed as to magnify , and consequently to distort , tho objects examined through it . Attempts to raise the vessel will probably not be made before next vear .

      SPAIX . .. . . .. A conspiracy among the Absolutist party has been discovered in Catalonia . Mr . Dodge , the United . States ' Minister at-the Spanish Court , has seut iu his resignation , but he has done so from the state of health of his family , and from other private considerations .

      BEI . GIL'Jt . The King has dissolved the Chamber * of Representatives . The elections are to commence on the 10 th of December . The Senate and Chamber of Kepresentativ es are convoked for the loth of December . M . Lebeau is appointed Minister of Justice .

      XTALV . The Sardinian elections known as definitive at noon l ast . Saturday , were - - ' fifty-three-in- number ; of whom thirty-eight were Liberals , fourteen belong to the Opposition of the extreme Right , ami . one to the Left . At Turin , the Government has obtained an immense majority . Upwards of four hundred persons implicated in a con . spiracy have been arrested at Naples in a single night . The Milan Gazette publishes a notification frotn the Prefect of Finance of Lombardy , announcing that for the year 185 S the direct taxes are to be increased at the rate of five kreutzers for every florin of tax . es ( the florin is about 2 f . 50 c , and contains 60 kreutzers" ) .

      ¦ - .. - * . ..- ; .. " : . . . TURKEY . ¦ ... - ¦ . •¦ . . - ; . ., . The questionvwith respect to the Christians in Turkey still remains in an unsettled state . The Viceroy of Egypt has communicated to the French Gonsul-General the letter of the Turkish Grautl Yizier which we mentioned in our last , and has accompanied it by some remarks , in -which he points to the strangeness of such intolerance being exhibited by one body of Christians to another . The consul has sent for the priest of the

      chapel which was closed by his own orders , and proposed to him to reopen it with two altars—one for those who prefer the Gregorian calendar , and another for those who still cling to the older form of worship . The priest declined the proposition , and asked to be allowed the use of the chapel without any stipulations . He has also ¦ written to the Patriarch ( who is in favour of the new calendar ) , to inform him of the consul's offer . The innovation is for the most part resisted by the Christians of Turkey .

      Nustcm Bey , who had been sent to take the command of the Tripoli troops in the expedition against the insurgent tribes , has had a very sharp engagement with Gouma , the chief of the outbreak , who was severely ¦ w ounded during the action . About forty Mussulmans of a low condition and three Imans have been arrested at Damascus on a charge of having formed a conspiracy for the destruction of an English establishment . The Mussulman population in general in that district are greatly irritated against the Europeans , owing partly to a number of workmen of that creed having been dismissed from the English manufactories , and partly to the sympathies manifested by the Sultan for the English in India .

      BERVXA . The Criminal Court at Belgrade has pronounced judgment on the prisoners accused of having planned the death of the reigning Prince . Seven havo been sentenced to decapitation ; one to perpetual imprisonmen t . It is thought that the capital sentences will bo commuted to imprisonment with hard labour . THE DAKUBIAN lMCINOIPAHTIES . Th « Divans ad hoc , after some animated debates , have voted that all citizens arc equal in the eye of the law . Thoy havo likewise voted the abolition of all classes and privileges , and the liberty of public worship , and will Bhortly consider the question of forced labour to which the peasants are subjected .

      . " The note already announced as having been presented by the Porte to the European Powers , " Bays the Times Paris correspondent , "is not drawn up in the same form as tho notes hitherto presented . The last contains extracts from various reports presented by the Kaimakana of Moldavia and Wallachia , which represent those countries as compl etely disorganized and in a state of anarchy . Several facts arc quoted iu support of these assertions . "

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      AsoTiiiiic SxotMcwjsi-r ^ Oiioht Cask . — A cuso similar to that of the celebrated Stoc . kwe . il ghost has led to Homo proceedings at the Southward police-court . A working man named Buker , and hia wife , and daughter , occupied a house in the neighbourhood of London-street , Dockhcad , and for some time past tlio man and woman havo been nlarincd by Hingulur noises occurring in various parts of the house , and by tlio breaking of crockery , glass , &c , which -were thrown about without any apparent cuuhc . Baker and hia wife -wcru groiitly scared by these mysteries , and at length spoke to a gentleman connected with the District ViBitiiig Society , who instituted inquiries and soon found out tho truth of the matter . The daughter , a girl of twelve , had fallen

      into bad habits , and , to prevent her wandering about thl streets , she was confined to the house . She thereW revenged herself by breaking the crockery- ™ ° [« eftect which' unperceived , she fastened thin hairs to tK dishes , jugs , and glasses , and dexterously jerked tW ? down . She would do this in tho presence of her mofW who was so much the victim of superstitious fears th »! she never perceived the cause of the -. effect Baker himself , when giving evidence before the nia-istratL said , that he and his wife had been frightened verv much . The girl sullenly admitted what she had done and said she intended to frighten her parents because they -wouldn ' t let her go out . She was sent to the House of Correction for fourteen daws .

      A Stkanue Casio . —A police ' sergeant , while on dutv m the Belvidere-road , Lambeth , early on Sim day morning , observed a Frenchman staggering along the road with his hands on his stomach . The officer went towards him , when he pointed to his stomach , and two holes - were-then , observed in his clothes , with blood ilowing from each . The sergeant took him to a ' . surgeon ' s , and afterwards to the Westminster Hospitaland , when tho bleeding had been stopped , he said that he was accosted by a man in -Trafalgar-square , who persisted in walking with him , though not encouraged to do so ; and that this man gave him two blows iu the

      stomach at the foot of Westminster Bridge , robbed him of between 18 / . and !•)/ ., and made off . At first , he said he -was not aware that he had been stabbed , but , on walking away , felt exhausted , and then .-found that blood was flowing from- ' two wound .- ? . The police have , found in the man ' s pocket a knife ' which fits the-holes of the dress ; and this fact , coupled with certain prevarications , has induced a suspicion that the nvan inflicted the wounds on himself . Si-avkky in Ex < ii , AN « . —Peter Humph , a German , was charged at the Wakeficld police-court on . Monday , with assaulting a countrywoman of his , named Marguerettc Hoyler . She was brought to England by Kuuiph about . six : months * ago , and . ' bound . ' to "him for three years for the purpose of playiiig a piano about the streets , on the understanding that she was to receive 12 / . at the expiration of the time , and hi the "•¦ meanwhile to

      be supplied with food and clothing . It now appeared that the food consisted of nothing more than a -miserable breakfast at seven o ' clock . in . the : morning , and a meal when the poor girl returned at midnight— the latter being conditional * , oh a certain sum of . money' being brought back . On the 6 th of the present month , the girl did not bring home . ' a '* sufficient sum ; on . which . Humph , according to his usual custom , heather savagely , lie knocked her down , kicked her , threatened her with a knife , took away nearly all her clothes , and finally turned her out into the streets , almost naked . She went to another girl whom Rumph had brought from Germany , but who had left him on account of his brutality , and from her ' obtained . some clothes . On the caso being brought into court , several yirla gave evidence against Humph , and said they had never received a halfpenny of the 12 / . he had promised them . He was ( ined 1 / ., or a month ' s imprisonment in default .

      Death from' Destitution . — lhe attention of the police was directed on Monday night to the house of No . 5 , Eaton-street , Blnckfria ' rs-roud , where two persons were supposed to Ih > dying of starvation . The door was broken open , and in a corner of the room the . dead body of a man , between eighty and ninety year * of age , was discovered , with scarcely a rag covering it . "Near him was a woman , his sister , all but dead . She was too weak to stir , but was conveyed to Lambeth workhouse , where she stated that her brother had died of hunger , and that she herself had been without foi > d for threedays .

      A Cabman ' s Consciknck . — The charge against Edward Jackson , an oil and colourman in Leonard-street , Shoreditch , and his wife , of being concerned in the . great robbery at the Countess ofKllcsmerc ' s , is still under examination at Worship-street . During the inquiry on Tuesday , a cabman gave evidence with respect to moving a box , similar to one now in possession of the police , at the time of the robbery , January , 185 ( 5 . Two men hired a cab , and one rode in it , and ultimately told the driver to stop at a beer-shop , and have some beer . '"_ suspected something wrong , " said tho cabman in I "' evidence , " when 1 took the , man up ; but he offered to stand beer , and I than did 7 iot , "

      Tun Muuukic at ICahtuouhnk . —A week or two ago , the body of a boy was found in a ln > x |_ at T ^ an ^ - loy Point , Eastbourne , near Urighton . H was much emaciated , and there was the mark of a blow < " "' the head . Tlio corpse has now been identified ao that of James Col well , a youth of thirteen , the son of Mrs . Ami Marsdcn by a former husband . Ho belonged l <» Shelfield , and lived with hia grandfather , lit ; wns in the habit of absenting himself , and tho ln . st time h » ' 1 ° ^ home it was reported that ho had started with t hrec other boya , two of whom hud tinned back , while the third , > t wan said , had g « no to France . Colwell was of a rather sullen disposition . The jury returned an open verdict Tint 'MmtDKit in HiciiTFonusiiiuK . —The inquest on the body of John Starkina , the Hertfordshire policeman , has concluded with a verdict of Wilful Murder ngainst Jeremiah Carpcintcr , the , mnn in custody . 'Carpenter ¦ was finally examined boforc tho magistrates on Wed-

      Untitled Article

      . . ... ^ . . _ A ROMANCE OF RASCALITY . During the summer of 1850 , Mr . John . Blair Wills , then a medical student , met a young lady in an omnibus , with whom he was so much fascinated that he followed her to her residence , and by great perseverance discovered that her friends' lived iu Bath , lie wont down there , introduced himself to her mother , and made a formal proposal of marriage . This was refused by the mother , a Mrs . Maxwell , on the ground that her daughter was hardly thirteen years old . Here the matter ended for the time ; but , by a singular fatality , Mr . Wills again met the same vouug lad ' v in 1855—this time in

      the Surrey Gardens . His former passion burst out afresh , and , the young lady being now seventeen , the marriage took place , and was celebrated at Keuningtou Church -ou the 24 th of ¦ March . . ' By this period Mr . Wills had changed . his former profession" for . that of architecture , nntl . for some time he and his girl-wife lived happily together . " But , shortly after the confinement of Mrs . Wills , she .-had an attack of fever , which resulted in a temporary aberration of mind . She was therefore conQned in Bethlehem Hospital , and remained there a year , when the authorities intimated to her friends that she must be removed . Her husband , however , took no notice of the summons , but ultimately , on the 3 rd of last

      August , her brother-in-law , Mr , James Fentoii Wills , removed her to the residence of his .--mother . Here she remained several days without being able to hear a Word about her husband and child . At length , her motherin-law handed her a letter from Mr . John Blair Wills , requesting that she would meet him at a certain time and place in the City . Shewent there , saw her husband , and reproached him with the unkiudness of hid conduct . To this he replied that she need not give herself any trouble about him , as , in fact , she was no wife of his , owing to his being already married at the time he . was united to her . '' The best thing you can do , " he addeJ , ' ¦ is to marry my brother Fenton : he loves you , and will make vou a good husband . "' A few

      days after this , James Fenton Wills did , in fact , make proposals of marriage to the poor creature , who , having experienced some kiudness at his bunds , and being probably bewildered by the misery of her ' . position ,.. ' consented to become his Avife . On " the 2 Lst of August , the ceremony was performed at the Registrar of Marriages Office , Lambeth . All this was unknown to the mother of the young . lady ; but , the victim being under age , it was necessary to make a show of the marriage being with the consent of the parent . The regular legal document setting forth-this alleged consent was given to the Registrar by . Fenton Wills , by whom it -was signed . The lady was described as a . spinster , and it was stated , according to the usual form , that there was no legal impediment' to the marriage .

      As s&oon as-Mrs . Maxwell hoard of these facts , she came up to town , made inquiries , and discovered that Mr . Blair AVills ' s other marriage had taken place ufur that with her daughter . It was celebrated as late as last April ; and a warrant was therefore issued for liLs apprehension , but he has hitherto escaped the ollieerd . In the meanwhile , James Teuton Wills deserted the poor girl , who , being far from well , was removed to Lambeth infirmary . Having thus become- chargeable to the parish , the authorities , believing that Mr . fenton Wills was liable , for her maintenance , obtained a summons calling on that person to show cause why an order to that effect should not be made on him ; and last Saturday he appeared at the Lambeth policc-oilicc in answer to it .

      Mrs . Wills was examined by the magistrate , and emphatically declared that she had married Fenton Wills becuuse she was asked by him to do so , and believed that she whs not the legal wife of his brother . As it now appeared that the parish had no claim on the person summoned , his lawyer said he supposed the magistrate would at once put uu end to the ease . Mr . Elliott , however , said that Mr . Fenton Wills had committed a gross violation of the law in falsely stating that ho had the consent of the mother to the marriage . This is an ollenee equal to perjury ; and he therefore ordered Wills to put in bail fur his appearance on a future day , to answer the charue of misrepresentation .

      On the case being called on again on Wednesday , Fenton Wills did not appear , nor any one for him ; amd the magistrate therefore ordered hia recognizances to be estreated , and a warrant to he issued for Inn apprehension .

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      - OUR CIYILIZATION .

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      1112 ^ :-.. ^ l . , . , : : ;^ a . E ,, £ E APE R . [ No . 400 , November 21 , 1857 .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 21, 1857, page 1112, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2218/page/8/