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Leader (1850-1860), 2nd January 1858, Edition 1 of 2, Page 7, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      lousand Christians at a p lace called Trebigno , in Albaia . The motive does not yet appear ; but it is probably relig ious feud , with which Prince Danilo seems to have id something to do . The Turks remained victors . " The Ottoman Government , " says a letter from Beymth , " has concluded a treaty with an old officer of the rench navy , for many years established at that place , t the formation of a good carriage road from the town » Damascus , with branch roads on different points , such i ZahU , La Bekaa , &c . The grantee takes on himself . 1 the expense of the work , on condition of having the rivilege of levying tolls on the road for fifty years . He so engages to convey passengers and merchandise at ices thirty per cent , lower than those now charged . "

      CIKCA 8 SIA . The Circassian chiefs have transmitted to the Governents of England , France , Austria , Prussia , Turkey , and irdinia , a petition setting forth that the Circassians sver consented to the cession of their country to Russia t the Treaty of Adrianople ; that the Treaty of Paris tablished the neutrality of the Black Sea ; and that nssia , in violation of the latter treaty , has closed the [ rcassian ports , on the plea of the absence of customs id . quarantine regulations . The petition prays that the nropean powers will interfere and re-establish the rights ' which the Circassians have been deprived by force ; id the chiefs promise to keep the ports open to comerce , with the proper customs and quarantine establishents . A request is also made that European consuls ay be stationed in these ports .

      HAMBURG . The commercial panic at Hamburg seems to have subled . SWITZERLAND . The Swiss Federal Assembly closed its sittings on the trd ult . The dispute which had arisen between the ntral authority and the canton of Vaud , and which one time assumed a serious character , has been ought to an amicable conclusion . The Federal Council has assigned the various Ministeil portfolios in the following manner : —General Policy , . Furrer , " president ; Interior , M . Pioda ; Justice , M . iinsel ; Military Affairs , M . Frey Heros . ee ; Finance , . Staempfli ; Commerce , M . Fornered ; and Post-office , . Naeff .

      THE DANUBIAU PKINCirALITIES . A discussion took p lace in the Divan at Bucharest , on e 14 th ult ., on the much-debated question whether the mman nation is to frame its own electoral laws , witht any interference by foreigners , or to submit them to e European commission . Alexander Golesco and Jean atiano spoke in favour of the right of the Principalities an exclusive arrangement of their internal affairs , and e Assembly came to the conclusion that the right is sted in them , and that in such sense is the clause

      > rded in the reports and protocols of the Divan . Submently , two propositions were made by M . Petresco d M . Floresco respectivelj ' , both of which have been " erred to the consideration of a committee of live . M . tresco made the following proposition iF-urgence : — Hiat the Assembly terminate its lirst series of labours a letter of thanks addressed to the guaranteeing wers . " M . Floresco proposed- — " That the Assembly : ide that this jirojiosition iVurgence be the last that the sembly admit . " A . Golesco , E . Predesco , A . Floresco , Ghika , and Tell , are named as the committee .

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      Til i : A 8 S 1 Z ES . Luvinu heipehiu has boon tried at tho Neweastle-on-Tyno Assizes ou a charge ol' purposely sotting his liouso < m lire , in on lor to defraud tlio Phoonix Insurance Company , with which ho hud insured tho dwelling for SOU / . The Hro burst out in several places iitonco ; Leipehita and two woman oiiino out of tlio house partly dressed ; and Home tilings wero found among tho ruins which boro evideuco of tlio presence of naphtha . Tho flame * also TruTTfliT 7 ttTT rilclWl 3 r ~ Tfliplftl ^^ no efforts to put out tho lire . Ills business was that of a pawnbroker ; but aomo tlmo buforo tlio lire hu hud told u tradesman in Iloundsditoli , London , that ho wished to start « s a wuLorproofor , mid ho was informed that to that end ho must purchase a largo a took of naphtha . NoL-¦ Wi tliHtanding these facts , tho jury found tho accused Not Guilty .

      Obituary

      ANOTHER POISONING CASE . A mas named John Thomson , alias Peter "Walker , has been tried at the Winter Circuit Court at Glasgow on a charge of murder by poisoning , and of two other attempted murders . He was a journeyman tailor , employed by one James Watson at Eaglesham , Renfrewshire , and had paid attentions to Agnes Montgomery , the sister of Watson ' s wife . The girl repelled these advances , and , having learnt that Thomson was a returned convict , warned people against him as a bad character . On Sunday , the 13 th of September , he returned to the house in company with her and his master ' s little girla child three years old—after having taken a walk ,

      though apparently not with Agnes Montgomery , but onlv with the child . All three went up into one room , and shortly afterwards a person occupy ing another part of the same bouse heard a rumbling noise and a heavy thump on the floor of the room in question . Others heard a noise as of a body being dragged along the floor . Four or five minutes later , Thomson and the little girl left the room and came down stairs , and it was not long before a strange moaning was heard to proceed from the chamber . Several of the inmates of the house went thither , but Thomson had locked the door and taken the key away . Another key , however , was produced , and the room was entered . Agnes Montgomery was then found sitting in a chair , with her head leaning on a

      table . Her body was quite still ; froth was issuing from her month ; the left foot was swelled and stiff , and at times she threw back her head as if in distress . She gave several moans and si ^ hs , and expired in about three-quarters of an hour . Previously to her death , one of the women in the house had said to Thomson , who was loitering about outside , " Oh , run for a doctor !' and he did so . A very powerful and sickening smell was observed in the room , and there is no donbt that this was the odour of prussic acid . Traces of that poison were found in the body of the dead woman oh its being exhumed for the purpose of a post mortem

      examination ; and it was proved at the trial that a carriers boy had purchased some of the drug for Thomson the day before the death of Agnes Montgomery . Thomson had sayl it was for dyeing Ins hair , but told the boy to sav to the chemist , if asked any questions , that it was required by a photographer . As Thomson , went to fetch the doctor , he was observed to stoop for a moment or two at a certain tree , where the key of the young woman's room was afterwards discovered . Fragments of glass , as of a phial , were found along the road traversed by him on going for the medical man ; and those who had passed that way just before had not observed

      any . But the strangest part of the story has reference to a subsequent attempt on the part of Thomson to poison a Mr . and Mrs . Mason , with whom he had gone to lodge . On the night of th « 25 th of September ( for up to that time no proceedings had been taken against him in connexion with the death of-Agnea Montgomery ) , ho went into Mason ' s room , and gave him arid his wife , who wero in bed , some whisky , which afterwards made them very ill—Mrs . Mason dangerously so . A portion of this whisky was subsequently analysed , and found to contain prussic acid ; and the carrier ' s boy had obtained a second supply of the poisou for Thomson on the 21 th of September .

      On the trial , tho Judge would not allow some prattle of Watson ' s little girl , 'with reference to the death of her aunt , to bo ropoated by those who had heard it . The child was too young to bo examined ; but tho evidence was of so clour a character , that Thomson was found Guilty of the murder , and was sentenced to death . Ho exhibited a very stolid demeanour during tho whole of the trial . Tho motive for tho murtlor of tlio young woman may have been rovengo for her having discouraged Thomson ' s suit ; but in tho case of tho attempted murders , there seems to have boon no reason excopting a morbid and almo . st insane lovo of poisoning for poisoning's sake .

      It is sniil that Thomson has sinco confessed his guilt . The evidence which tlio little girl would have given , had tho Judge permitted it , has boon published in tho Scotch papers . It is to tlio efl ' eot that Thomson gave the young woman the contents of u bottle which he had with him .

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      No ^ , January 2 , 1858 . ] THE : LjB A D E B . 7

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      Muauuu NifiAK Darlihgton . — Miohaol Turner , a

      collier near Darlington , has been killed in the course of a drunken fight by a man named John Murphy . They fought with hands and feet , said one of the witnesses at the inquest ; and at length Murphy struck the other on the head . with a coal-rake , and broke in part of the skull . Turner fell , ' asked for a drink of water , and shortly afterwards died . Murphy ( against whom a verdict of Wilful Murder has been returned by the coroner ' s jury ) has absconded . Atticmpt to Murder a Policeman at Cardiff . — A French sailor , named Jules Lepault , has been

      apprehended on a charge of attempting to murder a police constable of the Cardiff force , named John Chaplin , who lies in an almost hopeless state at that town . The constable , haviug received a magistrate ' s warrant for Lepault ' s arrest , had executed it , and was conducting his prisoner to the station-house , when the Frenchman drew a knife and drove the blade into the officer ' s side . He then , broke away from his captor , who , however , had the courage to pursue him , till the pain of his wound and the loss of blood compelled him to stop and seat himself on the shafts of an empty car , where he was found by another officer .

      Obtaining Moxkv by False Pretences . —A Mrs . Mary Weston M'Ghie has been charged before the Bath magistrates with obtaining from Mr . Wigins , a laud surveyor , estate agent , and negotiator of money loans , the sum of 280 / . on false pretences . She borrowed from him , at two different periods , the money in question , offering as security a freehold house in Grosvenorstreet , a fourth part reversion in 2000 / . Consols , and a life policy . She afterwards stated that she was acting on behalf of her niece , Miss Adele M'Ghie , adding that that lady was in great trouble , owing to her having a

      profligate father-in-law . Mrs . M'Ghie appeared greatly agitated , and on a subsequent occasion exhibited considerable emotion while stating that her niece had been induced to sign the name of a lady to some document for 250 / ., and that that sum was urgently required to prevent criminal proceedings . The money was paid over to her ; but Mr . Wigins never got the deeds , and it was subsequently discovered that the story about the niece was false . That young lady also appears to have been kept out of the way . Mrs . M'Ghie was committed for trial .

      The Waterloo-bridge Tragedy . —A soldier at the Colchester camp , who recently deserted , and , after being brought back , attempted to strangle himself , subsequently made a statement to the effect that he and a woman were concerned in the murder of the man whose remains were discovered on Waterloo-bridge about three months ago . On the police interrogating , him , he said it was all humbug ; and , when brought before the Borough Bench , he made a similar retractation . He appeared to be mentally deranged , and was handed back to tho military authorities .

      Mukdeu at OvER-DAn \ VEN . T-For some time past , an angry feeling has existed between two men belonging to Over-Darwen , near Blackburn , named Beswick and Marsden , owing to a dispute about some poultry . On Sunday evening , MarsJen was passing by Beswick ' s dwelling , when Beswick rushed out , armed with a poker , and felled the other by a blow- on the head . The ruffian then walked away , and Marsden was convoyed home , but died the next day . Berwick has been apprehended and brought before the magistrate , lie seemed much dejected , ami fainted during tho examination .

      Mit . Auchmutt Glovek . —An application was made to Mr . Henry , at Bow-street , last Saturday , to accept bail for Mr . K . Auchmuty Glover , late M . P . for Beverloy , who wa $ then an inmate of Newgate prison . Mr . Lewis , jun ., of tho linn of Lewis and Lewis , Ely-place , attended on behalf of Mr . Glover , who , it appeared , was apprehended on the 2 ; Jrd ult ., at 30 , Coleshill-street , Pimlico , in pursuance of a warrant signed by Mr . Justico Coleridge . Tlio sureties having boon approved of , tho ox-Member of Parliament loft the court . Assault .- —A man named Thomas Butler has boon examined at Westminster police-court , charged with a murderous assault on Cornelius O'Shocn , a fellowlabouror and lodger . Butler was aided by his son , and

      O'Sheon was seriously stabbed in tho face with a knife . Tlio only motive alleged was that tlio injured man was in tho habit of making n great noiso in going up and down stairs . Butlor was rumuuilod . —A groat many other cases of assault , noino apparently from Christmas excesses in tho way of drink , have coino before tho notice of tho magistrates during tho week . One of tho worst has boon a murderous attack committed by a person named llonry Jossop ou Harrlotto Davis . Ho struck the poor woman on tho head , first with a poker and then with a pair of Lon ^ s , knocked her downstairs , knelt oil her stomach , and robbod hor of some nionoy . Tlio man has buon examined buforo tlio Worship-stroot magistrate , uiuUooiinuittoi . Ufoj . .. triul . — , — . , — , —„— , —^—„_„ TlIIC ClIAKOIQ OK AltSOM NEAR NlCTIlNAL-GUKKW .

      ---James Alfrotl llarman , tho man charged with sotting hla house in Anelior-strcot , Shoroditoh , on firo , has boon reoxamiiiod at Wor .-ihip-stroot , ami discharged , tho evidojuco not being sufllciently clear to load to u conviction . A Child Selling Poison . — James Thomna Worley , a shoemaker , waa dis covered in Bull-lane , Stepney , last Saturday ovouiug , supported by a young man , and ovidontly in grout pain . I'rom tt paper in hit * hand , it

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      OUR CIVILIZATION .

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      OBITUARY . jaL Spencer died suddenly on Saturday night at thorp Hall , tho family seat in Northamptonshire . A rty of friends wore spending their Christmas at his use , and , up to a few hours of his death , ho had beon parently in robust health . Ho was a brother of the ebratod statesman , and had served many j-ears in tho vy , to which , indeed , he appeared to have boon born , ving iirst seen tho light at tho Admiralty , where his her at that time presided . Ho distinguished himself Navarino and iu tho Moroa during tlio Greek war of opondonco , but had not boon afloat since 1828 . Mr . Stephen Mills , well known as an extensive iculturist , died at ISlston llouso , Wiltshire , on Monr week , from exhaustion after an attack of influenza , , h which ho had boon seized a fortnight previously . Ruau-Admiual Lie Cram TuoitNuoitouuii died on

      day week , in tho sixty-third year ol his ago . iip . Alexander Dixie , a distinguished commander ring tho war with revolutionary and Imperial Franco , da few days ago at Bos north Park , near Hiuchloy , cestorshiro . 3 iu Frederick G . Fostek , Bart ., connoctad with the lomatic service for tho last sixteen years , died yoslorr week at Wimbledon . Uajor-General James Qua y , of tho lloyal Artil-[ T-rUod- "on"'thd-21 stnilt :- ~ l-Io-di 8 tlrigui 8 hed- hlmself-nt Capo of Good Hope iu 1800 , and at other places ing tlio war in the early part of tho present century . \ ht . liiciiAKD Furnicsb , a local celebrity , on account lia poems , ' The liug Bag , ' and ' Medious Majus , ' I a few days ago at Do re , near Sheffield , whore ho S oujoyod tho friendship of Kbouo / . or . Elliott aud lies Montgomery . Ho was a native of Eyaiu , in : byaluro , and originally followed tlio business of a rior , but was subsequently u schoolmaster .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 2, 1858, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2224/page/7/