1 JUNE 1889, Page 27

case is certainly worthy to be reckoned among the causes

caares of modern times. Early in the morning of February 7th, 1879, Edlingham Vicarage was broken into. Two men, by name Michael Brannag,an and Peter Murphy, were convicted of the crime, and sentenced to penal servitude for life. Nine years afterwards, two other men, Charles Richardson and George Egdell, confessed to having been the burglars, and were duly tried and convicted. Brannagan and Murphy were pardoned and compensated. Then the police concerned in the affair were tried for perjury and acquitted. This is the story that Mr. Perry tells at length ; and it was certainly worth telling, though we are left at the end in considerable darkness. The acquittal of the police is, of course, the perplexing element. "The learned Judge remarked that it was a very right verdict ;' and so doubtless it wai, considering the evidence brought forward, the Judge's summing-up, and the issue the jury were directed to try." That is Mr. Perry's com- ment. It certainly appears that there was important evidence

that was not called, and the Judge summed up very strongly in favour of the accused. And here it must be left.