Vraniurial.
The Liberals of York, who boast of being now "united for the first time," have in commemoration thereof, and although their unity did not secure success, presented a dessert service to their champion, Mr. Layard.
Mr. Alderman Heywood obtained 5500 votes at the late election for Manchester, and his supporters celebrated the feat by a tea-party in Hulme, on Saturday evening. Mr. Heywood was, at the same time, pre- sented with a congratulatory address signed by the officers of the com- mittees of the two wards constituting the township, and he was promised their "best assistance if called for at a future time." Mr. Heywood, in the course of his reply, said he could boast that, on his side, not one shilling was expended during the contest beyond what was absolutely necessary.
At the Staffora Assizes, on Monday, William Worsen an innkeeper at West Bromwich, was tried for the murder of Sarah Ann, his wife. The prisoner had been quarrelling with her the day before the murder, and on the morning of the 11th of June ultimo, he said to his wife "get my break- fast." "You get yours as I got mine yesterday morning, when you left me cold tea," she said. There were, "cursing words used on both sides," i deposed Sarah Ann Griffiths, the servant ; deceased was obstinate, would not prepare the breakfast ; her husband took her into the back kitchen ; hit her several times with a child's whip told her, "If I had your gab yesterday, I will not have it to day," and afterwards, as appeared from the evidence, in a paroxysm of rage, threw a pointed carving knife at her, which entered under the left ear, passed through the wind-pipe, and divided the carotid artery and the jugular veins on each side. She died in twenty minutes. In his summing up, Mr. Justice Byles enlarged on the necessity for capital punishments—induced, perhaps, so to do from a juryman having refused to be sworn on the ground "that he thought it wrong to hang any one, and that he should be afraid to find the prisoner guilty." The judge expatiated somewhat at length on the difference between manslaughter and murder. The jury found the prisoner guilty of murder—but they strongly recommended him to mercy, on the ground " that he did not intend to take his wife's life." After the usual forms, the prisoner said he was "not guilty of murder ; " but sentence of death was pronounced.
At the same Assizes four young men, Watkins, Acton, Feredav, and Allen were charged with the murder of a woman, name unknown, at Tipton. They were acquitted of this charge for lack of exact proof. Next they were tried on a charge of rape. It may be remembered that in this case these four men, and many others not apprehended, took advantage of the state of intoxication into which the woman had fallen not only to abuse her foully, but to beat her in a brutal and cowardly manner when she cried out against their inhuman violence. Her body was afterwards found dead. There is no doubt the prisoners were guilty, indeed one confessed his guilt. Watkins, Allen, and Fereday sentenced to be transported for life ; Acton to five years' penal servitude.
At the Stafford Assizes Thomas Rollaaon, a commission agent, was found guilty of forging and uttering a bill of exchange, and sentenced to six years' penal sevitudc. On receiving sentence he fell down and had to be carried out of court.
SI At the Lincoln Assizes,. on Wednesday, Henry Carey, a labourer, twenty- four years of age, and William Picket, aged twenty, a farmer or boatman, were tried for the murder of William Stevenson, at Stickney, on the 17th of March last. Both prisoners pleaded "Not guilty" of murder, but Carey said he was guilty of robbery. The prisoners with two others got into a drunken brawl at the Ship Inn on the night of March 16th. The deceased left about half-past ten o'clock, "the worse for liquor," and was soon fol- lowed by Carey and Picket, who overtook and killed the old man with bludgeons, robbed him, and threw him into a drain where he was found on the morning of the 17th. "A sovereign and a mess of bills," were the plunder. Both prisoners ultimately admitted their presence on the spot of the murder and their participation in the acts which led to the death of Stevenson. Sentence of death was passed upon them.
At the Durham Assizes Sohn Shaft° Wilthew, who murdered his wife at Jarrow in a fit of jealousy for which there was no foundation, was found guilty and sentenced to be hung. An attempt was made to prove that Wilthew was insane, but it broke down.
Sentence of death was recorded against George Benning at the same assizes. His crime was at once mean and foul. He courted Margaret Hodgson, but a quarrel arising, Benning was dismissed. Nevertheless, he induced the girl to visit the factory of a photographer, and while she was sitting for her likeness, he shot her. Happily the wound was not fatal. In this case also Benning's counsel tried to show that he was not a respon- sible agent.
At the Maidstone Assizes two young soldiers were sentenced to ten years' penal servitude for arson. Without any motive whatever, beyond a desire to do mischief, they fired some corn-stacks.
At the same assizes, Webb, a labourer, was charged with wilfully driving a waggon and horses on to the South Eastern Railway. The act was committed at a level crossing, where there were gates but no gate- keeper or any signal that a train was in sight. The horses were on the line before the whistle of the coming train was heard. No accident occurred. The Judge held that there was no evidence to show design, and that under the circumstances Webb probably acted for the best. He told the Jury they must acquit the prisoner ; and he was acquitted.
A large corn-mill was destroyed at Liverpool on Tuesday. Three men, cut off by the flames, leaped from lofty windows and were killed. Six other men suffered serious hurts, and several were still missing on Wednesday.
Mr. Thomas Jeffreys Badger, of Kingsland, Shrewsbury, fifty-seven years of age, shot himself in the right temple, in his dressing-room, on Monday morning and died instantly. Mr. Badger was Alderman of the borough, Vice-President of the Great Western Railway Company, and "a gentleman of great wealth and influence." Several circumstances had recently con- tributed to indicate a morbid state of mind. An inquest was held in the afternoon of the day of his death, and a verdict of "Temporary insanity" was returned by the Jury.
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