Vrottintial.
The election of a Member for Berkshire, in the room of Captain Ver- non, took place at Abingdon on Tuesday. Mr. Benyon was proposed by Mr. Robert Palmer, and seconded by Mr. Floyd, a tenant farmer. There was no opposition, and Mr. Benyon was declared duly elected.
Walter Scott Douglas, a notorious housebreaker, has escaped a second time from Newcastle Gaol. The first time he took two prisoners with him. The second time escaped alone, showing great skill and daring, and choosing his time with great shrewdness. He forced his prison door with pieces of iron, used a table and chair to reach the inner wall, dropping fifteen feet from its crest into the outer court, rising to the top of the outer wall by means of a stout pole. How he got from the top into the street is not known.
Some persons visiting an old Roman well, now dry, in a wood near Ips- den, Oxfordshire, accidentally discovered that some living person was at the bottom—a hundred feet below the surface. A boy was obtained willing to go down for a reward. He found and brought up a living child. It is sup- posed to have been lowered into the well by its mother. The child has been cared for, and the police are after the mother.
Mr. Thomas Hopley, a schoolmaster, has been committed for trial by the Eastbourne Magistrates on a charge of Manslaughter. He is accused of having beaten to death Reginald Canceller, a pupil. The facts of the case, as stated before the Magistrates, do not tell in favour of Mr. Hopley.
The Jury sitting at Hatfield to determine the cause of theaccidcnt there, terminated their inquiry on Wednesday. The two points illustrated were the effect of the removal of the ballast on the safety of the line ; and the defective character of the rail which broke. It appears that this rail had been taken up, turned, and laid down again. The inspector of the perma- -neat way deposed that he examined the rail, and saw no flaw in it then. The breaking of the rail disclosed a serious fracture, which appeared to have existed for some time in the interior of the rail. The Jury deliberated two hours, and returned the following verdict :—" The Jury find a verdict of Accidental death,' but they think that the rail, in consequence of its being cracked, and of the flange of the rail having been partially knocked off, was -unsafe, but,that the crack was not visible, and was not known to the com- pany or their servants, and that the ballast had not been removed suffi- ciently to effect the safety of the line ; but they nevertheless think that the platelayers should have had instructions to signal to every train, especially express trains, while the points and crossings were under repair. The Jury also wish to state that a more careful examination should be made by a superior officer before a rail is turned at the crossing."
The Sailors' Home, a fine building at Liverpool, was destroyed by fire on Sunday monaing. When the flames were discovered, 120 persons were within the building, chiefly in bed. Two persons, Hardacre a constable, and Clarke, a doorkeeper, were killed, during the fire - Hardacre, by fal- ling from a ladder. It is supposed that all the inmates have been saved, but two are still missing. The building cost 40,0001.; it was insured .41m10,0001. and the fittings for 30001.
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