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Duffy examined him , on perceiving blood flowing from underneath his trousers , and discovered the -wound . The woman came into the room at this juncture , and Kay shook her by the hand , and said , " I forgive you . " He then fell back and expired . Subsequently , the woman gave herself up to a police-officer , and she has been committed for trial . Reports on Convict Prisons . —A small blue-book , published by order of the House of Lords , contains reports from the directors of certain convict prisons on the discipline and management thereof for the year 1855 . As regards Pentonville ( Model ) Prison , it is shown that the conduct of the prisoners has been much the same as in former years , and that , with a daily average of 508 ,
there were 749 reports of misconduct , and 560 punishments awarded . Out of 991 prisoners last year , 708 were not punished , while the number not punished in 1854 was 662 ( out of 925 prisoners ) , in 1853 , 742 out of 981 prisoners , and in 1852 , 993 out of 1278 prisoners . This test , on the whole , is indicative of the good conduct of the prisoners . Of the 991 prisoners confined in 1855 the greater portion were transferred to other prisons , « nd 261 remained at the close of the year , 1 prisoner was pardoned freely , and 1 committed suicide ; 43 were under 17 years of age , and 212 between 17 and 25 . The total cost of the prison for the year ended the 31 st of March last ( exclusive of buildings ) amounted to 15 , 295 / ., reduced to 14 , 379 ? . net . The total earnings of prisoners
amounted to 3699 / ., there having been 196 tailors , 94 weavers , 95 shoemakers , 76 matmakers , 15 bricklayers , smiths , and carpenters , and 9 cooks and bakers . The health of the prisoners has been pretty good , and the mortality is considered very low . Two prisoners were removed to Bethlehem as insane , and four were * disturbed in their intellects , ' but recovered . At Portland , the general conduct of the prisoners has been good , and their industry satisfactory , although some discontent is felt by some at the manner in which their sentences are carried out—a discontent which at one time broke out into open rebellion . At Dartmoor , there were 937 prisoners on the 31 st of December , 1855 . The conduct of the mass of prisoners has been satisfactory on the whole ,
but there is a marked difference in the bearing of the prisoners under penal servitude from that of others under sentence of transportation , arising from the discontent of the former at the different regulations , as regards any remission of imprisonment , as compared with those prisoners who were discharged on license after a certain period . Means have been taken to allay this discontent . The chaplain speaks favourably of the moral and intellectual status of his pupils . In Portsmouth Prison there were 1019 prisoners in confinement last December , and their general conduct has been good . The same
illfeeling is noticeable here as elsewhere on the part of the ' penal servitude' convicts . The report on the ' Hulk Establishment' shows that there were 1361 prisoners at the end of the year , whose conduct generally was good . The value of the labour performed by a daily average of 622 men was 16 , 621 / ., and the total value of the labour from both hulks 19 , 411 / . The expenses amounted to 45 , 700 / . The ensuing discontinuance of the hulks on the opening of Chatham Prison is a source of great gratification to all concerned in their management . 633 prisoners were let loose on license during the year . — Times .
A Military Romance . —A private in the Coldstream Guards , named James Orpin , apparently about fifty years of age , and having upon his breast a Crimean medal and four clasps , besides three good conduct stripes upon the sleeve of his uniform , was brought before the Bow-street magistrate , charged with attempting to commit suicide on Sunday morning by jumping from a steamboat into the river Thames . It appeared from the evidence that while Inspector Thomas , of the Thames Police , was on duty at the station-galley , near the Adelphi-pier , at about half-past nine in the morning , he saw the soldier go on board a halfpenny steamboat , run quickly across the deck , throw off his leather belt , and jump into the river . The inspector immediately
called his men to tho oars and proceeded to the spot , where they caught the man ' s body with tho boathook , and succeeded in getting him into tho boat . He remained breathless for some little time , and then called to tho crew , " Oh , let mo drown , pray let me drown ! I did not know you wore so near ine . " Ho made several attempts to throw himself in again , struggling very hard with tho men , until tho inspector threatened to handcuff him if he did not remain quiet . On being asked what motive he could have for destroying his life , lie replied , " My wife , my dear wife , whom I loveil so trul } -, has left mo . " Ho was then taken to Bow-street . The colour-sorgeant of tho regiment , who also woro tho
Crimean medal and clnspa , hero stepped forward and informed tho magistrate that Orpin , who had been on duty throughout tho lato cuiupaign , was ii moat cflicient soldier , and bore an excellent character . Ho had uent home a great deal of money to his wifo during his absence in tho Crimea—more , perhaps , than any other man in th © battalion ; and when , on reaching homo again , lie handed her every penny of his savings , she suddenly aijacondod from him , having , it was boliuvcd , formed an adulterous connexion witii unothor man during her husband ' s absence . Ho hud been married about fourteen yoara . Mr . Hall , tho magistrate , udvLsod him , an a soldior , not to waste u tear on a woman who was ovldontly unworthy of him . Ho replied : — " Take niy
word , your worship , I will not attempt it again . I had better go to the barracks . That will be the place for me . I had leave , as a married man , to live out of barracks . But now I must go back . Let me go -with the sergeant . " Eventually he was given up to the sergeant , who undertook to look after him for the present . Attempted Suicide . —Mary Ann Routledge has been brought up at Marlborough-street , charged with attempting to poison herself with oxalic acid while in a fit of passion , the result of habitual drunkenness and debauchery . The stomach-pump having been applied , her life was saved . A few days previously , she had attempted to cut her throat , and had indeed inflicted so severe an injury on herself that it was found necessary to take her to the hospital . She now promised to reform ; and her father having declared his willingness to receive her and let her have another chance , she was
given up to him . * ' Improving' the Occasion . —No less than twentysix persons have been brought before the Lambeth magistrate , and remanded or committed to prison or for trial , on charges of picking pockets on the occasion of the Guards' dinner at the Surrey Gardens on Monday . Our Clerical Civilization . —" A Curate" writes thus to the Times : — " Allow me to place before your readers the following distressing case of a poor , penniless , friendless curate : —For a period of not less than twenty-five years has he been labouring as a parish priest . I am informed that he has worked hard , is a clever man , and has first-rate testimonials . He is now on a bed of sickness , suffering most acutely from * caries
of the vertebrae of the neck . ' He is unable to raise himself in bed ; his sufferings are intense . He has for some time been performing alone , though in ill-health , the entire duties of a parish in Essex , with a population of 1300 . His stipend has been only 80 / . a year , with the use of a damp , ill-furnished little house . Out of this miserable remuneration , he has for some weeks been compelled to pay a clergyman for discharging the duty ; his resources are exhausted , and he has no relatives or friends to fall back upon . The Church for him provides no retiring pension . The vicar of the parish has
been non-resident for many years ; his clerical income is 390 / . per annum , according to the Clergy List ; he has besides a large estate in Ireland , where he resides . He offers no assistance to the poor bedridden curate . It is hoped that the Christian sympathies of the public will be interested in behalf of this most distressing and deserving case . It has been advertized . Subscriptions will be thankfully received by Mr . G . Nicholas , 3 , Abchurch-lane , London ; or by Messrs . Willis , Percival and Co ., bankers , Lombard street . " Another correspondent of the Times questions the truth of the
statements . A Near Approach to Felony . —Thomas Norton and Thomas Ewer were charged at Westminster with being unlawfully in possession of eight 5 / . notes , the property of Sir Benjamin Hall , M . P . The notes were dropped in a pocket-book by Lady Hall ; and , according to his own account , Norton picked them up , kept them for some time , under the belief that they would be advertized for , but , finding that such was not the case , appropriated them to his own use . They were afterwards paid away by the prisoner Ewer , but , the numbers having been stopped , they were traced , and Norton and Ewer were apprehended . The magistrate was of opinion that Norton should have put an advertisement in the papers ; failing to do which , it was a very dishonest act , and one nearly approaching a felony , to appropriate the notes . The money was then returned to Sir Benjamin Hall , and the prisoners were discharged .
A Clever Youth . —A respectable looking youth of sixteen has committed an ingenious robbery . Knocking at the door of a house in Charles-square , Iloxton , he naked the servant girl to allow him to go into the back premises to look after a pigeon which had escaped , and flown over the wall . The servant said she would ask permission of her mistress ; and in her absence up-stttirs the lad entered the parlour , and carried off a gold watch , a gold chain , and a silver snuff-box , worth altogthcr 25 / . When the girl came down again , tho thief had vanished with his booty ; but he had been seen to issue from the house , and he was ultimately captured by a policeman . None of the property was recovered . George Tye , the lad in question , having been brought before tho Worship-street magistrate , was committed for trial .
Kmhezzlement . —A man of respectablo appearance , and about forty years of age , named Hill Wilaon Willis , was brought before Robertson Gladstone , Esq ., at the Liverpool police-court , on Saturday , charged with having embezzled tho sum of 420 / ., tho property of his employers , Messrs . Harmood Banner and Son . Ho was remanded . The late Flour Seizure at Wakk * -ieli > . —The sanitary inspector of Wakolicld has been served with a copy of uu Exchequer writ of summons , at the iiiHtunee of Messrs . John Jackson and Sons , defendants in the late case of flour adultorution , for what they conceive to be tho unlawful and improper HQizuro then made . The damages , ub stated in the preliminary notico of action , are luid at 2000 / .
A ' ltKm » K < : TAHLifi' Tmrcir . —Eli / . uhoth Prout , a married woman , residing at No . " 20 , Great . Corum-streol , Brunswick-square , was charged nt Clorkeuwell with atoiiling from an oil and colounnan' » shop three pounda
of candles of the value of 3 s . lOd . She had made a slight purchase and was going- away , when the shopkeeper perceived something under her shawl , which turned out to be the candles . . She appeared ( according to the shopkeeper ' s account before the magistrate ) to be very much excited , and , in answer to a question -from him , said she had got a packet of candles which she was taking up to the counter , and which , with some other goods , she required him to send home to her house in Great Coram-street . However , she was given into custody , and was committed for trial . Bail was accepted , several persons giving her a very high character .
Desertion of a Wife . —Mr . Glanville , optician , of Wilton-terrace , " Vauxhall-bridge-road , appeared on Tuesday before Mr . Arnold , on his own recognizance , charged with having neglected to support his wife and family . The case was heard on Saturday last , when , upon receiving the evidence , the magistrate ordered Mr . Glanville to undergo one month ' s imprisonment , with hard labour , in the House of Correction ; but , there being some irregularity in the proceedings , the accused was again brought up . It then appeared that Mr . Glanville had proposed to his wife terms which had been accepted , and he w as therefore only held to bail to appear again when called on . The Supposed Murder at Hampton Court . —The
body of Lewis Solomons has been disinterred , and from a post mortem examination , it appears that the man must have been shot , several large swan shots being discovered in the left lung . The stomach and other portions of the body were taken away , to ascertain by analysis whether any poison had been administered ; and the corpse was again buried . It is a singular fact that none of the garments were perforated by the various wounds : it is clear , therefore , that the clothes were changed after the man was murdered . The police have no clue to the assassin or assassins ; nor have they been
able to discover anything of the large sum seen in the possession of Solomons on the day he was missed for the first time . The body , when taken from the ground , was in a dreadful state of putrescence . The inquest was resumed on Thursday , and further adjourned . Gray , the seducer of Mrs . Solomons , was examined , and imputed a revengeful feeling against Solomons to Davis , his brother-in-law . A Mr . Samuels deposed to seeing Solomons with a pistol and some pea shot on the 21 st of July ; and it further appeared , from statements made by the police , that the deceased had been seen alive after the day mentioned in the depositions .
Alleged Attempt to Fire a Coal Mine . — Two men , named Griffiths and John , were charged before the magistrates of Tythegstone , South Wales , with having wantonly endeavoured to set fire to the Cefor Colliery in the neighbourhood of that town . From the evidence of several witnesses , it appeared that the prisoners had complained that the pit was in a dangerous condition , and that the gas had already exploded . The manager of the mine therefore inspected the pit , when he found the statement of the two men to be quite false ; besides
which he observed certain tokens that convinced mm an attempt had been made to fire the mine from the trialhole . Part of a coil of fusee , having attached to it a piece of paper rubbed over with gunpowder , was discovered near the spot ; and , on further investigation , the manager learned that the accused had been previously seen descending the shaft , one of them having in his hand the coil of fusee of which the remnant was afterwards found in the pit . The men were committed for trial .
Desertion of a Child . —An attenuated woman , named Sophia Mayhew , is under remand at Worshipstreet , on a charge of deserting her infant , and leaving it exposed in the streets at night . It was found by a policeman , who conveyed it to the workhouse , where the mother at length called to see it , when she was given into custody . Desertion of children has been common of lato in the parish of Bethnal-grcon . Manslaughter . —John IIodsqn _ J _ ones , {^ warehouseman , forty-five years of age , has been found Guilty at Liverpool of tho manslaughter of a woman , his cousin , to whom he was engaged to bu married . He knocked her down , apparently without provocation , and it would seem that he afterwards jumped on her . He was sentenced to transportation for life .
A Refractory Artilleryman . —An act of savage violence has been committed on the governor of Maidstono Gaol by a private in tho Royal Artillery named Thomas Smith . The man , who was undergoing a punishment of nine months' hard labour for having committed a burglary at Shccrnoss , was brought before Mr . Bone , the governor , on a charge of breach of prison discipline . After undergoing some examination , Mr . Bono directed that Smith should bo punished for the offence ho had committed , on which tho latter flung a great stone ho hud about him at tho governor . Had it struck him , the consequences would , in all probability , have been very . serious ; but fortunately Mr . Bono lowered his head in time to avoid the nii . s . silo , which , however , broke to pieces Homo furniture that was Ht . imding against tho wall of tho room . Being afterwards taken before a mngistrute , Smith , who was declared by his sergeant-major to be ' one of the most violent and untumcablc men ho had ever known , '
was ordered to receive three dozen luab . es . This sentence was immediately curried into effect . Adulteration . —Mr . Simon Pope , a maltster and brower , of Crcditon . ha » boon finod in tho mitigated «"""
Untitled Article
August 30 , 1856 J THJB LEADER , 825
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 30, 1856, page 825, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2156/page/9/
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