Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

2 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.

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GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. EXTRAORDINARY DISCOVERY IN AN AUSTRALIAN SHIP. —A very remarkable discovery has just been made in one of Messrs Green's ships recently arrived *n the port of London from Australia. The ship, the Result, was being overhauled a day or two ago in the London Doc!<»', when the skeleton of a man was found, standing upright. He was dressed, but all his flesh had dried up on his bones, and his clothes therefore hang loosely about him. On searching him a sum of twelve shillings in silver was found in his pocket, but no other property of any kind. It is supposed that the man had not the means to pay for his passage, and secreted himself in some part of the ship, and was either suffocated or that, in consequence of the manner in which the cargo was packed, be found It im- possible to escape from his place of confinement. THB RIGHT OF SHOPKEEPERS TO TEST MOXBY.— IMPORTANT JUDGMENT,—Dipple v. Reeves.—This was an action brought before Mr Dasent, at the Shoreditch County Count, London, to recover damages, sustained in consequence of the defendant having broken a half- sovereign, while testing it. Plaintiff stated that he went to defendant's shop to buy some plants, and be handed a half-sovereign to defendant, who put it between his teeth, and deliberately broke it in half. He gave the pieces back to plaintiff, remarking that It was bad. The plaintiff, however, was convinced that it was good, and he had it properly tested by a chemist, who said it was perfectly good. The pieces were then again offered to the defendant, who refused to accept them, and told p laintiff he could try the question, if he were so minded. A witness was called, and stated that he saw defendant4 bite the coin. After it was broken, he said, 'There must have been a flaw in it.' Defendant urged that, when he saw the coin, he expressed a doubt as to its being genuine, and plaintiff urged him to try it. After it was broken plaintiff took the pieces away, and upon his return said he could make 93 8d of them. Defendant offered him the other 4d. Plaintiff: I deny it. His Honour (Mr Dasent): This is a question of some importance, and I can hardly think that the plaintiff could have wilfully destroyed a coin that he might make evidence here to-day. There is no doubt that the pieces produced are those of a genuine half-sovereign, and now it remains to be seen how far the defendant has rendered himself liable. I can nly say that-he has acted most unjustifiably, and that a tradesman must apply sure and gentle tests to the coin of the realm. If he acts roughly and defaces the coin he does so at his own risk, and I think defendant had nsed unnecessary violenOe with this coin, therefore my verdict will be for plaintiff for 10s damages and costs. FATAL ACCIDENT IN CLONMEL.—On the 10th Inst, a fatal accident occurred in Clonmel, from the use of fire- arms, to a little girl named Martha Ross, aged about seven years, who was ahotby her brother, John Ross. The children were engaged in innocent sport in the garden; other children were called in by them to join in their amusements. A room in one of the out-offices bad been fitted up as a show' hung with curtains. The little boy (Johnny Ross), had possessed himself by some means of a large pistol, the property of his grandfather, which was loaded sixteen years ago, and had been lying on the top of a high press in the parlour. For some years this old flint pistol was never seen by any of the family, until found on Wednesday on the spot where it had fallen from the hands of the poor little fellow who was the innocent cause of his sister's death. The pistol was hidden by Johnny in a box, and he and another boy, a young companfein, whom he had coaxed into the garden to show the I real'pistol,* frequently pulled the trigger during the previous evening, but it would not go off, the flint emitted sparks, but there was unfortunately no discharge of the contents. It remained, through a pro- vidential arrangement, to effect its sad and fatal purpose. In the midst of their play on Wednesday evening Johnny took out his pistol: the muzzle happened to be opposite little Martha; he pulled the trigger, and the ball with Whicii- it. had been loaded sixteen years ago, passed the brasst of the child. She ran to her mother, who was in the kitchen with one of the servants—Oh mamma, said the little one 'Johnny shot me I' She took her up in, her arms, carried her to the sofa, placed her gently down, while Dr Hewetson and also Dr Mahony were sent for to afford medical or surgical aid. It was unavailable jl ere they had arrived the child was dead. For a few moments only she breathed—the lung had been penetrated and internal hemorshage caused death. The facts were investigated by a jury, under the presidency of Mr J. J, Shee, when the following verdict was returned—'That the deceased, Martha McMillan Ross, aged about 7 years, came by her death by a gun shot wound, purely accidental, inflicted by her brother, John Ross, aged about thirteen years, while playing in the garden of her grandfather's house,' THE ONLY MOUTHFUL OF SCANDAL.—The small talk of the Cofert has been small indeed (writes the Paris cor- respondent of the Cour Journal.) Out of the races at Longchamps has arisen thd only mouthful of scandal which has been given us to satisfy our incessant hunger for that tempting food. But then some folks think that, like the single lump of sugar taken by the Dutch house- wives to sweeten their fourteen cups of tea, the single bit of scandal is of so nutritious and satisfying a nature, that it will last us for a whole season. On the day of the Grand Race a certain lady of eccentric and irregatar temper—who albeit possessed of many drawbacks in the way of an utter indifference to appearances, a great admi- ration for truth when disagreeable, and peculiar readiness at expresing her opinion when unfavourable—is rather a favourite with her Majesty in consequence of the high position held by her husband, and the persevering love which, the latter bears to the Imperial dynasty-was seated close to the Empress, when a charming young Duke, well known for his lively and generous disposition, catoe amongst the ladies to pay his respects and offer his bet. The lady in question challenged her enthusiast four to one against La Tocques. The wager was looked upon by the listeners as a mere excuse for offering the gentleman a handsome present, without incurripg either refusal or suspicion. La Tocques was at that moment the great favourite of the field, and the idea of the motive which actuated the lady was confirmed by his proposal of making the bet a discretion.' A discretion is much favoured by French ladies with their generous admirers, for it gives them the opportunity of displaying their generosity. Much to the astonishment of the whole company, poor La Tocques being beaten, the lady was proclaimed the winner, and the disappointment expressed on her countenance gave rise to much comment and sly criticism. The gay young Duke, surprised at the unexpected result, awaited the decision of the lady in the choice of the present which the fortune of war had left to her discretion. To his great surprise, in answer to his question concerning the article he should send to her hotel, she replied, 'What I should like best at this moment would be a bonnet At first the astounded young Duke imagined this decision to be a plaisanterie induced by the shower which had just fallen, and some- what injured the bonnet of white crape worn by the lady but his wonder was more and more increased, when the lady declared her serious intention of accepting nothing else, and the loser, of course, compelled to sub- mit by the fate which had left him at his fair adversary's discretion,' had nothing more to do than to order the bonnet from the lady's milliner. He accordingly waited upon that potentate the next morning in person, with the request, mysteriously and darkly put, that she would make a bonnet for a lady whose measure was precisely the same as that of Madame de her customer, that it was the result of a wager, and to be sent to her imme- diately, and the bill to be dispatched to him. What was his surprise, however, on being told that the bonnet had been already ordered by the lady herself, the bill already Seen ordered in his name, and to the tune of twelve han- red francs, in consequence of the trimming of Russian lace with which the lady had ordered it to be adorned! Moreover, de fil en aiguille, it oozed out that the fair gambler had said that as she could not make him a hand- some present worthy of her, according to her intention, she would at all events get one from him. They say the young Duke's eyes were opened at last, and that he went on his way. it not actually rejoicing, it was only the embarrassment of his position which prevented the elation. This not being the first time the lady has thrown dowu the gauntlet, there is not the same alacrity in picking it up, and this causes the hesitation.

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