The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

STAFFORD, A TRAGICAL OCCURRENCE AT 1 On Saturday George Tavernor, a respectable young man, nearly 21 years of age, was examined before the county magistrates on the serious charge of attempt- ing to murder his sister, Miss Ellen Tavernor, a lovely young lady of 23 years. The occurrence created con- siderable interest in the neighbourhood, and great sympathy was manifested towards the mother and Mr. Grindley, the stepfather of the accused, who live upon an estate of their own at Weeping-cross, near Stafford. It appears that on Friday the accused was drinking at a public-house near Weeping-cross, from three o'clock in the afternoon till about seven in the evening, when he returned home the worse for liquor. His mother, Mrs. Grindley, wished him to go to bed, but he made use of some harsh language and threatened to shoot her. She went to a Mr. Laybourn, chief clerk in one of the taxing master's offices in Chancery, who is on a visit to Mr. Grindley's, to go and look after the accused, who in the meantime took a double- barrelled gun, which was loaded at the time, from a cupboard, and went into the grounds adjoining the house. Mr. Laybourn did as Mrs. Grindley had asked him to do, and on going along a lane near the house saw the accused getting over a gate into the road. Mr. Laybourn walked towards him, and was within about fifty yards of the accused when he said, "Stand back, or else I will shoot you." Mr. Laybourn said,! "You won't shoot me, will you George?" but the latter said he would shoot him or any one else. Mr. Laybourn was retiring to the honse when he met his affianced bride, Miss Ellen Tavernor, who walked towards her brother and said, "You will let me pass, ( won't you P to which he replied that he would not. He also said he would shoot her. The gun was then at his shoulder, and Mr. Laybourn said, Oh, do come away, or else he will shoot yon." Mr. Laybourn and Miss Tavernor turned round and was going away when the accused fired off both barrels of the gun, the two shots taking effect in the foot and back of the unfortunate young lady. She was assisted into the house of a neighbour. A surgeon was sent for, and she was afterwards sufficiently recovered to be able to remove to the house of her stepfather. The ac- cused, after he had fired the gun, ran up to his wounded sister and Mr. Laybourn and implored for- giveness. He was given into custody; and from ex- pressions he made use of it would seem that any intent he might have had to do mischief was towards his mother. He was remanded for further examina- tion. It is very satisfactory to know that the young lady's wounds are not considered dangerous, and there is every probability of her recovery.

THE JUDGE AND THE JURYMAN (A Lay of the Liverpool Assises.) [A juryman, named Josiah Carson, a member of the Society of Friends, was fined £10 at the recent Liverpool Assizes, because he refused to remove his hat in court, the judge (Mr. Baron Bramwell) expressing his intention of calling the same juryman again on the following day, when, if he persisted in wearing his hat, a new fine would be im- posed. The next day, however, Carson appeared before the judge uncovered, when Alr. Baron Bramwell told him "that, upon consideration, he had come to the conclusion that, after all, there was nothing intrinsically disrespectfulin Quakers keeping their hats on, aud, therefore, Mr. Carson might resume his hat if he wished to lito so. In the mean- time the fine imposed was remitted."—Newspaper Bejpcrt.] "Take off your hat, sir," cries the judge. The Quaker says "I can't; Conscience forbids." Says Bramwell, Fudge! Uncover, sir." I shant!" Says judge, You're fined. But come again To-morrow. If you dare Still your head-covering retain, Another fine you'll bear." Each on the quarrel slept. Next day Each feels to peace inclined. Quaker says, I'll uncover." Nay," Says Bramwell, "never mind." That both were wrong, both owned they saw (Concession wisdom proving); Nor rests the majesty of law Solely on hats removing. All honour to the judge, say we All honour to the Quaker- The one would no oppressor be, The other no law-breaker. Cassell's Illustrated Family, Paper.

I. ('ATTLE PLAGUE. A Memorandum on the principles and practice of disinfection, as applicable to the present epidemic of cattle disease" has been prepared by Dr. J. L W. Thudichum, by direction of the lords of the council. The paper, which is of considerable length, commences with the following definition and general statement of M Thudichum, by direction of the lords of the council. M The paper, which is of considerable length, commences N with the following definition and general statement of N principles: — "The term disinfection signifies the removal or destruction, and the subsequent rem of the products of destruction, of all matters act" ally being or containing products of disease capable ol re- producing disease in other animals. If the same processes and means as used for this purpose are applied to the purification and deodorisation of places and things not actually infected, but capable or suspected of being infected, then these preventive measures are practically and properly included under the definition of disinfection. The re-pro- ducers of the infectious matter or contagion are all kinds of cattle of the ox tribe, which also are at present in this country the ocly animals liable to its speeifio effects. It is probable that the contagion adheres with particular pertinacity to all secretions and discharges from sick animals. For this reason fmes or droppings, urine, ruminated food, all secretions from the mouth, nose, and eyes, and any sore parts of the surface of tie diseased animals, must be considered as the principal and primary carriers of the infectious matter or plague poison. It is also probable that many parts of animals which have died from the cattle plague, or have been killed during advanced stages of the disease, are infectious, some because they are primarily imbued with the contagion, others because they have been in contact with it after the death of the animal. Skins, hides, hair, horns, and hoofs must therefore always be treated with precautisc. The chances of infection by flesh, fat, cleaned guts, and blood, are, perhaps, mora remote, but cannot be lost eight of. The cattle plagn-3, although affecting every part of the animal, shows its visible effects most extensively in the intestinal canal. It is believed, and apparently upon good grounds, that the intestinal discharges are the principal agents upon the distribution of which mainly depends the spread of the disorder. It follows from the above that all articles which have been in contact with a diseased animal or any of its discharges, particularly its freecs, are capable of carrying the infection for an indefinite time; and must be looked upon as being actually infectious to other healthy animals. Such are racks of wood or iron; cribs or mangers of wood, iron, or stone; articles used for fastening animals, leather collars and straps, ropes and chains all harness of any animals used for drawing, and all carts, wagons, and carriages which they have actually been drawing; the stalls or sheds in which animals have been stand- ing; the whole lengths of the gutters and drains hrough which their urine has been flowing; the entire surface over which their manure has been drawn, and all implements with which the removal has been effected; the entiro dungheap upon which infected manure has been put, and the fluid contents of the manore pit, or of the special receptacle for the urine; yards or sheds in which catrle have been kept to tread down long straw, and the whole of such straw and manure, as also the .ground beneath them; paths and roads upon which diseased cattle have walked or been carried; fields and meadows upon which they have beeE grazing; all carts, carriages, trucks, and railway trucks, in which diseased cattle have been conveyed, and all the platforms, railings, bridges, and boards upon which they have been moved thereto; as also all apparatus which has been used to pen, tie, lift, haul, lower, and fix them; the clothes, and particu- larly shoes and boots, and iron-pointed sticks of drivers, and their dogs; the apparel of all cattle herds or attendants, particularly their shoes and boots; the shoes and boots of all persons visiting places where diseased cattle are or have been standing; and, in general, the clothes of all persons visiting infected places, ships, and all parts of the platforms, stages, stairs and bridges, hoists and cranes used for erabark- iug and landing the animals; markets, and all sheds aud pens and implements used in contact with cattle; siaaghter-housee, and all persons and implements in them which have been employed upon sick cattle, as also sundry parts or organs which come from sick ani- mals killed in slaughter-houses; knackers' y ard 3, trucks or carts, hot ses, men, and implements which have been employed in the disposal of sick or dead animals; wells and ponds from which diseased cattle have been drinking, or into which any portion of their esoreta has had any opportunity of flowing directly or indirectly; all fodder, grass, hay, clover, &c., and particularly remnants of fodder, upon which diseased cattle have been feeding; and, in general, all persons, animals, places, buildings, and movable things which hare .beau in contact with'matters proceeding from diseased cattle, or with such diseased cattle them- selves. To the above-mentioned places and things aaay of the processes and agents enumerated and described in the following may have to be applied." Dr. Thudicbum then sets forth in detail the several practices of disinfection, as by earth (burying); by nre (burning); by chloride of lime, applicable specially to ihe surfaces of things and places; special directions for the disinfection of stables, sheds, vans, railway trucks, und cattle ships, and of persons and things connected with them; disinfection of live stock. A q-o ariiittine shed is next described and recommended, as well as a safety dreBs for inspectors and others who may oome in contact with animals actually suffering from the plague. Measures which should be taken on premises where the plague has actually broken out are set forth at length, as well as a mode of disinfecting meadows, fields, roads, &c. The memorandum is con- olnded with the following general recommendations:— "Ià conclusion it must be pointed out to farmers, dairymen, and all persons having charge of cattle, that the same great measures which are known to maintain and restore the health of human beings will also main- tain and restore the health of cattle. Pure air dry, spacious, well,veiitilatel and well-drained clean sheds; clean and dry meadows; plenty of pure water; frequent ourrying and washing; the prevention of the develop- ment, 'by the destruction of the germs, of internal and ex- ternal parasites, particularly entozoa; proper food, in suitable quantities at proper times; protection from in- ciemfent weather; the utmost cleanliness in the removal of .o mantire; the storing of manure at a great distance from the cattle shed; and, in addition, the most con- scientious observance of the precautionary and disin- fecting measures above described. All these measures and agents together will secure the utmost possible health of stock, and the prosperity of the agricul- turist and dairyman. But the neglect of any one of them will make the stock liable to become infected, 4. and the more so the more several or all collateral con- ditions of the healthy existence of animals are neglected. The negligent man is therefore certain to loBe, to injure his neighbour by defeating his pre- caution, and to damage society; but the watchful and painstaking man will be rewarded not only by the preservation of his property, but particularly by the consciousness that it has been preserved by his own care and attention, and that thereby he has also benefited the state," Meeting at the London Mansion-house. A meeting of the Sanitarium Committee of the Metropolitan Cattle Plague Committee was held at the Mansion-house on Saturday, Mr. Gibbins, chair- man of the Corporation Markets Committee, presiding. Dr. Aldis, medioal officer of health for the district of St. George, Hanover-square, attended with a memorial signed by upwards of forty of the principal inhabi- tants of Wilton-crescent and the neighbourhood, one ef whom was Mr. Norton, the Lambeth magistrate, protesting against the establishment of a sanitarium, as contemplated by the committee, in lunner- ton-street in that neighbourhood, on the ground of the inconvenience it would occasion the com- munity there. He stated that even in the open country the excreta of animals affected by the disease was something fearful, and that he him- self had been ill for nearly two days from the offensive odour which he had experienced at a place in Kent. The chairman (Mr. Gibbins) explained that the object of the committee in establishing sanitariums was to get cowkeepers, whose herds might be attacked, to give to the cemmittee the earliest information of the attack, so that the infected animals might be at once removed to an hospital, with a view to a possible cure, or at all events to separate them as early as possible from the rest of the herd which might be free from the disease; and he complained that the Government was thwarting their exertions.—Dr. Aldis, in reply to the ohairman, said ho did not object to the principle of sanitariums, and if the symptoms of the disease could be early watched by competent persons, and treated by them, great advantage might result in saving the infected beasts. He adverted to a barbarous remedy which was being resorted to in some places, viz., of bleeding the infected animals, and compelling them to diini a portion of their own blood, impregnated with salt. He thought the public should be guarded against all secret and barbarous remedies.-Profprsor Diek, of I the Veterin iry College, Edinburgh, in a communication to the committee, stated that they had been very un- successful in their sanitarium in Edinburgh thirty-six cows having died, and only one being likely to re- cover but in various cowsheds in the City they had twenty-two cows recovering. Much depended, he said, in taking the case as soon as tee symptoms maae their appearance, and that it was owing to the loss of time in getting the cows to the sanitarium and to take the medicine that they had been so unsuccessful. He mentioned a remedy, which was being used there with advantage, viz., on the earliest symptoms to give a quart bottle of linseed oil, witii half a bottle of whiskey or a half to a pound of salts, and repeat the dose next day if the medicine has not operated.—Dr. Whitmore, the medical officer of health for Marylebsns district, reported that the number of cattle usually kept there was 1,313; the number disposed of since June 30, for fear of the cattle disease, 214; and the number disposed of since June 30, in consequence of the disease appearing among them, 712.—Eventually, on the motion of Mr. Eudkin, a resolution was adopted authorising a deputa- tion of the committee to the Lords of the Privy Council, on Monday, at three o'clock, to press the Government for an answer to the application of the committee to be allowed to establish sanitariums in the metropolitan districts. The meeting then separ. ated.

THE MURDER OF MAJOR DE VERE. John Carrie, nineteen, a private soldier in the Royal Engineers, was placed at the bar of the Cenbral Criminal Coart on Wednesday, to take his trial for the wilful murder of Francis Horatio De Vere, one of his officers. The case appeared to create a great deal of interest, and a number of officers belonging the prisoner's regi- ment were among the auditory. The prisoner is a very iino young man, and before the trial commenced he had a long conference with his solicitor, Mr. G. L3wis, Mr. Justice Shee was the presiding judge. The Solicitor-General (Sir R. P. Collier, M.P.), Mr. G-iffard, Q.O., and Mr. Poland conducted the prosecu- tion on behalf of the Secretary for War. Mr. Sleigh and Mr. F. A. Lewis were cousel for the prisoner, instructed by Messrs. Lewis and Lewis of Ely-place. The prisoner exhibibited the most cool demeanour when placad at the bar, and he pleaded not guilty in a firm, composed voice. None of the gentleman called on the jury were challenged. The Solicitor-General, in opening the case, said it was his duty to state the circumstances under which a gallant and distinguished officer in the Queen's ser- viae met his death. Major De Vere at the time he met his death was a captain in command of a battalion of Royal Engineers at Chatham, and he was on parade when a rifle shot was heard, and the deceased fell mortally wounded. At firat there were hopes that he would recover, but those were not fulfilled, and he died shortly afterwards. Immediately afterwards sentinels were posted round the barracks. The learned Solicitor-General briefly narrated the princi- pal facts of the case, which were fully corroborated by a number of witnesses. The evidence was of exactly the same character as that produced for the magis- trate on the committal of the prisoner. Mr. Sleigh defended the prisoner. He said that he could not, of course, dispute any of the main facts of the cage, and he must admit that the unfortunate officer had come by his death at the hands of the prisoner, and the only point upon which he should trouble them was whether the prisoner, in the meaning of the law, was of sound mind and judgment at the time he committed this act. He then went on to argue that the prisoner had brooded over hia supposed wrongs until his mind gave way, and that he com- mitted the act under a homicidal impulse which he could not control, and he therefore contended that he was not criminally responsible. The learned Judge having summed up, the jury, after a short deliberation, found the prisoner Guilty of wilful murder." Mr. Justice Shee then assumed the black cap, and proceeded to pass sentence of death. He told the prisoner to abandon the slightest hope that any mercy could be extended to him in this world, and he ex- horted him to endeavour to obtain pardon from God and save his immortal soul. He then directed that the prisoner should be removed to Maidstone, and from thence to the place of execution. The prisoner did not exhibit the slightest emotion when sentence of death was pronounced.

A CLERGYMAN CONVICTED OF AN ASSAULT. At the usual weekly sitting of the magistrates for the Hundred of Taverham, in the county of Norfolk, OB Saturday last, the Rev. Samuel Hay ward, vicar of Salhousa and Wrexham, was charged with assaulting Sarah Webster, a young girl about twenty years of age, at Salhoase, on Sunday, Sept. 3. The magistrates who adjudicated upon the case were John Longe, Esq., and Colonel Stracey Clitheroe. Mr. Chittock appeared on behalf of the complainant, and Mr. Linay for the defendant. The complainant deposed that she walked from Norwich to Salhouse on Sunday, the 3rd instant, to see defendant, with whom she had been correspond- ing, about some money which he had promised to pay for her. She met defendant as he was coming from church after morning service, and requested to speak to him. He said he would have nothing to do with such a worthless and went to his residence, whither complainant followed him. On reaching the house she rangthebell,anddefendantansweredthesummons. She again told bim what she wanted, when he ]Ksshed her from the step along the gravelled walk, threw her into a bush, and kicked her leg. Shoafterwards went into defendant's kitchen, being very faint, apd had a glass of water, and found that her dress had been much torn. To show that she believed she had a right to go to the defendant's house on the Sunday, Mr. Chittock elicited a statement from the complainant that she went into his service when nearly fifteen years of age, as a general servant. About five months after she had been in his house he seduced her, and fearing that si; a was pregnant she told him, and h0 supplied her from time to time with a mixture of gin, laudanum, and some dark stuff, which he got from a chemist's. He recommended her to leave his service, and promised to get her another situation. Complainant subsequently found that she was not pregnant, and in 1862 she went, at his invitation, with some friends to his house, when he made an appointment to meet her the following day at the White Hart Inn, Norwich. They met, and intercourse took place be. tween them, the birth of a child in July, 1863, being the result. A medical man in Norwich attended com- plainant, and defendant paid one of his bills and promised to pay another, but did not keep his word: and it was to induce him to do so that she called upon him on the day of the assault. It was also adduced that, on one occasion, at the White Harb, defendant promised to marry her when Mrs. Hayward (who was in court during the hearing of the case) died. Com- plainant also said that she could not insure finding defendant at home during the week, and that was why she called on Sunday. She went to a house in Norwich which he frequented, and which was occupied by a Miss Child, alias Harbord, formerly mistress of Salhouse-school, but the "lady" and defendant re- fused to admit her. In a cross-examination complainant denied being too familiar with two persons at Salhouse, and said that defendant, when he kicked her, was wearing the boots in which he walked home from church. The Rev. J. S. G. Cranmer, the curate of the parishes of Salhouse and Wroxham, deposed to meeting the complainant as he was going to perform his afternoon duties, and he observed that she was much exhausted, and that her dress was much torn. When he saw her again on the following Wednesday she had a large bruise upon her arm. Mrs. Denmark, with whom complainant reaides, corroborated the last witness as to the condition of complainant after the assault. She also stated that the defendant on one occasion left a sovereign with her for eomplainant. Mr. Linay, on behalf of defendant, called Sarah Alexander, a servant, who stated that her master did not kick the complainant, that he had on his carpet slippers, and that she fell down upon the path. In cross-examination sha admitted not seeing defendant push the complainant off the steps, and that her master was between herself and complainant. This was all the evidence, and the court was cleared during the deliberation of the magistrates. On the re-admission of the public, Th9 Chairman said to the defendant: We have given this very disagreeable case every attention, and 'I we come to the conclusion, without the slightest hesitation, that we must Convict you. It IS certainly one of the grossest assaults that ever came before this or any other court. I do not I mean to say that the assault in itself is an aggra- vated one, but still it is an aggravated assault, it being upon a woman. Yours is a distinct case, and comes under a clause in which the penalty is heavy. One could hardly believe that a gentleman—I ought not to say that-a person in your position, a clergy- man, having performed his duty on a Sunday, and going to perform it a second time, should in the in- terval assault a young woman, if it bad not been stated upon oath. We have heard other and very disagreeable and most painful and disgraceful allu- sions to what I may almost call facts, which certainly do not came before us, and it is not our duty in any way to dwell upon them but the assault is proved, and we fine you XIO, including costs, in default three months' imprisonment. Hard labour is not mentioned in the clause, we cannot therefore give it. The defendant had not the. money in his possession, and two hours were granted him to obtain it.

ARREST OF FENIANS IN DUBLIN AND CORK. The most intense excitement- was occasioned in Dublin on Saturday by the announcement that the Government had at length dropped their net over the Fenians. About nine o'clock on Friday night a strong body of police, in uniform and out of it, marched from the Castle-yard to Parliament-street, and, without making much noise, drew up in two divisions, one above the office of the Fenians' paper, the Irish People, and one below it. A few detectives formed themselves into an advance guard of the most unostentatious character, went to the newspaper office, and Knocked at the door. No answer. There was light in the house, for the detectives could see it; but there was nobody to let them in. The assailing force retired as noiselessly as they had advanced, and a council of war, held at the top of Parliament-street, determined on the next step to be adopted. The door of the People offiae was quickly broken ia, and the house was instantly filled with police. The constables arrested everybody they could lay hands on, including O'Donovan Rossa, registered proprietor of the Irish People; Shaun O'Clancy, an employe on the staff of the paper; James Murphy, who describes himself as a Citizen of Boston;" Thomas Ashe; and some half-a-dozen others. The prisoners were brought downstairs and taken through the street— some of them to the Chancery-lane police-station, near the Castle, and the rest to the College street station; and the ease with which the constables trans- ferred the members of the Fenian Cabinet from Parliament-street to theplaces of detention was a practical answer to all the talk about the wide-spread and powerful character of the Fenian craze. The crowd displayed the utmost equanimity while the ten illustrious patriots were being lodged in prison, where they were charged with feloniously and treasonably conspiring and combining with divers other evil dis- posed persons belonging to a certain secret society called the Fenian Brotherhood, having for their object the levying of war in Ireland against the Queen, and separating it from the United Kingdom." The police, who had remained in the house in Parliament-street, set to work to seize everything —types, presses, documents, and copies of the news- paper j and a cart having been brought to the door, all the property," which was of a very miscellaneous description, was carried off to the Castle. In order to prevent the news of the arrests from reaching the brethren in the country, police were stationed in the Dublin telegraph offices, and all com- munication with the provinces interdicted. The authorities were particularly anxious that no telegram should go to Cork; and their anxiety is explained by the following intelligence, which reached Dublin on Saturday: CORK, SATURDAY.—The JExaminer states that the most intense excitement has been caused in this city by the arrest, early this morning, of a large number of persons charged with belonging to the Fenian Brotherhood. Between three and four o'clock a.m. a body of police, numbering about one hundred, divided themselves into small parties and proceeded to make arrests in different parts of the town. A sword, pistols, and military uniform were found at the house of one of the parties arrested. The latter include several shopman, an attorney's clerk. an artisan, &c. They have been arrested, it is said, on intelligence given by an informer. A secret inquiry was held at the city gaol this morning, when the prisoners were all either committed for trial or further examination. A battery of artillery has just arrived from Bailincollig. One hundred copies of the Irish People newspaper have been seized by the police." Farther arrests were made in Dublin on Saturday, amounting in all to twenty-two. The prisoners un- derwent a preliminary examination at the head police- office, and being remanded, were sent to the Richmond Penitentiary. There is nothing else talked of in Dublin but the arrest of the Fenians, the seizure of their newspaper, and the Government interference/with the telegraph wires. On all sides, however, the feeling appears to be strongly in support of what has been done, and the forethought and promptitude of the authorities are warmly approved.

ALARMING ACCIDENT AT LIMEHOUSE. An accident of a serious nature occurred on Monday at the head of the River Dock, situate between Shad- well and Limehouse. For some time works have been in progress for increasing the extent and capacity of the dock. At about twenty minutes to one o'clock the engine-driver, working an engine stationed on a platform adjacent within the piles driven to exclude the river, was surprised by hearing a noise resembling the rumbling of artillery wagons over a wooden bridge, and on looking between the timbers he perceived a large body of water surging into the dock. An alarm was immediately given, and the inmates of the houses were aroused and left their beds. A beer-house (the Sir John Franklin) standing beside the dock entrance was immediately undermined, the proprietor, with his family, quitting the premises. It was at first supposed that the water had broken in within the dock itself through a sewer, but on examination this proved not to be the case. Mr. Elliott, clerk of the works, was early ia attendance, and at once gave directions for stopping the traffic across the mouth of the dock. A crevice had been observed along the roadway the previous afternoon, but was not, it seems, reported. The damage done in leas than one hour from the in- road of the water was very great, and will cost the contractor many thousands of pounds to repair. Fortunately no lives were sacrificed. At daybrjak on Tuesday it was found that the water had mined the soft earth from the left side of the dam, making a fissure of great depth. Gangs of workmen were at once employed by Mr. Elliott, who is the general manager of the works. A strong breast- work of timber, filled in with clay, has been against the further inroad of the tide, and tbe threatened as securely shored up as circumstances would admit.

A BAD CUSTOM IN NEWGATE MARKET. At the Sheriff s-court, Red Lion-street, on Saturday, the case of Sketchley v. Elliott was introduced. The plaintiff, a salesman, of Newgate market, sought to recover from the defendant, a retail butcher, < £ 113s. for some beef, and arose out of the custom pursued by the salesmen of Newgate-market of not giving a reeeipt when money is paid for Upon a former occasion hia honour (Mr. GKbscmsl declined to decide between the parties, as the plaintm swore he never received the money, and the aa positively swore he had paid it. Cta Abbott examined the plaintiff as to the ru e pursued in giving tickets. Plaintiff said that when a person had weekly credit, the custom was only p t on the ticket the weight and price of the ^mea ut when the customer was only casual then the price was oarried out. Plaintiff's brother Baid he was present when de- fendant was spoken to about tne alleged non-payment, and defendant said he would think about it. George Larkin said that the meat was not paid for when taken away, and the defendant asked if the plaintiff would mind its being left till the morning. Defendant declared, that he had paid for the meat at the time. Tie custom was when the meat was not paid for to SLV0 J? only the weight and prise, but when tne money was paid the price was oarried OUT. His Honour: Do you mean to swear that you paid fer this meat? Defendant: I do. His Honour: In what coins ? Defendant: One sovereign and a half sovereign in gold, and three separate shillings. j-S, nour having summed up, the jury found a verdict for the defendant. His Honour said he could not quarrel with this verdict, though it was a kind of +^8i • s^ou^ n°t have decided himself. He did not think it was a case of hard swearing, but a mistake had occurred somewhere, and each party believed he was telling the truth.

The oyster is emphatically the one edible that must not be chewed it absolutely requires swallowing at one gulp. Accordingly, we find our ancestors, in their proverbial wisdom, taking the coming in of oysters aB synonymous with the going out of summer. To what else can we attribute the universally-accepted axiom that "one swallow"—obviously alluding to oyster- eating—"one swallow doesn't prove it iiummer? Cassell's Family Paper.

1HE LATE OHARGE OF CONSPIRACY AND PERJURY. Weare indebted to the Morning Star for the follow- ing digest of the Valentin-Bouillon case, which promises to be about the longest and most complicated in the recent annals of our law courts. Now in the presence of a police magistrate, then before a judge at nisi prius, then before a police magistrate again; next before the Recorder of London, and then under different aspects before various police magistrates, it has been reported bit by bit, until those who have not watched it narrowly must wonder what it is all about. Everybody concerned in it appears at one time or another to have been chasged with perjury, forgery, o.. felony. There is a saying among barristers when any case of hard swearing turns up that it is as bad as a trial in respect to the warranty of a horse or a suit in the Admiralty Court. Horses and ships have been regarded as soecially provocative of perjury. They will have now to yield the palm to the Valentin case. From first to last it is, perhaps, as dirty a piece of business as can well be conceived. Where the truth lies it is impossible to say. (Edipus himself would be puzzled to solve the problem. In- deed, so numerous and intricate have been the pro- ceedings on the one side and the other, that a large stock of patience has been necessary to read through them, and a still larger stock of patience to endeavour to make out of the tangled web a plain story. Let us here tell it as briefly as possible, without endorsing the statements on the one side or the other. In 1830 there lived at Bordeaux a M. Danvere. a man in a fair way of business, prosperous, but un- married. In that year he made the acquaintance of aiaue. Louise Pierrette Valentin, then a book-keeper i few months afterwards Mdlle. Valentin went to lira with M. Danvers as his wife, and they co- < habited together for upwards of thirty years. M. I Danvers had an illegitimate daughter by another woman, and this child was brought up by Madame alentm until, m course of time, she married a M. j Bouillon. Here, then, are all the parties to the diffi- I culty originally. In 1861 M. Danvers retired from business, and went with Madame Valentin to live in Paris. There she was introduced everywhere as his wife. In September, 1862, he became ill, and then ex- pressed a wish to marry his mistress. The necessary notices were given to the civil authorities, and the 17th of September fixed for the wedding. On that day, however, he died. He left a will and codicil by which he bequeathed a legacy of 4,000fr. to Madame Valentin, and sundry legacies to his relations and friends. By the lawofFrance, Madame Bouillon, his adopted daugh- ter, was entitled to all the property left by him be. yond that which he had specially devised. Thus the difficulty arose. It was known that M. Danvers had a large number of shares in different railways and other undertakings, and these Madame Bouillon as heiress sought to claim. They were not to be found, however, and Madame Valentin was charged with stealing them. Here it may be noted that Madame Bouillon denies that Madame Valentin was more than a favoured servant to M. Danvers. On the 4th of December, 1862, Madame Valentin was arrested and brought before the Juge d'Instruction of the Department of the Seine. There she seems to have denied that she had more than a few of the missing shares, and these she declared M. Danvers had given her. The court did not believe her statement, but sentenced her to six months' imprisonment, and afterwards to pay the yalua of tne missing shares. She went prison and remained there until the six months had ex- pired. Afterwards she made the acquaintance of Jeall Lafourcade, who was in some way connected with 9 1 club of stockbrokers, and, indeed, went to live in the same house with him and his wife. A little later B}6 went to Bordeaux, and remained at that place til* July, 1864, when she returned to Paris. In Septe#* ber of that year Lafourcade sold for her some 0 the shares and handed to her the amount he had re- ceived for them-94,OOOfr. Immediately afterward she and Lafourcade came over to London. And now we have the beginning of the proceeding in England. M. Bouillon found that some of missing shares had been sold, and that MadalXl 0 Valentin (who had assumed an alias) had come to England. He consulted a M. Hall, an attorney Paris, and he instructed his brother, an attorney & London, to endeavour to get the property ft001 Madsyu«» *'Uo o £ fcb* treasures he took there is a good deal of d»ubt. Wh*" f is clear is that Jean Lafourcade, in consideration of 9 sum of -6430, undertook to help in theTecoverVofV shares. An action was commenced against kadibull Valentin, and in December, 1864 LsfOur, i cade and a man named Coulane swore oflid»; vits before Mr. Baron Martin that they repeatedly heard her eay she was going to America j evade the trial of the action. Upon this a writ °\ capius was issued, and Madame Valentin was arrestee on the 5th of December. Then a sham writ was Ptft into the hands of Coulane," and he pretended that was arrested and should be retained in ouatody Madame Valentin gave him the means of obtaining ^)S release. Under the impression that she was caosi*^ release. Under the impression that she was caosi*^ his incarceration, she told him that a portion of property was in a black bag at the hotel in T>e9f{ street, Soho, where she had been staying. Mr. J? Coulane, and Lafourcade went' there, indti"0 the landlady by some means or other to give the bag, and, cutting it open, Mr. took out share scrip and coupons which it Meanwhile the action ag;ainst Madame Valentin Pr^" ceeded, and as she was in prison it was undefen^0 and the verdict went against her, of course. She se- cured the services of an attorney, however and a trial was applied for. and granted. It took £ June last, in the Court of Exchequer, before Barron Pigotfe. Madame Valentin was brought Vf from prison to be examined for the defence, and sfi then stated that, finding he could not be married, Danvers told her on his deathbed she was justly,*11, ) wife, and therefore entitled to half his and in order that she might possess it he I parcel containing 100,Q00fr. and the shares in qaesti^ j These she deposited with a friend whose name »• £ refused to disclose. The jury, after hearing the | dence of the facts we have summarised, found a v0r \je I for the defendant Madame Valentin. Jean was examined upon that trial, and showed, to veryP°ht advantage. No sooner was it over than he was bro0^ tf before a police magistrate ana charged with VeXftup in the affidavit which he had sworn to procure th, i defendant's arrest. He was committed for trial, ana i| the case was heard at the Ceatral Criminal before the Recorder on the 15th and I6fch Au!„ lafourcade was found guilty s6/i +t? • eighteen months' u LUry ensured Mr. Hall for the i n which he had obtained possession of the bag °„„& I prosecutrix. She was examined on the trial. j never was in London before the „\i- ^bth of September, 1864. On the 21st of August, aP?L. | cation was made at the Marlborough-street PQl court for a summons against Mr. Hall and othef9, gj conspiracy to obtain the arrest and imprisonB»0P j Madame Valentin, the offences consisting of affair with the false affidavits of Coulane and cade, the falsity iof which, it was allege" [w I Hall was not merely cognisant of, but bf ifoig I stigated. The ohief evidence in support °K foe charge was to be that of Coulane, who h»^ nye* i trial at the Central Criminal Court g°ne a«?I to the side of Madame Valentin. The at granted. On August 23, application was i?^nti»> f Guildhall for a summons against Madame *f «!0& to answer a oharge of perjury in that she 11%^ d > she was not in London before the 25fch °T September, whereas she had been here wi^ ] cade on the 9th or 10th of September ende??ane0 fruitlessly to sell the Bhares. Part of the evid0".s & support of this charge, besides the t0 \>e j several witnesses, was a memorandum, jyob I in the writing of Madame Valentin, thie had been abstracted from her bag. 1 oharge was pending a summons was taken <a3 jjft j Hall against Coulane for perjury, but been found. On the other hand, Mr. Hall abo^0' 1 charged with forging the sham writ alluded of j I but Mr. Arnold has refused to send him f0 the ground that it is not a forgery in la>w; forg^f A has also been arrested, and charged bov0* I additions to the doeument by the aid of whi? fb} .) to prove Madame Valentin guilty of PeTJ et^f' 1, oharge Alderman Carden refused -nitfced Madame Valentin has, however, been trial for perjury, and her case will next sessions of the Central Criminal while the oharge of conspiracy against J»r. rUie over. Finally, M. Bouillon has obtained for a new trial of his action against rjerty>, a*L for the recovery of the shares and other p jaa it will have to be argued in November »<»*• Jt not yet done, therefore, with the ch.^J^Yery B°° 'all pobability, be mu,1 however, injall probability, be mudasimp