Hobarton Mercury (Tas. : 1854 - 1857), Friday 12 October 1855, page 2


Local Intelligence.

Quarter Sessions.-Yesterday morning, the Court opened pro forma, b adjournment at 11 o'clock ; there being no business before it, a further adjournment took place, to Friday the 30th of November next, at 10 o'clock, when Jurors, witnesses and others, whose presence may be required, will have to be in attendance.

CHARGE OF ASSAULT. - Mrs. Susannah Wright of Liverpool-street, at the Police Office yesterday charged Mrs. Alice Smith with as-saulting her on the 19th September, by striking her with a stone on the back, and tearing her bonnet and cap. On being called upon to plead the defendant exclaimed : " Not Guilty ! she tore my bonnet and I tore her's : she is my gossip, and she is jealous of me, so she is ! Here's my bonnet; look at it'" (Laughter.) A witness named Meaburn, proved the assault, and a considerable amount of bad language by the irate defendant, who cross-examined the witness, putting questions, and answering them in the same breath. She called a witness named Knight, who stated, that he saw the com plainant pull hold of the defendant, and strike

her ; ho did not see the commencement of the affair. The Bench fined the defendant £1 and costs, and cautioned her against appearing again in the like character, or she would be bound over to keep the peace.

Promotion of Constables.-There is no

greater inducement to good service amongst any class of men, than the prospect of promotion which ought in all cases to be carried out with a due regard to to the good conduct of the individ-ual. That this practice has not been generally adopted in the Police, we have reason to know, and as regards the promotion of petty constables to the next step of Serjeant, several have been overlooked, whose long and faithful service justly entitled them to consideration. When a vacancy occurs, the applications of candidates are numerous, in most instances exceeding twenty, and while we readily admit the necess-ity of great care in the appointment of the police, we as readily affirm, that'there are many intelligent and active men in the corps, who are fully eligible for the situation of a Serjeant, and, who, by long servitude, are enti-tled to the promotion.

ClIARGE OF OBTAINING MONEY UNDER False Pretences.-Arthur Orton appeared on bail to answer a charge of obtaining, under false pretences, the sum of 10s. from Mr. Elliot on or about the 14th of July last. The charge was heard before Captain Bateman and Mr. N. Gresley. From the statement of John Frederick Dight, it appeared that he left on or about the day mentioned, four sheep skins at the shop of the defendant, for the purpose of being sent to Mr. Elliott's tanner, Collins-st. ; the skins were conveyed to Mr. Elliott's, and the defendant it was alleged received the money (10s.) for them. In reply to Mr. Brewer, who appeared for the defendant, Mr. Dight said he first had the information from Mr. Elliott on the 26th of July ; the reason he did not lay his information sooner was because he had arrested Orton on a " capias," and it might have been considered spiteful ; witness had re-presented Orton as his tenant in the New Market before the Mayor's Court ; he had been a witness against him in the Supreme Court: witness had never said, since that, he would "lag" Orton, right or wrong, but he said he would punish him, if he could, for taking the money from Mr. Elliott for his skins ; witness first applied for a warrant about six weeks ago ; he had applied several times ; Orton had bought sheep of witness, but they were imported sheep; witness told-several parties not to pay Orton any bills for him. Mr. Elliott deposed to the receipt of four sheepskins from Orton on the 14th of July, for which witness paid him 10s. on the 18th of July; he thought they were Orton's skins, and had bought other skins from him : witness had been recently to Melbourne, but was only absent a fortnight altogether. Dight told witness not to pay Orton for the

skins,.but he had already dome so ; Dight said at the time that he would arrange with Orton. Constable M'Guire stated that he apprehended Orton, by warrant ; he told witness that he had not received any money on Dight's account he had made this charge in spite, in conse-quence of his (Orton's) evidence in the Supreme Court. Mr. Brewer briefly addressed the bench and submitted that there was no evidence against the defendant ; the proceeding was malicious on the part of Dight, who had not taken until after the action in the Supreme Court. Mr. Knight, for the prosecution, con-tended that unless it was a pure fabrication the malice had nothing to do with the justice of the case, which was prima facie made out by the evidence. Their Worships, after a short con sultation, dismissed the case.

American Sharp Shooters engaged in the Defence of Sebastopol.-A gentleman of this city has received a letter from a young friend who at the date of the letter was fight-ing in the ranks of the Russian forces at Sebas-topol. The following is an extract from the letter :-" Fortress of Sebastopol. * . . . I am getting along pretty well, although some-times troubled with an attack of fever prevailing here at this time. Myself, with some 450 of the ' Yankee Boys,' have done our share in defending the strongest military works in the world. We are on duty only in the day time, and use nothing but the long American rilfe; Dr. Tenbrock is with us, and some other Ameri-can physicians ; they are employed constantly night and day. We fare well, and are universal favourites with the Russians. * . Frederick Marshall." The letter was received at Bos-

ton but a few days prior to the departure of the mail for California, and the extract is therefore late news from the " Rosso-American Allies." It appears that their services are only required in the day time, when the reconnoitering par-ties sent out by the French and English become cosy targets for the experienced riflemen;-San

Francisco Paper.

Grand Civic Entertainment.-The Right Worshipful the Mayor has issued invitations for a Fancy Dress Ball in the Exhibition Building, on the evening of Wednesday, the 31st instant, and it is expected to eclipse anything of the kind hitherto attempted in this part of the globe. The invitations cover 1500) include the elite of Melbourne society, heads of departments, civil and military ofliceis, members of the Legislative and City Councils, magistrates, the corporations of Geelong, Launceston, Hobart Town and Syd-ney, and a rather unusual trait in such fetes, such a sprinkling of the citizens generally, as will deprive the event of anything bordering upon class or exclusiveness. In the present dull times it will be quite a god-send, and the means of circulating a few thousands of pounds; by which some of the depressed branches of our city trade will no doubt materially benefit.

-M. M. Herald.

Destructive Fine : Sixteen Houses Burnt to Death.-On Tuesday night a fire broke out in the Stables of the Bald Faced Stag, at Epping Forest, when we regret to state that twelve horses belonging to Mr. Janies Lord, (ind four, the property of some other per-son, with a quantity of harness, were literully burnt to cinders. How the fire originated is not known, but is supposed to have been caused by the carelessness of the ostler, in, most probably, smoking in the stable. [Since the above was in type, wc have heard, that two of the horses entered for the Steeple Chase, Mechanic, and the Fine Old English Gentleman, were so se-verely injured, as to be disabled from running at the Midland Steeple Chase, yesterday.]

The Last Exploit of "Dioo."- We abridge from the Cornwall Chronicle the last exploit of this notorious Bushranger:-On Friday last, " Old Swede," a shepherd of Mr. R. C. Gunn,

while tending his dook near the Bitiloek's Hunt-ing Ground, observing a smoke issuing from the scrub : on proceeding to the spot, he found "Dido" and his mate, King, roasting the hind-quarters of a lamb, which they had shot; " Old Swede" began to blow them up, when they very coolly tied him to a log, while they ate their dinner ; having finished, they set the old man free, and gave him something to eat, and then made him take them to his hut, which they rob-bed. They now Weht to the" hut of two of Mr. Gunn's sawyers, where they secured a man, named Newman and his mate, and took away a large quantity of flour, tobacco, tea, sugar, &c, and also a gun, and a watch. The plunder was now divided into three parcels, and the old shepherd and the sawyers were ordered each to take one, and march insingle file through the bush, crossing a river by means of a tree thrown across ; they, then, stopped, and had some tea, and proceeded again towards the Ben Lomond Tiers, having reached what Dido called "his own ground," the men were dismissed to their plun

dered homes. .' Dido" sent by Newman, the sawyer, an insulting message to the ' traps," defying the whole body of them to take him on his own ground : he has two very sagacious dogs with him ; they never bark, but when a suspi-

cious sound or scent disturbs them.

The Forged Cheque.-Yesterday Richard Hewson, who had been remanded the previous day, was again placed at the bar, before Mr. Abbott, charged with offering a forged cheque for the payment of £35 to the Cashier of the Van Diemen's Land Bank. Mr R. T. West-brook was examined, and stated, that the priso-ner came to the Bank about noon on Saturday, and presented a cheque for £35 signed Moses Cohen ; witness asked him to write his name on the back, and he wrote George Giles ; the cheque was paid in Bank Notes : in about three quarters of an hour afterwards, witness discovered, that the cheque was a forgery, when he gave information to the Police ; witness's attention was directed to the cheque by a cus-tomer, Mr Austin, who was in the Bank, when the cheque was paid. Moses Cohen stated, that no portion of the cheque was in his hand writing; he had an account at the Bank of Van Diemen's Land, but he had not authorized the prisoner to write any cheque for him : Mr Thomas Austin deposed to the fact of the pris-oner coming to the Bank, and " presenting a piece of paper, for which he got some Bank notes," witness, then, cautioned Mr Westbrook about the cheque, whether it was a good one or a forgery ; witness did so, from knowing the prisoner to be " a man about town," and a gambler ; he could not be mistaken in his identity. Constable Morley, who apprehended the prisoner, stated, that he took him to the Bank, where he was recognised by Mr West-brook : on searching the prisoner at the Station, witness found £6 in notes, a shilling a half-crown, and some coppers in his posses-sion ; three of the notes were of the Commer-cial Bank, two of the Bank of Van Diemen'« Land, and one of the Bank of Australasia : wit-ness did not tell the prisoner on what charge he was apprehended, until he was taken to the Chief Station. The prisoner was then com-

mitted for trial.

, Charge under the Hiring Act.-Yester-day at the Police Office before Capt Bateman, Charlotte Sehultae, young German girl, about 14 years of age, was charged by Mr. John Steven, of Murray-street, with absenting herself

from her service without leave. The defendant

was engaged bys the complainant on the 28th of May for three month ; she remained for five weeks after that period, and, then, went away without giving any notice. Mr. Brewer who appeared for the complainant, said the defen-dant had undoubtedly acted through ignorance. A person in the office, Mrs. Stuart, informed His Worship, that the defendant was a poor unfortunate girl, i whose parents were far from the Colony. The complainant agreed to take the girl back, on condition, that she should take a month's notice frota thatírjí^Capt. Bate,

roan told lum, to treat the girl kindly, and he promised to1 do so.'' ""' ' '**i »

'Stea^ino'Fowls.-Yesterday Charles Speck was charged before Captain Bateman, nnd Mr. N. Gresley, with stealing on Wednesday, two game fowls of the value of Hi, the ptoperty of John Clayton, of Barrack-street. Mis. Clayton stated, that she saw the i'owls alive at 5 o'clock in the afternoon and 3 hours after, were brought to her dead, by thr servant man : the prisoner had been at witness's house during the after-noon, 'and had been seen twice in the yard, ' where the fowls were kept : George Giorge, the 1 servant man, stated, that he went to the fowl-

house about 8 o'clock, when he saw the priso-ner come out, and run into tho closet : witness picked up the fowls dead, and took the prisoner ' mto custody, niid sent for a constable. The pri-

soner denied the charge, and declared, that he never saw the fowls : there were other persons ju the yard. The Bench adiudged the prisoner to be quilty, and sentenced him to G months imprisonment in the House of Correction.

The Raooed School.-Yesterday afternoon a very pleasing demonstration was made at the Ragged School, in Watchorn-street, when the children were regaled with tea, buns, and cake. Wo counted about fifty of each sex, the girls predominating, and nil were dressed with great neatness. Previous to the regalement of the ton, the children sung some hymns, under the super-vision of Mr. Groy, the City Missionary, and the schoolmaster Mr. Moore. Wa shall'have more to say in reference to this' interesting sub-ject, niid in the menntimc, wo publish the folfollowing statistics, of the school, for the year of its existence, which terminated last Monday. The number of children admitted was SOU ; of rhese fire boys huvc been sent to the Orphan School, arid ' 4 girls ; boys, sent to situations, . 10, and girls .4. About 150 of these children ' have been sent to the school by Missionaries, ' ' and the remainder by private persons : about 25

boys, and 35 girls hove been clothed nt the ex-pense of certain charitable individuals, who tnke a warm interest in the institution. The sum of £25 has been awarded by the Government, of which the moitey of £12 10s, only has been yet

' paid.

, BusiinANOEii Siiçt.-Yesterday morning as Messrs George and john Ritchie, Thomas Law-son and William Doddery were piocceding in a Dog Cart, driving tandem from Launceston to Campbell Town, and when near the Pied Hill, between Snake Banks and Cleveland, a 'man carne out of the bush with a pistol in each hand, and tol'd them to stand. Mr John Ritchie pulled out a pistol and fired, rut without effect ; a second shot however, took effect in the man's Ip'p, when he fell ; the pm'lies then dismounted and the coach coming up at the time, the pri-soner was placed in charge of Mr J. J. Moore and the guard, who supposed he was dying, asked him his name, he replied that it was Jno. Quigley, and said he had no accomplice, and had never killed any person ; he was left in safe

custody at Cleveland.