South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Thursday 16 June 1853, page 3


PAINS AND PENALTIES.—The by-laws of the City Council being now in operation, eight of the members of that body have incurred the penalty of 5s. each for non-attendance, or late attendance, at

the special meeting held yesterday to consider the respective propositions contained in the letters re-cently received from Mr. Younghusband and Mr. Hardy. THE NELSON FAMILY.—The fourth concert given by this talented family took place last evening, and we are happy to state the attendance was as good as on any former occasion. As the favourite pieces we may mention—"From our Merry Swiss Home," by the Misses Nelson ; "Happy the Maid," by Miss Nelson ; "Give but the Word" (Norma), by Mr. A. Nelson ; and "Madeline," by Mr. S. Nelson. Miss Nelson's "Auld Robin Gray" was encored, for which "Constance" was substituted, as also was Mr. A. Nelson's "Cimon the Cellarer," and Miss C. Nelson's "Dashing White Sergeant," for which, with excellent effect, she substituted "The Little Gay Deceiver." This latter was decidedly the gem of the evening. The second part consisted of a vaudeville, entitled "Don Leander, or Woman's Wit," written by Mr. A. Nelson, the music for which was composed and arranged by Mr. S. Nelson. The characters were represented in full Spanish costume. The performance elicited frequent bursts of applause. Miss C. Nelson was particularly happy in the personification of the character of Paquita, especially in the finale, in which she truly appeared as a "Little Lady with Grand Ideas." We understand it is Mr. Nelson's intention at the next performance, in addition to the concert, to repeat (by desire) "The Sporting Gent." ADELAIDE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.— The half-yearly examination of the pupils of this institution, conducted by Mr. J. L. Young, took place yesterday afternoon in the school room at the back of Freeman-street Chapel, which had been lent for the occasion ; M. Moorhouse, Esq., in the chair. The pupils were examined in Roman History, Geo-graphy, and Natural Philosophy, and the answers were given with so much readiness and accuracy as to reflect the highest credit on the industry of the boys and the zeal and efficiency of the teacher. Several pieces of poetry were recited, and some of considerable length, but all without any hesitation. Prizes were awarded to Joseph O'Halloran for good conduct, dictation, and Latin ; to Edward Cheetham for Geography and History ; to Edward Hodge for Arithmetic and History ; to Caleb Peacock for Geometry ; to Symonds Clark for Arithmetic ; to John Roberts for Drawing ; to Henry Bickford for English ; and to John Porter for Writing. Certifi-cates were also awarded to Masters E. Cheetham, C. Babbage, C. Peacock, S. Cottrell, F. Hodge, J. Por-ter, H. Bickford, E. Babbage, and R. Ruff. In ad-dition to the usual prizes was a special one offered by Mr. John Howard Clark for the best English essay on the formation of the Roman Republic. Ten essays were sent in, all of which displayed a fair amount of ability, but the essay of Master Payne Hodge was de-cided to be the best. Very creditable mention, how-ever, was made of the two next best essays, which were furnished respectively by Masters J. S. O'Hallo-ran and Edward Cheetham. As a specimen of the ordi-nary exercises in English composition, one of the pupils read an essay not specially prepared for the occasion, on war, which was deservedly complimen-ted by the chairman. There was a very good at-tendance of the parents present, who were evidently highly delighted at the performances of their pro-mising offspring. After the usual compliment to the chair, a vote of thanks was unanimously passed to Mr. Young for the evident pains he had taken with the boys, and which was suitably acknowledged. Altogether the examination was highly interest-ing, and must have proved as satisfactory to the parents as we doubt not it did to the teacher. COLONIAL ART.—We were requested on Sa-turday to look at a large silk banner, at the Prince of Wales, Angas-street, the painting of which Mr. Opie has nearly completed for the Order of Foresters. It represents a very interesting and affecting group— a widow and two young children weeping beside the monumental urn of a deceased Forester, whose pur-suits during life are indicated by the unbent bow resting against the tomb, and the arrows and quarter-

staff scattered on the greensward. In the back-ground, near the widow, is a fine red deer, rendered bold by the death of his former foe ; and beside the children stands the splendid stag-hound, which may be supposed to have aided his master in many a sylvan chase. The little boy points upward, with a sudden flush of joy, to a descending angel, which, smiling benignantly on the group, hovers over the marble urn, and wreathes the monument with roses. The whole conveys the idea of protection to the widow and orphans, one of the first objects of the excellent Society to which the banner bejongs. ENGRAVINGS.—The spacious room in King Wiiliam-street, lately known as the Hall of the Ex-change, has now all the appearance of a minature picture-gallery, its walls being adorned with nearly two hundred engravings from designs by eminent masters. The whole are neatly framed and glazed, and were brought into the colony from England per Ramillies, which arrived at Port Adelaide on the 19th May. They will be submitted to public com-petition next week. STREET NUISANCES.—The following fines were imposed by Mr. Wigley, on Tuesday, on persons against whom informations had been laid by the In-spector of Nuisances :—For obstructing the foot-paths with goods, 10s. each—Messrs. G. M. Galley, W. C. Buik, T. Futcher, and A. Spain, of Rundle-street ; H. H. Bickford, of Hindley-street, and J. V. B. Ryley, of King William-street. For riding or driving, over the footpaths, 5s. each—Messrs. S. Tirrell, E. A. Wright, W. Williams, and H. Thomas. For riding oh the pole of a dray, 10s., John Jen-nings. Informations had been laid against other parties, but, as they did not appear, the Inspector expressed his determination to apply for warrants for their apprehension.

REMAINS OF AN INFANT FOUND.—On Tues-day last, a man named Thomas Searle, a shoemaker, residing at Thebarton, whilst trenching his garden, found a workbox, containing the bones of an infant. The skull was in several pieces, and the hair about four inches long adhering to them. The facts, as above stated, were reported by Searle at the Police station yesterday. MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE.—A young man named Thomas Steers, who was without relatives or friends, arrived at the Port from Melbourne on Sa-turday in a dying state, whence he was conveyed in a Port cart, wrapped in a blanket, towards Ade-laide. It was found, however, that he could proceed no further than Hindmarsh, where he was humanely taken into the house of Mr. Wallis, the Commercial Inn, and, notwithstanding medical aid and every attention was afforded him, he expired on Monday morning. CORONER'S INQUEST AT TANUNDA.—An inquest was held at Tanunda on Wednesday, the 8th instant, before Dr. Dean, Stipendiary Magistrate, and a respectable Jury, upon the body of Margaret Trotter, of Tanunda, who had died on the Monday previous, under the melancholy circumstances de-tailed in the evidence.—Joanna Kiesewitter sworn, stated she saw the deceased for the last time alive on Saturday the 4th instant. Up to that time she had been drinking spirits freely. She was very low-spirited generally when sober. On Monday night, about 10 o'clock, the children called her, and she went to the house. Mrs. Trotter was then dead. Had seen her very drunk several times lately. She was so last Saturday. Her husband was at the gold fields in Victoria. Deceased was about 37 years old. —Franny Trotter said, I am the daughter of the de-deceased, and was living at home when my mother died. I frequently saw my mother drink beer, wine, and brandy. She was sometimes tipsy, but not very often. She was sober all day on Monday, and during the morning was engaged in her work. In the after-noon she sent me to the chemist's shop for a shil-ling's worth of laudanum, of which she took a part, and directed the remainder to be thrown away, say-ing she was afraid the children would get it. Soon after she took this she fell asleep, and never waked again. She had frequently told me of late, and she repeated the statement on the day she died, "You will not have me long with you."—Anna Brock merely said she saw the deceased about 3 o'clock on the afternoon of Monday, and saw nothing pecu-liar in her appearance.—George Heuzenroeder : I am employed in the chemist's shop at Tanunda. On Monday last I sold the witness, Fanny Trotter, three drachms of laudanum for a shilling. She did not say what she wanted with it. I am in the habit of selling poisons to all who apply for them ; but if my uncle is at home, I always tell him of it. I would sell any adult laudanum, arsenic, strychnia, or other poison. I never heard that it was unlawful to do so. I have thought it was dangerous, but I do it because my employer does.—Dr. A. Seiffert said : About 15 minutes before 12 o'clock on Monday night last

I was called to the deceased, and went immediately. She appeared to have been dead several hours ; but that I might do all in my power, I bled her. I found the case hopeless. She has been in the habit of drinking freely during the last two years, but this habit has increased since her husband went to the diggings. When I saw her on Monday night, the skin was pale ; there was no perspiration. I had not heard then that she had taken opium or its tinc-ture. I gave information to the Coroner, and by his authority made a post mortem examination. The brain was, generally, in its natural state. The blood-vessels of the forepart were filled with blood, as is generally the case in congestion, and there was a plentiful effusion of blood in the cerebellum. The stomach was empty, and without the least inflamma-tion ; the lungs were rather overfilled ; heart healthy and without more blood than usual in the right ven-tricle. The contents of the abdomen were in a healthy state. My opinion is, that the deceased died of apoplexy, caused by intemperate habits. I saw not the least evidence of poison from the laudanum. —By the Jury : Persons who are poisoned by opium have generally taken 10 or 15 grains. One drachm of laudanum would not destroy life. Three drachms would kill the person who took it, but one-fourth of that quantity could not. I am in no way related to the chemist here, or under any obligation to him. —The following verdict was returned : That on and before the 6th June, the deceased had been drinking spirituous liquors freely ; and in the afternoon of that day she took a quantity of laudanum, from the effect of which, and the spirits previously imbibed, she died on the same night—the immediate cause of death being apoplexy thus induced—and so the Jury say the deceased, in manner and form aforesaid, com-mitted suicide. A JUVENILE HORSE-STEALER.—A youth of only sixteen years of age, named George Robert Richardson, was yesterday committed for trial at the Supreme Court, by the Police Magistrate, on a charge of having on the night previous stolen, at Grange Farm, Goodwood, two horses, a saddle and bridle, and a set of cart harness, the property of Thomas Overton. The statement made by Mr. Overton was to the effect that the prisoner was in his employ last harvest. That morning he missed one of his horses from the paddock, and the other from the stable. They were worth respectively £100 and £70. He also missed a saddle and bridle, valued £6, and a set of cart harness. His son followed the track of the thief, and he that morning found the whole at Mr. Edward Edwards's premises, Wakefield-street. Saw prisoner with Edwards in the street, and accused him of having taken the horses. Edwards said he had purchased one of them from the prisoner ; but the latter said he had purchased both from a third per-son. Edward Edwards was then examined, and stated that as he was driving a horse and cart to Kensington the previous morning, the prisoner asked his way thither. He invited him into the cart, and the prisoner in answer to his enquiries said he had two horses for sale, which had been carting wood from the Tiers ; but as he had a careless driver, who had smashed the cart, he would rather sell the horses than get a new cart. They were to be seen at the big public-house at Glen Osmond. Went to the Miners' Arms to look at the horses, but they were not there. Between 7 and 8 o'clock that morning the prisoner brought the two horses for him to see. Tried one of them in harness, and found that he did not pull well. The prisoner asked £60 for it. Pur-chased it for £55, and gave him a £5 note and a cheque for £50. The prisoner gave the cheque pro-duced. (The receipt has the signature of H. R. Wales.) Gave up the horses to the police on Mr. Overton claiming them. We have since ascertained that the prisoner is very respectably connected, his father being a merchant in India. STEALING FROM THE PERSON.—Two men, named Thomas Williams and Joseph Gibson, are now in custody, and will be brought before the Police Magistrate this morning, charged with stealing from the person of Joseph Billing, a purse, con-taining £42 in gold, at the Royal Oak, yesterday afternoon about 4 o'clock. The following were found

on the prisoners when searched at the Police-station —Bank receipts for £420, 15 sovereigns, £1 7s. in silver, some coppers, a silver watch, and other ar-ticles. The prisoners and another man were seen by two boys dividing the money at the Clarendon skittle-grounds shortly after the robbery. THE GAWLER TOWN ROBBERY.—William Sturm and George Knox were charged on Tuesday before the Police Magistrate with having feloniously entered the dwelling-house of Mr. Barry Cotter, at Gawler Town, and stolen therefrom a gold watch, chain, and key, with other articles of jewellery. Mr. Ingleby appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Parker for the defence. The prosecutor stated that, on or about last Saturday night week, he was absent from home from 4 o'clock to about half-past 10 o'clock. On his return missed a box from his bed-room. Found it the next morning in a gully near Mr. Coomb's house. It had been broken open, and a watch stolen, value 27 guineas ; a number of brooches, and a gold ring, value between £4 and £5. The female servant was in the house when he left it in the afternoon. When he missed the box he gave information to the police. A black fellow traced the prisoners' footeteps. By Mr. Parker—Could not identify the rings, but could swear to the watch. By the Court—His servant had charge of the box, and kept the key. The watch belonged to him, and the ring and brooches to her. Mr. Ingleby said that as the stolen property had not been found, and the evidence was not sufficiently clear against the pri-soners to justify him even to ask for a remand, he would not further press the case against them. They were accordingly discharged. THE CITY FORD.—The late heavy rains have washed away the temporary bridge at the ford. Pedestrians are thus deprived of the means of crossing the river at that place.