with can-hooks attached to it. He appeared to be quite dead. The body seemed almost smashed to pieces. The cask, by the measure ment, was upwards of a ton weight. Joseph Jones, an intelligent little office-boy, said he was in the warehouse when the accident happened. The casks contained from nineteen hundredweight to twenty hundredweight each. Two men, Patrick Wilden and David Davis, attended the jigger-rope and breakrope, and they hoisted and lowered as they were directed by some one below. There was a cart in front to receive the madder, and it was Bell's the carter's, duty to receive it in his cart, and Bland's duty was to take the weights, &c., for his employers, and also to deliver the goods. There was no one else but the two prisoners, Bland and Bell, and the witness in the room. The can-hooks produced were attached to the jigger-rope. Bell took one hook and Bland the other, and fixed them on the chime at each end of the cask. Bell held the break-rope in his hand, and by means of it communicated with the men in the jigger-room to hoist, which was done. When the cask, the first that was delivered, had gone down about three feet, the chime at one end of the cask gave way, and it fell. Neither Bell nor Bland looked out previously to ascertain if anybody was passing, because the cask was so large they could not do it. Bell immediately looked out of the door, and said, “Oh! God! there is a man killed!" and he went down stairs immediately. Witness looked out immediately and saw a man killed. He was lying with his head towards his feet, doubled up. The deceased appeared to be dead, and quite flattened.

Mr. John Foster, a coppersmith, said he had seen the body, and recognised it to be that of John Ellis, his late partner's brother. The deceased was about, he believed, forty-five years of age. He was a master mariner.

The two prisoners were then voluntarily examined, but their statements did not add any new feature to the testimony of the previous witnesses. They both averred that they paid proper attention in lowering the cask.

The Coroner addressed the jury at some length, pointing out the several acts that constituted murder, manslaughter, and misadventure. If the jury were of opinion that the death of the deceased was accidental, they had still the power to levy a deodand to any amount they thought proper.

After deliberating for about a quarter of an hour the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death," with a deodand of 501. on the cask of madder. The jury also expressed a hope that merchants and others would not, in future, permit the use of can-hooks for such packages, but employ proper slings.

The prisoners were then discharged.

5. EXTENSIVE AND DESTRUCTIVE FIRE. Late this night a dreadful fire, involving considerable loss of property, was discovered raging on the premises belonging to Mr. Ritchie, lifepreserving apparatus manufacturer, and dealer in wines, No. 67, Gracechurch-street, near the north-west corner of Fenchurch

street.

The policeman on duty in the neighbourhood, was the first to give the alarm, he having discovered the flames raging in a

store-room at the back of the front shop, which was occupied by Mr. Bowra, hatter; and immediately afterwards, Mr. Ritchie and his wife and family presented themselves at the second-floor windows in a most deplorable state, expecting every moment to be their last. They, it appears, were sitting at supper when the police rang the bell, and the servant was about hastening down stairs, when a body of flame burst forth through the wainscoting of the store-room above-mentioned, rendering approach to the street door impossible. She instantly returned, and apprised her master of the house being on fire, who collected his family in the second floor frontroom, in the hope of escaping by the windows. But, finding no escape, ladders were brought. After waiting some minutes, they made an attempt to gain the trap-door at the top of the staircase, leading on to the roof, and in this they providentially succeeded, though at one time the hot smoke and dust that issued from the lower part of the building, almost deprived them of their senses; in fact, Mrs. Ritchie and children, when dragged out of the trap-door on to the roof, were all but suffocated.

The fire was not stopped in its ravages until the back part of the premises throughout was destroyed, and damage done to the adjacent buildings.

9. MURDER IN WILTSHIRE.An inquest was held before Mr. W. B. Whitmarsh, at Coate, in the parish of Chiseldon, on the body of Sarah Crook, forty-two years of age, who died from the blows she received from her husband (who is a shoemaker at Liddington). The following evidence was adduced at the inquest:

William Bramble, landlord of the Sun Inn at Coate, deposed, that the deceased and her husband (Robert Crook,) came to his house at about nine o'clock on the evening of the 7th, and remained until eleven o'clock, when they left to go home; that no quarrelling took place whilst in his house, nor did they appear in liquor.

Mary Ann Horton (daughter of the deceased by a former husband), deposed, that about one o'clock in the morning she heard, whilst in bed, the deceased scream out "Mary Ann!" and whilst getting out of bed, Robert Crook said, "Get up, for I have got a drunken woman." Witness went down and opened the door, when Crook carried the deceased in his arms, and placed her in the taproom. She groaned very much, and complained of cold. Her face was much cut, and bleeding. She had neither bonnet nor cap on; and her hair was hanging loose about her face and neck. Her clothes were nearly torn from her back, and her bosom was exposed. She was totally unable to stand upon her legs. Witness lighted a fire, and soon afterwards Robert Cook carried the deceased to bed, where she died about eight o'clock on the same morning. Witness asked her mother how she became bruised, but she was incapable of speaking. An hour previous to her death, her husband sent for a surgeon, but she died previous to his arrival. Witness added, that her mother was always a sober, temperate woman:

William Warman, No. 126 of the Wiltshire constabulary, deposed, that he took Robert Crook into custody about nine o'clock on the same morning, at the Spotted Cow, at Coate. On saying that

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he had him in charge for beating his wife, Crook replied, "It's a very bad job, indeed;" and seemed inclined to say something more, but witness told him if he had anything to say on the subject, he would take it down in writing, and hand it in. Crook then said, My wife and I went to Swindon yesterday to pay a bill, and the bill was 21. more than I thought it was, which made me angry, and we quarrelled on that account. I struck her and knocked her down, but I helped her up again. I had more beer than I ought to have had, which made me do it."

Witness said he then took him to the station-house at Swindon, and at about three o'clock in the afternoon Crook further stated, "that he struck his wife on the face, which made her fall back, and he thought it was that which did it." Witness asked if he took her up? and he replied, "Yes, but she fell down again." He was much agitated, and said, "What a pity it is that a poor soul should be hurried out of the world so soon! I didn't think she would have died, or I would have sent for the doctor sooner!" He then paused and said, "What shall I have to answer for for this?"

A very respectable jury attended the inquest, who returned a verdict of" Wilful murder" against Robert Crook; and the coroner issued his warrant for his committal to the Devizes prison, to take his trial at the next assizes to be holden at Salisbury.

DISCOVERY OF A GANG OF THIEVES IN PARIS. An individual named Linell, ostensibly a commission merchant, but suspected of being a receiver of stolen goods, was, in consequence, nar

rowly watched by the police. A warrant was obtained against him, by virtue of which he was arrested, without the knowledge of anybody in the house, and a souricière was instantly stationed on the spot, to lie in wait for any suspicious persons who might present themselves. Ten thieves, soon arrived, one after another, laden with articles more or less valuable, and were successively arrested, a considerable seizure being made of jewels, watches, clocks, cloths, and other commodities, besides a bale of rich stuffs, most of which were found to have been stolen from a commis-voyageur, lodging at the Hotel Montesquieu. The next morning when the preliminary forms of justice had been gone through, a loud ringing at the bell announced the arrival of another visiter! On the door being opened, a young man, in an elegant ball-dress, made his appearance. "What does Monsieur want at this early hour?" asked the police-agent. "I wish to speak with M. Linell immediately." "Your business, then, is urgent?" replied the agent. 'Yes, (interrupted the young fellow, thinking he was speaking to a friend or accomplice of Linell); I want to borrow some money of him, as I rather 'outran the constable' at last night's ball.” The agent hereupon gave the dandy a gentle blow on his waistcoat, and a sound of metal being heard, the latter was requested to unbutton his under-waistcoat. he was found to be completely "cuirassed" with a large silver dish, which he had just stolen from a restaurateur's, whither he had gone to break his fast, after leaving the Opera-house. This fashionable thief gave his name Dorfou, and

stated himself to be an architect. On being taken to the police-station, he was recognised as belonging to a highly respectable family, having formerly been a student! Some curious discoveries were made in the house of Linell; and it has also been found that he had another residence in a distant part of the city, where several materials for coining money were seized by the authorities.

13. HORRIBLE MURDER.The quiet little market town of Llanfair-caerinion, situate on the banks of the Verniew, in the county of Montgomery, was to-night (Sunday) thrown into a dreadful state of excitement, by a report that a murder had just been committed there, which upon inquiry, was found to be true. The following we believe to be a correct state ment of the circumstances attend ing the tragedy:The perpetra tor of the murder and his victim are both brothers, and both shoe makers, named Robert and Evan Davies. The unhappy murderer was, it appears, a young man of dissolute habits, very much addicted to drink, and rather given to idleness. He came home about nine o'clock at night in a state of intoxication, and began to abuse his mother and sisters. One of his sisters ran to her brother Robert's house which was a few doors from their own, to get him to try to quiet Evan, and persuade him to go to bed. The poor fellow (although his wife, knowing the violent temper of his brother, tried to persuade him from going) went, and found him at his supper, and when remonstrating with him about his conduct, the wretch plunged the knife (a shcemaker's knife) which he had in his hand, aud with which the

previous moment he had been cutting bread, into the abdomen of his brother, who instantly fell at his feet a lifeless corpse, in the presence of his agonized mother and sister. The infatuated fellow exclaimed, "Oh, God! oh, God!" and then escaped. Surgical assistance was promptly rendered, but was of no avail-the vital spark had fled. The chief constable of the Montgomery rural police, Major Newcombe, and Superintend ent Bowen, both of whom reside in Llanfair, were soon on the spot, hearing evidence of all that had taken place. The body they would not allow to be moved until after the inquest, which was held the next day, when a verdict of manslaughter was returned against Evan Davies. The rural police were actively engaged in pursuing the murderer, but he was not apprehended until Wednesday, the 16th, and then within two fields of the town where the transaction took place. He was discovered accidentally by a girl, who went to fodder the cows, between two stacks of hay, nearly lost for want; for he had not tasted food since the melancholy catastrophe occurred. He was immediately taken into custody, and was committed the next day to take his trial for the offence at the next Montgomery assizes.

15. FATAL ACCIDENT. — This afternoon an investigation was gone into before Mr. Hind, the coroner for the Isle of Sheppy, and a respectable jury, in the officers' mess-room, on board of Her Majesty's ship Ocean, at anchor in the river Medway, off Sheerness, for the purpose of inquiring into the death of Edmund Hall, aged thirtyfour years, Thomas Wood, seaman, belonging to Her Majes

ty's ship, Hawke, 74, Elizabeth Hall, aged thirty years (wife of the former), William Beard, John Beard, and William Patterson, aged fourteen years, who were drowned through a boat upsetting, on the 12th inst.

The inquiry created considerable sensation, and several officers be longing to the numerous ships of war lying in the harbour were present.

From the evidence of a witness named Harris, the master of a fishing-smack from Rochester, it appeared that on Saturday morning last he reached Sheerness on his way to Colchester, and was about proceeding out of the harbour, when a heavy gale forced him to return, and he dropped anchor just below the steam-boat pier. It was then between twelve and one o'clock; and shortly afterwards he observed a boat full of people, with a sail up, bearing along mid-channel, apparently with the intention of making for Sheerness. The boat was steered by a seaman, and alongside of him sat a female, whom he has since ascertained to be Mrs. Hall. There were several youths and men in other parts of the boat, which appeared to be what is called a "ship's boat." He was somewhat surprised at them hoisting a sail in such weather, for it was very bad, and the wind blowing heavily from the westward. The boat a few minutes afterwards gave a sudden lurch, owing to the increase of the gale, after which she never righted, for instantly the mast fell on one side, and she filled and went down. Witness, together with two seamen, immediately jumped into a boat astern of the vessel, and pushed off to the assistance of the boat's crew, who were struggling

in the water, and amongst them he saw the deceased Hall, supporting his wife, whose dress kept them up for some minutes; but it was a considerable period before they could make way with their boat, owing to the roughness of the sea. Several other boats went off to their assistance from the Ocean, Shannon, and others of Her Majesty's ships in ordinary ; but out of the nine unfortunate persons only three were saved, and they were taken out of the water all but dead from exhaustion. Witness and his men remained about the spot where the accident occurred during the greater part of the day, in the course of which the bodies of three of the sufferers were picked up, and conveyed on board of the Ocean.

The seamen who were saved were then examined. They stated they were all sober in the boat at the time of the accident, which they wholly attributed to a sudden gust of wind unshipping the mast while under sail.

The jury, at the conclusion of the evidence, returned a verdict"That the unfortunate deceased persons were accidentally drowned, in consequence of a boat capsizing, occasioned by the slip of the mast whilst under sail during a heavy squall."

17. ROBBERY OF A BANK Box, CONTAINING 1,500l. IN Sovereigns, AND 5001. IN BANK OF ENGLAND MANCHESTER. NOTES. This evening a coach robbery was committed in the town of Bury to the above amount, and under circumstances of extraordinary character. For a long time past Messrs. Cunliffes, Brooks, and Co., bankers of this town, have been in the habit of forwarding fortnightly large quantities of cash and notes to