ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 765, 15 December 1876, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

At tlio Southwark Police Court on Monday a man was summoned for an unprovoked assault upon a young ladyc His explanation of tho matter was curious. It appeared that his wife, who was living apart from him, Fad taken out a summons against him for assaulting her, and that while looking for her ho met the Complainant, and immediately seized her hy tho ndet and wrists. A crowd quickly gathered, and the young lady called out for help, announcing at the sane time who she was. The man, however, persisted for some time in declaring that she was his wife, but on discovering his mistake released her and apologised. He was fined 10s, and when next ho contemplates seizing his wife by tho neck will doubtless bo careful to make quite sure that he is in pursuit of tho right quarry. The other day a young sailor belonging to H.M.S. Excellent gave himself up to the police as a deserter. His story was that, having got three days’ leave of absence, he i bad come to London and got married. Yielding to the entreaties of his wife, who persuaded him that three days wore too short for tho honeymoon, he outstayed his leave; but subsequently this modem Delilah told him that lie had stayed long enough, and threatened to “round" on him if he did not at onco join his ship. Poor jack therefore thought 'that the best thing to do would bo to give himself np, arid we can only hope that the punishment awarded to him will not he of a. very heavy character. The Yorkshire Post says that “ John Coweron, a publican, after seconding, at a mooting held at Nocwich, a resolution expressing horror at the atrocities committed by the Turks in Bulgaria; went homo and knocked his wife about with a clock weight till she was covered with bruises from head to foot. Ho has been sentenced to six, months’ imprisonment hy tile magistrates. Mr Gower, a benevolent and confiding gentleman, the other day got into conversation with a soldier belonging to the Grenadier Guards, who told him that ho had a wealthy relative from whom ho could obtain money if he could apply for it in,plain clothes. Mr Gower acconlinglvagroed toexehange clothes with him, and after waiting in vain for his return, went to the barracks to explain the matter. He was then given into custody for aiding the soldier to desert, but when brought np at Bow Street Mr Flowers, believing that he had been imposed 1111611, dismissed the case. We are glad to learn that a subscription has at length been commenced on behalf of tho widow and eight children of the late John Cliiddy, who on the 31st of March last sacrificed his own life in removing a lame stone which had fallen on tho rails near Bristol just as the “Plying Dutchman” came hy. The case of this heroic fellow was brought before Parliament by Lord Elcho, but it was stated that there were no funds available for such a purpose. It is proposed to buy a piece of ground and erect a cottage, which will form a lasting memorial, and will also carry out his own wishes of tints providing for bis family. Civil inteiments in Franco ar'e of frequent occurrence, but an eccentric old Parisian, lately dead, has invented the “ uncivil ” burial. By his will the deceased forbids any of his relations to accompany his body to the grave, declaring that people arc always put out and annoyed hy having to attend funerals, and vent their anger by abusing the dead, while those at starting look most solemn and distressed are perfectly jolly hy the time they reach the cemetery. “ I have often changed my abode during my lifetime,” lie concludes, “ and I never invited ray friends to help me move. Not having any furniture to remove in my change to my last and definite home I certainly do not require their presence or assistance.” A curious legal difficulty bps arisen in the Isle of Anglesey. About a fortnight ago the Coroner died, and unfortunately before anyone had been appointed in his stead a man was run over on tho railway and killed The Lofd Chancellor and Horae Secretary have been written to, hut it appears that no authority can be given for holding an inquest, so that the body will have to he interred without any inquiry as to the cause of death. The High Sheriff of Dublin was on Tnfcsday fined LIOO by the Recorder for having neglected to summon qgrand jury for the business of the Quarter Session. A very curious case of arsenic poisoning is reported from Paris. A rich lady found herself growing very ill, and the doctor pronounced her to be suffering from some slow poison. Madame X. rejected this idea as absurd ;but on rising one morning, found a glass of water, which was usually placed hy her bedside, to be discolored by a ■while filmy powder. On showing this to the doctor he at onco declared it to he arsfenie. All inquiries failed to detect the culprit, and the next night iftadamo filled the glass herself, and kept careful watch that no One meddled with it. Nevertheless in the morning the white powder again made its appearance, and the doctor was fairly at his wit’s end to find the cause. Finally lie discovered that his patient was in the habit of reading in bed, and for that reason candles were kept burning all night in her room. These candles, of a dazzling whiteness, had been strongly impregnated with arsenic during thoir bleaching process, and tho arsenic, becoming volatilised by tho combustion, thus poisoned the air of the 1 bedroom. While we British are suffering from an oyster famine, onr Transatlantic cousins are rejoicing over the advent of the season for their beloved bivalve. To give an idea of the immense quantity of oysters consumed in the States, the Albany Sunday Press states that in New York City no fewer than,4,000,000,000 are oaten in one season, and the direct oyster trade in tho United States employs some 200,000 men, the capital invested being estimated at L 10,000,000. An oyster famine across the Atlantic would be a real calamity.