ENGLISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 745, 20 December 1869, Page 3

ENGLISH AND FOREIGN ITEMS.

FROM PAPERS BY THE LAST HOME MAIL. EXTRAORDINARY CASE. It will be in the recollection of our readers that during the great Fenian excitement, two men—" Colonel" Burke and "Cap tain" Kelly—were being taken in a police van along the public road at Manchester, when the van was attacked, Sergeant Brett was shot, and Kelly and Burke escaped Some time afterwards three men, named Allan, Larkin, and O'Brien, were hanged for being concerned in the attack on the van and the murder of Sergeant Brett Since that time " Colonel" Burke and "Captain" Kelly have not been heard of, but on Thursday, Sept. 30, die police an thorities at Scotland«yard received information that " Captain" Kelly was lying in King's College Hospital. Two detectives, who knew him well, at once went to the hospital, where they saw lying upon a bed in one of the wards a fall, stout, fair-coin-plexioned man, in a state of extreme prostration. They at once described him as the missing " Captain" Kelly, but the man said that his name was iidvvard Mar tin, and that he was a reader. His clothes were searched, but no documents were found in any of the pockets. The detectives then proceeded to investigate the circumstance which had led to the individual being brought to the hospital, ancl they ascertained that late on Wednesday night the man was in a cabin Yorse-street, Clare-market, and while he was leaning out of the window of it the cab overbalanced and fell upon its side. He was dashed against the kerbstone, and his skull fractured. He was at once picked up, and a young man who had shortly before been seen in.his company and a policeman carried" him to the hospital, where he died on Sunday, Oct. 3. The examination of the body having resulted in the discovery of wounds similar to those which it was known Captain Kelly had received in the American wars, and the fact that a photograph of the captain corresponded with the features of the deceased, it was concluded that the famous conspirator was at last in the power of the police, and precuu tions to obviate a chance of rescue were energetically taken. The informer, Corydon, having been telegraphed for, arrived in London on October 4, and proceeded to K'\' g's College Hospital, attended by a constable or two. lie was taken to the p irt of the building where the body of the supposed Captain Kelly lay, and he gazed steadily at it for a moment or two, but was unable to recognise him. At the ir quest on the body it was proved that the do ceased was not Kelly. The landlord with whom deceased had lodged for three years and a half, and the overseer at the printing office where he worked, both spoke posi lively to his being Edward Martin, and to ihe improbability, if not impossibility, of his havir.g taken any active part in the Fenian movement. A superintendent.oi detective police, who had seen Kelly al Manchester, also expressed his belief that deceased was not the man. The jury concurred in that view, and a verdict of "Accidental death" was returned.

SALE OF ENGLISH VESSELS OV WAR. On Sept. 23, by order of the Lords of the Admiralty, three of her Majesty's ships—viz., the screw sloop Falcon, the screw gunvessel Landrail, and the paddle steam vessel Recruit —wore offered for sale at Lloyd's Captains Rooms, Royal Exchange. The first vessel submitted for sale wus the Falcon, screw sloo>. Tiiis vessel was built in the yeai 1851, at Pembroke Dockyard, and is consequently about 15 years old. £IOOU was the first offer, but it soon reached £2OOO, and eventually she was knocked down to Mr Marshall for £2,200. The screw gun-vessel Landrail was next sub mitted. She also is of wood, with copper fastenings and sheathing. The Landrail was bmlt about nine years since a Deptford Dockyard, and has been principally engaged on foreign service. £SOO was the first bid, but it speedily ran up to £I,OO ', and she was sold for £1,325 to Mr Milier. The paddle-wheel steam vessel Recruit, which was next put np, was built in 1853, at Mill wall. She has an iron bottom, and is sheathed with wood and zinc. £IOO was first bid, but ultimately she was bought iu for £2OOO.

THE MOEMONS. It is reported that the Mormons are now discussing the question of the propriety of abolishing polygamy, and David Smith, the son of the well-known Joseph Smith, the founder of the sect, has been denouncing the practice in his sermons lately delivered at Salt Luke City. Airiglmm Young, che present leader, who professes to hold power in trust for David omith, is also re ported to have told Mr Colfax, two years ago, that it was not improbable a new revelation might be received abolishing poly'gam.y Under these circumstances a change in the institutions of the Mormons may be expected. I'he Pacific Kailroad has been completed, and the difficulties experienced in IS5'7, in sending out troops aii't supplies to Utah, will not be incurred. Polygamy is forbidden by the laws of the United States ; the present or future administra tions may endeavor to enforce the statute, and the success of the United States army will be certain. Again, the Mormona de-.-ire to build a railroad from Salt Luke City to Promontory Point, and assistance in laud grants and bonds from the government cannot be asked for unless obedience ■be promised to the laws. The current of

emigration is also bringing settlers around Salt Lake, and the isolation of the Mormon community cannot be preserved. As far as the dispute in the sect is concerned, David Smith is reported to be a man of education and influence, is under 30 years of age ; while Brigham Young is ignorant, and his powers are on the decline. The influence of the reform party, it is supposed, will be very great, and will effect a change in the customs.