LONDON.

Southland Times, Issue 1713, 11 March 1873, Page 3

LONDON.

• ■ ■■ (fhom a cobrespondent.) Dec. 14 It is not impossible that some little alarm may have been caused by the announcement, three weeks ago, of the *• Revolt of the Police." Rightly or ' wrongly most people are accustomed to associate something of violeuce with the word revolt, but in the present case the revolt consisted simply in the sudden refusal of a number of our metropolitan j protectors to do duty at a time of day when their services are most in request, a circumstance by no means without grounds for exciting apprehension, bowever free the movement itself might be from deeds of violence. Those who were most concerned in the matter probably thought they were doing no more than has be«n done lately by so many engaged in other occupations, but the public nature of a policeman's duties, the importance of his work being done not ' occasionally but always, makes a strike air, one the police a very different thing from a strike among the builders, tbe carpenters, or the shoemakers, and whatever blame may attach to higher authorities on account of the steps which have led to the result, few will regret that it has been followed by dismissals and de- j gradations and fines which will show that other modes of redressing grievances must be found by the police than this which they have now adopted. The | particulars of tbe matter are as follows : i Police constable Goodchild has been acting as secretary for the body, in connection with the efforts which they have lately been making for obtaining an increase of wages. Increased pay has been given, but an order was issued for the removal of Goodchild from the division to which he belonged to another division. Goodchild refused to obey the order, and was dismissed. He immediately sent telegrams to the delegates of the constabulary, calling upon tbe whole force to stand by their secretary. These telegrams were read at three of the stations just as tbe men were being paraded previous to going on night duty, and, in consequence, nearly all those who heard them refused to go to their posts until it had been explained that Goodchild had been dismissed not for taking I part in the strike but for refusal to obey orders. After this explanation the men generally went to their duties. It has | been decided that such conduct ought i not to go unpunished, and 109 out «f the 174 who refused to go on duty have been dismissed from the force, exception being made in favor of the rest on account of their yielding immediately upon tbe remonptrance of their superintendent. Of those who thus yielded some have I been reduced in rank and others fined. j Almost at the same time as the police have been thus expressing their disapprobation of some of the doings of those who exercise authority over them, tbe postmen have found cause for dissatisfaction in a proposal of the Postmaster General's that good conduct should be rewarded by stripes as among the soldiers and police. The reading of the communication announcing the pur. pose of the Postmaster General to the letter-carriers assembled at the Branch Post Office at Buckingham Palace Gate, at a time when they were looking for more substantial rewards in tbe shape of an increase of wages, led to a response expressive of the utmost disapprobation. As soon as the purport of the communi cation became known, cries of "Put it down, sir ;" "We don't want to hear it ;" 11 We want more wages," were raised by the disappointed letter-carriers. Such 41 insubordination" led to orders of a different kind from the Postmaster General. 1 f the men refuse to receive the stripes, they must send in their resignations.

The increase of desertion from the army is attracting some attention. The number of desertions during the last twelve months, exclusive of those from the marines and militia, amounted to 8,360 One of the principal causes of this increase seems to be that a much smaller proportion of the runaways are discovered than was formerly the case, while the temptations to seek other employment are much greater, owing to the present demand for laborers, and the consequent high wages to be obtained. It has been asked whether this state of things will best be met by increasing the inducements of the soldier to remain true to his calling, or by making the punishmeut of desertion ] more severe. Probably nothing more ia needed than greater vigilance in the detection of those who have left their I poets, for nothing encourages more the I efforts prompted by men's love of change, j . and desire of gain, than the hope of ! success, and it has long been known that the certainty of punishment is much more powerful in restraining evil of every kind than the fear of a more severe punishment when accompanied by the probability of escaping detection. The proceedings of Russia in Central Asia excite some suspicion. A military expedition has been fitted out with the avowed object of repressing depredations on the Russian borders from Khiva in Turkestan. It is felt, however, here, that all military operations in this part of Russia should be carefully watched, on account of its proximity to India. There is not perhaps so much reason to anticipate a Sepoy mutiny as there has been ia days past, but such a mutiny, supported by Russia, with her armies of a million and a half of men, and a railway communication between the Caspian and the confines of India, would be a very different matter from an Indian mutiny unsupported by a foreign power. Even though Russia may have no hostile inten tions in regard to India at present, and though the present emperor may be wholly engrossed in the efforts which he is making for the enfranchisement and elevation of bis subjects, the advantageous position which the empire would secure for ulterior designs upon our Indian possessions by conquests between her present boundaries and the Indus, make any movements in this direction matter deserving of serious attention. The second Tichborne trial begins to shew signs of its approach. On account of its probable length the case is to be decided by a trial at Bar, that is before all the judges of the court ia which the action ia brought. In this way the bearing Will not be likely to meet with any such obstructions as might be presented under ordinary circumstances, as a trial of this kind can be prolonged indefinitely. The trial of Paul Mai for the murder of Hermann Nagel, has ended in bis acquittal. Mai and Nagel, two young Germans, came to London in August for the purpose of spending here their summer holiday. They had plenty of money, and on their first day spent about £15, part of which was laid out in tho purchase of a revolver, which they thought necessary for their protection against pickpockets. Going to Cremorne, they made the acquaintance of three women, and in consequence left tbe hotel where they had at first established themselves, and took up their abode at the house in which one of the girls lodged. With the help of their companions they soon found a way to get rid of their money, and then could think of no other resource than to end their troubles by suicide. Accepting the account upon which Mai's acquittal was based, it appears that Nagel fired the pistol first at Mai, and struck, but did not kill him, and then shot himself through the heart. Though acquitted, the young man is not likely to forget easily his two weeks' pleasure in London. He returns to Germany to take his trial on the charge of forging his employer's name in Berlin for 1000 thalers, which supplied Nagel and himself with the means of coming to England and carrying on their career of dissipation. An illustration of the caprice of Fortune, and one which reminds us that some of the dealings of the capricious goddess are not carried on without a good deal of shortsightedness on the one side, and a good deal of plotting on the other, among the mortals to whom she dispenses, or from whom she withholds or withdraws her favors, has been brought to light by tbe case of Mrs Baker, an old lady who ten years ago gained her living by letting her bouse in Hollo way to lodgers. She had the good fortune, as it would generally be regarded, to let her lodgings to an old lady, who at her death left property to the value of £107,000, or, clear of legacy duty and other expenses, £95,000 to Mrs Baker, as residuary legatee. The executor of the will felt but little anxiety about the interests of the residuary legatee, and she received only £52,000 of what should have fallen to her, and this in two years was reduced to about £10,000. It was eviJent that Mrs Baker could not hold her own without help, and help she thought to secure by entrusting her affairs to a Mr Loader, who removed with his wife and family to Mrs Baker's house in Holloway, that he might better perform the part be had undertaken. But, however able Loader might be as a protector against others, he was no protector against himself, and he knew full well how to look after his own interests. He found means to persuade Mrs Baker to execute various deeds and wills in his favor ; and in 1867 she had a deed prepared by a solicitor in Kingston, releasing Loader from the payment of £8500, which had at various times been lent to him. In 1868 she transferred to him the remainder of her property, on condition of his paying her £100 a year for life, subject to a deduction of 14s per week for her board and lodging. This last arrangement does not seem to have promoted Mrs Baker's comfort, and at the end of 1869 she left the house. In 1870 Loader died, and Mrs Baker filed a bill against his widow, praying for a full discovery of the transactions between herself and the trugtee.

The result is, that the deeds and will are all cancelled, and the solicitor who consented to prepare them is sentenced to par his own costs in the suit, and such portion of the whole costs as Loader's estate may not be able to pay. Some of us thought till lately that the days of fagging at our public schools, at least in its grosser forms, were ended, but the matter is again under discussion. The particular offender is Winchester College, where, it seems, an elder boy holding office of prefect has a right by the laws of the school to administer punishment to a younger boy who refuses to obey his command. The cage which has come to light is that of a boy, who, being in the upper Fifth, thought he was excused from fagging, and therefore declined to obey the prefect ; tbe consequence of which was that he received thirty blows with a strong ash stick across the shoulders, which are said to hare left his back in as bad a condition as that of a garotter, who has been flogged at Newgate. An inquiry into the subject in to be mad© by the governing body of the college, and there can be no doubt it will end in some modifications of existing regulations. Strikes are still the order of the day. That of the gas-stokers, 2,408 in number, within the last few days, threatened the Metropolis with serious inconvenience and danger ; but, happily, owing to the energy of the various companies, we have suffered nothing more than a diminution of our usual quantity of light, greater or leas, in various parts of London. The object of the men was to have one of their number, who had been dismissed, reinstated, under the impression that his dismissal was the result of his previous activity in their cause, though the company which employed him assign neglect of duties as the reason of his dismissal. The desire to influence their employers through tbe inconrenience of the public has very naturally caused the men to receive very little public sympathy, and it appears probable that the gas-stokers will have cause to repent of their action, as the companies are fast filling up their places, and refuse to re-employ them. Sergeant Bates has just completed what is generally regarded here as a somewhat foolish undertaking, though it has excited a considerable amount of interest, that of carrying tbe American flag from one end of this country to the other. He was nowhere molested, and in some parts met with a very enthusiastic reception. Thus his own expectations have been fully realised ; and if so simple an incident can convince any doubting A-tnerica.ns of th© good feeling of the majority in this country towards the United States, we shall not be sorry he did not meet on the road with any violent Anti-American, to modify the impression.