TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 73, 25 October 1884, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

(BY THE AUCKLAND " STAR**;" CORRESPONDENT. ) London, August 28. Kate Vauuiian, the actress and danseuse, is not, as many people seem erroneously to imagine, the new Duchess of Wellington. Kate's husband is a Colonel Wellesley, but not the one. For a long time the present Duke had no childron, and his cousin (Kate's husband) was consequently his heir presumptive. A few months ago, however, Mrs Charles Wellesley presented her spouse with a bouncing boy (now known by courtesy as Marquis of Donro), and with his advent all prospect of the too-attractive Kate ever becoming a Duchess vanished for ever into thin air. The new Duke bears the reputation of being, like his greatuncle, a strict martinet. He has already intimated to Mrs Kate (Vaughan) Wellesley that she must not expect to be received at Apsley House now any more than in his uncle's time, and exhorted her solemnly to quit the stage and live in retirement abroad. One winter's night, three years ago, a | police constable was shot dead in the course of a struggle with a burglar in one of the most crowded streets of North London. There was a dense fog at the time, and though several women and passers-by obtained a glimpse of the criminal, he got away, and (despite a reward of £200 for his apprehension) could not bo traced. The police were supposed to have abandoned the search in despair, and most people had wholly forgotten the case, when, the other day, a man named Orrock was placed in the dock at Bow-street, and, on the strength of a chain of circumstantial evidence wonderfully neat and complete, charged with the commission of this three-year-old crime. The police had two clues to work upon, viz., a chisel and an old wide-awake hat dropped by the criminal. An expert examined the former, and found the word " rock " scratched on the blade. This was clearly the whole or part of the owner's name, for it is the custom of grinderd, when workmen bring them their chisels to be sharpened, to scratch the sender's name on the article thv.s. As no one answering to the name of " Rock " or " Rook " could be found in the neighbourhood of Dalston, the chisel was subjected to anothei searching examination, with the result that someone discovered the letter " 0 " scratched beneath the word " Rock." This at once set the police on the qid vive, for amongst the most respectable residents of the street in which the murder took place was a staid and steady^young cabinetmaker named " Orrock," The idea that Orrock could be actively concerned in the murder did not at first occur to them, for he bore the reputation of being a strict churchman, a Sunday-school teacher, and an industrious worker. Presently, however, evidence closed round him. It was found that he had not been at home when the murder took place, but had arrived shortly after and without a hat, and with his trousers torn and much dishevelled. The police also discovered that a short time previously Orrock had purchased a revolver, and practised shooting at some trees in Richmond Park. The companion who accompanied him on this occasion pointed out the trees to the police, and after considerable trouble they extracted three bullets, which matched exactly with the balls found embedded in the mui'dered constable's skull. After this Orrock's companions, on thenight of the murder, were hunted up, and finding the truth known, admitted that he had told them he meant to relieve the Dalston Chapel of the sacramental plate that evening. He was caught red-handed by the unfortunate constable, and in tho course of a struggle fired his revolver at him The third shot entered the policeman's brain. This case (not a very remarkable ono in itself) is principally interesting because of the great longthof time ithas taken to work up, and the perseverance of the police. At the trial we are promised one of the completest and most conclusive chains of circumstantial evidence ever pieced together under difficulties. The trials of the miserable creatures mixed up in the unsavoury "Dublin Scandals" come to a temporary end on Saturday. At one time it was believed that neai'ly all the castle "set" were more or less implicated, but unprejudiced persons are now beginning to deeply regret their folly in ever having listened to such a preposterous story. As the Judge who tried Mr Cornwall said, " Such accusations are easily made, but most difficult to refute." On Saturday last an officer in the Grenadier Guards was put in the dock. The Crown had no case, and the jury acquitted the young man without quitting the box, adding that he left the Court "without a stain upon his character." What a hollow mockery, to be sure ! That unfortunate youth is ruined as completely and irretrievably as though found guilty. The preferment of the charge was in itself damnation. Lord Ampthill, who died the other day at Potsdam, was better known to most people as Lord Odo Russell. He had great good fortune all his life in the diplomatic service, being frequently passed over the heads of abler but less influential persons. He was only fairly popular at the Court of Berlin, and would far have preferred Paris. On dit there has been something in the nature of a quarrel between Irving and Ellen Terry, and that the latter may not after all accompany the great tragedian to the States. Mary Anderson is back in town, and busy studying costumes for her revival of "Romeo and Juliet" at the British Museum. Irving's season at the Lyceum closed last night with* ' Richelini." JJrury Lane opens tor the autumn next Saturday, Mr Aug. Harris's " The World " being the piece de resistance, and the same night " Rip Van Winkle " will be revived at the Comedy Theatre. The run of "Confusion " at the Vaudeville draws to a close, and early in September Mr Thomas Thorne will re-appear in a drama of domestic interest by Sydney Grundy. A right royal riot took place last Saturday night at the Holborn Theatre, at which unlucky house a scratch company had for a few evenings been struggling through a melancholy burlesque called "Little Lotengrin." The performers refused to play unless their salaries were forthcoming, and as the manager had no cash he found himself obliged to go before the curtain »nd announce in usual form that the "money would be returned at the doors," &c, &c. Unfortunately, the money- takers had de- 1 camped, a fact which so enraged the "gods" that they tore up the seatß, smashed the furniture, thrashed the manager, and generally played havoc in the house. Eventually the police arrived, and the " gods " decampea, though not without threatening; to burn the place down on Monday.