MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1585, 10 August 1885, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

The trial in the assault upon I belao in O'Doitovan Rossa's office led to the acqnitta) of Short, the accused. The New York correspondent of a London paper, writing oo the subject, says : — When tlie verdict was announced the assembled friends of Short broke into ft wild yell, which the Officers of the Court were unable to suppress for several seconds. They crowded round Short, hugging himand making frantic demonstrations of joy. The Judge rose from his seat, visibly pale with indignation, saying sternly, "Gentlemen of the jury, I cannot but express my surprise at the verdict you have rendered." Tl*» newspapers generally speak of the verdict as a shameful miscarriage of justice, but it is difficult to see why the jury should t»e blamed. They were unusually intelligent men, consisting of three Germans and nine Americaus. None had a particle of sympathy with the Irish, or Irish crimes. Ph»«lan w.-is the only witness to his version of the assault. Against him were several witness whose character was not impeached who testified that he went to Bossa's office in a quarrelsome mood, armed, and under the influence of drink, provoked a quarrel with Short, and was worsted, because Short was U> quick for him, seizing a knife which lay on the table before Plielan could draw bis pistol. A member of the jury, who is a merchant of good standing, assures me privately that the jury would hare been glad to convict l»oth Short and Phelan of any crime by which they might be hanged or imprisoned, but were compelled to find as they did on the evideuce. They were obliged to find Short guilty of an assault with intent to kill, or acquit him. There was no middle verdict obtainable. The Washington monument will not long retain the proud distinction of being the highest structure iv the world. An iron tower, 1000 feet in height, is to be erected in the grounds of the French Exhibition in 1889, Passengers will be carried to the top in an elevator Several years ago a mechanic in a. railroad shop at Wells%'ille, in Ohio, invented a nut-lock, for which, at that time, there was a great demand, It was au excellent device, and he saw in it a great fortuue. He had da omk fidence in corporations, however, aud refused to sell his patent to one of the leading companies for £10,000 aask. He has the patent yet, and will not cheerfully take three dollars tor it Professor David Swing, s famou* Chicago divine, went to see all Irving't

performances. The Professor called on the actor, when Imu« jajd, • I wm coming to bear you preach before I leave Chicago," to whioh the pro . lessor replied, » I wish I cM preach as well as you can act." Then Im,vr continued the nritual adnuntiou ba V saving, "If I could preach aawell as they say you can, I wjuldn t try to act" While engaged repairinsr an am monia still at Mr Hardman's chemical works, Milton, n«ar Stoke-00-Trent (England), a workman indiscreetly took a red hot iron into the still. This caused the gas to rise so rapidly that the nun was nnable to S^o" 1 h*ft>re be became overpowered. The sti!l-m*n. named Phillips, went to the man 'B assistance, but he, too was over powered, and when the two men were dragg"<l ont life was found to be extinct in both case*