Saturday 22 Feb 1845 (p. 2, col. 8 - p. 3, col. 1) Bridget KIRKBRIDE, of Maryport, was committed, on the 19th inst., by J. P. SENHOUSE, Esq., to take her trial at the ensuing Assizes, on the charge of concealment of the birth her infant.-[Particulars of the inquest appeared in our paper of this day fortnight.] On Friday morning last, Mr. Joseph FEARON, of Aspatria, grocer, was discovered hanging in an orchard adjoining his house, quite dead. The deceased left his house about half-past six o'clock in the morning, and was found shortly afterwards. DEATH OF GENERAL SHARPE.-This gallant and venerable officer died at Leamington Spa on the 1th [sic] inst., at an advanced age. The deceased had seen a great deal of service. His commission as General was dated January, 1837. [General SHARPE represented the Dumfries District of burghs in the first Reform Parliament]. THE REPUTED "BURKERS" AT SUNDERLAND.-A FALSE ALARM.-The body of John ELLIOTT, and old man belonging to Sunderland, who has been missing for many weeks, was found in the river Wear, on Saturday morning last, near the Coal-drops of the Durham and Sunderland Railway Company. The sudden and unaccountable disappearance of this old man gave rise to a multitude of conjectures as to his fate. The most prevailing was that he had been burked, and sent to Edinburgh for dissection. This was soon multiplied into several cases of burking, and the whole town was alarmed into belief that a regular gang of burkers was located in Sunderland, and that it was unsafe to stir abroad after night-fall. Three poor Irishmen, who, because they were poor and could not afford to hire separate apartments, lodged together in one room, which they had not the means of furnishing, were pitched upon as the guilty parties; and as ELLIOTT happened to live near where they lodged, it was confidently believed that they had seized the old man and had put him to death; and they were so persecuted by the police and the populace that they were compelled to quit the place. Now all this hubbub has ended in the discovery of the simple fact, that Elliott had gone down to the quay-side, had fallen into the river, and was drowned.