The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-12-11 00:00:00

BANKRUPTCY COURT.

THE COURT OF QUARTER SESSIONS
AND THE POLICE COURT.

During the trial of prisoners yesterday at St. George's
Hail, before Gilbert Henderson, Esq., the borough
recorder, in two of the cases before the court comments
were made casting reflections upon the manner in which
the criminal business is conducted at the Police-courts
in Dale-street, and the recorder threatened to withhold
granting the expenses of the prosecutions.
In the first case a decent-looking woman, named
Mary M'Guinness, had been committed for trial by the
stipendiary magistrate, T. S. Raffles, Esq., on a charge
of having stolen 4s. Gd. out of the till of a public-house
kept by James Sharrock, in Kensington. -The son of
the prosecutor said s On the morning of the robbery the
prisoner was in his father's bar, and he had occasion, to
leave for a short time. Before -he returned he heard
the bar door fall to, arid on going into the bar he found
the prisoner leaning °Vet the counter near the till. His
suspicions being aroused he looked into the till, and
missed a half-crown piece and two shillings. He then
charged the prisoner with stealing the money. She
denied it, and produced her purse, in which was half-a-
crown, 2s, and some small silver, and she accounted
for the possession of that money by statiog that she had
that morning pledged a dress for Os, the ticket for which
was found upon her. There was no direct evidence
given that she had committed the robbery, nor was the
money identified. The jury, therefore, acquitted the
prisoner. It was given in evidence that the prisoner had
never before been in custody, but got her living by
selling vegetables. On the case being concluded, the
Recorder remarked that it was a Case which ought not
to have been sent to that Court, and that any magis-
trate could have disposed of it better than sending
it there. He had a good mind not to allow the costs of
the prosecution in such a case.
In the second case, James Warren, described as a brush-
maker, who stated he came from Bradford, was indicted
for stealing a watch, the property of Mr. E. Litchfield,
a warehouseman, living at 31, Netherfield-road, Ever-
ton. The prosecutor stated, in answer to Mr. Littler,
that on the night in question he was going to the
Amphitheatre to Barry Sullivan's benefit. There was a
great crowd at the door, and the prisoner was on his
right-band side. He felt a snatch at his watch, and on
lifting up his arm he caught hold of the prisoner's hand
and gave him into custody. The watch was not found
upon him, but shortly after a girl who gets her living
by selling bills at the theatre door picked it up about
five yards from where the prisoner was caught, and took
it to the Hotham-street bridewell. Police-constable
158 spoke to apprehending the prisoner, and stated that
the silver ring which he then produced was found on
the counter of the bridewell amongst other things the
prisoner drew out of his pocket, but upon further
examination ha said the ring was found in the bridewell
several hours after by the Bridewell-keeper, who gave
it to him, and he could not say, of his own knowledge,
where or when it was found.
The Recorder—We must have the bridewell-keeper
here.
Mr. Littler—He was not before the magistrates, but
as soon as I heard what the policeman has just stated,
I have sent for him.
The Recorder—l see that he was not before the
magistrates, which seems very strange, as his evidence
is most important.
Mr. Littler—The depositions are not even taken in
the presence of the magistrates. The magistrates'
clerks have a right to take them.
Mr. Walters—The magistrates' clerks are paid for
doing it. Instead of that they get a set of ignorant
boys to do the work, and hence the mistakes that are
made in the depositions.
Mr. Littler—The evidence of the bridewell-keeper
is most important, for we can't tell where the ring was
found. I understand it was picked up amongst some
rubbish, and was given to the policeman at half-past
twelve o'clock, and it was only seven when the prisoner
was there.
The Recorder—lt is very hard that the jury should
be kept waiting. But the case is sent here for trial, and
they must wait or take the evidence as it stands. If I
put the case back there will be the difficulty of hearing
it piece by piece.
Mr. Walters—The fault is with the magistrates' clerks.
The Council pay them £1,400 a-year to do their duty—
and that is to take the depositions—instead of doing so
neither Mr. Wybergh or Mr. Garnett will take them,
but let them be taken by a set of ignorant boys.
As the bridewell-keeper did not attend, the Recorder
put the case to the
~jury, observing that there was no
evidence as to the ring ever being 'in the possession of
the prisoner, as the bridewell-keeper had not been
before the magistrates. The poor girl had behaved
very properly in the matter.
The jury found the prisoner guilty.
The Recorder—l have a great mind to disallow the
policeman his expenses ; but 'I suppose he is not to be
blamed, as it can't be expected that he should know the
proper legal evidence that is required.
Mr. Walters—Poor fellow, he can't help it. The
magistrates' clerks should do the work themselves, and
not trust to boys as they do.
The Recorder said the prisoner was liable to fifteen
years' penal servitude, but he would take time to consider
what should be done with him. .
Sentence 'deferred.

LIVERPOOL POLICE COURT.-YESTERDAY.

(Before Mr. RAFFLES.)
JAMES GRAHAM IN TROUBLE.

James Graham, (a man very unlike his namesake of
Paul Pry celebrity) was brought up by police-officer
109, on a charge, not for opening his correspondence,
but for opening his shin—the skin from the bone, by a
kick, from his clog. The prisoner was drunk in the
street and-creating a great disturbance, when the officer
wanted him to go away, and not annoy the lieges of our
good Queen. whereon the prisoner gave him a furious
kick on the shin and split it open. Several officers had
to assist in taking the prisoner to the station, and before
they got him there, they had to put his hands and legs
in irons. Mr. Legg, the. bridewell-keeper, at Rose-hill,
said when the irons were taken off the prisoner at the
station, he gave the officer a slap in the face and tumbled
him over. The prisoner said he was oblivious to all the
proceedings; but the magistrate, in order to sharpen his
memory in future, fined him 40s. and costs, or tWe
months' " hopping" on the Merry-go-round, to mind
his own shins for that period.

A MERCHANT AND THE OYSTERS !
Albert Vine, a gentlemanly looking yoursg man, who
was described by Mr. Bluck (who appeared for him) as
a niereliant of this town, was charged by-police officer.
463 for being drunk and disorderly, and for having
assaulted him. -The officer said, at about five o'clock
yesterday (Sunday) morning, I heard a noise at the
corner of Copperas-hill and Warren-street, and as there
were several complaints made by the inhabitants of the
locality in reference to nocturnal disturbances, I went
forward,- and saw the prisoner and a woman creating a
noise and disturbance. I requested them to go away,
and not disturb the people at that hour in the morning,
when he became more disorderly. The woman went
away, but the prisoner refused, and I told him I would
take him into custody if he did not go away, and then
le struck me on the chest. I caught him then, and
we both struggled and fell, and after some time another
Officer came up, and we got him to the station, but he
was very disorderly on' the way. Cross-examined by
Mr. Bluck : I did not lay. hold of bins until he
struck me first. I struck him in the struggle. I
do not know him, but he told his name, and Said
he lived in• Great Orford - street, and that is all
I know about him. I deny that I struck or laid hands
on him until he struck me first. His mouth was bleed-
ing, but I don't think I struck him on the mouth, hut
that it happened when we were on the ground. Police-
officer 637 said—l heard a whistle and went to the
,place; where I found the gentleman and the officer on
the ground struggling. I assisted to take
,him' to the
station, anu on the way ne was very ais•onterty. -At,
Bluck—Did you see the first of it ? No, sir. Mr.'
Black said he felt very strongly on the case, as his
client had given him positive .instructions in this case.
He said the policeman rushed at, and struck him first,
saying you are the man I want. (The officer denied
'this.). His client, of course, resisted this, and then the
,officer struck him on the mouth. and cut him. The
gentleman was a highly respectable merchant in the
town, and would not act as described. He had been at
home, but came out to get a supper of oysters, and that
was the reason he happened to be there at the time. Mr.
Raffles said it was rather a strange hour for a merchant
to be getting a supper of. oysters, a 5 o'clock of a
Sunday morning, and then knocking about Copperas_
'hill with a woman, creating a disturbance. The bride-
well-keeper who took the charge said the gentleman
was drunk •when brought in ; his mouth was bleeding,
and he said the officer struck him there. Mr. Raffie.
said he would credit the evidence of the officers, and
fine the defeudent £l, which was paid.
CHARGE AGAINST A LETTER-CARRIER:
Matthew Bell, a letter-carrier in the General Post-
office, was charged with stealing a letter which contained
two .half sovereigns and twelve postage stamps. Mr,
Banning appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Black
for the defence. Several witnesses were examined, and
it appeared that the prisoner was employed as the
carrier belonging to the Islington district, and that there
had been complaints made for some time past of missing
letters, and the prisoner was suspected. On Saturday a
person from the Post-office, London, came here and
posted a letter, directed to a person at 72, Camden-street,
London-road (there being no such number), the letter
contained two half sovereigns and twelve postage_
stamps ; and this letter was posted about 4 o'clock, and
it was the prisoner's duty to sort and deliver •the letter.
It was put in among the prisoner's letters, and he took
' it out on Sunday morning. Subsequently detective-
' officer Cozens went to the prisoner's house, where he
found, in a book in his bag, the twelve stamps that had
been marked. The prisoner at first, said he purchased
the stamps, but afterwards stated that he got the book
from another person, and that the stamps mast have
been put in it. The money was not fonnd. Mr. I3luck
' argued that the stamps might have been put into the
book by some other person; but his worship said the
• chain of evidence was so clear that there-could be no
doubt about the case, and sent the prisoner for trial' at
the assizes.

(Before Mr. Commissioner PERRY.)
In re H. B. GASKELL.—This bankrupt, described
as a broker lately carrying on business at Liverpool,
appeared yesterday on his adjourned last examination.
Mr. Thornley,represeuted the assignees, and Mr. Tyrer
the bankrupt. The Commissioner remarked upon the
large amount of expenditure by the bankrupt, which
the official assignee informed him was not vouched in
any way. Mr. Tyrer, in explanation, stated that what
the bankrupt had spent was his own money, and not
that of the creditors, as he believed there were now suffi-
cient assets to pay them in full. The assignees offered
no opposition, and the bankrupt then passed. The 3rd
of January was appointed for the certifieate.sitting.
In re JAMES NAPIER.—This bankrupt, a shipowner
at Rhyl, also appeared on his last examination. Mr.
Charles Lockett, from the office of Messrs. Evans and
Sandys, appeared for the bankrupt, and applied for an
adjournment, to give time to prepare his balance-
sheet. Mr. Conway, on the part of the assignees, sup-
ported the application, and the court granted an adjourn-
ment to the 3rd January.
In re JAMES SAUNDERS.—This, also a last examina-
tion, sitting was adjourned to the 4th January, the bank-
rupt, a commission agent at Birkenhead, not having
filed his balance-sheet. Mr. Alfred Samuell appeared
for the assignees, and Mr. Tyrer for the bankrupt. ,

LIVERPOOL INFIRMARY FOR CHILDREN.—It is. our
pleasing duty to record that the sum of is. 44d. was
collected, chiefly in pence, after a sermon by the Rev.
H. Postance, on behalf of the above institution, on
Sunday last, in Holy Trinity Church, Toxteth-park.

THE DAILY TIMES, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11,.1.860

following is a return
TRADE OF LIVERPOOL.--The,'o
spase rpoad
of the number and tonnage. of shi
and. cleared outwards at this port comrted inwr s
paied th
the corresponding periods of last year :
k
REPORTED INWARDS, For the IS'ec ended Dec S.
1860 . 179 ships ............... 127,015 tons.
1859 ..........
Increase ................................. leo
.................... .................. 86,081
Increase in tons
CLEARED OuT ..........the Week. ended Dec. 8.
1860 ....... IN Aims, For
...... -33,0n9 tons.
1859 ....................... 8681 shipsslalPs
.................. ..... 44,724-tons.„7
............
Decrease in ships ...............
.....
• Decrease in tons. .• ..
................................. 825
REPORTED INWARDS F ota Jan- • Ito Dec. 8' 16°'
1860 ............... 4 519 !'llfr, ......... 2,59 ),9-5 tons.
1859 ........ . .... 4'535 ships
............. 2,233,833 tons.
Increase in • ships
.................... 14
Increase in tons ..........
.........
.................... 357,095
CLEARED OUTWARDS, . dal: Ito Dee' S' 1860'
180
59'
18 4. 768 ships ............... 2,378,49 a tons.
Increase in ships ...
• 1.27
.....
Increase In tons ................- ... ............. 350,196
SOUTHAMPTON, Sunda-.
..
ItePo .. ts have reached here
that the packet brig Eclipse Captain Davis, bound to
Madeira, was la it night burnt to the water's edge in the
Solent, and the vessel run ashore between Lepe and
Lymington, the passengers being landed at the latter
port. On the arrival from Jersey of the South-Western
Company's mail steamer Southampton, Captain Good-
ridge stated that
.about six o'clock they saw what
appeared to be a large ship, on the shore named, burn-
ing. from end to end, and the flames shooting fiercely up
into the air, but the steamer was too close under the
Isle of Wight shore to ascertain what it was. No fur-
ther intelligence has reached here. The Eclipse called at
this port on her way from London to embark passengers
and sailed hence on Wednesday.