The Press.
London, England, 1853-07-16 00:00:00

Saki anb

A DISHONOURED CHEQUE, drawn by Mr. Parkinson,
the successful defendant in a cause tried last week
concerning various bill transactions with a Jew named
Simmons, was the ground of another action which
came on at the Chelmsford Assizes on Wednesday.
One Newman was the present plaintiff, and the
cheque had been given for a horse sold to the de-
fendant. It appeared that the parties were utterly
unacquainted with one another before they met acci-
dentally at Wanstead, and began a conversation on
the subject of trotting horses and matches. l'arkin-
son regretted the loss of his splendid trotter, the
Oneida Chief, recently killed by an accident, where-
upon Newman undertook to get him another horse,
extraordinarily fast, which a " gentleman in the
country" was willing to sell. He objected, however,
to the defendant communicating directly with the
owner, but promised to bring the animal to London,
where accordingly, in a day or two, he produced a
horse for which, after vaunting its speed and declaring
that it had cost the last owner 180 guineas, he ob-
tained from Parkinson the cheque in question ; but
on presenting the draft at the banker's he found there
were no "effects" to meet it. The defendant pleaded
that he had been deluded into making the purchase
by false representation. Instead of being the pro-
perty of a gentleman, bought for 180 guineas, the
plaintiff himself purchased it after their first conver-
sation for 61). It appeared also that the horse had
always been a restive, unruly brute, with which it
was impossible to do anything, and lame, moreover,
from two bone spavins. Mr. Justice Cresswell left it
with the jury to decide whether the defendant should
have a verdict on the score of fraud, or deserved to
pay for hastily concluding a bad bargain. Sentence
was given for the plaintiff, but the sum he was en-
titled to reduced to SOL
THE June in a case wherein the prisoner was
acquitted were afterwards charged by Mr. Sergeant
Adams with the high crime of drinking beer while
locked up to consider their verdict. Their delibera-
tions on the evidence had been very protracted, and
before coming to a decision the Assistant .ludge was
informed that the jury, or some of them, had obtained
a supply of beer through a window which looked on
the street. Waxing indignant at this atrocious con-
duct, Sergeant Adams ordered the whole twelve to
be transferred to another room, summoned the offi-
ciating potboy before him, listened unmoved to his
protestations of ignorance and innocence, shut him
up in the cells for a warning. confiscated a pint of
beer which he happened to bring into court, and
threatened loss of licence to the house whence it
came. After the verdict was returned, jury and pot-
boy were placed on their defence, and not dismissed
until they had received a sound rating for their

.....
A TERMAOANT Witt, of youthful appearance, came
before the Worship-street Police Court, on the com-
plaint of her husband, an ironmonger, named Car-
michael, residing at Clapton. The catalogue of
injuries he stated himself to have received at her
hands was long and melancholy :
Ott the Gth of this month 1 returned home main some busi-
ness I hail been trammeling, and RR soon as I got 111 1 111111114
that my wife, as was too frequently the ease, wits in a very angry
and savage lnunour. I guessed there was something amiss, and
I thought I had better get out of her way. I went into the work-
shop at the back, and she billowed me, accusing time of an intimacy
with the servant of a neighbour, whom I really have not even
seen for I don't know long. I said she was a foolish woman to
worret herself at such nonsense. I she immediately flung a
basin at me, but missed her aim; she then hurled three heavy
pieces of iron at my head, but I lowered my bead and escaped
them, and she then seized hold of me 111111 tried to fix her claws
into my face. I pushed her Oil 0111 Ride and was running off,
when she flung a heavy 1 •r at my head, anal it is a very
fortunate thing that it missal toe, or I think I should have been
killed. I said to myself—" This 14 too strong; this won't do;
I'll wait till she gets a little cooler, and tabe a walk in the fields;"
and I tunnelled out of the house as fast as I could, tat go lOtaty.
Mr. 11AM1111.1.: Where were you going then?
rotnplainant; Going to? 1 was going to the world's entl, or
anywhere else, so that I could get out of the reach of her: but I
was no sooner out of the house than she was idler me. exclaim-
ing," Yon sconnalrel, where are you going?" I said nothing. lint
rain. and so did she. and the instant she gut np to me she levelled
several furious kicks at the most dangerous parts of my person.
1 caught hold of her to sate myself, anal she immediately thrust
one of my hands into her month, and bit it so terribly as to (wise
me the greatest agony, anal I wits ()blitzed to let go of leer
upon whieh she eaught MO by the stock, twisted it till I was
nearly strangled, and tore otf both the lappets of it, as I now
show it you. 1 again tried to bolt, but she sprang after me,
again came up to 1111% 111111. seizing me by the back of my coat,
ripped away both the tails of it like u avower. in this way (said
the eomplainant, turning round anti exhibiting his beck to the
bench). This seemed to stop her a bit, and I lost no time in
availing myself of it to escape from her, air I am sure she would
have torn me to piecea, as she hail Illy elothitm already. The
complainant concluded by declaring that he could not live with
the complainant any more, as he was losing all his bosiness through
her ungoveniable temper, aural mentioned that a short time since
she had thing a live kitten at his face in such a %indietive manner
that, though furtunately he outveettell iu okstius it, )ct it come

SATURDAY,

against the brick wall with such force that it was instantly killed
and its brains dashed out.
The settlement of this case gave much trouble to
the magistrate. Mrs. Carmichael would neither
undertake to live happily with her husband, nor con-
sent to a separation. She was sentenced to pay 51.
fine, or, in default, be imprisoned for a month. This
sum she tried to borrow of her husband, who, however,
declined advancing it; stating that before they got
to the end of the street she would illtreat him worse
than ever. An offer of a separate maintenance was
made, but, as this seemed to make her only more
frantic, she was removed to the cells, where a short
incarceration served to render her more tranquil,
and she finally consented to take a weekly main-
tenance and live apart. Mr. Hammill warned her of
the serious consequences which would ensue if,
venturing home again, she came a second time before
his bench.
AN ExrEmENcED birosTon, of foreign origin, and
decorated with divers foreign orders and ribbons,
styling himself Colonel Count Seardka Demicki,
appeared at Westminster Police Court to answer a
charge of levying contributions on the public by
fraudulent representations. It was shown that the
defendant presented false lists of subscribers, and
told conflicting tales of distress, and in other ways
imposed on charitable persons, among whom fie
commonly selected the most distinguished on whom
to practise his arts of victimisation. His career of
imposition, as detailed by Horsford, the officer of
the Mendicity Society, presented a curious series of

attempts anti detectlim:—
He had known the accused for ten years as a begging-letter
impostor. In March, 1545, he was committed for a month; and
in January, 1846, he was again apprehended, but, owing to the
non-attendance of the person charging, escaped. In 1847 he
was e • ted for three months; in 1848 for fourteen days; in
1850 for three months ; and in 1851 discharged, through the
non-attendance of the prosecutor. Witness had seen hint
with girls at casinos, drinking his wine and smoking cigars re•
heatedly.
Some further information respecting his adventures
was conununicated by Lieutenant Szulczewski, resi-
dent secretary to the Literary Association of the
Friends of Poland :
_ _

The prisoner had arrived in this country in the year l€o7 from
France, and applied to be put on the list of Polish refugees. lle
was provided with papers, which there was but little doubt had
belonged to another person, but, by some means, had fallen into
his hands, and representing that he had been a major in the
Polish army, and had taken part in the late struggle against Russia,
received relief from the Mild. It being f 1 that he was going
about imposing upon the benevolence of the friends of Poland,
his conduct was investigated, and he was struck off the list. He
then went about from country to country, there being scarcely
one that he had not visited, wearing decorations and assuming
titles to which lie hail not the slightest claim. Inquiries being
afterwards made respecting him, it was found that the "colonel
count," and sometimes unwquis, had formerly been a forest-
keeper, had been immisoned at Sin/slang for swindling, wear-
ing decorations, asminuing titles, and other offences ; Laud been
expelled France, and was f lin possession of a forged pass-
port. lie had at one time absolutely pretended to be
cousin to the late King of Poland; but, as the assumption
was too impudent not to he discovered, he was obliged to aban-
don his claim to relationship. Recently he had been in Home
and Spain practising his arts, and bind been imprisoned and
turned out of I'nuu•o for his disgraceful pnictices.
The piisune•, who can speak English well, but who pretended
that he was thoroughly 1111 l icquainted with it, and also feigned
deafness, abused the witnesses in extremely bad French, in pre-
ference to using good English.
Mr. ARNOLD eo 11111 l itted hint for three months to hard labour,
and said he would take good care the conviction was returned to
the sessions.
Song VATrABLE Books having been stolen from
Messrs. Sotheby, in Wellington-street, Thomas
Brooks, a man of violent character, was tried at the
Middlesex Sessions on the charge of theft, having
offered for sale two of the purloined volumes, worth
305., at a bookseller's in Covent-garden. When ar-
rested he exclaimed, " This comes of buying
tickets !" and on his trial set up the defence that he
had bought a pawnbroker's ticket from some man
unknown, and had redeemed the books to which it
related, and which were those now in question. On
inquiring at the pawnbroker's, Mr. Fleming, in St.
Martin's-lane, it was ascertained that two volumes
had really been redeemed at the time stated by the
prisoner, but the shorman could neither recognise
the prisoner nor identify the books :
Mr. WITHAM directed the jury to acquit the prisoner. It was
impossible that he could be convicted unless some permit 111,111
Fleming's showed that these were not the books redeemed; and it
was an extraordinary thing that they should say that they could
not recognise them, the appearance of one being MO very renutrk.
able.
'Me pry expressed their surprise that the hooks could not be
identified at the pawnbroker's, awl, melee the direction of the
court. Acquitted the prisoner. The books were ordered to be re-
stored to the prosecutors.
THE NEW 011 At hits proved a fruitful source
of business to the various police-offices. The clause
enabling any complainant to proceed forthwith to the
nearest sitting magistrate offers much facility for ob-
taining ,justice by either side, and has been several
times acted upon. Its operation has, however, been
considerably hindered hitherto by the delay in fur-
nishing the police edition of the fares and distances.
One of the most curious cases which have arisen out
of the new law was heard at Bow-street on Tuesday,
and placed the provision made respecting luggage in
a singular shape :
Mr..lohn fire, a fruiterer in Covent•garden. who appeared
with a tine specimen of pineapple in his hand, stated that for a
long time past he had been accustomed to employ cabs for the
Furrow; of ceuveyhiu fruit of that description trVIA4 the fruit bro.

JULY 16, 1853

ken' in Me yen' to his own premises in Covent•giusleu
Market. For this accommodation be usually paid two shillings,
which rather exereiled the fare even under the 4114 art. on
.114 morning he bailed a cab as usual, and having put 130 pine.
Nipples inside, muter and upon the seats, the driver carried him to
Co% ent•garilen. where witness offered him two shillings. Thit
cabman. however, declined to take this sum, suiting that his tare
was three shillings besides the luggage, for which lie was em-
',Owen' by the new act to charge twopence per packet. Ile then
reekoned up the loose pineapplea, regarding each as ono
packet, and be could claim 11. is. Md. Whines of course. de-
,dined to take the cabmen's interpretation of We new law, and,
paying hiin the three shillings which he demanded for the fare, re-
solved to apply Ow a atunuions. None orate pineapples were put
outside, mud, although he rode outside himself from choice, there
was ample room fur him inside.
Mr. I Mild tell youthat one of the objects of the new
act is to provide the public with a better chase of hackney car-
riage, and to have theta kept in a cleanly and decent condition.
It was never intended that they should be converted into market
e;tris, It wool,' not be very pleasant, for example, to the neat
person who engaged the cab in question, after it had been tilled
with pineapples.
Mr. Iligg thought that nothing could be more agreeable than
the smell ,of pineapples.
Mr. lIENRY : 11111. diner the system pre% ailed of sending about
merchandiao of that kind in cabs, they might soon Ice employed
to convey fish, meat, etc. However, as the eabimui in the present
instance did not I Illiect to carry the pimrupple s, Which In Would
have been (idly justified in doing, he had certainly no right tee
make a charge fur them.
The sitminons was granted.