The Express.
London, England, 1862-07-17 00:00:00

TIIE EXPRESS3,Ii TAMMY EVENING; JULY 173 1862.1

allegedin Ms. Be submitted that it was estressely
int .that • went is the neparlade polities of the
widest should ban bees pair et se. serious • erhne in
order to obtain the paltry miss et sine pounds, sad that Were
could be very little doubt thin, ening the metrumest was
signed by his attorney, he thought it was a matter of coulee
that he should also have toeign it, and did so without, intend
ing to do any smog.
A meat many respectable witnesses were celled to speak
to the defendant'. character, and they all described him to
be a man of the highest honour and integrity.
Banc Bramwell, in slimming up, said it was very im-
portant that affidavits of this kind should be correct, and he
could not =north* to the doctrine that a man did sot com-
mit perjury because be neatened to be unacquainted with
the contents of the instrument to the truth of which he
was sworn. The jury would, however, take all the circum-
stancsa of the case into their consideration, and if they had
any doubt, the high character the defendant had received
ought certainly to have considerable weight.
The jury, after deliberating a short time, returned a ver-
dict of .Not
Simon Child, a little urchin, stated in the calendar to be
eleven years old, was charged with feloniously placing stones
upon the London and North Western Railway, with intent
to obstruct the engine. and carriages passing along the line,
and to endanger the safety of the passengers.
Mr. Clerk prosecuted ; and the prisoner was defended by
Yr. Codd.

It appeared that on the evening of May 27 the down train
to St. Albans, upon coming near Watford, RD over two stones
that were placedupon the rails, and the driver aivinginforma.
Sion of thecircumstance upon arriviugat the Watford station,
the signal man at the spot was directed to keep a strict
watch. He did so, and on the following day the prisoner
and two other boys were seen to go upon the line, and the
prisoner was observed to stoop and place something upon the
rails, and it turned out that two stones were placed there.
It also appeared that at the time the engine ran over the
stones on the previous evening, a search was made, and it
was discovered that steam of a similar kind bad been
placed upon both the up lines of rails. When the prisoner
was apprehended, it appeared that he denied having placed
the stones upon the rails, and said that one of the other
boys had done it.
Mr. Codd made an earnest appeal to the jury on behalf of
the prisoner, and, while admitting that the act imputed to
him was one very likely to be attended with the moat serious
consequences, and which merited severe punishment when it
wag clearly established. be submitted that, in the first plane,
it had not been proved beyond doubt that the prisoner placed
the stoma upon the railway ; and secondly, that supposing
the jury should consider that this fact was proved, there
was nothing to show that he did so with any of the
intents charged in the indictment. He then milled the
attention of the jury to the law regarding offences com-
mitted by persons of tender age, end said that in the case
of those under 14 years of age they were not responsible
for an offence of this description or any other, unless it was
shown that they were aware of the probable consequences
of their acts, and were at the saes time actuated by a
malicious intention to do mischief,

Baron Bramwell, in Ins summing up, said he did not
think there could be any doubt that the prisoner I
did place the stones upon the railway ; but the next
important question to consider w•s, with what intent the
prisoner had so placed them. In the case of a grown-up
person the law considered him responsible for the probable
oonsequences of his acts, but this was not so in the case of •
child under fourteen years of age. In the present cue,
therefore, if they should be of opinion that the prisoner
was merely actuated by • feeling of mischief, or to see the
effect of • train going over the stones, that would not be
sufficient, and it was absolutely necessary that they should
be satiated that he eras actuated by one of the inten4 im-
puted by the indictment before they could convict him.
The jury, after some deliberation, returned a verdict of
Not °nifty.
Baron Bramwell told the prisoner that, although he had
escaped upon the present charge, he was still liable to be
ed against under another section of the act of par-
liament.ed He might have caused serious mischief and loss of
life or broken limbs by his act, and he hoped that he
would be punished.
The criminal business was brought to animas in the after-
noon, and both courts will be engaged to-day in trying
MUNN.

NORFOLK CIRCUIT.—AYLERBURY, JULY 16.
The commission for this county was opened yesterday by
Mr. Justice Wightrian, and business commenced this
scorning berore the Lord Chief Justice Cockburn in the
crown court, and Mr. Justice Wightman on the civil side.
The criminal hat includes only eight prisoners—one for
ananalaogliter, arising from the railway accident at Wol-
verton is February last; three for burglary ; one, a child, for
anon • and three man of false pretences agaitts;: one per-
son. 'On the civil side, six causes are entered, the majority
of which, including two special juries, relate to disputed
rights of way and enclosure of waste lands. In this court
so much of the day was occupied by trying a case of dis-
puted account, about some eight pounds, that no case of
importance has been concluded.

LR.IOK.

Sarah Brinktote, aged 11. wee with setting fire to it
bed in her master's Ileum

Mr. Forster for ii;to prosecution ; Mr. Metcalfe fur the
defence.
---... • • •

From the evidence it appeared that a bed in the attic wu
set on fire on two consecutive days, sod that on the last oast-
Mon no one was in the house at the time but the prisoner and
the young children of her master. The prisoner practically
admitted her guilt, and the only point really left in doubt
was her motive, and whether at the tims she was really
aware that she was committing a criminal act.
The Chief J ustice having summed up,
The jury found her Guilty, but moommended her to
mercy on the ground of her youth.
Fourteen days imprisonment, and threw years he a re-
formatory.

r CIRCUIT w INCHESMR, JULY 16.
(Before Mr. Justice Keating.)

Thomas Pork* Leith, aged 27, described in the calendar
as a farmer, was indicted for horse stealing. at Timsbury, on
the gal June. The prisoner was a very tall, fine fellow,
upwards of 6 feet in height, end he had held a commission
in the army, his friends being people tu good position. He
had been sent to a Mr. Symea, at Timsbury, as an agricul-
tural pupil, and had stayed there only ten ds, when he
took without leave a horse out of the stable, saddled it, and
went off, and was not heard of for three days, when he wee
apprehended by the police at Sherborne, in Dorset. When
the pollee took him he had 41. 12s. on his person, said he had
not stolen the horse, and was going to Exeter, merely fora lark.
It was afterwards explained that on the night in question
be was drinking at a public-house until after eleven o'clock,
and then went to the stables of his master or tutor and got
the hone. At that late hour he visited a gentleman named
Peuruddooke, residing at Compton-park, and finding that he
had stayed out longer than he intended, be thought he
would have a further ride aid see the country. The judge
sent the case to the jury, who dequitt< d the prisoner • but
his lordship gave hint this caution—that similar conduct
on the part of one in a lower grade of life, and proved in
evidence, bad often led to a conviction ; and he hoped the
prisoner in future would take care to get permission before
he took a horse out of his stable and rode off with it.
lie was then discharged.

THE POLICE COURTS.

SOUTHWARK.

Ellen Simnel', an old swarthy woman, was charged with
obtaining 2s. and a cap front from Lizsy Si arrow under
falseand fraudulent meteores.
The prosecutrix, • married woman, said she kept a bonnet
shop at 131, Bermondsey-street. On Saturday last the pri-
soner came in and asked her to buy a stay lace. She
bought one, widths prisoner, after lingering about the door,
at last asked to look at her hand. Witness showed he;
hand, and then prisoner asked for sixpence, saying that she
had good fortune in store, and she would tell her all about
it. She gave her the al:pence, when the prisoner told her
her husband would die by accident, and that she would
marry another man, and have several children, and be rich.
Mr. Combo asked her if she had any children by her
husband!
Witness said she had two. After she gave the prisoner
the sixpence she wanted another, as she could then tell what
sort of a man her future husband would be. Witness gave
her another sixpence, and prisoner told her be would be •
dark man sad a prosperous man.
Mr. Combs inquired whether she was sot contented with
her present husband!
Witness replied that she wax hut still she thought the
should like to hear what the prisoner saiiL After that the
prisoner pulled out a pack of cards and shuffled them, and
witness picked one out, when she was told that she would
have four children by her next husband.
Mr. Combo here expremed his surprise that any woman
of her age should be so foolish as to be imposed upon by an
old ignorant hag like the prisoner. She ought to have
turned her out of the shop there and then, or given her
into the custody of a constable.

..--
Witnew replied that the primmer woald not leave the
shop, but told her that she wanted another shilling to con-
sult the planets for her, se she bad no doubt that she bad
a lucky star. Witaess gave her a shilling as requested, aed
then the prisoner pointed to a cep front, and said she roust
have that to wind up her nativity. She gave her the front,
nod thee the prisoner left the shop.
Mr. Combo asked her if she bad any desire then to lose
her husband? . . . . .

Witness replied that she had not, and she was so
frightened that she was glad to get rid of the prisoner,
thinking that she should never se* her again. However, on
Tuesdiv afternoon she was surprised to see the prisoner
walk into the shop, and in the cooleet manner demand 4s.
NS re to complete her horoscope. Witness told her she had
so more money. and recreated her to leave the shop, when
the prisoner tuned round sod said she knew she had money,
and money she must have before she left. Witness then
sent for a constable, and gave her into custody.
The prisoner here said that the laty told her to come
on Tuesdsy.
Mr. Comb* asked her what she had to say about telling
the lady her fortune
She replied that she never told fortunes. How could a
poor ignorant old croons like her do such a thing ?
Se et Perrot, 7 111, sold he took the prisoner into
y, apd fowl apse aa old baying al amis.
The primer aaaoustad far Jim. ee fished
them op Li the diesel Ind pall eh= hpub&