The Express.
London, England, 1862-11-07 00:00:00

WMTMINSTEIL

George Morris appeared iticiischer7eof his recognizance',
for final examination on the charge of .tailing a gold watch
chain and breast pin, from the person of Mr. George Blake
Le Heup Rogers.

On the 73rd ult., at the time of the previous investigation,
the prosecutor was a cornet in the sth Dragoon Guards, and
the prisoner a private in the Royal Horse Guards Blue.
Both have since ceased to be in the army, Mr. Rogers'. com-
mission having been cancelled, and the prisoner having been
discharged.
Mr. Sleigh now appeared to prosecute ; Mr. Bury Hutchin-
son to defend. . .

Mr. Sleigh said be believed he was aware, by his instruc-
tMns, of what had taken place on the previous examination,
and if he rightly understood the charge. it was simply for steal-
ing from his client, Mr. Rogers, his gold watch chain
and breast pin. The young gentleman for whom he had the
honour to appear had at the time of the present transaction,
which had given him so much pain, just been gazetted to •
cornetcy in her Majesty's
ai service. From his age he was
barely more than a and had unquestionably conducted
himself with much folly and impropriety, which could not
for a moment be defended, but he had become so elated at
his prospects that be bad lost that command over himself
which he should have maintained, and for which, be must
repeat, there could be no excuse, unless, iudeed, it were
that of his client's extreme vouth. He had gone to Knights-
bridge, where, it seemed, lie had indulged very freely in
drink, and was in so exuberant • state of hilarity that had
he met • band of Ethiopian serenaders he (Mr. Sleigh)
verily believed he would have fraternised with them. He
had unfortunately while not being able to control himself
from the excess of joy which pervaded his mind fallen in
with the prisoner at the bar, who now stood charged with
robbing him, and who in defence to that charge fixed
' an imputation of the most foul and filthy character, totally
unmerited by the unfortunate gentleman upon whom it
had been malignantly fixed, and whose highly moral and
respectable character throughout his life could be attested
by Sir Thomas Blake (who was accommodated with a seat
on the bench) and his tutor, a clergyman, wbo beet had the
opportunity o knowing him, and who could show that he
had hitherto enjoyed • reputation for morality and pro-
priety second to none. In support of the charge of felony,
the court had the testimony of the prosecutor that
' he bad his watchguard and pin perfectly safe upon his per-
son when be got into • cab with the prisoner, that the
former must have been stolen while there, and the latter
was purloined from his breast by the prancer when he got
out of the cab on his return to Knightsbridge. It would be
further shown that at the eLation.house, where pi limier was
immediately taken upon the charge, Inspector Hidden put
some questions to the prosecutor, who detailed the circum-
stance., and described how the pin bed been taken. That
was io the prisoner's presence, and he made no denial of the
assertion : he did not deny the fact ; sod it was not until a
quarter of an hour or twenty minutes afterwards—and this
was a mostrasterial circumstance—that the prisoner said one
word affecting the prosecutor's reputation ; it was not until
a quarter of an hour or 20 minutes after he found himself in
custody for felony at the station, that he attempted to fix
thisfoulaod filthy imputation upon him. It would be clearly
shown by other testimony than the prosecutor's, that be
had his watch chain when he got into the cab with the pri-
soner, sod that the latter after he bad taken the pin
walked to where some loose characters were standing. He
(Mr. Sleigh) was aware that his tripod, Mr. Hutchinson, who
was on the other side, would urge that the prosecutor was
in a state of inebriety, and that his evidence consequently
could not be depended upon ; but be (Mr. &sigh) ap-
prehended that the circumstances were such as to
'educe the magistrate to sand the case before ajar,. What-
ever might be the magistrate's opinion regarding the felony,
there was one thing be was sure would lan his p f.ot sane-
tioe—that the infamous charge got lap tbe
eater omit to be tegersisd with the alaseel empaiiea sad