The Express.
London, England, 1852-12-24 00:00:00

GUILDHALL.

Mr. Graft" • welartrinesdilaufastnring jeweller,
of Flort-Mast, sanded Mr. Alarm= Cepdaad,
to sawn*. thumps of Mr. George Alessaisv • pea-
rasa reslaft Waradr-place, Pimlico, the
ha by to him es • geld Usk eala • Ask made
of was gave sad adder metal.
Mt •famaiso vested diet • seed tithe shies, is
FINI•4IseaS. a shahs ticketed se's gold," trt.
der sansled la saes. He went in sad looked at
it • wary wad key we attacked, sad le maid le shesld
the a larger ear. A howl of keys was halal to list, and
he selected eat He asked if they wore geld keys lad tho
dewed Nig sim won, sad that the peke of the key
otkeloi would be 101 However, after wise bagoisloir,
Mt ladles agreed to.teke for the ads sod key. He
=
,t) aftenvado showeildrthe los Mewl, who, On
alkyd they were wet geld. sal having by
Inquiry at seventh asp esewthised awl the key was a gold
sok ad the dam woe wel,, le we boa to Mr. Grafton
is theist eyes bathe Me swam rstuneed. Mr. Gran
termed away sad appearing te test the aids retuned into
the complain wtth the remark that it was quits good
sungh. bed it tossed spa sad salad ewes
stea ha Mr. Geodes Mated the stairs with the a-
nal ad theresdi ts area to sway. Cita
*best after doll wart to Fewer sad wane epos his
✓elars the read le die sewegspess of the use of the
Jeweller
aerie
Ledge/al" wheatmeal the mew* they had
assived fee • ample of spear aid Asia he mad
moth es Mr. Globus, ad ll
ama Is the asstigsgat
repeat required Mrs to lobo boa the teals sad rases
ths 21. Mr. Oman belled M =ads to that, and ;pow
*leant tan proposed to war as deellith of the foot, se
to whether: dm artists was OM et esti to • wan end
workaes. ad Mr. Grafts. ygealftl to uses; dr
with s an-
eth ay
an-
p, alog m d
"all lows awed blo
OM. Sala In aim • St lila 1.5.1421191

Mr. Grafton wishing the whole dispute to be lift to their
übitretion, while gibe complainant would only submii to
tbs. the ascertaining whether it was a gold chain or net.
Mr. Grafton however offered to take beck the chain, and
return only 11. Complainant would not agree to this ;
when Mr. Grafton 's shopmaa proposed that it should be ex-
changed fur a higher priced one, on payment of the differ.
@nee ; but the complainant adhered to his first proposition,
of returning both chain and key, and haying hie =wiry
again.
Crosaixamined by Mr. Lewis for the defendant—He had
laid the offence in the summons as having been committed
about the 13th of October. He was uncertain as to the
time. He would not swear the purchase was not made as
long ago as May. He understood chemistry, and had tested
the chain himself, anikalso taken the opinion of others upon
it. The chain and key were not ticketed 25a," but
under 11. He had ascertained the trade price of the key
was 14s. 61. and the chain 9s. Bd. He had not weighed
the chain against 5 sovereigns, bat his friend bad informed
him that such a chain made of gold would be worth 71. and
the key 11. He had never said he would spend 10,0001. to
ruin Mr. Grafton. !de had not worn the chola. Mr.
Urafton offered to exchange the chain, on payment of 175.,
for one marked 31. 15e.

Mr. Dlaadford, a working jeweller, was then called, who
deposed that the value of the chain was about 4..
Mr. Alderman Copeland asked if witness knew anything
of the rate of profit laid on by retailers ?
Witness aaid—Yee ; some would be content with 7a., and
others might charge 14e.
Cross.czamined—lie could make such chains for less
than los. each ; perhaps for Os.
The chain being weighed, and found to balance 4f 'sove-
woureigns, the
worth 1. witn
6ese mid that a gold chain of that weight
ld be

Mr. Weston, of Church-street, Pimlico, stated the ar-
ticles in question were not pure gold.
Mr. Alderman Copeland asked If the articles were electro-
typed or plated ?
The witaese could not say ; but he valued the key at
16e., and always marked his own goods as cased or plated,
if they were not gold.
Mr. Lewis, for the defence, said this was an attempt to
strain the criminal law beyond the proper bounds, and to
deal with matters belonging to the civil jurisdiction. If •
man bought an unsound horse under a warranty, was not
the remedy an scan ? If an auctioneer sold a picture as
• true Rembrandt, or Cnyp, and it turned out ton a copy,
' was he exposed to be indicted at the Old Bailey, or was not
the remedy in that ease also by an action ? It a wine mer-
chant sold wine se of one year's vintage, and it turned
out to be of another ; or if a draper sold a cloth as a Saxony
black, which was really not so ; or if a mercer sold a shawl
as an Indian shawl which wee manufactured elsewhere,
were these tradesmen liable to be forthwith tried and
transported for obtaining money by false pretences, or was
the aggrieved party only entitled to redress by an action ?
It was • rule that no indictment for false pretences would
lie where the prosecutor did net use reasonable caution.
Could it be said the nasplainant exercised his common
sense when ho expected to boy a gold chain worth 71. for
less than 200. ? He had swore the articles were marked
gold, but if the defendant could be sworn u to the ticket
he would prove this was false. The word " gold " might
be; large, and the word " plated " small, and the oom-
plainant not see it ; but there it was.
Mr Alderman Copeland said if oath was the can Mr.
Grans might call his 'henna to prove the fact.
Mr. Lewis said unfortunately this shopmao,as well as the
musufactunr from whom Mr. Grafton purchased the
articles, had gone to the diggings, which had been exceed-
ingly attractive to persons accustomed to deal with the
precious metals. The rate of profit was not by itself a
test of guilt, for he should be asked 2001. at Story and Mor-
timer', for au article he Gould get elsewhere first hand for
1001. The conduct of Mr. Grafton showed his innocence,
for he had not caught at any of the several opportunities to
get rid of this charge. He had not run slier the coin-
plainest to mettle with him, but preferred meeting the
charge publicly ; and the alderman would remember that
this was the only charge against Mr. Grafton.
Mr. Alderman Copelaad said that since he had heard the
charge against the Messrs. Benson he had received from 20
to 30 letters in a day, complaining of similar fraudulent
transactions elsewhere, and when shopkeepers had the
hardihood to ticket es gold at Us. articles which they pur-
chased by the gross at Is. 6d. each, the whole question
assumed such a serious aspect that he should not be justi-
fied in disposing of this complaint without consideration.
It was sworn in this case that the ticket was marked
gold."
Mr. Lewis reminded the alderman bow treacherous was
Mr. Alexander's memory, as he could not swear when the
purchase of the chain was made, whether it was in May or
October.
Mr. Alderman Copeland repeated that he had received a
shoal of complaints of like imposition, and from his position
in the Goldsmiths' Company be knew the respectable part
of the trade were desirous that the fraudulent ticketing
system should be suppressed. That the public might be
duly protected, he should consider carefully the evidence in
Odense before he decided.

- The neunons----wee thenedlearatid sine die, on the under-
staadiag tkat all parties wen to receive dee notice of the
f°!tb" !Fmliuti"•

Mr. Alderman Copeland acknowledged with great
pleasure the receipt of 201. for the poor-box, forwarded Cy
Mr. H. Bricks*ll, by the direction of the Court of Aria-
mite of the Oman' Company.

BOW-ATILERT.

Police-constable Joseph isrpr7sers;, F division, was
brought belay Mr. Hall, by disables or the police coop
missioares, to answer a charge of insubordination.
It appeared from the determent of the sergeant (F 3)
that the defendant was a reserved biker, employed to go on
different beats, as occasion required. On Wednesday
evenurg be was directed to go on duty in St. Paul's-church-
yard, Covent-garden. He was ordered to be there at nine
o'clock and remain for the night, but he sullenly refused
to se, without maga* any reason for his disobedience.
Ha Hall inquired wbatooald be the possible reason for
seek holy ? Was the man afraid of goblins ?
ikeellißilleaSlls Pearce said that many of the men had
bregaisea elijestieure to doing duty in the churchyard ;
tad whoa sasl IMO the case, he never persisted in their
being seat there t hat the present defendant made no ob-
jectless." that sew or any other indeed. He had not
bees begin the brim, and had been generally employed
on reined duty became he did not enjoy good health
bet he hared his chief falling was an obstinate temper.
The defendant expressed his extreme sorrow for his
SiIINIK HO did not think it would be looked upon so
_Maly. He was not afraid of churchyards, and did not
know why he objected to go on the beat. He had • wife
and family,, and he harped his worship would plus over his
arecoadnet _ _

Mr. Mull said it was M the teat importance that dia.
She plaice firm rwU be rawly ebeerred, and
hs aimjpipnenil to iamb Ms Is, ems days for his
balhavirar, War Mr. blares WM see ease hope of
a OW pomading* kiwi ta waist a repeti-
ties atlas

Mr. Perms said it was pos ibis might Ws Ms situation
altogether. Me did not whit to pew the eitapp against
Way Morels was a young NNW the *VIM
M. IA did not at all Wow low to &Mira the ease—
the endue of the asan appeased Is Ws se vanesseatably
Sol i& Certainly, if he hand d larking of the kind
again, be should oonunit the olludar to prima.
His wenhip then fined delhodast IL, big tly,
on the urgent entreaty of W tlehadant's ted
the penalty to 16e.
WORSHIP-STREET. _ _

John Parrot, as arid man, who had bees remeried ea
• charge of mardenng his wile, was fully ammmilted
trial.

SILK MARKET.—We have again to report coneiden-
ble boobies in silk, and continued large deliveries; but
the pebble effect of the very large quantity to arrive
dung ffile next two months is not without an influence
apse Inuf buyers and sellers. In Chbta silk, the improved
tease imported last month led to the taking of the whole
et the amp by the Challenger, 1,000 bales, immediately
wpm IMtad, at a further &drabs of 6d. per lb. This
has beset followed by the clearing up of sundry large parcels
Of AI elk at gradually improved pins, still 3d. to 6d.
per lb. eider the now silk. The stook of Tapas= was
aged, exhausted previously to the arrival of the Nighting-
pis: that 'weal les tbabhed a supply of 700 bales, of
villa Ile boles had bees sold for arrival—of the residue'
meal prods have bees taken at fall pries,. The ad-
visee apse all China silk may now be quoted pd. to Is. pet
lb. apes die opening prices of October. In Canton silk, 76
bales, jam leaded, of middle sine, have been sold at fall
palm la Weed silk anything of the lower clause
and enema Ni.. has been taken freely at full prices.
The lode aim of native silk are still difficult of sale, and
time hes bees perhaps less inquiry fur Estate silk. In
Dila elk there is methane worthy of remark in the general
bola= Weed a pedleally stiffening of prices for the little
that les lees &sae $ bat sash is the scarcity of raw, of all
classes that two bags Ilaterea, together about SO bake, first
of their respective dliasieta have been bought for this
market at very high prism These filatures, att.ough
uatelly received len seems or War dude/ the season, are
war never sent on obeigoessat, sad ere always the object
stalk eempaltioa. la &etas Mt the monthly unload-
ing wee 140 the liumar. a 74 bales" were taken
ea beading at ea advance of 3d. ea the price' of last month;
the residue, being of the finer slalom, has been nearly all
exported, foreign markets continuing to afford better pros-
pects sad pine. In Persian silk, the uploading gave 400
ballotaelesepereel of 300 ballot., being of &favourite mark,
well ead suitable for the present require meats of
the MIRO was taken immediately at rather full ;Prices
I—the remaisisig 100 ballots were subsequently sold for
export.

COTT6N.—LtvintrooL, Dec. 23.—The tales at market
tads, have been estimated at 6,000 bales, inclusive of 600
taken on sr/natation. They comprise 600 Egyptian' Old.
to Ild.; 400 Bent, nd. to 4}d. Imports since Thursday,
70,000 bales. The market closes very steadily, with no
lamp on Friday's quotations.
MANCIIIISTIII6 Dec. 23.—There has been a rather brisk
inquiry for yarns again to-day, but it has been mostly con-
tain to India qualities. Prins have assumed a rather
hardening tendency in these description.. There has slue
bilia • bitter demand for warps and wefts for home con-
sumption than a short time ego. The higher numbers con-
tinue in neellent demand for the Yorkshire markets. In
=doths of low qualities, i widths an in fair ingnity
pervious nese. There is also eine business ftiee
the Lt Ms delta 72 reeds, et the nested whitlow
daring tbe week. la the lower deem eS se-
mi *Mere the *joky it ma lobo& BM
am Mira le sibei Ifillfgalb le as beg

Imarket, like yarns for that quarter, have had a large share
of attention. The sale of T cloths is dull, acd many of the
leading makes can be had at the rates current in Sep.
tember. Domestics are difficult to sell, because, in addl.
Ain to the absence of foreign demand, the home trade at
this season of the year seldom purchase, except tempted by
rs,ol6.iible priers. Some ermlitiee, however, have not
reached the lowest points touched this year by jd. per
yard. ThO circular of an eminent Manchester house,
just printed for the overland mail, says :—" On
the whole we are about to close the year, so far as our
market is concerned, In a very satisfactory state. Stocks,
with partial exceptions, are light, and prices are generally
remunerative, so that there is every prospect of full em-
ployment being continued for the operative classes of all
1 de.criptions in this district. Still we cannot look upon the
future u altogether so unclouded as was the case at the
close of last year, notwithstanding the continued cheapness
of money and the actually sound condition of trade generally
at the present moment. It should be borne in mind that
the yield;of the last harvest was considerably below an
average, and for several months past we have experienced
very unfavourable weather. Large tract, of the country
have been, for a long period, under water, and the rainy
weather does not yet seem to have come to an end. Thus
very little wheat has been down during the autumn, and
what is In the ground must, in many instances, be so far
injured as to require replanting in the spring, so that our
prospects for the next harvest are anything but auspicious.
Corn has risen materially in value, and although Germany
and America may be able to send large supplies, it seems
very doubtful whether a further advance will not shortly
be established. At any rate, after our recent bad weather,
an uneasy feeling will uaturaly be experienced for sonic
time as to the future supply and price of food. Another
untoward feature is the strong speculative feeling abroad,
as shown in mining shares, iron, and other ways, which
would probably be the means of precipitating a reaction in
the event of a further and rapid rise in the price of food
during the mining spring."

WOOL (Exoctait).—Laana, Dac. 23.—The demand for
combing and clothing wools still continuer. Prices are
without any material change.

CORN.-BIRKINONAW, Dzc. 23.-At Gloucester and
Worcester markets, on the 18th, wheat was Is. to 2s. per
quarter dearer, but at the latter the trade ruled dull. Bar-
ley 'maintained its value, but sold very slowly. Oats scarce,
and 6d. to Is. per quarter d . &aye and peas held for
previous rates. Daring the present week, very ft. trona-
actions in wheat are reported, and on the sales made the
turn was in favour of the buyer. Barley only taken in re-
tail. Few oats offering. Beano and peas neglected. At this
day's market, there was a large supply of English wheat ;
old, also foreign, waa quite as dear, but new gave way 1..
per quarter. Barley dull, but not lower. Oats 6d. to Is.
pet quarter dearer. Beans and peas a Plow sale, but nomi-
nally unaltered in value. The following ere the prices:-
Wheat, English, white, per bushel of 621b5., 6s. 4d. to
71. Od.; new, se. 10d. to 61.4 d. ; red, ss. 10d. to 6s. 511 ; new,
fie. 4d. to 55.10 d. ; Barletta, white, 6s. 6d. to Gs. 10d. ; red,
61. 4d. to 6s. 6d. ; Baltic, red, Gs. Od. to 6e. 4d. ;
white, 6s. 101. to 7s. Od. ; Polish Odessa, ss. 10d. to
Gs. 2d. ; Danube. ss. 6d. te se. 10d. Barley, per im-
perial qr., 29e. to 325. 6d.; grinding, per 392165., 24a. Od.
to 275. Od. Oats, English, white. per imperial qr., 215.6 d. to
255. ; Welsh, black and white, per 312165., 195.0 d. to 190.6 d. ;
i Irish (41 to 421b5.), per 3121 be., 19s. 6d. to 21s. 6d.; ditto (37
to 391bs.),per 3121bc, 195.0d.t0 205.0 d. ; black, 19s. 6d. to 20s.
Besns,English,old,per 1961b5.,1 is.6d. to 156.641. ; new,l3s.od.
to 14s. Od. ; Irish, new,134.04. to 14s. Od. ; Egyptian,l3s. 6d.
to 13s. 9d.; French, 134.6 d. to 141.0 d. Peas, boiling, per im-
perial qr., 36e. to 411. ; grinding, per 1961 be., I3s. 6d. to
15s. Od. Lentils, per 1961b5., 12s. Od. to 13e. 6d. Indian
Corn, per 1961b5., 12s. 6d. to 14s. 6d. Flour, English, fine,
per tack of 2601 be., 375. Od. to 395. Gd. ; seconds, It.. Gd.
to 351. 6d.

Buterot, Dxc. 23.-The market to-day has been but
moderately supplied with English wheat, aid nearly all the
samples of this year's growth are more or less of inferior
quality, and out of condition. The accounts from the sur-
rounding districts still continue to be anything but pro-
miens for a future harvest. The lowlands are flooded to a
considerable extent, and the heavy reins still falling give
but little promise of speedy amendment. The operation of
sowing wheat has been so retarded that it is thought that s
good deal of wheat land will be this year devoted to cut-
crops. English old wheat to-day has been [lsm at an ad-
vance of 2a. per quarter on the currencies of this day
se'nnight. The prices of new have been very variable,
being regulated by quality and condition. Foreign has
participated in the improvement upon prime English, and I
is from Is. to Is. Bd. per quarter dearer. Flour is of pretty
ready sale and firm. For malting barley the sale is dull,
while grinding parcels meet with purchasers et about the
late quotations. Oats are in moderate requnt, and realise Bd.
per qr. more money, and the same remark will apply to beans.
The prices were :-Rnglieh new wheat, 424. to 48s. per
Imperial quarter ; ditto, old wheat, 60s. to 69e. per ditto ;
foreign, white, 625. to 56e. per 48011 m. ,• ditto, red, extra
flue qualities, 494. to 625. per ditto; ditto, line
47e. to 50s. per ditto ; ditto, ordinarj qualities, 465. to 484.
per ditto; foreign, hard, 445. to 411. per ditto. English
seconds flour, 375. to 40s. prank. United Btates,ffic., sweet,
28s. to 30e. per barrel. English malting barley, 32a. to 36..
per imperial quarter; English and foreign grinding ditto,
275. to 28s. per 40016 a.; Devon and Welsh feed oats,
17e. 6d. to 18.. Bd. perimperial quarter; Irish white, ditto, '
19e. 6d. to 21s. per 3201 be. ; Irish black ditto, 18s. 3d. to
189. 6d. per imperial quarter. English beans, 369. to 40s.
per ditto; foreign ditto, 335. to 365. per 4801 b.. The
arrivals on shipboard for the week have been :-Wheat,
1,717 'soften; oats, 1,196 barrels, 630 quarters; barley,
2.770 Wrela, 830 quartets. The official return of the corn
inspector gives the following averages :-Wheat, 44e. 7d. ;
oats, 20e. 3d. ; barley, 31s. 11d. ; beans, 41s. 2d.
NIWBORT, Dec. 23.-We have thisday an increased sup-
ply of Wheat, which caused a dull trade, and lower prices
were submitted to on the samples out of condition. The
supply of Barley was not large ; fine malting rather dearer,
end other sorts a good sale. Oats rather more inquired for,
.bat Beans and Pen without alteration.

VISSIDOII, Dee. 23.—The trade for Wheats dull, and
except for samples in fair condition, lower prices are taken.
The average value is 48s. per qr. Good Barley sells freely
at Ws. to 331. per qr. Beans, 32i. to 36e. ; old, 40s. per qr!
Peas, white, 425. to 48r. per qr.
WATIRPOILD, Dec. 22.—Our supplies of farmers' grain
have slightly increased this week, and Wheat, from its es-
truse dampness, has yielded is price Is. to is. per barrel ;
but Oats, as well as foreign Wheat, remain firm at the cur.
rey of last week. Flom and Maim in fair demand, and
steady in prices.