The Express.
London, England, 1864-04-12 00:00:00

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

Gorge Bayfielci, 46, • respectable-looking men, described
as an agent, was charged with having unlawfully obtained
a bill of exchange for 1501., from John Pullen, by false
pretences.
Mr. Lest conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Pater was
counsel for the prisoner.
The prosecutor in this case is an attorney having offices
in the Temple, and it appeared that in Diesenber last he
was desirous of mis'xg some 11100.1 for one of his client.
upon a bill of exchange, and the prisoner wee introduced to
him by a person with whom he was acquainted slightly, as
being likely to procure him the money. At first the
negotiation between them had reference to • bill
for 3001., but nothing came of this transaction,
and the prosecutor then desired to obtain discount for
another bill for 1501., which was the stal•ject of the present
indictment. Upon this bill being handed to the prisoner
be pre a memorandum stating the object for which he re-
ceived it, and he subsequently said that be bad made in-
quiries, sod bad ascertained that the signatures of the
drawer sod the acceptor of the bill were genuine, and he
promised to brio: the mosey on a particular day. Instead
of doing this he appeared to have bolted, and be could not
be found at the address he had given as his residence, and
it turned out upon inquiry being made that the bill had
been raid away through the agency of another person, in •
transaction for the purchase of guano.
The jury found the prisoner Gitiltg, and he was sentenced
to nine months hard labour.. . . . .

~Rid*2rd Marled, surreederad, and pleaded guilty to an
indictment charging him with publishing a fate and ma-
licious libel concerning John Booth Plates.
Mr. Giffard and Mr. Poland appeared for the prosecutor ;
Mr. Sleigh and Mr. F. H. Lewis were counsel for toe de•
fendent. . . .

Mr. Giffard said that the prosecutor in this we was em-
ployed in • responsible capacity at the %%ambits colliery
at Barnsley, and the offence imputed to the defendant. who
VAS secretary to the Miners' Veion, was that he Lad caused
to be inserted in a newspaper published in London, called
the Mi ner Workeraris Adruca:c, • letter containing
charges of the most serious character against the prosecutor.
In that letter he not only charged the prosecutor with
various acts of misconduct in reference to the miners under
Lis charge, but that he had actually by cruelty caused
the death of one of the boys employed in the mine. The
newspaper in question had • very considerable circulation in
the mining districts, and the consequence of the letter in
gustation appearing io it was, that a very strong feeling was
raised among the miners, and the prosecutor was hooted and
insulted whenever he made his appearance, and war placed
in considerable danger. The defendant bad, however, folly
retracted the statements he had made, and admitted that,
having made inquiry, be was fully satisfied that there was
not the slightest foundation for the charges he had brought
against the prosecutor. Under these circumstances, he
trusted that the court would saoctioe the course that was
proposed to be adopted by Linn of not making for any
punishment, but that the prisoner should merely be called
upon to enter into sureties to appear and receive the judg-
ment of the court if he should be called upon to do so.
Mr. Sleigh, on the part of the defendant, expressed his
deep regret at having written the letter in question, aced
said that he (defendant) was oeginally a miner, and took a deep
interest in the welfare of persona employed in that capacity,
and be hat been led away by his enthusiasm, nader the
belief that wrong had been done, to make the statements
that were now complained of. He wee now, however, quite
satisfied that there was not the slightest foundation for the
charges that he had made against the prosecutor, and he
vepressed him sorrow for having published them, and threw
himself entirely upon the mercy of the court.
Tho Recorder said that he entertained some doubt
whether he ought to accede to the coune that was
proposed by Mr. Giffard, as the court felt that the
offence of publishing serious charges of this de-
scription, for which there was no foundation, and of
which the party accused was entirely innocent, was • very
grave ore. The consequenose that might have resulted
from the publication of such charges among • large mining
population might have been of • very serious character, and
possibly have led to public disturbances. He had, how-
ever, apologised in a manner that was satisfactory to the
prosecutor for the act that he had committed, and as there
did not appear to be any ground for supposing that he was
aware that the charges were false at the tine he made them,
the court would comsat to his being discharged upon hie
entering into a recognizance to appear and receive judgmeet
if he should be called upon to du so, but be must understand
that if he misconducted himself he would certainly be
called on to receive sentence. . .

Lcuillsa Poach!, 33, pleaded guilty toe charge of forging
an eodoisement to an order for lg., and also to having been
previously convicted of felony.
01r. F. H. Lewis, who was instructed to prosecute, said
Wit he was sorry to inform the court that the prisoner was
a clergyman of the church of England, and that he had for-
merly acted as curate to the Rm. Mr. Jarvis, the rector of
East Moulsey, and after the death of that gentlemen he had
obtained money from a gentleman named Ford, who warn
acquainted with him and the Jarvis family, upon the repre-
sentation that Mrs. Jarvis wu in a state of distress and re-
quired assistance, ad he forged the name of that lady to
• cheque for U. The prisoner had also been convicted of
another felony, and in addition to this be bad been tried
for a robbery, but he succeeded io inducing the jury to
acquit him oo the ground of insanity. lie was sent Vi a
lunatic asylum, but at the end of three mouths he was dis-
charged cured. (A laugh.)
Mr. Orridge, who appeared for the prisoner, said that
after the occurrence that had bees alluded to by Mr. Lewis,
the prisoner obtained his appointment as curate to the Rev.
Mr. Jarvis, and be conducted himself in such a manner tint
he left the curacy with the highest testimonials from that
gentleman. He was instructed that at the time the prisoner
committed the former offence he really was in such • state
of mind as not to be responsible crimioally, and he had
since losing his appointmmt at East Modem, been re-
dazed to such a state of &strive that at oue time he was
almost driven to contemplate the commission of suicide,
and under the pressure of severe want and misery he bad
committed the offence to which he had now pleaded guilty.
The Recorder, addressing the prisoner, said it was very
painful to hare to pass sentence upon • person of his edu-
cation. habits, and wheaten ; hut every one of these cir-
cumstances ought to have led to very different conduct on
his part, and in point of fast they were aggravations of his
crime. The present offence was not the first be bad com-
mitted, but he had not taken coy warning by what had
already taken place, and he felt it his duty to sentence him
to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for lb months.
.Robert Parker, 42, warehouseman, pleaded guilty to two
indictment& charging hint with embezzlement, and stealing a
quantity of silk and other goods, the property of his em-
ployer. Mr. Hugh Jones, warehouseman, of Woodetreet,
Cbeapaide.
The Recorder, in miming sentence, remarked that it was
a very serious cue, as the prisoner was in • confidential
position, and was in receipt of a good salary, arid sentenced
the r to five years' penal servitude.
Wain Martin, 20, warehouseman, pleaded guilty to •
charge of stealing a quantity of dress materials belonging to
his employers, Messrs. Ashford and Co., warehousemen, of
Fridity.street.
Mr. Pater, on behalf of Meson. Ashford, wished to re-
commend the prisoner to mercy, first, on account of his
youth ; and secondly, as they thought hie present trouble
would act as • caution to hint for the future.
The Recorder sentenced the poisoner to 1$ mouths' /M.
prim:anent with hard labour.

OZYNTAL PALACE., Ox= SHILLING DAY.
MONDAY. Anti:cll.- Admirlooaon payment, 1,143; ditto
by season tickets, 692 ; total, 1,835.
MORE THAN EVER AND BITTER THAN EVER.—This
applied to the lamest and bee stock of spring sad summer
patters tior owmiLed for pulßle approval The world-tamed
14.5. trousers at Alfred Webb Miles; the origloator's cooly esta-
bffahment, 73, Eroolbstreet, Hanover.square. Established 1841