The Express.
London, England, 1863-08-10 00:00:00

10)11EIN8 V. HISYDON.

This was an action to recover payment for work and labour,
acd also damages upon a count for false imprisonment. The
defendant paid 50/. into court in satisfaction of the plaintiff's
claim for work and labour, and as to the false imprisonment
he pleaded a justification.
Mr. Lush, Q.C., and Mr. Prentice war* counsel for the
plaintiff ; and Mr. Locke, Q.C., and Sir G. Honyman were
for the defendant.

The plaintiff in this action was a painter and house deco-
rator, and the defendant a sculptor ; and it appeared that
they had formerly been upon very friendly terms. The de-
fendant bad become tenant of a house in the neighbourhood
of the Regent's-park, which was out of repair, and he
undertook to do what was necessary to put it into proper
order, upon condition that the landlord should make him an
allowance of 401. He employed the plaintiff to do the
work. and it appeared that in the course of the proceedings
in connexion with the repairs, it became necessary to re-
move a copper, which was afterwards found to be too large
to be replaced in its original position, and a smaller one
was substituted. The larger copper remained for
some time upon the premises, and was even-
tually removed to the plaintiff's house, and it appeared
that disputes having at length arisen between the parties,
enquiries were made about this copper, and in the result the
plaintiff was given into custody for stealing it. This, and
the disputed claim for the repairs, ware the foundation of the
present action ; the case on the part of the defendant being
that by an agreement with the plaintiff he was only to give
the sum he had paid into court for the work that was
done, and that with regard to the alleged false imprison.
meat, he had reasonable grounds for giving the plaintiff
into custody.
The jury in the result gave a verdict for the plaintiff,
with 50/. damages for the false imprisonment, and 39!. 18a.,
in addition to the sum paid into court for the work and
labour. •

(Before Baron Channel.)
COOPKB V. HODGLS.

This was an action to recover damages for injuries done to
cab by one of the fire engines belonging to the defendant.
Serjeant Salentine and Mr. Travers were for the plaintiff;
and Sarjeant Pony and Mr. Robinson were for the defen-
dant.

The cause was only partly heard at the rising of the court.
The courts will not sit this (Monday) morning until 11
o'clock. The following special jury causes will be on the
list before Boron Bramwell :—Nos. 30, 42, 48, 52, 53, 57,
58, 59, 60. . . . . . . . .

caae is fixed to be taken Ent by Baron
Channell, and the common jury mem in his list will be
No. 32 to 73.

OXFORD CIRCUIT.—MONMOUTH, Auorirr 8.

The assizes for the county of Monmouth were opened
yesterday' (Friday), Mr. Baron Martin presiding in the
Crown Court, and Mr. Justice Byles in the Nisi }'riva Court.
There were 32 prisoners for trial, but the nature of the
offences was of the usual petty kind. The most important,
and the one that seemed to excite the greatest interest, was
that where a young man was charged with stealing the ori-
gloat will of the late Thomas Powell, Esq., deceased, mer-
chant, of Newport.
The name of the prisoner is Edwin TruozottGill, and he is
described in the calendar as 17 years of age, and a gilder by
trade.

Mr. Huddlestoo, Q.C., prosecuted; and Mr. Smythies
defended the prisoner.
The will was read over to the 'family of the deceased on
the 25th of March, 180, the day after his death, and was
missed on the Bth of May. A letter was received by the
widow, Mrs. Powell, dated Rendezvous, Monday, June 27,
1863, and worded as follows :—" Respected Madam,—
We perhaps merit the utmost possible contempt
you or the world may throw upon us, but
we trust yon will overcome your repugnance
sufficient to peruse and comply to the ensuing, 'our only
possible stipulation,' for the restoration of the late Mr.
Powell's original will, and other documents of more or leas
intrinsic value.

" It, is thus—should you think fit to negotiate with us we
will restore to you the above-mentiooed documents for the
sum of 1251. in gold. If you comment to this you may let us
know, by inserting in The Star of Gh-ent, for July 4th, the
following advertisement: 'John Anderson may apply to his
late employers.' Should this appear you will soon after
Lear from us, and will please hold the money in readiness.—
We remain yours respectfully,

BROTHERS LAVERNA.' "

"P.3.—You must understand that we considerthui private.
I Therefore ycn will please bold no communication with the
police, for were you to do no, the civil authorities, ma right,
would take it in hand and endeavour to bring us
to light, both for the benefit of their reputation
and pocket., heedless of the risk they would cause
you, for should they fail (which most amorally
they would) it ts you who will suffer, not they. For this
reason ' beware that you attempt no treachery.' If the
advertisement appears, we shall look upon it as your word
of honour as much as if you said, " Upon my
honour as a woman and a lady I hereby cede to your pro-
posal, tze."
The advertisement was inserted as requested, and three
other letters were received, requesting to meet at a certain
lonely place at half-past 10 o'clock at night, and,
continues one of the letter, " though your person
is familiar to us, it (*necessary that you should during your
walk burden yourself with a slight asthmatic cough, which
must be repeated every half-dozen steps or so."
The police were made acquainted with the circumstances,
and accordingly were on the qui sive. A female was hired
to "cough," and the result was the apprehension of the
prisoner after a severe struggle. The will was found
wrapped up in brown paper a few yards from where the
struggle took place.
The jury found the prisoner Cuilty, and his lordship, in
passing sentence, referred to the ruinous litigation in which
the family might have been involved if the will had not'
been found. After alluding to the prisoner's previous bed cha-
racter, be said he must pass upon him a sentence that would
be a warning to others, and tho sentence of the court would
would be that the prisoner be kept in penal servitude for 12
years.

THE POLICE COURTS.