The Express.
London, England, 1864-10-21 00:00:00

OCTOBER 21, 1064,

SURREY QUARTER SESSION

(Before T. Tiboa. Fag.)
Alexander Burr, a person of gentisnuwily appearance, and
who was stated to he an artist of considerable eminence,
simeniered to take his trial upon a charge of unlawfully
sisaulting a young girl named Sarah Hammond, with intent
to commit felony.
The Hon. Alfred Thesiger conducted the prosecution;
Mr. Lillsy and Mr. Oppenheim ware counsel for the
defendant. . . . . . . .

The proisecutris, who dated that the was thirteen years
and • half old, deposed that she lived with her Whin 'Ad
mother in • cottage at Compton, near Godahnieg, and on
the 30th of September she waist home &loos. About Wi-
riest the in the afternoon the defendant walked into
the oottoge,_ sad said be wanted to take a sketch of
the house. He had • roll of paper with him, and he sat
down and looked round the kitchen, and said it was
very old fashioned. He afterwards looked in the pantry
and the washbowl,, and then wanted top up-atairs to see
the bedrooms, and the told him be could not do so then as
they were &Hapset. He, however, persisted in going up-
stairs, and the followed him ter fear he should take any.
thing away. fhe &readmit fast went into her mother's
bed-room, and he observed that it was very old fashioned,
and he then went into her own bedroom, sod said that was
old fashioned, and be shut the window. Witness opened it,
but he shut it again, sod then laid hold of her and threw
her on the bed. (The witness then detailed what took
place, and said she was prevented from crying out by
the defendant pressiog upon her mouth.) The witness went
on to ay that, after the defendant bad acted in the manner
she had stated, he placed a balf-erown on • chairs,
and told her not to my anything about what
he had done, and she told him she was going
out and he must go, and he went down stairs ; and when he
got outside of the booms he ran away as fast as he could.
Directly he was gone, she west to • nest door neighbour,
and told her what had taken place ' • and when her mother
came home the police were applied to, and the defendant
was shortly afterwards taken into custody.
The prosecutrix. in aaswer to questions put to her in
eras-rumination, said that the defendant had a sketch
book with him, and be told her that he wanted to take a
sketch of the cottage, and wished to kilos, when bee father
and mother would be at home to give him permission. Be-
fore what she had stated took place, the defendant kissed
her, and asked her if she had any sweethearts, sod she told
him she bad not. The partition between her father's cot-
tage sod the adjoining one was very thin, and if she had
knocked at the partition the people in the nest house must
have heard her. She took up the half-crown the defendant
laid down and put it in a tea-cup down stairs.
Mrs. Collins, the person occupying the adjoining cottage,
deposed that about half-past 1 o'clock on the 30th of Sep-
tember the prceectitrix came to her end made a complaint,
and she looked out and saw • man running away.
A constable of the West Surrey constabulary proved that
from information he received he apprehended the defendant,
sod, upon asking him his name, he mid it was Smith, and
that he came from London. (A laugh.) He at first denied
all knowledge of the prosecntrix. but afterwards admitted
that he had "a bit of fun" with her, but laid that he had

used no violence.
Mr. Litter, at the close of the ace for the prosecution,
submitted that there wee no evidence to go to the jury, as
it was clear that all that took place was with the consent of
the prosecutrix.
The Chairman mid he was of the same opinion, but he
did not like to withdraw the case from the jury, and said
what they thought of the matter.
The jury, after a short deliberation, mid they were of
opinion the defendant had been guilty of a common assault
only.
Mr. Lilley thereupon addressed them upon the facts, and
after a few observations from the Chairman, the jury re.
turned a general verdict of Not Guilty, and the defendant
was ordered to be discharged.

THE POLICE COURTS.

BOW -STREET.

Fronds Joseph Cooke, a young man, lately in the employ
of Messrs. Dent sod Co., of Cockspriretreet, was placed at
the bar on remand charged with forging cheques and orders
for the delivery of goods to an amount exceeding 5001.
The prisoner, in the month of Muth last, procured an
introduction to the Messrs. Dent of the most respectable
description, and was eogsged at first merely as a temporary
clerk. His duty was to wrens • quantity of old papers,
amongst which he found an old cheque book, which con-
, Mined a number of blank forms. This fact, it seems,
led the prisoner to arrange • moat extensive system of
plunder, which was not put into execution until the
whole scheme was ripe. When the time arrived the prisoner
set to work with the utmost speed, and in one day he suc-
ceeded is obtaining either money from the customers of
his employers, or goods to order purporting to be signed
by them to the amount of over 4004 On the day in gum-
tion the prisoner called upon a number of jewellers and
obtained a large amount of property, and also favoured the
customers of the Messrs. Dent with a visit to collect their
accounts. In one case he went to Mr. Dodd, Combat, and
asked for the amount of • bill owing to Messrs. Dent,
amounting to 1301.. which be rensiva He also went to
Mr. Jones, • jeweller, and obtained about 2001. worth of
goods, and to Mr. Vaughan, when be produced • forged
cheque for 251., signed by Mr. Dent, asking for the favour
of change for it in Irish bank sots'. This he also received.
After collecting the whole of the plunder he aberooded on
the 13th of September, going, it appears, to Coleraise, is
Ireland. After being there some time be returned to England
and resided for • abort time ie Cholas% ha object being to
get to Australia, be having taken a passage there la a ship
which sailed two days after be was apprehended at Reipte
from the information lodged there by Sergeant Hornell, of
the metropolitan police force.
The court was crowded by persons from whom the pri-
soner had either obtained money or goods, as be not only
robbed his employers' customers, but he also victimised his
fellow-clerks and arquaiotances.
Mr. Joseph Jobs Carey, jeweller, Cheapaide, said—The
prisoner on the 13th of September entered my shop, and
represented himself as having come from Messrs. Dent, of
Cockspuratreet, sod prodoeed an order signed M. F. Dent
and Co., for goods to the amount of 891. 95. 6d. Be
gave me • cheque signed as per order for the amount. I
bad had but one small transaction with them, and I had
never seen the prisoner before. The order stated that
" the bearer" had • cheque for the goods, which, if not
sufficient, be was to pay the balance in cash.
Mr. Henry (looking at the order)—l presume the articles
are such as the Messrs. Dent would not require ; for Ju-
liano., a diamond ring?
Mr. Carey—The transaction I have spoken of was correct
enough as to that particular article.
Mr. Smith, manager to Mews. Dent, said the prisoner
was a junior clerk in the cashier's department. The order
spokes of by Mr. Carey is in his (prisoner ) handwriting.
He had no authority to sign the name of the firm for the
purpose of obtaining goods. The forged cheque is also
issued by the prisoner.
Mr. Henry—Upon whose bank is the cheque drawn?
Mr. Smith—The Messrs. Drummond. The cheque book
used by the prisoner was an old one, which was in use be-
fore the new stamp set was
Mr. Henry—lt ought to r:::d.been burnt, became any
person could pot one of the new penny stamps upon it, and
afterwards use it. How many old forms did the book con-
tain

Mr. Smith—Seventeen, your worship.
Mr. Henry—How many of those have been traced!
Russell, the odker—Only tire, air.
A large amount of jewellery, consisting of rings, watch
chairs', !gr., was here produced from • black leather bag,
from amongst which Mr. Carey ideotified nearly the whole
of the goods he had supplied the prisoner.
Mr. Henry —Did you present the cheque at Messrs. Drum.
moods!

ii;.barey—No:,laid it into my bank, and it was re-
turned to me as forged.
Mary Ann Bailey said—l arid at the Railway Hotel,
Reigate. The prisoner left the beg produced in my are on
the 13th of September.
George Rogers, superintendent of the Reigate police,
said—l took the prisoner into custody at Reigate. I found
the watch and chain identified by Mr. Carey on the pri-
spear's parson, sod the key of the bag, in which was a vast
amount of jewellery, I found in the prisoner's pocket.
When I took him into custody he told me the curb chain
he wore belonged to Mr. Carey. of Cheapeide, sod that the
and Alberta ale° weis. He told roe if I wont to
guards re h.
Cooke, South-street, Chelsea, I should find some more
of the property.
The next case called on was that in which the prisoner
obtained 130/. from Mr. Dodd, of Corohill.
Mr. New said he did not, on that occasion, propose to go
into that case as the charges against the prisoner were so
numerous that he wished to arrange matters so that the
trial should not take place at the Central Criminal Court
until next sessions.

Mr. Henry had no objection to such a proceediog, there-
fore be would, at that stage of the case, remand the pri-
soner for a weak.

WESTMINSTER..

A tall man, about 40 years of age, who gave the name of
Thomas Harris, was charged upon a warrant with having
imposed upon kr. Pryor, a gentleman of fortune, in Chester-
street, Be'grave-square a glorious character, by which be
was enabled to enter Le service at his country house in
Doreetshire.

Prosecutor said— I appear here entirely on public grounds
with the desire to bleak up • clique of persons who are pur-
suing mat disgraceful comma to get situations. Early in
September last 1 new an advertisement in the paper. It
was beaded " lu.door Servant," and went on to my,
"single handed or otherwise, sped 30, height sft. pin..
ma brew. In last situation three years two months."
Thinking that the person described would suit me, I
wrote to the address given, T. H., 13, Little Queenutreet,
Edgware-road, and he came to me. I engaged him, pro-
vided his reference, which he had given in.. wee satisfy).
tory. His reference was •• Captain Charles Lyster-
house, Brentwood, &sex." He particularly told me how
to spell the gentlernaa's name, and I wrote to him at the
address given, and is a few days I rewired en answer,
stating that Thomas Harris had lived with biro the exam
time stated in the advertisement—three years and two
months—and was everything a man could desire in a ser-
vant ; was @ober, honest, and had left on his own accord.
Prisoner was hired in oowequeoos of this high character,
and came to my bowie in lloreetabire oa the following
Friday, and continued with me until the Monday, whs.
I found out whet he was. I found there was
nothing laid for my dinner—no cloth, no preparation. The
prisoner was in a and need end meddled state, perfectly

bewildered, and did out know what he was about. Be
woe thoroughly intoxiceted, and I told him that if he did
not get out of my house is half an hour I would kick him
out, and he took me at my word and went. The circum-
stance of his being so drunk so soon after he had come to
me was so opposed to the character I bad bat received of
him that my suspicions were aroused, and Ti determined to
leave so stops unturned until I ascertained whether prisoner
had not altered my service by meow of a false character.
I corresponded with the head of the 000stabukry at Brent-
wood, Essex, inquiriog about Captain Wilke, and I re.
saved in answer a oommunication I Dow produce, inform-
ing me that there was no Captain Willem known there, and
no house of the name mentioned as his residence.

.:11;;;sitppose WeCierade, wan
given ?
Prosecutor—Then is no doubt about the mode in which
it was done. I hays been informed by the chief constable
at Brentwood that the tmnster there received a dip of
paper requiring letters addremed to Captain Willem to be
sent to 3, Southwark place, Hyde-park. There be was is
to the master of the home, • gentleman who has
lent me every assistance (Ciiptala Dyke). He knows
nothing of Captain Willes, but there is every reason to
believe that there has been collusion with one of his set-
Tanta, and that the character emanated from that quarter.
Mr. Selfe—ls there any further evidence?
Sergeant Noddy, of the B diviaias, mid—l took the pri-
mmer lest night at the eddrue grass in the Edgware-road,
when he admitted his guilt.
Mr. Sells—What did be say
Witness—He mead be was very sorry. It was a false cha-
rade, be bad got, and be must admit it.
Prisoner—lam guilty. I bed been • very long time out
of • situation and wanted to get one.
Selfe—And when you had got it you took theguickeet
means in your power to lose it. Your conduct is very die-
graceful, and this is • most serious offence. I shall Los
Jon 204, and in default commit you for is months.