The Express.
London, England, 1852-03-09 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.-MTERDAL

The sittings of the court for the Much General Session
were resumed this morning, at the Guildhall, Westminster,
by adjournment from Clerkenwell, before Mr. Serjeant
Adams, Assistant Judge ; Mr Withem, Mr. Roe, Mr. Ito-
binwo, Mr. Dodd, M.P., lie. There are 66 prisoners for
trial—bil for felony, and 6 for misdemeanour.
The Assistant Judge briefly charged
_ the grand jury.
THROWING STONES AT A RAILWAY TRAIN.

J. Whitnell, 12, and W. Bay, 13, were iudieted for felo-
niously and maliciously throwing and casting stones upon
a railway carriage used on the London and North Western
Railway, with intent to endanger the safety of Charles
Shama and others then being passengers in such carriage.
No counsel appeared to prosecute, and the prisoners—
two young rustics—were not defended.
Charles Shetton deposed that he was a guard on the
London and North Western Railway, and resided at
Oxford. In consequence of a stone Navin. been thrown at
and a window broken in a carriage, in a train of which he
was guard, between Sudbury and Harrow, on Tuesday,
the 24th of February, he kept a sharp look out when he
passed that spot on the following day, and he saw the pri-
soners in a field adjoining the line. As the train passed
they each threw • stone at the carriages, one stone struck
the carriage and bounded off, the other would certainly
have hit him on the bead had he not " docked " under the
covered part of the van. Ile went on with the train to
Tring, where he left it, and went back by an up-train to
the field, where he found the prisoners just about to leave,
and when they saw him they took to their heels ; ho fol-
lowed them for a mile and a half, when he captured
and gave them into custody. It was Whitnell who threw
the stone that would have hit him if he had not stooped his
head.
Sergeant Cooper, 6 T division, said when the prisoner
were brought to the station at Harrow, Whitnell told him
that he had thrown a stone, but the train had gone past;
acid Huy said, " We were only throwing at the telegraph
wires."
When called on for their defence, Wbltnell said they had
been pelting at birds on the line, and 'Hay that they bad
been heaving stones at the electric telegraph.
The jury found the prisoners Guilty.
The Moment Judge said it would not do to let these
young rogues go without a punishment which would deter
other boy& from doing similar things. He thought a good
flogging' in prison would do them a good deal of good.
Mr. Maude, the deputy-clerk of the peace, pointed out
that the act of parliament under which the indictment was
framed gave no power to the court to order a prisoner to be
8
oril7.dileresford, the superintendent of the North Western
police, said the company had no desire to press the charge
against these two boys, but as it was continually occurring
that atones were thrown down the line they thought it ne-
cessary that them mischievous boys should be taught that
such proceedings would be &geode(' with punishment.
The Assistant Judge said he was sorry theme of parliament
did not give him the power to sentence them to be flogged,
but most certainly if they had been men the court would
have sentenced them to hard labour for two years. The
most serious consequences might hose resulted from such
misconduct, but as • lenient sentence would show them and
others that they could be punished for it, a lenient one
would be passed ; but if the throwing were repeated and
the parties caught, they would be punished most severely.
The act of parliament made this a felony, but the prisoners
were not feline in the ordinary sense, and he should there-
fore direct that they should not be associated with thieves
in prison. Ile then sentenced them each to one month's
imprisonment.
The prisoners were then removed blubbering lustily.

THE POLICE COURTS
lIOW STREET.

The magistrates of this court have been much perplexed
within the last few days in consequence of an attempt being
made to involve them in a suit at present pending in the
Court of Chancery. A gentleman named Thompson, who'.
bad been a purser in the navy, bequeathed • considerable
legacy to the ,everal magistrates prodding at nine different
metropolitan police courts, for the benefit of the poor in
their respective districts, and the case being placed in the
bands et Massa. Winter, Williams, and Co., solicitors,
they, main NM instructions, filet • bill in the court of
Sir J. Pour, the Vise-Chancellor, calling upon tho diffe-
rent peens mistlamsd in the will to come forward and
state the glissade wpm which they claimed to be entitled.
On Saturdays the Reneging cleric of the firm above-men-
tioned waited tepee Mr. Henry, and after the object of his
baisess mal thee kw had.also waited on the magistrates of
the ether ow% urea sack of whom he bad served • surn-
ames for *sir slaawdasee. . . . . . .. . .

Mr. Henry said that u neither ho nor his colleagues had
at any time sought such a bequest ho should object to put
in any claim, and his opinion was that the name of each
indindual ought not to be inserted in the bill, thereby ren-
dering them liable to participate in any costs that might be
incurred.

Tao clerk said he was obliged to comply with the forms
of the court in mob cases, and he had no doubt that all costs
would be defrayed out of the funds of the estate ; after
which be screed the summons.

Yesterday, Mr. Hall, being paid a similar visit, expressed
his surprise at such a proceeding, alleging that he had no
claim upon the estate, and that it was a monstrous thing
that such a matter could not be arranged without rushing
into the Court of Chancery, where every farthing might be
expended, in addition to making police magistrates parties
in a suit necessarily attended with considerable costs.
The clerk said there were several points to be raised and
such steps had not been taken unadvisedly, as he consulted
with Mr. Roundel! Palmer, whine opinion was that such a
course should be adopted.
Mr. Hall said he never begged for such a legacy, and if
the parties taking such an active part would conduct such
a business prudently they would wait until the contern•
plated reform in Chancery was completed, for the purpose
of having it decided without detriment to the different
claimants.

The clerk, after alluding to an attachment for ocatesapt
in case of disobedience, served his worship with a copy of a
summons and retired. . .

Mr. Hell came to tho conclusion that he
should speak to a barrister to intercede with the Vice-
Chancellor and induce hint to dispense with his attendance,
as he waa included in the bill personally as a claimant to a
portion of the legacy.
MARYLEBONE.

Milian Styles, charged with the murder of his wife,
was again placed at the bar, pursuant to the arrangement
previously announced. There was no fresh evidence, but
on Mr. Broughton inquiring of the inspector In charge of
the case, it appeared that a portion of the murdered
woman's clothing, which was stained as with blood, had
been cut away, under the direction of the coroner, and de-
livered to Dr. Hassan for chemical examination. Mr.
/.3= gave directions for securing that gentleman's
next Monday, end to that day the hearing of the
ease was adjourned.
MARLDOROUGH-STREET.

Th a Rev. Medea Darien, of Chipping Camden, Glen-
thaimbirst, wise eggeerM at this court on Thursday last, to
thavng the imp el having stoles a bill for 601., his own
;Ziteased te be the pregerty of Mr. J. M. Drown,
Phemillly, and who -was edmitted to hell en his
ewe newbosaan aeleaded le ham team Mr. Hingham
whether the s damped ealesmeed tit • brew or met.
Ile. Lew* ter the emaglaimest, mid be wiMsa the depo-
Meal le be lama, ft that *s age mighi be pissed in a
peepessmemlllen blame the mart gave Me ladgment. To
the ealpieseien, the bend redheien banded
te the megieleeli we mho fl veetable to the aegementa he
, bad meat
It,. Iftemojeswever, declined to ems& to the proposi-
tion,. owl thrilled 0 Mr. Lewis whether he bad anything
to sail Mete Malemeet he made last Thursday, and upon
seselvieg as ammo in the negative, said—Tben the ac-
Swath met be ; if the whole of the prosecutor's
thellthwth wows to the letter, no felony has been
meamitted.
For the pewee of raising money to meet an immediate
want, the aceseed placed Ins acceptance in the hands of a
bill thasthter, who undertook to get it discounted forth-
with. It was transferred through two or more holders to
lia ppssaeMafor who, it is said, gave value for it to the last
bilieel bat the amused never received a lathing. After
Moo Itho, beinfac;ksd to alled on by the prosecutor to pay the bill
so la look at the bill, and, acting on
=ia
advise, as seen as it was exhibited snatched it
the gircessater. This was done, not ammo furandi,
' bat la the ameetlem of a supposed right, the accused be.
.Leelliat the sedition on which he delivered the bill to
OM having been performed, the property in
61111111i0IMINIMilned in himself. Whether that was so,
as essime a blue Ms holder, may be a subject for inquiry
ID a MA halt set in a criminal, court, on a charge of
striAveks hoped the magistrate would take the deposi-
fumy so that he might bind the defendant over to appear at
Ibe Mins.
Sr. Siogitoto, however, thought the ow too clear even
he INA esess, and intimated that if hie egieina was erre-
moths, the pleasanter might prefer a bill to the grand jury,
and, apes Ms being found • true one, might obtain a bench
warrant for lie apprehension of the mothed.
Mr. Lowth—Teor worship will of seam order the bill to
be delivered ip le We prosecutor, or OM it to be handed
weer to take a espy et it.
Mr. Blaster a—l cannot, not having oay jurisdietioa ia
the natter, SI aka any such order. If the prosecutor pres•
oaths to as balistmeat, he can gsve folios to the deleadeat
le mobs, the Will at the trial : that h the peeper awns is
eta preseediegn As to
et etas.: puresies, the Aber
bas
who b the davemeat in is primly maims of
his duty in me affairs, sad M- wee k the matter,
will be ciente' 0 OMEN the leapielly to sap bat the per-
ms tau Idris be tessi Ii
All des polies tares Mind.
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NORTEI BRITISH it&ILWAT.—Tito report of the
directors to the half-yearly general meeting of the share-
holders, to be held on the lab instant, at Edinburgh, states
that the works on this line have been completed, with the
exception of the extensions of the Edinburgh and Delkeith
Statior.s, and that the former of these will be finished in
May next. The revenue for the half year exceeds that of
any former half-year by 4,6001. This increase arises al-
most entirely from the goods traffic, the. passenger traffic
haying been comparatively stationary, owing, as the direc-
tors believe, to the Exhibition traffic having greatly injured
the usual local trade. The goods traffic, however, is
steadily progressing, and is likely to continue to do so.
After charging thp revenue with every expenditure ap-
plicable to it,with interest on debentures and on the money
borrowed from the banks, which it will be observed comes
In place of the dividend which would otherwise attach to
the Inv preference shares, there is a free balance remain-
ing elf 13,4371. 16s. 601. Of this there is required to pay
the half-year's dividend oa the preferesee stock No. 1, at
the rate of 61. per cent. per annum, 17,7161. 184. ; and on
the preference stock, No, 2, so far as issued and entitled to
dividend at the rate of 51. per cent., 291. 10s. 6d. ; leaving
• disposable balance of 5,6921. 7s. The directors recom-
mend that the above dividend be declared payable on the
6th of April, 18.52, to those shareholders who stood on the
register as holders of preference stock not in sneer on the
12th day of March, 1862, when the books were closed; and
that the above balance of 6,6921. 7s. be carried over to the
next half-year's account. The directors regret that as yet
the balance is not sufficient to pay a dividend to the on-
ginal shareholders, but they hope that this state of things
will be soon chanted.