The Express.
London, England, 1864-08-08 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

HOW-STREET.

A young man named oeorYlLews; haying the appear-
awe of en agricultural labourer, was charged with haring
in his pommies two valuable gold stale of which be oould
give so satisfactory amount.
Yr. Simnel Henry Freeman, manager to the executors of
the late Kr. Kirkman, pawnbroker, Strand, stated that on
Wednesday last the prisoner entered the shop, and offend
the two seals produced in pledge. One bore the royal arme,
and the inscription " Chief Clerk's Offko, Supreme Court
of Newfoundland." The ether was a privegemal, probably
belonging to the same pude, u they were joined by • metal
link. He asked the prisoner where he got them, Lod he
replied that he picked them up in Rotten-row Hyde-park.
He asked if be did not know that he wee doing wrong in
offering them for sale. He said " No." He told him
be should detain the seals sad advertise them, sou to return
them to the owner if be could be found. He asked the
prisoner his name and address, aod the primmer relied,
" George Lewis, 7, Stanhope-street, Clere.market. It
turned out to be • false address. He had since called twice
to ask if any inquiry bad been made, and on the snood
occasion (Friday eveeing) Sergeant Ackrill was present and
took him into custody.
Inspector Brimmaeombe said that from inquiries which he
bad made be found that the seals were the property of Mr.
George Washington Busted, late chief clerk in the Supreme
Court, Newfoundland. Mr. Basted resigned that office as
far back is the year 1829, after which be became Colonial
Secretary in a West Indian settlement. From that he came
to England, when he lived some yews, and then went to
America. where he passed the remainder of he life. He
died at New York shout two yearn ago. His goo, General
Richard Slowed, had taken • prominent part in the war in
America. Inspector Brinimacombe had no doubt that the
seals were stolen.

Tbe prisoner was remanded for further examination.
_ THAMES. _ _
__ •

Mary Anne ring, 50, of No. 10, Sumner-street, St.
George's-in-the-Fast, was charged with wilfully throwing
vitriol over the person of Kate Douglas, of 33, Bedford.
street, Stepney. The prima'r and the complainant bad
lived together in the same house, but had quarrelled, and
the prisoner alleged that the complainant had her money.
On Monday night last the prisoner met the prosecutrix, and
after abusing her threw &quantity of strong vitriol over her,
which burned her drew sad damaged her clothes very ranch.
It aka burned her arms severely.
She was committed for trial.
WANDSWORTH.
This was a casein which John Chant, the common keeper
of Barnes, sought to recover from Mr. Charles Barker, a
market gardener, under the 17th and 18th Vict., the
amended act for the more effectual prevention of cruelty
to animals, the sum of 9s. for food and water supplied
to certain domestic animals—to wit, 21 geese—while in the
pound.
Mr. Hare appeared for the complainant, and Mr. Lewis,
sen for the defendant.

Tie case, which excited considerable interest, was really
one to try the right of depasturing geese on Barnes-common.
It appeared that the dean and chapter of Bt. Paul's had
exercised the privilege of lords of the manor of Barnes-
oommon by holding courts for a long period, dating so far
back u 100 years before the fire of London.

Mr. Hall, the deputy-steward, produeed the ancient court
' mile, in which presentments appeared against gems being
depsetured on the common. One, dated 1703, made it a
penalty of 24. each goose, and Id. each goalies. Another,
dated 1709, against geese being kept on the common after
Michaelmas, under a penalty of Is. for each goose, and 4d.
for every gosling. There was a third, dated 1419, in which
the penalty in the cam of a gosling was increased to tid.
Mr. Hall admitted that be had never levied any fines, and
the complainant stated that he had known the common for
fifty years, and it bad always been the practice to turn
geese out upon the common, but not to the extent as re-
cently. It further appeared that the Court Baron had deter-
mined to prohibit the practice, as they had effected great
improvements on the common, and more especial as qua-
drupeds would not feed upon any Led after bipeds. For
that purpose a notice board had been put up and a goose
erected.p°??4 . . _ _ _

Mr. Lewis raised several obiectioos, among which were
that geese were not animals within the meaning of the act ;
that the defendant bad a right to turn out gems oe the
common, be being a copyhold tenant or the manor ; and that
he had become possessed of the right by long usage. He
therefore argued that the complainant could not recover, as
the geese had been illegally impounded.
Mr. Hare contended th►t geese were animals, and the
question whether they had been legally or illegally im-
pounded did not arise.
Mr. litynian decided in favour of the complainant, and
adjourned the summons until Thursday seat, for the con-
sideration of a case to be submitted to a higher court.