The Express.
London, England, 1855-01-12 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

MANSION-ROUSE.

&flimsies Hooper Spier, who was some days ago com-
mitted for trial upon the charge of having uttered a forged
cheque for 3701., with intent to defraud,Messn. Spooner and
Attwood, was brought before Alderman Wilson, on the
charge of having utterred • forged order for the payment
of 591. Bs. 6d. upon the same establishment. Mr. Mullen,
of the firm of Bush sad Mallow, appeared for the prosecu-
tion; Mr. Wontner for the defence.
Mr. F. 0. Newbold, clerk to the prosecutors, said—Our
house is the London correspondent of Messrs. Vallance's
bank, of Sittingbouras. On the 6th of April last the letter
produced was received from them, directing us to pay to
Mr. Henry Sweeten, upon application, 684. 611. It is
our practice in such cases tofill up a form of cheque to be
signed by the applicant, but if a person applies for the
money and brings a cheque properly signed, we mark it for
payment Oa the same 6th of April • perms presented to
me the cheque I produce, for 581. Se. 6d., signed Henry
Stretton It states " money from Sittingbourne." I com-
pared the cheque with the advice, and marked it for pay-
ment. The prisoner wu at that time a clerk in the house.
Mr. Alfred Selman, also clerk to the prosecutors said : On
the 6th of April, the draft produced wu presented to me
for payment, and I paid in a 601. note, number 59,803, dated
6th October, 1853; • 51. note, number 62,292 ; and 31.85. 6.1.
in Money. The 601. note produced is that Iso paid out.
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Mr. R. J. Sykes, alert in the issue department of the
Bank of England, said: Oa the Bth of April the 601. note
was brought to me for change, and I gave for it ten 61.
notes all dated Ist of February, numbered 96,687 to 96.696,
both iaclusive. The name and address, "Thomas Thom-
sen, 14, Edgware-road," was on the note whet it was
brought to me.
Mr. N. J. Carman, licensed victualler of No. 3, Chiswell-
street, said : On the 10th of April I changed the 61. note pro-
duced, No. 96,698, dated the Ist of February. The person
for who I changed it wrote on it Frederick Joan,
14, Edgwsre-road. I asked him to writ, the name and
address on it. I believe that person was the prisoner. I saw
him again in three or four months afterwards, at Messrs.
Spooner and Attwood's. I saw tas prisoner there. He was
not pointed out to me.
Cross-examined—lt was two or three months ago that I
went to Messrs. Spooner and Attwood. I went there with
Brett, the detective officer. I went te change R6l. oountrybank
wet. to ego .1.1,14.111/ wet 11eutify
person from whom I received the bank note. I saw the
person writs his name on it. Brett did not tell me what
part of the counter to go to. The prisoner was standing by
the window talking to two more gentlemen. I told Brett
that I had seen him, only I thought his hair was a little
darker. I swear that I knew the prisoner wee the man
when I went to the bankers, and that I told Brett so.
H. Wright said : In April last I was in the service of Mr.
Ford, of the' Poultry, hosier. On the 7th of April the pri-
soner came to the chop, bought a pair of gloves, and paid
me with the N. note
_produced, No. 96,689. At my request
he put the name "Intik. Jones," on the back. I did not
see him again till I went, on Tuesday, January 2, to New-
gate, where I saw him in a yard with six or seven others,
and I identified him at once. He was not pointed out to me
in any way. The turnkey of the gaol was the only person
who went with me.

Crowe:mined—l know the date by an entry in our
book. I recognise the note by the name on it, which the
prisoner wrote in my presence. TOM were four or five
persona is the shop who were in the habit of serving is it.
hadl
seen the prisoner before, but it wu unusual to
change a note for a pair of glove.. I went taNewgate with
men who did not give me say description of the prisoner, or
of his dress, or Usage.
Re-eurniued—l was first applied to in April to giee some
informs:ion about changing the note, and I than gave'
Brett a description of the person who changed lt.
Kr. H. Stratton, of No. 8, the Terrace, Turnham-guen,
collector of the Society fir Promoting Christian Know-
ledge, in Lincoln's-inn-fields, said—ln the early part of
April the letter produced was received, advising the sum of
681.'85. 6d. to my credit at Messrs. Spooner and Attwood's,
from Sitticgbourne, through the back there. I did sot
receive that money ll recently. The cheque produced was
not written or signed by me, or by my direction or au-
thority.
Brett, the detective offieer, said : In April I went to Ito.
14, Edgware-road, but could not Sad any such person as
Thomas Thomson or Frederick JOINS.

The prisOiter' who esid he world reserve his defence for
his trial, was then fully committed. Then are, it app-
peen, several other cases against the prisoner, but Mr.
Mallens.did not think it necessary to proceed with any
others. _ . .

-Hav—id haws was charged with robbery been Alderosto
Rees._

T. 8. Buten, shopman to Mr. Swab*, tebaeconist, of
Bishopsgate-street, said: The prisoner, a person in the em-
ployment of a greengrocer who was in the habit awning
the house, stole three shillings and two sizpenees, which
were deposited, marked, in the pocket of a coat. Money and
other property had been missed from the pockets of the ser-
vants' coati, which were usually hang up in thepemage, and
means were taken to detect the thief. flee raisswe on his
last visit to the house for orders was sus ea prig to the
interior to slip his hand into the pocket ei eM eli Ibe seats,
and immediately afterwards the marked maw was shoed.
The prisoner was followed into the street and
_Om kW the
custody of a policeman, who epos eranblai head the
whole of the stolen money and algae. easy? Mei belonged
to one of the men who were Wilented is that kind of
plunder.
The prisoner said she money and the algae seas were his
own property.
lie was committed for trial.

Mr. H. F. Wood applied to Alderman Cute; on behalf
of • poor widow of the name of Freaks'.
Mr. Woosi stated that about • month ago the woman'.
husband came up from Staffordshire, sad was obliged to go
into St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where he died on Satur-
day week last. As soon as the widow was apprised of the
fact, she wrote up to request that they would not bury the
body until she had wen it, and immediately started for
London, but having to come by anal she wee three days
end three nights performing the journey of 200 miles. She
proceeded to the hospital on her arrival, and applied to see
the body of her husband, but her request was peremptorily
refused. Why, be Gould not my, but he had sent his clerk
down to the hospital, cautioning them not to bury the body
until the complainant had seen it. The messenger of this
court had presented himself in his uniform, to support the
poor woman's request, and it was still refused. The autho-
rities bad informed the widow that the body would be buried
to-morrow (this day).
Alderman Carter asked if the body was 'steered down.
Groves, the me senaggeer, said the authorities refused to
give him any Information en that point, alleging that it was
against the rules of the bimplieL
Alderman Carter eats sppowrod very eatmerdiaary,
and if no reason was emlialt kr the objestisa eimplehose
of he would give the poor woman all the aieletenm r his
power.
In a short time Mr. Wood's clerk returned with the in-
formation that the body of the deceased wee diteented,
sent basing been obtained of we Biehimil Wm& who
represented himself as • relative.
Alderman Carter asked applicant if she knew the men
Coburg ?
The widow said she knew no one of that name.
Aldermen Carter said he undentood that a post mornes
examination had been held on the body, which, being now
in a state of decomposition, if she were allowed to view it
would only teed to harrow her feedings and dispel all the
pleasing reminiscences of her last parting from het husband.

Ho Austere advinel bor to refrain hoot poosin hrr

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must
The widow mid *be would be satitiod it her brother eras

allowed to view the body.
Alderman Caster thought that a betur arrangernest, and
very kindly gave her brother a letter to the treasurer is
favour of that object.
Alderman Carter 'squinted the press would acknowledge
tbs receipt of 101. from the Lwkersellers' Company, for
the poor bert.
BOW-lITILEBT.

It being generally understood that the case of Marks
King, late poliee-oonstable of the C division, would be fur-
ther investigated yesterday, before Mr. Hall, the wart
was oompletely filled by the superintendents, inspectors,
sad sergeant, of the prineipal divisions of police, sad by
persons who were expected to give material evideene in
report of the extraordinary charges against the prisoner. A
large crown had also collected outside the building, and
although unable to obtain admission, appeared to take con-
siderable interest in the inquiry.
The crown authorities, by whom the prosecution has
been token in hand, appear to have been perplexed rather
by the attendance and variety of confirmatory testimony,
than the want of it; for in addition to the revelations
, made by the young delinquents in the House of Detention,
one or two bitten of remarkable purport, written by the
inmates of other prisons, and giving directions relative to
the recovery of jewellery, he. which had been left by them
' In the charge of King, have been judiciously intercepted.
With reference to the prisoner, it should be stated that
be was never one of the organised force of detectives,
sithswili always permitted, for some reason which requires
szglamaiton, to perform the duties of his office in private
I Mathes. There are several " private clothes men" attached
ts each division of police, and they are chiefly employed
he Ms detection of pick-peeks% at places of public resort, or
am the occasion of large crowds, &o. It la a fact to which
louse importance may be now attached that the prisoner,
1 Charles Xing, was for some time regularly employed as the
chief police attendant at lir. Albert Smith's
_popular exhi
bition of " Mont Blanc," at the Bgyptian Hall, without
being altogether successful in his efforts to prevent owe-
Mond depredations upon the visitors. It also appears that
the prisoner was not actually in the force at the time of his
apprehension upon the present charge. He had just been
dismissed by the commissioners, chiefly in consequence of
the part•Jie had taken in the prosecution referred to in our
last repm-t. The servant of a lady named Butler was
charged with concealing the birth of a child which had been
found dead under one of the seats la St. James's Park. Ao.

cording to the statement of Yrs. Butler, overtures were
made to her respecting the payment of money " to stop
the cue going before a magistrate," two days before the
alleged discovery of the child; and when Mr. Jardine asked
King how he came to be informed of the circumstances of
the ease, he replied that they were communicated
to him in an anonymous letter. He was then asked
to produce it, upon which he said he had destroyed
it—having attached no importance to it at first,
although afterwards induced, out of curiosity, to
look into the matter. The nacre fact of his taking
up a prosecution of this kind without previous conference
with his superiors in the division, was regarded as • serious
breach of discipline; and upon full inquiry being made
into all the circumstances of the ease in question he was
discharged. Hs then immediately opened a coffee-house
in King-street, Soho, which is still being carried on by kis
wife. _ _ . . .

The prisoner, on being put into the dock, smiled at some
of his late associates in the force, and affected the nun in-
different* to the charge as before. He had been well
guarded, for his attempt to escape on the previous occasion
wes almost successful. He proved so good a runner that he
was nearly out of sight of his pursuers in less than a
minute ; and had it not beenlor the prompt &sentence of
two young constables who happened to be in Vinegar-yard,
and who, by the direction of Serjeant Langley, followed
him into a court in Drury-lane (oat of which there hap-
pened to be no tkoronghfare), he might have got away
althgether.
Mr. Bodkin, who was instructed by Mr. Humphries,
solicitor, stated that he had attended by the authority of
Lord Palmerston, and upon instructions conveyed to him
through the treasury, to conduct the pretest preen:lotion
against Charlie King. It wee hardly necessary to say that
there could not be an inquiry of greater interest and impor-
tance to the public ; sad having this circumstance in view,
he felt it his duty to say, after what hod transpired
before his worship, in conjunction with what had since
come to his knowledge, that the ends of justice might be
defeated if he proceeded further with the case that day. He
therefore trusted that his worship would allow the case to
stand over for another week.
Mr. Levis!, the prisoner's eolicitor, said he should oppose
this application, unless further evidence was adduced.
Mr. Hall said he bad full discretionary power in the
matter, and after the statement of the learned counsel for
the prosecution, be could have no hesitation in complying
with his request. It was of great importance that the
case should not be hurried through in any way. The pri.
sonar must be remanded till Thursday next.
On application being then made to admit the prisoner to
bad,
Mr. Hall said he could not entertain it, after the attempt
which the prisoner had made—and almost successfully—to
escape from the castady of the officers.
The prisoner was remanded accordingly.
SOUTHWARK.

Mr. Clarks Reginald Gibson, a solicitor at Dartford, and
clerk to the magistrates at that niece, was summoned
before Kr. A'Benkett for unlawfully obstructing James
Limbers, an officer of the South Eastern Railway, while
in the execution of his duty.
Mr. Church appeared for the railway company, and the
defendant was accompanied by a number of gentlemen re-
siding at Dartford and other phew.
The complainant, en being sworn, stated that he was a
porter in the imp's, of the South Eastern Railway Com-
pany, and at eight o'clock on Wednesday evening, the 3rd
instant, he was placed at a barrier close to a train that was
about to start. The clock had struck and the signal had
been given to him by a man at the booking office when wit-
ness closed the gate. The outer door had also been closed
at the North Kent entrance where he was placed. The de-
fendant came in by another door, and asked whether the
train was gone. He told him "No • but the signal had
been given.' After that defendant sited him to open the
gate and let him through. He refused to do so as his orders
were otherwise. The defendant then said, "Oh 1 nonsense,
I have got my ticket; let me go." Witness told him that
be *mild not go as the signal had been given. 'The defen-
dant then went to the right of him and jumped over the
iron railing which was placed as a barrier. Witnen went
up to him and laid hold of him to bring him back outside
the barrier until the train had started, when defendant
struck him with his umbrella on his head and face. Wit-
ness used no more than neseesary force to brink him back,
and while doing his duty he made two desperate charges at
him with his umbrella. It was his duty to p t passen-
gers pawing the barrier after the clock had struck and the
signal given, and until the train had started.
George Tilley, also in the company's service, and Mr.
John Weatherhsad, station-master, gave evidence confir-
matory of the previous witness's statement, and said that
defendant had no right to enter at the door by which he
got admission.
Mr. Gibson, in defence, positively denied striking the
officer. It was highly important to him that he should
have proceeded by that train, as the next did not leave
until two hours afterwards. He had his return ticket,
giving him authority to travel by the company's train, and
be ought to have been allowed to proceed on his way, aa the
train had not started. The company had nothing in their
bye-laws to withh Id him, and the general act gave them no
power to act as they had don*. The way that he entered
the station was frequently used by return.tieket holders,
and it was convenient to the railway company, as it saved
time and • great deal of unnecessary trouble to the servaaU.
The complainant seized him by the throat in a ruffianly
manner, and took his umbrella from him. In wresting it
away ft might have touched him slightly, but he most
solemnly denied wilfully assaulting him. When he got into
the station the clock had not cusimenoed striking, and he
should have been able to enter the train before that, had
not the complainant prevented him, which he had no right
to do.
After maids/able argument on each side,
Mr. A'Reekett said that defendant was charged with ob-
structing the officer in the execution of his duty. The offi-
cer's duty was to prevent passengers passing the barrier.
He bad not done so, for defendant had passed the barrier
before he was interfered with. The question was, whether
the officer then took the proper course. He thought not.
The alleged offence was not proved against the defendant,
and the summons must be dismissed.

CASUALTIES.—DaVid, WOWMark, was totally
lost at Landeort, the end of lest month; crew saved.
Gazelle (brig), dismasted and abandoned, was paired 9th
December, in lat. 48 N., lon. 13 W., by the Rainbow, Gags,
arrived at this port.—Boston, Deo. 18. hero (barque),
Davis, of Yarmouth, from hence for Waterford, Was aban-
doned 10th December, in lat. 43 los. 60, with pumps choked
and larboard roll ander water, having experienced heavy
weather ; crew taken off by the Virginia Ann, Still, arrived
at Boston.—New York, Deo. 18 Mauve (French schooner),
Delalende from Si. Male to Newcastle with a cargo of lead
ore, was stranded on the island of Berk= Ist January ;
I crew landed, cargo expected to be saved.—iorden, Jan. 8.
Cruel, Kraefting, from London to Pongrund, was aban-
doned 19th D ,ee. in lat. 64 N. loos. 4 R., with 8 feet water in
her bold. Builleur (sloop), Rio, from Bristol, for Bor-
deaux, with • general cargo, struck the Wolf Rock this
morning and sank; crew picked up in their boat and
landed here.—Pstizance, Jan. 7. Stators (barque), Cook, of
Sunderland, after completing her loading at Buctouche,
was driven on shore on the north reef of that harbour,
during a gale 4th Dec., where she now lies stranded, em-
bedded in the strand about 8 feet, the tide ebbing and Sow-
ing in her, and in • very dangerous position ; she has been
surveyed, and will be sold.—Richibucto, Deo. 13.
Tug TRIGONOMETRICAL SURVEY of the United
Kingdom employs 1,280 persons. Amoogst those are four
companies of Sappers and Miners ; the rest are civilians.
310 of the 1,280 are stationed at the headquarters at South.
ampton, and they consist of draughtsmen, engravers, 00111-
paters, liad Sappers and Miners. The survey department
has completed maps of wend lugs towns in the north of
En land, on a scale of 60 inches to the mile. Maps of Ire.
land, La;seashire,Wigtownehire, Kirkcudbrightshire, Duos-
friembire, Edinburgshire, the Lewis, and parts of Yorkshire,
on • scale of 6 inches to the mile ; and maps of the east,
; west, and south of England on a 1 inch wade. 6 inch swaps
dooms Scottish counties, and 1 inch map of Scotland and
Ireland are preparing by the earvey.