The Express.
London, England, 1863-10-05 00:00:00

IN HZ CROWTHER.

.....
This was a simnar Celle. The bankrupt was a builder, of
Chelsea.

Au adjournment was ordered on the Name ground an in
the hat aue.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.
(THIS DAY.)

(Before Mr. erne.)
The October quarter seams of the perm for the county
of Middlesex took place this morning at the Sessions-house,
Clerkenwell-green.
The calendar contains the names of 73 prisoners for trial,
65 of whom are indicted for felony, 8 for misdemeanor.
After the swearingof the traverse jury Mr. Payne remarked
that the jury lista were still very imperfect, ea 22 persons
out of the jury had been excused.
Wittiest Jut. Cumming. 40, surgeon, was indicted for
stesliag a panted book, value sa, the property of William
Henry Smith and another.
The prisoner pleaded not guilty.
Mr. Poland conducted the prosecution.
Josiah Thorogood, after being sworn, esid—l am a con.
stable of the Great Northern 'Railway. About half-part
three on the afternoon of the 19th September, I saw the
prisoner on the down ode of the King's-cram station. From
information I received I watched him and saw him go up
to the bookytall and put his hand upon • book. He went
away sad went round the booking-office, but afterwards
cams back to the stall. He put his hand on • book stand-
ing ab, put it inside his coat, and concealed
it. Me walked away into the booking-office.
I spoke to the keeper of the stall, and we went after him.
We found him at the door of the booking-0650s walking into
the yard. I caught bold of him and said, " I shall give you
into custody for stealing a book." He said, " rye no
book." I put my had inside his oat and pulled the book
away. He said, " I only took it to read." I told him that
he would have to go to the police-office and explain it there.
Oa the way down the platform he said, " You ham got the
book, pray let me go."
William Seymour French said be was the keeper of stook-
stall belonging to William Henry Smith and Son, at King's-
cross station. On the afternoon of the 19th of September
het witaiess spoke to him, and he saw him with the pri-
soner, and heard the constable charge the prisoner with
stealing the book. He said, "What nonsense ! I only took
it to read." The book had not been sold.

iir:cue tr; prosecution.
The prisoner, when called upon for his defence, said that
he went to the King's-muse station to see a friend off to
Olney, in Buckinghamshire. He was passing bi the book
stall when the title of the book, the " Alpine Guide," caught
his eye. It interested biro, as be once had had connexions
with the Alpine Club. He took it up and opened it, when the
constable told him he charged him with stealing the book.
He was not more than three yards from the stalL
Mr. Payne summed up the evidence, and the jury re-
turned a verdict of Guilty.
Mr. Poised said that as the case had terminated in a con-
viction, he felt it his duty to inform the wart that the
prisoner was seen on the 12th of Septemberat the bookstall,
when be took up a book and was walking away when the
little boy at the stall stopped him. but did not give him into
custody on account of him respectable appearance. He, how-
ever, had the sense to tell Mr. French, who returned
short time afterwards.

Tb• boy was called, SOli corroborated this evidence.
Mr. Payne senteeced the prisoner to be imprisoned and
kept to bird labour for sin months.
The prisorwr's face wore a roost 'rueful aspect u he left
the dock.

THE POLICE COURTS.
(THIS DAY.)

WORSHIP-STREET.
ASSAULT ON A NUE-

Janes °awn, 26, was charged before Mr. Leigh with an
assault upon his wife.
Baker, 242 N, said—About 1 o'clock this morning I was
in the Hackney-road, sod saw defendant having some words
with his wits there. He struck her more than onoe on the
aide of her head, kicked, and pushed bee. I told him that
he ought to be ashamed of such conduct ; and he replied,
" She is my wife, and I shall do as I like with her." I took
him into custody ; he called to some companions ; and his
wife begged that I would not prefer any charge against
him. He said to her, " Yon b—, you are the cause of
all this !" and struck at her with his right hand, but the
blow was prevented by soother constable. He was a little
in liquor ; she was sober, and wanted to get him indoors.
Austin, 244 N, corroborated and added—Defendant said
to his wife, " I'll give you something when I get you iu if
you don't go directly !" He kicked her in the thigh and
shoved her. She ran from him, he followed. Baker
spoke the words he has mentioned, and defendant mulled
as sworn to. She begged us not to take him. I stopped
the blow aimed at her, but it just touched her cheek.
Sim ran towards me.

The wife expressed • desire to be sworn and said—My
husband did not push ms. I can away to my own door,
not to the constable. My husband did not lay a hand upon
me to hurt me ; he did Dot kick or strike me ; he did not
raise bin leg. I think be was sober. I asked with surprise
what he was taken into custody for.
Two witnesses called swore that the defendant was sober,
and that be did not kick his wife or strike her. One of them,
however, admitted that she was pushed by her husband,
but only in • ** larking " way, and that the constable did
not prevent any blow or have occasion so to do. Defendant
was • tradesman in the neighbourhood.
Mr. Leigh—l fully believe the evidence given by the
police in this matter, and it is really • shocking fact that
witnesses in such eases should thus turn round upon the
police. I can perfectly understand a wife's feeling in
doing so, but here is sworn evidence by others
flatly imputing perjury by coutradictiog the entire
testimony of the constables; my astonishmeot is that
the police do interfere and render assistance in such in-
stances as this, so frequent is it that the protecting ioterfer-
MOS they render is returned by a conspiracy between the
husband arid wife, who subse9nently make n sweeping Ole-
ption of broad falsehood against them. I shall order de-
hiedant to pay aline of 405., or in default be imprisoned for
14 days.
Defendant—lf perjury has not been committed in this
mak it has sot been in any.
The fine was, of coarse, paid immediately, and it is only
fair to mention that both constables have been in the force
many years.