The Express.
London, England, 1855-02-20 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

LAMOETH.

Mr. Joseph Cleary, a middle-aged man of respectable
appearance, described as a builder, melding at West Ham,
Essex, was charged with discharging two pistols, loaded
with ball at the person of Mr. Samuel Henry Leah, an
auctioneer, residing at No. 68, Beresford street, with intent
to shoot him.

The examination occupied some considerable time, but the
facts may be briefly given. Complainant had been re-
quested by defendant to sell some houses for him in October
last. The property was accordingly put up to auction, but
as sufficient was not bid to cover the sum for which it was
mortgaged, the mortgagee foreclosed. The prisoner, how-
ever, had leave to sell, and the property was again advertised
for sale. tt is time by private contract. An offer was made
fir 1,5501., but thi prisoner declined to sell for that
sum Soon afterwards he disappeared. The prosecutor
having sought for him in vain, became satisfied that he had
run away, and having communicated to the solicitors of
the mortgagee the offer which had been made of 1,650/.,
sold the property at that sum by their directions and as
their agent. Prisoner, whe appeared to have got an idea
that the property was sold far below its value, yesterday
presented himself at the prosecutor's office, and,
after some words with him, suddenly drew a pistol
and discharged it at the prosecutor aerosa the table. The
prosecutor ran out into the street, followed by the prisoner,
who liseharged a second pistol, after which he was seised,
and given into custody. A flattened bullet and Pistol wad-
ding were found in prosecutor's office on the floor, and a
powder flask containing powder, a small box of pistol bul-
let., and a wooden ramrod were found upon tho prisoner
after his arrest.

The above facts having been deposed to by al wit-
news,
Mr. Elliott, after repeating the usual caution, asked the
prisoner if he wished to say anything in reply to the
Charge, and his answer was, " Nothing at present." The
depositions were read over, and the prisoner was fully
committed on the capital offence of shooting with intent to
murder._ _ . .

Tun Pooa Box.—Mr. Elliott requested the acknow-
ledgement of a sovereign from T. C. ; a cheque for 51. from
T. T. ; a post-office order for 11. from H. ; and 2/. from A. S.,
for the poor box.
BOW-STREET. . • ..

Sarah Frame, a married woman, was charged with
stealing the parish door-mat, under the following circum-
stances:
The prisoner applied for relief at the office of the Strand
Union, but having admitted that ebe had only just left the
Chelsea workhouse the same morning, her application was
refused. Shortly after her departure, the large door-mat
was found missing from the door, and while the particulars
of the robbery were being communicated to the inspector
at the police-station, in Bow-street, a constable of the F di-
vision brought in the prisoner on suspicion of felony, having
just previously found her offering the mat for sale in Seven
Dials.
The woman, in her defence, stated that she was actually
starving. She had a husband living, who was a journeyman
painter, but they had separated. He promised to allow her
a weekly maintenance, and [she left the workhouse to see
him upon the subject ; but he took her to a coffee shop or
some such place, and, having left her, on the pretext that
he was going to make a call and would return in a minute,
left her altogether. Being unable to find him again, she
returned to Chelsea and was refused re-admission ; then she
went to her husband's place of business, but he was not to
be heard of. Finding herself starved and exhausted in the
district of the Strand Union, she applied there for relief,
and, being refused, took the mat to raise the means of pur-
chasing some food and shelter.
Mr. Hall said, if the woman's story was true—and really
there was no knowing what to believe or disbelieve now-a-
days—the relieving-officer of Chelsea ought to have taken
her in and inquired after the husband. It was clear that
she had no claim on the Strand Union, having just left the
other. .

.......
The prisoner was committed for trial.
THAMES.

Mr. Yardley stated that the notice which had appeared
in the newspapers of the appalling distress which existed in
the district, had caused the following donations to be for.
warded, aid that an acknowledgment in the Daily News
was requested : Mr. Pickwick, 21. 25.; E. E., 51. ; H., 11. ;
A. H. C. 8., 101. ; C. H. M., 10s. ; and 0. W., 61. 6s.
Mr. Yardley gave to about 100 poor persons each an order
for a four-pounds loaf, and to many others sums varying
Ifrom 21. 6d. to 101. each.

TUE LATE FIRE AND Loss of LIFE IN HOLLAND-
8111.111T.—Yesterday evening Mr. William Carter, the coro.
ner for Elva Surrey, opened an Inquest at the Eight Bells
Tavern, Cross•street, Blackfrian-road, on the body of Mr.
Themes Parker Jackson, aged 24, the Inspector of Risks to
the Bun Fire Inauranec-office, who lost his life at the great
conflagration which occurred on Fridanight last in Bra-
land•street, near Blackfriars-bridge. Deceased was son-in-
law to Mr. Braidwood, and though not attached to the fire
brigade, had been in the habit of attending fires as an
amateur, and was so engaged en the occasion of his death.
After the examination of the police-constable who dis-
covered the fire and of the private watchman of Messrs.
Rennie, Frederick Perrier, subxngineer of the London
Fire Brigade, denceei to the fall;ng of a stack of timber on
deceased, while the latter was directing a branch pipe upon
the flames. The inquiry was then adjourned until Friday
next.

EXPLOSION AT TUE EQUITABLE COMPANY'S GAS
Woaxs.—Yesterday morning, between 9 and 10 o'clock, an
explosion, attended with fatal results, occurred at the works
of the Equitable Gas Company, situate at Tbames•bank. It
appears that owing to the coldness of the main pipe., con-
sequent on the frost, the gas had boc.une deteriorated in
quality, and to remedy thi., communicating pipes have been
set up between the hollers of the engines and the " primary
main:L" By this means the temperature of the pipes is in-
creased. To keep the steam, howeect from entering the'
mains, during the time they are filled with gas, tacks are
fitted in the centre of the communicating pipes. It would
appear that one of these socks was in an imperfect condi-
tion, and allowed the gas to pass from the main into a boiler
which was b, irg cleaned out. Ths consequence was a
tremendous ex.,losidn of the boiler, caused by the introduc-
tion of a light by a man named Parsons, will was inside
cleaning it out. The holler was shattered to pieces, the
windows of the engine-room blown out, end the brick roof-
ing of the boiler *mitered in all directions. Parsons was
Wed on the spot, his body being frightfully mutilated.

Pthrte4 sad pubilthed bf WIWLY Ki'w Ileum, of No. 8. Lombard
Street, to the City of Looks, Vrioter. at the Mph in Lombsrd
sLroet, la the !Redact of Wlthefriare.—TOethei, ribliVkitY 26. la&