The Express.
London, England, 1864-10-14 00:00:00

TEE •.EXPAEStite OFAIMUT rIIVERING, OCTOBER 14, 104.

t LAW INTELLIGENCE.

SHERIFFS' COURT.—RAD lawr-squAR;
Ocr. 13.
(Beare Kr. Uidir•Bherif Emboli sad a Airy.)
nature v. WALED= —llll PLEA OP INWICY.

Thin wee en action in the Exchequer by Mr. Phillips, the
jeweller In Cockspur-street, to recover of the defendant,
the son of • magistrate in Devoe, the value of a ring sup-
plied in 1861, when he wee a graduate at Christ Church,
Oxford. The plus was Infancy.
Mr. Jewel was for the plaintiff, and Yr. Kamp for the
defendant.

In 1861 the defendant selected • ring at Mr. Phillips
of the value of 51. 15e It was an opal diamond riog, and
he seat it from Oxford University to have a ruby placed in
it, which was done, and the account was 81. 65., including
16s. 6d. charged as interest.
The defendant's father, Mr. Bethel Welrood, was called
on the part of the jgaintiff, and declined to give evidence
until he was paid his expense.. He had been subpLensoi and
paid 51. His a:passes were 91.
Mr. Undar-Sberiff Harebell ruled that one guinea should
be paid to Mr. Wslrond, before he was sworn.
Mr. Walrond, having bees paid the fee by the plaintiff's
attorney stated that be bad the misfortune to have the dr
fondant for his sou. He had allowed him 5001. ryear, and
in 1861 be was at Oxford University. Ms son was been on
the same day as the Prime of Wales, and looked older than
be really was from the large whiskers he wore ; he was only
20 years of ate on the 9th Nov., 1861. He had not spoken
to hie son for three years.
It wee admitted that the plea of "infancy" had been
established, and the point raised was whether a ring of
51. 15e. wee a " neomeary." It appeared that the defen-
dant was entitled as heir at law to considerable estates.

Mr. IJoder-Sheriff Harebell expressed an opinion that an
article of jewellery was not a "necessary."
Mr. Jesse addressed the jury on the question, motending
that a ring of the value of W. 15a. wee " necessary" for a
young gentleman at Oxford University, who was the heir
of considerable property, and OW As defence met up by
the son was very shabby.
Mr. Kemp urged that the question was not one of morals.
The ring was not samesarf, and the plea of infancy must
Florin. He wiabcd to state that the defendant intended to
par his debts when be possessed his property.
Mr. Under-Sheriff Itureliell told the jury that a ring in
his opinion was not a "necessary" to enable the plaintiff
to recover. There was so blame attached to the plaintiff,
bat the law was a good one both to protect young men and
their families.
The jury returned a verdict for the defendant.

THE POLICE COURTS.

tat PRISON NIIIISTAILT ACT.

At a lasslias eii the Middlesex magistrates, held
yesterday at Clsrkenwell, presided over by Mr. Pownall,
the report of the visitieg Justine of the Mouse of Cot-
make at Cold Bath-Beals, relating to the proceedings of
the vitt* justices with reference to the Prison hfirustere
Act, was taken into eonaideration. Before the matter for-
mally came before the court,
Mr. Lau= asked if any, and what arrangements had
been mode by the visiting justices to enable the catholic
prisoners to receive the ministration of their own priests?
Mr. WYATT anawsrad that the question had been nut to
the Roman catholic prisoners whether they would like to
have a priest, sad one ont of three of them had
the offer, and the other two out of the three declined. (ions
prisoner only is seen by the priest he sass him aloes ; if
there be more than oins prisoner, he will see them in the
presence of • warder.
Mr. bunts—How often in the week does be attend !
Mr. Wr•rr—We have fixed three nights, Sundays, Tues.
dare, and Wednesdays.
kr. Lsoars—Have the committee purchased any craci-
fixes, chalices, or other altar ornaments?
Mr. WTAIT—MO9 to the extent of one penny.
Mr. Larare—May I ask if past experience induces the
belief that the resolution ham bees carried out without any
danger to the national faith of the country ?
This question created a slight sensation. It was received
with subdued cries of "Oh! oh end was notriaawered.

_.The coact teen
p;oo.;ciia to the
routine business, and thereafter

of other

Mr. Bowl PAYS' moved, pennant to notioe, "That
this court learnt with satisfaction from the report of the
visiting puttees of the Howe of Correction at Cold Bath-
fields, that they have so far carried out the intention of the
Prison Minister,' Act and the resolutioa of this court,
as to prevent the naneoessary attendance of a Roman
catholic went at the prison by limiting his vim
to thee. Roman catholic promos, who, is answer to
inquiry, shall have expressed a wish to TIMMY' them,
the statute declaring that no prisoner shall be so visited
against hie will. At the mole time this court desires to
draw the attention of visiting justices to the further provi-
sions of the eat (which do not appear by the report to have
been considered) by which it is required that such visits
shall be ' under such restrictions imposed by them as may
guard against the introduction of improper persona sad
prevent improper communicatiocia ;' this court considering
that, without those restrictiose, the safeguards intended by
the legislature will not have been carried into effect.'
Formerly prisoners could have hem visited by a minister of
their own religions belief if they required it. The meet
act permit. the question to be put to every prisoner, " 1)0
you require a priest to vent you 1" It appears, as already
stated, that, so far as the House of Correction at Golliath-
fields is concerned, one out of every three have
required a priest, and the remainder bad declined.
But the visiting justices, he thought, had not Lose tar
enough. It is • coadition in the act of parliament that
the permission to see • priest shall be given only under cer-
tain restriction.. The visiting justices seem to have ad-
mitted every one who his coins to visit, without respect to
moral character. It was admitted by them that they bad
no means of ascertaining the character of the visitors. It
is only ranatly that there has appeared an aocouot of
the expulsion of a priest from a continental institution, in
consequence of the moat immoral conduct ; and the letter
written by Brother Augustine, of Norwich, to • little boy,
also showed what mire should be taken in this roped.
Besides this, • recent case of abduction had not at all set
the public mind at rest. There was no meson why •
priest, having piped access to a prisoner, should not
teach him that all protestant. ware heretics, that pro-
testantlem was to be overthrown, and that the prisoner's
allegiance was to the Pope in superiority to the Queen. It
was fair to conclude that the object of three who preen this
sorter on the part of the Romanist. cannot be other than
to unfurl the banner of popery over the ruins of the pro.
tenant church.

Captain NOLLZT 'wooded the motion.
An addition was made to the resoltyieo as follows :
"And that the visiting justices are therefore to be re-
quested to report to this court each restricttose, as are Un-
posed by them."
Mr. Swirl bore testimony to the high moral character of
the priest eogaged to visit at the prior, and also of his
dimintereeted labours for their reformation. ilefeeriog to
Mr. Payoffs remarks, he regretted them. The learned
sergeant might know a deal about law, bat he ham little
of the knowledge of life, and nothing of the refonnation at
criminals. The only way to reform the eltereeter is by
personal ►pplication, and the weight of the minister Whig
brought to bear upon him. Heconsidered Mr. Payee's re-
marks another miserable exhibition of intolerance that the
herbed sergeant had so often exhibited in that court.
Mr. Sergeant PATta regretted that a 0011110ty magistrate
should have gone oat of his way in hie seal for the came
he had espoused, to make a personal attack upon a brother
magistrate.
The motion, with the addition, sou then carried.