The Express.
London, England, 1848-02-07 00:00:00

COURT 09 BANKRUPTCY.

IN RE HAMNOND.—CURIOVE POINT.—The bankrupt was
described as an architect, in Threadneedle-street, City, and
also so a jewel-case maker, in partnership with another
party. Oa Saturday last an application was made for a re-
turn of a portion of the premium paid by an articled clerk to
the bankrupt as an architect, and his Honour reserved his
decision on the point. He now held, that as the bankrupt
could not have been made bankrupt as an architect, the law
for return of the premium could not apply, the indentures or
articles still standing good, and were not at all interfered
with by the bankruptcy. The bankrupt sought to relieve
himself from the eartnership debts as well as his private
account. The claimant, however, could prove for the
amount of any allowance due under the articles ; but he did
not see any benefit which would result, as there were no
assets at present, nor any likely to come to hand.
CLARK V. COL' AGEL—The defendant in this cause, which
was tried in the Westminster County Court on Friday, do
sires us to state that he never was employed by Alderman
Moon, the print.eller' to present a print to the Queen, so as-
serted by the plaintiff, and reported in this pap •r on Saturday.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
OLD COCK[.-7.Before.Mr.Just:ce

ARSON. —U . F. Middlebrook, aged Ifs, was indicted for
having set fire to the dwelling-house of fits master, Mr. Hai-
flif ad, of 41, Rahere-street, St. Luke's, on the sth of Decem-
ber.—Ann liaNford, wife of the prosecutor, stated that the
prisoner was an apprentice to her husband, and lived in the
house. Un Di c. witness and her husband went to church
in the evening soon after 6 &deck, leaving the prisoner alone
in the house. About the middle of the service she received
information that her house was on tire. She went home im-
mediately, and found on engine at the door. The prisoner
was in the passage. She went up to her bedroom, which
she had left locked, and found there a policeman and a fire-
man. The bed furniture wan nearly all burned. There was
a cupboard in the room about a yard from the bed ; it con-
tained bundles of oid bills and papers, which were partially
consumed ; the door was wide open, she having left it shut.
There ware formerly two cash-boxes in the cupboard, in
which her husband kept his money. These were open
when she went into the room. Iler husbard keeps the
keys of the cash-boxes. There was a saucer on the bedroom
table, which was not there when she went to church, it
being left on the washstand, containing soap and a nail
brush ' • it now held a small quantity of water and turpen.
tine. The papers in the cupboard smelt strongly of turpen-
tine. Witness had not put any turpentine in the room for
two months before the occurrence, and there was no smell of
turpentine when she went to church.—Henry Halliford, the
prosecutor, said he used turpentine in his business; he had
sent fur a pint on the Friday before the fire. It was kept in
a can in a closet in the yard at the back of the house. lie
had placed in his caah-box on the day before the fire a lOL
note, • 51. note, and 5 sovereigns. The box was locked. He
had locked the cupboard in which the cash-hoz was kept on
the Saturday, and it wan not opened afterwards. On going to
the cupboard after the fire the cash-box had been removed,
and he found it down stain' the money having been ab-
stracted. The prisoner fetched witness home from chapel,
and as they came along the prisoner told him that
he was tint alarmed by hearing the breaking of glass.
—Emma Vine, niece of the prosecutor, said she walked
home with her uncle and prisoner from chapel. He 1)1d
her he had put the fire out by means et a bucket of water.
He had discovered the fire by hearing glass fall into the front
area. He added that • man had come to his assistance who
was a stranger; he had helped to break open the bedroom
door, and had gone into the room first. He eittld not say
whether that man had gone to the cupboard, nor did he
see him leave.—Edward Watkius, a neighbour of the pro-
secutor, living in Mason's-court, proved having gone into
the house with several others at the request of the prisorer
to extinguish the fire. He went up stairs, and saw the door
of the balrocin open and smoke coming out. The prisoner
rendered every assistance to extinguish the fire.—Another
neighb: nr :tilted that she was alarmed by the breaking of
glass, n,,EI went into the street. She saw the prisoner,
who sail tl.at his mistress had taken a lamp up stairs
to dress fur church; that the wick had fallen off', and
set fire to the bed-curtains.—A police-constable of the
0 division, said he was the first to enter the room;
he first threw in a quantity of water, and then en.
tared himself; he found the cupboard-door open, and
some paper binning ; the paper saturated with turpentine.
He found the cash-box unlocked in the cupboard, and took
it down stairs.—A sergeant of the 0 division said that he
took the prisoner into custody, by desire of his master,
at 11 o'clock at night, in consequence of his prevarication'
uto the manner in which the bee occurred.—The jury re-
turned • verdict of Guilty, with a recommendation to
mercy; and the prisoner was sentenced to be transported for
seven yeah.
t!trtt: COURT.
_ _. . - -

BANE ROIIIII3RT.—CA;WitiIV/4;;I•f, 38, clerk, pleaded
Guilty to an indictment for stealing 6001 , the moneys of
George Taylor and others, his employers. There were two
other similar indictments against him. The prisoner was a
clerk in the London Joint-stock Bask, and tat utmost re-

liana was repoeed in hint. When his deficiencies wero die
c.,vered, and inquiries made, he gave information to the di-
rectors which led to the recovery of 1,2001., sod it was
believed that a mania for railwsy speculation had brought
him to his present unfortunate position.—The sentence was
transportation for seven years.

1 POLICE.-SATURDAY.
THE MURDER IN ST. JAMES'S PARE.
BOW-STREET.—.4nnetto Myers, a native of Belgium,
26 years of age, and described as a servant, residing at 40,
Albion-street, Hyde-park-wardens, was charged with firing a
1 pistol, loaded with ball, and thereby causing the death of
' Henry Ducker, a private in the sth company of the 2nd bat-
, talion of the Coldetreem Guards, aged '2l, in Birdcage-walk,
St. James's-park, on Friday evening. The prisoner was
brought to the court before 10 o'clock from Gardiner's-lane
station-house, Westminster, is a cab. While in the cell at
the place mentioned she continued sobbing all night, and
refusinfiany refreshment, with the exception of same tea.
—Mr. enry asked the prisoner whether she was a foreigner
or an English women ?—The prisoner, in a feint voice : I
am a foreigner.—Mr. Henry : Do you understand English ?
—Prisoner : I do.—ln answer to another question she said
she was brought up in Brussels. The first witness was then
called.
Sarah Sexton said: I was walking along Birdcage-walk,
towards Storey's-gate, at twenty minutes before five o'clock,
on Friday, when I saw the prisoner at the bar fire a pistol
at a soldier. She was going towards Buckloghsm Palace,
and as the soldier's back was turned to her she raised her
hand to within two yards of Wm, or it might be rather Iris,
and fired with her right band. I did not notice her parti-
cularly before this occurrence, nor did I perceive the pistol
until I heard the report, at which time it was presented at
the soldier. He fell directly, and the prisoner threw the
pistol down at his side. I was at that time four or live pude
from her, and I did not hear her make use of any expression.
The soldier did not utter a syllable. I was the first person
who came up to the prisoner. After throwing away the
pistol she went on in the direction of the palace, at a quick
pace, and I was so frightened that I did not try to atop her, but
she was arrested by a man before she had gone very far.—Mr.
Henry : Were the prisoner and soldier in conversation before
you heard the report? Witter: I cannot say.—Mr. Henry:
Did either of them appear in any degree excited? Witness:
I did not pare ire that they were.—Mr. Henry inquired
whether the prisoner wished to ask the witness say ques-
tions? Prisoner: I have none to ask; but I did not run
away, I gave myself up.
Henry Killington Raid: I was inside the enclosure in a '
line with Birdcage-walk, and as I was going towards Buck- '
(Ingham Palace 1 heard a report of a pistol. Deceased had
his back to the prisoner, and he fell on his feat, upon which
she threw the pistol down close to his feet, and then turning
round walked away, not very quickly, towards the palace. I
then ran cut of the enclosure, and the prisoner being stopped
by an Milner in plain clothes, who asked her to come back,
she said, " I did it," or words similar. TM re was a gate
leading out of the enclosure a few yards from me, through
which I went when the pistol was fired.—Mr. Henry (to
prisoner): Have you any qui Wiens to ask this witness?
Prisoner: The pistol went off be`ore I tired it, and I did nut
throw it dawn ; it fell from my baud.
John Garwood, a private is the 2nd battalion of Cold-
stream Guards, said: I left the Welliegten Bairacks last
evening about five minutest before the deceased, end was in
advance of him about fifteen yards, going in the direction of
Storey's-gate. The first thing which attracted my notice
was a report of fire-arms, just as I passed the entrance to
Queen's-square, and ou turning round I saw deceased fall on
his face. I did not at the moment observe the woman. I
ran up, and a gentleman, pointing to the prisoner, said,
" That is the woman." The deceased stretched out his
hands and arms, as if anxious to speak, but never uttered a
word. The pistol praxlmed (a huge horse pistol) was in the
hands of the geadleman. W hen I left the barracks the prisoner
was standing near the railings, end a private in the regiment,
.9 he went out, observed to me, " That is Henry pucker's
mistress." I have seen them walking together on save cal oc
casions within the past month, and when I was on piquet
guard last week I saw them talking together in the barrack
passage, but I cannot say whether they were on bad terms.
On seeing her at the railings I thought she had a downcast
look, and wee out of spirits, a circumstance which was re-
marked by others as well as myself. When I saw them on
other occasions they appeared on excellent terms. Mr.
Henry: Can you say whether the prisoner and deceased
ever had a quarrel together I—Witness : Not at all ; nor can
I tell why sbe appeared so desponding.
Joseph Mills, another private in the same corps, said be
was near deceased when he fell. Witness did not hear any
conversation between prisoner and deceased before he heard
the report of the pistol. He was then about '2O yards dis-
tent. He had never seen prisoner.—Christopher Hedges, a
policeman, said he was on duty at 20 minutes before live
o els.ck, and was speaking to another constable, when he
heard the rep set act tire-argue close by. He turned quickly
round mid saw the smoke, and then perceived that the de-
ceased had fallen on his face and betide. Wimess went up
to hits, and saw that he was bleeding from the back of the
head. Me then heard some ono cry out, "Stop that woman,
she was with him," in consequence of which he followed her
and took her into custody. She was then walking, about 30
yards oil, towards the palace. She did not speak, but looked
as if she was going to taint. He then left her in charge of
constable SO A a bile he went to look after the pisol.—Mr.
Henry: Am I tounderstand that you did not kneeve by whom
the pistol was discharged ?—Witness: I did not ; and while
I was looking for it, constable 80 took the prisoner to the
station-house.-1 homes Paul, another policeman, said be
was talking to the last witness when he heard the report of
' firearms, and seeing the smoke, and deceased falling, ex-
claimed "Good God ! there's a soldier shot." lie did not
perceive who tired the pastel. He afterwards went up and
put his arm round the prisoner, who then threw her head
hack, and said "I did it." He told her to come back with
him, which she did, and on reaching the station-house she
again exclaimed, "I did it ; I intended to de it for a long
time. Is he de ad ?" Witness told her she wee very foolish
to talk so, and added he believed the soldier was dead, to
which she made no reply.
Mr. James Beattie, guamaker, of 205, Regent-street,
stated that the prisoner came to his shop on Thursday ova-
-1 ing, at eight o'clock, when she we'd, " I wish to purchase a
' pistol, to shoot a Newfoundland dog. lie is a very savage
I brute, having bitten two of my friends, and I wish it was
I destroyed." He told her he had not an odd pistol in the
shop, except such as were very expensive, hut on looking
over his stock he found one he thought would do to shoot a
dog as well as a better, the price of which was 10s. He
I then advised that one f his men should go to shoot the
animal, to which she replied it was too tar, as she resided at
Hackney—that it was a curious thing for • female to pur-
chase, but that her brother was lame and could not come,
although he was quite capable of shooting the dog. She
requested witness to load the pistol for her, which he did
with powder and ball, telling her to be careful of it, and he
put the pistol into a bag, tying down the hammer and the
lock, to prevent any accident occurring. She seemed quite
collected, making observations about the time; and having
paid the demand, she went away. The pistol was the same
now produced.
Pay-sergeant Love, of the same battalion as deceased,
proved that he was going out of the barracks about a quarter
to five, when he heard the pistol discharged, and on going to
Queen-square gate, where a crowd was collected, saw de-
ceased lying on the ground. He remained near the body
until it was placed on a stretcher, and then he accompanied
it is the barrack guard-house, where it at present remained.
' He found certain papers bearing the signature of the pri-
soner among the esthetes belonging to the deceased.—Mr.
Hilary said there was no use in readiest such documents, as
there was no person present who could prove the prisoner's
handwriting.—ln answer to questions from the magistrate,
the inspector on duty said, that when he read the charge to
the prisoner she replied, " I did it," at the same time giving
him three letters (produced), requesting he would read the
large one, it being hers to the deceived, a copy of which he
took. It was as follows:

Monday evening.--My Dear henry—l take my pen in hand to write
these few lines to tell you my mind. 1 must say there to something
the matter with you, as Sunday afternoon you did not as much as
offer me your arm, but walked as if we clad not know much of one
another. People must hare thought ro to see us. It was an unkind
thing for you to tell me you would go and see that young woman,
and you would get some money from her, as I would not give you
rome. But Ido not like such way,: and you say if she had not got
any money she would lend her things—more fool eke! No young
man would wish me to dosuch things, except it was for mate good mat-
ter; but I think if any man wishes a young woman well, and hi • mean-
ing is good to bee, he will not snob anything of that Mod of ber.
Henry, Inc you, or any other young man, I would not do ouch a thing.
Look back slum Christmas how muc► you had from me ; so it that is
all the love you have forme, I do not cam for awn love. I know you du
cam more tar that yocmg woman than you do for me, betauseshe can
give you more money Bain I can. She gets it easier than I can ;
and she does not get it in service. You know very well that no
other man but you bad my company ; but you please yourself. Go
and see her or ary other young woman that can glee you more than
I can. But please to giro me what you have of mine—twu
hooka and the pencil you have ; but I think to sea you ona. more
to part friendly. Henry. do not be afraid to fact me once more
for the last time, and write here. I hope eke will ho rime* kind to
you than what I have been. One day you had the face to tell
me I had done nothing to what some hod. I Mire done all that lay in
my power, and I an not going to do what they do to get you
some money. I did not like to let you do what you like with me,
because I thought of getting some money, but it was because
I kindly loved you; and what did you atty to me in the
park last evening! Henry, 1 little thought then I should
have to write such a letter to you as this. Henry, our case
will be a warning for others. You will Nee what kind love means soon,
Henry ; but do not he afraid. lam not going to do anything to you.
All I wi'h from you is to see you once more. When leaked you on
Sunday if I should sec you next Sunday, you eaid, "It all depends,"
bet you did not say what ; but I can think what. If you like to coine
neat Sunday at balfspast ail o'cloek,l should be able to go out. We
can make it the last time to see one another; but please to let me
know, as I may tell mistress in time that I want to go tit then, and if
you have not got a penny, as you nay, you con send without paying
for it. I hope 1 hare said enough for you to think what your mean-
ing is to me. No more. God bless you. Do not forget what I told
you. 1 will still remain yours till we part nest Sunday, or before, if
you wish to coma down.-1 am yours affectionately, ANtirTTA ?ATLAS.
The evidence of the inspector was then taken ; it was to
the following effi-et :—" My name is Robt. Baconson. lam
an inspector of the A division, and was on duty when Its
prisoner was brought in. She was charged by 80 A with
firing a pistol at a soldier. I read the charge to her, and she
replied, " I did it," and she then gave me the letters I have
mentioned b. fore. She was afterwards searched, and 4d., a
bunch of keys, and two handkerchiefs were found, as also the
pistol-case and bag. Mr. Joseph Skelton, surgeon of the
2nd battalion of Coldstream Guards, said he was called upon
and met the police carrying the body of Ducker to the guard
house, where he made an examination, which was merely
superficial at the time, as the man was quite dead. There
was a wound near the eye, and another on the lower part
of the back of the head, on the same side, such as would
be caused by a bullet shot from a pistol, which
was quite sufficient to cause instant death.—The Inspector
said the lady who resided at Albion-street, and was mis-
tress of the prisoner, was not in attendance, although she had
promised to be.—Mr. Henry ordered • subpoena to be issued
lee her attendance at tt•e trial.—The witnesses were then
bound over, and the prisoner, having declined to say any.
thing, was committed to Newgate for trial. She was
removed to the cells at the back of the court, and the only