The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-03 00:00:00

THE POLICE CO GEM

M ANSION • HOUSE.
Sir John Musgrove sat for the Lord Mayor, este Is eon-
fined to hi. bedroom in toner queue^ of the injuries he re-
. ecieed in tke late c..llision cn tie Great Northern Itailsvay.
John Witfinois was charged with haelog deserte.t from
the Omega, in which he had been engaged as a seaman.
Mr. Samuel Potter, master and part owner of the Omega,
said the defendant signed articles on the 14th of May, to
go to Adelaide. His final port of discharge was the City of
Landon. He sailed with us treat Lond.in, but deserted the
ship at Adelaide on the Ist of Sep:rah'', WA. I pro.luee
the log book which contains a report of his desertion and
the desertion of three ther seamen.
Sir John Musgrove—By whom is that report signed ?
Witness—By myself.
Sir John Mu'grove—By yourself alone ?
Witness—By myself alone.
Sir John Mu grove—The act, I find, requires that the
desertion ehonld be certified by the clip!ain and mate, or
some other competent authority in addition to that of the

captain.
Witness—The mats was unwilling to sign, and the rest
of the crew Aso showed great to lurance to certify. In
fact they were waiting the opportunity to desert them-
selves. The def. 'silent was to r aloe 21. 15.. per month.
Sir John Musgr ITt —The refusal of the men v. certify
was au act of disobedience which ought to have been re-
presented to the magistrate at Adelaide, in order to be
marked by itntnedi.te punishment.
Witness—l am aware of the necessity of making the
complaint at Adelaide, and I did so, but was informed by
the magistrate that he could not deal with toe matter.
Sir John Musgrove-1 perceive that you have not
entered in your official log-hook the circumstance of the
refusal to sign the certificate of the di scrtion. Now the
defendant, though without doubt morally guilty, escapee
justice because the act of parliament itas not been strictly
complied with. lied you not produced the log-book, we
should have been obliged to deride upon the lost evidence
we could have otherwise obtained, but the log-book at
Once shows the deficiency, and the defendant, who deserves
to be severely punt-41.A, thus legally escapes. I certainly
would have sentenced him to three months imprisonment,
if your proof bad been legally conclusive.
The complainant—The difficulties and losses to which we
aro subjected are beyond all imagination.
Sir John Musgrove—l am aware of that, and am there-
fore prepared to make examples of those who arc brought
before me upon legal evidence. Had the defendant money
about him upon being apprehended ?
The otSeer who took the defeodant rote custody said the
men had between 141 and 151 in hie possession at the time.
Sir John Musgrove—Naw, if the leg. book had beer. pro-
perly signed, the captainoshO has been thus cruelly treated,
would not only have the satisfaction of seeing the se:man
sent to prison, but would have bet n entitled to the mono
which I must now order, I am sorry to say, to be motored to
the morally guilty defendant.
The defendant here wished to make some observations,
expressive of unconsciousness of having committed any
offence, but
S.r J..hu Musgrove said—l do not wish to hear a word
from you. You are discharged.
Harrington, who was a few days ago charged with having
robbed a poor journ: yrnan tailor, who had charitably given
him work, was brought up fur final examination.
The complainant said the publication of the ease in the
newspapers had brought together a numb, rof tradesmen,
whom the urisooes had robbed, at the West-end of the
town, to state the circumstances unties which he Lad plun-
dered them. .

Mr. Marshall, of Ozford-strect. said—The prisoner robbed
me twice. In the lir•t instance I forgave him, and hie wife
baying called upon me in a deplorable condition with a
child in her arms, I gave him further employment. Ile,
Lowever, could no: proceed, though an excellent
workman, and able to earn a great deal of money,
without committing plunder. He has robbed several others
since, and his landlady came to me afterwards, and assured
me that he bad taken away (rum her house every thing
portable upon which he could lay his hand.
Sir John Musgrove—The additional cases have occured
at the west end of the town, end I canrot take cognisance
of them, but I shall commit the pritoner for two months to
Holloway prism for having un.aw fully disposed of the
goods of the poor man who had to humanely treated him,
and those whom he has robbed out of my turisdiction esti
lodge a wanaos spins: him before the time of his din.
charge.
Mr. Marshall—l shall lodge a warrant against him meat
certainly.
The prisoner was then committed.
HOW.STHEHT.

Charles Clements. the petition of the George public-
house, Great Queiii-etreet, was charged, before Mr. Jar-
dine, with having twice set fire to his employer's house.
Mr. C. S. Large, the landord, stated that at about ban-
yan 3 o'cleck in the morning of August 23, he was
eroused from his bed by an alarm of fire. 110 foam: the
house full of smoke, and on going sown stairs saw the in-
-ide of the parlour in thinies. Assistance was speedily pro-
cured and the fire was put out, having been cootie. d to the
room. The premier was at the top of the house at the
nine, and helped to give the alarm, but he did nut leave
his room. On a subsequent examination of the room, in
company with a police uffieer, he saw a quantity of paper
forced into a hole in the wainscoting, in such a manner
as to excite suspicion that it was intended to be fired, tape-
daily as it was pert of a daily newspaper of recent date.
The parlour was consequently watched for a day or two ;
but on the 25th, during the temporary absence of witness,
some one had set fire to the paper, and a portion of the
wall was burnt out. Witocre ascertained that the prisoner
hell been into the room during the interim, without having
any business there, and this tact coupled with other euspicious
eirceinstances, induced him to have the man taken into cus-
tody.
Inspector Mitchell stated that there had been four fires
in the seine house and the one adjoining it since the pri-
soner had been at Mr. Lsrge's ; and he bed ascertained
that there bad been fires likewise at the houses where the
prisoner bad been previously employed as pet-boy. He had
neen heard to complain of the illiberality of the insurance
companies en one of these occasions for not giving him
some compensation or reward, for assisting in putting out
the filmes, as but been done is previous instances.
After some further evidence,
Mr. Jardine thought that there WAS suspicion enough to
justify further inquiry, and therefore the prisoner must be
remanded.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
George Tueld. an officer of the Ecclesiastical Court, re-
siding at No. 19, Foxlay-road, Camberwell New-road, was
Drought before Mr. Hardwick on the following charge :
Mr. Thomas William Capron, gentleman, of No. 24,
South-street, Grosvenor-square, addressing Mr. Hardwick,
precious to making this charge I wish to know
whether it deprives me from the right of bringing a civil
action ; or if I withdraw the charge, shall 1 be liable to
have enaction brought against me.
Mr. Hardwick-1 have nothing on earth to do with it ;
consult your solicitor.
Mr. Capron—Teen I will prefer the charge.
On being sworn Mr. Capron said—Last night about six
',tel.& I was sitting in my erasing-room, when I heard a
knock at the siren door. My servant answered the door,
and then came into the dining-room and told me there was
a man in the hall who wished to see me on privet, busi-
mu. I sent hint back for tho name of the man, and on
his return he said the man's name was George Todd, and
he wished to speak to me on important and private busi-
ness. I told my servant I knew no such person as George
Todd, and as my servant was coming into the dirtiog-room
the defendant pushed his wry to the doo-, and forced it
violently against me, I and my servant cloud the door,
and the latter remained in the room with me. The defen-
dant, who was left in the hall, still kept pushing with great
force against the door, I remaining spinet it inside. I
then d • d my servant lo get out of the dining-room
window, whit:. ue aid, and fetched a police constable. A
eOnstable subsequently arrived, and I gave defendant into
custody.
William Tooley, footman, in the service of Mr. Capron,
corroborated that gentleman's evidence.
Police-constable 71 C said—About 7 o'clock last night I
was called to No. 24, South-street, and on proceeding there
saw the complainant, who said he had two men in the
house whom he wished to get rid of, and requested me to
get another constable to assist me. I went for another
officer, and when I returned I found defendant in charge.
At the station the detenlant said he had called upon Mr.
Capron to serve a coy of a citation upon him from the
Couleur: Court, when the complainant gave him into
custody.
Hy Mr. Hardwick—When I arrived at the station I
foaud complainant there to press the charge. After the
charge was taken the copy of the citation was served upon
the complainant. This was subsequently found in the in-
spector's room.
Cross-examined by Mr. Capron—Defendant handed you
the paper and said, " Mr. Capron. this is for you."
The defendant, in answer to the charge, said he was an
officer of the Coosistory Court of London, and yesterday he
received from Mr. Nelson, a proctor, a citation to serve
upon complainant in a divorce, on the grounds of cruelty to
his wile. This citatias the complainant was to answer in
three days. On knocking at the door it was answered by
the footman ; and, not wishing the latter to know what his
business was, he told him to tell Mr. Capron Mr. Todd
wished to see him on important and private business.
Complainant refused to see him, and in his endeavours to
serve the document, he was given into the charge of the
police.
Mr. Hardwick said defendant was there for a lawful
purpose, sad that being the case, he (Mr. Hardwick) had
nothing to do with it.
Defendant was therefore discharged.
Defendaut, previous to leaving the court, produced the
, original, and served the copy of the citation upon com-
plainant, who seemed to accept it with great reluctance.

STEPNEY PAROCHIAL SLHOOLS.—Tho children of
the parochial schools of Stepney were yesterday assembled
for a " treat ;" the Rev. R. Carter Smith, the rector, hay-
ing granted the tine of his grounds anti field fur the put,
pose. At 3 o'clock the following children assembled at
their respective schools : the red coat (We-end Old Town),
numbering about 400; the green coat (Itatcliff), about
300; Sunday schools, 200; infant schools, 200; in all about
1,100 ; and proceeded to Stepney church. It was intended
that they should march, headed by a band, to the rectory
grounds, there to be regaled with buns and tea, and to be
permitted to amuse themselves during the evening, which
was to conclude with a display of fireworks. The after-
noon turned out distressingly wet, so that the feasting and
the sports were oh,iged to be carried on as they best could,
ander cover, in the schoolrooms. It was unfortunate, as
this annual gathering on a floe day is very interesting, end
gives a good opportunity of showing to what an extent the
edttestion of the children of the wish is provided for.