The Express.
London, England, 1862-08-29 00:00:00

MANSION -HOUSE.

John Wells, a gun stocker. appeared in answer to a slim-
mow taken out against him by Means. Bernet and Co.,
gun manufacture's, charging him with unlawfully absent-
ing himself from their service and neglecting to fulfil
a contract which he had entered into.

Mr. Barnett produced a contract dated August 23, 1861,
which the prisoner acknowledged was signed by him, and in
il. which the defendant, in consideration of aloof U. which
wAs granted him Messrs. Barnett, agreed to work for
them for the space twelve months from the date of the
document, and to work for no other firm during that period.
The complainant stated that the defendant had re.
peatedly absented himself during that period for a month
together, and on the 6th inst., and on several days pre-
viotudy, be had absented himself without leave, and upon
all occasions on which he was absent there was plenty of
work for him to do. He had made inquiries, and ascer-
tained that he had been working for other houses.
The defendant said he certainly did absent himself on
the 6th August, and on going back again he found all his
tools had been removed, and another man working at his
bench.
Mr. Barnett said the defendant had absented himself so
continually that be had been obliged to put another man
at his bench, arid the defendant promised that if be had
some work out he would do it, and he gave him five guns to
do, but he had neither seen him nor his guns since. The
defendant bad had two or three loans since the 5/. alluded
to in the contract, and he still owed between 61. and 71.
... .. - . .

Alderman Challia said the defendant bad acted not
only very badly, but very ungratefully, and sentenced him
to 21 days, at the mama time telling him he was liable to
three months.

GUILDHALL.

Mr. Harris attended in support of the summons granted
last week, requiring Colonel Sleigh to answer a charge of
fraud in connexion with the notorious British Columbia
Overland Transit Company's scheme • but on inquiry being
made for Colonel Sleigh (whose solicitors, Pawle cod Lies-
say, had undertaken, through Mr. F. W. Lewis, their coun-
sel, that their client should be communicated with on the
subject if a warrant were not issued in the first instance), no
one answered to the name, and it was then stated that Pawls
and Livesey declined to act for Colonel Sleigh, and accord-
ingly refused to accept the summons for him.
Mr. Harris then applied for a warrant.
Alderman Carter said he would grant the warrant if the
matter was proceeded with. He would rather prefer that
the matter was left in the hands of Alderman Finals, who
had first commenced the investigation and heard the whole
of the facts connected with the case.

Mr. Hams, on the suggestion of Mr. Martin, the chief
clerk, said he would the an information, and renew his ap-
plication for a warrant on a future day.

BOW-STREET.

Benjamin Henry Thompson, a boy of about 14 years of
age, was charged with obtaining 61. Re. 9d. by false pre-
tences.

Mr. Freecli, a dealer of fancy goods in the Lowther
Arcade, stated—The prisoner was formerly in the service of
Mr. Maude, a manufacturer of dolt, carrying on business
in the Waterloo-road, who supplies me with dolls. On
Saturday last I was aware that Mr. Edwards' boy was
delivering goods in the Arcade, and I expected him to call
for an account. I desired one of my men to call the boy
in. The prisoner came in, and I said to him, " Are you
caabierr He replied " Yes," and I paid him GI. Bs. Pd.
I took a receipt from him, and gave bins a statement to
take back to his master. I had seen the prisoner with Mr.
Edwards' boy the previous Saturday, and I thought he wan
'till in Mr. Edwards' service.

Mr. Edwards deposed—The prisoner was formerly in my
service, and was discharged a fortnight ago for dishonesty.
He had been sent to buy some bread, and by going to an in-
ferior shop he got it fur a halfpenny lees, and kept the
halfpenny. I though if be would cheat for a halfpenny
be could not be trusted with larger sums, and so I dis-
charged him. He had, of course, no authority to take
'this money. The boy whom I sent for that pur-
pose brought me 51. Ss. 94., without the usual statement.
I asked him why he had not brought a statement. He then
told me that Henry (the prisoner) heel taken the money. I
said, Henry bad no business interfering in the matter ; and
sent the boy back for a statement. I afterwards received
one, from which I found Mr. French bad paid 6/. Bs. 9d.
Mr. French pays from time to time and Ido not know
beforehand how much is to be received. The sum of
61. Be. tkl. is the amount of three invoices of goods pre-
viously supplied.
William Cheny deposed—l am errand-boy to Mr. Ed-
wards, and went with another errand-boy, named Charles
Dennis, to deliver some goods in the Arcade, and also to
take an account. The prisoner joined us on the way,
and offered to help us with the truck, which was heavily
loaded. We declined his assistance, but he continued to
walk with us, It was while we were engaged in deliver-
ing goods at other shops in the Arcade that Mr. French
sent his man out for one of us, and the prisonor went in and
got the money. When be came out of Mr. French's shop
he said to me. "I have taken French's money—let us step
it with that." lie had on previous «maims tried to per-
suade me to rob my master and run away to Portsmouth
to go to am. I said, "No, I won't ; you just give it to
Charley." Charles then came up, and I told bias what bad
occurred. Charles then insisted that the prisoner should
give up the money. He said, "It is 51. 811. 9d.," and gave
up that sum to Charles. Immediately afterwards he raa
away without giving us any written statement.
Policeman Cooks L 158, stated that the prisoner was
given into his custody by Mr. Edwards. He asked " Why
am I charged with the whole sum!" Witness replied,
" Bemuse you obtained the whole." He said, "If I had
known that I would have stuck to it all."
. .

Mr7Edwards explained that Dennis met the prisoner in
the West and brought him into the shop, on which he (Mr.

Edwards) sent for the policeman. He had kaawn prisoner
as Henry Turtle.
The Prisoser—Turtle is my father-in-law's name.
Mr. Hall—Whit do you a.iy to the ch,rge!
The primer-1 may received W. Oa. tkl., and give it to
PluolAm

Mr. Hill said this line of defence showed the prisoner to
he • very bad boy. The other lad t hvey 11,ettett u.t L
prates for rosining the temptation held out to Lim.
Mr. Hall committed the primmer for trial.