The Express.
London, England, 1851-04-28 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

'SIARLBOROUGH-STItEET.
The police have been exceedingly active during the last
few weeks in clearing the streets from that numerous
class of pickpocket, who carry on their operations princi-
pally at the west mid of the town and in the neighbour-
hood of the parks. Ten or a dozen of the most notorious
and expert of our street thieves have been raptured re-
cently, and committed for a term of imprisonment that
aid prevent them from reaping an expected harvest during
the influx of visitors to the Great Exhibition.
In one case a question was raised by Mr. Lewis, which,
• if decided in favour of the pickpocket, would have put
an end to the magistrates' summary jurisdiction, and would
have rendered the previouscommitments illegal.
1 Mr. Lewis stated that in an appeal against a eons iction
• by Mr. Ilroderip of a person charged on suspicion of fee-
l;
rac;tuetisonif blecirhttijact SttlrZectonfovricftLlsonnwiollifegur
i...,,,,.Nutrci,Juuslihcce
1 street in question was not proved, accorsting to the words of
: the act, to be a street leading to a river or wharf. In the 1
ease before the court, the prisoner was charged with fre- i
quenting a straw for the purpose of committing a febmy ;
but this street (Itegent-street) did nut lead to any river
or wharf as acetified by the act.
i Mr. Hardwick referred to the clause, and drew the atten-
, tion of Mr. Lewis to another portion of it which mentioned
streets leading to places of public resort. Ile considered
I that Regent-street was a street boding to a place of public
I retort, and lie was of opinion that had the notice of tho
• learned judge bten drawn to that portion of the clause, the
ultimate judgment would have been different.
r Mr. Hardwick then convicted the prisoner of being a
I suspected person, and committed hint to prison fur three
months.
__ . ____ —s--

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MARYLEBONE.
George Pilgrim will charged with wilfully extinguishing
a gas lamp.
John llawkis, 316 S, &pissed that on the previous even-
ing, when on duty in St. John's-wood, he saw the prisoner
di tiberately climb up a lamp-post and extinguish the light.
lie followed him and took lien into custody.
Prisoner said lie did it fur a lark.
The magistrate said he should pay 10s. for his lark.
LA3IBETii.
Mary 7'ayfor and Elk,. Tilli,r were charged before the
lion. G. I'. Norton, with wilfully damaging a wan figure,
the property of Mr. Ju:iii Cartwright, a clothier in Charles-
street, Lambeth.
Thomas Richardson, shopmart to the prosecutor, deposed
that on the preceding evening the prisoners, who were
much the worse tor liquor, made a full stop at his master's
door, and commenced making facia at a wax figure, which
formed a portion of a " dummy," on which is suit of clothes
were at Cie time. From faces the prisoners resorted to
blows, and before they could Ix' restraints' they nearly de-
molished the head of the dolmas.. [The witness here exhi-
Inted a wax bust, surmounted by a wig, with flowing'
curls, and the exhibition caused considerable laughter, in
which the prisoners heartily joined.] The witness said the
pr.soiters commences' their attack upon the unolfentling
figure by Tither striking it with much force on the cheek,
while Taylor struck it on the right ear, and the injury
done to it would take 12s. Cal. to repair.
Mr. Norton.-1 wonder you have not decorated the
figure with a pair of moustachies, to correspond with those
flowing be. 10.. (Laughter.)
Witness.—The reason, I suppose, your worship, is that
moustachios were nut in fashion when the figure was made.

(Renewed laughter.)
Mr. Norton (to the prisoner) —Pray what have you got
to say for your attack on and injury to this exceedingly
hanalwane and utudiending figure ?
Taylor—We molly canton nay, your worship, for we were
very tip.y at the time, but we arc prepared to pay the
12s. fish. for the injury.
Mr. Norton—Well, if you do that, and promise me not
to indulge in such !mks fur tke future, 1 shall diwharge
you.
The prisoners made the required promise, and were dis-
charged.

BILENTFORD.
Elizaberh Efty, a dark-looking woman, alsout 50 years of
age, was clamed with obtaining U. Ss. and a quantity of
wearing apparel, from Ellen Carpenter, servant to Mr.
Harris, a private platen= living in the Butts, Brentfurd,
under pretense of telling her fortune.
The complainant, a sample-looking young woman, stated
that the prisoner came to the house on Tuesday afternoon
last and rang the hell; she went to the gate, and the pri-
mmer :inked her if she would have her fortune told, and she
raid. " N..," but the woman so bothered her, and said she
would tell it for &1., that she went up stairs and got is
She asked the prisoner if she had got a &I. to give her in
change. hut she made no reply, only asking her to let her go
down the steps and stand by the kitchen date; she con-
sented, and [ha fortune teller said she could not give her
the information she wanted tinder another shilling. The
complainant gave her a second shilling, and she said she
still would wit tell her her fortune, and appointed to
1110't complainant at the same plate that e..ening. She
did so, mod gave her a third sh The prisoner then
said she could not tell her till she gave her is., and tom-
plainant said she could not du that as she hail no more
money. The prisoner then said to her, "Can't you borrow
and complaimutt said she knew no one. She then said,
" You ran go to your greengrover'n, where your mistress
has her thing•, and borrow it iu her name," and corns
plainant acted as she told her, and gave prisoner the as., who
then said site could not tell her her fortune that night; but
would come to her at 9 o'clock the following morning,
which she did, and now said she must have 30 s. to tell her,
and said she could go to Mr. Lightfoot's, the 'taker, and ask
for 30s. for Mrs. Harris, who had only a note of heavy
amount in the house. She went there and obtained the
money, and gave it to the prisoner, who had followed her
up rime. The prisoner then told her that a gentleman
would come in his carriage the next day, and give her 451. ;
that the prisoner would See that he came, and then the
complainant was to give her the odd it, and she would
return her what she had had from her. The ensuing day
she met the primmer, at half-tend 1 o'clock. No gentleman
hind come, and the prisoner again induced her tog. too Mr.
Cullen's, 01 the Castle, and tell the Wile story. She did
so, and got 30-s., which she also gave the prisoner, who had
gut from her a drmss, a pair of stutkings, and a neckerchief.
Mr. CuLen's Adman saw the money given to the pri-
soner, awl, having some suspicious, told his master, who
sent to Mr. Harris, and the imposture wan detected, and
information given to the police, by whom the prisoner was
apprehended.
Mr. Balite, after addressing the complainant, and point-
ing out lice creduity, and even guilt, sentenced the pri-
soner to three mantas' imprisonment, with hard labour.

WINDING-UP OF JOINT STOCK COMPANIES.

MADRID AND VALENCIA RAILWAY.—Sinoo the
hearing of this matter before the Master, various proposals
in the nature of a compromise have been under considera-
tion, and these, it is understood, have delayed the delivery
of judgment, which will be gis en on as early day upon the
question. Under the act of parliament, it is in the power
of the official inamorcr to entertain overtures of compromise
in thew matter, with the approbation of the Master upon
the production of proper and satisfactory evidence.
11.txwEx IntiN CuMP.sNY.—On Saturday an appli-
cation was made to Master Kindersley for the issue of
attachun uts under the act of parliament, against certain
parties who had failed to pay up their calls, and after some
discussion, the meeting was adjourned to this day.
SEA EIRE LIFE AsscßANcE.—On Saturday, after
hearing ex idence on the claim of Mr. T. Pratt, in respect of
a bill of exchange for 300/. brought in against this estate,
his Honour Master 'rinney derided on sending the case to
be tried at common law. l'rutt, the claimant, in his ex-
ainination admitted that he combined with his ordinary
culling of a dressing-cask maker that of a bill discounter on
a large scale, and that he had given 2801. valuable conside-
ration for the bill in question, which it appears was drawn
by the sceretary of the company, countersigned by the ac-
countant, but nut for the business purposes of the company.
Witnes. hail sent no fewer than 27 discounted bills to his
bankers the day before, and cunsidered that in this par-
ticular line of business he was a useful member of society.

NEWMAIIKET RAIEWAY.—Report of the directors
of the Newmarket Railway Company to be presented to
the shareholder% at their ordinary half-rearlv general
"". •