The Express.
London, England, 1848-07-05 00:00:00

POLICE.-YESTERDAY.

GUILDHALL—Demarco THE COIN or THE REALM
IV. Ricks, a clerk in the Money. order Office, at St. Mar-
tin's-le-Grand, was summoned for unlawfully defacing a half
sovereign of the current coin of the realm. Themu Walsh
stated that on Friday last he tendered one sovereign and one
half sovereign to be forwarded to Margate. The defendant
took the money, and after putting it into the scales e lid it
was full weight, but that it was lead, and he then handed it
to some other clerks for their inspection. They returned it to
Mr. Hicks, who at once took up a ruler and bent it nearly
double, after which he returned it to witness, who told him
not to deface it, id he would not be able to pass it elsewhere;
but the defendant persisted in ding so. When the half
sovereign was returned to him he immediately went to two
places, and after its bring filed twice and weighed, the par-
ti,a declared that it was good gold, and very little short of
the proper weight, as after the two filings it was only three-
pence deficient in value. lie thereupon went back to the
office, but they would give him no remedy ; in conse-
quence of which he summthed the defendant to this court.—
Alderman Salomons said that he much doubted the power of
the Post-office to deface the coin of the realm, but in the pre-
sent instance he must state that there was a little sharp prac-
tice in the office, particularly when even after the filings had
taken place the deficiency was so very slight that it would
barely turn the beam. lie had, therefore, come to the con-
elution that it was of due weight when presented by the
complainant. The clerk was wrong, and he hoped that he
would take his advice and give a full weighted half sovereign
for the one produced.—The defendant at once consented to
give Mr. Walsh another, and pay the costs.
WO H. 81.1 IP- ST B-E ET.—S wIN ULI NO.—Samuel Watch-
am, alias Captain ;Vale/ram, wee finally re-examined,
charged with having obtained various sums of money by
false pretences.—At the former examinations three charges
were substantiated against the prisoner by a ca fee-house
keeper and two licensed victuallers, at Whitechapel, from
each of whom he had obtained money, upon the representa-
' tion that he would shortly be in the possession of the third
share of en estate, worth no less than 075,0001., and that
four several instalments of 120,0001. had been placed to his
account in different banking houses in town, the ad-
dresses of which he particularly specified, but
where it was subsequently sacertained, upon in-
quiry, that his statement was an entire fabrication.
Further evidence was adduced on this occasion, and on being
asked if he had anything to urge in his defence, the prisoner,
with unshaken assurance, declared that the whole of his pre-
tensions were perfectly well founded, and that if the magis-
trate would indulge him with another remand for a week he
would bring forward conclusive evidence in confirmation of
everything he had professed.—Mr. Hammill said that ample
opportunity bad been afforded the prisoner to substantiate
his claim, if they really had any existence, as he had already
been a fortnight in custody, and he should therefore leave
him to submit such evidence as he thought proper before a
airy, and order him to be at once committed for trial.—
he prisoner was then committed.
WESTMlNSTElt.—lsthosmort.—Lieut.-Colonal G. A.
Malcolm attended at this court to prefer a complaint against
P. Donovan, a vender of flowers. Complainant stated that
he was walking along Chesham-place, Belgrave-square, that
morning, when, observing the defendant with • basket of
fewer*, he inquired the price of some of them. Defendant,
holding up two small bundles of carnations, asked a shilling
for them, and upon somplainant inquiring the price of •
single bundle, defendant separated the two, and replied
' sixpence. Complainant took one of them, but had no
sooner paid the sixpence than defendant declared that
the price was a shilling, and insisted upon having that sum.
Complainant seeing a policeman gale tM defendant into cur