The Express.
London, England, 1851-10-16 00:00:00

THB POLICE COURTS.

GUILDHALL.

Charles Martin and Thomas Blows, the two cabmen
who were committed from this court en Saturday last for
fourteen days fur attempting to steal a gold watch from
the person of Mr. Charles -%Vatson of 69, London-wall,
were again brought up in the custody of Springate, the
gaoler, and placed at the bar before Alderman Sir Robert
Walter Carden for the purpose of affording an opportunity
of re-investigating the cue.
A number of witnesses were examined, many of whom
tendered their evidence voluntarily, from which it ap•
geared that the prosecutor, Watson, was very tipsy on the
night of the alleged attempt at robbery, and that he had
on former occasions evaded payment of cab fares by threat-
ening to bring charges agaiust the drivers.
Mr. Watson said he was taken quite by surprise, and he
required some time to consider what course he should
adopt.
Alderman Challis—This question in my mind is whether
we should not detain you.
Sir R. W. Carden—With regard to the men at the bar,
I see nothing at all against the character of either of them.
(Great approbation was here evinced by the whole court by
clapping of hands and " hear, hoar.") I only regret that
they have been placed there innocently. (Hear, hear.) I
am quite sure that they will acquit me of all blame in con-
victing them, for Mr. 'Watson's bearing was such, and his
evidence was given in such an apparently straightforward
manner that 1 was bound to convict. lam now induced to
alter my former opinion, and I think that I cannot place
any confidence in Mr. Watson's word as the groundwork
of a conviction. Since the ease appeared in the papers, I
have been inundated with communications respecting Mr
Watson's character, but they are not evidence. I shall,
however, take immediate steps to procure the liberation of
these two innocent men, and in the meantime I will eon-
aider what further proceedings ought to be taken with re
gard to Mr. Watson.
The subject was here understood to stand adjourned for
1 further consideration.

The two men were conveyed back to the Giltspnr•strect
Compter, after having expressed to Sir R. W. Carden their
most heartfelt thanks for the manner in which he had estab-
lished their innocence. Their licenses will be ?mitered to
t►em as they were found upon them, without a blot.

TILE CAPE MAILS.

The fine new screw steam ship, Harbinger, Cap-
tain John May, the property of the General Screw
Steam Navigation Company, arrived at Plymouth from
London, on Monday afternoon, and sailed on ber out-
ward voyage yesterday (Wednesday.) The Harbinger
is well appointed in every respect; this will be ber nest
voyage to the Cape, and we have no doubt, from the high
character she has obtained in the Thames, that it will be
successful. Her enterprising owners, the General Screw
Steam Navigation Company, have placed her on the line in
lieu of the Sir Robert Peel, a small, but useful vessel, now
on the passage home. The Harbinger has a full cargo of '
British goods, a considerable portion of which, we are
proud to say, comes direct from the manufacturing districts
over the South Devon Railway, the ods branch of which
runs direct to Millbay Pier, where the Cape Mail Packets
are stationed prior to departure. The homeward bound
mail steamer the Sir Robert Peel, Captain Boxer, due at
Plymouth from the Cape of Good Hops about the 10th
instant, is not expected until the 20th, in consequence of
having damaged her machinery, and thereby lost ten or
twelve days on har posse out.