The Express.
London, England, 1854-01-10 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 10, 1

THE POLICE COURTS.

Goa Company. When called on to plead, he said—l am
guilty of burning the gas, but not in the way of stealing it.
I intended to pay for it st the proper time.
The Assistant Judge—Very well, that is a plea of not
guilty.
This was a prosecution of a novel nature, and the facts
upon which the chorea against the prisoner rested
shortly as follows:—The prisoner was a hairdreiPer, carry-
iag on bushiest at No. 10, York-streot, Camden-towns, and
hod a contract with the London Gas Company to supply-
him with gas for one bat's-wing b u for his shop. Oa
the 23rd of December two inspectors is the company's ser-
er's "Nil there in consequence of some suspicion that sal
wassetright, sad on lifting up a pot which was used for
the hot shaving water, atid was fixed to the window-board,
they found a burner under it alight which was supplied
with gas by a small pipe, ourreptidously introduce into
the pipe which supplied the b for con-
tract was made. Some playbills were pasted about the
board to conceal the pipe from observation, and when the
rot was ia its place aothing calculated to show that a gas
was under it could be detveted. Newman (one of
the inspectors) *eked what this was for, and the prisoner
in reply said he supposed he could get over it by paying for
it, and that it had been done in his absence in the country
by a meson whom be left in charge of the barbels, about
three weeks before. Evidence was given to show that an-
terior to that time the pot had been seen in the
sae place, with water boiling in it, bat no one had ever
sees either the pipe or the gas light by means of which the
water was heated. Newman even said that he had seen
the pot there as much as twelve months previously, before he
went into the company's Becalm., having repeatedly been
these to be shaved.
In answer to questions put by the Assistant-Judge, it
was admitted that there was some confusion in the neigh-
bourhood of Camden-town between the Imperial. Equit-
able and London Gas Companies, and that by mistake one
company o,,cssionally topped a main belonging to another,
and actions were now pending in reference to such matte: s.
This introduced some doubt as to the right of the rese-
nting company to the gas consumed by the extra burseeis
question, but it was cleared up by a statement of Inspostes
Larkin, to the effect that means were taken to ascertain
the fain, and the service pipe in the street, from whisk
the pipe was laid into the prisoner's shop, followed up to
a main which he knew to belong to the London C
as it was of • different size to the main of the I=
The main was plugged up, and the gas in the day INS
eztiagaished, thus proving that the supply was SINS the
London Company's pipes.
The Assistant Judge, in summing cep, said he thought
the jury might take it as proved that the gas was the gess/
the Louisa Gomislay, and that it was used by the prisoner I
bat the goofiest fee them to determine was whether, es
the evidence, they were satisfied that be used it with the
lineation of atealiag it. If they were satisfied that he had'
the pipe put up, or put it there himself, and that it had
been in use some time before he said it had, then he thought
they should return • verdict of guilty ; but if they were et
=that the pipe was Lied in his &bocce, as he bad
said, and that he bursted the gas without the fele.
aloes intention charged against him, then they must us.
donhtedly acquit him.
After the jurymen had conferred together some little
time,
The Foreman abruptly turned mend, and said, " Guilty,
my lord, without the felonious intention."
The Assistant Judge—Gentlemen, that is nonsense. That
is • verdict of not guilty, though you say guilty. It is the
felonious intent that makes the guilt ; and that verdict is
like a jury finding a man guilty of murder without wilful
desia.
A juryman said they had not all agreed, and they were
locked up in charge of Mr. Sawyer, the beadle. After
being absent some time, they returned into court, and found
the prisoner Guilty.
The Assistant-Judge sentenced the prisoner to hard
labour for one Weeder month.
Janus Nicholls. 21, convicted last session of stealing three
pounds of tea, the property of John Taylor and others,
from a lighter in the port of London, was placed at the bar.
lie was remanded in the expectation that he would make
some disclosures respecting accomplices, who it was sus-
pected bad aided him in the robbery, but he refuted to do
so. The court sentenced him to twelve months' bard
labour.
John Evans, 21, a lighterman, was indicted for having
stolen six gallons of brandy, the property of John Beaton
Taylor and others, his masters, in • bugs on the navigable
river Thames.
Mr. H. Gifford appeared for the prosecution.
It appeared that the prisoner was in the employ of
Illesers. Bells and Taylor, the prosecutors in this Me and
that of Nicholls above mentioned. Oa the 17th of Decem-
ber the prisoner was in charge of two barges, one lying at
Ike:lnes Wharf, next to the St. Katherine-dock entrance,
sad the other at the entrance, the former being laden with
asks of bendy. In the coarse of the night one of the
gessentere' servents, named Taylor, in authority over the
prineser, lame to the barge and saw him in the lighter, sad
be then gMI Am that he had been shoved down into the
cabin by teat men whom he did not know, and be was afraid
they were ring to chuck him overboard. When asked
how he get est of their hands, he said he was assisted by
a watchman from the pier-bead. At that time no robbery
had been dampened, and therefore no further notice was
taken of the story 'about the two men ; but subsequently it
was found that several of the brandy casks had been tam•
pered with, and on the contents being re-guested it was
ascertained that SR gallons had been drawn out. A gimblet
,and a funnel were found on the barge, and four of the
'casks had spites in them, which was not the case when
' they were shipped. Inquiry was made as to the tale of the
attack by the two strange men, and it turned out that no
mistimes bad toss maimed to the prisoner by any watch-
men, sad the embalm arrived at was, that he had in-
vented the tale to divert aespielon from himself. The
brandy could not have been taken without his knowledge,
sad he was given into custody. Nothing was ascertained as
to what became of the brandy.
The prisoner denied his guilt.
The jury found the prisoner Guilty; and esteemed an
opinion that be was acting in complicity with others in the
robbery.
Mr. Gifford said that what had fallen from the jury was
se deetbe the fact ; and the prosecutors were losers to a very
serious extent by these depredations upon the property
entreated to them, and placlei in the charge of their ser-
vants. Their position was such that they could not help
themselves by having servants of their own choosing, and
es whom they could, of cows., place the greatest reliance;
bat they were busind to employ none but watermeo belong-
ing to theWatermen's Company, under • pecuniary penalty
—a state of things which it was certainly to be hopel was
set to last much longer.
The Assistant Judge—That is one of the privileges, them,
el a company of the City of Lends.
Kr. Gaud replied that it was so. The proscatora, by
that privilse, could not employ their own servants.
The Assistant Judge said it was to be hoped that the
sashedlim come when mmething like common sense would
be at in each matters. Let merchants and trades-
' sea make laws for themselves, and they would be meek
better than any that could be made for them. Whoa
=IV. of France said to his minister, Sull that be
to do something for his merchants, and asked what
he eaeldb, that great statesman replied, " Let them alone,
tbs." As to the primes having been aided by others, he
bad se babe of it. Ea led been d the bands of older
reams sad had bees himself a very !Away eatvaw. lie
shoal' teamed him until the nest stenos sad it would not
be wens At him if is the meantime he a:ate a clean breast
of ft, sad diedosed the sautes of those who assisted him.
The palms was then remanded.
A penes stepped into the witnerobez sod stated that be
, bad paid five guineas to Mr. Pelham, solicitor, to provide
counsel for the prisoner. Mr. Pelham was to retain Mr. ,
j BaUantine for the prieoner, and he promised to be at
- court at tens o'clock that morning ; bat he had not app--
peered.
:o Mr. Metcalfe and Mr. Gifford remarked that there surely
is had been some mistake in the matter. Mr. Pelham was •
.s moot respectable professional man.
be The Moistest Judge said he could not interfere. The
pig person must see Mr. Pelham on the subject, and no doubt
that gentleman would explain it. lie was sorry that it had
pus so happened.
A policeman informed the court that one of the witnesses,
ing a woman, in a case he had was so drunk ea to he unable to
no give evidence.
By direction of the court she was brought in, and the
that Assistant Judge committed her to custody.
and -

MANSION-HOUSE.
William Cook wen breupht up charged with having
stolen a quantity of raw silk, the property of the St.
Catherine's Dock Company. The prisoner was an extra
porter in the employment of tile company at their ware-
limns in Cutlet-street, Hnunsditch.
Evans, a constable of the Cutler-street tea warehouses,
said in consequence of information received relative to the
prisoner I was sent up to the raw silk warehouse, where he
was at work, to search him. I asked him whether he had
any of the comnany's silk about him, to which be replied in
the negative. I told him it was my duty to search him, and
I found the four skeins of silk I produce deposited under
the calves of his lege. I thee went for an officer, into
whose custody I gave him, and I consequently went with
therefleer to his lodgings in White Horse-yard, Coleman-
street, and found in • trunk, of which he gave me the key,
fourteen skeins of raw silk, which I believe to be tho pro
petty of the company. The prisoner said nothing upon
being challenged with the ?ebbe'''.
The prisoner was ordered to be remanded in order ihat
, farther search may be made.
BOW- STREET.
Alfred Jones, the driver of one of Thompson's cabs (No.
350), was summoned before Mr. Hell to answer two com-
plaints preferred by Mr. Antonio Peniesi, keeper if the
printed-book department of the British Museum.
Mr. Paniui stated that he 'Merged the defendant with
insulin), behaviour, and with neglecting to give him a
ticket. On Wednesday afternoon hist, the 4th inst., be sent
a porter from the Museum to get him a cab, but be returned
with the answer, "Nu elm will come." Witness then
walked to the stand in S,u-bempton-row, it being then
between 7 and 8 o'clock, and saw four or five alba, but no
drivers. Supposing the, had gone into the publio-houses or
something, he eontinued for 100211 time to bawl out f3r the
eabmen,but the waterman apparently, and two or three other
men, only laughed at him. Eventually, on seeing defendant
with his rib, witness desired him to come to the pavement
to Ulm bins up. He did so very slowly, and vases' went
behind the cab to look at its number, upon which defendant
exclaimed." Don't be iu a passion," suit pulled the smoke of
a cigar in his (Mr. Peniaxes) face. Witness said, "This ii
not
the am
maisMtfel condubect,r ofd yhisou know it," at the Name time
badge. The abeam stood in