The Express.
London, England, 1862-05-02 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURT&

BOW-STREET.
Thomas Henry Curti& who stated that he was a tailor at
Rooney, Hants, was charged with stealing two reels of
twist, three-quarter of a poundof sewing silk, • quantity of
silk based, and other articles, to the value of 41. 95., from
Messrs. Firmin, the well-lmown button and trimming
makers in the Strand.
Mr. Charles Edward Firmin deposed—l am warehouse-
man to my father and others, carrylog on Waimea under the
firm of Firmin and Sons, 153, Strand. The prisoner is an
old customer of ours, and has for some years bun in the
habit of making purchases to the extent of 701. or 801. at a
time. This morning, at about U o'clock, I was servin; him
with some goods in the waresooni, when I had occasion to
go down stairs for some article ; upon returning to the
warerooln. as I opened the door, I saw the primmer pat-
tiog • hank of silk braid into Ins pocket. I also missed &reel
of twist. I mentioned the matter to the cashier. As the
prisoner was leaving the cashier said to him, "Shall I
charge you for the articles you have put in your pocket
He produced from hie pocket a reel of twist and said, "That
is all I have." The cashier said, "No I don't think that
is all." He then produced another reel of twist. They
are worth 4e. 3d. each. The cashier then called in a
policeman, who took the prisoner to the station-house,
where he was searched, and there was found on him the
hank of silk braid, which is worth 21. 14s. ; some alpaca
braid, worth 9e. ; and Vb. of sewing tikk, worth 19s. W.
The prisoner said he hoped I would forgive him.
Mr. Pirniin's evidence was confirmed by the cashier and
by the policeman.
The prisoner, who appeared to be suffering from intense
emotion, said—l have not anything to say. Ido not know
what induced roe to do it. I did not think of doing it when
I entered the shop.
He was committed for trial.
LAMBETH.
The conductor of one of Greenwood's Exhibition 01011 i.
Imes, No. 6217, Robert Smith, badge 3,453, appeared to •
summons taken out by the police, and charging him with
unlawfully delaying his omnibus upon its journey.
l'ohosconatable Robert Roots, 55 P, ..deposed that on
Monday week four omnibuses drew up in front of the
Elephant and Castle, Newington, and after stopping the
usual time allowed for putting down and taking up pas-
sengers he ordered them on. Three of them went away on
their journey, but the defendant ordered his driver to drive
round Cross-street, and come to the place be had just left a
second time. This being contrary to the regulation hid
down by the Commissioners of Polices, he (witneu) told the
defendant be should report him, and did so.
Mr. Marriott, who attended on behalf of the company,
assured the magistrate that the offence, if such it might be
called, was unintentional. The fact was that the Exhibition
I omnibuses had been but recently brought from Man-
chester, and the servant. in attendance upon them did not
I think that which was right in Manchester was wrong in
London. The practice in the former place had been to
wait at the end of their journey for fresh passengers, and
that was all the defendant did on the present occasion.
He (Mr. Marriott) should therefore like to ask the con-
stable whether the defendant was not perfectly civil, nod
whether be did not say that if told he was doing limn,
he would at once have gone on his journey.
The constable admitted that this was the fact.
Inspector Dann, who was present to support the sum
mow, here informed the magistrate that the Elephant and
(hurtle was not a place appointed by the Commissioners
of Police for the commencement or the ending of a journey,
but merely an intermediate spot where the omnibuses in
the course of their journey were allowed sufficient time to
put down and take up passengers.
Mr. Marriott said the company for whom he appeared took
out licenses for their vehicles to travel between the Ele-
phant and Castle, Newington, and the Swan Tavern, Old
Brompton, and it appeared to him a most extraordinary
doctrine that they should not be allowed to take up as
well as put down pareagers at the beginning as well as the
end of their journey.
Mr. Dann observed that the owners of the Exhibition
omnibuses should, when about to take out their licenses,
bare applied to the Commissioners of Police to appoint a
starting-place, and this would have obviated the difficulty.
Mr. Norton said he bad before him the act authorising
the Commissioners of Police to make the necessary rules
and regulations for the guidance of public vehicles for
carrying passengers, and by these rules and regulations
their owners were obliged to comply. That such power
should be vested in the commissioners was absolutely neces-
sary • for what would be the state of things, at the Elephant
and Castle, for instance, if half • doaen of companies claimed
the same rights, as those sought by the Exhibition Com-
pany. The offence was clearly proved, and the defendant
must pay a penalty of Is., and 2a for expenses.
The money was paid, but Mr. Marriott, expressing a strong
objection to the state of the law, said he feared he should
have to trouble his worship for a ere to take the matter to
• higher court.