The Express.
London, England, 1851-02-20 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 20, 1851.

heard on a former occasion. The complaint was, that the i" You admit the fact, then, that you wrote the letter ?"
insolvent had given his father an undue preference on some when he replied he would
that say
hnod maore at predisa sent. Wit
-
houses he had built. when
then rved he a most
His Honour held that an undue preference had been duty to
.perform, but he must see defendant's papers and
and adjudged the insolvent to an imprisonment of 9 letters, if he had any. Defendant then undtd Ins letter-
`s from the vesting order. case, and produced the copy, which, he stated, was in his
own writing, of a letter he had received from Lieutenant-
Colonel Doyle, observing that he supposed that his hand-
writing was what the officer wanted. Defendant, after
leaving his house, said, "'this is all owing to a gross insult
offered to my wife."
Defendant having expressed the greatest anxiety to speak,
here requested permission to say a few words, and having
received the magistrate's assent, observed—" Sir William,'
never saw you in my life before. I entertain no hostile
inteation, no unkind feeling of any description towards you.
This is entirely a mistake, for which I beg to express my
deepest regret. My wife holds a document, delivered to her
by a gentleman she supposed to be, from his representa-
tion, Sir William Somerville; also a private note, addressed
to her, which I was ltd to believe came also front that gen-
tleman. I wrote a note, in consequence, to Sir W. Somer-
ville, requesting that he would give her an interview. The
request was ifranted, and she went ; but, not knowing
Sir William Somerville, subsequently thought, although
she saw some gentleman, that the servants had
practised a trick upon her, and that it was
not Sir William she had seen. Nobody ranks higher, or is
better respected in Ireland than Sir W. Somerville, and I
would be the very lust to offer him the slightest insult or
offence. Seeing the envelope of the letter addressed to my
wife marked "private," I thought something clandestine
was going on, and labouring under the excitement of the
moment I wrote the letter. lam willing to make any
earthly apology.
Mr. Broilenp—ls your wife present ?
Defendant—She is (introducing a fashionably-dressed
handsome-looking woman to the magistrate's notice).
Mr. Broderip--This is Sir William Somerville. Did you
get the paper you speak of from him ?
Mrs. M'Carthy—Not from that gentleman.
Mr. Broderip—Then I am to understand it is a total
mistake altogether on your part, and, in fart, that some-
body has been personating Sir William Somerville.
Defendant—Yes.
Mrs. M•Carthy—l am quite sure that the gentleman by
your side is not the man.
Mr. Ilroderip—lt is so far satisfactory. You have heard
what has been said, Sir William; do you wish to proceed
with the case ?
Sir William Somerville (to defendant)—The case as-
sumes such au aspect, owing to what has reeently oc-
curred, as to render your present excuse unsatisfactory.
After the receipt of your first communication I wrote to
say that I was perfectly unacquainted with the matter
to which you referred—that Tuu were lalsouring under some
misapprehension, and that it you preceeded to repeat the
annoyance, must take the consequences. Your reply was
that your wife wished to call on me. I gave her the inter-
view, although at some personal inconvenience, when she
stated that she was totally mistaken, and had been so all
through the business. She then handed to me a letter
which, although not much of an apology, was of an apolo-
getic character, front Mr. M'Carthy, he being convinced
that I was not the party to whom his observations had
been intended to refer. I naturally thought the matter was
at an end ; but, to my surprise, 1 received this must offen-
sive letter atterward,.
Defendant—l assure you we were even then suffering
under a misappreheusion, Sir William. I entertain nothing
but the kindliest feeling towards you, nor could I feel
otherwise ; I have no reason for doing so, for you never I
offended ate by word or deed.
Mr. llnslerip—lt seems by what fell from the defendant
in the early part of the case, that after the interview his
wife thought that wane person had on that occasion perso-
nated Sir William.
sir William Sumervillc—l have no ill-feeling against him.
I never saw him before. I have uo wish to press this mat-
ter ; all I want is to he let alone.
Mr. Ilroderip (toilefendant)—You have committed a moat
gross offence in writing this letter, which is couched in the
vilest terms, so vi*, that if satisfied with your expression
of regret, Sir William is one of the most inZyeiful prosecu-
tors that ever came before me. Nothing could justify such
a letter.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS—YESTERDAT.
Mamas Ma. Stausar ADA" AMMAN? Jesse.
ROBBING CHILDREN.
Mary Frans, 18, was indicted for having stolen from the
person of a little girl, named Elizabeth Pitchers, certain
clothing, the property of Mary Pitchers. There were five
similar indictments against the prisoner.
The prisoner was tried and convicted upon three of the
indictments against bur, and it appeared from the evidence
that she was a wholesale plunderer of children. Her
plan of operations was this ; on meeting a little boy or
girl (preferring the latter for her victims) carrying a bundle
or basket in the streets, she would by a penny bribe, induce
them to go into some by-street on some pretence or other,
whilst she matte off with the articles which she had pro-
mised to take care of until they returned. She also was in
the habit of plundering children of their clothes, enticing
them into some dark court or passage, and then stripping
them of the principal portion of their dn...
She was sentenced to transportation for sere• years.
PRISON DISCIPLINE.
A diminutive ragged boy named Tricot:on pleady guilty
to a charge of theft.
The prisoner said—They treat me very well in prison. I
have been in twice and do not mind it. (Laughter.)
Sentenced to a month's bard labour and a whipping.

THE POLICE COURTS.
IIAN§Ii.7IIOI.7BE.
SHANIEFEL PEI7NDER.—ScAoIu4d, who was a few days
since charged with having robbed William Hawley, a coffee
shop keeper, in Thames-street, of 77 or 73 sovereigns and a
number of carpenter's tools, was brought up fur final
examination.
The prisoner was apprehended on board a vessel hound
for Port Natal, to which he was about to emigrate ;
and, although he had little or no property a few days before
his apprehension, a quantity of new clothes, for which he
had paid a considerable sum, was found in his trunks, and
cash to the amount of between 6/. and 7/. was found in his
possession. The officer, in making a search on board, also
found in one of the prisoner's trunks a key which opened
the door of the prosecutor's bedroom, in which was kept a
carpet bag, from which the sovereigns had been cut. fhe
evidence, however, would have proved insufficient if the
prisoner had not, in his appetite for plunder. seized a num-
ber of old tools which the prosecutor identified as his pro-
perty, and which the prisoner intended to turn to account
in the country to which he meant to go.
Two persons were culled by the prisoner to prove that the
old tools belonged to him, but their evidence profits d him
nothing. Neither of them could swear that he hail ever
seen one of the articles exhibited before.
The prosecutor stated that some of the tools had Leen
long in his father's as well as in his own possession.
The prisoner said he had put into the possession of his
solicitor a statement showing that all the tools and all the
money were his own property.
The prisoner's solicitor, however, having looked over the
exculpatory account, advised his client to delay the produc-
tion of it until the day of trial, as the case would, pro-
bably, be referred to the decision of the jury.
Alderman Hunter approved of the judgment of the
solicitor, and committed the prisoner for trial.
CHARGE or INCITING TO ~TEAL.—A young man named
Lockhart was charged with having induced a boy 9 years
of ag the son of a hatter in Catherine-wheel-alley, to rob
his father of several hats.
The child, who was at first included in the charge of have
ing robbed his father, was examined as a witness upon the
present occasion. Ile stated that Lockhart had threatened
to beat him if he did not steal the hats, and that to avoid
a thrashing he had actually, from time to time, conveyed
to the prisoner ten new hats.
The Alderman took considerable pains with the case, but
was obliged to say, after a cross-examination of the witness
by Mr 'Yates, that although there was no doubt of the
moral guilt of the prisoner, the evidence could ant possibly
lead to a conviction. The prisoner was therefore slis-

cannot attempt to justify it. I declare
upon my honour that I was suffering under a misappre-
hension, and if that is not enough. I am willing to take
my oath of it. I repeat, lam willing and most desirous of
making every earthly apology to Sir William, who is entitled
to respect from everybody that knows hint.
Sir William having kindly repeated that he had no wish
to press the matter any further,
Mr. Broderip pointed out to defendant the indignity he
had committed upon a gentleman in Sir William's position,
whose feelings he had outraged beyond description, and as-
sured him that but for his interposition it would have been
his (Mr. Broderip's) duty to have committed hint for twelve
months in default of his finding good sureties. Ile hoped
tho contrition expressed by the defendant was sincere, but
begged to impress upon his mind that if he were guilty of a
repetition of thin conduct to Sir William or any other party
be must expect to he visited with the heaviest penalty of
the law.
Defendant observed—l am exceedingly obliged to Sir
William. I feel the deepest regret at my conduct and shall
ever feel it.—defendant :tint his wife then left the court.
LAM BETH.
EXTENSIVE 11.01111 ERIES oN THE Sorest EASTERN RAIL-
IVAT.—Geurge Bat-nit, who keeps a general shop at
Newport l'agnel, was placed at the bar before Mr. Elliott,
for further examination, nn a charge of being concerned,
with his brother Enoch Barrett and William Evans, in
stealing, at dillerent times, front the stations and carriages
belonging to the South Eastern Railway Company property
of all descriptions, amounting in value to over 2,0001. The
prisoner had been given into custody on last Saturday week
by a servant at the shop of Mr. Terry, a bookseller, in the
hint-road, where he had offered some books and weekly
publications much beneath their rabic, and had been re-
manded on suspicion of having stolen the property. Some
days after it was found that the property formed
a portion of a partel which had Wen stolen
from one of the trains on Friday wetk, and which
bad been directed to a tradesman at Deal. The apprehension
of the prisoner led to a strong suspicion against his brother
Enoch, who was a switelt turner in the company's employ,
and also against William Elam, a stoker in the victualling
yard, Deptford ; and upon their houses being searched, up-
, wards of MI. worth of silks and other property were found,
[ and both men and their wives are at present :a Maidstone
gaol. On Thursday last, Sergeant Carpenter, of the It
division of police, who has the case in hand, examined the
shop of the present prisoner, at North End. Newport Pan-
nell, and there discovered nearly a cart-load of property, all
r of which has been identified Is forming, like that found at
the dwellings of the other prisoners, portions of parcels
stolen from the South Eastern Company's stations or lug-

gage trains.
The prisoner, in reply to the charge, said he had been in
the habit of purchasing goods of every description in Rose-
mary and Petticoat lam., and the hooks and papers which
he had offered for sale at the shop of Mr. Terry he pur-
chasetl from a man on Tower-hill. Ile had been employed,
he said, for some years on the Brighton Railway, and he
defied any one to bring forward the slightest imputation
against his character.
Mr. Owen, an inspector belonging to the Dover line,
observed that it was a fact that up to the present transac-
tion the prisoner and his brother had borne the very highest
character. Such, indeed, was the estimation in which the
South-Eastern Company held the latter, that they gave
him a handsome gratuity but a few weeks since, and, in
fact, he was perhaps one of the last of the servants in their
employ that they would suspect of dishonesty. Mr. Owen
further informed the magistrate that amongst the articles
found in the possession of the prisoner anti his brother were
four whistles each, and the mint susoicioum part was that
each of those four whistles had a different sound or note,
and the other four corresponded to a perfect nicety. They
are made of wood, and arc the workmanship of the prisoner
George, who is by trade a turner, and there can be no
doubt were used as signals by both brothers, and assisted
them in carrying on their extensive system of plunder.
The prisoner was remanded until Monday next, when his
confederates will also be brought up for further examination.