The Express.
London, England, 1851-12-16 00:00:00

arranged
morning.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.—YESTERDAY.
The December adjourned general session commenced this
morning, at Clerkenwell, before Mr. Serjeant Adams,
assistant judge, Mr. Pownall, Mr. Alderman Lawrence, Sir
Alexander Spearman, Mr. Turner, Mr. 'Witham, Mr.
Wilks, Mr. Howe, and other magistrates. The calendar
contains the names of 63 prisoners, of whom 53 were com-
mitted on charges of felony, and 5 for misdemeanour.
The learned Judge in his charge to the grand jury said
ho was glad to inform them that he was able to resume his
duties, after an attack of illness which had rendered hint
unable to meet a grand jury for more than a month, a cir-
cumstance which had not before occurred to him fur sixteen
or seventeen years. Afu r a few remarks upon the nature
of their duties the learned serjesnt sent the grand jury to
their room.

GROSS IMPOSITION.

Edward White, :19, was indicted for having stolen 16
bards of woollen cloth, value tl. 13c, the property of Henry
Barber.

Mr. O'Brien appeared for the prisoner.
This case was remanded from the last session. The pro-
secutor was a tailor in Guswell-street, and the evidence of
Ins two sons clearly proved the case against the prisoner.
lie was seen to attempt to carry off the cloth, and when
he found he was discovered he threw it at the head of one
of the witnesses. His identity was proved beyond ques-
tion, and the learned counsel said he could make no answer
to the case.
The jury found the prisoner Guilty.
It was proved that he was an old offender, and he was
sentenced to ►e transported for seven years.
Mr. O'Brien said there were some women in court who
wished to make some communication to the bench. There

were a number of persons about that court who were in
the habit of getting money from poor persons, the friends
of prisoners, under the preteace of procuring legal assist-
ance for them, and the women he alluded to had something
to say upon the subject.
The learned Judge directed the women to be brought for-
ward, when
One of them said she had paid 1/. 3s. 6d. to a person
named Flanagan, who was clerk to Mr. Hurry, barrister,
for the defence of White, but she had been obliged to raise
a similar sum to employ Mr. O'Brien, because he had not
engaged Mr. Ilorry.
The individual referred to—one Henry Martin Flanagan—
here stood up, and said he was ready to answer anything
the woman had to say against him.
The Judge—Well. you have heard her complaint, what
have you to say to it ?
Flanagan—May 1 ask her a question, your lordship.
The Judge—Certainly. What is it you wish to ask
Flanagan to the woman Now, you say you paid me
twenty-three and sixpence. Where did you pay it and
when ?
The woman—l paid it last Wednesday at the public.
house over the way, the Lamb and Flag. It was iu the
afternoon.

Flanagan—My lord, last Wednesday. I can prove it by
Mr. Hurry and fifty others, I was at the Southwark Folic,
court from 10 in the morning until hil at night. I never
saw the woman before in my life, and I declare to God I
never received a penny from her. I am nut new Mr.
Horry's clerk, and I never told her I was.
The Judge—Now be careful, sir. lam told that at the
last session Mr. !lorry applied to have this case poitponed.
This is one of those infamous cases in which the friends and
relatives of poor unfortunate prisoners are plundered by
persons who prowl about the court, professing themselves
lawyers, but they, every one of them shall see pretty
quickly the inside of the county prisons, if I can only get a
clear case brought home to them.
Flanagan-1 am here to defend myself, and I'll swear I
never had a penny from this woman. 1 never saw her
before.

The woman then repeated her statement, bat was inter-
rupted at every sentence by Flanagan, who contradicted
every word she uttered. She then called two witnesses.
One of them swore that she saw the money paid to Flanagan
at the Lamb and Flag; and that half a pint of gin WIL, paid
for by the woman at Flanagan's request. The other witness
More that she saw Flanagan and the woman at the House
of Detention, and heard him ask for 2/. 10s., and tell her '
that the money must be paid to him, and to him alone.
The complainant had made a mistake as to the day. It
was last Wednesday week, when the court was sitting at
Clerkenwell, and not last Wednesday.
The Judge—Now, sir, what do you say to this?
Flanagan then said, that last Monday week he was told
by Fisher, an officer of the 0 division, that he could have
the ease, when he replied, that if he did, it would be
2/. 4s. Gd. That would be a guinea for Mr. Harry, a
guinea fur Mr. Iladwin' whom he did business fur, and
half a crown to the clerk. He had nothing to do with it.
The Judge—Who's Mr. Hadwin ?
Flanagan—He's an attorney that I ant with.
The Judge—Then, you go about getting money as an
attorney's clerk. I will have Mr. Hadwia sent for, and
let this man be taken into custody.
Flanagan was then removed to the cells, and a messenger
sent to hod Mr. Miliaria' at an address given by Flanagan,
No. 4, Clifford's-inn; but the officer returned, and said
there was no such person to be found there.
Subsequently Flanagan was brought into court.
The learned Judge told him that, bi fore many hours
passed, he would in all probability find himself charged
with obtaining money under false pretences. Nu such per-
son as Mr. Iladwin, to whom he represented he was clerk,
had been found at the address he had given to the officer.
Who and where was that person ?
Flanagan—l never said I was clerk to liadwin.
The Judge—You did say so, or what was equal to it, and
if you were not, huw comes it that you asked for a guinea
for him as well as for one fur counsel ?
Flanagan for some time could not recollect lladwin's ad-
dress. He said he had made a mistake in giving the former
one—it was No. 4, Lyon's-inn.
The learned Judge then directed that Flanagan should
remain in custody until to-morrow (this day), and that an
officer should inform Mr. iladwin that his attendance was
required in a matter in which his character was concerned.
Fisher, of the G division, denied most po,itively that he
ever had any communication with Flanagaa about the case .

THE POLICE COURTS.
_ _I3OW-STREET.

A young man, of fashionable appearance, who gave the
name of Kelly, and described as a clerk in a government
office, was charged with assaulting GS Fin the execution of
his duty.
The constable stated, that about 3 o'clock in the morning
he was or. his beat in Somerset-place, Somerset-house, and
seeing a female standing, he inquired what business she
had there, knowing she did not belong to the building.
She replied, "Do you know who you arc talking to ?"
He replied, " To you, miss ;" upon which she said, " You
are greatly deceived in me." He then said, "I am not,
and require to know what your business is here," when
she made seine remark, and running up to the prisoner,
who was standing at a door, informed him that she had
been grossly insulted by witness. The prisoner asked what
had been said to her, adding, "she is with me." Wham
told him he was not aware of the circumstance, and the
reply was, " You fool, you had no business to ask her any
questions," and witness said he had done so, knowing she
did nut belong to the buillings, and that when he saw such
r. person standing about the place, he was bound to inquire
the business. In some altercation which ensued, the pri-
soner struck hint • violent blow in the mouth, which
knocked him down. his head having struck against one of
the pillars, upon winch a struggle took place, and when the
prisoner was pulled from him, he took him into custody.
The prisoner was not sober.

Mr. Hall said he could not discover any Impropriety in
the conduct of the constable, who was placed them for a
specific purpose, and it was not to be wondered at that,
seeing a female standing in the court-yard at such sa hour,
he should satisfy himself it was not an inmate, which he
was unable to ascertain without questioning her upon the
subject of business, and if she subsequently had such in-
fluence on the prisoner as to cause him to forget himself,
when, holding a public employment, he should render
assistance if requisite, he should take the consequence of
his rashness.

The prisoner said had he been perfectly sober he would
bare promptly afforded assistance to any officer in the exe-
cution of his duty, and expressed his regret that, in a mo-
ment of excitement, he had acted in the manner described.
Mr. Hall said had he thought otherwise he would have
sent him to prison, without the option of paying a penalty;
but the charge was of a serious character, and to mark his
sense of such impropriety, the prisoner should pay a fin*
of W. The fine being paid, he wee discharged.