The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-27 00:00:00

THE POLICE COVRIS.

GUILDHALL.

Sir John Musgrove drew attention to the disgraceful
state of Holborn Hill. In coining into the City that morn-
ing he bad seen no fewer than three horses down at once,
and one of them must have broken a leg from the helpless
state it appeared to be in. He would gladly give five
shillings kern his own pocket towards • load of gravel to
render the footing a little more secure.
An officer from the district said the omnibus proprietors
complained very much of the hill at all times. but in wea-
ther like the present they stated that it did more injury to
their horses than all the remaining portions of the different
routes pot together.
Sir J. Musgrove quite believed it; end after directing en
officer to communicate with the Commissioners of Sewers

on the 'eject, observed that London Bridge was also in
a very dangerous state for the want of a little gravel. Ha
thought that fresh gravel ought to be regularly laid down
every morning.
WORSHIP-STREET. _ .

James Whitcombe, • chair carver, was charged with •
series of aggravated assaults.
The first complainant, • respectable married woman,
named Elisabeth Dimling, upwards of 70 years of age,
stated that while passing through Holton Old Town, about
10 o'clock on Saturday night, the prisoner, whom she had
never before seen, suddenly advanced towards her, and
without uttering a word, grasped hold of her leis, and
threw her down headforemost on the pavement. She was
completely stunned by the violence of the fall, sad the
blood streamed down her face from a severe wound above
her forehead, which came in contact with the edge et the
kerb. She was raised from the ground by some of the
bystanders, who conveyed her home, where she was at-
tended by a surgeon, who dressed her wound, but she had
been ever since suffering from excessive pain and exhaus-
tion from the effects of the injuries abs had received.
William Mann, a greengrocer, pursued the prisoner, who
had run away after committing the outrage. When he
caught him, the prisoner declared with an oath that he
would serve him in a similar manner, and instantly struck
him • violent blow in the face, which knocked him down,
and blackened his eye. The prisoner then resumed his
flight, but was intercepted by several persons, who de-
tained him until the arrival of • policeman.
Police-constable Cox, N 60, stated that, on taking him
into custody, the prisoner commenced a desperate resist-
ance, in the course of which he knocked him down and
struck him repeatedly about the face; bat, after a pre-
treated struggle, he was ultimately overpowered and lodged
in the station-house.

The prisoner carelessly remarked that he had been drink-
ing freely at the time, and had no recollection of anything
that occurred.

Mr. D'Eyncourt severely animadverted upon the gross
brutality of the prisoner, and ordered him to be committed
and kept to hard labour for four months for assaulting the
first complainant. Ho was also ordered to pay a penalty of
51., or two months' imprisonment, for the second assault ;
sad to be Imprisoned for the further term of one month for
resitting the officer.
WESTMINSTER.

William Mitchel, ITaely;liataiMeker in Elizabeth-
street, Pimlico, was charged with unlawfully detaining a
flambee of clocks and watches which had been entrusted to
him to repair.
A short time ago the pristine, was charged at this court
under precisely similar circumstances, and the magistrate,
after administering to him a severe reprimand, made an
order for the restoration of the property, with suitable
costa. Since then a great number of summonses had been
taken out against him. but in consequence of his neglecting
to appear, a warrant was attest issued, ander which he had
been apprehended.
Colonel Palmer proved that be had sent a valuable clock
to the defendant in October last, but that the defendant
bad n sent it home.

Defendant said that it had been seised for the rent of his
premises, but it was quite safe.
Yr. Arnold inquired where it was ?
Defendant said his apprentice's mother had got it in her
possession.
Yr. Arnold asked bow it was that it bad not been re-
turned to Col. Palmer ?

Defendant replied that it would have been returned, but
he bad not known till two or three days before the seizure
that he was to do some little repairs to the door.
Colonel Palmer declared that the assertion was untrue.
He knew the door was to be repaired directly after the
sleek was sent to him, and said it would only take an hour
is do.

Toe landlord of the premises, who wan present, said
that the defendant, who had now abandoned them, had
literally stripped them of gas-fittings and other fiztures,
end had left the gas turned oa to the imminent danger of
the other occupants of the house. He believed that when
the seizure was made in defendant's shop for rent, some
clocks were taken by the broker, but he could not say whe-
ther Col. Palmer's wee amongst them. Defendant denied
that he bad taken away the fares.
Mr. Arnold would adjourn the ease until Wednesday, in
order to procure the required evidence. He should have
thought that the defendant must have been aware that pro-
perty of that dessription given him to repair could not be
distanned upon by the landlord for rent.
Mr. Charles Pisani mut complained that the defendant
had kept a gold watch with which he had entrusted him.

DefeiteltUr said the watch was not with him at present.
Holloway then produced twenty-two duplicates which he
had found upon the prisoner when he apprehended him.
Mr. Arnold would adjourn this case also, in order that
the officer might ascertain if any of the duplicates related
to Mr. Pignett"s watch.
Flee other oases were slso remanded ; and Mr. Arnold
offered to take good bail, but it was not forthcoming.
James Shannon ant Patrick lfassigan, two Irish la-
bourers, were charged with cutrageous conduct.
ffelward Cook, a poor man, whom, face was (rightly die-
red, stated that he was a timekeeper to omnibuses at
Mr. Clark's, the Three Compasses, Pimlico. On Saturday
night Shannon had been turned out of the house, when
witness was desired by his employer, Mr. Clark, to see
that he did not re-enter it. Witness took his station inside
the door, and endeavoured to persuade him to go away ;
but he tyfused, and declared with an oath that nobody
should keep him out. Shannon thee flew at him in front,
while some °then held him back, and then surrounding
him, all fell upon him, sad beat him severely. Hannigan
was amongst these who assaulted him in the most brutal
manner.

11;:Ulark, two of the waiten, and a gentleman at the
bar, were also much Mused.
The defendants said it was the tint time they bad so
offended. _ _ _ _

_Mr. Arnold fined Shannon 51. for the assault on Cook, or
two months' imprisonment, and a further sum of 61., or a
like period, for his assault on Mr. Clark, the latter impri-
sonment to commence at the aspiration of the former.
Manoigan he ordered. to pay 61., or to be imprisoned for
two months.

LAMBETH.
Emma Barium, a prostitute, was charged with being con-
cerned with another female ia robbing Mr. Michael Mau-
-1 Wits, • Spanish gentleman, of two valuable rings and
upwards of 401. in cash.
From the evidence of the prosecutor, it appeared tkat on
Saturday last he was induced to accompany a female to a
brothel in St. Andrew's-terrace, Waterlso•road, and while
there hie companion managed to give him the slip, taking
with her his ring sad Dash, and leaving behind her her
bonnet and shawl. The prison. r, who lived in the house,
acted in such a manner as to leave very little doubt of her
participation in the robbery, and sho was remanded.
James Mahoney, a working man, inquiredof Mr. Norton
whether he could not, in the event of the proved adultery
of his wife, marry again without a regular divorce, which
was placed by it. expensiveness completely out of his reach ?
From a written statement which he read, it appeared that
having reason to suspect his wife of infidelity, he bad
watched her into the Victoria Tavern, Waterloo-road. He
had then prooared the assistance of the police, and found
her in bed with a middle-aged man.
Mr. Norton said the applisant would not be justified in
getting married so long as his wife, bed as she was, was
living. The day, however, might come when the law
would be altered to &WWI& a cam as his.

ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION OP SALMON ON ?MR
TAT.—The ponds for this purpose are situated on the river
bank near Storemountfield, the spawning boxes being 18
feet above the summer level of the river. The water which
supplies the ponds is taken from thortmountfield lade (but
owing to the impurity of the Tay during spates, a supply is
also to be taken from • neighbouring spring), by a pips with
• valve into a filtering pond; from thence it Is earned by •
canal along the upper end of the spawning boxes, through
which it runs. These boxes are 84 fest long by one foot six
inches broad, and three feet deep. They are placed with
• fall of six inches, so as to allow the water to flow freely
through them, and are partly filled—first with • layer of
fine gravel, next coarser, and lastly with stones somewhat
coarser than road metal. In distributing the ova, it is
gradually poured out of the vessel which holds it, at the
upper end of the box. The water flowing downwards
carries it amongst the stones, under which it settles down,
and by gently applying a few buckets of water at the upper
end of the boxes the ova is taken down and distributed
equally amongst the gravel. When the young fry are
in a proper state they' are allowed to escape into a pond
situated at a foot lower level than the boxes, where the
will be fed and allowed to remain until such
time as they are in • fit state to be turned into
the river. This pond is not yet made, but will be
finished by the time the fry are hatched. Great
are has been taken to prevent any animal entering with
the water that would prey upon the young fish. Mr.
Ramsbottom, from Clitberoe (who has experimented suc-
cessfully for the Messrs. Ashworth en the Lough Corey
waten, in Ireland), has the sole management of the Tay
ponds. Saturday was a remarkably fine day for the semen,
and we were privileged in being preseet at the operation
of stripping the fish. When we left the river side upwards
of 400.000 ova in fine condition had been obtained. In the
month of March the fry will have horst their shell, when
we hope to report furtber.—North British Marl
NOVEL FRAUD.—Several barges have been em-
ployed for a long time past at Keyham in removing the
mud and rubble from the basins beyond the breakwater, at
per too. A white line drawn round the vessel denoted the
quantity in tons on board when measured from the water's
edge. A warrant officer having to perform the duty on one
of the barges of sounding the well and taking the quantities,
it appears, after the well had been souaded and found cm-
rem, a valve was opened in the bottom of the veseel, and
sufficient water was let in to defraud the government to the
extent of 51. or 81. • day ; and so cleverly had the trick I
bees managed that it was only through the Information of
an accomplice that it was discovered. We hear that direc-
tions have been OM by the gOVerilllillt for proea.dito
be takes spina the dettseden.—Plyieouth Mg