The Express.
London, England, 1847-11-02 00:00:00

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

OLD COURT.—Before the Common Serjeant.
THILOWINO STONES ON A RAILWAY.—W. ASACTO/2, 39,
was indicted for a misdemeanor, in having unlawfully and
maliciously cast a number of stones upon the line of the
Eastern Counties Railway, with intent to obstruct the pas-
sage of a certain engine and train.—On Monday last a gen-
tleman named Johnson, who was angling in the river Lea,
near the railway, observed the defendant go upon the line,
and he heard the sound of something like stones striking
upon the railway, but he took no particular notice of the
proceeding at first, supposing the defendant might be en-
gaged upon the line by the company. In • short time the
defendant went up to hint, and witness asked him if he had
been clearing the line ? To which he replied in the
negative ; and while they were conversing • down-
train cams along the line; and, upon Mr. Johnson
making a remark to that effect, the prisoner looked much
confused, and walked away. The train came up at the rate
of twenty miles an hour, and the engine-driver gave a signal
of dre;zer, the guards put on the brakes, and the train was
stofortunately
, without any injury being occasioned,
an it was found that a number of large heavy stones, some
of them weighing as much as fifty pounds, had been placed
upon the rad., and the engine had gone over several of
them, and crushed them ; the life.guards had crushed several
others eff the rails. A number of the same description of
stones had also been placed upon the up line, en up train
being expected almost immediately. The prisoner
endeavoured to make his escape, but was pursued
by the guards of the train, and taken into cus-
tody, and when before the magistrate he admitted
that he had placed the stones upon the rail, but said he
mold not tell what induced him to do it, but that he had no
motive or intention to injure any one.—Mr. Miller addreesed
the jury for the prisoner, and called several respectable
witnesses, who gave him • very excellent character, and it
also appeared that he had a wife and six children.—The jury
having been in deliberation for some time, the Common Ser.
Jeatit inquired whether they wished to retire ?—The Foreman
replied that there was no difficulty as to their verdict, they
were only considering whether they ought to recommend
the prisoner to mercy.—The Common Serjeant said he
thought it right to inform them that if they
both himself and the alderman who eat by him
(Alderman Musgrove) were of opinion that the case
was of such a nature that it could not be attended to.
The jury then Taunted a verdict of Guilty.—The Common
Serjeant, in pasting sentence, said that the consequences
which might have arisen from the act of the prisoner were
of so awful a character that he had felt himself compelled,
ha believed for the first time, to state that, if the jury had
recommended him to mercy,
,he could not pay any attention
to the recommendation. Although therefore, he regretted

to have to peas a severe sentence upon a man who, it ap-
Mahad hitherto borne an excellent character, and who
urge
l'arge family dependent upon him, yet they must not
forget that the court eat there for the purpose of protecting
the livis of the public. The prisoner had risked the lives of
probably more than two hundred persons, and he considered
the court would be neglecting its duty if it did not pass the
extreme sentence fixed by the statute for an offence of such
a description, which was, that he be imprisoned and kept to
hard labour for two years.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.
Sabre Mr. SerMurat Adam.
This was an appeal day. There were 51 cues entered for
hearing.
TR/SCARE OP THE SHAM CLERK TO A BARRISTBFL—Mrs.
Denny, whose case was reported in our paper of Friday last,
as having been defrauded by a sham clerk to a barrister,
called the attention of the assistant judge to an interview
which she had had with Mr. Harry, the gentleman whom
Flanagan had promised to retain for her son when she paid
him the money, and that gentleman had distinctly denied
that the man Flanagan was his clerk.—Mr. Serjeant Adams
said that he had received two letters, one from Mr. Hurry
and one from Flanagan. The former was perfectly retisfac•
tory, and explained the matter as far as Mr. Horry was
concerned. In the latter, Flanagan entirely exculpated
Mr. lorry from all blame, and said that he was not clerk to
Mr. lorry, and that he had not told Mn. Denny he was.—
Mrs. Denny wished to know how she was to act to regain
her money.—Mr. Serjeant Adams said that was not a court
that could afford her redress. The only course for her to
take was to summon Flanagan to a county court.