The Express.
London, England, 1851-10-22 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.-YESTERDAY.

Baron N. 8111111141 IT ADAMS, APAISTANT !yeas.
Joseoh IVillis Ford, 38, was indicted for unlawfully
assaulting four little girls, under the age of ten years, with
intent, dtc.
Mr. !'arty prosecuted for the Associate Institution for
enforcing and improving the laws for the protection of
women, and Mr. Cockle appeared for the prisoner.
There were four separate indictments against the prisoner,
on one of which only he was tried ; and the evidence given in
supportthereof cannot, of course, be given in detail.
Ihe defence was that the evidence did not bring home
guilt to the prisoner, and that he was a person of weak in-
tellect; and a witness was called who stated that the
prisoner was an inmate of a private lunatic asylum for six
years, from 1834 to 1841.
The jury found him Guilty, and the court did not pro-
ceed with the other casts.
. .

"1 'he learned judge mid he was satisfied with the verdict,
but:at the same time he was also satisfied that the prisoner
was a person of weak intellect, but not to such an extent as'
rendered him irresponsible for his ncts. Ile thought the
prisoner's friends ought to adopt means to have hint taken
care of when he came out of prison, in order that he might
nut be guilty of such offences again. This was a very
serious crime, but under the circumstances of the present
case the sentence was that the prisoner be imprisoned and
kept to hard labour for nine calendar months.
THE CASE OF DEODALE, OF lIOLIWELL-STREET.
In the case of this defendant, who was sentenced to two
years' imprisonment, for having in his possession, with
intent to sell, obscene prints and publications, it was sub-
mitted on his behalf that no offence was stated on the face
of the indictment, and the court took time to consider
whether it would grant a case on the point for the decision
of the Court of Appeal.
The learned Judge now said that he bad well considered
the matter, and his opinion was that the indictment was
sufficient. lie should therefore leave the defendant to his
writ of error, if his advisers thought it desirable that he
should avail himself of it.

THE POLICE COURTS.
MARLBOROUGH STREET.
Thomas Robert Mellish, manager, and James Douglas,
clerk, in the employ of the Patent Silvering Glass Com-
pany, Berners-street, Oxford-street, were brought up for
further examination, charged with haring fraudulently em-
' berried upwards of 3,0001., the property of the company.
Mr. Ihdlantyne and Mr. Wakcling were for the prosecu-
tion, Mr. Lewis for the prisoners.
The evidence in support of the charge was developed at
several examinations, but from its extreme length and ob-
scurity, the charge was not very strongly made out. The
evidence was mainly directed to prove that for a length of
time the prisoner Mellish, in conjunction with Douglas, hail
committee frauds on the company by ming the workmen
one amount of wages, and charging another amount to the
company, by paying the tradesmen's bills, sod by charging
higher amounts to the company by the aid of duplicate bills.
Mr. Frederick Hall Thompson said ho was by profession
a surgeon, but carried on the glass-silvering business in
Berners-street, in partnership with Mr. Varnish and others.
In the autumn of 1849 the prisoner Mellish was engaged to
manage the glass department. The prisoner before being
engaged, stipulated to have the engaging of all the work-
men—that they should be under his controul, and that he
should not be unnecessarily interfered with in his depart-
ment. The pay of the prisoner was to be six guineu
a-week. Before this engagement had taken place, witaess
entered into partnership with Mr. Varnish. About five
scathe afterwards the prisoner Douglas was engaged as
datitttlo mkt the prisoner Mellish. The wages were to be
bee 25e. to SOL per week. In consequence of the large sums
in the shape of wages and tradesmen's bills, be told
Mellish the company appeared to be led into great expenses
without any visible return. The prisoner Mellish always
answered when so accosted, have patience. Had never
beard of double bills from the tradesmen.
Cross-examined—Mellish had the hiring of the workmen.
The wages book was usually on Mellish's desk. Had fre•
%neatly seen Mellish with pencil in hand examining the
wages book. At the end of the week Mellish and Douglas
seat the wages book to the chief clerk, Dean. Hellish knew
the exact amount of the wages bills.
Creasexamincd—Prosecutor purchased the silvering
went. Mellish had also a patent, but not of the same
inscription. Did not recollect there being an agreement of
partnership with Mellish. Did not destroy a partnership
agreement with Mellish. Some premises were opened is
Regent-street in the name of Mrs. Hellish, and goods were
invoiced by the company to Mrs. Mellish. The premises
were given up, but he had a doubt whether the goods were
returned. After the discovery was made that tread had
been committed, the books were examined, and MM. was
the amount up to the present time presumed to betleileient.
Mellish had declared that he could prove either night or
day—they were his words—that the accounts were correct,
and that vouchers could be produced. It had been disco-
vered that as much as 100 per cent. had been repeatedly
overcharged on the workmen's wages.
Mr. Edward Varnish, Hyde Park-gardens Villas, is
partnership with Mr. Thompson and others, was present
when Mellish was engaged, and heard him stipulate to bays
the control and engagement of the workmen. Had fre-
quently seen Mellish with the wages book charldag the
amounts. The book was usually kept at his disk. The
prisoner Douglas was engaged as clerk on Wilier/ SOCOM-
amendation.
John Ley, glass engraver, 43, Stanhope-street, had been
splayed by Mellish to do work for Varnish and Co. Sent
la • NI to Varnish and Co. for 145.; was paid the amount
by Mellish, and was told to make out a second bill. Did so,
and receipted it at MelliXh's request. That bill had hen
altered from Its. to 1/. 14s. Ha given duplicaN heft hir
work done on more than twenty occasions.
Benjamin Dean, chief clerk, proved that the bill for
it. 14s. in the book was entered in Douglas's handwriting.
The prisoner Mellish must have seen the book, as the gists
department was under his control.
Harris, glass-stainer, had done work for the firm.
!ha MU ea one occasion came to 14s. Douglas told him to
Mint eat a duplicate bill. Did so, and the duplicate bill
had alum been altered to 31.141. Id.
William Benson had sent in various bills to the company
he work done. One bill for Bs. had been altered to 21.85.
oreleer for 10s. to 21. 10s. ; another for Be. to 21. 18e.; and
osifibme for 10s. to 41. 10s. Whams, at the request of the
Flaw, usually reeelpeed two Who
The One was the sabeensee of the evidence placed on
the ilepselticce. The Owl embesieetent was found out
bean mostakatml way i—The bask la which the payments
VIM alma was lying spas gad 41•111 of the paws who
huh beta as a Uwe ononart oatmeal to Ws than
lie mates obooorloass mai ea rood-
Oa son Most