The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-09 00:00:00

(Before Mr. Justice Blackburn.)

.SVepheis Samuel Wake, a respectable-looking man, sur-
rendered to take his trial upon a charge of having
feloniously and unlawfully set fire to his dwelling-house
with intent to injure and also with intent to defraud the
Western Insurance Company.
A great many witnesses were examined on behalf of the
prisoner. The effect of the testimony given by them ap-
peared to be, that on the night of the lire the prisoner and
his wife were observed standing upon a wall at the back of
the home in their night dress, and the latter shrieking for
help, and it was represented that they escaped by means
of a ladder which was placed against the wall by some of
the persons who were present. It appeared, however, in
crofts-examination, that although the prisoner's wife was
undressed, she appeared to have all her clothes close by,
as her gown and under garments were all thrown down
before she herself descended the ladder. Evidence was
also given that there was a great stock of property in the
shop immediately before the fins, and that a portion of it
consisted of clocks, watches, and jewellery, and, as one of
the witnesses said, " the shop could not be no fuller " than
it was two or three dap before the fire. Evidence was
also given that in September, DM, a pawnbroker and
silversmith at Plymouth had supplied the prisoner with
geode to the amount of 350 f., and that he paid him for
the whole of these goods except one small paroeL . The
witness who was called to prove this fact stated,
however, in cross-examination, that he had, on a
former occasion, supplied a large quantity of
goods when he kept a shop at Poplar, and that a fire took
place almost immediately afterwards, and the whole of
those goods were destroyed, and he was paid for theta by
the insurance office. It was also proved that during the
month of September a considerable quantity of oilcloth
and painted table covers were supplied to the prisoner. In
addition to the evidence as to the purchase of the articles
above mentioned, it was proved that during the game
month a jeweller in Clerkenweil supplied the prisoner
with articles of jewellery to the amount of nearly 100 f.
Some of the witnesses who were examined on behalf of the
prisoner did not appear to answer the questions that were
lint to them in a very satisfactory manner, and it was
elicited from one of them that be bad heard that, in addi-
tion to the fire at present under inquiry, and the one that
took place at Poplar, a third fire took place at a house iu
which he resided at Stepney.
. . . .

At this stage of the wee the trial was adjourned, and
the jury, as is usual in cases of felony, were taken to the
London Coffee-house in charge of the of of the court.

(Before the Common Serjeant.)

Darid Mad, a stalwart fellow, 34 years of age, was
indicted for being oonccnied, with two others not in
custody, in • robbery with violence on John Selwyn, on
April 2.4.lfiat. . . . . . .

.111 r. Lilley conducted the prosecution, end the testimony
of the prosecutor, a small tiehmonger, living in Pleasant-
place, Gray's-inn-ro.td, corroborated by Police Sergeant
Swinbone, 19, fully established the case against the
prisoner.
The prisoner declared that he was wholly innocent of
the charge against him, and declared that be was well
known to the whole of the City police, and he defied them
to prove that he had ever put his hand into the locket of
any man, woman, or child that ever was born.
The jury, after a brief deliberation, returned a verdict of

- M. Lille', as counsel for the prosecution, said he had
to inform the court that the prisoner had stated truly that
be was well known to the City police, and to prove his
truthfulness in that respect he (Mr. Lilley) would call one
of the chief and most intelligent officers of that body—
he meant Chief Warder George Agar, of Holloway prison.
Mr. Agar was sworn, and proved that he had known the
prisoner since the year 114-a up to the present time, and
that during that period be had been convicted no less than
54 times. These convictions included four terms for being
found in dwelling-Louses with intent to commit a felony,
four terms for being in unlawful possession of stolen goods,
twice for wilful damage, 19 times for assaults upon the
police, twice for an indecency, and 21 times fur being
drunk and riotous.

The Common Serjeant said it would he useless to offer
any counsel to such a man, who seemed to luxuriate in a
residence in prison. The sentence wee that he be kept in
penal servitude for the term of ten years.
The prisoner. who violently I leclared he was the victim
of police persecution. was then removed.

SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO A PASSENGER TRAIN.
On Tuesday afternoon an accident of • serious character,
but fortunately unattended by loss of life, happened on
the Severn Valley Railway, between Shrewsbury and
Worcester. The ordinary train left the latter town on
the down journey shortly after two o'clock, and when
nearing Bridgnorth, the engine suddenly left the line,
dragging with it the two leading carriages. After travel-
ling for about one hundred yards, tearing up the
rails for that distance, the engine fell over on its side, and
so came to • standstilL The two leading carriages also
fell over, but the rest of the train, consisting of two car-
riages and the guard's van, kept the rails. It fortunately
happened that the great bulk of the passengers had seated
themselves in the last two carriages, only four being in those
which were overturned, and of these only one, • lady from
llroseley, received any injury more serious than a severe
shaking and a few scratches. The driver of the engine
escaped unhurt, having succeeded in gaining the upper
side of the engine before it fell over ; but the stoker,
over whom the engine fell, received some injury to his
beck. The comparatively slight injury resulting from the
accident may be attributed to the fact that the train
having just left a station was travelling very slowly. It is
suppoeed that the accident arose from the loose state of
the rails, which were in process of "lifting" at the time
when the train passed over the section. The Severn
Valley Railway is a single line, and is worked by the
Great Western Company.
ROY AL ORTHONEDIC HOSPITAL —The anniver-
sary of this excellent charity, which has been established
for the medal treatment of clubfoot, spinal, and other
deformities, was kept yesterday at the Albion Hotel,
Aldersgate-street. The report presented to the patrons of
the institution was of a very gratifying character. The
opening of • new ward for the accommodation of fifty new
patients has led to a considerable increase of expenditure.
On the other hand, the income for the year has also been
exceptionally augmented—by another munificent gift of
500 f, from the Marquis of Wes maister. The receipts
likewise have included a sum of 2-501. contributed by Mr.
Layton, of Suffolk -lane, from funds placed at his disposal
for charitable purposes, and 306/. 17a Sd. legacy and in-
terest under the will of the late Mrs. Morgan, of Chelten-
ham. Hence the income has been more than adequate to
meet the expenses of the year ; the income having been
3,05 W. Is. tid., end the expenses 2,87 M. 19a. sd. The
number of patients admitted during the past year has been
2,1441, being 102 more titan during the preceding year, and
increasing the total number admitted since the opening of
the hospital to 39,014. There are still, however, ninety-
eight applicants waiting their tens for admission as in-
patients, who cannot be successfully treated unless they
ere received into the wards.

SHIPWRECKED FISHERMEN ANTI MARINERS'
ROYAL Bmitivoi.mcr Socierv.—The twenty•eighth annual
meeting of this institution, established under the autho-
rity of the legislature to represent the charity of the
British public to shipwrecked sailors of all tins mist
upon the coasts of the United Kingdom, wu held atWillis's
Rooms yesterday; Admiral the an
of Shrewsbury and
i Talbot, n the unavoidable abler°, of his Grace the Duke
of Marlborough, president of the society, in the chair.
THE BOMBAY (11F.AVY)IPLAILS.—GIBRALTAR, MAY
7.—The Ceylon leaves at 7 p.m. for Southampton, where
she may be expected on the 12th inst.

HEALTH RESTORED BY Du BAHRY's FOOD TO THE
HimLim nerves, lungs, and liver of old and young, curing
dyspepidis (indigestion', constipation, Mantua, acidity, head-
ache, hysteria, palpitation, eleeplemueot, dehility
waiting, co , asthma, fevers, consumption, low spirits, 00,000
annual curs% which had resisted all medicines, including that
of his Holiness the Pope.—Tnta, at 12.1 d. ; lib : 121 K,
225.. gab., 401.—Itu Barry and Co., 77, t-street, London;
also at Fortnum and Mason's; and at 61, racoehurch•stroet
4, Cheapaide 83 and 150. Oxfordatrut ; sad all grocers and
chemota—(Adverillaseat.