The Express.
London, England, 1866-06-11 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

(THIS DAY.)

EQUITY COURT.
(Before the Master of the Rolls.)
SRI GINZJIAL LICLIANOM BAIL
Et • lordship this morning gave judgment on the petl-
tkia in this matter. He thought the debt stated in the
petition was bona Me disputed by the bank, and that the
boner had notice of the debt -being so disputed before
• the petztion. It was not the meaning of the Com.
Act, 1862, that a winding-up order should be
made when there was a bona fide dispute, and so the
petition must be dismissed with carts.
As to the motion reported the other day, he thought the
undertaking not to re-umert the advertisement complained
of, or any of a similar character, should be continued, and
he ordered Mr. Roebuck and his co-directors to pay the
meta of such motion.
Mr. Jesael, Q.C., and Mr. Higgins were for the peti-
tioners ; and Mr. Selwyn, Q.C., and Mr. Roxburgh for the
company. Mr. Cottrell was also in the case.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

(THIS DAY.)

The sittings for the jurisdiction of the Central Criminal
Court were renamed this morning before the Lord Mayor,
She Recorder, Alderman Sir J. Duke, Alderman Sir F. G.
Moon, Alderman Sir R. Carden, and Alderman Dahin, the
Sheriffs, Under-Sheriffs, &c.
The first edition of the calendar contains the names of
103 prisoners— 86 males and 17 females. The offences are
thus classified :—Murder, 7 ; abduction, 2 ; burglary, 16 ;
bigamy, 2 ; uttering counterfeit coin, 12 ; embezzlement,
4 ; feloniously demanding money with menaces, 1; forgery,
4 ; horse 'tailing, I ; larceny, 6 ; larceny by servant., 9 ;
larceny from the person, 2 ; letter stealing, 1,• libel, I ;
manslaughter, 4 ; misdemeanour. 6; receiving stolen goods,
1 ; robbery, 18 ; warehousebreaking and larceny, 2 ; and
feloniously wounding with intent to murder, 8.
The Recorder, in his charge to the grand jury, expressed
his regret that the calendar was not only unusually heavy
with regard to the number but also unusual as regarded
the character and nature of the offences with which the
prisoners were charged. The first case to which he would
tall the attention of the grand jury was that of William
Smith, who was charged with the offence of the
wilful murder of a female who bad lived as house-
keeper in the service of Masers. Bevington, in Cannon-
street, City, on the night of the 11th of April last.
After recapitulating the circumstances of the mur-
der, which are already well known, the learned Recorder
observed that to connect the prisoner with the offence
the evidence which would be submitted to them would
be directed to these points :—lt seems that after the
murder had been committed there had been found
in a box belonging to the deceased a letter, which
had been ascertained to be in the handwriting of the pri-
soner, demanding money from the deceased Mrs. Milson in
payment of a loan which had been advanced to her by a
person named Terry, who would be cited as a witness, and
who would prove that he saw the prisoner go to the house
of Messrs. Bevington and deliver the letter. After thisthe
prisoner joined Terry, who inquired what amount of
money he had received, when the prisoner handed him 12s.
or 14a., of which Terry returned him sa. for his trouble,
but it had since been ascertained that the prisoner had
on that occasion received 21. or 2L 10a. • The next piece
of evidence would be that of a person who would prove
that on the 11th of April he saw the prisoner at Eton, who
told him he was going to London and back that night, and
that he could not stay to play a game of dominoes with
him. It would also be proved that the prisoner was seen
proceeding from Eton to the Slough Station in time to
catch the train which reached London about 8 o'clock
p.m., and other evidence would show that on the same
night the prisoner was seen about 12 o'clock returning
from the Windsor station in the direction of Eton, so that it

seemed that the prisoner had probablytravelled tlie distance
he had stated. The next piece of evidence was that of a
female living in service a few doors from the houseof Messrs.
Bevington, and who would prove that as she was ringing
for admission into her master's house she had her atten-
tion attracted by the violent slamming of the front door
of Messrs. Bevington's at ten minutes after 10 on the
night of the murder. Thus attracted she saw a man leave
Messrs. Bevington's premises and ran away at a rapid
pea, a circumstance which the witness mentioned to her
fellow-servant on being admitted by her. This witness on
a subsequent day picked out from a body of twenty men
assembled at the police-station the prisoner as the man
she had seen leave the premises of Messrs. Bevington on
the night in question. If the grand jury entertained any
doubt on the evidence it would be better for them to throw
out the bill, the more particularly as the prisoner could be
again brought to trial if additional evidence should at any
future time be discovered against him, which could not be
the case if he were tried and acquitted on the charge as it
stood, for no man can be put twice in jeopardy on the
same charge. The learned recorder then adverted to the
case of Hopkins, charged with the Edmonton murder. It
seemed that the offence, which the prisoner admitted, had
been caused by jealousy, and therefore the grand jury
would have no difficulty in returning a true bill There
were two females named Pratt and Bennett, who were
severally charged with child murder, and here the ques-
tion in each case would be whether the children had been
born alive, and whether their death had been caused by
violence. After strongly directing attention to the cases
of manslaughter which arose from careless driving in the
streets of the metropolis, the learned Recorder remitted
the grand jury to the commencement of their labours.

THE POLICE COURTS.
(THIS DAY.)

CLERKENWELL.
RHOCKING AFFRAY IN RONERS-TOMIN.
Robert Williams, a strong, powerfully built young fellow,
who gave his address Mansfield-place, Kentish-town, and
described himself as a brewer, was charged on remand with
committing an assault on Mrs. Maria Parker, with intent
to do her some grievous bodily harm, and further with
oommittiug a rape on her at Brill-row, Somers-town.
Mr. Shaen prosecuted on behalf of the Associate Insti-
tute for Improving and Enforcing the Laws for the Pro-
tection of Women. _ _ _

The proeacutrix, who still appeared ill and weak from
the effects of the outrage, was allowed to be seated whilst
giving her evidence. She said —My name is Maria Parker,
wife of William Parker, bricklayer, of 13, Chapel-grove,
Brill-row, St. Pancras. On Friday, the 25th of May, I
had been out washing all day, and returned home about
half-past 10. My husband was from home, and I went out
and called on a friend in Brill-row. I started to come
home at a little before 1, and was sober. Chapel-grove is
tinder an archway, and I had to turn down there to go
home. There were four cr five men, but I cannot say
exactly bow many. As I passed them I received a severe
blow on the back of my head, and was knocked down. My
head bled very much, and I lost my senses. When I came
to my senses I was at home, but I do not recollect walking
home. Ido not know the prisoner, nor do I know that
he did anything to me. I was unconscious that anything
was done to me except being hit in the back of the head.
I am the mother of nine children.

ha
WO
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wig
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The prisoner—I am sorry that she was served like that,
but I was not there at the time.
William Smith, a grocer's assistant, said—About a
quarter past I on the morning in question I was standing
opposite to Chapel-grove, when I saw the prisoner and
four or five others, three holding down the complainant.
They had connexion with her. She screamed, but they
held their han Is over her mouth to prevent her screams
from being heard. I judged she had been thinking be-
cause she appeared not to walk straight when she was got
up. She was bleeding very profusely from the back of the
head when the police came up. The other men, whom
I should not know, ran off when they saw the policeman
approaching.
By Mr. D'Eyncourt—l swear I saw the man get on the
woman. The prisoner was caught in the very act. I
saw him holding his hand over her mouth previons to
that. She was screaming violently, but her screams were
smothered.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—This evidence shows that she
screamed. If she screamed her story could not be true,
for she stated that she was unconscious.
After sonic discussion, in which Mr. Shaen said that he
attended on the husband's behalf to prosecute, and sug-
gested that the prosecutrix might have screamed, although
unconscious,
Police-constable Brazier, 324 Y, said he went to the spot
in question, and found the prisoner on top of her. She
was insensible. The prisoners clothes were disarranged.
Ile was in the act of committing the offence charged, when
he pulled him from the complainant.
Mr. D'Eyncourt —The charge must be made by 'some
one. The complainant has heard what was done to her,
and she knows all about it. If that offence waa com-
mitted against her will, that would be rape. Do you
charge that man with any offence?
The complainant-- i don't know who did it.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Was this done against your will
The complainant—yes.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Do you wish to charge this man with
committing this offence upon you ?
The complainant—l do not recollect what was done.
Mr. D'Evncourt—Just attend to me. A person robs a
house whilst the owner is asleep, and the constable says he
saw a Mall leaving the house with the property in his pos-
session. Although the owner did not see the thief steal
the thing'', yet he charges him. If you are satisfied that a
particular man committed an offence then you can charge
him although you did not see him.
The complainant--Then I will charge the prisoner.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—That is the first time you have charged
IlulL Do you wish this gentleman (Mr. MOOD) to appear
me you?
The complainant—Yes.
Mr. Edwin Burnell Mesita], surgeon, said—l was sent by
the police to the complainant's house to see her. She had
a wound in the back of her head about three-quarters of an
inch in length. She was in a very low state and appeared
' Übe suffering from concussion of the brain., Some of the
appearances might have been produced by drink. I have
been attending her ever since.

TEM

The witness Smith said, In answer to the court, that the
complainant was sereeming violently, except when she was
left to herself.
Mr. D'Eynoourt—Why did you not interfere to prevent
such a gross outrage ?
Witness—Because I was afraid of the Ave men. The
complainant seemed quite unable to get up.
The prisoner said be should reserve his defence.
Mr. D'Eynoourt committed the prisoner to Newgate for
trial, and refused to accept baiL
WRSTMINSTER. ,

AAveryrespectable ;an , living at Chelsea, asked the I
magistrate if he would be good enough to tell him what he
had better do with his wife, who was receiving the visits
of a soldier of the Grenadier C tards.
Applicant produced two letters of an amatory cha-
racter, which he requested the magistrate would read.
Mr. Sidle having done so inquired where he got them
from.
Applicant replied that be took them from the postman
on Saturday, who just came to the door at the moment he
was going out.
Mr. Selfe—How long have you been married !
Applicant—Eleven years.
Mr. Selfe—Have you any family ?
Applicant—We hadn't until after this soldier had been
in the habit for some time ago of coming backwards and
forwards to my house.
Mr. Self e—Have you ever said anything to your wife
about this ?
Applicant—Yes, several times ; but she denied it, and
said, I wasn't to think anT more of it, it was all nonsense.
Mr. Selfe—Have you said anything to the soldier'
Applicant—l strongly suspected him. I spoke to him
about it, but he said the same as my wife, that it was all
moonshine. I was, however, not satisfied, and that made
me look at the letters. What can Ido with my wife ?
Mr. Selfe—lt is a delicate thing to advise in such
matters, but you will be perfectly justified in turning her
out of doors after these letters.
Applicant—l had better get rid of her as soon es I can.

EXPRESS, MONDAY' '

SHARE LISTS.-(THIS DAY.)

Oars O'CLOCK.
The railway market is •inactive to-day, and
the principal stocks are unchanged, with the ex-
ception of a rise off per cent. in Metropolitan.
London and North-Western stock is quoted
117 f to 1184 ; Metropolitan, 127 to 128 ; Great
Western, 53. to ; Midland , I; Lan-
(=hire and Yorkshire, 1211 to I ; uth-Rastern,
701 to I; Great Northern, 122 to 123 ;
ditto A, 132 to 133 ; Caledonian, 124 to 1264 ;
Great Eastern, 38 to ; and London, Chatham,
and Dover, 24 to 26i.

Sh. I Pd.