The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-03 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

(THIS DAY.)

GUILDHALL.
ACCIDENTAL DEATH IN SMITHFIELD MARKET,
Edwin Robinson, a butcher, carrying on business it re>,
Bath-street, City-road, surrendered In discharge of his
bail, before Sir Robert W. Carden, to answer say charge
that might be preferred easiest him for having killed •
little boy, 8 years of age.
The defendant, it appeared, was driving at a very slow
Dace through Smithfield-market, when the boy ran from
behind • hay car; to cross the road. He would have erased
safely, but unfortunately be slipped and fell just in frock
of the defendant's hone, and in trying to scramble away
from the horse's feet he got in front of the wheel of the
cart, and it went over his herd. 'llse poor little fellow lie.
gored WI evening, and than died.
The officer informed Sir Reber t that en inquest bad been
held on the body, and a verdict of " accidental death" had
been returned.

Sir Bobo I W. Carden said It was a melancholy cue, and
no doubt the defendant felt it as much as anybody. Re
was glad to hear the defendant was going at a slow pace,
BO that a jut/ was able to say it was no fault of his. He
then discharged the defendant, who left the court with
his friends.
BOW SIRE*.

Richard Orepory wiabi.;aiit up on remand on the
charge of unlawfully pledging some plate, the property of
hie landlady, for further examination.

Mr. Vauiian—Have inquiries been made as to Ws
statement?

The Constable, Y 121—Yes, sir. His story is perfectly
tide. His muter, a respectable cabinet maker, discharged
him in September last year for want of sufficient busuiessto
keep his usual number of hands employed. He was willing
to employ the pritioner again as soon as he bad any yogi
for him to do. He had kept on as many hands as he could,
but he was obliged to discharge some.
Mr. Vaughan—Then the prisoner has had no employ.
for a year?'
The Constable—At far so I can ascertain he has not.
be prisoner said he had earned 31. 10a. in January.
He had done ill he could to try to get work, but in nut.
He had referred the constable to several former employers
and others who knew him.

iheOrreiairlae7nentioned several persons on whom he
bad called and who spoke in the highest terms of the
pi:goner'sindustry and integrity. Most of them had known
the prisoner for years, and some from childhood.
Mr. Vaughan—Has he pledged any other property?
Constable—No, sir, except his own, it seems that he
has made away with all ha tools, in fact that appears
to have been the only way he has kept from so
tual starvation. This was before be pledged the plate,
The prisoner said he was sorry for what he had done.
Under the pressure of want he had yielded to temptation.
He felt that he ought not to have done so, and even if
in distress he would not do so again.
Mr. Vaughan—Have you any friends
, The prisoner—Yee ; they are willing to assist me.
Mr. Vaughen—ln what way
The misoner—They will send me into the country and
get me some work.
Mr. Vaughan said it was very probably true that the
prisoner had been in great distress, but he could
not give effect to that consideration to the extent
of regarding it as an excuse for what be bad doss.
The prisoner ought to have applied to his friends for as.
sorts nee, rather than endeavour to relieve his own Dec...
ties by depriving others of their property. It appeared
that even now his friends were willing to assist him, and so
doubt they would have done so before. But even if • man
had no friends to assist him he should apply to the parish.
It was no discredit to a man to take parochial relief when
in distress, and certainly not the disgrace that there was
in • dishonest act. However, be would make some allow.
ance for the prisoner's circumstances, and give
great weight to the excellent character he had
hitherto borne. Taking the most lenient view
of the case that justice would allow he would
deal with the case as one of illegally pawning, so that the
prisoner should not go forth from the court under the
stigma of a conviction for felony. For it would be sad
that • man who had up to this time been honest sad
industrious should for the rest of his life be branded
as one who had been in prison for theft. He hoped that
the prisoner would go away to the place where his friends
were prepared to find him work, and would endeavour
by future good conduct to retrieve that character which
had served him so well on this occasion, and which be had
so unwisely jeopardised. He must pay a fine of 30s. and
ifs., being the amount &doomed by the pawnbrokers, or
be imprisoned for seven days.
The prisoner thanked the magistrate for his merciful
decision. (It was intimated that his ft iends would pay the
fine.)