The Express.
London, England, 1866-12-20 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

COURT OF EXCHEQUER.
After Term Nisi Prins Sittings at Guildhall.—(Before
the Lord Chief Baron and Special Juries.)
WARD r. THE GAS LIGHT AND COKE COMPANY.
This trial, which has extended over nearly three days,
mme to a termination to-day. The action was brought by
Mr. Ward, chair-maker at Saville-house, Leicester
square, against the defendants for a part of the
loss he had sustained by the fire in February last year,
which almost totally destroyed that well-known
building. He also sued on behalf of the
insurance company with whom his goods were insured for
the amount they had paid to him, which did not whollylso
cover his loss. Other insurance companies a
interested in the result of the action.
The Solicitor-General, Mr. Manisty, Q.C., Mr. Pollock,
Q.C. and Mr. Holland, were counsel for the plaintiff;
and 'Mr. Hawkins, Q.C., Mr. Coleridge, Q.C., and Mr.
Mennen for the defendants.
A German named Bloom, who kept a beershop in
Ratcliffe-highway, had rented a billiard-room and a saloon
in Saville Houle, and been supplied with gas by the
defendants, which partly passed through a 50 light metre,
flied in one of the passages. Some alteration being about
to be made with respect to the lighting, the defendants'
servants came on the 28th February, 1865, and removed this
metre, with the intention, as they stated, of put-
beg up another. The case on the part of the
plaintiff was that having broken the connexion
between the inlet and the outlet pipe they
negligently omitted to close the orifice in the former, and
at the same time, did not remove the key by which the
pa from the main was turned on or give notice to
Bloom or his servants that the gas could not be
burnt until another meter had been put up. In the even-
ing of the same day one of Bloom's men turned on the gas
sensual, notknowing that the pipes had been disconnected
with the main, and some one having afterwards brought a
light near the spot an explosion took place, whichled to the
burning of the premises.
For the defence evidence was given to show that when
the meter was taken away the defendants' men put in a
greased bung in the orifice of the pipe and covered it with
white lead, flo mode of closing an inlet pipe which was per-
fectly secure and generally adopted for temporary pur-
poses. The answer of the plaintiff on this head was
that even eupposiog the bung to have been used, which
be denied, this was neither the customary
nor a safe mode of shutting eff the gas, and
that a tap ought to have been used. The defendants also
said they had discovered that Bloom, who was now out of
the way, had surreptitiously burnt a large quantity of gas
which was not indicated by the meter, and they suggested
that the bung might have been taken out by him or some
one under his direction, with the object probably of con-
tinuing this dishonest practice, and that before he com-
pleted his arrangements gas escaped to the extent which
caused the explosion.
There was a great array of witnesses on both sides, both
both as to what occurred on the premises on the 28th of
Feb. on the removal of the meter and previous to the ex-
plosion, and to the custom among gasfitters with respect to
the closing of the ends of gas pipes.
The Lord Chief Baron, in summing up, adverted to the
great importance of the case, and said it was impossible
for any parties to come before the court freer from
any suspicion calculated to excite prejudice in the minds of
the jury one way or the other than were the presentsuitors.
He went carefully over the whole evidence, and told the
jury that the simple question was whether the fire was
occasioned by the negligence of the defendants' servants.
The jury, after having been locked up for • abort
time, returned a verdict for the plaintiff—damages referred.
This was • new trial. At the former trial the plaintiff
was nonsuited.

SHERIFFS' COURT, RED LION-SQUARE.
(Before Mr. Under-Sheriff Burchell and a Jury.)
WILKIN r. MOORS.—ACCIDENT TO A ROME AND CARRIAGE.
This was an action in one of the inferior courts, in
which judgment was allowed by defaultp to assess the
damages for injuries to a horse and damage to • carriage.
There was no defence.
Mr. Day was counsel for the plaintiff, and from hisstate-
ment and the evidence it appeared that the plaintiff is the
proprietor of the Zetland Hotel, Darlington, Yorkshire,
and the defendant a surveyor in the employ of Sir Charles
Fox. He hired a horse and carriage, and so negligently
used the same that the animal, which was cheap at 30L,
was now dear at 13/. About 141. damage bad been done to
the carriage and harness.
Mr. Under-Sheriff Burchell told the learned oonnael he
bad proved to 301. and that was all he claimed.
The jury seemed disposed to go beyond that amount,
but were told they could not, and then gave a verdict
for 291. 6s. 6d.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

(THIS DAY.)

(Betore the Recorder.)
CHARGE OT BURGLARY.
Ceivge Mitchell was indicted for a burglary in the house
of Christopher Davis Kent, and stealing therein a quantity
of silver plate and two pairs of earrings, his property. In
a second count he was charged with feloniously receiving
the same.
Mr. Straight prosecuted, and from the evidence it sp-
reed that the premises of the prosecutor had been
broken into on the night of the 15th November last, and
the property mentioned in the indictment abstracted.
The following morning the prisoner offered the silver
plate, which was broken up, for sale to a Mr. Shearing
a watchmaker, at Croydon, stating that he had
found the property on the high rood, near Wallington.
lir. Shearing having some suspicion took the prisoner
and the property to the police-station, where the prisoner
was searched, and upon him were found the two pairs of
earrings which had also been stolen on the night in es-
Lion. The whole of the property was identified by the
Prosecutor, and it was further proved that when appre-
hended the prisoner had a large cut on the knuckles of
his right hand which might have been caused in
he plate glass of the prosecutor's window.
The jury retired, and after an absence of half an hour
came into court with a verdict of Guilty.
Sentence was deferred.
- -

(Before the Common fierjeant.)
John Austin, 23, carman, was indicted for unlawfully
attempting to obtain from Charles John Lobbing the sum
of 2c 6d., with intent to defraud.
The evidence disclosed that about 9 o'clock in the evening

(THIS DAY.)

CLlffaCEN'ina.L.
ASSAULT BY A TRADESMAN.
George Bolt, a saddler and harness-maker, of 17, Wen-
lock-street, Oty-road, was summoned by Mrs. Main
Hauer, the wife of a tradesman residing at 18, Wenlock-
road, for unlawfully assaulting and beating her on the 11th
inst.

aft. Ricketts, solicitor, appeared on behalf of the com-
plainant, and Mr. Wakeling for the defendant.
The ease for the complainant, as opened by Mr. Ricketts
and proved by the witnesses, was that on Tuesday, the 11th
lust, the defendant and his wife were quarrelling, and one
of the children ran away from the defendant pest the coin- ..-
plainsat's shop. The defendant went after the boT, went Z.
up to the complainant, who was standing inside her 1 80
shop door, and tried to push past her into the to
shop, when she told him not to push in there, and ' tO
put up her hands to prevent his going in. The defendant e 1...
then mixed her by the arm, dragged her out of the shop and 1 100'
threw her with much force on to the pavement. Her head : No
was cut ; she lad a quantity of blood, and was rendered gg,
nearly insensible. She was so ill after the assault that a 18$
surgeon had to be sent for, and she felt pains in her head lia
for a d or so after the occurrence. as
sagakeling cross-examined the witnesses, but without t.
their teetimony, and then having contended that 00
no assault had been committed, called witnesses who swore at,
that the complainant first scratched the defendant's face, St
and that then he pushed her, and the pavement being wet Bt.
and dirty, she slipped and fell ft
In answer to Mr. Ricketts, one of the witnesses for the Bit
defence admitted that the defendant pulled the coin- 04,
plainant out of her shop, and the other that the push was ta
a very severe one. ga„
The magistrate said he considered the case of assault et.
was made oat, and ordered the defendant to pay a fine of 1 Bt.
10s. and the costa ' • or, in default of payment, to be im- ; ir.
piisoned, with hard labour, in the House of Correction for gt
five days. St.
The fine and costs were paid. 10
10
ROBBERY OP A BAH Or GOLD.
MO
Henry Bishop, aged 21, a stoker, of 10, Whiskin-street, 20
Clerkenwell, was charged with stealing, on the 11th inst., la
at 11, Gloucesterstreet, Clerkenwell, a bar of gold, of the BR
value of 631. 145., the property of his employer, Mr. John 9
Dyer, gold and silver flatter ; and Henry Bishop, aged 410, 9t.„
a dressing-case maker, of 21, Meredith-street, Clerkenwell, t.
was charged with feloniously receiving the bar of gold, et,
well knowing it to have been stolen. is
Mr. Lewis, of Wilmington-square, Clerkenwell, appeared St.
for the prosecution, and said that the younger prisoner Bt.
had been in the employ of the prosecutor, and that the 81
elder was his father. The property had not been yet re- ;
covered, and therefore he should have to ask for a remand. Bt.
He then called le
Inspector Bryant, G division, who said—On Wednesday la
I apprehended the younger prisoner at his lodgings and I St
told him that I had been informed that he had slolen a at
bar of gold, and that he must consider himself in custody. got
I left him then in the custody of police-constable Ranger gl.
199 Cl, and I went to his father's house, and in the coal 96,
cellar which is under the pavement I found two pieces of 20
brick loose in the bottom of the cellar. A box had been et.
placed on the bricks. As the father was out I went back 10
to the son, and told him I had searched his father's cellar, et
I believed the gold to have been, but I could not find
it there. He said, Well, I due say if iou let me come
over with you I can find it." I said, Very well, you
"" ,7„,-- I
,
did take it then." He said, "Yes. Mr. Dyer gave me
'
notice to leave. I thought it was very hard of him, and, r-
out of spite, I took the gold. I put it in the cellar, and so
it was safe there on Saturday last, when a friend of mine 2os
sold a piece of it for me. If it is not there now my father it
must have taken it. We will go there and see him." We 100
went away to the house. The father was not at home,
but his wife told us where her husband was, 111,!.•
and the younger prisoner asked me to allow him a,
to accompany him to his father's before taking him to the 80
police station. I saw Mr. Dyer, and then went with the 20
younger prisoner to his father's, and found him at his St
brother's in a pipe-maker's shop at Old-street, St. Luke's. St
On entering the shop the younger prisoner, add to his ;4)ot
father, who was in the back parlour, ' I want you to tell 100
the officer where the gold is." "What," he said, " have 100
you been such a fool as to acknowledge 100
to taking it, for if you have you must put up with it 1" 100
00
The younger prisoner said, " Don't be foolish, where is 1
it? " Well," the father said, "if you want to know, I 14:0:
have had it, but they have got to find it." St
The elder prisoner-4 did not say that. I said" Perhaps, so
I might have had it, and if I had, you would have had a
SO
90
St.-
job to find it."
Inspector Bryant continued—The father further said,
"Itis at the bottom of the sea by this time. I thought it
11
dangerous to have it with me, and I threw it into the sea." so&
I told the father he must go with me to the station, and 104
he was rather violent at first, but afterwards went quietly.
Itoo
00
Mr. Lewis here asked for a remand.
10
The prisoners, who did not make any defence, were
St.
remanded, and bail refused.
41.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET. m-
a WOULD-BE SUICIDE. se
/dory Brown, a respectable looking elderly female, was ISO
charged before Mr. Knox with attempting to commit r°o
suicide by throwing herself in the Serpentine. St
John Lebrun, s labouring man, living at Blyth-lane, at
Hammersmith, while passing the Serpentine this morning 06.
about 7 o'clock, on the way to his work, saw something in
88 20
the water, and, on going up, found it was the prisoner.
He got her out of the water, and took her to the Humane "
Society's Receiving-house.
Thos Moscow, park constable, No. 13, said the prisoner
told him that she was sorry that she had not drowned
herself. and that she would do so.
The prisoner said she was sorry for what she had done.
She had been ill for some time, and could not sleep. and tea.
went out for a walk. She had a husband in Australia, 40,
and he remitted her money to keep her. She had no to,
relations of her own. 11,
Mr. Knox—Then it is not want that has caused you to lit
act as you have done! it,
The prisoner said it was not. It was only illness. 10,
Mr. Knox said he would remand the prisoner, and IS,
Sergeant Cowdy, one of the park constables, could make 10
inquiries respecting her. 10
60
SOUTHWARK.
--
on 60
----

STEALING A- BASKET OF TURRETS.
George Vickers, alias Beyles, well known to the police, was
brought up in custody of Mr. Carpenter, the superin- AO,
tendent of the Brighton Railway Company's police, charged 30,
with stealing a basket of turkeys at the London-bridge ro:
terminus.
Richard Wood, the excess luggage clerk at the London- bo,
bridge terminus of the Brighton and South Coast Railway, 10,
said that he was on duty near the scales about seven o'clock
on the previous evening, when his attention was called to
the prisoner, who was examining the luggage lying about
ready to be placed on the luggage vans. His conduct
excited his suspicion, which induced him to
watch him, and a minute or so afterwards
he saw the prisoner go up to a pile of luggage and
pull off a basket pf turkeys from the top and carry it
to the labeller, whom be asked to label it for him to Croy-
don. Witness went up to him and asked him whether
the basket of turkeys belonged to him. He said
that it did. Witness told him that such could
not be the cas
man, whom hee, as he MAW the
knew basket
to brought
there by another
owner. The prisoner said, " Oh, that's all right, he
brought it here for me ; they don't belong to him."
Witness then told the prisoner that the basket could not
be labelled until the other man returned, when the pri-
soner walked away. He, however, followed him and gave
him into custody. lie then said that he had never touched
the basket, but only looked at it.
Mr. Carpenter, the superintendent of the company's
police, said. be stopped the prisoner as he was hurriedly
leaving the terminus, knowing him to be a thief, when
last witness came up and gave him into custody for
stealing the basket of turkeys.
The magistrate asked if he knew the prisoner.
Mr. Carpenter replied that he did. He had been tried
and convicted at the Surrey Sessions for a robbery at te
same station about two years sgo. A number of robberies
had recently taken place since the prisoner's liberation,
and if a remand was granted he believed he should be able
to produce evidence to implicate the priso the basket,
r.
The latter, who denied any intention to steal
, remanded.

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