The Express.
London, England, 1866-02-06 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSION&

Robert Boursnelt, 3'r who was convicted last sessions of
attempting to obtain by false pretences from George John
Kirk, 801. in Bank of England notes, with intact to de-
fraud, was brought up for pulgmeot.
It will be remembered that at the last sessions it was
proved that a boy in the employment of a solicitor in
Doctors'-commons wee sent to the London end West-
minster Bank with a cheque for 804, which sum be
there received. He bad not long left the bank when be
was accosted by the prisoner, who said that be had
come from the bank, and that as mine mistake had
been male in the entry of the numbers be insisted to
look at them. The boy, with great presume of mid, re-
fused to part with the notes out of bis bands, when the
prisoner attempted to take them, but • atr. Cook, a
compositor employed at the office of Bell's Life in London,
happening to come up at the time, the prisoner was taken
into custody. The only defence the prisoner set lap at the
trial was that he was drank at the time sad did not know
what he was about. The Assistant-Judge deferred passing
sentence at Use time, and directed some inquiry to be made
as to the antecedents of the prisoner.
To-day, on being placed at the bar, Lockler, the prison
officer, said be had made inquiries, and he found that the
prisoner had hitherto borne a very good character.
The Assistant-Judge aid this was • very artful attempt
at robbery, and sentenced the prisoner to be imprisoned
and kept to hard-labour for nine months.
(Before Mr. Payne.)

John Crayluad, 15, shoeblank, and Alfred Coonsbee, 25,
reverter, were indicted as foLlows :—The said John Cow-
hand for steal's' a braes tap, the of the London
City Baths Laundry and Dere pony (Limited), and
the said Alfred Coombs' for 'rag the same, well know-
log it to be stolen. This 011118 was postponed from last
amnion.
Mr. Holdsworth appeared for the prosecution ; Mr.
Sleigh and Mr. Warner Sleigh defended Coombe'; Cray-
head pleaded guilty.
The prisoner Cr.yhead was put into the witsess-box,
and he said he took the brass tap to the prisoner Coombe'',
shop, 90, Golden-lane. He at tint refined to boy it, bat
when witness told him hiCfather bad found it, the pri-
soner said he hoped be wouldn't get into trouble, sod gave
him sd. for it. He threw it down behind the counter
where the old metal was. Coombes is only shopman.
Edwin Watedield deposed that be went with a am-
stable to the prisoner's shop. The constable asked him
if he bad bought a tap from any one. He said, " No.
Constable then said, "Have you bought any metal r
He said, "No." The polios-constable then told him
that he had a boy le custody charged with stealing a tap,
and be said he sold to him for sd. The prisoner thee
stooped down and picked up the tap. Witness thee said
be would give him into custody, to which the prisoner re.
plied, " I would give anything if you do not give me in
charge." The value of the tap when complete is 6a. Bd. ; 1,
was not complete when he took it from the prisoner.
Mr. Sleigh eron-examined the witnesses at some length,
and celled several witnesses, who gave the prisoner an ex-
cellent character for honesty and integrity.
Mr. Payne rammed up the evidence, and said it was
admitted on both sides that this was a very important case
and would require their serious attention, end carefully
reviewed the evidence.
The jury returned a verdict of Not Gra*.
Mr. Payne said there could be no harm in recommending
prisoner to be careful for the future. It was a very fair
case for prosecution and a very fair use for an acquittal.
' Sentence was deferred es regards the other prisoner.