The Express.
London, England, 1867-06-26 00:00:00

WILFUL DESTRUCTION OP VALUABLE ROOTS AND FLOWERS

IN THE VICTOBIA-p•RK.

Charlet Lynes ;bOniloiters---;e;;;;;, and respectably
dressed, was charged before Mr. Newton with the above
offence. _ _

One of the park constables produced several geranium
and other roots, some of which he said were of consider-
able value, also portions of some in full flower, which had
been torn off, thereat' havingbeen too firmly in the ground
to prevent extraction ; the prisoner had been found with
these in his possession. Two other boys were in his com-
pany, but they escaped.
The prisoner said that those boys had given him the
flowers to carry ; be had not pulled any.
The park•keeper assured the magistrate that this was
false. He had himself seen the prisoner pull them with
violenoe from the very middle of the flower-bed.
Mr. Newton—This is vary shameful—a very bad offence.
Complaints of this kind are continual, and if not put a
stop to very shortly there will not be a flower to look at.
No doubt you were going to take that geranium root home
and put it in a pot ; you are a little thief, and I should very
much like to order you a sound flogging. I have not the
least doubt that you have committed a theft and told a
lie by denying it. You are a very bad boy.
The park constable assured the magistrate that destruc-
tion of this kind was incessant, and it appeared impossible,
despite continual watching, to put a stop to it.
Mr. Newton remarked that notification of every convic-
tion for such offercee should be carefully made public.
Prisoner was fined 10s. or a week's imprisonment in
default.
STREET VIOLENCE AND ATTEMPT AT ROBBERY.

Thomas King, remanded from last week on a charge of
attempting to steal a gold watch from the person of kiss
Atkins in Rutland-street, Hampstead-road, by passing one
of his arms round her throat, and tearing the chain
securing it there was brought up for re-examination and
fully committed for trial.
We are requested to mention that some mistake was
made in respect to the number of the prusecutrix's real-
denoe, which, however, does not affect the cane itself.

SOUTHWARK.

DEPRAUMNO THE SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY,

Mr. Lowe, of Henley-cottage, New-cross, 'undone of the
assistants in the catalogue department in the British
Museum, was summoned before Mr. Woolrych by the
South Eastern Railway for unlawfully travelling in • first-
class carriage from New-cross with a third-class ticket,
thereby defrauding the railway company.
Mr. Brown, from the law-office of the company, sup-
ported the complaint.
Charles Bannister, a ticket inspector in the service of
the South Eastern Italian), Company, said that on the
arrival of the train at London-bridge at 27 minutes
past $ on the morning of the 28th ultimo, he saw
the defendant in a first-class carriage ; knowing
him to be a third-class ticket-holder, he accom-
panied the train to the Cannon-street terminus, and on
the defendant leaving the train he demanded his ticket of
him. He passed him calling out " Annual." Witness told
him that would not do. he must show his ticket. The
defendant then pulled out his card case and showed him •
third-class quarterly ticket between London and New-
cross. Witness then asked him why be had travelled in
a first-class carriage with such a ticket! He replied that
he was put in by the guard. Having ascertained such not
to be the fact he reported the circumstance to his superior,
and hence the present summons.
In answer to Mr. Woolrych, witness s►id that there was
no actual necessity for defendant's getting into • first-
class carriage, as there was plenty of room in the third-
class carriages. In holiday time, and when pressed for
room the guards sometimes placed third and second class
passengers in first-class carriages, and vice versa. Witness
added that he received information from first-class ticket-
holders that the defendant was in the habit of riding first-
class, and that was the reason of his following him up to
Cannon-street.

James Farmer, guard of the train in question, said that
when the defendant got in at New-cross then was plenty
of room in the third-class carriages. It was an ordinary
train, and stopped a minute at New-cross, giving passen-
gers plenty of time to find the carriages they wen entitled
to travel in.

The defendant, in answer to the charge, admitted him-
self to be guilty of travelling is • first-Ass carriage on the
occasion mentioned by the company's servants, but that
was owing to the want of sufficient accommodation for
the public at the New-cross station. It was • frequent
occurrence for thirty and sometimes forty passengers to be
left behind at that station, much to the inconvenience and
annoyanoe of gentlemen whose business required them to be
at their offices punctually at 9 o'clock. The train only waited
a minute or • minute and a half, and many were com-
pelled to get into any carriage as the train was leaving.
lie had written to the railway company apologising for
getting into the first clams carriage, awl be assured his
worship he had not the slightest intention of defrauding
the railway company.
Mr. Woolrych told him it was a very improper act on his
part, but not so bad ea the conduct of the banker's clerk,
who wee convicted by kiln last week. Ks had sot even