The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-15 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

MANSION EOUSE.

Mr. George Augustus Fletcher, formerly chief cashier at
the Melbourne branch of the Union Bank of Australia, who
gave himself into custody about a week previously, end was
charged, upon his own confession, with stealing 10,0004
worth of Australian government bon;.s' , again attended at
this court on Saturday before Mr. Alderman Finis* in order
that some further inquiry might take place into the matter.
Mr. Bannister, of the firm of Davidson, Carr, and Ben-
ulster, the solicitors to Messrs. Caldsoott, the London repre-
sentatives of a gentleman named Lewis, carrying on business;
as a merchant at Melbourne, by whom the bonds in question
were deposited with the bank for security, attended on be-
half of those gentlemen ; Mr. Murray, the solicitor to the
Union Bank, appeared on their behalf ; and Mr. G. Lewis,
of Ely-place, attended for Mr. Fletcher.
. . .

The circumstances of the cue were somewhat extraor-
dinary. It will be recollected that the prisoner weet to the
bank in Breed-street on the sth of January, and had an in-
terview with Mr. Mewburo, the secretary, and told him that
he had oome to give himself up for a robbery that had been
committed at the Melbourne branch of the establishment,
about twelve months before, upon which occasion the strong
box was opened, and bonds of the value of 10,0001., the pro-
perty of a gentleman named Lewis, who had deposited
them with the bank fer security, were stolen. The prisoner
asserted that no one but himself was concerned in the rob-
bery, and he said that he absconded, and travelled to
different parts of the world, but at length he had made
up his mind to oome to England and deliver himself up.
He at the same time said that there were 1.,500/., the pro-
duce of the stolen loads, still in his pueueidon, and be was
ready to give up that sum, and to do all in his power to
further the ends of justice. The prisoner appeared most
anxious that the charge should be proceeded with, but in
consequence of there not being any warrant for the appro.
hernial of the prisoner issued by the authorities of Mel-
bonnie, it appeared that this court bad no jurisdiction in
the matter, end he was merely required to enter into a
recognisance to appear on Saturday, by which time, it wu
thought possible, as an Australian mail would arrive, that
a warrant would be forthcoming.

Mr. Bannister, addressing the alderman, said be would
recollect what took place at the former meeting, and that
Mr. Fletcher was remanded, in the expectation that Messrs.
Caldeoott, whom be represented, would have received the
warrant from the colony. The mails had arrived, but the
vessel conveying them had met with an accident, all the
letters bad been to the bottom of the sea, and were damaged
by salt water, and there was no warrant. He had intended
to have argued that, under the circumstances, the bench
wouldbe justified in remanding the prisoner until the nixes.
eery evtdeoce was obtained from Melbourne to
justify his being sent back. bus having taken tlio ,pinion
of two eminent criminal lawyers, Mr. Gifford and Mr.
Mennen, upon the point, and their opinion being that this
court would not be legally justified in taking such a course,
he should refrain from asking the alderman what be had
intended. He thought it right to state that the primmer
had given up 1,5001., as he had promised, to the bank
authorities, and he did not see what more could be done at
present than that he should suggest, that if the prisoner
was sincere in the desire be expressed to further the ends
of justice, he would testify that sincerity by consenting
to go back to Melbourne, and, on the part of Messrs. Calde-
cott, be would guarantee the payment of the expense of
such a course, and he bad no doubt that the Union Bank
would contribute.

Mr. Lewis said that, on the part of Mr. Fletcher, all he
should de was to sagged that the magistrate had no
power to interfere, as he had clearly no jurisdiction in
such a case. It was true that the prisoner had, in a moment
of temptation, and under great pressure, committed the act
in question, but he had given up 1,500!., and he would
make an arrangement to repay the remainder of the money,
and, in fact, was anxious to do everything th►t was possible
to make reparation for what he had done. He was instructed
that Mr. Fletcher was a man in good position, and most
respectably connected, and therefore fully competent to
carry out any arrangement of the kind be had suggested,
besides which he would be in England, and would be forth-
coming at any time if be was required.
Mr. Bannister asked if be was to understand from Mr.
Lewis that Mr. Fletcher would remain in England until the
warrant arrived from Australis.

Mr. Lewis said he wee not instructed to enter into any
undertaking of that kind, but he had no doubt Mr. Fletcher
would be found at any time when he was required.
Alderman Finnis maid he could be no party to any such
arrangement m the ens suggested. It appeared that be had
no jurisdiction to entertain the matter, and the prisoner
must, therefore, be discharged.
Mr. Murray, the solicitor to the Union Bank, begged to
be allowed to may in their behalf, that a statement which
had appeared, that they were unwilling to prce,cute, was
entirely false. On the contrary, the bank felt it their duty
to be represented by him on the former am well as on the
present occasion ; and they would hare beeolquite prepared
to go on with the prosecution if the legal difficulty had
not mime.

The rerognissuces of the prisoner were then discharged,
and he left the court.
It will be rememtered that on the 16th of December
warrant was placed in the hands of Haydon, the detective
officer, for the apprehension of a young man named Robert
Buxton, who bad been clerk to Mr. Freiligath, • foreign
merchant, carrying on business at Royal Exchange-build-
iogs. It appeared that Buxton had forged • cheque for
8101. upon the City Bank, where his muter keeps an ac-
count, and obtained the money. He sailed in the Saxonia
on the 13th of December for New York, and the forgery
was d isoovery almost immediately afterwards; and on thel6th
Haydon sailed in the Australasiso, armed with • warrant for
the apprehension of the prisoner. Although the last-men-
tioned vessel bad a very bad Rump she gained • day and a
half nr on the Sixoo is, and arrived at New York on the 29thht
December. Haydon at once instituted the necessary inquiries,
and traced the fugitive to New Jersey, and be was appre-
hended at that place by one of the United States marshals.
The prisoner was subsequently examined before • judge
having cognisance of such matters, and remanded. He had
previously handed over to the officer a sum of over 6001. ;
and upon the next examination, as it turned out tbat the
necessary proceedings to justify the extradition of the pri.
goner had not been completed, the charge was not premed,
and the prisoner was set at liberty, and Haydoo returned
to England with the money the proposer had given to him.
Haydon now communicated to Alderman Flows, the magis-
trate who had granted the warrant, the above particulars,
and he was congratulated by him upon the successful result
of his expedition, at all events so far as related to the
recovery of so large a portion of the money that was the
produce of the forged cheque.
TM-SHIP-STREET.

Charles Martinelli, charged last week with attempting
to destroy hisses!' by cutting the veins of his arms, was
brought up se remand. It will be remembered that the
Reformatory and Refuge Society, 26. Suffolk-street, Pall-
mall East, bad heard of this case, and promised aid. Mr.
Hayward. its messenger, now eteted that if the prisoner was
discharged the commie:is had directed him to be conveyed
drat to the Charing:cross Hospital, and, when quite capable.
to the country, until some situation could be obtained more
suitable to his distrsesing position than that of the trade he
had followed.

Mr. Ellison expressed his belief that the course proposed
was the very best it was passible to adopt for the young
mat's future benefit, and (turning to him) besought that be
would strive to rouse himself from the horrible thoughts
that had prompted him to the commission of so wicked ea
attempt. A few donations had bees rewired for him, het
they would of mune be handed over to the society who had
so kindly interested itself in his behalf.

Fri/mist. was then discharged, and left the court with
Mr. Hayward.
Elizabeik Stems, only H years of age, but much older
in appearsaee, was charged by her father with robbing him.
The poor matt for some moments after his bad entered the
witoess box could not speak for tears roiling down his
cheeks. He said he was a shoemaker. liring at 60, Holy-
Shoreditek, and his statement was that at Tues-
day MA a drama is am upper room wee MOM to have bean

broken open, and tbs entire contents, amounting to 71.,
stolen. Unfortunately, there was too much reason to fear
that his daughter had perpetrated the act, as six weeks
since she stole some money from him ; indeed, she had been
a trouble to him all her life, oomparatively. On the Tuesday
night in question she slept away from hum He ould sot
discover when she was livisg, but did eseerktio that she
had purchased a bed, some chairs, and • new silk dram
That morning he abased to catch • glimpse of her ruin
along Brick•lane. Whitechapel, and she ran away, but wee
stopped by • polioaconstable. She did not utter a weed
about the money.
Prisoner here remarked coarsely, " It wasn't yours."
The Father assured the magistrate that it was, sad that
she wall knew it. lie most earnestly besought that she
might be seat to some reformatory, as that was the only
means likely to reclaim her.
Prisoner (defiantly)—lf lam sent I'll let you know It
before I go.
Mr. Ellison—Have you anything to say to the charge!
Prisoner—No.
Mr. Ellison—Your demeanour in that dock proves you
I to be a wicked, hurtles girl ; and if this case is sustained
against you, most asuredly I will, if possible, comply with
your father's request, and send you to • reformatory.
Take her away, she is remanded.
Prisoner bolt the dock for the cell, butinds/ in the
peasage way and scowling at her father. exchlaimed. " May
my cures be on you up and down for over, although you
are my owe father."