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

THE POLICE COURTS.

MARYLEBONE.
William Young, aged 15, of no settled borne, errand
boy, was charged with stealing in October lass • *kat,
waistcoat, trousees, and boots, and about I2a in money,
belonging to • lad named James DuelL
The lad bad already served three years in Filth= Re-
formatory, and had since his liberation been a constant
companion of young thieves belonging to Seven Dials.
Duell, as errand boy and an orphan, lived with • younger
brother in a small room, and was recently induced to
give the prisoner a night's lodging on his representation
that be was destitute. On the following morning the
lads had to go to their places, leaving the prisoner in
bed. On their return they found the prisoner had
gone, taking with him the property mentioned. Some
time atter this, an extensive robbery of jewellery took
place from • jeweller's shop in Brewer- street, Golden-
square. From inquiries made by Sergeant Gordon, it was
found that the thieves must have been let in during the
night by some one. This theory was confirmed by the
errand-boy absconding. From the description given of
this Istter, Gordon apprehended the prisoner in the Seven
Dials, and ha it was who had, by some means or other,
obtained the situation. He confessed to having secreted
himself upon the premiaes, and, at the dead of night, let
the thieves in to plunder the place. in which be joined.
He was taken to klerlborough-street Police-court, and
charged, and when before the magistrate his master, on
the ground of religious scruples, refused to take the oath
and abandoned the prosecution. The prisoner was there-
fore discharged. It WWI then found that he was the youth
" wanted" to.. robbing the young Duel's.
The robbery was now proved.
Gordon said the friends of the prisoner were highly
respectable. When he comes of age he will come into pos-
session of 4,0001.
Mr. d'Eyncourt said the reformatory had done the pri- I
loner no good. It was sad to see one so young, and who
had so bright a future before him, pursuing arch a course.
There was no help for it. He must be sentenced to six
months' hard labour.
The prisoner jumped jauntily from the dock, and
seemed to imagine himself luck in not going for trial.
Mr. d'Eyncourt inquired if Duel] had recovered any of
his property.
Gordon said he had not.
Mr. d'Eyncourt awarded him 33a. to replace his clothes.

THE CASE OP MR. STATHAM.

A public meeting of the medical and dental p
nt ro-
fessions was held yesterday at the Literary and Scieific
Institute, Edwards-street, Portman-square, to receive the
report of a sub-committee appointed at a preliminary
meeting held on November 20, to consider what steps
should be taken in the case of lir. Statham, the de-
fendant in the late action of " Absolon v. Statham." The
chair was taken by Sir Wiudan Fitaoessott, Bart. The
Chairman, in introducing the Wiliness, maid that one
object of their meeting was to express their sympathy with
a professional brother in consequence of recent legal pro-
ceedings of a most unfair and unustifiable character
which had been taken against him. It must be a source of
regret that an expression of opinion such as they them-
selves entertained had not been given on the authority of
the jury who tried the case. However, the result of the
trial had caused a greater display of feeling among pro-
fessional men than was usual on such occasions. There was
a growing feeling on their part that it would be extremely
desirable to put an end, by reasonable and honourable
means, to such attacks on members of the profession ; but
the subject was an exceedingly difficult one. It had been
suggested to him that a fund should be raised for the pur-
pose of defending such actions as that brought against
Mr. Statham ; but his own opinion was, that in-
stead of repressing such attacks, the existence of
such a fund might tend to encourage them.
The present case was one of peculiar hardship, for they
must all feel that in this special instance there was even
an excess of kindness on the part of Mr. Statham towards
his patient. Ile (Sir William) had, perhaps, even stronger
feelings with regard to the case than others in the room,
for, without his having the least idea of what was contem-
plated, his professional opinion was taken regarding tbe
health of the patient before the case came into court. He
gave such a decided opinion that not even the smallest
hint was given to him that the case was ever likely to come
before a legal tribunal ; and his astonishment was very
great when be heard a few days afterwards that the
patient had brought an action against Mr. Statham.
There were gross errors existing in the public) mind
with regard to the administration of chloroform. It
was popularly believed that the wafting of a handkerchief
wetted with chloroform in the face of a patient was
sufficient to produce insensibility ; and it was actually
believed by so high a personage as the late
Lord Chancellor Campbell that persons might be
attacked in the public streets, and rendered insensible by
this means. Lord Campbell formed the intention of bring-
ing forward a public enactment for the prevention of such
au occurrence, but was saved from the ridicule which such
• step would have entailed by the late Dr. Snow. The
chairman, in conclusion, strongly protested against juries
attaching any value to the opinions of men whose experi-
ence of chluroforiu was confined to eight or ten cases in
opposition to the opinions of those who had used it in
hundreds or perhaps thousands of instances. It was pro-
bably the opinion given by the men of limited experience
which led the jury to waver in their consideration of the
case, and prevented them from giving that verdict which
the meeting all felt ought to have been pronounced. The
report of the sub-committee having been read and
adopted, it was unanimously resolved :—" That
this meeting, having taken into full consideration the
evidence adduced at the trial of Absolon v.
Statham, unanimously agrees that the professional
treatment adopted by Mr. Statham in the case of
the plaintiff Absulon watt in every particular sound, skilful,
humane, and beyond reproach ; that the meeting warmly
sympathises with Mr. Statham for the anxiety and ex-
pense he has been subjected to by an unjust and ground-
less prosecution, and assures him of its entire and unabated
confidence in his practical skill, professional integrity, anti
honour. The meeting would add that, but for Mr.
sitathata's own objection to such a course, it would gladly
have defrayed the legal expenses to which he has been
subjected." It was further resolved that a copy of this
resolution be engrossed on vellum and presented to Mr.
Stathain. A vote of thanks to the eminent chairman,
which was warmly responded to, was then proposed by Dr.
Anstie, and seconded by Mr. Erasmus Wilson ; and Dr.
Richardson having alluded in high terms to the zeal and
energy displayed by Mr. Fox, the hon. secretary, the pro-
ceedidgs terminated.