The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-08 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

pO,F43TREET.

Mrs. Maria Bretz, fa... 134164 of the Angel and Sun public.
house in the Strand, appeared to answer a summons, at the
instance of the polios, charging her with opening or keeping
open her house between the hours of I and 4 o'clock—that
is to say, a quarter Ware 2 o'clock in the morning of the
23rd of Deeember.

Policionergetuit Matthews, F 13, stated that on the morn-
ing in question he was on duty in the Strand, sad his atten-
tion was drawn to the defendant's house. H. went there,
and while standing outside beard the think of glasses within.
He knocked at the door, which was opened to him, and as
he went in he saw the defendant taking • glass ran the
counter. There were three gentlemen there. He
eked her how it was that she had those gee.
tlemen in the house. She said they had just come down
stairs. He observed, " I am told that they were let
in about Svc, minutes ago." She replied, " Well, if they
have been, they have had nothing to drink." He looked
over the counter, pointed to the glass, which she had just
taken from the counter, and asked her what that was for.
She said that was • little drop she had mixed for herself.
The glue was full of spirits (brandy, be believed) and water.
There was another gLss containing a small quantity of
spirits. The barman said that was his glass. The three
gentlemen. want out, one of them saying that he would be
back..thme-qlarters of an hour.

To Mr. Varighlui—One of the gentlemen said they had
had nothing to drink.
Mr. Lewis, for the defence, said —" I shall not pat any
questions to this witness. Ido not dispute any portion of
his statement. My answer to the case is that Mrs. Bran
bad been stopping up to decorate the bar for Christmas,
and her barman was assisting her. Being weary after
staying up so long, they took some refreshments, which
were found by the police in their glasses. Three
gentlemen called to see a Mr. Adams, who lodges in the
house. They went up stairs, spoke to Mr. Adams, came
down again and left the house. They had nothing to drink.
One of them, a commander in the Royal Navy, showed his
card and his commission (which be always carries in his
pocket) to the sergeant, who said, " I don't want your
card ;my complaint is against the landlady." I will call
the three gentlemen. The second is a
.barrister of the
Middle Temple, and the third is a civil engineer.
The three gentlemen were then called, and fullycarried out
the statement of Mr. Lewis,contradicting Sergeant Matthews
and a constable in several points of detail, and especiall7 as
to the presentation of the address card and commission,
which the officers persisted in denying.
Mr. Vaughan dismissed the summons, saying that the
charge was fully answered. and he was convinced reluc-
tantly, but conclusively, that the police•officere bad been
telling wilful untruths, which was poisoning justice at the
fountain head.
WORSHIP-STREET.

Charles Martinelli, 34 years of age, and living at 34,
Austin-street. Bethnal-green, wu charged, on remand, with
attempting to murder himself by severing the veins of his
arms by some sharp instrument.
At a former examination it was shown that, on the Bth
ult.. prisoner was found by two persona, named Abel
Busher, resident at the rms address, lied John Robins, a
paper-stainer, a next door neighbour, lying on a bed in an
upper room, bleeding from wounds in his arms ; that he
received immediate medical assistance, and afterwards was
removed, by direction of Dr. Burchell, to the Hospital of
St. Bartholomew, where be remained until brought to this
court. After a brief hearing the unfortunate man was sent
to the Howie of Detention in a cab, it having merely been
shown that he and his father worked together as looking.
glass makers ; that although they were poor they were not
in want, and that the attempt at self-destruction was con-
sequent on depression of spirits.
Mr. John Bloxam, one of the house surgeons of St. Bar
tholoinew's Hospital, now gave evidence—On the Bth ult.
I received the prisoner under my care. Hs was very nearly
noiseless, and bad lost a great quantity of blood from
several lacerated cuts on both fore-arms ; one of the main
vessels was divided. My first impression was that the
young man had committed the act when not in his right
mind. lam not of that opinion now, but believe him to
have been, and yet to be, suffering from the influenoe of
mercurial poison to an extent almost reaching insanity. I
am oognisant of two instances similar to this io which fixed
insanity resulted. The nervous affection be was labouring
user still continues, hut he is otherwise much improved
by good living, fresh air, and cleanliness.
Mr. Ellison—He appears very ill, nevertheless.
Witness—He has been under my care daily, and I have
observed a continual improvement.
Mr. Ellison—let the prisoner's father come forward if be
is without.

An aged man was assisted forward ; paralysis shook his
head and every limb fearfully ; be tried to stand in the
witness-box, but tottered from side to side ; and catching
sight of his son in the dock, sank backwards on a seat. It
appeared that he, too, was engaged in the manufacture of
looking-glasses. . .

Mr.-Ellison—This is a mat pitiable state of things, and
greatly to be regretted is it that the manufacture of any
article should require the use of a preparation so baneful in
its effects.

Witness—The properties of mercury have a very peculiar
infinence. which affects thews who use it more and more.
Mr. Ellison here directed the prisoner to be removed
from the dock and taken to h's father. A very affecting
scene followed, each kissing the other and bidding him to
" bear op."
Mr. James Hayward, formerly a warrant-officer of this
court, sod now attached to a society known as " The Dis-
charged Prisoners' Aid Society." said that all such cases as
the present received its aid, and he would undertake that
its best efforts should be used to assist the young man in
any way, more particularly in obtaining, on complete reco.
very. some employment that would liberate him from this
pernicious trade; the old ma's position should likewise be
mentioned.

Mr. Ellison, after morns further remarks, expressed the
high satisfaction he should have in hearing of the society's
kind interference, and told the prisoner that he purposed
sending him to tbs House of Detention for another week,
not as a criminal, but simply with a view of restoring him
to peace of mind and returning health as quickly u possible.

BUSINESS IN TILE DIVORCE COURT.—In addition
to the legal arrears already mentioned, a list of cases for
the approaching term in the Divorce Court has just been
issued. It bears as "improving" appeatance. There are only
81 cases set down for bearing, besides .t standing over by
consent of the parties.
New RULES FOR THE DIVORCE COURT.--011
Saturday were issued new rules sad regulations for the
Divorce Court. They are as many ea 174, besides 20 forms
to be used in the proceedings. They are to take effect on
Thursday next, the 11th instant, on which day all former
rules are to be revoked. A suit, as before, is to be com-
menced by petition, and the petitioner is to verify the
facto, and must deny all collusion in the matter. With
respect to suite in forma pauper's there is a rule to the
effect th►t say person desirous of prosecuting a
snit in forma pauperis is to lay a case before
counsel, and obtain ►n opinion that be or she has
reasonable grounds for proceeding, and no person shall be
admitted to prosecute a suit io tonna pauperis without the
order of the Judge Ordinary. Where a hosbtod is admitted
to sue as a pauper end neglects to proceed he may be called
upon to pay costs, though be has sot been dispaupered.
The rules were sanctioned on the 2Gth ultimo by Sir James
Plaisted Wilds, and will come into operation on the first
day of Hilary Term. _

THE SUPPOSED MI7RDER NEAR DIERTHYR TYDVIL.
—On Saturday morning Robert Coe, the young man charged
with having murdered John Davies, by decapitation, on the
2nd of last September, was examined before Mr. Fowler at
the Police.court. George Davies, the father of the alleged
murdered man, identified the body of the deceased as that
of his son. Sergeant Hodgson afterwards made a state-
ment to the effect that the prisoner, when he arrested bim,
said he was, he believed, the last person with the deceised,
but, at the same time, declared his innocence of the
murder. Mr. Superintendent Wreon then applied for a
farther remand. Elm evidence was not quite complete.
Mr. Fowler acceded to the request, end remanded the
prisoner till Thursday next at ten o'clock, when be will be
taken to Mountain Ash.

SINGULAR Su 'cum-0u Saturday Dr. Lankeeter
held an inquest at No. 1, Colebrook-row, Pentonville-road,
on Thomas Rice Steel, aged 81, • law stationer. Charles
Mills, of 4, Goewell-terrace, said he was in the employ of
Mr. Steel, who was * law stationer, and bad offices at 89,
Chancery-lane. Os Wednesday witness left the office for
few minutes at abut 2 o'clock p.m. The deceased was then
in jocular spirits, and was engaged in puncturing some docu-
ments with a bodkin. Witness returned in about five or ten
minutes, and found deceased lying oo his face in the °Mos. A
chemist, who lived next door, was called io, and afterwards
Dr. Reed, who pronounced him to be deed. No money or pro-
perty was missed, nor was anything disturbed. The bodkin
before referred to was lying on the floor. Dr. S. Cartwright
Reed deposed that he found the deceased quite dead. He
had since made a post mortem, and found a small punctured
wound two inches below the left nipple. That might have
been ceased by a stationer's bodkin. The wound penetrated
downwards and entered the left side of the heart. An az-
travasstion of blood from the wound had caused death.
The clothes of deceased were undone near the injury, the
only article of clothing punctured being the flannel shirt,
It was his opinion that the isjury had been inflicted on
deceased by himself. Dr. Bison, of am, Oity-road, knew
deceased, who was eccentric in his manner, for yeus, and be
thought that be must hive been in an unsound state of
mind when he committed suicide. A. verdict of suicide
whilst is an nreosad Ask of naiad wee Mused.

THE LATE FATAL COLLISION IN THE
CHANNEL.

After eleven days' sitting, the Board of Trade
inquiry into the circurasbusom of the millirem between the
mail packet Samphire sod the Araerima barque Fumy
Back was concluded, at Dover, on Saturday last. Daring
the inquiry the Mayer of Dover sad Dr. Astley have sat as
magistrates ; sad Captains Harris and Baker as nautical
assessors. Mr. Fowler, of London, appeared for the London,
Chatham, and Dover Railway Company ; Mx. W. Karcher
for the Mail-peckes Service; Mr. T. Fox for Captain Bea-
nett, of the Seraphim; and Marrs. Edwards sad Cooper for
the owners of the Fanny Bock.
The examination of witnesses having been concluded,

Yr. Fox handed in a ataternealT el John Whitmore
Bennett, commander in the Royal and Imperial Mail
Packet Service.

Mr. Fox having sddremed the court on behalf of Captain
Bennett, the bench remained en hour in consultation.
The Mayor then said—After • most careful and 11111i0W1
consideration of the voluminous and contradictory evidence
take° on this inquiry we have come to the conclusion that
the captain of the Simphire, who is wholly responsible for
the conduct and management of his vessel, is culpable of
haring driven his vessel at so great a speed across one of
the most frequented and narrow seas in the world on so
dark and hazy a night as that of the 13th of December.
The attendant circansetanoss, however, are such, and the
default of the barque in not properly exhibiting a sufficient
light from the lamps having to some extent contributed to
the damage and loss of life, we do not think we should
be justified in awarding so severe a sentence as either the
deprivation or the suspension of his certificate. The cir-
cumstance' to which we allude, and which we think it right
now to mention, without waiting for the publication of our
report, are :-1. The provisions of the contract for carrying
the mails, which holds out a direct premium for quick pas-
sages in all weathers • and the natural desire of the captain
to gain the premium and avoid the penalty on behalf of his
employers. 2. The great moral pressure put npoo both the
owners and commanders of the vessel' by the public, who
require the utmost despatch to be used in the transmission
of these mails, and the dears of the passengers fre-
quenting the route for quick passages—a desire which
can only be gratified, in eases like the present,
by the neglect of some of those precautions which we think
indispenxable for safety. The great interest evinced by the
public in these proceedings has induced us in thus an-
nouncing our decision to go farther into detail than we
should otherwise have considered it incumbent on us. The
various other questions arising on this inquiry as to the
conduct of the crew of the Samphire after the collision, and
other matters, will be more fully entered into io our de-
tailed report to the Board of Trade. The Mayor (then ad-
dressing Captain Bennett) : " The court has great pleasure
in handing back your certificate, and at the same time
testifying to your laudable exertions in endeavouring to
save life after the collision."

An outburst of applause from the assembly in court
greeted the announcement of the decisioo.
Mr. O'Dowd, on the part of the Board of Trade, ten-
dered hie thanks to the Mayor and his brother magistrate
for the patience and ability exhibited by them during this
inquiry ; also for the valuable assistance rendered by the
nautical assessors and for the courtesy displayed by tLe
several advocates who appeared in the case.