The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-11 00:00:00

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MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

(Before Mr. Serjeant Dowling, Deputy-Assistant-Judge.)
Frederick Veittris, 44, clerk, was indicted for embezzling
the sum of 131. 14s. 6d. received by him for and on ac-
count of Joseph Francis, his muter.
Mr. F. 11. Lewis prosecuted ; the prisoner was unde-
fended. _ _

The prosecutor is a wholesale stationer, carrying on
business at 113, Aldersgate-street, and the prisoner was
employed by him to make up his books and write accounts.
Amongst other persons he was directed to write to Messrs.
Noble, of Trowbridge, for a sum of 147. odd. and it ap-
peared from a signature on the bock of the draft for
1:1/. 14s. lid. that it was in the prisoner's handwriting,
and this sum he never accounted for. _

The prisoner cross-examined the prosecutor at consider-
able length and with great severity, for the purposo of
showing that be was entitled to more money for his ser-
vices than the cheque represented.
When the case had been going on some time one of the
jurymen (Mr. Collingwood) was taken suddenly ill with
fainting fit, and was carried from the court, but although
be afterwards somewhat recovered, he was unable to re-
sume his duties, and another juryman took his place.
This necessitatea the whole of the evidence given being
repeated.
The prisoner made a rambling sort of defence, and the
jury found him Guilty.
John Spittle, detective sergeant of the City police,
proved a former conviction against him, and said the pri-
soner was formerly clerk to Messrs. Quitter. Ball, and Jay,
the accountants, and was sent down to Northampton to
audit the accounts in the bankruptcy of Poole, Bryant,
and Co., boot manufacturers. In conjunction with Poole,
one of the bankrupts, Chapman, a publican, Bellingham,
a furniture dealer, and Cooke, a leather merchant, the
prisoner assisted in getting away a quantity of the pro-
perty, and fraudulently disposing of it in venous parts of
the country. For this offence Poole, Ventris, and the
others, were tried for conspiracy and robbery at the Central
Criminal Court, on the 14th of January, 181i1, before Mr.
Justice Blackburn, and all were found guilty, and the
result of the convictions was that Poole (one of the bank-
rupts) was sentenced to be kept in penal servitude for
six years ; Ventris, the prisoner, and Chapman the pub-
limn at Northampton, each to four years ; Bellingham,
the furniture dealer, to be imprisoned and kept to hard
labour for 18 months ; and Cooke, the leather merchant,
for 12 months.

it.;;;;sct Dowling said he would defer 'waiting sen-
tence until to-day.

(Before qtr. Payne.)
Georgt Chick, 23, was convicted of stealing a pocket-
handkerchief from the person of a man unknown. The
prisoner, who is one of the most impudent fellows that
ever came before this court, was seen by the police to take
the handkerchief from a gentleman in New Bond-street.

Mr. Payne—ls anything known of him!
The prisoner declared the police were always making a
business of speaking falsely against people.
Warders Reeves, King, and Smith, of the House of Cor•
rection, and Shrives, $2 C, proved eight convictions
against the prisoner for felony.
The prisoner—Oh, they will swear anything, and when
they get downstairs, why, they say it is "business"to
speak falsely. Well, as it is their living, I suppose I must
not mind. (Laughter.)
Warder Smith—There is another three years against you.
The prisoner —I told you it was business, didn't I!
They will find something else against me presently.
Mr. Payne—l have got enough. The sentence of the
court upon you is that yon be kept in penal servitude for
seven years.
The prisoner—Seven years ! Well, they way well call
it business. The idea ! seven years for a (pocket-
handkerchief).
The prisoner was removed, laughing heartily.

THE POLICE COURTS

MANSION-HOUSE.

Charles William. Lee Weoher, Jaws Haasforel Deans,
Thorns &mirk, and Lionel Holdstrorth were brought up,
and finally committed by Mr. Alderman }lnnis for trial at
the next sessions of the Central Criminal Court, for com-
plicity in the casting away the ship Severn on the high

George O. Hoimml, late managing clerk to Messrs. Bell
and Black, the wax-match manufacturers, of Bow-lane,
was brought up on a warrant for embezzlement and
forgery, having been captured after considerable difficulty
by the skill and adroitness of Detective-officers Brett and
Foulger.
The prisoner is accused of complicity with his fellow.
clerk, David Allan, whose case was reported ye.tenlay,
and was remanded until Wednesday next to be then
brought up with Allan for further examination.
Mr. T. Beard appeared for the prosecution ; Mr.
Buchanan was instructed for the defeuoe.
GUILDHALL.

Oeorye Randall, who refused his address, and Genrat
Davis, who said he lived at the Ship lodging house, iu
Rent-street, in the Borough, were placed at the bar on
remand, before Alderman William Lawrence, charged
with attempting to utter a counterfeit shilling, and also
with having in their possession a number of counterfeit
coins, with intent to pass them.
It appeared from the evidence that on Saturday after-
noon Davis went into the shop of Mr. Cooper, a butcher,
in Newgate-street, and purchased a pound of pork sau-
sages, in payment for which he tendered a bad shilling.
The youth to whom it was offered detected the baseness of
the coin, and refused to take it. Davis then gave a good
shilling and received sixpence change, and went away.
The youth Cooper then pointed the prisoners out to Henry
Cleaaby, a cart-minder in Newgate-street, and he followed
them to Farringdon-street, where he met with Lammas, a
constable, and they both took the prisoners into custody.
On searching them it was found that Randall had on him
four counterfeit florins, done up in paper, with • piece of
tissue paper between each of them. and live bad shillings.
On Davis was found the one bad shilling he attempted to
plea.
The prisoners, who said they found the coins in a parcel
in the street, were fully committed for trial.

HOW-STREET.
Ralph Pope, • youth of about 18 years of age, was
charged w.th stealing a coat, • watch, a silk necktie, and
a purse, belonging to the cook and two lodger,' at a coffee-
house in Hed Lion-street, where he was staying.
Thomas Temkin', the cook, said that he slept in a room
adjoining that occupied by the prisoner, who came there
last Saturday. He said that he was a barman out of
situation. He went out, saying he was going either to
the Princess's Theatre, or to the Bedford-hall at Camden-
town. After he went out, witnessed missed his watch and
necktie, and, suspecting the prisoner, went in search of
him. He first went to the Bedford-ball, and not finding
the pi Boner there, he proceeded to the Princess's Theatre,
where be saw the prisoner coming out at the close of the
performances, followed him home, and gave him into
custody. The watch was taken from the prisoner's
pocket by the policeman, and, upon • further search at
the station-house, the silk necktie was found in another
pocket, also • duplicate of • pawnbroker's ticket for •
colt. Tho watch and chain were worth Ma., and the coat

Fredmic George Linton, who lodges in the same room
as the last witnesa, stated that he missed a coat at the
same time as the latter missed hia watch. He identified
the coat, which was produced by the pawnbroker's assis-
tant.

James Thomas Poole, assistant to Mr. Harding, pawn-
broker, Holborn, produCed the coat, and identified the
prisoner as having pledged it for tts., in the name of Wil-
kins. _ _ _

John Lloyd, a waiter, also lolging at the coffee-house,
and sleeping In the same room with the prisoner, said that
he was going up to Holloway on Wednesday morning, and
when he wanted to pay his omnibus fare he missed his
purse from his trousers pocket. He had it safe the night
before, when there was 20s. in silver in it. The purse
(empty) was found on the prisoner at the station.
The Prisoner—There was only 18s. in the purse.
Sir Thomas Henry—A difference of 2s. Well, that is
not very materiaL But you can have that takeu down if
lon wish it.
Chamberlain, 16.1 E. said he was called in by the first
witness to take the prisoner in custody. The prisoner
said, " I stole the watch, and I have given it back to the
prosecutor. I stole the coat and pledged it in Holborn."
He was committed for trial,
LAMBF,TH.

Charles Williams, a middle-aged man, and notorious
sharper, was placed at the bar before Mr. Elliott, on •
charge of stealing 4/. 103., the property of James Devon-
shire Stanley. • Whit.
The prosecutor, • middle-aged man, said that on Satur-
day last he reached town from Liverpool, and wishing to
proceed to Portsmouth he called at the Waterloo station,
and inquired from one of the shoeblacks there at what
time the neat train to that place started. While speaking
to the lad the prisoner approached, and addressing him
said the train for Portsmouth would start at four, and that
he (prisoner), his wife, and children were going by it. The
prisoner recommended him to leave his bag and hat at the
station, and invited him to take • walk, saying they
should be back in time enough, and suspecting nothing
wrong he did as he told him. On lamed. g the station the
prisoner said he was just returned from Australia, was
anxious to see his friends at Portsmouth, and asked him
to have something to drink. They entered • public-house
not far from the station, and had not been there many
moments when two well-dressed persons entered, and one
of them, • "strange-looking cove," said be had just come
from his " lawyer," from whom he had • 401. bill to spend,

ar.ii clri.letq,eil to toss the prisoner for a sovereign. The
prisoner replied lie supposed he believed they were with-
out a sovereign, but he should soon convince him to the
conttary, for he should not only produce a sovereign him-
self, but his friend should produce one also. The prisoner
then asked him to produce a sovereign, saying it was all
right, but to do this be was obliged to take it from a belt
round hie body, where he had altogether V. 10s. in gold.
While doing this all three men looked on, examined his belt
with some curiosity, and admired his caution and prudence,
telling him at the same time that there were a great many
sharps about, and that he could not be too careful of them.
By the prisoners advice he put down four sovereign,at
once on the table, and these he deliberately took up and
handed them to one of the other men. He neat, at his re-
quest, put down his last half-sovereign, and this the pri-
soner packed up also. One of the men here said be kept
an oilsbop in the neighbourhood, and being without money
he must go home and get some. The prisoner and the
other man told him (witness) to go home with the man,
and see that he came back, and on getting a little way from
the house, that person recommended him to return to the
public-house and see that the other two did not go away
with his money. He hastened back to the public-house,
and discovered that as soon as be was gone they had
disappeared, so that he lost sight of all three, and heard
nothing of them until that day. About two hours before,
in passing through King William-street, City, he caught
eight of the prisoner, and at once charged him with rob-
bing him of V. 10s. Tho prisoner at once ackowledged the
offence, and said he was sorry for it, but he supposed it
would be all right if he bad his money back. At this
time a City policeman came up, and he gave him into
custody.
City constable 723 confirmed the prisoner's admission,
and his saying on his taking him that be was looking for a
friend from whom to get the money for the prosecutor,
when he (the constable) took him into custody.
Mr. Elliott (to the prism:awl—Yon have beard the
charge against you. Is it your wish to say anything in
reply to it?
Prisoner—l have nothing to say at present, only that I
wish a remand.

Mr. Elliott—l don't see the necessity fora remand. Yon
are committed for trial.

Prisoner (with evident stirprise)—What, not allow me •
remand—not even till to-morrow, to have professional ad-
vice?

Mr. Elliott—l shall commit you at once. You have
admitted your fault, and if you want legal assistance, you
Cllll.ltave.it on your trial... . .

The priiioner-was accordingly committed.

THE TRIAL, or THE MANAGING DIRECTOR
OP THE JOINT STOCK DISCOUNT COMPANY.

After our report left yesterday,

Mr. Coleridge proceeded to add—s
the jury on be-
half of the defendant. The learned counsel commenced
by observing that there were only two persons in the world
who could give the fullest and most complete explanation
of the transactions outof which this prosecution arose; the
one (Kiernan) was abroad, and could not be called as •
witness, and the other was the gentleman who was now at
the bar to answer this charge. To the great detriment of
the defendant, the matter now under the consideration of
the court and jury had been discussed in the public prints
with great vehemence, and thereby much prejudice had
necessarily been generated, and it was impossible but that
the jury would more or less be influenced by what they
had read against the defendant ; but he (Mr. Coleridge)
invited them to distrust and suspect judgments, supported
no doubt by ingenious arguments, and to decide the ques-
tion to be submitted to them on the evidence which had
been adduced before them. It would be remem-
bered, and therefore he need scarcely remind the
jury of the crash of this company in the course of
the monetary crisis which occurred in the course
of the last spring, and which had brought the affairs of
the company before the official liquidator appointed by the
Court of Chancery, by whom the defendant bad been
examined after the discovery by the liquidator of an error.
The defendant on that examination explained the account
between the company and the firm of Capper and Lawson,
and stated that the item of 81.0/. was a loan which must
have been made on his authority on the 24th August,
When the defendant made that statement his
attention had never been called to Capper and Lawson's
account of the transaction, nor to the fact that he was
being examined to give evidence in order to make out a
case against himself for defrauding the company. This
prosecution was now approaching to a termination,
but not without the defendant having suffered the
indignity of an incarceration in Newgate, for be
it remembered that the Lord Mayor refused
which one of the judges of the land conceded.
For the harshness manifested towards the defendant
he had very good cause of complaint. The defendant had
been a gentleman holding a high position long before this
company had been started. The transactions of the com-
pany had been enormous, and the defendant bad been
greatly overworked, so much so that from time to time he
had asked for assistance. The truth was, that but for
Kiernan's insolvency the affairs of the company would
have gone on prosperously, and this case would rever have
been heard of. He (Mr. Coleridge) contended that the
bona fides of the defendant in all these transactions was
amply and abundantly proved by the fact that he was the
largest shareholder, and was practically the owner of the
concern, and therefore was the last person in the world to
do anything to injure the company. He (Mr. Coleridge)
felt confident that the jury would not regard the defendant
as • fool, or he would not have evinced (if be wished to
defraud the company) that want of caution which had been
imputed to him, namely, that of manufacturing evidence
against himself by entries in the company's books. If
the defendant bad desired to defraud the company by the
aid of a conspirator, he could have done so, but it was an
outrage upon common sense that he would have adopted
the stupid means imputed to him to defraud the com-
pany of (to bins) the paltry sum of 5,000/. The defend-
ant had no motive to commit the acts alleged, and to
establish his guilt • misappropriation of the funds
of the company must be proved ; and secondly, it
must be established that such misappropriation was
fraudulent. He (Mr. Coleridge) contended that the
prosecution bad wholly failed to prove either the
one point or the other. By these proceedings they had
shut the mouth of the defendant, and denied him the
chance or the opportunity of explanation. It was, how-
ever, their duty to establish beyond reasonable doubt the
allegations they had raised against the defendant, and
they had wholly failed to do so. Though the fact
wsa now forgotten by Mr. Hill, the assistant
manager, it had been proved beyond doubt, on the
evidence of Ramsay (Capper and Lawson's clerk) that be
had delivered the 377 shares, and had received the cheque
for 4,000/. The explanation of this matter appeared to be
that Kiernan. wanting an advance from Megaw, applied to
and borrowed some shares from the defendant as a secu-
rity for that advance, and thus the shares wore delivered
to Megaw, and the whole transaction was one of an ordi-
nary character as between the defendant and Kie-
rnan. In the tame way the advance of 4,0001. was
made bona fide to Capper and Lawson by the witness
Hill on the security of shires really belonging to the de-
fendant. The same argument applied equally well to the
8001. cheque, which in all probability Hill advanced to
Capper Lod Lawson on the security of the other 144
shares. The witness did not in any way pretend to say
that he had not done so ;he only said that he had no re-
collection of the matter. Such transactions might well
have taken place without the knowledge of the defendant,
who was overwhelmed with business. It had been shown
that Kiernan had been debited in the books of the com-
pany with the price of the shares, and this transaction was
one merely of advantage to the company. It was
an assistance to one who bad been proved to have
been • benefactor to the concern, to enable him to raise
money from another bank. All these transactions be con-
tended were perfectly legitimate. and could have been
fully explained if Saltine:eh, clerk to Kiernan, bad been
produced as a witness. Those which hail been desig-
nated as being fraudulent entries could by him have been
triutuebantly explained, if the defendant could be ex-
amine( himself to explain them. The reel and true ex-
planation would have been ascertained if the mouth of
the defendant had not been closed by this criminal prose-
cution. On the whole, he (Mr. Coleridge) submitted that
the evidence for the prosecution was so weak, that he
felt assured the jury would not be satisfied to do other-
wise than vindicate the character of the defendant by a
verdict of acquittal.
Mr. John Abel Smith, /CP., a member of the firm of
Smith, Payne and Smiths, Mr. John Gurney Hoare, of
the firm of Bernet, Hoare. and Co., and a number of mer-
chants of considerable standing were called, and gave
the defendant the highest character for upright and
honourable conduct during periods extending from 17 to
'0 years.
Mr. heron Pigott elaborately and with great minuteness
summed up the whole of the evidence, occupying in the
discharge of that duty upwards of an hour.
The jury retired, and after an absence of half an hour
returned into court with • verdict of Gnats, accompanied
with • recommendation to mercy on account of the del en-
slant's previous good character and the pressure of busi-
ness imposed upon him.
Mr. Baron Pigott was about to pass sentence when the
governor of Newgate intimated thatthe defendant washed
to say something to the court.
Mr. Baron Pigott—By all means.

The Defendant, in the most emphatic but cow.
posed manner, said : My Lord and gentlemen of tee
jury, I swear in the presence of God that I am entirely
innocent of the shameful charge imputed to me. If the
witness Saltruarsh had been called, it would all have been
set right. As I said before the Lord Mayor so I now
repeat, that I am as innocent as the babe that is unborn
of this most serious charge. I however bow to the decision
of the jury.
Mr. Baron Pigott said it was his painful duty to pane
sentence upon the defendant, and notwithstsniling the
asseveration he had just made, he (Mr. Baron Pigott) felt
hound to say that after full consideration he concurred in
the decision at which, after careful consideration, the jury
had arrived. The production of the witness alluded to by
the defendant would not in any degree hare altered the
ease against him. The legislature, under the act of par:
Bement under which the defendant was indicted, had
fixed the maximum of punishment at Doren years' penal
servitude. hnt the recommendation of the jury induced
him to mitigate that sentence, which be now pronounced,
to live years' penal servitude.