The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-30 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

MANSION-HOUSE.

Joseph Swain, a cab iroprietor, of Cornwall-road,
Lambeth, was charged with driving a cab while in a state
of intoxication, and with being without a license,

Cons..able taint, F noticed the defendant in charge
of a 09..) on Wednesday afternoon, but as he was very
drunk, and in an unfit state, be took him into custody.
On his being taken to the station it was ascertained that
be had been driving without a licensv, in consequence of
which the ease was remanded on Thursday morning, in
order that inquiries might be made.
The constable now stated that he had gone to the de.
fendant's house, and that his wife said he had not had •
license since the first Exhibition. Search was made in the
books at Scotland-yard, but no trace was found of his
name at that date. He was the proprietor of six cabs.
Mr. Ring appeared for the defendant, and hoped that as
he had already been in prison since Wednesday the magia-
trata would consider that sufficient punishment. If not,
he might state in mitigation of the tine that as the man
who usually drove this cab was unwell on the day in ques-
tion, the defendant undoubtedly did take upon himself to
drive without • license, but he was unaware of the serious
character of the offence.

Mr. Alderman Lusk said the defendant had rendered
himself liable to a penalty of 101. for driving without •
license, and to a fine of Is. for being drunk. It was pain-
ful to see • man in the position of the defendant delibe-
rately break the law in this way, and set so bad an ex-
ample to his men. He had no wish to send him to prison,
and as he had been already there for three days he thought
justice ends of justi would be met by imposing a fine of 5/.,
or 14 day.' imprisonment. It was no use inflicting a fine
of a sovereign, is on a common cabman, because that
would be no punishment at all.

John Walpole, a porter in the employment of the
Great Northern Railway, residing at 15, Whitecrus.
place, Finsbury, was charged with being drank and dis-
orderly, and smutting three polioevoustables in the
Minones on Friday afternoon.
The evidence showed that the defendant had been
drank, conducting himself in a very violent manner, and
that on being apprehended be Resulted the officers,
abusive language towards them, and tore the kronur* of
Sergeant Short. Ultimately he had to be strapped to a
stretcher before being conveyed to the police-station.
The defendant said he thought it was sufficient for the
police to knock him about u they did without bringing •
charge against him to-day. He had been knocked about
most shamefully, and wee in a fitter state for a hospital
than a prison.
Mr. Alderman Lush—What have you got to say about
obstructing and assaulting the police ?
Defendant said he was drunk, and did not remember
anything about it.
His wife here stood forward and stated that he had been
in the employment of the railway company for fifteen
years, and had always borne a good character. Sbe
hoped the magistrate would deal leniently with the
cue, as she had az little children at home.

Tie Alderman said the defendant wu a roan in a good
situation, and ought to have known better. He must be
taught that he could not knock the police about with im-
punity, seeing that they were paid by the public to pre-
serve order. The sentence would be 14 days' imprison-
ment with bard labour...

Defendant requested his worship to inflict a fine, but
this wu refused ; upon which the man, in a very dejected
manner, said be should never get over it.
He was then removed.

William David Laughtms, a well-dressed young man,
residing in Upper Stamford-street, Waterloo-road, ap-
peared to answer a charge of having stolen a copy a the
novel entitled "Ms Lady's Mile," from Messrs. Smith
and Son's bookstall, at Cannon-street station, on Friday
afternoon.

Defendant was observed to take up the book and pot it
under his coat, and then walk away. Upon being taken
to the station-master's office he eonfessed the theft, and
asked to be let off, as be had never done anything of the
kind before. He was, however, given into custody, and
on being searched a sum of U. 17s. ld., a pair of gloves,
• latch key, and some other articles, were found in his
session. He He was • clerk out of employment, and had taken
lodgings in Stamford-street on Monday. The constable
went to hie lodgings, and found in his chest a table cover
and some chintz, the property of Mr. Fisher, upholsterer,
Old Kent-road.

Mr. Fiaher identified the property, and said the defendant
had been in his employment for ►bout three months. He
bad taken him without a character, and knew nothing of
his previous character. At the end of three months he
had had to dismiss him.

Defendant, who took the matter quite coolly, said that
Mr. Fisher had given him the chintz, and that he had
taken the table cover became Mr. Fisher had dismissed
him at a moment's notice, and refused to pay him his full
salary.
The Alderman said it would be for the defendant's good
to remand him for a day or two, as he was a very cool
young gentleman, and it would be necessary to find out
all about him.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
_ _

John Thomas Bell was finally examined, charged with
stealing five rings value 8001., the property of the Marquis
of Hastings.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Hastings were present.
Mr. K Lewis, for the prosecution, said that the fre-
quent remands in this case had arisen from the necessity
of making the strictest inquiry respecting the statements
made by the prisoner, which had thrown suspicion on all
the servants of the hotel and the servants of the Marquis
of Hastings. The rings were traced to the possession of
the prisoner within two or three hours after they were
stolen. The prisoner had made two different statements
as to the wanner in which he had obtained the rings.
First he said he had won them of • gentleman at a game
of billiards, and after he had been in custody for some
days he said the rings were presented to him at St.
George's Hotel by • strange female.
' The Marchioness of Hastings was then called, and sworn
—She said, the five rings are my property. I missed also
a sixth ring. The last time I saw three of the rings wee
on the 15th of July, bat I do not distinctly remember see-
ing the other two during the month of July. I have left
them on the chimney-pesce, but they were generally kept
in the casket. I came up to town on the 20th of July, and
I mimed the rings on the 22nd.
In answer to Mr. Knox, the marchioness stated that
Mies Bradley, her maid, had lived in her service for twelve
months. She had known her for three years, and the
marquis had known her longer. She had never bad reason
to doubt her probity.
Inspector Silvester said he apprehended the prisoner
at the White Bear Hotel, on • charge of stealing
a waistcoat and other articles from another hotel.
After taking him into custody on that charge, witness
told him he would be charged with stealing rings from
St. George's Hotel, whereupon ha said they wore won
from • gentleman at billiards. But after his first examina-
tion in court be said he received them from • lady whom
he had wet in Bond-street, and who took him to an hotel
in Albemarle-street. He went up with her, he said, into
a room on the first floor, where he remained for some time,
and the rings ware then given to him by the lady from •
case which he deacribed. Prisoner also said he made an
appointment with the lady to meet him again, but she did
not keep that appointment. He said the lady was about
the middle height, wore a black silk dress and mantle,
with ribbons hanging between the shoulders. Two of the
rings were pledged at Mr. Brown's, Leicester-square; another
was sold in Oxford-street, and another was sold to a person
off Regent-street. He said he bad bad • sixth ring,
which he lost while fishing in Scotland, but afterwards he
denied having more than five rings. In order to times the
prisoner's statement witness had all the servants in the
hotel and those in the Marquis of Hastings' service placed
in a room for the pr 'imner to see. When be entered the
room, he started back, and said, " That will do." Pri-
soner said he received from Mr. Crouch 181. for one of the
rings. The prisoner hare denied that he had told the wit-
ness he had lost • ring while out fishing. Witness further
stated that be bad examined the back stein at the hotel
and found that they communicated directly with the MN-
chimer of Hastings' dressing-room and with the apart-
ments occupied by the marquis, as well es the rest of the
house.

Mr. Knox then directed that Miss Bradley should leave
the court, and asked Lady Hastings several questions as to
how she disposed of her time on the Sunday previous to
the robbery, in order to test the accuracy of what Miss
Bradley might say eating that period.
The prisoner red to state that Miss Bradley was not
the lady he had met, and she was not the person who gave
him the rings. He saw the woman at Goodwood.
Mr. E. Lewis said it was right the court should know
that a servant is Barkelerequas, amid Oleaseata, was