The Express.
London, England, 1859-01-26 00:00:00

THAMES.

A poor woman named Catherine Walker, of N 0.4, Hanover.
street, Rotherhithe, applied to Mr. Yardley for a warrant to
apprehend a man named Johnson, a showman, who to the
proprietor
of a place of amnaement commonly known as the
penny gaff,' opposite Limehouse Church.
The woman made a rambling and somewhat confused
statement, from which our reporter gather( d that her child,
• boy, was stolen front her ten years ago, when he was only
four years of am. The place where aba mimed the coil
was "beyond Hearin" 190 miles from London." She never
saw or heard of her child until last Tuesday week, when she
found him in possession of Mr. Johnson, • it play-actor,"
who said he bought him for 7m. eight years and nine month'
ago, and had brought him up as an "hector" ever since. She
had fear children at home. She was a very poor woman, and
she hoped justice would be done her.
Mr. Yardley said the statement was a most extraordinary
one. The abduction of a child was a felony, and he thought
the person who originally abducted the child was liable,
end he should like to punish that person. Mr. Yardley
then reel the clause in the sot of parliament, and mid it
applied to the tenon who originally abdooted the child.
He did not think Johnson wee liable under the statute, bat If
be had bought the child he had done that which was highly
reprehensible, and had no right to detain the boy an instant
against the wish of its parents.
Mee. Walker—He bought my child for 7.. your worship.
Mr. Yardley—WelL my notion if, there is no case agaWt
Johnson. Let the inspector of the K division make inquiries
about this. _ . .

The magistrate then sent for Inspector Beare, of the K
division, and he soon afterwards arrived. The magistrate
explained the cam to hint, and said if any parsone had ab-
ducted a child four peers of awe they ought to be brought to
juetioe.
Mr. Beare said the woman came to the Poplar statics. ,
hones, where he officiated, and complained that Johnson had
been exhibiting her stolen child about the country at fairs
and races for many years, and that he had been stolen. He
walled npm Johnson, who mid he received the child of •
wandering woman eight years and nine mouths ago. Hrs.
Johnson afterwards come to the station-house and said that
ohs and her husband were willing to pert with the boy, and
he had been restored to his mother.
Mr. Yardley—That is • sign of good faith on tho part of
tha Johnson,. The probabilities of the case are, that John-
son did not keep the child away from the mother knowingly.
I will leave themes in your hands, Mr. Beare and you will
pursue your inquiries and take the accessary slops.

POACHING AFFRAY NEAR NOTTINGHAM. A
goachieg affray of a most violent character took place early
ea Monday morning at Shel ford, near Nett ir ghsm, on the pra-
t/ems of the Earl of Cheateifield, acveu miles from Notting-
ham. It appears that about one o'd.* six gacekeepers
were on the watch in the above ground*, when they disco-
vered &number of nett, near to which were ebout 20 poachers.
The keepers attempted to capture some of the men, when •
regular maie took place. Life preserver., loaded sticks, and
other dangerous weapons were mod by the poacher.. The
keepers let loose their dogs, when some of the poechers
shouted out " stab them," and three dogs were shortly
afterwards seriously wounded. The scuffle between Itimeries
wee terrific, and one of the keeper., named wood
wee seriously wounded. Some of the poachers Mao recdwili
dangerous wounds. One of them, named Ward, got man
severe blows on the head, and was captured. The keepers also
succeeded in taking another of the poachers named Wooleatos,
alias Corneae. They wets yestenisy morning taken
berme Mr. lb. Birkin, a county magistrate, and, after a abort
private examination, remanded until Saturday.he poachers
were disguised in slouched hate, and other hof wearing
apparel. The police are exercising the utmost vigilance to
senate them who eacaped. The keepers state that the
wounded poacher, Ward, received his it.juriee from his own
party—the blow having been intended fur one of theta/Tars,
who eluded it, the weapon fallirg with terrific violence upon
the head of the captured poacher. The poacher Ward is not
impeded to recover—he has not been able to speak since his
capture.