The Express.
London, England, 1866-06-19 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.

- - -
Sittings at Nisi Prius in Middlesex.—(Before Lord Chief
Justice Erie anti a Special Jury.)
HANKINS AND OTHERS V. WEST.
The plaintiffs in this case were iron founders, in business
at Liverpool and in London ; and the defendant, Lieut.-
Colonel West, was the owner of the Surrey Theatre. Soon
after the theatre was burnt in Feb., 186.3, steps were taken to
rebuild it, and Mr. Ellis was employed as architect. Orders
were given by him for iron work which was supplied by
the plaintiffs to the amount of 2,6881. 13s. Of this sum
1,5001. has been paid, and the present action was to recover
the balance.
Mr. G. Denman, Q.C., and Mr. Hutton appeared for the
and Mr. Prentice for the defendant.
In the course of the case some discussion took place
between the learned counsel, in the course of which it was
stated that one of the principal questions was whether Mr.
Ellis had authority to order the goods upon the credit of
Colonel %Vest. In addition to this there was also a ques-
tion of amount.
Under those circumstances an arrangement was come to
that the whole matter should be referred to arbitration.

THE POLICE COURTS.
(THIS DAY.)

CLERKNIVELL.
A SKITTLE SHARPER CHARGED WITH STEALING 3151.
Jahn Hard man Fawley, aged 5.1, who described himself
as a jeweller, residing at 51, Rookham-street, New North-
road, was charged before Mr. D'Eyncourt with being con-
cerned with others not in custody in stealing 315 f., the
property of Mr. Silver Sylvester, farmer, of Kittleow,
Norfolk, and of Colney Hatch.
Mr. Ricketts, solicitor, defended.
From the evidence of police-sergeant Evans, 22 G, and
police-constable Short, 77 G, two altive officers, it appeared
that the prisoner was a well-known skittle sharper, not
only in London, but at Liverpool and Dublin. The
prosecutor was passing through the City, when he was met
by the prisoner, and after some conversation, he was in-
duced to enter a tavern, and have something to drink.
Whilst there a man came in, and said lie had had a lut
a money left him, remarked that he was a very strong
man, and made a bet with the prisoner that he could throw
a weight a very long distance. After some conversation the
prosecutor was induced to go to the Mortimer Arms pub-
lic-house, Mortimer-road, Kingslauld, to see fair, and when
there, instead of throwing a weight, skittle playing was
introduced and betting begun. The prosecutor went to
the City in a cab, accompanied by the prisoner,
and changed a cheque fur 3151., returned to the
above public-house, and there had the whole of his
money taken from him, the prisoner and his companions
decamping. This took place more than 12 months since,
and the prisoner has been out of the way until he was ap-
prehended at a brothel at Bookham-street, Holton.
When taken he denied any knowledge of the transaction,
and said the prosecutor must be mistaken.
The prosecutor did not attend to-day, and it was stated
that he had received a portion of his money back.
Mr. D'Eyncourt discharged the prisoner, and told him
that if he was brought here again on a similar charge he
would certainly send him for trial.

DEATH OF SIR W. M. T. FARQUHAR, BART.
We regret to announce the death of Sir Walter Minto
Townsend Farquhar, Bart., M.P. for Hertford, which
occurred yesterday afternoon, at the family residence in
Berkeley-street, Berkeley-square. It will be remembered
that Sir Walter was taken with sudden illness in the
House of Commons, about a fortnight ago. as it was sup-
posed at the time from congestion of the brain. The hon.
baronet was a conservative in politics.
SHOCKING SUICIDE OF A LADY AT GREENWICH.
—Mr. C. J. Cartter, coroner, held an inquiry yesterday
afternoon, at the Greenwich Union, into the circumstances
attending the death of Mrs. Frances Henderson, aged 52,
a lady of independent property, of 2V, Vauxhall-bridge-
road, Pimlico, who was found dead, with her throat cut.
It appeared that the deceased left home on the morning of
Saturday, the 9th inst., for the purpose of calling upon
various tradesmen, and ordering goods for the house, but
she was never seen after that time. A. few evenings since
Miss Wheeler, a young lady, resident at Greenwich, was
walking through her father's grounds, known as " The
Woodlands," and in a secluded spot her attention was
attracted to a frog, and on looking down and along the
, she saw what she took to be the body of a
Ole, the face only being just visible. Having called
assistance, a man went to the spot, and there found
the deceased sitting on sloping ground, with her feet
' against a tree to prevent her from slipping, and with her
throat cut, the windpipe being completely severed. In her
right hand the deceased groped tightly a pocket-knife,
with which the injury had been inflicted, and in her pos-
session were also found four phials,which had all contained
laudanum, and a tumbler, perfectly clean and dry. Mr.
Cogan, surgeon, who was brought to the deceased, gave it
as his opinion that life had been extinct four or five days.
To have reached the spot the deceased had to crow a field
and get over a fence ; and before committing suicide she
took off her bonnet and lace shawl, and placed a handker-
chief in her lap. The handkerchief was found to be filled
with blood, while the upper portion of the dress was very
slightly soiled. No trace of poison was found in the body,
though deceased had purchased laudanum at three
druggists' shops at Greenwich. Evidence was given to
show that she had exhibited a strangeness of manner of
late, and her medical attendant added that the knife
found in the hand of the deceased was one she prized as
the only thing she had ever found. The jury returned •
verdict That the deceased committed suicide while
labouring under temporary derangement."
A CABINET IN DANGER.—A letter from Madrid,
In the Indepeudance Bibs, speaks of a plot to which the
ministers of the Queen of Spain had nearly fallen victims.
They had been to Aran)uez to be present at a council, and
were to return to Madrid towards midnight. After the last
train from Alioant had passed, at half-past 10, the guard
posted not far from the river Jarama perceived some per-
sons loitering near the line. Suspecting something wrong,
after a short delay he repaired to the spot and found the
rails encumbered in • manner calculated to produce
an socident of the most disastrous nature. At a certain
point of the line overlooking the river, just where there
was a sudden turn, a large block of unwrought iron had
been placed on the left hand rail, and another of less
height on the right, both at an acute angle, so that a
train coming on at speed would run a great chance of
being tilted over into the river. The obstacles were of
course immediately removed, and the ministers passed
in safety and knew nothing of the danger they had
escaped till they were informed of it by the directors of
the railway. An inquiry has been instituted.
A Sea monster has been caught in Bateman's Bay
It resembles • huge turtle, having four large flippers. It
is covered with • bony shield extending from one ex-
tremity to the other, bread and bard at the anterior part,
and graduating with softer consistency to • point at the
posterior end. This mesons covering has five prominent
ridges extending longitudinally over its surface. Time
head and neck resemble those of • tortoise. It wei_;hs
15 cwt., sad is 13ft. biog.— New South Wales paper.