The Express.
London, England, 1866-11-22 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

WOBSHIP-STRICET.
A week since, a
sisx:table-looking young woman, who
gave the name of • Porter, and who stated her hus-
band be a tailor, erself • dressmaker, and that they
were living in Ware-street, Kingsland-road, was charged at
this court by Police-constable Hanson, 418 N, with im-
morally soliciting foot-passengers in the Kingsland-road,
between the hours of 11 and 12 on the previous night.
The constable was on duty at the time, end gave his
evidence succinctly and with apparent truthfulness. Some
slight descrepancy, however, between his testimony and
that of Sergeant Crisp, who took the charge at the elation-
house, was considered by Mr. Partridge material, combined
as it was with the evidence of a lady-like looking person
named Susannah Millwood, who described the prisoner as
a young woman who had done needlework for her
during a long period, together with other circum-
stances calculated to create an impression that she was in-
capable of the misbehaviour attributed to her, induced the
magistrate to direct her discharge, and at the same time he
marked the police charge-sheet as being worthy the
attention of the commissioners. Mr. Superintendent Mott
immediately received instructions to make inquiries, and
furnish his report of them.
Mr. Superintendent Mott now read from that report, that
the house where Sophia Porter resided was one of noto-
riously bad character, herself for years past as bad, and that
her witness Susannah Millwood was, to say the least of it,
very questionable. He (Superintendent Mott) had ascertained
all this to be an indisputable fact, and he challenged con-
tradiction to it ; he had directed each of them to be pre-
sent, but neither of them had come ; in fact, Dlillwood had
distinctly refused, and the other excused herself.
Mr. Partridge remarked that the discrepancy in the
police evidence, immaterial salt might appear, was to him
in such • case most material. He certainly was fearful
that the constable's evidence at the time was strained, but
he bad carefully guarded against any such charge, as
would be seen by the police-sheet, and the matter now
came before him in a very different light. It was perfectly
clear that the parties were disreputable, and he had great
pleasure tin withdrawing any remarks that might have
been made by him at the time reflecting upon the police
collectively or individually.
The matter then terminated.

SOIJTHWABS.
A diminutive and poorly-clad little boy, who gave I
the name of Harry Hayes, and described on the charge-
sheet as five years of age, was brought before Mr. Wool-
rych, by Sergeant M`Leoil, the acting inspector of the
Stones'-end station, charged with being found wander-
ing in the streets without home or any visible means of
subsistence.
Police-constable 59 M, said he saw the child crying near
St. George's Church, High-street, about 10 at night, imr-
rounded by several persons. He told witness he was very
cold and hungry and had no home ; consequently he took
him to the station house.
Mr. Woolrych had the poor little urchin brought round
to him, when he bad in one band • lump of bread and
butter and in the other some coppers given to him when
the constable found him.
Mr. Woolrych—What is your name, little boy?
Child—My name is Harry Hayes.
Mr. Woolrych—How old are you?
Child—Not quite five, sir. I ain't got no home, sir.
Mr. Woolrych—Have you • father and mother?
Child—l ain't got no father, sir, and I don't know where
my mother is.
Mr. Woolrych—Where have you been living?
Child—Nowhere, sir.
Mr. Woolrych—Where have you been sleeping lately!
Child—Some nights in the street ; last night • woman
took me home and let me sleep in her room.
Mr. Woolrych—When and where did you see your
motber lest!
Child—l ain't seen her for some days, and then she was
in a public house, drinking, sir. She banged me out and
sent me away.
Mr. Woolrych here asked whether anything was known
of the poor child's mother.
Sergeant M'Leod informed his worship that she was
well known to the police as a drunken, bad character, and
she bad several times been convicted on that account.
Mr. Woolrych observed that she was a most inhuman
creature in sending so young • child forth in the world
without any protection. He directed the officer to take
the child to the workhouse fur a week, and in the mean-
time the police would be able to find the mother and bring
I her before him.
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