The Express.
London, England, 1866-12-11 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.
(THIS DAY.)

MANSION-HOUSE.
THE CHARGE Ol SCUTTLING THE SEVERN.
At the Mansion-house this morning the four prisoners
Dean, Weld, Berwick, and Lionel Holdewortn, • ship and
insurance broker, who formerly carried on business at Li-
verpool and London, were brought before Alderman
mania, for further examination, upon the charge of wil-
fully destroying the Severn, for the purpose of defrauding
the underwriters of 113,0001., the amount of policies effected
upon the vesseL
Mr G. Lewis again appeared for the prosecution ; Mr.
Wontner defended Doan ; Mr. Buchanan appeared for
Webb and Berwick ; and Mr. T. Beard appeared for the
prisoner Holdsworth.
The evidence that was given was of the same character
as that which was adduced on the previous examinations.
A seaman named Whamww called, who stated, like the
other witnesses, that the weather was perfectly fine when
the Severn sprung the leak, and that there was no Appa-
rent cause for the mischief. He remained on board until
just before she sank.
Evidence was then adduced to show that Berwick was
in the habit of frequently calling upon the prisoner Webb
before the vessel sailed, and that appeared to be on
very friendly terms.
After a lengthened inquiry the prisoners were again re-
manded ; and it is said that other persona, who are
alleged to have been concerned in the fraudulent transac-
tion, will be taken into custody.

BOW STREET.
STEALING COATS, &c., FROM HALLS.
William Jennings and William Stewart, boys of 18 years
of age, the former describing himself as a clerk, and the
latter as of no occupation, were brought up in custody of
police-constable Tooley, 189 E, charged with stealing from
the hall of the house No. 1, Torrington-street, Torrington-
square.
Tooley said be was passing along Bedford-place with
the despatch bags from Clarka's-buildings to Hunter-
street station, when he saw the two prisoners on the
opposite side of the street, carrying something bulky
under their arms. A brewer's dray was going the same
way as the prisoners and he followed behind that until
he came up elme to them. When they saw him they ran
away and separated at the corner of Bloomsbury-square.
Witness pursued and apprehended Stewart, and the dray-
man captured Jennings.
Mr. Thomas Alexander Pooley, of No. 1, Torrington-
street, analytical chemist, identified the coats. One of
them belonged to him ;it was worth from 30s. to 2/. The
others belonged to friends of his, who were in the
house at the time. They dined with him that day.
All four were taken from the ball. Witness had
been wearing the coat produced that day, and bad
hung it in the hall when he came in. Two of his
friends came home with him, and the other afterwards.
About a quarter-past 8 the note produced was handed
to him. He came out to the passage, where he found a
lady. She asked him if he had missed any emits, as she
had seen a boy running round the corner, carrying some
on his arm.
Mary Ann Greenham,a widow, said chew s housekeeper
to Mr. Pooley. About 8 o'clock on Monday evening the
note was brought to her by a boy, and she took it to her
master, leaving the messenger in the . She could
not swear to the youth, but she fan; it was the prisoner
Jennings. When she came out the boy was gone and the
three coats had also disappeared.
William Henry Bishop, office-boy to Mr. Walter,
solicitor, 1, Southampton-street, Bloomsbury, said the
prisoner Stewart called on Monday afternoon with a
letter, undirected. Witness took it to the parlour, and
the prisoner followed him to the door. Wit.
nese called the attention of his master to this,
and his master, after looking at the note said
it was an unmeaning thing, and asked some ques-
tions of the prisoner, who gave some very unsatisfa-
tory answers. Mr. Walter observed that he thought the
prisoner had " come for no good." The prisoner replied
that be had " come for no harm." Mr. Walter detained
him for awhile, but ultimately let him go.
Mr. Inspector Griffith applied for a remand, as probably
other charges would be brought against the prisoners.
Mr. Pooley hoped the coats would be given up. It was
not pleasant weather to go about without one's great
coat. (A laugh.)
Mr. Flower' ordered the coats to be given up, but said
they must be produced again at the next hearing.
Mr. Pooley promised that this should be done.
The prisoners, who offered no defence, were remanded.
CLERKENWELL.
A POLICEMAN DISBELIEVE).
•

Mr. Mark Wade, a zinc worker and builder in an exten-
sive way of business at Tollington-place, Hornsey-park,
was charged before Mr. Barker with disorderly conduct,
and violently assaulting Police-constable James Elliott,
149 Y, in the execution of his duty.
Mr. Ricketts, solicitor, of Frederick-street, Gray's-inn-
road, appeared on behalf of the defendant, and at his
request the witnesses on both sides left the court.
The statement of the policeman was to the effect that
defendant struck him while in the yard of a public-house
without any provocation, and that he (the policeman)
once need his truncheon in defence. The account, how-
ever, given by his witness, an ostler, did not agree in se-
veral particulars with the complainant's statement.
Mr. Ricketts said that this was a most disgraceful
charge to bring against a respectable tradesman, and he
had no hesitation in saying that it had been supported by
perjury of the most gross description. He had witnesses
in attendance, respectable tradesmen who would prove
that the constable was the aggreseor, and all that Mr.
Wade did was to push him back when he was attacking
him with his staff.
Mr. Barker—l shall dismiss this complaint as Ido not
believe the constable or his witness.
Mr. Ricketts said there was no pretence for the charge.
He would call a witness to show that the constable first
assaulted Mr. Wade.
Mr. James Back, a seedsman and gardener, said he heard
a disturbance, and saw the constable go close to Mr. Wade,'
and then Wade said, " Don't tread on my toes ! " and
pushed the constable from him. The constable then
seized Mr. Wade by the throat and bit him several violent
blows with his staff. His use of the staff was quite un-
called for.
Mr. Barker dismissed the charge, and marked the sheet
as follows :—" The constable's evidence was so directly
contradicted by the witness ho called, as well as by a
witness called by the defendant, that I dismissed the
charge, and could not place any reliance on the evidence
of the constable."

WORSHIP-STREET.
Mr. Robert Milner Newton, the magistrate appoin'ed on
the removal of Mr. Major Wm. Cooke to Clerkenwell,
took his seat on the bench for the first time this morning.

WANDSWORTH.
CRUEL ABANDONMENT OF AN INFANT.

Ellen Lelia, • respectable-looking young woman, was
brought before Mr. Ingham on • charge of abandoning her
infant, 14 months old, outside the gate of the Wandsworth
and Clapham Union Workhouse.
This is the same child which, when only six weeks old,
was left on the door step at the house of Mr. Murphy, the
relieving officer of Battersea. The child was then
taken into the workhouse, and some time afterwards
the prisoner took it away. Subsequently the child
was placed in the care of a woman named
Leader, of North-street, Battersea, by the father,
who promised to pay sa. a week for its support. He
absconded, however, and did not pay the woman, who, on
seeking the advice of the Board of Guardians was told to
give the child to its parents, or the first one she saw. The
prisoner was the first she saw, and she placed the child
in her care. Shortly before 4 o'clock on the morning of
she 12th of October the watchman heard the cries of a
child, and on going out he saw the infant lying on the
stones in front of the gate. Before he opened the gate
the child had been picked up by a woman. The morning
was very cold, and the child was suffering from the ex-
posure. It was also insufficiently dressed, having neither
shawl nor hat to keep it warm. When the prisoner
was taken into custody, she said they ought to look after
her husband, as he was the one who ought to be taken.
Mr. Wilson, for the defence, said the prisoner was a
young woman who was deserving of sympathy, on account
of the conduct of her husband. _ _ _

Mr. Ingham said he would have sympathised with her
it she had not abandoned her child.

....
The prisoner said her husband had absconded with
another woman, leaving her to support two children. She
held up another child, which she said she had to support
by her own servitude.

Mr. Ingham thought an attempt should have been made
to make the husband responsible. He, however, remanded
the prisoner for the attendance of the woman who picked
up the child, and also to hear what Mr. Murphy had to
siky respecting the case.
On the application of the prisoner, the magistrate said
be would take bail for her appearance.

Yesterday, Messrs. R. Rawlinson,J. T. Harrison,
and J. T. Way, the commissioners appointed by govern-
ment for inquiring into the pollution of rivers, held a
public sitting at the offices of the commission, Victoria-
street, Westminster, to inquire into the state of the river
Lea and its tributaries. The East London Waterworks
Company, the New River Company, and the Lea Trust
were represented.
CHRISTENING OF THE INFANT CHILD OF VIS-
COrNT AND Vlgent*NTES.4 HllRT.—Yesterday morning the
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Dr. Manning,
performed the ceremony of christening the infant daughter
of Viscount and Viscount Bury, in the chapel of the Ora-
torians at Brampton. His grace was 'waisted by the Very
Reverend Provost Knox and the Fathers of the Oratory.
There were present on the occasion—beside many members
of Lord Bury's family, including the Dowager Duchess of
Argyll, the Earl of Denbigh, Colonel and Mrs. Hamilton,
Hugh Cameron, Esq., he.—Sir Archibald Keppel Mac-
donald, Bart., as representative of his Majesty the King of
the Belgians, who was one of the sponsors, and the Lady
Katrine Coke, who was godmother. Tae child was chris-
tened Leopoldina Olivia. His Majesty the King of the
Belgians sent to his infant goddaughter a magnificent
lewel, formed of an emerald and diamonds ; as well as to
Lady Bury a rich and splendid bracelet, and to Sir Archi-
bablKeppel Macdonald a fine ring, with the royal cypher
in diamonds, surrounded with brilliants.