The Express.
London, England, 1866-09-10 00:00:00

BENIII.'Wg.

In the report of the case of Croft and Williams, two
maths who were convicted before Mr. Payne of attempted
burglary, a slight error ocetn.ed. The reformatory sen-
tame is made to have been pas ed on Croft, who was 18
years of age, and could not be sent to a reformatory, and
the fisee years at his own desire, on Williams, aged 15
Croft was sentenced to the five years, and Wil-
=sent to a refoinsatory.
The ground upon which the Court yielded to the request
of Croft to substitute five years for 18 months was, that
the larger sentence would put him under the control and
amen Mon of the government who might, if he was dili-
gent and clever, make such use of him, at some of its
establishments, Al would benefit the publics and, at the
roe time, if he were well-disposed, advance his own in-
terests and forward his own reformation better than the
ordinary routine of the House of Correction under the
magistrates, who have not equal facilities with the govern-
met.

THE POLICE COURTS.

(THIS DAY.)

BOW-STREET.
ASSAI'LTING TIM POLICE.
Jams Padden, a solicitor's clerk, was brought before Mr.
Vaughan, charged with assaulting police-constables Cle-
ments 68 A, and Bagley 519 A.
Clements stated that on Saturday night he and Bagley
were returning from the Princess's Theatre, where they 'had
beenonduty, when as they passed through Whitehall the pri-
ironer came from behind and rushed between them,
shoving witness against the wall, and Bagley upon the kerb.
They told him not to do that, but to go on quietly, or they
should have to take him into custody. He peaaed on to
the cornerof King-street, on arriving at which point they
found him waiting for them. Heagain pushed them, and they
again remonstrated with him requesting him to let them alone
and go away. He then followed them to the door of the
station-house, when he struck witness in the face, knocking
off his hat, and inflicting a slight wound over the eye.
Bagley came to his assistance, and was also struck by the
prisoner.
Mr. Vaughan—Had you raid nothing to him before he
pushed against you the first time?
Witness—Nothing. We did not see him coming. We
had never seen him before.
The prisoner—They said if they got me in the dark they
would give it me. They struck me in the face.
Mr. Vaughan—Which of them ?
The prisoner—One of them ; I don't know which.
lir. Vaughan—ls there any truth in that?
Witness—None at ell, we gave him all the kindness in
the world, and tried to persuade him to go away.
Bagley corroborated the statement of his brother con-
stable. The prisoner was the worse for liquor, but not
very drank.
The prisoner Raid the officers pushed against him first,
and one of them struck him and cut his lip.
Mr. Vaughan said it was quite clear that this was not
true. On the contrary, the police appeared to have acted
with great toleration and forbearance. He must pay 51.
for each assault, making 10s., or be imprisoned for seven
day..

CLERKENWELL.
DANGEROUS AS.4AULT UN A RIFE.
Robert Barker, a low, dis.solute-looking man, described on
the charge-sheet as a drover, residing at Brighton-street,
St. Pancras, was charged before Mr. D'Eynocurt, with
eonunitting a murderous assault on his wife.
Mr. H. Allen, prosecuting officer of the Associate Insti-
tute for Improving and Enforcing the Laws for the Pro•
tection of Women, watched the case.
Mn. Mary Barker, whose head was enveloped in surgical
bandages, said that she did not wish to press the charge ;
all that she wanted was that her husband might be bound
over to keep the peace.
Mr. D'Eyncourt said he would see about that presently,
and asked the surgeon to give his evidence.
Dr. Paul, divisional surgeon to the E Division of pollee,
residing at Burton-crescent, said that last Thursday he
was called to see the complainant, who was in a fainting
state and covered with blood. He examined her and
found that a large artery on the top of the head was
wounded. She bled a great deal, and was at one time in
danger. The wound would be dangerous now if it was
njain to reopen.
The wife was then sworn, and she stated that the
prisoner, who was in the constant habit of getting drunk,
tame home on the night in question very much the worse
for liquor. She had just returned from a hard day's
work, and he abused her and called her bad names because
she would not give him money to procure more drink. He
threatened be would do for her, and took up a plate and
threw it at her. The plate hit her on the head and
broke into numerous maces, indicting a severe wound,
and she lost a great deal of blood, and nearly fainted.
She had to work for her living, as the prisoner spent
all his money in drink, but said she did not wish him
met to prison ; all that she required was that he might
be bound over to keep the peace.
The police said the wife was a hard-working industrious
woman, but the prisoner was, in addition to being idle, a
drunken and dissolute man, and there was scarcely a day
passed but that he was drunk and abusing his wife.
The prisoner, in a whining tone, said he was sorry he
had hurt his wife, and would never do so any more.
Mr. D'Eyncourt said the prisoner was a cowardly fellow,
and sentenced him to three months' hard labour in the
House of Correction.

WORSHIP-STREET.
ROBBERIES IN THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE COT THE GREAT
. EASTERN RAILWAY.

Juite Washington, a till man, decently dressed, 48 yearn
O! _age, and living at 32, Commercial-rood, Lambeth, was
charged with stealing envelopes from the office of the
secretary of the Great Eastern Railway Company, at the
Shorwlitch terminus.
_ _ _

_ ......
Eliza Thennood—l am employed to clean the offices,
and at half-past 7 o'clock this morning the prisoner paeseu
me in the building and walked into the secretary's officio, ,
put his hat down, as though he was employed there.
kept my eye on him, however, and presently saw
him standing alone by a bavket, from which he was filling I
his pockets with letters. When he saw that I was watch-
ing him he put his hat on and wanted to pass me again
but I felt sure ho had no right in the office, and would not
allow him. I gave an alarm, and hold him tightly until
assistance came.
Charles Thorogood—Prisoner has been • clerk in the
effioe mentioned. lie was discharged. I am the head
messenger there, end know him ; he had no right what-
ever in the office. Of course he well knew the premises.
He coolly gave up to me from his pockets 16 packets of
envelopes. and I gave him into custody.
Isaiah Ooben—l am a constable attached to the Great
Eastern Railway. Numerous robberies have recently been
"(emitted in the secretary's office, and I had special instruc-
tions to watch it. Hearing the alarm of the first witness, I
hastened there and received charge of the prisoner; he gave
his address, and I there found four packets of envelopes
similar to those produced.
Prisoner did not offer one word in defence, and was re-
minded.