The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-17 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURT&

GIJILDHALL

Riekard Bsll.lo, 15, Swinton-atreet, Gray's-inn-road ;
Wilford Beaky, 77, Stanhope-street, Hampstead-road;
William Buckb Hyde-street, New-crow' ; Henry Batt, r•
haw Colvesten-crescent, Dalsten ; and Frank Jer, omr,
19, Old Change, were placed at the bar before Alderman
Finals on several charges of robbery, and receiving goods
well knowing them to be stolen. The case resolved itself
into three distinct charges. In the first the two Bulk-
leys, Buckley, and Batterham were charged with stealing
large quantities of expensive muslin curtains, damask, and
other goods from the warehouse of Mean. Fasten and 00.,
warehousemen, No. 2, Fell-street, Wood-street, Cheapeide;
in the second, Buckley and Batterham were charged with
stealing blankets, carpets, and rugs, from Messrs. Beaten
and Co., their employers ; and in the third, Jervoise was
charged with stealing a large quantity of moire antique
and fancy bonnet silks, from Messrs. Leaf and Sens, of
Old Change, his employers ; and the two litilkleys with
receiving the same, well knowing them to have been
stolen.

Auer a lengthy investigation, the prisoners were re-
manded.

MARLBOROUGH-STRUT.

Henry Coll ins and his two sons, PAineas and Godfrrg
Coffins, calling themselves bill discounters, Warwick-
street, Regent-street, were charged with receiving three
bills of exchange for TAY. each, stolen from Captain Alfred
Cook, of the 40th Regiment.
Mr.Wontner, jun., appeared for the prosecution; Mr. G.
Lewis for the defence.

Mr. Wontncr at considerable length stated the parti-
culars of the charge. Captain Alfred Cook had been in-
duced to give to a person named Noah, not in custody.
three bills of 2101. for the purpose of gettiog them dis-
counted. Captain Cook had never received • penny for
the bills, and he should prove by the evidence the scheme
by which they were obtained from him, and the con-
nexion between Noah and the three prisoners. He should
show that the elder prisoner, while putting advertisements
into the papers for proposals to lend large sums of money,
was in needy circumstances and encumbered with
small debts for which he was being sued in
county courts, and that he had compounded
with his creditors a few years ago. He should prove that
the hills were obtained fraudulently from Captain Cook
by Noah, who on getting them bolted ; that the prisoners,
who were confederated with Noah, pretended to have dis-
counted the bills, and that Captain Cook bad taken these
proceedings in the interest of justice, and to expose the
system, as it would perhaps be the means of preventing
other officers in the army from being similarly swindled.
Having produced his witnesses he should ask the magis-
trate to commit all the prisoners on the three charge. of
fraudulently obtaining the bills under colour of being dia.
counters, of conspiring to defraud Captain Cook, and of
receiving the bills knowing them to be stolen.
Captain Alfred Cook, of the 40th Regiment, examined—
About 6 or 7 weeks ago ho met • person named Noah, who
got into conversation with him. Noah mentioned several
officers with whom he was acquainted. Afterwards met
Noah at various race courses, and bad some conversation
about money matters and getting bills discounted.
Shortly afterwards Noah wrote to him to say that if he
(Captain Cock) wanted money he could get his bills dis-
counted by • friend at Southampton at the rate of 15 per
oent., and would he come round to his office and have a
chat. Being indebted to persons to whom he paid a much
higher rate of interest, and receiving this letter, he went
round to Noah's office, No. 4, Little James-street, and
ultimately agreed to accept three bill" for 2501. each at
three months. Gave Noah a written authority to receive
the money for the discount of the bills. Had met Noah
casually at night-houses in the Haymarket. Had also met
him at races. Had received nothing for the bills, and after
giving them to Noah was unable to find him. Had seen
the elder Collins once come out of Noah's office, and had
met Phineas and Godfrey there. Was led to suppose they
were in partnership. Had some communication with
them, and Godfrey said he had discounted the bills,
and had handed Noah a cheque for 425/. He (Captain
Cook) charged Godfrey with receiving the bills knowing
them to be stolen, and the other prisoners with being con-
cerned in the transaction.
For the defence Mr. G. Lewis said Noah had absconded
with the authority given by Captain Cook. As soon ae
Godfrey Collins ascertained that Captain Cook had not
received the money be communicated with Mr. Mullen",
the bankers' solicitor, and took steps to atop the notes at
the Bank of England.
Mr. Helgour, one of the cashiers at the National Bank,
Cavendish-street, was then called, and he proved that
Godfrey Collins kept an account at the bank, and that a
cheque for 425/. was paid out in May. (A photograph of
i Noah was here shown to witness, who said it resembled
the person to whom he paid the money.)
Mr. Tyrwhltt did not think the accused would be con-
victed of conspiracy by • jury. Noah appeared to have
done his friends as well am Captain Cook. Whatever his
opinion of the obliquity of the transaction might be, he
could not help thinking that the Collinses had been taken
in by Noah. The Collinses received the bills from Noah;
be did not think they knew they were stolen, and there-
fore they could not be charged on that ground. As to the
alleged conspi he did not think that could be sue.
tained,as the Collins.. appeared tobe as much surprised as
anyone when they beard that Noah was not to be found.
As he was averse to send cases before a jury on the chance
of get:ti a conviction, he must order the accused to be
disoh.s

A middlemged, genteel looking woman, who gave the
name of Ellen C'harteria, solicited Mr. Selfe's advice under
the following circumstances :

Applicant said she bad been employed for the last few
weeks &enuree at the Victoria or South London Hospital for
Children, Gough-house,Queen'srosvl ,West Chelsea. She bad
entered the establishment with high testimonials of cha-
racter and competence, and had discharged her duties to
the utmost satisfaction of the medical officers. To her
great surprise she wax suddenly informed a few days ago
that she would be dismissed by the lady managers in con-
sequence of the receipt of a letter, a portion of which was
read to her, from the matron of the University Hospital,
which stated that she was most unfit to remain in her pre-
sent situation. Although her engagement specified that
she was to receive a month's notice, she understood that
she was to be dismissed next Monday. She could not re-
member the words in the letter,as she was so taken by sur-
prise and confused by what she heard.

In reply to incjairies from Mr. Selfe, she said she had
left the University Hospital between three and four years
ago, and she thought it extremely unfair that any one
should oome forward to deprive her in this way of her
bread. She had given thorough satisfaction while at the
University Hospital, and left on good terms with a view
of bettering herself, and bad received a testimonial of cha-
racter from that establishment, and now, after this lapse
of time, it was stated that she was an unworthy pettion.
If dismissed from this situ►tion, how could she apply for
another with such a stigma upon her character?

Mr. Selfe said that if dismissed without cause ►fter an
agreement for notice, she might sue for the month'■
money, and if the statement contained in the letter was
untrue, she might recover damages against the writer for
the injury she sustained. He could not think that the
managers of such a respectable institution would dismiss
her upon an ex parte statement, or without giving her a
full opportunity of vindicating her ch.uacter. He knew
several of the managers whose names were on the list
applicant had handed to him, and would take the e►rliest
opportunity of seeing or communicating with them, if
applicant would call again.
Applicant thanked him for the kind interest he had
taken in her case.

SINGULAR APPLICATION DT A CLERGYNAN.—At
the Trowbridge petty sessions, just held, the Rev. J. R.
Wilkinson, vicar of the pariah of DittonPriors,fihropshire,
applied to the magistrates for an order calling upon Mr.
Michael Power, vestry clerk of his parish, to deliver up
certain books, the property of the ratepayers. The cir-
cumstances under which the application was made are
rather singular, and have excited considerable interest in
the neighbourhood. It appears that an unusually large
proportion of the rev. gentleman's parishioners are Roman
catholic* and at the Easter vestry they assembled in force
and succeeded in carrying the election of one of their own
creed to the office of vestry clerk. The vicar, after an in-
effectual protest against this procedure, declared his in-
tention of keeping the parish books himself, and, as far as
the law would permit, of performing all other duties
usually fulfilled by the vestry clerk,end it woe, he said, in
furtherance of this object that he desired to obtain iso.
session of the books. The magistrates at once granted the
application.

- -
Lew AssocterioN.—The annual general court of
the Law Association for the benefit of the widows and
families of professional men in the metropolis and its
vicinity was held yesterday at the H.dl of the Incorporated
Law Society, Chancery-lane ; Mr. George Harding occu-
pying the chair. The report, read by Mr. the
Secretary, stated that during the past twelvemonths 33
cues of the primary class were relieved by the distribu-
tion amongst them of 1,350/. One new ease, the widow. of
• former member. had been added to this class, and an
allowance of 601. was made to her for the past year. Two
gentlemen, sons of deceased members, had receiv..4 dona-
tions of 101. and 45/. respectively. The mm of 224/. his.
was also distributed among 27 cases of widows
and families of non-members. Eleven members,
one of whom was a director, had died during the
year ; five annual members had withdrawn from
the association ; twelve gentlemen had joined—three
as life and nine as annual members ; and the number of
members was now 272. The dividends on the capital stock
of the association amount to 1,1381. 9s. CA, and the annual
subscriptions to 571/. The directors suggested that
should be voted for distribution in the ensuing year among
the widows and families of non-members, and in future
they do not propose to make donations to this clue except
on the recommendation of a member of the association.
The report was unanimously adopted, and after the cus-
tomary resolutions relative to the management, the pro-
ceedings closed with • vote of thanks to the chairman and
director.

Lisßox MAY 16.—TheMessageries Imperil'les
steamer Navarre hes arrived here with the Brasil mail,
276 passengers, and 2,645 bags of coffee. Monte Video'
April 17—Exchange on London, 51i ; ditto on Pula,

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