The Express.
London, England, 1857-04-28 00:00:00

WANDSWORTH.

Francis Germ, R noted young thief, who has only one
leg, and walks with a crutch, and (h urge Tupinng, also •
well-known young thief, were brought before Mr. Ingham on
remand, charged with stealing a French time-piece from the
mantel-shelf of the dining-room in the residence of the Hey.
Henry Lewis, of Clapham-common.
Polioe-mnstable Monk, of the C division, said he knew
both the prisoner. as thieves, more especially Gavin, who
had frequently been in custody for picking pockets and other
offences. About 12 o'clock on the night of the 211th of
February he was on duty at St. James's Church, Piccadilly,
and saw Gavin and three others in the churchyard. Germ
broke a pane of glass over one of the doors with his crutch,
no doubt with the intention of getting inside the church.
He ran up to them, and sucteeded in capturing three of
them, but Gavin throw down his crutch, and ran along the
churchyard upon hie hands and fee like a monkey, and
then climbed over a wall 12 feet in height. Witness also
found that a small bdue in the churchyard had been broken
open, and a candlettiek, revere, keys, and Inciter matches
taken out. Ile found the keys, hr., in the churchyard, near
to the door where the window was broken; and if they bad
got inside the church, the kepi would have opened all tho
cupboards and drawers in the veetry-r, am.
Mr. Ingham said ho should remand the prisoners again,
fin more evidence.
Gavin said he hoped the police would not be allowed to
come to the prison as Monk had done, as they might get up •
number of convictions against him which be brew nothing
about.
Mr. Ingham mid he would take care that he wu protected
from false accusations.

THE FORTHCOMING ELECTION PETITIONS.—As
the new parliament draws near, a good deal of interest is
felt este the number of election petitions to be presenti•d, and
the interest is increased by the fact that it will be the drat
time the new act against bribery, die., whieb was passed is.
1864, will he tented. The Commune will esamoble or.. Thurs-
day to elect a Speaker, and on the following Thursday this
QUeee. speech will be delivered, and the ...den eentintramm
All election petitions must be pre., rued within 14 dam bat
the oommittem will not proceed to investigate the allegutimis
of bribery, 6.c., until about the middle of June. By the sew
Act (17 and 18 Vic.. c. 102), if bribery is proved the mauls
returned is disqualified to nit in the existing pariironeritt, am&
he tnay be sued for penalties-1001. penalty or cash offence.
The rule me to the presentation of petitions within 14 days
is by on robe of the late parliament. Either a candidate or
voter may present n petition against a sitting member. A la-
tamniseume with sureties is to be entered into to gay all cosy
or 1,0001 may be paid into the Bank of England. Consort
may appear for either party. and the eommitteeproceed with
the let of priIIODS bribed. Hitherto there has teen nu gyre-
Utility to tent the operation of the New llriteey Act, as the
last general election was in 1852. Tho &Mitres Premed fobs
with a good clod of care, but it MOWns to he NM
whether they will reach the several cases about to he pre-
rented to the select etaiimittem. The aposter hill nominate
"The General Election Committee," end the AG. t com-
mittees will be named and proved to try the normal matters
brought before them. The select coiumittees have power to
examine witnermes and to require the production of diem.
meats The expense of election petitions must be very
great, and wow time mud .:lapse before the select
committees can repnct their decision to the home. It in said
that Mr. Phino, the barrister, will resume his poliententary
bueinres before the seleti enni...Wee. The fees are consider-
able, and some yew. ago yen large none wee made by bar-
' riots. who mended haw hetbsa cocuuittces.