The Express.
London, England, 1868-11-16 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURT&

BOUTHWARIc..

William Remota ;;;41-71;;;;• Hicks, trustees of the
Friend of Labour Loan Society, Woolpack Tavern, Ber-
mondsey-street, were summoned for unlawfully with-
the sum of 111. 14s. from James Walker, a mem-
ber, who had given the necessary notice for withdrawing
that amount according to the rules.
Thomas Cock, who said he was honorary secretary of
the society, admitted that the complainant was justified
in claiming the amount specified, but although he bad
given notice be could only be paid in his turn, and the
society had received no money and lent none sines the
complainant's notice was given. A balance-sheet was
called for, and the secretary admitted on cross-examina-
tion that Hicks, one of the defendants, had borrowed 121.
from the funds since the complainant sent in his notice,
and that it had not been repaid. He further admitted
that there were no trustees, treasurer, secretary, or any
one else to receive the money if paid. Witness merely
acted gratuitously to watch his own interest.
Mr. Burcham said that as Hicks had had 121. belonging
to the society, he should order him to pay 111. 14e.,
and in default of sufficient distress, to be imprisoned for
sir weeks. . . _

Robert Serpent, a conductor in the employ of the Gene-
ral Omnibus Company, was summoned for loitering near
the railway terminus in the Waterloo-road. About a
fortnight ago one-horse omnibuses were started to ply
from Waterloo station, over Waterloo-bridge, to the
Strand, for Id. each passenger. The General Omnibus
Company then pat several of their vehicles on the same
road, whirls were in the habit of loitering at the terminus
to pick up passengers, and thereby caused an obstruction
to the thoroughfare.
The defendant was cautioned, and ordered to pay the
costs.

Captain John the master of the ship Love Bird,
now lying in the St. Katharine Dock, surrendered, on his
own rcoognisancee, before Mr. Paget, to anstrer a charge
of causing the death of Thomas White, the late cook and
steward of the same vessel, on the high seas, oaths home-
ward voyage from Congo, on the South Coast of Africa,
to London.

Mr. Pelham, solicitor defended the prisoner, who was
very ill, and had suffered materially from the pestilential
climate of Africa.

The evidence of four seamen made out a case of great
cruelty which had been ex,: eised on the part of the cap-
tain towards the deceived, who died on the 14th or
October ; and it appeared that before kir body Was
consigned to the deep, it was examined by one of
them, who found it covered with bruises. Then,
was also a cut on the head, and the eyes wore black-
rued. The witnesses ale the cook was beaten with
the stave of a mak, and p•kc.labout the body w.th an iron
rod. It was minim. d by all the witness.", that they did
not communicate with the police or make any complaint
of ig.n.aFe when the ship arrived here a fortnight ago,
and that it war not until after the case against the cap-
tain for a.*ault Mr Mr. (leather, the mate, had been dis-
missed by the magistrate that the charge of murder war
preferred.
Mr. Pelham designated the whole matter as &conspiracy
on the part of the crew againat the captain, and said there
were no grounds whatever for the charge. lie relied on
an entry in the official log-book that the cook, who had
been previously labouring under fever and ague, was
taken ill on the 13th October, and that he was attended
by the captain, who administered arrowroot and medicine,
and paid great attention to Lim, notwithstanding which he
died on the morning of the following day. The cause of
death was put down as " fresh attack of fever and de-
lirium." The mate and all the crew signed the entry in
the log-book, and not a word was said in the shape of
remonstrance or otherwise relating to ill-treatment.
A police-constable said the mate of the ship was ill,
and asked for a summons to compel his attendance.
Mr. Paget said he would not grant any summons, and
that be Lad already expressed a strong opinion of the
falsehood of the charge preferred by the mate against the
captain, and dismissed
One of the crew said that when he signed the entry in
the log-book he told the captain that he could not put
his name to the statement that the cook died of fever—
only a statement that be was dead.
Mr. Paget—Your name is signed in the log-book at the
bottom of the entry, and now you attempt to qualify what
you have done.
Another seaman said that the matched made an attempt
to get up a mutiny in the ship on the outward voyage, and
failed. lie pat in a written statement, or log as he termed
it, of all that had taken place.
Mr. Paget remarked on the inconsistencies and contra-
dictions in the statements of the witnesses, who did not
prefer any charge against the captain until en days after
the anical of the ship. Ho expressed an opinion that the
prercnt charge was taut made out, that the statements of
the seamen were unfounded, and disclialged Captain
Wilson, who was at liberty to attend that court on
Monday, and apply fur summonses or warrunte against
the seamen as he should be advised.