The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-26 00:00:00

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THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 26, 1868.,

ABNER INTELLIGENCE.

NORTHERN CIRCIIIT.-Ni
'rum Pim 24.

'The hearing at the cape of Thompson e. Harlan sad
others, in the Nisi Prise Coast, at the Neweasta Amass',
held the Moot.hall, was several times intarapted by Mr.
Justice Mellor, who presided, complaining at the heated
and unhealthy atmosphere, sad of the ill-contrived desk
in front of his chair, upon which he had to write. He
could not, without leaning forward very much, reeved the
Critiolloo.
Hie lordship fart manifested his dissatisfaction about
11 o'clock, by leaning back in his chair, sad sayiag : I
shall be obliged to adjourn. lem nearly suffoeda. I
cannot possibly understand a complicated are when I am
so uncomfortably situated. The desk upon which I have
to write is so far from my chair that I have to least forward
in order to record the noise of the evidence, and the court
is overpoweringly hot from the eteam which comes up
right under my feet. It perplexes me to have to attend to
a ease whilst suffering from so abominable as Inoonveniesos
as that of being half baked. Last year I had to complain
about this court being so uncomfortable ; I had, indeed, to
adjourn in consequence of the extraordinary way in which
the besting apparatus wee then managed. Although I
have nom aired about the state of the court on former
occasions, it still remains's uncomfortable as ever. Unless
the county magistrates make the place suitable for holding
the wised. I shall be compelled either to stop the business
or to adjourn to some other place. If there is another
room to be found in Newcastle where I can hold the assizes
I will go to it. I shall feel obliged to adjourn and see. I
feel the heat coming up at my lower extremities. It is
extremely bad and inconvenient. I thought that I bad
said enough last time about the matter, and that there
would have been no cause of complaint on the presen'
occasion ; but at present it seems that there is no Napoli.
able person to attend to this court.
Mr. Manisty, Q.C.—I lUD told that the County Court is
a comfortable and ()Devonian' place.
His Lordship—l must send and see if I can have.tbat
court to-morrow. If this court cannot be made comfort-
able, I certainly will not sit in it. It is most painful to
have to lean forward in the way that I have to take notes.
I suppose it is arranged in this way for the convenience of
people who wish to pass behind my chair. Haler I can
have the desk altered, and the beat stopped, I shall not
continue to sit in the place ; but I will see if I can go to
the County Court. I feel as if I was sitting in a hot-
house. (To the officials)—Send and see if the County
Court is at all accessible. I feel in a perspiration of an
extreme kind ; just as if I was melting.
Mr. Manisty—A gentleman near me stated that he is in
• strange state of perspiration.
The Msyor (Mr. Henry Angus) made • remark to his
lordship in private, and the Ex-Sheriff (Mr. R. Call) the
under-sheriff for the borough (Mr. [Minsk), and the
under-sheriff for the county (Mr. Leadbitter), were soon
busying themselves to remedy the evil.
The Keeper (Mr. Turnbull) removed some fancy mats
from his lordship's feet, substituting stronger ones to stop
the draught. His lordship, however, experienced no bene-
fit, and continued to remark—l cannot sit in this attnoe.
pliers, I shall be obliged to adjourn the business of the
sakes._

The County Surveyor (Mr. Charlton) was here ushered
into the presence ad the judge, and was addressed. His
lordship pointed out the deficiencies in the arrangements,
saying—I must have this desk brought nearer to my chair,
so that I may not have to stoop so much. I directed at-
tention to the defective heating apparatus lest year, and
one of the gentlemen who belonged to the corporation
went round the building, and on returning told we that
the man who had charge of it was totally ignorant about
the management of it, and that he could not get down the
heat which he bad got up in lees than twenty-four hours.
I believe that the beet was in this case put off at seven
o'clock this morning instead of at seven o'clock yesterday
morning. If I could only find out the person who la re-
sponsible for this mismanagement, I would make him re-
member it. I think it is a strange thing that the business
of the amine should be interrupted by the stupidity, and
ignorance, and obstinacy of the man who has charge of the
heating apparatus.
The County Surveyorliatened attentively to his lordship's
address, nod was understood to say that he knew nothing
about the matter.

His Lordship—Well, if the court is not in a better state
next time—if some one does not take steps to remedy the
evils which I have complained of—l shall have to fine you,
se I have nobody else to fine. (Laughter.) I must bring
matters to a crisis ; they cannot be allowed to go on in
this way. It I sit near enough to my desk to write lam
subjected to the greatest inconvenience. The complaint
does not arise from any want of warning. I told the
authorities about these matters last time. I have got quite
a headache now, and it all arises from this abominable
beat. I shall feel obliged to inflict a fine. I must have
some place that is more suitable than this. (To Mr. Lead.
bitter, the Under-Sheriff for the County.) Can you get
the County Court
The Under-Sheriff for the County—l don't know, my
lord. _ _

—lris Lordship—Yon must get to know in the course of
an hour. If you don't learn in that time whether it can
be had or not I shall feel obliged to fine you. I must have
some place where I can conduct the badness with comfort.
The ps•Sheriff (Mr. Call) made a communication to the
judge favourably. Soon after his lordship went oat with
the ex-sheriff into the ante-room. Business was proceeded
with for half an hour, and the Under-Sheriff for the County
then returned with the intelligence that the County Court
in Westgate-street could be obtained, and an adjournment
to that building took place about 1 o'clock. Mr. William
Blanahard, the County Court judge, received Mr. Jostle.
Mellor, and with great cordiality gave instructions for his
visitors to be made as comfortable as possible. As business
wee about to be resumed,
Mr. Manisty, Q.C.,asid—l hope your lordship feels more
comfortable in this court.

Ilia Lordship—l do. The building ill much cooler. We
perceive that the more on account of the high temperature
of the court we haveleft. Before we came sway an expe-
riment war made. When the thermometer wee placed
near the doors or the windows of the Moot-hall it rose to
60 degrees, and when the mayor placed the thermometer
where I had been sitting it rose to 75 degrees in ten mi-
nutes, and that was the time when we adjourned ; it was
rising then. When I wee in Newcastle last year the ther-
mometer roes to 95 degrees at one time ; 75 degrees is the
temperature of s hot bath.
The Clerk of Arraigns—The acoustic arrangements of
this court are bad.

then entered the room, and having
inquired of hie lordship if he felt more comfortable, re-
ceived an answer similar to that given to Mr. Maniety.
His Lordship said they should resume business at the
Moot Hall to-morrow (Tuesday), when it wee promised it
would be in a more comfortable state.

The further hearing of the eue of Thompson r. If ewison
and other was than proceeded with amidst frequent cries
of " Order, order," " Haab, hush," Ira, as the evidence
of the witnesses, the remarks of counsel and of the judge,
could not De distinctly heard.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

(Before the Bo:order.)

Henry Rose Chant, 43, a very respectable looking man,
described as a butler, George Robinson, 53, waiter, and
Donald Mackay, who surrendered to take his trial, were
charged with stealing and receiving a writing desk con-
taining three 101. bank notes and some articles of jewellery,
the property of Mary Anne Hilliard.
Mr. F H. Lewis prosecuted ; Mr. Metcalfe appeared
for the prisoners Chant and Robinson ; the other prisoner
was undefended.
The promentrix in this case was a widow lady, residing
at Richmond, and the prisoner Chant was in her service
as butler, the rest of the establishment consisting of a cook
and housemaid. The robbery was committed on the even-
ing of the 4th of February, while the family were at
dinner, between half-peat five and half-past six o'clock,
andthe evidence went to show that the prisoner Chant,
whose duty it was to wait at table, left the dining-room
while the dinner was proceeding, and it was noticed that
be was absent for a considerable time. Upon the discovery
of the robbery, the pollee were applied to, sad they found
at ones that no entry bad been 'Hosted from the
outside, and that some person within tie hones must have
boss the depredator. Suspicion seemed to have at once
fallen upon the prisoner Chant, and upon inquiries being
made, it was discovered that he, and the other two
prrso-
nen, were in company on the night after the robbery,
and that Robinson endeavoured to obtain change, and
ultimately succeeded in doing so, for a desk des
which
wee one of Ave that were la the writing desk at the time
it was stolen. . . _ .

ISeiforyTotind Robinson sad Chant Guilty, the former
of ring feloniously, sod the latter of steeling the pro-
perty, bat recommended them strongly to mercy on an-
count of their previous good ehuseter. The other pri-
soner we! ..Segaitted. The proseentaix joined in the as-

oxemeadaticseito merry.
The 'boarder raid it was . very *Mom offense for •
bother to rob hie employer, and bat fat the recommends,
tiea to may by jury aad the promentrir, be amid
ha,. pared • much more nevem smarm then the one
he was about to indict. He then eenteseed the prisoners to
nine months' hard Labour.

idols Cruse, I,Bl=tleasowly-lookiag th, downibed
es • law clerk, gailgy to two to short.
log hien with mini • cheque for 8.11., sad another
for SOL

...kr. Sleigh was imbue/led to prosecute. The prisoner
was defended by Mr. Cooper.
In this MO it appeared that the prissier wee is tbe 101'-
401 a Maw& Lewis as& Ow. eslisibms, Southeipten-
street. as sleek end ke teak advents. of the eppecloaity
peektea ~ma bra le awl' ewer Ile the sheque-
book d his owedepses, and drew two eitogese ter the
..wail Inesidened open Mews. Oval& and Cie., and
obetheillies sew, the whale et whisk essened M hate
been ggrodentd away within a Ina shirt peeled.
Mr. Seger addressed the alert in mitigation a rub&
semi. and said thatAke prisoner was wry esspostabiy
0.116111114 and he vnis me el eleven eitiliesn. and his
beißppted la kis present position had him She erne et
W Agrees te Stews with wham be wee esnosokiL
He gene Late the situation be osenit bah film Oa
country, country, and bed unhappily fain 3610 Company. sad