The Express.
London, England, 1857-12-29 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS

GUILDHALL:

noes. &wax" Sharet, at 4S, Milton street, was
threr with Metall4 pa, the property of the Great Central
Gas Consemsed Oteapay.
The primes bad been supplied with pm till February lest,
when the supply wait cut off and the meter takes down, in
consequence of noa-payment. On the premises being re-
cently examined it was found that the cap width stopped the
suzil hid been removed, and • fresh connenon pipe at-
. There were two burners in the drawing-room, one
in the kitchen, sae in • bedroom, one in the yard, one In the
"table, end two in the workshop, all of which were fay sup-
plied with the company's gm
The primer, who plea guilty, was committed to prison
for one magi with hard labour.
WORSHIP-STREET.
Amu Alfred Herman a trimming manufacturer in
Anchor-street, Bethnal-green, who Wed charged with hav-
ing feloniously set fire to his house, and
ended the death of
three of his lodgers, named John, Ann, Julia Metcalfe,
our broughetnuttip for final examination.
Mr. Lewis, an., attended as before on the part of the pro-
secution ; Mr. Sleigh conducted the defence.
The cam attracted an extraordinary amount el Interest,
and the following additional evidence was proceeded with
Sarah Harvey. a widow, residing at 33, Anchor-street, im-
mediately opposite the prisoner's house, rid—Between 2 and
3 o'clock on the morning of the 19th that., I was suddenly
awakened by my grand-daughter, who raised an ahem ci
" Fire," and oa going to the window I saw the primer's
house in games. At the second floor window I observed the
deceased Mrs. Metcalfe dreadfully excited, who, addressing
the prisoner standing in the street without his coat, ex-
claimed, ' Oh, you winch—youOh, villein—you have bees the
cause of this . you have done it all, and yen know it well."
Prisoner at once reeled, " Get out at the top," which re-
mark be repeated siveral tines, and deceased answered that,
she was unable to do so.
Sarah Griffith, grand-daughter of last witness, was also
examined, and fully corroborated the evidence of her relative.
Inspector Weakford, of the H division—At the time
the fire was raging I saw the prisoner In the street,
and from a communication previously made to me by
the constable Andrews, I 'eked him he had not been
robbed. He replied, "No, I've not." I mid, "Did you not
report to a police-oonseable that you had?' which he also
denied. I then asked him if he had seen a in the
court, which he admitted having done, bat no particular
conversation had taken place between them.
Ann Finlaysoe, housemaid to Mrs Ibsen (the primmer's
mother-in-law), residing next door, was then examined, and
repeated the evidence given batonthe coroner, to the effect
that at half-past ten o'clock on the night in question she
went to his hoar, at which tiamthere wee not any flee in the
kitchen grate, and in crow-examination she stated that the
premise were small—a wooden partition lining the shop,
which was furnished with numerous card boxes for fringe
manufacture, and supplied with two gas burners.
Georg* Cols, formes attacked to the London Brigade,
said that en reaching the spot and ascertaining the alarming
nature of the fire, ha made his way to the emceed door I
window, on entering which he found the bodies of three
persons In a lifeless Mete from suffocation. He was aft/e-
-wer& aped In minutely examining the lower pad of the
rimless, and disooveed thet ;the maven& had beta at the
Mar' of the shop.
Mr. Henry Atkins, clerk of the London and Liverpool
Insurance Company, 21, Poultry, proved that in the month
of March lest, prisoner effected a policy of insurance at that
office on his personal goods, to the amount of 3001.
Cross examined by Mr. Sleigh—Ana not aware that the
insurance was transferred from another office. Relieve them
was a previous insurance which wee cancelled by this one.
We do not Instruct this prosecution.
It having been Intimated that them wee no farther evi-
dence oat the pet of the prosecution,
Mr. HammlD said, although he considered that the entire
conduct of the primmer who had been clearly proved to be
intoxicated on the suasion, was replete with gunmen, there
was undoubtedly not sufficient tangible evidence to submit
to • jury, and he should therefore order him to be discharged.
On hearing these observations, several respectably-dressed
persons forced forward to the dock end warmly congratulated
the prisoner on his release.

George Alley, a mechanic, was brought up on a warrant,
charged with neglecting to pay a cab-fare.
Henry Flock, a cabdriver, said that on the let of November
lest he agreed to take the defendant end three other men
from Francts-rtrest, Totteaham-court-road, to New-street,
Brom:9ton, for sixpence each. On arriving there they all
reseed to pay, and insulted and abused him. Dcdendant,
the only one of the four whose name and addrees the cabman
mold ascertain, wee attrorocatd early in November at this
omit, and failing to appear, a warrant was issued against
him. He was out of the we until Saturday night, when a
policeman succeeded in app ' ing him.
Defendant, in reply to the charge, said he was out of work
at the time be had the tide.
Mr. Pardee and that under those circamatences be should
have walked, and adjudged hint to pay the fare, 2a., and Ile.
costa, or in duLlt be committed for 21 days to hard labour.
MARYLRBONE.
Our reporter was requested to acknowledge the re-
receipt of the following sums for the poor-boa of the court :
• ft. S. and C 0.," 61.; the half of a Si. note, 33.814, tram
"M. P. G.;" also the half of a 51. note, 72,724, dated
Nov. 4, 1867. The. donor of the last amount gave anther
name nor initials.
SOUTHWARK.

licher/ lelfrieh, • man of dissipated appearance, was
charged with cruelly beating one of his cbildree, a little girl
six yew* of age.
The child., whose eyes were blackened and face very much
bruised, said Mut on Saturday evening her father came looms
intoxicated, and commenced beating her first with his fists
and then with a cane in a very violent manner. She had
not done scything to deserve correction, and she begged of
him to save her life. Her mother called in • police-constable,
when he left off beating her.
Oa of the neighbours said he beard crier of murder before
the constable entered the house, when he went in and saw
the prisoner ill-using his little girl. Ile held her by
the neck until bee face was black, arid witness wee compelled
to ignite the prisoner several blow. on the head to make him
relinquish his hold, or he really believed the child would have
been murdered.
Mr. Benham asked the prisoner what be had to ay in
sneerer to the charge.
Her eplied that he 'mew nothing at all abunt it se he was
drunk at the thue. He denied being in the 'ambit of beating
children.
%IMMO told him that It was one of the meet and
came he had ever before him, and his being drunk was ea
aggravation to the offence. lie should sentence him to six
months' bard labour in the Houle of Correction. He also
ordered the primer's wife, • decent-looking female, to receive
e sovereign from the poor-box, as she was mainly depending
en him for support.