The Express.
London, England, 1868-05-01 00:00:00

- - -
POLICE COURTS.-(THIS DAY.)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
"CAPTAIN AVASH " AND THE " WEISHER4 "

Tlontaz Burnham, desc:ibed u a woodcutter, of the
Sussex Hotel, BouverieUreet, Fleet-street, was charged
before Mr. Knox with being concerned, with another man
not in custody, in stealing from the person of Mr. Robert
Southwell Greville Nugent, of No. 5, Sussex-place, York-
road Lambeth, 21f. in silver. . .

Mi.. E. Lewi., of Great Marlborough-street, appeared
for the prosecution, and in opening the case said if his in-
structions were correct the robbery with which the prisoner
was charged was one of the most daring ever committed.
the other man, not in custody, having seized the prosecu-
tor's arms and held him while the prisoner took 20s. in
silver from prosecutor's pocket at 7 o'clock in the evening
in Windmill-street.

Prosecutor—Yesterday evening about 7 o'clock I went
into the Catherine Wheel public•house in Windmill-street,
and on my coming out of the house a man seized my arms
while the prisoner took a pounds worth of silver from my
trousers pocket and also my purse, but I took my puree
from him. They then went away but I afterwards saw
the prisoner and gave him into custody.
The prisoner—Have you not seen me before ?
Prosecutor—No.

The prisoner—Are you not a " welsher," and one of
those who " pick op" persons and never " part"! (pay.)
Prosecutor—No. I was not quarrelling about a bet with
a non,
pe and refusing to pay.
Frederick Buckingham, 149 A Reserve—About a quarter
after 9 the prisoner was given into my custody at the
Catherine Wheel—a house which is frequented by
" welshers." The prisoner said, " Where is the other
men gone tot" and then that he knew nothing of the
affair.

—— - The prisoner—l was all day drunk but I believe the
affair arose out of a bet. The prosecutor I know Ina•
mately and he is telling a parcel of lies.
Sergeant Shillingford. 4 C—Lest 'night at half-past
eight, I was acting as inspector at Vine-street, when
the prosecutor came in and said he had been
robbed by two men. I asked him if he knew them
and he said he did and that he had treated them at
the Catherine Wheel, Windmill-street, and that the
landlord knew a friend who was with him. I have
visited the house frequently, and it is resorted to
by " welshers " and sharpers. J have seen the prosecutor
at the house, and also ilia friend Macdowell, and also the
prisoner, who has been convicted.
The prisoner—Yes, I had nine months for stabbing Tom
Paddock.

Gordon, 33 C—The prisoner is known as "Captain
Smash," ands a companion of " Welshers."
Mr. Lewis—Tho prosecutor informs me that be
d:2
treated the prisoners friend, but that the prisoner
with them.

Sergeant ShillMgford— On my asking the prosecutorwhy
be did not give the persons into custody at aloe, or
speak to the polioe, he said that he did not see any police,
but there were two stationed close to the house ; and he
also said that the men ran away, but afterwards that they
followed him to the station. _ _

Mr. Knox—After such false swearing 1111 I have heard
on the part of the prosecutor. I must, notwithsteading
the prisoner's character, disoluirge Mm.

SHOCK iNo SUICIDE.—A gunner belonging to the
6th brigade of Royal Artillery, named James Cox, com-
mitted suicide at the Gun-white. Barracks, Portsmouth,
yesterday morning, by placing the muzzle of a loaded car.
bine in his month, discharging it, and so blowing out his
brains. The body of the deo:slued was found in No. 5
closet by a comrade named Edmund Ryan, the deceased's
bead being blown to pieces and the brain, scattered about.
It appeared that the deceased had frequently been absent
at tattoo-roll, and as • consequence had suffered much
confinement and near him, when his body was found,
wu apiece of paper, on which the following word, were
written : " Miss Parley, Bedford-street, Bognor. Sussex.—
Pus to right to my dear mother. I am misbell." A
coroner's inquest was subsequently held, and the verdict
returned was that the deceased had committed suicide by
shooting himself, but that there was no evidence to show
the state of his mind at that time.

A CASE OF SHOOTING Two SWEETHEARTS.
In December last we gave particulars of the shooting of
two ymlng men, named Dickinson and Cruickshank', who
went at midnight, on the 14th of that month. to serenade
the daughters of Mr. Mathew Douglas, farmer, near
Distington, Cumberland. On Wednesday they brought
an action against Mr. Douglas in the County Court
at Whitehaven, each claiming 501. damage'. It was
shown that Cridokshanks has, as the result of the gun
being discharged in his face, lost the eight of one eye
entirely, while that of the other is very dun, there being
shot in it yet ; and Dickinson has several shots in his body,
from which, Mr. Dick stated, he would always suffer pain.
The question before the court was, was Mr. Douglas
justified in what be did? And the plaintiff gave evidenes
with the view of showing that their proceeding' on
the night in question took more of the nation of
a freak than anything else, and that their object could not
be misconstrued into a felonious one. Defendant's solidi-
tor said that Mr. Douglas lived in a very lonely
situa-
tion, that he was under the impression his disturbers were
robbers, and that be meant to lire over their beads,
not to higthem. The Judge (Mr. T. A. Ingham) said no
doubt the youths had acted 'improperly, but eve
went thing
went to show they we not burglars ; and he Id to
impress upon Mr. Douglas, and on everyone else, that even
Flring he had seen them going away his pie-
,he had no right to shoat them. AA to the plea
he did not mean to shoot them, that was inadmis-
sible, because, supposing be meant to fire over their heads,but hit them by accident, he would still be liable for the
damage. Defendant was ordered to pay 501. to Ora*.
"beaks and 401. to Dickinson, and to pay all aorta.