The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-24 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

LIVERPOOL.

135.:F0RE MR. MANSFIELD,

A RUFFIAN.— Michael Ryder, a rowdy looking fellow,
was charged with having assaulted a decent woman,
named Catherine Lightfoot. The complainant was
standing in Byrom street, waiting for her husband, who
had gone into a snuff shop, when the prisoner came up,
in the company of a disreputable female, and, without
hesitation or provocation, he struck Mrs. Lightfoot a
severe blow in the chest, which knocked her senseless
into the water course. He was sent to jail for three
months with hard labour.
THE BEGGING SYSTENI.—AInry Giliham and Bridget
Roach, were charged with begging. From the evidence
of officer Kennedy, it appeared that the prisoners were
professional beggars, and appeared in different characters
with children, in the streets. in order to excite the charity
of passengers in the street. It was stated they are married
wcmcn, and make out first rate life by "cadging"
(begging.) They were rent to jdl for one month, with
hard labour.

STABBING BY A 1711..TSBAND.—Miel1ael Kelly was charged
with having stabb,l his wife with a knife, inflicting
serious wounds on her. It appeared that the parties
had riot lived together for some time ; on Sunday the
woman went into a house in Paul street, where the
prisoner was, and some altercation taking place, the
prisoner struck her on the face with a knife, which he
had in his hand cutting tobacco The wound was over
an inch and a half long, and half an inch deep, but the
surg:on did not apprehend fa:al results, although she
would be marked for life by the wound. The prisoner
was sent for trial.
Catriaza TO Bota.—Several boys were fined for stone
throwing in the streets, and for having been engaged in
pitched fights and stone throwing in the fields about St.
Martin's Church.
AN IMITATION OF INKERMAN.—Ed ward Wal slii
Margaret Walsh, Bridget Melia, Martha Melia, Bridget
Wihon, ThomaS Iluson, and John M'Cann, were
charged by officers 521, 403, 158, and 373, with being
engaged in an affray of a serious descrip'ion that took
place in Wright and Saint Martin's streets, on
Sunday evening. From the evidence both of the
constables and some civilians, it appeared that a
row took place in a beerhouse, kept by a man named
Inkersley, when an officer was called to que!l it. A man
was taken into custody, and en the officer entering the
street with the prisoner, he was set on by a crowd of
men, women, and boys, who rescued the prisoner, and
shoved the constable into a court, where a shower of
stones and bricks greeted his appearance. The word was
passed, not only to the police, but to the forces of the
Melia's and Walshes, who mustered, according to the
sworn testimony .ipf constable 403, to the amount of
nearly 4,000 strong. The enemy consisted of the above
number of policemen, with a boy or two to pick up the
hats—which in one or two of the charges that took place
were very near having heads in them. The fight then
began with great vigour ; stones, metal pats, crockery
ware, ard other domestic utensils, flew about as thick as
balls at Inkerman, and as to the shouting, it was pretty
equal to the screeching that took place at that celebrated
melee. A terrific conflict followed, and was kept up with
varied success for a long time, but the discipline of the
officers prevailed, and the prisoners were captured. The
Constables' hats and coats, and the prisoners' faces
bore evident marks of the fight. In reply to Mr, Mans-
field, the police officer said Wright street and the adjoin-
ing localities were the worst in Liverpool. Edward
Walsh, Bridget Melia, and Margaret Walsh were not
quite so bad as the others, and they got off with One
month's imprisonment. The others were sentenced to
three months each.

THE PLUNDER AT THE RAILWAY BY THE PORTERS.—
Thomas Townsend, William Clayton, William Spekeman,
Thomas Hollingshead, and William Shirnwell, railway
porters, charged with having plundered packages of goods,
&c., at the Wapping station, were brought np on remand.
The full details of this case appeared in our paper two or
three days ago. Mr. Bluck appeared for Shimwell ; Mr.
Blenkinsop appeared for the prosecution ; and the evi-
dence (same as already published) bAng perfected, the
prisoners, were fully committed for trial.
VIOLENT ASSACLT IN THE STRE'A. —A young fellow,
named Thomas O'Neill, was charged With having com-
mitted a violent assault on John Nelll, a tailor. It
appeared that on Sunday night the prosecutor and
his wife, with a young sailor, were proceeding
down Duke s'reet, when the pr:soner, without
any provocation whatever, struck him a violent blow
in the month, which knocked out three of his teeth, and
disfigured him for life. The prisoner, in the most
audacious manner, denied the charge, although it was
sworn to beyond all doubt by three witnesses. The
prisoner was sent for trial.

SEEIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A CONFIDENTIAL PERSON.—
Joseph Relands was charged with having et,nbezzled
certain sums of money (said to amount to many hundreds
of pounds) belonging to Mr. Richard Thomas, a master
carter residing at West Derby, and having an office in
Fenwick street. Mr. Messiter appeared for the prosecu-
tion, and Mr. Campbell was for the prisoner. Mr.
Messiter stated the case, and said the prisoner was for a
long time employed by Mr. Thomas, will was an
extensive cart owner, having his oTice in Fenwick
street, but residing at West Derby. For the last six or
seven years, the prisoner had the sole management and
control of the business, the employment and payment
of the men, and the arrangement of all the business.
The charge against him was for hating embezzled large
sums of money in this way. He used to charge more
time for the men's wages than they were entitled
to, and in some cases he charged for man
who did not work at all. Mr. Thomas was
an illiterate man, and placed a great deal of confidence
in the prisoner, and left the whole management to him.
On Saturday evenings the prisoner would produce a book
to Mrs. Thomas, which contained the alleged amount of
the mons wages, and she used to pay, just looking at the
general lot, as he used not to put in the book until a
short time previous to her leaving the office for home.
As remarked, the utmost confidence was reposed in the
prisoner for many years, and nothing wrong was sus-
pected. From something which transpired some time
ago, suspicions were at last entertained that he was not
acting fairly, and a brother of Mrs. Thomas was put on
him as a check. On the week ending 7th February, it
was found that he had charged fire days for one man,
and received a pound for that, whereas the man only
worked three days, and received 12s. Another man was
charged for four days, and ha had only worked three.
Other cases of a similar description were entered in the
book by the prisoner, and in other cases he had
charged for men who had never been employed
at ail by him. He (Mr. Messiter) then called
Mr. Thomas, who was sworn, and said the prisoner was
in his employ for ten years, and for Vie last seven years
he kept the men's wages book, and paid them. The
prisoner used to band the list on Saturdays to Mrs
Thomas, and used to get the money from her. He used
not to give her up the book until just-going out, and she
would hand him the money. Found he was defrauded,
and set a check on the prisoner. To Mr. Campbell,
the witness sail, although he could not read his wife
could, and by the books he found that he was defrauded.
The prisoner was never suspected un'il lately. Knows
that the prisoner has got married lately to a woman who
had a cart, and that has increased to a wagon, and ought
to turn in a profit to the prisoner. He could not tell how
many extra men the prisoner employed, except on
reference to the books. Paid him 28s- a week, and gave
him the benefit of his team. He has no ill feeling
towards him, but, on the contrary, is very sorry to see
him where lie is to-day. He (witness) did not interfere
with the hooks, not being a scholar, but left that to his
wife. Mrs. Thomas was then examined ; she proved
having paid the prisoner certain sums of money for
several men named in the book, but it appeared that the
men were not employed as many (lays as charged for by
the prisoner, and some men were charged for who were
not employed at all. Mr. Campbell cross-examined the
witness, but there was nothing particular elicited.
William Fairclough, one of the men who used to work
for Mr. Thomas, said, he got 24s a week when in full
work. On the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of the present month,
he was at home with a sore hand, but worked the other
three days of the week, and only received 12s. There
were five days charged by the prisoner for him. In
reply to Mr. Campbell, the witness said, there was a man
in his place whilst he was away. The prisoner had full
control over the men. Thomas Roberts said he
wasoff three days early in the month, and got his
wages for the three days. The prisoner charged for four
days for him. A man named Thomas Meadows was
examined, and said he was in Fairclough's place for
three days, and got paid. These sums were charged as
well as the other overcharges. Mr, Messiter asked for a
remand on the evi,lence ; he had some other cases to
bring forward, Mr. Campbell argued against a remand,
and said it was a mistake on the part of the prisoner to
make the two entries. Mr. Mansfield said there was a
prima facie case for a remand, and it was agreed to
remand the prisoner to Friday. Bail was refused.

BEFORE MR. SHEIL AND Ma. EVANS.

BRIBING A POLICE OFFICER.—George Meredith, the
chief mate of the Edward Hyam, was summoned by
police constable 223, for having offered him a sovereign
not to report some infringement on the dock regulations
The constable clearly proved the case, and the defendant
was lined £3 and costs. Mr. Gooderc appeared for the
defendant, but did not succeed in shaking the testimony
of the officer.