Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-17 00:00:00

BIRKENHEAD.

BEFORE MESSRS CkSE, STIAW,JACESON, BAXTER, AND COLON.

Bonet vo A STEAM-TUG.—John Pritchard, a labourer, and
who was employed on board the Albion steam-tug, the
property of Messrs. Williams and Nicholls, of Chester, was
charged with stealing a valve and some copper piping,
their property. The prisoner was employed on board the
tug as a labourer, assisting in taking the machinery to
pieces, and it was whilst so employed that he purloined the
articles. He was caught offering the articles for sale at a
marine store dealer's, in Birkenhead. Prisoner pleaded
guilty, and was sentenced to fourteen days' hard labour in
Chester Castle.

S TEALING A DUCK —William Leeson was charged with
stealing a duck, on the 22nd June last, the property of
Thom is Langley, of Birkenhead. Prisoner was seen to
take the duck by a parson named O'Neill, and chase was
given, during which the prisoner dropped the duck, and
made his escape, since which time he had kept out of the
way, until the 11th instant, when he was apprehended in
a house in Birkenhead Prisoner, who denied the charge,
was sentenced to twenty-one dap,' hard labour in Chester
Castle. Two brotliers of the prisoner are, at the present
time, undergoing imprisonment.
STEALING WEARING APPAREL.— George Unwin, a drunken
dissipated-looking fellow, was charged with stealing a
carpet bag, table clo:h, apron, and other articles, from the
house of Mrs. Allen, a widow, keeping a beerhouse in
Seacombe. The prisoner was stopped, as a suspicious
person, by one of the county police, named Southern, and
from the very unsatisfactory answers he gave as to where
he got the property from, he was detained. The articles
were fully identified, and the prisoner sentenced to twenty-
one days' hard labour.
Row, Boys, Row.—Joseph Quinn, 15, and John Boyde,
14, two trim locking young urchins, were charged with
stealing a boat from New Ferry, the property of James
Robinson. Prosecutor missed his boat, an i whilst making
inquiries at Liverpool, he accidentally saw the prisoners on
thJ water with the boat, upon which he and a police officer
went after them, and they were given into custody. The
prisoners said that two other boys had told them to take
the boat to the Cheshire side and anchor it. The charge
not being proved, the prisoners were cautioned and dis-
charged.
Connisrox CASR. —Thomas Lemon, of the barque
Aurora, was summoned for damaging the schooner
Brownfield, while she was lying in the Sloyne, off
Rock Ferry. Mr. Atkinson appeared far the
plaintiff, and Mr. Brethertoa for the defendant.
David Griffiths, the owner of the Brownfield, stated that
on the ith inst. he came into the Mersey with a cargo of
coal from Swansea, consigned to Messrs. Battershed, of
Hall-street, Liverpool, and anchored about four o'clock in
the morning. That when he had done so, the Aurora was
about one hundred yards from his vessel. The two vessels
swung at their ancbore, quite clear of each othlr. The
captain of the Aurora had his chain shortened, with the
intention of going to Runcorn, but did not go that .tide.
but afterwards payed out more chain. Having seen all
safe, he went on shore, leaving a seaman and his wife and
child on board ; and when he returned, he found his ves-
sel damaged, and the bulwarks, stanchions, top-gallant
bulwarks, and jib-boom carried away, the estimated
damage of which was £l5. Owen Jones, the sea-
man who was left on board during the absence
of the captain, stated that he had been at sea seven
years. That whilst he was on deck he noticed the Aurora
swinging about at ier cable at ebb .tide, ultimately she
west across the bows o:
Brown and bit her, He

hrsiled the Aurora, but there was no one on deck at the
Other witnesses were called, all of whom were
tross-examined. by Mr. Bretherton with much tact and
nautical knowledge—arguing that if a collision took place
through the carelessness of the owner of the injured vessel,
it was a well known point in law that he cannot recover,
and it was quite evident in thiscase that the captain of the
Brownfield had not left sufficient hands on board a vessel
of 100 tons to take care of her. The bench having coin-
cided, dismissed the case.
A CRUEL HUSBAND AND FATHER —John O'Mara, a
dealer, recently from Ireland, was charged with neglecting
to maintain his two children, whereby they had become
chargeable to B rkanhead. It appeared, in the course of
the inquiry, that the prisoner had only been a short time
in Birkenhead, aul had on Monday last taken lodgings in
the house of a Mr. Poval, in Oliver-street, to wain he
brought his wife and two children. He came home late on
Tuesday night in a drunken state, and ill-used his wife
—so much so, that she was compelled to leave him and
the two children. and seek protection at her friends, who,
it was said, were very respectable, and resided in Lord-
street, Liverpool. Mr. M‘Chierney said his attention had
been called to the case. Upon visiting the children, he
found them in a very hungry stete, and he took them to
the Union lodgine-house, and fed them. airs. Poval
stated that she did not see him ill-use his wife and
children ; but the wife had told her that she could not stay
in the house and see him ill-use the children. She left,
and had not since returned. The prisoner appealed to
two or three police for his character ; but, unfortunately,
they all said that he was frequently out late at night in a
drunken state. Priaoner appealed to the mercy of the
bench, and he would promise better behaviour for the
future, and provide for his wife and family. The bench
accep'ed the promise, and having cautioned him, ha was
discharged.
AssauLT AND ROBBERY.—William Lewis, a labourer,
was charged with having assaulted Ann M'Gowen, and
also with having assaulted Catherine Almond, and robbed
her of 4e. and a bottle of ale. Catherine Almond seated
that she and the other complainant were sisters, and yes-
terday evening they were with other friends in a private
room at a public-house kept by a person named Gouldson,
at the north end of Birkenhead. They saw the prisoner
there as they were corning out, but knew nothing of him.
When they got outside, the prisoner and two other men
suddenly attacked her, and took 4s oat of he hand, and
ran away with the jar of ale. The case was treated as au
assault, and the prisoner was fined 10s. and costs, or 21
days' imprisonment.
Fuaious Darvisna—John Barnes, a boy in the employ
of Mr. Shellinglaw, a baker residing in Grange-lane, was
charged with furiously driving his horse and cart in Ivy-
street. Police officer Gregory proved the case, and that
the defendant was driving at the rate of 16 miles an hour.
Defendant said he had hold of the reins and was not
driving fast. Ha was convicted in ss. penalty.
Edward Bailey, the driver of one of the spring-carts
plying at the Wocdeide Ferry, was charged with a like
offence in Chester-street. The offence was clearly proved
by the police-officer whe had the case, and a gentleman
named Faulds who saw it. Defendant said the horde was
going fast, but did not ge!lop Convicted in 5s penalty.
BEER-HOUSE CASES.—John Trainer, a beer-house keeper,
in Meaceck-street, appeared to answer a complaint for keep-
ing open his beer-house at a quarter to eleven o'clock in the
morning of Sunday last. Inspector Thomson stated, that
he visited the defendant's house last Sunday evening, and
found two men in the kitchen wilt a pint of fresh drawn
a'e before them. One of the men found in the kitcaen
was called by the defendant, and slated that he saw a
woman carrying oat, and he and his companion made so
free as to slip in, but they had no beer, nor had he ever
seen the defendant or his wife at the time the officer came
in. Convicted in 2s. 61 and costs.

Witham Rylance, of Little Sutton, beerhouss keeper,
was charged with keeping his house open at half-past throe
o'clock on Sunday afcernom last. County police constable
Williamson proved the finding of two men in the house
with beer before them. Fined 24. 6d. and costs.

STEALING A SIXPENCE —Elizabeth 11.V.Manus was charged
with stealing a sixpence, the money of Ann Smith. It
appeared from the evidence that the prisoner and prosecu-
trix were in Hr. Allwocd's shop, a pawnbroker, in Albion-
street; Birkenhead. The latter had just pledged a small
article for which she received 11 d ; that she took up the
coppers and was counting them, when the prisoner snatched
up the si pence, She was accused of it, but denied the
charge. A police officer was however Bent for, and she was
taken to the police office and again charged with the offence,
which she again denied. Her mouth was teen searched,
and underneath her tongue th, sixpence was found.
Prisoner pleaded guilty, and asked for mercy. The bench,
in consideration of her having a child at her breast, and
under the authority of the Ist section of the Criminal
Justice Act, dismissed the prisoner withr,ut proceeding to
a conviction.

DOG DAY S.—A great number of persons ware summoned
for permitting their dogs to be at large after notice, and
were'fined 23. W. each, and 33. 61. costs.
CAR-DRlVER.—William Murphy, a car-driver, was sum-
moned for being absent from his horse and car on the
Woodside-ferry Stand. Police-constable Fenna stated,
that on Saturday, the 11th instant, he was on duty at
Woodside, and noticed that the defendant was from his
car from twenty minutes past twelve, until five minutes
to one o'clock, and when he came it was from a public-
house, in which he had been the whole time Deftndant
said it was all spite on the part of the officer, because he
woul! not treat him with drink. Defendant, who was
however known to be an old offender, having on other
occasions been fined, was convicted in ss. and costs.