The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-17 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME CIRCI7IT, =CROYDON, AUG. 16.

(Before Mr. Justice Wightman and a Common Jury.)
STEPTOE V. ARMSTRONG.

This was an action to recover damages for the breach
of a promise of marriage,
Mr. Lush mas for the plaintiff, and Mr. Hawkins was
counsel for ijap defendant.
Mr. Lash, in epening the case to the jury, said that
the plaintiff, in this case was a young girl of 18, and the
defendant was about 30. They were both in a humble
position of life, but the defendant he was instructed was
in possession of 7001. or 8001., and the present action
was brought to compel him to make some compensation
to the plaintiff for the injury he had done to her feelings
by breaking a solemn promise he had given to marry
her. The defendant, it appeared, lived as a sort of bailiff
with his uncle, who was a farmer at Brentford, and the
plaintiff was employed as a servant on the establishment.
An intimacy sprung up between them, which was not dis-
covered for some time by the uncle, but when he did so,
he immediately discharged the plaintiff, and she went to
live with her father and mother, at Hamwell. The de-
fendant, however, went there and renewed the promise
of marriage, which it appeared he had before made to the
plaintiff, and byhisadesire she was removed to tthe hoime use
of an aunt at Notting-hill, and after a short
elapsed preparations were made for the wedding, the
ring was bought, the banns were put up, and a fly was
ordered to take the parties to the church, but while the
brought
from was standing at the door a letter was
from the defendant, addressed to the plaintiff's father, in
the following terms
"The enclosed is for your inspection. Let it be for-
warded immediately._ Also two sovereigns for expenses
you have been at."
The letter contained nothing besides two sovereigns,
and as it being clear that the defendant did not intend
to, perform his promise, the present action was brought
against him.
William Steptoe, the father of the plaintiff, said that
his daughter was 18 years old, and in the beginning of
the present year she,was•in the service of the uncle of the
defendant. After Shetad been dismissed from the ser-
vice, the defendant called upon him, and asked his leave
to have his daughter. Witness said to him, "Thomas,
if you like myclangliter you can have her." (A laugh.)
The defendant replied, " Well, I would have her if she
had not got a second shirt to her back." (Laughter.) The
defendant then told him that he had saved 3501., and
that he was entitled to the fourth share of 2,0001, under
the will of his grandmother, and after that he was mar-
ried he should go into some bustness. The defendant
continued to visit his daughter after this, and, on ac-
count of his objecting to her living in his house because
a young man lodged there, she was sent to the house of
an aunt at Notting-hill, and. she remained there until
the day appointed for the wedding. The marriage was
fixed to take place on Sunday, the 27th of May, but the
night before the defendant called upon him and told
him that hi. .uncle had found it out, and that he bad
threatened him that if he married his daughter he
would turn him out of doors, and he therefore said he
did not know rightly whether he should be able to come
the next day or not. (Laughter.)
Mr. Lush—Did he say anything more?
Witness—Yes. He said that he should very likely
ga to Brentford and get drunk, and then we should not
care for either his uncle or aunt. The witness went on
to state that on the following morning he received the
letter above alluded to, containing the two sovereigns,
and he immediately went to where his daughter was
staying at, Notting-hill, and found the fly at the door,
and all the bridal party ready to go to church. He com-
municated the intelligence to his daughter, and it gave
her a great shock, and she had been very " molloncolly
like" ever since. (A. laugh.)
Cross-examined—He did not take the trouble to give
the uncle of the defendant any information of what was
going on. He was not to have been present at the
marriage, of course. They did not want him. The defend-
ant was very much afraid of his uncle, and said that he
would turn him out ofdoors if he got married, and wit-
ness said that if he did he would find him a job at
gravel digging. (Laughter.)
Mr. Hawkins made a very humorous speech to the fury
on behalf of the defendant in mitigation of damages, and
he urged that but for the.rapidity with which the action
had been brought, the defendant would in all probability
- have fulfilled his promise. He also said that the defend-
ant would not have acted as he had done if he had not
been afraid that his uncle would, as he termed it, have
turned him " neck and crop" out of the house if he had
carried out the marriage.
The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff—damages,
251.

NORTHERN CIBCUIT—LivEnuooL, Auc. 15.
CROWN COURT.
BIGAMY,
Thomas Bentley, 64, wad indicted for having inter-
married with Ann Bond, in Oct., 1851, his former wife,
Mary Bentley,, being still alive.
Mrs. Catherine Spencer, sister to the first wife,
proved that she had gone. to the Old Church in Manches-
ter on the ?oth, August, 1844, and there her sister, Mary
Lathery, then a widow, was married to the prisoner.
They lived together nearly six years ; he making bricks,
she making pies, (Laughter.) They had uo family.
He was married under the name of Thomas Betterley,
stating that to be his true designation---th,:r other being
used for the sake of shortness.

Ann Bond, the second wile, was put in the witness.
box. She stated she had been married in ISSI to the
prisoner. She,knevi nOthing about getting up the ore•
sent prosecution. When the present affair was over,
she would have'no objection to go and live with him
again, if he pleated. She knew, she believed, a good
man when she got :one. (Laughter.) The fact of the
first wife being alive'was fully proved by a police-officer ;
and the jury broughL- in a verdict of guilty.
•
Court (to prisoner)---You seem to be pretty well off
—no less than three'wives, eh
Prisoner—NAY, I hadn't three wives, as I know.
Court—You were described as a widower at the first
marriage, so you must have had one before.
Prisoner—Oh:yes, I had.
Court—This act of Parliament was passed for the pro-
tection of women ; and the only woman who could be
affected by your conduct is unwilling to prosecute you.
The proseution is ordered by the board of guardians,
who have nothing_,on,earth to-do with it. In considera-
tion of this circumstance, the Court pass upon you but
a mitigated sentence, vii., that you be imprisoned for
seven days.

The leniency of the sentence appeared to give great
satisfaction to Mrs. Bentley No. 2.

REWARD OF FEMALE COURAGE,

His lordship called up Mrs. Chappell, and ordered her
to be rewarded with 5!. as an acknowledgement of her
courage and activity in securing a burglar.
[George Marsden,,who broke into her husband's house
in Manchester, on the 3d of April, pleaded guilty to an
indictment charging him with the offence on Monday.]

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.-Aug. 16.

• ROBBERY OF 200/. RY AN ITALIAN.
Benedetto Spin9la, 24, an Italian, well dressed and
described as of high education, was indicted for having
• stolen the sum of 2001. sterling belonging to Ermene-
gildo Giuntini, in a dwelling-house.
Mr. Metcalfe Yq.afor the prosecution, Mr. Sleigh for
the prisoner. .
The learned counsel, in opening the case, said his
client, the prosecutor, waif a timber merchant, and had
carried on business as such. in.Twinany.
Having oeca-
sion to come to London, hewent to 'lorence, acid there
he became acquainted, with the prisoner, who repre-
sentedhimself to be the Marquis Spinoia, and
veiled together t 9 :Paris, and, thence te.leeedrin. `They
stayed at the Sabloniere Hotel in Leicestenequare, and
one day, the prosecutor, who had- about' 20,0hOitlf,:biiirelias possession, asked-bine_to get_same foreign notes shamed
into English money,, The prisoner-brought
sealed packet, which; he said_ contained English; rso„ny
equivalent to the .amount of notes he had been: desired
to exchavge, which paoket-the prosecutor was about e 3
examine, when the prisoner made an oxelametion
tantamount to, " Why, yote doubt me, -surely,•
upon which the prosecutor placed it. in a leathern int.
without ascertaining the nature of its contents. About
the 3d of July the proseeutor, -and-the prisoner .vent
clown to Brighton, and while tlferthe prosecutor con-
verted about 5,0001. into English money, and on their
return to town he placed the amount he received in ex-
change in the bag where he had deposited the paeket,
and for security he secreted the bag between the mattress
and the bed in his roue), at the Sabloniere. —He ani_di the
prisoner lived ou nit:
e4tuality awl upon termsnt ntidid
dense and friendship, au'
ul thatNa
be li the
e prosecutor
deposited
not hesitate to tell:the piisaner wheread de
his bag of money. In ;the:evening of the day onwhicht
they came up frora,itrighton they went to tie th r re: ), e-
rooms, but the prisoner _did riot . ie the dan-inee:
which the proseputor—did: • While.- he was- so . ing
the prisoner made a pretext fur leaving for a short
time. Re went•,out and -did_ not , return. - When -the-
proseentor left he repaired straight to the Sabloeiere,
and on hid found a. letter iia Italian, written- I
by the prisoner,-,to-,the, effect that he bad taken part
of his money vein tasking-leave, to embark in a pro-
fitable speculation in Bcotland„ that be need not fear, as
he should snort "tonl4frOvneEdinbargh with double': the
amount, whichaveuldise,aiehie. service. -Theletter stated
that the writer h..,..„.elgionght:it, better to take the money
without asking periniesiOil, becauao he was quite sure
that even if he pat himeelbice-the•-trouble•of askine, it
would be of no availi amhtlifte.- }tic friend would give a
decided refusal to any Such requeat. Instead of proceed-
ing to Scotlanit -immediately, faa.the, letters said he was
about to do, the Prisonerielnais'sd in London, and wee
tionokPahn itn ton -gi r.eet.
in
apprehended on the-evening of- the,following day as- he
was alighting from aca
officerlat an
urb
hotoel„
He handed over to the.
money, and a valuable gold watch andeliain., andtt ring,
which he had purohasetk at -Dent's bathe Sersnid.-SOttlat instead asspeoulating in Scotland, he was speeding' -the
money he had abstractiscl as fa-st as he conic:lin LoAdon..
The evidence-having been given, •
Mr. Sleigh, IC a short address to the jury,iurged that
the prisoner ;4.
w•se-truhave• taken the money without
the felonious tinteetione ,Vir•itla- respect to the prisoner'e
connexions and his title of Spinola, the learned counsel
assured the jury that he was a raethie-of a most fespeet--
able family in Sardinia.
Mr. Bodkin then interred
.
The jury -retureed'a -verdiceof.
Mr. Bodkin saint this case, whether
laws of this or any other judged of by the
country, was a serious-
one, and the condtet the*. prisoner deserved severe
punishment. The septe*cfewais. that,. be kept to hard
labour in the House 0:W0 cc
o__e,
P tyear.' _
William Faulkner) -39,-Ifeweller,-was_ found guilty-of
having feloniously-t.e.ceived4wergeld Watches and a large
e
variety O. j wellorr 4041 wing .theme Wit eye
.I.ieert
stolen.—Sentencc defertpd,

CLERKENWELL.—A poor woman, who gave her
name Elizabeth Simms, andwhroelihe.afd an infant in her
arms, applied to Mr. Corrie for
From the woman's statement, it appeared that her
husband had joined the Land Transport Corps, and
since he had left the country, now 12 weeks since, she
had received no money, and had consequently been in
the greatest distress, herself and child being in a starv-
ing state. Application had been kindly made by Mr.
Morant, one of the ushers of the court, to the Secretary
of the Central Association for the Relief of the Wives of
Soldiers and Sailors engaged in the War, but the appli-
cation was refused in consequence of the man being
neither a soldier nor a sailor. She now applied to the
magistrate for a little to enable her to make a respect-
able appearance, and to go home to her husband's rela-
tions, who resided at Stroudwater, in Gloucestershire,
and who were fully able to give her a home. If they re-
fused, her intention was to go into the workhouse. Her
wearing apparel was kept by a poor widow living in
Bermondsey for a trifle she owed her, but she had no
doubt that she would be enabled to obtain it.
Mr. Corrie said that he would grant her the money to
enable her to go home, when he trusted that her hus-
band's relations would do something for her and her
infant.

The applicant thanked the magistrate and retired.
Jarmo Edward Smith, a private in the East Middlesex
Militia, was brought up in the custody of the police,
charged with violently assaulting Mr. Nathan Meyer,
licensed victualler, and proprietor of the Rising Sun
public-house, in the New-road, with assaulting the
police, and otherwise creating a riot in the street.
Mr. Nathan Meyer stated that he was the landlord of
the Rising Sun. He said that the prisoner, in corn.
pang with his sergeant, entered the house about eight
o'clock last evening, and was served with a pot of
ale in the parlour. , They conducted themselves very
well, and the sergeant went away. The prisoner
shortly afterwards became very outrageous, and inter-
fered with the business so much that witness tried
to get him out. He answered by stripping himself for
a fight, and challenged several customers for a " go
in. This not being attended to, he was becoming
more violent, when Mr. Meyer was bliged to call in' the
aid of the police, and the prisoner was removed in cus-
tody. -

Police-constable 368 S proved taking the prisoner into
custody, with the aid of other constables. When they
got into the street, the brave soldier very soon attracted
a crowd. As he was passing through Somerstown, he
called out that he had just returned from the Crimea,
where he had been "fighting glorious battles, and would
they permit a man to be taken away to a vile prison for
declaring that ,he had been spilling his blood for his
country." There, were several hundred persons present,
and the mob attempted a rescue several times.
The prisoner, a loutish-looking man, who was recog-
nised as not having been long separated from the coster-
monger's barrow, said that he was in liquor, and he knew
nothing about it.

The magistrate said that his conduct had been very
bad indeed ; and, in order that he might prepare for the
Crimea, he should be fined 10s., or seven days' imprison-
ment, where it was hoped that a little bread and water
would be of service to him.
The prisoner was then removed.

GREEN WICH.—John Griffin, 20 years of age, a
costermonger, was brought before Mr. Seeker, charged
with stealing a barrowful of fruit, value 30s.' from the
garden of Mr. Gale, an extensive market gardener, Blue
Anchor-road, Bermondsey.
It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner was
observed passing down Blue Anchor-road at about 11
o'clock last night with an empty barrow, and at about
two in -the morning he was again seen returning with the
barrow laden with beautiful fruit, consisting of Dutch
codling apples and jargonelle pears. There was in quan-
tity about 3 bushels. The constable, believing it was not
all right, questioned the prisoner, whosaid he had bought
them. Not feeling satisfied, however, he took him to
the station ; and in consequence of complaints hitherto
made by Mr. Gale of having been repeatedly robbed, and
only, too, the night before, he went there, and found the
trees bore evidence of having been recently stripped, and
the marks of the barrow directly under them. The bar-
row, it appeared, had also been stolen, but the owner
was unwilling to appear.
The prisoner, on being asked what he had to say to
the charge, said he had nothing to say.
The magistrate said it was a very aggravated case,
and he should therefore inflict the full penalty allowed
by law—namely, six months' imprisonment, with hard
labour. *

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The .Glatton, 16, steam-battery, Captain Cumming,
was towed out of Portsmouth harbour yesterday and
moored at Spithead, while the Horatio, Captain the Hon.
A. Cochrane, C. 8., steamed out and prepared to convoy
her 'to the Black Sea.
The Sr.ightly steam-tender, Mr. George Allen; em-
barked the First Lord of the Admiralty and the Minis-
ter of War from Portsmouth on Wednesday, to Osborne
for an audience with her Majesty.
The Camperdown, 104, berthing hulk for the crew of
her Majesty's ship Excellent, which was taken from
Portsmouth to the Motherbank some weeks since to
give the crew of the Excellent a change of air, returned
to Portsmouth harbour yesterday, her chip's company
quite recovered from scarlatina.
The Germania steam-transport left Portsmouth yes-
! terday afternoon for Woolwich.
The steam-transport, Gibraltar, No. 183, arrive'? at
Portsmouth yesterday afternoon from the East. She left
Balaklava, July 11 ; Constantinople, 20th ; Smyrna,
26th ; Malta, 29th ; Gibraltar, Aug. 5 ; Corunna, 12th.
She Las brought home Major Cormiek, of the 18th
Royal Irish.: Captain the Hon. G. B. Legge, of the
Rifle Brigade ; Captain Joseph Jordan, of the 34th ;
Captain Twiss, Royal Artillery; Lieut. Stotherd, of the
93d e Cornet H. F. Dimsdale, of the 11th Hussars ;
Assistant-Surgeon Sinclair, of the 93d ; J. C. Words-
worth, civil department ; 127 invalids, 3 women, 1 offi-
cer of a transport, 2 seamen, and 3 woman private pas-
sengers ; 1 serjeant and 2 corporals of the Royal Artil-
lery, 10 bomlardiers' 2 gunners, 2 eerjeants of the line,
4 corporals, 84 rank and file, 2 orderlies, 4 drivers, 13
artificers, 3 officers' servants, and a cargo of old clothing
and damaged powder. Dr: Woodward and the invalids
are from Smyrna, and the rest from Balakla.va.
Sir C. Wood, [the Hon. M. F. F. Berkeley, M.P.,
Rear-Admiral Peter Richards, C. 8., Captain Sir B. W.
Walkee, R.N., K.C.8., &c., Colonel Green, Royal En-
gineers, &c., paid an official visit to Sheerness yesterday.
They were received by the,autborities, Vice-Admiral the
Hon. W. Gordon, Commander-in-Chief, Captain Super-
intendent John J. Tucker, Colonel England, command-
ant of the garrison, with a guard of honour. Their lord-
ships proceeded to the office of the Captain Superintend-
ent, and thence with a minute survey of every part of
the establishment, visiting the ships in the basin and in
dock. Their lordships assembled at the muster-office at
2 p.m., and the entire establishment of officers, clerks,
and men were individually inspected by them at a gene-
ral muster.
Their lordships were entertained to dinner by the
Commander-in-Chief at the Admiralty-house.
The iron screw steam-transport Adelaide, of 1,860
tons and 450-horse power, Commander A. Young, ar-
rived at Sheerness on Wednesday, at 7 p.m., from Lon-
don. She received on board yesterday Captain Bur-
rows' company of Artillery, from the garrison, in com-
mand of Captain Eaton Travers and Lieutenants Car-
penter and Dodson. Dr. Sharp, of the medical staff,
also embarked. Captain Burrows' 4th company, 4th
Battalion, consisted of 100 gunners and drivers ; total,
with non-commissioned officers, &c., 130 men. Captain
Burrows does not accompany his men out, as he received
official orders to proceed with all despatch (on partiCiVar
service) to Constantinople. The Adelaide will also take
but'4o men for the Turkish Contingent, 60 sappers, and
60 horses for" the-Turkish artillery. She left Sheerness
yesterday at 9 a.m., direct for Constantinople. She has
-also a large' siipply of monitions of war for the use of the
Turkish army.
The Prussian brig Mentor, Deisner master, which was
in collision with :her Majesty's steam-sloop Gorgon off
a_ , ohY Head, has had her
,leaks temporarily stopped,
.t7amwas yesterday morning towed from Sheerness by the
tog Pahl Bry-for. Harwich for permanent repaire
The Norwegian, bark, 13eodrene, ofl Arendal, from'
Sundsvall, p. yen I
Lieut.. 9
man waits her rders. • -
terday, where sh master,
e
Alecto, and E. P. d'ig* arrived at' the Nore yes-
Brock has been appointed to the
Ou Wednesday, ,raven, 'midshipman, to the Archer.
Guning/tarnPattY Oreentiales.cents from the bare,
racke; at
to the:Mu:66sr of SO men of diffe-
rent corps -1-,i'Oceeded-
Ireland' to" Jain th6sfeptxraeliir ila'tlunsillEngliOd an 4 •
again. -"' • ; 7 t,.., , ,teirfralnieuts for -servioe
1
- Although ithiMieweepileS eifl-mat --
i ron Tim% artillery riudicuibmee,.'d shell, , brass and
Stores of-every deteitipfiele'l eeeeeeeratrg°9oc-.a4dniilitiiry
baring the Arsenallaa, tLt, liViit4atb?'i,t'iatrencurw•
are being, daily added. --iguictiO'i ofittiii!„. supplies
'
stabtly arriving(frotri. the-'•eptc'h . , 0 .*:rait are cone
Their cargoes,amerapidly Clears :,-,enit,ttoteflactot°i.rvieeß-r.,
i vice; Yet thereaypears to be a: -.scarcity Of Ai
suffiCiently large .to JOTl4l)6ft 'lleve..., T,LPI. ~t9,.97=
schooner* 't,.'er'e yesterdaY dranghted - illtblelia7„,,ilTlT9:
, ' .'rfe°•fe Woolwich. 'They I'eintarleed abofit'Soo tOne; 'Of JO
~,;,a-1.3.id6b
1.3.id6b ,helf,ihnd lidi'e 'Sailed 'for SOtithanpt69'- '.7,..
~,-,
OnVedrieSday the Emil, -oi. CArlf,wl9l.lo:vi:,
blae'd:afrlir6iv',l,l.i,ittc:
vafided soldiers froth the .Crin:tea,
Dublin by the Ondfne,stehmer on the previous evening,.
Many of thet&hadibeeti 'in ''the'. three battles, of Alrka,
'l3alak/avh, and flutter/man,' and 'all'had sees: hard, Sr.
vice. One of their. number, Corporal Husband, or the
38th,' wore a modal-for_distirig-Tiishaci conduct., He had
been attacked by three liusSialls, one of, whop rhe,, Ant,
and he bayonetted- wad afterwards made prisoners of the
other two; he als4 had three good, conduct badges, hav-
ing been a long %ilea
,in 'the service. , Marked attention
was pail to this brave soldier by his Excellency, evho
expressed his high estimation of his meritorious.qUali
ties. Another seldier named' John Nolan, of the 90th,
had been struck in-`the Adele t the fahe by a round shot,
Which took away one "eye A third, named Hugh Dog...
terty, of the" 77th,' had rebeiveda musket ball at the back
of one.eye, where it remained - for 26 day* and was after-
w...aircds:etracted, andthe:braVe fellow's life preserved.
,jveon,pnlace.iots weremade by some of the mesa of the, ineon-
dwofhrpeilecailri,lipaydret4oiuLhpbaat.i.thigteraca.sf:‘ui.b:-yvca,,,"‘-:itui.hi'7,sboai?idncoanhot.mreaectei
Portsmouth
which to9hospifal ship,
-:- ~ . ,i OP.r eaboVe 200 soldiers, returning under
similar oirournatm _ . .. , . .
during tbeipas-rL !."e 74 l. - B'l.° vas 59 ,days at faea,_ and
of the eniire'.-.....eis and- one officer ill6c1; ' :b4#
e -1"ilial, sh brought home . -ly
two weredischn.arfeedltialeeqefil°-ritiieivl.:on ,
-CRYSTAL AT,4OIC::--
. . ta.zw_ ri iti.---- Atr
, . mmissibvevocupsibudija,,astfettto b . teust 16..-:
--
.1 839 --Total, 1°,°16. ' ItseasitAkketti,
:._..,... 2':_.:-::\-: ... '' •-, •:-:'.:L___::.