The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-16 00:00:00

traffic in foreign prostitutc9, and has more than once at-
tracted the notice of the: pand parish authorities.
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Edwords, of e of the summoning oflicets of the court,
by the exercise of cooaiderable dexterity, contrived to
Pate the woman into custody in Panton-street, in her
disguise, and just prepared for a flight to France.

WESTMINSTER.—John Cole, described as a beer-
shop proprietor, was summoned for opening his house
for the purpose of betting with persons resorting
thereto. The defendant appeared to a former
summons, when he was described as the owner and occu-
pier of the house ; but as in the evidence it was ascer-
tained that he was improperly described, the present
summons was issued in terms describing him as a person
using a certain house.

Mr. Walsh, solicitor, Staples-inn, was engaged for the
defendant.

Nathaniel Lush, a waterman, No. 15, D'Oyley-street,
Chelsea, stated that he -was at the defendant's house on
the 10th of July, at 12 o'clock at noon, when he was
shown a list of horses which had to run at the Liverpool
Races. He asked the defendant about the state of the
odds in reference to them, in consequence of which he
deposited 7s. upon them. He gave a man at the bar
half-a-sovereign, and received 3s. in change.
Witnesses were sworn for the defendant, who stated
that t he complainant was at the house in the evening
between six and seven o'clock, and one of them, a man
named Russell, said that he was at the bar all the day.
He did not see complainant there at 12 o'clock ; and he
gave the complainant change for half a sovereign, which
he tendered for a pint of ale.

Mr. Arnold said that it was a question as to the cre-
dibility of witnesses, and that he was inclined to believe
the statement of the complainant. The penalty for the
offence was for a sum not exceeding 1001., or a period of
imprisonment with hard labour without penalty.
The defendant was fined in the mitigated penalty of
20/ , or in default of payment three months' imprison-
ment in the House of Correction.

Mr. Walsh gave notice of appeal, when bail wag ac-
cepted for his appearance at the sessions—himself in
801., and two sureties in 401. each.

SOUTHWARK. Thomas Mockforcl, a singular-
looking man, described as a carman, was charged with
attempting to commit suicide under the following sin-
gular circumstances.
John Perry, a basket-maker, said he was passing the
steps at the south-east side of London-bridge, about 12
o'clock on Tuesday night, when his attention was at-
tracted to something lying at the bottom, partially in
the river, which was nearly at high tide. He ran down
to see what it was, when be perceived the prisoner lying
on his back, naked all but his shirt, with the water up to
his neck. Witness seized hold of him, and asked him what
he was doing there, when he replied, " What's that to
you ? I intend to drown myself." He, however, told him
he should not do that, andeseized hold of him and pulled
him up the seeps, when they bad a severe struggle, and
had not another man come to his assistance he would
have over-powered witness, and committed the threat-
ened act of self-destruction. His shirt was torn off his
back, but they succeeded in putting on his trousers, and
conveying him to the police-station.
In answer to the charge the prisoner said—l went down
the steps on purpose to drown myself, and I pulled off
all my clothes except my shirt, so that no one should be
able to save me. Before I left home I made up my mind
to commit suicide, and I wrote a letter, leaving it at home,
informing my wife and friends that when they reacrit I
should he no more.
Magistrate—You are a very foolish fellow, and you
adopted a very singular mode of committing suicide. I
can hardly think you really intended it.
Prisoner—l did, sir, and I had reasons for doing it,
as I am in debt.
Magistrate—Are you in any employment ?
Prisoner—Oh, yes ; I am now a carman in the em-
play of Mr. William Cooper, in the Borough-market,
and get only 16s. a week. Formerly I was employed by
Mr. Ash; the printer, opposite the railway, at 18s.
Magistrate—But I see no reason why you should me-
ditete suicide. You have a good situation, and must
be in fair circumstances.
Prisoner —My wife, as well as myself, has been ill, and
at Christmas I was almost dead, and I owe money to
the doctor, who asked me for it, Others trouble me for
money, and I have none to pay my debts.
Magisixate—But that's no reason why you should
commit an act of self destruction.
Prisoner—There's something else, your worship. When
I left home yesterday morning my wife was there, but
when I returned in the evening she was out. Being so
vexed at her conduct I determined to commit suicide.
The officer who took the prisoner into custody in-
formed the magistrate that be told him he was deter-
mined to destroy himself although they had prevented
him that time. He also said he should never be seen at
home again.
The magistrate said he was a foolish fellow, and did
not go about the job like a person intending to commit
suicide. However, he must find sureties for his future
good behaviour for 3 months.
EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE AGAINST AN EX-POLICE
CONSTABLE.—Frederick Hebbert, a respectable-looking
man, recently discharged from the Metropolitan Police,
was brought before Mr. Combe, charged with robbery,
and representing him:self to be a police-constable.
Jane Humphreys, a rather pretty-looking young
woman, said that she was one of the many in the metro-
polis termed " unfortunate," and on the previous night
she met the prisoner in Kent-street, and he stopped her
and told her that he had had some beer in a public-
house close by, where the publican wanted him to pay
something extra for it. She asked him what he wanted
of her, when he requested her to carry an empty pot
into the public-house and leave it for him. She did so,
and returned to him, when he accompanied her to her
lodgings, in Kent-street, when they had an altercation
about a shilling lie offered her. He then charged her
with robbing him of his purse and contents. She indig-
nantly denied the accusation, and offered to let him
search her, at the same time showing her own purse,
containing two pawnbroker's duplicates, saying that was
all that she possessed. The prisoner immediately
snatched the puree from her, exclaiming, " This is what
I want ; I have been sent here by my sergeant about a
robbery, and I shall take it."

Mr. Combe—Did he say anything about being a con•
stable before that ?

Witness—Oh, yea. He said, "I am a constable, and
you have taken my purse." I said I knew nothing of
his purse and I had never seen it. I have my own
purse, and it contained two pawnbroker's duplicates.
While I had it in my hand, he snatched it from me and
put it in his pocket.
Mr. Combe—Had you known him before ?
Witness—No, sir. But he told me ho was a consta-
ble, and that he should see my landlady about the cir-
cumstances. When he attempted to leave the house, I
called in a constable and gave him into custody, when
my purse, containing the two duplicates, was found on
him.

Prisoner—l can assure your worship it was quite ac-
cidental. I took her purse in mistake for my own. The
facts were:—Befor© I met the female, I had deposited
my purse in my coat-pocket and forgot it, being under the
influence of liquor at the time. When I got in her room
I missed the purses, and asked her whether she had it ?
She replied that she had not, and pr)duced one in her
hand, which I took . from her, believing that it was my
own. When I round it was not, I said to her, "I shall
keep this until I have my own." She then charged me
with stealing her riurse, which I was mucn surprised at,
as I did not steal it.
Mr. Combe—Do you deny passing yourself off for a
police cona:able ?

Prisoner--I do not, as I merely said that to get my
purse back.
_ _

- Mr. Combe (to the prosecutor)—Was there any money
in the purse ?
WitneisT-No, sir.

Mr. Combe—Was he sober ?

Witness—He was not drunk, although he appeared
to have teen drinking. When I said I should fetch a
constable, be said, "That's no use, for I atn one." I
then followed him out and gave him into custody.
Prisoner—l am very sorry that I represeited myself
ai a police constable. Had I been sober I should not
have done so.

Mr. Combe—Did he say anything about being a con-
stable before he charged you with having his purse ?
Witness—He said, "Have no) games with me, because
lam a police constable." That was because I would
not let him stop for a shilling.
Mr. Combe—Who found the purse on him ?
Mills, 171 M, said—l took him into custody, and on
searching him I found the prosecutor's purse, containing
two pawnbrokers' duplicates. He acknowledged they
belonged to the female.
Mr. Combo (to prisoner)—How do you account for
the possession of the purse ?
Prisoner—She gave it me, and I said I should keep
it until I had my own.
Mr. Combe—Will you go•to trial, or shall I deal with
it summarily ? It is a very ilisgraceful case.
Prisoner—l don't want to go for trial ; but I hope
your worship will not act harshly with me, as I have
got a respectable situation to go to on Thur,day.
Mr. Combs—Your conduct has been very di'graceful,
and you must be imprisoned in the House of Correction
for two months, with hard labour.