The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-12 00:00:00

➢OLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOUSE.—The following communica
tion was transmitted to the Mansion-house, as an
answer to and comment upon an important case which
was published in all the newspapers last April, rela-
tive to the conduct of Mr. Dalziel, justice of the peace
at Colombo, in ordering some British seamen to be
flogged. The case was heard before Alderman Wire,
upon the application of Mr. Pelham the solicitor, who
took the opportunity to state, in strong language, that
such a sentence was altogether illegal :
" Colombo, Ceylon, May 25, 1855.
" Sir,—With reference to a discussion that took place
at the Mansion House, London, on Saturday, 7th April
last, and which appeared in the newspapers of Monday,
the 9th April, under the head Police,' I send herewith
a copy of the proceedings in the case alluded to, No.
31,562, that was decided by me on the Ist of July, 1854,
and have to request that you will be so good as to give
publicity to these proceedings, in order to correct the
erroneous impressions that Mr. Pelham's statemeats are
likely to produce.
" I do not impute motives, butl do not choose quietly
to submit to be thus unjustly brought before the public
as having acted in such a grossly incorrect and illegal
manner as to sentence a British seaman' to be flogged
under the Mercantile Marine Act. Thompson and
Martin were not charged under the act of Parliament,
but with a common law offence committed within the
jurisdiction of the police-court of Colombo, and the local
ordinances No. 11 of 1843 and No. 2 of 1845 authorise
the punishment awarded.

"I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,"

" JOHN DALZIEL,
"Police Magistrate of Colombo."
" No. 31,562.

" Police Court, Colombo, July 1, 1854.
" David Reed, master of the barque Flora Macdonald,
complainant, v. Charles Thompson and John Martin,
articled seamen of the barque Flora Macdonald, de-
fendants.

"Charge—Assault. and battery; striking the com-
planant with their fists on board of the barque Flora
Macdonald, which is now at anchor in Port of Colombo,
on the 30th June, 1854.

" Parties present. Charge explained. First defen-
dant pleads guilty ; second defendant pleads not guilty,
and says, Ido not call any witnesses.'
" David Reed is duly sworn and states—l am master
of the barque Flora Macdonald, new at anchor in the
port of Colombo. The two defendants are articled sea-
men, part of my crew. I charge the said two defendants,
Charles Thompson and John Martin, with assault
and battery, striking me with their fists on the quarter-
deck of my ship, barque Flora Macdonald, on the morn-
ing of the 30th June, 1854, about 7 o'clock a.m. A
party of police brought five of my crew on board in cus-
tody, they having been absent without leave, and the
ship was ready for sea. The two defendants were of the
five so put cn board. The police-boat had just shoved
oJ, and was about a ship's length from the Flora Mac-
donald when the assault was committed. I ordered the
chief mate to set the foretopsail, preparatory to raising
the anchor, as I was perfectly ready for sea. He went
forward. I turned and was walking aft. First de-
fendant, Thompson, took me unawares, and struck me a
severe blow behind my right ear, which stunned me
very much. I fell against the mizen rigging and my cap
fell overboard. Immeeliately after second defendant
struck me twice in front of my right shoulder. Both de-
sired me to call back the police party ; if I did not that
I would be a dead man before I was out of sight of the
Island of Ceylon. Second defendant also said that the
first man who laid a hand on the windlass to raise
the anchor would be a dead man. I refused. Said I
would not call back the police. But the police, having
seen me struck, returned on board. Then I considered
it better, for the safety of the ship and my own safety,
to give the two defendants now present into custody.
Four others went into the boat ; they had refused duty.
I have a full cargo of coffee, cinnamon, oil, plumbago,
and cotton. Ido not consider it would be safe to go to
sea with the two defendants, or with the other four who
have just been committed to prison for 12 weeks.
" Defendants ask no questions.
" By Police Magistrate.—When I reached Colombo
my crew was in. good order. I bad a large quantity of
liquids on board. Much drunkenness ensued on board.
I suspect, but cannot prove it, that cargo was broached.
I have had to pay about 301. for deficiencies. I ascribe
all the insubordination to drunkenness among my crew
since I came to anchor.

(Signed) " DAVID REED.
" J. DALZIEL, P. M.
Wm. Batten, police-9erjeant, is duly sworn, and states :
I went on board of the Flora Macdonald yesterday
morning in command of a party of police, escorting five
seamen, including the two defendants now present. I
went on board and got a receipt from the captain, com-
plainant in this case for the five seamen. I shoved off
from the ship's side, and when about 50 fathoms off, I
saw the men walking aft. I saw first defendant go on
the poop high quarter-deck and strike the captain, com-
plainant. In•about half-a-minute I saw second defendant
go up on the poop and strike the captain, complainant.
As soon as I saw the first blow struck I had the boat
turned round, and went on board immediately. When
second defendant was striking the captain first defendant
went and struck the chief mate. I took the defendants
and four others into custody, and brought them on
shore. I was so close to the ship that I could distinctly
identify the persons who struck the captain. Second de-
fendant asked me if I had seen what had been done. I
said I had. Re said, "lan very glad of it ; we did it
on purpose that you might see it."
"No questions. (Signed) "Was. BiLTREN.
(Signed) J. DALZIEL, P.M."
" No defence.

" Judgment. —The charge is clearly and fully preyed
against the defendants, who seem to have committed
this offence in order to get away from the ship. In this
they will no doubt succeed, but at a cost upon which
they most likely did not calculate. The conduct of the
defendant Charles Thompson was that of a coward and
an assassin, to go behind his captain and strike him such
a blow as might h:lve fractured his skull ' • and second
defendant, Martin, expressed satisfaction that the police
serjeant had seen him strike Captain Reed. This case
might have been sent before the Admiralty Court, but it
has been deemed advisable summarily to dispose of it, so
that the Flora Macdonald, now ready for sea, may not
be detained to the great disadvantage of several parties.
Neither the four men convicted under the 78th section
sth clause of the Mercantile Marine Act, nor the two
defendants in this case, have alleged anything whatever
against Captain Reed ; they have not said that they re-
ceived any bad treatment from him.
_ _

"The said two defendants, Charles Thompson and.
John Martin, are adjudged to be guilty, and are sen-
tenced to receive 20 lashes each on their bare backs, and
to be imprisoned at bard labour for 3 months.
(Signed) "J. DALZIEL, Police Magistrate."

GUILDHALL.—John Pearson, a Sunday school
teacher, and Joseph Crawford, a porter in the employ of
an auctioneer in Chancery-lane, were placed at the bar
before Alderman Hunter, the former charged with steal-
about 170 oz. of silver plate, value about 701., the pro-
perty of Mr. Jury, of 19, Coleman-street, and the lat-
ter with receiving the property, knowing it to be stole'.
Mr. Pollard, from the office of Mr. nobler, appeared
for the prosecution. From the evidence it appeared
that Pearson was in the employ of the prosecutor,
and some time previous to September last he ob-
tained access to the strong-room, in which a chest
of plate, which was deposited with the prosecutor
for safety, was kept, and abstracted therefrom a
quantity of plate, consisting of a tea service and
some forks, spoons, &c., to the weight of 170 oz.,
which he disposed of to Crawford, who at first denied
having bought the property on his own aocount, alleg-
ing that he merely acted as Pearson's agent in selling
the plate, for which service he had received about 7L or
81. ;...he, however, subsequently stated that he bought
the plate of Pearson, and his wife sold it for him. On
the first examination Pearson admitted taking the plate,
and said he sold it to Crawford, who held his receipts for
the money. Those receipts were found in Crawford's
possession, and it was urged in his behalf that he had
given nearly the full value for the plate.—The deposi-
tions having been prepared, the prisoners, who reserved
their defence, were committed for trial.

CLERKENWELL.—AGGRAVATED ASSAULT UPON
AN INVALID LADY.— Wm. Humphries, who described
himself as a house agent and appraiser, residing at
19, King's-read, Bedford-row, appeared on his own
recognisance, accepted by Mr. Tyrwhitt, for assault-
ing Miss Elizabeth Johnstone.—Mr. Ballantine appear-
ed for the complainant ; the defendant was repre-
sented by Mr. Morgan, solicitor. Mr. Ballantine
reminded the court that on Tuesday night, the 3d
of July, a person named Edward Money was given
into custody for forcibly entering the complainant's room,
and violently assaulting her, in which act he was aided
by the defendant and another man, who evaded being
given into custody at the time, but soon after Money
was locked up at the police station he was bailed out,
and next morning forfeited his recognisance of 1001.,
the bail asserting that he had just learned that he
(Money) bad left for the Crimea.—Mr. Ballantine—l
requested that the defendant might be remanded with
heavy bail, to enable the officers to arrest Money. The
complainant is still annoyed by his emissaries.—Mr.
Tyrwhitt granted the remand with two solvent bail in
501. each. A warrant was also issued for the apprehen-
sion of Mr. Money. The complainant, who appeared in
a most weakly state of health, and was accompanied by
her medical adviser, was then led out of court.

LAMBETH.—J antes Tacker, an urchin not quite 14
years of age, waiplaced at the bar before the lion. G. C.
Norton, for final examination, on two different charges
—Mrs. Charlotte Porter deposed
thatof i mopnu dtehnet
forenoon
r obbey . r
of the 26th of last month, while
standing at her door, the prisoner came up to her with
two flower roots in his hand and said that two boys,
who had just run away, had pulled them up in her
garden. While exhibiting the roots the prisoner carne
close to her, and when he was gone away, she missed her
purse, which she had safe but a few minutes before, con-
taining a sovereign and a half, and about 30s. in silver.
Witness felt her purse safe but a very few minutes be-
fore, and she was perfectly certain the prisoner must
have taken h.—Mrs. Eliza Bond, the wife of an oilman
in Walworth, deposed that on the 27th of last month, the
prisoner and another boy, about the same age, entered
her shop, and asked to see some painting brushes that were
in the window, and she had to stoop in reaching for them,
and in doing so the prisoner and his companion stood
theT hperi pso ronseerenatnrdix his
while
on each side of her, and when they were gone Ehe
1a
missed from her packet a canvas
containinga 181.
18s. in gold and silver,
and which 'sub-() felt safe a few
companion
giving
len dence seemed very much affected,-
'
tmerineduttehs the beforeshop.
and said that herself
and her husband had been but
a very short time is busi.