The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-25 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGEII'OE.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.---/Ifr. Bishop, of Bond-
street, guninaker, appeared to answer a charge of hav-
ing corruptly received money for the detention of a dog,
and a man named Moore was charged with stealing the
dog. Mr. Parry was for the defence.
The court was crowded during the examination, and
nearly the whole fraternity of dogstealers and dogdealers
were congregated in the street and passages.
Miss Knight, in addition to her former evidence, said
when she paid 41. for the restoration of the dog, Mr.
Bishop said it was a shame she should have to pay 21.
more than the offered Dewar]. Mr. Bishop, after the
dog was restrred, warned her that the dog would be
stolen again if proper care were not taken. ,Mr. Bishop,
'when informel of the loss, and the witness's anxiety on
account of the dog, expressed the greatest anxiety to
serve her, and afterwards he said he was very sorry they,
would have to pay 41. for the recovery of the dog.
Miss Victoria Knight said she went to Mr. Bishop's
house in Bond-street, and asked him if the dog could not
be got back for less than 51. Mr. Bishop said he could
not take less, if Moore had stated that a price had been
offered for the return of the dog. Mr. Bish,:p told them
to go back to Moore, as he had not been there that
morning. She went, back to Moore's house with her
sister to pay him 41. Moore would not take the money,
but told them to go back to Mr. Bishop. They went
back and paid Mr. Bishop four sovereigns. Mr. Bishop
remarked that be would try to get the dog back for less
money. Witness inquired when the dog would be re-
turned. Mr. Bishop replied most probably that evening.
The dog was brought back the next day. Had men-
tioned to Mr. Bishop she was much concerned at the
loss, and Mr. Bishop sympathised with her.
A second case was then brought forward, the evidence
upon which was of a nearly similar character to that ad-
dressed upon the preceding charge.
Robert Smith, police constable, then said that Moore
had been fined 101. in 1849 for receiving money for
getting back a dog. Mr. Bishop was present at the
time, and said Moore was employed by him, and rather
than he should go to prison he would pay the fine.
Mr. Parry contended there was no pretence for
charging Mr. Bishop with having acted corruptly in this
or in the second case.

Mr. Bingham—l have had a week to consider the
meaning of the word " corruptly," and after a careful
consideration of all the circumstances attending the case,
it seems to me unlikely that any jury would find that
the money paid to the accused (Bishop) was received
corruptlyin other words, that the money or any por-
tion of it became a pecuniary profit to the receiver. It
appears rather that he has engaged in these transactions
from motives of vanity, accompanied, no doubt,. with a
kind desire to assist his customers and their friends. I
refrain, therefore, from taking the depositions for a 'r al
on which I feel no confidence of a conviction. But I
cannot dismiss the accused without exacting from him
an undertaking to desist at once and for ever from a
practice fraught with mischief, and tending tl encourage
the offence which'the legislature has sought to suppress
by an act, in the introduction of which he himself was
mainly concerned. The principles on which I have
mainly acted in taking depositions for trial have been to
satisfy myself that the evidence affords a confident ex-
pectation of a conviction. Then with respect to Moore,
who is charged with stealing Captain Sutherland's dog,
the evidence rather shows that he is theacquaintance
and associate of dog stealers than himself the actual
thief. As Moore was charged with dog stealing, and
the case has not been made out, I must discharge him.
Mr. Bishop then left the court.

Miss Helen Faucit closed a most successful engige-
ment at the Dublin Theatre on Saturday night, with a
house overflowing to excess, for her benefit. The series
of Italian operas is to commence on the 15th of May,
when Mdlle. Alboni and Herr Reichart will make their
appearance, and be supported by a number of eminent
artistes.

LAND AND ASSESSED TAXES.—Yesterday a bill in the
House of Commons, brought forward by Mr. Frewen
and Mr. Spooner, was printed to facilitate the formation
of'divisions for which meetings of commissioners of land
or assessed taxes may be held in Great Britain. After
the 10th October next the commissioners of land tax are
to forward to the Secretary of the Treasury, a statement
of the parishes and places that would form a proper di-
vision in which meetings of the commissioners should be
held. The statement to be published in the newspapers,
to be laid before the Lords of the Treasury, and new
divisions to be made. No new division is to be consti-
tuted unless it extends over at least 50,000 acres, nor
unless there are seven commissioners of land tax residing
in the game.