The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-09 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

CLERKENWELL.—On Thursday laSt three men,
belonging to the Royal South Lincoln Militia, applied
for the means of paying the fare of themselves and
families to their homes at Grantham. They stated that
they had been turned out of barracks at Portsmouth,
because they would not he re-attested under the new
arrangement of the act of 1852, and desired to seek their
homes as best they could, and that they and their fami-
lies were quite destitute. Mr. Tyrwhitt, on that occa.
sion, relieved them and paid their fares from the poor-
box. The case having been reported in the papers on
Saturday, soon after Mr. Corrie took his seat, Colonel
Sibthorp, M.P., entered the court, and being accommo-
dated with a seat on the bench addressed his worship,
and said—Sir, to my utt( r surprise I was pointed out a
paragraph in the morning papers of yesterday (Friday),
reflecting on the regiment I have the honour to com-
mand ; and so astonished was I at the statements made
in it, that I at once proceeded, although it was Good
Friday, to the War-office, to ascertain what proceedings
could be taken to remedy the evident misunderstanding.
I there ascertained that a communication had been sent
down to Portsmouth respecting the matter, and I my-
self forwarded a letter by post, on the same subject, to
the colonel commandant. I must say that that pare;
graph must have been published by the papers for the
purpose of vilifying me. I know they seize on every
occasion for so doing; but I will always resist the pro-
ceedings of a licentious press, no matter whether in the
House of Commons or in this court. I feel the indignity
more, because in the affair no blame could be attached to
Colonel Fane. As to the general statement of the facts,
it is totally incorrect, for when I did address the regi-
ment on the point of volunteering for their re-attesta-
tion, my observations were received with three cheers,
and subsequently visited the men in their rooms at
dinner time, where I took the opportunity of ordering
them a pint of ale each. I have always treated my-
men with kindness and consideration, and will con-
tinue to do so. I offered to provide them with extra
comforts out of my own pocket, for, thank God, I have
the means at my disposal, and already I have expended
between 3,0001. and 4,0001. on the regiment. I have
been grossly vilifiej, but I fear no inquiry, and as an old
soldier I have come here to see that nothing discredit-
able shall be attached to the Royal regiment have the
honour to command.' I hope Mr. Tyrwhitt, a gentle.
man for whom I havithe highest respect, and you, sir,
will speak, so that the public may know, that whatever
may be said against me, there is one thing certain that
I know I shall get plenty of recruits.
Mr. Corrie, after reading the report alluded to by the
gallant colonel, said—l see the paragraph complained of
is not of the editorial character, but merely the report
of an ex-parte statement made in this court by some of
the soldiers of the regiment commanded by Colonel Sib-
thorp. Suppose the facts stated by the men had been
true, lam sure that that gallant officer would be the
first to admit it a disgraceful proceeding. I have, how-
ever, received a letter which will clear up the affair. It
is as follows :

" Cambridge Barracks, Portsmouth,
Friday, April 6.
" Sir,—l observed in the police reports of this day'that
an application has been made to you for relief by some of
the men belonging to the regiment under my command,
and that you extended the same to them, for which I beg
to tender you my thanks. Their statement is substantially
correct -namely, that their passages to their homes had not
been given them, the major general commanding at this
place being of opinion that these men were merely going on
leave of absence, and consequently not entitled to their
passages home from the public. They were at the same
time recommended to wait till an answer was received
from the War-office on this important point ; but they
were in such a hurry to get to their homes, and they at
once departed. This authority has been since received
(yesterday morning), and all such men and their
families who remained till then have been furnished
with passages to their several places of abode, the last—
namely, the families—at the expense of the regiment,
Government not finding this. I regret that such a pro-
ceeding should have been necessary ; but it is absurd
to suppose that the :passages of near 400 men and their
families could bo provided without a regular authority. In
conclusion, beg too add that, if from the poor-box or any
other source, you have been good enough to forward any
of these men home, on an account being sent to us, it
shall be repaid. I may add that I have also sent orders to
Grantham, our county head-quarters, to see every man
paid his passage from hence who may call upon one of my
officers there and request it.—l have the honour, &c.,
"HENRY E. FANE, Lieut.-Colonel,
" Commanding Royal South Lincoln Militia.

" P.S. The latter part of Handley's statement is simply
totally untrue, neither Colonel Sibthorp nor myself ever
having an idea of the Crimea, much less proffering the
services of the regiment there, to which I at least have no
wish to go."

From this letter it appears that the men hare been
treated with great kindness, and, had they waited, would
have been seut to their homes. Colonel Sibthorp com-
plains of the report in the papers ; but I do not think
they are at all to blame for the publication of an cx-
parte statement. I am sure the gallant colonel will ad-
mit that the representations of the press require great
and judicious discernment in a police court; for he (the
colonel) must know that the magistrates, as judges,
without learned aid, have a more arduous labour in de-
ciding cases, and ex-parte statements made to them,
than the higher judges. The publication of such State-
ments in the newspapers has frequently been attended
with great and good results, though, no doubt, at times,
the parties complained of suffer under unjust imputa-
tations until they have been heard. However, every
sensible person, before forming an opinion, will say,
" Wait awl hear what the other side have to say." Both
sides have now been heard, and I doubt not a fair report
of what has passed here will appear in the papers.—Col.
Sibthorp agreed with his worship. Ho was satisfied
with having given the explanation he had made ; he then
thanked Mr. Corrie for his attention and Withdrew.—
During the gallant colonel's short speech the audience
in the court had frequently to be checked from
giving open expr, scion to their admiration of his conduct
towards his soldiers. Four more soldiers, including two
lance corporals of the same regiment, whose fares home
were also paid, were told by the magistrate the misunder-
standing they had been labouring under.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—FIVE SHILLING DAY, SATURDAY.
—Admissions on payment, 357 ; ditto by sea3on tickets,
1,283. Total visitors, 1,040,

•
LEEDS BOROUGEI GAOL.—On Tuesday last the Bishop
of Ripon preached in the chapel, connected with the
Leeds Borough Gaol, to the prisoners. His sermon was
taken from Romans, viii., 32. There was a large atten-
dance also of the magistrates, and the discourse produced
a deep impression upon all present. The prisoners
joined heartily in the service, and conducted themselves
with great propriety.
MULLINGAR FAIR.—The April fair was held on Fri-
day. Good horned cattle were scarce. Horses, for
which this fair has always been celebrated, showed a
marked falling off, both i❑ quantity and quality ; those
suited for the army were particularly scarce, and for
any of a good description exorbitant prices were de-
manded ; but few, however, changed hands. Mr. P.
Manley purchased 18 for the Royal Horse Artillery at
from 351. to 401. each. Amongst other dealers on
the look-out for troopers were Alderman Reynolds,
Messrs. Hartigan, P. Donelly, Wheeler, Stone, &c. ;
they, however, obtained, very few, There was a good
business transacted at Nugent's Repository during the
day, and some high prices obtained for hunters, car-
riage horses, &c. Mr. Bristow gave 70 guineas for a
chesnut mare, and Mr. Hartigan (of Limerick) pur-
chased two promising-looking hunters at a high figure.
Major Colburn gave 70 guineas for a fine-looking car-
riage horse. Mr. Smyth purchased a four-year•old colt,
by Windfall, for 55 guineas. Several hunters remained
unsold in consequence of the very exorbitant prices de-
manded,