The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-15 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SISSIONS.

SKITTLE STA.Z7INI.

Samuel Strife, 36, was indicted for having unlawfully
conspired with other persons to defraud Joseph Green of
divers moneys.
Mr. Payne prosecuted ; Mr. Duncan appeared for tb.
prisoner.

The prosecutor said, I am a butcher, and live at No.
7, Howard's-place, Hackney-road. On the sth of Novem-
ber last a man came to me and entered into a conversa-
tion with me about some pigs which he said a friend of
his had for osale, in consequence of which I went
to Laburnham-terrace. We there met the prisoner, and
the mau said to him, " I have brought this butcher te
buy those pigs." The prisoner said he had just sold
them, but invited me to a public-house opposite. I went
with him and the man there. The prisoner called for a
pot of ale and paid for it, and we drank itin the parlour.
The prisoner gave the man half-a-crown for his trouble
in fetching me. After I had been there a few minutes, a
respectable-looking man came in and called for a glass of
ale, and inquired if we had seen a lady with a green bon-
net on. We told him we had not, and he then said he had
given the lady 51., and she had promised to meet him
there that morning. The prisoner heard all this. The re-
spectable-looking man then said he had had 10,0001. left
him by an uncle, and should have more soon, and did
not care what he did with it. lie then pulled out some
gold and a roll of notes resembling bank notes. Thepri-
soner asked him if he could play at knock-'em-downs.
He answered he did not know what that was, but if it
was fighting, he could not fight. The prisoner ex-
plained to him what the game of knock-'em-downs
was, and we all then went into the skittle-ground. The
prisoner asked me if I could play at skittles, and I
said I could play a little. He then said how much
money have you brought with you. I said I had only
2s. 10d., and he asked me if I could get any more, and
mentioned 501., which I said I had. I then played at
skittles with the stranger and lost my 2s. 10d. The pri-
soner then lent me a sovereign to play, and I lost that
with the stranger. The prisoner said he bad no more
money, and said his wife and family were starving. The
man who at first took me-to the prisoner about the pigs
accompanied me towards home, but on the way I saw
a friend and borrowed 31. We then went back towards
the same house, when we met the prisoner and the
stranger I had played with, and we then went to the
Royal Oak, in the Hackney-road, kept by Mr. Sharpe.
We all had something to drink over the bar, and than
went into the skittle ground. I told the prisoner what
I had borrowed, and that was all the money I had, upon
which he said I will go you halves, and you play him for
61. I then put my three sovereigns into his hand, but I
did not see him put three to them. I then agreed to
play the stranger for 61. a side. We played at skittles,
and I lost. I did not see the prisoner pay the money
over to the winner. The prisoner then said to me if you
can go and fetch 201. I will back you for 50/. I told
him I would go and fetch it. I then went home, accom-
panied by a man who came into the skittle ground while
we were playing. I furnished myself with 20/., and
went back with the man to the skittle ground. The
prisoner and the stranger were still there, and I played
again with the stranger for 51., the prisoner holding the
money, and I lost. The prisoner did not, as I saw, pay
the money over to him. We then had some brandy
and water brought in by the waiter, whose name was
Pluckrose, in one tumbler. I drank some of it, and
saen,
d atlhlelp
ri
Bpountedrotwoonk fithveemmourpe. solverei
re-
member is that they all came about me, and that I went
thengn sbetcao nip elayc confused,
into the parlour. After being there a short time I put my
hand in my pocket, and found my remaining ten pounds
all gone. The man I first saw was the only one of the
pariywho was then there. I went away pretending to
go home for more money,but returned with a policeman,
but they were all gone except the man who fetched me
about the pigs. I should know him and the stranger
again if I saw them. I next saw the prisoner and ano-
-1 ther wan in custody on another charge, and then I ac-
cused him of this. The prisoner said if I did not press
the charge I should have every farthing of my money
back again. I lost altogether 231. 2s. 10d. When the
man went away the potman locked me in the place.
In cross-examination nothing was elicited to alter the
above statement. It comprised the whole case.
Alderman, an officer of the Worship-street Police•
court, deposed to having heard the prisoner tell the
prosecutor that if he would not press the charge the
whole of the money should be returned.
Mr. Duncan having made an address te the jury on
behalf of the prisoner, urging that he did not take the
money.
_ _

TheAssistant-Judge summed up, and told the jury
that if they were satisfied that there had been a common
design among them to cheat the prosecutor, it mattered
not which of them had the money—the same as if ten
men agreed to kill one by firing a gun at him, and a
piece of string were tied to the trigger, and they all
pulled it, they would be all equally guilty. ~
The jury immediately found the prisoner gu
charge,
The prisoner was then arraigned upon anotherebt
and having been found guilty the Assistant Judge Ben•
tenced him to fifteen months' hard labour.

Ay day morning, between
DESTRUCTIVE r ester
r.
to the Kent thewater-
the hoursextensive
premisesan d th roefe
3o c
yk ,e r
_ab
ufirrye, brokenen dornatp
eorn,
In consequence of the in-
tense frost tense frost the supply
works was frozen. This delayed for a quarter
ldfilCre.epnitu-groabde.longing
of an hour. On Mr. Engineer Henderson breaking
places, and after great exertions on the part of the
p n the door the shop was discovered to be in flames
it was subdued ; but not until the shop and
cfiionor neetmtweenonts, were destroyed, and the rest of the house con
siderably damaged. Cause unknown. Insured in the
phoenix Fire-office. Another fire broke out on the pre;
raises of Air. W. Hayday, boot and shoemaker, Kings-
land-road, when the shop and contents were burnt out
and the upper part of the house. Cause unknown.
Insured in the Phcenix. Also another at Mr. J. Le-
pard's, baker, Vernon-placo, Bagnigge 'Valle-road,
which destroyed the back part of the dwelling. Gauss
from oven flue. Insured in the Globe Fire-office.
The balance standing in the names of the depository
at the Newcastle Savings Bank is upwards of 400,0001.
—being the highest amount which has yet been entered
on the books of the institution,—Sunderland