The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-23 00:00:00

the place ou the night previous to the accident, and he
gave directions how the lights should he plac,d, and thfy
were placed acc,rdtog to his directions. All the works
there bad been done under the direction of the pollee.
There was sufficient room under the bridge fur two carts
to pass at the same time. . _

Thomas Skuce, an officer on duty in Great Howard-
street, said, at a quarter before seven, nearly an hour
after the accident, the fires under the bridge were
nearly out. At six o'clock he saw a lamp, a good blaz-
ing fire, and a watchman at the place where the acci-
dent took place.
Join Cahill, a watchman in the employ of the defend-
ant, said be had to watch near the place where the bridge
was building. He was at the place shortly after the ac-
cident took place, and he lifted up the plaintiff from the
ground in a state of insensibility.
A witn-ss was called, who gated that the repairs to
the car amounted to 4/. 18q. 6d.; and the medical officer
said the plaintiff bad no fractured limbs, and his bill
would amount to about 12s.

Mr. Sergeant Wilkins characterised this action as a
desperate and disgraceful attempt to' get money from
his client. He would prove that every night two watch•
men were kept constantly at toe place There were two
fires burning at each end of the bridge all night, and two
red bull's-eye lamps. At the time the accident occurred
he would show the jury that the fires were burning bril-
liantly, and nothing but the most reckless carelessness
on the part of the driver could have led to such an oc-
currence. He had lately heard Baron Parke say that
things were now getting to that lenzth that by-and by,
if a man should run his head against a wall, be would
be bringing an action against the builder for compensa-
tion. (Laughter.) He trusted the jury would assist in
putting a stop to such trumpery and disgraceful actions,
and teach men that, if they were recklessly careless them-
selves, they must not expect compensation if their rash-
ness led them into scrapes.
Some witnesses were then called on behalf of the defen-
dant, who proved that watchmen bad been employed, and
that every precaution was taken to prevent accident.
Mr. Sergeant Wilkins then called upon the jury to re-
turn a verdict for his client, It would be extremely
dangerous to encourage such actions. What man would
venture upon building a house, or raising any other edi-
fice, if claims of this ridiculous sort were to be granted ?
It would be very hard if a man were to come and claim
compensation because he should happen to fall over the
scraper of your door, or if a man were to come on a
similar errand because he had driven his horse's head
against your gate. He then proceeded to detail at
length the facts he had endeavoured to prove.
Mr. Brett addres-ed the jury for the plaintiff, and

His Lordship having summed up the evidence,
The jury returned a verdict for the defendant.

SURREY SESSIONS.- Aug. 22.

Inn Downes, a well-dressed, respectable-lookirg fe-
male, the wife of a tradesman carrying on business in
the Borough, surrendered to take her trial for stealing a
box containing 4/. in crown pieces, two foreign coins, a
crochet cap, arid a pair of silk stockings, from the dwel-
ling-house of William Chapman Neale.
Mr. Teornson prosecuted ; and Mr. Charnock de-
fended the prisoner.
The wife of the prosecutor, on being sworn, said she
lived at-No. 36, Bear-lane. On Wednesday, the Ist inst.,
she bought a bedstead of the prisoner, arid requested it
to be sent home, as Ler husband would pay for it. Some
time afterwards the prisoner arid a wan brought the bed-
stead to her house, and not having the money at the
time, she asked the prisoner to wait until her husband
came home. During the time they had sixpenny worth
of gin to " wet the bedstead," and atter that witness
showed the prisoner her fowls, when she agreed t.i pur
chase three of them for 58. After that witness unioceed
the parlour door, and invited the pri-over to look at
some new furniture, &c., and at the same time she put
t.er hand upon a box standing on a table, telling her
that it contained all she was worth in the world, aed
enough to maintain her as long as she lived." Shortly
afterwards they left the parlour, when the prisoner beisi
in a hurried mariner that she would run home for tee
money for the fowl. She accordiugly left, and in a fee,
minutes witness's husband came home, when they
both went into the parlour, and to her dismay she
found the box was gone. That box contained 4/. in
crown pieces, some foreign and old coins, a crotchet
cap, and a pair of silk stockings which she wore the driy
she was married. Witness and her hu 'freed then went
in search of the prisoner, but they could not find her.
Some time after that Mrs. Downes came to the house and
said, "I am come to pay you for the fowls." Witness
said, " Yes, with my own money, which you have
stolen with my box." The prisoner seemed much sur-
prised, but witness called in a police-constable, and gave
her into custody. The cap, pair of stockings, and silver
coin produced were her husband's property, and were
in the box when the prisoner stole it.
Mr. Charnock—Did not some one ask you to wet the
bedstead ? (Laughter. )

Witness—Yes ; a fem Ale did.
Mr. Charnock—What did yon wet it with
Witness—Oh, a little gin, tbat is all.
Mr. Charnock—How much gin ?
Witness—About a quartern.
Mr. Oharnock—Did you not have more than a guar-
tern ?

Witness—Yes ; I believe two quarterns, perhaps
three. I paid for some of it.
Mr. Charnock—Did you not give some gin to the eat I
Witness—l did not give any gin to the cat. The pri-
soner took a fancy to the cat. That is all I know.
Mr. Charnock—You put the fowls on the table, and
gave them gin, did you not ? . .

Witness-Some gin was mixed with crumbs of bread,
and I believe the chickens ate it.

Mr. Charnock—Did not the prisoner pay for some of
the gin ?
Witness—Yes ; she did.
Mr. Charnock—You ~avr her leave the house ; and if
she had your box you must have seen it.

Witness—l gave her a lump of stone and glass picked
from the fire in Holland-street, and I thought she carriel
that away with her, but she ha(4 my box at the same time.
Mr. Charnock—Did you not give her the cap -and
stockings as well a, tho 4-ids You know you were
good-natured after drinking the gin.
Witness I gave ber nothing except the studs. The
cap arid stcckings were in the box, and my husband ha I
the key.
Warwick Vaughan, 255 M, said he was called by last
witness to take the prisoner into custody, when a c'ib
was called f r, and on their way to the station-house
she handed him a cap, pair of stockings, and seine shirt
studs, saying that Mr-i. Neale had given them to her.
Sarah Ann Fevvsotne' the wife of one of the warrant
officers attached to the Southwark Police-court, said she
searc,bed the prisoner and found two foreign cons noon
her. These coins were identified by the prosecutor and
his wife.

Mr. Charnock then addressed the jury at some length
on behalf of the prisoner, contending that the prosecu-
tux was a gin drinker, and mobile in a state of inebriation
she was s charitable as td give away tee cap and -tock-
in, with the studs ; but as for the coins, ho shou d be
able to prove that they had been in the possession of his
client f r some dine. He called several witnesses, ,vllO
gave a very singular acc, unt of the coins and he whole
transaction ; but the jury, much to the astoni.hinent of
every one in court, returned a verdict of acquittal.