The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-05 00:00:00

CRO WN COURT.

William Balcombe .Simpson, 40, solicitor; Caroline
Ilinctrec, 46 ; John Hopkins, 23 ; Richard lia2ctree,
17 ; Caroline Woodyate ; Dinah Drayton, 35 ; and
Francis Johnson, 50, baker, were indicted for conspiracy.
This case Pecupied the court for a great many hours,
and was cot brought to a conclusion until nine o'clock
at night. The charge arose out of the indictments that
we's disposed of ou the first day of the assizes, im-
puting a series of extensive corn robberies to different.
parties, Mr. Clement', a baker and flour factor at St.
Albans, being the prosecutor. The offence imputed to
the present defendants was, that they hal conspired to-
gether to defeat tht, ends of justice, by getting a mate-
rial witness in support of the original charge out of the
way. . _ _

The jury, without any hesitation, returned a verdict
of
,not guilty, and at the same time expressed their
opinion that there wag not the slightest foundation for
the charge made against 3lr. Simpson.
The learned judge said that now the case was con-
chided, he had no hesitation in saying that he entirely
concurred in the opinion expressed by the jury, and
that gentleman would leave the court without the
slightest imputation upon his character.

OXFORD CIRCUIT.—READING, MARCH 3.
EMBEZZLEMENT BY A COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER.
John Wood, about 40 years of age, described as clerk
and traveller, surrendered to his bail for trial on the
charge of having embezzled certain sums of money, be-
longing to his employer, Mr. Langton, brewer and wine
merchant, living at Maidenhead.
The prosecutor, Mr. John Edward Langton, carries
on an extensive brewery business, and the prisoner
\Vood, in July, 1852, became the London consignee of
ale, for which he had a considerable demand. The busi-
ness did not proceed to the satisfaction of Mr. Langton,
and during the year 1353 a balance was struck, when it
appeared that there was the sum of 7881. due from
Wood. A now arrangensent was made, by which Wood
was to become traveller and collector, at a salary of
4001. per annum, to include travelling expenses ; but it
was proposed that from this sum 2001. was every year to
be set aside towards liquidating the debt of 7881. incurred
whilst he was Mr. Langton's consignee. This was never
carried into effect ; but on the let of January in the pre-
sent year it was agreed that he should be paid 41. weekly
and the expenses incurred by him in travelling. Accord-
ing to the evidence of Mr. Langton, jun. (who managed
the business in consequence of his father being an
invalid), it was the duty of Wood on returning from
a journey to make an entry in a book of all money re-
ceived from customers and to pay the same to the
cashier, or whoever might be in the office. A short
time since a list was made of the balances due from the
customers up to Christmas last, and amongst these ap-
peared the name of Mr. Tindall, the 'landlord of the
Waterloo Tavern, Haymarket, Londe!), for the sum of
321. Mr. Tindall being known to be in good circum-
stances his arrearj excited surprise, and Mr. Langton,
jun., spoke to Wood on the subject, on the 12th of last
month, when he represented that Mr. Tindall complained
of the times being bad, anel would pay as soon as pos-
sible ; but as he was that day going to town, be would
call and see Mr. Tindall, and arrange for payment. Mr.
Langton, not satisfied with Wood's explanation, left
for town by a subsequent train, and ascertained from
Mr. Tindall that a balance of 321. was paid on the 12th
of January, but no entry was made in the cash-book as
required by the arrangement made at the beginning
of the year. According to appointment;Wood net Mr.
Langton on the railway platform at Paddington, on that
afternoon, and when asked what Mr. Tindall had done
with respect to the balance, he said Mr. Tindall was
sorry he was behindband, lut would pay in a month.
Mr. Tindall produced his receipt, signed by Wood, for
the balance which was still represented in Wood's book
to be due to Mr. Langton. The next case was that of
Mrs. Light, of the Feathers inn, Taplow, who paid
Wood 331. Bs. on the 19th of February, but he had only
accounted for 251. in the cash bock ; and the third
case was that of Mr. Ames, of the Wellington Arms,
Reading, who was represented to have paid only 101. on
the 30th of December last, whilst his receipt showed
that be had given Wood the sum of 151., the total
amount of his account. •
On cross-examination, Mr. Langton admitted that
Wood had paid him a cheque for 3401. for sundry ac-
counts ; and also that although he had paid a sum of
38/. and 201. it was discovered three months afterwards
that credit had been omitted to be given him,' by the
clerk neglecting to cat ry those sums from the cash
book into the ledger.
Mr. Huddlestone made an able address for Wood,
and contended that there was no wilful intention to
keep the money, but that what was paid was only on
account. A stun from 5,0001. to 6,0001. passing through
his hands annually (which the prosecutor admitted) it
was not unlikely an error might occur ; but he denied
any criminal intention.
Several respectable persons were called, who gave
Wood a geed character for honesty and uprightness.
His lordship summed up, and the jury returned a
verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to
mercy. The learned Baron said he would gire full
effect to it, and apart from it he should have passed but
a slight sentence, as he believed the conviction itself
would be a severer punishment on a person in the re-
spectable position of the prisoner than any lengthened
imprisonment. He then sentenced him to a fortnight's
hard labour,