The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-14 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

The December general sessions for the trial of priso-
ners commenced yesterday at the Guildhall, Westmin-
ster, before Mr. Sergeant Adams, the Assistant Judge,
and a bench of magistrates. There are 37 prisoners for'
trial-26 are charged with felony, and the remainder
with misdemeanour. The education of the prisoners is
thus defined in the calendar-14 can neither read nor
write, 14 can read, and 9 can read and write well.
Richard Anthony, 16, pleaded guilty to an indictment
charging him with stealing several pieces of timber, of
the value of 23., the property of Mr. Thomas Cubitt.
Mr. Sergeant Adams said he should sentence the pri•
soner to imprisonment for two years, in the hope that
he might be sent to the Reformatory School at Red-hill.
The prisoner had been in prison before.
C./tare:4 Blake, 21, a machine ruler, was sentenced to

be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for three calendar
months, for stealing a carriage cushion, value 303., the
property of Isaac Aldedent.
Woolf Lyons, 28, described as a hawker and well edu-
cated, was indicted for having feloniously received a
quantity of scissors, the property of Lawrence Dolan
and others, knowing the same to have been stolen.
Mr. Woollett appeared for the prosecution, Mr.
Sleigh for the prisoner.
The circumstances of this case were these :—The pro-
secntors were Messrs. Dolan and Co., the army clo-
thiers, of St. Martin's-lane, and since the breaking out
of the war, they had had extensive contracts with the
Government to supply the army in the East with
clothing and a variety of articles coming under the
denomination of military stores. In March last they
received from a manufacturer a quantity of scissors
marked with their own name, but as they were not
of the same quality as the sample, they were put aside
in the store room. In July, on stock being taken,
twenty dozen pairs of them were missed, together with
other property to some amount, in consequence of which
information was given to the detective police. Circum-
stances came to their knowledge by which they traced
some of the scissors to the shop of the roan named Joel,
in Sandy-street, Spitalfields, and Inspector Thornton
proceeded there, accompanied by Sergeant Hodges, and
found three dozen of the stolen scissors. Joel accounted
fir his possession of them by stating that he had them
from ono Levy ; from Levy a portion was traced to one
Lazarus, and finally to the prisoner, who said he bought
in all five dozen of scissors and 20 dozen of knives from a
strange man in the street near the Royal-mews, Pimli: o,
whose residence he did not know. It appeared that Levy
purchased between 6 and 7 dozen of scissors of the pri-
soner at the rate of is. 9d. per dozen for sonic and ls. 6d.
for others, and the prisoner told him he had bought them
of a man who was giving up business, but he had not suf-
ficient money to clear them all at once, and had therefore
cleared them in several lots. The invoice price of the
scissors from Sheffield to the prosecutors was 6e. 6d. per
dozen, and there could be no doubt as to the identity of
them, as they were a lot made expressly for them. It
was stated by the witnesses that it was impossible that
the articles could have left the premises except by dis-
honest means. The prisoner kept a chandler's shop in
Dorset-street, Spitalfields.
Mr. Dolan, on being cross-examined, said—their firm
had sent out a considerable quantity to the Crimea.
These scissors were intended for the cavalry, but as they
were not elual to the sample they were put aside for
use in their own establishment. It was usual for use-
less military stores to be sold, and some time ago a ship
was lost on her way to the Crimea—the Imperatrice—
and part of the cargo afterwards recovere 1 being unfit
for use, it was brought back and sold in Budge-row.
They (Messrs. Dolan) had 1,000 pairs of boots only on
board that ship and no cutlery ; and he could say posi-
tively that those scissors could not have been sold.
Mr. Sleigh, for the defence, suggested that the priso-
ner, in his way of miscellaneous dealing, might have come
into possession of these articles honestly enough at a
low price, although in point of fact they might originally
have been stolen from Messrs. Dolan's premises.

The jury found the prisoner guilty, and he then
pleaded guilty to a previous conviction. He had in ad-
dition been summarily convicted.
Mr. Woollett said Messrs. Dolan had lost a great deal
of property in this way, and they had now 300 persons
in their employ. It might be useful if the prisoner was
remanded for judgment.
The Assistant-Judge said he could be no party to that
suggestion but should simply remand the prisoner for
further inquiry. •

THE LATE VADUZ JULIE.-REFUSAL
TO DELIVER UP THE BODY.

PLYMOUTH GUILDHALL.-DEC. 11.

(Before the Right Worshipful the Mayor, J. Kelly,
Esq., and W. Burnell, Esq.)

OUTRAGEOUS AND UNFEELING CONDUCT OF A LODGING-
HOUSE KEEPER.

Mr. J. R. Newcombe, lessee of the Theatre Royal,
attended to solicit the intervention of the magistrates
under the following extraordinary circumstances. He
stated that the late Madlle. Julie, who died, on Sunday,
of the injuries which she received from the accidental
ignition of her dress, whilst performing at the theatre on
the 20th ult., had previously to the accident, and
throughout her illness, been lodging with a Mr. Morris,
the occupier of a small lodging-house, between George-
place and Athenmam-terrace. The lodging money was
regularly paid, but when he (Mr. Newcombe) had ar-
ranged for the removal of the remains of the deceased
lady to London, for burial, he was informed by Mr.
Morris that he claimed 11 guineas as compensation for
the damage which he said had been done to the bed
and other articles of furniture, consequent upon the
iiness of Mademoiselle Julie, and that until that sum
was paid, he should not allow the corpse to be re-
moved from the house. On looking at the items
in the bill, applicant considered the charges were
unreasonable, but he offered to place 121. in the
hands of any respectable person, unconnected with
either party, with a view to the payment of the demand,
should it, upon examination, prove to be reasonable and
just. Mr. Morris, however, positively refused to agree
to any terms short of the immediate payment of the
amouat which he demanded, and as he persisted in re-
taining possession of the dead body, he (Mr. Newcombe)
• was reluctantly compelled to seek the advice and assist-
ance of the Bench in the matter.
The Mayor expressed his surprise at the necessity of
such an application, and asked Mr. Morris, who was in
court, what explanation he had to offer.
Mr. Morris replied that he had not refused to allow
the remains of Madlle. Julie to be taken out of his house,
but he nevertheless expected that his claim for compen-
sation should be first satisfied. So far from his bill being
exorbitant, he had omitted to make some charges which
he might have included, and which he should seek to
include if the bill were disputed. He believed he hal
power to detain the corpse, and he did not want any-
thing which was not legal and right.
Mr. Phillips, magistrates' clerk—But you do want
what is neither legal nor right. The proposal of Mr.
Newcombe seems a very fair one, and such as no honest
man could object to. He isready to pay whatevershall be
proved, on inquiry,to be equitable, and what more can you
require As to your retaining possession of the corpse
beyond the time necessary to arrange for its decent sepul-
ture, that, you will find, you cannot do. It will be the
duty of the magistrates to see that the public health is in
no danger of being injured.
Mr. Morris said he believed that he was legally justi-
fied in the course which he had taken, and he should not
consent to abandon his claim.
The Mayor—lt seems that you are in ignorance as to
your true position. I may then tell you that you have
no remedy whatever as against Mr. Newcombe. You
could not recover a penny from him, whatever might be
the extent of the damage which you allege you have sus-
tained. Mr. Newcombe has, it appears, kindly under-
taken to superintend the removal of the remains of the
deceased lady from Plymouth, but that gives you no
claim upon him.
Mr. Phillips—Have you any objection to Mr. New-
combe leaving 121. in the hands of Mr. Codd, the Super-
intendent of Police, and to refer the matter to the arbitra-
tion of Mr. Skardon, it being understood that Mr.
Codd shall then pay whatever sum Mr. Skardon shall
deem to be just?
Mr. Morris—I shan't agree to anything of the kind.
I have no objection to Mr. Skardon personally, but I
shall not abandon any part of my claim, and shall take
legal advice upon the subject.
Mr. Phillips—You ma take whatever advice you
please, but if I were Mr. Newcombe I wouldn't pay you
a penny after this ; and as to Sour supposed right to de-
tain the corpse, the magistrates will, no doubt, quickly
put that matter straight by sending for the inspector of
nuisances.
The May directed that Arr. Symons, the inspector
of nuisances under the Board of Health, should be de-
sired to give his immediate attendance.
Whilst the Court was waiting the arrival of that
officer, it was remarked by Mt. Elliott, an undertaker,
that he had seen all the articles said to have been
damaged, and he would guarantse to replace them for
the sum of 51.
Mr. Morris—That's quite ridicrlous.
Mr. Elliot, however, renewel his offer ; and Mr.
Phillips observed that it sufficiently proved that the bill
of Mr. Morris required to be exassined.
The Mayor said it appeared to him to he an extraor-
dinary thing that after the offer made by Mr. Newcombe
there should have been any attempt upon the part of
Mr. Morris to retain possession of the corpse.
Mr. Morris—lf you were to place yourself in my po-
sition, sir, you would feel differently.
The Mayor—l should be very sorry, indeed, to find
myself in such a position. lam quite sure that under
no circumstances could I have acted 45 you have done in
this instaice.
Mr. Symons, the inspector of nuisances, here made
his appearance, and stated that, havieg desired the de-
puty-inspector of nuisances to visit the house of Mr.
Morris, that officer was prepared to eliposethat it would
be injurious to the public health if the remains of the
deceased lady were not forthwith removed for the pur-
pose of sepultire.
The Bench remarked 'that they could no longer hesi•
tate as to the course to be adopted. Unless Mr. Morris
at once agreed to the quiet removal the body, they
should issue a formal order to the inspector to take the
necessary measures for that purpose.
Mr. Morris, finding that he had no choice in the
matter, then agreed to what be could not prevent, and
it was arranged that Mr. Skardon ;sad Mr. Clement
should be requested to inquire into the pertioulars of Mr.
Morris's demand, with a view to the psyment of such
sum as should appear to be justly
due.
The remains of the ill-fated lady were removed to
London the same afternoon.