The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-23 00:00:00

COURT OF INLAND REVENUE.—OcT. 22.

[Before John Wood, Esq., Chairman of the Board; C.
J. Herries, Esq., and Charles Pressly, Esq
THE 4IIEEN V. BUCYLA.ND.,

George Buckland, a soap-manufacturer in an exten-
sive way of business, residing in Orchard•place, \Val-
worth•road, was charged on an indictment containing
three counts; two of them alleging that ha had used
certain illegal utensils, by which he had incurred two
penalties of 2001; and in the third count he was charged
with convoying away from his premises a certain quan-
tity of soap, thereby defrauding her Majesty of the duty
chargimble thereon, by which he had incurred a penalty
of 3001. To all of which charges he pleaded not guilty.
A number of witnesses were then examined in support
of the counts in the indictment. _ _ _

After a few words from Mr. Parry for the defence,
Mr. Clarkson replied on the whole case at considerable
length.
The Chairman (Mr. John Wood), after a short con.
aultation with his colleagues, said the court had no
doubt, nor could any reasonable man have any doubt,
that the defendant was guilty, and that ho was cognizant
of the hole in the copper, which had been used as a
means of defrauding the revenue. They also had no
doubt that a large quantity of soap bad been conveyed
away between the Saturday and Sunday. It had not
gone into the ashpan, and therefore it was evident that
it had been taken away by some one. From the appear-
ance of the plug it would seem not to have been used
merely once or twice, but habitually. They should give
judgment for the penalties of 2001. and 5001., but if the
2001. were paid immediately, the 5001. would not bo en-
forced.

A warrant was then issued for the payment of th©
penalty.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOUSE.—George Brown, ono of the
runaway visitors to California, was charged before Al-
derman Hooper with having deserted from the Bombay
ship, now on her voyage from San Francisco to Java,
having signed articles to navigate the vessel to these
ports and home.
Mr. Edward Lawson, of Rotherhithe, sole owner of
the Bombay, said he had engaged the defendant, after
the vessel had been supplied with her crew, as an extra
hand, on the same terms as all the rest. At San Fran-
cisco the defendant, and 15 other seamen of the 18 of
which the crew consisted, ran away to the diggings, and
the expense to which the vessel was put, in consequence
of so cruel an abandonment, amounted to not less than
1,2904
Alderman Hooper asked how the prosecutor had
ascertained that the crow had deserted the ship?
Mr. Lawson—l had a letter from the captain, inform•
ing me that they had run away the day after the arriva',
and I was obliged to pay 150 dollars for the supply of
the place of each of the runaways. The ship has, in
fact, completely eaten herself up. It is indeed a ruinous
trade. I had fitted out the Bombay for 20 months, and
the moment an opportunity presents itself, away the men
go. It will be seen by the articles that every seaman
was, upon his return in the vessel, to receive a pound a
month extra pay, and twopence per ton for the guano
which it was intended to bring home. Shipowners who
venture to send their vessels to the gold regions can have
nothing but ruin before them if such practices continue.
Mr. Coleman, of the office of the Registrar-General
for Seamen, stated that he had summoned the defendant
upon his application to the office for a ticket. The de-
serters from vessels at California and Australia were
innumerable. The alderman would form some idea of
the dreadful loss and embarrassment to which the
owners were liable when he was assured that there was
a fleet of 150 sail at present at Australia, not one vessel
cf which could stir on account of the desertion. Ile re-
gretted that he found considerable difficulty in prevailing
upon the owners of the vessels to which the deserters
belonged to come forward with complaints, in order to
secure the infliction of punishment upon such injurious
delinquents, for without their evidence the deserter
walked off upon the demand of a penalty of 10s,, after
having caused enormous expense to his employer.
Mr. Lawson said a person would suppose, after such
treatment as the defendant had revolved, that there would
be perfect security for his return.
Mr. Coleman said that several of the seamen who had
deserted, and who returned enormously paid to this
country in other vessels, admitted to him that they did
not at all relish the diggings, the labour being much
greater than they wero accustomed to, or than they
could long endure.
Alderman Hooper said the case was one of the worst
ho had heard, and he had been present at a great many
bad exhibitions of the kind, and he sentenced the defend-
ant to the heaviest punishment he could inflict—a punish.
rnent much lighter than the offence—imprisonment and
hard labour for 12 weeks.
Another seaman was convicted of having deserted the
ship Hashemy, at Port Adelaide.
Mr. Beatsou, of the firm of Heath, Palmer, and Beat-
son, of Fenchurch-streot, managing owners of the vessel,
stated that the defendant had deserted the vessel, toge-
ther with almost all the rest of the crew, the day after
bar arrival. The chief mate had, he regretted to say,
also started away.
The defendant said he had been accused of smuggling
some of the cargo, and he could not think of staying on
board after that.
Alderman Hooper—For how much did you sign
articles ?
Defendant—For 2/. a-month.
Alderman Hooper—And how muoh did you get for
the voyage back ?
Defendant-8!. a-month.
Alderman Hooper—That settles the question. You
must go to hard labour for 12 weeks also.

TII AM ES.—John Sheen,
an Irish labourer, was
charged with stealing 23 sovereigns, and other moneys,
from the parson of Edward Branagan, formerly of
tivirrhigihtetcohna,paeld now residing at No. 20, Rosemary-lone,
The prosecutor and his wife came to London from
toom
Brighton on the 12th instant, for the purpose of engaging
a passage to South Australia, whore they intended _
settle. Branagan's whole stock of money consisted of
351. While looking over an emigrant ship in the East
India Dock, he was accosted by three men who had been
working on board as "hampers," and who said they were
about to emigrate, and proferred their advice and assist-
ance. Branagan placed credence in their statement, and
he went on shore with them. Ilia new acquaintances
plied him well with drink, and after sunset took him to
the East India-road, Poplar, where he was plunde red of
all the money he had in his possession, and whioh Le had
by frugality and industry saved for the purpose oiv,