The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-10 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY _EVENING, SEPTEMBER 10, 1864.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.---This Day,

SHERIFFS' COURT.
(Before Mr Sergeant Tindal-Atkinson.)
GILMORE V. BROOKS-HOW MANY YARDS ROUND ARE

LADIES' DRESSES ?

This was an action to recover £1 for making four em-
broidered skirts, and a witness (who attended on behalf of
the plaintiff) said she was an experienced dressmaker. The
work was well done, and the price charged only reasonable.
Defendant said that the skirts were quite valueless to him.
They were to have fitted a full-grown woman, but when
sent home would hardly do for a girl of twelve, The skirts
wete in court ; would his Honour like to see them ?
His Honour would be very glad to see them it they could
assist the Court in arriving at a correct decision.
Defendant then produced two rather elaborately embroi-
dered skirts, and said--My orders to the plaintiff were to
make the skirts five yards round, but when they were sent
home I found them only 3/. Of course no lady could wear
such a skirt.
His Honour—Do you mean to say that 31 yards is not
Aufficien t.
Defendant—•l do. Now see, your Honour, and judge for

yourself.
Defendant here proceeded to measure the pattern skirt
against one of those sent home by the plaintiff.
His Honour (pointing to the smaller)—I consider that
a very reasonable width indeed. (Laughter,) So far as
lam concerned I much prefer it to the other. (Renewed
laughter.)
Defendant urged that there must be some allowance mado
for the expansion of crinoline.
Mr Buchanan reminded the Court that some allowance
must also be made for the usual coroners' inquests.
Plaintiff said she had made the skirts quite full enough
for the fashion, and she had offered to take them back at
the wholesale price and keep them, but this was refused.
Defendant said plaintiff had certainly sent back some of
the stuff.
Verdict for plaintiff with costs.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

BOW-STREET.

STRANGE DELUSION,—Thomas Renfree, a respectably
dressed man, about 50 years of age, was placed at the bar
charged with annoying Miss Louisa Van Noorden, the
eminent vocalist and pianist.
The complainant said—l reside at 115, Great Russell-
street, Bloomsbury, The prisoner had been in the
habit et annoying us, by calling upon us and saying he had
very important business with us. This morning about six
o'clock he came over from his lodgings, which are exactly
opposite our house, and, after violently knocking at the
door, said—" I have come to see the lady of the house ; she
has called me over and has informed me from the window
that she cannot die without seeing me." The servant very
properly refused to admit him, and he went away. About
seven o'clock he came back again, and he said—" I have
called to see the lady of the house; she says
she cannot die without seeing me. She tells me she had
her throat cut by her husband last night, and that she
must see me." He was refused admittance, and I then
consulted the police as to the course I was to take supposing
the prisoner called again, About 11 o'clock this morning
he called again, and said there were three men on the roof
of the house attempting to make a forcible entry,

Prisoner—l said four.
Mr Flower—Very well, but let the witness proceed.
Prisoner—l went to the house because the lady was being
murdered. She called out to me to come and see her.
Complainant—When the prisoner came on the last occa-
sion I acted on the suggestion of the police, and gave him
into custody.
Mr Flower—Nov, prisoner, you can say what you please
in answer to the charge.
Prisoner--Well, I called at the house by desire of the
lady who was being murdered. She said she could not die
until I had had an interview with her, and I thick I ought
to be allowed to see her.
Mr Burnaby, chief clerk—Are there any of the defendant's
friends present ?
Complainant—Yes, I think there are several.
Mr Flower—Do I understand you to assort that you saw
the lady who is dying, and that she spoke to you ?
Defendant—Yes.
Mr Flower—When did you speak to her ?
Defendant—This morning. I spoke to her from the
window. She said, "Oh Renfree speak to me, do speak to
me. God bless you ; do come over to me."
Mr Burnaby—You did not know her name then, although
she knew yours ?
Defendant—Pardon me. I did not say I did.
Mr Flower—That is of no importance. Go on with your
statement.
Defendant—Not important I I think it is. My only
only object in walking up and down outside the house was
to see the poor helpless creature. I have witnesses in court
who can speak to my respectability. I felt it my duty to
interfere where murder was being committed.
Mr Watts, a gentleman residing in the same neighbour-
hood, said he had known the defendant for 10 or 12 years
as a most respectable tradesman and dealer in minerals in
Great Russell-street. He had been lately given to habits
of intemperance, and no doubt his mind had been affected.
Mr Flower—He seems to be of unsound mind at the
present time.
Defendant—That may be your opinion. It is not so. I
again say I interfered from a strong sense of duty.
Mr Flower (the police inspector) --You had better take
the defendant to the workhouse, where he will be seen by
the surgeon. (To the defendant)—You will go with the
p eda
;e
inspector?nnt--.Go with the inspector I I must obey the
law,

occur in this district, when sailors are taken into a room,
where they soon become drowsy, and then fall to sleep. and
while in that state they are robbed.

WESTMINSTER.
PITIABLE CONDITION OF AN AGED MOTHER.—William
Moffett, a man 33 years of age, was charged with serious
annoyance and wilful damage at the house of his mother
Mrs Susan Moffett, 33 Berwick-street, Pimlico.
The mother, who had the appearance of a decayed gen-
tlewoman, and who is upwards of 70 years of age, said that
abe appeared against her own son, but he drove her to it by
his own misconduct, and she felt it was necessary for her
own protection. lie was constantly annoying her, and last
night wilfully broke a pane of glass and so disturbed her
lodgers that she feared she would lose them.
Mr SelfJ—Does he live with you?
Complainant—No, I should have liked him to have done
so had his conduct been worthy ; it would have been a great
protection and comfort to a person et my years to have had
him with me, but I could not; he is constantly annoying
me in different ways.
Mr Selfo—What is the cause of his conduct ?
Complainant—Drunkenness, lam sorry to say. He was
was brought up to a good business and is a capital work-
man; ho can and does earn a great deal of money and spends
it on drink, and then he comes and annoys me.
Alr Selfe—ls that often ?
Complainant—Frequently ; he comes at all hours and
disturbs my peace. I have but a short time left me here,
and I should much like to be at rest. He came last night
intoxicated, and because I would not admit him threw a
stone through one of my windows.
Mr Selfe—What do you say, defendant, to such conduct
towards your aged mother.
Defendant—l will promise not to trouble her any more.
Mr Selfe—Why not take the pledge and keep it. It
seems all your misconduct arises from your drunkenness,
Complainant—lt does; ho would be well enough if he

kept sober.
Defendant—l will take the pledge,
I assure you I will.
Mr Selfe—l will let you have an opportunity of doing so,
I will give you another chance, but pray understand me.
If you are brought here again, take my assurance that I'll
send you to prison without a fine. I shall require you now
to enter into recognisances of £lO io keep the peace for six
months, and mind you don't break it,
Defendant—l won't. I'll take the pledge.

ST. L

~iC.`~Nw

(Front Bell's Life.)
To sum up, we cannot look beyond General'. Teel, Blair
Athol, Miner, Ely, and Carabuscan for the ac heal winner.
This lot it is hard to choose between, the two first named
being particularly troublesome; and the dif 'Dully may
best be got over, perhaps, by sticking to " p üblic fore!
and BLAIR ATHOL.

011:iNGE BLOSSO]f•

Swift as the plunge cf cataract
Comes out the ➢lelbourne bay.
That rush terrific, blessed by I' ate,

Atones for Epsom sins ;
By all that's good and fortune to,
I ho llawkshead hero wins I
To Glasgow's Earl, the oft decei'vecl,
Those tempest shouts reveal
A lifetime's hope at last achieved
By gallant GENERAL PEEL !

THE GEM.

Now, Aldcroft, lay on with the whitlebc.ne
And rouse up his pluck with your lied ;
No—just as he did in the Derby,
He swerves from the lash and the steel,

" The General's beat I" is the cry,
'Tis the Derby again to be seen;
BLAIR ATHOL comes home in a canter—
Three oheers for the straw and the green I

TUE OLYMPIAN.

What cut the dried-up Ely down ?
Who came the odds to floor ?
Bowes' Baragah will see e'm home
He's such a slashing goor.

That black flag's shivered many a mast,
But hero to strike must learn ;
Through the long lane he's safe at last,
And Glasgow's got a turn,
Shade of Jem Bland look down—or up,
Once more with that familiar grin,
And join old Crooky in a cup
To back " the Giniril" in

(From the Sportmg Gazette.)
We must "have our say," like the rest, and " plump"
unreservedly for BLAIR, ATHOL, next to whom we shall
expect to see The Miner and some " rank outsider"—
probably Coastguard or Ely.