The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMI3ER 14, 1864.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.--This Day,

POLICE INTELLIGENCE,—This day,

SHERIFFS' COURT,
(Before F. Gibbons, Esq.)

BOW-STREET.

A STRANGE STORY,--. Mary Clarke, a fashionably-dressed
woman, was placed at the bar, charged with stealing three
half-crowns from Mr A. F. Belt.

SINGULAR ACTION AGAINST HARRY BRUNTON, THE
YIGHTING MAN, FOR BREAKING DOWN A SIGNBOARD

IN FLEET STREET-CRANE V. BRUNTON.

The prosecutor said he rekided at 1, St John's•street,
Westminster, and on the evening of the 6th he was return-
ing from a party when he met the prisoner in Waterloo-
place. She gave him a sort of friendly blow, and
said, " I know you somewhere," He denied all know-
ledge of her, and she walked by his side from the
place where she first spoke to him until he arrived at the
A.thengeam Club, where he found he had been robbed of
three half-crowns. He accused the woman of having stolen
the money, but she denied it, and said she was a respectable
married woman. While she was walking with him, a man
and woman passed close to them, and he suspected she
passed the money to them, as it had not been re-
covered, and he was catain she did not drop
it while she was being taken to the station house. When
he first gave the woman into custody, he said he had been
robbed of throe half-sovereigns, but that was a mistake.
Mr Lewis, who appeared for the prisoner, said the pri-
soner was a respectable married woman, and that there
must be some mistake in the matter. Her husband he
believed was a very respectable person, and he was quite
unacquainted with the matter until he learned that his wife
was in custody on the charge. He should like to ask the
prosecutor a few questions.
The prosecutor, in reply, said he was quite certain he
had the money in his pocket when the prisoner first spoke
to him. He was perfectly sober. The prisoner walked on
his right hand side, and the money was abstracted from his
waistcoat pocket. The reason he made the mistake in saying
three half sous. instead of three half-crowns was because
he was very much flurried. He was certain he had the
money when the prisoner first spoke to him, and
immediately she walked away ho found he had been robbed.
Police-constable 3CB A said he took the prisoner into cus-
tody. She was searched at the station, but the money was
not found.

This was an action to recover £3 damage to a signboard,
which was alleged to have been torn down from plaintiff's
premises, Mr Perry (from Mr Buchanan's) appearing for
the plaintiff, who is a tradesman of Fleet-street, Mr Beard
representing defendant, the ex-fighting man of Barbican.
Mr Perry was proceeding to open the case when Mr
Beard said that a most important witness was unavoidably
absent, and he did not feet justified on proceeding.
Mr Perry hoped his honour would not listen to any ap-
plication, because he had very good proof of the case. The
witness who was absent, was no other than the defendant
himsel'.
Mr Beard—That is not so.

Mr Perry-•—He told my client that he should go down to
the races tc,-Jay, as he should enjoy himself a great deal
better at amcaster than in this court.

blr Beard said that he could assure the court el the ab-
sence of a material witness.

Mr Petry—l am at a loss to understand what the defence
can be. The defendant has admitted that he pulled ckwn
the signboard, and I have three witnesses to prove that it
was done in a drunken spree. _ _

Mr Beard denied this, and his Honour allowed the case to
stand over on defendant paying full costs.

HUMPHRIES V. WATSON-THE LAW IS TO BAD MONEY-

IMPORTANT CASE.
This was an action to recover ss. for two counterfeit
half-crowns, alleged to have been taken at the defendant's

Plaintiff said that he sent a girl for a quartern of gin, and
gave her half a sovereign. In the change she brought back
were the two half-crowns now produced.

The girl said the two half.crowns were the same that she
rece'ved from th 3 defendant's barmaid.

By his Honour—l had no more money but the change I
received from the barmaid,

In reply to Mr Vaughan,
Mr Lewis said the prisoner would reserve her defence.
Ile hoped she would be admitted to bail.
Mr Vaughan said he did not feel justified in taking bail.
The prisoner then began to cry, and asked the magistrate
to deal summarily with the case.
Mr Vaughan said he could not do that, because she
denied the charge.

The barmaid said that the change was all very carefully
examined. The change was not returned till the next day.
Mr Watson was a most respectable man, who had been a
long time in business, and the girl could not swear that she
received the money. _ _ .

His Honour—But she says that she had no other money.
Do you mean to insinuate that the plaintiff has come here
to deliberately tell a falsehood r
Defendant's witness—Oh 1 no.
His Honour—There is no class of tradesmen so likely to
have bad money pissed to them as licensed victuallers.
Defendant's witness—All the silver received in the day
in which the change was given came from the London and
Westminster Bank, and was very carefully looked over.
His Honour—That might be so, but you are not in a
position to deny that which the plaintiff has sworn, and you
must pay this claim.
Verdict for plaintiff,

Prisoner—Ten I plead guilty.
Mr Vaughan—What do you say to that, Mr Lewis.
Mr Lewis—l was instructed she was a respectable mar-
ried woman, and after what she has stated I think I had
better say nothing,
Mr Vaughan—You said something about her husband
being a respectable man. I should like to ask him a few

questions.
Clarke, the husband, then stepped into the witness-box.
Mr Vaughan—Are you married to this woman ?—Yes.
Where do you live ?—No. 1, Anchor-street, Church-
street, Shoreditch, and have done so for the last 12 months.
I only occupy lodgings in the house.
Wb at are you —A commission agent.

DEATH ON THE TREADMlLL.—Yesterday after-
noon Dr. Lankester held an inquiry at the House
of Correction, Coldbath-fields, touching the death of George
Williams, a black man, aged 57, who had been sentenced to
H days imprisonment for an assault. Annetta 'Williams,
who said she:was the wife of the deceased and had no home,
stated, that her husband was a carpenter by trade, but that
they used to get a precarious living by going about selling
books which she bought in Paternoster-row. He was a run-
away slave, and was a very great drinker. Ho sometimes
Lai palpitation of the heart, and complained of pains in
the head, Henry Hymes said he was the master brushman
of the yard, and was attending at the bottom of the wheel
last Friday, when deceased fell off. On going to him he
heard the rattles in his throat, and he died immediately.
The prisoner had to go on the wheel 15 minutes each turn,
and deceased was on his last turn when he fell off, at half-
past one. The deceased did not complain to him of being
ill, and he seemed to work at the wheel as well as any other
man. He had been in the prison seven days, but ho had
not been put to work on the wheel until the day on which
he died. 'William Smiles, M.D., surgeon to the House of
Correction, said the prisoner was admitted last Friday
week, when he complained of his heart, on which he was
excused the wheel. He orJered that the prisoner should
not be put on the wheel on account of his feeble heart.
Contrary to these instructions, he was placed on the wheel
on Ftiday last. Ho was of opinion that the deceased died
from the effects of an eflusion of blood on the brain. Wil-
liam Davie, the warder of the yard, said he had only held
that position a few days, his predecessor having gone out
on leave on the Sunday, and he had not had time to exa-
mine the books and sheets containing the directions, It
was his duty to examine them, and he should have done so

For whom ?-1%1. Dolapierre, No. 1, Rue St. Honore,
Paris, bullion dealer. I conduct his business for him at the
London and Wes' minster Bank.
Has ho offices in Inndon ?—Nc, he communicates by

Do you mean to say that a bullion dealer residing in
Paris communicates to you by letter at the address you
have given in Shoreditch ?—Yea.
Mr Vaughan—lt is a very strange ease, however. I
shall commit the prisoner to the House of Correction for
three months.

if he had had sufficient time. The prisoner was given over
to him as a wheel man. The coroner having summed up,
the jury returned as their verdict—" That the deceased died
from the effusion of blood upon the brain, and expressed
their opinion that the conduct of William Davie, the war-
der, in not examining the relieving sheet before sending
the deceased to the wheel, was highly reprehensible." The
coroner said he would report the result of the inquiry to
the Governor of the prison,
THE RAM TENNESSEE.—The Cinfederate ram
Tennessee,eAptured inMobileß iy,had been some two
years building at Mobile, under the immediate eye of Ad-
miral Buchanan. Her iron armour consists of 21-inch iron
plates in bars 8 inches wide, which are crossed and bolted
together so as to leave no seam. Inside this iron plating is
A inches of solid oak, making about 30 inches of solid work
on every part exposed to shot. Forward of, and including
her forward casemates, which embraces perhaps 15 feet in
length, and takes in also her pilot house, this thickness is
increased to six inches of iron and 30 of wood backing. It
is a noticeable fact that this extraordinary strength of iron
and wood enabled her to withstand all the steel shot from
our rifled pieces, our 11-inch solid shot from our ships of
war, and 15-inch shell from the monitors, not one of which
penetrated her ribs of iron, while nearly 50 shots altogether
struck her in the engagement. The nearest approach to
penetration was from a 15-inch missile from the Manhattan,
which made a deep indentation in her broadsida, and by
impaction stove through her two feet of oak backing, caus-
ing the splinters to fly promiscuously inside. Though under
way when this struck her she is said to have stopped as if a
magic wand had touched her. She was armed with four
6-inch Brooks rifled guee, of English make, on her broad •
sides, and two fore and aft, 7 and an 8-inch of the same
patteyn. These, by the completeness of their carriages,
could be handled by a single gunner with the greatest ease.
Her ports were closed with shutters made of iron plates
similar to her external plating. These were attached at the
centre of one of their sides by a pivot, on which they re-
volved by means of a cogwheel inside, and turned out of the
way outside when her ports were opened. This was, in
reality, a defective arrangement, and in tho fight proved an
element of weakness to her. Two of these shutters had
their system of ratchets and coge deranged during the ac-
tion, and could not be afterwards opened. A third (her after
one) was shot away entirely—that is to say, the pivot on
which it turned was shot off and the shutters fell to the deck,
leaving that port open and exposed to our gunners. The
precision with which our gunboats aimed can be appreciated
by the fact that some ten shots struck her in the neighbour-
hood of this port, and it was here that Admiral Buchanan was
wounded. One of our shells, striking in the edge of this
casemate, splintered the woodwork badly, and the rebel
Admiral was dinning a gunner about clearing this so as to
use the after gun, when a shot struck the casement and ex-
ploded, literally tearing the gunner to atoms and wounding
Admiral Buchanan seriously in the thigh. He fell with the
blood and brains of the slaughtered gunner literally covering
him. the Hartford had undertaken to run her down ; the
Lackswanna had followed suit, as had also the Monongahela
and the Ossipee, but without making the least effect upon
her solid walls of iron and wood. The Hartford had poured
in a broadside, but her 11-inch shells had bounded off from
her side like peas. The whole fleet had rained an infernal
hail of iron upon her, fore and aft, and on either hand. The
Manhattan had sent the persuasion of her 15 inch shells
to add to the din about her head ; but she held out
until her Admiral fell, and then, seeing that nothing more
remained, she ran up the white flag and surrendered. Her
rudder chains were a most serious element of weakness
with her, being carried along her deck, and covered only
with a plate of half-inch iron, They were, consequently,
broken early in the engagement, and her rudder was sub -
sequently managed by means of ropes and blocks, which had
been attached prior to the action, evidently with a full ap-
preciation on the part of Admiral Buchanan of this defect.
.She was armed with a formidable iron prow, which was
intended to do some heavy ramming when other offensive
devices failed her, and with this she steered for the Hartford
at the beginning of the engagement. The superior sailing
qualities of the Hartford, together with the eagle eye of the
bluff old Admiral, enabled him to out-manceuvro the Ten-
nessee, and, instead of receiving her running, the Hartford
poured into her a broadside. " Give her one bell, give her
two bells, give her eight bells," said the impetuous Farra-
gut, and they blazed away accordingly. The balls flew oil
like hail from her iron sides, but she was brought up stand•
ing by the concussion, and afterwards grew more cir um-
spect in her movements, Had this formidable craft remained
under the guns of Morgan until dusk, and then with her
wooden consorts come out to the attack, she might have sunk
and destroyed half, if not our entire fleet inside the bay, as,
in the darkness and confusion which would have en ,tied our
own gunboats would have proved as formidable and mis-
chievous to each other as the rebel boats themselves.—Nets
Orleans Times Correspondence,
A VALUABLE DERELlCT.—lnformation has been
received at Liverpool of the picking up at sea of the aban-
doned schooner Ostrich, of Jersey, by the captain and crew
of the screw steamer M try. The Mary fell in with the de-
relict on her voyage to Bermuda, and put four men on board
to take her into port. The Ostrich is only 99 tons register,
but of considerably more value than ordinary vessels of that
size. She was built expressly for the African trade, in
which she has been ou a voyage from Sierra Leone for
London, with a full cargo of African produce. Nothing
has been heard of the crew.
CRYSTAL PALACE.—One Shilling day, Tuesday.
—Admissions on payment, 4,074 ; do., by season tickets,
773•—total vititore, 4,817.

Desperate Affray with Poachers at Newton.

At the Town Hall, Newton, on Monday, before C. H.
Monro, Esq., W. J. Watts, Esq„ and C. J. Wade, Esq.,
William Brown, George Fowler, and John Griffin, alias
Staddon, were charged with being on lands in the occupation
of Mrs Mary Rendell, the property of Sir Walter Carew.
Bart , in the parish of Coombeinteignhead, on Saturday
night, for the purpose of taking game. The prisoners have
recently been working on the Dartmouth and Mratenhamp-
stead Railways, and as they were brought into court they
bore evident marks of their having been roughly handled,
their faces being disfigured and their clothes saturated with
blood. The case excited much interest, the court being
densely crowded.
Mr Baker appeared to prosecute; and Mr H. Michelmore
defended the prisioners.
Felix Harris, head keeper to Sir W, Carow, said—On
Saturday night, between nine and ten o'clock, hr, in com-
pany with others, was watching the preserves at Pennin,
He was watching in the field on the left of the brake,
where there is much game, when he heard footsteps ap-
proaching in the lane aej :fining the brake, which was some
distance from the turnpike-road. Oa hearing the footsteps
he and a keeper named Taylor went further on to a field
gate, and whilst there heard some one call for assistance.
He immediately went back, and found three of the keepers
and the prisoners struggling in the road. lie first
took hold of the prisoner Brown, and afterwards of
Griffin, who struck him a severe blow on the head with
his fist. The prisoner also kicked Worth, another keeper,
and in attempting to do so a second time kicked the prisoner
Fowler in the face. The struggle con inued for some time,
and after much difficulty the prisoners wore handcuffed.
John Worth, gamekeeper to R. Vicary, Esq„ deposed
to his having seen the prisoners come over to the gate in
Buckland-lane, when he made a rush at them and caught
the prisoner Fowler, and asked him what right he had
there. He made no reply, and a struggle ensued, and he
succeeded in throwing Fowler to the ground. His legs
were much bruised by the prisoner's violence. He saw
the other two prisoners at the time, and Felix Harris
caught hold of Griffin, and Warren caught hold of Brown.
Harris in the struggle called for assistance, he being on the
ground, and the prisoner Griffin on the top of him. Whilst
he was endeavouring to handcuff Griffin he kicked witness
most ♦iolently in the throat.
Cross-examined by Mr Michelmore—He did not strike
Brown with a stick, but with his fist, as ho appeared to be
choking Harris. The prisoner Brown said that the witness
struck him with a life preserver.

By the Bench—Buckland-lane was a private road,
the gate where the prisoners were caught was about 60
yards from the turnpike road.
Felix John Harris gave evidence as to thl nature of the
struggle. On searching Brown he found a large gate net
in his right coatpccket.
Ellis Warren and William Taylor, two of the watchers,
gave similar evidence.
Mr Michehnore, for the defence, contended that there
was no proof that the prisoners wore in the road for an
unlawful purpose except from the net, which did not appear
to have ever been used for the taking of game or any
thing els, it being quite new. He argued that suppos-
ing for instance the net had been put into the prisoner's
pocket for the purpose of taking rabbits, the bench would
have no power to convict. In the present case there had
been nothing shown to the contrary. The truth was that
the prisoners, as ho was instructed to say, were merely
waling up the road on their way to Teignmoutb, when they
were stopped and collared by the keepers, which was the
sole offence against them. Ho maintained that as Mr
Baker had said in his opening remarks the prisoners were
there apparently for the purpose of taking game, that the
bench had no legal power in the case.
Mr Baker observed that it was a question of fact the
bench had to decide.
The Chairman remarked that the bench had paid great
attention to the case, and found from the nature of the evi-
dence that there was nothing to show that the sentence
should in any way be mitigated. The prisoners would be
imprisoned for three months, with hard labour, and were
ordered at the expiration of that term to find sureties to be
of good behaviour for six months.— Western Morning News

How TO DESTROY INSECTS.—The following
remedy for the plague of insects was invented by
the late Rev. W. Kirby :—A hand glass, commonly used
by gardeners (a square one is the best) is the instrument to
be used. This has to be tightly covered at the bottom
with thick white paper, varnished to resist the wet. A
circular hole, 6% inches in diameter, is then cut in the centre
of the paper, and the glass is placed on three bricks over
a plate filled with beer, sugar, and a little rum, a moderate
distance from the infested spot. The effect is magical ; in
a few hours the glass is crammed with wasps, hornets,
and flies (bees will seldom enter), which, having tasted
the sweets, fly upwards to the light. A common sulphur
match, made by dipping brown paper into melted brimstone,
will destroy thousands. The constant hum of insect life
inside will attract all the marauders from the fruit trees to
the glass ; and the scent of the rum is sure to induce the
most fastidious wasp to enter as no insect can resist its
powerful attractions.
THE TALLAHASSEE.—The Beaufort correspondent
of the New York Herald, wilting on the 27th, re.
ports the running of the blockade of Wilmington by the
Tallahassee Confederate cruiser. The Tallahassee, after
much devastation, concluded to spend a short time at Wil-
mington. On the night of the 15th of August, at 10 o'c:ock
in the evening, Captain Philin, commanding the gunboat
Montecello, while cruising off New Inlet, discovered a
steamer standing for the shore under a full head of steam.
He at once ordered all men to quarters, and when about
600 yards distant challenged her, but elicited no reply. A
second challenge was met by silence, and he directed that
a package of 9.inch grape should be presented to the mys-
terious stranger. 'The arrival of grape at its destination
was ascertained by a peculiar sound, caused by a contact
with resistance. Tho stranger then replied by returning a
shell, which passed between the foremast and mainmast of
the Montecello, exploding on the other side without inflict-
ing any damage. Captain Philin now became more earnest
and sent a 3 -pounder shell, to which reply was made in
grape, striking almost under the stern of the Montecello.
The Montecello then opened with 9-inch and 30-pounder
shell short fuse, but was disappointed at receiving no shots
in return, and then for the first time discovered that the
stranger had suddenly disappeared. During the engage-
ment a Confederate battery of Whitworth guns, stationed
on shore at a point a mile or more distant, kept up a con-
staht fire against the Montecello, but fortunately doing no
damage, though frequently coming very close. When day
had dawned so as to make distant objects perceptible, much
to the surprise of the assembled vessels, there could be dis-
cerned, lying serenely and securely under the guns of Fort
Fisher, the long sought object of their search, the Confede-
rate steamer Tallahassee, and there she still lies, and pro-
bably will continue to stay. Admiral Lee designs taking
all possible precaution, and will to-morrow leave this post
to visit the blockade off Wilmington. It would seem as if
still another was to be added to the fleet of Confederate
cruisers. A few nights ago a large fast steamer. carrying
at her stern the English ensign, and on her foremast the
Confederate colours, entered the port of Wilmington. She
is supposed to be a new cruiser, or to have had on board
some distinguished passenger. She likewise still remains
there. The Tallahassee had but one mast standing when
engaged by the Montecello.
THE HOP TRADE.—Subjoined is Messrs. Wool.
loton and Son's report of the Hop Market :—The
warm dry weather of the past summer has caused the sup-
ply of new hops to arrive at market earlier than usual, end
although much of the growth remains unpicked, enough is
secured to justity an opinion as to the quantity and quality
ef the crop of 1864. Notwithstanding many samples indi •
cats the effects of mould, red rust, and black blight (and
such hops are always the first to be picked and pressed for
sale), we consider that generally this season's crop will be
remarkable for ripeness, rich flavour, and condition. The
palest samples will probably be scarce, but a bright healthy
yellow will be the prevailing colour of the growth.
The quantity grown being now no longer a matter of sta-
tistical accuracy, much difference of opinion will always
exist on the subject. Our judgment is that the produce of
this year will, at least, equal an old duty of £200,000. A
gradual but important increase has taken place in the home
plantations duritig the past three years, and there are now
more than 50,000 acres under cultivation. The European
Hop Plantations have doubled in extent since 1854, and this
year produce three-fourths of a full crop. This leaves in
excess of local requirements a most important surplus, that
must find its way to this country. The crop in Bohemia,
Bavaria, Belgium, and the Lorraine district of France, is
quite one-third more than last year, and of very superior
quality. Baden, Brunswick, Poland, lee, are not so fortunate,
but their hops are seldom of good quality, and are chiefly
purchased for theadulterations of Bavarianstmd Bohemians.
Last year. American letters stated that very few hops from
that country would be exported to Europe, but the Cus-
toms return proves the inaccuracy of tis opinion. We now
arc told, most confidently, that the Federal States, so far
from being able to export, will require hops from England
for their own consumption. We seriously doubt the wis•
dom of speculation based upon these reports. The stock in
the hands of consumers is probably very small, and on this
market scarcely any 1362's or 1863'5
but remain. For the few
left, extreme rates are obtained ; with so abundant an
English crop, and the certainty of largo imports from abroad,
mindful also of the gloomy prospects tho money market,
we apprehend brewers will see the policy of regulating their
first purchases with extreme caution. Large parcels of
1855'5, 1856'5, and 1857's remain unconsumed, and where
well kept will probably find a ready sale at their present
very moderate rates.
TROTTING MATCH FOR £5O.—Yesterday a match,
in which Mr Arthur undertook to trot his roan mare
Peggy eight miles in latlf an hour, come off over two level
miles of the old Brighton road, rear Henley. The mare,
harnessed to a light cart, commenced her task by going
away at a good pace, her driver holding her iu. She per-
formed the first two miles in 7 win. 10 sec., and came back
to the starting point in admirable style, getting over four
wiles in 14 rniu. 30 sae she did the next two miles in 7
min. 14 sec, ; and, on making her way for the winning
goal, her driver gave her head, and she performed the last
wile in 3 min, 20 sec., and came in a winner with 1 min. 21
see. to spare, accomplieliirg the eight, miles in 23 min. 39