The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-08 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

PICKPOCKETS ON STEAMBOATS.--11Tilliarn Mason,
boy 16 years of age, very smartly dressed, was placed at the
bar before Mr. Arnold, charged with p'cking a lady's
pocket on board a steamboat.
Mrs A. Donoughue, trimming seller, 3, West-street,
Golden-square, said that at about half-past six last even-
ing she got on board a Citizen steamboat, at Hungerford
pier, to be conveyed to Chelsea. Shortly after she was
asked by her niece whether she had lost anything from her
pocket, when upon putting her hand there she found that
her purse, containing upwards of ISs. had been stolen.
Her niece proceeded a few paces along the deck, when she
collared the prisoner, and preseautrix then asked him to
give her her puree, when he affected surprise, and said he
knew nothing about it. She told him she was sure he had
her purse, and should give it her, when he suddenly pro-
duced it from his right hand, observing, " I beg pardon—l
hope you won't do anything to me." She took the purse
from him, and he was given into custody.

Police-constable 347 V, said that when the charge was
stated to the prisoner at the station, he said he picked the
purse up under the seat where the lady was sitting.
Mr Arnold asked the accused whether he wished to say
anything.
Prisoner replied that he did not pick the lady's pocket.
He found the purse on the deck under the seat, as he stated
at the station-house.
Mary Ann Carr, the niece of the prosecutrix, said that
she was with her aunt yesterday afternoon when she was
robbed. There was no sitting room, and her aunt, who
had been ill, was leaning upon her shoulder for support,
witness holding her arm round her waist. Suddenly wit-
ness felt a pressure at her aunt's dress, and saw tho pri-
soner remove his hands from it, and that induced her to ask
her aunt whether she had lost anything.

Mr Arnold remanded the prisoner until Wednesday.

THE LONG VACATION.—On Wednesday next the
long vacation commences, and the law and lawyers will
rest, in a measure, until the 24th October.
THE MERSEY RAMS.—The El Tonsson and El
Monnassir, recently purchased by the Government
from Messrs. Bravey, will be handed over to-day to Messrs
Laird Brothers, of Birkenhead, the builders, by Captain
Paynter, of her Majesty's ship Majestic. Messrs. Laird
have contracted with the Admiralty to complete them for sea.
The vessels will be renamed respectively the Scorpion and
the Wyvern. They are to be armed with four 300-pounders,
throwing a broadside of 1,2001 b. The turrets are on Capt.
Coles' cupola principle, The Scorpion will probably be
toady in a few weeks, providing the damage she has suffered
frov a winter's exposure, and when in an unfurnished
state, ia not found to be very serious.
THE BERRING FISHING IN CAITHNESS.—
WICK, August 4,—To•day's fishing is, in conse-
quence of last evening turning oat wet and threatening,
much lighter than that of yesterday, the average being
about four crane, bringing the season's average to 30 crane.
A good many of the boats returned early last night without
shooting their nets, and of those that remained the
majority were clean, the catch being chiefly confined to a
few boats. About 1000 barrels were sold to-day at 26e.
Lobster is poorly fished to-day. Yesterday Helmsdale
averaged about four crane. All the boats along the coast
are proceeding to sea to-night, with favourable weather.
DISTRESSING DEATH BY MEANS OF A TOY.—A
coroner's investigation was held at Breadsall last
week respecting the death of a little girl, eight years of age,
named Harrison, who wet with her death under very pain-
ful circumstaxes. It appears that a boy named Dolman
was playing wio an instrument known as a dirt, a wooden
tube through whic,,t an arrow is shot by means of a band
of indiarubber, when the elastic slipped from between his
fingers, the arrow was discharged in the air, and in its fall
the iron spike of some thre3 quartets of an inch long stack
in the head of the deceased. Another boy pulled out the
arrow, and the girl did not seem to be seriously injured.
Within the week, however, she became unveil, and died in
about a month after the occurrence. It appeared from the
post mortem examination that the arrow had penetrated
through the skull into the brain, and thereby caPed an
abscess to form, from which she died. The jury returned
a verdict in accordance with the medical and other eyi.•
deuce, and the coroner, at the request of the jury, censured
the lad, who is 14 years old, for using such a dangerous
instrument as a plaything.
CORRESPONDENCE FOR MOULMEIN AND RAN-
000N.—Information hes been received from tile
Director-General of the Post Office of India that the cor-
respondence for Moulmein and Rangoon, forwarded from
the United Kingdom by the mail of the 20th and 20th of
each month, will reach its destination more expeditiously if
sent by way of Penang, and thence by packet direct, than
via Calcutta; the saving in point of time, by the Penang
route, being about nine days to Moulmein, and about four
days to Rangoon. Any letters for Moulmein and Rangoon
intended to be so forwarded must be specially addressed
"via Penang," and must be paid at the higher rates of
postage to which letters for Penang are liable, viz. :—Not
exceeding half an ounce—Via Southampton, is; via Mar-
seilles, is 4d.—By command of the Postmaster-General.
SINGULAR DEATH OF A .LITTLE BOY.
week Mr Taylor held an inquest on the body of a
child three years old, the son of Mr Joshua Rawlin, farmer,
Tankersley, who met his death very singularly. It seemed
from the evidence that the child's mother had just been
confined, but not progressing very favourably towards
convalescence, the surgeon who attended her left her three
powders to allay pain and induce sleep. These powders
were to be taken in preserves, and on Tuesday morning,
the nurse having prepared one for Mrs Rawlin in order
to give it to her as soon as alio awoke (she was;then sleep -
ing with her child by her side) left the room.
On her re-
turn Mrs Rawlin told her that the child had been out of
bed, and said he had eaten " the goody." Re was then
snoring loudly, and although she tried to route him she
could not, and he shortly afterwards died. The jury re-
turned a verdict of " Accidental death."—Wakefied
Journal.
THE METROPOLITAN RAILWAY EXTENSION TO
FINSBURY.—Rapid progress is now being made in
the settlements for property, and the clearing of the ground
for this extension. The contractor, Mr. Belk, has full pos-
session of all the ground as far as Aldersgate-street, with
the exception of two blocks of buildings lately occupied by
the "London Printing and PutColishlngwholesale Company," and
Messrs. Williams, Cooper and ~
and paper-hanging manufacturers, and they are advertised
for sale and clearance in a few days, by Messrs. Pullen,
Horne, Eversfield, and Co. The principal station, a most
commodious and architecturally elegant building, will be
erected in Aldersgate-street, between the corner of Long-
lane and Carthusian-street. Four lines of rail, two narrow
and two broad guage, will be reached by a flight of stairs,
situate on either side of the intended station. The foun-
dations are being now laid for the bridge, which will cross
the line at Chartelhouse-street into the square,.--CitY Rea,