The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-13 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE

A now farce, entitled "An April Fool," has been
produced at Drury-hue Theatre, which, although
composed of very slender material, affords unani-
mous merriment for nearly an hour. The fun con-
sists of the perplexities, disappointments, and
eventual triumph of a certain Mr. Paddles (Mr. G.
Belmore) in his endeavour to secure the object of
his young heart's fondest affection, Miss Diana
Oldbuck (Miss Lydia Thompson), whose life
it is his happiness to have saved when in
extreme danger from the upsetting of a
pleasure boat off Brighton. Mr. Poddles
has a vivacious friend Mr. Sparks (Mr. R. Roxby),
who generally contrives to come in for all the
honours following the exertions of Paddles, and in
the present instance, though holding the young
lady in his arms, after having received her dripping
from the sea from Peddles, on her recovery he takes
al! the credit of having saved her from drowning.
He is invited to her father's house, while Paddles
is made the means, through the instrumentality of
Sparks, of providing all sorts of fun for the amuse-
ment of Miss Oldbuck and her lady friends. On
the occasion of one of his visits to Oldbuck Hall, on
the first of April, Sparks takes delight in making
everybody April fools. He invites Poddles to Miss
Oldbuck's fete with her knowledge. He tells the
Old gentlemen his pleasure grounds are about being
taken for a railway, and points Paddles out as the
surveyor, &c.; but, finally, he is fooled himself, by
being made instrumental in resigning Miss Oldbuck
to the arms of Paddles, as he observes, " for ever."
The little trifle is well worked out, and Mr. Bel-
more drew down immense laughter by his humorous
performance, Mies Lydia Thompson, as Diana,
playing with her usual archness, and in
the course of the piece she dances a kind
of medley with great spirit and effect Mr.
Roxby rattled through the part of Sparks with his
peculiar briskness, and Mr. Barrett as Oldacre, and
Mr. 0. Weston as a poor, half starved charity boy,
both acquitted themselves excenently. The farce
was perfectly successful, and it is to be repeated
I every evening until further notice.
The splendid Skakspereian revival, Henry IV.,
increases nightly in attraction, the great effect—
the battle of Shrewsbury—calling down thunders
of applause.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT—This Day.

OLD COURT.
(Before Mr Justice Willes and Mr Baron Pigott.)
The jury, consisting of 13, who had been empannelled
on an inquisition held before Mr James Bird, one of the
coroner's forMiddleeex, at the Six Bells, at Brentford, as to
the cause of death of William Hollis, aged 58, a lighterman,
who died from the effects of a fracture of the left parietal
bone of the skull, on the 21st of February, and who, after
the inquest had been adjourned several times, were unable
to agree to a verdict, there being nine for manslaughter,
and four for murder, now attended before the judges, and
on their names being called over,
Mr. Justice Willes addressed them, and said he was
informed that they had some difficulty in agreeing to a
verdict, some being for a verdict of murder, and others for
manslaughter. He then fully explained to them the law,
which required twelve of them should agree to a verdict,
and the coroner had pursued the course sanctioned by autho-
rity in directing them to attend before the Court sitting as
assize for the county. Probably after his observations, those
of the jury, who were of the lesser number for murder,
might give way to the majority, and so return a verdict of
twelve for manslaughter. If the case afterwards came before
a magistrate, and any new facts arose, the party might be
sent for trial for murder, but the verdict of less than twelve
would be no legal verdict, and, in fact, a nullity.
Mr. Bird, the coroner, who was in attendance, stated to
the Court that he had so explained the law to the jury.
Mr. Justice Willes said the coroner had acted very pro-
perly, and again recommended the jury to meet again and
see if they could not agree.
The jury then retired, and will be again summoned by
the coroner.