The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-29 00:00:00

THAMES.

TURNPIKE TOLLS IN THE COMMERCIAL-ROlD.—Thos.
Jeggins, a toll collector in the employ of the Commercial
road trust, appearad before Mr Paget to answer a summons
taken out by Thomas Cook, a waggoner, which charged the
defendant with unlawfully demanding and taking ls. as and
for the toll of two horses and a waggon, of which Cook was
then the driver.

On the case being called on the complainant did no'
appear. •
Mr Joseph Smith, solicitor, said he appeared for the de
fendant, who had twice appeared to the summons, and
whose expenses ought to be paid. The officers of the trust,
who appeared for the trustees of the road, had also appeared
twice, and had been put to considerable inconvenience and
cost. There had been five disputed cases on the Commer-
cial-road in 17 years, and two of those disputes had been
raised by Mr Whitbread, a farmer and dealer in live stock,
who had a farm in Essex and premises in Rat cliff, and who
was the master of Cook, the complainant. The question
raised by Mr Whitbread was whether vehicles drawn by
horses coming from Essex through the turnpike with a load
and paying the proper toll were bound in coming back from
the metropolis to Essex, either with a part of the same load,
or any additional load, were bound to pay another toll or
not. The Aot was so explicit on the subject that there
could be no doubt at all the defendant had acted legally.
Mr Whitbread raised the same question four years ago, and
Mr Yardley decided against him. The defendant had paid
him (Mr Smith) one guinea, and been detained with his
witnesses two days.
Mr Paget—lt is a case between Mr Whitbread and the
trustees of the road. •
Mr Smith— Yes, sir ; in fact it is so, but the only persons
that can be recognised are the complainant Cook, who
took out the summons, and the defendant, who is here.
Mr Paget consulted with Mr Pyer, the chief clerk, as to
the practice of the Court, and he said if the case had
been heard and dismissed the magistrate cculd have
granted costs, but as there was no complaint he did not
see how the magistrate could interfere, He had no recol-
lection of costs being granted under such circumstances.
Mr Paget said it was a hard case on the defendant,
and persons had no right to take out summonses recklessly
without any intention of prosecuting them. After what
had been stated by Mr Pyer ha could not grant any costs.
He was very sorry for it, and he must repeat it was a
very hard case on the collector.
Mr Smith—l shall bring an action in the County Court
against the complainant.

DEATH UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CHLORO
A/RM.—A youth named John Downing, aged 15, an
in-patient of the United Hospital, Bath, died on Saturday
while under the influence of chloroform, which had been
administered to him with a view to a surgical operation.
An inquest was held at the Guildhall, on Monday, before
Mr A. H. English, coroner. From the evidence of Mr R.
T. Gore, surgeon, it appeared that the deceased, who was
the son of a small farmer at Seend, near Melksham, was
admitted to the hospital about a month ago with a crippled
leg, with which he had been effl:cted from his birth. It
was found that nothing could be done for his benefit but
amputation, This was communicated to deceased's friends,
who consented to that step being taken, and he himself ex-
pressed his willingness thereto, and also a wish that cholo-
form should be given him while the operation was being
performed. Mr Gore having minutely examined him, and
found that he could bear it, arrangements were made for
the administration of choloroform, and a smaller dose than
usual was skilfully applied by Mr Gaine, surgeon dentist,
of the hospital, who is not only a skilful operator, but ac-
customed to the administration of the drug. The applica-
tion had the desired effect, and the operation went off well,
and was to all intents over, when it was discovered that
deceased's circulation had stopped. Every restorative
remedy was promptly applied, but without avail, and de-
ceased died in about ten minutes. Mr. Teale, the house-
surgeon, having corrubrated the evidence of Mr Gore, and
stated the result of a post mortem examination he had
made, the jury returned a verdict fo the effect that deceased
died from choloroform causing an arrest of circulation
through misadventure.
SALE OF FREE NEGROES.—Yesterday morning
Sergeant Thomas Hugh Dudley, of the Richmond
Hustings Court, sold into slavery, in front of Court House
entrance, pursuant to a decree of the court, the following
free negroes ;—Charles and James llarris, convicted of
burglary, and sentenced to be sold into slavery ; George
Drew, convicted of cow stealing, and likewise sentenced to
be sold into slavery. Charles Harris, mulatto, brought
3,400 dols, and was purchased by Y. T. Watkins, dealer ;
James Harris, brother to Charles, and mulatto, brought
3,606 dots, and was purchased by Peter Lawson, butcher;
George Drew, who has a preponderance of white blood in
his veins, brought only 2,200 dole, purchased by Henry M.
r Jones, detective ; Isaiah, a slave, sold to pay gaol fees,
• 1 brought 3,200 dols, purchaser unknown.—Richniond
Examiner, 'Sept, 13.