The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-05 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.

A stupid looking boy, about 17 years of age, who was, or
affected to be, deaf and dumb, was charged with stealing a
pocket-hook from the person of George Power.
As the prisoner si hen spoken to presented a dogged silence
and seemed not to hear a word of what was said to him, he
was put back, while the constable fetched a person ac-
quainted with the finger alphabet to interpret.
On the arrival of the interpreter he was instructed to
ask the prisoner his name, and put the question by means
of the usual sign, making them very slowly and distinctly.
The prisoner, however, by a shako of the head and a wavy
of the hand, indicated willingly enough that he did not
understand.

The interpreter—He pretends not to understand.
Mr Vaughan—Then do you think that he really does
understand ?

The interpretor—lf he is deaf and dumb he must under-
stand, for he could not supply his most ordinary wants
without some such mode of communication.

Mr Vaughan—Perhaps he is mute of malice. Prisoner,
you have pretended not to understand what is said to you
words,in and now you either do not understand, or pretend
not to understand, the alphabet used by the dumb. I must
assume that p.m have some means of communication, and I
shall proceed with the case, and the evidence shall be given
in the natural language.
George Power deponed that about three o'clock this
morning he was sitting on a bench in the mall in St James's
Park. The prisoner was sitting beside him. Witness hav-
ing felt something touch his coat, put his hand in his
pocket, and missed his pocket-book. A hole heal been cut
in the pocket. He accused the prisoner of robbing him,
when the prisoner pointed along the mall, and indicated
by gesture that some person had ran away. He therefore
detained the prisoner until a constable came up and took
him into custody. In the meantime the prisoner struggled
violently, and witness was obliged to throw him down.
The prisoner kicked him about the legs, bit hitu in the
cheek, and pulled out a handful of his whiskers.
Police-constable Kirby, 100 A, deposed that he found the
prosecutor and the prisoner struggling on the ground, and
took the prisoner into custody. On searching him at the
station house, the purse was found concealed in the leg of
his trousers. It was identified by the prosecutor, who
valued it at 2s. It contained nothing but memoranda.
The Interpreter said he thought he could convey the
evidence to the prisoner by gesticulation.
Mr Vaughan thought it was unnecessary, and addressing
the prisoner the magistrate said,—Whether you stand
"mute of malice," or whether you really can not under-
stand, is more than I can tell, but there is sufficient doubt
to satisfy me that I ought not to dispose of this case. I

will send you for trial, and leave it to a jury to decide. As
a matter of form I will admister the oath.

This was done, and the prisoner, who still remained
mute, whether of malice or otherwise, was committed for
trial,

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

AN AUCTIONEER CHARGED WITH A SERIOUS ASSAULT.
—Mr Edward W. Cannon, auctioneer and house agent, of
No. 4, Hart-street, Bloomsbury-square, was charged before
Mr Knox with violently assaulting Alfred Howley, a young
man employed as a waiter at Mr Gilbert's oyster rooms,
No. 6, Oxford-street,

Mr E. Lewis, of Groat Marlborough-street, appeared for
the prisoner.

Alfred Howley said—Last night Mr Cannon's servant
brought back a lobster, objecting to it, and asked for the
money to be returned. This was refused, and Mr Cannon
then brought it back himself, and created a great disturb
ante, calling in some loose women who were about. I
put my hand on his arm to put him out of the
shop when he knocked me down and kicked] me in the
chest. I had requested him several times to leave.
Mr Knox—Was Mr Cannon drunk or sober ?
Howley—He was sober, and all I did was to put my
hand on his arm to get him out.

By Mr Lewis—l refused to return the money for the
lobster, because it was not all there, The shop is next door
to the Oxford Music Hall. About a dozen women were in
the place. I did not take tip a knife and look at Mr Cannon.
My mistress took the knife I had been using off the coun-
ter and went into the parlour. When I put my hand on
Mr Cannon I had not a knife in it. There were several
persons present at the time;
Wm. Good, also in the employ of Mr Gilbert, said—Mr
Cannon came in last night and caused a great disturbance,
and a crowd collecte I round the shop. He would not leave,
and Howley ptit his hand on his arm, and then Mr Cannon
knocked Howley down and kicked him in the chest.
By Mr Lewis—Howley had no knife in his hand when
he appr,iached Mr Cannon. The knife was taken away and
put in the parlour, but that was because Mr Cannon said he
would knife Hawley. I do not know whether the knife
was taken into the parlour to prevent complainant using it.
Joseph Newington, a young man, who was passing at the
time, said—l saw Mr Cannon in the shop showing a lobster
to everyboby, and complaining about not getting his money
returned. I saw Howley knocked down and kicked.
By Mr Lewis—Hawley had not got a knife in his hand,
'William Moorcroft, 165 B—l was called to the shop, and
there was a great disturbance. I saw Mr Cannon knock
down Howley, and then kick him. Mr Cannon had been
drinking, and wanted to g.ve the waiter in charge.
By Mr Lewis—Mr Cannon said Howley had a knife in
bis hand, but I saw none.
Mr Lewis addressed the magistrate at some length in