The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-18 00:00:00

EVENING, AUGUST 18, 1852.

Hamp, and he pointed to a paragraph that was in a
newspaper upon the table in confirmation of his state-
ment, and he said it had been done through the Se-
cretary of State. In consequence of what the defen-
dant said upon this occasion witness was induced to
give him two bills of 1201. each. These bills were
noon French stamps, and they were drawn by John
Hainp, the brother of Mr. Hamp, who was the prose-
cutor of the indictment, and indorsed by witness and
his brother. The defendant said he must have some
money as well as the bills, and witness gave him a 101.
note, two 51. notes, and a cheek for 201. He then
said as there might b 3 some difficulty in getting
these bills discounted, he must have an English
bill of exchange for 2401. with witness's and
his brother's name upon it. Witness told him that it
was Sunday, and he could not get a stamp, but the de-
fendant said he must go and find one, and he went
out and obtained a stamp from a neighbour, and when
he came back it was filled up for 2401. at four months'
date. The defendant kept possession of all the bills,
and he remained at witness's house drinking until
eleven o'clock at night. The drink was all at wit-
ness's expense of course.—(A. laugh.) During the
day the defendant wanted him to put his name to the
French bills • and on his telling him that he was a
bankrupt, and that he could not pay, and his name
would be of no use, the defendant said that he was a
good bankruptcy lawyer, and witness might take his
word that he would come to no harm through signing
the bills On the following day (Monday) witnesd
and the defendant went down to Brighton, for the
purpose, according to the defendant's statement, of
getting Mr. Chase's recognizances taken off, and
having the prosecution put a stop to, and he at the
same time said that if he (the defendant) took no
further steps in the prosecution, he was sure the Se-
cretary of State would not. They went to the
Town-hall, but when Mr. Sill was about to make the
application to the magistrates the court was cleared,
and witness therefore did not know what
oc-
curred. They returned to town together, and since
that time he bad repeatedly seen the defendant at his
house; and on several occasions, up to the 13th of
April, he gave money to the defendant. Upon one
occasion he gave him 201. for the purpose of going
down to Herefordshire to see -the prosecutor and
some other persons, ani obtain affidavits with a view
to get the venue for the trial removed from Sussex to
some other county. Witness was at Lewes at the
spring assizes of the present year, and his brother
John- also went down one day but returned at night.
On the 13% of April the defendant came to wit-
ness's house. His brother was there at the time with
some friends, but the defendant said he came upon
business, and all the other persons except witness,
his brother, and the defendant were requested to leave
the room. The defendant said that two of the bills
that were given to him were of such a long date that
he could do nothing with them, and he must have an
order upon a banker for 2001. at seven days, and 15/.
or 20/. in money. At this time witness had from the
defendant 1201. or 1301. in notes besides the bills.
He had consulted his solicitor upon the affair, and
what subsequently took place upon this occasion
was done under legal advice. When the defendant
said he must have the bill for 2001. witness asked
him how he could think of demanding such serious
amounts from them when he knew very well that
his brother was innocent, and that he himself had no-
thing whatever to do with the matter, and he replied
that it did not matter how innocent they were, but it
was what the world thought of them. A bill stamp
was then sent for and a bill for 2001. was drawn, and
the defendant produced the other bills and laid them
on the table. Witness's brother then asked to look at
the stamp on the 2001. hill, and as he was reaching it
he picked up all the other bills and put them in his
pocket, and witness now produced them. The de-
fendant was very excited and demanded the bills
back, and said that if they were not returned to him
he would never leave them until he had transported
either witness or his brother. The witness concluded
by stating that at the time he gave the hills and the
money to the defendant he did so entirely upon his
representation with regard to his influence with the
Secretary of State.
Cross-examined by Mr. BALTANTINE—None of
these securities have been paid except 251. This was
paid on the 6th of March. Mr. Hamp is not here to
give evidence. I am the prosecutor of this indict-
ment. I have prepared three indictments against the
defendant altogether, but before any charges were
made I went to the police-office and obtained
advice. The magistrate did not refute to grant
me a summons, but he told me I might give Mr. Sill
into custody when I met him. I don't know what
Mr. Sill was charged with, but I believe that one of
the counts of the indictment charged him with rob-
bing me and my brother. He was charged
with stealing these very bills and money. He was
acquitted upon two of these indictments in the Court
of Queen's Bench, because no evidence was offered
against him. I had known Mr. Hemp for 12 months
before he came to London, but I did not recommend
him to go to my brother's house. I had seen Staden
and James there. I know what my brother was
charged with, and I had heard that it was a transport-
able offence. I did not give the money to Mr. Sill to
compromise the charge, but on account of my be-
lieving he had influence enough with the Secretary
of State to get my brother transported. I believed
my brother was innocent, but still I thought it was
possible he might be transported. I swear that I
believed Mr. Sill had the power to get my brother
transported, through his influence with the Secre-
tary of State, and I wanted my brother to be saved.
I did not know how Mr. Sill was going to act, nor
how he was going to save my brother. I have seen
Mr. Hemp repeatedly during these proceedings, and
I know that he wanted to withdraw from the prose-
cution, so far as my brother was concerned. I went
down to Hereford with Mr. Hamp. I went there to
get myself into condition. I did not get myself into
condition among the " independent voters" at the last
election.—(A laugh.) I was at Ledbury at the time
of the election. I was not in training there.
The RECORDER—Are you going to try this case as
an election committee ?
Mr. BALLA.NTINE—No, my Lord ; my only object
was to show how the gentleman employed himself.
Cross-examination continued—ln the course of the
proceedings Mr. Sill told me he could not get his bill
of costs from Mr. Hamp.
Re-examined—All the legal proceedings that were
taken were with the sanction and advice of his legal
adviser. Witness knew nothing whatever about
" dummy" indictments.—(A laugh.) The indict-
ments were removed to the Queen's Bench by Mr.
Sill, and he was acquitted in consequence of none of
the witnesses being in attendance.
A witness named Thomas Bray was then called
upon his subpoena, but he did not appear.
Mr. Samuel Genesse deposed that he knew the de-
fendant and the prosecutor, and remembered seeing
them on a Sunday, about the month of March, at
Broome's house; and he recollected drawing a bill at
the request of Henry Broome. The bill was dated
the 6th of March, and he had no doubt it was drawn
near that time. It was the same bill now produced.
The defendant did not upon any occasion call upon
him and request him to discount any bills.
Mr. Edwin Parry deposed that he was managing
clerk to Mr. John Smith, an attorney at Birming•
ham. In March last Mr. Sill called at their office,
and witness saw him and inquired if his business re-
lated to the affair of Mr. Hemp. He replied that
his business in Birmingham was to get some bills
discounted, and he produced the two French bills for
1201. each, and the English one. Witness looked at
them, and said he did not like the names, and that
Mr. Hamp was good for nothing, and that he did not
think Mr. Smith would have anything to do with
them on account of Mr. Broome's position. The de-
fendant replied, that if he referred to the Brighton
affair that was arranged. Witness then said ho sup-
posed these bills had been given to settle it, and Mr.
Sill smiled, and said they were.
William Thackeray, waiter at the Opera Tavern,
proved that the defendant came there on Saturday
night, the 6th of March, accompanied by his master,
Mr. Henry Broome. He was in and out of the
room where they were occasionally, and he heard
Mr. Sill say that he had been to the Secretary of
State, and be had told him that if his brother was con-
victed he would be sure to be transported. Mr. Sill,
after this, called at the house almost every day up to
the 13th of April, and he several times asked wit-
ness if his master had left any money for him, and
when he told him he had not he appeared very angry,
and said it would be worse for him if he did not leave
him some.

A memorandum in the handwriting of the de-
fendant, to the, effect that he would give up the twc
bills for 1201. each if the one for 240/. was paid when
it arrived at maturity, was then put in and read.
. Mr. John Sheerman deposed that he was a witness
in support of the card cheating that was originally
preferred at Brighton. Before he was examined at
Brighton he saw Mr. Sill at 'the -Cheshire Cheese
public -house, and he was represented to be the attor-
ney for the prosectition. Mr. Harnp said that John
Broome knew nothing of the transaction, but Mr. Sill
said they must put him in because he WAS a moneyed
man, and he would. Pay the expenses. Upon another
neeasit:n he saw Mr. Sill at the residence of Mr.
Ramp, in Herefordshire, and he said be had got a
good deal of money out of the prosecution, and witness
was a fool if he did not get some too. Witness told
him he should .do no such thing.. He (Mr. Sill)
knew very well that Broome was xnnocent,•and that
Mr. Ramp had told him so, and he replied that it did
not matter—innocent or not, it was what the world
thought of it. On the 16th ('f March he at_
tended the assizes at Ltwe,,, and Mr. Sill, whom
he met there, told him he had got it good
amount in cash and bills. from Henry Broome,
eem
and he (witness) would be of great assistance to h.
if he could persuade him that he had great infinen
with the Secretary of State, to prevent his brother
from being transported ; and if he did
80, and h
from him he..(witness)esheooaulldd
get a bill for 300/. more

"stand in" and have a third. He refused to have
anything to do with the, matter, and told him he knew
very well that John Broome was innocent. Mr. Sill
then said that he had completely frightened Henry.
Broome by telling him of his influence with the Se-
creary of Sate.
Cross•exarnined—He read something in a Brighton
newspaper about Mr. Sill having stated that he and
some of the other witnesses for the prosecution were
unworthy of belief. He was an attorney's clerk, but
he had not been in any employment for more than a
twelvemonth. He had got his living since then by
stopping with Mr. Homo at his house in the country
as " companion." He had no other means of ob-
taming a livelihood at present. When Mr. Ramp
was in London witness stayed with him at Johnny
Broome s, and he accompanied the parties to Brighton
upon the occasion when Mr. Hanapwas plundered by
James and Staden.

Re-examined:-:11 e knew Mr. Hamp from living
near him in Herefordshire. They were both Here-
fordshire men. Mr. Hemp was the son of a banker,
and bad some property.
Mr. Secretary Walpole was then examined. He
said—l am her Majesty's principal Secretary of State
for the Home Department, and have held that office
since the 27th of February. Ido not remember ever
having seen the defendant before to-day, and I know
nothing whatever relating to the card cheating case at
Brighton, except from seeing the reports in the news-
papers. The defendant never called upon me in re-
ference to any indictment upon the subject, and I
certainly never expressed any opinion to him as to
whether John Broome would be transported or not.
Mr. PARRY—It appears almost too absurd to ask
such a question ; but had the defendant any influence
whatever over you ?
Mr. BALLANTINE—Oh, of course it would be ab-
surd to ask such a question. We admit the defendant
had no influence whatever.

By Mr. BALLANTINE—There are two Under-Se-
cretaries, Mr. Waddington and Sir W. Jolliffe.
There are two other principal Secretaries of State,
one for Foreign Affairs and the other for the Colonies.
Mr. PARRY—But I suppose it is not very likely
either of these high officers would be likely to take
cognizance of a card cheating case at Brighton ?
Mr. Secretary Walpole—l should say certainly
not. I think, however, Mr. Waddington did say
something to me with regard to his having been sub-
permed to attend a trial upon such a charge.
Mr. H. B. Dunn deposed that he was engaged as
the attorney for Mr. Hemp. While he was engaged
in that capacity Mr. Sill sent in his bill of costs for
conducting the prosecution, which amounted to over
3001. This sum was afterwards reduced by taxation
to 1551., and thatreduced amount was paid to the de-
fendant.
This was the case for the prosecution.

Mr. BALLA.NTINE submitted that the falsehood of
the allegation upon which the indictment rested had
not been sufficiently proved. It appeared there were
two Under-Secretaries of State, and as neither of
them were called on behalf of the prosecution there
was nothing to show that they were not the parties
referred to by the defendant when he spoke of the
Secretary of State.
The RECORDER overruled the objection, observing
that it was a question for the jury whether the whole
was not a fabrication, and whether the defendant had
been in communication with any Secretary of State
at all.

Mr. BALLANTINE then addressed the jury for the
defendant. He said he would not for a moment en-
deavour to put Mr. Sill before the jury as a person
who had acted properly in this transaction, or who
deserved to be at all represented as an honourable
member of what was undoubtedly an honourable pro-
fession when properly exercised ; but on the contrary,
he was bound to admit, in the outset, that he had
acted most improperly, and that he had endeavoured
to use the criminal law for the purpose of furthering
his own interest, instead of making it the means of
punishing those who had committed a most serious
offence. lie would not attempt to justify his conduct,
but he mast remark that he had already suffered most
severely. In fact he was a ruined man. His pros-
pects were utterly destroyed, and there was not
the slightest chance of his ever being able to do any
more mischief, at all events in the profession to
which he belonged. While, however, he made
this admission, he said he felt bound to contend that
this was the extent of his fault, and that he ought not
to be convicted upon the charge of obtaining money
by false pretences. He urged that there could be no
doubt what were the real facts of the case. It was
evident that Hemp was an unwilling prosecutor,
and that the defendant saw pretty plainly 'he
was in the hands of persons who were not
very likely to carry on the prosecution to a
satisfactory termination, and having incurred
very considerable expense, and being in want
of money, he endeavoured to reimburse himself by
compromising the offence with the brother of one of
the accused parties. If, therefore, he had been ac-
cused of endeavouring to compromise a misdemeanour
he should not have had a word to say for him ; but
here he was charged with obtaining money by false
pretences, which offence he contended he had not
committed, and, in point of fact, never thought of
committing. As to the statement about the Secre-
tary of State, he submitted that it had nothing what-
ever to do with the case. The real truth was that
Henry Broome wanted to get his brother out of the
scrape, and the intention with which everything was
done was that the prosecution should be abandoned.
The defendant, Mr. Sill, most improperly lent him-
self to the proceeding, and so far as he was concerned
he endeavoured to carry it out, for he withdrew from
acting as the solicitor for the prosecution. The ma-
gistrates, however, very properly, no doubt, and in
the strict and honourable performance of their duty,
would not allow the matter to be settled in that man-
ner, but instructed their clerk to carry on the prose-
cution. But this was not the fault of Mr. Sill ; he
had done all be could to stop the prosecution and had
not broken any faith with Broome, and it certainly
did appear to him to be rather a hardship that where
two persons were parties to an illegal transaction that,
because it did not turn out to the satisfaction of one
of them, be should be allowed to turn round upon
his companion. He submitted that this was the real
history of the present proceeding, and that there could
be no doubt that this indictment was only preferred
out of a feeling of revenge at the compromise having
been frustrated, and that two of the parties should
have been convicted, and the brother of the pro-
secutor compelled to leave the country to avoid pos-
sibly sharing the same fate.
The RECORDER then summed up the whole case
with great clearness. Having explained the law
upon the subject of the charge, he observed, there
could be no doubt that they were wading through
very dirty water, and that a great many of the per-
sons concerned in the whole of this transaction were
very far from respectable. He trusted that the dis-
closures that had been made, however, would halve
the effect of warning young men of fortune of the
pitfalls that were prepared for them in this metro-
polis, and that it would prevent them from associating
with persons of disreputable character. With regard
to the defendant, enough had been shown to make it
quite clear, at all events, that he had taken a part in
the matter quite unworthy the position he held ; but
the jury ought not to allow that to influence
their minds, and he ought not to be con-
victedhe upon the specific charge
was accused unless the evidence
made out the truth of that charge. fe
e ee whiche
du clearlyetof
the defendant towards Mr. amp ahndrTheihsep
to endeavour to compromise the
hec harclocneeo(tihiniagigs
mightag possibly be
to do with the present
forcaste these acts, but here the
punished in.another way e a
false pretence to the
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and
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et,h
in
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tion question was, had
tpiroons prosecutor,
defraud
knowinghim elft
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?
h
The jury, after deliberating time in the
ogmeaanssh
wish to retire.
They were absenthet
defendant
three-quarters of an hour, and
md
ebliybesruact
to
sit behind his
allowedtheyfound
Guilty.
upon their return into cboeuernt
Mr. Sill, who
counsel during the trial, was then ordered into
custody,
The RECORDER observing that he should consider
what sentence
ought to be pronounced.

FRENCH RAILWAY. TRAFFIC.
The followidg are the last returns of the gross ro-
ceipts of the principal French Railways
NORTHERN.—From July 29 to Aug. 4 : Passengers,
331,961 f.; goods, 269,169 f.; total, 601,130 f.
RoIIEN.—From 1
to Aug. 7 : Passengers,
137,392 f.; goods, 86,650 f.; total, 224,042 f.
HAvitE.--Frona Aug. 1 to Aug. 7.: Passengers,
54,208 f.; goods, 41,472 f. ; total 95,680 f.
ORLEANS AND BRANCH LINES.—From Aug. 1 to
Aug. 7: Passengers, 256,551 f.; goods, 231,324 f.; total,
487,875 f.
„
.OTRASBURG.--FrOM July 29 to Aug. 4: Passengers'
171,595 f.; goods, 110,917 f.; total, 282,512 f..
BALE,--Frorn July 26 to Aug. 1: Passengers,
32,198 f.; goods, 30,366 f• total, 62,504 f.
MoNTEREAU.—From Yuly 29 to Au;. 4: PaSseogors,
9,6l,lyoofx;sg. goods, 11,938 f total, 21,5481:
224,209 f.; go/017120A,
Passengers,
WESTERN.—From Aug. 2 to Aug.
‘, -r
63,309 L
44,5,461 f.; goods, 18,763 f.;
611.31'.1f. ;1t0tt0u1A34u414,874::f:.
_Pau:see:3 Passengers,
tots

;he week ending Aug.'
_Lt
r4r :17;T: litir mr.—Traffic for
GLASGOW AND SOU
,Passengers (25,322), goods and
Parcels, horses and carriages..ear £4,185 3
5
9 5
Corresponding week in last y 4,407
Glasgow, August 16.

men,
Glasgow
h a e thatrusl ead
SERIOUS AND FATAL ACCIDENT AT RbINEW...-.
vActssaellatheandouhreelalaetslata nighto
fallingv eraintelligence
bnreecsa coshiidi)
sneevaerrßaleonffrtehwe'm to death.. The loss variouslyollifetiesinseri
at from seven to twelve persons, others
not fatally injured,—North .Bi•itish Mail,
ug
ls
yLabut