The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-28 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

DEFRAUDING RAILWAY COMPANIES.—Anne Coppen, a
woman of creditable appearance, about 35 years of age, was
charged with defrauding the London, Chatham, and Dover
Railway Company by neglecting to pay her fare.
The prosecution was conducted by Mr Church, the solici-
tor to the company.

Arthur Gard, the stationmaster at Stuart's-lane, Batter.
sea, said that defendant was a third-class passenger by the
7 o'clock main line train from Dover on Saturday evening.
The train stopped at Stuart's-lane for the collection of the
tickets, and witness asked the defendant for hers. She said
she could not find it, and he then told her she must pay her
fare, and inquired where she came from. She replied
" Camberwell," and he told her that that was impossible,
as that was on the cross line, while she was a traveller by
the main line. She then said she came from Gipsey-hill,
and ho then told her that she had not, as they had not a
station there. She next said she came from Lower Norwocd,
which was also another station that did not belong to the
London, Chatham, and Dover. He then told her she would
have to pay her fare from Dover, which he believed was 5s
6d, and she replied she wculd, and then began fumbling
about in her left bosom for her money. He told her he
could not keep the train waiting, and she must get out and
remain for the next train, which would enable her to search
for her money further, She was then taken into the col•
lector's office, and after having had an ample opportunity
of undressing, she could not find her purse, and supposed
she must have left it at home. She was then put in a car-
riage and brought to Victoria, and there given in charge.
Mr Selfe—All this was completed in the county of Surrey.
No part of the offer ce was committed in the county of Mid.
dlesex. Everything was made perfect in Surrey, and the
difficulty I shall have if she is unprepared with money is
with respect to the gaol to which she should be sent, I
have no wish to give you the trouble Mr Church,to go else-
where with the prosecution, and will see what I can do
Can you (defendant) pay your fare?

Defendant—Yee. I found my money yesterday in the

Mr Selfe—What have you to Fay for yourself ?
Defendant—When I paid my money at Sydenham station
I was quite late, and in my hurry did not think of taking
my ticket.

Mr Selfe—You could not have come from Sydenham.
You have told two or three stories about where you came
from. You could not have come from Sydenham, the train
does not stop between Beckenham and Herne-hill.
Defendant—Then I suppose it was Herne-hill I got
in at.

Mr Selfe—Yea, I dare say. How much money have

you got.

Defendant--I have got 33. I went to Camberwell to get
some things out of pawn when I got into this trouble. Here
are my duplicates.

The duplicates were examined, but threw no light on
the matter. The pawnbroker had altogether omitted the
address.

Mr Selfe (to defendant)—l shall fine you 3a,
The fine was paid.

THAMES.

STA.BDING,—James Banks, an old man, who was de4
scribed as a seaman, was charged with stabbing 'William
Donovan, who is in the London Hospital, in, a very pro.
carious condition.

Every E day last week there was a " stabbing case," an
those tanks are termed, heard by the magistrates of this
ccurt, and the offenders were all committed for trial, The
use of the knife in petty quarrels has lately become very
prevalent, and severe examples aro imperatively necessary
in the way of punishment to prevent these dastardly out-
rages. Last night the prisoner and the wounded man
were quarrelling in a public-house in White
chapel, but how it originated no one could tell,
The two men were sculling in the kitchen of
the public-house. Donovan was armed with a poker, and
the prisoner had a knife in his hand. As the two men
were closing the prisoner, in the language of a witness,
" made a fierce dart at the other," and thrust the knife into
the upper part of his thigh. Donovan fel), and laid on his
back until a litter was procured, on which he was carried
to the hospital. A man named Leary took the knife out of
his hand, and it was produced.
Mr Joseph Dcndy, inspector of the H division, said the
prisoner acknowledged what he had done. The man Dono-
van was seriously wounded, and it would be a week at least
before he could attend the court.
The prisoner was remanded for a week.