The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-03 00:00:00

a convert to the Established Church. This was .a very
convenient way of exciting sympathy on her, behalf, and
imposing upon the ministers of two different persuasions.
But she had grossly aggravated the facts in her state.
ment of the alleged assaults.
Mr. A'Beckett said that it.had been stated in the
course of the examination that two persons were present
who witnessed the alleged assault ; were they now in
attendance ? as all the witnesses were ordered out of
court in the first instance at the express desire of the
parties. He (the magistrate) should like to hear their
evidence.

Mr. Watson, however, declined calling any witnesses,
the complainant having described everything that oc-
curred.
Mr. Salomons, on the behalf of the defendant, also
expressed his intention not to call any witnesses, ob-
serving that in point of law it could not be denied that
an assault had been committed, if gently touching the
complainant with an umbrella could be construed into a
breach of the peace. The facts were these--his client
was sent for to relieve the complainant, and as he had
reason to suspect she would not disclose where the father
of her child was to be found, he questioned her closely
upon the point, and it was evident she was telling false-
hoods, he rebuked her, at the same time gently touching
her on the shoulder with his umbrella--this was the
assault. And with respect to the language attributed
to the defendant, he solemnly assured him that there
was not one word of truth in it. It was obvious that
the character of the complainant for veracity could not
be much depended upon, more particularly as no wit-
nesses had been called to support her testimony ; he
should, therefore, leave the case in the hands of the
magistrate.

A'Beckett expressed some surprise that no wit-
nesses were called on either side, and said that under
the circumstances he should send the case before a jury
without making any remarks himself on the subject, and
for that purpose should order the defendant to enter into
his own recognizance in the sum of 1001. to appear and
answer the charge at the sessions.

THAMES.—A poor man named Carpenter, a regis-
tered coal-whipper, was charged with leaving his family
of three children chargeable to the parish of St. Paul,
Shadwell.

Mr. Sargeant said the defendant's children had been
for some time maintained by the parish, and that 61. had
been expended on their behalf, not one farthing of which
had been paid by the defendant, who, he believed, was
in a condition to partially reimburse the parish, and to
support his children in future. The prisoner was a
basket man, or foreman, and his earnings averaged 255.
a week.

The defendant said he met with an accident some time
ago by falling into the hold of a ship, and was taken in
an insensible condition to the Dreadnought Hospital,
where he remained for several weeks, and he was not
yet perfectly cured. While he was in the hospital-ship
all his furniture was seized for rent, and his home broken
up. He had no home in which he could shelter them,
and the remuneration for coal-whipping was so very low
that he really was unable to maintain them.
Mr. Sargeant said the parish did not require the 61.
already due, but it was considered that he was able to
pay 6s. a week for the future.
The defendant--That is as much as my average earn-
ings, and lam now ill and lame. I would gladly sup-
port my children if I could.
Mr. Deering, principal clerk in the coal whippers'
office, said it was quite true that the defendant had met
with a serious accident. Since the defendant had left
the hospital he was obliged to give up work for a week
or two at a time. Their average earnings for the last
three months had not exceeded Bs. per week, and their
labours were very heavy.
Mr. Ingham was sorry to hear the wages were so low,
and asked what were the earnings of the basket men ?
Mr. Deering—In no case did the earnings of basket
men, who were foremen of the gangs, average more than
10s. per week. He had taken the accounts of three bas-
ket men, whose earnings were larger than ordinary coal-
whippers, and their wages averaged 9s. or 10s. per week.
At present, the defendant, if in perfect health, might
earn 1 ls. per week.
Mr. Ingham—So it appears. How are they able to
support their families and pay rent ?
Mr. Deering—Many of them are in a wretched state,
living upon insufficient food. I don't believe one out of
twenty coal-whippers pay any rent at all. They can't
do it, and they are obliged to go in debt wherever they
can, and their children are running about the streets half
naked and without shoes and stockings.
Mr. Ingham said it was evident the defendant could
not pay 6s. per week. He must pay 2s. per week, and
when he was able and in full work give more.
The defendant--I wish to support my family, your
worship ; but what am I to do ?
Mr. Ingham said it was a distressing case, and he was
sure the parish officers did not want the defendant
wholly to maintain his children until he recovered his
strength, but he must do something.