The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-24 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

TOLL COLLECTORS IH " A FIX."—George Field and
William Perkins, two respectable-looking young men, were
charged with unlawfully passing over the new bridge, at
Chelsea, without payment of the toll of a halfpenny each.
G. Kay, a toll-collector at the bridge, said that at about
four o'clock yesterday afternoon he saw seven men coming
within a few yards of the gate. They stood there two or
three minutes, and then five of them rushed over the
counter of the bridge without paying toll, and the two de-
fendants were amongst them. Witness called to them to
stop, but they proceeded on, and, when they got over the
bridge, turned round and laughed. The other two men of
the seven first seen together paid their toll, but afterwards
joined the others in Battersea Park. Witness obtained a
police-constable, and followed the defendants and the other
men up to the further end of Battersea, where they were
found on the premises of a Mr. Williams ; but three
of the men escaped, defendants alone being taken.
The men were all quite sober. Field tried to make his
escape as he was being taken.
Field, in anwer to the charge, declared most positively
that ha was not one of the seven men. He was at
Williams's when the toll collector arrived, but had been
there some time previously. He had crossed the bridge
hours before.
Perkins said that he had paid his halfpenny toll at the
gate, and could not understand why he was taken into
custody.
Mr. A. Castle, defendant's employer, said that they were
both very trustworthy, honest, respectable men, who had
worked for him some time, and had confidence reposed in
them.
The complainant and a second toll collector were ques-
tioned, and supported the charge against defendants.
The latter repeated their story and said they could call
witnesses.

Mr. Arnold took bail for their appearance on Friday.

T HAM E

ATTEMPT TO DROWN A BOY IN THE THAMES.—AIfred
Blundell, an apprentice belonging to a coasting vessel called
the Charles Napier, lying in the river, was brought for the
second time before Mr. Woolrych charged with attempting
to drown a boy named Thomas Kirby, in the service of the
Great Eastern Railway Company.
On Sunday morning last several boys, and among them
the complainant, were amusing themselves in a ship's boat
moored at Irongato Stairs, and while doing so an oar fell
overboard. The boy Kirby was leaning over the side of
the boat to recover the oar, when the prisoner, who had left
the boat only a short time while he went on shore upon an
errand, approached. Two boys jumped on shore and
escaped. Kirby tried to follow them, but the prisoner
was too quick for him, and while Ruby was running
from one end of the boat to the other, the prisoner gave him
a violent shove and forced him overboard in ten feet water.
The boy went down and disappeared, and when he came
up again the prisoner and a waterman named James Met-
calfe laid hold of him and brought him on shore. The boy
narrowly escaped with his life. It was sworn positively,
and not denied, that the prisoner shoved the boy over-
board, but on the other hand the prisoner promptly assisted
Metcalfe in rescuing the body and taking him on shore.
Mr. Woolrych said this was a case of a very serious
nature, and must be sent before a jury. He committed h
prisoner for trial for attempting to drown the boy.
ate and
Mr. Gomm subsequently waited on the
magnistrinfliction
asked him to dispose of the came summarily by t—e
the boy fix
of a fine, or to allow the prisoner to cow
the injury and inconvenience he hadsusPtaenineldte Both par-
Id be adopted.
ties were willing that the latter coursesvB;llll;:huceonshdiupctCehdalraleds,
The prisoner was a very respectable,
apprenticed to Mr. Henry Kent, master a
coasting voyage
Napier, which was about to proctedneornb
ad tiready served
to Valentia, in Ireland. The prisoner v
jure his future pro-
-17 months of his time, and it wen
and he regretted very
spects in life if he were sent to prison,
much what he had done. In the anxiety of the prisoner
to save his master's proPerty from damage, and to save
the oar which had gone overboard, ho pushed the boy into
ease might with propriety be
the water. He thouhi th
disposed of in the way g,
suggested.valid reasons for disposing
e
woohych saw no of the
sor allowing a compromise. He committed
cßalsuenduerlmfoarrtrial for attempting to drown the boy Kirby,

. TRIERS' Met
ON THIS CONGRESS.—" A con-
says the statesman, " that is often
ultt*lt'on of doctors,"
useful ; but a consultation of patients, what is the use of
that ?"
IHE STATE OF CAPTAIN SIIAW.—Mr. Foreman
swanton's bulletin posted yesterday at Watling-street en-
gine, station, stated that the gallant captain was not so
well that day, but considering all circumstances he might
be said to be progressing favourably. Her Majesty the
Queen had sent to inquire after his state, and the Duke of
Sutherland and the late Lord Mayor (Alderman Rose) had
attended personally to inquirs after the captain.