The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-07 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

CHARGE or CUTTING AND WOUNDING.—Sam Rayn-
ham, a respectably-dressed young man, was charged with
cutting and wounding a female with whom he was
cohabiting.

The complainant, who appeared very weak and unwill-
ing to give her evidence, stated that on the previous after-
noon she was rather behind hand with dinner, when she
was complained of by him. Some words arose in conse-
quence, and during the altercation the prisoner took up a
knife and flung it at her. He afterwards took up a knife
and struck her with it on the arm. The wounds inflicted
bled profusely.
Sergeant Hodgson, B 26, stated that he was called to the
house, when he found the complainant bleeding profusely
from the wounds which she said were inflicted by the pri-
soner with a knife and fork.

Mr. Webb, divisional surgeon, said that the dressed the
wounds. One was caused by a knife, and another by a
two pronged fork. He took the prisoner into custody
(a gown was produced which had a cut in it about 6 inches
in length).

The Magistrate asked if that cut could have been caused
by the prisoner flinging a knife at her.
Mr. Webb replied it was not likely that it could have
been caused in that way.
The prisoner observed that he did not intend to hurt the
complainant, and that he always was kind to her.
Complainant remarked that he was alway s kind to her,
and was sure he regretted what had occurred. She hoped
the magistrate would discharge him.
The Magistrate said it was out of his power to do so.
The prisoner was committed for trial.

THAMES.
TOBACCO SMUGGLING IN A CA.B.—James Clure, a cab
driver, and Stephen Nicholls, a touter and porter, were
brought before Mr. Woolrych, charged with unlawfully
smuggling 671bs. of foreign manufactured tobacco, by
which they had incurred penalties of £lOO each.
Mr. R. Beverly, from the Customs Solicitor's office, pro-
secuted on the part of the Crown. Mr. Charles Young,
solicitor, defended Clure.
It appeared from the evidence of Mr. George Wm. Ross,
a Customhouse officer, that last night, about half-cast nine
o'clock, he saw the two prisoners on the front seat of a cab
on Tower-hill. Clure was driving. The cab was proceed-
ing towards the Minories. He put his head into the cab
and saw two bags, each containing something bulky on the
seats. He directed Clure to stop which he did immediately,
and then directed him to drive to the Custom-house. On
arriving there he took from the cab two bags, each contain-
ing compressed foreign manufactured tobacco in pound and
half-pound parcels. The tobacco weighed in all 671bs.
In answer to Mr. 'Woolrych, the witness said that Clure
was driving slowly, and when he asked him to proceed to
the Custom-house he said, " I'll do it directly—l'll go
wherever you like to take me." He knew both drivers by
sight. The tobacco did not come from any dock, the hour
was too late. Both prisoners were on the box of the cab.
There was no one inside. He believed the tobacco came
from a foreign-going steamer off Irongate stairs.
Edwin Howard Week, a Custom-house officer, said the
cabman, Clure, told him that he was standing on the cab-
rank in the Minories, and a gentleman with red whiskers
hired him, and told him to drive to St. Katherine's Dock
Wharf, and take up a fare there ; that on arriving at St.
Katherine's Wharf the gentleman with the red whiskers
put two bags in the cab, and the other prisoner Nicholls
then mounted the seat. Clare also said that the red-whis-
kered gentleman told him to drive up Tower-hill ; but he
did not get into the cab, and said, "He," pointing to
Nicholls, " will tell you where you are to drive to, and
where you are to stop."
Mr. Young said that Clure was actually engaged as was
represented, and had no intention to smuggle tobacco and
defraud the revenue. The two black canvas bags were pit
into the cab, and Clure did not know what they contained.
Daniel Shorter, a Waterman at the cab stand, Minories,
said he was on the rank last night at nine o'clock, and a
gentleman with red whiskers spoke to Clure and hired his
cab. Clure said, " Where to," and the gentleman replied,
"To Irongate-stairs, near St. Katherine's Wharf.
Mr. Woolrych said the case against Clure was too
doubtful to justify him in convidting, and discharged him.
He convicted the prisoner Nicholls, and ordered him to
pay a fine of £lOO, and, in default of payment, to be im-
prisoned for six months.

SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH CABLES.—A numerous
and influential meeting took place yesterday (Mon-
day), at the house of James M'Connell, Esq., C.E., 2,
Dean's•yard, Westminster, to consider the system of laying
submarine telegraph cables invented by Captain Jasper
Selwyn, R.N. Amongst those present, Lord Shrewsbury,
Lord Richard Grosvenor, Sir Edward Belcher, Admiral
Duntze, Henry D. Seym..ur, Esq., N.Y. ; N.
Esq., F.R.S. ; Thomas Allan. Esq., C.E. ; Cornelius
e
Varley, Esq., and other scientific gentlemen, took an active
part in the proceedings. Resolutions were passed aPP
can't'
rov.
ing of the principle, and a committee was formed to
out an experiment with the apparatus. Gravatt,