The Sun.
London, England, 1837-09-14 00:00:00

SURREY SESSIONS.-WEDNESDAY.

COMMITTAL OF A WITNESS FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT.
Morriv, a well-dressed young man, was indicted for
stsalissi a watch from the person of George Moor, of
Church-sl reef, Lambeth,
The prosecutor; on ascending the witness-box, was ask d
b {lle eheirrnan What profession or business he followed ?
The reply ands g &slicing-master (throwing himself
into a curious attitude), and I should be happy to give your
worship a lesson."
The CHAIRMAN desired the prosecutor to answer the
questions ptit td Ithh in a proper manner, and not to make
any impertinent observations.
The prosecutor then proceeded to deseriba the gircum-
, stap:les of the alleged robbery.
'I he pfsPß!entor, in his cross•examination by Mr. Cham-,
hers for the defence, wits asked whether he bad been drink-
ing that morning, as his appearance nod the answers he had
given to some of the questions put to hifn in Court evinced
that he was not sober even then ? Prosecutor—What
has that to do with the case. not. answer such a
question,
The CllmamAtit here interposed, and said that the pro-
secutor was bound to answer, but still he refused to do
co, saying that he could not see what it had to dc; with
the ca7e.,.
The CHAIRMAN here remarked that it was evident the
prosecutor was then under the influence of liquor, and
strongly censured his conduct for appearing in a Court of
justice in such a condition, to prosecute a man whose liberty
depended upon the testimony given by him.
The prosecutor was then ordered to stand down, and a
man named Druet, with whom the prosecutor had been on
the night of the alleged robbery, was called forward as a
witness for the prosecution. The moment Druet, got into
the witness box it was apparent that he was then under the
influence of liquor.
The CHAIRMAN then told the Jury that in consequence
of the condition to which the prosecutor and his witness had
reduced themselves by intoxication in coining forward to
prosecute, it would be highly dangerous to convict a man
upon such evidence.
The Jury, without hesitation, returned a verdict of Ac-
quittal.
The witness, Druet, having remained incarcerated in
gaol for contempt of Court, when sober, be was brought up
to the bar, and he then apologised for the conduct he had
pursued while under examination, and said that he had
fallen down the hold of a ship some years ago, since which
time whenever he took liquor he became totally unconscious
of what lie said or (lid.
The CHAIRMAN having given him a severe lecture, and
admonished him to refrain in future from spirituous liquors,
especially if he should have occasion to appear as a witness
in a court of justice, then added that the Court had con-
sented to his discharge.
Druet made a low bow to the bench, and hastily withdrew
from the Court.

Joseph Jacobi, aged 50, stated to be a Polish Jew, was
indicted for having fraudulently obtained in Southwark, of
Abraham Friend, a watch, with intent to cheat and defraud
him of the same.

A Polish gentleman stated that he attended at the re-
quest of the Committee of Polish Refugees to interpret, if
necessary, and to watch the case.
The prosecutor, Friend, stated that he was a stationer,
resident in White-street, Moorfields, and had known the
prisoner some months. Nearly a year ago he called on
witness, stating he had just come from Poland, and asked
him if he knew of his wife and family in Warsaw. Witness
asked him his name, and he gave that of Abraham Isaac

Hyt. Witness then said he knew a family of that name in
Warsaw very well. The prisoner then said that he was
going by the name of Joseph Jacobi, and begged that wit-
ness would not expose him to the Polish Refugee Com-
mittee. He next asked witness if his family knew of his

....--. _
(Jacobi's) having been sentenced to 18 months' chain labour
in Jersey for passing forged notes. Witness told him that
that was well known, as it was reported in the newspapers.
By the CHAIRMAN—The witness is a Pole by birth, but
left his country 2.5 years ago, before the Revolution. He
is not a refugee.
The witness proceeded to state, in reference to the in-
dictment, that the prisoner frequently called at his lodgings
to be relieved with money. On the 25th of July the pri-
soner pressed to accompany him to call on Mr. Marks, in
King-street, Borough, when witness bargained to take a
watch and give 41. 10s. for it, if approved on trial. Wit-
ness took the watch away, and a few minutes afterwards
the prisoner parted company, but about six o'clock again
met him near the Queen's Bench prison, when the prisoner
said Mr. Marks very particularly wanted the watch back ;
and witness, believing him, gave him the watch to take to
Mr. Marks. A few hours afterwards the fraud was dis-
covered, and the prisoner was found, when he said he had
taken the watch " in fun," but that he would return it the
next morning. This, however, he did not do ; and when
again seen, he escaped from his pursuers, by running away.
He was at length taken into custody as he was walking
along Blackfriars-road. He then told the prosecutor he
might do his worst. The witness, in addition, stated that
he was yesterday offered 51. outside the Court to forego
the prosecution.
Cross-examined by Mr. CHAMBERS—I am a converted
Jew, and have been so 14 years. I am a stationer. I vend
paper and pencils about the streets. I sometimes go into
the Queen's Bench. There is a Mr. Levi Solomon there
for debt. I. don't know he is detained there by the pri-
soner for a debt of 30/. Don't know the prisoner was
hustled and ill-treated when he went there.
Mr. Israel Marks confirmed the last witness as to part-
ing with the watch to him. Did not know the prisoner,
and had never authorised him to get the u etch.
Cross-examined—Had been remanded by the Court for

the Relief of Insolvent Debtors for 12 months.
Mr. CHAMBERS addressed the jury for the defence, ob-
serving that he was instructed to show that the prosecu-
tion was a conspiracy against the prisoner, who had suc-
cessfully opposed the discharge of Levi Solomon.
.Alrs. Woulfe deposed to seeing the prosecutor, Friend,
take the prisoner Jacobi by the collar near the Queen's
Bench prion, and threaten that he would serve him out
for detaining Solomon.
Mrs. Moses swore that the prosecutor had applied to
her, stating that he would give her husband 2/. if he would
appear in court, and swear the prisoner had offered the
watch for sale.
The prosecutor vehemently declared that both the last
witnesses had sworn falsely.
A gentleman, formerly a lieutenant i❑ the Polish service,
gave the prisoner a good character, and stated that the
latter had behaved with great bravery at the battle of Os-
trolensko, and would have been promoted if he had not
been a Jew. He was on the refugee list, which he could
not be if he were not a good character.
Other Polish exiles gave the prisoner a good character,
and stated that on the day charged in the indictment the
prisoner was at borne from one o'clock in the day until mid-
night.
The CumaNtAN called the especial attention of the
jury to the last new piece of evidence, which, if true•,
proved an alibi. The case was most extraordinary, all
the transactions spoken to on either side occurred on the
same day. Having minutely recapitulated the evidence
the Chairman left it to the Jury to determine upon.
The jury, after consulting some time, returned a verdict
of Guilty.
The CHAIRMAN told the prisoner the Court had seldom
to pass judgment on a foreigner ; he had, however, been
convicted after mature consideration, the Jurors disbelieving
his witnesses. The sentence of the Court was, that the
prisoner be confined for six months to hard labour.
COUNTERFEIT COIN.-CROWN PROSECUTION.

Inn. Harris, 19, was convicted of having unlawfully
uttered and paid to Catherine Reed, at Mitcham, a coun-
terfeit shilling, well knowing it to be so, and with having
one other counterfeit shilling in his possession.
The CouaT sentenced the convict to imprisonment for
twelve months.

Tile following, being known offenders, were sentenced to
transportation for seven years :—Elizabeth Ellington,
Frances Baker, alias Hamilton, John Spencer, Jas. King,
James Gee, James Collins. _ .

Thirty-five prisoners having been discharged by procla-
mation, the Session ended.

Mr. Hope has commenced his improvements at
Dcepdene, so long in the possession of the Dukes of Nor-
folk, and purchased of the Dowager by the late Thomas
Hope, Esq., thirty-five years ago. A magnificent hall is
now building, and the estimated expense will be thirty
thousand pounds.
Yesterday afternoon a serious accident occurred to
a poor Irishwoman, in the Strand, nearly opposite f_:o
an in-
utt s's
banking-house. The unfortunate woman, who had
Pant in her arms, was crossing the road from Bedford-street
at the moment that a carriage, in which were two gentloore-
men, was passing. The coachman, on perceiving the p
woman's danger, pulled up with his utmost strength, but
not before the horses had struck her down, and she lay
struggling under their feet, crying out in a piteous tone
" Save my poor child." Several persons who witnessed the
accident rushed forward, and dragged her and her infant
from their situation of extreme peril. One of the gentle-
men instantly alighted from the carriage, and, giving his
card, desired that every necessary attention should be paid
to the woman, and drawing forth his purse presented her
with two sovereigns and some silver. It was understood
that the gentlemen were connected with the establishment
of a foreign Prince now residing in the metropolis.
On
the woman and her babe being taken to a surgeon's in the
neighbourhood, it was ascertained that the child was totally
unhurt, but the mother had sustdiued very severe injury by
her having been kicked on different parts of her body by the
horses.