The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-29 00:00:00

THAMES.

A STRANGE ADVENTURE.—Johannes Frank, a musi-
cian, about 45 yea's of age, and Katrina Dickman, a woman
about 70 years of age, who owned to 60, both natives of
Germany, were brought before Mr. Partridge charged with
stealing a sovereign and 7s. 6d., the moneys of John
Morrison.

The prosecutor, a tall powerful man, in appearance a
gipsy, with a sunburnt face, said he was a stableman, and
attended fairs and races. He came up to London from
Windsor by the half-past six o'clock train yesterday after-
noon, and upon reaching the Commercial-road near his own
dwelling, he went to the Duke of Clarence public-house,
where be called for and drank a couple of pints of stout.
He left at twelve o'clock,
,and sat outside the door for
half an hour, when the old woman, Dickman,
came up and asked him if he wanted a lodging,
to which he replied in the affirmative, and said he was not
going home. She said she had a nice feather bed, and he
agreed for the hire of it for the night. The woman took
him to her room in an old house in Plummer's-row, Com-
mercial-road. The male prisoner was sleeping in the room,
under an old bed tick, head and all. (A laugh.) Mrs.
Dickman said that is my husband. He is under the tick,
and won't see us. (A laugh.) He went to bed, and the
female prisoner laid down on the same bed.

Mr. Partridge—What I that old woman ? old enough to
be your grandmother.

• -
Witness—Yes, sir. This morning at 6 o'clock I awoke
and saw the man under the tick, and his head outside. I
looked at my trousers. The money was there safe. I had
a sovereign in my watch pocket. It was wrapped up in a
piece of white paper. There was 9s. of silver in another
pocket. He went to sleep again, and awoke half-an-hour
afterwards, and saw the old woman who was still lying by
his side with his trousers in her hand, and in the act of
handing the money she had stolen to her husband. He
seized her wrist, but too late to save his money. He re-
mained in the house two hours longer, and then fetched a
police-constable.
A policeman, named Sears, 174 H, said he took the pri-
soners into custody, and he found on the male prisoner a
sovereign wrapped up in a piece of white paper and 245. 6d.
in silver in a bag.

Morrison had no doubt that it was his, and asked that it
might be restored to him.

Mr. Partridge—Not until after the trial, a jury may
decide that it is not yours. I shall commit the prisoners
for trial. I will not take upon myself the responsibility of
deciding this case.

THE BLACK MAN AND HIS CHOPS.—Eliza Watkins, a
gaily dressed woman of the town, was brought before Mr.
Partridge charged with stealing a silver watch from the
person of Richard Howe, seaman and carpenter.
The prosecutor, a black man, stated that he met the pri-
soner the night before last. He treated her with supper
and grog. They had a dance, and he went home to her
house in Albert-square, Shadwell. He remained with her
all night, and in the morning he left his watch with her,
and told her not to pawn it. He went home and got some
money, and when he returned to the prisoner he found she
had pawned the watch for 30s. It waa worth five guineas.
He asked for the duplicate) and she gave it to him and ran
away.

In answer to questions by the prisoner, the witness said
he told a girl he should not prosecute the prisoner. He
said so to put the prisoner off her guard. He was with the
prisoner yesterday all day.
The Prisoner—Yes ; and we spent some of the money I
raised on the watch.

The black man—No, it was my own money.
The Prisoner—You had pork chops for breakfast.
Witness—Yes ; pork chops.
The Prisoner—And lambs chop for dinner.
Witness—Yes ; lamb chops.

The Prisoner—And mutton chops for supper, Mr.Darky.
(A laugh.)
Witness—Don't call me names. Yes; mutteu chops for
supper. (Laughter.)
Ain Partridge said the black man appeared to be very
fond of chops. He remanded the prisoner.

LUDLOW ELECTION.—The olection of a member
for this borough, in the room of the late Beriah
Botfield, Esq., took place at the Guildhall, Ludlow, yester-
day. It was a very quiet affair ; although there were rumours
of a contest up to the last moment only one candidate, Sir
W. Fraser, appeared on the hustings. After the usual
preliminaries had been observed, the relieving officer, Mr.
Southen, briefly addressed the electors, and called upon
them to nominate a candidate. He paid a high tribute to
the memory of the late member, in which all the speakers
who followed hint joined. Sir C. Rous Boughton said he
availed himself of the courtesy which allowed a member of
some of the neighbouring county families to propose a can-
didate for the representation of the borough, and nominated
as "a fit and proper person" Sir Wm. Fraser, whom he
recommended to the notice of the electors as entertaining
political opinions identical with those of their late member.
Mr. R. Jones seconded the nomination. No other candi-
date being proposed, the returning officer declared Sir Wm.
Fraser duly elected. The hon. baronet then thanked the
electors in a speech of some length, after which the proceed-
hags terminated.

CAPTURE OF A BASKING SHARK.—On Friday
morning last, John Bain, fisherman, West Clyth, captured
a large fish of the genus Squalus, the basking shark. It got
entangled in his herring nets, and when taken to the surface
was quite lively, and was with great difficulty and with the
in
assistance of another boat's crew towed ashore to Occumster
and Completely mastered. The fish measured from the snout
to the tip of the tail 27ft. 9in., and was armed with five rows
of
compressed sharp-edged teeth —J ohn o' GI oat Journal.
THE CENTRE
OF GRAVITY OF THE STATE is
placed the House of Commons, according to the happy
saying of Lord tJohn) Russell.