The Sun.
London, England, 1839-04-08 00:00:00

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

On Saturday the decision of Mr. CONA.NT was given
at MarlbormrBh-street Police-office in a matter of much
importance to public and private Companies and Socie-
ties throughout the kingdom. It is already known that
Stowell anti Birch, the informers, have obtained the
materials for a vast number of informations against
Companies, who have, by issuing prospectuses, setting
forth their objects, infringed (as alleged) the 39th
George 111., by not having the name of the printer
attached to the papers so issued. Last Saturday the
first information, against the United Kingdom Fire
and Life Insurance Company, in Waterloo-place, was
heard before the sitting Magistrates, Mr. CONANT
and Mr. DYER, on which occasion the Bench ex-
pressed themselves strongly against the validity of the
information; but at the request of the informer, as the
question was one of great importance, Mr. Conant
agreed to postpone his final decision for a week. In the
interim a similar case was heard at Bow-street, before
Mr. Twyford, who gave his decision in favour of the
informer. Between that case and the one left undeter-
mined was this distinction : the United Kingdom Fire
and Life Company had an Act of Parliament, which it
was contended invested them with the character of a
public body, and therefore, by a special clause, took them
out of the operation of the Act of Parliament ; the
other party had no Act, and therefore could not advance
such a plea.
The question was argued at great length by Mr.
Ballantyne, for the defendants, when
Mr. CONANT, having consulted with Mr. DYER,
said his brother Magistrate's opinion did not differ so
widely from his as he anticipated. He was of opinion
the Legislature intended to give Magistrates power over
all innocent papers; if the meaning of the Act were
confined to papers of another description then the mat-
ter would assume the aspect of trying the nature of the
papers. It was necessary to draw the line somewhere ;
but he felt it to be his duty to convict, though with re-
luctance, in the lowest penalty of 51. He was sorry
the Act did not empower the Attorney-General to stay
proceedings.

Mr. BALLANTYNE said an appeal would be made
against the decision. In fact, an application had al-
ready been made to Lord John Russell, to put a stop
to such vexatious informations. The parties then retired.

LAMBETH- STREET.
THE LATE EXTENSIVE ROBBERY 111; GOLD DUST.
—FURTHER EXAMINATION OP THE PERSONS AC:
CUSED.—Saturday being appointed for the further exa-
mination of Ellis and Lewis Casper, father and son,
who have been in custody for some days on a charge of
bein., concerned in stealing two boxes containing gold
dust,' of the value of 4,6401., from the Dublin Steam-
wharf, St. Katherine's, the office, at an early hour, was
besieged by a number of Jews from all parts of the me-
tropolis, who evinced the greatest anxiety to witness the
proceedings, and hear the evidence against the accused
parties, who belong to their tribe ; and it was with the
utmost difficulty that ingress and egress to the justice-
room could be accomplished. After the night charges
had been disposed of, the prisoners were placed at the
bar before Mr. HARDWICK. Mr. Mole, the Solicitor,
and Mr. Clarkson, the Barrister, appeared for the pro.
s?cution ; and Mr. Yates and Mr. C. Phillips for the

defence.
Mr. Clarkson stated that it was not his intention to
into the case at any great length on the present occa-
sion; but he did expect the attendance of a person
whose testimony would have a most material effect upon
the proceedings as regarded the character of the parties.
With respect to the charge against the prisoners at the
bar, he (Mr, Clarkson) was prepared with witnesses
whose testimony was of such a character as to leave no
doubt of their participation in the present serious robbery.
As it would be necessary to call a number of witnesses in
support of the charge, his present proposition was, as in
going into a lengthened investigation certain disclosures
might be made calculated to defeat the ends of justice,
merely to examine about one or two witnesses, and call on
the Magistrate to remand the prisoners for a week or ten
days, as it would be perfectly impracticable to have the
case prepared for trial during the ensuing session at the
Central Criminal Court. The Learned Gentleman then
called Mr. Henry Solomons, a gold refiner, of .53,
Strand, and 9, Coventry-street, Haymarket, who, on
being sworn, said that some improper impressions ap-
peared to have been entertained against him, which had
become apparent since he entered the office ; and, un-
less they were removed, he should feel himself bound
not to ans,,v,r any questions put to him.
Mr. Clarkson replied that the witness had been sum-
moned to give evidence touching the extensive robbery
that had been committed on his client ; and, unless he
answered the questions put to him in a satisfactory man-
ner, it would be then his duty to apply to the Magis-
trate for his detention.
Mr. Phillips observed that the mode of proceed-
ing adopted by his Learned Friend was somewhat irre-
gular, if not extraordinary. Mr. Solomons had been
served with a summons to appear and give evidence, and
in a consultation, at which he had been present with
his solicitor, he certainly advised 11:m, in courtesy to
the Magistrates, by all means to attend. If, however,
the intention of the opposite party, in the line of exa-
mination his Learned Friend was about to pursue, was
to ground any proceedings on the answers ho might give,
he certa my would advise him to be very cautious in
answering any questions, as no man was bound to cri-
minate himself.

We understand that a public dinner has been
offered to Lord Brougham and Mr. Leader during their
pre,;ont visit to Paris; but that they have declined the
i honour intended them.

---- -
In the town of Ross, in Herefordshire, a very
singular anecdote of courtship is recorded between a
butcher and a village maid. It appears that the fond pair
had met each other in Church, and had occasionally clan-
destinely cast sheep's eyas at each other. On the butcher
professing his lore in a billet-doux to the fair maid, he
axed her whether she would have him or no I The poor
girl could not write, but sent him in return a sheep's eye
in a lock of wool, which expressed her willingness to
comply with his suit, signifying eye-wool, " I :cull."