The Sun.
London, England, 1837-08-15 00:00:00

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

OLD COURT.

TRIAL OF THE SPANISH DWARF, DON SANTIAGO DE
Los SANTOS.— Yesterday, this strange person, who is only
twenty•five inches high, surrendered to take his trial upon a
charge of having committed an assault upon Ann Boston,
his servant. The prisoner was carried into the dock enve-
loped in a large cloak. He was placed upon the floor, but
he could not be seen even by the Learned Judge.
The RECORDER directed the Don to be placed on the
ledge of the dock. This was done, and the appearance of
the little man excited considerable merriment. His head is
extremely large, and his mouth wide, with thick protuberant
lips. The cheek and jawbones were exceedingly prominent
—the forehead flat and receding very much. The chest,
arms, hands, and feet were those of a child of five or six
years of uge. His eyes were quick and intelligent. He
was attired out wardly in a pink linen tunic, or a sort of
child's frock, with full white trowsers and black velvet shoes.
His age was stated to be forty.
An interpreter was sworn, and explained to the prisoner
the nature of the indictment, to which he pleaded •' Not
guilty."
The RECORDER then desired the interpreter to ask the
prisoner if he would be tried by a jury composed equally of
Englishmen and foreigners.
Mr. CLARKSON, the prisoner's Counsel, advised that the
prisoner should consent to be tried by a Jury of Englishmen.

A female here exclaimed—" All English-, to be sure."

- -
RECORDER—Let that young woman stand up ; she ap-
pears to be the best interpreter.
The young woman in question was here placed in the wit-
ness-box, and she declared herself to be the wife of the pri-
soner, and un English woman. She was a plain-looking
person, considerably under size, and seemed well suitod to
be the partner of the " Don." She, in a tone half persua-
sive and half commanding, advised the prisoner to be tried
by a Jury of Englishmen.
The " Don" assented, and the trial proceeded.
The prosecntrix, a little girl, nearly 15 years of age, had
lived servant with the prisoner and his wife, who resided in
Holborn, four doors from Museum-street, where the pri-
soner exhibited himself as a dwarf to the admiring multi-
tude who delight in this species of entertainment. The
prosecutrix slept in a bed on the floor of the room in which
the prisoner and his wife reposed, and on the night of the
4th of July she was awoke by the conduct of the prisoner,
whom she felt creeping into her bed. She made a noise,
and the prisoner then returned to his own bed, where his
wife was lying asleep at the time. The next day the pro.
secutrix told her father of the circumstance, and he had the
prisoner taken into custody. The prisoner admitted that
he had acted in the way described, but said that he had the
permission of the girl in the matter. The father denied
that he had endeavoured to make money by the affair.
Mr. CLARKSON addressed the Jury for the prisoner, and
the Jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict of
Guilty of the common assault, but recommended the pri-
soner to the mercy of the Court.
The RECORDER said that the Court was disinclined to
send the prisoner to prison under the circumstances, and
thought that the ends of justice would be obtained by a
fine being imposed upon him. The Learned Gentleman
then, tkrough the medium of an interpreter, warned the
prisoner that if he were again guilty of "such pranks,"
he would be sent to prison for six months. The judgment
of the Court was that he pay a fine of 51. to the Queen.

The prisoner bowed his head when the sentence was pro-
nounced, and when told that he was not to " repeat such
pranks," he shook his head significantly, intimating that the
admonition of the Court would not be thrown away on him.
The prisoner was then carried from the dock by a turn-
key, to his wife, who instantly paid the 51., and then cor-
dially took her " Lord and master" by the arm, and con-
veyed him in a coach to her domicile in Holborn, declaring
that " she would make more than 51. by him before that
time the following day."
No other case of the slightest consideration took place.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HO USE.

A boy, about 12 years old, named Michael Ilfenahan,
and a girl of nearly the same age, named Mary M'Alister,
were brought before the Lord Mayor, charged with having
stolen a silver fork.

His Lordship committed the prisoners to Bridewell.
The next case was that of a woman aged 77, who was
charged with having picked the pocket of a gentleman of a
handkerchief. Every one in the justice•room was astonished
at the accusation. The complainant stopped for a moment
to look at a picture-shop, and missed his handkerchief. As
the old woman was the next person to him he looked beyond
her for the thief, but caught a glimpse of his handkerchief
in her hand.

Gooch (the Compter turnkey) said that the old woman
was one of the most inveterate pickpockets in London.
He knew her these eighteen years, and he believed she
bad been most of that time in prison.
The police said that if she was discharged she would pick
a pocket in her way out of the Justice-room, and nobody
suspected her she looked so solemn and steady.
The LOltD MAYOR (to the prisoner)—Why do you call
yourself Sarah Jones when we know it is Moll Forrester ?
Prisoner—lt's all the same what name I take to prison.
The Loan MAYOR—WiII you never drop this sort of
life ? Prisoner—lt's a natural propensity I have, my Lord.
I can't help it.

.
The LORD MAYOR—You seem to me to be upon the
brink of eternity.
Prisoner—That's the way with every one of us.
The LORD MAYOR—You have been in several of the
prisons.
..... . . _ . . .. ..

Gooch—She has been in every prison within ten miles of
London. I never had such a troublesome old pickpocket,
my Lord. _

The LORD MAYOR—Which of the prisons do you like
best? Prisoner—l've no particular liking for any. I'll
leave the choice to your Lordship.
The Loan MAYOR—Why don't you go to the work-
house ? Prisoner—Don't send me there now. Send me
to prison, good luck to you.
The complainant—l can't swear to the handkerchief that
was found upon her. It had no mark upon it.
Prisoner—To be sure you can't, and you wouldn't do
such a thing as swear to any handkerchief that's mine.—
(A laugh.) You're too good a gentleman to say anything
else.

The Loan MAYOR—Now you have another chance.
Will you leave this sort of life ?—Prisoner—Now, believe
me, I will. • I'll never rob no more.
The Loan MAYOR—Read your Bible—the 51st Psalm,
and the third chapter of Luke.

upon my conscience, if you give me a
Bible.'visoner—l will,

The LORD MAYOR—I am afraid you would send it to
the pawnbrowker's.
Prisoner—No, I won't spout it,'selp me Goa.
The LORD MAYOR—WeII, you bhll I have one, if I hear
a good account of you in another week.

Prisoner—l'm afraid I shall bey bad ug lin if I'm sir
long without a Bible. Do let me have one, good luck to
you.—(A. laugh.)

BO W-STREET.

William Welch and Thomas Connorwere brou;ht up by
policemen Pocock, who stated that on Saturday night,
about eleven o'clock, he observed Connor attempt to pick
the pocket of a gentleman in Wychstrcet. The other pri-
soner was in his company at the time. Witness followed
them to Temple-bar, and after a scuffle succeeded in taking
them into custody.
Sir F. Rou committed the prisoners for three months.