The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-20 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.—Oct. 19.

The October adjourned Quarter Sessions of the Peace for
the county of Middlesex commenced this morning at the
Sessions-house, Clerkenwell-green, before Mr. Bodkin,
Assistant-Judge, and the follow,ng magistrates :—Mr. H.
Pownall, Mr. E. W. Cox, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Green, Dr.
Jervis, Mr, Baylis, Mr. T. E. Baker, Mr. Joseph Bateman,
LL.D., Mr. Parbury, Mr. Longden, Mr, Tanner, Mr. Hal-
say, and several other magistrates.

The grand jury having been sworn, the Assistant-Judge
briefly add' eased them, and said they were clearly to under-
stand that it was no part of their duty to try the prisoners,
but merely to see whether there was a prima facie case
against the prisoners to warrant them in putting them upon
their trial.
The calendar contains the names of 73 prisoners com-
mitted for trial, 61 being indicted for felony, and nine for
misdemeanour. _ _

Joseph Conelly, 18, jeweller, who last session pleaded
guilty to an indictment charging him with stealing five
gold chains and other articles, value £2OO, the property of
Sidney Cherrill, his master, was brought up for judgment.
The prisoner was remanded from last session to ascertain
if anything was known of him, and also to give him an op-
portunity of offering information as to the disposal of the
property. The time that had elapsed had failed to throw
any light upon the character of the prisoner, or what had
been done with the property, beyond what he communicated
to Mr. English, the manager to Mr. Cherrill, at the time he
was given into custody.
The Assistant Judge sentenced him to be imprisoned and
kept to hard labour for six months.
James Anderson, 31, was indicted for stealing five gold
and six silver medals and other articles, value £4O, the pro-
perty of General Sir Richard James Ho!well Birch, in his
dwelling-house.
Edward Cooke said—l am a constable in the Liverpool
borough police. On the 29th of September, in conse-
quence of my attention being directed to the prisoner in
Robert-street, Liverpool, and something being told me, I
took the prisoner into custody. The gold medal produced
was handed to me in the prisoner's presence by a person
named Franklin, and ho was asked what account he could
give of it. He paid, "I found it about three weeks ago in
Buchanan-street, Glasgow." I asked him how long he
had been Liverpool, and he said, "About three weeks, and
I came direct from one place to the other." I took him to
the Station-house, where he was searched, and there was
found on him one star of a K.C.B. and the badge of the
order, two large medals for different battles in which the
General had been engaged inlndia, a small star of a K.C.8.,
a hair ring set with diamonds, a gold locket, four gold lions,
and two bronze medals. On his person were also found
screwdrivers, files, and some other tools. He said he found
the whole in Buchanan-street, Glasgow.
Sir Richard James Ho! well Birch said he lived at No. 105,
Lansdowne place, Brighton, having retired from the army.
He had the use of the house No. 1, Hyde Park-place, and
it was placed at his disposal. The medals produced belonged
to him. They were kept in a drawer in his bedroom in
Hyde Park-terrace. He had not seen them for seven weeks.
They were locked up in the drawers, and he had the key in
his possession.
Charlotte Brown said she lived as housemaid at No. 1,
Hyde Park-place. She knew the room in which Sir Richard
Birch's things wore kept. She saw them safe on the 20th
September about half-past 10 o'clock at night. She went
into the room at about 7 o'clock on the following morning,
She found the door was fastened inside, and she could not
get into the room. At half-past 8 o'clock she got on to the
leads and made her way into the room. Sho then found two
of the drawers open, a coat and trousers on the floor, a poker
and tongs in the middle of the room, and a bundle of shirts
on the table. The door was fastened by a catch inside. She
had locked the door on the outside on Sunday night, and
found it locked and the key outside. The window was shut
the night before; she did not think that it was fastened.
The prisoner, when called upon for his defence, said that
he was in London on the 21st of September, and passing
through the Green Park, near Buckingham Palace, he found
the property wrapped up in a brown paper parcel. He
wont to Liverpool, and attempted to dispose of a part of
the property, but was there apprehended.
The Assistant-Judge, in summing up the evidence, said
that if a person was found to be in the possession of pro-
perty that had been recently stolen, he was bound to give a
reasonable account of it. If he failed to do that, they were
driven to the conclusion that he knew it was stolen, When
he was taken into custody the prisoner said ho found it in
Buchanan-street, Glasgow, and afterwards said ho found it
in the Green-park, near Buckingham-palace. As it was clear
that the prisoner had given two different accounts of the
way in which ho had got possession of these jewels, it
would be far the jury to say how far they could believe him.
The jury immediately found the prisoner guilty of re-
ceiving the property, well knowing it to have been stolen.
Mr. Lockyer, officer of the House of Correction, Cold-
bath-fields, said the prisoner was in the prison for a consi-
derable time, and was employed in the bakehouse. He
could not speak as to the time ho was there, but he had
been out for about nine months.
The prisoner said that to save any further trouble about
that he would admit that he was convicted on the 21st of
January, 1861, for housebreaking, and sentenced to 18
months' imprisonment. Ever since he has been earning an
honest livelihood, until he had been found in possession of
these articles, which he found as he had stated.
The Assistant- T udge—Then perhaps you can tell us who
got into the room and fastened the door.
The prisoner said he knew nothing about that.
The Assistant-Judge said that the prisoner hrel not been
long out of prison when he committed this very atrocious

offence. His conduct was very bad, and the sentence of
the Court upon him was that he be kept in penal servitude
for four years. _ _

Edward Pavett, 24, hawker, was indicted for stealing a
watch, the property of George Driver.
Mr. Cooper prosecuted on behalf of the Great Northern
Railway Company.

-
The prisoner pleaded guilty to the indictment.
The facts of the case were these :—ln the month of Sep-
tember there was announced to be an inspection and review
of the Hon. Artillery Company in Alexandra park, Mus-
well-hill, and on the day in question a great number of per-
sans assembled at the King's-cross station for the purpose
of going to the Wood-green station, which was the nearest
to Alexandra-park. The officers of the company were on
the look-out, and while so engaged they saw a body of about
a dozen well-known thieves get into a carriage together and
leave by the train. Having suspicions as to their intentions,
ono of the officers of the company, William Ransley, went
with the train. On its arrival at Wood-green he saw the
prisoner and others mix with the crowd. He saw him take
off his coat, put it across his arm, and go up to the gate
where the prosecutor was, and while he (prosecutor) was
entering the park ho felt a snap at his gold guard chain
and missed his watch. He seized the prisoner, who was
near nim, by the cuff of his coat, and found his gold watch in
his hand. It had been broken off at the bow. He was held
until a detective came up and given into custody.
John Partridge, of the city police, said he had known the
prisoner for six or seven years. He had been convicted at
the Mansion-house seven times, the last sentence being for
six months, for picking pockets. He had been six times
convicted before, and had been five times sent to Holloway
gaol for picking pockets.
Thomas Leather, police-sergeant, 6 G, said the prisoner
was given into his custody on the 21st of January, in Little
Moor-lane, and was taken to the Mansion-house, for stealing
a watch.

Mr. Lockyer, the prison officer, also proved several con-
victions against the prisoner.

The prisoner said he hoped his Lordship would deal leni-
ently with him, as he had never been before a jury in his
life.

The Assistant-Judge said he ought to have been, and
the sentence upon him was that he be kept in penal servi-
tude for four years.
John Brown, 60, was indicted for unlawfully and inde-
cently assaulting Mary Ann Hogan, Frances Joseph, and
Susannah Burrows, all children of tender age.
Mr. F. H. Lewis, instructed by the Associate Institution
for Improving and Enforcing the Laws for the Protection
of Women, prosecuted ; the prisoner was undefended.
The prisoner lived at Bell lane, Spitalfields, and it was
proved in three instances that he had induced the children
to go into his room to see a doll's palace, and while there
had indecently assaulted them.
The jury found the prisoner guilty. _ _ _

Mr, F. it Lewis said ha was sorry to inform his lordship
I:Lat these assaults on children were greatly on the inerease.

The Assistant-Judge commented with great severity on
the conduct of the prisoner, and said it was shocking to see
a man who was verging on the grave guilty of such prac-
tices, and he sentenced him to be imprisoned and kept to
hart labour for 12 calendar months.

William Jones, 58, was indicted for unlawfully and
maliciously wounding Mary Jones, his wife.
Mr. F. H. Lewis prosecuted, the case being brought
forward by the Society for the Protection of Women and
Children, of which the Marquis of Townshend (late Lord
Raynham) is president.
The condition of the prosecutrix excited much sympathy,
as she was totally blind, and was led to the witness•box,
having lost the sight of both eyes through the brutality of
the prisoner. She said-1 live at No. 10, Bardell's-court,
and am the prisoner's wife. On Monday night, the sth of
October, between 11 and 12, I was at home in bed when the
prisoner came home. He pulled me out of bed, called me
a --, and said I should not lie there. He struck me and
kicked me on the hip. I escaped to the door, and he bolted
it. He struck me on the eya with his' fist. He drove his
knuckles into the corner of the eye, and the blood gushed
out. I got out of the room and laid hold of the ballusters,
but he came behind me and by my petticoats pulled me
back. I called out " Murder I " and a policeman
came, when I gave the prisoner into custody. I was taken
to the Middlesex Hospital, and have been quite blind ever
since. lam still an inmate of the hospital.
Jonathan Wild, little boy, said he was in Mrs Jones's
room on this night, and Mrs Jones was in bed. He saw
her husband come home, and he told his wife to get out of
the bed. He then pulled her out, punched her in the eye,
and threw her on the ground. She was putting on her
clothes when he tore them off. She tried to get away and
he kicked her. Witness tried to get out of the room, but
the prisoner would not let him and bolted the door. He
saw him strike her on the eye with his fiat, and blood came
from the ball of her eye.
William Saint, police-constable 183 D, said he was on
duty in Barnett's-court and heard a cry of " Murder I" and
saw the prosecutor at the door. He took her into the
kitchen, and said she should give the prisoner into custody
for striking her on the eye, as he had burst it, and she
should be blind. The prisoner was drunk. He told the
prisoner that he must go with him to the station-house.
There was blood and water running from the complainant's
eye. He took the woman to Middlesex Hospital.
Mr William Edward Lee, house-surgeon at Middlesex
Hospital, said the prosecutrix had been under his care since
the 6th October with a contused wound over her left eye
and a rupture of the left eyeball, which had caused the loss
of sight for the present, and it was not likely she would
ever recover it. It might have been caused by a blow of
the fist.

The prisoner denied having ever assaulted his wife, and
said she was drunk.

The jury immediately found the prisoner guilty.
In answer to questions Police. constable 183 D said the
woman got her living by selling small things, and sometimes
by begging. The prisoner swept a crossing at Nottingham-
place, and was often drunk, and had been locked up for it.
The Assistant-Judge said this was a very shocking
case, and after a very impartial trial the jury had no
other course to pursue, consistent with common sense,
than to find him guilty. By assaults of the most brutal
character he had deprived his wife of her eyesight; it was
altogether one of the worst cases that had ever come before
him. The sentence of the Court was that he be imprisoned
and kept to hard labour for two years.
(Before Mr. Payne)

After the list of the juries had been gone through, Mr.
Frond, the sheriff's summoning officer, made a statement in
reference to some complaints which had been made as to
the manner in which the jury lists were kept. Many per-
sons were on the list who had been dead for many years,
and he served a summons for one person and found another
person on the premises, who had been in possession of them
for ten years. This faulty list particularly relates to the
St. Pancras division.

Mr. Payne said it was quite evident no blame attached
to the sheriff, who merely sent out the summonses accord-
ing to the lists supplied to the office, and the negligence was
on the part of those who made them out, for which they
ought to be punished. The faulty state of the lists was at-
tributable to the overseer, and had nothing whatever to do
with the sheriff in making out his precepts for those who
were summoned.

The first case was that of Charles Roper, 19, shoemaker,
who had been remanded from last session, on the ground
that the police had informed his master while in his employ
that he had been convicted.

Mr, Lockyer, the officer of the House of Correction, said
he had made inquiries of the parties who formerly employed
the prisoner, and the statement of the prisoner had to a very
great extent proved false.
Mr. Payne said he had caused inquiries to be made with
reference to the prisoner, in consequence of the imputations
cast upon the police, but as those imputations proved en-
tirely false he should mark his sense of the prisoner's cone
duct, who had evidently intended to deceive the Court, by
sentencing him to be kept to hard labour for 15 calendar
months.

William Wood, 25, carman, and John Clark, 20, labourer,
were charged with stealing three-quarters of a hundred-
weight of sugar, value 255, the property of Wm. Orchard.
The prisoner Wood pleaded guilty, and Clark not guilty.
Mr. Underdown prosecuted, and Mr. Ribton defended.
Matthew Orchard said he was a carman engaged at 'rench
Horn-yard, Crutched-friars. The prisoner Wood was in his
service. He was sent on the 72th of September with two
hogsheads of sugar, to deliver them at King's-cross and
Whitecross-street. Witness had occasion to go out, and on
his return home a police constable was waiting for him, and
from what he said witness went to the Kingsland-road
police station, and there saw his van. The sugar which
was in the van was missed.
Thomas Goater said he was a chair carver, and lived at
the Horse and Groom-yard, Curtain-road, and on the occa-
sion in question saw a van, driven by the prisoner Clark,
passing along Shoreditch. The prisoner Wood was between
two hogsheads in the van, partially covered by a tarpaulin;
sugar was coming out from the sample hole of one of the
hogsheads. Witness followed the van along several streets,
Clark driving all the way, Wood remaining in the van. A
policeman then came up, who followed the van with witness.
Wood shortly afterwards jumped out of the van and ran
away. He was afterwards brought back. Clark got off the
box on the van and ran off.

William Welsh, police-constable 21 N, said his attention
was called to the van in question by the last witness in
Ifexten. They followed the van for some distance the pri-
soner Clark was driving, Wood being in the van. Witness
saw him come from under the tarpaulin, when Clark said
"Lie still," just before Wood was pursued. Ho was caught
and taken back. Prosecutor then gave him into custody.
A piece of iron and a chisel were found lying in the van
under the mouth of the cask.
William Whitehead, a hackney carriage attendant, said,
on the 'light of the 12th of September he heard a cry et
" Stop thief !" and saw a van drawn by one horse going
along, the prisoner Clark driving the van. When he saw
witness ho got down and made his escape. The v an and
horse were taken to the station-house. Witness caught
Clark, and took him to the station -house.
Mr. Ribton then addressed the jury on behalf of the pri-
soners; and
The learned Judge having summed up,
The jury returned a verdict of guilty against Clark.
The Court then sentenced Wood to 12 calendar months,
and Clark to one month's imprisonment with hard labour.
Mr, Payne said that, with the entire concurrence of the

other magistrates on the bench, they had decided on award-
ing the sum of two sovereigns to Thomas Goater, for his
praiseworthy conduct in assisting to apprehend the pri-
soners.