The Sun.
London, England, 1839-10-23 00:00:00

CENTRAL CRIMINAL, COURT.

(THIS DAY.)

OLD COURT.
Robert Hedges, ar;ed 86, described in the Calendar
as a labourer, was indicted with Woniously cutting
tend_, wounding James Piper on the 10th April, 1838,
wah 4-,tent to do him some grievous bodily berm
Mr. PHILLIPS appeared for the prosecution, and,
from the Learned Geritietnan's statements it appeared
that the assault took place at a cock-fight at Hanworth
thq last year ; but the prisoner was nut captured till
very lately,
Jacob Roberts, a constable of Hanwortb. stated, that
in April last year, he and a brother constable named
Piper went to Hanworth to prevent a cock-fight there,
and upon that occasion the prisoner, who had a thick
stick in his hand, beat Piper violently over the head
and other parts of his body ; the other constables, who
had been sent from the Society against Cruelty to Ani-
mals, were also beaten, but by other persons. Piper
died of the wounds he received.

Mr. CLARKSON who appeared for the prisoner, ad-
mitted the assault, but denied that it was done with the
intents laid in the indictment.

Toe Jury found the prisoner guilty of the assault only.
Tne prisoner was again indicted for another assault
upon Joseph Willey, another officer of the Society for
the prevention of cruelty to animals.
The Jury in this case also, found the prisoner guilty
of the assault only.
There was another indictment against the prisoner
for assaulting John Lord, but it was not pressed
against him.
Mr. Justice BOSANQUET sentenced him to six
months' imprisonment and hard labour.

Edward Murray was convicted of uttering a coun-
terfeit shilling to Martha Porter, and having at a
former Session being found guilty of a similar crime,
was sentenced by Mr. Baron MAULE to seven years'
transportation.

Richard Ricketts, a labourer, aged 23, was indicted
with feloniously striking and wounding James Holdman,
a policeman, on Saturday 11th inst., with intent to do
him some grievous bodily harm.
James Holdman is a policecman ; on Saturday week
was on duty in Bcrdmondsey-street, about one o'clock
there were several persons quarrelling there, of whom the
prisoner was one. His house was not above 20 yards
from the placq where the disturbance took place. Wit-
ness told the prisoner he ought to have been at home,
and alter some words, and scuffling he went there.
Shortly afterwards he returned with a poker in his hand
with which he struck the witness a most violent blow
which wounded him severely, and caused the blood to
flow profusely. Witness had not been able to attend
his duties since.

Francis Baker, also a policeman, stated that he
went to the assist once of Holdman on the day in ques-
tion, and picked up the poker with which he had been
assaulted.

The surgeon of the M Division of Police, to which
Holdman was attached, stated the wounds which he
had received to have been of a most serious nature.
The prisoner, in his defence, stated that he had
been violently assaulted by the policeman, but that be
never struck him with a poker. That was done by
another person, who was not in custody.
In support of the prisoner's statement that he was
struck by the policeman be called a female, who stated
that she saw Ricketts knocked down by the police-
man, and that he did not attempt to strike him.,
Mr. Baron GURNEY summed up.
The Jury found the prisoner Guti:v.
Mr. Baron GURNEY s?ntenced him to twelve
months' imprisonment and hard labour.

NEW COURT.
(Before the Common Serjeant.)
. .

_ .
John Appleby, aged 19, and Christopher Maile, aged
18, were convicted of stealing a shawl and one shirt,
value 25., the property of Edward de Lima Woods.
It appeared that Maile had been convicted of felony
only a few months ago, and that that was his second
conviction.
The COMMON SERJEANT told hid] that as this was
his third appearance the Court would cut short his pur-
suits for a few years. He was sentenced to transports-
don for seven years. The judgment of the Court upon
Appleby was, that he be kept to hard labour for six
calendar months, and that during the last week of each
of the three las: months to be kept solitary.
Prisoner—Oh, my Lord, pray don't let me be kept
solitary.
The COMMON SERGEANT—What, you know some-
thing about it do you ? We have found out a secret,
and I am glad to find that that sort of punishment ope-
rates in a very salutary way.
Prisoner—Pray, my Lord, don't.
The COMMON SERGEANT—Depend upon it the sen-
tence will be enforced.

John Larman, aged 17, was indicted for stealing
fourteen knives, two compasses, one cigar case, and
other articles, value 3/., the property of Levy Zachariah,
his master ; and Ann Martin, aged 49, was indicted
for feloniously receiving the same, well knowing them
to have been stolen.

Both prisoners were found guilty.
The prosecutor stated that the lad bad up to a recent
period borne a very excellent character, and he was
afraid he had been urged to steal by the female prisoner.
The Court sentenced Larman to hard labour for six
months, but the woman would be transported for seven

years.
OFFICIOUSNESS OF A POLICEMAN.—:Vary Hays,
aged 24, was indicted for stealing a ring, valut,. 10s., the
property of her master.
Mr. C. PHILLIPS appeared for the prisoner, whose
defence was that she had picked it up in the bar and
pledged it, as appeared in the duplicate, in her own
name.
The prosecutor gave the prisoner a very good
character, and it appeared that he would not have pro-
secuted had he not been pressed by a police sergeant,
named Wells.
The COMMON SERGEANT said he did not approve of
police officers putting themselves forward in prosecu-
tions. To be sure they had extra pay for coming there.
Policeman—l could not. decide it.
Mr. PHILLIPS—YOU decide!—(Laughter.)
The COMMON SERGEANT—WeII, I think things are
come to a pretty pass when policemen fancy they are to
decide cases.

The prisoner was found guilty and sentenced to three
months' imprisonment, the last weeks of the two last
months to be solitary.
It appeared the police sergeant had also taken upon
himself to give the pawnbroker leave of absence till
eleven o'clock, and the Court told him he had better
proceed against the policeman for his recognizances.