The Sun.
London, England, 1839-09-20 00:00:00

IN THE MATTER OF WILLIAM HENRY GREY

A somewhat important point arose. The insolvent
applied on the last Court day to be discharged on sure-
tps, when it appeared that he had been taken on a writ
of capias by a Judge's order, issued on an affigavit that
he was about to leave the country. He went to prison,
petitioned the Court, and appeared to be admitted to
bail.

Mr. Commissioner BOWEN then said the insolvent
could not be bailed ; he was arrested on a special
order, and, according to a decision, the Court would
not grant the application.
The matter stood over, and on Wednesday it was again
mentioned.

Mr. Commissioner BOWEN expressed himself strongly
on the point. The insolvent could not be admitted to
bail ; he had the power to controvert the affidavit, or to
comply with the section in other respects.
The Solicitor stated that the decision would seriously
affect the insolvent. There were other cases similarly
circumstanced.

WESTMINSTER COURT OF
REQUESTS.

BIDDY M`CARTHY V. THE SALESMAN.

" Plase yer boners," said Biddy M'Carthy, as she
jumped into the plaintiff's box, " plase yer honers, and
it's a hard-working cratchure that I am, and gits a bit
uv a.living selling pittyatees, turnets (turnips), and a few
cabbidges and greens, yer boners, as that same gentle-
man (pointing to the defendant, who was a Covent-gar-
den salesman) will be afther relathing to yer if he'll
spike the thruth-

A COMMISSIONER-Don't be quite so circumstantial,
Biddy. Let us have the case without all this garnishing
of " pittyatees and turnets."
Biddy (cutseying)—Sor yer shall yer boners—more
power to ye for settin a poor cratchure like meeself
right, for I'm a lone woman (curtseying), bless yer bo-
ners. Last bye day I wint to the garden (Covent-gar-
den) to be lookin Other a few make-ups ; and so whin
I come to the gintleman that's fornenst yer, I clapped
my eyes on a lot as jist plased me, yer boners. " What's
the say," sis I, " for these - same two half sieves of
pittyatees ?" " Twinty pince," sis he. " They're
mine," sis I. And so yer boners I give the gintleman
two shillin, and it was every flake I had, yer boners,
and he was to turn me fourpince back on it. Well, I
puts the pittyatees into my basket, and waited for me
change, but the divil a bit was he in a hurray to give it
me. " Where's the fourpince ?" sis I. " What four-
pince ?" sis he. " Out of the two shillin," sis I, and the
gintleman pershisted I was alther blarne3ing him—the
Lord help me, yer honors!
A COMMISSIONER (to the salesman)—What have
you to say to this claim ?

The salesman solemnly declared that Biddy had not
give❑ him the 25., and assured the Commissioners that
it was an impudent attempt to obtain money 'from him.
`• Hear him ! hear him !" shouted Biddy, " Did yer
ever hear the likes of that ? And would'nt I be after
coming to the Coort for more than two shillin, with a
perjured oath, gintlemen ? Swear me—l'm a lone
wieldy—and spake nothin but the truth, so I will."
The salesman said he was also ready to swear that
Biddy had never given him the two shillings.
Biddy—Mushy dear, do yer hear that ! (lifting up
her hands and eyes to the open skylight in the roof.)
A long discussion took place between the Commis-
sioners as to the propriety of permitting Biddy to swear
to her statement. "It was not likely," said several
Commissioners, " that. a respectable tradesman would
give himself the trouble to attend a summons of this
nature, unless he was positive he had not received the
money. On the other hand, it was urged that he might
be mistaken, and that the recognition of such a doctrine
would te►l fearfully against the poor.
In the midst of the discussion
Biddy exclaimed—Let me swear to the two shillin—
yer losing time, yer honors.

A CommissroNEß—Hold yonr tongue, woman ; we
are consulting on your case.

Biddy—And is it consultin ye are ! Will ye be
afther lettin me take me oath if ye plase ? You'll find
that's the law, yer honors.
A COMMISSIONER—You have been in a Court of
Requests before, Biddy ?
Biddy—One'st, I believe.
The salesman again assured the Commissioners that
Biddy had not given him the 2s ; but
Biddy " pershisted" that she had, and demandedln he
sworn. The oth was accordingly tendered, and Biddy
took 77,000 and odd Romish saints to witness that the
" gintleman" had the money.
The award was made accordingly.
Biddy —Gad bless yer boners! I'll (turning to the
salesman) be tAfther daling wid you agin, misther.—(A
laugh.)
Salesman—Not if I know it. I have no doubt (ad_
dressing the Commissioners) that you'll shortly see me
here again upon a similar summons. They'll be sure to
try it on, and next time it will be a little stronger—half
a sovereign or so.
" Oh, hear him," said Biddy, winking her eye to a
" female friend" along with her ; " only hear" (lowering
her voice)—" only hear the spalpeen, Nelly."
" Yes," said Nelly, significantly, " the :noore's the
pitty ye didn't give hint a bit of goold ;" and Nelly
nudged Biddy and threw a look of regret into her long,
cunning Irish countenance. " The moore's the pitty, so
it is, my dear."
" Thrue for yer, avourneen," said Bichly—" flinty for
'Yet' ;" and Biddy and Nelly walked out of Court chat-
tering sympathetically with each other.

FAILURE OF THE HARVEST,—The Dublin
Evening Post of last Tuesday says, " There is no use
shall havelongerany a lamentable in disguisingaentable the matter,
failure."
r e
t.
o"
say that since our last
that in Ireland we
We regret to add,
that the accounts from the country are gloomy.
One from the Worcestershire Chronicle will suffice
to show the general character of the accounts to
ntalMleonday and during the
which we allude:—
~ We regret
manner. The great
quantity report the weather has been of a very unfavourable nature
for the operations of the harvest, which
it, has either
retarded to a great degree,e d .or prevented their being
inight of that day has caused the Severn to overflow its
banks, and though not to nearly so great an extent as
arafaotrimtvedofir.i
raaiaprovrphe irchanfdellsura
at the last flood, only six weeks since, considerable damage
must have resulted to the late crops. Scarcely a day of
the present month has passed over without some rain;
i
and, under such circumstances, t must have been impos-
sible to house the grain in good condition. From Om-
bersley, liartlebury, and the neighbourhood we have great
complaints of the wheat sprouting, and the barley, we un
derstand, has also been injured materially. Indeed it
could not well have been otherwise. The hops, too, have
suffered from the late rain and attendant winds, and have
been sadly battered. Few new hops, we should think,
may be expected at our fair tomorrow, and no prime sam-
ples. The quality this year, like that of the last, will be
anything but good."
THE LATE ALLEGED ROBBERY AND AT-
TEMPTED MURDER Ar THE UNITED SERVICE CLUB•HOUSE.
1 —Mr. Fenn has almost completely recovered from the
effects of the wounds which he received in this mysterious
1 affair; but no further particulars of the transaction have
trauspire'd ; the committee of the Club having directed
the utmost secresy to be observed as to the result of their
investigatioa.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

NEW CO U R 7'.
(Before the Commol:,1. SERJEANT, Mr. Sergeant ARABIN,

and Mr. Alderman GIBBS, &c. &—e.)
THE ELEPHANT AND CASTLE GANG.—George Tassel,
aged 19, David Rice, aged 22, and Harry Adams, aged
19, were indicted for stealing a box, containing a quantity
of articles of linen and wearing apparel, the property of
Elizabeth Smith ; and Elizabeth Rice, aged 19, and Mary
Luxton, aged 22, were charged with receiving the same,
well knowing it to be stolen.
Mr. Phillips defended the two Rices, and Mr. Doane
appeared for Adams and Luxton.
The prosecutrix stated that she was going to a place of
service on East-terrace, and she saw the male prisoners
near to the Elephant and Castle, when she engaged Tassell
to carry her trunk. She told him to cross the roa with her,
and he did so, but within a minute she lost sight of him,
and Adams detained her a short time by condoling with her,
and promising to go in search of Tassell. She did not see
either of them till they were in custody, several days after
when part of her property was found at the lodgings of
the female prisoners. Evidence was adduced to prove
that the women had disposed of some of the articles, but
as it did not go far enough to make them receivers with a
guilty knowledge, they were not put on their defence.
Mr. DOANE addressed the Jury for Adams; and Tassell,
who had no Counsel, denied that he was the person.
The Jury found Tassell and Adams guilty, and acquitted
the three other prisoners.
The LEARNED JUDGE told the prisoners that they were
well known as part of a gang, who stationed themselves
about the Elephant and Castle, for the infamous purpose
of robbing unwary travellers of anything they could get
hold of. In this case they had robbed a poor girl of all
the little property she had in the world. They had been
convicted over and over again, and they must now take
the consequences.

The sentence of the Court was, that they be transported
beyond the seas for the term of seven years.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HUUSE.

A man of respectable appearance, named Thomas
Trimmer, was charged with having committed an assault
upon Mr. Lewis Lloyd, of the house of .Jones, Lloyd and
Co., the bankers, under the circumstances stated in the
following evidence.
Aldermen PIM And GIBBS sat with the LORD MAYOR,
in adjudication.
Mr. Lloyd, who is a man advanced in years, stated that
the defendant formerly kept an account at the banking-
house in which he (Mr. Lloyd) was a partner. The de-
fendant subsequently became a member of the Stock Ex-
change, but was not allowed to remain in the house,
was unfortunate, and was obliged to take the benefit of
the Insolvent Act. He had, upon closing business with
the house, left a balance of 1111. 25., for which he men-
tioned he had given a check which should be paid in. The
check, however, never arrived, and the amount of balance
lay in the hands of the Cashier. Some time since, the
defendant called at the banking-house to make in.
quiry about the money, but as it was known that be came
out under the Insolvent Act, it was considered necessary
to obtain some further intelligence about the correctness
of the claim, and he was told to produce his books. That
morning the defendant called between ten and eleven
o'clock, and waited in the banking-house until witness en-
tered. At that moment the defendant said, going up to
witness, '° If I am rightly informed," and struck him on the
head with an umbrella. The defendant was then given
into the custody of a policeman.
The LORD MAYOR (to the prisoner)—Did you not put
that 1111. 2s. in your schedule in passing through the In-
solvent Court? Defendant—No, my Lord Mayor. I
did not know at the time that the balance was there,
bat having been informed that such was the case, I merely
called to ascertain the fact, but without meaning to appro-
priate it.

Alderman PIRIE—Why, it was the property of your cre-
ditors, and you have no right to a farthing of it.
The Loan MAYOR—Your assignees will I dare say learn
by somt means or other that the money is at the banking-
house, and will no doubt know; what course to pursue. But
what induced you to strike Mr. Lloyd ? The defendant—
I applied to one of the cashiers when I heard that there was
a balance in my favour for permission for that amount, but
he told me that Mr. Lloyd required to see my book, and I
told him I never kept one.-_( Our Reporter understood the
defendant to intend to say, that being exasperated at the
disappointment he experienced, he raised his hand against
Mr. Lloyd, whom he considered to be the great cause of
the annoyance.

Alderman GIBBS thought that such a case ought to be
taken before a Jury for the purpose of making a greater ex-
ample of the defendant.

The defendant said that Mr. Lloyd had no right to de-
tain the money ; at all events it was satisfactory to know
that the balance was due to him.

The Lonn NlAvon—lt is due to your assignees and not
to you. You have no more right to it than I have.
Mr. Lloyd, in answer to a question from the. Lord
Mayor, said that the defendant kept an account at his
house in the year 1834.
The LORD MAYOR—And how long is it since the de-
fendant came out under the Insolvent Act? Defendant
—I do not exactly know, my Lord.
The LORD MAYOR—You must be able to guess on such
a subject as your imprisonment and subsequent discharge
under the Insolvent Act.

Defendant—lt must be between two and three years
ago, but I have no clear recollection of the exact time.
The LORD MAYOR—My Brother Magistrates and I am
of opinion that this is a most gross case of assault. It is
not like an act of violence provoked at the moment. You
watched the approach of Mr. Lloyd, and no doubt have
nourished a vindictive feeling towards him. We think it
would be advisable to send the case before a Jury ; but
Mr. Lloyd expresses a wish that we should exercise a
summary jurisdiction. We therefore fine you 51., and
you may have the alternative of imprisonment for two
months. You must also find two sureties in 501. each, and
be bound over yourself in the sum of 1001. to keep the
peace towards Mr. Lloyd for 12 months.
The defendant said that he should pay the fine, and pro-
cure the security required. lie denied that he bad enter-
tained an idea of defrauding his creditors of a farthing,
and declared that he could not allow any man to insinuate
such a thing with impunity.
Neither the amount of the penalty, nor the bail having
appeared during the sitting of his Lordship, the defendant's
commitment was made out, and he was taken away in
custody.
A young man named Richard Barlow was charged with
having committed a forgery.
Mr. Joseph Seddon, of Manchester, banker, came up to
town upon ascertaining that be had cashed a forged bill of
exchange upon the house of Messrs. Leaf and Co., to
consult the City authorities on the subject. Mr. Hobler,
the Chief Clerk at the Mansion-house, advised him to ap-
prehend the prisoner himself wherever he might see him,
without warrant or other authority. Mr. Seddon left the
justice-room determined to do as he was advised if he
should have an opportunity, but he little expected that an
opportunity was so close at band. As he was walking to
w.srds Messrs. Leaf and Co.'s warehouse be came plump
upon the prisoner in Bread-street, and immediately collared
him and gave him into the custody of Daniel Forrester
the officer.
Mr. Seddon stated that he had had transactions in busi-
ness with the prisoner, who had been in trade, and in
partnership with his (prisoner's) father, as oil-merchant.
Witness here put in a bill of exchange for 4921. 135., pur-
porting tb be drawn by the prisoner, and accepted by
Messrs. Leaf, and Co. Witness discounted the bill. He had
been in the habit of discounting bills for the prisoner, and
they were always paid, with the exception of the bill in
question, which became due on the 17th of August, and
was dishonoured. It was made payable at Devizes.
Mr. James Coles, jun., of N 0.39, Old 'Change, one of
the partners in the house of Leaf arid Co., stated that he
was acquainted with the signatures of the partners in the
firm who accepted bills. Mr. Leaf and Mr. Coles, wit-
ness's father, and Mr. Smith were the only persons in the
house who accepted bills, and the name of the firm on the
bill in question was not in the hand-writing of either of
those gentlemen.
The LORD MAYOR asked the prisoner what he had to
say for himself ? Prisoner—l do not know anything of
the forgery at all. I have had transactions with a person
of the name of Leaf, who represented himself as one of the
firm of Leaf and Co., of London, merchants, and he had
no idea that the person was an impostor.
The LORD MAYOR (to Mr. Coles)—Do you know any.
thing of the prisoner? Mr. Coles—Not at all. I never
saw him before.

The LORD MAYOR—.WeII, prisoner, of course you can
produce this Mr. Leaf ? Prisoner—No, my Lord; he
went out of the country three or four weeks ago.
Mr. Seddon said that three or four bills of the prisoner's
bad been previously paid at Denison's house.
The prisoner was remanded.
_

Ilinde, the conductor of one of Chancellor's omni-
buses, was charged by Solomon Josephs with having used
abusive language, and committed an assault.
The complainant stated that he was a passenger in the
omnibus, and that without any provocation whatever the
defendant reviled him with the most odious epithets, and
then refused to exhibit his number, and concluded the course
of offence by violently pushing the complainant in the street
and jumping into the omnibus.
Iwo persons of the Jewish persuasion, confirmed the
statement of the complainant, as regarded the ill language
and the assault. . _ _ _

The defendant positively denied the truth of the accu-
sation, and declared that he was the pr'rson who was
really insulted, that he never pushed the complainant, but
merely followed him for the fare.
A witness confirmed the defendant's version of the affiir
in some respect.
The LORD MAYOR and Alderman PIRIR, considered that
the case was clearly made out against the defendant, and
fined him forty shillings, which he immediately paid.
The decision was notified on the back of the defendant's
license, greatly to his mortification.