The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-12 00:00:00

THE SUN, lAONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 12, 1863.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT—This Day.

OLD COURT.
(Before Mr. Baron Bramwell.)
CHARGE OF ARSON.

Joseph Ru,hton, 45, carrying on the business of a shoe-
maker, in Gray's-inn-lane, his private residence being at
For3st-hill, was indicted for feloniously setting fire to the
house of George Neal, he and other persons being therein
at the time.
The prosecutor was the brother-in-law of the prisoner,
they having married two sisters, and resided at Forest-hill,
the wife of the prisoner occuming a house adjoining. It
appeared that the prisoner did not constantly reside with
his wife, but was in the habit of visiting her every week,
generally on Saturdays, and remaining until the following
Monday. The fire in question took place on the morn,ng
of the 20th of May, and it appeared that it had originated
in ti.ree places, the gas-pipes having been cut in three
places, and a quantity of turpentine had been set fire to in
another plac,.. The evidence against the prisoner was, that
on the night in question he was s( en in the neighbourhood
of the house and could have gained access to the house,
although lie denied having been there, stating he stopped at
the shop in the Gray's .inn-road on the nit ht in question
Upon the examination a foot mark was found in one of the
flower beds, which corresponded with the prisoner's boots,
a pair of which were found underneath a chest of drawers
in the prisoner's bedroom at the back of the shop in Gray's-
inn-lane, and on their being compared by the police inspec-
tor one of them exactly corresponded with the foot mark in
the flower bed, and a peculiar kind of clay or soil, similar to
that in the garden, was attached to the boots.

A number of witnesses were called, who Deposed to a
variety of facts circumstantially connecting the prisoner
with the fire.

Tne jury returned a verdict of not guilty.

NE W COURT.
(Before the Recorder.)

Thomas Henry Green, 70, a m.rine store-stealer at Lam-
beth, was indicted for unlawfully having in h's possession
various metal bolts, the property of the Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty.

The Recorder sentenced the prisoner to four months' im-
prisonment.

Benjamin Everett, who was found guilty, cn Tuesday,
on a charge of stealing a quantity cf leather, and whose
case was mentioned yesterday, was again placed in the
dock.

An extraordinary number of witnesses were called, all of
whom gave the prisoner a good character for honesty.

The Recorder said he would well consider the whole of
the case before passing sentence.
John Snode Laws, lately carrying on business as a wine
merchant in Mincing-lane, was indicted for obtaining goods
within three months of his bankruptcy. There were a num-
ber of other counts against him, amongst them one that
he caused several persons to accept bills of exchange by
false representations, with intent to defraud. The de-
fendant pleaded net guilty.
Mr. Gifford, on the part of the prosecution, applied
to the court to exercise the power it possessed of striking out
the latter part of the ch.rge against the prisoner, as it could
not be said to be at all connected with the charges of in-
fringing the Bankruptcy Act and could only embarrass the
prisoner in his defence.
Mr. Hudd estone for the prosecution, opposed the appli-
cation. The prisoner was charged with obtaining a quantity
of wine a short time befog e the bankruptcy, which he
pledged, and then he obtained the bills of exchange upon
the warrants for delivery, he having at the time no power
to complete such a transaction.

The Recorder, having consulted Mr. Baron Bramwell,
said he should have liked the two charges to have been
deat with by separate indictments, but as that had not been
done, he should certainly not accede to the application of
prisoner's counsel.
The trial then proceeded, but as the facts have so re,
cently been reported whilst the defendant was under exa-
mination at the Mansion-house, it is unnecessary to repeat
them.
The case will last the entire day.

Metropolitan Rifle Contest at Wormwood

S crubbs.

Tne third annual meeting of the Metropolitan Rifle
Association commenced yesterday at Wormwood Scrubbs.
The programme for the third day's contest is a very ample
one, and a peculiar merit is to be found in the conditions
under which the prizes are to be contended for, the greater
part of them being open not only to volunteers, but to all
corners. The first prize consists of the Great Metropolitan
Stakes for £lOO, seven shots each, at 200 and 500 yards.
This prim? it has been considered expedient should be
divided into 18 prises to those who might happen to be the
highest on the score— viz , one prize of £25, one of £l5, one
of £lO, five of £5, five of £3, and five of £2. The next a
prize of £11; a sweepstakes divided into three prizes for
long Enfields, five shots at 200 yards; a prize of £2l, five
shots at 500 yards, for all comers with any rifle; a sweep-
stakes, to be divided into three prizes, five shots at 500 yards,
for all comers with any rifle; a prize of £2l five shots at
500 yards, with long Enfields, open to all corners ; a prize
of £2l, five shots at 200 yards, for all corners wi h any rifle;
a sweepstakes, divided into three prizes, five shots at 200
yards, for all comers with any r ifi,; a prize of '2l, five
shots at 600 yards, with long Enfields; a prize of £2l, open
to all comers with any rifle, five shots at 600 yards; a
sweepstakes, to be divided into three prizes, five shots at
600 yards with long Enfields; a prize of £ll for long En-
fields, five shots at 200 yards ; and a similar prize at 500
yards, besides several more prizes and pool shooting.
The meeting was under the management of Colonel Lind-
say, of the St. George's Rifles; Captain Olderehaw, Cap-
tain Lochner, Lieut. Homfray, Lieut. Robinson, Captain
Styan, Lieuts. Marrner and Hawkins, and under the imme-
diate patronage of Colonel Lindsay, of the St. George's;
Lord Grosvenor, of the Queen's Westminster; Colonel
Radstock, of the West Middlesex ; and Colonel Wood, of
the Paddington 'Volunteer Rifle Corps.
The arrangements were on the same principle as those
adopted at Wimbledon with respect to scoring, targets,, and
rules, the hits being added to the number of points This
meeting has every year increased in importance, and the
financial condition is very satistatory. Amongst those on
the ground yesterday were Lord Bury, colonel of the Civil
Service Volunteers; Colonel Holford, Captain Rosa, Major
Ru-sell, Captain Williams, 19th Middlesex (winner of Lord
Dudley's prize last year at Wimbledon); Sergeant Gibbs,
of Bristol, and several of the Lest shots of the day. There
were, in addition to the prizes above enumerated, several
pool targets, which were extensively patronised, and the
system of dividing the produce every two hours amongst
those who were successful in obtlining bulls' eyes gave
general satisfaction. The committee also allowed two shots
at 6d, each, for the purpose of sighting, before the com-
, mencement of every prize, if re quired, and this was much
approved of. The markers were obtained from the different
regiments of Guards, and to ensure c Irect scoring they
were in attendance on Wednesday evening for the purpose
of practice. The Government ammunition of 1863 was
used, and sold on the ground.

The business of the meeting was not commenced at the
time originally stated (nine o'clock) in consequence of the
weather, which was very bad, the wind blowing violently
across the range, and this very materially interfered with
the arrang ments, and prevented an accuracy of aim, not-
withstanding the aid of the Elcho shooting screens which
had been provided.
The committee arranged to pay all the prizes in cash, but
Mr Steward, optician, of the Strand, had a tent on the
ground, in which were displayed a number of telescopes,
opera glasses. &e., of the first class, adapted for rifle-shoot-
ing urposes, trom which the amount of the prizes could be
selected, and several of the competitors expressed their in-
tention to avail themselves of them. In the pavilioa near
to the ground Messrs. Mappin and Co., of Oxford-street,
exhibited a beautiful display of silver and electro-silver
plate, suitable for prises, and of very elaborate workman-
ship.

The Great Metrop•ilitan Stakes naturally excited much
interest, and the competition for them was most spirited ;
but as the entries remain open during the whole of to-mor-
row, we shall defer giving the score until the contest for
that prize is concluded. As far as it has gone, in conse-
quence of the state of the weather, the shooting has been
rather of a poor quality.
The following is the result of the day's shooting as far as
it could be ascertain, d at nine o'clock last night :
The fist prize of £5 was gained by Sergeant And-rson,
of the Queen's Westminster, by 17 marks ; the second by
Lieut. Marriner, of the 'W est Middlesex, by 17 marks.
The following gentlemen tied with 16 marks for third and
fourth prizes :—Hamman, 14,h Kew ; Fellows, Victories ;
Lieutenant Wa;mesley, 7rh Kent ; Corporal Backhouse,
Civil Service ; and Private Little, West Middlesex. These
ties will have to be shot off to-morrow.
The third competition was for a sweepstakes, five shots
at 200 yards. The following were the highest scores :
Private Dighton, 3rd Middlesex .. 17
Ensign Starkie, Queen's Westminster 16
Sergeant Abbott, 30 h Middlesex .. 16
Lieutenant Penny, Bristol .. .. 16
Ensign Black .. .. • • .. 16
Serg. Anderson, Queen's Westminster 16

Priva e Dighton, therefore, takes the first prize. The
other ties will have to be shot off to-morrow.
The fourth competition was for a first prize of £lO ;
second, £5 ; third, £3 ; fourth, £2 ; and fifth, of £1 ; for all
comers, any rifle ; 5 shots at 500 yards, any position. The
prises were gained as follows :
Private Symons South Middlesex .. 20
Lieut. Hacker, South Middlesex .. 19
Lord Bury, Civil Service • • • • 19
Lieut.-Col. Halford, Ist Lincoln .. 11
W. F. Turner, Ist Cinque Ports .. 18

The fifth competition was for a sweepstakes, containing
three prizes. They were gained as under :
Private Bishop, 4th Cinque Ports .. 20
Lord Bury, Civil service „ 19
Private Baker, let Gloucester • • 19
The tie was shot off, which resulted in. favour of Lord
Bury, so that he takes the second prize.
The sixth competition was for five prizes, viz., £lO, £3,
£3, £2, and £l, open to all comers, with long Enfieids, five
shots at 500 yards.
Private Kennedy, 20th Middlesex 18
Private Endale, 22d Middlesex • • l7
Li,-ur. Morris, West Middlesex •
16
Prior, 2d Oxford • • • . .. 16
s.
Lieut. Hawkins, St. George'
▪ 16
The ties were shot off, and left tl;t:e winners of the prizes
in tho above order.