The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-08 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS-July 7.

The July sessions for criminal business wore continued
to-day at Clerkenwell, before Mr. W. H. Bodkin, Assistant-
Judge ; Mr. J. Payne, Deputy Assistant-Judge, Mr. Kopp,
Mr. H. H. Harwood, Mr. Rankine, Mr. Twontyman,
Goodhart, Mr. Franco, Mr. Booking, Mr. Charles White,
and the Baron de Bliss, justices.
The Assistant-Judge was occupied for several hours in
trying a prosecution for keeping a disorderly house, in which
the parties charged were a licensed victualler, with 13 years'
good character, and his barmaid. The evidence failed to
show any receipt of money for the mere use of rooms, or any
female lodgers in the house, or any disturbances by persons
of either sex. The affirmative issue was supported by two
witnesses who deposed to witnessing conduct on the part of
visitors which other witnesses proved it was physically
impossible for them to see.

The jury, after intimating that their minds were made up
to acquit before the summing up, listened attentively to the
learned Judge, and then retired, as they were not unani-
mous, but in a short time found a verdict of not guilty.
Public attention has been recently called to the fact that
parishes, if once set in motion by formal complaint, must_
pay £2O, under an old act of Parliament to the complain-
ants, and that the persons accused may be taken on a war-
, rant and hold to bail to answer the charge without any
notice, and without knowing the name of a single witness
who will be called or the circumstances which will have to
be explained. One woman thus accused had met with an
accident from the kick of a horse, and was compelled to un-
dergo a painful operation for the removal of a dead bone.
The warrant issued, and a constable remained in her house
to prevent her absconding, as she was too ill to attend and
give bail, and it was stated that his very close supervision
of the sick person was only relaxed upon the suggestion of
one of the metropolitan magistrates. In this case, the
Assistant-Judge very properly allowed the accused, on
pleading guilty, to enter into sureties to come up for
judgment if called upon. A number of persons tried on
similar indictments at the last sessions, and imprisoned
since that date, were also liberated ; but several have to
surrender for judgment at the next sessions, on the 17th
inst. The Assistant Judge, since public attention has been
directed to the subject, has intimated his opinion that in
future notice should be given to the persons to be accused
before a prosecution is instituted, and that the names of
the witnesses as well as a copy of the indictment should
be supplied to the defendants. The right to a preliminary
inquiry before a committing magistrate cannot, it appears,
be conceded in the present state of the law. But magis-
trates at the police courts might, and it is believed will in
future, require a prima f.cie case to be disclosed upon de-
positions, as in cases of far less importance, such as charges
for obtaining goods by false pretences or stealing articles of
trifling value. Mr. Metcalfe, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Ribton, Mr.
Poland, Mr. Besloy, Mr. F. H. Lewis, Mr. Collins, Mr.
Montagu Williams, Mr. Starling, and Mr. W. R. Harris
were the counsel engaged.

(Before Mr. Payne.)
George Spencer, a salesman in the service of Charles
Powers, miller, of Biggleswade, pleaded guilty to a charge
of embezzling several sums of money—viz., £l4 10s., £l5,
and £l4 10s. There were other indictments, but it was
considered unnecessary to proceed with them.
Mr. Poland, for the prosecution, stated that it was the
duty of the prisoner to take orders in or about London, to
receive the money for the goods when delivered, and to pay
the amounts into Messrs., Barnett's bank in the city, and
then to send an account to his master of the money so re-
ceived. The prisoner, it appeared, had received the money,
but had not accounted for it in any way. When ho was taken
into custody he stated that he was endeavouring to make
arrangements with his brother to pay the money. On