The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 29, 1.86.

CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY).

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—(This Day.)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

OLD COURT.
(Before Baron Clannell.)
FORGERY EY A SOLICITOR.

A BOOK SHOP THIEF.--Robert Kean, a lad, was
charged before Mr. Tyrwhitt with stealing some books
from the shop of Mr. James Rimmell, bookseller, of 400,
Oxford-street.

Henry Wells Young, a solicitor, formerly carrying on
business in Gray's-inn, who was indicted for uttering two
forged powers of attorney, for the transfer of stock, to the
extent of £5,000, the property of a lady named Geohegar, to
whom he was trustee, with a view to defraud the Bank of
England, on being placed at the bar, entered into a short
conversation with Mr. Metcalfe.

George James Rimmell, assistant to his father, the pro-
secutor, said that in consequence of what a person said to
him he went to the door of the shop and saw the prisoner
going eastward. The prisoner, as soon as the person pointed
him out, ran off, and he pursued him about 200 yards and
brought him back, seeing that he had a book under his
arm. The prisoner also had a bag under his arm, and on
opening it he (witness) found in it three other books, the
property of his father.
Chizlett, a constable of the C division, said the prisoner
on being taken into custody said he was very sorry, and the
boy's master gave him a very good character.
The lad said he would pleat guilty, and his mother said
he was a very good boy and had bean in a situation for
nine months.

The learned gentleman said the prisoner was anxious to
withdraw the plea of not guilty, and plead guilty.
Young then formally pleaded guilty.
Mr. Metcalfe appealed to the Court to deal mercifully
with the prisoner.

Baron ebannell, in passing sentence, said he had a pain•
ful duty to perform in awarding punishment to a person
who h,d held such a position in life as the prisoner. He
had pleaded guilty to the indictments for forgery, and that
crime Could not but be dealt with very severely. But a
short time ago the prisoner's life would have been forfeited
for such an offence as he had committed, but the law had
become more merciful. Taking into consideration the posi-
tion of the prisoner ho could not, consistently with his
duty, sentence him to a less punishment than 20 years'
penal servitude.

Mr. Tyrwhitt committed him for 21 days with hard
labour.

SKELETIIN Keys.—James Warren, a fellow who de-
scribed himself as a painter, and gave a false address, was
charged before Mr. Tyrwhitt, with being found in the
house of Mr. George Webb, tailor, of 47, Great Marl-
borough-street, for the purpose of felony.
Mr. Webb said that at a little before 10 yesterday morn-
ing, hearing a noise in the room adjoining his cutting
room, he went out and saw the prisoner in the middle of
the room looking about as if to see what he could take.
Prisoner immediately ran out of the place, and he (Mr.
Webb) pursued him and captured him in Poland-street.

The prisoner seemed perfectly amazed at the sentence,
but in a few moments he recovered himself and walked
quietly from the dock.

MURDER.

John Quigley, aged 60, was indicted for the wilful mur-
der of Henry Becket.

The prisoner pleaded not guilty.
Mr. Cooper, who prosecuted, having stated the case to
the jury, called the following witnesses :
James Tyler, said he was a builder in New-street, West-
minster, and in December last he was engaged to repair a
number of houses in Portland-street, Regent's Park. He
had employed a woman named Flynn to take charge of the
premises when the foreman of the works was absent,and she
was allowed to live in one of the houses, and was to receive
a week's notice to leave. The room she occupied was the
butler's room on the basement floor, the window looking
into the front area. The deceased, Becket, had a perfect
right to enter the premises when he thought proper.
In answer to Mr. Ribton, who defended the prisoner, the
witness said all ho knew of the prisoner was that he lived
with the woman Flynn.

Prisoner said ho went into the passage of the house out
of the rain. .

Mr. Tyrwhitt remanded the prisoner that inquiries
might be made whether he was known to the police.

THAMES.

A SAD CASE.—MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED SISTER'S
IfITSBAND.—A poor woman, an invalid, and in a very
weakly condition, who gave the name of Catherine Pick.-
ford, of 14, Charles-street, Globe-fields, came before Mr.
Woolrych to ask his advice and assistance under the fol-
lowing painful circumstances.

The poor woman said she was married to her husband,
George Pickford, at the district church of St. Jude, Com-
mercial-street, Whitechapel, on the 19th Feb., 1855. For
some time past her husband had acted in a very tyrannical
manner towards her, and in a fit of despondency, caused by
his ill treatment, she attempted to commit suicide. She
was taken into custody, brought before his worship, and
remanded to the Clerkenwell House of Detention for a
week. At the expiration of that time in consequence of a
favourable report of her conduct from the chaplain, she was
discharged. That occurred a fortnight ago, and her husband
had abandoned her ever since. She was now in a state of
great destitution. Her husband had declared his intention
of marrying another woman named Mary Staines or Stales,
and the banns of marriage between them had been twice
published at Shoreditch Church.

Weston, a carpenter, said he was in the employ of the last
witness at the premises in New-street. On the 27th of
December ho went with Becket to the house; there were
three other men with them--Boyce, Gregory, and
another. On entering they all went down to the base-
ment, and tried the pantry door and found it fastened.
The prisoner was in the room, and he (witness) called
out " now, Flynn, you had better come out quietly."
He said, " I won't come out for the policeman (meaning
Becket) was there." Becket said he'd get in same other
way, and that he wculd go and get a constable, He then
left to do as he had said, and while he was absent the pri-
soner said in answer to something that had been said to
him by one of the men, " I will not come out, and the man
who enters the room I will run him through." Becket
returned with the constable, who advised that the door
should be broken open. The prisoner N.% as then again
called to come out, but as he refused to do so, the door was
broken open by Gregory. Becket was the first to enter,
when witness saw him put his hand to the lower part
of his person and he called out, " I'm stabbed,"
Quigley was then secured by the police, and the deceased
was taken to the hospital. The knife with which the in-
jury was inflicted was picked up by the woman Flynn and
given to the police.
Cross -examined—He saw Becket enter the room. Before
the blow was struck he saw the prisoner holding out the
knife. The deceased was at that time about two feet from
the door. He saw Becket had a stick in his hand threat-
ening the prisoner, and touching his shoulder. He then
saw the prisoner stab the deceased.
Gregory, one of the ether men who was present at the
occurrence, confirmed the evidence.
Police-constable Wooler, 129 D, said he was present
when the occurrence took place. He knew that the pri-
soner was called to to come out of the place quietly. After
the door was broken open Becket entered the place, and in
a few seconds after he heard him call out that he was
stabbed. He saw the prisoner close the knife and throw
it out of the window into the area. On his way to the
station-house the prisoner said he had been quarrelling
with the woman because she would not get up and get his
breakfast.

Mr. Woolrych—lf your husband marries again in your
lifetime be can be indicted for bigamy.

The applicant—My husband says he has a right to mart y
again, and that out marriage is unlawful.
Mr. Woolrych—How does he make that out
The applicant—l am the sister of his first wife. He
married me after her death, and took me from a good situa-
tion.

Mr. Woolrych—That is very unfortunate indeed. I am
inclined to think he can marry again. Marriage with a
deceased wife's sister, or a deceased husband's brother is

The woman, sobbing loudly, asked if that was the law of
the land ?

Mr. Woolrych—lt is, indeed, my good woman. Your
marriage is unlawful.

The applicant handed in a certificate of marriage, by
banns, at St. Jude's church, on Feb. 19, 1855, between
herself and George Pickford, boot clicker.

Mr. Woolrych—Yes ; the marriage was quite regular,
and the banns duly published, but it is an illegal marriage.
There is nothing to prevent your husband marrying another
woman, if any woman will have him. Are there any
children living, the issue of your marriage ?
The applicant—None, sir. My sister had two children
by him, one is nearly eight and the other in its tenth year.
Mr. Woolrych—Your husband must keep them whether
.he gets married or not. It is a very hard case, but I can-
not help you. have yoil been to the parochial authorities
of Mile-end, Old-town, for relief ?

Cross-examined—He could not say whether the prisoner
had boots or slippers when the occurrence took place.
The prisoner did not say ho was using the knife in cutting
the heels of his boots.

The applicant—Yes, sir, and it was refused. I was told
to send my husband.

Mr. Woolrych directed one of the summoning officers of
the court to take the woman to the relieving officer of the
Hamlet of Mile-end, Old-town, and request that she should
be relieved. He had no doubt that, under the peculiar
circumstances of the case, the presence of the husband
would be dispensed with. He wits afraid the guardians
could not compel the heartless fellow to support his afflicted
wife,

Mr. Marshall, tho house surgeon of Middlesex Hospital,
said the death of the deccasQd arose from the wound in the
abdomen. The knife produced would inflict such a wound
as that he found on the body of Becket.

The deposition of Becket, taken previous to his death,
having been read, the case for the prosecution closed.
Mr. Ribton submitted there was no evidence to support
the charge of wilful murder.
Baron Channell was of a contrary opinion.

Mr. Ribton having addressed the juty for the prisoner,

The learned Judge summed up the evidence.
Tho jury, after a protracted absence, returned into court
at half-past four with a verdict of manslaughter.
The learned Judge then sentenced the prisoner to 20
years' penal servitude.

NEW COURT.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Kerr.)
FELONIOUSLY WOUNDING.

Daniel Caluar was charged with wounding Wm. Chit-
took, with intent to do him grevious bodily harm. He
was found guilty, and sentenced to six months' imprison-
ment.