The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-18 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS-July 17.

The July adjourned quarter sessions of the peace for the
county of Middlesex commenced yesterday at the Sessions
House, Clerkonwell-green, before Mr. Bodkin, assistant-
judge, and a bench of magistrates. The calendar contains

the names of 98 prisoners committed for trial, besides bai
cases. There are 87 indicted for felony, and 11 for mis-
demeanour.

The grand jury having been sworn, the Assistant-Judge
briefly addressed them, and they retired.
Elizabeth Dixon, who was convicted the sessions before
_ _ .

last of keeping a disorderly house in the parish of St.
George, Hanover-square, was brought up for judgment.
This case excited a good deal of interest, it having been
submitted after the conviction to the Home Secretary for
investigation, as the counsel who appeared for Mrs. Dixon
submitted that she was a highly respectable woman, and
that the case had been made out against her by wilful and
corrupt perjury.
Mr. Ribton, who appeared for the defendant, said that
his lordship was well aware of the facts of the case, and he
should be able to call Colonel White, Colonel Churchill,
and Colonel Little, which would be a complete answer to
the case. This case afforded an illustration of the injus-
tice, to a remarkable extent, of the manner in which such
cases were got up ; for, had there been an examination be-
fore a magistrate, and had they had an opportunity of in-
quiring into the character of the witnesses, a complete
answer would at once have been made to the case for the
prosecution. One witness, of the name of Watson, was
called for the prosecution, but there was a gentleman from
the Home-office who was in attendance, who would prove
that all she had formerly stated was untrue.
Mr. Metcalfe said the witness Watson had been attacked
in every possible manner since she gave her evidence.
Mr. Ribton said she was now under a charge of perjury,
and he was is possession of documents to prove that all
she had formerly stated was entirely false.
The Assistant-Judge said that it was altogether a very
remarkable case, and he should only order her to enter into
her own rocognizances in the sum of £5O to come up for
judgment when called upon.
James Parker, ElizabethiParker, Nelly Williams, other-
wise Irish Nelly, otherwise Ellen Prendergast, and Henry
Edwards, were also brought up for judgment, charged with
a similar offence.

The Assistant-Judge sentenced James Parker, Ellen
Prendergast, and Henry Edwards to be imprisoned and
kept to hard labour for three months. The other prisoners
were discharged.

Mr. W. Doveton Smyth, of Rochester-terrace, was the
solicitor in these cases for the defence.

Joseph Boys, 50, draper, and a very respectable looking
man, was indicted for stealing half-a-crown, the money of
William Wightman, his master. He pleaded guilty to the
indictment.

The prosecutor, in answer to questions from the Assist-
ant-Judge, said the prisoner had been in his service for up-.
vvards of 26 years, but having of late missed money he
marked somo and put it into the till. Shortly afterwards,
on going to it, half-a-crown was missed, which was found
upon the prisoner. -

The Assistant-Judge sentenced him to be imprisoned and
kept to hard labour for 12 months.

James Tidier, 22, was indicted for maliciously damaging
a pane of plate glass, value .£5 55., the property of John
Whiskard. He pleaded guilty.

The prisoner went up to the shop in the Strand and de-
liberately smashed tho window, the object evidently being
to steal the articles of jewellery and silver that were close
behind the glass.

The Assistant-Judge sentenced him to be imprisoned
and kept to hard labour for six months.

Our Victorian neighbours are going into the
culture and manufacture of tobacco with great energy, and
we understand with considerable success. Tobacco is
added to their local industries, and promises to become an
important branch of colonial produce.—South Australian
Register.