The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-27 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

A CHARITABLE DISPOSITION CARRIED TOO FAR.—
Robert Samkies, a cab proprietor and driver, was placed
at the bar, charged with stealing a live tame duck.
Stephen Thompson, 329 V, said he was on duty at three
o'clock that morning in the King's-road, when he saw the
prisoner, who was driving a cab, come down from his seat,
pick up the duck, which was by the roadside, and put it in
his cab. Withess told a constable on duty at the police-
station, and prisoner was followed and taken into custody.
Prisoner—A dog was worrying and tormenting the duck
so I took it up avid put it into my boot to prevent its being
hurt.

Mr. Arnold—You took the duck out of pure charity then.
Cabman—Yes, your worship.
Mr. Arnold—Was there any dog there, witness ?

Policeman—Yes, there was a pointer dog there smelling
about.

Mr. Arnold—Was it following or worrying the duck ?
Policeman—lt was not worrying the duck, but the duck
was afraid, and was running away from it.
Prisoner—So I thought it was best to put it into my
boot.
Enoch Pulford, 316 E, said that the former witness told
him he had seen the prisoner put the duck into his cab, and
he followed him and told him he understood he had got a
duck in his cab. Prisoner replied that he had not, that the
duck was gone over the fence, and that if witness went
there he would find it. Witness examined the cab, and
finding the duck under the seat, took prisoner in charge.

The owner of the duck having identified it,
Mr. Arnold said—Prisoner, I was disposed at first to
pay some regard to your statement that you had taken up
the duck to prevent its being worried by the dog ; but you
seem to have carried your charity too far, and, when asked
by the constable, denied that you had got the duck, and
said it was gone over a fence.
Prisoner—Yes, I did; and I am sorry far it.
Mr. Arnold—You are remanded till Tuesday.

RAILTVAY INTELLIGENCE.

LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN.

The report of the directors to the shareholders for special
general meeting, to be held on July 3, states that tbey
have deemed it necessary to call their proprietors together,
to consult with them on the question of the proposed pur-
chase of the railway between Petersfield and Midhurst.
This line was authorised by Parliament in 1860. It is
104 miles in length, starting from the Petersfield station
on the London and South Western (Portsmouth) line, and
running eastward to ktidhurst, where it unites with the
Mid-Sussex lines, which are in the hands of the London,
Brighton, and South Coast Company. The capital autho-
rised by the Act of Incorporation, 23 and 14 Vic., cap. 173,
is £lOO,OOO. The shares of the Petersfield Railway Com-
pany are to be transferred into the names of parties nomi-
nated by the directors of this company ; and the directors
of the Petersfield Company will concur in the appointment
of a board of directors, nominated by the South-Western
Board. The sum of £18,040 being paid for the shares
aheady issued and for the works executed under the certi-
ficate of this company's engineer, together with £B,OOO to
the directors of the Petersfield Railway, in discharge of
the liabilities of that company, other than those under the
contracts for the construction of the line—the last-men-
tioned sum being paid, the one half at the same time as the
£19,040 before-mentioned, and the other half on the ap-
proval of the Board of Trade on the completion of the
works.
The works have already been commenced, and the con-

tractors are prepared to push them on with rapidity, and to
complete them in a year's time. The line is to be con-
structed for a single lino of railway, but with land and
masonry for a double line should it hereafter be found neces-
sary. The contract for the whole of the works, land, &c.
(stations alone excepted), has been taken on terms which
will make the total cost to this company (including the
above-mentioned sums of £18,040 and £8,000) £106,000.

BOMBAY, BARODA, AND CENTRAL INDIA.
The report of the directors of this company, to be held on
the 30th June, states that at the commencement of the half-
year there were 1091 miles open to public traffic, at the close
of the half-year 132/ miles—the average during the half-
year being 1242 miles.
The total receipts for the half-year were R 5.237,001 Ha.;
the expenditure amounted to R 5.119,860 15a. 5p,, leaving
an available balance of R 5.117,140 1 la. 7p.

A despatch has been received at Cherbourg, an-
nouncing the approaching arrival in that port of Said
Pasha, Viceroy of Jgypt.