The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-09 00:00:00

VE N LNG, AUGUST 9, 1862.

POLICE-THIS DAY.

BOW-STREET.
Michael Murphy, an Irishman, was brought up on re-
mand, charged with robbing Mr. Wood, greengrocer.
From the evidence it appeared the prisoner was standing
among the crowd around Morris's stand, in Covent-garden
Market, when he was observed by Alderman, one of the
officers, to place his hand in the pocket of Mr. Wood, who
was making purchases in that part of the market.
Mr. Wood, however, was not in attendance this morn-
ing, and the magistrate thought he could not dispose of the
case in his absence.

Prisoner—Your worship, the reason he's not here is that
he's lost nothing.

Alderman—lie told me, your worship, that he had lost
some copper money from his pocket.
Prisoner—Hear him, your worship ; the lying scoundrel,
why he took the halfpence out of his own pocket and threw
them on the ground, and then collared me and said I stole
'em, the dirty scut. (Laughter.)
Alderman—l can produce three or four witnesses who
saw him commit the robbery.
Prisoner—Can you ; then, why don't you ? The only
thing you can do is lying, and that you're out and out at.
(Laughter.) Why, 3 e're honour, he never speaks the truth
at all. Mr. Wood didn't loose a copper. Why, the man
who was selling the goods can tell you that, as he heard
what Mr. Wood said, if you'll just have the kindness to go
round and sce hint after you've done your work. (Laughter.)
Mr. Henry—l shall remand you until Mr. Wood is pre-
sent. lam told he'll be hero on Monday.
Prisoner—That's right, your honour. He'll tell you the
truth. That lying varmint can't do it. (Laughter.)
Mr. Henry (to the constable)—You have no doubt about
seeing the prisoner take the halfpence out of the raan'B
pocket.

Alderman—Not the least. Two or three ether parties
saw him do it. He made two or three attempts.
Prisoner—Oh the likes o' that now. He'll get it to
twenty before he's done. I told your worship what a dirty
blackguard he is—me rob a man. I suppose the man who
he says I robbed would know it if he was ; yet he said he
lost nothing, so how could I rob him. That's what I should
like to know. (Laughter.)

Mr. Henry—Well, we will have him here on Monday,
and then he can tell his own story.
Prisoner—That's right, your honour. You'll have the
truth then. As for that lying vagabond he never told a
word of truth in his life, and never will until his head's cut
off. (Laughter.) I wonder he did't say your worship took
the money. He's bad Enough for anything, (Laughter.)
The prisoner was then locked up.

METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.

The ordinary weekly meeting of the Metropolitan Board
of Works was held yesterday at their offices in Spring-gar-
dens—Mr. J. Wilkinson in the chair.
The cash statement showed that the cash balances in the
hands of the treasurer were, on current accounts, £116,737
6s. 10d.; on deposit accounts, £10,470; and on current ac-
counts, a%892 ss. I Id.
SOUTHERN LOW LEVEL SEWER.—BERMONDSEY BRANCH.
The board received tenders for the construction of the
Bermondsey branch of the southern low level sewer. The
amounts offered were as folio u s :—Messrs. Peto and Betts,
£97,523; Mr. W. Davis, £119,430; Messrs. John Aird and
Son, £107,000; Mr. W. Webster, £119,500; Mr. J. Dethick,
£126,077; Mr. W. Lavers, £124,000; and Mr. W. Moxon,
£99,875. Messrs. Peto and Betts' tender was accepted.
THE THAMES EMBANKMENT.
Mr. Deputy HARRISON moved—" That a committee of
the whole board be appointed to consider what steps it will
be necessary at once to take for the purpose of putting in
force the provisions of the Thames Embankment Act, 1862.
The object of his motion was to have the whole board to
consider the question, as it was too important a matter to
delegate to a sub-committee.
Mr. ROBINSON seconded the motion.
Mr. FREEMAN moved as an amendment—" That the
Thames Embankment Act be referred to a committee now
to be appointed with so much and so many of the powers
and authorities and discretions by this act given to and re-
posed in the board, as the board shall think fit or proper to
delegate to such committee; and that such committee, upon
their appointment, be authorised to put in force the powers
in the aforesaid set." He referred to the working of the
main Drainage committee, and from his experience of the
working of commit ees of the whole board, he thought this
would be the best course to pursue.
Mr. ROBINSON objected to the amendment, because it
was necessary that some inquiry should be made before the
board delegated its powers to any committee. Inquiry was
wanted, and the object of the motion was to obtain that in-
formation through a preliminary committee.
Mr. Douvrox supported the amendment, and considered
if the deputy's motion were taken nothing would be done
in the matter.

A long discussion ensued; when the board divided, and
the numbers were 17 on either side.
The CHAIRMAN declined to give a casting vote, and ex-
plained his object for so doing was that he would not decide
a question of such importance. The result of his refusal to
vote would be that the amendment would drop, bat could
be moved again by the hon. member, or any other member.
Mr. DOULTON then moved an amendment to the motion,
but

Mr. SMITH, the solicitor to the board, expressed an opi-
nion that there would be some legal difficulties in carrying
it out if agreed to.
Mr. DOULTON thereupon withdrew it.
The motion was agreed to unanimonsly.
Mr. CARPMAEL then moved "That it be an instruction
of this board to take such preliminary steps as may be con-
sidered necessary to prepare plans and specifications of the
works necessary for the construction of an embankment
on the north side of the Thames, between Blackfriars and
Westminster Bridges, and for the construction of part of
the low level sewer therein, in order that tenders may be
obtained at the earliest period for the execution of such

works."
Mr. ROBINSON seconded the motion, and it was agreed to.
After a great deal of discussion it was decided that the
engineer be instructed to prepare such a model of the
Thames between London and Westminster Bridges as may
be necessary for the information of the board.
EMBANKMENT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE THAMES.

Mr. DOULTON called the attention of the board to the
report of the Royal commission on an embankment for the
south side of the river, and moved, " That it be referred to
the main drainage committee to consider the course which
this board ought to consider with reference thereto." It
was a question whether Mr. Cowper would become the pro-
moter of that bill, and therefore the board ought to take
matter up at once, in order to get an Act of Parliament
next session.
Mr. CARPMAEL seconded the motion.
The motion was agreed to.
The routine business having been disposed of, the board
adjourned.
MARKETS-THIS DAY.