The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-18 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE,—This Dap•

MARLBOROaIII-STREET.

SELLING OBSCENE PHOTOGRAPHS.—James Brewer, of 30,
Castle-street, St. Martin's, bookseller, was brought before
Mr. Knox on a warrant, charged with unlawfully and
scandalously uttering obscene photographs.
Mr. Poland, instructed by Mr. Ellis, of the firm of Ellis
and Ellis, Spring-gardens, prosecuted on the part of the
Commissioners of Police, Mr. Hannant, the superintendent
of the C Division, being also in attendance.
Mr. Poland, in opening the case, said it was a case of
selling prints of a disgraceful character. A quantity of
prints had been seized at the prisoner's place on a former
occasion. The Commissioners of Police thought this a case
where the prisoner ought to be proseouted at the Sessions.
James Avis Tucker, 56, Rupert-street, Haymarket,
proved going to the prisoner's shop, 30, Castle-street, at
the request of the police, being accompanied by Police-con-
stable Butcher. He saw the prisoner, and asked to see
some prints. The prisoner showed him some, and he said
they were not the sort he wanted. The prisoner said, "I
suppose you want something broad," and he said he did.
The prisoner then took him into his parlour, and asked
him if he was from the country. He said he was. The
prisoner then said, "Can you show me anything from the
country, or a railway ticket ?" He told him ho could not.
After some further conversation the prisoner took him to
another room, and from a drawer took a number of inde-
cent cartes de visite, stereoscopic slides, some books, and
porcelain transparencies some of them coloured, and
some of them plain. He purchased the one produced for
2s. 6d. All he saw were similar to the one produced, and
grossly indecent. He then left the shop, and handed the
print to Police-constable Butcher, who was outside. On
the same evening he went to the shop with a person named
Hunt, and saw him purchase a stereoscopic slide—the one
produced—for which he paid ss.
A young man named Hunt proved going with the last
witness to the shop of the prisoner and purchasing a
stereoscopic slide produced.; The prisoner showed him
several other slides and prints, all grossly indecent. He
paid ss. for the slide he purchased, and loft with the last
witness, and gave the slide up to Butcher, who was wait-
ing outside, and who had searched them both before going
into the shop.

Police-constable Charles Butcher, 137 C, said that on the
21st of December he went with Tucker to the shop of the
prisoner, having previously searched him to see that he
had nothing about him. He (Butcher) was in plain clothes
at the time. On Tucker coming out of the shop he gave
him the slide produced. He went again the same evening
with Hunt, and also searched him, and then gave him 10s.
to purchase a slide. On his coming out he gave him
(Butcher) the slide produced. The following day he went
with Inspector Draper and seized above one hundred slides,
books, prints, and a pipe-bowl, all of the grossest kind.
The name of " Megret and Co." was over the door. In-
spector Draper took the prisoner into custody last night.
Had always noticed the prisoner at the shop.
In answer to Mr. Knox, the constable said the articles
seized had been produced.
Inspector George Diaper said that on the 22d December
he made a seizure at 30, Castle-street, the prisoner then being
present. The articles, or a greater portion of them, were
in a drawer in the back-room—stereoscopic slides, books,
photographs, &c. He took the prisoner into custody last
night at the same place. On entering the shop the prisoner
said, " What, here again ?" and said he was a servant ; and
on his asking who was the master, he said there were
several of them, Megret being one of them. He then asked
the prisoner where Megret lived, and he said he did not
know, but that he came there sometimes. He then took
him into custody.

The prisoner said he had no questions to ask.
The evidence having been read over, Mr. Knox asked
the prisoner whether ho wished to say anything ? He was
not bound to say anything, but he would be indicted for
the misdemeanour and for having indecent prints in his
possession. _ _

The prisoner said he had nothing to say.
Committed for trial.

WESTMINSTER.

Susincious POSSESSIONS.—AIfred Warwick, a young
man, was charged with loitering about the streets with
intent to commit robbery.

Police-constable Williams, 80 B, said that at a little after
12 last night he was in plain clothes, when he saw the
prisoner loitering about Pimlico. He first saw him in
Stanley-street, and observed him put his head over dif-
ferent area railings and look down. He next went into
Cambridge-street, and then into Gloucester-street, where
he still made an examination of different areas, and on
seeing that he was watched, took to his heels. Witness
followed, and having overtaken him, inquired who he was
and where he was going to, and finding that he prevari-
cated in his answers, took him to the station house, where
he was locked up on suspicion of intending to commit
felony.
Mr. Selfe—Did he give you any address ?
Witness—No. I asked him several times, but I could
got no Bel tialaotory reply. -

Mr. Selfo—What did you find upon him—anything that
confirmed your suspicions?
Witness—Yes. On searching him, all I found was a
gimlet and a whistle.
Prisoner—There's no harm in them.
Mr. Selfe—l dare say not. They're very useful things
in their way. Where were you going to ?
Prisoner—Newton-street, Holborn, or Clare-market.
Other questions were asked, but the answers were most
unsatisfactory.

Prisoner—l assure you I did not mean any harm.

Mr. Selfe—A gimlet and a whistle are suspicious pos-
sessions. You are remanded till Friday next.

THAMES.

INGENIOUS SmtraGLG.--,Tohn Gibbs, a seaman belong-
ing to the steamship Lucerne, was brought before Mr.
Partridge charged with smuggling 201- lbs. of foreign
manufactured tobacco, by which he had incurred a penalty
of £lOO.

Yesterday a Custom-house officer and his assistants went
on board the Lucerne and overhauled her, and in answer
to the usual inquiry all hands said that they had no to-
bacco or spirits in their possession, and did not know of
any being on board. A rigid search was made by the
officers and a water-closet was removed. On raising the
flooring under the water-closet 171bs. of Cavendish tobacco
was discovered. The men were questioned, and prisoner
said the tobacco was his, and he had secreted it in the
place where it was found. He was asked how he came to
conceal it, to which he replied I mean't to take it on shore
whenever I had the opportunity. He also said that he
bought 191bs of tobacco at Gibraltar for a smuggling venture.
He was taken into the cabin and overhauled by a revenue
officer, who found 3flb. of tobacco concealed about his per-
son. It was fastened to his body, to his legs, and to his
arms; and he smelt, said the officer, like a tobacco ware-
house. Tho prisoner implored of the officer to be merci-
ful to him on account of his family.
The tobacco was produced, and stated to be real Caven-
dish of approved quality.
Mr. Partridge said ho had 110 power to mitigate tho
penalty sought for the Crown, and he must fine the pri-
soner £lOO. In default of payment,
ho sentenced the de-
fendant to six months' imprisonment.
The prisoner—As well ask me to pay the national debt
as £lOO,