The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-21 00:00:00

rim SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVEMNO, APRIL 21, 186 ac

CAPTURE OF A GANG OF COCK
FIGHTERS.

Extraordinary Scene.

At the Marlborough-street Police-court this morning the
following persons were brought before Mr. Knox, charged
by Mr. Colam, Secretary of the Royal -Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty to Animals, as follows :—Samuel
Crowther, of 12, Porchester-place, groom, for keeping,
using, and acting in the management of a place at the
Queen's Head publichouse, Queen's-head-passage, Great
Windmill-street, for the purpose of fighting cocks ; Wm.
Shaw, the landlord of the house, for permitting and suf-
fering the place to be used for the purpose of fighting
cocks ; Wm. Gilliver, Polesworth, Warwickshire, licensed
victualler ; John Brough, Abbey House, Cumberland,
farmer ; Wm. Kent, No. 1, Dennett's-road, Peckham,
greengrocer, for acting in the management and using
the place ; Thomas Davis, No. 19, Shepperton-street,
Islington, dog fancier; Henry Booth, of Ruyton-
street, Oldham, weaver, for causing and procuring to be
cruelly ill-treated and tortured, certain cocks ; Captain
Augustus Berkeley, Albion Hotel, Cockspur-street ; Col.
Henry Artnitage, 15, St. George-road, Eccleston-square ;
Francis Gomm, 3, Salisbury-place, Victoria-park, soda
water manufacturer; John Brook, 'l3l, George-road, Ber-
mondsey, no occupation; Richard Johnson, 40, English-
street, Carlisle, licensed victualler; Charles Everard,
Charles-street, St. Ann's, licensed victualler; Philip Rees,
31, Hanway-street, Oxford -street, jeweller; Andrew Wat-
son, 17, Camden-road, Camden-town, no occupation; Geo.
Morgan, 7, North Wharf-road, Paddington, clerk; Henry
Skeene, Sadbroke Villa, Southampton, no occupation ;
Robert Thomas Viner, Tunbridge, no occupation; Thomas
Plumber, Rugby ; Edward Everet, 160, New Cross-road,
butcher; Henry Gomm, 5, Rutt's-cottages, Queen's-road,
Peckham; James Thornton, West Dulwich; Chas. Burdock,
Rogate, Sussex, carpenter; Thomas Buckingham, 43,
Castle-street, Oxford-street ; John Lees, Horseleyfields,
Wolverhampton, nail-maker; John Smith, St. John's,
Worcester, merchant; Thos. Green, Stafford-street, Dudley;
John Eaton, High-street, Brentford, timnan ; Alexander
Barclay, of 251, Oxford-street, bootmaker ; Wm. Paget,
Clougher, victualler; William Bishop; 251, Oxford-street;
John Allen, Strand-on-the-Green, Kew ; for aiding, en-
couraging, and assisting in the fighting of certain cocks.
A scene like that which the court presented has not been
witnessed for years, every part including the approaches
being densely crowded.
Mr. Metcalfe and Mr. Besley appeared for the prosecu-
tion, instructed by Mr. Ricketts, of Frederick-street, Gray's
Inn-road ; and Mr. Edward Lewis; of Great Marlborough-
street, appeared for the prisoners.
Mr. Colam, the secretary of the Royal Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, by which society the
prosecution was instituted, was in attendance.
A box of silver spurs, scissors, files, and saw, weights
and scales, and a large number of live and dead cocks were
produced by Mr. Love and Inspector Temperley.
To enable the prisoners to be placed before the magis-
trate, the dock had to be removed and forms substituted,
and there was such a scene of excitement when the public
were admitted that the magistrate had to threaten to leave
the court if silence was not obtained.
Mr. Metcalfe, in opening the case, said he was instructed
on behalf of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals to prosecute the prisoners, some for using the
house for cock-fighting, and others for encouraging it. By
the 12th and 13th Vict., chap. 2, sec. 3, anyperson keeping
a house and using it for the purpose was liable to a fine of
£5, and any person encouraging or assisting in cock-
fighting was liable to a fine of £5.
Mr. William Love said—l am the chief officer of the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Yes-
terday afternoon I went to the Queen's Head public-house,
in Great Windmill-street. It was kept by defendant Shaw,
better known as "Jemmy Shaw." While I was standing
at the bar I heard a loud shuffling of feet.
Mr. Knox—From where did it seem to proceed ?
Witness—From a room above. While I was there I
heard cocks crowing. The defendant Shaw came down
stairs. There was a curtain :hanging up in the passage,
which concealed the staircase. I had sent for Shaw to
come down. When he appeared I asked him if Captain
Robinson was above, and he said he did not know, but he
would see. He went up stairs, and in a few moments
afterwards he came down with another well-dressed gentle-
man—the defendant Smith. I believe that gentleman to
be a merchant in Worcestershire. I asked if Captain
Robinson was up stairs, and he said he did not know him.
I then asked if Captain Joff was there. He said he had
just left him ; and I then asked how they were getting o
at the cock-fighting ? He replied, " Oh, all right, we've
been at it some time." I said I should just like to go up
stairs and see a round or two. He said, "All right, come
up." We went through the bar, and another person fol-
lowed us. He is not amongst the defendants. At that
time we were close to the curtain concealing the staircase.
Shaw said before we went up stairs, "I suppose it's all
square ? "

Mr. Knox—Who did he say that to ?
Witness—Smith ; and he added, " because I've got in a
d- mess for cockfighting at Chester." We afterwards
all went upstairs. Smith presented himself at the door,
and the four of us passed into tho room. Crowther then
came up to me and said, "Now, sir, your fee." I replied,
" What fee ?" He said, " The admission fee." I asked,
" What is it." He said, " You must pay the same as all
the rest have done." I said, "What's , that ?" He
replied, " Half a sovereign." I said, " I could not
pay that, as it was an extortion." He replied, " Well, as
you were not here at the beginning, we'll charge you less :
we'll charge you half-a-crown." I paid that amount, as
did the other person.
Mr. Besley—Was anything said about the "regular'
admission fee ?
Witness—Yes ; I am sure he used the word "regular."
Mr. Besley—He spoke in a loud voice ?
Witness—Yes ; it appeared as if it was done to attract
attention to us as strangers. When we went into the room
there was actually no cock-fighting going on. The room
was about 10 yards long and five across. There was a pit
in the middle of the place, formed of four planks placed at

right angles, about four yards square. In the middle of
that there was a carpet or drugget laid down, and on which
a quantity of feathers was lying.
Mr. Knox—l don't think we need go into more details ;
let us come to the actual offence, the charge of cock-
fighting.
Mr. Besley—Very well.
Witness then proceeded—The defendant, Captain Ber-
keley, was sitting at the head of the pit in a large chair,
as referee. Davis and Booth then came into the room
and entered the pit. They were followed by Kent and
Gilliver, each of whom carried a bag, in which was a
live cock. The defendant Brough followed with weights
and scales. They all went into the pit. Booth took
the cock held by Gilliver, and Davis took the
other. As the cocks were held by Booth, a cap or bag was
placed over them by Gilliver and Kent, and then they were
each placed in the scales, and weighed by defendant
Brough. After they were weighed, the defendants
Brough, Gilliver, and Kent left the pit, and Booth and
Davis held the cocks. They were artificial spurs, fitted to
the legs of each of the cocks—similar to those produced.
The tails, wings, and necks of the birds were closely
shaved down. For a minute or two the cocks were thrust

together and pecked each other fiercely in the face and
head, and once or twice there was a difficulty in
separating them. The operation was called "handling
the cooks," and lasted some two or three minutes. The
birds were then put down on the carpet, and fought for
some minutes, using the artificial spurs. During the
round I saw feathers flying from the cocks, and blood
coming from their backs. One fell on its side, and after-
wards both were picked up by Booth and Davis, and, hav-
ing been stroked down the back, they were put down for
another round. Both birds were bleeding, and one ap-
peared as if its wing was broken. The birds were put to
fighting for some time after this. Blood was flowing
from the thigh of one—the wound having been
caused by the artificial spur of the other. One of the
cocks while fighting fell down on its side. Davis then
counted 40, and the cock not thing, it was picked up,
when Captain Berkeley and some of the people left the
room and went into the one adjoining, where there were
some live cocks, and in a short time the parties returned
with two other birds, when the weighing and fighting was
repeated; at the end of which Captain Berkeley again left
the room, •and returned as in the former instance.
There were three fights that I saw. The birds
were all bleeding. All the defendants called out and
shouted while the fight was going on. Some said "Well
done, Davis," "Bravo, Booth," "50 to lon Davis." The
cocks were called by the names of the parties attending
them. Noticed that Viner, Plummer, and Smith entered
the pit occasionally, and took the cocks from the "handlers,"
and weighed them in their hands and whispered some-
thing to Booth and Davis. They afterwards whispered to
Capt. Berkeley. I saw money circulate in the room, and
papers similar to the one I prochice were used.

Mr. Knox—Where did you get this from ?
Witness---I picked it up in the room.
Mr. Besley—When did the police make their appearance ?
Witness—After the third fight, and then there was a
general consternation. All appeared to be desirous to
escape.

Mr. Besley—Did you go into the room in which you saw
the men go with the injured cocks ?
Witness—Yes. I found 22 cocks, a box of spurs, weights
and scales, and the bodies of four dead cocks. There were
files, saws and other instruments for removing the natural
spurs of the birds.

Watson, one of the defendants, denied that he was in the
room at all.

Inspector Temperley, of the Royal Society for the Pro-
tection of Cruelty to Animals, said—l entered the house in
company with Inspector Walker—

Mr. Metcalfe—Did you see the defendant Watson in the
-oom ?

Witness—Yes, I'm certain he was in the room when the
fighting was going on. He was rather disinclined to leave,
and I had to assist police constable 215 C iti removing
him from the room.

Watson then admitted that he was present.
-Mr. Knox asked the other defendants whether they
denied being present at the fighting.
No answer being returned,
Mr. Lewis, in addressing the bench for the defendants

said he could not, after the evidence that had been ad-
duced, attempt to deny that they were not all present. He
was not going to occupy the time of the court in uphold-
ing cock-fighting, but when it was known that but a few
years ago cock-fighting was patronised by the highest per-
sonages in the land, it was not astonishing that oven now,
although an act of Parliament had been passed for its sup-
pression, many persons yet had a taste for it. There
were, however, two classes among the defendants ; those
actually taking part in the scene—aiding, assisting, and
encouraging, as it was called by the act, and those who
were only present as spectators, and he hoped that
some difference in the amount of fine to be inflipted
would be made. The house kept by the defen-
dant Shaw was a well-conducted tavern, but
it was known as a " Sporting house," and was fre-
quented by sportsmen, and some of the defendants having
only called in in the usual manner of hearing something
going on upstairs, had had the curiosity to go up and
see what it was, and thus they had been induced to
stay. With reference to Shaw, the landlord, he had
let the room for quite a different purpose—he certainly
had not' let it for a cockpit, quite the contrary ; he had let
it for what was known as a ratting match. Under all the
circumstances, he hoped that a mitigated fine would be
inflicted.

Mr. Knox said his duty was not to dwell upon the
humanity or inhumanity of cockfighting, his duty was to
administer the law as he found it laid down in the Act of
Parliament. He could not see any distinction. All were
present, and, by that means, taking part in a sport which
was prohibited by the Legislature; and, therefore, those
who were merely lookers-on were quite as guilty
as those who actually "handled" the cocks. If
gentlemen could pay ten shillings to go in to
see a cockfight they could afford to pay .£5 for infringing
an Act of Parliament. He would make no difference one
from another, therefore he would. fine each and every
one £5 each.

The decision seemed to create some surprise amongst
the defendants. However, they were taken into the ad-
joining offices, where every one of them paid the fine in-
flicted, which amounted in the gross to £l7O.
The crowd assembled in front of the court in Great
Marlborough-street was very great, but as each defendant
emerged from the court, his friends surrounded and walked
away with him ; thus in a short time the people dispersed,
and the place resumed its usual appearance.

LAW INTELLIGENCE -(This Day).

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Registrar Winslow.)
IN RE WADE.-AN ADJUTANT IN COURT.

This bankrupt was described as Arthur Robert Wil-
loughby Wade, formerly of Carrowmore House, Ballina,
in the county of Mayo, in Ireland, of no occupation ; after-
wards of Dorking, in the county of Surrey, adjutant of the
3d Administrative Battalion of Surrey Riflo Volunteers ;
afterwards a prisoner in the House of Correction.

The accounts show :—Debtor to creditors, unsecured,
£1,531; ditto secured, £37. Creditor—by property with
assets £2O ; and deficiency, £1,548. The amount of expen-
diture for the bankrupt and his family is stated to have
been £l5O per anuum.

It will be remembered that the bankrupt was sentenced
to a term of 18 months' imprisonment upon charges of
decoying young women from the metropolitan workhouses
under the pretence of getting them situations as wet nurses
in families of distinction and then maltreating them. At
the time the case created considerable excitement. The
bankrupt is entitled to some property conjointly with his
relatives,and to-day he applied to be released from custody.
His Honour granted the order of discharge, subject to
the conditions that the bankrupt should file an account of
his earnings on the 21st day of April in every year, verified
by affidavit, and should pay over to the assignee the
amount of his yearly earnings in excess of £l5O until the
debts proved under his estate are satisfied.

LORD MAYOR'S COURT.
(Before the Recorder and a Common Jury.)
TUCK v. ROBINSON.

This was an action to recover £52 12s. 3d., for printing
various prospectuses for a company entitled, "National
Tramroad Company," Mr. Lawton appearing for plaintiff,
who is a printer, of Union-court, Old Broad-street ; and
Mr. Henry James representing defendant, who has an
office in Gresham-street.

Mr. Laxton stated that a Mr. Freston called upon the
plaintiff, and requested him to print 5,000 prospectuses for
the National Tramroad Company. The offices of the
company were in Gresham-street, and plaintiff went to call
there and saw the name of defendant on the door. He saw
Mr. Robinson, who was a promoter of companies, and
that gentleman told him to do the work ordered
by Mr. Frestone and it would be paid for. Pur-
suant to this order the defendant printed a number of
prospectuses of the National Tramroad Company, with a
list of directors.' The company appeared to be a very im-
portant one, though it was not clear where its operations
were to bo carried out. What had now become of it the
learned counsel could not say ; but it was rather hard upon
a tradesman to say that he was not to be paid for his goods
because a public company had not proved a successful
speculation. Defendant had paid ..£3 into court, but that
clearly was not sufficient to meet the merits of his claim.
Mr.Laaton called his client, when Mr. James desired that
he might not be sworn, as the case might be settled.
A conference ensued, and resulted in an offer from de-
fendant to pay £35, with certain other conditions to be
determined.
Verdict for plaintiff for £35.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

THAMES.

BIGAMY AND DREADFUL ASSAULT ON A WlFE.—Archdell
Goldenburg, aged 34, a native of Moldavia, and calling
himself a traveller, was brought up on remand, charged
with assaulting his wife Matilda.

Mr. Joseph Smith,jaolicitor, conducted the prosecution.
The prisoner and his wife were people of the Jewish per-
suasion. They were married at Breslau, and three child-
ren, who wero now in a deplorable condition, were the
fruits of this union. They had lived for some time in this
country, and the prisoner had deserted his wife, married
another woman, and led a very profligate life. He did not
intend to offer evidence of the bigamy, though he believed
the fact of the prisoner having two wives living was un-
questionable. One marriage was contracted on the Conti-
nent, the other here. He would prove the assault most
indisputably.

The complainant said she had been six years the com-
plainant's wife. Her children were living with him. She
went to his dwelling No. 10, Lambeth-street, Whitechapel,
to ask him for money to purchase food. He would not
give her anything ; he said she should die, and he struck
her on the breast and on the heart. She was exhausted
with blows and lost much blood.
Several witnesses, including a Jewess called Leah, of
Galston-street, Whitechapel, with whom the wife has been
staying, confirmed her statement. They saw the prisoner
seize his wife by the hair of her head, kick her and beat
her. There were many contusions on her body. Bradley,
a police constable, who took the prisoner into custody, had
much trouble in preventing an indignant mob inflicting
summary punishment on the prisoner. It was stated by
the wife that her husband was a cruel and vindictive man,
and that he used her very badly when she lived with him.
The prisoner, in an impassioned strain, said his wife was
a bad woman. He was well off, and she ruined him. He
was now a very poor traveller. She told him to get
money and keep her like a lady—to swindle and rob, and
to buy her a silk dress.
The wife denied all that the prisoner alleged against
her, and appeared very terrified.
The prisoner called two witnesses, who were summoned
by the police at the express request of Mr. Paget, who
said, as the prisoner was a foreigner, he ought to be
assisted in preparing his defence. The witnesses saw
nothing of the transaction.

The prisoner then called a woman, who, he said, was his
real wife, and the magistrate declined hearing her. She
was not present when the affray took place in Lambeth-
street.

The magistrate said the prisoner had committed a brutal
and cowardly assault on his wife, and sentenced him to
four months' imprisonment and hard labour.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE—This day.

LONDON, April 21.—Wind this day at noon—North-
Easterly; moderato breeze and fine weather.

MUMBLES, April 19.—Wind N.—Arrived—Comrade,
from Caldeira.
CARDIFF, April 20.—Wind N.W.—Arrived—Alfred,
from Santander.
CLYDE, April 19.—Wind S.S.E.—Sailed—Anita, for
San Francisco.

PILL, April 20.—Wind N.E.—Sailed--Western Queen,
'or Prince Edward's island.
BRISTOL, April 19.—Wind N.E.—Arrived—Cresencia,
'rom Havannah.

Sir George Grey at Newcastle.

The foundation-stone of a new building for the
Newcastle Mechanics' Institute was laid on Wed-
nesday by the Right Hon. Sir George Grey, the
Home Secretary, who is at present on a visit to that
town. The occasion was one of considerable local
interest, and secured the presence of several mem-
bers of Parliament in addition to the right hon.
gentleman above named. The speeches in imme-
diate connection with the ceremony were not of
general interest ; but advantage was taken of the
visit of Sir George Grey to present an address to
him at a public meeting, held at the new Town-hall
in the evening, at which Mr. Headlam, M.P., pre-
sided.

Sir GEORGE GREY, in rising to reply to the
address, was received with loud applause. He
said—My first duty, and one which I perform
with great pleasure, is to tender my sincere
thanks to the members of the Newcastle Mecha-
nics' Institution for the kind but yet too flattering
terms in which they have spoken of me in the ad-
dress which I have just had the honour to receive.
(Cheers.) My next is to thank you for the warm and
cordial reception with which you have favoured me.
You have adverted to the origin of this society, now
41 years ago. It was established in Feb., 1824 ; and
you allude in terms of just pride to the names of
those men under whose auspices it then was formed,
and afterwards attained most distinguished eminence,
and of which Newcastle and Northumberland are
justly proud. (Applause.) To one in particular you
have referred, and you say truly that his name was
a household word upon Tyneside, which claims him
peculiarly for her own, while his reputation was co-
extensive with the whole civilised world. I feel
that it is an honour for any one to be allowed to
take a prominent part in perpetuating and extending
the influence of an institution over the infancy of
which he presided, and in which he took the deepest
interest during the whole of his distinguished career.
(Loud cheers.) It is gratifying, indeed, to know
that among its many warm friends and zealous sup-
porters was George Stephenson ; and I am sure I
only express the common wish of all who hear me
when I say we earnestly desire that the one name of
George Stephenson may be handed down to suc-
cessive generations of thousands worthy of the great
man whose fame is identified with this part of the
country, and who, amidst all his engrossing occu-
pations and his world-wide fame, never lost the deep
interest he took in this institution, because he be-
lieved it was calculated to confer inestimable bene-
fits upon the class from which he sprang, and with
which he never lost his connexion. (Loud applause.)
There is one name you have particularly alluded to
—of a nobleman not immediately connected with
this district, or belonging to the North of
England but the name of Henry Lord
Brougham can never be mentioned without
honour in connexion with Mechanics' Insti-
tutions. (Cheers.) He was one of the small
band of men, headed by Dr. Birkbeck, of Glasgow,
who forty years ago, amidst discouragement of which
we know nothing now, exerted themselves in the
most zealous, disinterested, and persevering manner
to establish Mechanics' Institutions and Mechanics'
Libraries, with the view of promoting the moral and
intellectual improvement of the great body of the
people. His name can never be mentioned, I say,
without honour in connection with these institu-
tions. We may rejoice that he has been spared to
a good old age ; and we know that that noble lord
still retains the warm interest he ever felt in all that
concerns the intellectual improvement of the people.
(Cheers.) I was reading not long ago a pamphlet
Written by Lord Brougham in the year 1824, and
entitled "Practical Observations upon Popular Ed-
ucation;" and the thought which impressed itself most
forcibly upon my mind—as I dare say it will on the
mind of every one who reads it—was the great con-
trast which there is between the time when that
paper was written and the time in which it is our
happiness to live, in all that respects popular educa-
tion. The forty years which have elapsed since
Lord Brougham wrote that paper have been years
most eventful in the history of this country. Great
and important changes have taken place, and they
are changes, I think, all of which bear upon the
elevation and improvement of the working classes
of this country—changes in which we may, there-
fore, heartily rejoice. (Cheers.) I do not, of
course, speak here of political changes. It would
be quite out of place to do so ; but I will allude
for one moment to those commercial changes in
the principles of our intercourse with foreign
nations which have been established within that
period—the removal of restrictions upon bread,
and especially upon that great article of primary
necessity—the food of the people. (Loud and
protracted cheers.) It has been of infinite
benefit to the great body of the working
classes of this country, the advantage I speak of
not only placing within their reach the means of
living, but giving them a margin which they may
apply to the instruction of themselves and the edu-
catiott of their families. It is impossible to allude
to this at the present time without for one moment
—and it shall be for a moment only—mentioning
the name of one•who will ever be connected with
this great and beneficial change, who has just been
taken from us, and for whom the nation now as a
nation mourns. (Loud applause.) Mr. Cobden
was ofittf the great instruments of effecting this
great and beneficial change which had earned for him
the gratitude of the country. He has been taken
from us amidst the universal regret whether of those
who agreed with him or of those who differed
from him in certain political opinions, because
they recoguised the earnestness of mind, the sincerity
of purpose, and the disinterestedness with which he
devoted the talents which God had given him in
promoting what he believed to be the good of his
fellow-countrymen. (Applause.) There are few who
can attain the same eminence—perhaps none—
which Mr: Cobden attained, few may establish equal
claims to the gratitude of their country ; but he has
left an example which we may all imitate, because all
men may act upon the same principles which influ-
enced him ; all may desire and endeavour in their
own sphere, and in the place which Providence has
assigned to them, to employ the talents which God has
given them in promoting the good of their fellow-
men. (Cheers.) But to return to those changes which
have taken place in the period which has elapsed
since Lord Brougham made those obsevations on
the education of the people, look at the vast in-

crease in the means of communication not only be-
tween this country and foreign nations. (Cheers.) I
have spoken of commercial intercourse, but now we
have that personal intercourse which may be car-
ried on with a facility undreamed of 40 yeaas ago, by
means of the system of railways, which is spread, like
a network, over the country, which has extended
over the whole of Europe, and which is now pervading
India and other civilised parts of the world. We have
also the electric telegraph. Why do I allude to
these things ? It is not merely a convenience or
luxury, but this great facility of moving from place
to place tends to enlarge the mind, to foster the
union of intellect, and prevent the stagnation of
ideas which was often the result of the comparative
isolation which existed when communication was
not so easy a question with the great body of the
people. We have had, as the result of these great
facilities of communication, those great exhibitions
of industrial products of our own country and other
countries, all tending to give instruction, and in-
struction of a most valuable kind ; all giving subject
for thought and reflection ; all tending to elevate
the mind, and all furnishing what I think we must

acknowledge as cause for thankfulness.

To come

more directly to matters bearing upon education, a

gieat part of that paper of Lord Brougham's con-
.

sisted of lamentations at the obstacles that beset

those who were then anxious to promote popular
education. He spoke of the great want of cheap

publications as affecting the education and instruc-
tion of the people, and the diffusion of knowledge
generally ; and he said such were the fiscal laws
so heavy was the tax on paper, that there was no

power of having cheap printed pnblications
in this country ; and the price of all
printed publications was enhanced by our then fiscal
laws, in a way which was the greatest discourage-
ment to those engaged in the work of education.
A cheap newspaper in that day was not known—it
had no existence. Now, these fiscal laws have been
repealed, these taxes are thoroughly removed ; n