The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-11 00:00:00

THE SUN LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 11, 1861

prosecutors believed that Balch had wilfully
assisted Williams in carrying out these frauds,
Mr. Barrow applied to this Court for
warrants, and the prisoners were appre-
hended by Holmes, 252 M, a detective officer, on
Saturday evening, the 24th ult. They were, how-
ever, bailed out on the Wednesday following. The
bankrupt's ledgers and other account books were
produced, from which it was discovered that Mr.
Williams had on many occasions sold goods for a
considerably larger amount than he had accounted
for to the consigners, although it was the rule of
the trade to account for the whole less discount and
charges. The entries of those fraudulent sales were
in the handwriting of Mr. Williams and the other
defendant, who was his clerk. The magistrate,
however, was of opinion that as the latter was only
a clerk to Mr. Williams the charge of conspiracy
could not be sustained ; but he further remanded
them to see whether any more specific charge could
be brought forward. _ _ .

As soon as the defendants surrendered to their
bail,
Mr. Burcham said that since the last examination
he had carefully considered all the facts in the case,
and he was still of opinion that there was not suffi-
cient evidence to prove a charge of conspiracy.
Whether Williams had been guilty of any fraudu-
lent dealings was another matter.
Mr. Giffard submitted to his worship that since
the last examination the assignees had discovered
such a vast number of frauds that it was impossible
for Balch to be ignorant of them. Both defendants'
handwriting appeared in those cases ; therefore he
thought there was sufficient prima facie evidence of
conspiracy.
Mr. Burcham observed that Balch was only a
clerk to the other defendant ; and although those
entries were partially in his handwriting, he might
not be cognisant of the frauds. He was of opinion
that there was not sufficient evidence to prove the
charge of conspiracy, therefore he should discharge
the prisoners.
Mr. Giffard said that as such was his worship's
opinion, without meaning any offence, he should
call on his worship to bind over the prosecutor and
witnesses in recognisances to appear at the next
sessions of the Central Criminal Court, and prefer
a bill, according to the powers 'vested in him by the
Act of Parliament 22 and 23 Vic., cap. 17.
Mr. Burcham said if the prosecutors wished to
adopt that course, all he had to do was to bind those
persons over in recognisances. As far as the pri-
soners were concerned, they were discharged from
custody.
LADY PICKPOCKETS AT AN OMNIBUS STATION.
—Elizabeth Morris and Jane French, fashionably
dressed females, were charged with stealing a purse,
containing £2 4s. 9d., and a franc, from the person
of Mrs. Emily Ann Longthorne, while in the act of
getting into an omnibus at the station near the
Alfred's Head public-house, Newington-causeway.
The prosecutrix said that on Sunday evening she
had been on a visit to a relation at Kennington, and
about ten o'clock at night she was about to get into
an omnibus at the Alfred's Head station when the
prisoner Morris stepped in front of her, and pushed
her rather rudely. There was a crowd waiting for
omnibuses, and witness was about to step on one
side,when shefelt herpursego from her dress pocket.
She instantly put her hand down, and missing it, she
turned round and accused Morris, who was convers-
ing with the other prisoner. She indignantly
denied the charge, but on a policeman approaching
she dropped the purse, and they were both taken
into custody.
Mr. Burcham asked her if she had seen the pri-
soners speak together prior to her being robbed ?
She replied in the negative, but she had no doubt
of their being connected, from their manner after-
wards.
In cross-examination by Mr. Edwin, witness said
that at the time there were about 20 persons trying
to get into the omnibus, but Morris was the only
person near the side where her purse was. Other
persons might have taken the purse out, but she
distinctly saw it fall at her feet. When the police
officer approached, witness at first thought her
watch was gone as well, but fortunately that was
safe.
Police constable Evans, 42 M, said he was on
duty near the Alfred's Head wine-vaults, at ten
o'clock on Sunday night, when he saw a crowd col-
lected round an omnibus, and at the same time he
heard the proseeutrix call out that she had been.
robbed of her purse, and she pointed out the pri-
soner Morris, who was conversing with the other.
He seized hold of them both directly, when the purse
and contents fell on the ground.

Mr. Edwin contended that there was not suffi-
cient evidence to charge his clients with robbery.
They were there with other persons in a crowd
waiting to get into an omnibus, when the prosecu-
trix said she had been robbed, and her purse fell on
the ground. She then turned round and gave the
prisoners into custody. They instructed him to say
that they knew nothing whatever of the purse.
Mr. Burcham asked if they were known as asso-
ciates.

Scannell, a detective officer employed at the
South-Eastern Railway, said he had known Morris
as a companion of thieves for a long time, but he
did not know the other.

Evans informed his worship that he had known
both as associates for several months.

Mr. Burcham was about to commit them for trial,
when

Mr. Edwin said that they pleaded Guilty, and
wished his worship to dispose of them at once.
Mr. Burcham said he had no doubt as to their
avocation, and he was determined to punish all such
thieves with the utmost severity of the law. He,
therefore, sentenced each of them to six months'
hard labour in the House of Correction.

WORSHIP-STREET.—DESPERATE ATTEMPT
AT SELF-DESTRUCTION.—Sarah Emery, a neatly-
dressed young woman, was charged before Mr.
Cooke with attempting to commit suicide by cut-
ting her throat.
The prisoner ivas allowed to be seated during
the examination, and a singularly wild appearance
of the eyes denoted the necessity of a strict w'atch
being kept over her, although she Vas manifestly
weak from loss of blood, it being feared that she
would attempt to tear from her throat the surgical
bandages, a constable on each side, consequently,
held her, and Mr. Safford, the clerk, having some-
what soothed, by repeated assurances that not any
one would harm her, the following evidence was
taken :

.Tepps—l am a married woman, and live
at 1, Caroline-cottages, Caroline-street, Upper Clap-
ton. The prisoner is my sister. She has been in
service, but is not now, and lives with me. On Satur-
day night last she came home, and I observed that
her manner was very strange. On the following
day I had an interview with her late mistress, who
told me she had been obliged to part with her from
peculiarities of conduct that were alarming. Last
night (Monday) prisoner, while I was in bed, awoke
me by walking rapidly about the room. I begged
her to be composed and lie down: Soon afterwards
I heard a heavy fall, and before I could ascertain
the cause she placed one hand upon the bed, at the
same time saying faintly, "Oh, Eliza, I have cut
my throat." My husband instantly fetched Mr.
Thorpe, a medical gentleman, who was quickly in
attendance, and succeeded in bandaging the wound,
and my sister was afterwards taken into custody.
[Witness was very painfully affected while giving
this testimony, and observed, " I questioned her as
to the motive for so wicked an attempt upon her
life, but could get no answer. She has an excellent
character."]
Mr. Cook—With what was the injury inflicted P
Witness—A razor, sir, belonging to my husband,
which had been removed from a place where he had
hidden it.

Mr. Cooke considered at this point that sufficient
evidence had been taken to remand the prisoner,
and that a prolonged investigation in her present
state would be dangerous.
She was, consequently, removed to the Hackney
workhouse with great care.

WANDSWORTH.—SINGULAR CASE OF CON-
TRADICTORY EVIDENCE.—Mary Lacy, a widow, re-
siding in Garret-lane, Wandsworth, who appeared
lame, and was assisted into court by her friends,
was summoned before Mr. Ingbam for unlawfully
leaving a carriage on the South-Western Railway
while the train was in motion.

Mr. Crombie appeared on behalf of the company,
and Mr. Corsellis, the solicitor of Wandsworth, for
the defendant.

Some interest was attached to the case in conse-
quence of it being alleged that the defendant had
received severe injuries to her leg through the
negligence of the company's servants. The
sum-
mons has stood adjourned for some time, in the
first instance on account of the defendant not being
able to attend.
Mr, W. K. Parker, surgeon, of Besborough-street,
Pimlico, stated that about half-past 7 o'clock on the
night of the 4th of February last he was standing
on the platform of the Wandsworth station, wait-
ing for the train to London. As the train entered
the station he selected the carriage by which he
proposed riding, and he made for the door.
At that moment the door opened, and a female
with a child in her arms threw herself forward
and screamed. Ho ran to her and supported her
down to the platform. She did not fall to the ground
as he saved her from doing so. He saw her safely
seated on a form, and he then entered the carriage
and proceeded by the train. Th?, witness also
stated that the train had not stopped when the
female opened the door of the carriage and threw
herself forward. He was unable t) recognise the
female.
Two other witnesses were examined, and they