The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-17 00:00:00

TRAFFIC RET-URNS FOR THE WEEK.

Miles Opened. lieCelpl6.
Railways. ,--......._;......-___,_.,..„ ~...---.....__..,
1861. 180. 1861. 1860.
-- • ............; - ,
X X
Ballymena and Port Rush.. - - - 1 -
Belfast and N. COnnties,.. , , 136 136 1,785 1,689
Belfast and County Down.. ' 49 395 553 -
Birkd., Lane., & Ches. Juno. - - - 522
Blyth and Tyne 22 22 1,454 1.474
Bristol and Exeter 1065 125 5,303 5,694
Caledonian• 2195 £195 14,492 14,167
Cockermouth & WOrklngion 85 84 -
Cork and Bandon 29 2Q 30 370
Cork, Blackrock, & Passage 65 Ell 232 201
Cork and Youghal 26 26 2513 210
Cornwall 531 531 1,142 1,0:9
Deesitle • • - . 17 17 211 253
Dublin & BelfaSt 4-fittetion •
Dublin and Drogheda •-, 63 63 1,6:0 1,559
Dub. & WickloW(in. King-8 t)i 4?_:15 4Q,5 2,926 1,738
Dundalk and Enniskillen
Dundee and Arbroath 175 175 619 591
Dttfidee, Perth, & Aber. Jun 1 31 31 1,00 1;154
East Anglian • ~. • • ••! 68 68 927 80:1
E.Counties,Nrfk.,&E.Lnion' 499 40 23,072 23,841
Edinburgh and Glasgow
Edinburgh, Perth,& Dundee 85 15 3;11,1 3,145
worth & Clyde Junction
Furnesa
Glasgow & Soul-Western 1831 1831 7,227 7,323
Great Northern 339 330 24,401 25,8,9
Great North of Scotland
'4 t. Southn. & Westn. (Irind ) 329 329 7;144 7,0,3
Great Western 7924 7715 42,128 12,728,
Invert ells & Aberdeen June, 55 55 672 7i 0
Irish South-Easterti - • . • 29 25 155 312
Lancashire & Yorkshire 894 3954 30,002 35,287
Leominster and Kington - 14 14 142 365
Limerick and Ennis.
Limerick and Foynes 264 264 167 149
Llanelly .. 461 46 407 Jl2
London & North-lAreMern
London and Blackwall Ol 51 1,3! 5 1,48
London & South-Western
Loud. Brighton, &S. Coast 2411 2214 1:1,533 13,0)6
London, Chatham, & Dover 724 565 1,561 730
Loud., Tilbury, & Southend 45 45 859 850
Man.,Slieflield, & Lincolinth ' 2314 231 i 13,622 11,407
Manch. S.Jun.& Altrincham, 94 05 1,026 913
Maryport and Carlisle ' 28 20 1;037 1,309
Midland (incl. N.-Western) 6144 6145 36,569 30,439
Midland Gt,Westn. of Irind. 1924 1924 4,310 4,471
Monkland
Monmouthsh. Rail. & Canal 44 11 2,036 2,107
Newcastle and Carlisle 7B 78 2,981 3,065
North British (incl. Selkirk
and Galashiels)
North Devon 35 35 303 388
N-Eastern(Bedale&Leybrn); 789 764 33,415 36,476
North London 9 9 2,398 2,360
North Staffordshire 216 246 6,904 7,902
Oswestry and Newton 3O 20 441 369
R hymney 195 194 766 7 3
St. Helen's Canal & Railway 52 52 1,957 1,553
Scottish Central
Scottish North-Eastern ll5 115 4,100 3,765
Shrewsbury & Birmingham - -_- -
Shrewsbury and Chester - -
Shrewsbury & llereford
Shropshire Union 295 295 720 767
South Devon
South-Eastern 306 306 15,981 10,622
South Wales l7ll 1711 7,009 0,874
S. Yorkshire and River Dun 118 118 - -
Stockton and Darlingion
Taff Vale 5l 54 4,615 4,503
Ulster 5l 51 1,730 1,629
Ulverstone and Lancaster
Vale of Clwyd. lO 10 141 141
Vale of Neath 36 36 2,149 1,708
Waterford and Kilkenny 3l 31 330 419
Waterford and Limerick 77 77 1,449 1,199
West Cornwall 274 274 630 657
W.HartlepoolHarbr.&Rail 39 39 3,589 4,756
West Midland. - - - -
W'haven,Cleator,&Egrmnt 7 7 408 479
Whitehaven Junction l2 12 635 748
Whitehaven & Furness Jun 35 35 613 678
FOREIGN AND COLONIAL
Antwerp and Rotterdam 52 52 836 876
Austrian B2B 673 31,887 38,100
Belgian Eastern Junction 264 264 211 258
Buffalo and Lake Huron
Detroit and Milwaukie lB5 185 3,316 1,566
Dutch Rhenish lOB5 1081 2,902 '2,731
Eastorn of France 1032 1032 40,142 45,678
East Indian
Grand Trunk of Canada 970 970 - -
Great Indian Peninsula... • 4371 2974 5,539 4,977
Great Luxembourg l2B 128 3,227 2,640
Great Western of Canada 345 345 10,634 8,992
Lyons and Geneva 142 142 '3,754 4,072
Madrid, Saragossa &Alicant 301 284 13,684 13,424
Northern of Canada
Northern of France 691 623 47;452 46,763
Norwegian Trunk 44 44 346 290
Paris, Lyons, & Mediterrn 879 879 87,471 84,600
Paris and Orleans 922 922 44,343 50,090
Pernambuco 364 -- 921 -
Royal Danish 69 69 413 436
Sambre and Mcusc 6B 68 977 1,152
South Austrian -
Southern of France 777 773 23,232 21,912
Welland.... - _
West Flanders
W. and N.W. of France 750 750 32,037 33,630

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—Feb. 15.

THAMES.EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF PER-
JURY.—Mrs. Mary Coucher, the matron of the
Merchant Seamen's Orphan Asylum, Bow-road,
appeared before Mr. Selfe to answer a summons,
which assigned that she had committed wilful and
corrupt perjury in the Thames Police Court, Step-
ney, on the 17th of January last, when a poor
woman named Mary Laughton, the wife of a la-
bourer, was charged with stealing three half-
quartern loaves and 21bs. of uncooked meat, value
in all 2s.
Mr. Joseph Smith, solicitor, conducted the prose-
cution. Mr, Itibton, barrister, defended Mrs.
Coacher.
Mary Laughton was brought from the West-
minster House of Correction in charge of a turnkey
and a female warder, to give evidence. She is a
well-conducted and intelligent woman.
Mr. Joseph Smith stated the case. The present
complainant was a laundress, and had been for
some time employed at the Merchant Seamen's
Orphan Asylum, but did not sleep there. On the
16th of January, after she had finished her day's
work, she was leaving the asylum, and the laundry
woman escorted her to the gate fronting the road,
when the defendant, Mary Coucher, the matron,
asked her what she was carrying, to which she
replied her supper, which the cook had just given
her. Mrs. Coucher took from the complainant a
small parcel containing a piece of cooked meat and
a small piece of bread, wrapped up in a piece of old
newspaper, and a basin of dripping, and carried
them into the house. Mrs. Laughton returned to
the kitchen, and remained there three quarters of
an hour in expectation that Mrs. Coucher would
restore her supper. The complainant then went
home, and had scarcely reached it when a police-
man entered and took her into custody on a charge
of stealing three half-quartern loaves and 21bs. of
uncooked meat, the property of the trustees of the
asylum. in support of that charge the present
defendant, Mary Coucher, swore that she took
from the plaintiff a bundle containing (besides
the cooked meat and piece of bread) three
half-quartern loaves and 21bs. of uncooked
meat, and that the whole was wrapped up
in an old coarse apron. The matron was flatly
contradicted by a witness, whose statement was
partly confirmed by another witness. The magis-
trate, Mr. Selfe, thought it was a case of conflicting
evidence, and determined to send the case before a
jury. The complainant was allowed to go at large
until the sessions, on her husband's own recogni-
sance for her appearance. The woman was tried
before Mr. Bodkin, the Assistant-Judge, and a jury,
at the last Clerkenwell Sessions. After a long trial,
and a summing up from the Assistant-Judge which
he (Mr. Smith) heard, and which many others
heard, the complainant was found guilty, and sen-
tenced to 12 months' imprisonment and hard labour•
He, as her solicitor, and firmly and conscientiously
believing that the poor woman was innocent, and
that Mary Coucher had sworn falsely, took out a
summons before the trial. He would put the un-
fortunate woman, Mary Laughton, the mother of a
family, who had up to the 16th of January main-
tained an irreproachable character, into the witness
box, and dier evidence would be confirmed by
others. He hoped that the result would be that
the defendant would be committed for trial, not at
the Middlesex Sessions, but at the Central Crimi-
nal Court, for wilful and corrupt perjury.
Mary Laughton was sworn, and stated that as
she was leaving the asylum on the night.of the 16th
of January, the matron said, " What have you got
there ?" to which she replied, " Only my supper."
The matron- said it was a very largo supper, and
took from one hand a small parcel about the size of
the Hebrew Bible on the witness-box, and a basin
of dripping from the other hand. She saw no
loaves or uncooked meat before she was taken back
to the asylum. She was quite surprised when she
was charged with stealing the three loaves and the
piece of uncooked meat. She had been employed
for seven months at the asylum. She was not wear-
ing or carrying a coarse apron when her supper and
a basin of dripping were taken from her.
Mary Ann Feast, laundry woman at the Mer-
chant Seamen's Orphan Asylum, saw Mrs. Laugh-
ton to the gate on the night of the 16th of Jan.,
and was about parting with her when Mrs.
Coucher stopped the complainant and took a small
parcel about the size of a brick and a basin
of dripping from her, and said "This is all I want."
The complainant had no loaves, uncooked meat, or
old apron in her possession. She was quite sure
Mrs. Coucher did not take anything from the com-
plainant but the small parcel containing the cooked
meat and a piece of bread, and a basin of dripping.
Susannah Harvey, cook at the Merchant Seamen's
Orphan Asylum, said she gave the complainant a
piece of cooked meat and a small piece of bread on
the 16th of Janury, at eight o'clock in the evening.
The meat and bread were wrapped up in an old
newspaper. She saw the complainant leave the
kitclen with the parcel. She had given her a basin
of dripping in the afternoon of the same day. About
ten minutes after Mrs. Laughton had left the kit-
chen, she returned without the parcel, and said,
The matron has taken my supper from me." The
complainant remained in the kitchen about three-

quarters of an hour. Witness then advised her to
go home, and she did so.
Inspector Kerrissey, of the K division, said when
the charge was entered at the station-house and the
loaves and uncooked meat produced, Mrs. Laughton
said " Oh, you liar, hoW can you stand there and
say that you took e meat from me ; look here, Sir,
Mrs. Coucher is going to lease, and she has said
that she will be one with us before ohe went away."
Mrs. Coucher replied " What is the use of your
talking that way when you know you di'-have the
loaves and the uncooked meat in your posse..'sion."
Mrs. Keast, in answer to questions by the iflagi-
strate, said Mrs. Coucher did once complain to L'he
committee of the asylum for her using bad language'
before the children. She had heard Mrs. Coucher
say ehe wished a poor widow to have Mrs. Laugh-
ton's place and do the washing.
The depositions made at this court on the 17th of
January were put in and read by Mr. Livingston,
chief .usher. Mrs. Coucher then swore she took
three loaves and a piece of uncooked meat from the
complainant, besides the small parcel and the basin
of dripping.
Mr, Ribton cross-examined the witnesses, pointed
out discrepancies in the evidence of Mrs. Keast
given on the trial and her evidence, that day,
and said the charge of perjury was wholly
unfounded. The case ought not to be re-opened,
or the defendant committed on this charge. Wjt-
nesses were called for the defence on the trial, Mrs.
Keast was called, and Mrs. Harvey was also exa-
mined. The prisoner (Laughton) was also ably de-
fended by counsel, and the jury, after hearing both
sides, found her guilty. He could account for the
delay in giving Mrs. Laughton into custody after
she was stopped at the gate. Mr. Coucher, the
superintendent, was then attending a lecture in the
hall, and could not leave the children until it was
finished. Mrs. Coucher did not like to give Mrs.
Laughton into custody until she had consulted her
husband, and directly the lecture was finished he
was informed of what had taken place, and at once
set the pulice in motion. The defendant was a lady
of high respectability, good connection, and well
educated, and what possible motive could she have
in preferring a false charge against a poor laun-
dress. The committee of the Merchant Seamen's
Orphan Asylum had every confidence in the inte-
grity of Mrs. Coucher, and were at the expense of
defending her from this unjust charge. 'the case
differed from that of Mr. Hatch, for no witnesses
were called for the defence in that case. The
learned counsel then announced his intention to
call witnesses, and

Mr. Selfe adjourned the further hearing of the
case for a week, and Mrs. Laughton was removed
in custody, and taken back to Westminster Prison.

WANDSWORTH.—EXTRAORDINARX CASE OF
FORTUNE •TELLING.—ALLEGED CGNSPIRACY TO
POISON A HUSBAND.—SeIina Smith, a young
woman, 20 years of age, who carried an infant in
her arms, and who, it was stated, belonged to the
gipsy tribe, though not having the appearance of
one, was placed in the dock before Mr. Dayman,
charged with obtaining a dress and 2s. from a lady
named King, residing at Wimbledon, by false re-
presentations, and ls. from her servants by similar
means.
Emma Pole, cook in Mrs. King's service, stated
that, on Tuesday last, the prisoner came to the door
with mats for sale, and afterwards wanted to tell
her fortune and also her fellow-servant's. Witness
said she did not wish to have her fortune told. The
prisoner began to tell her something -which was
true, and she gave her sixpence.
Mr. Dayman—What did she tell you ?
Witness—l shall keep to myself what she told
me. She told me my fortune. I gave her is. for
telling mine and my fellow servant's.
Mr. Dayman—l must know what she said. Un-
less I hear I cannot tell whether she intended to tell
your fortune or not.
Witness—She said I was to be married to a gen-
tleman. (Laughter.) She told me several little
things, which I cannot explain. She said I had
enemies, and that I had a lucky countenance. (In-
creased laughter.)
Mr. Dayman—l suppose you thought that was
worth sixpence ?
Witness—l paid her one shilling. I did not hear
what she told my fellow-servant. The bell rang,
and I went up stairs. I had hea-rd my mistress say,
she should like to have her fortune told, and I in-
formed her that a fortune-teller was at the door.
The prisoner went into the room, and I heard her
say, "Good morning, my lady; you have a lucky
face of your own ; I have something to tell you." I
left the room, and shut the door. I afterwards saw
my mistress go up stairs for an old dress, and she
gave it to the prisoner.
Mr. Dayman—ls Mrs. King a widow ?
The witness did not understand the question,
upon which a gentleman, who had been sitting at
the solicitor's table, rose and said that he was the
lady's husband unfortunately. He used the word
unfortunate with reference to this silly business.
Mrs. King had been a widow, and that was the
reason the witness did not understand the question.
The witness, in continuation of her evidence, said
—I heard the prisoner say my master would not
live longer than a mouth. She said, "As sure as
God he will die in a month." I heard my mistress
say she would not mind a sovereign if she could
bring her something to do her good. The prisoner
said if three drops were mixed with his tea, he
would die in a month. On Friday the prisoner
came again, and brought a powder in paper. I gave
her a bottle and a jug of water. She mixed the
powder in cold water, and put it in the bottle. She
said three drops of it were to be given in every cup
of tea.
Mr. Andrew, the clerk—Was it to save your
master ?
Witness—l supposed it was to killhim at the end
of the month. My mistress said if it did her good,
she would give the prisoner 10s. afterwards. The
prisoner would not leave it without the money. At
the commencement she said " I have brought you
something to do you good." She also said that she
gave ss. for it, and that my mistress should have it
for 10s. When the prisoner said my master would
die at the end of the month, my mistress saw me
looking and said she was afraid to trust anybody.
I said I would not tell. My mistress would not give
her anything. The prisoner would not go out of
the house. She was afterwards pushed out.
Prisoner—l say dear, did you tell me not to go
out till I had the money ?
Witness—l said if she promised you the money
you would be foolish to go without it.
Prisoner—Did you not say tell the lady that
master would die in a mouth's time ?
Witness—l did not.
Prisoner—Look here, my dear, did you not say
the lady had got houses, and I was to advise her to
sell them ?
Witness—l did that.
The Prisoner —She also told me to tell the lady
that I was a white witch.
Wit.iess—l did not. I did tell mistress that she
was a white witch.
Priscilla Webber Jollings, the fellow servant of
the last witness, gave similar evidence as to the pri-
soner telling her that she had a lucky countenance,
and would be married to a gentleman. She also de-
tailed the conversation which took place upstairs
between the prisoner and the lady. Sbe said—l
heard the prisoner tell my mistress she would be
married again in twelve months, and that she would
be a happy woman, and have one child. She said
master would die in a month. Mistress said, " Do
you think so. lam not quite sure." The prisoner
said, "Doas I tell you, and you can." I remained
in the room while mistress went upstairs to fetch
the dress. Mistress gave her the dress and 2s. I
saw the prisoner on the second occasion, when she
came on Friday. She was with the cook. I wont
out, and when I returned I saw her talking to mis-
tress. The only thing I heard her say was, " You
must put in so many drops."
Prisoner—l say, dear, did you not say I was to
ask the lady to give you J.:5 to go down to the
gentleman's friends ?

- -Witness—My mistress asked me if I would go to
master's friends, and I told the prisoner to tell her
to give me £5, and that it would not be lucky to go
under £5.

Mr. Layman—That is the only sensible thing I
have heard in the case.

Witness—My mistress told me I could go, and
sho did not mind what money she gave me. That
was after the fortune was told.

Prisoner—She said I was to tell the lady aboul
her not living happy with her husband.

Witness-1 said so.
Sergeant Davis, of the V division, said that on
Friday afternoon Mr. King called upon him, and he
accompanied him to his house. He saw theprisoner
struggling with a man, and she refused to go. He
took her into custody and told her she was charged
with obtaining a dress and 2s. from Mrs. King by
false pretences. She then said the lady asked her
to get her a bottle of stuff to put her husband out
of the way. Witness afterwards went into the
kitchen agd found the bottle of stuff on the table.
The prisoner said it was the bottle, and that she got
the stuff from her mother on Barnes Common. He
afterwards went to the tent on the common and
found the dress given to the prisoner. The prisoner
admitted having the dress and also the money.
At the request of Mr. King he was examined.
He wished to premise his evidence by stating that
there was a complete system going on in Wimbledon
of fortune telling, begging, and extortion.
Mr. Dayman allowed the witness to confine him-
self to this case as to what he saw and heard.
Mr. King said he had reason to believe that the
prisoner frequented his house for an improper pur-
ose' lie questioned his servants, and he desired
them to inform him When sho called again. They _