The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-07 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

GUILDHALL.—A number of intending emigrants
appeared before Alderman Moon, the sitting magistrate,
to complain of the conduct of Mr. W. S. Lindsay in not
fulfilling the terms of their contract, by which that gen-
tleman was bound in sending them to Australia.
The spokesman of the party stated he was one of
many emigrants who had engaged berths in the Swarth-
more, advertised as of 1,450 tons register, to sail on the
28th February last. They had paid up the whole of
their passage money, and they were now apprehensive
that the ship to which they were about to be transferred,
also called the Swarthmore, was unseaworthy, besides
being of inferior tonnage.
Alderman Moon said the respectability and high re-
putation of Mr. W. S. Lindsay's firm was in itself a
guarantee against their sending a vessel to sea that was
in any way unseaworthy.
The spokesman said the vessel, which ought to hayes,
sailed on the 28th of last month, had not passed Lloyd's,
and was not now likely to sail until next Monday week.-
Mr. Lindsay had refused to pay them the ls. each per
day, during the delay they were experiencing, according
to the contract, and they therefore prayed th
magis-
trate's interference. e

Alderman Moon having looked at their papers, said
they were entitled to ls. per day from the day the ves-
sel was advertised to sail on, and if that part of the con-
tract was not complied with, he would send an officer
from this court with them to try and effect an amicable
adjustment of the dispute.
Mr. W. S. Lindsay attended shortly afterwards upon

the alderman, for the purpose of hearing the complaint
and giving such explanations as might be called for.
The spokesmen then reiterated their complaints, and
added that not one word was mentioned in the contract
about the vessel, as to whether it was built of iron or
wood, and now they were transferred to an iron ship
that looked more like an overgrown mussel-shell, and,
for his part, he disapproved of it entirely, as he never
dreamed of going to Australia in a mussel-shell.
Mr. W. S. Lindsay said the Swathmore was not his
own ship ;he was only the agent for the owners. The
vessel-was advertised to sail on the 28th, but it being
found on inspection, that the comforts in the fitting
up of her were not so complete as he could have
wished them, she was detained, and circulars were
sent to all the passengers, informing them of the
necessary delay. The complaining spokesman had
called it a cockle-shell, and all he could say was,
that she was a very expensive cockle-shell, for she cost
the owners 18,0001. Strong prejudices were always en-
tained against the use of ironfor ships, and the Alderman
would remember, probably, how strong that prejudice
was ten years ago with regard to steam-boats. The
same prejudice existed at the present time, and reports
had been circulated of an injurious nature to their ships.
Captain Lean had consulted with the surveyor to Lloyd's
and other, eminently scientific gentlemen, but he was not
at liberty, at present, to state what their opinion was,
as their decision would involve a new principle in ship-
building, and they wished to act with deliberation in
such an important matter. If there was the slightest
risk in sending out such a vessel, he would be the first
to prevent her going to sea, and, considering the con-
fidence the public had placed in his firm, he felt he was
in duty bound to protect the lives and interests of all
who put themselves under his care, to the fullest extent.
He had given very good evidence in that respect in a
ship of his own (the W. S. Lindsay), which he recalledat
an expense of 7,0001. to himself, rather than the emigrants
should undergo the slightest risk. He wished more-
over, to state in conclusion, that there was no occasion
for any one to apply to the magistrates in any case in
which he was concerned ; for if a proper application
were made to him he would always compensate the
parties according to the means of each, and the amount
of inconvenience or loss they might sustain. If the re-
port of the committee at Lloyd's, when submitted to
Captain Lean, should be pronounced unfavourable, then
he would be bound to supply all the passengers with
berths in other ships on the same terms ; but if the
vessel was pronounced seaworthy it would sail on Mon-
day next.
The spokesman said that he objected to go in the
Swathmore, and that he wished to be transferred to the
Ganges, a vessel which was then ready to sail.
Mr. W. S. Lindsay said that since the complainants
took their berths in the Swathmore, the berths in the
Ganges had advanced in price, and he, therefore, offered
to transfer them for payment of the difference in the
amount of the passage-money, but they declined to do so.
Alderman Moon suggested that, as the emigrants were
chiefly poor persons, Mr. W. S. Lindsay should pay
them Is. per day during the delay.
Mr. W. S. Lindsay said he had no wish to evade the law
in the least, and he would, therefore, pay the ls. per day
to all those parties who liked to claim it.
The parties then left the court.

CLERICENWELL.—Richard Sawyer ' a young man
very stylishly dressed, was charged with having plun-
dered his master, Mr. Josiah Brass, an upholsterer, of
No. 5, Islington-green.
The prosecutor, who seemed deeply affected, wished
to have the prisoner now set at liberty.
Mr. Tyrwhitt was surprised to hear such an expression
of kindly feeling from a gentleman who had been so
grievously wronged.
Mr. Wakeling, the prosecutor's solicitor, said it might
appear strange, but certain it was that his client was
most anxious to withdraw the charge, and hand the
delinquent over to his heartbroken mother, who was
ready to take him with her to Dover to reside. Mr.
Brass lost nearly 4001., while the prisoner was his
cashier last year, and, in consequence of making a dis-
covery of that serious defalcation at Christmas, he made
a different arrangement in the mode of keeping his ac-
counts, and appointed a gentleman named Gardner in
the place of the accused, who, however, he retained in
his service, and ordered him to pay over all moneys he
might henceforth receive directly such might come into
his possession. In several instances he failed to do so,
and absconded on the 27th of last January. Police-
constable 421 N, was employed in the affair, and he
finally apprehended him, living in style with an aban-
doned woman. Since the prisoner had been in gaol he
had made a full confession of his guilt to the chaplain,
who had expressed himself so satisfied of the sincere
penitence of the accused and desire to abandon his vile
associates, that the rev. divine had so far interested him
in the case as to "strengthen the resolution which Mr.
Brass had formed of abandoning the prosecution.
Mr. Tyrwhitt observed that the prosecutor was a kind-
hearted man, indeed, and his intentions were humane
and honourable. The great question, however, was
this—was he doing his duty to the public by such
leniency, which was placing a magistrate in a very pain-
ful position ?

Mr. Brass repeated that he wished the prisoner to be
set at liberty.
Mr. Tyrwhitt was of opinion that he ought to insist
on the prosecutor going on with the case, and bind him
over to go to trial.
Mr. Brass earnestly hoped the worthy magistrate
would not.

After some consideration, Mr. Tyrwhitt addressed the
prisoner, telling him that he yielded with extreme reluc-
tance to the kind, but, he considered, mistaken view of
his master, and not to the view or interference of the
chaplain, or any other person. It was altogether a very
serious affair, from which he was, undeservingly, escaping
punishment. "You may now go away," said the learned
magistrate. "You are a fortunate fellow, and may thank
your master as the best friend you ever had. I hare
very little hope of you."
The prisoner then left the dock, and walked away with
his mother, a very lady-like woman, who seemed over-
whelmed with grief.

MARLBOROUGH - STREET. JohnV Stiff was
charged with having assaulted Mr. Massingham, box-
keeper at the Princess's Theatre.
It appeared that on the previous evening the defend-
ant and other persons took possession of a front box in
the dress circle, which had been taken and paid for by a
party who had not then arrived. The defendant and
others were told that the box was engaged, but they re-
fused to leave it, and when Mr. Massingham simply put
his hand on him to induce him to retire, with as little
force as possible, he struck him a blow with his fist, and
the defendant was then given into custody.
The defence was that the defendant and others first
applied at the pit entrance and were told it Was full, but
there was room in the boxes. They paid to go to the
boxes, and when they got there they discovered that the
only room was the vacant box in question.
Mr. Hardwick said common honesty and common jus-
tice required that managers of theatres should provide
that accommodation for which they were paid. If their
theatre was full they ought to have a notice to that effect
exhibited for the information of the public. If they took
money for a good part of the house, they had no business
to give an inferior place. It was a species of unfair
dealing to do so, and such cases as the one before him
were brought by the managers of theatres upon them-
selves by not doing in the first instance what was right
and proper. The conduct of the defendant, however, in
taking possession of a place which had previously been
paid for, was wholly unjustifiable. From his appear-
ance he must be aware of theatrical usagel3, and that the
places in question were taken, as all the back seats were
crowded. He had, therefore, no business to force him-
self into the vacant place, and refuse to leave it when
required. As he had put himself in the wrong he must
take the consequences, and must pay a fine of 20s. At
the same time, he should be glad to learn that managers
of theatres were disposed to attend to the suggestionA he
had thrown out.

AWFUL TRAGEDY.-MURDER AND SUICIDE.

The usually quiet district of Framlingham, in the
county of Suffolk, has been thrown into a painful state
of excitement by the occurrence of a most horrible act
of murder and suicide. The perpetrator of the dreadful
crime was a Mr. William Goodwyn, aged 45, who re-
sided with his family in very comfortable circumstances
in Donnington-road, near this town ; the victim of his
terrible crime being a favourite daughter, Eliza Good-
s h
Good-
wyn, interesting
child, not more than four
yearsn, a
old. An yesterday before Mr.
est
ww tAy
n andinqu a
Wood, the coroner, when the following facts were ad-
duced :—On Thursday morning about twenty minutes
to eight o'clock, the passers-by were alarmed on seeing
Mrs. Goodwyn come out of her house and scream, as if
for help. A butcher, named Dixon, imagining the
place was on fire, rushed in, but finding nothing to
confirm his belief, almost as quickly returned. The
unfortunate woman was unable to speak, and pointing
to the windows of a front sitting-room, and the side-
door, which was fa,,stened, so intimated that something
serious had taken place in the apartment. Dixon, with
another man, then burst the door open, when a most awful
scene presented itself. The little girl was discovered lying
upon the carpet, but was quite dead, a fearful gash hav-
ing been inflicted on her throat and on her face. Her
clothing (for she had been dressed) and the floor round
the body were covered with blood. A few feet from her,
lying on his left ?side, and with a frightful cut in his
throat, was seen Goodwyn, who was also dressed. He
was alive. His eyes were open, but he was unable to
articulate a word. In the room was found a razor, with
which he had committed the dreadful act. Messrs.
Wilson and Jeafferson, surgeons, were instantly called
in, and proceeded to sew up the wound which the
wretched man had inflicted upon himself ; but it was of
little service in saving his life, as he expired in the course
of ten minutes or a quarter of an hour. The death of
the little girl was very speedy, as the carotid artery was
completeley divided. The surgeons expressed their be-
lief that Goodwyn committed both acts, and that he
must have been deranged at the time. It appears that
he had been subject to slight abberation of intellect at
times, and that on this occasion it was brought about
by the loss of his eldest son a day or so previously,
whose corpse ho had seen deposited in the coffin the
evening before. The jury returned a verdict of " Wil-
ful murder" in the case of the child, and " That the de-
ceased, William Goodwyn, committed self-destruction
while in an unsound state of mind. He has left a
family of five children.

METROPOLITAN POST.—We are glad to learn that, in
connexion with other postal improvements, an earlier
delivery of letters has been effected at Barnet, Harrow,
Brentford, Richmond, Tottenham, Croydon, and other
of the more distant places in the London district—an
object which, as regards Peckham, Greenwich, Hamp-
stead, Hammersmith, and other nearer places, was at-
tained about a year ago.