The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-05 00:00:00

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.—Jan. 4.

THIRD COURT.
(Before the Common Serjeant.)
Contrary to usual custom, the Mint cases were tried
in this court, and occupied the greater portion of the
day, there being no less than 16 prisoners for trial for
this class of offence, although but a fortnight has elapsed
since the last session. The prisoners were all sentenced
to lengthened terms of imprisonment, and but one case
possessed any feature of novelty. Shillings, bad half-
crowns, and flerins seemed the principal coin in circu-
lation.

Eliza Owen, a respectable-looking woman, with a child
in her arms, was indicted for passing two bad shillings.
Mr. Sleigh and Mr. Thompson defended.
It appeared that the prisoner lives in Douglas-street,
Vauxhall-road, and some circumstances coming to the
knowledge of the police, two of them in plain clothes
watched the prisoner's daughter, a child about ten years
of age, go to two shops in the neighbourhood, and pass
two bad shillings. They followed the child home and
spoke to the prisoner about it, and she admitted she had
sent the child, adding that she did not know the money
was bad. The officers, seeing she was fumbling with
something under the ess of the child, at once seized
her hand, and took from it two more bad shillings
wrapped in paper. She then said she had found them.
The same defence was set up this day, and the prisoner
having been proved to bear an excellent character, the
jury acquitted her.
Jeremiale O'Brien was indicted for cutting and wound-
ing Mary Egan.
It appeared that the prosecutrix lived with prisoner's
son, and all parties live at Pimlico. The prisoner hav-
, ing some drunken quarrel with her took up to knife to
cut her throat, and she trying to save her life, got badly
wounded about the hands.

The jury found him Guilty, and he was sentenced to
12 months' imprisonment and hard labour.
Henry Amor, 28, formerly a sergeant in the A divi-
sion of police, was indicted for wilful and corrupt per-
jury.
Mr, Bodkin and Mr. Clerk prosecuted, the proceed-
ings having been instituted by the Commissioners of
Police.

Mr. Bodkin having stated the case, called
Robert Burnett, 20 C, who said that he was sergeant
on duty on the 2d of May at the Vine-street station,
when prisoner and another officer brought there a lady
and gentleman named Booker, whom he gave in charge
for indecent conduct in Hyde-park. The gentleman
was much alarmed, and fainted, and when he came to
said the lady was his wife. She subsequently produced
her marriage certificate, and witness let them out on
bail. They appeared the next morning at Marlborough-
street Police-court, where prisoner persisted in his
charge, which, having been investigated, was dismissed.
Prisoner subsequently absconded from the force. He
was quite sober when he made the charge.
Mr. William Bishop, clerk to the magistrates at Marl-
borough-street, produced his notes of the evidence given
upon oath by the prisoner; and in effect it was that about
half-pa's 'ine in the evening he had seen the parties then
accused, A Mr. and Mrs. Booker, in an indecent position
by the railings In Hyde-Park. The prisoner most mi-
nutely described the condition of the dress of the parties.
Mr. Hardwick, after hearing the charge, dismissed it,
and upon a following day, prisoner having been directed
to attend, Mr. and Mrs. Booker attended, but the pri-
soner did not appear.
John Lovegrove Booker, a gentlemanly-looking man,
being sworn, said—l am an artist in China, and live at
No. 1, Parkside, Knightsbridge, where my business is
carried on, but my dwelling-place is opposite. I was
married ten months ago. My wife, sister, and friends all
lived together previously to that. Upon the evening of
the 2d of May, last year, at about half-past nine, I left
the shop with my wife to take a walk in the park. As
she went through the small wicket gate I saw the pri-
soner, who was in plain clothes, and whom I did not
know, speak to my wife as she proceeded on. The gate
only lets one through at a time. I said, " What has
that fellow been saying to you ?" She said, " Oh,
never mind ;he is drunk." I said, " You vagabond
what have you been saying to my wife ?" He then put
his finger in my face, and said, "Look out for your-
self. I know you, and will mark you. I know you.
Go on." I went on a short way, and my wife told me
I was being followed. I turned round, and saw the
prisoner behind me. I then called out "Police," and
an officer came up, and I wanted to give the prisoner in
charge. The prisoner then said to the constable, "I am
your superior officer, and give these people into your
charge, and will be answerable. You take the woman,
and I'll secure the man." I asked what I was charged
with, and he refused to tell me. I said, "I am close to
my own shop, come back and see." He refused, and I
then ran back to my shop, and said, "Now you may
take me." We then all went through the park towards
Apsley-gate ;my wife and myself in custody. When
we, got to the gate, I said I did not like to have to go
through the streets, and asked to have a cab. I called
one. Prisoner then said we should not get in, and said
to the constable who held me, " Hold him tight."
We were then taken to the station, and I then was told
what I was charged with. I became very ill, and was
some time insensible.
The prisoner cross-examined the witness with much
effrontery and with a brow-beating manner, and witness
in answer said, "I had not been in the park three
minutes when this occurred. I was not near the railing.
My clothes were not disordered. My coat was buttoned
up. It was the great coat I now have on.
Mrs. Booker, a modest-looking, ladylike young
woman, was next examined, and she corroborated her
husband in every particular. She added, that as she
went through the gate she saw the prisoner, who was
just inside the park, and he touch d her shoulder and
said, "Come here, I want you.'•4offer husband was
close behind.
The prisoner also cross-examined this witness in a
most impudent ssa,nner, but failed to shake her testimony
in the slightest particular.
Police constable 544 A. corroborated all the foregoing
evidence,, and added that when he passed her and Mr.
Booker hut a few moments before they were arm-in-arm
walking along, and prisoner walking fast after them.
The other evidence proved that he had absconded from
the force, and was taken into custody upon the 12th of
last month at Highworth, Wilts, where he had obtained
a situation in the district constabulary.
The prisoner put in a written defence, adhering to his
former statement, and reiterated the charge against Mr.
and Mrs. Booker.

The jury found him guilty, and said it was one of the
vilest cases they had ever heard of.
The Common Sergeant—There can hardly be a worse
case. You are called upon to protect the public, and
there-cannot be anything worse than to attack character,
especially a lady.
Sentence, 18 months imprisonment and hard labour.
The courts sat until a late hour, and concluded the
business. The next session is Monday, the 30th.

GREENWICH AND SOUTH-EASTERN DOCKS.—The par-
liamentary estimates of Mr, Remington, the company's
engineer, for 'making the dock, basin, and other works of
this undertaking, is 200,000/., including purchase of
land and contingencies.