The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-22 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

BOW-STREET.—Robert Gardner, who called himself
a compositor, was charged with assaulting a woman
named Mary Brazier, living at 7, Lazenby-court, Long-
acre.

The complainant stated that she was the wife of a cab-
man, and yesterday afternoon a young servant girl,
named Ann Fox, was drinking tea at her house, when
the defendant forced his way into the house and demanded
to see her. Witness knew that the defendant had induced
the girl to leave her situation under a promise of mar-
riage, and that he had been the cause of her spending all
her money and pawning her clothes ; so she was deter-
mined to prevent his taking her away, Both witness
and the girl resisted him—the latter declaring that she
would have no more to say to him ; upon which the de-
fendant raised his arm and struck witness a severe blow
in the eye, which knocked her down. He also used
threatening language to Ann Fox. The defendant was
drunk at the iime. _ .

Ann Fox corroborated this statement, and said that
she was to have been married on Saturday last to the
defendant, who had caused the banns to be published,
but, at the last moment, declined to fulfil his promise,
although he had got her to leave her place, and had
spent all her money. She had since learnt that the de-
fendant had been living for several years upon the pro-
stitution of young women.
Mr. Henry—Did you consent to marry him without
knowing anything about his character
Witness—He was "recommended" to me by a young
female friend in Lazenby-court. (Laughter.)
Mr. Henry— Did he use any violence to you ?
Witness replied that he threatened to stick her with a
knife if she did not leave Mrs. Brazier's house and
accompany him.
Mr. Henry, after lecturing the girl upon the impru-
dence of her intended match, told the defendant that he
had a great mind to send him to prison without the
option of paying a fine, the fact of his being drunk being
a very poor excuse for the violence of his conduct to-
wards the complainant. He must pay a five of 51., or
be committed for six weeks in default.—The defendant
was sent to prison.

MANSION-HOUSE.— William Anderson, a person
of very respectable appearance, aged about 30 years,
who it was reported has been extensively engaged in
business in the City for some time, was brought before
the Lord Mayor in the custody of Forrester, the
officer, upon the charge of having uttered a forged bill
of exchange for 2,2501.
Mr. Hobler attended for the defence. The prisoner
kept his handkerchief to his face, and sobbed frequently
during the investigation.
Mr. Thomas Scurr Womersley said—l am a bill
broker, in Lombard street-chambers, Clement's-lane; and
belong to the firm of Womersley and Burt. Yesterday
at about two o'clock, the prisoner brought me the bill of
exchange I produce for 2,2501., and asked me to discount
it. I wished him to leave it for a short time. He did
so, and left the office ; and I went and made inquiries
about the bill at the office of Messrs. Overend, Gurney,
and Chapman, where I saw Mr. Chapman, with whom I
left the bill. Mr. Chapman sent the bill back to me with
intelligence that it was a forgery, and at about three
o'clock, or a little before, the prisoner returned. I then
had possession of the bill, and knew that it was a for-
g!3l7. I told him that it was a forgery, and that I must
give him in charge. He said that he could not under-
stand what we meant, and that he would go on to the
acceptor's with me. I had the bill in my hand, but did
not show it to him ofter I had received it from Mr.
Chapman. I said it was useless to go to the gentleman
whose acceptance the bill appeared to be, as they had
seen the bill, and said that it was not their acceptance.
He made no reply to that. Daniel Forrester, who had
been sent for by Messrs. Overend, Gurney, and Chapman,
came in while the prisoner was waiting in the office, and
I said I must give the prisoner in charge to Mr. Forres-
ter. Ido not recollect whether he made any observation
upon the occaQion. He and Forrester then left the office
to go to the prisoner's office to see, as I understood,
what property might be there.
The witness upon being asked, how he knew there
was any property at the prisoner's office, said he imagined
that such was the case, but not in consequence of any
conversation he had had with the prisoner. I retained
possession of the bill. I had given nothing for it. I did
not discount it. lam quite sure the bill produced is the
same bill the prisoner 'Rough to me, and which I gave
to Mr. Chapman. I have 'not since had any conversa-
tion with the prisoner, nor have I seen him since, until
I saw him in custody at the Mansion-house. I had pre-
viously discounted for the prisoner, and have bills still
outstanding. I know his writing, and am of opinion that
the endorsement of his name on the bill is his.

The Lord Mayor—Do you believe that there is some-
thing wrong in the outstanding bills ?
Witness—l have reason to believe that there is. They
are not in our possession.
_ _

The following is a copy of the bill of exchange :
"B 2,165. "Calcutta, Oct. 4, 1853.
"No. 620, exchange for 2.2501.

"At ninety days after sight pay this first of exchange
(second and third unpaid) to the order of Mr. J. Dupont
the sum of two thousand two hundred and fifty pounds
sterling value in account L. and S., which place to ac-
count as advised. " J. LE BRUN.

" To Messrs. J. and C. Van Notton and Co., London.
"Accepted 15th December, 1853, for two thousand
two hundred and fifty pounds, payable when due at
Messrs. Martin and Co.—B. and C. Van Notten and
Co. 660."

The following letter, containing the delivery warrant
for currants, copied below, was found in the possession
of the prisoner. It was not addressed to any person :
" Tuesday.
" Dear Sir,---I have but this moment obtained the en-
closed. In course of the afternnon I will, if possible,
come down and complete the other matters, but I can-
not promise, having much on hand. If lam not down
at four o'clock I shall be obliged to postpone it until to-
morrow.—Believe me, yours truly,
" Custom-house-quay. " W. B. ANDERSON.
• Special security,
"No. 12,968 warehouses, London, October 14, 1853.
Warrant for 20 casks of currants, imported in the Coun-
tess of Lonsdale Little master, from Hambro', entered
on the 3d October, 1853, by Van Notten and e-
liverable to W. B. Anderson, or their assigns, Co.,by en-
dorsement thereon, all charges payable.
Mark Twenty casks currants.
G. &B. . cwt. qrs. lbs.
1.20 361 0 5
"F. BLAKE, Warehouse-keeper.
" JNO. SILVERLOCK, Superintendent.
" Custom-house-quay Warrant,"
Indorsed, " Deliver the within-mentioned goods.
"W. B. ANDERSON."

Mr. Lambert Van Notten Pole, merchant, of Nos.
and 3, Lime-street-square, City, said—l have one part-
ner, and we trade under the firm of J. and C. Van Not-
ten and Co. There is not a Mr. Van Notten in the firm.
We bank at Messrs. Martin and Co.'s, and make our
bills payable there. The acceptance to the bill of ex-
change produced is not in my writing, nor in that of my
partner ; nor has it been written by my authority. I
have never heard of any other firm of the same trading
in London. The bill of exchange is entirely unknown
to me, and so is the supposed drawer.
Daniel Forrester, principal officer of the Aransion-
house, said—Yesterday afternoon, at about three o'clock,
I was sent for to the house of Messrs..Overend, Gurney,
and Chapman, and I saw Mr. Chapman. I then went,
by his direction, with William Clarke to the office of
Messrs. Womersley and Burt, in Lornbard-street-chara-
ber3, Clements-lane. When I got there I was ushered
into a room where the prisoner was by Mr. Womersley
who said " This is Mr. Forrester, and I must give you
in charge." I understood it was upon the subject of
some bill which had been forged, and the name of Van
Notten was mentioned ; and whilst I was there, a Mr.
Fries came in, and asked the prisoner for 1,6001. ; and
the prisoner and Mr. Fries and Clarke and I went in a
cab to Broad-street, where the prisoner said he expected
the money was. The money not having arrived there,
we went to Billiter-street, where the prisoner went up
the staircase of No. 21, and turned short to the left,
slammed the door, and went in and through another
door, down another staircase, No. 22, and into the
street. He had muttered a word or two to a gentleman
into whose office he had turned, and he then suddenly
started through the other door. I ran after him, and
he was stopped at the corner of Mincing-lane. I found
in his possession two Bank of England notes, the one for
2001. and the other for 100/: and the letter and warrant
for the currants.

The Lord Mayor—Do you believe the warrant relates
to some other charge ? Witness—l do. I found a
great many papers at his counting-house.
Mr. Vallings, of the firm of Young and Vallings, at-
tended to watch the proceedings upon the part of
Messrs. Overend, Gurney, and Chapman, and stated
that there were several other charges of a similar kind
against the prisoner, one of them being to the amount
of 3,050 t.
Mr. Hobler applied to the Lord Mayor to allow his
client, who, he said, had carried on business six or sevea
Years in the City with a high character, to give in bail
to appear on the day of the second examination.
The strongest opposition was made to the application
to admit bail, and
The
1-1° rd Mayor said he could notfor a moment think
of accept;
--t'g I,baiwhatever might be the amount pro-
posed, and h
wvehrohlgh the character of the securities.
The prisonoeZe was taken sobbing from the bar, and
who never for a, ta
oment uncovered any part of his face,
was then remanded, and conveyed to prison in a cab.

MA_RYLEBONE.___Fm
n--
Brooke, a private in the
2d battalion of Grenadier Guards was brought up,
charged with having stolen
property to a considerableofficersamount belonging to officers of
at St. John's-wood Barracks, e regiment stationed
The prisoner was brought up from naps ,
carpenter
robbery was made out against him. He wua'san,uolae:raosoemo,f 1
by trade and had a workshop close to thebaast
where many of the officers of the regiment
was
Inuit deposited
their property for security. Plate, &c.,
time to time. The articles consisted of silver spoons,efr°ln
forks, &c., and after information had been given it
police, the prisoner was taken into custody at Bath. In
the room which he occupied were found numerous
articles which had been stolen.
Some of them which had been pledged were produced
and identified, and the prisoner, who, it is imagined, has
robbed other officers of the regiment to the extent of
nearly 4001. was remanded.

EXTENSIVE LANDSLIP.-An extensive landslip, carry-
ing away a whole field, has just occurred on the Wilts,
Somerset, and Weymouth line, now constructing near
Devizes, together with an occupation bridge, owing to
the immense superincumbent weight of the embankment,
which has, it is stated, at great expense been made and
re-made.

CONVICTION FOR WIFE-MURDER AT LEITH.

At the High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, on Mon-
day last, William Cumming, seaman, was convicted of
the murder of his wife, by repeated assaults and bar-
barous treatment.
The judges on the bench were the Lord Justice-Clerk,
Lord Cockburn, and Lord Handyside. The Solicitor-
General (Mr. Craufurd) conducted the prosecution.
The prisoner pleaded not guilty. He was 55 years of
age, had served in the East India Company, from whom,
it was said, he had a pension, and he had married the
deceased on his return home, five or six years ago.
The first witness called was Janet Selkirk, or Hunter,
who resided with Thomas Danskin, seaman, next door
to the prisoner. She deposed, on the night of Saturday
the 22d of October, she was awakened by loud cries of
"murder," and recognised Mrs. Cumming's voice. Next
day she went to see her. She found her marked all about
the face. One of her ears were sore swelled, and blood
was oozing from it. Witneas asked what was the mat-
ter with her. She said she had been very sorely beaten
by her husband. She said she was much pained about
the left breast, which was all bruised and discoloured.
She said her husband done it all. On the Monday the
deceased was very weak and ill, but the prisoner was
going about furious with drink. She was 'worse on the
Tuesday, and all the day he was going about drinking
and quarrelling. He was so furious that witness was
glad to get out of the way. On Tuesday night, or early
on Wednesday morning, witness was again startled from
her sleep in the middle of the night with the cries of
" murder." She said to Mrs. Danskin, " that's Mrs.
Cumming's cries if she's alive." She knew her voice.
The cries were " murder, murder, murder," in loud
screams, [thrice over. Witn&s proposed to Thomas
Danskin to rise and go in. He said " no," for he was
ill with his knee at the time. She was afraid to go in
alone. In the morning she went to Mrs. Cumming, be-
tween 9 and 10 o'clock. She found her lying across the
bed, with her head to the back and her feet lying in the
front. Sho was not able to speak. She assisted her out
of bed, and took off her dayclothe', and put her to bed
again. She did not seem conscious of what was done to
her. On the Wednesday afternoon, witness saw Cum-
ming at the mouth of the close carrying a bundle in his
hand,
as if going away on kis journey. He gave three
hurrahs, and waved his hat on going away. The de-
ceased was a quiet and sober woman.
Mary Smith, or Danskin, wife of Thomas Danskin,
visited Mrs. Cumming on the Sunday morning. Saw
her ear was swelled and bloody, and her right elbow all
blue. She showed witness that all her body was much
bruised, and quite discoloured. Witness asked her how
she got those bruises. She said " You needna' ask ;it
was William that did it." She also said he had been
looking for a razor to cut her throat ; for he was deter-
mined to have her life. She was quite sober. She said
he had been the worse for drink, and had " yoked" on
her because she would not rise to light a candle. She
said he had struck her very severely with a stick, Heard
Mrs. Cumming's cries of "Murder" on the Wednesday
morning, but was afraid to go to her, and her husband
was unable. On the Wednesday she found deceased
unable to speak, and apparently insensible from the in•
juries she had sustained.

Marion Danskin, a diminutive girl of 14, corroborated
a considerable part of the evidence, and said, that on the
Tuesday afternoon, while she was washing Mrs. Cum-
- •
nung s teathings and doing little household services, the
prisoner, who after tea had gone to bed, .where his wife
was, suddenly wakened, after sleeping some time, and
rose on his knees in the bed and knocked her out of it.
He cursed and swore, and said he would do for her.
She said, " William, do not 'hash' me the way you are
doing, for you'll be hanged, and I would not wish you
to be banged for me." On her getting up off the fluor,
he took up the pillow and slapped her on the head ; her
head came against the floor with the blow. He next took
her by the ankles and dragged her across the floor, and
then trampled and " brizzed" (pressed on her breast
with bis knees. He also took a stick and struck her
twice on the shoulder and side. Witness was afraid he
would strike her to, and ran out. Outside the door she
heard sounds as if he was beating her again. She went
back the next morning at 9 o'clock. The prisoner opened
the door to her. The deceased was then lying across the
bed, with her head over the deal board at the foot, and her
feet hanging in front. She had more clothes on than she
had the night before. She was lying above the bedclothes
and he went to bed again under the bedclothes. She was
lying very quiet. Prisoner told witness to ask her if she had
any money, She shook her head. He then rose and took lOs
from her pocket, and gave witness half-a-crown to get a
pint of ale and some spirits. When she came back he
wanted his wife take a glass of spirits, and he
said if she would not take it he would knock her brains
out. She flung the whisky behind her, but she had to
tell him that she took it, for fright. He asked witness
if she took it, and she had to say " Yes." He left her
a shilling, and said that was to keep her all her days.
He said he was going home to his wife and his three
children in India.

Ann Burgess, or Wilson, residing in Edinburgh, remem-
bered visiting Mrs. Cumming, with Mary Macpherson, on
Sunday evening, the 23d of October. Cumming and an
artilleryman were in the house. She was in bed. She
said she was ill owing to his blows. He was squaring
with his stick, and fencing with the Artilleryman. He
evidently had been drinking, but was not drunk. She
had 161 x or seven marks on her body altogether. Mary
Macpherson said, " Cumming, you've done for her
now." He said, " Devil afear of her ; she'll see two
or three of us out yet." Witness said to her, "If I
was you, I would leave him ;" but she said, What
can Ido I" She added, " But you'll hear of me to-mor-
row, for he'll finish me quite off to night." She asked me
to come back again to-morrow to see her. There was
no appearance of drink about her. She said he came in
late ; and, as he could not get a light, he pulled her out
of bed, and pressed on her breast with his knees, and
had broken three of her ribs. She said he had broken
some of the furniture, and struck her with some of the
bits that he broken. She kissed witness on leaving, and
grasped her hand several times. She seemed much
frightened. The prisoner was in high spirits, and seemed
agreeable with her. They went down to see her again
on the Monday evening. She was out of bed, and was
putting on her gown to go out with him. She had a
very wild appearance, delirious and "raised-like," and
they were astonished to find her out of bed. She did
not have the appearance of drink. Witness was sent
for, and went down on the 6th of November. She saw
fresh wounds on her body then—one on her cheek, one
on her forehead, and one on her arm. The deceased
was unable to recognise her.
_ _

Adam Mackay, sergeant-major, Leith police, deponed
to deceased coming to the police-office on the Tuesday
night, shortly after 11, and saying she had been locked
out by her husband. She said he had beaten her, and
she was injured in various parts of her body, but she
did not wish to make any complaint of him. Witness
sent an officer with her to try to get in, but they failed,
and came back. Witness on leaving the office for the
night, left her in the protection of the constable in
charge, but it seemed she had gone away again soon
after.

Daniel Campbell, labourer, deponed to finding Mrs.
Cumming lying on the stairs when he came home from
work about midnight on Tuesday. She said, " It's me,
Dannie ; he's locked me out." Witness told his mother,
but she told him not to interfere. Some time after the
prisoner rapped at their door, and asked them to carry
his wife up the stairs, which his brother John rose and
did.

James Grant, superintendent of the Leith police, ap•
prehended the prisoner on the Ist of November, and
charged him with assaulting his wife to the danger of
her life. He said he had struck her with his open hand,
but with nothing else.
The Lord Justice-Clerk expressed his surprise that the
poor woman, coming to the police-office in such a weak
state, was allowed to go away and to stagger home with-
out any one to protect her. In almost every instance
wives would not make complaint against their husbands,
but if the case had been taken up at this point by the
police, and the man apprehended, the murder might
have been prevented.
Mr. Grant stated that he had only heard of the case
on the Thursday, but the sergeant-major in waiting at
the time had had long experience in police matters. She
had remained a short time in the office, and, on going
away, she was advised to go somewhere else, for shelter
for the night.

The l
eprisoner,
son
wife in his declarations, admitted having
his hand on the Saturday evening,
art\,ithehknew nothing of the severe injuries,
struck
but a histhat
v
which she must have got, he said, whenouto drinking.oaTuFsday
evening. Ile asserted that she was given t
Two witnesses were called for the defence--John
i
Campbell, who had heard a fall on the stairs, which he
he
supposed to be Dire. Cumming, some timebeforefrohme
(witness) carried her up to her house at the prisoner's
request, and the Sub-Inspector of South Leith, who de-
posed to giving, and afterwards cutting off, aliment
the deceased bcause of her intemperance.
The Solicitor-General addressed the jury for the pro.
secution, and Mr. John Grahame for the panel.
The Lord Justice-Clerk, in reviewing the case, re.
marked, that it was lamentable that the poor woman
was allowed to leave the police-office alone, and that no
means were adopted to provide a place of safety for her,
as proper measures on the part of the police might have
prevented the fatal event. The deceased, he said, ap-
peared to have been a quiet, gentle, and industrious
woman, and, during the period to which the evidence
related there was no evidence of her drinking ; but
whether she had been given to drink or not it was high
time that a jury should sternly lay aside such considera-
tions when they found women beaten to death in the
shocking manner that had of late been disclosed in seve-
ral cases in Scotland.

The jury, after brief deliberation, unanimously re-
turned a verdict of guilty of murder as libelled.
The Lord Justice-Clerk passed sentence on the pri-
soner of execution at Edinburgh, on Monday, the 9th of
January next. In discharging the jury, he intimated
that their verdict had the full assent and unhesitating
concurrence of the Court.

The prisoner then said, in a firm tone—" Will you
allow me to speak, my lord' I have been at sea for 40
years, and for 25 years have served Government (mean-
ing the East India Company) faithfully, and have done
my duty as a man. Though the sentence of death has
been passed upon me, I can assure you that I did it with
in intention of committing murder. lam innocent of
that ; and I trust the Lord will have mercy on me."
The Lord Justice-Clerk addressed him, and said—
" 'William Cumming, you may rely on it that your best
hope is not to cherish such feelings, but to humble your-
self before Almighty God, to acknowledge your guilt,
and to implore, by fervent and instant prayer, that
mercy which you hope to obtain. Shut not your mind
against the influences of Conviction by any hopes of
above all, shut not your mind by mis-
takenof your guilt on this occasion."
pard o n
notions; nd,
The prisoner was then removed, and the Court ad-
journed.