The Sun.
London, England, 1838-01-31 00:00:00

NEW COURT.

PROSECUTIONS BY THE MINT.—The whole of the morning was occu-
pied in the trial of persons charged with offences against her Majesty's
Mint. Of the several cases broughtbefore the Court, there was not one
which possessed the slightest novelty, with the exception of a man named
Edwards, who, it appeared, swallowed two half-clown pieces, in order
to escape detection.
In consequence of the great increase of offences of this nature, the
Common-Sergeant intimated that, in case of conviction, the fullest
punishment the law allowed would be awarded.
BIGAMIC.—Arthur Battersby, alias Henry Napier Disney, a fashion-
able-looking young man, was indicted for feloniously marrying Sarah
Anne Stovin, his first wife, Anne Muggleston, being alive.
Mr. CLARKSON stated the case for the prosecution. The prisoner at
the bar stood charged with an offence, serious in its effects upon so-
ciety, and which, although it sometimes bore a different aspect, for it
was often accompanied by circumstances of palliation, yet always partook
of the character of offence. It would be for the Court and the Jury,
and not for him, to characterise the conduct of the prisoner ; for he
was not desirous in an opening speech to prejudice their minds by any
overcharged statement, or to wound the feelings of the unfortunate man
at the bar further than was necessary. He was informed that the pri-
soner had moved in the rank of a gentleman, and he had been told, in-
deed he know from the Gallant General who sat on the Bench (General
Evans) that he had distinguished himself by his gallant conduct while
serving with the British Legion in Spain. In 1826 the prisoner
became acquainted with some gentlemen of the army at Lea-
mington, by whom he was introduced to Miss Muggleston the
daughter of Dr. Muggleston, of Willsmer, in Warwickshire. He was
married to this lady, and about two months after left her, and as he
:Mr C. )was instrusted.enlisted as a private in a dragoon regiment, votria
which he went out to India. In the meantime Dr. Mugglestone insti..
tuted proceedings against him on the part of his daughter in
the Ecclesiastical Court, and a divorce was ohtained a manses
ct thoro. he prisoner subsequently returned to this country,
and in the year 1816 volunteered into the British Legion, which
was then raising, and having filled the ranks of serjeant, adjutant, and
cornet of the Ist Lancers, he lost an arm at St. Sebastian, and shortly
after quitted the service. On his return to England, he made the ac-
quaintance of, and married Miss Sarah Anne Stovin, the daughter of a
lieutenant in the Navy, who was then a ward in Chancery, and en.
titled to a fortune of fifteen hundred pounds. The prisoner was a
person who was utterly without means; and it would appear,
that his only object in marrying this young lady was to obtain
possession of her fortune. He was instructed too that he would
be able to prove that when he married Miss Stovin he was fully aware
that his first wife was alive. With respect to the defence which he
presumed would be set up against the charge of bigamy, that a divorce
had been obtained, he apprehended that was no defence at all.
Under the old statutes, Ist James the First, a divorce Inensa a
Chore, would have been a sufficient answer, but an Act had been sub.
sequently passed, 9th George IV., which had completely altered the
law in this respect, and it was now held that such a divorce did not re-
lease from the bonds of the marriage. In conclusion the Learned
Counsel stated that such had been the effect of the conduct of the pri.
goner on his unfortunate victum, that she had been in a succession of
fainting fits ever since she had learned the fact of his first marriage, and
it was not deemed consistent with the safety of her life that she should
be produced in Court.
The Rev. John Muggleston, brother of the first wife, was the first
witness called for the prosecution, and was under examination when our
Reporter left.
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BOW-STREET.—(THIS DAY.)

DIE FORCE or HUNCZR.—Joseph Anderson and William Hanford
were charged by George Wadmore with stealing four pounds and a half
of beef and mutton, the property of John Thomas, his master.
It appeared from the evidence of 08 F division, that while on
duty in Clare-court, Clare-market, last night, at ten o'clock, he
observed the prisoners loitering about a butcher's shop window,
and before he had time to drive them away they both snatched
up a piece of meat each, and were instantly off with their plunder. He
immediately went in pursuit of them, and on apprehending Hanford he
threw his share away, but the other preferred the opposite course, and
held the meat under his arm, denying that he was guilty. Upon inquiry
it was ascertained that the prisoners had been convicted of thieving
" grub" on another occasion, and were sent to enjoy the silent system,
for two months, in the House of Correction. _ . .

E. Jones and B. Merryon were brought up for final examination

charged with stealing a small cash-box, containing a quantity of sove
reigns, and a 51. note_
In addition to the former evidence, a young girl, named Eliza
Dabbs, who had lived in the service of Mr. William Smith, proprietor
of Hick's coffee-house, Dean-street, Soho, proved that while the latter
prisoner lived with her late master, in the capacity of barman, she saw
him on two different occasions take silver from the till, and apply it to
his own use.

Sir F. Roe told the prisoner Merryon he should be committed for
trial, and the twelve sovereigns, which he had applied for through his
Solicitor, were not to be given up, as a letter had been received from his
father, denying that they had been a present, as was represented on the
former examination.