The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-21 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE-(THIS DAY.)

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.

Sittings at Nisi Prius in London, before Lord Camp-

bell and a Special Jury.)
THE QUEEN V. HENRY BROOME.-PERJURY.

This was an indictment preferred by Richard Sill, at-
torney, against Henry Broome, for wilful and corrupt
perjury.

Mr. M. Chambers and Mr. Hodson, conducted the
prosecution, and Mr. Parry and Mr. Metcalfe, appeared
for the defendant.

The circumstances out of which the present case arose,
have been repeatedly before the public, and in various
shapes and forms. It will be recollected that Sill was
originally employed to act as attorney for a young man
of property named Hamp, who preferred a charge against
John Broome and two other persons, named Staden and
James, for cheating him at cards at Brighton.• Subse-
quently, Henry Broome, the brother of John Broome,
indicted Sill at the Old Bailey for obtaining money and
securities from him under false pretence of suppressing
the prosecution, and he was convicted on the testimony
of Henry Broome himself, and sentenced to a term of
imprisonment.

Mr. Chambers, in his opening address to the jury
said, the object of Mr. Sill in preferring the present
indictment was to bring Henry Broome to justice,
to vindicate his own character, and to establish his inno-
cence. The perjury committed by Broome con-
sisted in his swearing at the trial, at the Old Bailey,
on the 16th of August last, that he was induced to give
two bills of exchange for 1201., and another for 2401. to
Sill on his saying that he had had an interview with the
Secretary of State for the Home Department about his
brother, John Broome, and that he was sure to get him
convicted unless he had 3001. given him at once. This
he was in a condition to prove was utterly false, and
that the bills in question were given in bond fide pay-
ment of the costs which Sill had incurred on behalf of
Hamp.

Evidence of what transpired at the trial having been
taken,

Mr. Sill, the prosecutor, was examined by Mr. M.
Chambers.—He said he had been a solicitor 25 years ;
he served his articles in Westmoreland, and went
to practice at Hereford. He settled in London
in 1840. While practising at Hereford, he was con-
cerned in some matters in which Hamp was interested.
He was employed by Hamp as his attorney in the prose-
cution of John Broome. After he ceased to act in that
capacity, his bill of costs was taxed before the Master.
On a subsequent occasion he dined with a friend, a Mr.
Doyle, in the Temple. While there, a Mr. O'Brien
called on him several times. Witness and Doyle left the
Temple about 11 o'clock, and went to Price's oyster-shop
in Fleet-street. 'Henry Broome entered in a few minutes,
and O'Brien followed him. O'Brien said, " I hope, sir,
you will allow me to introduce to you Henry Broome,
and that you will shake hands with him." Henry
Broome immediately got up, extended his hand, and said
he was very glad to see him as he had wished to speak
with him for some time. Witness then shook hands.
Broome commenced speaking about his brother's case,
but he told him he could not allow the matter to be spo.
ken about, and that if he entered upon it he should im-
mediately leave the room. Witness added, that Williath
Hamp had behaved very improperly, and that because of
some affidavits that had been madebytwopartiesin reference
to the taxation of his (Sill's) costs he had determined to
retire from the prosecution, and that his determination
would be communicated to the magistrates at Brighton.
Broome said he hoped witness would allow him to speak
about his bill of costs. He asked him what he wished to
say, and he then replied that the bill ought never to
have been taxed, and that no one had ever been employed
to tax it. He also said that Mr. John Hamp had long
ago given him two bills to settle the account. Witness
observed that as that was the case, it ought to have
been paid long ago. Broome said it would be paid if he
(Sill) would call at his house in the Haymarket, and he
promised to go there the same day. They then all left
the oyster shop and went to the Opera Tavern in the
Haymarket, which was kept by Henry Broome, and he
remained there with O'Brien until three or four o'clock
in the morning. It was arranged before he left, that he
should call again at two o'clock the following afternoon.
He accordingly called the next day :,with O'Brien
whom he accidentally met in the street. They both
went into a room up stairs, accompanied by Henry
Broome. He then mentioned that he had been put to
considerable expense in the taxation of his costs, and
Broome said that John Hamp had agreed to allow 201.
for the extra trouble he had been put to in that respect,
and also that his expenses would be allowed for going
down to Brighton to tell the magistrates that he had
withdrawn from the prosecution. Broome, moreover,
agreed so pay 251., which was due on an overdue bill of
O'Brien, which he (Sill) then happened to have in his
possession. Two bills of exchange, each for 1201., drawn
by John Hamp, were then handed to him by Broome.
He pointed out that the bills were imperfect, as they
were not drawn upon or accepted by any person.
Broome said he did not know whether his brother in
Air-street (John) had got so much cash about him, but
he would go and see. Witness replied, " I cannot receive
any money from your brother, and I only see you as a per-
son sent to me by John Hamp." Broome proposed to
rgive him, as collateral security, a bill for 2401.
He next went out of the room, and re-
turned after a short absence with a bill for
that amount drawn by Henry Broome, and accepted by
John Broome. He made up the difference by giving
witness a cheque for 201. on Messrs. Taylor of Birming-
ham, and 201. 4s. in cash, making altogether 2801. 4s.
He afterwards dined with Broome. Next day he went
with him and O'Brien to Brighton. He there saw the
magistrates, and told them that he could not consistently
remain in the prosecution against John Broome, and
they gave him permission to withdraw.

The witness was under examination when our report
left.

FRENCH PLAYS.

On Saturday night a novelty, entitled Edgard et sa
Bonne, fresh from the Palais Royal, terminated the per-
formance at this theatre. It treats of the serious incon-
veniences which occasionally arise from too great inti-
macy between young gentlemen and the female domestics
of their household, and in this case M. Edgard, wearied
with the tyranny of his bonne (Florestine), to whom he
has been rather too attentive in former times, and who,
as is not unusual in such cases, has him completely under
her thumb, resolves to free himself by marrying a young
lady whom his friends have chosen for him. Of course,
this by no means suits Florestine's views, and she op-
poses it by all the means in her power, and his effort to
get her out of the way, and to prevent the family of his
intended from discovering the relation between them,
constitute the fun of the piece. Then we have all sorts
of broad practical jokes, one of which—a fair specimen
of the rest—consists in M. Edgard being suddenly called
on to dance a polka with a warming-pan stuck up the
back of his coat, the lid of which goes flip-flap, keeping
time to the music, like a huge castanet as he is whirled
round the room. All this kept up a round of incessant
laughter from first to last, and M. Ravel was, as may be
believed, perfectly in his element, and more irresistibly
comic than ever. We regret that there only remain
three more nights of his engagement. On Wednesday
next he takes a benefit, when he appears for the last time
in L'Etourneau, and a new vaudeville, entitled Rue de la
Lune.

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY, EXETER-BALL,

Handel's oratorio of Judas Maccabeus was performed
here on Friday night. The principal vocalists were
Miss Birch, Miss Deakin, Miss Huddart, Mr. S. Reeves,
and Mr. H. Phillips. The performance was one of the
most brilliant and successful which the society has yet
given, and reflects great praise on all concerned. Miss
Birch sang the well known " Pious orgies" with great
sweetness and feeling, and Miss Deakin and Miss
Huddart were most successful in the duet " Hail, hail,
Judea l" which is always a favourite when well sung.
Miss Deakin was also heard to great advantage in the
beautiful melody, " Wise men flattering," which she
sang with a mingled power and sweetness, so successful
on the audience that, but for the regulations of the
society, she would have been greeted with an unanimous
encore. The recitative, "
.Arm, arm, ye brave I" was
given by Mr. H. Phillips with his usual fire and anima-
tion, and Mr. S. Reeves made a strong impression by
the finished style in which he sang his two principal
sowers."` How vain is man, and " Call forth thy
p The chorus was perfect, and several times
excited the uncontrollable applause of the audience by
the power and precision with which the fine choruses of
this oratorio were sung.

ORDER OF THE THISTLE-LORD EGLINTOV.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—You have copied into your paper of this evening
a statement from the Morning Herald, to the effect,
that the Order of the Thistle recently conferred upon
Lord Eglinton was bestowed upon that nobleman by
Lord Derby's Government before they gave up office,
and not by her Majesty's present Ministers.
I am not quite sure of dates, but, if I am not mis-
taken, the death of the Earl f
Stair, by which the
vacancy took place, was subsequent to the occupation
of office and the formation of the present Government
by the Earl of Aberdeen. If lam right, the statement
in the Herald is totally without foundation.—Your
obedient servant,
Coventry House Club, 19th Feb. A WHIG.