The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-20 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

WORSHIP-STREET.—AIfred Rickards, a respect-
able looking lad, 15 years of age, was charged with
shooting a little boy named Edward Mountford, who
sweeps a crossing in the New North-road, Hoxton.
Warne, 370 N, said that about half-past six on Tues-
day evening he heard the report of fire-arms in the New
North-road, and running to the spot found a woman
supporting a boy, who on being asked what was the
matter, replied, " Oh, dear, I'm the little boy who sweeps
the crossing, and I've been shot." He pointed to the
prisoner as having done it, and stated that seeing the
prisoner, who had sometimes given him halfpence, he
asked him for something, and the prisoner replied that
he would give him something, but drew a pistol from
his breast and shot him. The boy was exceedingly
faint, and asked for water. Being carried to Mr.Coward'e,
the divisional surgeon, that gentleman on having him
stripped of his coat, waistcoat, and shirt, all of which
were per'orated in front, found a bullet wound near the
breast, and had him immediately removed to St. Bar-
tholomew's Hospital.
The witness here produced the garments, all of which
appeared to have been perforated by a bullet, and the
shirt was stained with blood.

Mr. Coward, the police surgeon, said that, upon eat•
mination, be found a wound like a bullet wound upon
the side of the left breast, and from the hole through
the clothing he was led to conclude that the bullet was
still lodged in the body, but he could not find that it
had entered the chest nor ascertain the direction it had
taken.

Mr. Richard Fowler, a silversmith, in Dean-street,
New North-road, stated that, on hearing the report of
fire-arms, he ran out and saw the prisoner himself sup-
porting the little boy in his arms, -and before he could
speak to them the prisoner said "I've shot him," or " I
have done it," and handing to. witness a pistol now pro-
duced, he added "This is the pistol." The prisoner, he
said, seemed. in great distress at what had occurred.
Phillip Raymond, 421 N, took charge of the prisoner,
who said that he had got another pistol. He found a
percussion cap upon the nipple, but neither powder nor
bullet in it. The prisoner had said that there was a
bullet but no powder in the other, or that if there was
powder, it was very little indeed. On searching him at
the station-house a bag was found upon him containing
11 bullets, about 200 percussion caps, a bullet mould, a
pistol key. a small mask, and also a bunch of keys. One
of these keys, he said, opened his desk at his father's in
Shaftesbury-street, where he lived, and witness proceed-
ing there that morning found the desk in the kitchen,
and in it a powder flask and powder, another pistol,
and an empty cap box.
All the articles mentioned by the constable, including
the three pistols, were now produced and it was subse-
quently stated that the prisoner had purchased them for
about a guinea on Tuesday.
A certificate from Mr. Hutnphreys, house-surgeon at
St. Bartholomew's Hospital, was produced, and the
prisoner, who seemed alarmed at the situation he was
placed in, but did not say anything, was remanded.

CLERKENWELL.—Bernard Durkin was charged
by Maria Durkin, his wife, with having brutally
saulted her.

It appealed from her evidence that she had been
married to the prisoner two years, and their connubial
happiness conbisted of the usual course of drunkenness
and brutality on the part of the husband, and of long-
suffering and forgiveness on that of the wife. Her
patience was at last exhausted. On Monday last be
beat her about the head, face, and body, and kicked her
violently on her loins, from the effects of which she is
now suffering great pain.

The prisoner, who hung down his head, said nothing.
Mr. Hammill said he was a brute, and sentenced him
to six months, with hard labour.

CUST WI DUTIES IN AUSTRALIA.-1- Mr. Ewart has a
notice of motion on the order-book of the House of
Commons, which he is to move on the re-assembling
after the recess, " to inquire of the Under-Secretary for
the Colonies whether any measures are being adopted
for assimilating the custom duties (or interior duties) in
the different Australian colonieQ."
FIRE IN OXFORD-STREET.—ESCAPE OP A FAMILY.—
Shortly before three o'clock yesterday morning great
excitement prevailed for the safety of the family of
Mr. Mitchell, wholesale stationer, 129, Oxford-street.
The police-constable on duty at the time, observing
a very unusual light betwixt the shutters, and
being convinced of the cause, lost no time in arous-
ing the inmates from their slumbers. Escape by the
lower part of the house being impossible, they for-
tunately succeeded in reaching the roof of the ad-
joining buildings. The fire-engines of the brigade—about
seven in number—together with the Royal Society's
fire-escapes, were soon on the spot, when an abundant
supply of water being procured, and prompt assistance
by the passers-by rendered, the flames in less than an
hour were thoroughly subdued. The greater part of
the stock was destroyed, and serious damage to the
household furniture and building. As to the origin of
the fire nothing satisfactory could be obtained. Mr.
Mitchell is insured, we understand, in the British
Empire Office.

Or THE Poort-taTE.;--The poor-rate in Eng-
land and . Wales vas thus expended in the year ending
Lady-day, 1852 :-553,9781., being is. 74d. in the pound
on the total poor-rates expended, in salaries of poor-
law. officers ;. 248,561/.0 or B,ld. 'the pound. in the
maintenance of lunatic paupers irr. asylums ; 25,8951., or
about ld. in the pound, in vaccination fees ; 58,9591., or
about 2d. in the pound, in registration expenses (fees
to clergymen -and Yegistrvirs' ontlay)-; 12,4971., or
about id. in the pound, in expenses for surveyaun—
der the Yarochial Assessments .Act ;. 30,5811.,
about Id.' in the pound, in Parliamentary
j and mu-
nicipal registration expenses' and coat of jury lists ;
763,3991., or 25..21,1, in the pound, on in-maintenance
of paupers ; 2,809,6091., or Bs. 2id; in the pound, in out-
relief ; ,6,9891., or about /I in the pound, in emigra-
tion expenses ; 30,5911., or about Id. in the pound, in
extra medical relief ; 485,6561.; or is. sd: in the pound,
'in other expenses 'immediately connected with the relief
of the poor ; 62,8311., or 2fd. in the
.pound, in proceed-
ing* at law or in equity; 60,3301., or 2/d:, in the pound,
in expenses of constables and cost of proceedings before
justices; 1,345,2561., or 3s. 11/d. in the pound; in pay-
rnenta for the county or borough,ate or police-rate ;
8,4421., or about Id. in the pound, in repairs of parish
property ; 1,90a1., in expenses. under the Nuisance R. moral And Prevention Act, and also under the
regulations of the General Board of Health ; and
315,703/., or 11/d. in the pound, in expenses na-coni-
preheaded.under any or the toregoing bead's' •