The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-08 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOUSE.—Frederick Shaw was charged
before Alderman Hunter with having robbed two officers
of the customs.
Charles Brown officer of customs, said—l sleep en
board the vessels I have charge of. This morning, be-
tween 3 and 4 o'clock, I was in a bed berth of the fore
cabin on board a steam-vessel, called the Albion, lying
at Fresh-wharf, London-bridge, and I was awoke by
some one pressing on my chest, and I heard some
footsteps, and immediately jumped out of bed. I then
saw a man on the steps of the fore cabin going on
deck, and I followed, collared him, and found him to
be the prisoner. He had in his hand my coat, which
he instantly hove overboard. I asked him why he
did that, and he replied that he had had nothing in his
hand, and I made an alarm to my brother officer on
deck, and likewise called for the police, and gave him in
charge. I got my coat, which contained my books and
keys, out of the water. I never knew the prisoner
before. After I had recovered my coat, I found on deck,
near to the place in which I saw the prisoner, a carpet
bag belonging to me, and containing articles of dress,
and books and papers. The carpet bag, when I went
to bed, was in the cabin, from which I saw the pri-
soner run. I saw another carpet bag alongside of
mine when I was on deck. That belonged to my brother
officer.

Stephen Frend, customs officer, said—l was sleeping
in the next berth to Brown's, in the fore cabin of the
Albion, and I was awoke by a scuffling on deck. I went
up, and saw the prisoner in charge of a sailor belonging
to the boat, and I also saw the carpet bags staffing
against the companion, and Brown recovering his coat
from the water. One of the carpet bags belonged to me
and contains articles of dress, &.
The prisoner was committed for trial.

GUILDHALL.—George Garrett was brought up by
Sergeant Trim before Aldermen Finnis, Sir Chapman
Marshall, and Wilson, charged with stealing the moneys
of his master, under the following circumstances :
Mr. Buchanan appeared for the prosecution.
John Honeysett said—l am in-
partnership with Thos.
Clark, and carry on the business of coal dealers at 106,
Fetter-lane. The prisoner was in my service as carman.
I was in the habit of giving him money from time to
time to purchase coals with on my account. On the
16th of January last I gave him 21. and directions to get
one ton of the best coals from the wharf of Messrs.
Neale and Co., of Upper Ground-street, Blackfriars.
The coals he brought were only seconds, but the bill and
receipt were for the amount I gave him for the best
coals.
Alderman Finnis—How did you know they were se-
conds ? Witness—l knew the quality was inferi6r. I sent
him again to the same wharf on that day for two tons of
the best coals, and gave him 4/ , but these coals I found
were the same quality as the others, and told him they
were very bad. His reply was that they had no better
at the wharf. The receipt he brought back was for two
tons at 41. On the 17th of the same month I sent him
for two tons, and gave him 41., and later in the day for
one ton, and gave him 21. 4s. In both cases he brought
back seconds coals instead of best, and bills and receipts
for the amounts I gave him.
Mr. Buchanan said—There are a great many other
cases, but I will not trouble your worship with them
seriatim, as they are not necessary.
Alderman Wilson—How many receipts are there that
you have not evidence of ? Mr. Buchanan—There are
about a dozen, sir.
James Neale said—l am a partner in the firm of
Neale, Rolls, and Savage, coal merchants, of Upper
Ground-street, Blackfriars. On the 16th of January,
the prisoner paid 11. 18s. for one ton of coals for Clark,
and on the same day 31. 16s. for two tons • on the 17th
of Jan., 31. 16s. for two tons, and 2/. is. for one ton.
Mr. Buchanan—ls it customary to give a receipt for
one sum and receive another 9—Witness—Not at our
wharf. In all the cases mentioned seconds coals have
been supplied, but they have not been called best in the
bills.

Mr. Buchanan—How do you account for the differ-
ence between the amount actually paid and the receipt ?
—Witness—We have a ticket in the office stating what
coals are being worked, and by the side of it a marked
list indicating the market prices of the day, and next to
that list is the certificate of the barge in which the coals
may be seen and examined, and we charge 2s. upon the
price in the list. When the prisoner came to the wharf
the first time, I saw him. He wished me to call the
coals by a different name and at a higher price in the
bill, so that his master might show it to his customers.
I told him he ought to have a vendor's ticket, and gave
him some, so that his master might fill up the price him-
self. He said they would not do, and I then made out
the bill for a higher price, but I did not describe the
coal as of a different quality.
Alderman Finnic—Was the price in your invoice the
same as for best coals ?—Witness—No, sir; it was 2s.
or 3s. under the best price.
Alderman Finnis—Had you any coals on the wharf at
the price you charged in your invoice ?—Witness—Yes,
sir; we had some seconds at that price. The prisoner
represented that his master had only the carting to do
for the person the coals were for ' - and as he should have
to give credit, it would not pay him, so he wanted the
bills made out at a higher price to show his customer.
.This occurred only once to my knowledge.
Mr. Buchanan—Then you assisted Mr. Honeysett, as
you believed, to deceive his customers'?—Witness—Yes,
air.

Mr. Buchanan--Now is not this practice adopted with
other people ?—Witness--No, sir ; I believe this is an
isolated case. I have known instances of persons order-
ing a quantity of coals, and having a guinea charged
upon the amount of the bill.
Mr. Buchanan—Then, in making out these bills, you
were aware you were aiding the prisoner or his master
to be dishonest to some person 1 Witness—Why yes,
sir. That is, I knew, from the prisoner's statement, that
he wanted the bills so made out to deceive his customers,
so that he might get a profit out of the coals ; but when
Mr. Honeysett came to me, and inquired whether the
prisoner had been paying one price for coals and getting
receipts for another, I told him the prisoner had done
so in a great many instances, and gave him every facility.
James Jordan said—l am wharf clerk to Messrs.
Neale and Co. I know the prisoner, and have served
him with coals. I did so on the 16th and 17th of Jan-
uary last: He said his master was very badly paid, and
wished me to put 2s. extra on the price in the bill, and I
did so. The coals supplied were Northumberland!, the
commonest coals we had on the wharf.
Mr. Buchanan—ls it a common practice fcr servants
to make such requests ? Witness—l have frequently
had such requests made to me, and have afterwards
found they proceeded from the masters.
Mr. Buchanan—Did you ever take the trouble to see
Mr. Honeysett, and inquire if it was his wish ? Witness
—No, sir. I did not think it necessary, baying hr.d a
great many applications of the kind.
Alderman Finnis-Are these requests ever made by
the principals themselves, or are they always made
through the servants ? Witness—Generally by the
servants, but I have had similar applications from the
principals.
Alderman Finnis—This is a clear case of larceny
against • the prisoner with regard to the coals from
Neale's-wharf. Do you purpose, Mr. Buchanan, to go
into any of the cases connected with Dickins'-wharf ?
Mr. Buchanan—l don't think it will be necessary to
go into any other cases here. The prisoner will be com-
mitted, and I shall bring forward the cases in which
Dickins is concerned at the trial.
The prisoner, who said he should not have been
guilty of the offence he was charged with if he had been
paid more than 144. per week to keep a wife and family
of children besides himself, was then- remanded for they
depositions to be transcribed preparatory to his being
fully committed for trial.

LAMBETH.—Mr. James 7a"
of respectable appearance, who a middle-aged man
xt for some years held
a responsible situation in the extensive
oaesr
ensive manufactory of
Messrs. Field, wax-chandlers and
Upper 36,
Marsh, Lambeth, was placed at the bar before before the Hon.
Nortos
employersn on a charge of embezzling k,061/., the
moneys of hi. .
Mr. John Kingsford Field deposed that he
partnership with John Lyon Field, and carriedlaisthine
business of wax-chandler with him at No. 36,
Marsh, Lambeth. The prisoner had been in their
ployment in various capacities for fourteen years,r earnd"
• used to be paid by salary until abOut six months since,
when, to stimulate his exertions, himself and his partner
had agreed to pay him on commission, guaranteeing
him at the same time that he should get 2001. per an.
imm. The prisoner conducted the town trade up to
Wednesday last, but on Tuesday his accounts were exa-
mined, and it was found that he had been receiving sums
of money on their account, for which he had not Ac-
counted. In consequence of this discovery he (Mr.
Fiel.l) called the prisoner into his room on that morning,
and told him he had made the discovery that he had-
been in the habit of receiving money on their account,
which he knew it to be his duty to have paid over to
Mr. Holland, the cashier, and that he had not done so.
Tilt prisoner put his hand to his head, and said he was
si-ty toNlinit 't.
_ 'Ras so. He (Arr. Field) upon this told
him-he Eau" n very ungrateful, but at the same time
' said he ish him-- to say one word in explana-
tion.
.
• Mr—Norton-6rd, ou did not offer any promise to the
prisoner?
• tainly not. I held out neither promise
nor threat i'Zn,ihe contrary,
told him I should give
hinr lii-Charge:. It was the prisoner's duty to have en-
tered. fdthe book produced all the moneys received by
him on account of the firm, at any rate within two or
three days ; and also to make out a regular statement of

the goods sold, but this he has not done since October,
1852. The gross amount in the statement of accounts
produced was 1,0611., but from this the prisoner would
be entitled to a commission. In conclusion, Mr. Field-.
requested a remand to make a further and more careful
examination of the accounts, and his request—the pri-
soner having declined to offer anything in defence—was
complied with,

FREE TRADE FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY.

Last evening a public meeting of the shareholders
and supporters of this flourishing society was held at the
London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, for the purpose of
balloting for thirty rights to choose land on the attrac-
tive estates they now possessed. Amon, the gentlemen
present we observed Thomas Colley °Grattan, Esq.,
Major-General Sir W. R. Clayton, Bart., John Lloyd
Clayton, Esq., R.N., Sir H. W. Barron, Edmund
Grattan, Esq., Jenkin Jones, Esq., Captain John
Bishop-Culpeper, Frederick West, Esq., Lieutenant-
Colonel Starr, T. C. Ern win, Esq., T. H. Burrell, Esq.,,
W. Richmond, Esq., Henry E. Canney, Esq., F. A.
Daviss, Lieutenant-Colonel Dickson, and a number of
other highly influential gentlemen.
The chair was taken, shortly bore 8 o'clock, by
THOMAS COLLEY GRATTAN, Esq., who, in opening the
proceedings of the evening, said the occasion of their
meeting that evening was to carry out one of the practi-
cal objects of the society, namely, to ballot for thirty
I rights to choose land, and also to pass a few short reso-
tions. It was the intention of the society to hold a
ballot meeting monthly until he accumulation of shares
compelled them to hold similar meetings more frequently.
We had balloted for eighty shares, and we had also the
pleasure of having one of our estates allotted, or nearly
so. This fact of itself was one of exceeding gratification
at a moment such as the present, a moment so fraught
with excitement, a moment when all the world is talking
of war, of fleets and armies moving, and of hostile en-
counters. Freehold land societies at the present time

- -
had arrived at a point of great success, a point that their
most sanguine advocates never dreamt of. The pro-
ceedings that night gave ample proof, if proof were
wanting, of the excitement that existed, and it might be
accounted for by the strong interest created by their
proceedings partaking in some measure of the nature of
a lottery, or playing at some delightful game of hazard,
for such it most truly was. But the occasion of the allot-
ment of the estate at Anerley showed the strong enthu-
siasm manifested by the public, an enthusiasm he could
compare to nothing but the excitement that would be
produced by the brave Sir Charles Napier and his gal-
lant companions on taking up their allotments among
the Russian fleet, or under the batteries of Cronstadt.
(Loud cheers and laughter.) The same pleasing
excitement he anticipated would occur when they allotted
their Camberwell estate. He would not detain the
meeting longer, but call upon their secretary to address
them, after that the surveyor would make a few remarks,
they would then appoint screw-steamers—(loud laughter,
and cheers)—he begged pardon, he meant scrutineers—
(laughter)—and the pleasing and interesting portion -of
the business would be proceeded with. The chairman
then resumed his seat amid loud cheers.
Mr. SMITH then came forward and entered at length
. . .

into the various particulars connected with the society.
He dwelt very forcibly upon the success they had
attained, and also on several points in which this society
differed from others ; also the great advantages, both
'morally, politically, and socially, that were to be derived
from freehold land societies. He concluded a very ex-
cellent discourse by stating that he should feel a pleasure
in answering the questions of any gentleman.
Mr. VIGERS, the surveyor, in addressing the meeting,
gave a very animated description of the various estates
possessed by the society, and said that half the Camber.
well estate would soon be in their hands, and shortly
after the time the vendor gave up the land, in June, they
would be ready to proceed with its allotment.
Captain J. BISHOP-CULPEPER, in moving the first re-
solution, said he should take his cue from the chairman
and not detain the meetirg by any very lengthened re-
marks. He assured the meeting that he little expected
to be called upon to move the resolution with which he
had been entrusted. He had expected that a gentleman
of renown would have been present that evening to have
done so. The resolution he held in his hand was ex-
ceedingly expressive. There could be no question that
freehold land societies were exceedingly advantageous to
the careful and frugal man, for by their aid he was en-
abled, by saving his eighteenpence a-week, to become
the owner of a piece of land, which otherwise he could
not obtain, to become a freeholder, and to take his place
beside the proudest in this great and mighty country.
(Loud cheers.) The resolution was—" That freehold
land societies recommend themselves to all classes of the
community as the most secure of investments, elevating
the humblest individual in the social and political scale,
and enabling him by easy means to become a possessor
of a stake in the country—a freehold and a home."
Mr. GORDON had great pleasure in seconding the re
solution.

The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution to the meet-
ing and declared it carried unanimously.
Dr. ZIMMERMAN, in moving the second resolution,
dwelt very effectively upon the difference of tenure of
land in England and on the Continent, and also on the
legal expenses. Here in England, he said, you had to
pay according to the length of the document ; on the
Continent you only paid what was its value. (Laughter.)
The resolution was to the effect that the wide spread-
' ing of freehold land societies proved the value and great
benefit that would be derived by their further extension.
Lieut.-Colonel DICKSON said it afforded him much
pleasure to second such a resolution. He heartily and
entirely concurred in it. The more societies there were,
the more likely was the public to find out the good
ones ; and when they bad done so there could be no
question but they would join the best. The prosperity
their society had attained was to him a source of the
greatest pleasure, and he felt sure that in a very short
time it would stand forth without an equal.
The resolution was then put from the chair and car-
ried unanimously.

Lieut.-Colonef STARR then, in very eloquent terms,
moved the next resolution. He paid a very high tribute
of praise to the secretary, the surveyors, the solicitors,
and other officers of the society, adding that, however
much the executive committee might exert themselves,
prosperity could not be obtained unless their exertions
were seconded by the gentlemen he had mentioned. In
asking the support of the public to a freehold land society,
the public naturally wished to know on what grounds
its support was demanded. The public was a very inquisi-
tive individual—it was an Argus-eyed individual—and
before it committed itself to the support of any institu-
tion, it made the most strict and searching inquiry into
the standing and position of the undertaking. Such-an in-
quiry, he felt happy to say, was all they desired, feeling
convinced that by such means their present prosperity
would be largely increased. (Loud cheers.) The reso-
lution was to the following effect :—" That the now fully
recognised and appreciated principles of the Free Trade
Freehold Land Society leave no doubt as to its ultimate
success, and warrant the continued and energetic sup-
port of the public at large." (Loud cheers.)
Mr. JENKIN JONES very briefly but pointedly seconded
the resolution.

The CHAIRMAN put the resolution to the meeting, and
declared it carried unanimously.
The ballot-wheel having been opened by the scrutineers,
and the new shares added, the following numbers were
drawn : 1,139,* 1,140,* 1,141,* 2,189, 273, 432, 781,
2,695, 2,056, 2,621, 2,565, 1,736, 2,041, 1,880, 1,513,
1,284, 2,526, 1,275, 1,927, 2,652, 540, 400, 92,
1,970, 3,087, 716, 2,883, 1,720, 407,* 987,* 1,001*—
*Grouped.

A vote of thanks having been given to the chairman;
and briefly acknowledged, the proceedings terminated.

EXECUTION OP JOHN LLOYD FOR THE
MURDER AT NESCLIFF.

Yesterday (Friday) at 12 o'clock, John Lloyd was
executed in front of the gaol at Shrewsbury, in the pre-
sence of several thousand spectators, for the murder of
John Gittins, blacksmith, at the village of Nescliff, eight
miles from Shrewsbury, on the 28th of February last.
Two petitions were forwarded to the Secretary of State,
one from Shrewsbury, and the other from Nescliff and
the neighbourhood, praying for a commutation of the
wretched man's sentence, and in reply the reverend gen-
tleman who prepared them has received the following
answer :

" itehall, A 4, 184.
" Sir,—l am directed by Viscount Palmerstopnril to acknsow-
ledge the receipt of your letters forwarding memorials on
behalf of John-Lloyd, now under sentence of death for
murder in the gaol at Shrewsbury, and I am to acquaint
,you that after a careful consideration of the circumstances
his lordship regrets that he can see no sufficient ground
for advising any interference with the due course of law in
this case.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
"H. WADDINGTON.
"The Rev. J. Thomas, Belle Vue, Shrewsbury."
The memorial was also transmitted, through the High
Sheriff, to the Home Secretary, from the clergy of
Shrewsbury, praying that the execution might take
place at eight instead of 12 o'clock, with the view of
preventing accidents from the overcrowding of the area
in front of the gaol, but that was not acceded to.

ARDENT SPrans.—Yesterday a return, obtained by
Colonel Dunne, showed the consumption of ardent
spirits. Last year, as far as relates to the Customs, the
consumption in Great Britain was 4,931,639 gallons ;
and as far as relates to the inland revenue, 16,884,955
gallons ; whilst in Ireland in 1853 the consumption was
211,685 gallons as to the Customs, and 8,136,362 as ra-
lated to the inland revenue.

CHARGES AGAINST A CAVALRY OFFICER.—A circum-
stance recently occurred in Dublin which has excited
quite a sensation in military circles. It appears that a
female of bad repute gave information to the police that
a gold watch had been stolen from her residence, while
she had no suspicion of the thief. The detectives soon
discovered the article in the shop of a dealer, who gave
the name of the person from whom he obtained it. The
seller, in his turn, alleged that he purcased the watch
from Mr. Kelly, 11th Hussars, for the sum of 31. When
this officer was informed of the serious charge against
him, he at once admitted having taken the watch from
one of the French-street ladies, partly as a joke, and
partly for ill-requited favours conferred upon her. The
watch lay openly for some days upon his dressing-table,
when a Jew called upon him to offer ready money in ex-
change for jewels, bullion, bills, and other disposable
security." The watch was deemed by the Israelite a
marketable commodity. When the female heard that a
felonious charge was made against her quondam admirer
she refused to prosecute him. The facts of the case were
then reported to the military authorities. Mr. Kelly
was placed under arrest on his parole, and a court mar-
tial ordered for his trial, but the misguided young man
fled the country to escape the ordeal. He is the son of
a gentleman of extensive possessions and respectable
family in this country.—Liinerkk Chronicle.