The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-24 00:00:00

rected a warrant to be made out immediately for his ap-
prehension.
The CORONER said he thought that, in a case of
this kind, he should flinch from his duty if he were
to refrain from expressing his opinion that the verdict
of the jury was strictly just, and that if he had been a
juryman he should have given the same verdict.
The Foreman wished to observe, that the jury consi-
dered Mr. Winch, one of the guardians of the Holborn
Union, was entitled to great credit for having brought
this case under the notice of the Coroner.
A similar verdict to the above was retarned in the case
of each of the other deceased children—Johnson, Quin,
and Harper.
The proceedings did not terminate until midnight.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Jan. 23.
CRI3I. CON.—PRATT V. FLETCHER.
This was an action to recover in damages from de-
fendant for an alleged criminal conversation with plain-
tiff's wife. It was tried at) the last sittings after term,
when a verdict was found for the plaintiff, for 800/.
The defendant was a surgeon, practising in the neigh-
bourhood of Hackney, and the acquaintance which led
to the criminal intercourse sprang up whilst defendant
was attending plaintiff's wife in his professional capacity.
Last term a rule was obtained for a new trial, which
came on for argument to-day.
Mr. Sergeant SHEE was heard against the rule. He
said there were a great number of details in the
affidavits on the other side, but the substance of them
was this—that the plaintiff, then being twenty-five years
of age, first met the young woman who afterwards be-
came his wife, and was then seventeen years old, at a
house of ill fame.
Mr. HUMFREY—No, he first met her in the streets.
Mr. Sergeant SHEE—The present motion called upon
the Court to decide the amount of immorality in the
husband and wife previous to their marriage; but he
apprehended, looking to the nature of the affidavit,
that the husband was entitled to protection. The
Learned Sergeant having stated that many of
the persons making those affidavits were per-
sons of improper character, proceeded : —What
he wished the Court to consider was, the extraor-
dinarythe plaintiff's position in one
respect.
he was guilty of immorality,
hardshipNodoubotf
and of gross imprudence in marrying a person of
this kind; but they agreed to marry, to abandon
s
all immoral conduct for the future, and he gradually
introduced her into respectable society, and also to his
own friends and relations, and for two years afterwards
they lived perfectly happy and with perfect propriety.
CHIEF BARON—For anything that appears to the
contrary.
Mr. Baron ALDERSON—Her sisters were the proper
witnesses to call respecting her previous conduct. Why
were they not called ?
CHIEF Batton—lt is impossible to disguise the fact
that the plaintiff has obtained the verdict under false
pretences. He stated by counsel, which counsel believed
to be true, that which be knew was untrue, to obtain
commensurate damages for an injury which he did not sus-
tain. If this action, instead of being one for damages,
had been an action for a debt, the plaintiff would have
been guilty, I think, of a crime.
Mr. Baron ALDERSON—It is clear, upon the affidavits,
that there has been adultery on the part of the de•
fendant.

Mr. HUMFREY, on the part of the defendant, said he
would admit that.
Mr. Baron ALDERSON—Then, as that is the case, the
parties had better make some arrangement, to save the
expense of a new trial. It would be better for the parties
to reduce the damages very much below 8001.
Mr. HUMFAEY—I should think so, my Lord. 80i/.
indeed for this woman!—(Laughter.)
Mr. Baron ALDERSON-If the jury thought the plain-
tiff married an innocent woman, all I can say is, that
they were very much mistaken.—(Hear.)
The parties not being able to come to terms the rule
was ma le absolute, on the understanding that the trial
should take place in the Queen's Bench, that the adul-
tery should be admitted, and that the costs should abide
the event of the plaintiff obtaining the costs of a new
trial.—Rule absolute.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
WESTMINSTER.
THE LATE DISTRESSING CASE IN YORK-STREET,
WESTMINSTER.—Yesterday, Mr. Lavis, the eminent
surgeon of Great George-street, Westminster, who has
been in attendance upon the widow of the late Henry
Williams, the deplorable condition of whose family has
created so much public sympathy, came to this court to
report the state of the poor woman. He said that she
was improved in health, but in a very feeble condition.
On his visit to her that day she appeared much depressed
with respect to some disclosures connected with the
former history of her family, the truth of which she
admitted, adding that her two children had been
punished ; but the boy who bad been committed,
and who was at present in the refuge, had by his
good conduct there been made a monitor. She
expressed her willingness and desire to give every
in!ormation upon the subject of her melancholy history
that might be required by the authorities, and declared
that they were in great distress at the time the children
committed the offence. Mr. Lavis showed Mr. Taylor,
the chief clerk (to whom, owing to the absence of Mr.
Broderip yesterday, the above communication was made),
a portfolio of drawings, and some exquisite specimens of
penmanship, executed by the late unfortunate man, which
exhibited considerable talent.

The following additional subscriptions have been re-
ceived for the family:—E. S. (Yegwell Bay), 53.; 31,367,
the remaining halt of a 51. note of that number; L. K.,
10s.; Duke, 11. 108.; T. S., 55.; D. E., 55.; A little girl,
eight years of age, 55.; C. W. M. R. W.,11.; a Lady, the
remaining hall of a 51. note, 40,654 (the latter being for
the, poor-box); an Artist, 55.; a Lady at Dover, 55.; J.
11. C. W., 51; M. C., 10s.; East, 10s.; C. C , 51. for the
poor-box.
THAMES.

Henry Hamer, master of the Sea Bird, appeared to his
recognizances, and Launcelot Wilson, his chief officer,
was brought up on remand under the following circum-
stances:—At the opening of the court on Saturday, Mr.
Vessey, solicitor, accompanied by a man of colour named
Hughes, and Fraser, No. 93 of the river police, applied
to Mr. Yardley, requesting that warrants should be is-
sued for the immediate apprehension of Mr. Henry
Hamer, master, and Launcelut Wilson, chief officer of
the barque Sea Bird, which arrived in St. Katherine's
Dock from the river Gambia on the previous day.
Hughes, who seemed very faint, made such a statement
as induced the magistrate to issue warrants for their
immediate apprehension, which were put into the hands
of Fraser with instructions for their instant execution.
Shortly after two o'clock the prisoners were placed at
the bar. Mr. Pelham appeared for the defence.
John Hughes, the complainant, who stated himself to
be a native of New Orleans, said he joined the Sea Bird
as able seaman in the Gambia. On the llth inst., the
vessel being then at sea, the mate came to his berth
about twelve o'clock at night and ordered him on deck.
Complainant, who bad been worn out by ten hours' la-
bour, and whose clothes were wringing wet, replied,
ell,
sir;
"nl wait n
lamgettoon
ready."getting The mate at
onceV e exclaimed,r y
and
began to cut
at him with a cutlass. The pain of his wounds made
him jump up, and he ran on deck, the mate still pur-
suing him with the cutlass. Complainant held for a
while for by the galley door, and then crept into
the galley, but was immediately followed by the
mate, accompanied by the captain. The latter seized
him by the hair of the head, and kicked him, whilst the
mate still continued to cut at him with the sabre, wound-
ing him in several places. He was then sent to work
at the pump, where he continued for ten minutes, but
being faint, from loss of blood, he returned to the fore-
castle. The mate again followed him there, but, seeing
he was bleeding, said "Go to bed, I won't hurry you
any more."
In his cross-examination by Mr. Pelham, who was
prepared to show that the complainant was dogged, lazy,
turbulent, and refused duty when the vessel was in im-
minent danger, the complainant admitted that he was in
gaol at Gambia, but not for attempting to gouge a
former captain. He had never threatened Capt. Hamer
with a knife. He had no knife in his hand on the night
when he was stabbed. There was a heavy gale, but he
had worked very hard that day.
Capt. Hamer—So had I. I was several hours at the
pump, and the vessel was in the utmost danger.
At this stage of the proceedings Mr. Yardley ad-
journed the case until today, admitting the captain to
bail, himself in 1001., and solvent surety to the same
amount. When the case came on for hearing to-day,
Fraser, the constable, who had taken the complainant
on Saturday evening to the Dreadnought hospital ship,
handed in a certificate from the surgeon of that establish-
ment, to the effect that he was, at present, too ill to at-
tend at the court.

The further hearing of the case waa adjourned until
Tuesday next.

FURTHER EXAMINATION AND COM-
MITTAL OF MESSRS. WARREN AND

FULLER OF BATH.
BATH, Timm:an—Atter the dispatch of the parcel
.last night, the examination of Mr. Horatio Warren and
Mr. Samuel Fuller, the extensive silversmiths of West-
gate-street, in this city, was continued.
Thomas Mitchell deposed that he had worked for
the prisoner Warren a great number of years, and for
the firm of Warren and Fuller ever since the partner
ship was formed. They had an extensive business. In
the month of October, 1847, witness received orders—
he believed from Mr. Fuller, but was not sure—to ham-
mer out a piece of silver to a pattern. It was not
stated what it was for, but witness's impression was,
that it was for the bowl of a spoon. Ham-
mered it out and sent it to Messrs. Warren
and Fuller. Shortly afterwards received an order
to hammer out another a little thicker than the
other, which was not thick enough. Hammered out
one accordingly, and sent it to them. This was about
the 13th or 14th of October, 1847. Was directed
by Mr. Fuller to charge it to Mr. Cousins, who is a
working jeweller of Bath. This instruction was an un-
usual one, and out of the regular course of business, but
witness charged it to Mr. Cousins, and ho afterwards
paid it. Afterwards received the service-spoon pro-
duct(' and a fellow from a young man whom he believed
to be in the employ of Messrs. Warren and Fuller.
This was about a fortnight or three weeks after he made
the bowl, but ho was not certain as to the time.
Thought that the bowls produced were the same
down as usual b
ohredersmatdoe, gild the
was not certain. Received
spoons. The order was sent
Warren came to me, and
Gilded the spoonand .
5 sent them home to the prisoners.
Y Messrs. Warren and Fuller's boy.
" About three weeks Since " continued the witness, " Mr.
atonymoef, atnned lolsdai
mkeaddemaeoinifelyehaarda
I believe he asked me if Mr. Thompson had been down
patterns by me etthheant las
'I
thought he seemed excited.
ago, and I said
'
Yes, I bad,' Ile then said the Gold- j