The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-04 00:00:00

NORTH %VALES Aug. 2.

The commissions of assize were hero opened yester-
day bel)re Mr. Justice Maule, and the business com-
menced this day. There were only 13 prisoners and three
causes for trial.

The Learned JUDGE, in his charge to the grand
jury, congratulated them on the highly creditable state
of the country.

CROWN COURT.

David Hughes, 30, was arraigned on seven coroner's
inquisitions for minslaughter, in seven deaths that oc-
curred! by a colliery accident at Flint.
The accident occurred last week. It appeared that, by
some means, in raising the seven colliers from the pi',
they were drawn above the trill, and, losing their hold,
the whole number were thrown precipitately down the
shaft- Six of them were killed on the spot, and the other
man died in a few hours_ afteiwards from the effects of
the injuries he sustainei. The prisoner was the person
in charge of the machinery.
Mr. WELSBY, for the prosecution, said the grand jury
had ipnored the bills beture them. He should not offer
any evidence. It was due to the prisoner to say that he
was not inexperienced in the management of steam-en-
gines, and that the unfortunate occurrence was the effect
of accident.

The JUDGE said he had read the depositions, and ap
proved of the course taken by Mr. Welsby.
The grand jury were of opinion that the mouths o
coal-pits might be protected when the workmen were as•
tending and descending.

Verdicts of Argititral wera taken in all the cases.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MAR YLEBONE.

Mr. Thomas Pritchard, who described himself as a
gentleman residing at Ni. 3, Canterbury Villas. Maids-
vale, Paddington, was charged before Mr. Broughton
with having committed violent assaults upon Charles
Kay, conductor of one of the Atlas omnibuses, running
from St. John's Wood to Camberwell-gate.
Complainant's evidence wag, that on the previous
evening, between five and six o'clock, he took up defend-
ant near Charing cross, and that on arriving at the cor-
ner of Baker-street he saw the defendant's foot upon
the cushion. lie said nothing to him then, but on getting
into the Alpha-road, after putting down several passen-
gers, he asked defendant to take off his foot, when he
replied, " I shan't." Complainant told him that if he
permitted him to keep his foot where it was he should
run the risk of being discharged by his employers, and
on finding that his entreaty was of no avail he opened
the door of the vehicle, when he laid hold of the toe of
defendant's boot and removed the leg from the seat.
Defendant then gave him several blows of a most violent
description upon the face and chest, and on the vehicle
reaching the corner of Little Earl street the defendant
was given into custody and conveyed to the station-
house.

The defendant's answer to the charge was given by
him at some length ; the purport of it was, he had his
leg up, not on the cushion, but merely on the frame,
and that he was spoken rudely to by the complainant,
who caught hold or his leg, and he then struck him.
Mr. BROUGIITON, after remarking upon the excellent
manner in which the Atlas omnibuses were conducted,
Sned d f,ridzint 60s. ; in'default of payment, one month
in the House of Correction.
The penalty was paid.

Mr. -David Williams, a chemist and druggist, resid-
ing in the Edgware-road, was charged, at the in-
stance of the Excise, with having on his premises an
illicit still.
Evidence was gone into, and it was shown that on an
examination of the premises being made, the officers
found in a room on the basement story a private still,
complete in every part. There was some wash in a state
of fermentation, and spirits, partly manufactured, in
bottles and jars. The officers took possession of all, and
defendant was given into custody.
A fine of 301. was inflicted ; in default of payment
three months' imprisonment.
LAMBET H. _ _

John Perry Henning, who asserted himself to be Se-

eretar y to the AnimaLe Friend Soei.!ty, alleged to have
offie at IS, Strand, and Henry Roberts, his collector,
we' brought before the Hon. G. C. Norton, for further
eY..unupttion, charg. d with obtaining mosey trout na-
l' neroui la lies and gt ntl,,neu in the metr:,p ,lis, under

ti►lso and frau talent pretenc,!s; there ti:irer hav►n4 been
ach a socioly in existence
Captain Wood, It N., Secretary to the Mendicity So-
cl'ety, with Mr. F •rgason, his chief clerk, were in at-
ta n•iancc, to conduct the prosecution.

The prisoners are men of very respectable appearance,
e4nd from their plausible demeanour were likely to impose
upon the public to a great extent. They were appre-•
betide& in the first instance by Horsford, chief c instable
of ow ilenilicity Society, for imposing on Mr. Hick-,, the
SWord Bearer of the City of London, from whoa B )b?rts
-obtained sq. The receipt was signed by both of them.
Horstorti hail since ascertained tact both of them had
obtained money from various other gentlemen, and that
they had nooks containing a vast number of sham re-
port., and to which was attached the names of a number
of intiwtnial gentlemen as trustees, patrons. and com-
mittees. He had inquired and found they were inserted
without th, lir authority, and that the gentlemen in ques-
tion were u 'nit ware of the existence of such a society.
Mr. Now-row (t.o Ilorsford)—Have you any other
charges a4ainst them for obtaining money?
Horstord—l havo a gentleman present from whom
Roberts obtained five shillings, and from whom Henning
attempted. to extort money.
Mr. NORTON—L4t mo have all the evidence you can
produce. as I shall thoroughly investigate the case, which
is ono of gre at imposture.
Mr. John Frazer, surgeon, said that on the sth June,
1848. R)bet called upon him, and solicited subscrip-
tions in aid of the Animals' Friend Society, at 18, Strand.
He produced a book containing reports of cases before
the tnagistrt,tes, and perceiving the names of several
gentlemen be knew on the supposed committee, he gave
him five shillings, when he received the receipt pro-
duced. Henning called upon him a month ago, and sus-
pecting the society was not all right, he told him to call

Bain.
Mr. NORTON askei Horsford whether the prisoner
Henning ever had an office at 18, Strand ? Horstor I re-
plied that the landlord
.of that house was present, and he
could answer the question.
Mr. Thomas Atten was then called, and said he rented
18, Strand. An Animals' Friend Society was hfld there
by Mr. Gompertz, in 1846, but that gentleman lett in
the latter part of that year. On the 21st of May la,:t
the prisoner Henning and another called on him, and
said that as Mr. Gompertz had given up his society,
they intended carrying it on, at the same time asking
him to receive subscriptions for them as he had hereto-
fore done. lie agreed to do so at a nominal price of a
pound a quarter, but he never received any money. In
fact, it was such a nuisance to him that .he would have
nothing to do with them. Parties iuquirei about the
committee, and other things connected with the society,
which raised his doubts.

Henning here stated that he was about having a por-
tion of Mr. Allen's shop, and while the affair was before
the committee he agreed to pay him a nominal rent of 11.
per quarter for receiving letters.
Mr. NORTON —Did Henning ever hire any office of
you, or had he asy room in your house? Witness—He
did not at any time.
Joha Murray, 403, Strand, was next called, and said
that he knew Henning some time last year, as calling at
hie shop, and representing himself as secretary to the
" Animals' Fricnd Society." He had offices in his house
tor some weeks in the early part of the present year.
He had no office there in June and July, 1848.

Henning—l alwa3s paid you the reisc, and owe you
nohing.
Mr. Murray—Yes; you paid me the rent for the time
you were there, that is perfewly right, but you had not
atiees there in June and July, 1848.
Henning—l have acted honestly in all the transactions.
I could stow by my books 35 eases of cruelty that I have
taken before th magistrates in the metropolis, and ob-
tained convictions. My books are kept away from me,
or I could explain all liUtis fae torily.
Horstord informed the Magistrate that ho had all the
prisoner's bo:,ks and papers found at his lodgings, which
he could hire access to, but none of them related
to cases before Magi,trates. Horsforcl further added,
that he had called on Mr. Gilbertson of 21, South
Elolley-street, whose name was not only down in the
orison' r's book as a vice-patron, but as a liberal supporter
of the society. That gentleman d. nied all knowledge
~f it, and at some future day would come Forward to give
avid nee. Mr. Stevens of Limier Grosvenor-street,
had also byen gro'sly imposed upon by Henning, who
salad on him and toll him the soci ty was establi-.had,
but he refused giving any money unless some of the.
conirniVee called on him. He was much surprised at his
name being in the list of the committee.
Witness—l saw Mr. Stevenson, and he directed me to
place his name on the committee. He could not deny it
if he was present.
Horsford—H, has got among bis constables the name
of William Adfield, the officer employed at Covent.
4arizkn market. That party denied ever giving his
sancti.,n for such a proceeding. In fact, the whole of
the names inserted in the books were falsely used to
decoy the charitable.
Mr. NORTON —I have no doubt that the whole con-
cern is a fiction, and that the prisoner Henning has been
defrauding the public for a length of time. There ap-
aeareil to be a number of cases, and as I intend to send
them for trial I shall dive the officer every opportunity
of obtaining all the evidence he can. Under these
eirc,imstances I shall remand the prisoners until
Tnuraday next.

FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE OF

FRIDAY.
WHITEHALL, Auc. 1. 1849.

This afternoon, at three o'd ek, her Majesty, accom-
panied by hi, Highness Prince Albert, embArkett.
ac Osborne, on board her Majesty's yacht the Victoria
and Albert, and imirLdiately proceeded on her voyage
t) Cork.