The Sun.
London, England, 1836-09-01 00:00:00

HATTON-GARDEN.

Yesterday Ebenezer Smith, aged fourteen, was brought
from the station-house, charged by police-constable 138 N
division, with being drunk, and hiving assaulted him.
Yesterday morning at an early hour the complainant was
going his rounds through High-street, Islington, when he
found the prisoner lyine: down in a state of intoxication sur-
rounded by a crowd of persons, and on picking him up he
acted in a violent manner and kicked the officer, swearing
that he would murder him with a large knife which he had
in his possession, He was, however, taken to the station-
house, and on searching him a tremendous clasp knife was
found slung round his body with a string, and with which he
evidently intended to do mischief, as he was known to be a
notorious and violent fellow, who had once made an at-
tempt to murder his own mother, who prosecuted him for
the offence.

Mr. LAING asked him how long he had been out of
prison ? Prisoner (sullenly)—Only a few days.
Mr. LAING-Why do you carry that knife about you ?
Prisoner—l deal in fish, and I use it to kill them. He
did not deny having been charged by his mother and com-
mitted to the House of Correction, where he was put upon
the mill and to pick oakum.
Mr. LAING consulted with Mr. BBNNETT, and ordered
the prisoner to pay a fine of ten shillings, and on default of
payment, he was committed to the House of Correction.
Last night, just before Mr. Laing quitted the bencb,
Janzes Townsend, a young man, was placed at the Bar,
charged by John Lee, an' elderly man, door-keeper of St.
Mark's Church, Clerkenwell, with having decoyed his daugh-
ter, Franc..s Lee, aged nineteen, under the following mys-
terious circumstances :

It appeared from the statement of the old man, that in
July, 1835, the prisoner became acquainted with his daugh-
ter, to whom he paid his addresses, and was in the habit of
walking with her, and accompanying her to church. One
Sunday, shortly after they were acquainted, witness saw
them on the steps of St. Mark's Church, in conversation,
shortly after which he missed them. His (laughter did not
return home, and he had not seen her from that day to
this, although he had made every inquiry after her, and he
knew not what had become of her.

-Mr. LAING—Then what you have brought the prisoner
here for ? Witness—For decoying her away. I did not
meet with him until this day, when I gave him into custody,
Mr. LAING—What do you charge him with ? Witness
(hesitating)—Why I think he must know what has become
of my daughter.
Mr. LAING—Do you mean to charge him with her mur-
der ? Witness made no reply.
Mr. LAING—If you cannot make a direct charge against
hill► he is discharged.
The prisoner left the office, when the father requested
Mr. Laing to hear what his daughter, who was present,
had to say.
Mr. LAING consented, and ordered the prisoner to be
brought back.
The daughter was then sworn, and stated that her sister
had informed, her that she slept with the prisoner one night.
Mr. LAING—HOW old was she ? Witness—Nineteen
years of age, Sir.
Mr. LAING—Then she was old enough to act for her-
self ; that will not form a charge against him. He asked
the prisoner what account he could give of the transaction,
or whether he knew where the girl was ? Prisoner—l can
declare positively that I know nothing of her. I certainly
kept company with her, but I have not seen her ever since
July, 1835. I deny having decoyed her away.
Mr. LAING—How do you procure your living? Pri-
soner—l am at present out of a situation, but at the time
alluded to I was porter in the dissecting-room of the Lon-
don University.
Mr. LAlNG—There is no charge against you, and you
are discharged from this office.
The father, who seemed considerably affected, thought
the absence of his daughter extraordinary and mysterious.
The impression on his mind was that something fatal had
happened to her, but he could not charge any person.
The parties then quitted the office.