The Sun.
London, England, 1849-09-25 00:00:00

TUESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 253 1849.

plaint was made said it was a most disgraceful charge.
Mr. George Morris, of No. 100, Oxford-street,
hosier, said—l have known the prisoner very well
since 1842 as James Green. I mentioned to the So-
ciety for the Protection of Trade that I had seen him
in the street. I did not mention the name of Went-
worth, and did not know anything -of it, but I
described him, and they knew him.—(A laugh.)
Mr. George florae, Warden and Deputy Governor
of Coldbath• fields Prison, deposed that the prisoner
was sentenced in May, 1847, to two years' imprison-
ment for fraud on two indictments, in the name of
James Edward Green, and he served out the period
of imprisonment, and was discharged on the 9th of
May, 1849.
Mr. Lewis—l shall now complete the evidence with
regard to the mathematical instru-nents obtained from
Mr. Beck.
A pawnbroker then produced a box of mathematical
instruments which had been pledged at his shop on
the Bth of September.
Mr. Back swore that he believed they were the
instruments which the prisoner had obtained from him
on the 7th of September.
Here the card containing Mr. Reynolds's name,
which the prisoner handed to Mr. Beck, was produced.
Mr. Reynolds said he never had given that card to
the prisoner, but he believed the prisoner had taken it
out of a drawer in the house in Saville row and ap-
plied it to the purposes of deception.
Mr. Jeremiah Little, of Camden-house, Kensington
builder, said—l produce an agreement made between
the prisoner and myself when he took the house, 14,
Sherborne-street, from me for three years, at 421. a
year, in the name of Wentworth. He called at my
house and introduced himself without ceremony as
James Wentworth, Esq , civil engineer to a railroad
in the Indies, and said he wished to take a house for
Sir John Hamilton's daughter. I said I had no ob-
jection, and he said the lady was in reduced circum-
stances, but her money would pass through his hands
and I would be perfectly safe in letting the house.
He appointed to meet me next day at his office,
31 A, Saville-row, where I saw all appearances of
respectability, and I said it was a matter of indiffer-
ence to me whether I let the house to the lady or to
him. I saw some persons with drawing implements,
apparently very busy, and I finally let the house to
him. Soon after he got possession I found that in-
stead of Lady or Miss Hamilton, there were eight or
nine dirty children in it, and I suppose it is all going
to pieces.—(A laugh.)
The prisoner—How can you be sure that Lady
Hamilton is not there ?—(Great laughter.) Witness
—I am sure she is not.
The prisoner—I am sure she is.—(Lauhter.)
Mr. Lewis—Have the children been taken out of
the workhouse and placed there ? Witness—l be
lieve they have either come out of the workhonse or
out of a wretched four-roomed house in the neigh-
bourhood.

Mr. J. T. Snow, butcher, of Pollen-street, said

let chambers to the prisoner on the 23d of July.
He is now in occupation, but has not been much there
of late.
The prisoner—They were only chambers—bache-
lor's chambers.
Mr. Lewis—Do you know anything of his wife
and children ? Witness—He had a wife and six
children in the workhouse a short time ago.
Mr. Little—l dare say they are in my house
now.—(Laughter.)
The prisoner—I am still in occupation there. I
have no idea of leaving it.—(Laughter.)
Mr. Snow—He introduced one lady as Lady Hare-
wood to me—(Great laughter)—and he had several
other visitors whom he described as persons of rank.
I have seen a great many vi-itors to him whom I did
not consider at all respectable.
The prisoner—That's saying nothing at all.
Mr. Lewis—Have you got any rent yet ?
The prisoner—l took the chambers by the quarter,
and of course he could not get any rent yet. It's
quite time enough to pay when the time arrives.
Alderman GIBB 3 —I remand the prisoner until
Thursday next, in order that the depositions may be
made out, and then I shall commit hi►n for trial.

WORSHIP-STREET.
Yesterday Charles Brown, a powerful excavator,
was charged before Mr. Hammill with violently as-
saulting Mr. Charles Freer, the actor, and a pollee-
constable who had attempted to capture him.
Mr. Freer, it appeared, in addition to his theatrical
engagements, had lately embarked in the business of
a licensed victualler in Norton-folgate, and during his
temporary absence at a late hour on Satur-
day night, the prisoner and a number of
blackguards forced their way into the house, and
conducted themselves in such an offensive and out-
rageous manner that it became necessary to get rid
of them. The landlady went round the bar to induce
them to leave, and the other men voluntary went out,
but the prisoner refused to do so, and on Mrs. Freer
placing her hand on his shoulder to persuade him,
the prisoner struck her right and left, first on the
head, and then two violent blows on the bosom, which
sent her reeling from him, and was about to follow
up his brutality, when she was fortunately rescued
from further violence by the entrance of her husband,
who, with one of his waiters, seized him and attempted
to extrude him. The prisoner, however, immediately
commenced a furious attack upon his assailants, one
of whom, the waiter, he struck two violent blows upon
the eye and face, and then beat Mr. Freer so severely
that, as he stated, ho was still suffering from the
injuries he had sustained, whilst giving his evidence.
The prisoner was at length forced into the street,
and given into the custody of Hussey, a constable of
the H division, who attempted to secure him, but
was instantly set upon by the prisoner, who struck I
him several blows in rapid succession, and then,
throwing him heavily upon the pavement, started
off as fast as he could. The constable, however, pur-
sued him, and, a mob collecting, the prisoner ap-
pealed to them to rescue him, but some other con-

stables came up, and after struggling and fighting for
some time, he was ultimately overpowered and lodged
in the station.

Mr. Freer, who described the prisoner's conduct as
that of a savage, stated that his wife was too ill from
he violence to which she had been subjected to be able
to attend; and the constable, who described the pri-
soner as mad drunk, having complained that he was
seriously hurt from the blows the prisoner had also
inflicted upon him,

Mr. HAMMILL, who characterised it as a very bad
case, sentenced the prisoner to pay a penalty of 60s ,
or three weeks' imprisonment, for the assault upon
Mr. Freer; and for the attack upon the officer, one
month's imprisonment in the House of Correction,
without the option of paying any penalty, and ordered
that one term of punishment should commence at the
expiration of the other.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
NORTH BRITISH.
The directors' report, to be preented to the half-
yearly meeting tomorrow, stat, s that tL paaaenger
traffic for the half-year as compared with the corre-
sponding period of the previous year has been-
-18,1-S.—Passengers 531,887 £29.800 13 2
1849.—Passengers 485,605 34,745 15 3i
,The tonnage carried for the same period is --
1848.--Goods & minerals, 137,557 tons £22,491 2 3
1849.—Goods & minerals, 195,185 tons 37,957 17 7
In making this comparison, it must be borne in mind,
that the mileage has been increased from eighty miles
to 110 miles, but that the general trade of the country
has been very much depressed—a state of matters
which has materially affected the revenue of all rail-
way and other carrying companies. Notwithstanding
this, however, there has been a gradual increase of
the traffic on the line. The receipt from passengers
(although the numbers have fallen off) has increased
about one sixth, and the receipt from goods about
two•thirds, while the increase in mileage is three-
eighths. After making the various deductions for
interest, working expenses, &c , the free revenue
from the main line and Dalkeith branch is
15,2801. G. 10d., and from the Hawick branch
1,984/. Bs. 6d. The former sum will yield a dividend
of 7s. 61 per share on the original and consolidated
Dalkeith shares of 251. each, and of Is. 6 1. per share
on the unconsolidated Dalkeith shares of 51. each, and
will leave a balance of 8801. 6s. 10d. which may
be laid aside as a fund to meet the depreciation of
rails, &c. The directors would recommend that the
revenue applicable to the Ilawick branch be carried
over to next half-year's account. In consequence of
the arrear of the ordinary business of the company,
necessarily caused by the sittings of the investigation
committee, and the books being occupied by the ac-
countant, the directors having found it itnprecticable
to get the accounts and balance-sheet made out and
audited this half-year in time to have the details of
the sub-division put in such shape and published as
they had intended. They have no reason to doubt,
however, that their accuracy will be duly certified
before the meeting takes place, and in the future re•
ports the details can be more fully given. In the
meanwhile they may state, that in charging the in-
terest of loans against the revenue, they have assumed
' the outlay for the several lines at the full amount
mentioned in the investigation committee's report, as
at 31st of January, 1849, the date of the last balance.
From that amount they have deducted the amount of
share capital; and, on the balance, which forms the
loan capital, they have chargsd interest—first, at the
rate of six per cent. on so much of the calls on the
preference stock as were due and paid prior to the
Ist of July ; and, secondly, on the remainder at
the rate of four-and-a-half per cent., which is
the average rate presently payable on the money bor-
rowed on debenture. Although this no doubt bears
heavily upon the receipts, and consequently on the
dividend of the past half-year, particularly as regards
the half and three shares (which, however, are not
likely again to be similarly affected), yet the directors
conceive it to be the proper principle of charge, and
they have therefore adopted it. In regard to the state
of the company's affairs and its future prospects, it
seems unnecessary for the directors to do more than
refer to the report of the committee of investigation
laid before the shareholders on the 9th ult. There
were, however, various suggestions made in that
report, regarding the future management of the
company's affairs, to which the shareholders at their
last meeting called upon the directors to give their
favourable consideration, and to such of them as seem
to require especial notice they will now briefly advert.
The first suggestion to which they will call attention
relates to an improvement in the form of keeping
the books, and upon this point they may at once
state that although in general they think it some-
what hazardous to make any change upon a
system which has been found to work so accurately
as not to have produced, as stated by Mr. Cope,
any "error effecting the result of the accounts
as between the directors and shareholders, or the pub-
lic," in a series of transactions embracing nearly four
millions of money, yet, as they desire to meet the
wishes of the shareholders in regard to this, they have
ordered the suggestions of the committee to be acte d
on as far 1143 possible. For the reasons before given,
it has been impossible to adopt them so fully in the
present report and states of accounts as the directors
could have wished. The next suggestions relate to
the adoption of greater economy in managing and
working the line, and in the construction of such
works as are yet unfinished. The committee have
done the directors the justice to state that the sub-
ject of economy in management was very fully con-
sidered and reported upon by them long before any
investigation was thought of. It may, therefore, be
enough at present to say that the views which the
directors entertained coincided in a great measure
with those of the committee, and that both before
and since the date of the committee's report they have
been acted upon to a very considerable extent. They
will continue to be so whenever an opportunity occurs.
As regards economy in construction of works, the
directors may 'mention that, by curtailing plans,
&c., they have very materially reduced the ex-
pense of such stations as have been re-
cently contracted for. They will follow the
same course in regard to the remaining stations.
The third suggestion to be adverted to relates to
the running of additional trains to Portobello dur-
ing the summer months. Upon this point the di-
rectors venture to differ from the committee. These
are already 19 trains daily to Portobello, and 21
from it. These appear to them to be ample as to
number for the accommodation of the traffic. Whe-
ther a new arrangement may not be advisable is
matter for fair inquiry, and due attention will be
given to it. The fourth suggestion to which the
attention of the directors was called refers to the
introduction of new members into the direction, and
the appointment of two auditors in place of one, as
at present. These points will be fully considered at
next half-yearly meeting, when according to the
company's Act of Parliament, any changes which
may be determined upon fall to be made. In the
meantime the directors may say that while they
doubt the expediency of appointing gentlemen
from a distance to attend to the current business
of the company, they will not object to any
change by which the efficiency of the direction
may be increased, and the true interests of the
company promoted. The question of a depre-
ciation fund is referred to in the report of the
committee, and is one of considerable difficulty.
The directors do not think that any such fund is
required in regard to the rolling stock; inasmuch as,
from the great advantages afforded by the company's
works at St. Margaret's, that stock has hitherto been,
and may continue to be, kept up in an efficient state
by the ordinary annual replacernents and repaits
made upon it. But they concur in opinion with. the
committee that a moderate sum ought to be set apart
yearly for replacing the rails, chairs, sleepers, and
other fixed stock, which cannot be kept up in the
same way as the rolling stock. The only other
suggestion in the committee's report to which the
directors will advert is the recommendation that the
resolution to continue the payment of interest on the
quarter shares, passed at the meeting on the Bth of
March last, should be rescinded. The directors
would be well pleased if this recommendation could
be carried out with justice to all parties, because the
continuing to pay that interest is throwing an
additional burden upon the capital account.
They doubt, however, if it would be either
expedient or fair altogether to rescind ti e
resolution which was so recently come to, and they
are rather disposed to recommend that the inte-
rest he paid down to the 31st January, 1850, being
the date when the next half-yearly balance will
be struck, and about which time, or very soon after•
wards, the Kelso branch will be completed. The
quarters will then take dividend along with the other
stocks. This arrangement would carry out the spirit
of the resolution of the Bth of March, and would, it is
thought, do substantial justice to all parties. It is,
however, for the shareholders to decide, and the di
rectors have given special notice to enable them to do
so at this meeting. In February and September,
1847, the directors were empowered, in order to meet
ceatain over-issues of shares, to capitalise part of the
money authorised to be borrowed under the Acts for
the quarter and third shares, and to issue shares to
that amount. A considerable portion of this has not
been issued, and the directors would recommend the
shareholders to authorise them to borrow the amount
of this unissued stock, or of so much of it as shall not
be issued, on debenture. A resolution to that effect
will be submitted to the meeting.
The capital account showed that 4,026,806/. had
been received, and 3,753,5241. expended.
The revenue account for the half-year showed the
total receipts to have been 75,960/. 4s. 7d., and the
working expenditure 39,3861. 15s. 3d. ; interest on

loans 18,8671. 14s. 7d. ; making the total disburse-
ments 58,2541. 93. 101, and leaving a profit of
17,7051. 14s. 9d.

The engineer's report stated that the Ilawick
branch had been opened as far as St. Boswell's, 40i
miles from Edinburgh. The distance between St.
Boswell's and Hawick (about 12 miles) will be
opened the beginning of next month. The Kelso
branch is expected to be ready for opening about the
same time. The Dense branyli (8 miles) was
opened in August last. The North Berwick branch
is expected to be ready for opening in January nest,
and the Tranent branch will be completed
next, month.

THE THREATENED STRIAE OF ENGINE DRIVERS
ON THE YORK, NEWCASTLE, AND BERWICK RAIL.
wAy.__The threatened strike of the engine-drivers
and firemen on this company's line, which was pro-
pos,,d to take place yesterday, has terminated in an
amicable understanding, and the men have withdrawn
their notices to quit. The directors, with the Lord
Mayor of York, had an interview with a large body of
thein, and stated, that desirous as they were for the
continuance of a good understanding, they could not,