The Sun.
London, England, 1838-01-03 00:00:00

CRIMINAL COURT-(THIS DAY.)

OLD COURT.
Mr. Sergeant AILABIN and Mr. Alderman BIRCH took their seats upon
the Bench :it nine o'clock, and disposed of several cases of larceny, which
possessed no put.lic interest.

At a quarter-p.ist ten Mr. Justice \Vitra/ors, Mr. Baron A I.DERSOM,
and Mr Justice COLTMAN, attended by the Right Hon. the Loan
MAvon, the Sheritis, and other Civic authorities, enter,il the Court.
31ANSI.4UGIITE:It ON Till: Hunt Seas.—Juhrs Leggatt an,i William
Ne4litt were placed at the Lai', on an indictment charging them with
the manslaughter of John Brown, upon the high seas, in November last.
Mr. C. PHILLIPS applie.l to the Court, on the part of the prisoners,
for permission to withdraw their plea of " not guilty," and record that
of "

This p!ea having been recorded,
Mr. CL.taksoN stated, that Legate was the Captain, and Nesbitt the
first Mate of the ship Margaret, on her outward bound voyage to the
West Indies. On the passage home, the vessel called at St. Andrew's.
At that time, Brown, the deceased, was the only person on board who
had gone on the outward voyage with the Captain and Mate. Before
they arrived at St. Andrew's, Brown, had been taken ill; and he was
placed its the hospital at St. Andrews. When the ship sailed, he was
again taken tri bocril, it was presumed, in a state fit for hearing the
homeward voyage, otherwise the hospital surgeon would hardly have
allowed him to leave the hospitaL Nevertheless, he was in a very seri-
ously diseased state of health. It would appear that she Captain and the
Mate had, from the commencement of the voyage, adopted the opinion,
that Brown was endeavouring to avoid his duty—in other words, that he
was a "skuiker." The consequence of that impression on their minds,
was, that a course of proceeding was resorted to towards him, which
in his then condition of health, expedited his death. He was exposed to
the inclemency of the weather by the Captain's orders, who said that if
ha would not work he should not cat, and, to make him work, had him
placed on the open desk. He (Mr. Clarkson) must say, that if ordinary
attention had been paid to Brown's state of health by the captain and
mate, they might e'sily have found that he was not in a proper condition
for work. 'There Wes no medical man on board. With these observa-
tions on behalf of the pasties who had sent the case here, and who had
only in so doing discharge.l their duty, he (Mr. Clarkson) left the case
in the hands of the Court.
Mr. C. PHILLIPS said he had little to add to what had been most hu_
manely and considerately stated by Mr. Clarkson. He would merely re-
mark, that the impression upon the minds of the capta:n and mate, that
the deceased was a " skulker," was warranted by the fact that he had
been in the hospital and discharged by the surgeon, and sent by him on
board as capable of doing his wcrk.

Mr. Baron ALDERION—Does that appear upon the depositions ?
Mr. l'itiLLtps—No, my Lord, but I can prove it.
Mr. Baron ALDERSON—I should like to hear it proved.
Mr. l'inwps proce.ded ts, call

Mr. George Roberts, ship.chandler, Blackwall, who had known the
prisoner Leggatt for mile months, and gave him a very good character.
M'Court, one of the seamen on board the Margaret on the voyage
home, remembered the deceased being sent to the hospital at St. An-
drew's, and his being sent on board ahain. He came on board in a
pilot boat. It was in the night. He was dressed in the ordinary sea-
men's dress—not wrapped up at all. 'I he witness could not say what
time of the year it was. Deceased was treated kindly ; he had any.
thing on board that was good for him. He had mutton broth and bar-
ley water. The ship was four weeks on her passage from St. Andrew's
to Liverpool. The deceased died just before they arrived at Cork.
Mr. Baron AtimasoN—l will read the depositions. If the deceased
was ill treated, this is a very serious case.

Mr. CLARKSON—It appears, my Lord, that the treatment which the
deceased received was only to make him work.

Mr. Baron ALDERSON—But I want to see whether the conduct of the
captain and mate was that of humane man; if not, they have committod
a very s:rious crime.

Two gentlemen, one a clerk, the other a partner in commercial firms
under %%hose superintendence the prisoner Leggatt had sailed, gave him
a good character.

'I he sec. Ed mate of the Margaret, on her homeward voyage, and
who had bien with Legg .tt on former voyages—one to the West Indies
—spoke highly of his conduct as captain.
CkAain M'Farlay, who had known Leggatt from boyhood, bore testi.
mon y to his good temper and generally unexceptionable character.
Mr. CLARKSON observed that no active violence had been used to-
wards the deceased. He had been, from time to time, desired to come
out of the forecastle, upon the deck, and told to work; to which he replied
that he was unable to work ; and this, it would seem, was frequently the
truth. The Captain and Mate said he was skulking, and having passed
around his person a rope, dragged him from the forecastle upon deck,
and desired him to work. Upon declaring his inability to work he was
sent to the helm. This teas often repeated ; and upon the day of the
deceased's death, the 11th of 'November, he was brought up on deck.
It further appe.ired from the evidence that deceased's body was
much swollen. The nature of his illness did not exactly appear.
On the day of his death he ate some meat and bread, as he had done
on preceding days. Mr. Clarkson, in addition, stated to the Court,
that had the trial been gone into, evidence would have been offered
of a conversation between the Captain and the deceased, the
former asserts that deceased was ab:e to work, because he had been sent
onboard by the hospital surgaon, the deceased declaring that lie had
been sent on board at the Captain's suggestion.
Asssmr, WITH INTENT TO MAIM OR DISPIGURE, &E.-John An-
derson was indicted fur having assaulted his wife, with intent to maim,
sastignre, s r disable. A second count stated it to be with intent to do
some grievous bodi:y harm. It will easily be seen that the prisoner
does not live with his wit, in the manner described by the fin, old song,
" John Anderson, my Joe, John." It appears that on the Bth of
Decemb r last, the parties ha ! been quarrelling at a public-house. On
the pris_ner's coining Lorne he kicked his wife, and repeated the assault,
after sli had become insensible. The injuries she received were not,
however, very severe. Both the prisoner and his wife were in liquor
at the time. The wife stated that, when sober, her husband treated
her kindly.

.Jury found the pri;on2r guilty o' a common assau!t.
STEALING FROM THE I.ONIX:NMOCKS.— George Smith was indicted for
ste ling some copper from the Londoo-dockv, where he was employed,
th" proj erty of the London.dock Company,
Mr. BA LI. ANTI'S proiccutcd— Mr. DOA NP: defended.

The priso.ier via; stoppe.l by an officer nut far from the Dock?, and
the copper found upon him The defence now set up was, that he got
the copper outside of the ll)cici.—Verdict, Guilty.

NEW COURT.
(Before the COMNION-SERGEANT.)
William Lent, one of a numerous gang of pickpockets who infest
Fleet-street, was charged with stealing a bilk hauakereliief from the
pocket of a p..rson unknown.

James Lightfoot, streetkeeper of Fleet-street, deposed that he saw the
prisoner take the handkerchief from the pocket of a gentl.•man. lie
immediately took him into custody, but the gentleman who was uncon.
scioLs of his loss, had passed cu. The eridenc, of this witness was
corn borated by that of another person, who was looking at the transac-
tion —Gui'ty.

The CO,BION SERGEANT told Lightfoot that he might communicate
t) the Fleet-street: gang that he would send the prisoner out of the
c:iun'ry for ten yelrs.

One of the metro; olitan police here communicated something to the
L' mod Sergeant which induced him to have the prisoner recalled to the
bar. He said " Why, prisoner, par and I have met before ? Don't
you remember having attempted to pick my pocket one night when I
was with Sir Peter Lawrie in Bow-street ?

Piisaner (with a serious louk)—Ah,YOUr Honour has a good memory.
The COMMCN SERGEANT —We let you go on that occasiun, but I pre_
mised you that we should meet again, and the fact is so. I had marked
your sen'ence before I was aware of this circumstance, s > that will make
no difference in your punishment.

John Wilkins, aged 17, was indicted for embezzling two sums of 2s.
W. and Is., the property of his toaster, Henry White.
The prosecutor, who keeps on oil shop, deposed that the prisoner
was his apprentice. In cuns?quence of some suspLions, he marked a
half-crown and a shilling, with which two persons went to the shop
and made purchases, and the money was afterwards found in the pri-
soner's pocket. Several witnesses corroborated this testimony, and the
prisoner was found Guilty.

The Learned SERGEANT said the system of shopmen and apprentice,.
embezzling the property of their masters had been carried to such an
extent that it Wa4 impossible honest tradesmen could live, and he was
i:etermin, d to make an example of every case which came before him.
Mary Benfield, 31, was indicted for stealing a pair of scales and scro-
tal weights, the property of Richard Marquison.
The prisoner and her husband lodged at the prosecutor's house, and
it was proved that she had pawned the property in question.
In her defence she said her husband was unable to work from
mid that they were in great distress. The prosecutor believed her
statement to be true, and after the verdict of Guilty had been returned,
j ine.i the jury in recommending her to mercy.
The Court sentenced her to one month's imprisonment.
James Fletcher, aged 18, a respectable-looking young man, was in-
dicted for stealing 19.5 yards of linen, value Hi. 95., three shawls, value
V. 10s., two handkerchiefs, value 135., a veil, vane 143., GI yards
of lawn, value 195., and other articles, the goods of John Wil:iams and
another ; and Henry May, aged :27, was charged with. receiving the
same, well knowing them to be stolen.
Llewellyn Parry deposed that he was a shopman in the employ of
Messis. Williams and Sowerby, of GI and 912, Oxfoid-street. The
prisoner Fletcher, was also a shopman in the same warehouse. On
the 11:h December, sonic articles being missed, witness charged
Fletcher with having taken them, and he.admitted that he had stolen
two shawls.
A constable, who took Fletcher into custody, stated that on ques-
tioning him as to what induced him to rob his employers, he said he
had beets tempted by the prisoner May, a shoemaker, who worked for
the shopmen, and that he had sold the property to him. The witness
then proceeded to May's lodgings in Long-acre, where he found the ar-
tick's laid in the indictment.
A Pawnbroker in St Martin's-lane deposed that May was in the
habit of pledging articles of that description at his shop.
The prisoners, particularly Fletcher, received goal characters, and
the jury found both Guilty, recommending Fletcher to mercy,
The Condos SE.RuEANT said there was no doubt that Fletcher had
been the dupe of May, and enquired what amount of limpet ty liatcher,a
empl..yers Lad leg's,

The witness I"“rry said he believed the amount was upwards of XlOl.
Pagel!, 60, was indicted liar stealing a book. value Is. 6d., the
property of Louisa Itothcry, six toothpicks, value I 55., the property of
Martha Drew, and a sUrlit bott!e, va'ue Via, tld., the property of Mary
Downes. •

The proseculrix, in each case, kept rt stall in the Pantheon, Oxford-
stroet, and the prisoner was seen by Miss Rothery to take a book (coin
her own stand, and then proceed to the others and carry oft' t::e articles
named in Oa indictment.

A reap cetable woman gave the prisoner a very good character. She
hat seen better days, an.l had Wen formerly a governess.

The CoussoN Sear:wry did not wish to press with mue'l severity
upon the unfortunate ,voinan, but the r:spectable young ladi,s who were
endeavouring to supp,rt the.n.elves at these Bazaars must also be pro.
tected.

Edward M'llak wai indicted for stealing 15th;. of lead, the Property
of John Townsend.

The Court then adjourred for an hour, to bring up the pr:soners
a,gainst whom bills had been found.

SURREY SE., SToNS.—TRIS DAY.

Thomas Rernall, a stupid looking countryman, war indicted fur steal.
lug seven ploughshare points and a buck, the property of Mr. Loveloch
and Mr. Russell, farmers, in the parish of Coulstou,

On the lath of December, the prisoner was stopped. at Croydon
by the constable. He had a large parcel with him, which he saki
contained ohl horse shoes. The constable looked into thin parcel, and
found the property named in the indictment. He had traced the pro,
pert y to have been taken from the two farmers name.l.

They could not swear to the property, Lut had lost such things on
the previous day.

Verdict—Guilty. Sentenced to three months' hard labour in Brixton
House of Correction.

ATANSION-HOUSE.-(THIS DAY.)

A plwerful and frrotious-loaing loan, called Charles Croucher, was
charged before the Limn 31Av0r. with I:rossly.assaulting a woman.
Thomas Sandan, watchman of Vintry Ward, was informed last night,
about six o'clock, that a man was ill using a woman. On going to the
place indicated he found the prisoner quarrelling with a woman. He
did lint strike her in witness': presence, but he took her velvet bonnet
in his great fist, and crushed it into the size of an apple.
1 he womaa had been seen in the office, but when called did not come
forward. . .

The LORD MAYOR Supposed that she wa3 afraid of the prisoner; but
lie would teach him not to lay his great hands upon a poor woman. Ho
would remand him till tomorrow, when the officer must produce the
woman.

On this decision being given, Budget Gibbins came forward. She
sail the was an unfortunate woman, and had known the prisoner about
fifteen months. He had cohabited with her, and she was unable to get
quit of him. She had often shut him out, but he broke windows and
shutters until he got in; and he never brought home any of his earnings.
The Loan 31.1voit supposed that such would be the way, and inquired
if he often abused her.

Witne,s said that he followed her all about the streets, and frequently
assaulted her in the most violent way. He wa• quite sober last night.
The Lard MAYOR said suet conduct must be put an end to. The
prisoner was held to bail.