The Sun.
London, England, 1836-09-12 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

Saturday Robert Nightingale, a genteelly-dressed young
man, was placed at the bar and indicted, charged with
having committed a violent assault on Edward Lawrence,
on the night of July 20th.
Mr. C. PHILLIPS appeared for defendant.

The prosecutor carried on business as a general dealer,
at No. 65, Drury-lane, and knew the defendant, who, he
believed, resided over the water. On the 20th of July last
he met the defendant, about eleven o'clock at night, at a
house in Cranbourne street, Leicester-square. In that
house the defendant kept a gaming table ; he had been there
a few evenings before, and had played. On that occasion
he had had a bet with the defendant, who, notwithstanding
he had lost, took up the money. On the second evening,
that on which the assault complained of was committed,
the defendant wanted him again to bet, but he refused,
unless the former debt was paid. The defendant declined
to refund. He then went and sat down at another part of
the room, and entered into conversation with some other
person. At the expiration of about twenty minutes,
without any provocation, the defendant came up and
struck him so violent a blow just above the right eye as
to cut it open.
Cross-examined—Was a general dealer, and sometimes
pawned things when he was short of money ; he was not
a " pawner," although he sometimes pawned things ; that
was not his business.

Mr. PHILLIPS—DO you mean to say you do not know
that a "pawner" is a person who either manufactures fic-
titious articles of jewellery, or makes a business of pro-
curing them, and takes them to a pawnbroker's to pledge as
genuine goods ? Witness—l know nothing about the
business.

Mr. PHILLIPPS—Pray how long is it since you were
taken up to Bow-street on such a charge ? Witness—l
never was at Bow-street.

Mr. PHILLIPS—What ! not there ? Were you ever al
Birmingham, then ? Witness—No.

Mr. PHILLIPS—Pray how have you lived for these five
or six years ? Witness—l have lived in Drury-lane part
of the time, and have travelled about the country to do
business for a subsistence.

Mr. PHILLIPS—WeII, what have you 'dealt in ? to
whom did you sell your last goods ? and what were they ?
Witness—l have not had any money to buy goods with.
What little money I have had I have earned by hard work.
Mr. PHILLIPS—By " smashing" or " pawning ?" Wit-
ness—No.

Mr. PHILLIPS—WeII, then, at the gaming table ?
Witness—No. I am sorry to say at gambling-houses where
I lost all my money. They have been my ruin.
Mr. PHILLIPS—Oh ! indeed. Pray, how many wit-
nesses have you got to corroborate your statement ? Wit-
ness—Three.

Mr. PHILLIPS—Who are they ? Witness then went on
to say that they were Mr. Thompson, a tobacconist, who
had known him between four and five years ; Mr. David
Harris, a general dealer, who had known him for 15 years ;
and a Mr. Samuel Lee, a waiter at a gaming-table, who
had known him from a child. Neither of them, however,
had ever visited him in Drury-lane.
Henry Thompson, who, with the other witnesses, had
been ordered out of the Court, was then called. He said
he was a tobacconist, and was at the house when the as-
sault was committed on the prosecutor. The witness then
proceeded to give his version, which varied essentially from
that sworn to by the prosecutor.
Cross-examined—Was a tobacconist.

Mr. PHILLIPS—Pray, Sir, where is your shop, and how
long have you been in that business ? Witness (hesitating)
—Why, I have not opened yet, but I am going to.
Mr. PHILLIrs—Now, Sir, tell the Court whether you
are not the driver of a cab ? Witness (after some time)
I have driven one ; I did so for about eighteen months, but
do not now.

The CHAIRDIAN—Oh, then, you are a defunct cab-
driver, and an embryo tobacconist.—(Much laughter.)
Mr. Prum.irs—He is a tobacconist in the leaf
(Laughter.)
Cross-examination resumed—Does not know where the
prosecutor lives, and believes him to be a working-jeweller.

David Harris was next called in.—He confirmed the tes-
timony of the last witness.
Cross-examined—ls a general dealer.

Mr. PHILLIPS—Pray, -Sir, do you know Mr. Levy the
Sheriff's officer ? Witness—Yes, I know a little of him.

Mr. PHILLIPS—And your general dealing consists in
being a follower of his ? Witness.—No. ___

Mr. PriurArs—Oh ! I beg your pardon, not a follower—
a partner perhaps ? Witness—No, not that either ; I wish

I was a partner.
Mr. PHILLIPS—WeII, what connection have you with
him ? Witness—Why, when he wants me I act for him ;
he employs me when he has any thing for me to do.
The Chairman here asked the prosecutor if he wished to
call his other witness. The prosecutor, with the utmost
sang froid—Just as you please, Sir ; if you wish it.—(Much
laughter.)
The CHAIRMAN—NO, it is not my case.
wish.

It is not as I

The prosecutor, after pondering for a few minutes amidst
the smiles which pervaded the Court, said with great confi-
dence of manner, and as though he considered his case as
satisfactorily established, "Oh ! No, Sir, there is no oc-

casion."

The Jury returned a verdict of Guilty.
The CHAIRMAN ordered the defendant to pay the fine
of one shilling, and then to be discharged.
The fine was paid, and the party liberated.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSIOAT-HOUSE.

A young man, named William George Twiteham, was
brought before Sir CHAPItAN MARSHALL, charged with
having plundered his master of a quantity of jewellery,
watches, ttc. The case excited a great deal of interest.
Mr. Hart, jeweller, of Bevis Marks, stated the prisoner
was-his warehouseman, and had lived in his employment
fifteen or sixteen months, On Friday witness picked up in
the counting-house a duplicate for a gold watch, and sus-
pecting that foul play had been going on, went to the
pawnbroker, and having ascertained that it was his pro-
perty, requested that the pawnbroker would accompany him
to his counting-house, and point out the person who had
pledged the article. When the pawnbroker pointed out
the prisoner as the party, witness accused another young
man at the desk, who was also in his employment, saying
to him, " You villain, you have been robbing me." The
young man thus falsely charged, began to cry bitterly, and
declared that he had never done anything of the kind, and
the prisoner then acknowledged that he (the prisoner) was
the thief. After some expressions of indignation witness
went, accompanied by an officer, to the prisoner's bed-room,
and upon examining the trunks there, found in one of them
a silver repeating watch, three parcels of duplicates, and a
regular list of the pawned articles, all of which were wit-
ness's property, and showing that the prisoner had com-
menced his work of robbery about a fortnight after he was
taken into the concern. There were 35 duplicates.

Sir. C. MARSHALL—Had you suspected him before ?
Witness—l had ; I had some time ago missed an ounce
and a half of wedding-rings, and nobody could find them ;
and I have missed severa articles, which, upon my com-
plaining, found their way back next day, but whether from
the pawnbroker's or not Ido not know. But what excites
my indignation most of all is, that nobody was at case in the
house for his religion ; his pockets were stowed with reli-
gious tracts, and the Bible was a book of constant reference
and study to him.
Sir C. MARSHALL-I am sorry to say that that volume
is often abused and perverted to the very worst purposes.
Witness—Nobody could move without a religious lec-
ture ; I thought there was too much of it.
The policeman who took the prisoner into custody found
several religious tracts in his pockets and trunks, and some
letters from females. A copy of a letter of his own to a
girl, expressive of his strong love for her, although she re-
fused to listen to his addresses, was found among his papers.
It was evident from the whole correspondence that he had
been associated with dangerous persons.
Sir C. MARSHALL asked the prisoner whether he wished
to say anything.
He shook his head, which he had covered during the
examination with his handkerchief, but said nothing.
Remanded,

Q UEEN-SQUARE.
Two members of the " swell mob," named John Romsey
and James
committing depredations at Barnet Races.
Both prisoners were fully committed to the Middlesex
Sessions for trial, and to be detained on several other
charges which are expected to be brought against them.
Emma Hall, a woman who has some time cohabited with
William Green, a .notorious Westminster coiner, and who
has been in custody at least fifty times upon charges of
uttering counterfeit money, and John Watson, another

. . ----- --.
....
not o-; ------- B BELL, irr
„ous smasher, were brouht before Mr. en , rged
cuzftody. of Inspector. AYery, Hof the B division, "4.° ~.
with coining, A boy named John Inman had bee" 1/PP-rin
Derided upon a chop of robbing his father, an 06*,€.00'
the' City police, of his watch and a sum of money. ".1
his examination before Mr. BURRELL, several. eases
he
smashing were br ought against bim In his defence en
stated that he had sold the watch form sovereign to Greet,
(flan companion), who lived at No. 34, St. Ann'6-strc 1.
Westminstef, nand from whom he had afterwards bougbis;
number of counterldt shillings. In consequence off tit •
,
James Lingham, a poneta`nan, of the 13 division, and CA"'
the gaoler of this office, proceeded Friday
residence of Green, and it appeared from their 016'
c the
that upon their applying for admissionl°n to a room 't open,
ground-floor they were refused. They then broke 1 or.
to be C red
and found the two prisoners there, who seemed .
pletely taken by surprise, and upon the hob they diseov.e
se
a pipkin containing a quantity of metal and several neej.
shillings, which, it seemed, having been badly munnfactu.rs X
bad been put in the pipkin a second time.
fire in the room, and upon a further search they founastr,
small file and a quantity of plaster pans. Over tbebmeing
telshelfexa hung a pair of pocket pistols, which, uPee -
• Tmh"ned, were found to be loaded with shot. itied
morning
.t,ot the
The prisoners were remanded until the Mirilieurteb°°:' A
could attend in order to prosecute.

WORSIP- STEET•
wee
Edmund Grey, a younH g
Irishm R
an, who. had been °bar k
ge
in custody, was brought up for re-examination 00 a c
of attempting to impose on St. Luke's parish. we'4
About eleven o'clock on Friday night the priio"er,ears
to the G police station with a little girl about sevo
and
old, stating that he had found her in Finsbury-squaTbren
understandingthat she bad lost her mother, he ba" fold
several times endeavouring, but without success, t° of.
out her friends. They were taken by a constable Cohort,'
Hamlin, the relieving overseer of St. Lukes,' who' d the
ever, suspecting a:relationship between the prisoner an .
girl, refused to receive the latter. The
" brother," but the prisoner denied all knowledge °f be,
They were both kept at the police station for inclulriagea
fore a Magistrate, and the prisoner then acknowle
that the girl was the illegitimate child of his brother, ;
her mother having gone away and left her, they were %et
loss what to do with her. The girl herself said that
mother was gone " a hopping." since
The prisoner was remanded, and his brother has
been sought for, but cannot be found. sto
The prisoner, who spoke • I • h wit a ric.. brogue, , hat
girl called inier.

that he had been only three months in this countrY,
kith
brother had been here some years, and had cohabited
the girl's mother, who went off a fortnight ago. tbeh
The overseer said that he remembered the girl's °
" Bridget Burke," being delivered in the workhouse:AO in
Mr. BROUGHTON said the prisoner had not suceTt have
any fraud or imposition upon the parish, or they mig'
indicted him, but as it was he would be discharged.

UNION-HALL. 1; area
John Smith, a hatter, of Holborn-bridge, was ,crudaas
with using divers threats of intimidation against '
Stowell, and exciting a mob of persons against blab cari'
The defendant having entered into the required 5e
ties, was then discharged.