The Sun.
London, England, 1836-12-14 00:00:00

COMMON PLEAS.--(THIS DAY.)

(Before the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE and a Special Jury.)
DIVAS AND OTHERS V. VENABLES AND OTHERS.
This was an action brought by the plaintiffs, as assignees
of Messrs. Bowring and Garrod, silk merchants, to recover
the sum of 1,1201., being the value of certain goods al-
leged to have been fraudulently transferred to the defen-
dants by Messrs. Bowring and Garrod, subsequent to their
bankruptcy.
The case was not concluded when we left.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
(THIS DAY.)

OLD COURT.
(Before the LORD MAYOR, Mr. Justice LITTLEDALE, and
Mr. Baron BOLLAND.)
FEES TO COUNSEL.

At the sitting of the Court this morning, Mr. PAYNE
addressed their Lordships, and said, that during the pre-
sent session some cases had arisen respecting the allowance
of fees to counsel on which it was desirable to have their
opinion. It was the wish of the Recorder and of the Com-
mon Sergeant, and also of the officer of the Court, Mr.
Clarke, that the matter might be mentioned. What they
desired to know was, if in cases where no barrister ap-
peared for the defence, their Lordships would direct in the
making up of the expenses the fee to Counsel for the prose-
cution, when the case appeared to the Judge to be one in
which the assistance of counsel might be required.
Mr. Justice LITTLEDALE.—It iS impossible for us now
to say ; we have had no opportunity of considering the sub-
ject ; it must be settled by all the Judges in the Com-
mission.
Mr. BODKIN.—I believe, my Lords, the bar generally
have no anxiety about this matter.
Mr. PAYNE.—I make the application in consequence of
what fell from the Recorder and Common Sergeant yester-
day, and at the desire of the officer of the Court.
Mr. Justice LITTLEDALE, having conferred with Baron
BOLLAND, observed, " All that we can now say is, that in
cases where it may appear proper for us to allow the ex-
penses of prosecution we shall do so, including the fee to
Counsel. It will be for the Magistrates to consider the
propriety of allowing it generally. I know on circuit the
practice is different in several counties.
John Davis was indicted for having, on the sth of De-
cember, stolen from the person of William W. Thomas a
cloak and one shilling, the property of the said William W.
Thomas.

- William W. Thomas—l live at 15, Warwick-square.
am a clerk in the Coast Guard-office, Custom-house.

went to Drury-lane Theatre on Monday, the sth of De-
cember, at half-price time. I was there before the hour,
and waited ; others waited as well as myself. I had a
handkerchief round my neck ; I took it off ; it and my
gloves fell out of my hands ; the prisoner picked them up ;
when he offered them back he made a half bow, offering to
hold them while I adjusted my neckcloth and collar. I
assented. I turned round when this was done and the
prisoner was gone. I went after him, and in about
half an hour I found him under the piazza at
Covent Garden ; he said he had been looking for me, and
my gloves and hand-
that having caught a glimpse of a friend, ho had rushed
kerchiefa fter im. , quiteforgettingked him
them. he
He replied, looking at had
himself, " Why, I have been home and changed my coat,
and having given up the chance of seeing you again this
evening, I left the gloves and handkerchief in the pocket
of the one I wore when I saw you. He added, if I were
walking his way, we would go and fetch them. He then
took hold of my arm, and asked me to go into a public-
house opposite to see if his friend was there. There seemed
nobody there who appeared to be acquainted with him.
He wished me to drink with him, which I declined, and I
proposed going. When we left the house, he said I might
find him at any time at the large shop in St. Paul's Church-
yard ; but lie again took my arm. and said we should go
to his rooms. We walked to a house in Brownlow-street,
Long Acre, and coming to an entry he stopped with an as-
surance that he should run up and fetch the handker-
chief, and would not trouble me to go up. There seemed to
be a passage at the foot of the entry leading out to some other
street, and thinking he wanted to make away with my
property, I accompanied him up stairs. I saw a woman
there, who gave the prisoner a light. We came to his
room, he opened the door, and we walked in ; it seemed
rather an odd kind of apartment. On my turning round
the prisoner was shutting the door, and taking the key out
of it. This alarmed me, as I suspected having fallen into
a snare ; and though I was in great fear, I endeavoured
to appear collected. I first spoke, and civilly asked for my
handkerchief. He said, " Ha! we'll talk of that presently,
let us have something to drink ;" at the same time holding
out his hand, that I might supply money to procure it ;
and I, wishing to keep on terms with the prisoner, gave
him a shilling. He immediately said, " Come, I know you
have a sovereign about you." I assured him I had not ;
and he repeated his belief that I had one. Upon my per-
sisting in
_denying that I had not, be rushed forward,