The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-27 00:00:00

CROYDON PETTY SESSIONS.

(Before D. R. WARRINGTON, Esq., J. REID, Esq., and J.
W. SUTHERLAND, Esq.)

A young man named Frederick Jervis attended before
the Bench to answer a charge of wanton cruelty, under
the following circumstance; :
It appeared from the evidence of several witnesses, that
on Wednesday last the donkey in question, which is the
property of an old man named Hedgecock, was turned out
to graze at Norwood, and it strayed into the premises of a
gentleman named Morison, at whose house the defendant
was staying on a visit, and the defendant, who was observed
walking about the grounds smoking a cigar, was seen to
unloose a fierce Newfoundland dog, which immediately,
with another dog that belonged to Mr. Morison, attacked
the donkey, and one pinned it by the nose while the other
literally tore out a portion of its entrails, and injured the
poor animal in such a dreadful manner, that it was found
necessary to kill it immediately afterwards. Accord-
ing to the statement of the witnesses the defendant
looked on, smoking his cigar, while the dogs were
worrying the donkey, but it appeared that Mr. Nierison,
the owner of the dogs, upon an alarm being rai,cci, came
out and tried all be could to get the dogs off, but was un-
able to do so until the injury was effected. The value of
the donkey was estimated at a
The defendant, in his defenc2, said that donkeys were
continually trespassing, and did a grew: deal of misahit f,
and the dogs had been used before to turn them off Mr. Mo-
rison's premises, and they had never done any harm until
the present occasion. He said he did all he could to get
them off the donkey, and he was sorry for what had hap.
pened.
Mr. Morison assured the Bench that the dogs were
quiet, docile animals, and he could not account for the oc-
currence in question.
Inspector Collier begged to be allowed to say a few
words in reference to the dogs that had just received such
a good character. He had reason to believe that they
were a complete terror and nuisance to the whole neigh-
bourhood. One of the constables of his division bad been
attacked by one cf them, and he only escaped being se-
verely injured by using his cutlass ; and a number of other
persons ware also then present, who had come on purpose
to represent the danger and inconvenienca they had expe-
rienced from these dogs.
George Weston, the constable referred to, was then
sworn, and be confirmed the Inspector's statement ' • and
he also said that the postman was so afraid of the dogs,
that he would not take Mr. Morison's letters to the house,
but always left them at the Post-office. The constable
also stated that the dogs were in the habit of rushirg out
upon persons passing along the road, on horseback or
otherwise, and they caused the greatest alarm to every
body in the neighbourhood. He added that he saw the
donkey after the transaction, and it was in a most dreadful
state. There was a gash down the thigh eight or nine
inches long, end the fish appeared to have been torn away.
The Bench after a short consultation, told the defen-
dant that-they would give him an opportunity of retiring
and making his ewe with time complainant if he felt in-
clired to do sr.

The defendant said that if beldid so it would be al ad-
misiion of the offence imputed, to him, when he denied al-
together havingacted with any cruelty.

SUTIIEWLAND told hini that if he did not choose to
adopt the suggestion that had been thrown out to him, the
Magistrates would very soon decide the matter for him.
There could be no doubt that an act of great cruelty bad
been committed.

The defendant, after consulting with his fiends, eon-
sentei to make an arrat vment with the complainant.
and they retired for that purpose. Iu n short time they
returned into C.)tart, and the detendant said he eauld not
come to terms with the complainant ; he added that he
bad offered him 1/ , and he wanted 41. for the donkey.
The Magistrates, having consulted together, ordered the
defendant to pay a fine of fatty shillings, and' also five
pound., the value cf the donkey, and ten shillings costs.
They at the same time expressed their opinion that a most
gross act of cruelty had bean committee, for which the
fact of the donkey's trespassing was not the slightest justi-
fication, as the parties had a remedy for that by impound-
ing it, or adopting other legal methods of redress.
An applirwion was then made to allow the amount of
the damage done by the donkey to the crop to be do--
ducted from the fine,t,o which the Bench consented, and
upon Mr, Morison swearing that the a.nount of the da-
mage was ten shillings, that sum was ordered to be de-
ducted,

Tho CITAIRMAN then, addres:ing► the parties, said there
could be no doubt after the evidence thr.t hail been ad-
duced, that the dogs in question were very ferocious and
quite unfit to be at large, and the Magistrates felt it to be
their duty to caution them to keep them properly secured
to future.
The defendant, in a very careless tone, said that the dogs
were always fastened up, and they could not do any harm.
1 he CHAIRMAN said he hoped the caution wou'd be at.
tended to, fur if the dogs did any mischief after this
occurrence, they Would find it a very scr'ous matter.
Mr. Mori;on then paid the amount of the fine and costs,
and the value of the donkey, and t'c parties retired.

It affords us pleasure to be able to state that
law, and supoptoirit:e
oLpoprodil?.ge_nafleiraaiiildinaenhyaosigtohneeNtoo.nL-oinntdruonsiofnornotlsiterupinusrp‘ocsbeicohf
tl7e'e
LL:Yuti.).lei
nedtivtoc,iiitned
litst
at British
riDtisuil: epeoefrAorigleyles'usprße imaa,cyancdf thatthe
S i r a ti protect
the existing law of Patronage, as prefer-
, aole to any
stead of it. And quackeries which have been proposed in-
?at and support the petition of
ship has undertakcn'etoare gratificl to lea-n that his Lord-
for protection from the ty-
rannousthe Presbytery of
e i General Assembly and the
eke'sitinwwalich that 'whit. family arc placed
poe:ed, would have been effi-
proceedings of
of Richmond, but
tendency pcSai
cailitintftui
ysi.
cd
joricTl
euhiblalyts :alai .lil3 0 , a
,:u th e
Duke
,the
.have teason
rl,iifteircment and
at present, altogether exclude that '
natural expectation
a pro_from being realised. Lord Dunfermline, vitt
to bclievc, has been induced to leave
mingle for a time in the turmoil of pulsulicand
found feeling of the disastrous nature
recent proceedings in the Church ; and, vi ith such en"
of
donoble-
men as Lord Aberdeen and Lord Dunfermline, ~xel
. not
apprehend that the Duke of Argyle and the Mar
Breadalbane are fit to grapple on the high aretsagouflathoef
House of Peers. The , discussions on these topics will
probably come on in the course of the ensuing week,
and
in our next publication we hope to be :.b!e to viv,,
our
fricnda in the nen to some news- worth, r,Nttling. —.Aberdeen
Herald.
rttENc II EXTRAVAGA NC E.—Futiowkng the
example of the Sovereign, every man of fashion considered
it fashionable to possess one or more ml-tresses, on whom
tile most extravagant expenditure was lavished. The
Prince de Souhise, the intimate friend of the King, was
foremost in this species of prodigality. Not content with
casting gold at the feet.Gf une reine de boudoir, ten or
twcivc ladies received his homage and his presents. Each
of these was provided with a large retinue of servants, all
Clothed in one livery, their equipages being also all uniform.
...7'heodore Hook's french Stage,