The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-24 00:00:00

IN RE CHARLES HENRY PAYNE.

This was a rule calling upon the insolvent, a bar-
rister, at Bristol, to show cause why a Mr. Spooner
should not appointed assignee.
The insolvent attended in person, and argued at
great length upon the unfitness of Mr. Spooner to he
assignee, in consequence of his connexion with u
gentleman, between whom and the insolvent there
were various matters in dispute, and also insinuated
a number of personal charges against Mr. Spooner.
Mr. Down; having been heard in support of the
rule,
Mr. Commissioner LAW decided that nothing had
been proved to disqualify Mr. Spooner from properly
discharging the functions of an assignee, and also ac-
quitted that gentleman from the charges made by the
insolvent_

The rule appointing Mr. Spooner assignee was then
made absolute.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
OLD COURT.

ATTEMPT TO EXTORT MONEY AT TILE M DEMON.—
A respectable• looking man, aged 44, until resents
one of the assistants at the British Museum, was indict 41
for feloniously delivering to Eliza Lynn a letter, de-
manding from her money with menaces.
Mr. Clarkson appeared for the prosecution and Mr.
Ballantine for the prisoner.
Mr. CLARIISoM said the prosecutrix, Miss Lynn, was
the daughter of a clergyman, and followed literary pur-
suits. She frequently, vs may be imagined, visited the
reading-room of the Museum, and whilst leaving the
edifice, a short lime the prisoner_ placed a letter in
her hand, which he should prove to be in his handwrit-
ing,- It bore the signature "John Smith," and stated
:that the writer was well aware of the intrigues she was
carrying on with Mr. Barton, a married man ; that he
had heard conversations which had token place between
them, and saw them enter places wbich no woman hut a
woman of the town would enter—in short, it accused her
of the most improper conduct, and after saying that the
writer knew a poor family, the father of which had ruined
himself by keeping. females, and that they were in the
greatest distress in consequence, and that a small sum
of money would be of great service to them, it
concluded by stating that the author of the
epistle would inform her brother of her con
duct, adding that but one thing would prevent
him from doing so, and that an enclosure (that, no
doubt, being the preventive indicated) might be left, di-
rected " Mr. Smith," with the porter at the gate. The
prosecutrix became acquainted with Mr. Barton at the
reading-room, and he had once or twice accompanied
her hence to her residence, but not the slightest fa-
miliarity had taken place between them. She lame-
diately communicated with the authorities of the Museum,
and the prisoner was taken into custody.
The case was clearly proved against the prisoner.
Mr. BALLANTINF. addressed the jury for the prisoner,
and stated that he was instructed to say that there was
not the slightest truth in the imputation conveyed in the
letter.
A good character was given to the prisoner by several
respectable persons.
The jury returned a verdict of Guilty.
The RECORDER complimented the moral courage dis-
played by the prosecutrix, in at once taking steps to
have the assailer of her character arrested, and to meet
an investigation into her character in a court of justice.
It was due to the public that an aggravated felony of.
this nature should be severely punished, and the sentence
of the Court was that he be transported for seven years.

NEW ( WIRT.
(Before the CoMMon SERGEANT and Mr. Alderman

FARNCoMiI
BICIAMY.—.• W. Brown Chalwin, a rather respectable.
looking youpg:.man. 414d4rkcilbc4 in the calendar as a
cabman, was cotiviCted of .biVitihriiiiiiirrying a female
'lemma Harriet Anderson, his former wife, Rebecca
Lucas, being still alive.
The CouaT sentenced him to six months' imprison-
ment and hard labour.
Samuel Charles Prince,lB, the steward of an American
vessel in the p rt of London, was convicted of stealing
gold coin called a half eagle, the property of Eric Orr,
and sentenced to nine months imprisonment and hard

labour.
CHARGE or illanwar ROBBERY.—Joseph Glisson, in
appearance a respectable man, was charged with stop-
ping a lady named Barnes in Manor-place, Walworth-
road, in comp-my with another individual, and robbing
her of her purse, containing a sovereign and some silver
and a cheque for 94 on Weston and Young's Bank in
the Borough.
_

From the evidence of Mrs. Barnes it appeared that on
Tuesday, the 13th of July, about 11 o'clock in the
evening, she was returning home, when she was met by
the prisoner and another man in Manor-place, Walworth.
She suspected that they intended to rob her, and she
placed her hand in such a manner in her pocket us she
thought would protect her purse. When they had
passed her she found it gone, and the next morning at an
early hour she proceeded to Weston's bank, where she
saw the prisoner, who had presented the cheque, and
who she immediately recognised as one of the persons
who robbed her. The prisoner, who was immediately
taken into custody, denied the charge of the robbery.
and stated that he had received the cheque from a person
who owed him money. On the case being taken before
thejnagistrate he refused to commit the prisoner for the
rohhery, i4,rw!tting him to go at large on bail, at the
same time' stating that the prosecutrix alight,- if she
chose, prefer an indictment against him at the Central
Criminal Court, which she had done. The grand jury
found a true bill against the prisoner, upon which he
was now placed on his trial.
Mr. Rubinson conducted the prosecution.
Mr. PARRY addressed the jury for the prisoner, and
enti64-‘sveriti itnesaes' fer stbe purpose of-proving art
••.
alibi.
John Dawson, the keeper of a -beer-shop ill. Tower-
-4414304s wit. 4004014, *Ad tut she P 4894.4 "OKA