The Sun.
London, England, 1840-08-29 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOUSE.
Mr. BINGHAM was engaged for several hours yester-
day and the day before in investigating a charge against
John M'Craw, an inspector, and William Clay and
Reuben Webb, coatables belonging to the K division of
police.
It appeared that on the first of this month Webb
took up before Mr. Norton a countryman named Mole,
for being drunk, and the drunken man was accordingly
fined ss. They then adjourned to a public•house,
where M'Craw, the inspector, and Constable Webb, re•
stored to the man just fined a sum of money found on
him when drunk. Mole was promised that the case
should not be reported in the newspapers if he TA ould
give Clay, who pretended to be a raporter, six shillings.
They then all four sat down, and drank away pots of
half and half and glasses of brandy and water ; for
which, as Mole paid, he thought it exempted him from
paying the stipulated six shillings.
The affair having reached the Commissioners of Po-
lice, an inquiry was ordered, and the Magistrate granted
a summons for the attendance of Mr. Mole, who, on
being sworn, deposed to the facts before stated being
perfectly true, and also said that M'Craw, after paying
him the money, ur4ed him to give a gratuity to the
constable Webb, for taking care of himself and his
Money.
In his cross-examination by a solicitor, who appeared
on behalf of the accused, his evidence on one or two
points was somewhat contradictory.
To rebut the charge, an exciseman, named Thomas
Saunders, was called, and in his direct examination he
flatly contradicted every word Mole had stated. On
being questioned particularly, he prevaricated in so gross
a manner and contradicted himself so frequently, that
he drew forth the severest animadversions of the Court ;
and the Magistrate ultimately remarked, that he must
dismiss his evidence altogether, as he could not place
the slightest reliance on it.
Several other witnesses were called, and at the con-
clusion of the evidence, .

Mr. BINGHAM observed that there was not suflicien

evidence to fix either M'Craw or Clay with a participa-
tion in the more serious part of the charge, namely, that
of attempting to extort money under false pretences.
The charge, however, of their having drank with a
person who had just been discharged out of custody
was cicariy, and to his mind, satisfactorily made out.
This, particularly on the part of a person holding the
rank of Inspector, was most improper, and highly repre-
hensible. He (Mr. Bingham) hoped, however, that
his expression of reprobation would be sufficient punish-
ment for the offence, and deter them from acting SO for
the future, and this opinion he should intimate to the
Commissioners. With respect to Webb, he thought the
fact of his having attempted to obtain money for the sup-
pression of a report, when in reality he had no power to
do so,and thcrefore attempting to obtain mo icy under false
pretences, was clearly made out. It was true tl:at the
complainant (Mole) was rather a weak person, and diet not
give his evidence clearly, and also that he was not per-
fectly accurate on two or three points; hut, taking his
evidence altogether, and also recollecting that he was
an unwilling witness, and that that evidence was partly,
though not, altogether, corroborated by witnesses called
for the defence, he (Mr. Bingham) felt bound to say
that the charge against Webb, as he had before stated,
was clearly established. The offence was one of a verb
serious character. It, in the first place, lessened the
character of a most efficient force ; it, in the next place,
lessened the usefulness and utility of that body by
lowering it in public estimation ; and, lastly, it was cal-
culated to cast a serious stigma and reflection on a
most respectable-body of individuals—the reporters for
the public press. He ( Mr. Bingham) was, however,
willing to believe that the defendant had acted in some
degree from ignorance, and, if capable of doing so, had
not reflected upon the seriousness of the offence of
which he was about to be guilty, and, if accomplished,
might be productive of the most serious consequences
to him. 1 t was impossible, however, he could overlook
such conduct lightly, and he should, therefore, convict
him in the penalty of 505., to be paid in certain por-
tions from his pay, as this, he thought, would be a suf•
ficient punishment without being discharged from the
force.

M'Craw and Clay were acquitted:of the offence.

THE MOORS,.

(From the Inverness Courier.)
We chronicled in our last number the various sport
and success of the gentlemen on the moors. Some in-
formation has subsequently reached us, confirming our
previous statement as to the contradictory accounts re-
ceived from head-quarters. Mr. Winsloe and his party
had excellent sport at Coulnakyle, by Grantown. With
his own gun Mr. Winsloe killed 45 brace on Wednes-
day ; on Thursday, 41 ; and on Friday, 35. This
party found the birds very unequal ; one-half strong on
the wing, the other half very small indeed, owing, we
suppose, to the heavy storm in May destroying the first
nest.
Mr. Horatio Ross, of Rossie, joined some friends at
Applecross, last week, and the party had excellent sport
at deer stalking. Three stags were killed in a short
time, one of them of extraordinary size, a complete ant-
-1 lered monarch of the forest.

The shootings at Phoines, on the estate of Belleville,
by Kingussie, have been high!) propitious. Captain
Gill, Mr. Wilson, and Captain Campbell, killed 200
brace in three days, and might have had as many more,
if they had chosen to attack the small birds, or task
themselves beyond the usuid amount of exertion,
At Coulmony, on the banks of the Vindborn, Mr.
Wickham killed 45 brace before twelve o'clock on the
forenoon of the 12th.

Lord Macdonald, Mr. Davidson of Tulloch, and a
large party, were this week to commence deer-stalking
in the Noble Lord's forest of %molt, and the sur-
rounding monritailis‘ 'EteVeral deer have been killed by
Nide!cod of Macleod, Lord Loftus, and other friends,
on the Coolin Hills, Grouse are said td be itidre plen-
tiful in Syke this year than it any former period, as the
attention of the roprietors has been directed to the
petg*evation of gaMe,.,hy the destruction of vermin,
&e. Mr. MY.; is at ieskiit iii the Long
Island ; the lionOurable Gentleman had previously
been successful at deer-stalking in Glenshiol.

An English sportsman sap :—" The Highland pro-
prietors carry on the moor-burning too extensively.
The grouse have not sufficient shelter in winter, and
are decreasing ; the heather is fast vanishing, and the
ground assuming a green appearance. This may benefit
the sheep stock, but the remuneration to the proprietor
will not be equal to that derived from letting the
moors. They may learn their error when it is too late."

AN AMERICAN DENTIST.--Dr. Hitchcock
pulls teeth so easily that a man the other day begged him
to " finish the row," after he had removed a- decayed one
—ho said h enjoyed it.—. Boston Post,