The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-23 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

The June adjourned sessions commenced yesterday
at the Court House, Clerkenwell-green, before the As-
sistant• Judge and a full bench of magistrates.
The calendar was unusually heavy, owing to the length
of time intervening since the last session—no less than
150 persons being for trial; of these 23 were charged
with misdemeanours, and the remainder with felony.
Of these 45 were described in the calendar as unable
either to read or write, 104 as reading and writing im-
perfectly, and one only out of the 150 was able to read
and write well.

The ASSISTANT-JUDGE, in charging the grand jury,
referred to the number of prisoners for trial at the pre-
sent session, but said he was glad to find that they did
not exceed the average as far as the time elapsing be
tween each session went. After alluding to the measure
now before the Legislature upon the subject of criminal
jurisprudence, he said he was happy to find that, although
he could not approve cordially of many of its provisions,
yet that it still was a step in the right direction. During
the course of his address he dealt a smart lecture
to those tradesmen who were in the habit of exposing
goods outside their shop doors, and thus throwing an
uncalled-for temptation in the way of young boys, arid
concluded by saying that he for one would most gladly
promote a low which would compel all such persons to
bear the whole expenses of the prosecution.
An application was made by a sergeant of the B divi-
sion of police to have the evidence of a witness in a very
important case taken as speedily as possible before the
1 grand jury, under the following circumstances :—The
witness was a female, who was daily and hourly expect-
ing her confinement, and there was no place fbr her to
wait in except the common hall, where there was no seat
t) sit down upon, where sbe was jostled about amongst
300 or 400 persons, and which, for persons even in ro-
bust health, especially in winter, or the warm months of
summer, was almost unbearable.
The Learned ASSISTANT JUDGE said it was a most
scandalous case that no accomodation could be afforded
to a witness under such circumstances. The arrange-
ments for persons in waiting on the Court, as prosecu-
tors and witnesses, was an actual disgrace to the country,
and he was glad the Chairman of the County Magis-
trates (Mr. Pownall) was present.
Mr. Pownall said if it rested with the Chairman of
the Court, the proper and much required accommodation
should be afforded as speedily as bricks and mortar
could be run up, but he was, unfortunately, wholly
iisan !
Pulp pocket etth
eb book
efrgoemr
fetrhde ppeiresrr
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nt
powerless in- the matter. .
James SqUires, convicted at the last sessions of steal-
ing
months' imprisonment, with hard labour. Captainenetdrcthod asiii;

CENTRAL CRIMINALCOURT.
THIRD COURT.—(Before Mr. Commissioner BULLOCK
and Alderman Moow, &e.)

LIBEL.--THE QUEEN ON THE PROSECUTION OF GEORGE

TRUWHITT V. DENT.

Mr. BALLANTINE, counsel for the prosecution in this
case, moved to entreat the recognizances of the defen-
dant, who had not surrendered to take his trial upon an
indictment wnich charged him with publishing and pro-
pagating certain libellous matter reflecting upon the cha-
racter of the prosecutor, Mr. George Truwhitt, a
highly respectable solicitor. The Learned Coulisel fur
ther moved for a fresh warrant for the apprehension of
the defendant.

The Court granted both applications.
Selina Allen was indicted for stealing a quantity of
wearing apparel, a set of knives and forks, and a watch,
the property of George Robert Macnally and George
Macnally, to the latter of whom she was described as
servant.

It was clearly shown in evidence that the prisoner and
another woman, not in custody, had at various times,
commencing in March, 1846, pawned the articles in
question. The prosecutor swore that it was without his
knowledge or sanction.
In her defence, the prisoner handed to the Court a
written document, in which she admitted that she had
pawned the articles, but disclaimed any felonious intent.
She said she had done it to relieve another's distress.
She !slim stated that she had lived with the prosecutor
for eight years as his wife.
Mr. Commissioner BULLOCK called the prosecutor
back, and on being questioned he admitted that such was
the case.

The Learned CostmtssioNEß left it to the jury to say
whether, under such circumstances, tkere was an implied
authority in the prisoner to pledge the articles. It had
been carried on a long time, and it was strange that the
prosecutor had not before missed the articles ; if he had
been aware of it, and had never complained, the prisontr
ought to be acquitted.
The jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty.
John Williams, aged 17, a drover, was indicted for
and convicted of burglariously breaking and entering
the dwelling-house of James Johns, and stealing there-
from some bed furniture, value 10s.
In addition to two forrn.er convictions for felony, the
prisoner had been many times summarily convicted for
larceny; he had been many
times in Newgate, and he
was well known to the police as an associate of the most
notorious thieves at the east end.
Mr. Commissioner BULLOCK sentenced him to be
transported for seven years.
Mary Gordon, aged 39, was convicted of stealing 29
shillings from the person of James Barber.
In 1841 the prisoner was convicted of larceny. and
also in 1845. Since then she had been tried for stealing
a gold watch and appendages from the person, and had
been several times in custody on charges of felony.
A sister of the prisoner was is Court, and she stated
that the prisoner was the widow of a sergeant in the 7th
Fusiliers, and had two sons in the band of the 14th Re-
giment of infantry. Since the death of her husband she
had taken to drinking, and from that to wor=e. She
had neglected many good opportunities fur abandoning
her immoral life, and might have done well if she would.
Mr. Commissioner Bui.Locx said the prisoner was a