The Sun.
London, England, 1841-10-16 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

(Before Mr. WALESBY and a Bench of Magistrates.)
Muen ADO ABOUT NOTHING.—Pha.be Chapman
alias Fhccbe Gibbs, a respectable-looking woman, was
yesterday indicted for assaulting It!chard Case on
the 29th of July last.
The parties in this case resided in Duke-street On
the morning in question, the prosecutor's daughter
was beating her teat in the street. The defendant came
out ad told her :he should not beat her mat there.
A quarrel ensued, and the prosecutor came out and
beat the mat, when the defendant went into her house
and brought out her mat, which she beat against the pro-
secutor, who stood stock-still. She knocked off his hat, and
kicked it into the kennel. He said nothing abusive to
the defendant, he merely said, " Mrs. Chapman, 14 e
must settle this elsewhere." On his cross-examination
he said that the defendant had been living for soma
years past with a Mr. Gibbs,-a respectable man ; that
he had no reason to believe they were not mar-
ried, but that he had called her Chapman be-
cause some years ago she had given that name
at a police-office where she had appeared to prose-
cute a person. He bad not struck her, nor had he told
any boys to hurra.
The witnesses for the defence swore that the prose-
cutor assaulted the defendant in the first instance, that
ho knocked off his own hat, and that be had told the
boys to hurra, and that they did so.
Mr. WALEbBY, in summing up, said he thought the
case ought not to have been brought here.
The Jury found the prisoner Guilty, and the Court
sentenced her to pay a fine of ls., and to enter into her
own recognizances for 20/. to keep the peace towards
Mr. Case for six months.

Sarah Sparrow was indicted for keeping a disorderly
house in Exeter-street..

Mr. PRENDERGAST, who appeared for the prosecu-
tion, said it was instituted, not by any public authori-
ties, but by a person who bad been robbed on the
premises. _ _ _

Henry Alfred Mesnil stated that he was a hair-
dresser; residing in Marshall•strcet, Borough-road.
In the month of June last, he met a female in
the Strand, and accompanied her to this house, and after
he left her he missed 15/. from his fob pocket.
He went to the defendant the next day, with whom he
had been previously acquainted for some years, and she
told him he was not the first man who had been rubbed
in the house, and desired him to leave the house.
On his cross-examination, he admitted that he had no
shop, that he had only occupied his present lodgings three
weeks, that he had been living in various places with va-
rious women during the last twelve months ; that he had
lived with Mr. Mitchell as valet and butler, and that
while living there he had caused the plate of his
master to be pawned ; that he bad received the
money of which he had been robbed to go down to
Scarborough on electioneering business ; and that he
was to pay it to Mr. Pennington, the clerk to Mr.
Atkinson, the attorney for this prosecution ; that he
had rescued it from Mr. Ha3es at the Grecian ;
that he did not know where Mr. Hayes lived; that
Mr. Hayes was a clerk in a great house of business,
hut who were the partners in the house, or where it
was situated, he could not tell. He had been intro-
duced to Mr. Hayes by Mr. Pennington. Could
not name any person who had seen either
of the three .5/. notes of which he bad been
robbed. Had been once tried on a charge of
felony, but had been acquitted. Had heard of a per-
son named Cochrane. Cochrane had been charged by
the defendant with theft. Cochrane was at Baw-
street. Mr. Pennington was there. Does not know
how soon after he had been introduced to Mr. Atkin-
son by Pennington. Does not know how soon alter
he indicted the house. Was not married. Had had
children, but did not know where they were.
Had never been maintained by any of the women with
whom he bad lived. Had maintained himself by his
business, and money he had from his friends. Could
not say when he bad last earned a crown. Had dressed
Mr. Pennington's hair within the last six months ; fre-
quented the saloon and other public places. This
witness frequently eontradicted himself.

On his re-examination he said that his father had been
cook in the service of Prince Etterhazy, and that Mr.
Mitchell would give him a character, and had since em-
ployed him to dispose of a carriage for him.

Several uther witnesses were called, who resided in the
neighbourhood, one of whom, Mr. Belfeld, corn-
plan: ed of having heard noises in the house, and
had seen women at the windows, but had not seen any
thing indecent in t heir conduct. -He admitted that he
had built his premises opposite to the house, and had,
in fact, come to the nuisance. The policeman on the
beat said he had not seen or heard any noise or dis-
order in the house, which was in general well conducted ;
and the beadle of the parish, who was called to prove
occupancy of the defendant, said that the house was
a quiet, orderly, well•conductcd house.
M. CLAUKSON, in addressing the Jury for the
defence, put it to them if they could- believe the
evidence of Mesni!, and commented .in the severest
terms on the conduct of Pennington, the at-
torney's clerk, contending that, - the prosecution
was got up merely to extort money, and that
there ivas no evidence to prove this a disorderly house.
There was no one who ever saw Mesuil with the money
in his possession, and although Mr. Pennington was in
Court he had not thought proper to place himself in
the witness box.

charged on suspicion with being concerned, with another,
at present in custody-. in uttering forged cheeks, and,
after a partial investigation, he was admitted to bail, the
Magistrate considering there was not any evidence to
warrant his detention. He (Mr.' Robinson) apprehended
that nu officer had any right.to interfere with his client
after the decision of the Magistrate who had originally
heard the case, until the. time fur which he had been
bailed had expired,
Mr. Long said it, was far from being the same charge
which had been brought against the prisoner on Mon-
day, although there were nine checks upon which his
name appeared, and as he &mid produce evidence re-
specting two forged checks which had not been men-
tioned on the last occasion, he hoped there would be no
objection to detain the prisoner.
After a lengtheited investigation,
Mr. JAnDixfr; comkideres,k,there was sufficient evidence
already offered to justify bins in ordering the prisoner to
be remanded,
Mr. Robinson submitted that the name of his client
being on the back of the notes could not constitute a
charge of forgery' against him, and he contended that
the evidence was net stronger than it was at the first ex-
amination, and therefore he was entitrad to have his bail
enlarged.
Mr. Long said he only mentioned the forgeries at
the last examination, but now he had given evidence
that traced the notes to the person.
Mr. JARDINE considered, under all the circumstances
of the case, the prisoner should be, remanded until
Teesday next.
M A R 1 B OR 0 UV' II- STREET
About a fortnight or three weeks ago, a well-dressed
woman, who gave her name as Georgians Hunt, charged
a gentleman, named Laverty, with having committed
an
indecent assault on her in Regent- street, about ten o'clock
on the previous evening, and, in confirmation of her
statement, a person came forward who said that the com-
plainant was his wife, that he had left her but a few mo-
ruentsbefore the alleged assault, and that upon rejoining
s wife he was informed of the defendant's proceedings,
upon which he gave him into custody. The husband
further added that he was an officer,
and lived on his
private income of 200/. a year. Mr. Hardwick, on the
positive testimony brought forward, fined
the
defen-
dant A
°a Thursday Mr. 'Laverty presented I i eel fbefore Mr.
Hardwick, to state that he had aceidcntl m101):11 obtainednn
‘,i
o hurlthe
means otiproving that the store' of the al'
so unexpectedly accused hiue was,. in pare untrue' and
this, perhaps, would induce the Magistrate to believe
him when. he solemnly asserted that there was neoletvae
single particle of truth in the eceesation that had.s been
so wantonly trumped up against him.
Mr. HAnrowlex hero remarked that something had
afterwards come to his knowledge that very much shook
the impression which the case had first made on him.
Mr. Laverty then referred to the circumstance of' a
young female haring been shamefully annoyer} by the
parties who had accused him, anti he wished to know if
steps could not be taken to prevent the recurrence of
this conduct ?
Mr. HARDWICA."' said a complaint of this proceeding
had been made to him. He was ready to grant a warrant
if proof were produced that the offence had been repeated.
Mr. Laverty. referring to his own case, said he did
obtained the money
not regard the 51. fine, though he had
with some difficulty. but he certainly was anxious to
rescue himself from an unfounded charge—a charge
which, if not rebutted, would prove his ruin, and which
had already caused him many sleepless nights. He had
a young friend in court, who would, if permitted, make
a statement relative to Mrs. Hunt, who, it would be re-
collected, represented herself as a married woman of un-
blemished character.
A young gentleman stepped forward and said, while
walking last evening with his friend, Mr. Laverty, he
had occasion to stand up for shelter beneath the portico
of tlanover-square church. A WOiliftD, in conversation
with a man, was pointed out by Mr. Laverty as the very
gars. Hunt who had charged him. Witness, while stand- OnThursday morning the whole of the
"roughers".
ng by himself, was accosted by this woman. Witness, in and a good many of the carvers employed at the new
order to satisfy hisns,df that the woman was really a per- Houses of Parliament, proceeded to the building in or-
Son
of
bad eh"reeter, made. an excuse, but entered into
der to fetchatvey their tools, having come to a eeternie.
anasrsignation with her for the following evening. nation, on leaving their employment on the previous
M . HaainvvicK repeated that from what he had per-
...f.ntah!lys
sntetieed he evening, not to work with the masons that are at present
was disposed ,to believe in the truth
engaged there. This was also the time at which the men
the tune 711.13,.. Ffe had, hewever, not the least doubt at
employed at the Woolwich Dockyard and the Nelson
lively to the' (i'lrega was made. Two people swore posi-
Monument had been ordered to strike by the Society.
could not havenTroper behaviour, and these two people
Upwards of GO additional masons were. taken on, and
ward a false eha ad any possible motive for bringing t;,r,
comnienced work on Thursday
.morning, so that in this de-
g that he couldeoneeive, for they were :
strangers to the
short time, as the
E rtment of the works there is every probability of the
a single farthin, Party itemised, and they did not benefit s 1 ,
„e by the fine.•
Messrs.
Mr. Laverty said it
3 •systemnumber beingof
recruiting
engaged
adopted
a
Grissell
for the cenduet a theeva equally puzzled to account activeusi
parties, sinless, indeed, he was
mistaken for some other
,person. lie was. aware of the andbeen Pero in
inineadnisfl,roefnpit Focarutrsinogf
ntlelearciyouLtroyfhreasshaillraeialicilsy:
solemnity of an oithNriof the old hands wear a piece of blue riband, in
. weuld not take one lightly, ''
but he would readily take a dozen oaths that there' was order. .
iIIY
that they may be distinguished_ from the non-
not a tittle of truth in
0 .iv
He was quite satisfied that ethiarg° brought against him.
the M ,-.• . unionists_ (or Blacks),f bich class the new hands are
composed. .
abistraai could have
done no less than convict
on
fore him. := the evidence- brought be-
linen and cot-
BRUSSELS, OCT. 13.—The Deputies of the
Companies for the encouragement of the
~ .
Mr....Haitnwice, said the evi L.nee was certainly con- ton-manufacture presented to his Majesty a memorial,
elusive, but if it turned out that( injustice had been corn_ in which they declare that they consider a Custotr-
mitted it would be necessary to retrace the step that had Union between Belgium:and France as the only prac i been taken. • iln order to attain justice he should most I table means of benefitting the former. Count ,Lehon
readily lend his assistance.
- . iinterview of the King yesterday,
After some further conversati • i
.I.and set (nit this
. .... ltst waki agree had an
d-duet Aatornang to return to his post at-Paris.
--me
. ...

During the defence Mr. Atkinson, the attorney fur
the prosecutor, frequently attempted to interrupt
Mr. Clarkson until at length the Chairman
addressed Mr. Atkinson as follows :—" Sir, if you have
not the decency to sit down and keep yourself quiet, I
shall order you out of Court, in custody if necessary."
The CHAIRMAN, in addressing the Jury, said that in
the whole course of his experience be had never seen
a ease brought forward under circumstances more re-
volLing and disgusting than the present. It was the
grossest mockery to suppose that it had been brought
forward from aay desire to benefit the neighbourhood.
He did not think the Counsel for the defence had gone
tco far in stating that all the parties concerned
in getting up this prosecution were actuated by any
but pure motives. The Learned Chairman then put
it to the Jury if they could believe the monstrous story
told by the- tritness Mesnil, especially after what had
come out ort hiiEfoss-examination. He thought the evi-
dence of the other witnesses was scarcely sufficient to
prose the house a disorderly house.
The Jury without hesitation returned a verdict of
Not Guilty.
'rue CHAralt,es—That is by far the safer verdict in
such a case as the present.
Mr. Prendergast was,. Counsel, and Mr. Atkinson,
of Carey-street, Lincoln's Inn, was attorney for the
prosecution.; and Mr. Clarkson was Counsel, and Mr.
Flower attorney for the defence.