The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-12 00:00:00

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

(Before the Common Sergeant, Sir C. MARsuaLL' &e.)
Wednesday Michael Walsh, aged 35, was indicted for com-
mittina an assault upon Mary Bryan, with intent to commit a
capitaroffence. The other count alleged a common assault.
The child herself was examined, and detailed that which, a
few years since, would have subjected the prisoner to an un-
timely death. . _

Two medical gentlemen were examined with regard to any
injury the child had received, and their concurrent testimony
was that appearances did not sustain the first count of the in-
dictment.

The prisoner, when called on for his defence implicated
himself in the minor charge.
The Jury found him Guilty on the second count only.
The Learned Jude sentenced the prisoner to be imprisoned
in the Penitentiary for one year, observing, that as the law now
stood, there was no doubt that the other count was sustainable.

Mary Ann Middleton was indicted for stealing divers articles
of bedding, the property of John Smith, of 19, Vine-street,
Clerkenwell.

The evidence was conclusive, but the prisoner said she was
driven to the act by distress.
A verdict of Guilty having been returned, she was proved
by another indictment to have been convicted of a similar
offence on the 26th of February, 1838, and thereupon sen-
tenced to six months' imprisonment.
The JUDGE said that for once he would depart from the rule
laid down, and not transport, but sentence her to one year's
hard labour—her plea would not avail hereafter.
UNPRECEDENTED CASE.—Mary Murgetts, an interesting
young woman, was indicted for throwing herself into the
river, with intent to commit felo de se.
The prisoner pleaded guilty.
The COMMON SERGEANT told the prisoner that her offence
was one forbidden in the decalogue, and by the common law of
England declared to be a felony. He (the Common Sergeant)
had been informed that down to the present time she enter-
tained a determination to destroy herself; hence, the best thing
the Court could do would be to respite her judgment until the
next sessions, and he hoped ere that time the chaplain of the
gaol would be able to impress upon her mind the sin and folly
of self-destruction.

The session terminated on Tuesday night, in consequence of
several of the prisoners traversing until the next. sessions,
which was convenient both to the Bar and the Bench, it
being the eve of the commencement of their respective cir-
cuits.

The following were sentenced to banishment for the periods
set against their respective names :
For the term of Natural Life—Michael Shaw Stewart
Wallace, Patrick Maxwell Stewart Wallace (the trials of
these convicts occupied nearly four days, their offence being
one of not unfrequent occurrence, but seldom prosecuted to
conviction. )
For p Fifteen Years—Thomas Smith, Charles Powell, Daniel
Monday, James Warren.
For Fourteen Years—Joshua Page.
For 'fen Years—Louisa Puddick (for shoplifting), Mark
Goodyear, W. Smith, and Thomas Griffith.
For Seven Years—George Hawkins, Charles Smith,
Michael Johnson, William Carrott, Henry Coster, Nicholas
Johnson, John Mitchell, George Hambley, Joseph Hambley,
John Clark, Philip Young, Eliza Clark, Mary Ann Goulding,
William Humphreys, Johanna Fogerty, George Collard,
Charles Smith.

Imprisonment and Hard Labour in the Houses of Correction
where their offences were alleged to have been committed,
for the periods named, viz.:—
For Three Years—John Thomas.
For Two Years—Ann Harding
For Eighteen Months—Joseph Howard, Thomas Barker Fitz-
john (for letter-stealing, the first and last weeks in solitude).
For One Year—Daniel Smith, John Smith, John Tredwell,
William Grant, William Arnold, William Kemp.
For Nine Months—J. Birch.

The Grand Jury ignored the bills of indictment which were
preferred against the following persons, who, by their fiat,
were discharged from custody, viz.:—W. Golding, .John Mills,
John Jones, Edward Newman, Moses Monday, John Melson,
Charles Dahana, Eliza Wilson, Elizabeth Hilby, and Charles
Edward Willis.

The Court at its rising adjourned to Monday, April 5.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HO USE.

Thomas Thomas, a well-dressed man, was charged Kith
having robbed an old gentleman, of the name of Stone, of
40/. in Bank of England notes, and a check for 13/. Bs. 6d.,
at the gate of the Corn Exchange in Mark-lane.

The prosecutor, who is a man of athletic appearance,
stated that about three o'clock on Monday, as he was leav-
ing the Corn Exchange, at which he had been transacting
business, there was a crowd of people at the gate, some of
whom were endeavouring to get in. hie observed one
man who pressed very closely upon him, and it immedi-
ately occurred to him that he might be in dangerous com -
pally. Ile, therefore, felt in his pocket, and he missed
his pocket-book, which contained the property mentioned
above. Ile then seized the person who pressed upon him
by the collar, and at that moment saw that person pass
something behind his back to the prisoner, who endeavoured
to make off. Witness, however, let go the first fellow and
seized the prisoner, who struggled with him, and when he
ca'led for the police called as lustily as an injured man.
for assistance. In the struggle the prisoner dropped
something behind his back, which proved to be the pocket-
book in which the notes and check were deposited_
There was evidently a gang of well-dressed thieves con-
cerned, for the morr.ent he had been deprived of his
pocket-book they made way for him to go out, but having
missed it he was determined to use his best exertions for
its recovery.
A solicitor's clerk appeared-for the prisoner, and cross-
examined the prosecutor, who stated, in addition, that he
observed the person he first seized beckon to the prisoner
and deliver the book to him.

Thomas Rye, a millwright, who was passing, deposed
that he saw the prosecutor and the prisoner scuffling to-
gether at the gate of tho Corn Exchange. The latter
dropped a pocket-book, which was immediately taken up
and given to a policeman who came up.
Walter Robins, a baker, said that he heard the cry of
" police," and saw the prosecutor holding the prisoner,
and the pocketbook dropped from the hand of the latter

Alderinan WILsoN asIZCd the prisoner who he was ?
Prisoner—l hope your Lordship will excuse my not say-
ing who or what I am. I am innocent of robbery, and
I would not on any account that my friends, who are highly
respectable, knew of the disgraceful situation in which I am.
Alderman WlLsoN—Very well. You shall go to New-
gate for trial. The case is as clear as possible. Does
the prosecutor think ho will recollect the face of the thief
he first laid hold of ?

TL prosecutor replied that he should know him, and
was determined to collar him whenever he should see him.

Inspector Bradley said that a robbery on the Corn Ex-
change was very unusual. Nothing of the kind had taken
place for years there.
The prisoner was committed for trial.
. .

Sarah Ehen was charged with having had in ber pos-
session Gbs. of tobacco on which the duty had not been
paid. The penalty, according to Act of Parliament, for
having in possession more than 6lbs. is 1001. or imprison-
ment for twelve calendar months ; and the Solicitor for
the Customs sued for the whole amount, as the ptisoner is
a notorious smuggler, and had but lately been discharged
from prison, where she had been confined for a similar
offence.

The woman, who said that a person had made her a
present of the bit of tobacco for domestic purposes, was
then convicted in the full penalty.

.
The Solicitor for the Customs said that the labours of
the smugglers had been suspended by the severe weather,
but that it was expected the contraband trade would be
pushed with vigour immediately. It was therefore the
intention of the Board to press every case to the full extent
of the law.—Committed.