The Sun.
London, England, 1849-09-06 00:00:00

THE TIMBER PRESERVING COMPANY.

The half.yearly meeting of the above company was
held on the 31st ult., at their offices, Whitehall-wharf,
Westminster, when, after reading the report of the
company's operations for the past six months, and
laying before the shareholders a statement of the ac-
counts as prepared by Messrs. Quilter and Ball, a
dividend at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum was de-
clared, the chairman, Mr. George Burge, stating that
their future prospects were most encouraging, and,
from the daily increasing extent of their works, he
had no doubt he should be in a position, at the close
of the next half-year, to meet them with a larger
amount of dividend.

THE GENERAL SYSTEM OF
ATMOSPHERIC TRACTION.
The evils and expense attending the present system
of railway transit have induced a great number of
ingenious men, within the last few years, to devote
themselves perseveringly to the discovery of an
efficient substitute for the locomotive engine—a sub-
stitute which should possess, in a higher degree, the
paramount requisites of safety, certainty of action,
Ili economy.
6o obvious were the errors of the existing system,
and so anxious were engineers to substitute some
other, which might seem to hold out a promise of
Imendment, that, on the appearance of Messrs. Clegg
and Samuda's patent, in 1839, it speedily found ad-
vocates ; and although the principle of atmospheric
traction was new to the world, save as a passing sug-
gestion, and that all knowledge of its working was
entirely theoretical, yet a very brief period of time
was allowed to elapse bafore it was seen in practical
operation—first, between Dalkey and Kingstown,
then at Croydon, and subsequently upon a large'
scale on the South Devon Railway. - The result of
these adventures is well known to the public.
The Dalkey line, a snug little family investment of
a mile and three-quarters, or thereabouts, is,
I believe, still in operation. The two more ex-
tensive undertakings failed, and were abandoned ;
but they were abandoned, and the last especially,
with such precipitation, as to induce a very general
feeling that there was something radically wrong in
the traction principle altogether. And so, indeed,
P r•ictically speaking, and as far as the wants of the
community at large are concerned, there is ; but the
evil, or deficiency, does not extend nearly so far as is
supposed ; and, in common justice, it must bo ac-
knowledged that the failures already experienced are
more attributable in their completeness to the occur-
rence of an unforeseen succession of unfortunate
accidents, than to the commission of any great error
in judgment, prudence, or engineering skill. What
are the well authenticated facts of the case ? The
new system was adopted, because it seemed to
promise many paramount advantages. It proposed
effectively to keep the trains from running off the line
—to render a collision impossible—to avoid all danger
of accident and annoyance arising from the emission
of sparks and smoke—to attain a higher velocity with
a greater regularity of transit—and to do all these
things at a considerably reduced expense; and prac-
tice ba3 proved the truth of these anticipations in
almost every particular but one—and that the last.
One most formidable item of expenditure in the
working of a railway is involved in the consumption
of fuel; and, in the case now under consideration, the
quantity consumed mairly depended upon two
primary conditions—the mechanical accuracy of the
longitudinal valve employed by the patentees, and the
structure and effective condition of the stationary
engines.
Now, it appears from a variety of observations and
experiments, that the average quantity of coals con-
sumed in a locomotive engine is at the rate of about
bibs., and in a good condensing steam-engine 51bs.
per horse-power per hour ; while in the stationary
engines of Cornwall the rate of consumption has
been gradually reduced, in many instances, to far
below a quarter of the first-named quantity, or abso-
lutely less than 111 b. per horse power per hour. The
directors of the South Devon Railway, anxious to
approximate to this desirable ratio of practical
economy, determined eto spare neither pains nor ex-
pense in the building of their engines. Eight of
these were accordingly ordered, with an aggregate
power of 800 horses ; the greatest care was bestowed
upon the designs, and their construction was entrusted
to the three most eminent manufacturers of the day.
It appears, however, that notwithstanding all this
careful preparation, the working of these machines
disappointed expectation to the utmost possible de-
gree. Their consumption of fuel was most extrava-
,,a7tnuta, l andly
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One would have thought that the very climax of
disaster had been reached: But no! There was
something more to come yet• Experience was still

wanting in the construction and management of the
I vacuum valve. It was left unprotected from the
action of heat and rain and other injurious influences,
and by degrees it gave way, and slowly admitted the
atmosphere. Then, indeed, the engines were worked,
of necessity, to the very utmost of their power.
The E ngineer's original estimate of the working cost
of the line upon the atmosperic system, was ls. per
train per mile ; whereas, at the early part of the pe-
riod referred to, the actual expenditure was just
treble this amount. In August and September,
however, a reduction of no less than 38 per cent. had
been effected ; and this reduction was still continuing,
when a sudden stop was put to the proceedings. On
the 29:h of August, a hasty resolution of abandon-
ment, proposed by Lord Courtenay, was carried, after
considerable discussion, by 11 votes out of 18 ; and it
appears as a marked feature of the case, that no less
than ten of the majority were directors of the Great
Western, and the Bristol and Exeter Railways.
These various facts then go to prove that the dis-
continuance of atmospheric traction, on the South
Devon line, was rather the result of a series of unfor-
tunate casualties than the consequence of any fault
in the system radically irremediable. On the open-
ing of the railway between Liverpool and Man-
chester, the amount of coke burnt in the. engines was
considerably more than double the estimated quantity;
and, instead of using, as at present, hut bibs. per
horse power per hour, 18Ibs. were found necessary.
And again, with regard to the vacuum valve, there
is no great practice! difficulty about this. If the par-
ticular description of valve supplied to the company
by Messrs. Clegg and Samuda was difficult and ex-
pensive to maintain in working order, surely the me-
talic spring valve patented by Messrs. Clarke and
Varley, or the economic close tube system of
Messrs, Cunningham and Carter, are not
open to these objections. But the great mis-
take was evidently committed in the engines.
Upon the accurate working of these prime movers de-
pended the whole economy of the system ; and to insure
the very perfection of efficiency and workmanship,
their construction (as before stated) was entrusted to
the three most eminent manufacturers of the day. It
may seem a strange remark to Make, hut I really
belive that this very circumstance was the root of all
the mischief. The manufacture of the Cornish engine
is well known to be local, peculiar and exclusive, and
it, is more than probable, that if the engines in ques-
tion had been constructed at the foundaries of Hayle,
from the designs and under the superintendence of
regular Cornish engineers, they would not only have
realised the economy required, but they would even
have exceeded the extreme limit which calculation
had assigned in this respect.
The real fault of the atmospheric traction principle
is one of degree only ; its available power is confined
within such narrow limits. The tube generally em-
ployed in practice is 15 inches in diameter, which
gives an area of 176 inches; and this, supposing a
pressure of Blbs. to the square inch, furnishes a
moving force of 1,4081b5. Now, under no circum-
stances or emergencies whatever, can this amount of
power be increased; hence, unless the traction tube is
considerably enlsrged in diameter at certain points of
the line, the gradients are necessarily restricted in
amount of inclination. And it is essential that we
should take another circumstance into account, bear•
ing closely upon the fact of the narrow limit of
attainable power. Either load or speed must not be
extended beyond a given, and a rather confined
boundary.
Seeing that there is this narrow limit to the trans-
mission of power by the direct pressure of the atmos-
phere, various efforts have been made to extend it.
The first and most obvious idea would be to increase
the size of the tube, but such an expedient is inad-
missible in practice. The next conception would
probably be to dispense with a vacuum altogether,
and employ condensed air ; and for this application of
elastic force two or three patents have been taken. In
one of these there is used a machine possessing all the
working characters of a locomotive—pistons, cylinders,
driving wheels, &c. It is supplied with necessary
power through the medium of a pipe laid between
the rails, with which it is capable of communicating.
But any plan founded on this principle only gets rid
of a portion of the difficulties which encumber the
locomotive. The traction principle is not altered ; it
still depends upon adhesion, and embraces all its
concomitant difficulties. The best and most simple
application of condensed air to this purpose is that of
Piatti. His invention has been exhibiting for some
time past at the Rosemary Branch Tavern, Peckham,
and its merits would certainly have secured it a fair trial
long ere this, upon a scale of practical magnitude, had it
not been for the influence of those untoward events to
which reference has already been made in the present
communication. It consists of a tube about eight
inches in diameter, provided with a moveable air-tight
piston, which is attached to the train of carriages in
the ordinary way ; one side of the piston is in free
communication with the atmosphere, the other is
acted upon as occasion requires, by compressed air, of
about 45 lbs. to the inch, from a stationary reservoir.
As the tube is but little more than half the diameter
of the ordinary "atmospheric," it offers little more
than a fourth of the area, and, consequently requires
about four times the pressure to make its moving
power equal to this, an effect which is obtained by
the stated pressure of 45 lbs. ; but whereas, as before
said, the extreme limit of atmospheric pressure upon
the vacuum system being once reached, no circum-
stances, however urgent, can enable us to increase it,

even by the amount of a single pound ; in this case it
is just the reverse, and should it be requisite to dis-
patch a heavy train, to travel with greater velocity,
or to surmount a series of steep acclivities, an addi-
tional atmosphere is thrown upon the piston with the
greatest ease. When in the last-named case the
summit of an incline has been reached, communication
with the reservoir is closed, and the condensed air
already within the tube is allowed to act expansively ;
and in this way the power accommodates itself with
effect and economy to the principal inequalities of the
line.

But there is another point to which I would call
attention. The valve is formed of leather, to which
a layer of vulcanised India rubber is attached, and
the immense pressure from within the tuba operating
upon this elastic cushion, renders the sealing of the
tube almost hermetical. The better to appreciate
the value of this excellent arrangement, we must
refer to Mr. Robert Stephenson's report, the first and
second table in which are devoted to an interesting
record of experiments on leakage. From an exami-
nation of these, it appears, contrary to theoretical an-
ticipations, that the descent of the mercury in the
barometer guage is surprisingly uniform, from 22 to
7 inches in height, from which we may conclude that
equal quantities of air have entered the tube in equal
times. This is, doubtless, at variance with what
might have been anticipated, on the supposition that
the apertures through which the leakage takes place
remain uniform during the fall of the barometer. " A
little consideration, however, is sufficient to show that
the closeness of the longitudinal valve will vary with
the pressure; and, therefore, when the vacuum in the
tube is high, the pressure being increased, the aper-
tures are proportionably diminished."
Considering, therefore, these several important
points in Piatti's system, and especially the power and
unquestionable simplicity of the contrivance, I truly
believe that it is well worth the while of all those
whose capital is embarked in railway enterprise to
investigate more clearly the merits of this invention.
If the system but once had a fair trial upon a mode-
rate scale, and was worked by one or two Cornish
engines of first-rate build and surplus power, and if
these engines were supplied with stenm of a high
pressure, and, further, that the principle of expansion
were carried as far as possible—this latter function of
the engine being in conjunction with the mycro-
meter screw of the "cataract," operated upon by self-
acting machanism, in order to suit circumstances—
there is not a question but that a demonstration of
economy would ensue, which would immediately
enhance the value of railway property.—lSHAM
BAGGS.—Abridged from the Mining Journal.

THE LONDON HosrrrAL.—Yesterday the quarterly
meeting of the governors and subscribers of this insti-
tution was held in the committee-room of the hospital,
for the purpose of electing a surgeon, in the room of
John Goldcorp Andrews, Esq., who died a short time
since, Leonard Currie, Esq., the treasurer, in the chair.
Mr. W. J. Nixon, the secretary, read the report, from
which it appeared that during the last quarter there had
been the large number of 1,082 inpatients, 563 patients
cured, 437 relieved, and 82 patients bad died, including 31
deaths from Asiatic cholera. Several of the wards in
the hospital have been set apart for the reception of
!,ersons who are attacked with cholera, and who require
immediate assistance. There were also 2,000 out-
patients on the books. During the past year there had
been 2,442 in-patients admitted, and 6,574 oat patients--
making a total of 9,016. The report also stated that
there was a decrease in the hospital estate this year of
8711' 198' 6d. After some other routine business,
Thomas Blizard Curling, D q., one of the assistant-
surgeons, was unanimously elected to fill the vacvncy of
one of the senior surgeons to the hospital. A strong i
contest s expected for the situation of assistant-surgeon.
THE ROYAL PARTY AT A PINCH.—At Arrochar
an amusing incident took place. A gentleman came
ashare from the royal yacht, and mentioned to a tourist
who was loitering at the inn that her Majesty desirt d to
lunch, and that the provisions had unfortunately been
sent to Tarbert—addin a question as to whether any-
thing could be got in the inn. The gentleman thus ad-
dressed procured two dr sons .of fresh herrings and seven
large loaves, with which three of the visitors in the inn
pulled off to the yacht. On nearing they were asked
what was wanted, and replying "provisions for her Ma-
j'sty," were ordered to come on board, and were soon
after informed by the purveyor that what they had
brought was very acceptable—and it afterwards ap-
peared that her Majesty really lunched on the loaves
and fishes.

The truest love is the truest benevolence; ft ac-
quires an infinite patience out of the very excess of its
sulTering, and is content to merge its egotism in the idea
of the beloved object. lie that does not know this, does
not know what love is, whatever he may know of passion.
Gook's Journal.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, Sept. 5.
IN RE JOHN MILES WINNINGTON, KNOWN AS SIR JOHN

➢TILES WINNINGTON.
This insolvent, who possessed a foreign knighthood,
was heard as far back as 1825, when he was dis-
charged (after a remand for fraudulently contracting
debts) from liabilities computed in the schedule at
8,6C0/ , which amount included several large esti-
mated sums of proctors' costs in a suit for divorce insti-
tuted by the insolvent's wife. In 1842 the insolvent
was indicted for robbing a furrier's shop, and having
been convicted, was sentenced to seven years'
transportation. Last year, by the death cf a rela-
tive, the insolvent became entitled to upwards of
1,6001., which 'amount was paid by the executors of
the deceased into the Court of Chancery, whence,
upon application of the assignee, it was removed into
this court.

Several meetings for proof of debts have been held,
but comparatively few creditors have attended, and
to-day Mr. Ingpen, the registrar of Mr. Commissioner
Harris's court, held a final audit meeting, when two
fresh debts were proved, making a total amount of
6001. proved, and about 4001. more remains in abey-
ance, of which not more than 100/. is expected to be
admissible, so that, after paying the creditors who
have proved 203. with interest, there will remain
surplus which, it is supposed, will be claimed by ti e
Crown, the insolvent being a convicted felon.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HOUSE.
William .231'Creeth was brought before the Lord
Mayor, charged with having forged cheques upon
the house of Messrs. Smith, Payne, and Smith, and
also with having in his possession seven blank cheque.,
and parts of other cheques, knowing the same to have
been stolen.
Mr. Mullens, of the firm of Bush and Mullens, the
solicitors to the Committee of Bankers for Protection
against Forgeries and Fraud, attended for the pro-
secution, and produced one cheque for 1401., and
another for 121. 7s. 6d., both of which he stated wt re
forgeries.
Mr. A. Few, a clerk in the house of Messrs. Smith,
Payne, and Smith, said the cheque for 1401., signed
" P. B. Kitchen," and dated the 21st of April, 1849,
was presented to me on the 21st of April at that
counter, and I paid it in notes, one of which was a
note for 1001. Ido not know to whom I paid it.
Mr. G. Willington, also a clerk in Messrs. Smith
and Co.'s house, said, on the 21st of April application
was made to me for a cheque-book in the name of
Mr. It. B. Kitchen. I delivered a cheque-book to
the person who applied, all the pages of which were
numbered 9,179. Here are ten cheques produced,
which were taken out of that book. I have a partial
recollection of the party, and the prisoner is very like
him, but I cannot swear to his identity.
Mr. Cruse, clerk in the issue department of the
Bank of England, raid that on the 21st of April the
notes for 1001. and other notes, with the name " W.
Goodman, 14, Kingsland road," were brought to him,
and he paid them.
Mr. W. Johns, clerk to Messrs. Smart, Buller, and
Swart, solicitors in Lincoln's Inn-fields, said, on
Monday last I presented the cheque produced for 121.
7s. 6d. at Messrs. Smith, Paene, and Smith's. It
was signed "J. Cottrell and Sons." It was not paid,
and I was required to give an account from whom I
received it. I received it from Mr. Richard Wensley,
of the Strand, on the same day. Before I came into
the City a person, whom I knew to be the prisoner,
smiled on the subject of the cheque, and asked if a
person of the name of Wensley had been there that
morning, and whether I had a cheque of his ? I an-
swered in the affirmative. He asked me to hold it a
little while, and Mr. Wensley would rend me the
money for it. I consented and I held it for an hour,
and then I presented it.
Mr. R. Wensley, licensed victualler, of 339, Strand,
said, I paid the cheque for 121. 7s. 6d. to Mr. Johns,
and I received it from the prisoner on Saturday last.
I gave him a portion of the amount, as he did not
require the whole.
The LORD MAYOR—How long have you known the
prisoner ? Witness—Eight or ten months.
The LORD Maroue—Had you changed cheques for
him before ?
Witness—l did change a cheque for him some time
ago, and I paid it away to Mr. Curtis, the distiller. I
believe that cheque was got back again.
Heddington, the officer, said—l took the prisoner
into custody at four o'clock this morning, at Mr.
Wensley's house. Haydon, the officer, was with me.
I took him to the station-house, and found upon him
seven blank cheques and four counterfoils. (Here the
witness produced cheques upon the house of Smith,
Payne, and Smith, numbered 9,179.) I asked him
whether his name was M'Creeth, and whether he did
not give a cheque for 121. 7s. 6d. to Mr. Wensley.
He said, "Yes," and I told him there was some mis-
take, and it was necessary that he should explain
about it. He said belied taken it from Mr. Cotter,
for a debt, but where Mr. Cotter lived he did not
know. He believed, however, that Mr. Cotter was a
solicitor. I told him that he must consider himself in
custody. He had in his pocket the seven blank
cheques and four counterfoils.
Michael Haydon, the officer, said—l was with
Heddington and I asked the prisoner where he lived ?
He said at No. 14, Bedford-street, Covent garden.
He afterwards told me that direction was not right,
and that his real address was No. 4, New Exchange-
court, Strand. I went to the latter address and saw
on the second floor, to which he had directed me, a
woman who said she was his wife, and I found there
a pocket-book containing a card and a cheque signed
" Bamfleld, Brothers," upon Smith, Payne, and
Smith, for 22/. Upon the card was the address
written in pencil, " 103, Kingsland-road," and I also
found a counterfoil of Smith, Payne, and Smith.
Mr. T. Tessell, clerk to Messrs. Smith, Payne, and
Smith, said—l was present when the application was
made for the cheque-book alluded to, and my atten-
tion was particularly called to the person who ap-
plied for it. I have no doubt the prisoner is that
person.
The LORD MAYOR—Was the cheque-book given
without being applied for in writing ?
The witness said the party who applied had
obtained the pass-book of Mr. Kitchen, which was
considered tantamount to a written application for a
cheque-book, and he (witness) was called over to
identify the applicant as Mr. Kitchen's son, whom he
was believed to be. Witness thought the prisoner was
Mr. Kitchen's son upon looking at him, and then the
cheque-book was given to him. The evidence was
given upon the best belief of the witness. The trans-
action took place five months since.
It was proved that neither Messrs. Bamfield
Brothers, nor Messrs. Cottrell and Sons, whose
alleged cheques were found in the possession of the
prisoner, did not keep accounts at the bank of Messrs.
Smith, Payne, and Smith.
The LORD MAYOR asked the prisoner whether he
wished to ask any of the witnesses questions ? The
prisoner replied in the negative upon each occasion.
The LORD MAYOR—I shall remand you till Satur
day next.—Remanded accordingly.
GUILDHALL.

A slight made young man, not yet twenty years of
age, but who was most insolent in his manner, and
who gave his name as John Blomer Weehes, having
no home, was placed at the bar before Sir P. Laurie,
charged with presenting a pistol, loaded with powder
and ball, at Police-constable Shipton, with intent to
do him some grievous bodily harm. There was also
a second charge of sending threatening letters.
The first witness called was
Mr. J. Lovell, of No. 38, BasinghaH-street, cloth-
worker, who said—The prisoner is rehted to me ;
he is my brother, and I received these two letters
from him.

Prisoner (in a violent manner)—l know nothing
of those letters.

Sir P. LAURIE—What trade is he ? Mr. Lovell--
I do not know, as I never saw him more than three
or four times in my life. . . .

Sir P. LatiatE--:-Then how is he related to you,
that you have not seen him for so long ? Mr. Lovell
—I should have explained that he is related by mar-
riage, I having married his sister. He is a convicted
felon, and has been wandering about the country for
a long time. He has also threatened several times to
keep up a system of annoyance unless I would give
him a character.

Prisoner• (violently)—l did not do so.
Sir P. LAURIE (to the prisoner)—Why do you
annoy your brother-in-law? Prisoner-1 did not.
I only wanted to see my sister.
Mr. Lovell--On Friday, the 31st of August, I
received the first letter, which runs thus :
" I now write you to tell you that you may be thank-
ful that your two men were with you in the shop, or you
would not have been now alive; but know this, that the
dog's end awaits you.
Addressed—" Mr. Lovell, Basinghall-street, City."
The second letter Preceived on Monday List, the 3d of
September, to the following effect :
" Mr• —,—As all things grow stronger by age, so
shall my hatred; so, therefore, I hope you will not de-
ceive yourself by sending your hints here to me about the
warrant, or any thing of the kind, as I take no notice
of it; it only serves to expose your own weakness, and
to make you a laughing stock, and I care not what you
do, as I can give any of your messengers a warm recep-
tion, but you shall not hsve it in your power to send
many more. lam on the watch at every corner and at
every turning you take. I will torment your life and
rej:)ice over your death." "Yount ENEMY."
Addressed—" Mr. Lovell, 38, Basinghall-
street, City."
Sir P. LAURIE—You say he is a convicted felon.
What was that for ?

Mr. Lovell—He was committed for burglary and
sentenced to four months' imprisonment.
Prisoner—That's false. It was only three months.
MrP. Mary Ann Wood Lovell, wife of the last wit-
ness, entered the witness-box, very much distressed,
and was sworn.

Sir P. LAuuzz said that, however painful it might

be to give evidence against her brother, it was actually
necessary in so serious a case as the present.
Mrs. Lovell—l am aware of that, but I must pro-
tect my husband. Both the letters produced are in
the prisoner's handwriting.
Frederick Shipton, Policeman 114, said, about
half-past 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon, from infor-
mation I received, I was about taking the prisoner
into custody, when he pulled out a pistol from his
jacket pocket, and said, "Stand off for your life—one
step, ai.d I'll fire," at the same time presenting the
pistol at me. I rushed at him, and, at about one
yard or a yard and a half, he pulled the trigger,
end the powder flashed in the pan and missed fire.
I threw the prisoner down, and a witness now pre-
sent toels the pistol from his hand. The prisoner
then said, "It's a good job it did not go off, or else
you would have had it." I then took the prisoner to
the station-house, and on searching him found some
gunpowder, a bullet mould, and two pieces of iron.
The powder was in a piece of paper in his jacket
pocket. The prisoner himself took the mould out of
his trousers pocket as he was in front of the bar at
the station. I received the pistol from a person named
Hammond. I afterwards took the pistol to Mr.
Loudon, in London wail, a gunsmith, to draw the
charge, which he did in my presence, and it contained
the powder and ball which I now produce. This is
the pistol which he attempted to fire at me.
Sir P. LAURIE Was it pointed at you. Shipton—
It was.
Sir P. LAURIE—Were you near enough to hear
the click of the lock ? Shipton—l was. I was not
more than a yard from him. I might perhaps have
been a little more.
Sir P. LAURIE (to the prisoner) —Do you wish to
ask this witness any questions ? Prisoner—No.
Robert Hammond, of New-street, Old-street, said
—I am a cloth-worker, in the employ of sir. Lovell,
33, Basinghall-street. A warrant being out for the
prisoner's apprehension, my fellow-servant was told, if
he saw the prisoner to give him in charge. Presently
he came back, and said the prisoner was close
at hand, upon which I went to seek for an
officer, and meeting with Shipton, I told him to take
charge of Weekes. The officer advanced for that
purpose, and when within about a yard and a half of
him, the prisoner exclaimed," Stand back, or I'll take
your life." -
Sir P. LAURIE—Did he say that to the officer or
to you ? Hammond—l can't say. The officer ad-
vanced, and the prisoner presented the pistol and
pulled the trigger. The policeman then butted him
with his head, and knocked him down. When down,
I took the ,pistol from the prisoner's hand.
Sir P. LAURIE—At what moment did he pull the
trigger ? Hammond—Just as the officer was about
to butt him.
Sir P. LAURIE—Did you see the flash ? Ham-
mond—Yes, I did; and it was then the officer
knocked him down. I gave the pistol to the officer at
the station-house. It is the one produced. On the road
to the station-house the prisoner said, " I will do for
Mr. Lovell and you before long."
William Oram, also in the employ of Mr. Lovell,
said, I was present when the policeman attempted to
take the prisoner, and saw him present the pistol, and
a flash took place.
Sir P. LAURIE (to the prisoner)—Do you wish to
say anything ? Prisoner—l should like to look at
those letters.
Sir P. LAURIE—You shall see them.
They were shown to him by Mr. Rce, the officer,
and after hurriedly comparing them he said, "Do you
think they agree in style ?"
Sir P. LAURIE—That matters little. I shall com-
mit you for trial for sending the threatening letters,
and also for attempting to take the life of the police-
man, which is one of the most serious offences that has
been before me for a long time.
Mr. Lovell—He presented a pistol at me on Friday
last, and used threats.
The prisoner was then remanded until to-morrow,
for the purpose of having the depositions made out.
MAR YLEBONE.

John Shillinglaw, a gardener, residing at No. 19,
Fitzroy-place, New-road, was placed at the bar before
Mr. Broughton, charged with having threatened to
assassinate his wife and family.
Mr. BROUGHTON ordered the prisoner to enter into
his own recognizance. of 251., and to find two sureties
in 201. each, for his keeping the peace and being of
good behaviour to the family for the next four months.
Twenty-fbur hours' notice of bail being required,
the prisoner was locked up.
WOR,SHIP• STREET.

A young man named John Murphy was charged
with having stolen a gold watch and appendages of
the value of 20 guineas, from the person of a well-
dressed and rather good-looking young person, who
was stated to be the wife of a gentleman holding a
situation under Government.
The complainant, who gave her evidence with an
air of perfect coolness and self possession, stated that
as she was passing through Whitechapel-road between
three and four o'clock on the preceding afternoon, she
was accosted by the prisoner, who engaged her in
conversation, and, after walking by her side for a
short distance, proposed that she should allow him to
introduce her to a female cousin of his, who resided
in the neighbourhood. Feeling a good deal heated
and exhausted from the exercise she had taken, she
was induced to accept the invitation, and accompanied
the prisoner to a house down an adjoining court,
where they were admitted by a servant who ushered
them into a room on the first floor, and left them to-
gether. She remained there along with the prisoner
for upwards of two hours, and on rising to. leave at
the expiration of that period she discovered that her
gold watch and chain, to which two costly seals were
attached, and which was suspended from her neck at
the time she entered tha room, had disappeared. She
immediately charged the prisoner with having been
privy to the abstraction of the property, but he dis-
claimed all knowledge of it, and told her that if she
suspected him to be a thief she had better send for a
policeman. On proceeding down stairs she commu-
nicated her loss to the landlady of the house, and the
latter having also advised her to send for the police,
she called is a constable who was passing and gave
the prisoner into custody.
In answer to questions from the Magistrate,
The complainant said that she was perfectly sober
at the time, but admitted that she had sent out for
some wine, which she paid for with a half-sovereign,
end having partaken of a portion of it with the pri-
oner, she dozed off to sleep and found that she had
been robbed soon after she awoke

Mr. Hurlstone, the clerk—You say that you re-
mained with him for two hours-o.ifi nothing further
transpire during that time besides what `•ou have
stated? Witness—Really, sir, you must excuse me;
I cannot possibly answer that question.
Mr. Hu-;stone—Pray what is your husband ?
Witness—He holds a situation in the Customs.
Witness—Do you reside with him at present, and
is he aware that you are here to-day ? Witness—Of

course we reside together ; but I must decline to
answer your other question.
Police-constable H 134 stated that while passing a
house of notorious character in Angel-alley, White-
chapel, between 7 and 8 o'clock on the preceding
evening, the complainant, who was standing at the
door in a white satin dress and with her Ways in her
hand, called him in and pointed out the prisoner as
having just robbed her of her watch and appendages.
He immediately searched the prisoner, and also the
apartment in which the robbery was said to have been
committed, but without being able to discover the
missing property. The complainant, however, in
sisted upon pressing the charge, but stated on her
way to the station-house that she had herself taken
the watch and chain from her neck and placed them
upon the table shortly before she missed them.
In answer to the charge, the prisoner earnestly
protested his innocence, and said that it Nyis impos-
sible he could have committed the robbery,Ta the pro-
perty was not forthcoming,.and he did not leave the
place for a moment until he was given into custody.
Mr. TYRWIIITT said that he did not feel himself
justified in committing the prisoner upon the un-
supported testimony of the complainant, and he should
therefore order him to be discharged; but if she was
not satisfied with his decision, she was at liberty to
carry the case to the sessions,

The complainant said that she was cot actuated by
any vindictive feelings against the accused, but felt
satisfied that he had taken her watch, and she con-
sidered that it was a most cruel robbery.
Mr. Hurlstone—You had better put your husband
in possession of all the circumstances, and leave him
to indict the prisoner if he thinks proper.
The complainant made no further observation, and
the prisoner was discharged.