The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-27 00:00:00

CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY.)
OLD COURT.

(Before Mr. Justice ERSKINE and Mr. Justice COLERIDGE..)
Thomas Luke Wills, a clerk in the General Post-office,
pleaded guilty to an indictment for having stolen a 101. note,
from a letter placed in the Post-office. The facts of this case
recently appeared in The Sun, at the time of the examination
of the prisoner at Bow-street.
Mr. Justice COLERIDGE, in passing sentence, said, that al-
though evidence was ready to be tendered of the good charac-
ter of the prisoner, the crime to which he had pleaded guilty
was so frequent an occurrence, that it was necessary, although
it was painful to the Court, to make an example of the priso-
ner. The sentence of the Court was, that he be transported
for the term of fifteen years.
Elizabeth Maxwell, aged 30, married, was indicted for e-
loniously as d maliciously stabbing James Maxwell, her hus-
band, with intent to murder him.

The Jury, under the direction of the Learned Judge, ac-
quitted the prisoner on the capital charge, and she pleaded
guilty to the common assault.
The facts of the case, as they transpired were recently pub-
lished in The Sun, the prisoner having stabbed her husband in
the back, in a fit of jealousy.
The Learned Judge COLE RIDGE then addressed the prisoner,
and said—You have been convicted, upon your own confes-
sion, doubtless advised by your counsel, of a most serious crime.
Upon the statement that Las been made, both by the
Learned Counsel of the prosecution and for yourself, it has
been thought. right at least that no evidence should be
offered in respect to the most grievous part of the charge, and
the Jury have done their duty in respect to that, and found you
not guilty, and )ou have yourself pleaded guilty to the re-
mainder of the charge. That charge taken by itself is a very
serious one indeed, and even under all the mitigating circum-
stances which appeared to excite you to the commission of it,
it is impossible for the Court to pass it over with anything like
a nominal punishment. It was stated that having seen your
husband under the most highly provoking circumstances, you
had gone back to your own house, and then inflicted on him the
blow with a knife, and I must say that, if that fact had remained
unaltered, it would have been very difficult for the Jury, ac-
cording to their oaths, not to have found you guilty on the most
grievous part of the charge, because however high the provo-
cation the law will not allow any person deliberately so pi
yoked to inflict injury or take life. I have had in the course of
my experience an instance before me, strongly impressed on my
recollection, when one of the most learned and humane Judges
that ever sat on the bench thought it his duty to inform a prisoner
who was before him, under the same circumstances, that had
the Jury believed that he procured the pistol and fired it, know-
ing it to be loaded with deadly means of destruction—however
high the provocation might have been, the offence would have
been wilful murder. The law will not allow any person to
avenge himself in that mode. You are relieved, by the ex-
planation that has been made, from that serious part of the
charge, because it seems you did not go for that purpose when
you went home. You had probably no thought of vengeance
with the knife you had in your hand when you deserted the
house ; but it was in your hand when you received the provo-
cation ; and as the unhappy blow was given, it remains now
to pass on you such a sentence as the facts of the in-
quiry seem to require. And very painful it is for
me to pass upon you anything like a severe
or painful sentence, because we cannot but recollect that the
act was dune on serious provocation—the most grievous perhaps
a woman could receive; arid we have learned that up to this
passage of your life you have conducted yourself in a most ex-
emplary manner. But you must pay the penalty for the crime
for which you have been found guilty—for the sake of others,
for the sake of society, and for the sake of the law, you will
suffer a severe punishment. The sentence of the Court is, that
you be imprisoned in the House of Correction for 12 calendar
months, and that during that time you be kept to hard labour.
The prisoner, who was extremely affected throughout the
address, was then led from the bar.

NEW COURT.
(Before the COMMON SERGEANT.)
Ann llalton was indicted for stealing live spoons, one coat,
one pair of trowsers, one shawl, and ether articles, value 171.,
the property of William Henry Bailey, her master, and Enieline
Halton, her sister, was charged with receiving the same,
knowing it to be stolen.
The prosecutor deposed that on the 6th of July he missed
the articles named in the indictment, and gave the prisoner into
custody.
Police constable 10 C proved to taking the prisoner Emiline
into custody, in John's-row, St. Luke's, with some of the stolen
property in her possession.
The prisoner tere became excessively violent, and, pulling
off her shoe, flung it across at the constable, who was stand-
ing in the witness-box, calling him, at the same time, a--
lying rogue.
The Coasatow SERGEANT said, he did not think the case of
feloniously receiving to be made out against Emeline Halton ;
lie should, therefore, order her to be discharged. The sen-
tence of the Court on Ann was, that she be imprisoned and
kept to hard labour for six months.
John Phillips, and Ellen his wife, were indicted for steal-
ing several articles of household furniture, the property of John
Proud.

It appeared from the evidence, that on the 4th of August a
distress was put into the prosecutor's premises, and the male
prisoner was appointed to act as broker or keeper, and in that
capacity stole the articles named.
The Costatox SERGEANT in addressing the prisoner, John
Phillips, after the Jury had returned a verdict of Guilty, said
that the fact of the capacity in which the prisoner acted ren-
dered his crime of the blackest hue. He should therefore, for
the protection of the poorer and more distressed classes who
were subjectto the mercy of persons in the prisoner's situation,
deem it his duty to make a severe example of him. Ile
should sentence him to seven years' transportation.
The prisoner, on leaving the bar, said he was not sorry to be
about leaving the country.
The evidence against the female prisoner not being consi-
dered conclusive sne was ordered to be discharged.
John Gosling and William Brooks were indicted for steal-
ing a purse, containing half-a-crown, from the person of Mary
Fitzpatrick.
It appeared by the evidence that all the parties were drink-
ing together in a public-house in Clare-market at the time the
robbery was committed.
'he Jury, having returned a verdict of Guilty, the COURT
sentc:leed Gosling to two months', and Brooks to one month's
imprisonment and hard labour.
Willia»t White, a japanner by trade, 55 years of age, was
indicted for stealing two get* of dish-mots, an 4 other property,
of the value of 275., the property of his employer, Charles
Williams.
The prisoner pleaded Guilty, and was sentenced to six
months' imprisonment and hard labour.
Sarah Cole, a poor and sickly-looking female, with a child
in her arms, was indicted for stealing a pewter pot, value 15.6 d.,
the property of John Hanson.
The prosecutor said he was the proprietor of a public-house
in High •street, Kensington, and suspecting the prisoner, he
caused a policeman to search her lodgings, where the pot was
found.
The constable in addition said that he found some lead
melted down.
The prisoner in her defence said she got the pot with some
porter a few days before at the prosecutor's house.
The Jury, after some consultation, recalled the prosecutor,
who, in reply to a question, said the prisoner had been in the
habit of taking beer from his house, and that on such occasions
he allowed her to take it in one of his pots.
A verdict of Guilty having been returned, the prisoner was
sentenced to two months' imprisonment, and hard labour.

MARLBORO UGH-ST RE ET.
(TIIIS DAY.)
This morning' a young man, named Richard Ingram, was
fully committed for' trial, charged with stealing the clothes of a
respectable youth, nOued Frederick bleands, while he was
bathing last evening in Serpentine River. The prisoner
was stopped as he was runnin7 away with the sto!en property.
Several individuals have lately ben deprived of their apparel,
and been obliged to take refuge in the receiving-house of the
Royal Humane Society until they procured another suit.
Charles Jones, a boy, and William .-,:lvted, a coal-porter,
were fined 10s. each for letting off fire-works in Peter-street,
Soho, in celebration of the birth-day of his ROYal Highness
Prince Albert. In default of payment, they were.Ontenced to
seven days' hard labour. —L Another verification of the saying, one
law for the rich and another for the poor. This boy is to be
degraded by working with felons on the tread-mill because it is
totally out of his power to pay 10s. The two Officers of the
Life Guards who were fined the other day for a more danger-
ous and less loyal amusement, paid the amount, which to them
was nothing, and walked out of the office.]

THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.
Queens are not now as Queens were oft of old
Couched like stone idols on a seat of gold,
Whose triple locks and closely curtained throne
Shut out like adamant their people's moan :
Queens, now, have human thoughts—have human hearts
That flow with love, and feel for kindred smarts—
Weep with the weepers, and in tears distil—
Yea, even bleed at their poor subjects' ill.

Look up, poor Weaver ; though distresses deep
With baleful famine round thy table creep ;
Yet, have thou faith, an arm both prompt and strong,
Shall give thee rescue ere the day grow long.
Mighty thy Queen—supreme in thy behalf—
Lean on her sceptre as thy surest staff ; -
For perils dark shall fasten on the foes
Who thwart her plans, or purposes oppose ;
Whilp her high goodness in the end shall bless
Thy days with plenty and with pleasantn?ss.
Look up, poor Weaver ! trust thou in thy Queen,
Bright times are yet to dawn, and days serene.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.—The half-
yearly meeting of the Proprietors of this railway was held at
Bristol yesterday, when a lengthened report was read. It ap-
pears that it is the intention of the Directors to raise an addi-
tional capital, to the amount of half a million, by creation of
loan notes. The Directors express a firm conviction that this
sum will be sufficient, and that the cost of the line altogether
will not exceed 6,250,000/. The dividend is settled at 114
per cent. on the half-year, to be paid in proportion to the
sums called on the respective shares at the former half-yearly
meeting, and which obtained the sanction of the Proprietors
as being the most equitable. Mr. Brunel appends an able do-
cumentto the report, which explains in detail all the matters
in reference to which so much difference of opinion has existed.
It is in contemplation to erect a large number of house at
Swindon, also an hotel, engine-houses, goods' depots, &c. ;
in fact, to render the entire establishment the most complete in
the kingdom.
A VESSEL NEARLY DESTROYED BY FIRE
AT SEA.—SPONTANEOUS COMIIUSTION.—On Friday the
following particulars were received by the various insur-
ance offices in the City, relative to the brig Ant, master
Captain Paine, belonging to Liverpool, which was
nearly destroyed by lire on the morning
last, supposed to have originated from the sP"tlie rd-
te of la
combustion of some damp straw in a crate
of of the
ware, stowed amongst the cargo in the after-p
anfrine-built
vessel. It appears that the Ant, which s_
iLiverpool for
vessel, sailed on Saturday fortnight from
the liar-
Milford, and on Sunday night arrived
Paine, having
hour at that port, and the master, Captat of Mondous
safely moored the vessel retired to beq;
a pilot, named
did the crew.
At about two o'clock in the InTiVisignack, the Mary
Phillip, in sailing past the vessel
- ring flames burst-
Ellen, was greatly surprised in did `)":
destruction of the
eapparently no one on
ing forth through the deck, an
board of her. At one time "
flames communicated tohe
vessel appeared certain, as t. part of
reater the rigging
the mainsail boom, and the
o owing day the
gOn the f
was enveloped in a blaze.
as
well as examinec_l the master and the
s, quartered at Milford, inspected the
agents of Lloyd'
burnt vessel,
crqw, and from. the report they have forwarded to the
authorities in the City, there appears no doubt but that
the damp straw stowed in a crate, as above alluded to,
was the cause of the accident,
pE„sEy.--The crops are looking mote pro-
mising since the late genial weather, and most of the neigh-
bouring farmers have commenced reaping.— Hilts Indepemdent.