The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-06 00:00:00

CENTRAL. CRIMINAL ;COURT.

OLD COURT.

These sessions the ninth ot the present Mayoralty,com-
menced yesterday before the Lord Mayo; the Common
Sergeant, Aldermen Wilson, Hughes Hughes, Sidney,
Sir Chapman Marshall, the Sheriffs, &c.
The grand jury having been selected and sworn,
The Com.most SERGEANT, in the absence of the Re-
corder, delivered his charge to them. The calendar con-
tained the names of no less than 135 prisoners, although
not store than twelve days had elapsed since the termina-
tion of the last session, and the probability was, that
that number would be increased to 170 or 180 before the
termination of the session. Most of the charges in
the calendar were of an ordinary character, but there were
several of the cases to which he wished particularly to
refer. There were three persons charged with rape.
Henry Wyatt and Isaac White were charged with
a rape on Sarah Lavin, and if her evidence was
correct, a worse case against both the prisoners could
hardly exist. There was another charge of rape against
Samuel Pritchard upon Matilda Langton. All the in-
gredients of rape would probably be brought in evidence
before the grand jury. In cases of this kind juries in general
expected. ar.d reason demanded, that there should be
evidence of cries at the time, and immediate complaints
after; but all cases in criminal courts must ever depend
on circumstances. In the present instance the object
of the attack was little more than a child, only
just turned fourteen years, and threats and fears
might have induced silence. It was, however, he
thought a case that ought to be placed before
a judge and jury. There was then a charge against
a person of the name of Edward Fox of threat-
ening to accuse a man of an infamous crime,
the object and intent being to extort money. Such
charges as these were of a most serious nature, and the
safety of the community required that an investigation
should take place, in oriier that, if proved, such
offences might be severely punished. There were
several cases in the calendar of cutting and wounding
with intent to do grievous bodily harm. This offence,
he was sorry to say, was of late greatly on the
increase. It was right that he should inform the
grand jury that it was not necessary that the
' cutting should be with a sharp instrument—wound
ing with any instrument was sufficient to con-
stitute the offence. The charge against Isaac Cannon
was a case of this kind. He was an inmate of Shore-
ditch workhouse. Great violence had been repeatedly
used by him, and it was in his opinion desirable
that the case should be brought before a jury, that they
might determine whether he was or was not of unsound
mind, as in the one case he would be punished, and in
he other taken care of in a proper manner.
There was a charge against William Trade and Edward
Harris of stealing and receiving. The pawnbroker, Mr.
Richardson, had done himself great credit by sending
for a policeman, and detaining and giving both prisoners
into custody. These prisoners were committed
(observed the Learned Judge) on the 21st of
.June, by one who hath finished his : course.
Mr. Rawlinson was a magistrate to whom those con-
nected with this Court were ever greatly indebted. The
depositions taken before him were all of one character—
clear, concise, to the point. " Not slothful in business,"
he looked neither to the right nor to the left.
The rich and the poor alike foun I in him
the same firmness and resolution the same
integrity and mercy. Ever " ready to every good
work," justice was administered with judgment. His
loss will not easily be la placed. It is not often we find
united in one mind simplicity, decision, probity, charity,
and religion. The Learned Judge (who was deeply
affected during the latter part of his address) then re-
mitted the grand jury to the discharge of their duties ;
and the remainder of the morning was occupied with
swearing in the petty jury.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL.
Messrs. Miall and Cockshaw, the printers of the Non-
conformist newspaper, were summoned before Aldermen
Gibbs and Wilson, for refusing to pay Ms. 4d., their
quota towards a church-rate for the parish of St. Martin,
Ludgate.
Alderman GIBBS having asked Mr. Miall why he re-
fused to pay the money ?
Mr. Miall replied, he had newly come to reside in the
parish.
Alderman GIBBS asked how recently ? Mr. Miall
said about the Ist of April.
The Alderman inquired whether the rate was retro
spective or prospective ? Mr. Gould, the churchwarden
said it was prospective, being made on the 6th of April
roe a year ending Lady-day, IE4B.
Mr. Alderman Gisns told Mr. Miall that as the rate
was prospective he was bound to pay it, as he would
have the benefit of it.
Mr. Miall said he should derive no benefit from it.
lie did not use the church, nor even know where it stood.
He objected on principle to the payment of church-rates.
['here was a law of justice above sill human law, that no
one should be compelled to aid the dissemination of what
he believed to be error.
Mr. Aldrman WILSON asked if he was a Quaker?
Mr. Miall said he was not. He was a Dissenter, and,
having a conscientious belief that some of the doctrines of
toe Established Church were erroneous, no power on
earth ought to compel him to contribute to the support
of that Church. What would he, as a Christian, say

if he were compelled to assist in the diffusion of the
errors of Nlahomedanisin?- Dissenters felt as much re-
pugnance to aiding the diffusion ot the errors ot the
Established Church,
Mr. Alderman Wit.som said, if the laws of the com-
munity in which he live d ruquired him to contribute
to the support of a religion because it was the faith of
the majority, ho shoul think it his duty to submit to
the law.

Mr. Alderman GIBBS explained to him where the
church stood, and said it he did not use it that was his
•iwn fault. As magistrates, they mulct take no cogni-
zance of his objections to the doctrines of the Es-
tablished Church. They were to administer the law as
'hey found it, and, as Mr. Miall did not object to
the rate as not being made according to law, they must
enforce payment.
They ordered the amount to be paid.
MARLBOROUGH STREET.
Mr. Charles Pollard, described in the police-sheet as a
gentleman, of No. 10, Essex street, Strand, was brought
up on Saturday at this Court, before Mr. Hardwick, on
t charge of having, by fraudulent pretences, obtained two
bills of 1,000/. each from Prince Napoleon Louis Bona-
parte, of King-street, St. James's.
Mr. Bosh, of the firm of Bush and Mullens, attended
for the Prince; and Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Gates appeared
for the accused.
Prince Napoleon Louis Bonaparte was sworn.—l live
at No. 3, King-street, St. James's-square. In the be-
ginning of the month of June I expected remittances
trom my Florentine agent exceeding 3,000/. I received
a letter from my agent stating that the money could not
be sent before August. On receipt of this letter I in-
structed Mr. Orsi, my private secretary, on the busi-
ness. This was in the beginning of the month of June.
A few days afterwards I received by post, or by some
other means, a letter, at my house in King-street. On
Friday, the 11th of June, the prisoner presented hitnse;f
to me as Mr. Pollard, the person who had sent the letter.
fhe prisoner said he had some bill stamps in his pocket,
and all he required me to do was to sign the bills in
blank. I said I was not in such a hurry ;my only
object in wanting accommodation was, that I was
arnhweilli prisonern my French railway shares.
let me have 3.000/. or
4,000/. or even 5,0001. I asked the prisoner if he wished
gto force
offered
a sale
to o f
for security, and he replied it was not necessary ; I had
only to sign the bills, and then give the five per cent. in-
terest. I told the prisoner I was uncertain whether I
would accept any bills. I said I would consider the
proposal, and would give him an answer on the follow-
ing Monday morning. I asked the prisoner how he
came to know that I wanted accommodation. He said,
" When anybody wants money they come to us," adding
that they had lately made large leans to persons who
wanted temporary aid. He said also he was trying to
find a loan fur 40,000/. for a gentleman whom 1 knew. 1
am sure that at the first interview the prisoner produced
blank stamps, and asked me only to write my name oil
them. I excused myself from doing so. I asked the
prisoner for his address, and he told me it was at No. 10,
Essex street, Strand. The prisoner then went away. I
directed a certain person to make inquiries about the
prisoner. On the Monday following the prisoner came
to me in King-street, at 12 o'clock, according to appoint.
meet. The prisoner commenced the conversation by
speaking of tt.e difficulty of finding money in the market
on account of wha:. he called the " monetary crisis." I
told him it hit had any objection to go on with the busi
ness, it would not matter, as I had no particular neces
,ity for accommodation. The prisoner said he was will-
tag to make the same engagement which he had offered
before, and then produced two bill stamps filled up.
I took a copy of the bills. There was no name at the
toot of the bills. The prisoner requested me to write
the word " accepted," and to put my name across the
bills. I did so; and I left the bills on my table. At
this time there was no name written at the bottom of
the bills. The prisoner afterwards put his name to
the bills, and said to me, " Now, you see, if you don't
is Ay, lam responsible." The prisoner asked me how I
wished to be paid; I said 800/. in cash, and the balance
in a cheque on his banker. The prisoner said the rate
of interest was to be 5 per cent. The bills were drawn
at two months, and the prisoner told me if I did not
choose to pay he would be willing to renew the bills after
that time. The
prisoner said he would pay me the
money the day afterwards at twelve o'clock. The pri-
soner came the next day and told me he could not give
me the money then, because in the present state of the
market he would lose 2001. by the affair. The prisoner
went away, promising to bring the money the next day,
or certainly the day after. I asked him to write down
that promise on a per The prisoner copied a form
I
which gave andhini, he signed the paper now pro
duced. The prisoner, on going away, remarked that
he was very sorry disappoint me. In the form which
t' or to
wrote tor the risoner to copy I used the word
"cheques" instead pof bills." The prisoner, though
I told him
to correct any bad English, made an
exact copy of the paper I gave him. I did not see
the prisoner on Wednesday, anti the following Friday I
wrote to him, but aid not keep a copy of the letter. On
Saturday I went to Essex-street. but I was told that the
prisoner was out, though at first the servant who opened
the door said Mr. Pollard was at home. A lady came
down, who said she was Mrs. Pollard. I had some con-
versation with her, and then I went away. I received a
i etteLfrom Birmingham by post. I immediately caused
active inquiries to be made after the bills, and I caused
advertisements to be put in the public papers. I wrote
an answer to the lettr I received from Birmingham.
Cross- examined—I had never before accepted a bill,
and was not acquainted with the distinction between a
bill and a cheque. I had never before had occasion to raise
money. I gave instructions to Mr. mains, the bookseller,
to inquire into the character of the prisoner. Mr. Pol-
lard's name-had never been mentioned to the before I
received the lust note, do not moor a lan, James, and