The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-14 00:00:00

THURSDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 14, 1848.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.
(Before Mr. Sergeant ADAMS, Assistant-Judge, and
a Bench of Magistrates.)
John Taylor, aged 21, very respectably attired,
was indicted yesterday, for having robbed Sir
Wymondham Anstruther of a purse containing
11. ss. 10d.
It appeared that Sir Wymondham Anstruther, who
resides at 16, York-terrace, Regent's-park, was walk-
ing in Regent's-street about five o'clock in the after.
noon of the 4th inst., with a friend, whilst on the
other side of him was walking his daughter, a little
girl, of whose hand he had hold. Just as they were
turning round the corner into Piccadilly Sir Wy-
mondham felt himself somewhat pressed from behind.
This circumstance instantly brought to his recollec-
tion that he had placed his purse in his coat pocket,
and thereupon he felt in that pocket, when he dis-
covered that the purse was gone. At the moment he
made the discovery of his loss the prisoner walked
passed him with his hands crossed before him. Sir
Wymondham's friend, however, said that the prisoner
must be the man who had robbed him, whereupon the
former followed the prisoner. The latter seeing that
he was being pursued threw the purse away and took
to his heels. He was not quick enough, nevertheless,
to accomplish his escape, for Sir Wymondham con-
tinued the pursuit until he overtook him just as the
man was about to be stopped by two gentlemen whose
attention had been directed to the prisoner by his
being pursued. Sir Wymondham took him back to
his friend, who in the meantime had picked up the
purse. The prisoner was then given into custody and
now pleaded " Guilty."
The history which Lockyer, an active officer of the
Westminster House of Correction, furnished of this
prisoner, was that he had long been associated with
the swell mob, and obtained his livelihood by his
thieving depredations ; that he was most expert in his
avocation, and had been previously convicted not
only at these sessions but at the Central Criminal
Court.

The Learned JUDGE now said that it was impos-
sible such an old offender should be allowed to remain
in this country. The sentence upon him therefore
was, that he be transported beyond the seas for the
period of ten years.

Jeremiah Connelly, aged eleven, John Connelly, aged
fourteen, and John Keefe, aged eleven, were indicted
for an assault upon another boy of the name of Charles
Black.

It appeared that Black, with some other lads, was
returning from school on the 18th of August, when
he was attacked by the three defendants, one of whom
struck him across the back with a broomstick, a
second hit him between the shoulders with a stone
slung in a handkerchief, and the third hit him on the
head with a stick. The result of this violence was
that even now the little child can neither walk nor
stand, and upon the present occasion he was carried
into court by his mother in whose lap he was laid
while he gave his evidence, and there is every reason
to fear that he has been made a cripple for the re-
mainder of his days.
The statement of the child was corroborated by
his brother and another schoolfellow.
On being called on for their defence,
Jeremiah Connelly said, that he was not at the
place at all when the row took place; he knew no-
thing about it... .

Jan Connelly said, he knew nothing about it, for
he was not there, and what was more little Black
himself had said so.

Keefe, like the others, denied all knowledge of the
matter, and said he was not there at all.
The Learned JUDGE then supposed that the poor
little boy, who was so much injured as to be unable,
even at that moment, to stand, had half killed himself
as a matter of pleasure.
John Connelly would take his oath that he was not
near the place.

The jury at once returned a verdict of Guilty
against all the prisoners.
John Connelly here exclaimed that he had got a
witness who had come to swear that he was not pre-
sent when the boy was hurt.
The Learned JUDGE told this boy, John Con•
nelly, that he was the worst of the three. The dif-
ficulty which now pressed upon the Court was as to
the mode in which the children at the bar ought to
be dealt with. Had they been grown up men the
course would have been very clear, they would have
been sent to prison for eight or nine months ; but
with such young children as the defendants it was
not very easy to deal in such a case. This assault
was very closely bordering on a felonious assault, and
more properly, perhaps, ought to have been sent to
the Central Criminal Court for trial. The Court,
however, would sentence each of them to six months'
imprisonment, for here was a poor little innocent
child in all probability rendered a cripple for life by
the strangely violent attack which had been made
upon him by the three children at the bar. (We
were informed privately that there are at Poplar two
excellent charity schools, the one for the children of
Protestant parents and the other for the children of
Roman Catholics. Recently a feeling of anger ap-
pears to have sprung up in the breasts of the latter
towards the former, and the present assault was sup-
posed to have had its inciting cause in that feeling.)
It is requisite that the public should be cautioned
against the importunities of a person who, we are
informed this morning, has lately been hanging about
this court, and offering for a sum of money to sup-
press reports of particular cases. In several instances
which the informant mentioned the fraud has been
completed. The object of the present notice is to
state that the individual in question does not attend
the Middlesex sessions for any newspaper, or even in
the character of a reporter.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HOUSE.
Friedman, the German Jew, was brought up for
final examination on the charge of playing defrauded
Mrs. Wingrove, upwards of three years ago, when she
was Mrs. Davis, of 301., under pretence and promise
of marriage.
The additional evidence was as follows :--
The prosecutrix had stated upon a former examina-
tion that the prisoner was to have paid the 301. with
which she had intrusted him to Messrs. Musgrove and
Gadsden, the agents to her landlord, in satisfaction
for rent, and the Lord Mayor desired that evidence
should be produced to prove that the money had not
been so paid.
Mr. Winterflood, clerk to Messrs. Musgrove and
Gadsden, of Old Broad-street, stated that his em-
ployers were agents to Mr. Thorpe, to whom the
house No. 22, Jewry-street, which had been tenanted
by Mrs. Davis upwards of three years ago, belonged.
They were in the habit of receiving the rent of the
house from Mrs. Davis, who lived there many years.
" I recollect," said the witness, " her leaving the
house. She called between Christmas-day and Lady-
day, about a week or ten days before the quarter
ended, and said that she was going, and that she
would pay the rent when the parties who were:going in
should pay for the furniture, which they had pur-
chased. The sum of 36/. was then due for four
quarter's rent. I always received the rents. I never
saw the prisoner. He never brought me any money
to pay the rent of Mrs. Davis's house, and the amount
remains due to this day."
Mr. Barnett---It does not follow that he did not
pay Mr. Gadsden.
The witness—Mr. Gadsden never receives any
rent.

The LORD MAYOR—The prisoner can prove to the
ury that he paid the rent by producing Mr. Gads-
den's receipt.
Upon his cross-examination, the witness said he
knew nothing of the sale of the furniture by a Mr.
Patchin.
The prosecutrix said, in answer to the LORD
MAYOR, that she had sold all her furniture at the pri-
soner's request, and that the 301. which the prisoner
had taken was the produce of the furniture.
The LORD MAYOR—How soon after the day on
which you sold your furniture were you to have been
married, according to your belief ? The prosecutrix
—ln a very few days*.
The LORD MAYOR—Did he repeatedly tell you he
would marry you I' The prosecutrix—He did.
The Loan MAYOR—If he had not declared to you
his, intention to marry you, would you have intrusted
him with the 301. ? The prosecutrix—l would not.
Mr.. Barnett—Do you recollect a gentleman of the
name of Patchin, a broker ? The prosecutrix —I do.
Mr. Barnett—Upon your oath, did you not refuse
to leave the money, as previously arranged between
you and Mr. Patchin, in that gentleman's hands, to
pay-the rent with it ? The prosecutrix—l did, be-
get into his own.—(A cause the prisoner
laugh.
induced me to stop it, that it ; might
)
Mr. Barnett—l merely desired to be answered yes
or no.
The LORD MAYOR—You must not ask her ques-
tions, parts of which comprehend inferences which
you are not justified in drawing, and you mustil her to answer your questions in .her own way. a w
Mr. Barnett—You said on a former
exam. ination
'that he owed you, independently of this 301., the sum
of 201. for borrowed money ? The Prosecutrix—l
said he owed me 201. for borrowed money and board.
Mr..Barnett—Did he promise to marry you
(pre-
viously to the incurring of that debt ? The Prosecu-
trix—During the time he was incurring it.
Mr. Barnett—Did you not yourself register the
marriage? Say yes or no. The Prosecutrix—l did
register the marriage, but he came with me, and re-
mained outside. lie gave me a half-crown to pay for
the registering, and that's all the money of his I ever
set my eyes on. It was at an oil-shop in Mark-lane,
kept by the clerk of the parish, and he stayed at the
door.

Mr. Barnett then addressed the Lord Mayor for
his client—After this long and protracted inquiry, in
which your Lordship has taken so much trouble, I
trust you are of opinion that there is something like
doubt attached to the case made out for the prosecu-
tion, and that there is something behind the scenes