The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-05 00:00:00

JUVENII.II OFFENDERR.

Witham Martin, an interesting child, who cried bitterly
upon being placed at the bar, was indicted for stealing the
au In of W., the moneysnf Maurice Casey. The prisoner
D'.eaded Guilty.
The Learned JunGa, upon observing the commiseration
expressed by a crowded court, said that he heartily joined in
t2ais feeling, and he would tell them the boy's history. Its
mother was a washerwoman, who was constantly getting
drunk. She turned him out of doors a fortnight ago, since
which time he had lived by begging. The child could ant
rend, and his father had been dead seven years. This was
the brief histo7, not only of that boy, but of great numbers
of children of both sexes and of all ages, from seven
3 ears and upwards, who were committed for trial
to that Court. Now what could be done with that child? It
did* not seem to hint that a criminal tribunal or a prison
was the proper place for the punishment or reformation ref
the se children, whose destitute and friendless condition called
lotully for some powerful interference. There was a measure
prof acted a short time ago, namely, the union of the Philan-
throyic Society and the Refuge fur the Destitute, which, if
it could have been carried into effect, the Government would
have given a great sum towards it, but the Philanthropic
Socia ty had declined a 'stilted movement, and he (the
Leart.ed Judge) had in consequence withdrawn all his sup-
port f rem that institution for the present. Now, what was
to be done ? The fact was that these children were
without a home, without food, without friends, and destitute
of everything that was necessary for their nurture, mentally,
morally. and physically. Could that state of things con-
tinue in a civilised age, and amongst a Christian com-
munity ? It clearly could not. The public would not
permit it, And they already loudly demanded that something
should be done. What he conceived was wanted were es-
tablishments where these children could be sent for two,
three, or four years, and supported and educated at the ex-
reuse of their jarents, if they had any, and could afford
it, and if net, at the expense of the parishes, and then,
if they had Ito friends to take charge of them, they
might be sent mat to the colonies, where, he apprehended,
they would not arrive as they did now from Park-
hurst, with the stain of an appearance at criminal bar and
a prison educatioi t upon their characters. He was aware of
the fatal effect of t;iis stigma to their future prospects abroad.
Under it, they were too often wholly repudiated. A short
time ago he had ;Sent him a newspaper from New Zealand,
which contained roost violent abuse against the Government
far sending them 1 'neon apprentices. There were great diffi-
culties which way they turned, but if the various excellent
charities now in oi seration would lay aside their little jealousies
and unite for this one grand object, something effective might
be done. There might be many establi.4iments, but they
should all agree upon one grand principle of action.
The child was sentenced to imprisonment for six calendar
months in the House of Correction.

The next case was that of two boys, brothers, aged re-
spectively ten years and eleven years of age, who were found
guilty of steal ing four half-crowns and other moneys, the
property of Jo hn Thomas Boulden, and it transpired that
they were under the pupilage in crime of an elder lad, named
Dobson, nineteen years of age, also indicted for the same
offence. The -two younger boys were sentenced to imprison •
ment for six months in the Westminster Bridewell, in the
hope that the: s=chool there might do them some good. Tha
elder prisoner,. Henry Dobson, was sentenced to transportation
for seven yea rs.

We understand that the British and North American
Royal Mall Company, anxious to prosecute the service which they
have hitherto conducted with such vigour, have determined on imme-
diately laying down another steamer, of great power, for the convey-
ance of the mails between Liverpool and America.
NORTH NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ELECTION.—NOTTING •
HAM, TUESDAY, FOUS. O'CLOCK, P.M.—The opposition threatened by
Mr. Bailey has given way, as it was likely to do, to the general
opinion felt by the free-trade party, that it was unwise, un ler existing
circumstances, to enter into a contest with Lord 11. Benthick.
Bailey's own friends entertain a very strong feeling against the
course which he adopted. The poll, as a matter of course, has been
opened, hut very few votes have been polled since twelve o'clock. At
that hour the numbers stood—.or Lout H. Benthick, 151, and fur
Lord Lincoln, 4b. One ress,m why en few persons have gone the
Poll, in favour of either party, was the publication last evening, by
Mr. Railey, of a hand-bili, stating that being unwilling to cause any
unnecessary trouble and expense, he requested that the friends o
Lord Lincoln would, abstain altogether from tendering vote e for hint.