The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-21 00:00:00

BILL.

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This Bill went through Committee.On the motion that this Bill be read a third
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of treason
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of high treason was just as much deserving of
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capital punishment as the crime of murder, for
offenders of that class often brought about civil
war which invariably led to great loss of life. The
offence, therefore, of high treason was often productive
of great loss of life, and it ought to be held in as much
abhorence as that of murder or any other repulsive
crime.
Lord CAMPBELL perfectly agreed with the
opinion of his Noble and Learned Friend, and could
SMUT' the House that no offence was fraught with so
much danger both to life and property as that of high
treason.—(Hear, hear.)
After a few words from Lord CREMORNE,
The Bishop of OXFORD said he was sure that
the Noble and Learned Lord opposite (Brougham) did
not wish it to go forth to the world that he was
anxious that capital punishments ought always to be
applied to treasonable offenders. It appeared to him
that the opinion the Noble Lord wished to convey
to their Lordships was, that the Crown ought not to
be deprived of the power of inflicting capital punish-
ment upon parties convicted of high treason.—(Hear.)
Lord BROUGHAM said he was much obliged to
the Right Rev. Prelate for giving him an opportunity
of explaining his meaning. He never meant to convey
to their Lordships that he was favourable to inflicting
capital punishment upon all treasonable offenders, but
simply that it was injudicious to take the power of
inflicting that punishment out of the hands of the
Crown. It was absurd to say, upon the authority of
" Thou shalt not kill," that capital punishment ought
to be abolished, for the same authority asserted, that
"Whoso sheddeth man's blood by man shall his blood be
shed."
The Bill was then read a third time and passed.
EXCHEQUER-BILLS.
Lord LANSDOWNE moved that the Standing
Orders should be suspended in reference to a Bill for
raising money upon Exchequer-bills.
The motion was agreed to.
The Bill then went through its various stages, and
was read a third time and passed.
PUBLIC WORKS (IRELAND) BILL.
The Public Works Completion (Ireland) Bill was
read a third time and passed, after a short discussion.
Their Lordships then adjourned to Saturday, at
Two o'clock.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
SHERIFFS' COURT, April 20.
(Before Mr. U❑der-Sheriff BURCIZELL.)
PORTER V. HUMPHREY.

This was an action brought to recover the sum of
21. 13s. 6d., the balance of an account on the purchase of
the goodwill and stock in trade of the plaintiff, who had
been a beer-shop keeper.
On the part of the plaintiff, the broker was called and
proved that the valuation for fixtures, &c., was 2441.
15s. 9d., but there was also a second valuation of 2/.
13s. 6d. for petty stock. There was also a sum of
21. 3s. 6d. due for some cigars, which had been ordered
for defendant, but paid for by plaintiff. This 2/. 3s. 6d.
was paid, and the defendant now insisted that it was
paid on account of the petty stock. The defendant paid
10s. into court.

Mr. CHARNOCK said it was a most unfortunate mistake
on one side or the other, but did not arise from any
desire on the part of defendant not to pay what was just,
for he had deposited 3001. to pay the amount of the
valuation. The real fact was that the 21. 3s. 6d. was
paid to plaintiff on the day of the sale, and she gave a
receipt ; and the sum subsequently paid was for the
petty stock, but the person who called for it had made
an error in the amount, and the 10s. was paid into court
to cover the difference.

Witnesses were called to support this statement, and
The jury gave a verdict for the defendant.
The matter had been pending for two years and a half.

THOMAS V. THE BEENTFORD GAS LIGHT COMPANY.

The Court was occupied during the rest of the day in
an action brought by the plaintiff, who is a widow lady,
residing Thomas place, Hammersmith, against the
B
net
o in
rd Gas Company for damages arising from the
negligence
defendants or their servants. The grounds
f h
act oion were that the gas had escaped from the
oret
pipes, whereby the water in the wells supplying her
houses was rendered so impure as to be unfit to drink.
The case was likely to occupy the remainder of the day.

COURT OF EXCISE, April2o.
(Before 11. F• STEPHENSON, Esq., C. J. HERRIES,
Esq., and C. Ross, Esq.)
Thomas Humphreys, of No. 2, Jubilee-place,
Stepney, was charged with having on his premises an
illicit still, and also with working the same, with
intent to defraud her Majesty of the legal duty.
The officer of the court proved having served the
defendant (who is at present a prisoner in Coldbath-
fields Prison) with a copy of the information.
Mr. T. Hucues, an officer of Excise, deposed that
on the 4th of February last, he went to the premises,
Stepney. No. 2, Jubilee-place, They were kept by
the defendant, who was entered as a retailer of tea,
tobacco, and beer. In a washhouse at the back he
found a copper still, set in brickwork, which was at
full work, making spirits illicitly. In addition, there
was a quantity of molasses wash, yeast tubs, and the
usualspirits,ing
There was a stock of pre-
pared cent. over proof, and other
44 utensils.
per
articles, the whole of which he seized. The defendant
was in the shop at the time.
A gentleman who attended on the part of the
defendant said this portion of the premises
had been let off by him to a man who represented
himself as a cooper,
who also occupied the back
premisesof th
eadi andoi adjoining
house, and that entirely
without the defendant's knowledge the cooper had
had contrived to convert the washing-copper into a
still for making spirits. The defendant, therefore,
had nothing to do with the illegal trade that had thus
been carried on.
The COUBfr, after a short consultation, gave judg-
ment for the full penalty of 2001., with condemnation
of the whole of the seizure.
John Curling, of Maiden-lane, St. Pancras, was
charged with retailing spirituous liquors on Sunday,
the 20th of February, having no license.—Fined 251.
Sarah Stephenson, keeper of a French hotel, Lei-
cester-place, Leicester-square, was charged with re-
tailing spirituous liquors, without license, n the Gth of
March last.
Mr. Kingsby, an officer, proved that on the day in
question he went to the Hotel du Prince Albert, in
Leicester-place, Leicester-square, in the company of
another officer. They ordered coffee, and afterwards
two glasses of brandy, which were served imme-
diately, taken from a cupboard in the room
Defendant—Did I not send out for the brandy ?
Witness—No, it was taken from a cupboard. I
was not asked for the money first, but you remarked
that it was fortunate that you had it in the house.
The Court gave judgment in the penalty of 251.
John Dyer, proprietor of the Saloon and Oyster-
rooms, 63, Haymarket, was charged with retailing
malt liquor without license.
Mr. Kingsby said he went to the defendant's with
Mr. Lloyd, leaving Mr. Newland, the supervisor, out-
side the house. When they got up stairs they or-
dered oysters and a bottle of stout. In about a
minute tne oysters and stout were brought in. Before
the stout was brought the money was asked for, and
one shilling handed to the waiter.
Mr. Lloyd corroborated this testimony.
Mr. Newland said he accompanied the two last-
mentioned officers and remained outside, and during
that time a boy left the house with a dish of oysters
and went towards the theatre, but did not return.
No other person came out having the appearance of a
waiter, nor was any stout taken in.
The defendant protested that he never bad stout or
any other liquor whatever in the house.
After further evidence,
The CHAIRMAN said, that it appeared from the
general allegations, that the defendant had not sold,
but as the evidence as to the particular day remained
uncontradicted, they must give judgment against the
defendant, which theyidLlj22,izL___
penalty of 101.

GLASGOW
iron delivered here may be quoted to-day at 41s. per ton
net cash, for 3.5 No. 1, and 2-5 No. 3. Commercial
confidence I APRIL 15.—The price of Scotch pig
so shaken everywhere that we unhappily
can note no reviving activity in our pig iron market.
There. is, however, less disposition to press sales. An
opinion is gaining ground that the price has already
touched its lowest point, and there is a greater anxiety
to purchase at the present low rates. Sales were made
during the week at 395. ad., 403., 40s. 6d., and 41s. per
ton cash,