The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-11 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS

Before Mr. Sergeant ADAMS, Assistant-Judge, and a
full Bench of Magistrate?.)

Richard Bragge was indicted for a riot and assault on
,he 17th of November last, under the following circum-
stances :
The defendant was the proprietor of a beer-shop,
called the Prince of Wales, in Hyde-place, Hoxton, ad-
jacent to which was a piece of unfenced ground, belong-
ing to a lady named Price. This the defendant con-
verted into a skittle-ground, Mrs. Price, from some
cause or other, taking no steps to prevent the occupa-
tion. Some time after her death, her son brought an
ejectment, and possession havinc, been taken in the usual
form by the sheriff, the ground was given to a person
named Warford, the prosecutor in the present indict-
ment Upon possession being taken by Warford, the
defendant, followed by a mob of about 200 persons, en-
tered the ground and attempted to disposse,s him, during
which the utmost disorder and rioting prevailed, and the
prosecutor was knocked down. The mob was supplied
with several gallons of beer by the defendant, who cheered
them on.
Mr. O'Brien addressed the jury for the defendant.
The jury at once returned a verdict of Guilty, and
The ASSISTANT JUDGE said they could not allow this
country to be made subject so a species of lynch law, like
that attempted by the defendant, and he should, therefore,
order him to pay a fine of 101. to the Queen, and to enter
into his own recognizances in the sum of 401., and to
find one surety in 201. to keep the peace for the next
twelve months.
Thomas Wokeford was indicted for asaulting James
Brown, one of the toll-takers in the employment of the
trustees of the Commercial-road turnpikes.
The facts of this case have been so recently reported
in The Sun, and the general feeling of the inhabitants
in the neighbourhood of the Commercial-road on the
subject of some of the tolls demanded along that line so
fully understood, that it will suffice to state the indict-
ment in the present case rested opt' an alleged assault
committed on the toll-taker at the bar at America-street.
The prisoner having pleaded Guilty,
Mr. WYLDE, who appeared for the prosecution, said,
as the prisoner had pleaded guilty, and thus lffordi-d an
example, which was all his clients sought, he should not
press for anything beyond a nominal penalty.
The defendant was then fined is., and discharged
with a caution.
A number of indictments against individuals, most of
whom were either Italian or French, for keeping dis
orderly houses at the West-end, were heard, and the par-
ties allowed to stand out upon their own recognizances,
on consideration of their abating the nuisances.
JUVENILE OFFENDERS. Oti Wednesday, Thomas
Gardner, a little boy only 7 years old, and standing 3
feet 10 inches in height, was found guilty of havit:g
picked the pocket of a lady on Westminster-bridge, on
Monday last.
It appeared that a lady, in passing over the bridge,
had had her attention attracted to three boys, of whom
the prisoner was one (the other two were much older),
by the sound of money falling. The prisoner picked it
up and handed it to his companions, by whom a division
appeared to be made. She then walked onward,, but
had not proceeded more than twenty or thirty yards ere
she was passed by a woman, who carried a basket on
one of her arms, whilst on the other side of her she ob-
served the prisoner walking, evidently closely watching
her. The woman's attention was principally directed to
the basket, and presently a puff of wind having blown
her gown aside, the little prisoner pushed his hand into
her pocket, and ere he was able to release his arm she
laid hold of him and retained her grasp until a police-
man came up, when she gave him into his custody.
The boy had fast clutched in his hand which had been
in her pocket a shilling and three sixpences, all of which,
of course, were at once claimed by the owner.
The Learned JUDGE, when the jury had pronounced
their verdict of " Guilty," said—What could be done
with this little child? It would be ruination to send
him to a common prison. These scenes were positively
heartrending. Was he to pass over the cases of these
children as though the fact of their being brought to that
bar was to be regarded quite as a niatOr of course?
Was he to change his nature and so to steel his feelings
against the claims and helpless condition of so small a
creature as that now before the Court? What could be
done with this child?

A juryman thought he shoull have been sumnrtrily
convicted.

The Learned JUDGE—There was the error. What
would the juryman say when he was informed, that in
the year preceding the establishment of that tribunal
several hundreds of children had been summarily con-
victed without the world knowing anything at a'l about
the cases, and, of course, without any benefit either to
the prisoners or the public ensuing?
The juryman—But it would save juries a greal deal
of trouble if it were done.
The Learned JUDGE—WouId the juries, then, rather
than devote a comparatively few hours and put up with
a little personal trouble occasionally, with the view to the
amelioration and improvement of the condition of these
children, wish that the old system of summary conviction
should go on, and thereby continue to cast a heavy burden
on the county at large?
Another juryman thought it was high time something
was done with regard to these young criminals. There
ought to be some alteration in the system.
The Learned JunoE—No doubt there should; but the
alteration that was called for was in the law itself. A
law was required that should affect their cases and con-
dition, and so prevent the vast mass of increasing jw+o-
, nile offenders. With regard to summary punishments.
he could assure the juryman who had suggested that
that method should be continued, that it had done end-
less mischief. It was only the year before that tribunal
had been established that there had been 1.600 cases
where summary convictions had taken place of children
between the ages of seven and fifteen. All of these
children had been thus sent to prison, from the police-
court, without coming before a jury. Their circum-
stances were thus unknown, the world was altogether
ignorant of their condition, or indeed of their convie•

tion, and therefore nothing could he done to improve or
ameliorate their condition. If the jury were to ask him
whether he approved of such scenes as they painfully
witnessed, as in the present instance, of this mere baby,
in that Court every session, his reply was, that he did
not. But even that was very far better than the system
of summary conviction, where the child was sent to
prison, and the world knew nothing of his case, or its
causes; whilst, when he was brought before a jury,
the matter became ono for close inquiry, the cir-
cumstances and the condition of the child were ascer- ;
tained, and the whole went out to the world ; so that
iu the end, doubtless, something would be
_done for this