The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-09 00:00:00

LAW AND POLICE.

INNOCENCE IN TROUBLE.—Two low-looking lads, named
Patrick Reardon and James Murphy, and Eliza Hind, an
unfortunate, were charged before Mr. Knox, at the
Marlborough .street Police-court, with loitering, supposed
for the purpose of commiting a felony. Sergeant Cole. of
the C division detectives, said that shortly before 12
o'clock on Saturday night he saw the three prisoners in
Coventry-street, and knowing them as the companions of
thieves he watched them, and saw the female prisoner
accost different gentlemen, the male prisoners standing by
and joining the female prisoner on her leaving them, and
asking her what she had got. With assistance he took the
prisoners, who belonged to a class of persons called
" trippers-up," into custody. The prisoners all declared
themselves as " innocent as unborn babies," the male
prisoners speaking of each other as " gentlemen." In
answer to Mr. Knox, the sergeant said he believed Hinds
was acting under the instructions of the other prisoners.
Mr. Knox discharged Hinds, and committed the other
prisoners for three months each.
STONE THROWING IN HYDE PARK.—Five boys named
William Passenger, John Dooley, George Smith, Henry
Jones and William Clark, were charged before Mr. Knox
at the above court with throwing stones in Hyde Park,
and Charles Johnson was charged with throwing a thick
stick to the danger of passengers. One of the boys was
fined 2s. 6d., and the others ss, each.

A LAUNDRESS IN DIFFICULTIES.—Susanna Wyard, a
laundress, aged 51 years, was brought up before Mr.
Lushington, at the Thames Police-court, charged with
stealing a farge quantity of linen, the property of Mr.
Henry Findlay, engineer to the commercial Gas Light
Company of Stepney. The prosecutor's house-keeper
said that she delivered to the prisoner a quan-
tity of her master's linen to be washed, and
it had not been returned. She then identified
thirteen sheets, two pairs of drawers, a night dress,
and other property produced by a pawnbroker, and
the whole of which the prisoner had pawned. The
prisoner, who has hitherto maintained a high character
for honesty and industry, said that she did not intend to
deprive 'Mr. Findlay of his property, but to redeem it as
soon as possible. - She was very sorry indeed that she had
misappropriated the property of Mr. Findlay. The fact
was she had lately taken high-rented premises and in-
volved herself in a difficulty. To relieve herself of the
difficulty she had recourse to pawning Mr. Findlay's linen,
and .was extremely sorry it should have happened.
Howlett, a detective officer who had charge of the case,
believed there were other charges to be preferred against
Mrs. Wyard. Mr. Lushington remanded the prisoner
until Wednesday.
A DRUNKEN CABMAN.—Henry Dyer, a cab-driver, was
brought up at the above court, oharged with being drunk
and incapable of taking care of his horse and cab. The
prisoner admitted he had a little drop to drink, but his
horse was perfectly sober. Mr. Lushington said the horse
was the most sensible animal of the two. The prisoner's
license was clean, and he should fine him 7s. 6d., or five
days' imprisonment.
THE WESTERN LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY.—An appli-
cation was made yesterday before Mr. Leaman, chief
clerk in the chambers of Vice-Chancellor Bacon, to
sanction the making of a call of £1 per share on the
contributories of the above society. Mr. Manning' ap-
peared for the official liquidator, and stated that it seemed
from the chief clerk's certificate tliiat the debts and claims
against the society amounted. to £18,923, in
addition to which there were death claims
not yet adjudicated upon to the extent
of £39,000, and current policies granted by the
society, and others amalgamated with it amount-
ing to £1,100,000. There were no assets except
those unrealized in the hands of the Albert Life Assurance
Society. Persons have been settled on the list in respect
of .30,081 shares. For the purpose of satisfying the debts
of the Society, £21,000 would be required, to provide
which the official liquidator porposed that a call of £1 per
share should be made. A large number of contributories
objected to the call on the ground that it was excessive.
One, a Mr. Head, stated. that the call was evident'
intended to pay the annuitants, for which £lB,OOO
would be sufficient; therefore, the balance was obviously
to be appropriated to the costs of liquidation, and he con-
tended that nearly £3,000 was a too exhorbitant sum for
that object. The annuitants asked for their arrears, but
the official liquidator proposed to pay them the full
amount, which was an act of the grossest injustice. It
was also urged that the application for a call was prema-
ture, and ought not to be acceded to until the order of
Lord Justice James to convene meetings of the policy,
holders for the purpose of obtaining their sanction or dis-
approval of the proposed reconstruction of, the Albert-
Vith,which the Western had been amalgamated.—The
Chief Clerk, however, eventually determined upon
making the call ; but granted a case for the decision of
the Vice-Chancellor.