The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-09 00:00:00

SURREY SESSIONS.

(Before Mr. PUCKLE and a full Bench of Magistrates.)
Mr. James Thompson, a middle aged man, of respect-
able appearance, surrendered to his bail to take his trial
on an indictment charging him with having embezzled
three sums of 101. each, the property of James Hender-
son and others.

Mr. Payne was retained for the prosecution, and Mr.
Charnock for the defence.
Mr. CuAallocx observed that the case was one of ra•
ther a peculiar character, and he had therefore de►oted
much attention to it, in order to give the defendant the
benefit of his advice and assistance. An offer having
been made by his Learned Friend Mr. Payne, who was
engaged for the prosecution, that if the prisoner pleaded
guilty to the indictment, he should have from him the
strongest possible recommendation to the merciful con-
sideration of the Court, he (Mr. Charnock) was about
to recommend a compliance with his offer, feeling, as he
did, that though the defendant and his friends felt that,
morally, he was not guilty of the charge, and therefore
should not plead guilty, yet that legally the offence
would be made out against him. He (Mr. Charnock)
should briefly state the facts of the case, and after
doing so should leave the case to the merciful considera-
tion of the Court. It appeared that Mr. Thompson had
been for many years Secretary to the Silk, Cotton, and
Woollen Cloth Printers' Society, held at Merton, in the
county, and in that situation enjoyed the most perfect
confidence and respect of its numerous members. The
Society extended itself over Essex, Kent, and Surrey,
and a correspondence respecting its state was regularly
kept up, so that the duties of the defendant were consi-
derable. There was, besides, an additional county added,
which gave the defendant additional labours, and at each
collections were made from the earnings of each man,
and these should, agreeably to the rules of the Society,
have been forwarded to the defendant. This, how-
ever, was not done regularly, and the defendant gave
those collectors credit to certain amounts. He (Mr.
Charnock) would admit that the defendant had
neglected to enter on his books three sums of 101.
each ; and though this omission might, in strict
law, amount to embezzlement, yet a larger sum
was due to him from some of the members of the
Society, and therefore he was not so particular as he
otherwise should have been. There was another cir-
cumstance which he wished to mention, and that was
that he held in his hand a petition, signed by a ♦ast
majority of the members of the society, praying that the
prisoner might be discharged from the offence, as it was
their impression and conviction that he had not the
slightest intention of acting dishonestly. There were
also in attendance a number of gentlemen of the highest
respectability, who had known the prisoner for a number
of years, and who would testify to his high character,
and express their belief that the act was an error in
judgment, and no intention upon his part to defraud the
society. The defendant was also willing to give every
facility to the society to obtain possession of the funds
lodged in the bank in his name, and put the affairs of
the society in proper order ; and, under all the circum-
stances, he (Mr. Charnoek) hoped the Court would
treat the case as favourably as it could consistently with
its duty.
Mr. PAYNE said it was not his wish or intention to
offer any opposition to the case being favourably dealt
with; on the contrary, he should be perfectly satisfied
with the Court dealing with it in the mildest possible
way.

The prisoner having pleaded Guilty,
The Court merely held him to bail to appear to re•
ceive judgment v►hen called on.
_ _

Th; defendant having put in the required bail, joined
a vast number of friends who were in attendance in
front of the Court, and who warmly congratulated him.
Wm. Anderson was indicted upon the following charge
of highway robbery:—
It appeared that the prosecutria on Monday evening
last was proceeding along White-street, near St. George's
Church, Borough, with a parcel of articles, which she
had just purchased, in her arms, when the prisoner came
up to her, snatched the bundle from her, and forced her
with considerable violence against the wall. He started
off with his booty, but fortunately took a turning
through which there was no thoroughfare, and was
secured.

—Tiejury found him Guilty; and
The CHAIRMAN, in passing sentence, declared that,
had he been known before, he should have transported
him, but as it was, the sentence of the Court was, that
he stands committed to Brixton House of Correction for
nine months, with hard labour

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
CLERKEN WELL.

Wm. Bennett was charged at the instance of the Ex_
cise with having been concerned in working a private
still.

The Excise officers, it appeared, received information
that a private still was worked in a house, No. 47, Char-
lotte-street, Islington, to which they repaired on Wed-
nesday evening, at six o clock. They forced an entrance
at the back of the premises, and on entering the kitchen,
they found the prisoner at work at a still, which con-
tained upwards of 40 gallons of wash, nine tubs full of
wash, and all the necessary implements used in illicit
distillation. The prisoner said he was proprietor of the
place, and quietly surrendered himself.
The prisoner in his defence said he had been out of
work a long time, and a party engaged him to work the
still.

The officers said be had been several times convicted
for a similar offence.

He was convicted in the penalty of 30L, and in default
of payment committed to the House of Correction, with
hard labour, for three months.

The driver of a cab, badge 4,703, was charged with
cruelty to a horse. The prisoner was seen in the Pen-
tonville-road beating his horse in a most cruel manner,
until it was cut shockingly, and at length it fell down
through pain and exhaustion. The prisoner was drunk
at the time.

He was fined 145., or seven days' imprisonment.
A porter, in the employ of Mr. Haslam, auctioneer, of
Bagnigge-wells• road, was summoned fur obstructing the
highway, by placing some articles of furniture thereon.
A witness named Curtain proved the case, and the
defendant was fined 7s. and costs.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
Francis 11I'Leod was:brought before Mr. Hardwick on
a charge of having obtained money by false pretences
from Mr. Van Millingen, jeweller, of Albany-street,
Regent's-park.
Mr. Clarkson attended for the defendant ; Mr. Thomas
for the prosecution.
The examination of Mr. Van Millingen on a previous
day was read over. Mr. Van Millingen's statement was,
that the defendant had been introduced to him by Mr.
Goldshead, a money lender, as a young man of very re-
spectable connexions in Scotland, and entitled, when of
age,:to a sum of money amounting to about 5,000/. Prose-
cutor understanding that the defendant was about to go to
India, and wished to take out some presents to his friends,
agreed to sell him a gold box and a pin for 1505., and,
further, to lend him 50/. to pay his travelling expenses
to Scotland. The defendant gave prosecutor a draft on
the National Bank of Scotland, where he said he had
money, for 2001. Prosecutor had sent the draft to Scot-
land, and the answer returned to him was, that the
drawer had no account, nor ever had an account at the
bank. The prosecutor had also ascertained that the
defendant had stated falsehoods as to his age.
Cross-examined) by Mr. 4 Clarkson—Had no know-
ledge of. gaming houses. Had lent the defendant the
money in the belief that his representations were true.
The gold box would fetch in India about 2001. Was not
a money lender, and had never discounted bills in his
life. Had ascertained that the defendant did not go at
all to Scotland. Was not aware of any transactions be-
tween the defendant and Goldshead. Had known Gold-
head about twenty years.
Re-examined by Mr. Thomas—lf he had known that
the defendant never possessed money in the National
Bank, he would not have lent him the 50/.
Mr. Bernardo Goldshead examined—l have chambers
at No. 8, Duke-street, and I live at Hammersmith. I
am a money-lender, and I know Francis M'Leod. I have
been acquainted with him since 1344. The defendant
gave me a bill, dated the 25th December last, for 6501.,
for money lent. I went to Edinburgh on Thursday last,
and on my arrival I presented the bill at the National
Bank of Scotland, and was toll that the defendant was
not known there. Had introduced the defendant to
Millingen, in the belief that the defendant's statement
was true, and that he was entitled, when of age, to
5,000/. under his father's will. Heard the defendant
tell Millingen that he had money in the National Bank
of Scotland, and that any draft he might draw would be
honoured. Saw the defendant give Millingen a cheque
on the National Bank in payment of the jewellery and
the loan. Since his return from Scotland had seen the
defendant, and had told him he had ascertained there
was neither will nor property. The reply made by
M'Leod was that he was sorry for it. Had heard the
defendant say he' was of age in 1844, and subsequently
contradict Ilia statement.