The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-19 00:00:00

ILFORD PETTY SESSIONS.

On Saturday Charles Sayer, of 12, Swan-yard, Shore-
ditch, shoemaker ; James Edwards, of Old Castle-street,
Shoreditch, shoemaker ; and Robert Edwards, of 26,
Union-street, Hackney-road, shoemaker, were charged
by the parish authorities with shooting at Ilford on Sun-
day, and" being found in the parish East Ham with
dogs and guns, for an unlawful purpose."
The Chairman, Sir H. FELL; inquired under what
Act the capture had been made, for he never heard of
such a charge before.
The Churchwarden said they were in pursuit of game,
which was an offence. _ _

Edwards said they could not have shot any if they had
seen it, and their only purpose was to shoot gulls.
The police constable said he found a gull bagged.
The Magistrate, after some conversation, said the
police had no right to interfere with the sport so far as
taking the men into custody, their power being to ask
for their name and address, and proceed against them by
inrormation.

The Churchwarden expressed his intention to do so.
Their guns, which had been detained at the station-
house on their being takeniinto custody, were delivered
up to them, and they were discharged.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE
• GUILDHALL.
The hearing of the case of Mr. Witt, the dentist, of
llolborn, who was charged with bigamy a few days since,
was resumed before Mr. Alderman Wood.
Mr. Haddlestone, with Mr. nobler, attended on behalf
of the prosecution ; and Mr. Ballantine, with Mr. Wont-
ner, for the prisoner.
Mittis paid Hill,
is the
addresses wife,
ofeher five years before they
, was recalled. She said
W
were married. He said at first he was a widower, but
she knew of his wire going to America, and she pressed
him to make inquiry there. He said he could do it as
well in England, and produced a paper signed by a Mr.
h second
Eccles and Mr. Forty, that they had heard and believed
that Mrs. Witt had died at New York.
Cross examined by Mr. Ballantine—She had another
suitor, who fixed a time for marrying her, but dropped
her, and a year after that she married Mr. Witt.
Mr. Earle was called, hut did not answer.
After some lengthened discussion between the counsel,
Mr. Alderman WOOD said he had made up his mind
to dismiss the case, because it rested solely an the evi-
dence of Mr. Earle; and ho placed no reliance on his
testimony, taking his own account of himself. The
manner in which he fenced with some questions that
were put to him, and the way in which he availed him.
self of the protection not to answer certain questions,
necessarily led to the inference that he could not ven-
ture to answer them. It had been said it was for the
jury, and not the magistrate to decide on the credibility
of witnesses. He had always acted on a contrary prin-
ciple; for ho thought no magistrate should send a man
to trial on evidence to which he did not himself give
credit. The magistrate was bound to exercise his dis-
cretion, and not commit recklessly on evidence which he
did not believe, and which he thought no jury would
believe. He therefore discharged Mr. Witt.
The parties retired.
CITY POLICE COMMITTEE.
POWER OF THE POLICE OVER TILE PUBLIC.—Mr.
R. G. Paget, marquee and tarpauling manufacturer; in
West Smithfield, was summoned before Sir James Duke
and Mr. Alderman Kelly, for obstructing City police-
sergeant White, No. 24.
The case arose through the sergeant stopping the de-
fendant with his horse and cart, going into Smithfield
to his stables on Monday morning last, during the time
the market was held, unless he would state where he
was going to.
The defendant contended that the policeman had no
right to stop him. He told the sergeant he was going
to his stables, and he knew him and where he was going.
Alderman KELLY said a satisfactory answer would
have avoided all unpleasantness.
The defendant still insisted that the magistrates had
no right to place officers ut the end of Giltspur-street to
stop the traffic. The Corporation had no power to ex-
ercise such a right. He had consulted Mr. Pearson, the
City solicitor, on the subject, and had been to the
Queen's printer to ascertain if any Act existed that al-
lowed the Corporation such a power as they laid claim
to, without his receiving the slightest information that
would warrant them in the step they had taken.
The sttrattons was eventually dismissed.
MARyLEBONE.
PIGEON PANCIEREL—JeremEaIi Callaghan, a lad about
fourteen years of age, was placed at the bar, charged
with being concerned) with a boy named M`Grath, in
stealing two pigeoas, the property of Slimes Courtney,
Esc", of Pinchley road, St. John's-wood.
It appeared that the prisoner Callaghata together with
*Grath, bad been talteh into custody on Wednesday
last by Grant, 63 5, and brought to this Court z; but no
owner for the pigeons Woe than ailsaloVered they were
set at 11h0".% tile owner being subsequently disco-
etratl, ell!adhan was again captured.
Grant, 63 5, stated that between the hours of three
and four o'clock on Wednesday last, he took the prisoner
and M'Grath into custody, and found a pigeon in the
breast of each of their coats, and upon his asking them
to whom they belonged, they stated that they were their
own, and if he would take them before the " beak," they I
would satisfy him that they were so,
The constable stated that although the prisoner was
young in years he was well known to the police for his
thieving propensities.
Courtney identified the pigeons ac belonging to
him.

The prisoner was remanded fa ur
[me fur the re-takinz of 'Grath.few days to afford

TH.
AZIMILT Br A lIIMEOINT.-Ort, saturdcy Mr. Arthur