The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-18 00:00:00

LAW.,INTELLIGENCE

BOLL'S COURT, April 17.
ISLE OF ELY, WISBEACH, AND LINCOLN JUNCTION RAILWAY.

IN RE COPPOCK.
This was a petition, praying for the production and taxa-
tion of a bill of costs, and for obtaining possession of certain
deeds, writings, &c.
Mr. TURNER, who speared in support of the petition said,
this was a petition of twelve gentlemen out of fifteen, who
were provisional directors to a . railway, and the de-
fendants were Messrs. Coppock and Bell, who had
been employed by the promoters of the Isle of Ely, Wis
beach, and Lincoln Junction Railway, as solicitors to the
company. The present Bill was originally presented by a
less number than, the present, and was solely against Mr.
Coppock. That gentlemen made an affidavit to the effect
that three of the gentlemen :whose names were to the petition
were not directors; and that he was not sole solicitor of the
company. Mr. Bell, who though not his partner, was associated
with him in the affairs of the company. The petition was
then amended and these parties made respondents. The
railway was amalgamated with the Huntingdon and Wis-
beach Railway, and the affairs of the company so amalga-
mated were transferred to Messrs. Baxter and Co.
Mr. Turner appeared on behalf of the defendants.
His LORDSHIP decided that the petitioners were entitled
to a common order, which was accordingly granted.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
LAMBETH.

Mr. William Johnson, alias M‘Dolve- 11, was charged before
Mr. Norton with being drunk, and assaulting Mr. John
Widdicombe, at the Leopard Coffee-house, in the Bridge-
road, Lambeth, on the preceding evening.
Mr. Widdicombe, so well known to the frequenters of
Astley's Theatre and the Vauxhall-gardens, as the master of
the " ring" in the former, and master of the ceremonies at
the latter, deposed that on the preceding evening he was in
a room of the Leopard Coffee-house, when the prisoner, who
was a perfect stranger to him, entered, and commenced ap-
plying to him the grossest epithets. Believing him to be
either mad or drunk, he (Mr. Widdicombe)treartuesdh
tack with indifference. Presently the prisoner
which stunned
to contend
dis
him for several moments. Witness not Wishingatntendto-
wards him, and gave him a desperate blow,
with such a person, went in search of a constable, and hav-
ing found one, gave him into custody.
Prisoner—You know that you have seduced my wife dur-
ing m absence, and that your conduct has been most dis-
graceful.
Widdicombe—God bless my soul I 'I don't know anything
whatever about your wife. Indeed, I know not whether you
have a wife or not. This, your worship, is a serious charge
against my moral character. What am Ito do about it? I
know nothing of his wife.
Mr. NORTON—I confess it is a most unpleasant charge,
and particularly if not true.
Widdicombe--It is not true, sir.
Prisoner—lt is quite true, and I can, if allowed time, prove
it to be so.
Mr. NORTON—Have you any objection, Mr. Widdicombe,
that those witnesses the defendant speaks of should be sent
for? Widdicombe--Not at all, sir ; on the contrary,l should
wish them sent for, as I am most anxious to remove any im-
pression you may entertain with respect to my knowledge of
the man's wife.

The case was then adjourned, and a constable went for
Mr. and Mrs. Hughes, the witnesses alluded to. He returned,
and informed the magistrate that he had seen Mrs. Hughes,
and that lady informed him that the wife of the prisoner had
lodged at her house, but that she had not been visited by Mr.
Widdicombe, nor had she any knowledge whatever of any
intimacy, beyond having heard that she was fond of going
to the theatre to-see Mr. Widdicombe.
Mr. Widdicombe said he could not help such a feeling on
the part of the prisoner's wife, and repeated he bad never
seen the woman, nor had he ever been to the house.
Mr. NOZTON repeated his belief that the prisoner was
quite mistaken, and ordered him to find bail for his good
conduct towards Mr. Widdicombe and others.

REMARKABLE LOCAL ANNIVERSARY.—On Saturday
last, the 11th of April, just sixty years had elapsed since the
fall of the western portion of Hereford Cathedral. It occurred
on Easter Monday, 1786, and some persons now living wit-
nessed and retain a vivid recollection of the event. For some
time the occurrence had been expected, the building being
girded with ropes, and it is stated that on the day it hap-
pened several individuals were in a place of security under
the tower. A number of boys (very few of whom, alas, have
lived to be old men) were watching at the gates, and it was
curious to see the windows crumbling like a piece of ginger-
bread. The juvenile spectators speedily scampered away,
and King-street and Broad-street were immediately
smothered in dust, which also extended to the Castle-green,
enveloping the few promenaders at that delightful spot.
When the cloud had subsided, boys waded up to their knees
in the rubbish, and it was curious to witness their search
after curiosities. At the same time cock-fighting and other
like elegant amusements were going on upon Widemarsh-
common. The year 1846 witnesses the restoration of the
Lady Chapel and the rest of the venerable edifice, and for
cock-fighting we have the useful recreations of the land-
allotment system and the pursuits of science and literature.—
Hereford Paper.