The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-21 00:00:00

- an

CENTItAL CRIMINAL COURT

OLD COURT.

THE CHARTIST TRIALS.

John Shaw surrendered to take his trial, charged with
sedition, and with having attended an unlawful assembly.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL stated the case against the
prisoner. The defendant was an undertaker, carrying
on, he believed, a respectable business, and therefore, in-
stead of inciting other classes to violate the law, he
sh'oald have set them an example of obedience to the
law. It was the duty of the jury to see that the Govern-
ment did not by these prosecutions interfere with the
liberty of the ssbject, but, on the other hand, it was their
duty to see that the machinations of wicked and designing
persons were not allowed to menace the administration
of the laws and the Government of the country, in which
ease they would be placed under a government of
tyranny. The meeting was held in the Milton•street
Theatre, Cripplegate, on the 28th of July, the day
following the unfounded rumour that Ireland was in
rebellion, and the object of his address was to foment re-
bellion here. The meeting was called by placard, and in-
vited the Irish of the vicinity to attend, and the prisoner
was called to the chair. (The Attorney-General then
road the speech which, since it has recently appeared in
the pipers, will be no doubt fresh in the recollection of
our readers.)
Mr. White, the short-hand writer, deposed to attend-
ing the meeting, and taking the speeches delivered at it
in short-hand. About 500 people wore present at the
beginning of the proceedings, but the number increased
to 1,009 before their close. The aaajority present were.
Irishmen. The witness read the speech from his note-
book. Persons named White, Collins, and Waddington,
spoke.
Mr. Cope produced a copy of the Tiases of the 27th
of July, containing the statement that Ireland was in
open rebellion, and said there were rumours in London to
this effect on the day in question.
Mr. PARRY addressed the jury for the defendant, and
remarked that many persons had been convicted of the
offence laid to his charge and were now undergoing
punishment, :but yet it seemed that the justice of the
country, in the view of the Government, had not
been satisfied. It was true the defendant was a man of
respectable character, bat ho complained that he had
beesi brought before them as a Chartist—as one acting
in conjunction with persons calling themselves Irish Con-
federates; in fact, they had been called upon to convict the
defendant not upon the evidence but upon the issue that
he was a Chartist. If they gave a liberal construction
to the words of the defendant they must acquit him.
The Crown expected their verdict before they were em-
pannelled, they relied upon the disgust which
they naturally, as tradesmen, entertained towards
the proceedings of Socialists and others in France,
Why, Mr. Shaw was no more a Socialist than the At-
torney-General. The word had been introduced to
prejudice the defendant with the jury, because he depre-
cated those notions of division of property which others
entertained. It was not fair, therefore, to have lugged
It into the matter. However, this was an evi-
dence a weakness on the part of the Crown. If
„kings were driven from their homes to exile, and if
• .rebellion existed in other countries, people must talk of
• ;;gem. Never, since the world began, did the people
'complain of grievances that had no existence. People must
t&lk of them; and were speeches made in our exciting
period to have their words measured, or the same
rule applied to such addresses as were in use in
the House of Commons, where you must not say Sir
John Jervis, but Mr. Attorney-General, or the Hon. and
Learned Me:nber for Chester. (Laughter.) The
Learned Counsel then proceeded to urge upon the jury
most of the topics that were introduced upon the former
trials for sedition, and complained that proceedings
should be instituted by the G ,vernment against a poor
man like the defendant, when persons in a much higher
station, who during the excitement of the Reform all
and the corn-law agitation, had made infinitely more
violent speeches, were not only not prosecuted, but ac-
tually- rewarded fur what they had dune. The Learned
Counsel then proceeded to comment upon the different
portions of sp-a.eli and endeavoured to show that
the ' ,
they bore a much inure innocent interpretation than was
pit upon them by the Goverrunent, c.meluding by stating
that if even the meaning of the defendant was doubtful,
he was entitled to the benefit of that doubt, and ouOt to
be acqalitted.
The Aar o .Y GENIRIS A 1„ in his reply, said that the
1.-.srno.d C •r I for tl-o' rt• farolarit had represanteol him ascoming oere Lii, '. day flu,lieil with victory; but lie
eould assure them that the ta:,l.-. of conducting these pro-
'cautions had been a most painful one, and nothing hut
a strong sense of duty end ffeling that if he had acted
otherwise would be detrimental to the public interest arid
endangered the public peace, induced him to institute
them. He then referred again to the speech made by
the defendant, and said that nothing would give him 1
greater satisfaction than to find that a jury who, after
reading it, and considering it with attention, should
come to the conclusion that it was of the innocent cha-
racter represented by the counsel for the defendant. If
that should be their opinion, they would acquit the de-
fendant; but if, on the other hand, they should be satis-
fied that the object of the defendant was to create ex-
citement and endanger the public peace, it would be
equally their duty to find him guilty.
Mr. Justice linu-: summed up very briefly, and the
jury almost immediately returned a verdict of Guilty
upon both counts.
The defendant was then- removed from-the bar, the
judgment being respired.
At half-past six o'clock the grand jury came into
Co,ml bringing true bills for felony and misdemeanour
against all the Chartist prisoners.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL applied to have the trial of
the, accused persons fixed for the following morning.
.Mr. PARRY said he was retained to defend some of the
prisoners, and his Learned Friends, Mr. Ballantine and
Mr. lluddlestone, who were not resent, he believed
were also retained for others. He considered it would
be
so soon impossible for
fencethe
to be prepared to conduct the de-
al following morning. For his own
part, he certainly could not, at such a short notice, un-
grant
dertakmore ttime. e the ask, and he therefore prayed the Court to
After some discussion, the Court ordered the trial to
stand for Friday mar •
rung.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MA RYLEBONE
George Burchell,Nathaniel King, and Edwai d Farris,
were charged with a disgraceful and :nfamous system of
extortion.
Thomas Stenson, a respectable-looking
residing in Hanover•place, Upper Baker-street, deposed
man'
that on the previous evening, between nine and ten o'clock, he was walking through the Itegenes.patr
towards home, in company with a female friend, and
that they sat cloven to rest upon one of the seats near
North-gate, Avenue-road. They had not been there
long when Burchell and King came up to them, alleging
that they were constables in plain clothes, and at the
tame time King seized hold of the woman, whom he
dragged away, remarking that neither of them had any
business there, and that he should take him (complain-
ant) to the station-house, which would result in his
being brought before the magistrate and fined 15s. or
14 days' Imprisonment; Burchell then laid hold of
the female, whom he took a short distance off, and King
asked complainant if ho had any money, to which he re-
plied that he had only 7d., and he gsve up to him the
money alluded to, upon which ho said, " Now mako

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF BANKUUPTCY, Sept. 20.
(Before \Tr. Commissioner Iloutoyo.)
IN RE BAItNETT AND HANCOCK.
Mr. NORTON, on behalf of the bankrupts, boot and
shoemakers, Conduit-street, Regent-street, complained
that the fiat in this matter had not been ballotted ac-
cording to the general orders of the 12th of June, 1832,
the 11th rule of which enacted " that upon every appli-
estion for an appointment for opening any fiat, the Re-
gistrar shall, in the presence of the solicitor applying
for the same, allot such fiat by ballot to one of the com-
missioners of the Court, according to the regulations to
be from time to time prescribed by the Court of Re-
view, except in cases of second or renewed fiats, which
will go to the same commissioner before whom the
former commission or flat was prosecuted." Mr. Nor-
ton then went on to say that in the present instance the
Registrar was absent; that the ballotting was conducted
by his clerks; and, also that the name of only one com-
missioner (Evans) was in the box. Consequently, she
general orders had been violated in two 11:104 important
particulars.

Llis HoNoun said that he had no authority to interfere,
but the Registrar was surely entitled to some vacation,
and as only, two commissioners were at present i❑ town,
the regulation, if strictly adhered to, would sometimes,
in all probability, cause an undue share of business to
fall to the lot of a particular commissioner.
Mr. XORTOII observed that in !eventl other cues in
which he was engaged the Registrar was likewise re-
ported absent, so that" he conceived himself justly en-
titled to complain in the present instance. He (Mr.
Norton) then intimate,' the intention of his clients to
bring the matter under the consideration (4f the Lord
Chancellor.

JOHN A. TRIMMER'S BANKRUPTCY.
The certificate of this bankrupt, described as a clerk
in the office of the India Board of Control, Whitehall,
at a salary of 1,000!. a year, had been previously refused,
bat on the statement of the bankrupt that his
salary was about to be reduced, and that in con-
sequence he was unable to comply with an
order of Court to pay his creditors 4001. yearly,
and subject to the fulfilment of which his protection was
accorded, tile Commissioner had named yesterday for
the consideration of his certificate; but, on Mr. Lewis
objecting to such a proceeding without the sanction of
the creditors having been first obtained,
His LIONOUR dismissed the application.

Yesterday Mr. Justice Erle and Mr. Justice Vaughan
took their seats on the bench shortly after ten o'clock.
CASH OF RAPE.—Thoodore Piedfort, a respectably-
attired foreigiler, described as a hairdresser, aged 41,
was indicted for the commission of a rape upon the per-
son of a young woman named Rose Harris, aged 27, a
kitchen-maid in the service of L*dy Dundonald, on
Thursday, the 29th of June last. It appeared that the
prisoner, who was in the habit of dressing her Lady-
ship's hair, proceeded about one o'clock on that day to
a house occupied by her Ladyship at Hampstead, which
was in the care of the prosecutrix alone, and there per-
petrated the offence after using much violence, accord-
ing to the testimony, which was unshaken in a search-
ing oross-examination by Mr. Clarkson, who appeared
for the prisoner.
Mr. CL.knasoN made an able appeal to the jury on
behalf of the prisoner.
Serer.►l respectable persons gave the prisoner a high
character for morality and decency.
Mr. Justice ERLE carefully summed up the evidence,
and explained the law to the jury.
After an absence of an hour and twenty minutes, the
jury returned into court with a verdict of Guilty.—Sen-
tenoe deferred.

THE S

' haste out of that gate," pointing to it with his finger,
" and I'll tell my fellow constable that you managed to
escape from me." Ile (complainant) made his way off,
the female having also got clear of Burchell, and while
he was running the other prisoner followed h m closely,
but did not attempt to molest him. As soo❑ a, he had
an opportunity, he gave information of wha: had occur-
red, and the whole of the prisoners were subsequently
apprehended.
Charlotte Freshwater, a modest looking young woman,
residing in Park-street, Dorset•square, said that Bur-
chell behaved towards her in a most rude and indecent
manner, and that after resisting ♦iolently she succeeded
in escaping from him.
A witness, named Dunley, 44, East-street, stated, that
the prisoners had for some time past been pursuing a
similar line of infamous conduct in the Park. Ho had
often watched them, and more than once detected them,
but the parties assailed had declined to come forward
against them.
Dixon, 71 D, remarked that numerous complaints had
from time to time been made by persons who had been
molested, and from whom money had been obtained by
means similar to those above stated. Upon King, who
was alleged to have had 7d. handed over to him, only
4id. was found.
The prisoners denied the truth of the greater por-
tion of the statements made against them; and as there
was not sufficient suited against Farris he was discharged.
Burchell and King were for the assaults committed by
them fined 40s. each; in default of payment one month
in the House of Correction.
WORSHIP-STREE7.
_ _ _

Ann and Emma Lo/inck, the young married women
who attended this Court last week to complain that
their husbands had been induced to emigrate to New
York through the instrumentality of Mr. Jackson, of
the City Mission, leaving their families behind in a state
of utter destitution, again presented themselves before
Mr. Hammill to report the result of their endeavours
to obtain some assistance from the gentleman referred to.
Holland, the warrant officer, communicated to the
magistrate the particulars of the complaint, and subse-
quent investigation before Mr. Arnold, at which Mr.
Jackson himself attended; and having admitted that the
men had been sent out to New York with the proceeds
of a subscription which had been entrusted to his sole
control and disbursement, Mr. Arnold ?strongly im-
pressed upon him the great responsibility he had en-
tailed upon himself in causing the separation of working
men from their wives and children, and suggested the
immediate adoption of some measures for their benefit,
which Mr. Jackson, who left the court with one of the
women, promised to take into his serious consideration.
The first complainant, Ann Lofinck, now stated that,
pursuant to the magistrate's recommendation, she called
last Thursday evening to see Mr. Jackson at a Ragged
School in the Minories, where he was in the habit of
holding prayer meetings, and upon reminding him
that her sole reason for assenting to her husband's
emigration was a promise from him of rendering her
assistance, couched in such terms as induced her to
believe that she and her child were to be sent im-
mediately after him, he told her that she laboured
under an entire mistake, as all that ho intended to do for
her was to send her some tea and sugar after she had
entered the workhouse. Ho added, that he would speak
to the gentlemen subscribers on her behalf, but that he
himself could render, her no aid whatever ; and as she
now felt it quite hopeless to expect any help from that
quarter, she was totally at a loss what to do, as neither
her sister nor herself had a single friend in a condition
to assist them.
Mr. llltaams, said there could be no question that
gentlemen associating themselves together for the fur-
therance of a scheme which had the practical effect of
separating married men from their wires and children,
were bound to furnish funds either to send the latter out
or to provide them with support in this country ; but the
whole matter appeared to him so extraordinary that he
should like to hear how such a proposition had originated.
Holland said that, according to Mr. Jackson's expla-
nation, a fund of between 604 and 704 had been raised
by the spontaneous contributions of Lord Ashley, Cap-
-1 tam Trotter, and other gentlemen, for promoting the
emigration of penitent thieves and felons, and that by
that means about a dozen persons had been already
sent out, including the husbands of these women,
although it appeared that neither of them possessed the
necessary qualifications, having never committed a crimi-
nal offence in their lives.
The woman Anne Lofinck here remarked that she
understood Mr. Jackson was about to send out a number
more in the same manner to America, and that from the
inattention he had displayed towards herself and sister,
she did not believe ho cared whether they were married
or single.
Mr. Haltatm. said that this society had certainly
taken upon themselves to do what no other person had
thought of doing before—separating husbands from
their wives anti children in a most extraordinary man-
ner ; and he considered that a renewed application
ought to be made to Mr. Jackson to induce him to per-
form what he must see would be a mere act of justice.
Holland replied, that he did not think that would be of
much use, as he had already promised to assist them,
but done nothing ; and the terms of sympathy which
he certainly expressed for their situation were accom-
panied by a distinct intimation that he had no funds at
his disposal.
Mr. HAAIMILL said, that for that case he considered
a direct representation of the facts should be forthwith
made to the City Mission, with which this gentleman
was understood to be connected, and that if that failed to
produce the desired effect, that the whole case should be
submitted to the Lord Mayor, in whose jurisdiction the
institution was located. In the meantime he should pre-
' sent each of the women with a donation of ten shillings
from the poor-box, but as it was manifestly impossible
that such a fund should be made permanently available
for their benefit, it would be necessary for them to de-
pend for their future support upon their respective
parishes, which he had no doubt in such a lamentable
case as theirs would be readily afforded them without the
alternative of entering the workhouse.
The complainants, whose demeanour was marked
with great propriety, expressed their grateful sense of
the magistrate's kindness, and left the court.
THAMES.
John Richman, a twine-spinner, about forty years of
age, and lately residing in Walworth, was brought
before Mr. Yardley for final examination, charged with
feloniously wounding Caroline Richman, his wife, with
intent to do her grievous bodily harm.
The prisoner still appeared to be in a weakly condi-
tion, arising from loss of blood caused by the severe
wounds he inflicted on himself while locked up in the
Poplar station-house.
It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner had
for some time past indulged in habits of intemperance,
and so ill-used his wife that she left him a fortnight ago,
taking with her five children. She met him again by
appointment on Saturday morning, when he expressed
his sorrow for having used her so cruelly, and promised
that if she would live with him again ho would not ill-
treat her any more. They agreed to meet the same
evening at his sister's, in Robin Hood-lane, Poplar, and
they parted with the utmost apparent affection and
goodwill towards each other. In the evening the
prisoner entered his sister's house and found his wife
already there. He immediately embraced her, and
continued caressing her for upwards of a quarter of
an hour, when he put his left arm round her neck
and saluted her. The woman was in the highest
spirits at the prospects of a re-union, and, although
several of her relatives and others were present,
she indulged him in his caresses, and gave
utterance to a wish that they might live happily too her
in future. Directly afterwards he pulled her on his
lap again, put his arm round her neck, threw her head
hack, and kissed her, and at the same moment drew a
knife from his pocket with his right hand and cut her
throat. She put her hand up, exclaiming, " A knife, a
knife! Oh! my God, he is cutting my throat!" and at
the same moment her thumb was cut. The people in
the room instantly dragged him away from her, and
removed her to the house of a neighbour opposite, where
she was attended by a insliesl gentleman, dressed
deassa
the wound in her throat. It was only a. slight one, her
bonnet ribbons and her thumb having fortunately pro-
tected her neck. The prisoner left the house in the con-
fusion, and passed it again soon afterwards, vvhea he
was given into the custody of Police-constable Sheen,
82 K. He stated that he was very sorry for what
he had done, and that he did it with a small knife. He
was asked what he had done with it? to which he
replied that he had thrown it away —he did not
know where. When the prisoner was brought to the
station-house he was in a very excited state, and told
Sergeant Yeoman, 6 K, who took the charge, that he
would not have the trouble to convey him to the police-
court, and that he should do for himself: Yeoman
searched him minutely throe times, and after he was
locked up directed a constable to watch him closely.
About five minutes afterwards the prisoner was spoken
to, and he said " Let me sleep." The sergeant looked
through the wicket in the cell door and saw the prisoner
on a bench with his head leaningover towards tlse ground,
and blood oozing from both sides of his neck. An alarm
was given and the prisoner was taken out of the cell,
when he put up both his hands to his throat and tore
his wounds asunder. The blood then gushed forth
in a stream and formed a large pool on the floor
of the station-house. The same medical gentleman
who had attended his wife was then called in. The pri-
soner struggled with him violently, but the surgeon not-
withstanding dressed his wounds. It seemed the pri-
soner had been meditating the murder of his wife for
some time, for he observed to Caffell, a broker, who was
endeavouring to bring about a reconciliation, the week
before last, that he would be revenged on her. The cell
in which ho had been confined was afterwards searched,
and Yeoman found a buckle belonging to one of the pri-
soner's braces. It was stained with blood, and the pri-
soner had contrived to inflict the wounds on his throat
with

,he teeth of this buckle. It was stated that the pri•
soner was formerly in good circumstances, and that his
wife was a most amiable and respectable woman, and
that he had attempted to cut her throat two years ago.
She described him au a tender husband and kind father
when sober, but a demon when under the influence of
strong drinks.
Mr. Ronald Robertson, surgeon, "of Poplar, stated
that he was sent for to attend Mrsßichman on Satur-
day night, and found an :incised wound on her throat
just over the carotid artery. It was two inches in
length, evidently inflicted with a sharp instrument, and
if it had been a little deeper it would have deprived her
°I. life. lle was afterwards called upon to attend the
prisoner, who had inflicted several lacerated wounds on
his neck, which he (witness) bound up. The prisoner
struggled Violently while he was doing so, and said,
" Let me die, let me die."
In answer to a question by Mr. YARDLEY, the witness
duty
aueietd:rttihoen
questions
vfeorry
trial .
for
orpttimus otmntieotr
him mams excited by drink, but he answered
or do rationally.grievoufse feloniously
M to YA. DLrr
.told the prisoner it was his painful
with intent to murder ilyharwmo.unding
nbtaornL
beio,forie
mferroc.
ciooureabel,ocobkainrggedltbayli.aTnb, waseuiaa
CERREN WELL.
plaSceledP4actilthAo

N, LONDON,

f Layton, a fine little boy, seven years of age, son of
I respectable parents, residing in Camden-passage, Is-
lington, with having committed a brutal and unprovoked
assault upon him, by which he was most seriously in-
jured.
The poor little fellow, who was in great pain and in a
♦ery weakly state, was allowed a seat while giving his
evidence, which he did with difficulty.
It appeared from this evidence that yesterday morn-
ing, at about half past nine o'clock, the prisoner was in
High-street, Islington, playing on a spinnet or imitative
piano, when the little boy, who had a bit of cane in his
hand, was moving it about to the tune of the music as he
stood by the side of the prisoner, who, turning round
upon him in a furious manner, made a violent attack
upon him, knocked him down, and kicked him in a
frightful manner on the groin, which rendered him in-
sensible. Several passengers who witnessed the
cowardly transaction became indignant, and detained
the prisoner until the arrival of a policeman, to whom he
was given into custody. The boy was taken to a sur-
geon's, when it was found that an extensive swelling had
been caused on his groin.
In answer to Mr. COMM the boy said, he had not
been teasing the prisoner; he gave him no provocation,
and there were no other boys near him at the time.
Mrs. Jane Sefton, of No. 3, Canal-roadaloxton, cor-
roborated this testimony, and added that she never wit•
nossed so cowardly and brutal an attack in all her life,
and that a cry of " Shame!" was raised; she thought
the boy was killed.
Mr. James Absolorn gave similar evidence. He felt
so hurt and indignant at the prisoner's unprovoked and
brutal conduct towards the poor boy, that he imrce-
diately collared him, and held him tightly until he gave
him into the custody of a policeman, who took him to
the station-house.
Police-sergeant 12 N Paid that the boy was in a most
shocking state, and was obliged to be carried to this
court.
The prisoner now, as is usual with persons of this
country and class when they are in a dilemma of this
sort, affected great simplicity and ignorance of the Eng-
lish language, although acquainted with it fluently, and
bad an interpreter present in court.
Mr. CONDE concurred with the witnesses, that it was
a brutal and cowardly assault. It was evident that the
boy was very seriously injured, and he would suggest
that he should be immediately conveyed to the hospital
and be properly attended to, or the consequences might
prove more serious.
The father of the boy said he was dangerously injured.
He thanked the worthy Magistrate, and added that he
would prefer taking his son home, where be should have
every care and medical attention paid to him under his
immediate eye.
The prisoner's defence was that the boy touched his in-
strument with his stick; he did not deny the charge.
Mr. CoMaE directed the interpreter to communicate to
the prisoner that he would eventually bo fully committed
to Newgate to take his trial upon the charge, but he
would remand him until next Tuesday, whilst the boy
would be taken care of, and his state be made known to
the Court on that day. The boy was thensupported intoa
cabriolet, and conveyed home in extreme agony, and the
prisoner was taken to prison.
Jane Wilson, a pauper, was fully committed for trial,
charged with stealing a wine glass from the London Spa,
Exmouth-street, Clerkenwell.

LAMBETH.
Richard Orpin, a well-dressed middle-aged man, was
placed at the bar before Mr. Norton, on a charge of being
concerned with two aged women, at present in custody,
named Linfield and Dryden, in endangering the life of
Eliza Wilson by inducing her to take steps to cause
abortion.
Mr. Robinson, the superintendent of the P or Cam-
berwell division of police, deposed, that from a disclosure
made to him by the young woman Wilson, to the effect
that the prisoner was the father of a child of which sho
was pregnant, and that it was at his solicitation she had
gone to the women Linfield and Dryden for the purpose
of procuring abortion, he felt it his duty to have him
taken into custody. Mr. Robinson added that the young
woman Wilson had not only said that she had been
urged by the prisoner to go to the two women before-
mentioned, but that lie gave her 21. 10s. to pay Linfield.
The prisoner, in reply to the charge, admitted that he
had been on terms of intimacy with the young woman,
that she bad stated to him that she was in the family-
way, and said that something must be done, and also
asked him for SOs. to get some stuff. He, however, told
her that ho would not have anything to do with it, and
ho had not seen her after that time. I❑ reply to the
question of Mr. Norton, the prisoner said he was a car-
penter by trade, but had been coachman to a gentleman,
and his wife, with whom he lived, was a laundress at
Norwood.:

Mr. NoieroN remanded the prisoner to a fature day.
At a late hour in the day, William Linfield, a rough,
singular-looking fellow, was placed at the bar, on a
charge of having been concerned with his mother, as
she was described, in carrying on practices of a highly
revolting, if not criminal character.
In this case Mr. Robinson stated that he had accom-
panied the two constables who had the case in hand to
the house occupied by Linfield, one of the women
charged before his worship on Monday last, and there
found the prisoner, her son. Under his direction the
constables made a diligent search, and found a number
of instruments, many of them resembling those used by
surgeons, together with something resembling herb
medicine, &c. From the discoveries that had been made,
and the appearance of the place, he (Air. Robinson) was
induced to make inquiries in the neighbourhood, and
found that Linfield was not only in the habit of having
" respectable" female " patients," as she called them, in
her house, but of being visited by a number of ladies
dressed in the first style of fashion, many of whom drove
in their carriages close to, but not quite to, the house.
The object for which these parties visited the old woman
he (Mr. Robinson) could not positively state, but he cer-
tainly had his own conjecture on the subject.
Police-constable, Thomas Cannon, 59 P, here placed
on the table before the magistrate a box, from which he
took a number of instruments, some of thorn of a very
curious construction, anal some of which, it is feared,
have been used for very mischievous purposes.
Mr. NORTON having looked carefully over them di-
rected the superintendent to have them exaimed by a
surgeon, a surgical-instrument maker, or some compe-
tent person, who might be able to speak to their intended
uses at the next examination.
The prisoner, when asked what he had to say, replied
that the superintendent was wrong in stating that Mrs.
Linfield was his mother, for, in point of fact, ho (the
prisoner) was not aware whether his mother or father
were living ; and from all he could learn from Mrs. Lin-
field, it appeared that it was the intention of his father
and mother—or at least of the latter—as soon as he was
born, to throw him into the Surrey Canal, but Mrs. Lin-
field, who attended his mother during his birth, becom-
ing acquainted with the fact, managed to get possession
of him and brought him up as her son.
Mr. Robinson thought it desirable to mention that the
windows of the house were peculiarly adapted to deaden
sound. There were solid boards so constructed as to be
placed inside the windows or taken down at pleasure,
and on going to the house on the day mentioned he
found those belonging to a back room up. He also
wished to state that the prisoner acknowledged to him
that a great portion of the herbs in the shop were of a
highly poisonous description, and that he told people who
purchased them that they were so; but if they did not
follow his directions it was not his fault. The prisoner
further acknowledged that women were in the habit of
coming to be confined at Mrs. Linfield's, but said they
came at the proper time.
Mr. NORTON, in reminding the prisoner, remarked
that the case was a most extraordinary and suspicious
one.