The Sun.
London, England, 1833-09-16 00:00:00

SURREY SESSIONS, SEPT. 14.

A NARROW ESCAPE.—lVillianz Field, aged 20,
was indicted for stealing a quantity of jewellery,
money, and other articles, at Newington, on the
21st of August last, the property of Benjamin
Lingham.
Anne Lingham deposed that she was the wife of
the prosecutor, who is a stage-coach proprietor, and
resides at No. 8, Peacock-street, Newington. On
the evening of the day named in the indictment, the
prisoner accompanied her husband home. Shortly
after the prisoner had departed from her residence,
she discovered that all the articles enumerated in
the indictment had been stolen from a box which
was found to be broken open, and having suspicion
that the prisoner was the thief, she gave information
to a police-officer. The prisoner was apprehended,
and duplicates of the property, which had been
pledged with various pawnbrokers, found upon him
at the time of his apprehension.

Mr. CHAMBERS cross-examined the witness, from
which it was elicited that her husband was con-
stantly drunk.
Mr. CHAMBERS—I reluctantly put the question,
but are you a married woman ? Witness (pertly)
—That's my business.
And it is an important part of my business to
come at the fact. Come, answer the question, are
you a married woman or not ? That's my busi-
ness.—(A laugh.)
CHAIRMAN--Witness, don't treat the question so
flippantly and unbecomingly; remember you are
under the solemn obligation of an oath, therefore,
answer the Learned Counsel, the Court will interfere
when improper questions are put to witnesses.
Witness—Well, then, I am married.
Mr. CHABIBEns—How long pray ? Witness--
(Snappishly)—Six years.
When, where, and to whom ? That's my busi-
ness.—(A laugh.)
The COURT again cautioned the witness, and
censured her for unbecoming replies to questions
which she ought and must.answer.
Witness—(Tremulously)—At Ore Church, near
Hastings, in Sussex.
_ _

Mr.CIIMiII3ERS-1-lave you your marriage certi-
ficate with you Witness—No, I left it at home.
Now, madam, I ask you to answer me, and at
the same time remember, you have already sworn
you are the lawful wife of the prosecutor. Are
you so or not and do, for God's sake, remember
your oath, and the situation in which the prisoner
stands. Witness—(who stood as rivetted in the
box for nearly five minutes, said)—Then I am not
married.

A burst of indignation ran through the Court.
Hr. CHAMBERS—Then how could you presume
to swear you were married ? Witness—The truth is
this, Sir, six years ago 1 went to Ore Church, near
Hastings, to be married, but Benjamin and I quar-
relled at the church—(A laugh.)
Well, what then ?—We left the church in con-
sequence of the quarrel, and returned home without
being married, but in the course of the afternoon our
differences were settled, and we became friends.
And since that time have lived together as man
and wife. Yes—Now you have got the whole his-
tory !—(A laugh.)
Then the property set forth in the indictment be-
longs to yourself ? Yes, allexcept a seal which 1
gave to Benjamin Lingham while we kept company,
and before we lived together as man and wife.
Cox, a constable, deposed he apprehended the
prisoner, and produced a seal which he found upon
him, as also several duplicates.
The female witness was again interrogated as to
the habits of ',lngham. She reluctantly confessed
that he was in a continuous state of inebriety, and
was also in the habit, either by himself or agent,
of pawning his and her property, and it was probe-

ble he might have employed the prisoner to dispose
of the seal as well as the other articles mentioned.
The prisoner, in defence, called several respecta-
ble persons who deposed to knowing him from his
birth, and also to his general good character; he
had travelled through the greatest part of Italy, and
had only just returned from Greece, after an ab-
sence of nearly four years, and while in that coun-
try had unfortunately received a wound in the head,
which at times affected his intellect. They all
deposed to his universal disposition towards honesty.
Verdict—Not guilty.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HO USE.

The following are copies of letters received by
Messrs. John Bourne and Co., and Mr. Duncan
Gibb, of Liverpool, and transmitted to the LORD
MAYOR, in evidence of the correctness of the view
taken by his Lordship of the correspondence of Mr.
Bennett :

" 178, Fleet-street, London, April 25, 1833.
" Gentlemen,—l am referred to you by a Mr. John
Spencer, who has applied for a vacancy in my counting.
house. He states having been in your employ fur eighteen
months, commencing in the early part of 1830, since
which time he has been abroad. A candid statement of
his abilities, integrity, and general conduct during the
time he was with you will much oblige, Gentlemen, your
most obedient servant, " W. H. MORRIS.
" Messrs. J. Bourne and Co., Liverpool."
" I'7B, Fleet•street, London, April 25, 1833.

" Sir,—l am referred to you by Mr. J. Spencer, who
has applied for a vacancy in my countinghouse. He
states having been in your employ for eighteen months,
commencing in the early part of 1830, since which time
he has been abroad. A candid statement of his abilities,
integrity, and general conduct will oblige, Sir, your obe-
dient servant, " W. H. MORRIS.

" D. Gibb, Esq., Liverpool."
To the latter note the following answer, which
reminded the LORD MAYOR of a certain passage in
the Vicar of Wakefield, was returned :

"Liverpool, April 29, 1833.

" Si:,—! am with your letter of the 25th instant in-
quiring after the character of Mr. J. Spencer, who has
applied for a situation in your counting-house, and has
given my name as a reference, which rather surprised
me, for at this moment I cannot recollect such a person
in any way about my employ at the period named, and
very certain I am that he never held any place in my
countinghouse.—l am, &c.
(Signed) " DUNCAN GIBE.
" W. H. Morris, Esq., 178, Fleet-street, London."

His Lordship sent M'Lean, the inspector, to No.
178, Fleet-street, which happens to be Peele's
Coffeehouse, to inquire after Mr. Morris, and to re-
quest that the gentleman would call at the Mansion-
house in the course of the day.
The inspector reported to his Lordship that he
had waited upon the proprietor of Peele's Coffee-
house, and had been informed by him that some
shabby-looking person called for letters directed to
J. Morris, Esq., which, as they were post paid,
and might have been addressed to some gentleman
who frequented the coffee-room, were not refused.
Nothing more was known, as might very well be
supposed at such a house as Peele's, of the corre-
spondence. The houses in Liverpool were doubt-
less completely lulled to sleep by the fact that the
letters were franked by Members of the House of
Commons; that to Messrs. Bourne and Co., by
J. Campbell, and that to D. Gibbs, Esq., by G. F.
Berkely.
The LORD MAYOR hoped that the Members of
the Legislative Body would look with caution to
the character of the constituents for whom they
franked letters.—(Laughter.)