The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-16 00:00:00

LAW AND POLICE.

A BARRISTER IN THE DIVORCE COURT.—Lord Pen-
zance had before him the cause of Sturgeon v. Sturgeon,
which was the wife's petition for a dissolution of her mar-
riage on the ground of her husband's cruelty and adultery.
The respondent was Charles Wentworth Sturgeon, a
member of the bar, and he married the petitioner,
then a widow possessed of good means, in the year
1864. 'They went to Italy, where the respondent
behaved, it was alleged, in a most cruel manner. He was
n the habit of striking his wife, and locking her up, it
was stated, because she refused to supply him with
money. At Florence he made the acquaintance of a
Mrs. Evans, and committed adultery with her. Subse-
quently he was found residing with her in London.—
Lord Penzance granted a decree nisi for a dissolution of
marriage.
" NED WRIGHT'S " MINISTRY. —At the Southwark
Police-court, Mr. G. M. Murphy, the minister of the
Borough-road Congregational Chapel, and one of the un-
successful candidates of the Metropolitan School Board,
waited on Mr. Benson for his assistance under the follow-
ing circumstances :—The reverend gentleman said that he
had for some years worked very hard among the lower
orders, and the working classes, in the vicinity of the New
Cut, where some time ago a " converted burglar," calling
himself Ned Wright, held meetings at a place called the
Gospel Hall, in the New Cut. He had nothing to say
against those gatherings, but he wished to call his wor-
ship's attention to advertisements in the Christian,
and other religious papers, inserted by Mr. Wright, or by
his orders, calling on the public for subscriptions to enable
him to carry on his work in the Gospel Hall, whereas he
had not used that building since September last. An
article also appeared in the " Sword and Trowel," a
monthly magazine, conducted by the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon,
calling Ned Wright the Apostle of the New Cut, thereby
calling on the benevolent to supply him with funds.
Mr. Benson asked if Mr. Wright ever carried
on religious services in the New Cut. Applicant
replied in the affirmative, and his worship might
recollect that he brought his hearers together by
supplying them with soup, thdeby combining spiritual
instructions with other matters.—Mr. Benson asked him
if he thought Mr. Wright was improperly collecting sub-
scriptions. He should think the Rev. Mr. Spurgeon
must be aware of what was going on before he allowed
such an article to appear his work. On retaking over
the paper placed before him he saw among other influen
tial names those of Messrs. Dawson and Sons, Cannon-
street, City, and he was sure those gentlemen would not
subscribe to funds unless they knew they were applied pro-
perly.—Mr. Murphy supposed they were not aware that Mr.
Wright was not using the Gospel Hall or working in the
New Cut. Mr. Benson observed that a question of some
importance respecting the New Cut was pending in this
Court regarding Sunday trading and other ctbstructions,
and some good may have been done by Mr. Wright and
others of his class. It may be that whatever money he
received he disposed of faithfully. Mr. Murphy had no
complaint to make of that, but he contended it was not
applied in the New Cut according to his appeal, and he
thought the public ought to know it.

THROWING TEMPTATION INTO THE WAY OF ILL•PAID
WORKPEOPLE.—A poor needlewoman named Sarah Work
man, was brought up at the Thames Police•court,
charged with illegally pawning five pairs of corduroy
trousers, belonging to a man named Samuel Flewett. He
prepared the materials and converted them into trousers
by machinery, and the prisoner was entrusted with them
to finish them. She was to receive 31d. for finishing each
pair of trousers. She pawned the trousers after they
were finished, some for 35., and others for 3s. Gd. each.
It was elicited from Flewett that he received Bd. per pair
only for making the trousers. The prisoner said she could
not.live on the wretched pay she received, and being very
poor raised money on the trousers. She meant to redeem
them the first opportunity she got.. The magistrate fined
her 205., and 15s. Gd., the sum she had raised on the five
pairs of trousers, or the alternative of six weeks' im-
prisonment, with, hard labour. .