The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-26 00:00:00

NEW COURT.

John Anderson and Edward Sullivan, described in the
calendar as labourers, were indicted with stealing a
breast-pin, of the value of 4s. 6d., the property of
Joseph Parry, from his person. These two prisoners, it
will be reco'h cted, are the persons who, dressed as
females, accosted the prosecutor in Holborn-hill, and
asked him for something to drink, and while in con-
versation with him took the opportunity of steal-
ing the property. Upon their being taken to
the station-house it was discovered that they
were men in female attire. The charge was clearly
proved against the prisoners, and some policemen swore
to having seen them dressed as females before.
The prisoners, in their defence, said that it was all
done for a lark.

The RECORDER summed up.
The jury found both prisoners guilty.
The COURT sentenced them to 15 years transporta-
tion, the Recorder observing that the offence, though
small, had been committed under circumstances which
called upon the Court to pronounce upon the prisoners
the severest sentence provided by the statute.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.
(THIS DAY.)
Samuel Cohen, a Jew, carrying on an extensive busi-
ness as a clothes dealer, surrendered upon his bail, to
take his trial on an indictment charging him with steal-
ing three pair of trousers and a quantity of cloth, the
property of John Burford.
It appeared that the prisoner entered the prosecutor's
sale-room, where there were a number of persons making
purchases, when he bought first a piece of cloth, then
three or four other articles, and went away, but a large
piece of cloth and three pair of trousers being missed,
he was followed and taken into custody. Upon search-
ing his bag at the station-house, the trousers and cloth
were found, placed alternately between the several arti-
cles he had purchased.
The Learned JUDGE commented upon the latter cir-
cumstance, and said it clearly showed that the property
could not have been accidentally taken.
A host of persons, of the Jewish persuasion, having
given the prisoner an excellent character, a verdict of
tiuilty was returned, with a recommendation to mercy,
on account of his previous character, and he was sen-
tenced to three months' imprisonment, with hard labour.
Sarah Simpson was indicted for stealing a silver
watch, and a chain and key, the property of Thomas
Ashley.
The principal evidence rested upon the statement of a
child under ten years of age, who stated that she was
left in care of the prosecutor's house in Ball's-pond,
Islington, when the prisoner, who resided next door,
came in, and, after remaining a few minutes, went away,
and the watch, which had been hanging over the mantel-
shelf a short time before, was missed. A pawnbroker's
clerk swore the prisoner pawned the watch at his
master's shop.
A similar verdict was returned by the jury, when it
was intimated to the Learned Assistant-Judge previous
to his passing sentence, that the prisoner was six months
advanced in pregnancy.
The ASSISTANT-JUDGE said that, owing to the state
of her health, and also in consequence of the recom-
mendation of the jury, he would pass a very mild sen-
tence upon her, which was that she be imprisoned and
kept to hard labour for six weeks.
Several jurors expressed their regret that the Learned
Judge should consider it to be his duty to attach the
punishment of hard labour to the imprisonment of a
female in her delicate condition.
The ASSISTANT JUDGE said the jury laboured under
a mistake, if they imagined the order of "hard labour"
would be carried into effect; it only conferred the neces-
sary authority upon the prison authorities.

MARLBRO'-STREET.-(THIS DAY.)
Thomas Douglas, a child, was charged with stealing a
quantity of cigars from Mrs. Marsella's shop, 12, King-
street, Soho.
Harriet M'Dowall said she was sitting in the parlour
last night, between five and six o'clock, when she saw
the prisoner in the shop with his hand in the cigar
boxes. He took up two handfuls of cigars, and gave
them to two boys who stood outside the door ; he re-
turned to the boxes and lifted other two handfuls, which
he succeeded in giving to the same two boys before the
witness was able to lay hold of him. The other two
boys escaped ; she caught the prisoner, who, by the ap-
pearance of the boxes, must have taken about three
dozen of cigars.
Police constable, 6G C., said he took the boy into cus-
tody, and produced some cigars which had been dropped
outside the door of the shop.

The defendant said he was nine years of age, and had
got no father. Ile seemed quite incapable of under-
standing the situation which he had brought himself
•
into.

Mr. HARDWICK appeared to be in difficulty about the
course he ought to take with the offender before him.
Ultimately he committed the prisoner to take his trial at
the Middlesex sessions.

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.
(THIS DAY)

This morning a commission of lunacy was opened by
Francis Barlow, Esq., at the Commission Rooms, Red
Lion-square, to inquire into the state of mind of John
Webb, Esq., a gentleman entitled to considerable pro-
perty in orkshire, Lincolnshire, and Northampton-
shire, and at present in confinement in an asylum near
Paris.
Mr. J. Romilly and Mr. Buck appeared in support of
the commission; Mr. Bacon, Q.C., and Mr. Parker, Q.C.,
to watch the case on the part of the alleged lunatic; and
Mr. Walpole for Miss Webb, a daughter of the alleged
lunatic.
The Learned COMMISSIONER addressed the jury.
Mr. ROMILLY opened the case, and stated that Mr.
Webb was one of three sons of the late Sir John Webb,
Bart., who was possessed of large estates in Yorkshire,
Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire. The late Baronet
died in 1797, leaving the whole of his estates to his
three sons, who, it was necessary to mention, were ille-
gitimate. He left the Yorkshire estate to his eldest son,
James, for life, and to his children, and if without law-
ful issue, to John (the subject of the present inquiry),
and if he died without lawful issue, to his younger son,
Frederick. The Lincolnshire estate was left to John,
nnder similar restrictions ; and the last to Frederick, in
the same manner. James and Frederick were both dead,
the latter leaving-children, and it was on behalf of the
eldest son of the latter that the Commission was sued
out. Ile did not think it possible that the jury, after
hearing the evidence which would be laid before them,
could have any hesitation that the proceedings were ab
solutely necessary for -the security of the property. The
Learned Counsel then read documents to show the im-
possibility for the lunatic to be brought to England in
his present state.
Dr. Southey, Dr. Blanche, Mr. Smith, and Captain
Palmer, a relative of Mr. Webb, was called ; and from
their evidence, brought down so late as Monday last, it
appeared, that the unfortunate gentleman was in a state
amounting to raving madness, and that be had been so
from December last, his brother having been subject to
the same malady.
Mr.1324.c0x argued that there had been great loss of

time since the issning of the commission, and that the
alleged lunatic ought to have been produced.
Air. RomiLLY i c. ing
The Learned CommissioNEß addressed the jury, and
said that the Learned Gentlemen who appeared for Mr.
Webb had the opportunity cf producing him had they
thought it prudent or necessary, they therefore. had n)
right to complain. He said he would go through the
evidence if the jury required.
The jury, without retiring, gave a verdict that the
said John Webb was of unsound mind, and had been so
since the Ist of December, 1845.