The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-28 00:00:00

THE SMALL DEBTS' BILL.

The following petition from the Incorporated Law
Society has been presented " to the Right Hon. the
Lords Spiritual and Temporal of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament as-
sembled :"

" The humble Petition of the Incorporated Society
of Attornies, Solicitors, Proctors, and others, not
being Barristers, practising in the Courts of Law
and Equity of the United Kingdom.
" Showeth,—That very late in the present session of
Parliament, a Bill was introduced in your Right Hon.
House, and is now pending, entitled An Act for the
more easy Recovery of Small Debts and Demands in
England.'
_ _ _

"That it is intended under such Bill to create vari-
ous courts for the purposes thereof, and to vest the ap-
pointment of judges of such courts in the Lord Chan-
cellor.

" That various Bills have from time to time been in-
troduced into Parliament for the above purpose previ-
ously to-the present session of Parliament, and that in
such Bills it was proposed and intended that the judges
to be appointed should either be barristers-at-law or
attornies-at-law.

" That, by the Bill now pending in your Right Hon.
House, the Lord Chancellor is so restricted in the ap-
pointment of judges as to be prevented in future from
the appointment of any attorney-at-law, however well
qualified to be a judge of any court, to be created under
such Bill in case the same should pass into a law.
" That new clauses have been introduced in such Bill
in the other House of Parliament, and various restric-
tions in the jurisdiction and powers of such intended
courts, and of the judges to be appointed under such
Bill.

"That your petitioners humbly represent to yourßight
Hon. House that many attornies-at-law are qualified to
be appointed judges under such Bill.
" Your petitioners humbly pray that in such Bill the
Lord Chancellor may be empowered to appoint any at-
tornies-at-law to be judges in the court to be created
thereunder whom his Lordship may consider duly qua-
lified to be such judges."

THE LATE COLLISION ON THE
BRIGHTON AND HASTINGS RAILWAY.

INQUIRY BY THE 'NSF ECTOR-GENERAL.
HASTINGS, WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.—This forenoon
Major General Pasley arrived at Pevensey station, ac-
companied by Mr. Clarke, the managing director from
Brighton, to inquire into the circumstances of the recent
collision on the Hastings or South-coast line, on Monday
last, for the information of the Board of Trade. The
gallant General's first proceeding was to inspect the spot
where the collision happened. The railway in this part
seems far from being complete, only one line is laid
down for the transit of trains, and hundreds of excava-
tors are working day and night constructing the ballast-
ing for the second line of rails. From the evidence
collected it appeared the company's contractors had
several locomotives employed on the line to assist in
carrying ballast trains to various parts of the works, and
to prevent delay occurring to the passenger trains,
sidings had been made by the contractors at various parts
in order that the ballast trains might, as it is termed,
" shunt" off, to allow the ordinary trains to pass, and it
was in one of these sidings at Pevensey where the col-
.. . _

lision took place. A lew' minutes before the Brighton
train, which leaves Pevensey station at two o'clock,
was due, one of these ballast engines, which was
coming up in the opposite direction, stopped at
the siding in question, and backed into it for the
purpose explained. Shortly afterwards the train came
up at a speed of about twenty-eight miles an hour, when
on its arrival within six or seven yards of the points of
the siding, the engine-driver, Stephen Clarke, discovered
that the " switches" were not properly adjusted, and a
violent collision with the ballast trains was inevitable.
He instantly shut off his steam and reversed the engine,
and jumped off, leaving his stoker at the tender break.
Scarcely a moment elapsed before the engines met. As
regards the switches, which are on the self-acting
principle, it is difficult to say whether any party is to
blame. A youth, it seems, had been appointed by the
contractors to attend to them, and he has since ab-
sconded ; but, according to the statements of the differ-
ent parties examined to-day, there does not appear to
be any fault attributable to him. The switches are
worked by leverage, and the duty of the party under
whose charge they were placed was, when a ballast train
required to pass out of the sliding, to connect the points
with the rails of the permanent line. This is effected by
pulling forward an iron handle, to which the leverage is
attached, and the moment it is let off the points fly back
to their original position, and disunite themselves from
the permanent rails. They were found in good working
order after the accident, in consequence of which
it is presumed that some shingle, of which the line of
Pevensey is made, or some other hard substance, must
have got between the points and prevented them acting,
unknown to the party employed. Considering the
serious character of the collsion, it was astounding how
all parties, particularly the stoker and guard of the pas-
senger train, escaped with their lives. Both engines
were much damaged. The tender of the ballast engine
was thrown on the top of the earth waggons, and pre-
sented a dilapidated appearance. The engine-driver and
stoker of this train were, a moment before the collision,
standing on the tender ; both escaped by throwing them-
selves off. At the conclusion of the inquiry at Pevensey,
General Pasley, with Mr. Clarke, left for Brighton, to
examine the carriages that composed the train, which
had been taken to the Company's depot adjacent to the
terminus in that town.

The following are the names, as far as Mr. Clarke, the
manager, has been able to learn, of the sufferers, with
their injuries and actual state up to eight o'clock this
morning:—

The itev. Mr. Brown, of Tonbridge, Kent, severe frac-
ture of the leg below the knee, face cut, and other
external injuries ; progressing favourably at Hastings.
Captain Nightingale, his lady, and his two daughters,
much cut about the face and head, besides bruises about
the body. No serious injury.
Mr. Dyke, of Brighton, injury to the head. He was a
passenger in a first-class carriage, and was looking out
of the window at the moment of the collision, and was
thrown completely out by the concussion.
Three ladies (names unknown) belonging to Hastings,
much cut about the face; also a gentleman (name un-
known), one of the fore-fingers taken off.
George Ragg, the stoker of the passenger engine,
lying at the sluice-house, Pevensey, scalded and burnt.
When discovered he was found insensible alongside of
the furnace of the engine, with the boiling water pour-
ing on him from the broken guage-pipe, and his clothes
on fire in various parts; recovering.
Stephen Clarke, the engine-driver—internal injury,
but expected to resume his work in a few days.
Several others are reported to be hurt, but their names
cannot be ascertained; the injuries, however, are be-
lieved to be confined to bruises. It is stated there were
about forty passengers in the train.
It will be observed that most of the persons injured
were first-class passengers. This arose by the first class
carriage being placed next to the tender, and no luggage
van intervening.
The medical gentlemen who were in the train, and
relieved the suffering of many of the sufferers, were Dr.
Hamilton and Mr. R. H. Walton, of Fitzroy-square. They
were, we understand, sitting in the same carriage with
the Rev. Mr. Brown, but fortunately escaped injury.

Mr. George Robins sold at Lincoln, a few years since,
the valuable estates of Lord Monson, which realised
good prices ; he has now announced the only one that
he did not sell, the Ingleby Wood, a very valuable
property, only seven miles from the famed city of Lin-
coln. It comprises, as we see by the announcement,
sixty-five acres of splendid oak timber, besides a large
quantity of oak poles of twenty years growth, and what
materially adds to its value and its importance is, the
easy shipment of the timber, the estate being less than
a mile from the navigable river Foss, which connects the
Trent and Witham streams, and opens a market for the

timber in the dockyards of the Humber and the Thames.
It is expected at Lincoln that this sale will cause a lively
competition. About the period of Lord Monson's sales
Mr. Robins sold the famed Riseholme estate, within a
mile of the ancient city of Lincoln, for sixty thousand
guineas, to the late Lord Bishop of the diocese. The
neighbourhood is accounted a favourable situation for
investing securely.
REASONS FOR PULLING DOWN WESTMINSTER-
BRIDGE.—The following is the report which has been lately
published by the committee appointed to inquire into the state
of Westminster-bridge: —The foundation is giving way, and
the bridge sinks every year—there is never more than one
arch passable at a time—it is blocked up every other month
—it is decidedly dangerous—it is anything but ornamental
—it is no longer useful—if it is not pulled down, it will
either fall in, or else be carried away—it will cost a less sum
to build a new bridge than to keep the present one in repair.
We must say we never recollect reading a report more con-
vincing than the above.—Punch.
The environs of Gironville, in the Meuse, have been
lately greatly infested with wolves, which have frequently
made their appearance in the streets of the village. A short
time ago, a person going from Fremereville to Saint Martin,
was attacked on the road by one of these animals, but having
a stout stick in his hand, Ile attempted to beat it off. The
combat lasted several minutes, when at last the man struck
~the beast so severe a blow on the head, that the latter turned
tail and went off, howling with pain. Fortunate it was that
it did so, for the man was nearly exhausted by his exertions,
and his staff was broken by the force of the last blow.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
JUDGES' CHAMBERS, August 27.

IN THE MATTER OF WILLIAM CROWTHER, A PRISONER IN
YORK CASTLE.-IMPORTANT DECISION AS TO POWER
OF COMMISSIONER OF BANKRUPTS TO COMMIT FOR
NON PAYMENT OF COSTS.
This was an application to discharge the above-named
prisoner, who was the baliff of the Honour of Pontefract,
in the West Riding of the county of York, out of the
custody of the gaoler of York Castle, he having been
committed to that prison upon a warrant issued by Mr.
Commissioner Burge, the commissioner of the Leeds
District Court of Bankruptcy, fur contempt of Court, in
not obeying and observing the order of that Court. The
circumstances are, as shown by the affidavits used on
both sides, as follow :

" That Mr. Crowther was the baliff of the Court of
the Honour of Pontefract, in the West Riding of the
county of York, and in that capacity he, in pursuance of
a warrant of execution duly issued out of that Court on
a certain judgment recovered therein by one William
Cole against John Pickles, a hairdresser, residing at
Bradford, proceeded to levy 121. 18s. 3d. and costs.
Upon the levy being made, Pickles stated that he had
obtained an order of protection from the Leeds District
Court of Bankruptcy, whereby all his goods and chattels
were protected from all process, upon which Crowther
(the prisoner) demanded to see the order, which was re-
fused by Pickles, and as no messenger was in possession
under the insolvency, he (Crowther) proceeded to exe
cute his warrant, and ultimately removed the goods
immediately after which a complaint was made by Mr.
Harle, of Leeds, the solicitor to the insolvent Pickles, to
Mr. Commissioner Burge, who issued a summons on
13th of August, directed to the prisoner, to show cause
why he so seized and carried away the goods and chat-
tels of Pickles, he being protected from process by the
order of the Court. This summons not being obeyed, a
warrant was issued by the Commissioner to apprehend
and:bring;him:before the Court totanswer;to the complaint,
and on the 15th of August; he having been taken in
custody, was taken before the Commissioner, who, after
hearing all parties on the subject of the complaint, or-
dered and adjudged the prisoner to have been guilty of
a gross contempt of his Court, by seizing and taking
away the goods of John Pickles, and also ordered the
prisoner to nay the costs occasioned by the application
(amounting to nearly 201.) or, in default, to stand com-
mitted to York Castle. Mr. Crowther protested against
the authority of the Commissioner to make such an
order, and refused to comply therewith, upon which he
was taken into custody and to York Castle, there to
remain until he had paid the costs and purged the c,n-
tempt. Under these circumstances, an application was
made to the Lord Chief Baron, on Saturday last, for a
writ of habeas corpus to bring up the body of the pri-
soner in order to his discharge;out of custody as to such
commitment, when, after perusing the affidavit in sup-
port of the application, the Learned Judge granted his
fiat for the ieauing of the writ.
In pursuance of this writ Mr. Crowther was brought
up in custody of Mr. John Noble, the keeper of York
Castle, yesterday, before Mr. Justice Erle, when that
Learned Judge, after hearing Mr. Serjeant Chadwick
Jones, who appeared in support of the commitment, and
the solicitor for Mr. Crowther, made an order directing
Mr. Crowther (the bailiff) to be discharged out of cus..
tody, on the ground that the warrant and commitment
were bad on the face of them, the Learned Commis.
sioner, Mr. Burge, having assumed a power with which
he had not been invested by the Bankrupt or Insolvent
Acts,—i. e., of awarding costs in the shape of damages
for the improper, or, as it might be contended, illegal
seizure, and in issuing his warrant of committal fur the
non-payment of such costs.
The Learned JUDGE said he should give no opinion
whether the seizure under the circumstances was a con-
tempt or not, or whether the Commissioner had the
power of committal which he had exercised ; it was
clear, however, he had no power to commit for non-
payment of costs upon the authority of all the cases that
had been brought before the courts of law.
Mr. Crowther, who, of course, was in custody of the
keeper of York Castle, was at once discharged.
ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

NORTH ERN ClRCUlT.—Liverpool: ;rug. 26.
(Before Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN.)
Cornelius Cone was indicted for feloniously cutting
and wounding Patrick Branan, at Manchester.
Mr. Cross was for the prosecution ; Mr. Pollock for
the defence.

It appeared that the prisoner and Branan lodged at
the house of a Mrs. Kirk, and, on the night in question,
they both carne home at a pretty late hour. The pri-
soner's brother was with them. The parties had some
ale, and while they were discussing it, a person of the
name of Kelly, who was upstairs, came down and sat
with them. The prisoner then began to sing a flash
song, of which Branan disapproved, and told the pri-
soner he was not fit company for anybody. This, it
would appear, had irritated the prisoner, and he'retorted
that he was better reared than Branan, that he had more
money, and that he was better company into the bargain.
Kelly recommended them to drop the subject, on which,
turning on Kelly, he said—" I have had it in for you for
seven years, and I will stick you before I leave the
house." He sumo time after said, " Martin, you are
a pig-butcher, aid I'm one too, and I'll open
you and Pat Branan before you leave the house."
Branan was then putting on his shoes to go away,expressing
his dislike to this disturban:.e, when Mrs. Kirk inter-
fered; and after a sort of scuffle, all parties got to the
door. The policeman came up and advised them to he
quiet. They all then went back into the house, on
which the prisoner ran up the stairs, and said he would
cleave any one who followed him. Mrs. Kirk was at
this time insisting on his leaving the house, and called
to Branan to assist her in putting him out. Branan
took hold of him by one arm and Mrs. Kirk by the
other, and all the parties got together in a kind of mai
in the hall, in the course of which the prisoner struck
Branan with a knife on the left side of the neck. The
knife proved to be a case knife, which a short time
before had been in the kitchen. The wound inflicted
was a very serious one, being three inches long and two
deep, wounding the windpipe. Ile was for some time
in danger.
Verdict—Guilty.
His LORDSHIP, in passing sentence, said that he per-
ceived with disgust and horror that the practice of using
the knife in quarrels was increasing, and so far as lay in
his power he would endeavour to put it down.—To be
transported for 14 years.
(Before Mr. Justice CRESWELL.)
BELL V. HARRISON.
This was one of several actions in the cause list by
the public officer of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Joint-
Stock Bank, against the customers of that concern, the
affairs of which are now in course of being wound up.
The present action was to recover a balance on a
banking account.
Mr. Knowles and Mr. Unthank were for the plaintiff;
Mr. Martin and Mr. Warren for the defendant.
It appeared, that in August, 1845, the defendant
entered into an agreement for a partnership with a per-
son of the name of Kirk, in the Farnacre colliery. For
this he was to pay 7,0001. Kirk had had previously an
account with the bank, under the name of Kirk and Co.,
which, after tho partnership, was altered into Harrison,
Kirk and Co. It appeared that the bank, at the time
of the partnership, had a mortgage on the colliery for
20,0001., and on the 10th of October the defendant sent
notice to the bank and to Mr. Kirk, that he would not
carry out the agreement, as he had been led into it by
misrepresentation and fraud. The question in dispute
was simply whether the payments made during the part-
nership by the firm were made to the general account,
or were applied, as the bank alleged, to particular
items. In the former case they would be applied to the
first debits in the account, and would therefore reduce
the gross amount of the credits previous to the 10th of
October, when the notice was given. The defendant had
paid 202/. into Court ; the balance claimed beyond that
sum was 734/.

The jury found that the payments were made on
the general account. There was, however, still a
balance of upwards of 2002 due by the defendant. Ver-
dict accordingly.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
BOW-STREET.
MRS. BLEWITT AGAlN.—Yesterday morning Mary
Ann Blewitt, whose husband was shot by John Graham,
in Drury-lane, on Saturday, April 25, was brought be-
fore Mr. Jardine charged with being drunk and disor-
derly, and also with committing two assaults under the
following circumstances :
A young female, named Ellen Kilday, stated that
about eight o'clock on the previous evening she was
standing at her door with her mother, in White Hart-
yard, Drury-lane, when the prisoner came up, and,
without the slightest provocation on their part, com-
menced abusing them. The landlord happened to
pass at the moment, and the prisoner, addressing him,
used a gross expression with regard to witness. Find-
ing that no notice was taken of her observation,
she went away, but, returning in a short time,
she renewed the abuse, making use of the foulest
language, upon which witness desired her to go about
her business, as she did not wish to hold any conversa-
tion with a blackguard, when she flew at her mother,
accusing her of having sent in papers to the magistrates
of this court to induce them not to allow a public sub-
scription to be raised for her, and assaulted her, but
there being no policeman in the way, she left, and in a
few minutes came back and committed an assault upon
witness. Her disorderly conduct created the greatest
confusion, and the house was obliged to be closed.
Constable 52 F division said, that on one occasion he
found the prisoner drunk, and on trying to get her away
she abused him very much. He then went his rounds,
and in ten minutes, having found her again creating a
disturbance at the door of her lodgings, he took her
into custody. On the way to the station she threw her-
self down, and caused a mob to assemble. She had been
twice previously at the station, but was discharged on
promising not to return to the same place, or cause any
further disturbance.

Inspector Logan said, that when the prisoner was
brought to the station she was not only drunk but very
violent.

In answer to the charge, the prisoner said, that the
witness's mother threatened to give her a " leg up" with
the magistrate; and whenever she passed she called her
foul names, although she never offered her the slightest
offence. She was merely taking a bottle of ginger beer
in a shop, when Mrs. Kilday assaulted her, and tore the
bunch of hair produced from her head. She admitted
having been convicted and fined at this court about seven
months back fur an assault, but that had nothing to do
with the present charge.
Mr. JARDINE asked the complainant if she was appre-
hensive that the prisoner was likely to repeat the
offence? The complainant replied that she had no
doubt of it, as she was constantly keeping the entire
neighbourhood in an uproar.
Mr. JARDINE said that she should be protected; and
ordered the prisoner to find two sureties in the sum of 1
101. each, to keep the peace for three months.

SOUTHWARK.
Yesterday James Smithson, a tradesman in Kent-
street,
was charged, before Mr. Cottingham, with corn-
mitting a violent assault on Eleanor Brag, under curious
circumstances.
Miss Brag, a lady to whom the words " fair, fat, and
forty," might be justly applied, stated that she was in-
troduced to the defendant by friends, who assured her
that he would make a very comfortable husband for a
woman possessed of a mild and amiable temper. Know-
ing that she possessed those qualifications in an eminent
degree, they carried en a courtship for some time, and
she had no reason to repent of her choice until within
the last few days, when the banns for the celebration of
their marriage were put up at St. George's Church, and
they were to have been united on Sunday siext. On
Thursday last sho was visited by her lover, who for
some unaccountable cause began to abuse her, and ulti-
mately struck and k'cked her, and she could assure the
magistrate that she was still suffering from the effects of
his violence, as she could prove by the marks on her
person.
The defendant, who seemed to be suffering a good
deal of mental anguish during his sweetheart's statement,
at its conclusion declared that he was ready and willing
to marry her that day, if she only promised to curb
her temper. He then stated that a few evenings since
he called upon Miss Brag rather later than usual, having
been detained taking a parting glass with a friend. The
moment, however, he entered her apartment she began
to abuse him, and, in fact, took more airs upon herself
than a wife would presume to do ; and, not contented
with that, she flung some crockery articles at his head,
from which he had a narrow escape of sustaining serious
injury. He did seize her arms to prevent further mis-
chief; and there might be marks of his grasp in securing
her, but he could declare he did not do it in anger ; and
as a proof that he still retained a strong affection for
Miss Brag, he only anticipated the happy day when she
changed it to Mrs. Smithson. He repeated that he was
prepared to lead her at once to the hymeneal altar, and
had purchased the wedding -ring, which he pulled out of
his waistcoat pocket, and holding it between his finger
and his thumb, exhibited it to the gazing multitude,
whose attention was excited by the singularity of the
case, exclaiming at the same time, "See there, that is a
proof that I mean what I say. No other woman shall
have the honour of wearing that ring on her finger ex•
cept Miss Brag."—(Laughter.)
Mr. COTTINGIIAM said he thought if a reconciliation
) could be effected between the parties it would be more
prudent than punishing the defendant for the alleged
assault, especially as he had evinced by his behaviour
that day that he still retained a strong regard for the
lady who had adopted the present proceedings. The
magistrate then appealed to Miss Brag, the complainant,
to know if she was willing to forego the present pro-
ceedings, the defendent having expressed his willingness
to be married to her forthwith.
Miss Brag, with emphasis—No, if he was hung with
diamonds I would not marry him after such conduct. I
feel thankful to your Worship for the kindness you
have expressed in endeavouring to bring about a recon-
ciliation between us, but I should endanger my future
happiness if I consented to be that man's wife (pointing
to the defendant) after the manner in which I have been
treated.
Here a scene occurred, the defendant on his knees im-
ploring the complainant to dismiss from her memory the
trifling circumstance of Thursday night, and only to
think of the happiness that was in store for them if she
availed herself of the magistrate's kind advice.
Miss Brag, however, was obdurate, and refused to
listen to the defendant's entreaties ; upon which the
magistrate said, that under the very peculiar circum-
stances of the case he should let the matter stand over
for a week, and probably before the expiration of that
time the complainant would alter her mind on the subject.
The parties then withdrew, Miss Brag flouncing out of
the Court, and not noticing the defendant.
WAaVDS NORTH.

William Johnson, an assistant at a shooting-gallery
in tßattersea-fields, was charged before Mr. Paynter
with unlawfully firing off a loaded gun in a public
thoroughfare, and thereby wounding Major-General
Parlby.
Mr. George Stanley Hinchcliffe, of Hope-cottage, St.
Peter's, Hammersmith, paper-stainer, stated that on
Thursday last, between eleven and twelve o'clock, he
was on board the Bride iron steam-boat, Major-General
Parlby being also on board, and sitting by him. The
boat, which had come from Chelsea, was making for the
pier :at Thames-bank, and had nearly come alongside
when three men fired at a snipe on or near the beach.
The shots were sensibly felt by several of the passengers,
who were naturally alarmed. Major-General Parlby
and another gentleman exclaimed that they were shot,
and upon examination it turned out that a shot had
struck the former below the left eye. The Major-
General was reading a newspaper at the time, or the con-
sequences might have been serious. Upon looking to-
wards the shore, a distance of a very few yards, witness
saw three men with guns, who had just been firing. The
defendant was one of them. Witness had Mt the shots
strike on his hat and coat, he being with his back to the
fields. Whe❑ the boat got alongside the pier witness
disembarked and went in pursuit of the defendant, whom
he saw run into the British Flag beershop. The de-
fendant did not deny having fired a gun when taxed
with it.

Cross-examined by the defendant's solicitor--The
boat was not more than fifty feet from the shore when
the guns were fired. Ile could swear that the shots
that came to the head of the boat came from the piece
discharged by the defendant.
Major-General Parlby stated that on Thursday last
ho was seated on the Bride steam-boat reading a news-
paper, when he suddenly heard three distinct firings,
and immediately felt that he bad been shot in the cheek,
some of the shot rattled against the paper he was read-
ing, and which he verily believed saved his eye. Upon
looking towards the shore lie saw three persons with
guns in their hands, but he could not swear that de-
fendant was one. Ile afterwards saw the defendant in
the shooting gallery, and when taxed with the offence
lie denied it. The General observed that it was only the
other day that a friend of his in the India board had his
hand injured under similar circumstances.
The defence set up by the solicitor was, that a mistake
had been made in the identity of the party, and he
called two witnesses, who both positively swore that only
one man had fired, and he had discharged a doublo
barrelled gun at the back of the shooting gallery, and
afterwards ran away across the field. The defendant,
who was employed to load the rifles in the gallery, only
came out when he heard the report ; he was then clean-
ing a rifle.

Mr.
Hinchcliffo said the defendant was blind of ono
eye, and that made him so positive as to his identity.
Mr. PAYNTER said that he had not the slightest doubt
but that the defendant was one of the parties firing on
that occasion, and that it was he that had wounded
Major-General Parlby, and had there been a charge of
shooting the General brought against the defendant in
another court, he was sure the jury would convict. He
should inflict the full penalty of 405., or three weeks'
imprisonment, and he recommended the shooting-gallery
to be done away with, for it was evidently a most dan-
gerous nuisance, and could be indicted as such.
Mr. Dore, the proprietor, begged to assure the magis-
trate that he did not, as it had been previously stated,
let out guns, and that several gentlemen had told him
the gallery was a great benefit, inasmuch as it cleared
the fields and lanes of many who would otherwise be
popping about them.
Mr. PAYNTER was still of opinion that the establish-
ment of shooting-galleries, especially in such public
places, was a nuisance, and they all ought to be abol-
ished. The fine was paid.

THAMES.
MURDEROUS A SSAULT. —Y esterday John Stevens, alias
Gipsey Stevens, the landlord of the Mulberry Tree
public-house, on Stepney-green, and the proprietor of
the Crown and Anchor booth, erected at various subur-
ban fairs, appeared before Mr. Ballantine, to answer a
charge of assaulting and wounding his wife, Trinity
Cooper Stevens.
_

On the first examination of the prisoner, who is a
powerful man, about fifty years of age, it was proved in
evidence that he beat his wife in a very savage manner,
that she was covered with blood, when a gentleman
rescued her from her husband's grasp, and that she had
received a severe wound on her head. She was taken to
the hospital on the night of the affray, and a certificate
was put in, when the prisoner was brought before the
magistrate last week, stating that she was in great
danger. The prisoner was, therefore, remanded to pri-
son, but subsequently another certificate was put in, to
the effect that Mrs. Stevens was out of danger, and her
husband was brought up on Monday and admitted to bail.
Yesterday, on the prisoner being placed at the bar,
Mrs. Stevens, a dark swarthy gipsey, was sworn, and, to
the astonishment of every one, she said that her husband
was not in fault at all, that she was in liquor on the night
in question, and fell upon a fender and cut her head open.
Mr. BALLANTINE—There was evidence last week that
your husband was standing over you and beating your
head against the ground, and it was also stated that he
beat his daughter too.
Mrs. Stevens repeated that her husband never hurt
her at all.

Mr. BALLANTINE—He was caught in the act of ill-
using you, and now you come here to save him. Your
head was cut open, woman.
Mrs. Stevens—Yes, sir, I fell upon the fender; ho did
not hurt me at all.

Mr. BALLANTINE—WeII, I don't believe you, but I
must discharge this man. Take care, Mr. Stevens, you
don't destroy this woman. This is not the first time you
have been committing a similar irregularity, and if you
do not mind what you are about, you will not only be
committed to prison, but lose your license. I believe
indeed,
but conduct to this woman has been very bad
but as she declines to make any charge against you, I
cannot detain you any longer.
Mr. Robinson, the prisoner's solicitor, promised there
should be no further cause of complaint, and then alleged
that while Stevens was sitting in the kitchen on Wednes-
day night a police-constable entered and squared at him
and challenged him to fight. The constable remained in
the house some time, and tried to induce Stevens to com-
mit a breach of the police. He hoped the Magistrate
would not tolerate such conduct.
Mr. BALLANTINE—CertainIy not. I suppose the
charge will come before me in the regular way, and then
I will hear it.

111 r. Robinson said he intended to make a written
complaint to the inspector, and the Magistrate would
probably hear of the case again.
All the parties then proceeded to the office of Mr.
Macquard, the superintendent of the K division, when
Stevens said he had no charge to make, and it appeared
the constable had not been guilty of the conduct im-
puted to him.

UNEMPLOYED SEAMEN.—Labour in the vicinity of
the docks is very plentiful, as well as employment for seamfm,
so much so, that the average number of inmates at the Dusti-
Cutepast
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tswy e nwlhVoe l las
r-
es t reeheite
fih)a,s
innovta
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destitute.

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