The Sun.
London, England, 1834-01-14 00:00:00

FOX V. KEELING AND ANOTHER.

This was a qui tam action to recover several
penalties on usurious transactions arising out of the
discounting of bills by the defendant, an attorney.
The cause was tried before L. Lord Chief Justice
at the sittings after Michaelmas Term. A witness,
named Newton, proved that in various instances the
defendant Keeling discounted his bills, and renewed
them when dishonoured, upon usurious interest. The
Jury found a verdict for the whole of the penalties.
Mr. ITureniNsoN this day moved to set aside the
verdict and enter a nonsuit.
The COURT granted a rule to show cause.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, JAN. 13

A MUSICAL FAMILY.—IIenry Barr, a journey-
man bricklayer, applied on his petition to be dis-
charged. He was not opposed, but stated, in an-
swer to the interrogatories of the Learned CHIEF
COMMISSIONER, that he had been taken in execution
for 1/. 145., and after he had petitioned the Court
another detainer was lodged against him for a small
amount borrowed some time ago of a horse-dealer;
the debt was not mentioned in the schedule.

The CHIEF COMMISSIONER, after inspecting the
schedule, inquired of the insolvent who was the
most musical person in the family, for he saw that
he, a journeyman bricklayer, had in his possession a
grand pianoforte ; he wished to know to whom it
belonged.
The insolvent said it was his wife's sister's. It
had been left her.
CHIEF COMMISSIONER—And pray, Sir, what is
your wife's sister ? Insolvent—She is the wife,
Sir, of a working man.
CHIEF COMMISSIONER—So the lady of a working
man plays on the piano ?—(A laugh.) Insolvent—
Yes, Sir.

CHIEF COMMISSIONER—You are only in prison
for 1/. 145., have paid 21. to your attorney, and
have got a detainer lodged against you for a debt
not in the schedule. Go and play on the piano at
horn e, but these airs must not be played here.
The petition was accordingly dismissed.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

BOW-STREET.

DISCOVERY OF A HORRIBLE DEN.—Yesterday a
most disgusting-looking man of colour, of gigantic
stature, named Henry Murphy, and Jame: Murphy,
his son, were charged with decoying children to an
infamous house, which the elder prisoner kept, in
Charles-street, Drury-lane, and sending them out to
beg and steal.
A very intelligent boy, ten years of age, named
George Trabshaw, gave a statement which was
really horrifying. He was in Oxford-street, at play
with some other boys, when the younger prisoner
came up to him and tempted him to go to his father's
house, where he found fifteen or sixteen girls and
boys, all very young, and in a miserable state as to
dress. They were huddled together in one roots,
and were supping together upon cold potatoes, and
using very disgusting language. On the following
morning the younger prisoner was sent out by the
father to " prig" some " queer togs" for the boy
Trabshaw to go out begging in, and the latter was
very speedily dressed out in ragged apparel, the
clothes which he had on when he was decoyed away
being taken from him and sold by the old man. He
was then sent out from day to day to beg, always
watched by the younger prisoner, who took from
him whatever he got, and if he got less than six-
pence he was severely beaten on returning to the
den. On a Sunday morning the old man said there
was nothing to eat in the house, and Trabshaw and
three girls were sent out to " pick up" whatever
they could. In Newton-street the girls desired
Trabshaw to wait at the door while they went in, and
they presently came out with a piece of pork about
four pounds, and a piece of bacon weighing two
pounds, together with a quantity of vegetables,
which they said they had contrived to steal "nicely,"
the " old dame," meaning the mistress of the shop,
being fast asleep in the parlour. The boy went on
to state many other circumstances too disgusting to
detail, and was corroborated in part by other wit-
nesses.

The younger prisoner, when asked for his defence,
admitted all that had been stated, but was compelled
to act as he had done by his father, who, if he re-
fused, threatened to stab or shoot him, and often
beat him with a poker.
The wretched old black, when asked if he had
anything to say, pretended not to understand Eng-
lish, but was heard distinctly to say to his son, in an
under tone, that he would "sarve him out" if he
got over " this job."
Mr. HALLS expressed his horror at the disclosures
which had been made, and said no exertions should
be spared to bring ample justice upon the head of
the hoary delinquent.
The two prisoners were then remanded until
Wednesday. _ _