The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-12 00:00:00

Immediately before the business commenced in the
Court, Mr. Justice Willes observed a member of the So-
ciety of Friends seated in the grand jury box with his
hat on. Addressing him, his Lordship said—Sir, I see
you with your bat on in court. I must request you to
take it off. I don't assume it to be done with any in-
tentional disrespect on your part, as I know that mem-
bers of your persuasion have an objection to take off your
hats in any assembly. But wearing the hat has nothing
to do with religion ; the hat is a mere covering for the
head, which every one in court has taken off but your-
self. I don't wear my hat ; and I hope that your own
good sense will point out to you the propriety of taking
youes off ; and you will oblige me by doing so.
The Quaker gentleman, who bad stood up on being
addressed by the judge, here rubbed his hands nervously
over the handle of his umbrella, and without the
slightest indication of any intention to remove his hat,
said to his Lordship—" I don't think good sense has
anything to do with it. lam a member of a persuasion
that for 200 years has objected to remove the hat in any
presence, and I object therefore to remove mine. I was
very roughly handled in court this morning for refusing
to take it off."
His Lordship.—l am very sorry to hear that. I have
near relatives of my own who are of your persuasion,
but I never knew any one of them object to remove his
hat when reasonably requested to do so. Your persist.
lug to wear your hat is a mark of disrespect, and if you
choose to persist in wearing it I must request you to
retire from the court.
The Quaker gentleman here, amid a:somewhat general
titter, turned round and walked out of the grand jury
box and the court with ;his hat well on his head, and
with the stiff-necked bolt upright gait of a man who has
successfully
.performed a disagreeable but great moral
duty.
The first case called on was a charge of burglary at a
grocer's shop at Manchester against two boys, and the
first witness called to support the charge was a Quaker
named Wright (the prosscutor), who appeared without
his hat, and affirmed, before giving his evidence, in the
ordinary way.
His Lordship, in summing up, alluded briefly to what
had taken place, saying he had no wish to interfere with
the conscieutious scruples of any person in court, con-
trasting the conduct of Mr. Wright, who had appeared
properly without his bat in court, and who had business
there, with that of the Quaker gentleman who had per-
sisted in wearing his hat, and who appeared to have no
business to call fur his attendance at the court, and both
were of the same religious persuasion. His duty, how-
ever, was to prevent an exhibition of disrespect to the
Court by a person who appeared not to be compelled to
be there.
Mr. Wright, the witness in the case, here stood up,
and protested to the jury thlt he had no intention to
show any disrespect to the Court in what he had done.
His Lordship looked at the witness with a puzzled
and surprised air, and said, " What, are you the gen-
tleman who just now left the court with his hat on ?"
The witness admitted that he was, amid much amuse-
ment, and sat down with his hat off.
Several charges of burqlary, having in them no fea-
ture of interest, were disposed of in the course of the
afternoon.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, Aug. 11.

(Before Mr. Bliss, Q.C.)

_ •
Joseph, Olry, a Frenchman, described as an agent, 50
years of age, was indicted for having indecently exposed
himself in the Green Park.

Mr. Metcalfe (with whom was Mr. Logie) was for the
prosecution ; Mr. Sleigh for the prisoner.
The offence set forth in the indictment was committed
on the 29;h of July, but according to the evidence of
two little girls, the prisoner had been pursuing the same
abominable course of conduct for a considerable period.
The jury found him guilty, and, as he had been be-
fore convicted of a similar offence,
Mr. Bliss sentenced him to 12 months' hard labour.

(Before Mr. reapy.)

Elwin Barton was indicted fur having embezzled the
sums of 10,., ss. BJ., and Ss., received by him on ac-
count of George Ray, his master.
Mr. J. P. Doyle appeared for the prosecution, Mr.
Ribton for the prisoner.
The prosecutor was a soda-water and gingerbeer ma-
nufacturer, in Artilltry-row, Westminster, and the pri-
soner had been in his service as carman. He was charged
with appropriating to himself several sums received by
Nita in that capacity, but the case was not made out, and
he was acquit:ed on two indictments.
Cornelius Collins was indicted for assaulting Charles
M irrh, and inflicting upon him grievous bodLy harm.
Mr. M'Entcer was counsel for the pro: ecution, Mr.
Metcalfe for the prisoner.
It appeared that the prosecutor, who is a carman, liv-
ing in Crow.i-street, Soho, was with his employer at a
public-house in that street on the evening of the 26:h of
July having some beer. Tae prisoner was there in liquor,
quarrelling, and he challe,ged the prosecutor to fight
him. He refused, and the prisoner struck him a blow,
which he returned. The next blow given by the pri-
soner knocked the other down, and tlte prisoner foil upon
him and bit off a piece of his nose. He was taken to
the hospital, where the wound was attended to, and a
piece of his n )se, which was hanging by a bit of skin,
Wag sewn in its place.
The jury found the prisoner guilty on the second and
third counts of the indictment.

Mr. Creasy sentenced him to seven months' hard
labour.

William, Downey was indicted for having stolen six
feet of lead, the property of James Thomas Ward.
Mr. Metcalfe prosecuted ; Mr. Ribton defended.
It appeared that the prisoner had been sent with 25
feet of pipe to do a plumbing job, and the charge was
that he had stolen six feet out of that quantity.
The jury found him not guilty.
Josiah Blackham, 28, John Eggelton, 23, Henry Read,
25. George Hodgson, 27, and William Freeman, 32, were
indicted for sealing the sum of 191., the moneys of
Wiliam Abrey, from his person.
Mr. Ribton conducted the prosecution ; Mr. Metcalfe
appeared for Freeman, Hodgsoo, and Read, Mr. Daly
for Eggelton, and Mr. Reed for Blackham.

Tuis was a case of highway robbery, although in the
indictment it was charged merely as larceny from the
person. The prosecutor was a farmer at Pinner, and
from his evidence it appeared that one day he was in
the company of the prisoners at the Plough public•
house, Westbourne•grcen, drinking, and he drove them
in his cart to a place at Willesden, thence to the Orange
Tree, at Stone-bridge, where they robbed him of all his
money, about 191., Blackbam holding him while Eggel•
too emptied his pocket, the others aiding and assisting.
The prisoners were seen in the prosecutor's company
shortly before the robbery.
Witnesses were called as to the good character of all
the prisoners, and one of them, Blackham, it was stated,
was a person of some little means. Last Tuesday week
he received 5501. on the sale of a small freehold property
in Harrow-road.

The jury found them guilty, and recommended them
to mercy.
Mr. Creasy sentenced Eggelton to six and each of the
others to four months' hard labour.

The Foreman said he was desired by his brother
jurors to express to the learned judge their best thanks
for his most kind and gentlemanly conduct during their
attendance, and if he might go so far, he would add
alio for the manner in which he had disposed of the
busines% brought before them.
Mr. Creasy raid he felt obliged to them.
The Court then adjourned.