The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-20 00:00:00

THAMES.

Charles Wilding, a mere lad in appearance, but
described on the police-sheet as 21 Sears of age, was
brought before Mr. Yardley on remain], charged
witu furiously driving a horse and cart, and running
over a boy named John Santry, about 11 years
of age.

It—appeared that on the 9th inst. the prisoner was
in the service of Mr. Lee, a master butcher in
Leadenhall-market, whose horse and cart he was
driving along High-street, Shadwell a very
crowded thoroughfare—at a furious pace. The boy
Santry, who was standing opposite a grocer's shop
with an announcement board, was knocked down, his
collar-bone was fractured, and he sustained other
and most serious injuries. He was removed to the
London Hospital, and was not restored to conscious-
ness till the following. day. He came into court on
Saturday in a very weakly condition, and will pro-
bably be affected by the accident for the remainder of
his life.

Bidgood, a pollee-constable, No. 161 K, who saw
the accident, said he thought, before the boy was
knocked down, that the horse and cart were going too
fast, and that some casualty would happen.
The prisoner, in defence, said the horse was a young
one and very spirited. It went very freely, and
completely overpowered him. He was unable to stop
the animal, which, he supposed, was frightened by the
glare of the gaslights.
Bidgood was recalled, and said the prisoner did
pull up as soon as he could after the accident hap-
pened. He was dragging at the reins, but the horse
did not stop until it had proceeded at least sixty
yards.
The prisoner said he had been in prison eight days.
He had not a friend in the world, and his master had
never made the least inquiry about him.
Mr. YARDLEY expressed his surprise at this state-
ment. He never meant the prisoner to be in gaol at
all. He had expressed his intention of taking one
bail for him, and thought his master would have been
his security.
Roche, the gaoler, said there were three other per-
sons in the cart when the accident happened, and not
one of them came near the prisoner, who was kept in
the cell till the very last moment, to give his master
an opportunity of bailing him.
Mr. YARDLEY said that Mr. Lee ought to be
ashamed of himself. He had intrusted his lad with a
young, free-going horse, which he was unable to
control, and when he met with an accident had left
him to his fate and made no inquiry about him. He
asked if Mr. Lee had made the poor boy who was in-
jured any compensation.
The mother of the boy replied in the negative, and
said she was a poor widow with five children, and
one of them, a baby in arms, had died since the ac-
cident to her son, in consequence of the fright affect-
ing her milk.

Mr. YARDLEY said the prisoner was not altogether
free from blame, but he thought Mr. Lee, his master,
was more blameable, and was very callous. He asked
the prisoner how long he had been in Mr. Lee's em-
ploy, and what he intended to do ?
The prisoner said he had been in London two
years and a half, and was in the service of Mr. Har-
rison, of the New•cut, Lambeth, upwards of two
years. He was only four days in Mr. Lee's employ.
The mother of the injured boy, who sobbed loudly,
here said, " What am Ito do, your worship ? lam
a very poor woman ; my poor boy is ruined for life,
and has lost his situation, and my baby is lying dead."
Mr. YARDLEY said the only course left open to the
poor woman was to bring an action against Mr.
Lee, of Leadenhall-market. He directed Bidgood,
the policeman, to wait on Mr. Lee and state hi (the
magistrate's) opinion that he ought to compensate
the mother of the injured boy, and do something for
his servant, who had been in gaol eight days, through
his master's neglect.

Mr. Pelham, the solcitor, said that Mr. Lee was a
man of great property.
Mr. YARDLEY hoped his message would have the
desired (Affect. Although Mr. Lee was a man of
great property he very much doubted whether he
would attend to the suggestion after the apathy he
had shown in this matter. He then discharged the
prisoner, and gave the poor widow ss. from the poor-
box towards paying the expenses of burying her child.