The Sun.
London, England, 1834-01-03 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST.

SAD REVERSE or FORTUNE.—Last evening an inquest
was holden at the House of Correction, Co!di-nth-fields, on
the remains of Mr. Richard Price, alias Prince, an in-
mate of that prison, aged sixty-three years, who, it was
stated in evidence, but a few years ago possessed a fortune
of 150,0001., kept a splendid establishment, and drove
four blood horses in his carriage.
Mr. Thomas Fellows, clerk to the prison, produced a
warrant signed by Messrs. Mortlock, Padget, and Plun-
ket, three of his Majesty's Commissioners of Excise, on
which the deceased was received into the prison on the
19th day of February last, in execution for a sum of 1251.,
being a mitigated penalty for an infraction of the Excise
Laws, and no property being found in his possession, or
belonging to him to pay such penalty, the term of impri-
sonment was indefinite, the warrant or commitment merely
stating that be was to be kept in prison until satisfaction
was made by the payment of the penalty or be discharged
by order of the Commissioners of Excise.
Mr. Chesterton, the governor of the prison, said the
deceased had never been put to hard labour ; that from
his amiable temper and manners he was a great
favourite in the prison, and was treated by every pe: son
there with the greatest respect and kindness. He under-
stood from his nephew that the deceased was very highly
and most respectably connected ; that some years since be
had expended 10,0001. in building a flourmill, called Lug
Mills, near Hereford ; that he then was worth from
140,000/. to 150,000/., and drove four blood horses in
his carriage.
A Juror recollected often having heard of Richard
Prince, Esq., of Lug Mills, near Hereford, as one of the
most leading men in that part of the country, but that he
bad always been addicted to the practice of cheating the
revenue.
Mr. Wakefield, the prison surgeon, deposed that about
three or four months ago the deceased was appointed
principal nurse of the infirmary of the prison. On the
19th of last month he complained of illness, and he (Mr.
Wakefield) found that he was lahonring under the effects
of a bilious fever. Though his frame appeared healthy
and strong, his constitution was very weak, and though
every attention was paid to him, his disorder changed from
a billiaus to a typhus fever, and he expired about midday on
Wednesday. The deceased had told him that when in
prosperity he was in the habit of drinking a bottle of
brandy, independent of wine.
Juror--It is most unaccountable that a person in the
situation of life, and with the fortune which the deceased
is said to have possessed, should have the infatuation
which he appears to have bad for illicit practices.
All.. Chesterton replied that it certainly was. The de-
ceased himself had told him that he had speculated to an
immense extent in illicit malt, and that he lost an enor-
mous sum in this way.
The Jury returned a verdict of " Natural Death."

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOUSE.
Two very rough fellows, who go in the Billings.
gate Market by the names of Catsmeat and Wink/es
and said they did not know themselves by any other,
were charged before the LORD MAYOR with having
stolen a number of Dutch plaice and other fi•h.
Mr. Goldham, the Clerk of the Market, stated
that the prisoners often worked in the market, but
required a great deal of looking after. On the oc-
casion of the robbery with which they were charged
one of them slipped four of the plaice between
his shirt and his skin, and disposed of several eels
in the seat of his breeches, which were made tight
at the knee, no doubt for the purpose of prevent-
ing any stray irsh from escaping at such outlet. The
motion of his person, however, caused a few ells to
slip down about his legs, and one of witness's men
apprehended him. The other prisoner had more boldly
swept into his basket a quantity of codlings and
plaice, and took to his heels the moment he saw
his comrade seized.
Winkles said that a set of dealers while he was
lying on a form played a lark by throwing plaice at
him and he thought that as he was served in such a
way he might keep the fish that hit him.—(Laugh-
ter.) He was often obliged to stew the cods and
haddocks in the same way, for he was so poor he
wasn't able to buy a basket, and it didn't look well
for to cry 'em through the streets with a string
through their gills.
The LORD MAYOR asked how the other prisoner
accounted for the possession of the fish which he had
in his basket.
Catsmeat—Please your Lordship, they wasn't all
mine I know, but some on 'em was. You see I
lays down my bausket with a few plaice in it jist
by the form, and I jist turned aside, 'cause I couldn't
help it, your Vorship, and, whin I comes back I
whips up my bausket, and off I goes. Well, this
here gentlemen comes up, and says he, " I say,
young fellow, you prigged the flats." "No sich
thing," says I, and I looks in the bausket, and sure
enough there was a few strange flats a laying there.
The LORD MAYOR—No doubt they jumped in
from the form to keep company with the others.
Catsmeat—l don't say that, my Lord, 'cause they
was too long out of the vater to leap well. But I
suspects as how that some persons played me a trick.
The LORD MAYOR—What ! by putting more fish
in your basket than you ought to have ?
Catsmeat—To be sure. If a man owed me a
grudge, I don't know no way be could shove me
into the louse-house sooner nor by that sort of bob-
berv. I don't know any more about it.
The LORD MAYOR—I shall . send you for two
months each to Bridewell for this offence.
Catsmeat—That's jist what I thought.
Mr. Goldham—Both prisoners told me they
knew they'd get a couple of months a piece the
moment they were taken.
Winkles—Bless'd if I didn't know it as well as if
I seed the thing done ; but I hope you won't send
us to the Old Horse (Bridewell). Let us have a
turn at Giltspur-street this time, please you, my

Lord.
The LORD NIAYOR—No, you shall be kept atgood
g
hard labour in Bridewell, and get no gin, and you
will come out in excellent health.
Catsmeat—l thank you,l,my Lord, howsomdever.
The prisoners, who had kicked and knocked the
officers who apprehended them about, and refused to
enbefore the Lord Mayor without the aid of a coach
d a glass of jacky each, were then committed for
two months.

HALIFAX MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.-
We understand that the arrangements for engaging Dr.
Larduer, to deliver a course of lectures at this institution
are completed.--fiuddersjield Eapress.