The Sun.
London, England, 1833-02-20 00:00:00

OLD BAILEY SESSIONS, FEB. 19.

John Smith, aged 17, was indicted for breaking and
entering the dwelling-house of Henry Piper, in the Mile-
end-road, and stealing therefrom 12 dozen segars. The
July found the prisiner Guilty of stealing, but not of
breaking and entering.
James Johnson was indicted for stealing a pocket
handkerchief, value So. Verdict—Guilty.
John Langshaw was indicted for stealing, on the sth
January, a shawl and some ether articles, the property of
John Richardson.—Guilty.
STREET ROBBERY.—John Isaacs and Thomas Pear-
son wire indicted for stealing, on the 14th of February,
a silver watch and appendages from the person of John

The Jury returned a verdict of Guilty against Pearson,
and acquitted Isaacs.

SURREY SESSIONS, FEB. 19.

On Monday the adjourned Quarter Sessions for Surrey
commenced at the Court-house, Newington, before the
Chairman (Mr. HEDGER), and a full Bench of Magistrates.
Catherine Caffree, an elderly woman, was indicted for
feloniously sealing seven sovereigns and two shillings from
the person of 111 r. David Passmore Taylor, a solicitor; and
Matthew Caffree, her son, and a woman named Mar-
garet Innis, were indicted as the receivers.
The Jury returned a verdict of Guilty against all the
prisoners, and Martha Caffree was sentenced to fourteen
years' transportation, her son seven years', and Innis six
months' imprisonment.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HO USE.

ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE Ma. NlELLlSll.—Yesterday
the Justice•room and all the avenues to it were crowded
at twelve o'clock, at which hour the LORD MAYOE took
the chair, for the purpose of examining Noah Pase Fol-
oar, who is charged with having attempted to assassinate
Mr. Mellish. The prisoner is a man about 45 years of
age, of low stature and dark complexion. Upon being
put to the bar be looked about wildly, and the general be-
lief in the room was that he was decidedly insane. That
opinion, however, seemed to wear away as the investiga-
tion proceeded. Mr. Mellish was, on account of the
wound he had received, iniahle to attend. He is, we un-
derstand, between 60 and 70 years of age. Some years
ago his daughter married Lord Thynne, to whom, report
says, she brought 600,0001. Mr. Mellish formerly be-
longed to the firm of Peter and William Mellish, the great
wholesale butchers at Shadwell, and is a most extensive
whale ship owner; his country residence is at Woodford,
in Essex, and his town house is at York-place, Regent's
Park. He is no relation to Mr. Mellish, the late Member
of Parliament. _ . _

The prisoner, in answer to questions put by the Loxv
MAYOR, said that he was an American, and that he had
been born in Kentucky, iu the state of Massachusetts,
and that he had been twenty years in this country.
The LORD MAYOR asked Mr. Pelham, the prisoner's
solicitor, whether he knew anything about his client, and
what ? Mr. Pelham said he knew the prisoner perfectly
well. The prisoner bad been the Captain of a South Sea
trading vessel, in the employment of Mr. Mellish, for
twelve years. Witness had been repeatedly employed by
him ; had seen him from time to time, and confidently
thought that he was not master of his own actions. He
was fn quently inebriated, and the constant habit of drink-
ing might have induced a species of lunacy. For the last
three years he had had nothing to do. He had lived
during that period on money which he had amassed ; but
his pecuniary means were now quite exhausted. He (Mr.
Pelham) always knew him to be an American, and had,
when the prisoner came over upon one occasion, prepared
his will. It was believed that the prisoner was a married
man.
A man named Farly deposed that as he was cleaning
the windows of a Mr. Latel's office, in Spread Eagle-
court, near Finch•lane, a tall gentleman (Mr. Mellish)
came forward from Finch-lane, and was immediately fol-
lowed by a short one (the prisoner), going close to the
hack of the former, who pushed up his hand towards Mr.
Mellish's head as if going to give him a rap, and immedi-
ately discharged a pistol. The prisoner then threw the
pistol behind him, and Mr. Mellish felt the blood flowing
from his neck. Witness, being a very nervous man, did
not step to the assistance of Mr. Mellish, who managed
to
get upon his knees, and was soon assisted by other gen-
tlemen. The prisoner did not make any attempt to
escape, neither did lie, when apprehended, make the least
struggle. Mr. Mellish afterwards walked to Throgmor-
ton-street.
John Price, street-keeper of Broad-street district, said
that, upon hearing the noise of what had occurred, he
went to the court,and took the prisoner, who was standing
near Mr. Mellish, into custody. The prisoner at once
said that he would go wherever witness pleased to take
!him. The prisoner also said that he had been watching
Mr. Mellish ; that he knew he should be hanged ; that
Mr. Mellish and he had a law-suit, which had been re-
ferred to arbitration, and decided in favour of Mr. Mellish,
and that be had nothing to do.
The LORD MAYOR asked Mr. Teague, the Governor of
Giltspur-street Compter, whether he heard any observa-
tions from the prisoner iu the prison. •
Mr. Teague said that the prisoner, upon being asked
his name, said that be had been in the employment of Mr.
llish, who was noir'', dead, meaning that behad
_
Mr. Mellish. _ _

Mr. John Cornie, of No. 3, Finch-lane, deposed as
follows :—Hearing the report of a pistol, I ran over to

the court, and saw Mr. Mellish supported by two gentle-
men. I also saw the prisoner, and a pistol lying near hini.
I said to the prisoner, " You must stay here : you have
shot this gentleman."--" Yes," said he, "and I am glad
of it. I have been waiting these three mouths to do it."
—" Do you mean to say," said I, " that the pistol has
been charged these three months ?" He said he had been
at the South Seas for two years and seven months, and
he had not been rewarded ; he had been robbed by Mr.
Mellish, not only of money, but of his honour, for Mr.
Mellish refused to give him a character; he was come to
his last penny, and a pistol was his only defence. Hear-
ing that the name of the gentleman who had been shot
was Mellish, I asked the prisoner whether he knew Mr.
Mellish ; to which he replied " Yes ; he is an old master
of mine."

The LORD Mavoit (to the prisoner)—llo you retneut
ber these circumstances? Prisoner—Yes, my Lord ; but
as to loading the pistol three months brfore, that's wrong.
As to following Mr. I‘l,llish, that's right.
Mr. Pelham here interfered, and advised the prisoner
not to proceed.
The Lona) Avox—l shall not allow the prisoner's
solicitor to prevent him from answering my questit,ns,
shall not be prevented from getting all the information I
can to accomplish the ends of justice.
Mr. Pelham—l see that notes are taking of all that
is passing here, and I am afraid that my client may, un-
der such circumstances as he is placed, be influenced to
make some statement which may be hereafter used to his
prejudice.
The LORD .MAYOR—I wish to ascertain from his
manner of answering my questions whether there is any
ground for the plea of insanity.
Mr. Pelham—l submit, my Lord, most respectfully,
that my client may not be sufficiently collected to undergo
an examination of this description.
The LORD MAYOR—Collected ! He is remarkably
collected. I dare say you are apprehensive that he is too
collected.

George Holn-,es deposed that as he seas standing in the
shop of Mr. Stevens, in the court„lie heard the report of
the pistol, and saw Mr. Mellish tall. Witness jumped
over the counter, and ran to Mr. Mellish's assistaixe.
Mr. Mellish said, " Oh, God ! what is the matter?" The
prisoner was standing about three feet behind. A gentle-
man said to the prisoner, " You have shot a gentleman;"
to which he replied, " I know I have; he injured me of
my living; I know the laws of my country, and that I
shall be hanged."
The LORD MAYOR—Prisoner, do you wish to ask this
witness any questions? Prisoner—No, my Lord, I have
no questions to put to him.
The Loan MAYOR—I suppose all he has said is cor-
rect ? Prisuner—lt is.

The Loan MAYOR—Was there a ball in the pistol?
Prisoner—Yes, there was a ball in it.
The LORD MAYOR—When did you load it? Prisoner
—On Saturday last.
The prisoner then, in reply to other questions from the
Loan MAYOR, stated that it was his intention to speak to
Mr. Mellish about the harsh treatment he had received,
,ind that he had called at the office for that purpose, with-
out effect.

Mr. Pelham declared that his Lordship was pursuing a
most unusual course, and one not recognised by the law,
for he was examining a prisoner as if he was a common
witness.

The LORD MAYOR—. 4 shall see whether the prisoner
is insane or not. Have you put in the plea of insanity ?
Mr. Pelham—l have not given evidence at all. I have
put i❑ no plea.
The Loan MAYOR (to the prisoner)—Did you
threaten Mr. Mellish ? Prisoner—No.

The LORD Mavoß—Did you not say you would injure
him ? No ; but I said I'd horsewhip him.
Mr. Pelham again protested against the course adopted
by his Lordship, as illegal and totally unprecedented.
The LORD Mavom—Well, I am now satisfi.d.
Mr. Pelham—The law says that a prisoner's statement
is to be voluntary, not extorted by an examination.
The Loma MAY Why here is an assassin, and am
I not justified in strictly investigating the whole of the
merits of the case? Mr. Pelham—My Lord, you assume
that he is an assassin.
The Loan MAYOR—I do, indeed, assume it.

Mr. Pelham here read part of the Act of Parliament
to which he had referred, and which contained the prin-
ciple he had laid down.
The LORD MAvon said no compulsion had been used,
and the prisoner need not have uttered a word unless he
thought tit; but no person should prevent him from saying
what he pleased.
George Beale, a ticket .porter, deposed that as be en-
tered the court from Finch-lane, he saw the prisoner
throw a pistol down, and he saw Mr. Mellish rise, with a
little assistance, with the blood flowing from his neck.
Mr. Mellish said, " What does this mean ? I don't un-
derstand it." The prisoner said, " Mr. Mellish, you tried
to kill me, and I'll try to kill you, if I can." Mr. Mellish
was not so much hurt as not to he able to walk.

Mr. Mills, surgeon, residing ❑ear the place where the
event occurred, deposed that Mr. Mellish was brought to
his house a little atter tour o'clock, with a lacerated wound
at the back of his head. He was bleeding profusely from
the wound, which was a little to the right of the occipital
Done. There was a second wound an inch anterior, as it'
a foreign body had made its exit through it. No ball was
discovered ; neither was any wadding seen. Wadding
could not inflict such a wound. The bleeding had bee❑
extensive, on account of the division of the artery. Danger
would have arisen from hemorrhage, but the hemorrhage
had been stopped.
The LORD AIAYOR-Prisoner, had you any other
pistol ?—No, my Lord.
George Newman, a journeyman tailor, in the employ-
ment of Mr. Terry, No. 3, Spread Eagle•cnurt, deposed
that he was sitting in the window of the shop when he
heard the report of the pistol. The window was broken
into a round bole like that made by a marble, and the glass
fell into his lap. He heard the prisoner say that he did
it. He looked about, but could find no bullet nor any
thing else. No wadding was found either.
The Loin AlAvort then remanded the prisoner for a
week, and told him to avail himself of every opportunity
to make his defence.

HATT ON-GARDEN.
A LuvE AFFAIa•—A tall athletic fellow was charged
with having made a daring att, tempt upon the celibacy of
the barmaid of the Mitre public-house, Islington.
It appeared that on Monday night, after the fair one
had retired to rest, she not having the precaution to lock
the door of her chamber, was disturbed by sorneoody on
tip-toe by her bedside, which alarmed her out of a gentle
doze, when she found a corny hand upo❑ her soft bosom,
which exceedingly terrified her, and she screamed out,
conceiving that someti,ing supernatural had entered the
room. "Be quiet"—" Don't be afraid," were responded
to her cries, when the prisoner was taken into custody for
his temerity in thus disturbing her " virgin sleep."
The prisoner bad not a word to say for himself, and
looked abashed.

Mr. Sergeant SELLON said that his offence was de-
serving punishment, and it waa a great pity that the
landlord did not inflict upon him a good and sound horse-
whipping before he charged him.—He wax discharged.