The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-11 00:00:00

ellenina

LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 1851.

On Thursday we called upon the " working classes"
to make some distinct and energetic effort in order,
at the same time, to secure the apprehension of Mrs.
SLOANE, and to testify their own abhorrence of the
atrocious acts laid to her charge, and of the infa-
tnous conduct systematically punned towards a help-
less and friendless orphan who had been consigned to
her care and protection. We have no doubt that the
matter will be closely followed up, and that the
‘` working el sses" will act in a manner worthy of
Euglishmen,who have ever exhibited the utmost detes-
tation of all cruelty and oppression, a detestation
which increases in intensity according to the weak-
ness of the victim. We now invite the public atten-
tion to another case, to which we briefly. alluded on
the 24th ultimo, which may properly bfs taken into
consideration at the same time ; the facts and circum-
stances of which are fully detailed in a letter which
will be found in anctber part of this day ''z impression.
The writer (Mr. MONTAGUE) exhibited the most
praiseworthy interest in the case. Wisth the most
disinterested humanity he took up the cause of the

orphan child, and spared no exertions to bring her
infamous persecutors to justice. Sed Diis aliter
sam. The fees for the indictment were not forth-
coming, and the clerk of the indictments, although
entrusted with the performance of public duties of the
most important character, could not stir without the
usual sop to the official Cerberus, which it appears
is absolutely necessary before the machinery of the
criminal law can be set in motion. When the police-
sergeant who had the management of the case applied
for the bill of indictment he was asked for "the fees."
He replied " that they could not be paid—the
prosecutrix is a child." " Where is her mother ?"
inquired the clerk. " She has no mother," answered
the sergeant. " Where is her father ?" " She has
none, she is a friendless child." The worthy official
manifestly thought it a gross piece of impertinence
for " a friendless child" to complain of any ill-treat.
ment, however atrocious. What, seek the protection
of the law without paying the preliminary fees
Never was such audacity heard of ; but he would
take care the practice should not be sanctioned
where he had any power. What though the unfor-
tunate child had been defiled at an age when, according-
to the wise provisions of the law, she was deemed in-
capable of " consenting ;" though the prospects of
her life were blasted and she was deprived of her in-
nocence—which could never be restored—by the
person who had taken upon himself the
duties of a parent and protector ; what though he
had added to his infamy by flogging the wretched '
victim with a riding-whip and a cane, until "her
neck, shoulders, abdomen, and lower extremities"
were covered with wounds and scars, " as if pieces of
flesh had been cut out !!" and the miserable child
sought refuge in flight, taking refuge with ber nurse,
the only human being to whom she could look for
assistance—it was all nothing to the worthy clerk.
He only knew that he did not receive his ordinary
fee, and be was quite resolved that there should be
no indictment. The witnesses were all in attend-
ance ; by a refined mockery they were kept in the
waiting-room. The insulted official would not con-
descend to tell them that their services were not re-
quired, and that he would not stir without receiving
his honorarium. Had he mentioned his stern re•
solution, it is probable that something might have
been collected to satisfy the demand ; but he would
not condescend to give any hint. The insult must
be expiated, and the escape of ADOLPHE DE AVER-
DOSS' facilitated, who, if the statements sworn to
before the police magistrate were established before
a jury, could henceforward only be classed with the
SLOANES and BIRDS.

We should scarcely have believed that any per-
son presiding on the bench of justice would have lent
himself to such a project. But by whatever motives he
might be influenced, whether anxious to render prose-
cutors more active, or clerks more expeditious, Ser•
geant ADAMS would make no allowance ; the grand
jury were forthwith discharged without any bill having
been submitted for their consideration, and ADOLPHE
DE WERDINSKI was discharged without a trial, to
laud the impartiality of the British law and the equal
protection afforded to all classes of her MAJESTY'S
subjects, the poor as well as the rich.
Should such things be tolerated ? Do not the
matters above alluded to speak trumpet-tongued as to
the necessity for a public prosecutor. If we had
such an officer, ADOLPHE DE WERDINSKI would have
had an opportunity of showing that the charge was
unfounded, if such were the fact, or, if convicted, ho
would have expiated his offence by enduring a severe
although most inadequate punishment. He has escaped
owing to the cupidity of the clerk and the petulance
of the judge, but we trust that it is only for a time.
As no bills of indictment were disposed of, or even pre-
ferred, the matter may be investigated de novo. We
are quite convinced that the witnesses will readily
encounter the annoyance, loss of time, and expendi-
ture inseparable from any attendance before a court
of justice, and also that the " working classes" will
provide the funds necessary for placing MARY ANNE
RICHARDS in a position where she may, by good con-
duct, earn an honest livelihood, and forget the sor-
rows, humiliation, and degradation of her youthful
life, and by which she may also be enabled to satisfy
the fees, without which, it appears, her oppressor and
defiler cannot be brought to justice.

" Truth is stranger than fiction." The experience
of every day confirms the truth of the adage. There
are matters of constant occurrence in the heart of the
metropolis, and under the very eyes of police and
detectives, which, if narrated by the novelist, would
be regarded as unnatural, and pooh-poohed by the
critics as strained and exaggerated recitals. The
villain of the tale, who excites the horror and disgust
of the readers, is by no means so thoroughly de-
praved, end does not exhibit such a degree of reckless
audacity in carrying out his nefarious projects, as the
villain of real life, some of whose actions are brought
to light before a judge and jury at the Central Cri-
minal Court. .

The case of MosEs BARNETT, who was convicted
on Tuesday of receiving goods, knowing them to be
stolen, and who was on the following day sentenced
to transportation for ten years, is one of peculiar
atrocity, forcibly recalling the worst features of
FAGIN, one of the most powerful impersonations that
has ever emanated from the gifted pen of CHARLES
DICKENS. We see the tempter and instructor in vice
drawing his victim forward step by step, until he has
him thoroughly imbued in crime ; at first, before
the neophyte is involved in his meshes, inquiring into
his position with affected sympathy, and deploring
the lowness of his wages and the badness of the
situation, where " no perquisites were allowed," and
exciting the anger of his victim by speaking of
" younger and smaller boys who were getting a good
deal more money ;" then suggesting a mode of im-
proving his slender finances by bringing an ounce
out of each sample box of indigo in his master's
warehouse, adding that if " he brought a hundred
ounces the kind and tender-hearted Jew would
buy them of him." There was much skill in the
mode in which the bait was concealed ; no direct rob-
bery was proposed in the first instance, nothing but
an ounce from each sample, which his position would
enable him to take without danger. As the tempter
put it, it could scarcely be regarded as a theft. The
boy answered him, in place of rejecting his proposals
with indignation, by uttering some common-place
about "an honest penny being worth a silver shil-
ling," in a tone which rendered the prisoner certain
of his prey. He did not declare his intention of
giving information as to the proposition that had been
made, and therefore, the " worthy dealer " dogged his
footsteps with great pertinacity, always asking him
if he had made up his mind. If " the woman who
deliberates is lost," the lad who takes time to con-
sider upon a question of honesty or dishonesty, and
continues any intercourse with the tempter, is masked
for destruction. It is utterly useless to endeavour to
avoid the snare while he flutters about it, and
converses coolly on the subject. The moment that
he feels any particular want, that any strange fancy
(which the experienced tutor will take care to excite)
remains ungratified, he will walk deliberately into
the net. As soon as " the regular employment"
ceased, and the boy SELLERS could no longer indulge
his taste for "pastry, tobacco, apples, and nuts," he
was at the disposal of the complaisant and obliging
Mr. BARNETT. On the 6th of December he was
in a "brown study," or as he himself styled
istt,al?‘dthinking," at Crutched-friars, when the prisoner
came up, who instantly saw that the time had ar-
rived when he was to profit by his labours of the
previous month. He accosted the youth with a
smile, demanding " what he was breaking his head
about when the golden ball was so near his
hand," and again asked "if he had made
up his mini." On this occasion there was
no snore hesitation, SELLERS at once answered
that he had, and said he would bring some down the
following morning ; but it was the prisoner told
not to do so as it was his " Shabboth," and to call on
the following Monday, at the same time giving his
address, the " spider's web" which the "silly fly" was
to visit. The first fruit of this instruction was 51b. of
indigo, which the boy carried off. lie had taken the
precaution of weighing it previously, to ascertain the
exact amount, entertaining a wholesome distrust of
his accomplice, and perhaps not placing full confidence
in the, accuracy of the adage of " honour among
thieves." The result justified his fears. BARNETT
pretended to weigh it, and said there was 31b., but on
being told there was more, he said he had made a mis-

take. He then gave him as., or Is. per pound, for
what was proved to be worth from ss. to is. The

amount of the " fence's" profits'mayibe thus.estimated,
even if the payment be made in the current coin of the
realm, and without any " dealing" from which further
gain may be realized. The next day 4lbs. more of
indigo were carried to the den, and the Jew wanted
his young accomplice to take " a meerschaum pipe"
for 63., or about three times its intrinsic value, offer-
ing "to trust to his generosity to bring 21bs. more
indigo" in full payment. This handsome offer was,
however, rejected. Some cochineal was next pur-
loined and disposed of in the same manner, andiat the
same price—viz., ls. per pound, the following day
slbs. of indigo. This activity excited the admiration of
the Jew, he applauded the talents of this juvenile
criminal, telling him" that he was going on silly how,
and bringing it as a maid drinks," but tempering his
felicitations with a word of advice, that if he was not
careful he would " split." _ .

This guilty career was, however, brought to a
speedy termination. SELLERS, emboldened by his
previous impunity, took 101bs. of indigo, and was
detected i❑ the fact. Oa being questioned he revealed
the entire transaction—how he had been tempted, and'
how he had fallen. An officer was sent for, and
as it was far more desirable to catch the tutor than
to punish the pupil, a portion of the stolen goods
were marked, and carried to the "fence." As usual
4s. were paid, which were handed over to the officer,
and immediately after BARNETT'S shop was searched,
and the stolen property discovered.
It is worthy of notice that the system only con-
tinned five days, from the 6th to the 10th of December
inclusive, and that during that brief period the pri-
soner received 181bs. of indigo, worth from 51. to 61.,
for which he gave his promising pupil 18s., thus
realizing for himself more than 4/. clear gain, be •
sides some "cochineal," the profit on which cannot
be exactly estimated. It is by no means astonishing
that there are parties found to ply the infamous trade
which brings in such handsome returns. Each youth
that can be seduced affords a handsome income, so
long as he remains unsuspected. Nor can we wonder
at the numbers who swell the thievish ranks when we
find the manner in which the tempter plies his vo-
cation, and follows up the victim from place to place.
Such an offence is the most fearful outrage against
society that can be perpetrated; we can never hope to
dispense with ear prisons while there are so many re-
cruiting sergeants to enlist young men in the ranks
of thieving. If there were no receivers there would
be no thieves, and no exertions should be spared to
discover the FAGINS or to bring them to exem-
plary punishment on conviction. It is to this object
that the chief efforts of the " detectives" should be
directed, and any expense incurred in carrying
it out fully and efficiently would be gladly
defrayed by the country, for never was money ap-
plied to a better purpose than it would be.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

THE NEW MINISTRY.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.

The Ministerial crisis is over, and if the Burgraves
have the courage to carry out their announced inten-
tions, the conflict betwen the Powers has begun.
The Moniteur contains decrees of the PRESIDENT of
the Republic, appointing M. Drouyn de Lhuys, to
be Minister of Foreign Affairs, in place of General
Labitte ; General Reynaud de St. Jean d'Angely, to
be Minister of War, in place of General Schramm ;
M. Ducos, Minister of Marine, in place of Admiral
Romain-Desfosses ; M. .Magne, Minister of Public
Works, in place of M. Bineau ; and M. Bonjean,
Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, in place of
M. Dumas.—By another decree, M. Drouyn de
Lhuys is appointed to hold the portfolio of the
Marine ad interim during the temporary absence of
M. Ducos.—ln another part of the journal, the
Moniteur says :—" The resignation of MM. Baroche,
Fould, Rouber, and de Parrieu not having been ac-
cepted, the Cabinet is composed as follows :
M. Rouher—Minister of Justice.
Drouyn de Lhuys—Foreign Affairs.
Gen. Reynaud de Saint Jean d'Angely—War.
M. Theodore Ducos—Marine.
Baroche—lnterior.
M. Magne—Public Works.
M. Bonjean—Agriculture and Commerce.
M. da,Parrieu—Public Instruction.
M. Achille Fould—Finances.
The following decree also appears in the Moni-
teur
:
Are. 1. The decrees of the 20th December, 1843, and

II th June, 1849, which unite under the same superior
command, Ist, the National Guards of the Seine; 2d,
the troops of all arms stationel in the first military di-
vision, and which appointed General Changarnier to thut
command, are revoked.
Art. 2. General of Diviiien Perrot is appointed to the
superior command of the National Guards of the Seine.
Art. 3. General of Division, Baraguay is
appointed Comrnandant•in-Chief of the troops of all
arms in the first military division.
Art. 4. General Carrelet, commanding the first mili-
tary division, will retai❑ the attributions devolved on
him by the regulations in lorce.
Art. 5. The Ministers of the Interior and of War are
charged each as regards him with the execution of the
above decree.