The Sun.
London, England, 1869-08-21 00:00:00

A SCENE IN A COUNTY COURT.

A scene not at all tending to uphold the "dignity in our
courts" was witnessed on Thursday in the Stourbridge
County Court. A Mr. Prescott sought to recover 10s. 6d.
from the local magistrates' clerk. He conducted his own
case, and in the course of his remarks said that the magis-
trates' clerk had put the fees into his own pocket.
Mr. Motteram, who appeared for the defendant, said
Mr. Prescott was acting most irregularly in saying Mr.
King had put fees into his pocket. lie said Mr. King had
not put fees into his pocket.
Mr. Prescott : I say he has.
Mr. Motteram : Don't contradict me, sir. Sit down
and behave yourself properly.
Mr. Prescott : I say he has put them into his pocket.
Mr. Motteram : how can a man conduct himself in so
unbecoming a manner in a court of justice? (To the
Judge : If I can have the case tried as a question of law
I am perfectly content you should try it ; but I am sure
your feelings would forbid you trying a case where you
were a witness to the facts, and after being appealed to by
Mr. Prescott.)

Mr. Prescott : I have not appealed to your Honour.
Mr. Motteram : I don't think Mr. Prescott knows
what he does.

Mr. Prescott : Oh, you know it will not do for you, Mr.
Motteram, to come here and bluster, as it does in some
courts.

Mr. Motteram : You know, Prescott, you have had one
or two thrashings lately, and you will have another if you
don't conduct yourself properly.
Mr. Prescott: If you will come out, I will thrash you;
I will d- soon thrash you.

Mr. Motteram : You conduct yourself as a madman,

Mr. Prescott : You are simply a fool. If I'm amadman,
we know which is the greatest fool.

The Judge : If you are going to use such language, Mr.
Prescott, I shall have to interfere.

Mr. Prescott : Well, sir, you may interfere. When a
counsel talks about thrashing, I am perfectly justified. If
he will come outside I will thrash him.

Mr. Motteram : You little puppy !
Mr. Prescott : Puppy ! There is the itinerant barrister
and fool.

The Judge: If you will continue to use such language,
I shall have to use very strong measures. You have both
indulged in personalities. (To Mr. Prescott, who was
still speaking) : Will you be quiet, sir?
Mr. Prescott : No, I shall not be quiet. You can com-
mit at your peril.
The Judge again requested Mr. Prescott to remain quiet.
There should be an adjournment on the understanding
there should be no advantage taken of Mr. Prescott's
inability to bring an action after the lapse of three months.
Eventually the matter was set at rest by Mr. Godson
declining to try the case, but without making an order for
its adjournment.

Barrett, the man employed in the London Post
/Nice, who is accused of shooting Captain Lambert at
Athenry, is to be tried at Galway by special commission.
THE LANCASHIRE PENNY TESTIMONIAL TO LORD

DERBY.--The interest in the movement to raise a penny
subscription testimonial to the Earl of Derby, if we may
credit the statements put forth by " those in authority" is
daily extending.
THE WEATHER AND TILE CROPS. —The weather
has become more favourable for harvest work upon the
whole, in the eastern and midland districts. A report
from the Trent side district states that harvest operations
are now general there, while potatoes have been greatly
improved by the recent rains.
TILE DERRY COMMISSION.—At the sitting of the
Derry Commission, John Hempton, who took a leading
part in returning Serjeant Dowse, Q.C., for the city, was
examined. He admitted that immediately before the last
city election a large number of revolvers were purchased
from a gun establishment in Limerick, and that they were
distributed among the mob support ins Dowse.

The great terminus of the Midland Railway in
London, which is called St. Pancras, will be only partially
erected. The station building will be carried to the neces-
sary height and finished in a permanent manner, with the
first floor and that portion of the ground floor cast of the
arrival gateway, both of which were originally intended
for the company's offices : these will be used for the pur-
poses of an hotel.
GAS EXPLOSION AT BIRMINGIIAM.—A serious
explosion of gas took place at Birmingham on Friday
night, in a dwelling-house in Sutton-street. There was
some negligence in putting up the fittings, and the gas
leaked. Two men were dangerously hurt, and had to be
carried to the hospital. The windows were shattered
to atoms, and the door was blown into the middle of the
street.

- -
THE SLUMS OF LONDON—NOT SO BAD AS IT
SEEMED.—The inquest on the body of Ross, the composi-
tor, whose death was alleged to have been due to a blow
from a missile thrown by a youth named Lyons, was
resumed and concluded on Friday. The doctor who had
attended the deceased attributed the fatal result to soften-
ing of the brain, and expressed his opinion that the
assault for which Lyons was in custody had not been the
cause of death. A verdict in accordance with this evidence
was returned.
A STRANGE MUSHROOM BED.—It is a common
thing for grass to grow in unfrequented streets, but who
would look for mushrooms in the " throngest" thorough.
fares of Liverpool? Yet, strange to say, they may be
found where the heaviest and most incessant traffic
prevails, for two small specimens were on Tuesday
gathered in Strand-street one of the busiest
portions of the highway along the line of docks.
The growth of these vegetable productions is not
necessarily the result of declining traffic.—Liverpool
71.1-ercur.ll

AMERICA V. ENGLAND. - International boat
racing is not to be restricted to the match between the
crews of Oxford and Harvard Universities. Mr. Walter
Brown, the champion sculler and bicycle racerof America,
reached Liverpool on Wednesday, in company with his
backers. Brown, who is to compete with Renforth, the
champion of the Thames, brings with him the " craft" in
which he is to perform the feat. This is a novelty in
its way, being made of paper, and weighs only 221 b.
Whether the American will find anyone in this country
willing to accept a challenge for the championship in a
bicycle contest remains to be seen. The bicycle is never
likely to become so generally used in England as in
America, for in most instances Englishmen do not care to
make a public exhibition of themselves on these erratic
and uncomfortable vehicles.
ARRIVAL OF THE PRINCE OF WALES.—His
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales arrived in England
on Friday upon his return from Wildbad. The Princess
did not accompany him, for, although the sojourn in Ger-
many has much improved the Princess's health, a further
stay at Wildbad is recommended by her medical advisers,
and her visit is therefore likely to be prolonged for two
or three weeks. his Royal highness crossed from Calais
in a special steamboat belonging to the London, Chat-
ham, and Dover Railway Company. The Channel was
crossed in less than an hour and a half. News of the
anticipated arrival of the Prince had reached Dover, and
the visiting season being at its height, the Admiralty
Pier was crowded with a gay and fashionable assemblage,
On the steamboat being laid alongside the pier, and his
Ecyal Highness making his appearance on deck, pro-
longed and enthusiastic cheers broke from the spectators,
and, as the Prince acknowledged the heartiness of the
reception, the cheering was again and again renewed.
His Royal Highness proceeded to the Lord Warden
Hotel, where he remained a short time, and then left for
London,