The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-01 00:00:00

STEALING A LETTER.

Benjamin West Hartley, 21, grocery was indicted for
stealing a letter containing a Bank of E gland note for £5,
the property of the Postmaster-General.
From the evidence for the prosecution it appeared that
the prisoner was in the employ of a past-office keeper in
Broad-street, Bloomsbury, and that on the eyeing of the 6th
of October the prosecutrix entered the els op and wished to
register a letter as one containing valualoles. It being past
five, the lady Iwas informed that she could not do so, and
the letter—which was directed to a gentleman residing at
Kentish Town—was afterwards dropped into the box in
the ordinary manner. It never reached itcs destination, which
it would have done had it not been taken. from the letter-box
surreptitiously. It was also given in evidence that the
prisoner must have known that a letter containing a five
pound note was in the box, and that as ho was closing the
shop he was within a foot of the box, which was unlocked,
in which the letter was deposited.
In his defence the prisoner said he knew nothing of the
robbery, but the stolen note came into his possession by his
giving change for it to a man named Johnson ; and that
this assertion was true was evidenced by the fact that when
he (prisoner) changed the note at a pulblic-house in Vaux-
hall, he signed his right name on it.
The prisoner received a very good character.
The Jury retired to consider their verdict. After an ab-
sence of 20 minutes, they returned into, court with a verdict
of Guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy.
The learned Judge said, under all the circumstances, he
should only sentence the prisoner to six months' imprison-
ment, with hard labour.

NEW COURT.
(Before the Recorder.)
STEALING A COAT.

Thomas Gower, 22, labourer, was indicted for stealing a
coat, the property of Joseph Hymn.
The prosecutor, a clothier living in the neighbourhood of
Houndsditch, said the coat was his property, and had been
stolen, as he was positive it had never been sold in his shop.
The prisoner, who was undefended, said he bought the
coat of the prosecutor, in Newgate-market, and gave him
10s. for it.

The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and the Recorder
sentenced him to four months' imprisonment.

THIRD COURT.
(Before the Common Sergeant.)
CHARGE OP LIBEL.
Thomas Nugent, schoolmaster, 46, was indicted for
unlawfully publishing a libel of and upon William
Wiseman.

The prisoner pleaded guilty, and expressed his great
regret at having published the libel, for which there was
not the slightest foundation.
The Common Sergeant said before pressing sentence upon
the defendant ho should like to consult the judges as the
gentleman against whom the libel was publi.thed was a per-
sonal friend of his.
Sentence was therefore deferred.

THE LATE SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.--1110 MOTO-
ment for securing the erection of a memorial of Sir John
Franklin at Spilsby, his native place, is advane ing favour-
ably, several gentlemen who had promised subscriptions for
a proposed " Franklin Museum" at Lincoln—a a cheme now
abandoned—have transferred their donations, all d promises
of fresh support have also been obtAined Irom (Aar
quarters.