The Sun.
London, England, 1869-08-25 00:00:00

LAW" AND POLICE.

ROBBERY BY A GUARDSMAN.—DanieI Tood, a private
in the Coldstream Guards, on Tuesday pleaded guilty at
the Middlesex Sessions to stealing a watch and chain and
E.; from a young man named Beeves. The sergeant of
the company gave the prisoner an excellent character, and
said everyone was surprised to find him in such a
position. lie was entitled to a good conduct stripe. The
court sentenced him to 12 months' hard labour.

THE HABITUAL CRIMINALS ACT.-At the Middlesex
Sessions a young man who had been twice before convicted,
was found guilty of stealing a ham, and was sentenced
to seven years' penal servitude, to be followed by
seven years' police surveillance under the Habitual Crimi-
nals Act.

LEAVING WORK WITHOUT NOTICE.—At the Westmin-
ster Police-court, a boot-closer, named Macfarlane, was
summoned for leaving his work without notice.
It seemed that the rules of the house for
which he worked required a week's notice
on each side, but that the defendant left with-
ont any notice whatever, having the offer of more
lucrative employment. He pleaded that such was the
custom of the trade, but Mr. Arnold said the custom of
the trade was not involved but the custom of the prose-
cutor's house. He ordered the defendant to pay 265.
a week's wages, and £3 ss. costs, or one month's imprison-
ment. The defendant was taken to Whitccrozs-street
Prison in default of payment.
THE SMOKE NUISANCE.—At the Thames Police-court,
a German, named Wagner, the proprietor of a large
sugar-house, was charged with using a furnace which
did not consume its own smoke. He pleaded guilty,
and said the smoke was owing to the neglect of his
stoker. Mr. Sandison, the civil engineer employed by
the Government to enforce the Act, said that Mr. Wagner
•was an old offender, and many respectable ratepayers
complained of the continual nuisance which turned day
into night. Mr. Benson thought that a large penalty
ought to be inflicted, but as he could only double the last
fine, which for some reason had been reduced from £lO to
405., be could only inflict a penalty of £4 and costs. The
fine ought to have been £2O.

A BAKER FINED.—At the Marylebone Police-court,
William Printer, baker, was charged with having sold
bread short of weight. A customer sent for two loaves,
and when his servant brought them back, he found the
cottage was five ounces short of two pounds, and the
household two ounces short. The defendant declared
that be never weighed bread after it came from the oven.
Mr. D'Eyncourt said he must convict on the household
loaf. lie should inflict a penalty of 40s. and Cs. 6d. costs.
A DRUNKEN SIGNALMAN.—At the Hampton Petty
Sessions, Charles Bradford, a signalman at Staines
Station, on the London and South-Western Railway,
was charged with being drunk while on duty, and neglect-
ing to signal a train. On the 12th of August a signalman
at Ashford signalled a train to Staines, but had no reply.
Sergeant Brookes, of the detective police force, was in
the train, and saw that the man was drunk. The magis-
trates inflicted a fine of £5, or two months' imprisonment.
It was stated that the man was dismissed.

The Gaulois relates the following little anec-
dote :—A clergyman was warning a usurer against the
immense interest which the latter was in the habit of de-
manding from his debtors. "Do you not know, unhappy
one," said the faithful pastor, " that if you always insist
on receiving 9 per cent. interest you will shut the door of
heaven against yourself .for ever?'? "Oh," replied the
usurer, " looked at from heaven the figure 9 presents the
appearance of a 6, and that much percentage is quite
lawful."

M. NELATON.—Apropos of the rumour that the
Emperor's confidence in M. Nast= is beginning to
diminish, the Figaro tells bow the great surgeon first won
his reputation at Court. When the Prince Imperial was
so seriously ill, some three or four years ago, a consulta-
tion of surgeons was held to diagnose a certain inflamma-
tion of the articulations of the thigh. IsTtqaton said there
was an ahsec2;i., but he vas alone in his 01,ini0n. This
difference was of the highest moment. If there was an
abscess, the knife alone could preserve the patient's life ;

if there was not, an operation might prove fatal. NtAaton
was allowA to have his way. The patient was put under
chloroform, and the surzeon took out bistoury. The
Emperor, who was standing near the table, walked to the
window, clasped his hands, and began a nervous tattooing
with his knuckles. The knife bad reached the neighbour-
hood of the articulation with no result, and the surgeons
opposed in opinion to N6la.ton began to remind him of
what they had said. The Emperor walked up to him and
seized his hand. "Pardon, sire," said Neaton, removing
the hand, " there is an abcess ;" and with one -resolute
push he buried the knife deeper, 4. discharge took Rlace,
Arid the ohild_watiand.