The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-26 00:00:00

WORSHIP-STREET.

John Spencer, a tall, grey-headed man, 60 years
of age, described as a schoolmaster, was brought
before Mr. D'Eyncourt, by Inspector Webster, of
the N Division, on a warrant granted by J. S:
Mansfield, Eel., wherein he was charged with the
commission-o: lin abominable and unnatural offence
upon one and more of his pupils.
Leon Moresco, a respectably attired and rather
ht.ndsome lad, who gave his evidence with much
intelligence, and void of embarrassment, was sworn
and said—l shall be 13 years old next birthday,
which is in June. My father is dead, and my
mother resides at Brussels. I was sent to England
two years ago, and arrived on January 10, and was
placed at a school kept by a person named Philpot,
in Goldsmith's-place, Hackney-road, about a twelve-
month since. Mr. Spenser succeeded Mr. Philpot.
I was a day scholar at that time. About seven
weeks since I went to Brussels and returned three
or four weeks ago. There were about thirty
scholars, but there had been more. A lady who
lodged in the house told me that Mr. Spencer
was a Catholic priest.

Mr. D'Eyncourt (to the prisoner)—Are you a
Catholic priest P
Prisoner—No, sir,
Sergeant Maveety, N Division—lt has been
ascertained that his right name is John Benedict
Spencer, that he is a Roman Catholic priest, and
has preached at Liverpool.
Prisoner—lt is totally false. I have never been
out of the house,

Examination continued—Mr. Philpot left the
school at Midsummer last, and when this gentle-
man came he used me vulgarly. On my return
from Brussels I went to live there.

Mr. D'Eyncourt—Did anything occur before you
went to live there ?

" Witness-- fe;:about four or five months since,
Mr. D'Eyneourt—Be particular. What did
he do ?

[Witness here described acts that, if true, showed
the prisoner to have been guilty of the frightful
offence with which he was charged. He also stated,
in answer to the magistrate, that the offence had
been repeated. several times.]
Mr. D'Eyncourt—How did all this becom e
known ?

Witness—There are three lodgers in the house.
I told one of them named Ashford, who advised me
to go to a magistrate, and I came here.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—How did you learn the way to
this court ?

Witness—l knew a lady in Providence-row, close
by, and observed this was a police court ; besides, I
read the newspapers, Another lodger, named
Hurst, advised me to come and complain privately.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Who saw this boy when he
first came ?

Bendon (the gaoler)—l did, sir, and Mr. Mans-
field had an interview with him.

The witness was then cross-examined by Mr.
Heritage—How came you, intelligent as you cer-
tainly are, to let this go on and not complain ?
Witness—One of the boys named Hoskins knew
it after the first time. I was ashamed to tell about
it afterwards. Sometimes I took down my trousers,
at other times he did. I knew what was going to
happen, yet did not call out for assistance. He has
made complaints of my having stolen his money;
that, perhaps, was seven or eight months ago.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—And had you stolen it ?
Witness—Yes, sometimes fourpence, and at others
sixpence at a time, for a week or two. Ido not
think that I took more than 3s. altogether.
Cross-examination continued—l never took Gs.
from his purse at one time. He said that he would
forgive me if I paid him back, and I did so at a
halfpenny a time until half was paid. He forgave
me the other part. He also charged me with steal-
ing 4s. 6d. I had not taken that. He also charged
me with stealing his sugar ; that was true. He has
told me that he would adopt me, cure me of my
faults, take care of me, and get me a situation. He
bore the name of a very kind-hearted man in the
neighbourhood. I was always afraid and ashamed
to tell what had occurred. He once threatened to
send me to Brussels on account of my dishonesty,
but he did not mean it, because he laughed, and
was kind directly afterwards. This was after my
return from Brussels, and I did not wish to return
because I should be a weight upon my mother
there. When my father was alive a person named
Inderman was in partnership with him, and was
an exporter of foreign goods. He paid for my
schooling some time. After that Mr. Spencer said
he would adopt me. The last time he did as I have
stated was on the Sunday previous to my coming
here, and complaining on the following Wednesday.
I believe that he has served other boys the same.
He once told me to take my things, and leave the
house. Then he called me back, and on seeing me
with the letters in which he promised to adopt me,
he said " Stop," and went into another room. I did
remain until I came to this office. On that day he
would not give me any breakfast or dinner, and I
did not come here until afterwards.

By the Magistrate—l know a lad named Ro-
berts. He lived next door to the school. The lady
up stairs at the school:warned Mr. Spencer I was
coming here. I told Roberts what had occurred,
and the pains that I suffered.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Who adopts this prosecution ?
Inspector Webster—Mr. Roberts, sir, the father
of the other boy who is alleged to have been simi-
larly assaulted.

Mr. D'Eyncourt (to Mr. Roberts)—Has this lad
said anything to you of this matter ?
Mr. Roberts—Not a word, sir; I thought that I
would leave it entirely open.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Quite right; he has been living
in your house, I believe.
Mr. Roberts—He has since the occurrence became
known.

Mr. D'Eyneourt—lle will now be sent to the
Union during the remand, for I cannot go into the
other case to-day. Let me hear how the prisoner
was taken.

Williams, 102 N—At 11 o'clock this morning I
apprehended the prisoner in High-street, Camden-
town. I met him, and said, " I believe that you are
Mr. Spencer," he replied, " No, lam not." I said,
"Yes, you are, and I am a police.constable ; you
must go with me to the station-house." I told him
the nature of the charge, and he asked me to go
round the corner of a street and speak with him. I
refused. We walked some distance together, and
then he said, "I will give you a sovereign if you
will let me make my escape." I refused, and he
offered me two sovereigns. I said, " Not if you gave
me fifty." Me then went on till we arrived at the
St. Pancras-road, when he suddenly asked to see
the warrant for his apprehension. I did not hold
the warrant, and told him so. He refused to go
further. A struggle ensued, and he bit my thumb.
With the assistance of a gentleman, I took him to
Robert-street station-house.

Inspector Webster—He has given us a great deal
of trouble sir, having absconded when the lad
came to this court.
Mr. Heritage applied for permission to put in
bail ; and
Mr. D'Eyncourt gave permission to put in two
sureties of £5OO each, at the same time observing
that it was an amount, under the circumstances,
tantamount to refusing the application.
The prisoner, who bowed to the Court, and com-
ported himself very respectfully, was removed in
the van.

Why is a fool in high station like a man in a
balloon?—Because everybody appears little to him, and he
appears little to everybody.
NEw MARRIAGE ACT.—An Act of Parliament has
just been printed to amend the acts relating to marriages
in England and Ireland by extending certain provisions
thereof to persons professing with the Society of Friends
called Quakers. It is now enacted that the marriages of
Quakers may be solemnised in cases where one only or where
neither of the parties shall be a member of the Society o!
Friends. The enactments now in force are to extend to
every marriage contracted under this act.

TILE FIGHT FOR THE CHAMPIONSITIP.-A
writer in the Irish. Times confidently statt's that the re-
ported amicable arrangement between Sayers mid Heenan
is a subterfuge to throw the authorities ff their guard, and
that the only arrangement concluded between the pair is one
to provide for an early meeting to clear up the disputed
point as to who is really the champion of England. Tho
author of this piece of very important information claims
credit for accuraoy on the ground that he had pointed out
Ithe (lay on which the last tight took place. He now indi-
cates the 19th of June for the next " mill."

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newly-invented Teazle Brushes for Colth, Velvet, &c., are
admirable—they not only cleanse, but preserve the fabric ill
a remarkable manner. The Manufactory
is 32, Basiughall.
street. The public are eautiohed agaLUSt Mintericits.—'AP'

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Cold
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send 2 stamps for Benson's Illustrated Pamphlet, descr'p-
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Watches sent to all parts of the kingdom lice by post, or to
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33 an•l 34, Ludgate-hill, London, E.C. Established 1749.

THEATRE-ROY AL, HAYMARKET.
Lessee, Mr. J. B. Blackstone.

THIS eVENING, TIIE FAMILY SECRET. Messrs.
Chippendale, Howe, W. Farren, Villiers, Buckstore, Mrs. B.
White, Mrs. Fitzwilliam, Mrs. Wilkins, and Miss Amy
Sedgwick.
Followed by a new fares, entitled FITZSMYTHE OF
FITZSMYTHE HALL. Messrs. Bu kstone, W. Farren, and
Rogers ; Mrs. 'Wilkins and Miss Henrade.
To conclude with THE BOARDING SCHOOL.

I)OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-
tu Lessee, Mr. A. Harris.
THIS EVENING, OTHELLO. Mr. Phelps.
To conclude with THRICE Mr. Meadows,
Mis3C. Leclercq,