The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-04 00:00:00

A SHERIFF FINED £5OO.

In the Crown Court, at Maidstone Assizes, yesterday,
the folio wing extraordinary occurrence took place. About
the middle of the day the grand jury, having concluded
their business, came into court with the remainder of the
bills, and Mr. Justice Blackburn dismissed them, thanking
them in the usual form for the assistance they had rendered
to the administration of justice. In order to explain
what subsequently took place it may be as well to state
that it appears that the High Sheriff of the county,
Mr. Evelyn, had requested the learned judge to pay the
compliment to the gentlemen who had attended, but who
had not actually served on the grand jury, of thanking them
for their attendance, as many of them had come a consider..
able distance to perform the duty, but the learned judge
said he considered it unnecessary to do so, and it was under-
stood that the High Sheriff expressed his intention of thank-
them himself.
When the learned judge had addressed the grand jury he
was about to proceed with a trial that was before the Court,
when the High Sheriff rose, and, addressing a number of
magistrates who were on the bench, said that he also—
Mr. Justice Blackburn interposed, and said that he
could not allow the High Sheriff to proceed, and he must
request him to desist.
The High Sheriff seemed determined to go on, when
the learned judge laid his hand on his shoulder, and
said he could not permit him to speak, and he must
request him to sit down. The High Sheriff still persisted,
and Mr. Justice Blackburn threatened that if he did not
desist he would fine him. This had no effect, the High
Sheriff would not sit down, and Mr. Justice Blackburn
said, " Mr, High Sheriff, I feel myself called upon to fine
you MOO." His lordship then directed Mr. Avery, the
deputy-clerk of assize, to record the fine.
The imposition of the fine did not have the effect of
inducing the High Sheriff to desist, and Mr. Justice Black-
burn then threatened to commit him for contempt of court,
and interfering with the administration of justice.
The High Sheriff then resumed his seat, and the event
caused great sensation among the magistrates, who were
very numerous in the town, and the bar. It was reported
that a correspondence had passed, in which Mr. Justice
Blackburn offered to remit the fine, and that Mr. Evelyn, in
answer, only sent the Judge a check for the money. After-
wards Mr. Scarlett and other gentlemen were seen to be
in conversation with the Chief Justice in the other
court, and the result of this was at last seen by the
High Sheriff coming into court and reading a written
apology, in which he expressed his sorrow for having com-
mitted any act which might bear the semblance of a con-
tempt of the Court. Mr. Justice Blackburn stated that he
had no personal feeling, but must protect the dignity of
the Court, and could not allow any improper interruptions
to the business of the assize. He then remitted the fine,
and the affair terminated.

THE MAILS.

MAILS DUE.

Australia, Ceylon, and Mauritius (via South-
ampton) .. .. .. .. .. .. Aug. 10.
Do.
..
..
Aug,
410..
(via Marseilles) Aug. 4.
3
Bahamas and Havana (via New York) .. • • Aug. A.. 8.
Canada, &c. (via Londonderry) .. .. • . Sept.ug 1.
Cape of Good Hope, &c... .. . • •
China, Penang, and Singapore (via S' am /14)) 0 Aug.verd 2.
Do. (via Marseilles)
Aug.no.
Gibraltar (via Southampton) . • . .. A 2.
India (Calcutta), Ceylon, &c. 040. sout a p
i m ton) Ang
(via Marseilles) Overdue.
2u.e.
Do.
India (Bombay), (via Southampton) .. .. Aug.
Marseilles)Sou.tha miiton) .. Aug. Aug 21.1.
Lisbon, Brazils,Do B(vuielluMosaArlirilees7)&u. • • • • Aug, 5.
.. Overdue.
Lisbon, Vigoo,.and Oporto<ciaa
Malta, Egyßt, and Aden
Md • • ' .. Aug. 8.
Western Coast of ,Cara Africa eira, Teneriffe .. Aug.o.
.-11- es and Pacific, hagena, Cuba, &C.
United States, California,. &c. ..
WestiT cli Aug'. 14.

Pietro Boccomini, a Roman tragic actor who
forme:
~ part of the Ristori company, has just died at Am-
sterdam at the age of 39. In 1849, he received two stabs
with a p oignard a little below the heart, and at his cries
r
the murderer ran away, exclaiming, "My God I I have mis-
taken my man." Boccomini never completely recovered
from the effects of his wounds, the author of which could
wirer Pi found,